Mark Sogge and Cecily Stern attended daughter Caitlin Stern’s doctoral thesis defense at Cornell University’s Department of Neurobiology and Behavior. Caitlin’s presentation was entitled “Competition and Cooperation Among Relatives in Kin Neighborhoods.” She has earned her doctorate in animal behavior and will receive her degree in August, upon final submission of her dissertation. Caitlin has been invited to speak at the International Behavioral Ecology Congress at Lund University in Sweden in August. Following the conference, Caitlin will relocate to Chapel Hill, N.C. to begin a post-doctoral research position at the University of North Carolina.
Former resident Juge Gregg was in Haines with family and friends to celebrate his 40th birthday. He traveled with wife Katherine and daughter Cooper from their home in Washington, D.C., where Juge is an environmental lawyer. They were joined by two of Juge’s college roommates from Stanford University and their families, several friends and Katherine’s sister and brother-in-law, also from Washington, D.C. Juge’s brother, Rashaan Gregg, came in from Portland. The group occupied the family’s Fort Seward Condos and made time for a tour of the Takshanuk Trail and flightseeing with Paul Swanstrom. Juge’s father, Tresham Gregg, cooked up salmon on the beach, a family tradition.
Space is vailable for the Thunder Mountain Soccer Camp in Haines. Coach Carly Lehnhart will be returning to Haines for her fifth season. Carly graduated this year from the University of San Francisco. Carly’s brother Jackson Lehnhart will also coach. Both coaches have been playing soccer “our whole lives,” says Carly. Jackson is entering his senior year at Juneau Douglas High School. He earned a place on the state all-tournament team this year and was Gatorade Player of the Year Runner Up. Camp runs from June 18 through June 22 for intermediate players ages 7 to 14, “wee” players ages 5 to 7 and “PreWee” players ages 3 and 4. A second week option for intermediate and “wee” camp participants runs June 24 to June 29. Call Courtney Culbeck in Haines at 766-3346.
A group of Haines runners participated in the Skagway Marathon Saturday. Marnie Hartman said ideal conditions included mild temperatures and no rain. The course started at the ferry terminal and went to Dyea, a mostly gravel route, with turns and hills. About 60 runners from Whitehorse, Y.T. missed the race due to mudslides that closed the Klondike Highway. Jess Kayser of Haines took first of 31 competitors in the women’s division of the half-marathon, in 1:41:21. Ralph Borders was the only Haines man to complete the half marathon and finished in 1:45:32. Other Haines finishers in the half-marathon included: Marnie Hartman, 1:54:56 (7); Jennifer Walsh, 1:57:40 (12); Alisa Beske, 1:59:22 (13); Elise Lammers, 2:12:10 (22); Colleen McGuire, 2:18:37 (25).
Friends of the Haines Borough Public Library are gearing up for its annual July 4 barbecue, bake sale and book sale. The library is accepting saleable used books, not including textbooks or manuals. Friends board member Nelle Jurgeleit-Greene is recruiting volunteers to set up in the morning and flip burgers throughout the sale, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tlingit Park. Jacque Horn is organizing volunteer bakers. Hundreds of cookies, brownies and cupcakes are sold each year. To volunteer, call the library at 766-2545.
Haines writers got a stroke in a June 7 Juneau Empire article about the recent North Words Writers Symposium in Skagway. Clint J. Farr, who penned a piece about the conference, wrote that Haines writer Heather Lende was “wise and well-spoken” and belongs to a group of Haines residents who’ve discovered the Fountain of Youth. “Haines attendees were ageless and fit people. Only their gray hair and discussions of grandchildren hinted at an age north of 40. Want to stay young? Become a working writer and move to Haines,” Farr wrote.
Whitehorse musicians Nicole Edwards and Annie Avery performed a jazz concert at a Dalton City restaurant Saturday. About 35 people were on hand to hear the duo, whose performance included selections to honor Cole Porter’s birthday. They were joined on stage by guest chanteuse Julia Scott. Julia’s mom, Lawanda Scott, who is visiting from Statesboro, Ga., was on hand to see the show. Nicole will return in July to perform at the Southeast Alaska State Fair.
The Chilkat Valley Community Foundation honored donors at a Sunday afternoon cookout hosted by Stan and Kathy Jones at their golf course. Over 50 people attended the friendly event, including Alaska Community Foundation staffer Babbie Jacobs. CVCF board member Toni DeWitt provided fresh king salmon, grilled up by Bob Duis and Mark Cozzi, along with burgers and hot dogs. Program committee member Georgiana Hotch served up the meal and dished up homemade desserts provided by board members. CVCF will welcome new board members Chip Lende and Mary Jane Valentine at their next meeting. Guests tried their skills on the putting green and Stan Jones gave tours of the course.
The Haines Little League season is under way. Twenty-five boys and girls ages 9-12 are playing. Support the players at weekly games Thursdays and Fridays, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the field on the fairgrounds. T-ball for ages 5-8 started last week. With 20 players signed up, there’s room for additional players. Practices are Tuesdays, and games, Wednesdays. Contact Susan Weerasinghe about registration. Local league organizers will host the Southeast regional Little League tournament starting in mid-July. With up to seven teams in the tournament, organizers Ralph Swinton and Ashley Sage are looking for volunteers to provide housing, and help with grounds maintenance, scoring and umpiring.
Amélie and Marion Laurin were on a four-month trip in Australia when they looked at a map of South and North America without national boundaries. They traced a line from the southern tip at Ushuaia to northernmost Alaska. “It just sounded good,” said Amélie, relaxing at the Mud Bay Road home of Chip and Heather Lende on Sunday, 20 months and 20 countries into their journey and closing in on their final destination, Prudhoe Bay. The Parisian sisters hitchhiked and couch-surfed most of the way. “When you hitchhike, you meet local people. You learn from them,” Amélie said. Highlights have included rock climbing and snowboarding in Sierra Mountains and earning diving certificates in Belize. On the down side, Amélie was mugged in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and they’ve eaten a lot of bad, road food. “We miss French food and mom’s food a lot,” Amélie said. The pair read Heather’s first book, “If You Lived Here, I’d Know Your Name,” while traveling in Wyoming. They plan on writing a book about their adventures. Their French language blog, including photos, is at http:terresdame-riques.blogs.nouvelobs.com.
Puppeteer Byrne Power is trying to raise $16,000 for a documentary by June 22. He’s holding a night of puppets and music to raise funds, 7 p.m. June 21 at his place. Call 766-3647.