Astrid Ruth Wuesthoff was born at 5:15 p.m. on July 15, 2022, at Juneau’s Bartlett Regional Hospital. Astrid weighed 8 lbs., 9 oz. and measured 20 inches long. Her parents are Jessie and Kris Wuesthoff. Jessie’s mother Alison Adams was in Juneau for the birth. The family returned to Haines on July 18 by Fjordlines Express and Astrid got to see her first whales. She also had her first diaper change out of the hospital in the Fjordlines bathroom, Jessie reports.
Shelina Turner and John Venables Jr. were married at the Turner residence off Santa Claus Mountain Road in Haines on July 16. The couple met in Haines and started dating in May of 2016. They then attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks together. After graduating, they settled down in Anchorage. In 2021, John proposed to Shelly while on a trip to the Grand Canyon. John’s father, Robert Venables, officiated the wedding. Nicole Lorentz was the Matron of Honor, Danielle Livengood, and Laura Lewis were the bridesmaids, Kristian Jorgenson-Geise was the best man, and Roberto Tartaglio and John Mark Wenger were the groomsmen. Shelina’s parents, Donnie and Stacie Turner, and John’s mom, Marta Venables, also attended the wedding.
Pennsylvanians Mike and Patti Metzgers are visiting Haines for the first time in four years. The last time the couple was in town, Mike was medevaced after his heart stopped in the parking lot of the post office. Mike fell behind the car of Sam and Shannon McPhetres who had just begun backing up. Owen McPhetres, Sam and Shannon’s son, yelled at his parents to hit the brakes before they ran over Mike. The EMTs were called and Mike was sent to Anchorage, where the doctors installed a pacemaker in his heart. Mike credits Owen with saving his life that day. Now that the Metzgers are back in Haines, they met up with the McPhetres for moose dinner. Mike and Patti are currently traveling throughout Alaska with a motorhome caravan.
Mary Ann Price celebrated her 91st birthday on Aug. 4. Mary moved to Haines in 1961, where she worked as a nurse with Stan Jones for many years at the old medical clinic. While in Haines, Mary raised 11 children. Two of her children, Cindy and Wayne Price, still live in Haines. Cindy works at the Chilkoot Indian Association and Wayne is a local artist. Mary’s other children visit Haines regularly and stay for weeks at a time. Cindy encourages friends of Mary to send her cards, letters, and greetings at Prestige Care of Anchorage 9100 Centennial Circle Attn: Mary Price Room 402 Anchorage AK 99504.
Haines High alumni Eliza Lende Dorn finished her first ever Ironman in Juneau on Aug. 2. Dorn finished 79th amongst 700 racers with a time of 11:31:06. Elizabeth Jurgeleit, another Haines High alumni, was commissioned by Travel Juneau to create an art piece for the competitors in the first Ironman Alaska that could be framed and hung on their walls.
A dozen small businesses in Southeast Alaska are finalists in the Path to Prosperity contest, including local baker Rebecca Kameika. In October, the finalists will go through a workshop that will help them polish their business plans. Rebecca plans to open a small restaurant focusing on tapas, wine, and dessert. As of right now, Kameika isn’t sure if she wants to open a walk-in or sit-down restaurant. She currently bakes out of her apartment. She said she is attending the workshop because she is also considering contracting with cruise companies.
Seamstress Becky Nash used a stapler to hold together the trousers of the father of the groom at a recent wedding in Seattle. Becky was in Seattle for the marriage of her niece, Kaelyn Timmons, the daughter of Becky’s sister Caroline Timmons. Becky’s other sisters, Connie and Debby Smith, also attended the wedding in Seattle. Lynnita Bergstorm, her husband Tomas, and their daughter, Brianna, located in Lulea, Sweden were across Lake Washington in Bellevue attending an outdoor wedding.