As we head into a new year, many of us will take it as an opportunity to commit to health related goals. For me, I am among the many older adults currently suffering from sleep apnea. I suspect that I am not alone in that my basic approach to the available treatment can best be  Continue Reading

Yesterday I went to the Mullis Center for my regularly scheduled foot care appointment. It’s a pleasure if not a genuine necessity to have my feet well cared for. It was a Tuesday and the center was fairly quiet. Still, it was good to see the Christmas trees and lights creating a festive atmosphere. The  Continue Reading

For the last few years the global pandemic has wreaked havoc with many of our cherished holiday traditions. This has given us all an opportunity to shift to simpler scenarios. We’ve out of necessity had to shift, or in some cases give up, traditions that pre-pandemic seemed permanently established. We have an opportunity now to  Continue Reading

Each year Thanksgiving comes around as a timely reminder to be thankful for the many ways in which we are blessed. One thing I am thankful for are my memories of a family trip to Boston and visit to the historic Plimoth Plantation. The main reason for the trip was my sister Betty’s wedding but  Continue Reading

I was impressed when friend and local historian Michael Vouri set out to hike Hadrian’s Wall across northern England. Hiking the wall is a popular trek that follows the Roman Emperor Hadrian’s massive masonry wall and forts. During the Roman occupation of Britain, the wall defined the edge of the Roman Empire leaving the troublesome  Continue Reading

If you have not experienced Friday Harbor’s poetry gardens, you can find them at the Mullis Center, on Reed St. beside the U.S. Post Office, at the San Juan Community Theatre, and at Spring Street Landing below Downriggers. The poetry gardens were created to bring poetry into our town’s daily experience. The gardens are a  Continue Reading

It’s fall and time to think about taking stock and stocking up on supplies in case of an emergency. Thankfully we are not in the pathway of hurricanes, but if you’ve been around here for a while you know that we can get some mighty damaging winter windstorms. The most common events to be ready  Continue Reading

This past week, the world lost not only the longest serving British monarch, but at 96 years old a woman who embodied longevity itself. Queen Elizabeth II had plenty of healthy habits. She started her days with a pot of Earl Grey tea, a bowl of Special K cereal, and a bagpipe serenade. She rode  Continue Reading

Summer is winding down and the San Juan County Fair comes along just in time to offer islanders a chance to show off their finest produce, baked or canned goods, quilts, baby pigs, and supercharged zucchinis. Beyond that, thanks to the San Juan Island Community Foundation, Fair week also offers a variety of ways to  Continue Reading

The hot days of summer are upon us. We wait all year for our beautiful island summers, but still, some days are just too hot. Older adults are more vulnerable to super hot weather. Dr. Basil Eldadah of the National Institute on aging explains, “As we age, our ability to sweat and to dilate blood  Continue Reading

The Mullis Center Book Club has a new coordinator. Now that Beth Helstien has retired from the San Juan Island Library (thank you Beth!), Wendy Waxman Kern, the library’s new Outreach and Technology Coordinator, will be facilitating the Mullis Center Book Club. Wendy previously served as San Juan County’s 4-H Program Coordinator and has a  Continue Reading

The equinox has passed and Fourth of July weekend is upon us. For islanders this generally marks the true start of summer both weather wise and in terms of increased activities and visitors. One sure sign that summer is revving up is that our local farmers market is invigorated with plenty of fresh produce among  Continue Reading

When the nutritionist at Peace Health asked me what sort of physical exercise I would be willing to commit to, I declared boldly that I would do yoga three times a week. I had just dug up my old yoga program that with enough adaptations I could still manage to almost do. What has helped  Continue Reading

Last month, the Mullis Center cautiously tip-toed into restarting the onsite community lunch program. With COVID cases remaining high and with guidance from the health department and our recent community survey, the Mullis Center is experimenting with a new, less formal, more open, and adaptable lunch program. The community we serve is rightfully cautious when  Continue Reading

The advice columnist known as Dear Abby once said, “These days it takes nerves of steel just to be neurotic” — and she said that in the sixties. In today’s world there is plenty to fray our weary nerves. We have all the usual causes for mental distress: anxiety, isolation, loss, health issues, all magnified  Continue Reading

Friday Harbor suffered a great loss recently when fire took some of our most cherished historic buildings, shockingly gone overnight. While we reach out to help those whose lives and livelihoods were irrevocably impacted by the loss, once again, whether we want to or not, we face the persistent life lesson of the inevitability of  Continue Reading