Journalist Priska Neely from Birmingham, Alabama visited friends in Haines recently. This was Neely’s first visit to Alaska. She said the highlights of the trip were kayaking on Chilkoot Lake, operating a stick-shift vehicle for the first time in five years, whale-spotting, picnicking on Battery Point Trail, and having the best nap of her life. Neely took her legendary snooze on the fluffy grass in Fort Seward at the very same time Mayor Tom Morphet was also spotted enjoying a midday nap. Neely found herself volunteering at the Victory Garden later in the week. She learned an important lesson about personal growth and garlic with garden coordinator, Sarah Ammons, and shared it with followers on her social media where she posts regular “Life Lessons from Plants.”
Audrey Smith said the Alaska Arts Confluence recently installed two new artists’ work in the IGA windows for all to enjoy. Nancy Drake applies her love of portraiture to bears through the use of pastel, photography and woodburning. Justin Mitman’s ceramic rocks precariously balancing with a tiny gold nugget might suggest a balance that we try to achieve in our lives. These artists join Rhonda Degtoff, Helen Alten, Donna Catotti, Tom Ganner, Tresham Gregg and Denise Sherman-Stickler in the rotating window display.
Amelia Nash celebrated her birthday with much fanfare this weekend. Dave Thomas and Mollie Dwyer hosted a surprise petit parade of mini art floats, musical instruments, ribbon dancers, bubble blowers, kazoos and even a dinosaur, which burst in on Nash while she was enjoying a cocktail at the Port Chilkoot Distillery. From there, Nash was transported via wheelbarrow to the Big Gay Croquet bash underway at Fort Seward with help from Mike Swasey, Kelsey Lovig, Dirk Foss, Nick Schlosstein, Leah Wagner, Dustin Craney, and Rachel Saitzyk. The birthday parade joined roughly 40 croquet enthusiasts for a few rounds of tackle croquet, traditional croquet and killer ball croquet as well as hula-hooping and juggling. Prizes for Big Gay Croquet included hand-made rainbow wall hangings with devil’s club stalk, donated by Sue Clayton Folletti. Michelle Strohecker won Best Sportsmanship at the event. Nash’s half-century birthday bash went on to Dylan Morgan’s hostel in Officers Row for a taco bar, karaoke and a giant three-tiered lemon cake. The lemon cake was made by Andrea Nelson. It was nicely complimented by the bathtub full of prosecco, gifted by Nash’s sister Lenore Nash, who could not attend in person.
The Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Haines Junction, Yukon took place June 12-14 and was attended by a handful of faithful Haines bluegrass fans including Mardell Gunn, Nene Wolfe, Greg Podsiki, Judy Hall Jacobson, Terry Jacobson, Alison Adams, Tom Heywood, Marian and John Carlson, Chad Soiseth, Gina St. Clair, Dan Humphrey, Bill Finlay, Nancy McGrew, and Anna and Jim Jurgeleit. The festival has been drawing in Haines music fans since 2003 and includes bluegrass concerts, workshops, dancing, roving bands and plenty of camping options. This year four locals cycled to the festival, two cycled back. They reported strong headwinds and great music.
Ed Schmid, master glass blower and jack of all trades from Bellingham, Wa. was in Haines again recently. Schmid returned to visit his friend Bill Chetney and conduct some glass blowing lessons with locals and visitors at Viking Cove. Some of the highlights of this trip were flying over the glaciers and mountains with Drake Air, close encounters with migrating cetaceans, spout humps and flukes. One of Schmid’s pieces of art can be seen at the Hammer Museum, The Glass Claw Hammer with Handy Handle. Schmid made it in 2021 while teaching a local glass working class.
Lyndsey Marie DeFazio-Hura and her five year old son Jaxson Hura-Grant were both entered in the Haines sportsman’s associations Dolly Derby and on the prowl for Dolly Varden when they got a big surprise: a humpback whale, not two feet from them. Hura accidentally hit record and caught the short video of the whale bubble feeding right off the dock at Letnikof Cove about two feet from herself and Jaxson. He was standing at the side of the boat launch dock about to cast his line and she was about to get video of it. Right after the incident, she said that Jaxson marched up the dock and informed her that he was “done fishing for now, Mom!” She says that after a few minutes of negotiations he came back down and they watched the whale for a few more hours. Also noteworthy, Team Lyndsey Marie DeFazio-Hura and son won the final week of the Dolly Derby.
The Haines Animal Rescue Kennel board member Michelle Strohecker said a new “Tiny Library for dogs” came to fruition after the staff brought the creative idea to the board. The box, which looks like the Little Free Libraries seen around the world, is stocked with dog must-have’s for a good day in Haines. This includes, but is not limited to, balls, bandanas, squeaky toys, and a curated selection of the best fetching sticks in town. The library features pet waste bags for daily use, on the side. HARK staff say that dog lovers can replace items as needed, but ask that people not contribute food or treats, and clean toys only.
Local Haines artist Matilda Rogers has released her first album with the band Petty Thieves. The EP is five tracks called The Things We Stole, released June 4th. The album includes Maddox Rogers as producer, Aaron Davis, recording engineer and song writer Addison Myers. Myers and Matilda Rogers have been making music since they met while rafting in Wyoming.