Eddy Howard Harmon was born at 5:12 p.m. on Sept. 13 to Alisa Beske and Bryan Harmon at Bartlett Beginnings Family Birth Center in Juneau. Eddy weighed 6 lbs., 4 oz., and measured 20 inches. Bryan was on hand to announce their new arrival as a boy. Alisa hailed friends Heidi and Dennis Hall of Juneau whose loan of an apartment at Auke Lake made all the difference while awaiting the birth. Visiting grandparents include Lee and Sara Beske of Mankato, Minn., and Sally Harmon of St. Charles, Ill.
Paul Hearn of Haines is leading the Haines Sportsman’s Association annual coho derby with a 12.2-pound silver salmon turned in Sept. 29. Steve Anderson of Haines holds second and third places with 11-pound and 10.85-pound coho caught Sept 23 and Sept. 25, respectively. The derby continues through Oct. 29. To enter, buy a derby ticket at a local sporting goods store previous to fishing.
Natasha Fitzpatrick has moved “The Last Call,” her facetious phone booth near 25 Mile, to a spot a half-mile west on the Haines Highway. Look closely to see it. Natasha sold the previous phone booth location, including property across the road featuring the “Honeymoon Hotel,” the propped-up remains of a dilapidated cabin that’s a favorite of photographers. Alaska Power and Telephone removed the last phone booth from Haines more than a decade ago.
Cheryl McRoberts has stepped down from the American Bald Eagle Foundation. McRoberts worked for the foundation for 14 years, including 11 as executive director. Ashley Bivin, the foundation’s curator of collections and exhibits, has been named interim executive director. Ali Gustavson, the foundation’s education manager, will oversee the organization of the upcoming Bald Eagle Festival.
Ralph and Jan Borders are enjoying life in Lake Stevens, Wash., including proximity to the rails-to-trails Centennial bike path, fresh produce, and a variety of restaurants. They moved in July. “People asked me how I would handle all the rain,” Ralph said. “We’ve had a half-inch in the last 110 days. I tell them I’m getting used to it.” They’re looking forward to visits to Jan’s daughter in Kauai, Hawaii. Ralph lived 49 years in Alaska, working as a butcher and public works superintendent in Haines. Thanksgiving will mark the couple’s fourth anniversary. Drop a card to them at 11713 32nd St. NE, Lake Stevens, Wash. 98258.
Stop by the Haines public library on any Friday afternoon in October to try your hand at one of Heidi Robichaud’s hand-made, wooden jigsaw puzzles. They’ll be out from 3-5 p.m. The puzzles are made from local wood and feature different-sized pieces and shapes for players of all ages. Using a scroll saw, Heidi incorporates various designs and patterns, including Alaskan and African animals and sea life.
Cliff Miller and two Juneau buddies are off to New Zealand to retrieve Sedna, the 38-foot cutter-rigged sailboat that Cliff and wife Giselle sailed in 2018. The first leg of the trip will be a 17-23 day voyage to Tahiti. The trio will be leaving at the end of October when weather conditions for the trip are most favorable. The optimal sailing route for wind patterns is about 2,600 nautical miles.
Max Graham finished midway through the pack of 59 runners at the Girdwood Trail Marathon on Saturday. The course started at the Alyeska Resort Day Lodge and climbed to over 3,000 feet elevation on the area’s dirt trails and bike paths. Max celebrated the completion of his first marathon with a fried chicken dinner at the legendary Double Musky Inn.
A celebration of life for Mark Stevens was held Sept. 18 at the Haines ANB Hall. Stevens died at Providence Hospital in Anchorage on July 4 after suffering a heart attack. He was 65. An obituary will be published next week.
Kathy Nelson of Eau Claire, Wis. is in town this week, visiting sister Sue Waterhouse. A theater buff, Kathy is helping out Sue, producer of this weekend’s performance of “Mamma Mia” by the Lynn Canal Community Players. Kathy also was here in 2018 for the players’ dramatic production of the Princess Sophia shipwreck disaster. Kathy enjoys pickleball and charity quilting.