Joanne Waterman recently visited friends Norm and Suzanne Vuillet-Smith and Greg and Carol Goodman in Mexico. It’s part of convalescence for Joanne, who is recovering from hip surgery. The doctor advised against walking on slippery surfaces and to avoid falls.
Master carver Wayne Price will be teaching courses in carving as well as Northwest Coast Indigenous Formline Design at the University of Alaska-Southeast this semester. Owner of Silver Cloud Art Center in Haines, Wayne has carved more than 30 traditional and non-traditional totems, as well as canoes, regalia, masks, and boxes. A carver since 1971, he apprenticed under Ed Kasko, Leo Jacobs, and John Hagen. He is a featured artist in the Egan Library Northwest Coast Art Collection.
To see what peeves seventh-graders, check out the “Declarations of Independence” students penned. They’re posted in the junior high wing. Calvin Bell declared independence from his family’s broken car. “The door is impossible to open for the rest of your life,” he wrote. C.C. Elliott declared independence from little sisters. “It is like an everlasting war in which us older siblings are losing miserably.” Orion Grimes wanted independence from picking up dog excrement. “I will make a law saying that all dogs should be potty-trained before they are bought.”
Former Haines branch manager Karl Heinz was here from Anchorage and regional manager Tom Sullivan came from Juneau as First National Bank of Alaska employees and customers celebrated Krista Lampkins’ last day on the job on Jan. 13. Festivities included story-telling, decorations, and a signature book. Krista served the Haines branch for nearly 30 years, most recently as operations supervisor.
Tracy Wirak-Cassidy is again leading “Snow School” for students from preschool through sixth grade in Haines and Klukwan. Classroom sessions in January will include lessons on winter recreation and safety, snowpack, and climate change. The field portion of the class will be held in February, including snowshoeing for youngsters through third grade and skiing for grades 4-6. Klukwan School students also will go skiing.
Ivan Hodes of Anchorage was in town this week, administering the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, a test of math, verbal, science, and technical knowledge. The test is intended to provide a snapshot of a young person’s skill levels. The 2-3 hour test is a requirement for enlistees.
Following elections in November, Craig Franke, general manager of Community Waste Solutions, is the new president of the Haines Chamber of Commerce. George Hoffman, who operates the Haines Hitch-Up RV Park, will serve as vice president. Bank manager Wendell Harren is treasurer. Effective Jan. 1, Andrew Letchworth became executive director of the business group. Sabrina Stickler and Rodney Hinson also hold board seats. Letchworth said the group’s goals include filling four, vacant board seats and hiring an assistant.
Timothy Michael Enright, who attended school in Haines in the early 1950s, died Jan. 13 in Anchorage at age 85. Survivors include Nora Enright Clayton-Krake of Haines. Enright spent most of his life in Bristol Bay, where he was a commercial fisherman. He and his wife Olga Alek were married in Chignik and raised seven children. A celebration of life was held on Jan. 20 at Bayshore Club House in Anchorage.
Mark Williams of Haines was recently diagnosed with two brain tumors. He is currently recovering from a craniotomy and awaiting results to start treatment in Anchorage. Daughter Angela Williams said Mark was recently discharged from the hospital and has been moved to patient housing. He’s there with his wife Colleen Williams. Angela thanks Haines’s friends and family members who donated to an online fund-raiser.
To make room at the Chilkat Center, KHNS is giving away a variety of LPs and CDs, including albums in boxed sets. The freebies can be found in the station lobby, upstairs in the center at Theater Drive, Fort Seward.
Nancy Nash will be offering a community choir for men and women during February and March instead of separate choirs. The combined choir will meet for one hour on Thursdays, starting at 5:15 p.m. at the Haines Senior Center adjacent to Tlingit Park. No experience is necessary. Nash said if a combined choir works, she’ll continue the effort.