Haines locals Sally Andersen, Jessica Edwards, and Sara Chapell ran the inaugural San Antonio marathon, with the support of Leslie Evenden. The 5K, half marathon and marathon drew a crowd of 19,000 runners from 50 states and multiple countries. The group said that they had great weather and enjoyed plenty of live music including mariachi bands.
Elena Horner St. Claire was in town for a couple of weeks with her husband Victor St. Claire and their daughter Eva Horner. They are visiting from Malpais, Costa Rica. Two-year-old Eva got to make her very first snowman, and do a little bit of sledding during her first encounter with snow. She also met her 11-month-old cousin River Horner, and aunt and uncle Caroline and Marley Horner. A toddler’s first trip to Haines would not be complete without an afternoon at the library’s story time and a Tykes and Trikes session.
Chandler Kemp and Lily Cohen tied the knot in Anchorage on Nov. 29. The wedding was officiated by Teresa Duncan at Kincaid Park Chalet. The guests enjoyed a catered dinner, live band and great sledding. Many friends from Anchorage and Dillingham attended as well as a long list of Haines friends and family. Attending from Chandler’s side – Chris and Deb Kemp, Iris and Doug Curley and their kids Lily and Milo, Karen Bryant, Val Thomas-Mason and Scott Mason. Also present were Lily Cohn’s mother, Barbara Ehrlich, uncle Mike Ehrlich and cousins Brian Nazareth and Daniel Ehrlich and friend Jenny Barry. The list of friends and family in attendance also included Forest Podsiki, Alixanne Goodman, Gus Browning, Kee and Belle Heywood, Tristan Sebens, Bre Walker, Kelly Edmond, Drew Fossman, Anna and Alice Hubbard, Ben Feldman and Megan Devries.
Since 1970, the Alaska State Museum’s juried exhibition Alaska Positive has encouraged photography as an art form. The exhibition opened in Juneau on Dec. 5, 2025 and will close on March 14, 2026. After that, the exhibition will travel to museums throughout Alaska. The top award is the Juror’s Choice Award, which former Haines resident Katie Lone Craney won for her photograph titled what we carry in our pockets (for Jenny Irene)
Although most hummingbirds migrate south for the brutal winters in the Chilkat Valley, a species has been known to linger. Anna’s Hummingbirds have adapted to coastal winters in British Columbia and into Alaska. Stacie Powlison has one of these sturdy birdies frequently visiting her feeder around 26 Mile since early November. Powlison has been maintaining three hummingbird feeders and warming them with a light bulb during the lower temperatures. Powlison’s daughter, Joliena Olsen, says that her mom will be spending plenty of time at the house this winter, keeping the house thawed and the bird feeders up and running.
David Routh looked strikingly similar to the ghost of Christmas past this week. He was moving about the Lutak Lumber property draped in chains while he worked to replace and repair broken links used in the warehouse. The post-snowstorm wintery conditions were not slowing him down at all. Haines police officers Max Jusi and Travis Russell also had cold weather issues to overcome. The two were spotted in the parking lot of the police station thawing the winches on their vehicles, in preparation for helping stranded motorists. And finally, noted bear-resistant trash can enthusiast Tom Morphet says they’ll freeze shut if you’re not careful. If you received one from the borough, you can find either a button or a round opening inside the can, opposite the lock, and push inward. The locking mechanism will pop upwards, allowing it to be removed entirely (as a cassette). Store the lock indoors until spring when the bears return.
Thom Ely, Sue Rakes, Mollie Smith and Josh Colosky sat in on Friday’s “You Have the Floor” event at Alpenglow Pizza, moderated by Tom Morphet. Ely asked about progress of a borough severance tax and the Haines Borough’s rate of return on its permanent fund investment. Colosky expressed concern about the cost of housing, particularly for younger people new to Haines. Smith recommended Lisa Weissler’s 2024 book, “Capitol Crude: The Impact of Oil on Alaska.” “You Have the Floor,” a public forum open to all views, returns to the Alpenglow on First Friday in January.
Kolia Ann Stewart has a growing cockroach colony in no small part due to her picky bearded dragon, Lucy. Steward bought the roaches – which she feeds with fruit and oatmeal and the gel crystals that substitute for water – in order to feed Lucy, who clearly prefers worms to the many-legged palmetto bugs. “I only had a few, now I have an aquarium full,” she said. She’d like to get rid of them, but refuses to flush them down the toilet, preferring instead to give them to someone who needs them for feed. “They make excellent chicken food,” Stewart said. Anyone who needs an aquarium full of roaches, or maybe just a large handful, can call her at 766-2960.
Self-described cave-man Scott Rossman successfully used his smart phone to electronically sign paperwork for his insurance company recently. This was reported by several reliable witnesses. Rossman said aloud: “This is something historic.” Will the new evolved Scott Rossman be immersing himself in technology? Not likely. But this groundbreaking event should be noted.