| I invited them inside to warm up and then asked if they minded if I interviewed them for “items.” Taking a seat, each one contributed a nugget of news from their neck of the McCarthy woods. |
| Kaleb was celebrating his 11th birthday, he said, which happened to be that very day. His special birthday supper was on hold until his dad returned from a supply run to Fairbanks. |
| David had lost a tooth during the last couple of days, he informed me, with a wide enough grin to show off the missing gap. I was impressed! |
| Hannah asked me if I recalled how she lost her last tooth. I had to admit, I did not. It seems her brother Daniel had been climbing the stairs above Hannah and accidently kicked her in the mouth, dislodging the loose tooth. I could tell she got quite a “kick” out of the event and seemed proud of Daniel’s assistance. |
| Keith, Laurie and the kids recently returned from a trip to their former home in Fairbanks in order to load up a 40' van with further belongings. Now that they have their McCarthy area home well underway, they were ready to “move in.” I asked Kaleb how he felt about the move from city life to McCarthy. His grin nearly matched his sister’s and he assured me he likes living here better. He said they unloaded one house and began loading up another. |
| As I write this item, Keith is on his way in the McCarthy Road hauling a remaining piece of furniture that wife Laurie has missed immensely—a Yamaha Grand Piano—that will find a new home in the corner of the Rowlands’ new living room. A perfect Christmas gift for Laurie, and I’m confident those ivories will warm to Laurie’s accomplished touch before too long! |
| The Jim Miller family: The entire Miller family is home for Christmas so I expect the house is full of plenty of holiday cheer. In case you didn’t receive a Christmas card from them, Jeannie told me she did up her own digital postcard — with the help of Matt’s wife, Julie, who is Jeannie’s computer confidante. Julie celebrated a birthday a few days ago. It is always a challenge to keep Julie’s gifts wrapped, Jeannie tells me. Somehow she seems to think: if they are wrapped and if they have her name attached, it is a sure sign that the packages need opening and one (meaning Julie) need not wait until the designated day. Therefore, all gifts, whether birthday or for Christmas, are put on the endangered specie’s list and guarded by other family members! I think Jeannie may have her hands full these days. |
| Stacie also celebrated a birthday — on Dec. 6th . I asked Jeannie if Stacie is sharing her age these days but seems daughter would rather keep that to herself. Now I can tell you that Sammy, Stacie’s dog, is 14 years old and knows full well what he wants for Christmas. It seems Sammy wants to move in (permanently) with dad Jim. Although Stacie has her own cabin and Sammy has full run of it, Sammy would rather shadow Jim wherever he goes. Jeannie says that when Jim leaves the house, if Sammy can’t follow, he will sit on the porch watching eagerly for his hero’s return. I guess Sammy leads quite a dog’s life these days but is determined to live it where he chooses. |
| Tim Mischel: I was curious if Tim, who is presently at his mountain cabin above Kennicott, had any more snow than we did down here in the valley. I mentioned to him we only had 2 inches in mid December and he said he was able to get around on his snowmachine because the Angle Station had approximately one foot. |
| I asked Tim if he had any winter travel plans and he is considering a trip to San Francisco to attend another wedding. This appears to be a yearly happening in Tim’s life. He says he has a lot of nephews and nieces and they are tying the knot right and left. |
| So, Tim, when the snow drifts get too deep for you, come on down to our neighborhood and pay us a visit. In the meantime, enjoy that snowmachining and do a little extra for us. |
| Meg Hunt and Ed LaChapelle: Once Meg realized we were home and ready to start on the next issue of WSEN, she did me a huge favor—she E-mailed me an item of interest. It’s wonderful having neighbors like Meg who help me prime the pump, so to speak, in getting started on my assignments. Here, from Meg’s own words, is she and Ed’s news of an exciting fall adventure. |
| “In September we visited the east coast of Greenland. September is the one month when the coastal waters are reliably free of sea ice (though not of icebergs!) Our ship, a refitted Russian research vessel with a Russian crew and very international leadership, sailed from Iceland across the Denmark Strait and into the fjords of Scoresby Sound, where we went ashore in Zodiac rafts to view flora, fauna, and landforms. This is definitely the way to travel. Our leader chose the itinerary based on existing weather and ice conditions, which is possible when you don’t have to change hotel reservations. (There are no hotels in east Greenland anyway--nor much of any other human infrastructure.) We were very well cared for (warm bunks and great food), and there was accommodation for different levels of ability (from sitting in the raft to hiking up steep hillsides). The flora and fauna were much like that of parts of Alaska; the fjords, mountains, glaciers, and icebergs dwarfed most of those in this state. Since returning, we have had a quiet time here in McCarthy except for the earthquake (no damage) and the annual Ladies' Cookie Exchange, which Meg hosted because both Audrey and Carly were gone. We had a smaller crew this year; because of the timing of various holidays, many people were gone. However, the participants and the local bachelors all made out like bandits on the sweets! |
| Neil Darish and Doug Miller: Neil and Doug, owners of McCarthy Lodge, are keeping the home fires burning for all the locals and winter visitors. They assured me the door is open for those who want a warm, comfortable visit with neighbors. Open all winter is their motto these days. |
| On November 23 the lodge hosted a potluck turkey dinner for radio station KCHU. The yearly fundraiser was a success, says Neil. Jurgen Ogrodnik was a big hit with his excellent, entertaining classical music which did much to encourage the 28 participants to donate $28 more than last year. |
| “It was classical music at its best!” says Neil. |
| Pat Proden: Another business owner in our area is Pat Proden who I don’t see very often. It is always nice to stay in touch. Pat just emailed us with his whereabouts and activities so I thought I would pass the info onto those of you who, like me, enjoy hearing from neighbors. |
| Pat has been in DC for the last month, he writes, working with the Peace Corps, participating in a month-long overseas training course. He has accepted a director’s position of education with Peace Corps Tanzania in East Africa and plans on departing December 26th where he will be stationed in the lovely, but warm, Dar es Salaam for the next few years. Pat writes: I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things concerning Tanzania, its people, culture and landscape. |
| He invites his friends to come visit and stay in touch. Here is the address information as he sent it to me. US Peace Corps, 2140 Dar es Salaam Place, Dulles, VA. 20189-2140. E-mail pproden@tz.peacecorps.gov (after Jan. 1st). |
| Dave Hollis: As I was typing in Pat’s item of interest the phone rang and it was Dave, whose nickname in these parts, is simply Hollis. I asked him what was new and he said he really enjoyed his stay at May Creek but was presently at Mark Wacht’s place across McCarthy Creek. In about 2 weeks, he plans on moving again. This time he will housesit Matt Smith’s cabin in Kennicott where he will stay out the winter. He said May Creek was awesome but he is looking forward to spending the rest of the winter season at Kennicott. I told him he is getting a taste of various areas in the local neighborhood. |
| Chad Reymiller: Well, Chad is back in town and happy to see the snow accumulate — finally. We now have a whopping 6 inches on the ground (Dec. 26) and snowmachining is at least possible. That is important to Chad who thoroughly enjoys this mode of transportation. |
| When Chad stopped by the other day I quizzed him on what he was up to. Not one to stay idle for long, Chad assured me he was well into this winter’s projects — building spiral stairs out of logs to reach his two lofts and putting together a log-frame bed. |
| The other night Keith and Laurie Rowland called on Chad for a helping hand. Keith’s trip from Fairbanks produced Laurie’s grand piano safe and sound. However, Keith needed help in transporting the piano from his van into the house. Chad brought along another neighbor, Dave Gutierrez, who added just the right amount of labor to complete the project. |
| Kurt, Peggy and Kelsey Smith: A big WELCOME to the Smith family. They have recently moved to our area and now call McCarthy their permanent year-round home. Although Kurt has been visiting the area for the past 22 years and is not a new face to many of us, our paths had not crossed with Peggy and Kelsey until just the other night. |
| The Smith family have moved here from North Pole where Kurt worked for the Fairbanks Northstar Borough Parks and Recreation. His assignment was the Chena Lakes Recreational Area. His last day will be January 9, says Peggy. |
| Peggy is a nurse and has been in nursing for 20 years. She is now taking up a different profession — homeschooling 9 year old Kelsey. |
| Their “home” is located out the Nizina Road and their nearest neighbor is Jeremy Keller with Rick Petter and the Bay family also in their local neighborhood. I asked Peggy how far they are from town and she said, “We are 15 miles from the parking lot at the Kennicott River.” |
| Kurt is an avid dog musher and has run in the Yukon Quest. At the present time, his racing team is leased out. |
| Peggy is a quilter and is eagerly looking for quilting buddies. |
| The Smiths are planning their first major building project—a 30' x 30' log home. Keith Rowland of Rowcon Services, is waiting for the Nizina River and McCarthy Creek to freeze, at which time he will deliver the logs for the house. |
| We extend a warm welcome to Kurt, Peggy and Kelsey. |
| Congratulations! We are pleased to announce the birth of Corbin Jackson Smith who was born November 8 to Kelly and Weston Smith of Anchorage. Corbin is Kelly and Weston’s first. Corbin’s grandparents on Weston’s side are Kenny and Donna Smith who are well known in “our town.” |
| Lane Moffitt, Betty Adams and Kaylin: As Rick and I returned from our vacation in Florida, we passed Lane, Betty and Kaylin driving out the McCarthy Road—on their way into town to visit their family and do what all of us out here like to do in Anchorage, stock up on supplies! |
| Lane didn’t leave until he had successfully cleaned up some of our infamous McCarthy Road ice glaciers. We want to thank him for all his “extra-mile” work on the road so local residents and visitors can safely travel to and fro. We all appreciate you, Lane! |
| The other night Betty and Kaylin attended the annual Christmas celebration held at the McCarthy-Kennicott Community Church. Both mother and son came dressed for the occasion. Betty in a long dress and heels; Kaylin was sporting a bow tie! What a nice touch of culture for us McCarthyites. |
| Announcement! McCARTHY VENTURES, Doug Miller and Neil Darish of McCarthy Lodge are excited to announce that the first two of the planned eight storefronts will be ready for occupancy in the 2003 summer season. |
| One of the two rental properties is the historic Carriage House which is being restored and will be moved to a prime location in downtown McCarthy. It’s new location will be next to the gift shop. |
| If you are hoping to begin your own business in this tourist destination, you will want to contact Doug or Neil at McCarthy Lodge. They are eager to work with you to help make your dream come true! You can visit their web site at: www.mccarthylodge.com or phone 1-907-554-4402 or Fax them at 907- 554-4404. |