Main Street art gallery changes hands
Haines artists Amelia Nash and Andrea Nelson are the new owners of Skipping Stone Studios on Main Street, to be named Ampersand AK.
The longtime friends bought the business from Joanie Wagner on March 1. Nash said over the years, the two have shared a studio and have been featured artists in shows together, and they are excited to begin this business venture with one another.
Nelson is an independent contractor who has managed her own art. Nash also owns the Fireweed Restaurant with husband Adam Richard.
Nelson said she and Nash have an “artnership,” which she defined as a “working relationship of supporting each other’s independent artistic goals.”
Nash said the business’s new name, Ampersand AK, is symbolic for “the opportunity for more.”
“It represents inclusion of all of our ideas,” Nelson said.
The new owners said they plan to gradually introduce changes to the store, including hanging an ampersand in the window and bringing in their own art.
Nash said the shop will have a vintage clothing corner and more community-involved activities, including First Friday celebrations.
Nelson said they will sell a mix of art, crafts and quality gifts with a focus on Alaska-made products.
Ampersand AK will be open six days a week with similar hours to Skipping Stone beginning this month. Nash said the shop will have an open house during First Friday activities on April 6.
Paintball comes to Haines
You can now rent paintball gear at Outfitter Sporting Goods. Michael T. Ward said interested paintballers can rent semi-automatic Tippmann guns, masks and air tanks for $20 a day.
Ward started a Facebook group “Haines Paintball Club” where people can see when others are scheduling games.
“Whoever wants to play can,” Ward said. “We can get you set up with everything you need to go paintballing. We all stay in touch and we go and play when everybody can. I want to get it going every Sunday.”
Ward has 15 guns available for rent. Harry Rietze is letting people play on his property across from the cannery. The land is at the head of Letnikof Cove in the old horse field across from the cannery pavilion.
“It’s a field with patches of spruce trees that is not being used commercially by the cannery,” Rietze said.
Ward said he wants to build a paintball course by summer.
The games have been so popular Ward’s store sold out of paintballs, although a new stock was ordered and was scheduled to arrive on the barge by Tuesday, Ward said.
Artist revamps mosaic art, home decor venture
Haines resident Megan Morehouse is the owner and artist behind Tidal Rhythm.
Morehouse said she has been making mosaic art and home décor in Haines for about seven or eight years but recently renamed her business and created a website.
“I use a lot of found pieces and make mosaics out of them,” Morehouse said. She said most of what she uses, like wood, shells and sea glass, is found on the beach.
Morehouse sells her work at local shops but hopes the website will broaden her reach.
New for Tidal Rhythm are chandeliers made out of shells that incorporate solar lighting.
With a degree in interior design and a background in art, Morehouse said she also consults with individuals seeking design help or custom home décor.
Contact Morehouse or learn more about her art at meganjenel.com.
New haul-away service available
John Hunt’s Burfl’s Tractor Works recently began offering haul-away services for appliances, construction materials, lumber, recycling and refuse. Hunt bought a 2000 Isuzu 18- by 8-foot flat bed with a heavy duty tailgate lift to haul heavy appliances.
Hunt said he can arrange pickups for electronic waste and appliance recycling days.
“As those dates get announced people can call me and we can preplan to have me pickup their stuff during those recycling and refuse events,” Hunt said.
His business has expanded over the past several years and he can now clear and load brush, grade roads and level terrain. He also uses augers to dig post-holes.
Hunt charges $60 an hour.
For more information, call 314-3239.
Artist offers sustainable design
Elizabeth Jurgeleit recently began offering interior design services through her business Kicking Horse Designs.
“I can help if anyone is doing a remodel or wants help with special planning, new design or designing custom furniture. I can do 3D modeling and floor plans.”
She also creates business logos, posters and flyers. She designed the Haines Economic Development Corporation’s logo, wedding invitations and KHNS event posters, among others.
Jurgeleit earned a bachelor of fine arts in interior design from Washington State University and studied Italian architecture and design in Florence, Italy.
She’s worked on several kitchen remodels in town. She incorporates environmentally responsible materials to create sustainable designs.
“I can meet with people and we’ll have a discussion about what they like or don’t like and what they foresee,” Jurgeleit said. “We’ll go from there to see if they want a few schematic designs ideas. I can help draw up plans and be involved with construction oversight.”
You can see her work and read more about her business at kickinghorsedesings.com or email her at [email protected].
Ward revamps Lighthouse kitchen
Mike Ward is making changes to the Lighthouse Restaurant before reopening this spring.
He’s installing new kitchen appliances, including a new hood and air exchange fan system and a new oven range, fryer, coolers and freezer. He plans to install a deck for outdoor seating and dining.
Ward hopes to have the deck completed in mid-summer and plans to reopen the restaurant in mid-May.