An automotive enthusiast checks out Keith Guard's 1941 Chevy during the 2021 Rick Campbell Memorial Hot Rod Show Saturday, August 7. Showgoers voted Guard's custom pickup the favorite at the event that raises money for scholarships awarded in honor of the long-time owner of CarQuest in Friday Harbor.
Slideshow photos by Matt Pranger.
We had a bit of fun with Photo of the Day this month. Photographer Brad Pillow realized he had a number of fox photos that could be construed as Olympic performances. One photo appeared each day. In case you missed any, here they are.
There was quite the reaction when "The Stand-off", Brad Pillow's photo of a vole and a young fox, was the Photo of the Day. Here for your enjoyment is the whole story.
Friday Harbor's 4th of July parade attracted hundreds of viewers. They lined Spring Street from Caines to First. The parade was shorter than pre-pandemic parades, but was filled with children, pirates, political candidates, and a lot of dogs. We'll have more later.
Parin Columna was the Grand Marshal.
Lori Stokes was the Honored Citizen. Matt Pranger photo
San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Becki Day with dog and her hardworking helpers organized the parade.
With the song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood filling the air, 25 decorated vehicles left the Port of Friday Harbor parking lot and headed up Spring Street on July 4, 2020. The unofficial 4th of July parade was organized by word-of-mouth. Participants saying "They can't take away our Independence Day Celebration." The parade provided a safe and sane way to celebrate the U.S.A. according to the participants.
Friday Harbor Elementary School students marched from their school down to Spring Street showing off their colorful costumes to the townsfolk. The parade was a bit less gruesome than some in previous years, the students were asked not to dress in gruesome costumes, no blood, guts, etc., nor carry any props that look like weapons. There were plenty of princesses, Super Heroes, sports figures, candy, hot dogs and all kinds of animals.
Photos by Matt Pranger
The location may have been new, but the annual Kiwanis Pig War picnic still had more than its share of traditional Fourth of July fun. Local band Chameleons played, people danced, kids scrabbled through hay looking for coins, eggs were tossed and people of all ages tried the three-legged races.
The Port of Friday Harbor's first-ever Rock 'n Roll Regatta drew crowds of folks to the Friday Harbor Marina. San Juan Airline dropped prizes for the Paddle Race. Participants raced to pick up competitors on paddle boards, kayaks and rowboats did their best to retrieve the dropped items.
There was no sinking in the cardboard boat race. The creative entries stayed afloat. Creative and unsinkable cardboard watercraft raced.
92.9 KISM's Brad and John broadcast their morning and afternoon shows live. Friday's festivities wound up with music from Rocktapus, a beer garden provided by the San Juan Island Lions and food by Vic's Drive In.
Photos by Matt Pranger.
The 107th Friday Harbor High School graduation ceremony saw 61 students receive their diplomas. The Class of 2019 was known for its humor. The class slogan was a quote from the sitcom The Office. On senior prank day instead of skipping school the students camped in the hallways complete with tents and bird chirps on their smart phones.
The traditional Memorial Day Parade took place at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, 2019 in Friday Harbor. Marchers began at the San Juan County Courthouse on Court Street, continued down Second Street, turned onto Spring Street and assembled at Memorial Park (Circle Park)
Veterans representing the branches of service hold roses presented to them during a Memorial Day ceremony honoring fallen veterans at Friday Harbor's Memorial Park Monday, May 27. Matt Pranger photo
They listened to speakers including Marine veteran and former Hackett-Larson Post 163 Commander Peter DeLorenzi . The ceremony included introductions of representatives of all branches of military service.
The poem "Flanders Field" was read. Children threw flowers into the water in honor of those who died at sea.
Taps was played. The firing of the cannon closed the ceremony.
All photos by Matt Pranger
Drivers, builders, and spectators gathered on Grover Street in Friday Harbor Sunday, May 19 for the fourth running of Island Rec's famous Hill of Thrills Soap Box Race. A wide variety of designs and materials went into the creation of the homemade non-motorized contraptions.
San Juan Island boys and girls scurried over the driftwood at Jacksons Beach on Easter Sunday hunting for the 1,500 brightly dyed eggs. As they've done for the past 25 years, San Juan Island's Firefighter Association hosted their annual Jacksons Beach Easter Egg Hunt.
The sun was shining, the colorful dyed eggs were hidden in the gardens, the Easter Bunny and the Carrots on hand, and dozens of children were waiting at the rope lines. The annual Easter Egg Hunt at Roche Harbor Resort started promptly at 1 p.m. and it wasn't long before the first golden egg was found.
Georgia Vanderyacht won the jellybean jar and a $100 bill by guessing almost exactly the number of jellybeans. Photos by Sharon Kivisto
After the Friday Harbor Kiwanis team finished in second place in the 2018 Knowledge Bowl, team member Brandon Cadwell immersed himself in the game show Jeopardy to prepare for the 2019 competition. It paid off as the team - Cadwell, Nancy Fusare, Beth Eden, Lowell Jons - won the 25th Annual San Juan Public Schools Foundation Knowledge Bowl.
We're Number 1.