Heather Lende was awarded an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Alaska for her contributions to literature and public service. Her husband, Chip Lende, attended the ceremony in Anchorage as did former resident Margaret Friedenauer. She joins the ranks of other Haines citizens who have received the honorary doctorates through UAA including Lingít leader of the Alaska Native Sisterhood and artist Mildred Sparks, Lingít leader Daanawáak Austin Hammond, and magistrate Carl Heinmiller.
At least 15 women gathered at Lynette Hart’s house dressed as the famed Saturday Night Live character Sally O’Malley. The proud, 50-year-old woman – played by Molly Shannon – wears polyester tracksuit, with ruffles, carries a leopard handbag and has big hair, some version of which was highly encouraged to be let in the door for Hart’s party. O’Malley’s character always delivers the line “I like to kick, stretch, and kick! I’m 50. 50-years-old!”
The annual Christmas Bird count, now in its 123rd year, started on Dec. 17. Volunteers in the Chilkat Valley and across the state will count birds through early January.
During last year’s count Haines had the most participants, 52, while Sitka produced the most count-day species, at 65, and Glacier Bay had the most individual birds, at 7,751 according to Audubon.
Rod and Rhonda Hinson recently returned from a trip to the Serengeti in Tanzania. Rhonda bought several items of beadwork from a Maasai village they visited, while Rod bought a spear. Between them, they took about 7,000 photos. Rod said they saw lions, hyenas, Cape Buffalo and elephants.
Caroline Hankins and Marley Horner welcomed their son River Owens Horner to the world at Bartlett Regional Hospital on Dec. 8 at 7:32 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs 2 ozs., and was 21 inches long. His grandmothers, Kathy Hankins and Leigh Horner, traveled to Juneau to support the new parents and meet the latest addition to the family.
Haines police officers Max Jusi, Travis Russell and interim chief Michael Fullerton, and Village Public Safety Officers Deanna and Dakota Strong took eight families out to “Shop with a Cop” on Dec. 16, in Haines. Children were given $100 to spend buying gifts for their families and loved ones at local shops.
Aimee Creelman reports that she is officially a proud grandma, though she goes by Maimee. The new addition to her family is two-and-a-half-year-old Alex, who has been formally adopted into the family. His proud parents are Creelman’s oldest daughter Sage Dames and wife Mega Dames. Creelman says the two are raising their family in San Francisco, her home away from home.