Cara Jane Murray, husband Rob and their four children are moving from Sitka to Anaconda, Mont., where they’ve bought a two-story, Victorian brick home dating to 1890. The home features upstairs and downstairs porches, a courtyard and plenty of room for Cara’s art projects and the couple’s children Taylor, 18, Eva, 12, Dana, 9 and West, 2. Daughter of Keith and Cathy Houlberg, Cara is a 1999 Haines High School grad. Her colorful art – including Montana landscapes – can be found at http://www.carajanemurrayart.com.

Ken and Judy Ewald enjoyed a recent trip to Idaho and California to visit family. In the resort town of McCall, Idaho, they visited Ken’s sister Judy and enjoyed hiking and kayaking in 70-degree weather. McCall sits on scenic Payette Lake and at the center of Payette National Forest. They saw Judy’s brother Craig Scott and family in Live Oak, Calif., an hour north of Sacramento, where temperatures climbed toward the 90s.

Haines meteorologist Jim Green says precipitation is up. Through Monday, 2021 has brought 48.12 inches of precipitation to Haines, and is on track to exceed the annual town average of about 60 inches. October is typically the town’s wettest month, averaging about eight inches of precipitation. Rains pushed this month’s total to 8.14 inches at midweek. The valley’s long-term trends are difficult to track due to decades of uneven weather reporting, Green said. Extremes in precipitation since 2002 include nearly 70 inches in 2008 and 53 inches in 2019.

Ed James, industrial arts teacher and Haines Glacier Bears basketball coach from 1956 to 1968, died on Sept. 28, 2021 in Anacortes, Wash., at age 87. Family members said he suffered from chronic whole body pain. Ed lived 40 years in Alaska and served in high school principal positions in Kenai and Juneau. He is survived by Joan, his wife of 65 years. He also is survived by brother Jack James of Surprise, Ariz., by children Peggy Jo Trish, Aspen, Colo., Gene James, Friday Harbor, Wash., and Natalie Burke of Vancouver, Wash. and by three grandchildren. Joan can be reached at 360-293-1014.

 Tracy Wirak-Cassidy of Takshanuk Watershed Council is leading free nature hikes for students grades three and up from 3 to 5 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday in October. Hikes include forest ecology, like identifying mushrooms and woodpecker drill sites. Students should dress for the weather. Younger students are permitted with adult chaperones.

A potluck memorial for lifelong resident Jake Goenett will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Haines ANB Hall. Bring a main dish, side dish or dessert.

Southeast Alaska State Fair executive director Kari Aynn Johnson said a crowd of youths and adults turned out during Sunday’s respite from the rain to participate in the fair’s Highland Games event. Rebecca Kameika won the airline tickets the fair was raffling off. The fair is planning a Trunk or Treat for Halloween. The event involves community groups setting up games and booths where youngsters trick-or-treat. Call 766-2476 to reserve a booth.

Scott, Mandy and Lily Jo Ramsey paid a recent visit to Rick and Brietta Leader in Sandpoint, Idaho. They enjoyed hikes together and celebrated Rick and Brietta’s 18th wedding anniversary at Pend d’Oreille Lake. Rick and Brietta enjoy regular visits from friends they made living in Haines.

An extensive exhibit of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian robes recently featured at the Alaska State Museum can be seen online or through purchase of an exhibit catalog, said Addison Field, chief curator. “The Spirit Wraps Around You” featured 24 historic and contemporary Chilkat and Ravenstail robes, including the oldest known Chilkat robe and two contemporary robes from the Chilkat Valley. The historic robe, on loan from the Peabody-Essex Museum in Salem, Mass., dates to before 1832 and is considered one of the finest ever made. Its pattern board, on loan from Lani Hotch, was displayed beside it. Lani’s Tsirku River robe, a Ravenstail design, and the Healing Robe were among those chosen for the exhibit. The latter incorporates Chilkat and Ravenstail stylings and was created by Lani, Ruth Kasko, Edith Jacquot and Adrian Revenaugh.

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