Whitney Morgan O’Brien was born 6:39 p.m. April 9 to Lucinda Boyce and Billy O’Brien at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. She weighed 8 lbs., 11 oz. and measured 20 inches. Lucinda and Billy chose Fairbanks for the delivery to stay with Lucinda’s sister Ellie Boyce and husband Andy Mahoney. New grandmom Annie Boyce and Paul Swift drove north for Whitney’s arrival. Lucinda, Billy and Whitney have moved into the 6 Mile Haines Highway cabin where Lucinda grew up in. She works via computer in medical records and Billy is employed by Western Towboat. They report Whitney has a healthy set of lungs.
Lena James Lorentz was born 3:19 p.m. April 21 to Nicole and David Lorentz at Baylor White and Scott Medical Center in McKinney, Texas. She weighed 6 lbs., 10 oz. and measured 18.75 inches. The couple went to Texas for the birth to share the occasion with Nicole’s mom Cheryl Stickler and Kurt Heinrich in nearby Little Elm, Texas. Nicole said the family enjoyed great health care, temperatures in the 80s and 90s, and about 16 different playgrounds in the area. Lena joins siblings Isla, 4, and Porter, 2.
Lee Hart of Haines Economic Development Council and Erika Merklin of Mosquito Lake School and Community Center attended Sustainable Southeast Partnership’s spring retreat last weekend. They networked with representatives of Native organizations and nonprofits who are involved in sustainability projects throughout Southeast. Projects in the region stand to receive considerable funding through federal Build Back Better legislation.
Tourism director Steve Auch is recruiting residents to be part of a welcoming party for the Serenade of the Seas, the first large cruise ship to visit Haines since 2019. It ties up to Port Chilkoot Dock at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12. To help out, contact Steve at 766-6418.
Alaska Community Foundation last week gave its Leadership in Grant-Making Award to Liz Heywood of the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation. The award recognizes an affiliate advisory board member who provides leadership in “thoughtful and strategic grant-making strategies that serve the broader needs of the community.” The award was one of several given to board members of ACF affiliates around the state and comes with a $1,000 grant Liz can make to a local nonprofit. ACF said: “Liz was instrumental in helping establish the CVCF Emergency Response Fund and her in-depth knowledge of local nonprofits, Haines history and connections with residents enables (her) to lead CVCF’s efforts in creating equitable, widespread support for the diverse nonprofits serving the community.”
Art students Aubrey Cook, Marin Hart, Sal Chapell and Koa Doddridge traveled with teacher Giselle Miller to the Southeast student art festival, held this year in Klawock. Each of the students took two intensive art courses taught by Prince of Wales artists and art teachers from around Southeast. Classes offered include pine needle basketry, beaded moccasin-making, metal engraving and feast spoon-carving. Teachers included Klawock Native elder Warren Peale and Klawock school teacher and totem carver John Rowan. Giselle taught wire sculpture.
Haines High School senior Sadie Anderson played in the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star Game April 15-16 at Grace Christian High School. The event is an opportunity for college coaches and scouts to see the state’s best players in action. Sadie’s team lost by a score of about 110-90. Sadie averaged about 15 points per game in her final year as a Glacier Bear. Sadie plans to pursue a hairdresser’s license next year in Montana or Idaho.
Haines computer teacher Sam McPhetres was only 11 years old but he remembers when his dad Stephen McPhetres, during a dedication ceremony at the Haines pool, handed Sam his wallet. “Hold on to this,” the Haines school superintendent told his son. “I think I might get thrown into the pool.” A photo of the dripping school superintendent made the cover of the April 29 Lynn Canal News. Former Haines Borough Mayor Bob Henderson and school board member Archie Hinman threw him in. Superintendent in Haines from 1969-1986, Steve spearheaded the pool project. Friends of the Pool celebrated the pool’s 40th birthday Saturday with an all-day swim, pancakes, a birthday cake and hamburgers. About 200 people turned out.
Haines High School class of 2013 graduate Royal Henderson formally will be inducted to the Alaska High School Hall of Fame on May 15 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. Henderson served three years as president of the Haines High School student body and made history by becoming the youngest elected official in Haines (and in the state of Alaska at the time) when he was elected to the Haines Borough School Board in his senior year. As student body representative, Royal raised money for an African orphanage and successfully appealed for school policy changes. He was named to the Hall of Fame in 2020 but COVID-19 delayed the official ceremony.
The Big Brothers-Big Sisters program of Haines has three male youths, including an Alaska Native youth, awaiting adult mentor volunteers. Men or couples are eligible to serve as Bigs in these matches. Match support specialist Sarah Elliott said couples needn’t be married to qualify as Bigs. For more information, contact Sarah at 907-223-9622 or [email protected].

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