Money to charity in lieu of gifts

CELEBRATING — Mikayla Fitzpatrick, daughter of Tonya and Jerrid Fitzpatrick of Littleton, celebrated her ninth birthday on Jan. 12. The party included a fun day of sliding with family and friends. In lieu of gifts, Mikayla requested donations in memory of her cousin, Evan Queen, who passed away in November 2007. Memorial donations were given to Hope Haven School, a school for children with disabilities that’s being built in the Ukraine. Close to $500 was given in support of the non-profit organization. (For more information, visit www.HopeHavenSchool.com.) Those attending the party included, from left: front, Taylor Fitzpatrick, Mariah Peterson and (standing back to) Garrett Fitzpatrick; middle row, Mikayla Fitzpatrick, who is holding a picture of her cousin Evan Queen drawn by Cole Hyman, Alijah McLaughlin, Grace Stevens and Brody McLaughlin; standing in the last row, Daniel McNally, A.J. Thorne, Emma Peterson, Tessa McCormick, John Eastman, McKenley Pierce, Alyssa Carmichael and Sarah McIver.