Sarah Warner and Christopher Latorre were married last month in Klukwan along the banks of the Chilkat River near the Jilkaat Kwaan Cultural and Heritage Center. Sarah’s parents are Troy and Marsha Warner. Marsha’s father, Ralph Strong, and aunt Lani Hotch helped Sarah return to her heritage in Klukwan after growing up in California. “My daughter loves her family and culture and wanted to get married at a place that was important to her,” said Marsha. More than 50 guests came from the lower-48 to attend the ceremony. After, guests joined dancers in the longhouse for a traditional Tlingit dance. Sarah wore a healing robe from the Raven clan while Christopher wore Lani’s robe as a promise to be adopted into the Eagle clan. A reception was later held at the American Legion.
The Southeast Alaska State Fair’s Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was a memorable one as Deb Marshall presented a lifetime membership award for the fair to Deana Stout, who has been involved with the fair since 1974 and is the current events coordinator. Volunteers and fair members dined on local sockeye salmon donated by fisherman Norm Hughes, veggies from local farms and beer from the brewery. “The meeting went well and we got lots of great feedback for next year’s fair,” said publications and outreach coordinator Amanda Randles.
Folk Singer and former resident Christy Hays enjoyed her stay in Haines last month and performed songs from her new album “River Swimmer.” She enjoyed catching up with friends Gregg Bigsby and Beth MacCready and visiting with her best friend Melina Shields. Christy hiked Mt. Riley and saw many familiar faces at the concert. “It was a wonderful stay,” she said.
Dennis and Kathy Gudmundson, and their son Kaegan have returned from Iceland where the family celebrated Dennis’s great uncle Trausti Magnússon’s 100th birthday. Trausti’s wife Hulda Jónsdóttir is 97 and they are collectively the oldest couple in Iceland. Trausti and Hulda were lighthouse keepers for many years in north Iceland and he credits his longevity to staying in shape and being outdoors. The Gudmundsons also visited northern Iceland and the northwest fjords where they visited more family.
The American Legion burger feed was especially busy last Friday when the Salvation Army hosted an ice cream social as a fundraiser for school and youth programs in the community. “I believe we raised over $1,000,” said organizer Kit Brown. The big prize, a 32-inch television, went to Quinn Taylor. “The burger feed made the most ever so far, we were crazy busy,” said Legion burger organizer Andrea Ferrin.
Preschool started this week for Chilkat Valley Preschool and Haines Head Start students. “We read a book about a raccoon at preschool that kisses his hand when he misses his mom,” said CVP student Loralai DeWitt.
Matt Hunter and Heather Smith traveled to their property on Sullivan Island over the long weekend with their two boys Hayden Bugg and Thomas Rex. The family feasted on halibut and crab and explored all around the island by boat. “The boys loved the 4-wheeler rides and looking at the shallows of the ocean bottom,” said Heather.
Sisters Melissa Ganey and Kaitlin Combs traveled to the Alaska State Fair again this year as vendors and love to indulge on sweet treats and other fair food as part of the trip. “It keeps things fun and goofy between us nutty sisters. We like to get a variety of items and share them. We visited the Alaskan Grown Farm Stand for their Peanut Potatoes and Talkeetna’s Spinach Bread the most. And of course, the daily trips to Kaladi Brothers for coffee for Kaitlin and Vagabond Blues for their chais for me. Denali Cream Puffs never disappoints. And don’t forget the Cardiac Arrest (or double bypass when you order two) smothered baked potatoes,” said Melissa.
In honor of Martha Willard Day in Klukwan Joanne Elsie Spud honored anyone under the age of 25 at the Whale House in the heritage center. Last year, they celebrated anyone over the age of 80.