Topic: Around Here

Dodging Iguanas: An Author Event With Denny Kaill

Written on September 24, 2017 at 5:30 am, by

Saturday shoppers and visitors have a chance on Saturday, September 30, 2:00—4:00 pm to chat with local author, Denny Kaill as he officially launches his recently published memoir, Dodging Iguanas: Some Motorcycle Stories, Some Not—All True at Griffin Bay Bookstore, 155 Spring Street in Friday Harbor. You’ll get to hear first-hand about his many adventures working and  Continue Reading

Know Your Island, Mitchell Hill Deep Forest Walk Saturday

Written on September 23, 2017 at 5:30 am, by

San Juan Trails will host a Know Your Island Walk Saturday, September 23. Meet at the Horse Trail Road entrance (on West Valley Road about 3/4 mile north of Mitchell Bay Road) at 1:00 pm. Come on this beautiful deep forest walk led by David Harsh and see what volunteers can do working together. The walk is moderate  Continue Reading

Island Senior: Seahawks Sundays at the Mullis Center

Written on September 23, 2017 at 5:20 am, by

Yay! I saw the Seahawks first touchdown of the season last Sunday at the Mullis Center’s Seahawks Sunday. If you are looking for a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and a nice big screen to watch the game… come on down to the Mullis Center on Sunday. This Sunday doors open at 12:30 to watch the Hawks play  Continue Reading

From the Update Mailbag…

Written on September 23, 2017 at 5:02 am, by

Today we received a letter from Ruth McKenna about the school board meeting next Wednesday. Ruth is a candidate for San Juan Island School District Director No. 1… September 22, 2017 Dear Editor, At the San Juan Island School District Board Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 27, the Board will receive a report from the Center for  Continue Reading

Navy Search and Rescue Team Honored For Service to Islanders

Written on September 22, 2017 at 5:35 am, by

Mayor Carrie Lacher of the Town of Friday Harbor presented a plaque thanking and honoring the air and ground crews of the Search and Rescue team from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island at the Friday Harbor Airport during an evening ceremony on Tuesday September 19, 2017. Over the last several years Whidbey SAR has flown  Continue Reading

A Concert in Victoria With Merri Ann Simonson

Written on September 22, 2017 at 5:32 am, by

“Once again this year we piled into our neighbor’s boat and went to Splash for the concert.  We had a great time and I highly recommend it as yet another way, of enjoying our San Juan Island lifestyle.” ~ Merri Ann Simonson

Autumn Equinox Today

Written on September 22, 2017 at 5:30 am, by

Autumn equinox arrives at 1:02 pm today. In the Northern Hemisphere the equinox is considered the first day of fall. The equinox occurs when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are of equal length. Around the world people celebrate the harvest and prepare for darker, colder weather. 

Gordon Steele Honored for Contributions to Space Exploration

Written on September 13, 2017 at 5:43 am, by

Mary Kalbert shares this story about Gordon Steele… San Juan Islander Gordon Steele has been selected by the Manhattan Project Oak Ridge National Historical Park as one of a group of fourteen scientists being recognized posthumously in a month-long exhibition for their contributions to space exploration. All the selectees participated in the Manhattan Project during  Continue Reading

From the Journal of Frank Mullis: San Juan Island, September 1905

Written on September 11, 2017 at 5:45 am, by

Have you ever wondered what it was like here over 100 years ago? This excerpt from 19 year old Frank Mullis’s Journal of 1905 reveals that in some ways things remain the same. There is still a lot of fruit to pick and process this time of year. What about his cure for the common  Continue Reading

Coming Soon to SJIMA, Dialogues From the Forest: Part 3

Written on September 11, 2017 at 5:30 am, by

San Juan Islands Museum of Art is currently closed for the installation of the upcoming exhibit, Dialogues From the Forest: Part 3, opening Saturday, September 16. This will be the final exhibition of the Dialogues form the Forest series exploring and honoring the natural resources of the Northwest landscape.  This exhibition spotlights five artists whose  Continue Reading

Island Senior: A Clear Message to Get Moving

Written on September 10, 2017 at 10:45 am, by

If like me, you work (and play) at a computer, if you spend even more sitting time driving (luckily we do not have long commutes here on the island), or watching television, you are being warned. Especially as we get older, we need to move more or be at risk for a host of diseases  Continue Reading

Rain Returns

Written on September 9, 2017 at 3:41 pm, by

 Thanks to Candace Carter E. Roseberry for this photo of today’s rain…  

Organ Recital at St. David’s Church

Written on September 9, 2017 at 6:00 am, by

An afternoon of music for the organ will be presented by Richard Lind at 3 pm on Sunday, September 17, at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 780 Park Street, in Friday Harbor.  He will perform a wide variety of original music for the organ composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, Samuel Barber, Dietrich Buxtehude, Richard Lind, and Guy  Continue Reading

Vote Counting Equipment Testing September 20 at 11 am

Written on September 9, 2017 at 5:30 am, by

A message from San Juan County Auditor F. Milene Henley… A “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used in San Juan County for the November 7, 2017 General Election is scheduled for September 20 at 11 a.m. The test works by tallying the results of a prepared set of ballots to see if  Continue Reading

Surface and Depth: Kappy Trigg and Tom Small at Waterworks Gallery

Written on September 8, 2017 at 12:18 pm, by

A reception for the artists Tom Small and Kathryn Trigg will be held today, Friday, September 8th 4 -7 pm at Waterworks Gallery. The exhibit featuring Small’s Sculpture and Trigg’s Monotype Paintings, Surface & Depth: St​one and Paper, will continue through September 8 – 30.   Tom Small’s sculptures are inspired directly from the land. For Tom, specific locales in the  Continue Reading

Southern Resident Killer Whales are Back

Written on September 8, 2017 at 6:00 am, by

Good news from Ken Balcomb at the Center for Whale Research… They’re back! For the first time in more than two months, a large assemblage of Southern Resident killer whale pods has returned to the interior waters of the Salish Sea. This population has dramatically decreased in number in recent years, and this summer was  Continue Reading

Cheese Therapy! Now Offered at San Juan Cheese

Written on September 8, 2017 at 5:30 am, by

Our local cheese aficionado’s at San Juan Cheese invite you to try out, “Cheese Therapy on the Patio!” happening through September on Thursdays, Friday’s and Saturdays from 3pm – 6pm. Cheese boards, cheesecake, wine and beer will served on the patio tucked away behind the shop on Nichols Street. And yes, you can still, “Love  Continue Reading

Resilient Gardening and Weird Weather

Written on September 7, 2017 at 5:45 am, by

Thanks to Mo Sloane for this first in a series of articles introducing featured speakers who will be presenting at the Master Gardeners Annual Gardening Workshop on October 7th. This first article introduces the workshop’s keynote speaker, Dr. Linda Gilkeson… Is ‘weird weather’ challenging you and your gardening skills? You’re not alone! Between the increasingly variable weather  Continue Reading

First Rehearsal Next Week For San Juan Singers’s Winter Concert

Written on September 7, 2017 at 5:30 am, by

Christmas already? Yes, if you are planning to put on a Holiday concert it is indeed time to start rehearsing and San Juan Singers is ready to welcome new recruits! First rehearsal will be held in the Community Room at Skagit Valley College on Wednesday, September 13, 6:30 – 9:00 pm. It is recommended that  Continue Reading

Air Quality Alert Extended Until Noon Thursday

Written on September 6, 2017 at 4:52 pm, by

It’s still pretty smokey… …AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PDT THURSDAY… The Air Quality ALERT issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology remains in effect until 12 PM PDT Thursday. Smoke from wildfires across the region will continue to linger over Western Washington through at least Thursday morning. Expect the air quality to remain unhealthy  Continue Reading

Tufted Puffins, Smith Island

Written on September 6, 2017 at 5:35 am, by

Thanks to photographer and naturalist Katie Jones, Spyhopper Travels Photography, for this photograph of Tufted Puffins out at Smith Island.

Whale Museum Lecture: Whales and Shipping

Written on September 6, 2017 at 5:30 am, by

The Whale Museum’s lecture series continues this Thursday, September 7 at 6:30 pm with a lecture by Krista Trounce of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Dr. Jason Wood from Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Consulting North America (based here in Friday Harbor). They will be presenting on the ship slow down trial that is currently  Continue Reading