It’s the inside scoop! Softwear has most of their inventory at 50% today (Thursday!) and they’re open from 10am-8pm! Be sure & drop by!

Yesterday was the last day for the MArket Chef till the 27th as everyone takes a vacation (hence, the big smiles of the crew at 4pm Monday afternoon!) - that's Alaina (left) Tom, Laurie, and Ashley wrapping things up for a couple of weeks. Photo by Shay Byington.

Let’s see what islanders do in their spare time….

Lauren

• I love hearing what folks are up to – Erin from San Juan Excursions mentioned to me that Lauren Theodore (now Gardiner) has a must-read blog that you’ll really like – it’s called Mama Somm, and it’s great fun..she offers her opinions about wines.

Not only is she a writer by profession she is also a Certified Sommelier and a mom of little Lucy who is a year and a half old. Check it out!

• Dr. Sonja at the Islands Veterinary Clinic checks in:

Hello Ian – We wanted to get notice out to the community and naturally we thought of you and the San Juan Update.

You may have seen these hanging out, in front of Spring Street International School...the 6/7th grade science class made a model solar system all the way down Spring Street, completely done to scale and on tripods down on the sidewalk. Cool...that's Jupiter, above.

Islands Veterinary Clinic will be closed the week of December 20th (Dec 20-25).  Dr. Sonja Webster-Hills and family are taking an off-island vacation.  Any clients or patients needing prescription refills and pet food should plan on picking them up by this Friday, December 17th. We will reopen on December 27th.

Happy Holiday, Dr. Sonja and Staff

• Did the Twinkle Elves come by YOUR place this weekend? They did at Keri’s place – here’s the story:

I’ve talked to about four different people around the neighborhood, and all of us have received awards on our front doors from the Twinkle Elves thanking us for putting up lights and decorating this Holiday Season.  What a wonderful and thoughtful idea! Made our family excited – we personally received the “Best Winter Scene” and a friend of ours received “the Best Fence decoration.”  We’ve all been enjoying our neighborhood’s participation, and thanks to the Elves who noticed!

Thanks back to the Twinkle Elves who are enjoying the spirit of the Holiday and passing it along! Sincerely, Keri Talbott

The Whale Museum's Black & White Dinner is this Thursday...

• Hey, remember the Black & White Dinner at the Whale Museum is this week – last year’s event was awesome with good food & good company & good cheer (here’s a portfolio of pictures from that one!) Here’s the details…see ya there!

Breakfast With Santa on Saturday included facepainting with his elves....

• They just picked up a show – Island Stage Left‘s performance of Christmas Memories continues this weekend at Roche Harbor‘s Pavillion from Friday-Sunday, then runs through the week Tuesday-Friday. Helen tells me the two Christmas Eve shows are nearly “sold out” (it’s free, but you need to make a reservation – and yes, donations are gratefully accepted!)

Meanwhile, the show will also be presented at Harbour at the Village on Thursday as well at 6:15pm if you’d like to catch it there!

I saw the show this past weekend at Roche, and Dan Mayes does the job, bringing Dylan Thomas’ words to full, breathing, fiery life, accompanied by Joy Van Camp’s beautiful singing. It’s a winner…you’ll be glad you’re there. I know I’ll be going again…

If you like classical guitar, you'll love Amanda Brast, who's playing at Rock Island this Thursday & next from 5-7pm.

• When it rains, it pours, and islanders help one another – here’s the story from Jeanine at The Yoga Path (check with Jeanine for times & places of the classes):

The Yoga Path Moved Today! Leaky Roof Forces Immediate Change

Today, Sunday, December 12, I went in to teach my 10 am class and found the floor wet and the light fixtures full of water. Luckily, over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been talking to Cynthia Burke about her new business, XYZ Movement Center, and exploring the idea of moving my classes there. So, I called Cynthia and asked her if I could start teaching right then.

Cynthia was gracious enough to meet me at her new space and we moved in and had our Sunday morning class! I hadn’t quite made up my mind to move until this happened. Sometimes things are just decided for you.

The new space is great!  To get there turn South off Spring Street on the road between M&W Auto Sales and where the Mexican Restaurant (the Flying Burrito) used to be. Go past San Juan Health Care. It’s upstairs from Ravenhill Construction.

The space is larger and has great light.  I’ve already moved all my stuff in, so the mats, chairs, blankets, blocks, belts and eyebags will be there for classes.

It was great to see Martha (you know her from Wells Fargo Bank) this weekend with baby Jesse...

The league champs! Back row from left: Donny Galt, Zoe Kromer, Celia Roth, Emily Rothlisberger, Taylor Turnbull, Alexa Mora, Monique Woodward. Bottom row: Madison Kinkaid, Claire Boden, Echo Wood, Ali Galt, Brook Ashcraft, Carly Woodward. Not pictured: Rod Turnbull, Madison Brockway.

Here’s the report from Tami:

The 7th grade girls SWISH basketball team took first place in the tournament last Saturday. It was a six week season every Saturday off island, including 6am practices in Turnbull gym. This is the second year in a row the team has won first place in their division.

Way to go, girls!

Here’s The Voice, with the Moody Blues in 1984…

Dr. Eduardo Miller, at the Rocky Bay Cafe last Sunday....

It’s sad when the good ones leave the island…Dr. Eduardo Miller has been a mainstay for islanders, and will be much missed. Here’s his note to you:

Dear friends and patients:

I am writing this letter to you to inform you that I will be leaving San Juan Healthcare at the end of December.  Although this is the first formal announcement we’re making, we did start telling patients about this upcoming change a couple of months ago.  In which case, many of you reading this may have already been told in person, and still more of you may have learned of my plans through word of mouth from others.  At this time, we are actively recruiting for my replacement.

I think most of you know that for the past 5 years I have been commuting weekly between Seattle and Friday Harbor.  Many aspects of managing my life and my career in two locations have been difficult.  I recently made the decision to return to Seattle full time, primarily to be with my wife Lisa.  For the immediate future I will be working at a for-profit urgent care clinic in Seattle.

I want to thank each of you for affording me the privilege to participate in your care.  It has been a joy and an honor.  I have grown and I have learned much during these 5 years.  My patients have been my greatest teachers, so I thank each of you for what you have taught me.  It has also been a tremendous honor to work along side such tremendous colleagues and staff.  I know that I will be hard pressed to find a work place that will match this one, and impossible to find a community that has embraced me the way that Friday Harbor has embraced me.

I have enjoyed my time here and I will always think back fondly of this time in my life.  Take care and farewell.

Sincerely,

Eduardo A. Miller, MD

Jody Burns from the Master Gardeners asked me if I thought you’d be interested in good gardening books – I told her, well yeah. So here’s some ideas for gifts:

Garden Books for Giving

What would the gardener on your holiday gift list want most?  Apart from a load of compost, or an exotic new plant, or even some new pruners, your gardener might like a new book or two.  This is the season for reading catalogs and books when it is too wet to get out and dig.

With the advice of some master gardeners and some avid gardeners we have compiled a list of some helpful and interesting books.

Steve's book....

In this age when everyone has put in or is thinking about putting in a vegetable garden, we thought we would start with the practical. Alice Deane, a San Juan Master Gardener, who feeds her family with the produce from her garden, has some suggestions.  She likes Steve Solomon’s Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades, an old standby that still holds up.  Also Eliot Coleman, who gardens in Maine, has one called Four Season Harvest that is useful for Northwest growing conditions.

There is another book that may only be available as used which is entitled Winter Gardening in the Maritime Northwest by Binda Colebrook.  For a different world view Steve Solomon, since moving to Tasmania, has written another book called Gardening When It Counts, Growing Food in Hard Times.    And for those who are interested in saving seeds there is Seed to Seed, Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners by Suzanne Ashworth and Kent Whealy.

Even for experienced gardeners, pruning can be intimidating.  There are two books that may take some of the mystery out of the process, Guide to Pruning by Cass Turnbull and the Royal Horticultural Society-Pruning by Christopher Brickell.

The guide you'll need...

The field of ornamental horticulture can be overwhelming so we have narrowed some selections down to what might be applicable in the Pacific Northwest.

Betsy Louton, a gardener on Orcas, likes Debra Prinzing and Mary Robson’s Washington and Oregon Gardener’s Guide as well as Tree and Shrub Gardening for Washington and Oregon, and she says that she always goes back to Ann Lovejoy’s Handbook of Northwest Gardening.

Alice Deane and noted botanist Richard Norris also like the Timber Press Guide to Gardening in the Pacific Northwest by Carol W. and Norman E. Hall.  A subscription to Pacific Horticulture might be something for someone’s stocking.

Finally, I have a few books that are just for reading.

A global look...

Andrea Wulf’s book entitled The Brother Gardeners, Botany Empire and the Birth of an Obsession, which explores the movement of plants around the globe.

Wayne Winterrowd who died on September 17^th of this year gardened with Joe Eck in southern Vermont at a place called North Hill, and together they wrote some wonderful gardening books, the latest, Our Life in Gardens, just was published in paperback.

There is a new book, published in April, that I have put on my list called Gardening for a Lifetime: How to Garden Wiser As You Grow Older by Sydney Eddison.

FHHS QB Cole Franklin (left) and head coach Richard Ledford join Tyler Hart at Friday Harbor High's graduation in 2007.

When Tyler Hart played for the Friday Harbor Wolverines, the team made it to the state final four twice back in ’04 & ’05, so it’s familiar territory as he caught the winning pass in overtime Saturday to send Eastern Washington to the semis of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs (that’s like Division I, but smaller) this coming weekend against Villanova, at EWU.

Here’s the writeup in the Spokesman Review in Spokane – be sure & look through the picture gallery for Tyler’s catch.

The 5th/6th Grade Tigers came out on top: Top left: Coach John Pachuta, Kiana Woods, Jessie Pachuta, Hayden Mayer, Sara Rist, Ashley Lambright, Coach Fred Woods. Bottom left: Emma Wickman, Hannah Hopkins, Lauren Ayers, Savannah Hoffman

Over the weekend, the 5th & 6th grade girls won the Skagit County Parks & Rec S.W.I.S.H. basketball league tournament on Saturday! Meanwhile, the 7th grade team took the title in their division as well…the girls were pretty excited on the ferry coming home Saturday night, even after playing three games that day.

Way to go, Tigers!

Carla, immersed in art....

People are doing some interesting things…

• The Flea Market & Craft Fair is at the Fairgrounds this morning – hope to see you there!

Among the zillions of folks you’ll see, Carla MacDiarmid (right) is selling her paintings (here’s her site, to give you an idea of her style)…she’s be moving off island next week, so it’s a good chance to go say goodbye, too….

• The Animal Shelter’s new office in town opens this weekend – here’s more from Leslie:

Come by and check out the new “Island Tails” store on the upper level of Cannery Landing.  It is a satellite store for the Friday Harbor Animal Shelter.  We have a nice variety of gifts for dog and cat lovers as well as serving as an information hub for what’s happening at the shelter.  Our Open House is Sat Dec 11th at noon – 4pm.  Our regular hours will be Wed – Sun 10am – 5pm.

• The Duotones are playing at The Rumor Mill tonight – that’s Mike Adams & Bob Leytze – see ya there!

• The Backdoor Kitchen‘s last two weekends – this weekend & next! Last chance!

And…next Monday (the 13th) is the last Noodle Bowl Monday!

• One of my favorite places to drop by & see interesting stuff is Funk & Junk over on Nichols Street.

The boots, after Annie painted 'em...cool.

Mike & Annie have all kinds of stuff, & Funk & Junk is full of amazingly wonderful vintage things for Christmas, including Annie’s Christmas Commission Project…here’s more about that:

What is the Christmas Commission Project? Bring in a favorite photgraph, of ANYTHING and I will paint an 8 x 10″ oil painting of it, for $200. So far I’ve done a barn, a couple walking down a road, cowboy boots, an airplane and even a portrait of blues great Muddy Waters. The project is open until Dec 21st.

• Looks like we have another baby – The Center for Whale Research’s Dave Ellifrit shot a picture of L117 on the sixth – here’s the pictures, from the Orca Network site (scroll down.)

• Making sure that animals haven’t been abused by testing for your Christmas presents is important. Make sure you keep your eyes open:

Doug greets Dave Haslett (left), who came over from Orcas to check on his sculptures on display at Bison Gallery (check Dave's work at orcastone.com).

I sure like the way Doug Bison has settled into the old Garuda & I spot…he has a wide range of impressive & evocative sculptures & other art – be sure & swing by to check the place out!

The octopus below is a polysculpture piece by Adam Rees, and it is incredible to see in person. Get Doug to explain to you how Adam made it with not a spot of paint…an amazing piece.

Polysculpture by Adam Rees...must be seen to be believed...

Yep, it’s Tom Hanks’ Polar Express for the kids at the Library tonight (here’s details), go see Elf with Will Farrell for kids at the Community Theatre (here’s the scoop), or drop by the Palace for runaway train adventure Unstoppable or Cher/Christina show Burlesque.

As we look at the direction our island (and our habits & spending) are headed with the problem of garbage & trash & dumping stuff, it might be helpful to consider ways to solve the problem – at the root of a growing mess. Annie Leonard has more:

The FHMS PTA & Jan sent over the word – this is going to be fun! Here’s more:

Breakfast with Santa Returns to Friday Harbor

Santa, the Grinch and kids of all ages come together on Saturday, December 11 at 10 a.m. when the Friday Harbor Middle School PTA presents Breakfast with Santa at the Friday Harbor High School Commons.

The event…formerly a San Juan County Pony Club tradition…features a festive morning full of delicious goodies, professional photos with Santa (by Friday Harbor’s Anne Sheridan), face painting and a holiday show starring The Grinch.

FHMS PTA president Debbie Rishel, who helped run the event for the Club for several years, offered to help the middle school present it this year when the Club members were unable to organize it.

“This is always a very fun way for families and the community to slow down during the busy holidays and enjoy some holiday cheer,” said Rishel.  “We appreciate the Pony Club allowing us to continue this great island tradition.

Tickets are available at Downriggers, through FHMS student body members or at the door, if available.  Tickets are $10 for children 12 and under, $15 for ages 13 and up, with photos available for an additional $10.

Community members who cannot attend are encouraged to purchase tickets that will be donated to needy island families.

Tea Quinn

The shop is located in Surina Business Park...

Looks like Harper Poesy is open for business over at Surina Business Park, next to the pet store. She offers haircuts & hair coloring (she’s a certified Redken colorist) & waxing services. Owner/stylist Tea Quinn says: “I love doing hair and this community supports my creativity to flow more than ever.”

You can schedule your free consultation today – she’s now open Saturday thru Wednesday from ten am till eight pm, by appointment and walk ins are welcome!

As Tea told me, “Helping someone feel good by a haircut is an unbelievable gift.”