(Courtesy/Tom Ganner) Jim and Dorothy Demarest in their wedding finery on a honeymoon trip to Haines after the couple were married in Florida, pose at Haines Brewing in Haines, Alaska.

Donna Catotti is leading a life drawing and painting group. She has been organizing this for 15 years in Haines. Catotti says that returning artists have included Crystal Miller, Rachel Saitzyk, Karen Bryant, Helen Alten and Elena Saunders. Saunders has been attending the life drawing group since the group met at the school, years ago. Catotti says that artists can drop in and out during the three-hour drawing and painting group. Those interested should also bring their sketching supplies. Catotti says that it is not a workshop and not a class, so when someone asks a question they won’t just get an answer, they get a discussion. This year some of the artists are honing their skills for the ninth Studio Incamminati workshops, June 8-12. Twelve artists will be invited to join that workshop. 

Dorothy and Jim Demarest first came to Haines in November of 2022 to attend the Alaska Bald Eagle Festival. Jim Demarest says that the two fell in love with Haines and the people on that trip. The Demarests have visited every year since – in both summer and fall. The two are in discussions about a wintertime visit. The two wed on the beach near their home in Naples, Florida on Oct. 4, 2025. Their first of several honeymoon trips was to Haines. They hand-carried the wedding dress and tuxedo from Florida to Alaska. Their friend Tom Ganner agreed to take pictures at some of their favorite spots, including the brewery. Paul Wheeler, at the Haines BrewingCo. recently admired that photo and quickly pointed out that the Jeff Brown’s handmade tap handles really make the photo. 

Jane Pascoe recently returned from a 100th birthday party for her aunt Colleen in Sarasota, Florida. Pascoe was joined by her sister Nuala Williams in St. Augustine, where they spent five days sightseeing. This included seeing manatees at Blue Springs State Park. In Sarasota they were joined by cousins Rich Ruffini, Delia Hyland and other friends and family for cake and champagne. The birthday girl is the identical twin of the late Patricia Pascoe, Jane and Nuala’s mother. After the celebration, Nuala and Jane flew to Haines where they have been busy making Seville orange marmalade from fresh Seville oranges brought back from Florida. 

(Courtesy/Chloe Copeland) PhoebeSnow Desatoff reads the Chilkat Valley News.

Former youth first-place winner of Southeast’s Got Talent 2025 and notable downhill skier PhoebëSnow Desetoff celebrated her 15th birthday on Feb. 9. She and her family indulged in handcrafted ski mogul cupcakes topped with sprigs of evergreen  for trees and white frosted hills. Her mom says that they have a family tradition of creative winter-themed cakes that involve snow. Desetoff has been having a busy downhill racing season and completed her birthday with a soak in the nearest hot spring.

Following Typhoon Halong, which destroyed homes in western Alaska, Tim Ackerman organized a hunting party and sent a 150-pound harbor seal to the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Ackerman’s efforts landed him on the pages of the New York Times. The news article, written by Anchorage writer Julia O’Malley, included photography by Haines’ Colin Arisman. Ackerman’s seal, along with other traditional food, was shared with displaced community members who have been devastated by the storm and lost access to subsistence foods when they evacuated from flooded villages.

Last week 107 kids went snowshoeing in the Chilkat Valley. During the month of February. Takshanuk Watershed Council partnered with Chilkoot Indian Association to take preschool through third-grade students in Haines, Klukwan and homeschool programs snowshoeing. Fourth through eighth graders from Haines and Klukwan will be skiing at 25 Mile over the next two weeks. Haines Huts and Trails – with the help of Jim Stanford, groom the trails before every field trip. Haines Avalanche Center provides winter recreation safety courses and beacon drills before every cross-country ski trip. Tracy Wirak-Cassidy says that the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation’s grant award to the watershed council is funding the program this year. She says this is their fifth year running the snow school. 

Sarah Ammons along with a merry band of gardeners gathered at the library for a seed swap on Saturday afternoon. Members of the community stopped in to share seeds and some insider tips. The carrot seed conversation was good and so were the snacks. Crisp green apple wedges, some hummus and chips. The conversation quickly went to plans for chaos carrot seeding vs pellets or seed strips. Blythe Carter’s plans are exciting and inspired at least one gardener. Ammons is the garden coordinator at the Victory Garden in Mosquito Lake. She saidthat March 15 they will start the garden season with seed starts, soil blocking. All levels of gardeners are encouraged to attend. She did not promise apple wedges, but said snacks will be provided. 

Walther Jim, 17, and Chisel Triezenberg, 14, are in Juneau representing the Chilkat Valley along with others from around the state as part of the Alaska Farmers Market Association’s yearly food security week. They are both acting as pages on the House and Senate floors and attending three legislative meetings specific to food security in Alaska. Jim and Triezenberg also had the opportunity to attend the All Alaska-grown dinner at the governor’s mansion. Triezenberg said that it has been very interesting and enjoyable working with the senators while in session.

Vermont skier Ben Ogden brought home a silver medal in the cross-country ski sprint at the Olympics this week. This ends a 50-year drought in medal winning for the American men’s team. Local ski enthusiasts also celebrated, including Eben Sargent. Sargent is also a Vermonter and skier. His younger sister, Ida Sargent, raced in the 2014 and 2018 Olympics in cross-country skiing. Eben Sargent said that when he was a kid, the American cross-country ski team was the butt of jokes at home and abroad. The women’s team started having great results a decade ago, and it is great to see the men’s team starting to catch up, he said. Matt Whitman has also been known to enjoy a bit of skiing. He and Sargent both agreed that as skiers they will celebrate anything and enjoy a bit of the Olympic joy every four years.