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

A tune from the Dead….

April 23, 2009 at 8:29 pm

“Uncle John’s Band” has been covered by Jimmy Buffet & others, but the best version is by the Grateful Dead – here they are in 1980:

Mr. San Juan – it's Saturday night!

April 23, 2009 at 3:25 pm

Here’s the writeup from the PTA at the elementary school: The Friday Harbor Elementary School PTA is putting the “fun” back in fundraising with a new twist on an old idea.  Six of our island’s finest fathers will compete for the title of Mr. San Juan Island.  The pageant is Saturday, April 25th in the  Continue Reading

Mr. San Juan – it’s Saturday night!

April 23, 2009 at 3:25 pm

Here’s the writeup from the PTA at the elementary school: The Friday Harbor Elementary School PTA is putting the “fun” back in fundraising with a new twist on an old idea.  Six of our island’s finest fathers will compete for the title of Mr. San Juan Island.  The pageant is Saturday, April 25th in the  Continue Reading

Elegant Edibles….went great!

April 23, 2009 at 10:03 am

Remember the Elegant Edibles fundraiser a few weeks ago? Marta Specht tells me it went great, with the bake sale selling out in one & a half hours, and bringing in nearly $1800 for the Community Theatre. Way to go! -o o-

Why our food program is so good….

April 23, 2009 at 6:29 am

One of the reasons that Chef Tom French’s Experience Food Project has been so successful is that the food is…good. For people who don’t believe that “school lunch” and “good” should be used in the same sentence, the question pops up: Why skimp on school meals (or feed low-cost, high-crap lunches?) In Yes! magazine, Chef  Continue Reading

Quote

April 23, 2009 at 5:58 am

It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.’ Sam Levenson

Test your airbags….

April 23, 2009 at 12:13 am

Most people get their oil changed, their tires inflated, their brakes checked…but how many of you have your airbags checked? Here’s why….

Soccer photos posted….

April 23, 2009 at 12:02 am

One of the talented students at Friday Harbor High is senior Lauren Paulsen, who has been shooting Sports Illustrated-level photos at soccer games – click here to see her portfolio (compiled by Cassie Ellis) from the Nooksack Valley game last week, which was arguably the boys’ best played game at home so far this year.  Continue Reading

Tough times ahead….how the school district is dealing with the cuts….

April 23, 2009 at 12:01 am

Looking over the cuts and shrinkage in our first-class school district is painful at so many levels, which includes the moving of the sixth grade from the middle school to the elementary school – here’s the view from Michael Soltman, our school district’s superintendent: Projected State Education Funding Requires $1,000,000 Budget Reduction for 2009-10 Reduction  Continue Reading

Folk ascends to a new level….higher!

April 22, 2009 at 2:13 pm

When I was singing last summer at Griffin Bay (the bookstore, not the saltwater one), I mentioned that folk music was having a serious revival on the planet, partly because folk music is way cooler than any other kinda music. I remember the serious look in people’s eyes as they nodded, “Yes, this is true.”  Continue Reading

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