Yesterday the San Juan Center graduated its sixteenth class since it opened in 1996 as five graduates stepped up to receive their diplomas for their AAUCT degree (that’s an Associate of Arts, with university transfer credit). Cheered on by fans, family & friends, as well as faculty & SVC administrators, the grads all came from  Continue Reading

The Community Dinner last night was was awesome! The area behind the high school/middle school was shoulder-to-shoulder with families & kids & teachers & community friends eating the dinner prepped by the Food for Thought classes & the Culinary Arts Classes – that was a great way to pull together folks, but that wasn’t all.  Continue Reading

A beautiful shot on a beautiful evening….

Three islanders are remembered…. • I haven’t heard memorial plans, but it was sad to hear Debbie Rasmussen passed away this past weekend. Condolences to Keith in this difficult time…. • A Memorial Mass for Johanna “Josie” Picinich will be held at Saint Francis Catholic Church at 1pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011. • There  Continue Reading

It was good to catch up with Skip & Mildred from Cattle Point Rock & Topsoil last night (they were at Haley’s watching the Canucks in the Stanley Cup finals) – they mentioned that they almost never close for the weekend, but this weekend will be away on Saturday to visit Mildred’s 98-year-old mom off-island…so  Continue Reading

This Friday there’s a meet & greet at Islanders Bank so you can meet new CEO & President Brad Williamson – it’s also Customer Appreciation Day, so from 11am-2pm there will be  free hot dogs, water & pop, and ice cream sandwiches & popsicles. I know when I’m doing MY deposit this week….

Hope your day is off to a sunny start – let’s look around: • The graduation for Friday Harbor High is at 5pm this year on Saturday – see you there! And… tomorrow is graduation at Skagit Valley College – San Juan Center at 2pm, and Griffin Bay High is on Sunday. +++++++++ • Give  Continue Reading

Through the course of the day, people have been telling me that FHES principal Gary Pflueger has been selected by the Bonners Ferry, Idaho school district to work there. He leaves behind a school that’s a good & safe place to learn because he was here. For many, he will be much missed. Wishing him  Continue Reading

This may be the day things cool off a little, but things are still happening: • Teddy Deane plays tonight at the Rumor Mill & says he has songs from his upcoming CD Goin’ Home to Friday Harbor Vol II. It’s always fun with Teddy – drop by & say hey! • Also today –  Continue Reading

Maybe it’s not the first on the island, but it’s the first I’d seen – Michelle & Michael Herko are the proud owners of a new Nissan Leaf, which is all-electric. That’s right – no muffler, no exhaust pipe, none of that stuff… Michelle tells me she can get about 100 miles off a charge,  Continue Reading

A sunny weekend, and a sunny start to the week! Here we go: • I hear from different folks that the Cask & Schooner is set to open later this month & that it’s lookin’ good in there! • This is the week to sign up to run for office this week, with the deadline  Continue Reading

Whoa, there’s a lot going on! You’ve already made plans for it, I know (you are THAT organized!), so let’s check a few things: • The Writers’ Café is tonight at The Bean Coffeehouse – bring your fiction, nonfiction or poetry to read or just show up to listen. The Bean will provide coffee and  Continue Reading

Missing Jack (FHHS ’72) already. and wishing the family well at this sad time – here’s more: Jack Taylor Norris, 56, passed away on May 29, 2011 at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. He lived life fully, conquering lymphoma for the past 16 years. Jack was born on September 14, 1954 in Oakland, California.   Continue Reading

It was years ago that Bronwyn Bacon (FHHS ’97) left the island to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor – and now she’s back & has set up her practice here. Here’s more from the press release announcing this: Dr. Bacon Now Accepting Patients: On-Island Natural Family Medicine Dr Bronwyn Bacon, ND, is excited  Continue Reading

What’s happening: • Unless you’re really rich, you know you can’t afford to buy the kid new threads everything he or she grows a bit. I couldn’t, you can’t…it’s just not the way it’s done. So, this weekend, there’s a kids’ clothes swap at the Family Resource center – here’s the deal, from Joyce Sobel:  Continue Reading

It’s that time of year! Our local volunteers have to connect with the mainland folks to set up the games & seasons, so this is the time to sign up for soccer & football, so teams can be set up. The sooner you do this, the easier you make it for them – so do  Continue Reading

From the superintendent’s office: Connie Martin has accepted the position of Interim Principal at FHES effective July 1, 2011.  Connie came highly recommended from the Auburn School District where she is currently serving as an interim middle school assistant principal.  Connie also served as an Elementary Language Arts Specialist in the Auburn School District for  Continue Reading

This is a posting I found by Shann Weston in Facebook (crossposted by Cynthia Burke), as she visits Vancouver Island:

This is one of my favorite events of the year, and it always plays to a crowded room of science-loving jazz fans. (I originally said “jazz nut” but found out that was Morris Almond when he was drafted by the Utah Jazz in ’07). As you know, JATL is the sole fundraiser for the Labs’  Continue Reading

Here’s the word from Becki Day: Islander’s Bank San Juan Celebrity Golf – June 3rd and 4th! A full list of well known celebrities are on their way to San Juan Island – it’s the 25th Annual Islanders Bank Celebrity Classic at the San Juan Golf and Country Club. Golf fee includes your dinner tickets.   Continue Reading

This is from their first album, sung in a familiar setting…