A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6 at the Presbyterian Church for former town librarian and longtime resident Marge Matthews. Matthews died May 8 in Boise, Idaho. She was 91. A full obituary will be published in next week’s CVN.
Haines Borough tourism director Leslie Ross led a group of national media representatives on a whirlwind tour of Haines Saturday. The group included Maureen Petrosky (Cake & Whiskey, Whiskey Advocate, CNN), Vanessa McIntyre (Food Network), Kristi Kaiser (Inspiration Kitchen, Daily Meal) and representatives from the public relations firm Thompson & Co. The writers toured the Haines Brewing Company and enjoyed a private tasting at the Port Chilkoot Distillery.
The Chilkat Indian Village recently held elections. Incumbent members Jeffery Klanott Sr., Joanne Spud and Jones Hotch Jr. were re-elected. Write-in candidates Marsha Warner and Christopher Hotch also were elected. Other tribal board members include Ella Nash, Tony Strong and Teresa Katzeek. Jones Hotch Jr. is the tribe’s president. Brian Willard is the acting tribal administrator.
John Hagen traveled to Anchorage last week to receive a Rasmuson Foundation 2015 Individual Artist project award for his photography. The foundation presented 25 project awards and 10 fellowships, chosen from more than 300 applicants. Hagen will use the $7,500 grant for transportation and tuition at workshops in New Mexico and Maine, where he will focus on digital printing. While in Anchorage for the awards ceremony, Hagen connected with other Alaska artists including Skagway cartoonist Rachel Ford, Rico Worl of Juneau, TJ Young of Anchorage and Don Rearden of Bethel. Hagen also met up with former co-worker Michael Conti from his time as an intern at the Anchorage Daily News.
Hilary Williams and Dan Shepherd recently moved to Haines to take over lodging management at Fort Seward Lodge. Williams came to Alaska from Oregon in 2000 and has worked in tourism for the past decade, mainly in the Interior and around Denali National Park. This year the couple will focus on research and marketing planning for the lodge’s future, Williams said. They will not be reopening the restaurant. “Dan and I are both into local and sustainable products and would like to see food done, but not just your average Sysco orders. We have talked about late-night food, food window/cart and hope to utilize the inside and outside space for events, music and visitor information,” Williams said.
Ellen Larson retired this year from teaching at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Larson taught in the teacher education and public health programs at the university for 15 years. Before teaching in Arizona, Larson worked for 23 years as the K-8 physical education instructor and 6-8 health instructor at Haines School. Larson will still teach web classes for the university. She said she looks forward to gardening, reading for pleasure, and spending more time in Haines with family and friends.
While many visitors arrived for the 23rd Annual Great Alaska Craft Beer and Home Brew Festival via plane, ferry and automobile, Beth Bolander and a handful of Juneau friends made the journey via kayak. The group set out from Echo Cove the morning of May 19 and arrived in Haines May 22, stopping along the way near Sherman Point, Eldred Rock and Mud Bay. Bolander said the trip went smoothly except when her kayak’s pedals malfunctioned and she had to paddle across Berners Bay without steering. The group saw killer whales, sea lions and other Haines-bound kayakers along the way.
Margaret Friedenauer is leaving her position at KHNS-FM to work as the community engagement coordinator for the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. Friedenauer worked as the station’s news director for the past three years. She starts her job at SEACC in mid-June, but will continue to live in Haines and work remotely.
Edward May launched a Kickstarter campaign to print and distribute 2,500 copies of “Alaskan Sourdough Starter” to libraries and schools across the country. May collected 27 stories of Alaskans who had lived in the state for at least 50 years and published the collection in 2014. Haines resident Erwin Hertz is featured in the book. To donate, search “Alaska Sourdough Starter” at www.kickstarter.com.
Lee and Margo Clayton recently traveled to Monterey, Calif., to attend son Donovan Clayton’s graduation from California State University. Donovan obtained a master’s of business administration with an emphasis in executive leadership. Donovan’s wife Kristine Clayton also attended the ceremony, as did Donovan’s uncle Mike Meldon and his wife Stevie of San Luis Obispo, Calif. While in California, Lee and Margo visited the shops in Carmel, Calif., and went to the Monterey Aquarium.
Crystal and Al Badgley attended son Hunter Badgley’s graduation from Whitworth University. Hunter received a bachelor of arts in theology. Hunter’s sister Serena Badgley joined her family on the way back from Valparaiso University.
The Southeast Alaska State Fair is seeking housing for visiting entertainers July 30 through Aug. 4. If you have a spare room, guest house, or mobile trailer you’d be willing to loan to a musician or performer, the fair would like to hear from you. Contact the fair office for more information at 766-2476.