More than 100 people stopped at the Pioneer Bar Saturday to honor Helen Tengs, 93,who has moved to Juneau’s Pioneer Home. Helen lived above the bar with daughter Christy and Bob Fowler and grandsons Chevy and Marty. Now she’ll be closer to son Tony Tengs. Helen’s niece and grand-niece Wendy and Kisa Bergstrand created floral mini-cupcakes with rosemaling and Charlie Williams made homemade fry-bread and strawberry syrup. Christy and Tony serenaded their mom with original songs. Cathy Pashigian sang one of Helen’s favorites, “Somewhere My Love.” Nancy Nash led the Haines Women’s A Capella Choir through personalized renditions of popular songs, and Helen joined Tom Heywood to sing old-time favorites. Sue Waterhouse led the Haines Marching Band through the party. Helen was surrounded by friends Joan Snyder, Ann Quinlan, Doris Peck, Marilyn Wilson, and Josie Johnson.
Trudy Hebert, who taught grades 1-8 at Haines School, died in Mesa, Ariz., June 12. She was 103. Trudy came to Haines in 1948 with husband Hans and sons Budd, Gary and Den Hebert. Trudy and Hans lived at 1.7 Mile Mud Bay Road and built the “pink house” there. The family moved in 1974 to become missionaries for the World Presbyterian Church. Donations in Trudy’s name can be sent to University Presbyterian Church, 139 E. Alameda Dr., Tempe, Ariz. 85282.
Team Trois Rivieres, including Tim Hockin of Haines, Sam Best, Skagway, Kate Meemken, South Haven, Minn., and Sarah Waterman, Saint Joseph. Ill., raced their canoe to the midnight sun in the 2019 Yukon River Quest June 26-29. They finished second among mixed 4-person teams; 118 teams made the 444-mile journey from Whitehorse, Y.T. to Dawson City. Team Trois Rivieres placed 22nd overall.
A team of Haines softball players finished second of 12 teams in Skagway’s annual co-ed softball tournament. Teams came from Skagway, Juneau, Haines and Whitehorse, Y.T. to play. The Haines squad included Liz Segars, Holly Irwin, Kate Newton, Ariel Venglar, Amber Winkle, Olivia Duner, Gwen Foust, Cassandra Nash, Daniel Stickler, Adrian Nash, Brian Elliott, Tom Ward, James Hart, Jesse McGraw, Daniel Klanott, and Jeffrey Klanott.
Anna Jacobson is in town with friend Chris Naughton. They live in Santa Barbara, Calif. They’ve been spending time with Glen, Alison, Libby and Ketch Jacobson and wake-boarding, hiking, and kayaking. They saw orcas while hiking out to Battery Point. They leave this week to attend Fran Daly and Alex Van Wyhe’s wedding in Copper Center July 7.
There is a full house at Jenny Lyn and Bruce Smith’s home. Daughter Azure and husband Matt Jensen are here for six weeks from Fort Worth, Texas with children Wade, 16, Camden, 10, and Tori, 7. Matt’s brother Andrew Jensen of Grand Rapids, Mich., and friend Mark Ryan from Florida are here visiting. Last week Matt, Andrew, Mark and Wade hiked the Chilkoot Trail. Azure’s friend Loree Spencer and her children Max, 15, and Madeline, 11, of Cincinnati, Ohio have also joined the group. They’ve been hiking, fishing and swimming.
Vaughn Avery visited old friends this week. He recently returned from spending three months in El Salvador where he was teaching theater and producing plays with a group of young adults. The troupe wrote and performed about gangs and violence in their country. Vaughn will next be headed to Eugene, Ore.
Betty Richter of Sitka was in town last week, helping out sister-in-law Holly Davis and volunteering at the Presbyterian Church’s Vacation Bible School.
Haines Friends of Recycling will be on hand at the Fourth of July picnic at Tlingit Park to keep the event earth-friendly. Call Melissa Aronson at 766-2185 to help out.
The summer is bringing together the Hays family. Mori will be in town next week to hike the Chilkoot Trail with his family. He’s a sophomore at University of Alaska-Fairbanks studying mechanical engineering. Mom Yuko Hays is in her third year of studying art at Philadelphia’s Studio Incamminati. Mori’s older brother Kai Hays is here for summer work. Yuko and husband Ed Hays will be in town into August.
Larry and Jeanne Beck celebrated their 26th anniversary recently watching daughter Jayda Beck play little league baseball. Jayda pitches, catches and plays first base.