Nash Steel Stickler was born on July 14 at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital on the Big Island. He weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Parents Daniel and Corrie Stickler with big brothers Olen and Aksel decided to buck the trend and turned the baby-waiting burden into a vacation. Traditionally, expectant parents travel from Haines to Juneau, Anchorage or Sitka or even farther to be near a hospital for the birth. Of the experience, Corrie said, “We spent a month on the Big Island waiting for the baby’s arrival, enjoying the sunshine, family time and visiting with friends; and delivered a healthy baby boy.” Corrie reported that her doctor had visited Southeast Alaska multiple times to fish and two nurses from Alaska assisted at the birth. The Sticklers also have Anchorage friends who moved to the Big Island, which is an additional reason why they traveled there. Friend Shelly Sloper met the family to help out with the boys during the delivery. She flew to Hawaii from Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico where she attended the wedding of her graduate school friend.
The Mosquito Lake School Community Center hosted a Yacht Rock party on July 17. Participants were encouraged to dress like a yacht owner or marauding pirate. People enjoyed brisket by Pop Smoke Barbecue. Organizer Erika Merklin said, “We are promoting fun events which help support our food security and distribution program. Currently, we have an abundance of produce in need of harvesting. Our immediate goal is to establish a distribution system with local organizations, including Salvation Army, CIA, CIV, local churches, the Senior Center and anyone who wants to be involved in strengthening food sovereignty in the Chilkat Valley.” Volunteers continue to be needed to harvest produce at the Victory Garden Sundays 1-3 p.m. In August, MLSCC plans to host an art auction and herbal workshop with Lauren McPhun. You can learn more about the MLSCC and Victory Garden on its website: http://www.mlvictorygarden.com.
A new addition to the Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center in Klukwan displays two weavings: The Baby Eagle blanket made by Mary Willard in the early 1940s for her great-grandson Ralph Strong and The Killer Whale blanket made by Mary Willard’s daughter Jennie Warren (Warne) in the early 1960s for Mayreld Parker, who was a Presbyterian Missionary in Klukwan in the 1950s. Mayreld gifted the weaving back to the Strong and Warren families upon her death. The Baby Eagle blanket is on loan to the Heritage Center from the Strong family and the Killer Whale blanket is on loan from both the Strong and Warren families.
Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) distributed more than 50 helmets free to community members. SAIL works with the Alaska Brain Injury Network (ABIN) to distribute helmets throughout Southeast every year, but this is the first year they offered multi-sport helmets (for skateboarding, etc.) and motorcycle/snowmachine helmets, in addition to traditional bike helmets. SAIL distributed every single helmet they had in the office and noted that the snowmachine and motorcycle helmets in sizes youth to adult extra large were particularly popular. Sara Chapell of SAIL said, “We were surprised and delighted when one post on social media resulted in so many helmets getting distributed into the community.”