A little of this, a little of that….

It's Tuesday night! Spring Street International School presents a concert at The Grange. Dec. 21, from 6:00-midnight featuring Grisha Krivchenia, Boundless State, The Sonic Vandals, and a live DJ set by Alienation. All proceeds are to help raise funds for service projects in India and Thailand, which include slum development, water purification and village work.

Checking in around the island….

Annette (left) and Bette were out collecting stamps for the Chamber's Thursday night shopping event a couple of weeks ago - have you got yours?

• If you haven’t gotten downtown to check the sales around Friday Harbor, now’s your chance. Please it’s always good to check in with your friends. Take a walk in town…you’ll be glad you did!

• My friend Courtney has two threads (horses & babysitting) that are knitting together nicely – here’s the deal:

Blazing Tree Ranch and Island Sitters are starting up an After-School Kid’s Barn Club for kids ages 4th grade and up. Horse crazy kids can come and learn about horse safety, grooming and handling as well as what it takes to care for your own horse. A great alternative to winter afternoons spent inside watching t.v.! Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30 – 5:30. The school bus stops at our road! $35/month. Contact 378-1364 or blazingtreeranch (at) gmail.com for details.

• Click here for a picture of Audrey & Jenni in the 2007 San Juan Update, wearing pink Santa hats…both of them delivered their babies this past month or so…

• That reminded me of the Dancer IQ test…remember that?

Wendy at last weekend's Farmers' Market....

• Stumped for a Christmas gift that most folks would really like? Consider checking in online with High Seas Seafood, which is represented here on the island by Wendy (right). Call ’em up & she’ll get it to you!

• Meanwhile, Kerry at the Chamber of Commerce says this is the last week to get those stamp cards filled in – here’s more:

Shoppers — this is your last chance to get in on the Chamber of Commerce’s “Shop Local” event and take part in the Gift Basket drawing that will be held on January 4th, 2011!

To join in, just visit the following retailers between 4pm and 7pm this Thursday, Dec. 23rd. You’ll collect a stamp card from the first retailer you visit, and they’ll also give you a “footprint” stamp. After you’ve collected all 16 stamps, turn in your stamp card for a chance to win the Gift Basket valued at over $300.00!

It was very, very well-attended - Christmas Island on Saturday at the Grange drew hundreds of kids & mamas & papas, including helpful Santa elf Debbie Shayo. I like the hat...I want one like that.

Participating businesses are: Coho Restaurant; Funk & Junk; The Doctor’s Office; Rock Island Technology; Toy Box; Osito’s; Cotton Cotton Cotton; San Juan Florist; Mirabella Skin Care; Waterworks Gallery; Acanthus Antiques; San Juan Wireless; Dream Beads; Island Studios; Creative Passions; and Merle’s Masonry, Chimney Care & Stoves.

This is great fun, and it’s a great way to support these wonderful local businesses.

If you have questions, please call the Chamber between 10am and 4pm.

• Have you thought about who in the community can use a little help this Christmas season? If you’re just not sure, call the United Way…they know how to make every dollar count.

Sign put up by WSF, on the Sidney run...

• Just checked – the exchange rate between the USA & Canada is 1.00 USD=1.01729 CAD, as of this morning (I use this website to check this.)

That’s pretty close to equal – consider hopping on the ferry on Sunday to go to the Boxing Day (December 26th) sales in Victoria. And hurry – the ferry to Sidney quits running on January first.

Meanwhile, the Washington State Ferries folks don’t accept Canadian money in the galley from the people (get ready for this!) coming & going to Canada. WSF must be pretty well funded if they can turn cash away that glibly; seems kinda un-neighborly to me. I’d like to see that changed….

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