Charlie Lou Katzeek was born at 4:23 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Bartlett Regional Hospital to parents Hannah Blilie and Tom Katzeek. She weighed seven pounds and eleven ounces, and measured 20 inches long. Grandparents are Jim and Mery Blilie, and Jan and Les Katzeek.
Six Haines High School students have been chosen to perform in the All-State Music Festival. Seniors Zane Durr (Bass II) and Destinee Cowart (Alto I), juniors Dylan Palmieri (Bass II), Madeline Andriesen (Soprano II) and Rachel Haas (Soprano II), and sophomore Sarah Long (Soprano II) will travel to Anchorage Nov. 19-20. Sophomore Dalton Klinger and senior Victoria Hansen are alternates. School music director Jason Muccino said he is proud of the students, as the process for selection is very challenging.
Former Haines resident Scot Nichols had surgery on Friday, Oct. 9, after recently being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Scot’s mother-in-law Debi Knight Kennedy, Gene Kennedy and friend Melina Shields traveled to Bellingham, Wash., to support Scot and his family. Scot is married to Knight Kennedy’s daughter, Coleus Taylor, and the two have a 3-year-old son, Finn. Friend Leslie Lekos set up a fundraising site for the family at http://www.youcaring.com, which is also the place to find updates on Scot’s condition. Cards and letters can be sent to 4130 Angela Ct., Bellingham, WA 98229.
Chandler Kemp is helping former Haines House Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins build a tiny, energy-efficient house in Sitka. The two are shopping around for affordable local lumber and salvaged materials, and the house will be heated with an air-source heat pump. Jonathan will own the house and may live in it, but it may be used for other purposes, like temporary housing for people who participate in one of Sitka’s fellowship programs.
The Haines Chapter of the Friends of the National Rifle Association held their first fundraiser Oct. 3, attended by about 70 people. Members of the Haines Hot Shots, a youth target-shooting group, served dinner, made by Sandra Martin’s Five Daughters Catering. Tyrell Horton won the “gold ticket gun,” a Ruger Precision 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. About 12 guns and other prizes, including four African safaris, were won. Tim Horton and Nicole Horton Holm are co-chairs of the Haines Chapter of the NRA, and Janis Horton is secretary. Nicole said the event’s highlight was the live auction of a copper tray with a 3D eagle, which was purchased solely for the purpose of presenting the tray to the oldest veteran in the room. Chris Thorgesen won the bid.
Norm Smith visited daughter Isobel Smith at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., last week. The pair attended a seminar on extraterrestrials, saw an a cappella performance and enjoyed ethnic food. On the way back to Haines, Smith stopped in Seattle to visit former Haines resident Dennis Skaugrud. Isobel is a sophomore studying environmental sciences and studio art. She will be studying abroad at the University of Glasgow beginning in January.
Haines People for Peace recently held its annual International Day of Peace celebration at the library. The event included a performance by Sue Libenson, Russ White, Ron Jackson and Johnny White, who temporarily shed their HAL’s Pals identity to become the Peace Pals. The group attempted a rendition of “War, What is it Good For?” by Edwin Starr. George Figdor collected quotes from notable pacifists on cards that were read in between songs. The event, attended by about 40 people, also included a film, talking circle and 10 varieties of “peace cookies.”
Betty Ewing-DeWitt recently had a large family gathering in Haines. Betty’s son David Ewing and his wife Kelly made the trip from Camas Valley, Ore. Other attendees included Betty’s grandson Lando Peters, his wife Elsie and their son Daniel, and Betty’s grandson Joe Ludlam, his wife Janine and their daughter Piper. Betty’s daughters Patricia Peters and Joann Simpson also took part in the reunion. Betty said David and Jack Smith went up Flower Mountain on a four-wheeler, and the group enjoyed shopping, visiting friends and reuniting with former classmates.
Jackie Mazeikas worked her last day at SEARHC last week after more than eight years of employment, including the past five years as the domestic violence health educator and project coordinator. Funding for Mazeikas’ domestic violence grant ended on Sept. 30 and SEARHC offered her a position under a new grant, but the new position focused more on data collection and administrative work rather than directly helping people, so she turned it down. Mazeikas said she will be devoting more time to Becky’s Place, a safe house for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Becky’s Place has a new office at Room 27 in the Gateway Building. The new phone number is 766-2105.
Ten Haines High School students took a four-day college and tech school tour with wood shop teacher Darwin Feakes and guidance counselor Kristen Brumfield last week. Seniors Autumn Gross, Destinee Cowart, Corrina Hill, Matthew Green, Bailey Stuart, Shantel Lockhart, Hannah Thomas and Chelsey Hart, along with juniors Shaye Otton and Jordan Stigen, toured the campuses of University of Alaska – Anchorage, Alaska Pacific University and the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) in Seward. They visited the departments students had interest in, including computer science, culinary arts, marine sciences and heavy equipment operation.
Lynn Canal Counseling Services social worker Suzanne Vuillet-Smith said the first “Gathering for Veterans” drew about six people on Oct. 1 at the American Legion. Another gathering is set to be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. Vuillet-Smith said the get-togethers are for veterans to chat about whatever they want, including their war experiences. At the first gathering, veterans talked about the difficulty of coming home, long-term physical and emotional injuries and their views on current wars. Vuillet-Smith said she hopes to hold the group session twice a month. Call 766-6379 for more information.