For the first time, Haines High School offered a Certified Nurses Aide course to students. Beginning in March, high school students Malia Jorgenson-Geise, Grace Long Godinez, and MacKenzy Dryden participated in a semester-long CNA course in partnership with the University of Alaska Southeast. The program includes online classroom instruction, lab training, and skills practice, which was completed with help from SEARHC nurses Keely Baumgartner and Amber Long, and 40 hours of clinical experience at Peace Health Hospital in Ketchikan. Jorgensen-Geisse and Long-Godinez are in Ketchikan this week to complete their 40-hour clinical experience. Students who complete this program will be eligible to take the State of Alaska Nurse Aide Examination for Certification. Baumgartner and Long said they hope that the training will prompt more interest in CNA certification at the school and within the community.
Longtime Haines businesswoman and former city councilor Lynda Walker (79) passed away on April 26 in Albany, Oregon after “a long battle with respiratory issues,” her brother Gary Bender said. There will be a full obituary next week.
Judy Erekson notes with sadness that her father, former Mayor Mike Case (90) died “peacefully” at the Palmer Pioneer Home in May. The CVN will have his obituary next week.
The Friends of the Library are once again serving brats and cold drinks at the Fourth of July picnic in Tlingit Park. They could use some helpers. If you’d like to volunteer before (for the set up) after (clean-up) or during, they would love to have you. Please contact Heather Lende at 907-314-0273 or leave a message at the library for the Friends.
Archbishop Andrew Bellisario, C.M. of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau was in Haines May 6 and 7 to visit Sacred Heart Parish. He confirmed teen parishioners Mary Bell and William Reynolds Davis during the celebration of Sunday Mass. At the same Mass, Lucy Bell, and Jonah, Lylah, and Hazel Wray received the Holy Eucharist for the first time. Father Michael Ko, the Priest for Haines and Skagway, celebrated the Mass. The Mass was followed by a reception. The Archbishop, who is currently serving as the Archbishop for all of Alaska, enjoyed the change of pace while he was in Haines.
Haines Borough Water Sewer Supervisor Dennis Durr won the Alaska Water Wastewater Management Association’s Marty Lang Award. The award recognizes water professionals “who accomplish the most with limited resources.” Mayor Douglas Olerud recognized Durr at Tuesday’s regular assembly meeting.
Haines Assisted Living hosted its first Ice Cream Social since the pandemic. HAL’s office and housing manager Symaron Naeco Marquardt said the event hosted around 25 people, ranging in age from crawling babies to more than 90. Visitors included Jenny Lyn Smith, Susan Tandy, and Nicole Lorentz, and children. They served strawberry swirl, fudge swirl, and vanilla in a cup or cone with a variety of toppings. The Ice Cream Social was the great love and tradition of HAL founder Lucy Harrell. Marquardt says the event will continue to be held on the first Sunday of every month (as per Harrell’s tradition) at 2 p.m. and all ages are welcome. “The elders at HAL love seeing their community. It was an absolute joy to bring Harrell’s favorite event back to life and to see such a great turnout,” Marquardt said.
Haines students hosted their spring music program. Performances were held at the Chilkat Center on Wednesday and Thursday. Grades 6 through 12 band and choir were led by teacher Matt Davis. The show concluded with an “all band” finale, performing Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite.” Grades kindergarten through five were led by music teacher Jennifer Johnson in their spring-themed program. Thursday was Johnson’s last concert with the Haines School, as she will be moving to Minnesota this summer.
Girls on the Run held a bake sale on Tuesday during their practice. The girls and their families made an assortment of treats and set up by First National Bank Alaska and Haines Brewing Company. Lila Tarleton, Lani and Silvia Lynch, Jersey Beck, Yarona Jacobson, Meg Davis, Kayci Ferrin, Brinley Ganey, Ivy Elliott, and Mackenzy Wright helped raise $505. All proceeds will be donated to HARK. Head coach Kari Aynn Johnson said she appreciated the support of the community and the girls were great at getting sales.