I love this photo that Ivan Reiff with Western Prince shot yesterday & shares with us today….thanks, Ivan!

When Dan Ward started San Juan Transit in ’94, there was no Visitor’s Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce was in its infancy, people were just beginning to cater to tourists. Nineteen years later, Dan has built a successful business and watched the town change from inside out. When I asked Dan about his favorite part  Continue Reading

There are some deadlines looming for kids’ soccer to get ready for the fall – here’s the word from San Juan Soccer Association president Travis Ayers: 1.)    We are rapidly approaching the end of registration, which closes on Aug 1st..  Teams are assigned that night, and any later signups are handled on a space available  Continue Reading

The island was decked out in its colors this past weekend…. +++++++ +++++ ++++++ +++++ +++++ ++++

Ron Garner & Company D had a good time at Fort Townsend a couple of weekends ago, and he sent along these photos of their adventures there…they invite everyone to this coming weekend’s Encampment at English Camp – here’s more: Members of Company D, a volunteer group of San Juan Island National Historical Park, traveled  Continue Reading

Let’s take a look at some of the things happening on our gilded shores: • One more reason to visit the islands: A national news story says weather forecasters are calling for the dry, hot weather much of the country is experiencing to continue till fall. Makes our high of 62 yesterday look good –  Continue Reading

Photographer Tim Dustrude has put together a series of photos & stories called This Is Our Town about folks around the island, and I’m excited to add his work to the Update as a regular feature. Here’s the first in our series – meet Bryan & Carolyn and their Spring Street business, The Sandpebble: Sandpebble  Continue Reading

The Preservation Trust will be selling landscape paintings depicting areas all over the county created by local artists.  The paintings will be created on site over the few weeks on islands all over the county and some from private lands donated to the San Juan Preservation Trust, as well as a live painting demonstration at  Continue Reading

Our island’s 8th annual Relay for Life is coming up, and you don’t want to miss it. Here are the basics from event chair Elisa Howard: WHEN: Start at 3pm on Saturday, July 28th and ends 10am on Sunday, July 29th. WHERE: Friday Harbor High School Track- 45 Blair St., Friday Harbor, Washington HOW: To  Continue Reading

A group of concerned islanders gathered for a private event that discussed the impact of the local Planned Parenthood, what has been accomplished by the national Planned Parenthood Federation, and what islanders can do to help support our community’s Planned Parenthood health center.  Here are some of the facts for 2011 solely from the clinic  Continue Reading

This evening is an important event – Friday Harbor is on the booksigning tour that accompanies the release of the book Death at SeaWorld.” The event is at Friday Harbor House at 5pm – here is more information from the publisher about the book & author, as well as a review by Update book reviewer  Continue Reading

Let’s take a quick look around: • Winnie and Leah have opened a new handbag and clothing shop called Momentum Handbag (Winnie’s part) and Pin Pin Apparel (Leah’s) at the old Griffin Bay Bookstore location, just down from The Toy Box. They even have an option to design your own handbag! +++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++ +++++++

I asked Update book reviewer Rainah Sandstrom to read David Kirby’s new book & see what she thought – here is her perceptive & thoughtful review of this just released book (The Update received a review copy a couple of weeks ago). Here’s more: In Death at SeaWorld, Kirby tells the spellbinding story of the  Continue Reading

Some of us are old enough to remember – sitting up into the middle of the night to watch the astronauts walk, for the first time, on the moon. Some of us can only look at the black & white pictures & hear the stories from older folks. But it was the beginning of a  Continue Reading

It started as three young kids from Spring Street International School going to Yakima for a Washington State Preventative Health Summit. It has since become a group of five called Rock Solid, with representatives from SSIS,  Lopez, and one home schooler. These five people have committed to stay drug-free and help their community make healthy  Continue Reading