Seattle magician Jeff Evans didn’t make a bowling ball appear at the kick-off party for the Haines Summer Reading Program. John Hagen Sr. did. Evans was without the prop for his trick until Hagen came forward with his 16-pound, Dick Weber signature model ball. John was a regular in the bowling leagues here that played at the Totem Bowl, today’s Fort Seward Lodge. He maintained an average of 178. John’s daughter Heather Carlton of Juneau paid him a recent visit, enjoying beach walks and a trip to the Porcupine.
Art supplies and Matchbox cars are among premiums donated for the summer reading program, “Oceans of Possibilities.” Children’s librarian Holly Davis said people have been donating to the summer program for years and recent volume increased enough to spare the library from having to buy any items for its treasure chest. “I put up my posters seeking donations and the response went way beyond my expectations,” Davis said. It’s Holly’s 23rd year leading the program.
Jennifer Norton is living in Haines once more. She left town in 2008 to work in Alaska for NOAA and other government agencies, including in Juneau.
Anna Mulyca and Tim Hannon hosted a gathering of their children May 19-23, including Alison and Millard Roscoe and grandchildren Lilly, Alivia and Laira from Schenectady, N.Y.; Nicole Ferrin from Juneau; Amy Beattie Hannon from Whitehorse, Y.T. and Jake Grimes from Brooklyn, N.Y. Anna said the group went rafting with Rainbow Glacier Adventures, took a boat ride to sea lion rock and hiked out to Battery Point. They enjoyed a burger feed at the American Legion, ate lots of seafood and cooked s’mores by a campfire. The trip was Alison’s first here in 10 years. Anna’s daughter Haley Grimes was stuck working in Albany, N.Y. and couldn’t make the trip.
Lyle and Lauren Huff enjoyed a recent trip to Brandon, Fla. to visit son Kelly and wife Rene. The couple moved from Haines to the town east of Tampa last fall. So far they’ve ducked the hurricanes. Rene, a native of Southern California, is enjoying the sunshine. She works online doing accounting for Alaska Mountain Guides. Kelly works for an equipment rental company. Lyle is now in Sitka, helping out aboard Andrew Friske’s charter fishing boat.
Haines High School graduate Celia Bower’s mountain-inspired, acrylic paintings were featured during a recent First Friday event in Juneau. Celia also created the design for Yakutat’s annual Tern Festival. Now in its 12th year, the festival celebrates one of the largest and southernmost nesting colonies of Aleutian terns and Arctic terns.
Lucy Nieboer, Amanda Painter, and Aly Martin, plus a contingent of Haines High School students and other Chilkat Valley residents made the trip up Lynn Canal for last weekend’s Skagway Pride Celebration and Drag Show. The main event, hosted by Gigi Monroe, was held at Dedman Stage at Seven Pastures and featured about a dozen drag performers. In its fourth year, the celebration included children’s activities, a photo contest, bingo and a proclamation by Skagway Mayor Andrew Cremata. Amanda and Aly traveled from Haines on paddleboards.
Tigi Asuega Mata’ali’i and his son Kalani “Mr. K” Kanahele formed a Polynesian contingent to welcome the Hawaiian sailing vessel Hokule’a into Haines Monday. Mr. K used a traditional conch-shell horn to greet the catamaran as it made the bend around Battery Point. After 80 years of study, Tigi is a 10th-degree black belt in the kenpo style of karate he calls a Hawaiian style of kung fu. He has been featured on the cover of martial arts magazines and once chopped through a 5,000-pound ice block. Breathing and the power of meditation make such feats possible, Tigi said. He’s from Torrance, Calif. and will be in town through Monday.
Tukta Panyawong enjoyed a family reunion when daughter Clara Maatz of Calgary, Alberta showed up for the graduation of her younger sister, valedictorian Alison Benda. Clara, who went by the nickname “Ice” as a Haines High School student, now works as a stockbroker. Clara visited for a week and escorted her grandmother, Kanokphorn Panyawong, back home to Bangkok, Thailand. Kanokphorn had been in town since December.
Ramona Martin is back in town. She has been busy catching up with friends including Ann Quinlan and Judy Weir.

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