Lindsay Johnson and Graham Kraft were married Dec. 27 at their property near Viking Cove. The bride, groom, and guests skied and snowshoed to the outdoor ceremony overlooking Lynn Canal. Friend Rachel Walton of Ketchikan officiated. Afterward, the group went swimming in Viking Cove and hot-tubbing before sitting down to a newlywed feast that included goat tacos, crab caught by Jeremy Taylor, and “merry” berry pie. Guests included photographer Erik Stevens, Sylvia Heinz, Andrew Cardella, Lizi Wirak, Stacie Evans, Jason Ethan of Juneau, and witnesses Beth Fenhaus and Jeffrey Moskowitz. Johnson thanks magistrate John Hutchins, who she said helped make the wedding happen. Post wedding plans include a big party to celebrate with out-of-town family and friends this year.
Bill and Joyce Thomas joined 11 family members and friends for a week of visiting son Gabe, Gabe’s girlfriend Tracey Harmon and their daughter Mila in Orlando, Fla. Guests included Danny Thomas and daughter Kieley of Haines, Tracey’s parents’ Elza and Patty Harmon, Bill’s sister Nancy Hemingway, and husband Bill and Tracey’s brother and sister-in-law.
Verity Love Thorgesen was born 6:41 a.m. Dec. 29 to parents Amy and Chris Thorgesen at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau. She weighed 8 pounds, 8 ounces, and measured 21 inches. Siblings are Abigail, Mathias, Levi, Joseph, Faith, Tierza, Holly, and Scarlett.
Stephanie Scott’s daughter Reed Scott-Schwalbach of Portland was in town for the holidays. She visited friends and attended the KHNS ball. Meanwhile, Maor and Len Feldman and daughters Maya and Ella were in Portland, cat-sitting at Scott-Schwalbach’s house. The Feldmans were visiting Len’s daughter, Hannah Feldman Erickson, a childhood friend of Scott-Schwalback who lives with her family in Portland.
Former resident Gus Browning visited for a day, spending time with Haines friends and former classmates including Chandler Kemp, Tristan Sebens, and Marley Horner, who were all in town for the holidays. Browning works as a video game designer in Santa Monica, Calif.
The Haines Alcohol Task Force Third Annual New Year’s Eve party drew 112 people to the ANB Hall. Event organizer Victoria Moore said it was a joy to see families celebrating the holiday together in a safe environment. The party included a performance by guitarist-singer Jeff Alvine, karaoke, and dancing. Guests feasted on moose and potluck sides. Tickets were drawn throughout the night for $900 in door prizes and cash donated by local businesses. ANS Camp 5 gave $200. Trish and Dave Folletti and Sue Folletti also helped organize the event.
Wings of Alaska officials say the airline’s third annual “Food 4 Flight” canned food drive in November was a success. People who brought four food items to the Wings ticket counters in Haines, Gustavus, Juneau, Skagway, or Hoonah received a $25 Wings travel voucher. Claire James, director of marketing for SeaPort Airlines, Inc., said food was donated to the Salvation Army in Haines Corps and Hoonah and The Glory Hole in Juneau.
About 75 people attended “The Snow Ball,” the second New Year’s Eve masquerade party at the Chilkat Center hosted by KHNS. Development director Leslie Ross said that the winter wonderland-themed party was great, though attendance dropped a bit from last year’s event. Skagway’s Dread Onion and Eric Holle’s Oringatones provided music. Ross said the stage was a masterpiece, thanks to program director Amelia Nash. Sarah Jaymot provided some catering. Guests enjoyed savory appetizers and desserts and drinks hosted by the Pioneer Bar. Lee Heinmiller and Jim Lampkins helped with sound and lights.
The McIver family – parents Tom and Beth, daughters Katie and Kerry and 85-year-old grandma Rosemary Kwitkowski – traveled to Haines to spend Christmas with daughter Eileen. Arriving from Cleveland via Fairbanks on Dec. 22, they acted in a skit at the Holly Jolly Christmas Follies the same day. Adventures included snowshoeing to Tom Morphet and Jane Pascoe’s cabin for Boxing Day, buying Marianne Rasmussen hats, cross-country skiing, and ice-skating. Kerry plunged into the slushy water at the Polar Bear Swim while the rest of the family went dog sledding with Jim and Deb Stanford’s dog team. Other highlights included winning second place at the Pioneer Bar’s trivia night, spotting dozens of bald eagles along the Haines Highway, and seeing Lori Webster without her trademark dreads.
Twenty-six shooters turned out for the Haines Sportsman’s Association’s Christmas turkey shoot, a clear day sandwiched between storms, said group president Shane Horton. “We had a good turnout of shooters and we all got to try out our new, voice-release system.” Twenty shooters won prizes at contests that included 16-yard trap, Cutthroat, and Buy-a-Square. Shooters ranged in age from 8 years old to seniors, Horton said.
The Holly Jolly Christmas Follies at the Chilkat Center Dec. 22 was a hit, said rookie producers Joe Parnell and Holly Jo Parnell. Fourteen acts were performed for a packed theater. The couple was very pleased with the turnout and with the “brilliant” performers.
Jerry and Linda Kielsmeier spent nearly three weeks visiting daughter Krista. The Iowa couple watched Krista perform with Tracy Cui and Ryan Staska in a Holly Jolly Christmas Follies skit; hiked to Lily and Chilkoot lakes; feasted on Christmas dinner at the home of Phyllis Sage and Joanne Waterman and had coffee with Doris Ward at the Senior Center. They also enjoyed Haines Presbyterian Church services led by pastor Ron Horn and a tour of the fire hall coordinated by Al Badgley. The highlight of the trip was snowshoeing to Joe Parnell’s cabin at Mosquito Lake. Three prints of Linda’s acrylic painting “Cruise Ship Day,” from a visit to Haines in summer 2011, are for sale at Alaska Rod’s.