Yep, the lights went out on the island last night at 5:45pm or so… the Department of Emergency Management said this, about an hour or two before they came back on (not sure what time it was but we already had the candles going – didn’t you?): “The power outage was caused by a car accident  Continue Reading

Yep, the lights went out on the island last night at 5:45pm or so… the Department of Emergency Management said this, about an hour or two before they came back on (not sure what time it was but we already had the candles going – didn’t you?): “The power outage was caused by a car accident  Continue Reading

There is no reciprocity. Men love women, women love children, children love hamsters. Alice Thomas Ellis

“Uncle John’s Band” has been covered by Jimmy Buffet & others, but the best version is by the Grateful Dead – here they are in 1980:

Here’s the writeup from the PTA at the elementary school: The Friday Harbor Elementary School PTA is putting the “fun” back in fundraising with a new twist on an old idea.  Six of our island’s finest fathers will compete for the title of Mr. San Juan Island.  The pageant is Saturday, April 25th in the  Continue Reading

Here’s the writeup from the PTA at the elementary school: The Friday Harbor Elementary School PTA is putting the “fun” back in fundraising with a new twist on an old idea.  Six of our island’s finest fathers will compete for the title of Mr. San Juan Island.  The pageant is Saturday, April 25th in the  Continue Reading

Remember the Elegant Edibles fundraiser a few weeks ago? Marta Specht tells me it went great, with the bake sale selling out in one & a half hours, and bringing in nearly $1800 for the Community Theatre. Way to go! -o o-

One of the reasons that Chef Tom French’s Experience Food Project has been so successful is that the food is…good. For people who don’t believe that “school lunch” and “good” should be used in the same sentence, the question pops up: Why skimp on school meals (or feed low-cost, high-crap lunches?) In Yes! magazine, Chef  Continue Reading

It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.’ Sam Levenson

Most people get their oil changed, their tires inflated, their brakes checked…but how many of you have your airbags checked? Here’s why….

One of the talented students at Friday Harbor High is senior Lauren Paulsen, who has been shooting Sports Illustrated-level photos at soccer games – click here to see her portfolio (compiled by Cassie Ellis) from the Nooksack Valley game last week, which was arguably the boys’ best played game at home so far this year.  Continue Reading

Looking over the cuts and shrinkage in our first-class school district is painful at so many levels, which includes the moving of the sixth grade from the middle school to the elementary school – here’s the view from Michael Soltman, our school district’s superintendent: Projected State Education Funding Requires $1,000,000 Budget Reduction for 2009-10 Reduction  Continue Reading

When I was singing last summer at Griffin Bay (the bookstore, not the saltwater one), I mentioned that folk music was having a serious revival on the planet, partly because folk music is way cooler than any other kinda music. I remember the serious look in people’s eyes as they nodded, “Yes, this is true.”  Continue Reading

When Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency didn’t exist, kids thought “recycling” was a new kind of bike, and the US energy policy was centered on finding more oil. Things have changed within what we are aware of, and much still remains to change. It’s about action…and I hope that  Continue Reading

Another little bit of history in an historical year – the Catalyst was built & launched in 1932 for use by the Friday Harbor Labs… in its present incarnation, Bill and Shannon Bailey of Pacific Catalyst II, Inc. operate her as a key part of the small boat excursions they operate between here, the Inside  Continue Reading

Another little bit of history in an historical year – the Catalyst was built & launched in 1932 for use by the Friday Harbor Labs… in its present incarnation, Bill and Shannon Bailey of Pacific Catalyst II, Inc. operate her as a key part of the small boat excursions they operate between here, the Inside  Continue Reading