Around the island….

Swan dive from a couple of days ago...photo by John Miller (who says it would earn a 9.64 in Olympic scoring!)

Looking around the island…

Josh (right) was a regular on the 2008 Wolverines who took eventual state champs Kings to overtime in the early games of the playoffs.

• Did you know Josh Combs (FHHS ’08) turned 21 yesterday in Hawaii where he’s on vacation with his folks Oren & Peggy (that’s why the Rumor Mill is closed). Josh is a junior this year at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver – happy birthday!

And Lisa Anderson‘s is…today!

• Over the weekend the Wolverines played basketball at Cedar Park Christian & at home with Lynden Christian…the boys beat CPC 51-44 in spite of trailing by 10 at the half, then fell the next day 74-50 to the Lyncs in a non-league game. The guys played last night in LaConner (who was 6-0 in league),  & lost 72-38, to run their league record to 6-1 (6-7 overall).

Meanwhile the girls had a tough time, losing to both CPC and Lynden Christian before regaining their winning touch with LaConner last night. The girls took the Braves (now 3-3 in league) by a 48-38 score, to solidify their hold on second place in league (5-1, behind first place undefeated Darrington).

Deer, here on the island...earlier, last spring.

• In a story that originated at UBC but is spreading around the area: Deer are radically changing the landscape of the area, on both sides of the border. Here’s a bit from the story:

Growing deer populations are fundamentally changing the environment of the Gulf Islands off the coast of B.C. and Washington, leaving the region susceptible to invasion by foreign species, says a study by researchers in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia.

Researchers looked at the density of black-tailed deer on 18 Southern Gulf and San Juan Islands with forest ecosystems.  The study, published today in the journal Biological Conservation, found that the number of birds and vegetation decreased on islands with higher deer densities.  Islands with more than one deer per hectare had half as many birds as those with low deer density. Read more.

Suzy, with San Juan Taxi in the sun on Monday downtown....

• One of the nice things about Suzy Juul‘s taxi operation is remembering the phone number – you can remember 378-3550, or 378-TAXI for San Juan Taxi and Tour service.

And you can always remember she’s the one who smiles a lot… 🙂

• It’s a hornet week, with both The Green Hornet & The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest at the Palace Theatre….and Yogi Bear if that’s too intense for ya…

• I was at a parent meeting with a counselor & a bunch of teenagers. For the meeting, everyone had been asked to leave their cell phones & pagers outside the door so they could talk about…cell phones & the internet & the “need” to stay connected. It was ironic to the third power when the woman conducting the meeting had her phone go off right after saying how unimportant it all was.

While I’m glad that you & I get to visit each day here at the San Juan Update, I always hope that doesn’t come at the cost of being unconnected to the things that matter – friends & family, nature & love, and time to contemplate on the good things we can do in the world. Here’s an article about a family that gave the unplugged life a try, and their report.

• Speaking of getting outside, the Trails Committee is offering a deal they call Know Your Island walks…here’s more from Eileen, who tells me that dogs on leashes are welcome, and please, no bikes:

This coming Saturday (Jan. 22) at 1pm is the first of a series of Know Your Island walks offered by the SJI Trails Committee.  Mike Vouri, Historian and Chief of Interpretation for our National Historical Park, will lead this walk of the recently-built Frazer Homestead Trail. Meet at American Camp Visitors’ Center and walk about 3 miles. The terrain is dirt and may be wet. The rating is ‘easy’.

Everyone is welcome – families, teens, youngsters, couples, singles, visitors, tourists, grandparents, grandchildren and anyone who can join us. Mike Vouri promises us  interesting history and local color. For more information see our site.  We’ll go rain or shine!

• Time to get your team together for trivia – here’s more from Glenda & JB:

JB & Glenda....

It’s “Valentines Music Trivia” at the “Rumor Mill” on Friday, February 4^.
Game starts at 7pm!!!  Put together a team and come play Music Trivia.

A $5.00 game entry fee per person, with first place $100, other prizes for  second & third place, and fabulous  drawings. Lots of Music…..  Oldies…..Show Tunes…..  Country Western…..  Oldies……  Current Stuff…..  Oldies…..  Big Band…..  Other Music……  and did we mention Oldies?????

Name that tune! Name that artist! What are the next 9 lyrics? What are the color of her eyes? And who is Little Egypt????

**Pre-Game Party starts at 6:00pm.  Join us for some great music, dinner and beverages before we get under way with the first of three nail-biting rounds!  Early arrivals get choice of seating!  Don’t have to be 21 to play. Dinner & beverages ‘a la carte.

For more information call J.B. Herren & Glenda Edwards at 378-HOME.

Give us a click at jbherren (at) rockisland.com. Or check us out on Facebook “Music Trivia in Friday Harbor”. Check out the “Rumor Mill” on Facebook as well!

RSVP your table today with how many players to assure your spot!!!!

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