West Woolverton Murray was born on Dec. 26 at 9:52 p.m. to Cara and Rob Murray of Sitka. He weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. He joins older siblings Taylor, Eva Ann and Dana. “He is super cute and a healthy baby boy,” said Cara. Cara’s parents are Keith and Cathy Houlberg of Haines.
Cormac Thomas McGuire was born on Jan. 3 at 7:01 a.m. at Bartlett Regional Hospital. Parents Sally Boisvert and Rafe McGuire and big sister Colleen spent a month enjoying life in Juneau while awaiting his late arrival. Cormac’s aunt Marie Boisvert of Haines spent two weeks in Juneau with the family for the holidays. Grandmother Sally McGuire of Haines was in Juneau as well and took care of Colleen during the birth. Cormac’s grandparents are Sally and Thomas McGuire of Haines and Joanne Gardner and Thomas Boisvert of Northfield, Mass.
Becky Nash traveled to Seattle to visit daughter-in-law Amy Nash and grandchildren Christian, Mason and Mercy. She enjoyed watching Christian play basketball and taking Mason to his favorite pancake house for chocolate chip pancakes.
Randy and Donna Zahnhow traveled to Haines to visit their son Josh Zahnhow, daughter-in-law Katrina and granddaughters Tulsi and Atlin. The couple has visited Haines for the past 10 years and for the most recent four years has come up to house sit in the winter. Randy and Donna are both involved in the Presbyterian Church and Donna sings in the women’s choir, is part of the local quilting group, Ripinsky Rippers, and volunteers for Hospice of Haines.
Lori Mastrella took a quick trip to visit son Charlie Bower and daughter Celia Bower in Juneau. Charlie is training to be a diesel mechanic and Celia is majoring in marine biology at University of Alaska Southeast, which recently ranked eighth in the nation for marine biology programs.
J.J. and Bryan Hinderberger of Unalaska traveled to Park City, Utah to ski and visit friends and to Juneau to visit J.J.’s sister Eliza Dorn, brother-in-law Justin, nephew James and niece Molly.
Joshua Benassi has returned from Colorado where he attended his grandfather, Johnnie Wellington’s funeral. Johnnie was a jeweler, millwright and machinist. “I didn’t even know my grandfather was a jeweler before I start making jewelry,” said Josh. He also visited his mom Sandi Ryan in Colorado Springs.
Stuart and Lexie DeWitt recently returned from Washington and Hawaii along with their children Charlie, Loralai and Lucas. While the family was in Washington visiting Lexie’s family they also met up with former resident Jason Shull, who now lives in Pullman. In Hawaii, the family traveled with Haines graduate Andrew Friske of Sitka, his wife Becky, and their children Jacob and Gracelynn. “My favorite part was going through the mud puddle on the ATV tour,” said Charlie. Lexie also enjoyed catching up with former Washington State University classmate Fritha Strand in Hawaii.
Sarah and Brian Elliott and daughters Caroline and Ivy, are back from a West Coast tour. The family met with Brian’s family in San Diego where the girls enjoyed visiting their cousins. From there, they rented an RV and drove Highways 1 and 101 to the Avenue of the Giants in the Redwoods. The family camped at the state parks through California and Oregon, before flying home from Portland.
Linda and Larry Geise had all of their grandchildren home for an early Christmas celebration. Kristian Skafelstad of Fairbanks, Ashia and Kole Skaflestad and their daughter Evalee of Great Falls, Montana, Ivan Hotch, Malia, Rylan and Ezra Geise, Corbin and Kenzie Wright—children of Lance Geise and Christy Myers. “First time, we’ve enjoyed, the entire group of grandchildren together in a few years. Sledding, meals, and lots of hugs were involved, a big dinner at our son and daughter-in-law’s house, and opening presents,” said Linda.
Carol Tuynman and Holly Smith attended the Alaska Chapter of the American Planning Association’s annual meeting in Anchorage last weekend. “It was a great opportunity to network with planners, community advocates and grant writers from around the state. I’m delighted to report that Haines is widely regarded as a very special Alaskan community. The experience was an auspicious start for the new year,” said Carol.
Donna Catotti’s portrait of Stoli Lynch, titled “One Hundred and Ten Years Later—A Tribute to H.W. Watrous,” is hanging at the National Arts Club in Manhattan in January, having been juried into the 122nd Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Open Exhibition. Donna will attend the awards dinner in New York after a week-long stay at Yuko Hays’ apartment in Philadelphia for a painting workshop. Yuko will be in Florida with husband Ed Hays, on semester break from her studies at Studio Incamminati, where she is in her second of four years in art school. Instructor, Ja Fang Lu will be teaching a Studio Incamminati workshop, “Portrait Painting: Form and Color,” in Haines Aug. 5-9. The class is open for registration at studioincamminati.org.