Almost 100 people came to a homecoming reception for artist Tia Heywood’s exhibition at the Sheldon Museum. The exhibit was Heywood’s senior show at Brown University, so the pieces made the 4,000-mile journey home with her. Tia said because the pieces themselves are about her home and family, being able to present the show in the place that inspired her made it extra special. She said she’s excited to see more of her family as they arrive this week. The show will continue at the museum until the end of January.
Paul Wheeler said on sunny days the solar panels at the back of his Main Street brewery are generating more electricity than the brewery uses. One of the days was Friday, Dec. 1, when electricity from the sun also powered the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree during First Friday celebration activities.
Tom Ganner’s photo of Letnikof Cove on a brilliant, summer day made the cover of Caselle’s company calendar. The company makes the borough’s accounting software. Borough fiscal officer Jila Stuart said the company gave the borough a $250 credit toward maintenance fees for helping provide the photo. “They like to have photos from all their communities in the calendar.” Ganner donated use of the shot.
Doris Peck is back from a month-long trip to San Diego to visit lifetime friend Betty Eden. Doris and Betty attended the same Memphis preschool in 1934. Her trip included attending church, sharing Thanksgiving dinner with the Eden family, and sharing luncheons with friends she has made there over the past 25 years. We had turkey three or four times in there,” Peck said.
Ron and Jacque Horn have returned from a trip to Lander, Wyo., where they welcomed grandson Benjamin Wilder Horn. Born Nov. 4, Benjamin is the son of Ron and Jacque’s firstborn, Evan Horn, and wife Anna. Evan’s sister and midwife Heather Parr of Seattle, made the trip to Wyoming to help with the delivery. The family shared Thanksgiving together. Evan is an instructor at the National Outdoor Leadership School, a major employer in Lander. Jacque said the town, at 5,300 feet elevation, already has snow and resembles their hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
It was standing room only at the Chilkat Center main stage last Saturday for the Holly Jolly Christmas Follies. Co-directed by Holly Davis and Jacque Horn, fourteen acts brought smiles, laughter and Christmas cheer to all in attendance. A cameo appearance by Mike Howard as Santa Claus opened the annual variety show. Davis said favorite acts included Santa’s elves having a gymnastic party at the North Pole and the doe-eyed preschool ballet class, which melted everybody’s hearts.
The Haines School winter concert enjoyed full audiences this year at its Fort Seward venue. “Being able to have the concert at the Chilkat Center is such a blessing,” said music teacher Matt Davis. The acoustics, lighting and ease of logistics at the Chilkat Center all made the holiday concert fun and run smoothly. The percussionists also benefitted from Skagway loaning a set of concert tubular chimes for the event.
After directing the annual high school Christmas concert and documenting the Holly Jolly Follies, Davis is now in Chicago attending the world’s largest instrumental music education conference; the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. With over 17,000 attendees, the conference holds workshops, clinic, concerts and collaborative opportunities for music educators. Before the conference Tuesday, Matt visited the Museum of Science and Industry in downtown Chicago.
Glen, Alison and Libby Jacobson are back from Nepal after an 18-day trek through the Himalayas. Libby attends Cal Poly Institute and has been on exchange in Nepal this semester. Her journey culminated with meeting up with her family to do the hike through some of the tallest mountains in the world. Glen and Alison met their other daughter, Anna Jacobson, in Vancouver, B.C. and they flew together to meet Libby in Kathmandu. There the parents and two daughters followed the “Annapurna circuit.” The trail winds along the massif, taking the trekkers along ancient trade routes through many different climatic and agricultural zones. The Jacobsons said they were impressed with the resiliency and friendliness of the locals who, despite the 140 languages in the region, mainly use English as the default form of communication. It is customary for travelers to greet each other along the trail, and the locals took advantage of being able to practice their English with native speakers.
The trail starts at 15,000 feet and goes through two river valleys. At its highest pass the elevation is almost to 18,000 feet. The immensity of the mountains and the grounded nature of the locals kept them very present and aware every step of the way, especially at the higher elevations.