Blake Hamilton was selected as the U.S. Naval Academy’s Midshipman of the Month. The honor comes with a formal presentation and additional privileges in his regimented schedule. Hamilton, who grew up sailing with his family, was also selected to sail on the Varsity Navy 44 as crew in an upcoming yacht race from Annapolis to Bermuda. Proud parents Scott and Jan Hamilton also noted that Blake was appointed to the Superintendent’s List for maintaining a 3.6 GPA. Send your congratulations to MIDSN Blake Hamilton, USNA, P.O. Box 12665, Annapolis, MD 21412.
Laurie Dadourian and Lucy Harrell grew up on the same road in Alta Dena, Calif. When Laurie planned a trip to her hometown recently, Lucy asked her to bring back a picture of her old house. Laurie visited Lucy’s former home, where the current homeowner invited her to the backyard to see the old cement stairs with “Lucy” carved into it.
Matt Boron was presented the 2011 Employee of the Year Award for Maintenance & Operations in the Alaska Department of Transportation Southeast Region. Matt is Foreman of DOT’s Haines Maintenance Station and runs a deferred maintenance crew throughout Southeast in the summer months. The award commends outstanding service and is based on a nomination from his peers. Matt’s boss, SE Maintenance Superintendent Greg Petz, traveled to Haines to present Matt with a plaque.
Al Badgley traveled to his childhood home of Baytown, Tex. to celebrate the 95th birthday of his mother, Evelyn Badgley on January 20. Evelyn is well-known in Haines from her summers spent in the Lutak area since 1976. Evelyn’s children and grandchildren surrounded her for the celebration, including Al’s sisters, Carol Williams and Jennie Hogan. Al also stopped off in Seattle to see former residents Lola and Frank Putnam.
Proud grandmother Patty Morgan feels blessed by the addition of new grandchildren into her family. Khessa Chloe McWhorter was born November 22 to Naomi (Hartmann) and Cortes McWhorter in Juneau. Khessa weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 19 inches. She joins her big sister Kairi. Patty was in Cedar Hill, Tex. for the birth of Hazel Azaria Duskin on January 12 to Ariana (Hartmann) and Dwayne Duskin. Hazel weighed 9 pounds, 14.5 ounces and measured 21 inches. Hazel is named after her great-grandmother Hazel Morgan, 88, from New Mexico. Hazel joins Arguel Hartmann, who turns 3 this month. While in Texas, Patty visited with daughter Marita Hartmann, who works as a real estate agent in Austin, Tex. and says she misses the Pacific Northwest. Bill Hartmann, who lives in Walker Lake, Nev., was in Juneau in early December and had the chance to meet four of his grandchildren for the first time including Kaitlann Jim, the daughter of Heather (Hartmann) Jim, Khessa and Kairi, and Kody Wyatt Morrison, the son of Bethany (Hartmann) and Kyle Morrison, who was born in August.
Janet Kurz spent the holidays with her children and grandchildren in New Jersey and Virginia. She spent Christmas with her oldest son, Jay Kurz and his wife Tina. They traveled to Silver Springs, Md. to see son Karl and his wife Jackie Kurz with their new baby Makenzie, who was born July 24. They also traveled to Virginia to see Janet’s oldest granddaughter, Tiffany Anderson, the daughter of Tia (Kurz) Anderson.
Daniel Glackin has relocated to Long Beach, Calif. where he is working as a deckhand and science educator on the Tallship American Pride. The three-masted schooner was constructed in 1941 and measures 130 feet long. Built as a fishing boat, the American Pride is now operated by the Children’s Maritime Foundation for educational tours. Daniel lives on the boat and assists with sailings and school groups. Daniel was encouraged to apply for the job by his friend Jeremiah Brower when Jeremiah was home in Haines over Christmas. Jeremiah has worked on the American Pride since March 2011. Although it was hard for Daniel’s mother, Patty Campbell, to say goodbye to her youngest son, she says she’s proud that he’s found something that makes him happy. “I will miss him,” says Patty, “but he’s doing his thing and that’s all that matters.”
Mosquito Lake Fourth grader Odin Jacobson won a $1,500 credit in the University of Alaska College Savings Plan for his entry in the “I Know I Can” career education program presented by Haines School Counselor Lindsey Moore in November. Lindsey visited classrooms in Haines and Mosquito Lake to talk about career choices, and students completed an art activity in which they drew pictures of a career they envision themselves doing. Submissions to the Alaska Commission on Post-Secondary Education were included in a random drawing for two $1,500 prizes. Odin drew a picture of himself as a soldier rappelling out of a helicopter. Although Odin’s plans for his future career are still evolving, mother Amiee Jacobson hopes that the prize will help Odin start saving for college. “Every little bit helps,” she says.

Author