Porter Owen Del Prete was born at the Juneau Birthing Center early Aug. 5 to parents Shannon and Andrew Del Prete. He weighed 7 lbs., 11 oz., and measured 20.25 inches. Big brothers are Garrison Del Prete, 5, and Caedmon Del Prete, 3. The family planned to be back in town by midweek after three weeks out of town. “We’re really ready to come home,” Andrew said. Grandparents are Patrick and Joyce Del Prete of Haines and former resident Ron Walker, who lives in Texas.
Jonathan Flint Hansen was born at home to parents Valina and Scott Hansen on June 10. The couple’s 10th child joins siblings Felicia, Scotty, Victoria, Manny, Olivia, LeeAnna, Andrew, Simeon and Ethan. Asked if he expects his family will be getting any bigger, Scott replied: “We don’t make the rules. We just play the game.”
Harbormaster Phil Benner and wife Robin represented Haines at the Aug. 1 ribbon-cutting for the fourth phase of Skagway’s harbor improvement project. Work includes a new sea wall, ramp, docks and wave barrier. Ron Martin of Haines attended the event, as did Skagway Mayor Stan Selmer and some Alaska state legislators. Selmer recognized former state Rep. Bill Thomas for his efforts securing funding. Robin said highlights included great weather, food and a rainbow seen from aboard the Haines-Skagway fast ferry.
Nora Krake enjoyed visits by daughters during the fair. Bonnie Clayton Zelter of San Mateo, Calif. came with daughter Emily. Margie Clayton and nephew Jonathan Clayton, both of Juneau, also visited. Margie’s 10-year-old niece Alyson Clayton of Juneau already was in town visiting. Krake said her daughters enjoyed their two-day stays in Haines, and the children enjoyed the rides at the fair. Alyson was in Haines six weeks, attending Rainbow Glacier Camp.
Azure Smith Jensen, a Haines High School class of 1993 graduate, enjoyed a five-week visit with parents Bruce and Jenny Lyn Smith. Husband Matt Jensen and the couple’s children, Wade, Camden and Tori, also made the visit from Fort Worth, Texas. Azure met up with classmates for a 20-year reunion, including Leif Asper, Keri Eggleston, Stan Hotch, Michael Hagen, Jason Rettinger, Daniel Martin and Mario Rivera. It was a great turnout for the class of only 20 members, Smith Jensen said. Tori celebrated her first birthday and Wade, 10, met John Schnabel, Parker Schnabel and Dustin Hurt from the reality TV show “Gold Rush.” Other highlights included Fourth of July festivities, Southeast Alaska State Fair, blowing glass in Skagway, golfing and singing. Azure sang with the Haines Women’s A Capella Choir and Julia Scott at the fair.
More than 20 Haines runners participated in the Yukon Trail Marathon, half marathon and marathon relay. Sierra Jimenez completed her first marathon. Two relay teams included Tina Schaefer, Renee Hoffman, Nevada Benton, Nate Benton, Alisa Beske, Jen Marschke, Colleen McGuire and Alixanne Goodman. Half-marathon runners included: Scott Doddridge, Jessica Crowe, Lizi Wirak, Daymond Hoffman, Alissa Henry, Jonathan Wood, Jennifer Talley, Clint Talley, Jessica Edwards, Jenn Walsh, Melanie Zimmerman and Sara Chapell.
More than 50 people attended a party on Pyramid Island Friday night. The birthday party for Marley Horner included live music performed by local band Devine Funk and fireworks by Phil Wilde. Many guests kayaked or canoed to the island. Others were shuttled over by Josh Benassi and David Benjamin.
Janine Allen enjoyed a two-week visit with her mom, aunt and uncle in Novato, Calif. Janine also made day trips throughout the San Francisco Bay area. Highlights included visiting the Russian River Brewery and getting a lower-back tattoo of a semi-colon.
Anne Hanssen and friend Linda Smith of San Diego, Calif., made a five-day trip throughout Southeast, visiting towns they had never seen: Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg. Highlights included taking a jet boat ride to LeConte Glacier and a Misty Fjords trip outside of Ketchikan.
Fireman Al Badgley is seeking volunteers to portray victims during an emergency drill here Sept. 7 that will bring as many as 100 emergency responders from out of town. The exercise will include setting up seven portable hospitals around town. To help, contact Badgley at 766-2115.