Haines Brewing Company celebrated its Silver Jubilee, or 25th anniversary, on the solstice. The brewery opened on June 21, 1999. Cars lined the street and co-owner Paul Wheeler said it seemed as though hundreds cycled in and out throughout the celebration, many sipping a brew that was blended in an oak barrel specifically for the occasion. Dale Brandenburger and Lu Seapy played music. Amy Kane catered and Bill Finlay helped with snacks. Paul and Wendy Boynton surprised Wheeler and Jeanne Kitayama with a visit as well.
Amelia Nash’s art exhibit, “For the Roses,” was on display at the Haines Brewing Company during June. It features resin collages and mixed media assemblages and was an ode to the lush summertime flora and fauna in the Chilkat Valley. By the end of the month, most pieces appear to have sold. That show will come down this week to be replaced by Yuko Hays’ paintings on the brewery walls. Hays, who is generally known for her portraiture, will feature several landscapes during the July exhibition.
Staff at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game had to pull the Chilkoot River weir on June 27 due to high water levels. Haines salmon research biologist Shelby Flemming said the powerful flow was compromising the safety of the structure and the crew. Fleming said Monday the water had finally gone down and they were able to reinstall the weir. She said sockeye were trickling upriver before the weir was pulled and she expects larger numbers of sockeye traveling upriver now. “We’re currently below our 10-year average for Chilkoot sockeye salmon, but run-timing can vary pretty dramatically, so there’s no current reason for concern since it is so early in the season,” she said.
Sierra Jimenez recently celebrated her 50th birthday in Gustavus with dozens of Haines friends. She said more than 50 people from all over Alaska and the lower 48 made the journey to Gustavus for the 3-day celebration. “We all camped at my parents homestead,” said Jimenez. “We danced, laughed, and enjoyed good company.” She said the real reason for the party was to celebrate her parents and the Old Same Place – their homestead – as it has officially changed hands. “My parents have decided to become year round residents at their home in Mexico,” she said. Her cousin, Tony Proto, is taking over and his intention is to maintain it and keep it in the family.
“It was super fun to share the wild place I was raised with all my friends,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sierra’s son Hayden Jimenez just took 3rd place at the USA Western States Championship Wrestling Tournament in Idaho. He made it to the semifinals before losing to an opponent from Hawaii. He’ll be traveling to Fargo, North Dakota in two weeks for the USA National championship.
Skye Posey graduated with high distinction in a bachelor’s degree program for architecture at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Parents James Alborough and Sarah “Tigger” Posey traveled to the event, as did brother Jasper Posey and Destinee Cowart who also now live in Minneapolis. Skye will be working as a designer at a Minneapolis architecture firm.
Tom and Liz Heywood recently visited all three of their children on the west coast. The first was Kee and partner Belle Heywood in Richmond, California over the Memorial Day weekend. Tom said the two visited a winery in Napa and eagerly awaited Belle’s gourmet Thai food meals. Then the two headed to Washington State where they attended daughter Tia Heywood’s graduation from the University of Washington with a Master’s degree in Library & Information Science on June 1. Tia, who currently lives in Renton, has been applying for jobs since she graduated and would like to be a children’s librarian. They also visited their son Sung Heywood who lives in the Seattle area.