A website through CaringBridge has been set up for Song Nash, who is receiving treatment for stomach cancer in Seattle, said wife Amy Nash. CaringBridge is an organization that offers personalized websites to individuals in need of medical treatment. For updates on Song’s condition, go to http://www.caringbridge.org and type in the name “Song Nash.” Visitors also can post messages of support for the couple on the site. Amy wrote the first update earlier this week. You can also send notes of encouragement to Song at: 17303 Fremont Ave. N., Shoreline, Wash. 98133.
Nicki Hopper enjoyed an early 90th birthday celebration at Haines Assisted Living Saturday with about 20 guests including family members, friends, and staff members. Daughter Randa Szymanski brought Nicki’s baby book, birth announcement, and old photos of her mother. Daughter Nancy DeCherney of Juneau made an angel food cake. Other family members in attendance included son Thad Hopper and wife Lynn Meyers of Spokane, Wash., granddaughters Anna Hubbard and Genny Rietze, great-grandson Hugh Rietze, and Nancy’s husband John DeCherney. Grandchildren who were gone fishing during the celebration plan to be in town for Nicki’s actual birthday on July 26.
About 24 people and a handful of dogs went on Sunday’s community Mount Ripinsky hike, said Paul Swift, who publicized the outing. Hikers ranged from 6-year-old Calvin Bell to Swift, 79. The group took different routes, and about 17 reached the summit. The hike took about six hours, including the stops for snacks. The “absolutely beautiful” day started out cloudy, but the blowing, damp fog cleared up, and the sun shone for the rest of the hike, Paul said.
Krista Kielsmeier attended the Northwest Clerks Institute at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., June 12-17. Bob and Carol Duis’ daughter Susan Haigh of Bonney Lake, Wash. also attended, as did former resident Lily Albecker of Ketchikan. Krista then went to Victoria, B.C., with parents Linda and Jerry Kielsmeier of Johnston, Iowa, as well as aunts Patricia Coy and Jean Leth, and uncle Gordon Leth, all of Iowa. In Haines, former college classmate Joseph Lyons from Spain visited Krista. A remote reporter for the website Bustle, Joseph wrote articles while in town, hiked Mount Ripinsky, and kayaked. Krista then helped Tracy Cui move to Redmond, Wash. with dog Echo and cat Xiaogou. The highlight of the four-day drive was getting a free tire repair in Fort Nelson, B.C., on July 4 as a holiday gift from a Canadian mechanic, Krista said.
Bri Rambles of Skagway was in town for the weekend to visit former Haines roommate Kyle Yarbrough. While kayaking the southern cove of Battery Point on Monday, she and Kyle saw what appeared to be minke whales.
Sisters and former residents Clara and Amy Weishahn were in town visiting parents Ron and Cary Weishahn at their 40 Mile home, Milky Way Farm. It had been 11 years since the sisters were back at the same time. Clara and Amy visited friends, went on hikes and sketched and painted while here. Clara is a director and actress in Providence, R.I. Amy is a high school French and art teacher in a rural town in Nevada.
Dan Henry’s skit workshop drew more than 20 residents Thursday and Saturday, for instruction and ideas toward skits for September’s Historic Hysterics Skit Festival. Attendees learned about script-writing, using action and story arc. Dan’s son Charlie Henry helped with workshop drills. The skit festival is set for Sept. 9-10.