About the Author
Ian Byington

I’ve been writing this & adding to it since 1997, and it has morphed into what you see now during that time – a collaborative effort between our community and me to tell the story of what makes an island tick, and to celebrate the cool things that happen.

Recent Posts by Ian

‘Tis the season to shop, kinda….

December 1, 2009 at 11:26 pm

As Herbert Hoover, in the middle of the Depression, said, “About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends.”

New kindergarten enrichment program…

December 1, 2009 at 12:09 am

Dick Wright wrote to say St. David’s is going to start this, after the New Year. Need a place – a good place – for your kid after morning kindergarten at FHES? Here’s more: Saint David’s Day School A Kindergarten Enrichment Program The recent renovation and expansion of Saint David’s Episcopal Church has made it  Continue Reading

Free dinner for those who keep us safe….

December 1, 2009 at 12:01 am

Wanted to share this note from the Peppermill’s LaRue – tell your local firefighter, policeman/woman, or EMT – this is cool! Just wanted to let you know, in case you haven’t heard that Charles is doing a special “Thank you” to our local Firefighters, EMT’s, Police and Veterans on Tues, Dec. 1. They are invited  Continue Reading

Christmas decorating contest – get your application in today!

November 30, 2009 at 11:51 pm

I was kind of wondering about the decorating contest this year – heck, you better hurry…the application’s due this evening! Here’s the rest of the story, from Vernadel at the Chamber of Commerce: The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce is busy with plans for the 2009 Island Lights Fest Christmas Decorating Contest in the  Continue Reading

It's in the bag….

November 30, 2009 at 11:48 pm

It makes a perfect one-of-a-kind gift: You go down to San Juan Canvas (it’s under the Yacht Club), and ask Derrick & Lauren to make you a bag, out of….canvas! They have kind of a lot of it, and they make great bags, as you can see in the picture! And this month they have  Continue Reading

It’s in the bag….

November 30, 2009 at 11:48 pm

It makes a perfect one-of-a-kind gift: You go down to San Juan Canvas (it’s under the Yacht Club), and ask Derrick & Lauren to make you a bag, out of….canvas! They have kind of a lot of it, and they make great bags, as you can see in the picture! And this month they have  Continue Reading

Getting coffee?

November 30, 2009 at 8:54 pm

When you drop by Friday Harbor Espresso, seem like there’s always a smiling face or two, ready to get your coffee…. Readers of the Update know Arielle also wins recycled-fashion shows (click here to see her in her mermaid outfit last August) and goes to the grocery store (click here, and scroll down), while Ashley  Continue Reading

The Community Thanksgiving Dinner rocked!

November 30, 2009 at 8:42 pm

Whoa! When I visited with Jim & Minnie Knych before last week’s Thanksgiving dinner at the Grange, Minnie told me this was their eleventh year of putting on the show. What started as a Lions Club effort years ago is now a multi-group production with dozens of volunteers. She said that last year they ended  Continue Reading

New wines at Festival of Trees this year…

November 30, 2009 at 12:01 am

Jan from the Community Theatre says there’s one more reason to come to FOT this year: An award-winning Washington winery is playing a new starring role in the CATS’ 20th Annual Festival of Trees extravaganza at San Juan Community Theatre on Saturday, December 5. Eastern Washington’s Milbrandt Vineyards will not only provide the featured wines  Continue Reading

Finding the opposite true, too…

November 28, 2009 at 4:52 pm

Where’s the downbeat? And…why don’t we pay doctors when we’re well, not when we’re sick? Watched this early this morning & found myself looking at the way we do things, call ’em what we call ’em, and realizing that our assumptions often have an “opposite” shadow side or yang to go with the ying, or  Continue Reading

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