You remember Vivian Simonis who worked at Charters Northwest (with her ace bookkeeper sis Rose) before making her own company, Company Gear….she made the shirts & caps & pads & pens that By Design gives out, and more, with our logo on ’em. Anyway, she went & got married last month in Bellingham (she lives  Continue Reading

Nan & Steve Simpson celebrated their twenty-second wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago, and now have hit the water for the Broughtons…in their blog of their adventures, they tell how they ran into the Southern Resident killer whales on their way to Nanaimo…here’s more. -oo-

Everybody’s got a summer job around here (even retired people), and some people have the fun ones. Whitman College soph Theo Pratt (FHHS ’08) is hawkin’ hot dogs at San Juan Marine Center, just below Downriggers. He tells me these are the finest dogs you ever did see (or eat), and you just need to  Continue Reading

Wendy Picinich serves as the Town of Friday Harbor Treasurer and is also the Past President of the Washington Municipal Treasurers’ Association. She dropped me a note to tell you & me about how her counterpart at the County, Jan Sears, is getting recognized for her investment policay approach…here’s more: San Juan County Treasurer Jan  Continue Reading

You know, I know you were inside watching the USA/Brazil game, or doing something cool like hiking or kayaking or mowing your yard for next weekend’s BBQ, but one of the great things you could have done yesterday was go out on the Adventuress. Built in 1913, this tall ship has been used for the  Continue Reading

  Like I’m sure you are, I’m trying to figure out where to watch the World Cup next year (don’t have a TV at home….). So, yesterday, I went to watch the Confederation Cup final at Haley’s, and I just want to tell you, they do a pretty good job. There are TVs all over  Continue Reading

  The Make-A-Wish folks set it up so that a kid named Colin got his wish – to see whales in the San Juans. The trip was set up by Pete & Erin at San Juan Excursions, and, according to their company blog, the boy & everyone had a great time on Friday. Here’s more  Continue Reading

Hey, I just heard that FHHS’ Rhiana Franklin has been asked to play for the Fourth of July at Tacoma’s Freedom Fair…wahoo! Only fourteen years old, she is simply awesome with her vocals & her songwriting… She’ll be backed up by everybody’s favorite bassplayer Cecil Demeerleer (from Radio Shack, the Solar Siblings, and a zillion  Continue Reading

Remember I told you a couple of weeks ago that Jim Barnhart was coming to the island to help set up the new hospital? Here’s a bit more about that & about him, from EMS press officer Alan Roochvarg: PeaceHealth has appointed Jim Barnhart to lead the planning and implementation phase of building and operating  Continue Reading

The Kiwanis Club always puts on a great show…here’s more from Barry Jacobson: Once again, Kiwanis of Friday Harbor is presenting the Fourth of July Pig War Picnic at the San Juan Historical Museum on Price Street, starting right after the parade ends.  This year’s celebration will be bigger than ever, in recognition of the  Continue Reading

The Sixth Annual Produce Sale has one last day Saturday, so it’s your last chance to stock up at Marketplace…see ya there!

Yep, there’s a bunch going on – didja know about all this: • Peggy Sue at the Whale Museum reports: The Whale Museum is pleased to present Psychologist and Composer Leesa Sklover PhD on Friday at 7:0pm. Leesa is a pioneer in sound and music therapy, inter-species communication and ecopsychology and ecospirituality. Her research includes  Continue Reading

On Saturday at 10am at the EMS Building there will be a forum sponsored by the San Juan County Public Hospital District #1…the forum centers on interpreting the Death with Dignity Act (Initiative 1000) and providing answers to community members’ questions, with representation from local health care agancies. -00-

You’re gonna come into Friday Harbor & look around town & say, “Hey, where did everything go?!??!” Here’s your helpful guide: • The Blue Dolphin’s spot has been re-opened as the new home of Discovery Sea Kayaks, who WAS above the ice cream shop next to the ferry landing. Ivan & Western Prince are still  Continue Reading

It’s neat to look at the Google Analytics map & see that readers all over the world read the San Juan Update…the darker green countries all have Update readers in them, in the last month. Would you mind letting me know where YOU are? Just hit the “comment” link at the bottom of this posting  Continue Reading

Nancy Tiederman tells me there’s a new book about the history of firefighting here in Friday Harbor by Rick Galer – we’ve come a long way from getting buckets of water from the harbor to put things out. (Here’s proof – from 2002’s great fire – click here). Here’s more about what’s going on with  Continue Reading