The Haines Presbyterian Church hosted a Valentine’s Tea on Feb. 10. Visitors drank from fine china and antique teacups and ate sandwiches and treats. Martha Mackowiak said it was well attended by young and old. The annual tea has been in place for 54 years, having been started by Miriam Cameron in 1970, according to a history Mackowiak provided.
Jacob Weerasinghe, 19, was featured in the blog Bold Journey, in an interview that focused on what he’s learned during his 11 years of owning Alaska Creations. Weerasinghe, who is currently studying business management at the University of Alaska Anchorage said he wouldn’t be able to continue operating the business — which sells clothing, earrings, and candles among other things — without his family’s help. In particular he thanks his parents Susan and Nishan Weerasinghe.
The Chilkoot Trail on the U.S. side of the border will be open to Mile 4 this season. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park announced Tuesday that it has completed work on a temporary bridge to span the lower Taiya River at Mile 1.5. Severe flooding damaged two major bridges on the river in 2022. It also destroyed campsites and other amenities for visitors. The Canadian portion of the trail is still accessible; reservations are required for that hike, which is open between June 1-Sept. 13.
The Haines Hot Shots are traveling to Las Vegas for a shooting competition and are raffling off an all-inclusive African safari through NumaziSafaris.com. Tickets are $20 each or 6/$100 and 300 are being sold. The drawing will be held March 16
Lily Benassi has been hired as business manager and interim director at the American Bald Eagle Foundation. She said it’s something of a dream job. “I’ve always wanted to have my own office and work for a place that has a good mission and a good purpose,” she said. Benassi, whose father Mario Benassi has been working at the organization for years, said she had strong ties to the organization, which also has a new science director, Maia Edwards, and a new avian curator, Kathy Benner.
Heather Lende and husband Chip recently returned from visiting their son Christian and family in Australia. Highlights of the trip included escorting her granddaughter to her first day of kindergarten.