Friday updates….

Today (Friday) was designated as "Mr. Pflueger Day" at the elementary school by the Student Council as part of Spirit Week - so kids are dressed up with Gary's trademark tie & vest & moustache...that's third-grader Jersie Angel (left), and even her dog Coco has a 'stache to show off to Gary.

I hope you get a chance to get outside this weekend – let’s look around & see what’s going on:

• John Boyd passed this on – you can change your Facebook page around:

You have got to try this….scroll down to the bottom of the page when you’re logged into Facebook. Where it says language, click on English, then click on the drop down menu and select English (Pirate) as your preferred language. All the headings and notations are hilarious!!!

• Meanwhile, speaking of  looking for pirate jewels, Jane Dill wrote in to see if you lost yours:

Hi Ian – I found a lovely pearl earring with diamond and ruby stones near the ATM machine at Key Bank. Fortunately, nobody had stepped on it! It is there at Key Bank for its owner. If you post this, perhaps someone who thought it was lost forever can claim it.

The Burns boys went to Texas to cheer for FHHS alum Tyler Hart earlier this month as Eastern Washington won the national championship - Joe is holding up three fingers on each hand for Tyler's "33" while Tom (right) and Willie hold up the sign (thanks for sending this over, Kim!)

• Even though he’s at the Seattle Boat Show, Richard Rodriguez is still posting amazing things on his Bitterend Blog…check it out for stories on Polar Shift, Rice Cookers, what WSF is up to with privatizing things, and lost pianos. Great stuff, Richard!

• Can you help? Shannon Sandwith sent me this request for islanders to help Marlis out:

For those of you who don’t know, Marlis Krieger Sandwith has been ill since December 23rd 2010, and was hospitalized January 2, 2011, first at Anacortes, and later at Harborview hospital.

Her loving husband Roger A. Sandwith has been at her side throughout and knowing they have three beautiful children, We, the family, have setup a Medical Fund at Islanders bank.If you wish to donate, they would be very grateful for the help and want the community to know, that any money left over from the medical and home bills they have acquired through this hard time will be given to another medical fund in the community so as those who truly need help will be able to receive it.  Please just give your money to Islanders Bank and tell them it is for the Marlis Krieger Sandwith Medical Fund.  The Family thanks you so much for all your love and concern for her through this time.

• Good news – she graduated! Wahoo! Scott Bell was telling me that his wife, Irina Bell, graduated from WSU at the end of the semester in this past December. She earned a B.A. in Social Science and a Minor in Business. Irina made the President’s Honor Roll the past 3 semesters, and had a 3.66 g.p.a. in her final semester.

• Last chance to sign: Here’s the deal with the Ferry Community Partnership:

First, FCP now has a Facebook page. If you have a Facebook account, please visit and ‘Like’ the Washington State: Save Our Ferries page.

Second, the deadline for the online petition has been extended to January 30. Please encourage everyone you know who has not signed the online petition to do so (if they’ve already signed the paper petition, they’re covered). Here is the link.

Orcas in San Juan Channel...pretty rare, but Whale Museum Director Jenny Atkinson caught them in this photo.

• The killer whales were here Wednesday – and not so much on the west side (that wouldn’t be news) but in San Juan Channel. Here’s the pictures & story from Jeanne Hyde.

• New owners of The Office Center Roy & Anne have longer hours now: they are going to be open 9 am to 6 pm and Sat 10 to 4.

• Yep, it’s the Playwrights Festival this weekend at the Community Theatre – see you there!

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