The Atlin Whisper, December 7, 2022

Wednesday December 7th, 2022

The Atlin Whisper “Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.”

Margaret Mead

REMINDER The Atlin Volunteer Fire Department would like to remind everyone to please check your smoke detectors to make sure they are in good working order. If you do not have a smoke detector, please consider buying one and installing it for your own safety.

Atlin School Cross Country Run October 2022 Atlin School hosted the first Cross Country Run for high school students from Atlin and the Yukon. Two schools attended on the Wednesday, October 5th event – Atlin School and F. H. Collins School (Whitehorse). Students in Grade 8 and younger ran the 3 km route in the South Pine Creek subdivision area and students in Grade 9 and older ran the 5 km route in the Monarch Mountain area. Bart and Karin De Haas (community members) and Rosie Mulder (school staff) organized the run.

The weather was ideal for the run and nineteen runners participated. First students gathered at the Atlin School then transported to the South Pine Creek subdivision by the school bus where the start and finish was located. The K-Gr. 7 students, who were not running, were present to cheer on runners at the race start and when nearing the finish, they made colorful signs to encourage the runners. Atlin community members and high school students volunteered to help, by checking off runners at checkpoints while others helped at the start and finish line.

Students took photos and filmed the event. RCMP personnel, ambulance personnel and medical staff were present and fortunately did not have to come into professional action, all went well. Parent Leandra was the 3 km chaser and nurse Jen was the 5 km chaser.

The Results of the Race – 3 Km Boys: 1st Stian Langbakk (Whitehorse), 2nd James Michelin (Atlin), 3rd Micah Oslund (Whitehorse) 3 Km Girls: 1st Zoë Belz (Whitehorse), 2nd Abi Ewing (Atlin), 3rd Hailey Hanslit (Atlin) 5 Km Boys: 1st Luke Wesley (Whitehorse), 2nd Hunter Hanslit (Atlin), 3rd Daniel Mead (Whitehorse) 5 km Girls: 1st Mariella Wentzell (Whitehorse) Following the race, the athletes and volunteers enjoyed lunch together (provided by Atlin Grocery) prior to the awards ceremony. Congratulations to all the athletes and a big thank you to all the community volunteers and Atlin School staff and students. Also, a big thank you to the community members who came out to watch and support this event. We look forward to seeing you all again next fall.

Written and submitted by Rosie Mulder and Karin De Haas

I just got a full tank of gas for $22. Granted, it was for my snow machine, but I'm trying to stay positive.

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS BANQUET Saturday December 10th 5:00 pm Atlin Recreation Centre Sponsored by the churches of Atlin

Come out and enjoy a good old fashion Christmas dinner with all the trimming and join in with the singing of some of your favourite Christmas carols.

Please note that donations will be accepted, at the dinner, to aid Wayne and Connie Morris whose home was recently destroyed by fire.

Grizzly Home Services would like to wish all of its customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2023 We will not be delivering water or doing sewer December 23rd ,24th,25th, 26th or January 2nd Normal Friday deliveries will happen on Thursday and normal Monday deliveries will happen on Tuesday The Gas Station will be open the following hours: December 24th Closing at 3 pm December 25th Closed

Everyone is welcome!

December 26th Closed December 27th Closed December 31st Closing at 3 pm

“When a Trumpet Calls”

January 1st Closed

How do you feel when a trumpet calls Offering love and so much more?

How do you feel when your heart opens up And love walks in the door?

Thanks to everyone for keeping driveways plowed, sanded and pathways to fills kept clear and clean of debris

You know how you feel when you’re falling in love, Love is all you have on your mind.

You know how you feel when you glow all over ‘cause love fills your heart with joy.

How do you feel when a trumpet calls Offering love and so much more?

How do you feel when your heart opens up And love walks in the door?

Jeff Salmon

We would like to thank you for your continuing support throughout the year and all the best in the New Year

Dana & Mary Hammond Something to Think About Are we living in a time where intelligent people are silenced so that stupid people won’t be offended?

THE RED ONION SALOON

by Paul Lucas Skagway AK,1981. Atlin has a sister city of sorts – Skagway AK. Yep, the same Skagway I fell in love with in 1965.

Before the cruise ship trade turned it into a tourist destination, Skagway had a reputation as a rough and tumble railway town. At the time of our story, the railway was as busy as ever, hauling lead zinc ore as well as passengers from the Yukon. Today it was hauling Ozone Rangers from Carcross to a gig at the Red Onion Saloon. In 1981, the brand new road from Carcross to Skagway was only open in the summer. The railway was all we had.

A photo of me was taken on that trip. I was evidently taking a nap. Wrapped in my army surplus parka with the mange-eaten trim, I appear to be peacefully snoozing with a baby bottle clutched firmly to my chest. Oh, those Rangers!

Hilary and Ilene had just had a baby – Dacey – the cutest little bundle you’ve ever seen, and the attendant baby supplies were along for the ride. With all the props at their disposal, I am lucky they picked the bottle and passed on the diapers. I’m betting the only thing that stopped them was the difficulty in strapping one on without waking me.

Traveling on the White Pass railroad in the middle of winter, with snow piled 20 feet on either side of the rail bed, through one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in North America, takes your breath away. We sat in that old train car, steel wheels clacking on the narrow gauge track, cozy as bugs in a rug with an oil stove burning away at each end of every car, and stared. The only stop was at Bennett, and it was for lunch - a tradition that went back 80 years.

At the mid-point of every trip, the train would pull up alongside a big log building on the shore of Bennett Lake where everyone would pile out. Greeting us inside were long tables set with huge pans of beef stew and beans, plates of biscuits and pots of coffee - a welcome sight to a bunch of rail weary passengers traveling to Alaska at 20 or 30 below, and an example of how the folks in this part of the North went out of their way to maintain connection with the best things of the past.

We arrived in Skagway and piled off the train. Lugging this and towing that, we schlepped our stuff to the front door of the Red Onion Saloon. Hart poked her head in and squealed, “This is perfect!”

And perfect it was.

The floor was covered in sawdust, and an oil stove perked away in the back. The bar was a long, nicely carved, sturdy affair, and the back bar holding the bottles, was from the gold rush. Peculiar objects hung from the walls – dolls, bedpans, underwear.

The locals looked just like us, and there were a lot of toothy grins as we introduced ourselves. I didn’t know it at the time, but this place was to be my second home for the next 15 years.

Atlin.Spring.1983. I was casting about. I needed work, but the winter, and the prime playing season, was over. For one reason or another, my thoughts turned to Skagway, and the Red Onion. I had met Jan, the madam of that fine establishment, on that first trip with the Ozone Rangers, and I thought she might need a musician to play there for the summer.

As it turned out, the cruise ships were just starting to come into Skagway. It was the perfect northern turnaround for the Alaska tours. Not that there were many – the three ‘love boats’, the Sun Princess, Island Princess and Pacific Princess were coming in on a regular basis, as well as the Royal Viking and several ships from other lines.

Skagway was still the rough and ready town it had always been, and it found itself in the uncomfortable position of having one foot in its railroad past, and the other in this unknown, ‘not to be trusted’ tourism business. Oddly enough, rather than creating problems, this tension turned out to be the very thing that made the town buzz.

And buzz it did. The energy was palpable. It felt like the gold rush days of ’98 all over again, but this time I was in on the scam. Once again, I seemed to have ended up on a path that had fate written all over it.

--Those early years at the Red Onion Saloon were magic. Back in the day, the R.O. was a whorehouse on the trail of the Klondike goldrush and my present digs were upstairs – in the old madam’s room. Every morning, I would walk by the girls’ cribs and down the back stairs for my morning coffee in the front window, where I would watch the world go by – often accompanied by a cloud of dust. Broadway was unpaved and remained so throughout those early years.

While there was a stable population of locals, mostly working for the White Pass railroad, the ore terminal, or local businesses, there was a raft of transplants from elsewhere - folks in their 20’s and early 30’s who came to Skagway to work in the ballooning tourism industry.

They were much like the crew in Atlin - crazy, irreverent, educated and hard working. I felt right at home.

Something to Think About If kids knew what they wanted to be at age eight, the world would be filled with cowboys and princesses. I wanted to be a pirate. Thank goodness nobody took me seriously and scheduled me for eye removal and peg leg surgery—Bill Maher

CHRISTMAS CANDLE LIGHT SERVICE 7 P.M. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18TH

ST. MARTIN’S ANGLICAN CHURCH EVERYONE IS WELCOME

The Lessons Thank God for love As it teaches us to share Thank God for life As it teaches us to revel Thank God for joy As it teaches us to rejoice Thank God for beauty As it teaches us to be grateful Thank God for pain As it teaches us to know Thank God for sorrow As it teaches us to feel Thank God for loss As it teaches us to heal Thank God for hardship As it teaches us to grow

-- Stephen Badhwar, Nov. 2022

BIG WATER SOCIETY COUNSELLING SERVICE COUNSELLOR: Katie Israel, GN, MA, RCC At Big Water Society we recognize the realities of human experiences, the diversity of innate worlds and states through these experiences, and we believe that we can, when we connect and share these experiences.

Be it traumatic experiences, emotional turbulences, depressive and anxious states, we are here to join hands with you and work through your unique experience. You do not have to go it alone.

Phone: (250) 651-2189; (867)334-9524 Email: bwscounsellor@bigwatersociety.org “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality – Martin Luther King, J r

WANTED Amélie (Kershaws) is looking for one set of antique dining table with 4 chairs, Turkish/Persian carpets of all sizes, outdoor garden chairs/sofas/tables in either wrought iron or wicker, indoor sofas, Victorian furniture, oil lamps, candles, frames, old radio 1910s1930s, gramophone, Tiffany lamps, Atlin antique pictures, brass decorations, chandeliers, mirror, clocks, wall decorations, paintings, a grand or baby grand piano.

Call me at 250-651-2111 or email me at: a.remon@me.com if you think you have something interesting for sale or to give away.

Thank you for your attention!

Did you know that Big Water Society provides the community with FREE professional mental wellness counselling?

If you feel you would like to talk to Katie Israel, please call her at: 250-651-2189 or 867-334-9524

Fishing Charters

SVOP Licence, 24 ft. Boat, Transport Canada Commercial Registration – Insured Gary Hill, Atlin B.C. V0W 1A0 Licensed, B.C. Guide Call -250 651-7553 Email garyphill59@gmail.com $850.00 per day - $550.00 per 1/2 day

Something to Think About If your electric car runs out of power on the highway, do you walk to a charging station to get a bucket of electricity?

Custom Fish Art- Fiberglas and Wood GARY HILL’S FISH ART

GARY HILL’S – CUSTOM, FISH REPRODUCTIONS PHONE 250 651 7553 EMAIL – garyphill59@gmail.com 7 MONARCH Drive – ATLIN – BC. V0W 1A0 WEB SITE – http://gary-hill.com

NORTHERN HOMES REAL ESTATE Warm Bay Road This gem is off grid, well maintained and absolutely the perfect retreat. 2 bedrooms, large open dining/living room, galley kitchen and spacious pantry. Storage in walk out cellar plus numerous outbuildings. Bonus is a warm spring flowing through year around! $239,000 Lake View A great daily view awaits in this well built, 2 level home with a fabulous open floorplan on the upper level with a master bedroom and so much storage! The lower level boasts 2 extra bedrooms or bedroom and games room. Almost 1700 sq.ft., lots of room for the entire family and guests to enjoy! Double garage on lower level plus another garage for all those extras like boats, quads, sleds $535,000 43.6 Acres Beautifully maintained, inside and out, this cozy 2 bedroom home is so private with a second cottage with sleeping loft (often used as B&B), a third cabin for guests, great garage/workshop, plus various other craft/work shops and much fencing. Mountain views in every direction plus short walk to Atlin Lake sandy beaches. Just waiting for you! Viewing by appointment ONLY! $597,000 5 Acres With power, small log cabin, tenant occupied near the upper end of the acreage, application for subdivision has been submitted/approved to create two 2.5 acre parcels. Slope facing Atlin Lake. Build your dream home to take advantage of the view and keep the tenant as caretaker! $259,000 Fourth of July Basic lake side cabin, 3 bedrooms, lots of big windows, hidden in the trees, on .544 acres, leased lot until 2042. Very private! $68,000 4th of July .78 acres of Crown Land lease, gated, partly cleared, the perfect spot to keep your RV and recreational necessities, there for year around enjoyment. Lease term to 2042. $53,500 HIDDEN GEM This stunning gem in an Enchanted Forest has been lovingly crafted by the hands of this talented owner – never to be duplicated! On 4 acres with guest cabins and a short walk to hidden lakes plus easy access to the highway, $399,000 SOLD STUNNING – Inside and Outside Incredible views, quiet location and fabulous home. 1700 sq.ft. on main level, beautifully renovated with gyproc interior, lots of updated windows, open floor plan, kitchen, dining area, living room, bar/games room plus 2 bedrooms. Basement offers 3 more bedrooms, two baths, kitchenette and large living room with ground level access. One of a kind waiting for you. $349,000 SOLD Mi 43 Atlin Highway 34+ acres of land, surrounded by grazing lease, with 1700 sq.ft., 2 BR, full basement home, great well, septic field, solar and generator plus lots of extras. If you wish, will come with 2 loveable nags who consider this home. Quick possession is possible. $535,000 SOLD Call Myrna at (250) 775-1019 Leave message via text or email myrnablake1@gmail.com Will be in Atlin for showings November 4th & 5th Go to northernhomesbc.ca for more details

Atlin Pet Care 287 Tatlow Street

Your pets home away from home!

Indoor/Outdoor Runs Heated Kennels Boarding-Grooming-Pet Supplies Emergency Care-Veterinarian Referrals SPCA AGENTS George Holman 250-651-7717 or Marj Holman 250-651-7758

ATLIN LAKE GROCERY STOREHoliday store hours MST December 24 11 – 3pm December 25 Closed December 26 Closed December 27 10 – 5pm December 28 Freight Day 10 -5pm December 29 10 – 5pm December 30 10 – 5pm December 31 11 – 3pm January 1 – Closed January 2 – Closed for Inventory January 3 – Freight Day (regular hours)

Winter store hours (starting Jan 1) MST Monday - Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday - 11am – 4pm ~Weekly freight truck run on Mondays and freight runs available upon request~

Land for Sale

by Owner Three 30x100 lots in central Atlin, near Tarahne Park. One lot includes an historical cabin and garage. Would prefer to sell the three lots together. $275,000 Drive by at the corner of Munroe and Second St. to view. If interested, call

250 651-7502.

Atlin Christian Centre Affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Service and Sunday School Sunday 11 a.m.

Come join us!

(778) 721-0710

God’s kindness.

Everyone welcome!

Theresa

MOBILE WELDING SERVICE AVAILABLE Contact: Alain Vanier 250-651-0037

Mountain Shack Café Restaurant Fast Fancy Food Great Service 110 Discovery Avenue In Atlin, B.C.

EAT IN OR TAKE OUT Wednesday thru Sunday 250-651-7789

Spread love

St. Martin’s Anglican Church 10 a.m.

Sunday

Reasonable Rates!

Sewing Machine

everywhere you

Cleaning, Repair, & Setup

go. Be the living expression of Mother

Terry 250 651-7769

Smallwood Enterprises Ltd We provide Concrete, Drain Rock, Screed gravel, Sand, Topsoil and Septic systems.

We also provide Equipment Rentals, Excavations, Covered Storage, Firewood and Snow Removal.

Please call (250) 651-2488 or email bobscontracting2020@ gmail.com

Atlin Community Library Open Every

Friday and Saturday 2-4p.m.

BC time

Everyone Welcome

The next Whisper is Wednesday December 21st Submissions are due no later than Sunday 6pm December 18th The Purpose of the Atlin Whisper is to encourage, build-up and inform the people of Atlin concerning ongoing community events and happenings. The Whisper is not a political mouthpiece.

Compiled and edited by Lynne Phipps. Paper for printing courtesy of Northern Homes Real Estate Printing courtesy of RCMP Atlin.

Classifieds, news, upcoming events Contact 1-250-651-7861 or lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com if you have, pictures or articles you would like to submit.

Please note that submissions should be sent in either WORD or JPEG whenever possible. PDF must first be printed and then scanned back into the computer in order to format it into the paper. This costs in both paper and ink. We know that at times a PDF is the only way, which is okay when necessary, but otherwise, as the Whisper is a FREE community service we appreciate your support in helping to keep the costs down as much as possible. Thank You!