Around the island….

That's a gull I caught last week who found a starfish....

It’s a windy morning as the Valentine’s Day gusts may get up to 60mph later today…hold onto your hat & duck when the branches shake – let’s see what’s up:

Former FHMS teacher Molly Walker and former Journal editor Richard Walker were visiting the island this weekend - Richard says he's enjoying working with the Kitsap paper as editor, and mentioned that former islander Tad Souter is a writer there.

• It started up last week – Noodle Bowl Monday is back at the Backdoor Kitchen today from 11:30am to 2:30pm. The restaurant will re-open for the season in early March.

• At regionals this weekend, the Friday Harbor High wrestling team sent nearly everyone on the team, but emerged with only one representative to State – heavyweight Willy Dunn returns to Tacoma this weekend, while senior first-year wrestler Cody West (189) will go as an alternate. Congrats to the team & coaches for a good season!

• Another empty storefront: The surf shop above San Juan Cellars at Cannery Landing is now empty…I hear Skip has moved to Hawaii to manage a store there.

I was standing in Island Studios last night when Debbie Pigman came along & told me she had just seen "Black Swan" at the movies. As she said it, this light right above her head went out. It's that kind of movie.

• Remember I mentioned to you last week that Bob Benz’s two golden retrievers were missing? When I bumped into him yesterday, he says they still haven’t come home. If you see a couple of dogs around, please call Bob…it’s been a while now.

• Just heard from Amy Traxler at the Golden Triangle:

Now that Avon is back from Laos, she wanted me to let your readers know that we’re once again having cultural night specials at the Golden Triangle.  Monday is Japanese night; Tuesday is Vietnamese night; and Wednesday is Laotian night.  She’s starting tonight (2/14) and running them through the end of March – thanks!

• I like the sign at The Doctor’s Office coffeehouse that says, “Wi Fi – Why not?”

Emily, in Lesotho

• Lenore Bayuk tells me her girl Emily (right) has just finished four months of work in Lesotho, South Africa & is now headed for Peru…here’s more, from Emily’s blog.

• Yesterday Jeannie Hyde was out on the water shooting photos of the killer whales – check her blog to see who he saw.

• It was nice to see Gail & Randy at Cotton Cotton Cotton yesterday – I checked, and both they and Island Studios are open today for Valentine’s Day.

• Remember I told you that you could vote for Jim & Cathy Cole so they could win a trip from that radio station (can’t remember exactly – I think it was the state’s cutest couple or something.) Anyway, the Praise 106.5 people called ’em this morning & said they won! Wahoo!

Captain Deb Fritz

• Richard Rodriguez knows what’s going on, on the water, so he has this to report:

Continuing in a tradition of outstanding customer service, Towline Marine Assist is pleased to announce that it has become the Vessel Assist franchisee in the San Juan Islands.

Vessel Assist works much like an Auto Club on the water, providing tows, jump starts, and soft un-groundings at very reasonable annual fee. With the ability to reach most of its 600 square mile service area within an hour, Vessel Assist-Towline can respond to most calls within an hour.

Vessel Assist – Towline will stage vessels in Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor in the 2011 season. Their captains have responded over 1,400 distressed vessels in the San Juans. You can find out more about a towing package by contacting Vessel Assist Towline by contacting at Capt. Deb Fritz at debfritz (at) yahoo.com or 360-378-1111.

Proud mama Martha and proud papa Reyes say hi with baby Jessie yesterday after luch at Haley's....

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