Eden Serene Del Prete was born Jan. 6 at Bartlett Regional Hospital to Shannon and Andrew Del Prete. She and weighed 7 lbs., 3 oz. and measured 19.25 inches. She joins brothers Garrison, 9, Caedmon, 6 and Porter, 3. Aunt Lorrie Williams of Medford, Ore. was there to help before grandmother Joyce Del Prete arrived from Santee, Calif. Family and old friends can look forward to a visit from grandfather Ron Walker in February.
Rellian Kayser Forster was born Jan. 13 at Bartlett Regional Hospital to Jessica Kayser Forster and Kevin Forster. He weighed 7 lbs., 1 oz. and measured 21 inches. Grandparents Karl and Linda Kayser waited in Juneau to meet Rellian before returning to their home in Ithaca, N.Y. Grandmother Meg Forster from Bradenton, Fla. will spend a few weeks with her new grandson as well as with son Eric Forster and Cambria Goodwin.
Lois Wickward, 64, died Monday near her winter home in Florence, Ariz. A 21-year resident of Haines, Wickward recently suffered congestive heart failure, said husband Scott Wickward. Wickward said he would pen an obituary for an upcoming edition of the CVN.
Haines High School students recited a poem from memory selected from the Poetry Out Loud anthology Thursday, part of a statewide competition. Students participating included Alyx Habra, Skylar Smith, Brandt Alton-Huber, Elena Saunders, Anna Fullerton, Madeline Andriesen, Marty Fowler, Aurora Alten-Huber, Megan Whitermore, Joseph Rossman, Keegan Palmieri and Lily Benassi. Andriesen, who placed first in Haines, will next compete regionally in the Alaska Poetry Out Loud via videotape.
Sisters Tracy and Lizi Wirak flew to Washington, D.C. and met friend Chris Hill to participate in last week’s Women’s March. The size of the crowd made it difficult to march, but they did chat with actor Frances McDormand at a coffee shop and heard speeches by Michael Moore, Scarlett Johansen, Rhea Suh, Maryum Ali and Cecile Richards from Planned Parenthood. Actor America Ferrera gave a very inspirational speech, they said. Tracy and Lizi will talk about their experience 5:30 p.m. Feb.1 at the public library.
Gabrielle St. Clair, a sophomore at Jackson Hole High School in Wyoming, was recently named student of the month. Her selection was based on responsibility, kindness and integrity. Gabby will return in the summer with her mother Gina St. Clair, who is in Jackson Hole caring for parents John and Putzi Harrington. Gina and Dan Humphrey are working as ski instructors at Snow King Mountain Resort there.
There are still vouchers for ice grippers available at the fire hall. It’s been an icy winter and having cleats makes getting around a lot easier.
Nora Krake is back after a three-week trip that included five days in New York with daughter Bonnie Zelter of San Mateo, Calif. and visiting granddaughter Emily Zelter, who lives in Manhattan. Ann Quinlan flew from Sun City, Ariz. to join them. The group watched the Rockettes perform and enjoyed the holiday decorations at Lincoln Center. Nora and Emily returned to San Mateo, Calif. for Christmas, and Nora spent 10 days with Ann and Tom Quinlan in Sun City before returning home.
After having difficulty finding someone to put down their new wood flooring, Chuck and Linda Moonan called on friend John Norton to come to their home in Hawi, Hawaii to help. Located on the isle of Hawaii, Hawi is just west of Kapaau. John spent two weeks on the island, laying the flooring, enjoying the sunshine, body surfing and hiking to the waterfalls of Kapoloa.
Rocque “Rocky” Hernandez, an Anchorage bus mechanic who lived here 2011-14, died Jan. 19 in Anchorage at age 64. Brother Fred Hernandez of Medford, Ore., said his brother was a Vietnam veteran with a “rambunctious” personality. Friend Ty Esposito said Hernandez “cut quite the figure.” He kept a long beard and enjoyed sportfishing along the Chilkat River accompanied by his pet chihuahua, Lulu. “He was a Yosemite Sam kind of character. He liked to keep things stirred up,” Esposito said. Hernandez was born in Burbank, Calif. on Dec. 15, 1952. He is survived by four siblings in California and Oregon. Cards may be sent to Fred Hernandez, 313 Beatty St., Medford, OR., 97501.
The annual “Tournament of the Readers” reading incentive contest starts 12:30 p.m. Monday in the Haines School library and continues daily through March. Eleven teams in grades 3-6 are competing. Community members are welcome to stop by for the daily 25-minute rounds.
Haines and Klukwan players Jesse McGraw, Andrew Friske, Kyle Fossman, Harry Bradley and Randy Nutting were named all-tournament at Sitka’s 11th annual Mount Edgecumbe Invitational Basketball Tournament Jan. 11-14. McGraw, Nutting and Friske led Haines scorers in the championship game of the tournament’s men’s 37-Plus bracket. The team lost to Wrangell, 90-80. Fossman scored 49 points against Kake in a game in the men’s open division. Women and masters’ teams also competed. Players with local connections included Don Nash, David Buss, Charlie Spud, Michael Ganey, Reuben Loewen, Jeremy Strong and Jeff Sharnbroich.