Clara Granger, known locally as Nattaphon “Ice” Wangyot, married Dakota Maatz on March 9 at Calgary, Alberta’s Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Clara’s sisters Alison Benda and Kate Benda served as maid of honor and flower girl, respectively. “I’m so excited,” said Clara’s mom Natkitta Panyawong, who attended with David Swift. Dakota’s aunt served as marriage minister. About 40 friends and family members attended the service that included a dinner capped by chocolate cake. The newlyweds – who met while playing video games online – are planning a Thailand honeymoon. Dakota manages a Calgary A & W restaurant. Clara is preparing to enter a nursing education program and is awaiting citizenship paperwork.
Emilia Ann Hinderberger was born 5:46 a.m at Bartlett Regional Hospital Monday, March 16 to Joanna and Bryan Hinderberger. Emilia weighed 7 lbs., 10 oz., and measured 20.5 inches. Grandmom Heather Lende reports that Emilia has thick, dark hair and “great lungs.” Emilia is the couple’s first child. Heather, who attended the birth, said gaining admittance to the hospital involved passing through the hospital’s coronavirus “screening tent” and having her temperature taken.
Fred Shields and Sarahlee Kittons have returned from a trip to the Lower 48 including stops to hike to Grand Canyon’s Phantom Ranch, to visit John Bune in Austin, Texas and to see old friends in Fred’s childhood home of Palatine, Ill. Fred caught up with his high school chemistry teacher Ken Spengler, an organist at the Lutheran Church there for 50 years. The trip spanned 11,500 miles and 12 states.
Haines toddlers went skiing for the first time in last weekend’s sunshine. Jake Bell and son Rune, 17 months, took on a tiny slope at Saturday’s Miles Klehini Classic ski race at 25 Mile. So did Conan Shields, who turns 2 on Friday. Conan’s mom Vija Pelekis loaned Conan’s skis to Rachael Pattison and Jake Eckhardt for a first-ski outing Sunday with their daughter Juniper, 3. Juniper told her mom that skiing makes her laugh “all the way down to her tummy.”
Julie Rae’s son Aaron Woodrow has penned a ditty on the coronavirus he sings and performs on guitar. Titled, “Quarantine Blues,” you can find it on Julie’s Facebook page.
Haines High School senior Kirby Faverty waxed philosophic about the cancellation of the state basketball championship tournament this weekend due to coronavirus The Haines boys qualified for state for the second consecutive year. A sprained ankle limited Kirby’s play last year. “Dumb coronavirus, but oh well,” Kirby said this week while baking a cake. Kirby is considering attending the University of British Columbia next fall, but also has interest in his hoops skills from some Lower 48 colleges.
Heather Smith goes big on St. Patrick’s Day and Tuesday was no exception. She fed husband Matt, dad Bill “Smitty” Smith, and sons Thomas and Haydn green eggs and ham for breakfast and made soda bread for Smitty’s favorite recipe of corned beef and cabbage. Dessert was green gelatin in bug-shaped molds in honor of Haydn, whose middle name is Bugg.
Joe Parnell put down his pickleball racket in Las Vegas, Nev. and pointed his van toward Haines about the same time the casinos were closing there. Parnell said he figures his house in Haines is about as safe as anywhere. “People look worried but are remarkably nice about it. Shelves were going empty while I was shopping but there was no pushing and shoving.”
Waiting for the Tazlina ferry run to Haines, Sue Libenson sat in on some rehearsals of the city’s annual Gospel Choir Celebration. Bobby Lewis, pastor of the New Light Baptist Church of Harlem, New York led choir instruction with Eastace Johnson on piano accompaniment. The celebration, sponsored by the Juneau Arts and Culture Center, is capped by a performance of more than 100 Juneau residents.

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