I was kind of wondering about the decorating contest this year – heck, you better hurry…the application’s due this evening! Here’s the rest of the story, from Vernadel at the Chamber of Commerce: The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce is busy with plans for the 2009 Island Lights Fest Christmas Decorating Contest in the  Continue Reading

It makes a perfect one-of-a-kind gift: You go down to San Juan Canvas (it’s under the Yacht Club), and ask Derrick & Lauren to make you a bag, out of….canvas! They have kind of a lot of it, and they make great bags, as you can see in the picture! And this month they have  Continue Reading

It makes a perfect one-of-a-kind gift: You go down to San Juan Canvas (it’s under the Yacht Club), and ask Derrick & Lauren to make you a bag, out of….canvas! They have kind of a lot of it, and they make great bags, as you can see in the picture! And this month they have  Continue Reading

When you drop by Friday Harbor Espresso, seem like there’s always a smiling face or two, ready to get your coffee…. Readers of the Update know Arielle also wins recycled-fashion shows (click here to see her in her mermaid outfit last August) and goes to the grocery store (click here, and scroll down), while Ashley  Continue Reading

Whoa! When I visited with Jim & Minnie Knych before last week’s Thanksgiving dinner at the Grange, Minnie told me this was their eleventh year of putting on the show. What started as a Lions Club effort years ago is now a multi-group production with dozens of volunteers. She said that last year they ended  Continue Reading

Jan from the Community Theatre says there’s one more reason to come to FOT this year: An award-winning Washington winery is playing a new starring role in the CATS’ 20th Annual Festival of Trees extravaganza at San Juan Community Theatre on Saturday, December 5. Eastern Washington’s Milbrandt Vineyards will not only provide the featured wines  Continue Reading

Where’s the downbeat? And…why don’t we pay doctors when we’re well, not when we’re sick? Watched this early this morning & found myself looking at the way we do things, call ‘em what we call ‘em, and realizing that our assumptions often have an “opposite” shadow side or yang to go with the ying, or  Continue Reading

Drop by & get you picture taken on Saturday – here’s more from Kings Marine, upstairs from the Market: Santa upstairs today: 10am-1pm. Get there early, and see him arrive on the firetruck! Feeling camera shy?, Come upstairs anyways and check out the great deals on clothing and marine supplies!

Today it’s the Holiday Marketplace from 10am until 5pm at Friday Harbor Elementary School, and tomorrow from 10am until 4pm. There are more than 60 booths featuring lovely fabric work, fine oils and watercolors – all kinds of beautiful work from our Island Artists. The re is no admission fee, so stop by and see  Continue Reading

Today it’s the Holiday Marketplace from 10am until 5pm at Friday Harbor Elementary School, and tomorrow from 10am until 4pm. There are more than 60 booths featuring lovely fabric work, fine oils and watercolors – all kinds of beautiful work from our Island Artists. The re is no admission fee, so stop by and see  Continue Reading

Barbara & Matt always have cool things going on at Gallery San Juan – here’s another, from Barbara: “Winter Fantasy”: Calling all artists from 4 years old to 14 years old! Gallery San Juan hosts the 11th annual “Kid’s Art Show” Every year the Gallery hosts an art show for the Holidays for Kids. All  Continue Reading

Barb Jensen wanted you to know the Count is coming up – the first one was in 1900, so let’s keep the tradition alive…here’s more: Christmas Bird Count – 110 Years of Audubon Counts Saturday, December 19th! When we start to see swans it’s time to think Christmas Bird Count! Set this date aside –  Continue Reading

I wish you an open heart on this day of thanks, and open hands. I hope you are with island friends and longtime family, and I hope you get way more than twelve hugs today (since twelve a day is what ya need to be emotionally healthy). Give thanks. Let tears fill your eyes &  Continue Reading

I wish you an open heart on this day of thanks, and open hands. I hope you are with island friends and longtime family, and I hope you get way more than twelve hugs today (since twelve a day is what ya need to be emotionally healthy). Give thanks. Let tears fill your eyes &  Continue Reading

Minnie says there’s gonna be a crowd – here’s more: What are you doing on Thanksgiving Day this year? If you’re looking for a special way to celebrate and give thanks, go to the Grange for a good old-fashioned community Thanksgiving dinner.  You can show up any time between noon and 4:00pm to enjoy a  Continue Reading

Little notes here & there, the day before Thanksgiving: • Some days ya just gotta start the day with a poem, from Robert Frost: Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So  Continue Reading

Yep, it was Sarah’s birthday yesterday, as you could tell by all the balloons & smiles down at Haley’s last night.

That’s my friend & occasional office dog Tucker getting a treat from Liz at the post office yesterday…he’s good at licking stamps, too. Part of why so many folks leave the p.o. with a smile….

Since she came to the island in 2005 to take over as principal at Friday Harbor Middle School (when 14 year veteran principal Court Bell retired), Ann Spratt has proven to be the steady hand on the wheel that a district undergoing change needs. Her much-needed mix of humor, experience, and administrative moxie helped oversee  Continue Reading

Since she came to the island in 2005 to take over as principal at Friday Harbor Middle School (when 14 year veteran principal Court Bell retired), Ann Spratt has proven to be the steady hand on the wheel that a district undergoing change needs. Her much-needed mix of humor, experience, and administrative moxie helped oversee  Continue Reading

Well, it’s been twelve years ago today that the San Juan Update got underway in 1997, and as with most pre-teens, it’s kinda fun to look back on when things were young & innocent & cute. As my little birthday present to you, I thought I’d offer you a look at the whole thing since  Continue Reading

I really like how Mark Gardner’s portrait work turns out! Check out more of his work at Rainshadow Photographics.