Victoria, BC – OK, we’ll admit it: it’s been tough not having the easy ride to the island, the last three months. Josie & I think of things to do, plays to see, people to hug, and the Sidney/Anacortes/Friday Harbor ferry hasn’t been scheduled since early January…but now it’s back. One of the parts I  Continue Reading

This is part of a continuing series by Update reporter Ian Byington to explain the ways of Canadians to my brother & sister San Juan Islanders, so that you think it’s a good idea to get on the ferry, ride for an hour & ten minutes, and wahoo! you’re in a cool new place that’s  Continue Reading

It’s always fun to read someone’s first novel, if only because you feel you know them a little better after finishing it. Islander Jill Urbach has put together a sweet story called Two Room Flat which spotlights two people who know each other’s losses too well, and are thrown together by fate and opportunity. She tells  Continue Reading

It’s fun to see friends from the island pop up in stories – let’s check them out: You know how Jessica Oldwyn has been wrestling (and winning!) with that brain toomah for the past three years (check her incredibly well written blog for the latest). Well, last week, she had the Buddha statue from her  Continue Reading

The National Park Service plans to apply herbicide to Canada thistle infesting critical habitat for the island marble butterfly at American Camp, an area of critical importance to the island marble butterfly, announced Superintendent Lee Taylor . The treatment will target 1.5 acres east of Pickett’s Lane and one acre south of the Redoubt Road.  Continue Reading

Do you remember where you were, the first time you saw Free Willy? For me, it was in a movie theatre in Eugene, OR, with a packed house that screamed & cheered & clapped when Willy gets away at the end (see the poster at right, for spoiler). It was a football game where the  Continue Reading

When I first heard Joe Bongiorno‘s new release, The Flight of a Dream earlier this month, I knew that he had a winner on his hands. I’ve listened to it now maybe six million times…but that’s been a couple of weeks, so I had time. It’s great! (Click here to hear samples – you’ll get it!)  Continue Reading

I was hoping to impress on you how autumn-like it was in Victoria, so I chose the warmest week of the year – this week it hit over 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 C.), with people I meet in the streets saying, “Is it like this all the time, here?” Since I want them to know  Continue Reading

  Saturday afternoon brought sunshine, a football game with Anacortes High, and a flood of memories as the Wolverines celebrated 40 years of football at Friday Harbor High School. It was great to see the guys who helped get the program going & cheer for them, and see the Wolverines come oh-so-close as they dropped  Continue Reading

It was cool to get a chance to drop by the island for the past few days – during the visit, I ran into folks who had stories to share. Here’s a quick rundown: Last month, Merritt & Janet Olsen came back to the island to visit, so it wasn’t too surprising to run into  Continue Reading