Let’s look around a bit… • There’s an open house at Harper Poesy today – Tea will be welcoming people to her hair studio in Surina Business Park from 4-8pm, with a chance to get 20% off/gift certificates, music, and a raffle for cool stuff, including a year’s worth of haircuts. Drop by & say  Continue Reading

This annual event is basic to understanding why we live here…make plans to go! Here’s more from the Labs’ Rachel Anderson: Friday Harbor Laboratories Open House Saturday, May 14, 2011 11:00 am to 4:00 pm On Saturday, May 14, 2011, the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Laboratories will hold its annual Open House. This event  Continue Reading

  It’s been fun to watch Leah Altman (FHHS ’07) over the past 2-3 years – whenever you run into her, she might be wearing something she just designed & then sewed herself…and it always looks good. Combining her sewing & designing skill with a good business plan, a never-quit, relentless positive energy (have you  Continue Reading

Kirk at Mellowwoods Music has put together a music showcase for this week you’ll want to catch…and get your tickets for soon, since there are only 50 seats! Here’s the deal, from Kirk: Isle be Jammin’ Performer’s Showcase hosts “San Juan Island’s Best kept Secret: WOMEN & MUSIC. Thursday May 12th 7-9:30pm. Please come join  Continue Reading

Last week, the school district announced that there would be two candidates for the elementary school principal position on-island this week, who had been selected from the pool of applicants. Last night the second of the two withdrew from the process, after the first withdrew late last week. What’s next? Here’s a note from San  Continue Reading

Updates & what’s up: • If April showers bring Mayflowers, and Mayflowers bring pilgrims, what do May showers bring? • It’s always good to hear when our island-grown kids do awesome stuff – here’s the news from Pat & Joann about the great path Jon has ahead: Jon Mayo of Friday Harbor will be graduating  Continue Reading

To renew the Land Bank, there has to be a vote, and to have a vote, there have to be enough signatures to place the initiative on the ballot. Here’s the scoop about how you can help, from Pamela & Dave: A group of citizens from across San Juan County have formed an official Ballot  Continue Reading

When I found out that Greg Sawyer was going to finally have a kidney transplant a couple of weeks ago, it seemed like the completion of a cycle that began a long time ago, and now has come to a place of incredible promise. He wanted to take a moment before his surgery Monday (the  Continue Reading

Let’s look around a bit: • Maude from the School District office says there’s a change: Joe Landerman has withdrawn as a candidate for the FHES principal position.  He cited personal reasons, in particular his doctorate work.  San Juan Island School District will continue with candidate Denise Wheeler’s visitation on Wednesday, May 11.  Please join  Continue Reading

Bloom Week at American Camp wraps up on Saturday (tomorrow!) with the Wildflower Festival – Amanda Brast has put together a nice line up of music for the day – see you there! Here’s the scoop, from Amanda: San Juan Island National Historical Park will host Bloom Week, a weeklong celebration of spring, May 3-7  Continue Reading

Just heard that Dave’s mom passed away, with services this weekend…our condolences to the family & friends. Here’s more: Johanna ‘Josie’ Picinich, 82, of Friday Harbor, Washington passed away on Monday, May 2, 2011. She was born on the island of Susak, Croatia on September 28, 1928 to Jack and Anna (Bussanich) Morin. Josie immigrated  Continue Reading

Hope you’re staying dry this morning, mostly…look around – what do you see? • Happy Cinco de Mayo! (What I mean by that is….¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo hoy!) Remember the Community Dinner at the high school tonight at 5:30pm! Bring the fam! • Seattle was ranked #1 as the US city most “walk-worthy” – now,  Continue Reading

Hope you get out in this sunny morning! Looking around: • The San Juan Communities Housing Solutions group has a Town Hall meeting planned for May 24th to discuss affordability and other issues. Here’s more. • If you haven’t heard Grisha play, you’ve missed out on a truly wonderful experience.. The Spring Street International School  Continue Reading

What would it be like – 21 days without plastic water bottles, plastic grocery bags, or styrofoam containers (which are banned here, anyway)? The earth will be better for it: Olympic medalist Gretchen Bleiler wants you to take the challenge:

Not your usual game… Yesterday afternoon’s softball game was a little different, but won the girls a trip to the postseason anyway…FHHS had played Meridian Saturday and ten-runned ‘em (in high school ball, if you’re ahead of someone after four innings, the game’s over), but the Trojans successfully appealed with the league & won a  Continue Reading

San Juan Island Superintendent Rick Thompson says the search committee for an elementary school principal has narrowed the field to two, who will have extended visits to the island next week. Here’s his report: Here is an update on the FHES principal search. After screening 28 applications last week, the search committee interviewed 7 semi-finalists  Continue Reading

Meanwhile, around the island…. • Looks like Jimmy Farrell‘s back on-island & working out at Roche Harbor again…everyone’s favorite Irishman went to Utah to work for the winter, and now he’s back. • Saw Howard Schonberger in the street Monday with his beard freshly shaved…see if you recognize him. • Looks like ace FHHS band  Continue Reading

I still remember in ’84 when my friend Gretchen Black introduced me to Sting & his new album then – this was my favorite song from that collection:

I dropped by to see Howard in his new spot (he was located over on Tucker Street before), and he’s got a lot of interesting things in there – check it out for yourself! Here’s more in a release from his friend Rebecca: It’s official…‘Howard’s Sell It Again’ (a fairly new business that has been  Continue Reading

Let’s take a look & see how the FHHS spring teams are doing, as they head for the playoffs (thanks to FHHS athletic director & dean of students Rod Turnbull for the details!): • Softball: Due to a protest of a call made during the 3rd inning of our game with Meridian Saturday that was  Continue Reading

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. “Hate cannot drive out hate: only  Continue Reading