Laurel Mercy Larson was born May 11 at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau to Kent and Beth Larson. Siblings are: Canaan, Hattie, and Lazarus. She weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces and was 19 1/4 inches long. “We feel very blessed that everything went so well,” Beth said.
Kristin White’s third-grade class worked with artist Teri Podsiki to transform students’ drawings of flowers to create a lasting tribute to Jenae Larson and David Simmons who were killed in the December Beach Road landslide.
White used her classroom funds for materials and Teri donated nearly 100 hours of labor to complete the 23 by 23-inch fused-glass square. “After the slide, our class wanted to do something special to honor Jenae and David. Jenae got to know my third graders in second grade when she was a student teacher. To honor and process the magnitude of what happened, I thought it was important to create something with both our hands and hearts. Teri’s inspiration, thoughtfulness, artistry, and work with the students produced something magnificent,” White said.
The art will be displayed in the Haines School. White said she hopes it will be yet another way for everyone to remember Larson and Simmons, and the strength, creativity and connection in our community.
The Haines library Summer Reads program kicked off on Friday May 21 following the last day of school. The Haines Friends of the Library brought Jeff Evans to town, a magician from Olympia, who wowed children and adults with his interactive magic. Children learned about how the reading logs (and subsequent prizes) work and the numerous free activities happening at the library all summer long on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, organized by librarian Holly Davis. Lunch was served to all the attending children. Kim Larson donated $200 towards the party in memory of Jenae Larson. “We know Jenae would have loved the celebration of children and reading,” Davis said. Howsers IGA donated $100 worth of refreshments. Olerud’s Market Center donated pizzas that Holly passed out to moms all over town to bake for the event. Ninety-one children have signed up to participate in the summer reading program.
Little League is back this summer. Fifty-two youth ages 8 to 14 have signed up for the two age divisions (8-11 and 12-14). The first games will be held on June 11. Each division has two teams and the games will be held back-to-back on Wednesdays and Fridays to accommodate the fishing fleet. Athletes completed a skills assessment last weekend so coaches could draft even teams. Head coaches are: Ann, Steve, and Kyle Fossman for the older players and Brian Elliott and Josh Dryden for the younger players. Volunteers are still needed to umpire and perform field maintenance plus other critical roles to make Haines Little League successful again. Reach out to any of the organizers if you have a skill you can offer: Kristin White, Todd and Amber Winkel, Susan Weerasinghe, Erica Loomis and Paul Carrington.
The Haines Presbyterian Church had its inaugural tailgate potluck for church goers and the public last Sunday. The event started at 12:45 p.m. following both of the morning services. Pastor Dana Perreard said of the event, “It came together out of a conversation about how we can start living again and an elder of the church came up with this idea. We are hopeful we will have the event again, maybe on a monthly basis, and the public is always welcome. It was a leap of faith as the morning was rainy but then the sun came out for us.”
Vacation Bible school will be held at the church June 21-25 for children in preschool through completed fifth grade. The camp is free and runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration forms can be picked up at the church. Contact Holly Davis with questions.