Ryan Browne posted this bit of verse, good for starting the day: All now seems at work. Slugs leave their lair, The bees are stirring, birds are on the wing, And Winter slumbering in the open air, Wears on his smiling face a dream of spring. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge Let’s look around a bit:  Continue Reading

Following up a night of Irish music with Afro-Cuban sounds pretty awesome – here’s more from Jan at the Community Theatre: “Funkloric” Musical Evening in Friday Harbor! One of the leading female voices of Afro-Cuban culture brings her “funkloric” rhythms to San Juan Community Theatre on Friday, March 18. Bobi Céspedes and her five-piece band  Continue Reading

Let’s see how this day unfolds…each day we know on the earth offers glimpses of mystery & hope. Keep your eyes wide…. • Keep Japan in your thoughts, prayers & good deeds these days, as they struggle with those reactors, bury their dead, and start to piece things back together on their little island. I  Continue Reading

The local Soroptimist Club has the winners for this spring’s awards – here’s more from Barbara Sharp: Soroptimists of Friday Harbor honored Sonia Nash, Melanie Kaegi, and Madison McPadden as exceptional women at the Soroptimist Club’s Notable Women’s Luncheon held on March 9 at the Mullis Center.  This event was also a celebration of International  Continue Reading

Things have been happening…let’s see what is afoot: • Spring sports are underway – the FHHS baseball team thumped South Whidbey 10-4 last Saturday, while the softball girls won by forfeit. The soccer Wolverines begin play today at home against the South Whidbey soccer guys, while golf, track & girls’ tennis get underway soon. •  Continue Reading

This is going to be great – hope you have time to help! I know I’m gonna sign up for a shift – here’s the deal from Lori & Stephanie: Plan to be a part of the Great Island Clean-Up!! When? Saturday, April 9, any time between 10 am and 2 pm Where? All San  Continue Reading

In the light of last week’s tsunami & the disaster in Japan, the County’s Department of Emergency Management director Brenden Cowan offers these thoughts: Quakes, Tsunamis, and the Islands A practical take on disaster preparedness Last week’s earthquake in Japan has grabbed headlines across the world for obvious reasons. The scale of the destruction is  Continue Reading

There was enough of a windstorm last night, wasn’t there…here’s a little song from Donovan as we go outside this morning to pick up branches…

Let’s see what’s going on ’round here: • Tony tells me T:FLO is going to be the backup band for live karaoke at The Rumor Mill tomorrow night (Tuesday, check your calendar) from 7-10pm…be there! • I thought I understood the  extent of the Japanese earthquake‘s damage…till I saw this incredible aerial piece of before  Continue Reading

One of my favorite songs…by Death Cab for Cutie, it’s “Soul Meets Body”…here’s the live version:

Just got this note from Travis, the president of the island’s youth soccer association, who says they have a coaching director job open, and also need a few good coaches for the fall season….here’s more: I know soccer season seems like a long way away, but we have important news. Feel free to forward this  Continue Reading

Looking around… • There are definitely things to do today…the kids at the Presbyterian Church have a Baked Potato Dinner fundraiser to raise money for summer camp at 4:30pm, and the Soroptimist Club is raising money with their annual St. Patrick’s Dinner & Auction. • Russell Sadler is an old news guy from Oregon, and  Continue Reading

Update 5:04am PST: Dave Halloran issued this press release early this morning: Keep your eyes on (and your feet out of) the water Friday morning. After the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a Tsunami Advisory was issued in the early morning hours for the coast of Washington including the inland waters. The Sheriff’s Office  Continue Reading

With yesterday’s winds in the afternoon came some beautiful skies & colorful clouds – I hope you saw them painted across the air above the island…here are a couple of photos and a song from ’67 by a very youthful Simon & Garfunkel…happy morning to you!

There’s a wind advisory for the day (hit the weather button on the masthead for details), so batten down, baby…let’s see what else is up: • Put it on your calendar – Cynthia at XYZ Movement Arts has a free Zumba class for the equinox on the 21st to celebrate the change in seasons…here’s more.  Continue Reading

It’s gonna be fun…the FHHS staff vs. the kids. Here’s the deal, from senior Maggie Anderson: Hey Ian! On Friday the 11th, the seniors are hosting a staff vs. senior basketball game as a fundraiser for project grad night! I was wondering if you could put this on your site! It’d be awesome! Here are  Continue Reading

Jan is putting on this cool art workshop this weekend – here’s the rest, from Wild at Heart Studios: Wild at Heart Studios of Friday Harbor is happy to announce renowned artist and author, Christi Friessen will be visiting San Juan Island March 12th and 13th to teach a two-day creative art workshop entitled, “Polymer  Continue Reading

It’s sweet & it’s sad…here’s “A Home” with the Dixie Chicks…

Let’s see if we can catch up with what’s going on ’round here: • The Soroptimist Club’s 13th St. Patrick’s Dinner & Auction is this Saturday…have you got your tickets yet? Here are the details. • You knew it – 1921 was a great year: That was the year Howard Schonberger was born, today. Happy  Continue Reading

Who is on the Tour this year? Check the Studio Tour’s website to find out! Here’s more from Dan & Mary: The San Juan Island Artists’ Studio Tour is a free self-guided tour with 20 artists’ studios and 23 guest artists. We are a group of mutually supportive artists who have joined together to create  Continue Reading

When I was at the airport last weekend, I saw dozens of people reading books on portable devices, usually Kindle or something like that. There are lots of places you can get eBooks, and now you can support one of the island’s bookstores when you do -here’s more in this press release from Laura &  Continue Reading

It’s been a while since I cleared out the mailbag (even if it is only e-mails, made of electrons – it was stuffed!) Most of these are from folks off-island…let’s see what’s going on: Q: I live in San Francisco but always check to see what’s happening on the San Juan Update. It appears that  Continue Reading