Rachel Saitzyk was reunited with her 90% wool liner glove that had been missing since November, leaving her with only one through several cold snaps. The glove was found on Feb. 2, frozen to her driveway, having apparently been run over by a vehicle. “Whoa!” said Saitzyk, according to her own account. “I thought I’d probably have to wait until spring to get it.” Friend Julian Mangrane suggested freeing the glove by pouring hot water on it, which was successful. After washing the glove, both hands are warm again.
Henry Pollan, who is marrying Ela Sokolowska, had his bachelor party in Juneau recently. Marley Horner, who attended, said they group spent days skiing. “We really lucked out on the weather,” he said. Other Haines people who met up with the group included Woody Pahl, Ira & Alyssa Henry, and Chris Dickerson. Horner said the group managed to get some bowling in and some saw Collette Costa live on Friday.
Former Haines resident Allen Menaker had a heart attack on Dec. 27, 2023 and died in Fairbanks. He was 72-years-old. Allen is the son of Ray and Vivian Menaker. The family lived in Haines for many years. Ray founded the Chilkat Valley News.
Former Haines resident Royce McCoy suffered a severe heart attack on Feb. 3 and died in the hospital near Wasilla. His wife Lora McCoy as well as his eldest son Jesse and daughter-in-law Amaris were with him when he passed. A memorial will be held Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. at Valley Baptist Tabernacle in Wasilla, with a live stream available through the church’s Facebook page. Royce and Lora lived in Haines for 12 years. They moved to Wasilla in Sept. 2023.
Skweit Jesse Morgan was one of two Tlingit artists to receive a silver carving apprenticeship is funded by the federal Administration for Native Americans through the Chilkoot Indian Association. Skweit said she was excited to hear the news, which she got in January. “When you’re asked to do something, it’s an honor,” she said. Skweit is part of the Chilkoot Indian Association’s third and last cohort in the Traditional Arts Apprentice-Mentor Program. Skweit has been meeting with master carver Jenny Lynn Smith, who came to Haines in the 1960s and learned to carve with a cohort with Alaska Indian Arts and whom Skweit interviewed extensively as part of the application. She said she already produced a pendant, and is finishing up another pendant and a ring before she gets started on some earrings. She said it’s been busy as she fine-tunes her knowledge of formline design while simultaneously learning carving skills. It’s already led to blistered fingers and sore forearms. “So far it’s been hard on my muscles. I need to relax. I don’t know how though,” she said. As part of the apprenticeship, she’ll be learning business basics and writing about her experience in a blog. She said the focus for now is on learning the skills. “If I am able to put a design on a bracelet, then I’ll feel successful,” she said.