The Town Council endorsed it.

The County Council endorsed it.

And I hope you join me in endorsing it.

Here’s what the Washington Earth Hour has to say, and here’s what it’s all about.

See you in the dark.

The Town Council endorsed it.

The County Council endorsed it.

And I hope you join me in endorsing it.

Here’s what the Washington Earth Hour has to say, and here’s what it’s all about.

See you in the dark.

“Only kings, editors, and people with tapeworm have the right to use the editorial ‘we’.”
Mark Twain

Proud grandmother Connie Wargo sent me the news that daughter Kim’s delivery of her second girl went great – here’s more:

Millie Laree Nibler, the daughter of Justin and Kim Nibler (left), was born on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at Island Hospital in Anacortes. She weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 21 inches long. Welcoming Millie into her new home is her big sister, Nakayla Rae. Proud Grandparents are Guy and Lora Nibler of Henry Island, Mike and Connie Wargo of Friday Harbor, and three sets of Great-Grandparents, including Barbara Seastrom of Friday Harbor. Also happily excited are her Aunts and Uncles, Amy and Caleb Mrowka, McKenna and Ken McCutcheon, and many, many friends.

The Baker Boys are ready to cook for you.....

Jan from the Community Theatre wanted to let you know where the good chow comes from….here’s more:

The Baker Boys Highlight Elegant Edibles April 11: The men are taking over the kitchen! (Well, sort of).

The Community Arts Theatre Society (CATS) annual gourmet bake sale on April 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. gets an added ingredient this year: The Baker Boys.

These gentleman of San Juan Island have volunteered their baking skills to concoct special culinary delights to add to the myriad of homemade delectables up for sale at the San Juan Community Theatre.

How about Howard Schonberger’s cookies? Or Jim Specht’s Easter shaped Rice Krispy Krunchies? Ed Greub is making a Booze Cake without the booze, Chris Nelson has a scrumptious Chocolate Almond Pie and San Juan County Councilman Rich Peterson will show off the Peterson Family Pound Cake, plus he’ll throw in the Peterson Family Cookbook as a bonus. More than a dozen local men will contribute goodies, including: David Bayley, Frank Hastings, John Aberle, Kevin Cleary, Ron Thurman, Chuck Armstrong, Tom Barrett, Ted Soares, John Lindsay, Dave Nichols, Jason Wood and Mike Severtson.

In addition to the sale of the day-before-Easter celebration goodies, the event also includes door prizes, an Easter basket raffle, a Peep hunt for little ones 6 and under, a special Pioneer Ladies table, and lovely spring flowers.

Admission is free. Proceeds from the bake sale benefit the San Juan Community Theatre.

The Baker Boys are ready to cook for you.....

Jan from the Community Theatre wanted to let you know where the good chow comes from….here’s more:

The Baker Boys Highlight Elegant Edibles April 11: The men are taking over the kitchen! (Well, sort of).

The Community Arts Theatre Society (CATS) annual gourmet bake sale on April 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. gets an added ingredient this year: The Baker Boys.

These gentleman of San Juan Island have volunteered their baking skills to concoct special culinary delights to add to the myriad of homemade delectables up for sale at the San Juan Community Theatre.

How about Howard Schonberger’s cookies? Or Jim Specht’s Easter shaped Rice Krispy Krunchies? Ed Greub is making a Booze Cake without the booze, Chris Nelson has a scrumptious Chocolate Almond Pie and San Juan County Councilman Rich Peterson will show off the Peterson Family Pound Cake, plus he’ll throw in the Peterson Family Cookbook as a bonus. More than a dozen local men will contribute goodies, including: David Bayley, Frank Hastings, John Aberle, Kevin Cleary, Ron Thurman, Chuck Armstrong, Tom Barrett, Ted Soares, John Lindsay, Dave Nichols, Jason Wood and Mike Severtson.

In addition to the sale of the day-before-Easter celebration goodies, the event also includes door prizes, an Easter basket raffle, a Peep hunt for little ones 6 and under, a special Pioneer Ladies table, and lovely spring flowers.

Admission is free. Proceeds from the bake sale benefit the San Juan Community Theatre.

Weirdly, one of the best ideas for gathering water – catching the rain that falls on your buildings & storing it – is illegal in Utah and Colorado, a couple of perennially dry states. Although the islands are mentioned in this Wall Street Journal article, it’s because we do allow it (and some of us even encourage it).

Read this over and see what you think.

No stops in Friday Harbor for the Clipper this summer....

Deborah from the San Juan Islands Visitors’ Bureau tells me the Victoria Clipper isn’t dropping by the island this summer…..here’s more:

I just received official word (thanks to an alert by member Harrison House/Tucker House), that the Victoria Clipper will not be running its usual seasonal service from Seattle to Friday Harbor this year, as they are loaning their vessel to the U.S. Navy. See attached letter. They are attempting to accommodate some groups using alternative transportation options. They plan to resume service in 2010. We will surely miss their marketing partnership and passengers this year, especially on San Juan Island, due to hundreds of day trips and many overnight packages.

Deborah Hopkins
San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.
Richard Bach

Driftwood on the beach....

This is from Michael Steighner’s blog….he was visiting here from Florida and caught this wonderful mix of color & wood & water. Be sure & look over his other photos, too!

An update on the Grones’ situation (see below) from Carol Ford:

Hi Ian –
Thanks so much! Because we spread the word, Dave got a place to stay. It
turns out Sandy Ridge (Jesse Woodruff’s mom) and her husband, Joe, have an
apt. in Queen Anne that he can stay in through April. They just moved to
Snohomish County but have the apt. for another month so it all worked out
great. I talked to Dave today and he said Jacque is talking a bit so that’s
good news. Thanks for getting the info out so quick – islanders (and former
islanders) always come through!
Carol

Help us out here…there’s a chance we can get a Skills Training Center here, but we need you to fill out this survey (below)….local companies, as well as teachers & community members, can help the process along by taking the survey now. As I understand it, the more answers we get, the better the chances we can actually push this thing through, and that would be cool.

To take the survey, click here.

Derek & Lauren are taking over the sailmaking shop from Andra and Patrick on April 1st.

Patrick & Andra (above, right) are the kind of folks we need here on San Juan Island – involved, caring, great parents, and always smiling. Patrick first bought the Bon Accord in Friday Harbor when they moved here, and three years ago, he and Andra bought The Sail Loft (San Juan Canvas) down at the marina from the Rissers. They’re always doing something with their girls & with the community, whether it’s coaching soccer or helping with the PTA or Children’s Festival, They are going to be much missed when they leave for Seattle this summer. Here’s more, in a little writeup by Lauren, who is buying the business with her husband Derek:

Derek Steere and Lauren Cohen, take over San Juan Canvas on April 1 from Patrick & Andra Pillsbury who have owned the business since 2006. The business has been at its same location in the Friday Harbor Marina (271 Front Street) since 1979. It was started by Peter and Susan Risser who still live here on San Juan Island. Derek has been sewing since his days in the US Navy back in the 1980s. He recently attended the Northcoast Marine Canvas Training Program.

Derek and Lauren are both excited to continue the excellent Marine Canvas and Sailmaking tradition begun by Peter and Susan and built upon by Patrick and Andra. Derek and Lauren are also the owners of Treehouse Remodeling and will be expanding into Marine Cabinetry to complement what we offer at San Juan Canvas. Lauren’s photography skills will also be on display at San Juan Canvas offering note cards and prints to customers and passersby.

After April 1, check out our updated website at www.SanJuanCanvas.com or drop us a note at [email protected]. Better yet, stop by and say hello.

The San Juan Island community will be very sad to see Patrick, Andra and their three beautiful daughters move on to bigger and better opportunities. They have all been such active members of this closely knit neighborhood. They have given their time and talents to so many people and organizations and will be greatly missed. We wish them all Happy Sailing and hope they will come back to visit often.

The water flows, but back into the ocean; The moon sinks, but is even in heaven. Normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them.
Alan Watts

Cam works the ball upfield against Coupeville Saturday.

Over the weekend, the Wolverine baseball team munched Darrington (Friday) and Shoreline Christian (Saturday), while the softball girls had a 2 out of 3 split with Darrington and Meridian. The soccer boys played their third game in five days, dropping their re-match with Coupeville (that’s Cam Byington in the air Saturday; photo by Lauren Paulsen for the Update).

Leasa and Peter have a May wedding planned...

Leasa Burch and Peter Wangoe II will be getting married on Oahu in May of
2009. It will be a small ceremony with family and close friends. A San Juan
Island reception will take place in August of 2009.