Nicole Horton Holm recently flew to San Diego, Calif., to pose in a patriotic outfit for Haus of Volta’s annual pin-up calendar. Haus of Volta is a collective designed to generate positive body image and a positive outlook on life after breast cancer. At 30 and just before her husband Tim Holm was deployed, Nicole was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. Stori Nagel, chief executive officer of Haus of Volta, asked Nicole to pose for the calendar after the two met at a Young Survival Coalition Summit in 2015.
The Haines Bridge Club hosted a three-day American Contract Bridge League sectional last weekend, drawing 50 participants from Haines, Juneau, and Whitehorse and Dawson, Y.T. Irene Szabla, a perennial attendee, made the trip from Nova Scotia. Gregg Bigsby organized a dinner with two large prime ribs and fresh halibut Saturday. Results after three days of competition included: Chris Bookless and Mark Davey of Whitehorse, Y.T., 1st; Chic Callas and Wayne Tuck of Whitehorse, Y.T., 2nd; Fred Shields and Roger Schnabel, 3rd; Bob and Sally Lix, 4th; Henry Wong and Frank Holmes, 7th; and Bigsby and Stan Jones, 8th. Prior to Friday night’s session, attendees paid tribute to the late John and Erma Schnabel, who enjoyed and supported the game.
The spring weather in Seattle couldn’t have been better for Judy Erekson, who took a quick trip by herself to see Bonnie Raitt live at the Paramount Theatre. Judy also visited friends on a nearby island and relaxed in the sunshine while being entertained by several species of ducks, song birds, herons, eagles and frogs.
Haines High School 2009 graduate and Drama, Debate and Forensics standout Ryan Smalley won the Flagstaff Poetry Grandslam for the third year in a row at the Firecreek Coffee Company. Winners from the local competition will travel to Decatur, Ga., as part of the FLAGSLAM 2016 team to represent Flagstaff, Ariz., at the national level.
Four representatives from the American Legion Lynn Canal Post 12 traveled to Wasilla last weekend for the American Legion’s Department of Alaska 97th Annual Convention at the Susitna Valley Post 35. John Newton, Terry Pardee, Bill Rostad and Ralph Strong attended the convention, which included lectures, live music and meetings with national-level American Legion officials such as national commander Dale Barnett of Georgia. The statewide convention will be held in Haines in April 2017, Newton said. The convention was held in Haines about nine years ago and drew 200 people, he said.
Al and Crystal Badgley joined 10 relatives for a five-night cruise to Mexican ports. The cruise, which began and ended in Galveston, Texas, was in honor of Al’s uncle Niles Brill’s 95th birthday. Former Haines residents Frank and Lola Putnam, who now live in Washington, were also on the trip. The cruise included stops in Progreso and Cozumel, where the group toured the Mayan ruins of Uxmal and went paddleboarding and snorkeling. Crystal said they unknowingly bought their shore excursions from Mexico Adventure Guides, and met up with former Haines resident Jason Gaffney, who is president of the company.
Linda Huber is organizing a cleanup of 16 Mile Haines Highway as part of the Chamber of Commerce’s Community Cleanup on Saturday, April 30. Huber said she will be out at 9 a.m., but people can stop by at any time to lend a hand. Huber said the area, which in the past has been popular for fishing and camping, is now littered with broken bottles, old televisions and other large pieces of dumped junk.
Tony Haack took first place in Saturday’s Hole 19 Earth Day Disc Golf Tournament at the Raven’s Bowl Arena in Dalton City. Dennis Durr placed second and Jeremy Reed was third. Joshua Benassi and Cassie Miller organized the event to commemorate Earth Day and the opening of their new business, Hole 19, which sells disc golf supplies, local art and marijuana paraphernalia. The event also featured three “mini-games,” including “Ring of Fire” (won by Jacob Brown-Beach), a non-dominant hand toss challenge (won by Benassi) and longest drive (won by Durr).
Norm Smith flew to Minneapolis, Minn., to pick up a new vehicle and drive it back to Haines. Before he headed back north, Smith made a pit stop in Albion, Neb., to visit stepmother Donna Smith and her three sisters. Donna taught elementary school in Skagway. Smith spotted golden eagles, hawks, antelope, mule deer, buffalo and Dall sheep on the 3,600-mile road trip. Highlights included paying $2.13 per gallon or less for gas in the Lower 48 and finding a stellar Mexican restaurant in Spearfish, S.D.
Maggie Stern drove her “sprout-mobile” into town this week, following adventures in Hawaii, Texas, Missouri and Wisconsin. Stern spent 10 weeks on Hawaii’s Big Island building a hut south of Captain Cook and selling fruit and hair extensions at the South Kona Farmer’s Market. In Austin, Texas, she had her van converted for her wheatgrass business and visited Emily Keefer-Cowles and Joan and Mark Sizemore. She acquired a new dog, Chaga, in Austin before heading to Columbia, Mo., to lead a vegan food preparation class and wheatgrass workshop. Following a visit home to see mom Patricia Timm and dad Cliff Stern in Waupaca, Wis., she pointed her van to Bellingham, Wash. and the ferry to Haines.
Local media took home a slew of awards at the Alaska Press Club conference in Anchorage last weekend. The KHNS news team won first place in Best Daily News program, and reporter Emily Files won first in Best Government and Political Reporting, second in Education Reporting and second in Feature Reporting. KHNS news director Jillian Rogers won third place for Best Single Story Reporting. CVN reporter Karen Garcia, Rogers and Files attended the conference.
The Chilkat Valley Preschool’s May Day Celebration has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 14, due to weather. The event will be held at 1 p.m. at Tlingit Park.