Stephanie Leazier and her 10-month-old son Olen Leazier returned to the Chilkat Valley this week after taking an extended trip to visit family and friends in Michigan. Stephanie said it has been eight years since she has been back to the state and her family, including her mother and aunt, had not yet had the chance to meet Olen.
Ken Gross also returned to the Chilkat Valley this week after taking a trip to Washington state to see his daughter, Amy Baylous, and his granddaughter Adelina and grandson Elias. The family had a busy one-and-a-half weeks, including razor-clam digging during the supermoon. Gross said they got 41 clams on a minus 1.6 tide. The group also visited Point Defiance in Tacoma and Gross got to see his grandchildren take on the Stairs and Slides Park, which is described as a real-life Chutes and Ladders experience where people can walk, or, in the case of Gross’s grandchildren, sprint up 116 stairs and take a series of six slides back down.
Tom Morphet took a mental break from being the mayor to go on a nearly three-week trip to the town of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania to help settle his parents’ estate. Morphet said there’s still a lot to do with the estate and the process has been stressful and contentious within his family. He also managed to lose his wallet, so wife Jane Pascoe had to mail him his passport so he could get home. But, on the upside, Morphet said he took in a good jazz show in Wilmington, Delaware.
The Port Chilkoot Distillery had a line out the door for its harvest potluck on Nov. 15. Tasting Room Manager Lucy Nieboer said it was an opportunity to celebrate the release of limoncello and a tart cherry liquor, the distillery’s first foray into releasing mixers that they use in their cocktails. The distillery also seasonally released its aquavit. Nieboer said it was standing room only and many brought food to share for the potluck while Crystal and Nate Miller played music with friends.
About a dozen people went to the Fogcutter on Nov. 15, joining what Netflix claims was 108 million viewers worldwide to watch a much-hyped boxing match between Jake Paul and the legendary Mike Tyson in Arlington, Texas. If its numbers are true, then the 74 million people who streamed the Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor opening match could have made it the most widely-viewed professional women’s sporting event in the U.S., according to CNBC. Taylor and Serrano landed hundreds of punches in a 10-round contest that came down to a narrow 95-94 decision in Taylor’s favor with many in the bar wincing after the two women clashed heads, opening up a gaping cut above Serrano’s eye that seemed to widen each round. But the loudest groans could be heard after a locker room interview with Tyson ended with the 58-year-old turning to walk away from the camera, which then panned out to reveal his bare buttcheeks for several seconds. Paul, who is 27, also defeated Tyson by decision after eight heavy-hitting rounds.
The Haines Sheldon Museum held its 45th annual doll fair on Saturday. Organizer Dan Mahoney said about 65 people come out and many of them brought little treats. “A lot of them kind of cute little miniature looking desserts and savory things,” he said. Many of the kids dressed up and brought their dolls and stuffed animals and the museum put out its doll collection. Mahoney said there were a dozen volunteers helping to make the event possible. Those included: Krystal Lloyd who made hats that the kids decorated. Jila Stuart gave people glitter tattoos and chalk hair extensions. Crystal Verhamme built a huge playhouse for the kids out of cardboard boxes. Judy Weibel arranged the museum’s dolls at the ground level so kids could see and interact with them. Sue Waterhouse was the majorette general for the doll parade. Joe Parnell made a felt entryway sign. “All these people kind of came together to help out with it,” Mahoney said. He said the whole day had good energy and was surprisingly not very messy. “There were no big spills. All of the glitter stuff was in our classroom area so it didn’t really spread. There are little bits of garland here and there, but it’s pretty clean.”