Hello, ’05s. It seems the holiday season has gotten the best of us, as very few updates have come in since November 1. I do hope you are all well and preparing for a fantastic start to 2011 wherever you may be. Here’s to health, happiness, adventure and continued success in the coming year!


To begin this month’s column I want to send a congratulatory note to Jennifer John and Joe Gaul, who got engaged during the summer of 2010, representing yet another lasting union within the class of 2005. Jen and Joe plan to marry in Guilford, Connecticut, this spring. Bridesmaids will include Dartmouth classmates Nicole Valco and Becka (Duvall) Brown, while groomsmen Chris Snizek, Darren Gastrock ’04and Daniel Yacey will represent the Big Green. I feel certain that the men and women of Dartmouth will make this a weekend to remember for the bride and groom.


In other wedding news Magdalena Panz was married in Krakow, Poland, this fall. The ceremony was held in Magda’s hometown of Wilieczka, which is famous for having one of the world’s oldest operating salt mines. According to classmate Christopher “Zeke” McMullen-Laird, “A traditional Polish all-night wedding party included dancing to live music and more food than I care to remember.” Zeke notes that he was the only Dartmouth friend in attendance and was very proud to represent.


Zeke McMullen-Laird himself recently joined the music staff of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich in May 2010. He says he is looking forward to the downhill skiing as much as the superb singing. We wish you well in your new career!


I received a note from Callie Thompson in early November letting us know that she currently lives in Austin, Texas, where she works as the graphic designer and marketing coordinator for an Austin HIV/AIDS housing and hospice nonprofit. She says, “I moved to Austin in 2007 with my sweetie Eli Robinson. Most of Eli’s family members are Dartmouth alums. Her aunt Beth Robinson ’86 is a wonderful gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual-rights activist.” Although Callie has not written as much poetry in recent years as she did in SoulScribes during her Dartmouth days, she continues to produce art on a regular basis. Check out her new website at http://cargocollective.com/callenthompson.


During the holidays I had the pleasure of spending time with Dave McCune and Virginia (King) McCune ’04, who have recently moved to my hometown of Atlanta. Dave graduated from Columbia International University in December with his master’s of divinity in intercultural studies. He and Virginia keep busy with work, friends, church life and their adorable 1-year-old daughter Hannah Snow McCune, who is sure to have a bright future in Hanover someday!


A mini-reunion of Dartmouth ’05s was held in Boston on December 31, as Aekta Shah, Haley Peckett, Doug Hannah, Rory Gawler, Saul Kliorys, Cliff Orvedal, Ariel Dowling and Mike Beilstein rang in 2011 together. Assuming no more blizzards or snow delays, I hope you were all able celebrate the New Year with family, friends and fellow Dartmouth grads in your respective parts of the country and world.


That’s all for now, but I look forward to hearing more news from everyone in 2011. Be well and do great work!


—Lindsey Horton, 1129 St. Augustine Place, Atlanta, GA 30306; lhorton27@gmail.com