Friends and family gathered Saturday afternoon to witness the marriage of Coleus Taylor and Scot Nichols. Rainbow Glacier provided a sparkling backdrop to the Paradise Cove location. Friends and family contributed ceremonial elements, including prayers and songs. Coleus’ mother, Debi Knight-Kennedy, offered a welcoming song. Willow Bryant showered the couple with golden calendula petals from Debi’s garden. Scot’s parents, mother Carol Markowski, stepfather Rick Markowski, father Steve Nichols and stepmother Pepi Nichols, along with Debi and Gene Kennedy, expressed their blessings. Girlfriends Melina Shields, Marion Cunningham, Sarah Chatfield and Trillium Swanson offered songs. Coleus’ sister, Jasmine Taylor Bryant, participated with Scot’s sister Jill Nichols Pruett and his niece Megan Lamonte, who traveled from Texas. Scot and Coleus rowed across Paradise Cove to the reception, where they were greeted with cheers. Coleus’ stepdad, Gene Kennedy, had built a stage for the band Swingset and various open-mic performers. Deborah Marshall organized the tables of potluck dishes, and served up stunning wedding cakes, including a raw chocolate cake from Taylor Bryant, Chatfield’s flourless chocolate cake topped with dark chocolate ganache, and a multi-tiered white and raspberry cake by Darren Shields. For Gene’s toast, guests were served rose cordial prepared by Debi, and made with gallons of rose petals Coleus gathered over the summer. Guests left with love poems and a matted print of Coleus and Scot’s family crest, designed by Coleus, which included a Chinese chop meaning “love,” which was used by Coleus’ grandmother, Beverly Rhoades, to sign her watercolors.
A recent postcard mailing urging residents to vote “no” on ballot proposition #1 in Tuesday’s statewide election caught the attention of friends who recognized Rich Cooper, portraying a ham-fisted lobbyist. A similar TV commercial features a smirking Rich with a cigar and slick suit. Rich won’t be roaming the halls of the capital anytime soon, however. He’s an Emmy-winning producer and actor in Anchorage who founded FrostLine Productions and was hired by the “No on Measure 1” campaign to play the role. Rich graduated from Haines High School in 1984 and last lived in Haines in 2005.
Natalie and Mikayla Humphrey-Kauffman enjoyed a bustling and exciting seven-week venture of Indiana and New England this summer. Their first stop was South Bend, Ind. where they spent time with family members bowling, horseback riding, dining out, and swimming. Mikayla sat in on University of Notre Dame band practice, playing saxophone while grandpa Harvey Humphrey, an alumnus, played tuba. Natalie enjoyed a pottery class with friends and aunt Alicia Richardson, Nicole Brewington’s sister. The girls also spent time with aunts Danielle Haley, Claire Humphrey and Julia Humphrey. They continued on to the lake house of their uncle, Dr .Charles Humphrey in Oxford, Maine where they participated in the annual “Humphrey Week,” filled with boating, horseback riding, water skiing, swimming, water tubing, and socializing with over 20 family members. They made time to stop in Freeport for outlet shopping. Back in Indiana they visited aunt and uncle Dr. Madeline and Dr. Mark Lewis at their house on Lake Michigan. During their last week of stay, they went to Chicago to the Shedd Aquarium with grandma Colette Couture and great-grandma Maryann Couture. They are eagerly awaiting next year’s ventures.
Janet Kurz organized a local gathering at the back room of the Captain’s Choice Motel to honor Sen. Ted Stevens during his televised memorial service Wednesday. About 75 well-wishers signed the register, which will be sent, along with a sympathy card, to Stevens’ family. Janet and Linda Geise pulled the event together in less than two days, and were gratified at the number of people who turned out to share stories of encounters with Stevens. Janet recalled the lunch she shared with Stevens, his chief of staff Carol White, Janet’s ex-husband, Bill Kurz, and their granddaughter Tiffany in the Senate Dining Room. Stevens encouraged Tiffany to keep up with school work and to keep learning. “Anything is possible,” he said.
Gina St. Clair traveled to Jackson, Wyo. with her kids Jackie, Casey and Gabrielle for a three-week, sun-soaked vacation. They caught up with family members, including Gina’s parents Putzi and John Harrington, who have visited Haines in recent years. Gina, Jackie and Gabrielle took in a Bob Dylan concert, and the family took advantage of the warm days to go tubing down Fish Creek and the Snake River.
Navy seaman Paul M. Lorentz, son of Faith and Ike Lorentz of Haines, Alaska recently reenlisted for four years while serving aboard the guided missile frigate USS Ingraham, home-ported in Everett, Wash. Lorentz is a 2006 graduate of Haines High School and joined the Navy in July 2006.
Zach and Jenny Sheldon recently hosted Jenny’s brother Grant Cassell of Vancouver, B.C. and his three band mates from “Behind Sapphire,” a jazz-folk band that played at the Southeast Alaska State Fair and around town. Jen’s mom Wanda Cassell and brother Michael Cassell, also of Vancouver, made for a full house, Jen said. Outings included a trip to Steve Kroschel’s wildlife park, a flight with Mountain Flying Service, and a hike up Nadahini Creek. It was Grant’s second trip here. He helped clear the land for the Sheldon’s house a few years back. Zach’s sister Molly and her husband Frank Novak visited in Haines while their cruise ship docked in Skagway. Last Saturday as well.