Haines High School hosted its annual activities awards assembly this week. It celebrated the more than 70 students who participated in activities throughout the year. Graduating senior Maddox Rogers’ Drama, Debate, and Forensics points were big news during the event. Rogers took seventh place on a locally maintained list of all-time top earners with the 698 points he earned. DDF Coach Hannah Bochart, who said the list dates back to the 1990s, said nobody locally has cracked the top ten earners since 2007. In earning 698 points, Rogers actually took Bochart’s spot at seventh on the list. Bochart had 665 points. Fun Chilkat Valley DDF fact, Hannah Bochart’s brother Micah Bochart holds fourth place on that list. The first place all time top earner in Haines remains Iris Holmes, with 1,230 points.
Nolan Woodard is celebrating his 10-year Haines-aversery this week. His mom, Tammy Iund, is also celebrating her arrival in Haines. One year for her. Iund said she disembarked from the ferry a year ago and planned to visit for 10 days. Her plans to move on to Fairbanks were tossed not too long after. She said she is staying.
Dearest parents of school-aged children, please encourage your kids to pay a visit to the lost and found at school. The right hand side of the entry way is a giant display of long lost clothing. You might find the sparkly high tops that have been missing. They are tucked in between the four different styles of Xtra Tuffs, 21 water jugs, multiple lunch boxes, upwards of 75 jackets and sweaters, ducky boots, flip flops, earrings and snow pants. Take a look.
Regi Johanos was in town for a whirlwind visit with Aly Zeiger and visited Mark and Michelle Zeiger at their place across Mud Bay. Johanos is no stranger to Haines. The former resident did not have the time or weather for the traditional Riley and Ripinsky hikes that she and Aly would have preferred. They made up for it with town walks and a Kelgaya Point visit. Johanos enjoyed A Night on the Steinway at the Chilkat Center and the annual plant sales in the Haines that make springtime so special. She also discovered an unknown skill at the card game, Sushi Go.
The community garden at Mosquito Lake has finally taken its weekly garden work party outside. Volunteers have been planting since mid-March and this past Sunday, they finally got their hands in the dirt at the 8000 square foot garden. The work crew changes weekly, as different volunteers show up and new projects are created and distributed by garden coordinator Sarah Ammons. This week featured planting onion sets and using the broad fork for soil prep, which uncovered some very healthy earthworms. Vermiculturist Erika Merklin said the worms are feasting on decomposing brassicas stems from last year’s gardening season. Merklin said if you really want to be impressed by some worms, visit the compost pile at the community garden. She is confident that they will knock your socks off.
Kathleen Menke can plan one heck of a ‘clipboard of fun’. Her granddaughter Skyler Menke’s recent visit was an action-packed two weeks that hit all the high points of watching spring unfold in the Chilkat Valley. Skyler was thrilled to see humpbacks, orcas, baby whales, sea lions, and seals. She learned about the Chilkoot eulachon run, got to dip a few herself, and went to Charlie Moody’s laser class and First Friday at the Haines Sheldon Museum. The two enjoyed bird watching and can now spot sparrows, warblers, jays and raptors, feeding her ornithology interests. Skyler also had the opportunity to make Mother’s Day breakfast for her grandmother before wrapping up her visit.
The Clayton family recently visited Cave Creek, Arizona. Piper Carlson celebrated her 12th birthday during the visit and also took horseback riding lessons. Her favorite horse was named Honey. Honey was a little stubborn but spunky, just like her rider. Callahan Clayton skinny-dipped in a neighborhood pool. They went bee hunting nightly. Bee hunting is done with a black light, while looking for scorpions; no bees were harmed. In an exciting turn of events Cal Clayton jumped in a duck pond, while chasing a duck. Ramie Clayton pulled him out by his golden locks. But not before his grandma, Pattie Carlson jumped in after him. The family visited with Kyle Clayton’s brother Troy Wingert, known to frequent Haines every summer. The family also spent time with grandparents Rich and Patti Carlson and found time for a two day trip to Prescott, Arizona.
The Dermott O’Toole Memorial Library in Tenakee Springs got a helping hand from Beau Bradley and The Book Store. The Tenakee Springs library’s book order made it as far as Haines. But its order of children’s nonfiction books was purchased using the Book Hook Fund grant and did not cover the shipping. The books arrived with Bradley’s book order. He had to do a little bit more leg work to get the books to Ruth Underhill, the librarian in Tenakee Springs. Bradley called the ferry terminal and they arranged for a person to escort the precious cargo to the proper ferry in Juneau. The new reading material arrived safely.
Mike Ward announced the winners of the Quick Shop’s grand opening prizes. Shoppers added their name and contact information to their receipts in hopes of winning the $250 digital gift card associated with the rewards program. The winners were Fred Lopez, SJ Durand, Sarah Bishop and Nate Baker.