Wasn't yesterday crazy, weather-wise? Rain, then blue skies, then hail, then blue skies, then rain then sunset with blue skies - wow. Here's the scene form Downrigger's, before lunch....

Hope you get a chance to get out! Here’s some ideas:

• Jonathan Hu plays at the Rumor Mill tonight, with The Chameleons on tap for the St. Paddy’s Day Party for Saturday night, and OPA highlights Greek/Mediterranean night on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Herb’s hosts The Tease on Saturday night…so you can wear green & hear some good music all over the place!

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• Looks like Cotton Cotton Cotton will be closed this weekend because of illness…Gail wanted me to tell you they’ll be open again next week just fine…

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• This sounds like fun, specially if you like The Galloping Gourmet – here’s more from The San Juan Island Garden Club’s Dot Vandaveer:

The Orcas Island Garden Club is extending an invitation to San Juan Island gardeners to hear Graham Kerr, the Galloping Gourmet, give a presentation at the Orcas Center on March 21. The San Juan Island Garden Club will provide carpools from San Juan Island to Orcas (leave Friday Harbor @ 8:25 a.m. and return from Orcas at 12:25pm)  Call 378-8306 to arrange free transportation for this wonderful event. The event itself costs $10.

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At The IMA's presentation at the Community Theatre last week, Jenny Lee (left) won the raffle ticket drawing (she had Nancy Best's winning ticket!) and won a donated print from activist & photographer Phil Borges.

Sam Stewart settles the ball in the penalty area n the second half of yesterday's game....

South Whidbey made a halftime score of 4-0 stand up in a muddy match in Friday Harbor, as the Falcons rolled to a 5-0 win in FHHS’ first game of the season.

Brett Paul looks for teammates breaking around him, handling the ball in traffic....

In spite of the result, there was a lot to like in the game. Our young team (only a couple of seniors) hustled for the full 80 minutes, and worked hard in the midfield, slowing the aggressive Falcon attackers. Our attack is powered by players who are good passers, and it’s just a matter of time for the payoffs for a team that keeps its head up. And we kept bringing the ball into the South Whidbey penalty area, always hungry to score. There’s a lot of promise, and this team shows it.

Come see for yourself. The Wolverines are back in action on Monday with Granite Falls here at 4pm.

Wisdom, from my friend Tucker....

Hey! Here’s what’s up:

• Good day to watch sports here ion the island, weather permitting – girls tennis & baseball will be watching the skies & hoping to play, and boys’ soccer plays their first game regardless.

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Click here for more info!

• Speaking of sports, there’s going to be a big fundraiser to raise it for the new fields going in on Carter Street – the deal is in April, but it’s time to think about donating to the auction – check out what’s happening here, and write them or call today!

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• I know you’re already thinking about St. Patrick’s Day, and here’s a way to mix that with thinking about sustainablity – here’s a good place to start:

San Juan Vineyard and Piano and Wine:
Green Drinks Comes to Friday Harbor
Third Thursdays at SJV Piano and Wine Tasting Room

Join us Thursday, March 15 from 5-7 pm for the inaugural Friday Harbor Green Drinks! We are excited to join the list of more than 400 US Green Drinks cities!

For the first gathering we ask that you think of an act of sustainability that you found particularly inspiring and the result of that inspiration. We hope you’ll share it with the rest of us!

Green Drinks is a monthly gathering where environmentally minded people meet over drinks. Green Drinkers mingle and share insights and inspire and delight each other. All are welcome. www.greendrinks.org. Cheers!

Piano and Wine 55 Spring Street 360.378.9462

Greg

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• Tricia Justice tells me that former islander, author & Northwest-wide known chef Greg Atkinson is opening a new restaurant on Bainbridge Island this weekend.

He’s calling it Marché. If you’re down that way, drop by & check it out!

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T-Hart

• Just heard that Tyler Hart (FHHS ’07) has earned an unusual sixth year of eligibility to play football at Eastern Washington this fall, because he’s been hurt & missed enough games to be eligible for that…

T-Hart was part of the EWU national championship run in 2010, which the Eagles won in early 2011….

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Next Wednesday!

• Check out what Cynthia has going at XYZ Movement Arts next week:

Could you tell everyone about our upcoming Zumba Jam on 3/21 for Relay for Life – Zumba from 4:00 to 6:00 on Wednesday – Spring Solstice – all proceeds go to Relay for Life – Cynthia and Jacquelyn will be holding a Zumbathon with refreshments.

Come and dance for awhile, rest and visit with friends for awhile and then dance some more.

Great music, refreshments and a wonderful cause!

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• Need a ride? Here’s a report from Friday Harbor Taxi you might find useful:

Friday Harbor Taxi is starting a morning pickup and an afternoon return from anywhere on the Island.
We start picking up at your home at 8:30am and will take you downtown no later than 9:30am. We start picking up in Friday Harbor at 2:30pm and will have you home no later than 3:30pm.

Basically, we pick you up at home, you spend a few hours downtown for: Shopping, Medical appointments, Lunch at the Senior Center, Church, whatever. Then we bring you home in the afternoon.Price: $5.00 per person each way – Friends and Neighbors vouchers accepted.Reservations requested 24 hours in advance. We’re offering this service 7 days a week, through May 20th, inclusive. Call 298-4434 or 378-4280 for a reservation!

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Looking out for the health of our waters...photo by FHMHO.

• Did you know about this project? Way cool:

Friday Harbor Marine Health Observatory is a long term year-round research project that aims to create a measurement of the health of the Port of Friday Harbor by counting marine invertebrates throughout the year and noting changes in populations, diversity, location, and seasonality.

Seven teams of 2-3 volunteers are each assigned a section of a dock, and once a month they monitor their section for about two hours. Monitors also collect environmental data such as water visibility, temperature, depth and weather, and take water samples to measure for water quality.

Here’s more about the project.

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I like the poem in the window at Griffin Bay Bookstore....

Come by & check out Ciely Gray & the great job she & her crew have done in setting up Lavendera in their new spot, next to the Little Store... tonight! I dropped by yesterday & the place is warm & welcoming - come see for yourself!

Have you seen the super job Ciely has done building & decorating & making beautiful the space that Lavendera’s in, now? Here’s your chance:

Free Community Health Service Evening at Lavendera

Curious about what our alternative health community has to offer? Come check out the Lavendera Center for Massage this Thursday, March 15th.

Every third Thursday a month (including tonight!), Lavendera will be sponsoring a free Community Health Service evening. 7-9pm.

Depending on the evening, massage therapists, chiropractors, jin shin practitioners, aromatherapists, naturopaths, and nutritionalists will provide free 15-minute clothed treatments. We will also have free 15-minute intuitive card readings on some evenings.

This is a great way to visit our beautiful space and have a chance to experience some of the different therapies that are available on our island.

Hope to see you!

Here’s the word from Carol Linde about today’s spelling bee, sponsored by the San Juan Island Rotary Club – hope you can come!

The 2012 Spelling Bee will be held at the Community Theatre on Thursday, March 15^th at 3:30.

The annual contest is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Juan Island, and features 4th through 8th grade classroom champions from local schools, including Friday Harbor Elementary School, Friday Harbor Middle School, Paideia Classical School, and Stillpoint School.  Spring Street students are on spring break this year.

The first place winner will receive a personal award of $75, an award to their classroom literacy program of $150, and an award to their school literacy program of $300. The second place winner will receive a personal award of $50, $100 to their classroom, and $200 to their school.

Please come cheer them on.  Doors open at 3:00.  There is no charge for admission.

Chad

The Whittier fills with the sounds of hot jazz in a special fundraiser for Friday Harbor’s Band Families and Friends this Wednesday, March 14 at 7:00 pm

“Jazzin’ it up in Friday Harbor” features a very talented trumpeter from Seattle, Chad McCullough, who will join the island’s One More Time Band and the Friday Harbor High School Jazz Band (under the direction of Matt Frost) on stage.

McCullough is not only a rising star in the world of modern jazz, but as a composer he has scored for film and written for various brass ensembles, dancers and string quartets.  He is also an educator who speaks about jazz music and the trumpet to students of all ages as well as conducting clinics at high schools and colleges throughout the country.

Dorian & Yvonne

The show runs Thursday through Sunday at the Community Theatre – here’s the story from Jan Bollwinkel-Smith:

A rollercoaster ride of romantic comedy, Bill Manhoff’s The Owl and the Pussycat, (definitely not the children’s story) returns to the Gubelman this Thursday through Sunday, March 15-18.

The two-person play features island actors Dorian Oliver and Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso, directed by Ernest Pugh.  Dorian plays stuffy writer, Felix; and Yvonne is Doris, an outgoing model/actress/lady of the evening. The two start as neighbors but the fireworks erupt when the two end up in the same apartment.

Yvonne and Dorian say they so enjoyed working together on Barefoot in the Park years back that they dug and dug to find the right play for them to do together again. The Owl and the Pussycat …with its zany one-liners and opposite characters…was just what they were looking for.

The Owl and the Pussycat was first produced on Broadway in 1964 (starring Alan Alda and Diana Sands).

The play does contain adult language and content, and is not recommended for children.

The hail came down hard this morning...that's the scene near Tucker in Friday Harbor this morning....photo by Kevin Holmes

Amid reports of snow & hail this morning, mixed with weather reports that say the temp could hit 60 today…well, be ready for anything (although I’ll be surprised if the guys get their baseball game played)…let’s look around:

Served with a little chicken - check out Hobbes' food blog! You'll get ideas for dinner tonight!

• Did you see Hobbes‘ garbanzo beans & kale in tomato sauce dish? You’re gonna love this easy to make dinner…

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• Courtney has an idea for you & the kids for spring break:

Need something fun for your kids to do over Spring Break? We’re having a kid’s horse camp Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday April 10, 11, 12. 9am-noon or 1-4pm.

Call or email for details! 378-1364, blazingtreeranch (at) gmail.com

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That's the seniors at halftime of last Friday's Senior/Staff basketball game to raise money for Grad Night...and, oh yeah...the seniors won 192-191, or something. Photo by Collin Williamson.

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• You know the Run Ladies Run Half Marathon & 10K is less than a couple of weeks away – here’s where you sign up!

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March madness...hail in the planter at Kevin's house this morning...photo by Kevin Holmes

From left to right: Hayden Place, Brandon Lambright, Austin Lambright, and Gavin Guard...photo by Collin Williamson

Last weekend, Friday Harbor High got off to a promising start as they thumped South Whidbey 11-9 in the first game of the season for both teams…the Wolverines have good reason to be optimistic about the season ahead. Here’s more from Update reporter Collin Williamson:

Baseball: America’s favorite sport is also the spring sport of choice for many student athletes that you see around FHHS. If you haven’t had the chance to play spring baseball in the Pacific Northwest, let me tell you… it is not an easy task. Playing in the mud and hoping the ball doesn’t slip out of your hand in the rain…that’s just the beginning.

For our local players, there are even more challenges. Each year for the past three years the use of the field has been in question, there are rainouts & game cancellations, and we’ve had lineups filled with underclassmen.

But there are high hopes for the team this year. The addition of a few experienced upperclassmen and our experienced coaching staff, combined with young talent gives our Wolverines the potential to have an above average year. Led by senior captain Hayden Place, the FHHS Baseball team started the season with a win over at South Whidbey on Saturday.

I encourage all of our fans (and those who don’t normally venture out to the bleachers!) to come out to the Wolverines’ first home game today (Tuesday), if the weather lets FHHS play.

Good luck this season, and get those W’s!

Things settled down by Monday evening, but it's been a blustery - and worse - Sunday night & Monday morning here on the island...Jim Maya's photo catches the beauty & power of the wind and water at play at Lime Kiln lighthouse....

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Meanwhile, at South Beach, Ary Hobbel caught the fury of the storm...click on this picture to see a huge, beautiful version.

Just got word that today’s softball game & golf match for FHHS are cancelled…too bad. Would have been fun to see Jean’s fastball with the wind bending it, or how far golf balls go with the gusts giving them a push.

Since you’re not gonna get to the games, you have time for me to tell you that the Wolverine basketball postseason honors are in: for the boys, Collin Williamson (first team, and team MVP), Donald Galt (second team), and C.J. Woods & Otis Cooper-West (honorable mention) were named all-league, while the girls saw Mandy Turnbull (first team & team MVP), Larissa Nash (second team), and Liz Taylor (third team) named to the All-League team, joined by Coach of the Year Eric Jangard.

Congrats to all of you!

That's J34 (Doublestuff) with friends (Pigeons Guillemot) over the weekend in Haro Strait at Middle Bank...awesome photo by Jim Maya (thanks, Jim!)

Bet you’ve heard the wind through the night – hope things held together OK for you…gusts up to 65 mph were forecast. Let’s see what else is going on:

• Passing: I heard that Rob Turner passed away last week…we’ll watch for more information as it becomes available…he was loved by many, many islanders…

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• The spring seasons got underway Saturday, with the softball girls having a tough time, losing to South Whidbey, while the baseball boys beat SWHS 11-9 in a slugfest.

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Dance! This Saturday!

• Liz Francis says the Contra Dance this weekend should be awesome (if you haven’t been dancing, it’s about time, don’t you think?) here’s more:

Third Saturday Contra Dance, San Juan Island Grange Hall, 7-9p.m. Dance to The Fabulous Eric Anderson on piano and Alan Roberts on fiddle with Cindy Holmes calling. No partners needed. All dances taught. No experience necessary. $10/person donation (students half price!). Information, 378-3836.

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• Hey! Did you see Cyndi Brast‘s photos on the Cruising Northwest website? Pretty cool!

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This Wednesday!

• Music, just for you: On Wednesday at the Community Theatre at 7pm, there’s a musical fundraiser for our awesome band program at FHHS – here’s more from Kelly Snow:

Seattle Trumpeter Chad McCullough, The One More Time Band, and the Friday Harbor High School Jazz band present a special evening of Jazz! Suggested donation: $15 adults, $5 student reserved. All ticket proceeds go to support FH Band Families & Friends.

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• It’s always great to hear from our local authors – Sam Buck is giving a talk about his book Believe Your Experience this weekend on Saturday at 7pm at Griffin Bay Bookstore – here’s more:

I caught up with Sam at a Whale Museum fundraiser...it'll be good to hear about his book on Saturday.

Griffin Bay Bookstore and the San Juan Island Library are co-sponsoring a book talk with San Juan Island author Sam Buck, on Saturday night, March 17, 7:00 at the bookstore. Sam will be on hand to read from and talk about his book: Believe Your Experience.

Sam Buck is a third generation San Juan islander with a background in farming, heavy construction, fishing, and restaurants. For 10 years he was a natural health practitioner & counselor.  Since 1988 he has been a realtor with Coldwell Banker.

Sam grew up dyslexic, and even in high school he was interested in esoteric subjects, always a consistent undercurrent for him. Sam considers himself to be a seeker of truth and a promoter of wellbeing. “I am completely confident that each of us has an important purpose for being here.”

After sharing personal insights about life with so many, it was not uncommon for Sam to hear, “You should write a book.” The idea of writing a book and sharing his insights started to sink in. One morning he experienced a strong impulse which “essentially kicked me out of bed and said , ’Get to it!’”

He says he really had no choice in the matter: “As soon as I started writing the words just flowed out, and I sincerely enjoyed and learned from the experience.”

The resulting book is:  Believe Your Experience. Readers will find gems of gentle insight: “Being grateful for the gifts of our lives will carry us through the toughest of times and will tend to create more to be grateful for.” Sam points out that being grateful “is the most effective way of improving your life and the lives those around you.”

For those seeking to bring more meaning and purpose, more gratitude and harmony into their lives, be sure to attend Sam’s book talk at Griffin Bay Bookstore.

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• I realize I said “awesome” at least three times in today’s posting…that’s because it’s the closest approximation to what I wanted to say, and no other word fit. Call me Dr. English…I hope you get a chance to say awesome too many times today, too.

🙂

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Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, challenges the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don’t get what we want. Our “psychological immune system” lets us feel truly happy even when things don’t go as planned.

Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert says our beliefs about what will make us happy are often wrong — a premise he supports with intriguing research, and explains in his accessible and unexpectedly funny book, Stumbling on Happiness.