10 years ago

After years of performing in makeshift tents, basements and other small venues around town, the Haines puppetry troupe Geppetto’s Junkyard is ready for the big stage.

Following three successful shows at Petersburg’s Little Norway Festival last weekend, Geppetto’s Junkyard is taking “Travels in the Belly of a Whale” to the Chilkat Center stage. 

For more than a decade, the group of ragtag puppeteers has set up in cramped quarters, like the Chilkat Center basement, Mosey’s restaurant and the circus-esque tent at the Southeast Alaska State Fair. But when a Petersburg resident contacted the troupe to perform on the town’s main stage, they scaled their new props and puppets accordingly.

Puppeteer Debi Knight Kennedy said the show features a 15-foot whale, elaborate sets depicting the creature’s innards, and full-size mermaids made of cloth and found objects. The main character, Inar, is a wooden puppet that stands more than three feet tall.

Though he plays the adventure-seeking Viking fisherman Inar in “Travels in the Belly of a Whale,” the wooden puppet isn’t new to the Geppetto’s Junkyard repertoire, Knight Kennedy said.

“He’s become like a movie star kind of guy. He has different roles,” she said.

The nautical tale follows Inar’s escapades around the world, with scenes involving underwater black light magic, singing palm trees and plenty of the group’s signature shadow puppetry. Live music and original songwriting punctuate the performance, including a knockout ballad by Hannah Bochart about Davey Jones’ Locker.

“When a lot of people think about puppets they think about hand puppets or the Muppets,” said puppeteer Melina Shields. “But we’ve really taken it to a different place that’s less Mr. Rogers and more in the European tradition of puppetry. It’s a full theater performance.”

Petersburg residents were thrilled by the group’s whimsical, humorous and poignant performances last weekend, Shields said.

“It will leave you smiling and engaged. People were so psyched at the last show that we did that they didn’t want to leave. They all came up on the stage and got up into the belly of the whale. Little kids were hugging Inar and leaning on the boat,” she said.

The whole “swallowed by a whale” plotline isn’t supposed to be a biblical reference, she added. “The whale is really more of a therapist/philosopher.”

Fourteen of the troupe’s core members will perform this Friday, as will three of their children: Yarona Jacobson (daughter of Merrick Bochart and Joey Jacobson) plays a squid, Zorza Szatkowski (son of Jessica Plachta and Nicholas Szatkowski) appears as an underwater critter in the black light scene, and Garland Bishop (daughter of Sarah and Chorus Bishop) dons a tiny hat to transform into a “baby wave.”

“Garland just rode around on (mother) Sarah’s back the whole show (in Petersburg) with a little binky in her mouth. She was like Maggie from ‘The Simpsons,’” Shields said.

In addition to the main performance, “Travels in the Belly of a Whale” includes a “pre-show,” with Knight Kennedy and her husband Gene portraying clowns named “Major Disaster” and “Minor Dilemma.”

The show is appropriate for all ages. “We had happy babies in the audience and we had laughing 80-year-olds,” Shields said of the Petersburg show.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. They are available at the Babbling Book and at the door.

25 years ago

Haines fishermen aren’t opposed to paying for using the crane at the Small Boat Harbor, but they don’t want to have to go to city hall for a key to unlock it. 

Gillnetters, city councilors and boat harbor committee members on Monday worked out a proposed ordinance change for using the crane that would require a seasonal or per-use fee. 

Those paying a seasonal rate would get a key, otherwise keys would be available at the harbormaster’s office and at the police station. Proposed fees are $10 per use or $50 for a season. 

“Everybody who understands the value of the crane, and that we’re going to have to pay for it,” said fisherman Stan Wood. An ordinance setting fees and key policy is being drafted to be introduced at the next council meeting. 

Wood said he’d like to see penalties for unauthorized use of the crane. If funds raised by the fee exceed maintenance on the crane, the city should buy an additional, smaller lift, he said. “There’s no point wearing his big crane out to pick up 300 pounds at a time.” 

City administrator Vince Hansen said he’d also like to establish a log of crane use, in part to determine wear and tear on equipment. Replacing the crane would cost an estimated $36,000. 

50 years ago 

The 1941 Howe fire truck—acquired surplus by the Haines Volunteer Fire Dept. in 1959—stands proudly but outclassed by the new Seagrave truck the HVFD received Wednesday. 

The new 350 h.p. diesel truck has an automatic transmission; it will pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute and carries 3,000 feet of two and one-half inch hose. The 125 h.p. Howe is gasoline powered, will pump 750 gallons per minute, and carries 1,500 feet of hose.

The new truck, ordered 18 months ago, cost $64,900; today’s price would be $76,000, but the contract entered into a year and a half ago was binding, Fire Chief Frank Wallace said. He and Assistant Chief Chuck Jones drove the new truck 3,200 miles from Wisconsin to Prince Rupert, B.C. to catch the ferry Taku. 

What’s the future of the Howe? It will continue to serve the area, Wallace said. However, the fire department has a problem: where to house it. Anyone with a secure garage at least 30 feet long might get in touch with the chief.