Neil Strauss, former New York Times, Rolling Stone, Spin, and Ear Magazine writer and author of several New York Times best sellers, brought a group of 50 men to Haines June 14 to celebrate their anniversary with Society International. According to its website, “the society is an exclusive, high-level, international personal growth, networking, and mastermind group.” After camping in Juneau, the group came to Haines aboard the Fjordland, with Glen and Libby Jacobson as their crew. Deborah Marshall, Joanie Wagner and Monica George served as guides. The evening also included “whirlwind tastings” at Haines Brewery, Port Chilkoot Distillery and Dejon Delights, followed by a private dinner at the Pilot Light Restaurant, said Carol Tuynman, a friend of Strauss’. The group walked to the Fort Seward tribal house for kirtan, a call-and-response chanting of ancient mantras, led by Melina Shields. The group left Haines early the next morning.
Joe and Sue Poor attended the Highland Games in Dawson City, Y.T., June 10-11, where they watched grandson Joshua Siau compete in traditional Scottish athletic events. Events included the caber toss, in which competitors dressed in traditional Scottish kilts throw a large pole made from a tree, as well as events in which competitors throw heavy rocks. It’s a fun spectator sport, Joe said. Joshua is living in Haines, learning commercial fishing.
Two local clan groups were selected as the lead dance group for Celebration 2018. Celebration, which takes place every two years in Juneau, is a gathering of Southeast Alaska Native peoples during which Native traditions and customs are celebrated. The Raven Lukaax.ádi, led by clan leader Nathan Jackson, and the Eagle Shangukeidí, led by clan leader David Katzeek, are clans from the Haines and Klukwan area.
About 40 attended Doris Peck’s open house in her Haines Senior Village apartment Sunday. The apartment, decorated with balloons, was blessed by Assembly of God pastor Wayne Cowart. Guests prayed, and Margaret Walsh and Diana Pyle led a song to bless the house. The apartment’s decorations include art and musical instruments collected during Doris’ 15 years in Liberia, where she worked as a missionary. Guests played croquet in the courtyard. Doris is excited about her new apartment, which includes a beautiful front lawn, she said. “It was a fun day.”
Former Haines resident Bill Hartmann was in town this week, after visiting his daughters and grandchildren in Juneau. In Haines, he visited his Oslund Drive house to decide what to do with the structure damaged in a fire two years ago. He also purchased a motor home while in town, which he plans to drive back to his Walker Lake, Nev. home. He said it’s “good to be near sea level after being at 4,000 ft. for the past 16 years.” Bill plans to drive the motor home back to Haines with wife Shelley Hartmann for a longer visit later in the summer.
Zak Little, a full-time volunteer with Youth With A Mission, is taking yearlong courses with the University of the Nations in Townsville, Australia. He is continuing his work with the people of Papua New Guinea, as well as doing mission work with residents of Townsville and Australian aboriginal people. YWAM is a worldwide organization that offers education, training, and medical aid to millions of people annually. He and other volunteers raise money to pay for food, shelter, electricity, and travel. Zak has been in Australia about two years. He has also spent time in Papua New Guinea and Canada. He plans to visit Haines in August before returning to Townsville.
Annabelle Aspinall and mother Anne Aspinall of Sydney, Australia enjoyed their 10-day visit to Haines. In addition to visiting friend Jane Pascoe, the duo went on a kayaking and ice climbing tour with Alaska Mountain Guides and took a Blanchard River and Tatshenshini raft trip in the Yukon. Shorter adventures included hiking Mount Riley, Seven Mile Saddle, and Battery Point Trail, and biking to Chilkoot Lake. Visits included to Tom Morphet‘s cabin, Kroschel Wildlife Center, and the Haines Brewery. They each pedaled a leg on Walter Clayton’s Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay team, The Flying Pirates.
Mike Ward and son Mike Ward Jr. spent Father’s Day in Oakland, Calif., where they attended Sunday’s National Basketball Association championship game. The Wards, both Cleveland Caveliers fans, “got lucky” with their seats, which were near about 50-100 other Cavs fans, said Mike Jr. Still, their cheers got drowned out by the massive crowd of Golden State fans, who continually chanted “Warrriors.” Mike Jr. has been rooting for the Cavs’ LeBron James since James joined the NBA. The Wards and other Cleveland fans exited the arena together, yelling and celebrating amidst disappointed Golden State Warrior fans. The Wards also attended an Oakland Athletics baseball game versus the Anaheim Angels earlier that day.
Tim and Sue Ackerman have returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. Highlights included taking sons J.J. and James to the National Zoo, watching Steven Galinski and Eli Williamson compete at National History Day, and spending time in grandmom Wanpen Ordonez’s garden, which was featured in the Washington Post.
Kerry and Eileen McIver competed in the Kenai Summer Solstice Hockey Tournament in Kenai June 10-12. The annual tournament is hosted by the Kenai women’s hockey team, the Kenai River Queens. The sisters play hockey for the Healy Coal Queens in the winter. Healy teammates Lori Brewer, Elizabeth Beavers, Kathy Mattila, and Megan Scoles also played.