Items of Interest

winter, says Audrey. Jim is taking full advantage of the reprieve in the -32 degrees that the McCarthy area experienced in November.

Keith and Laurie Rowland and family: I just received The Rowland Revue 2003 which was penned by Laurie somewhere in-between homeschool for 4 of her 5 children, her secretarial and bookwork for the family business, Rowcon Services, treasury assistant chores for the McCarthy Kennicott Community Church and last, but not least, her most appreciated position as church pianist. Whew! That tired me out just typing up her duties.

Laurie reports that Keith has kept busy with local dirt work jobs, and now that winter has settled in, he is enjoying doing finish work on the inside of their home. In fact, he recently put most of the finishing touches on their loft bedroom and on another bedroom. According to the Revue, “Keith says it is very satisfying to see our building material pile shrinking.”

The boys look forward to Saturdays when “dad” takes the boys trapping. Kaleb, who is in the 6th grade this year, would much rather be on such an outdoor excursion than working on his math or English, writes Laurie.

David is a 4th grader this year and is the most organized of the “boys.” Mom says, “No one tells him to make his bed every day.”

Daniel is doing 3rd grade work this year. His favorite pastime these days is reading for fun and entertainment. His spelling has greatly improved, too, says mom/teacher.

Hannah, who is 7 years old, loves schoolwork and being a teacher’s assistant for her mom. She is also becoming a very competent secretary/receptionist for Rowcon Services. The other day Rick called them, wanting to send a fax. Usually we ask to speak to Laurie but Hannah assured Rick she was able to take care of that chore herself. And she did!

When things get too serious in the Rowland classroom, Jubal – who has been dubbed “anti-school” – always comes through with his class clownsmanship. He is also known to cause slight distractions when he gets into his brothers’ CAT equipment models and Legos. No one can stay mad at him for long, says Laurie; his adoring blue eyes capture the hearts of many a family member and friend.

Don, Lynn, Rene and Sarah Welty: I had the pleasure of snowmachining down to the Welty house the other day. My primary goal was to touch bases with Sarah who is home for the holidays. She brought pictures of her newfound friends and classmates and her school campus. She is having a wonderful time, she says, and adjusting well to her new surroundings in Jackson Hole, Wy. Welcome home – although briefly – Sarah!

Rene has set some rather stringent goals for this year’s schoolwork, says Lynn, and she is moving right along. Her studies have included a new subject this year – guitar lessons from local artist Jürgen Ogrodnik, who told me his students (Rene and Tyee Lohse of Long Lake) are doing very well. I am hoping there will be a recital held sometime in the near future!

As I was typing this out, Lynn dropped by on her way back from mail. We had a nice visit over a cup of tea. It is Christmas week and she and Rene have laid the schoolbooks aside so they can have more family time while daughter Sarah is home.

Don is tending his trap line and glad to have the extra time winter affords to do those projects that just don’t get done during the busy summer season.

Neil Darish and Doug Miller: Doug is just returning from a trip to India. I hope he is coming home refreshed because I think Neil needs a break. When I talked to him the other day, he was elated to report that he was receiving reservations from even more tour groups than usual. Bookings were up for this time of year and he foresees a great summer season for the McCarthy Lodge, Ma Johnson Hotel and the Lancaster Hotel.

Neil and Doug have a “to-do” list for the winter and spring months. We can expect to see a new look for the front of Ma Johnson’s and a sprucin’ up for several rooms inside.

The other evening while leaving the church building I couldn’t help but notice a large, yellow light coming from the area of the McCarthy Lodge. It turned out to be Neil and Doug’s new system of grow lights for their ample supply of house plants. Neil says the lights produce a great deal of heat as well which is helping to heat their living room. Hopefully, Doug’s green thumb will be itching soon to start those early garden plants and flowers for us local gardeners.

Welcome back, Doug!

THANK YOU! The McCarthy community extends their thanks to the Department of Transportation employees, George Levasseur, Sam Taylor and the Chitina crew, for all the wonderful snow plowing that was approved and done in November to the McCarthy Road and airstrip!! It was certainly a job well done and GREATLY appreciated.

Condolences: Kennicott Kid Inger Jensen Ricci has passed on the sad news that Kennicott Kid Mary Ellen Clark (Duggan) passed away October 2, 2003. Writes Inger: She was very dear to me, as we started school together in Kennecott and we have corresponded all these years. I saw her a few times, but most recently at our last reunion at Kennecott. I believe she attended all the reunions.” Our condolences go out to the family of Mary Ellen.