Web cam at Ship Harbor

Watch regularly-refreshed web cam images of the terminal at Ship Harbor in Anacortes, thanks to the Washington State Ferries (WSF) division of the state Department of Transportation:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/cameras/index.cfm

Underground weather forecast

Interested in weather? Get the LOCAL news about currrent weather conditions as well as an "underground" forecast from the following link, provided courtesy of Vince Streano and friends: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=98221

Veterans Day tribute

Anacortes resident Scott Thomson, pictured above, spent the early morning hours of Veterans Day 2009 composing the following tribute:
I'm just a regular guy livin' here in the Northwest
Leadin' a pretty regular life, trying to do my best
I'm just a regular guy trying to express
What's goin' on inside my heart
I'll let my song say the rest
I've been thinkin' about this special day
We honor those who have served
Given a big part of themselves so we could rest assured
That this country we live in
Is still free and the home of the brave
I want to thank every one of you, today is Veterans Day
Some of you served on the front lines, some never fired a shot
Some of you went willingly, some of you did not
None of that really matters to me, I said it from the start
I want to thank every one of you, from the bottom of my heart
I've been thinkin' about this special day
We honor those who have served
Who've given a big part of themselves so that we could rest assured
That this country that we live in
Is still free and the home of the brave
I want to thank every one of you, today is Veterans Day
To those who served on the home front, and to those who traveled abroad
To those who served just a short time, and to those who served so long
And especially to the families of those who never made it back
Thank you, every one of you, today is Veterans Day
There's one last thing I would like to say
Every day should be Veterans Day
By Scott Thomson
November 2009
Scott presented his tribute at Causland Memorial Park in downtown Anacortes.

Booshoot draws Martha's attention

Jackie Heinricher of Lake Campbell recently drew national attention as the winner of a small business award from Martha Stewart. Heinricher launched a business called "Booshoot" in 1998. In 2004, she and Booshoot senior scientist Randy Burr, “cracked the code” on bamboo tissue culture, enabling Booshoot to supply wholesalers with more than one million plants annually along with already established horticultural offerings. Her accomplishments led to recognition in Stewart's 2009 “Dreamers Into Doers” program. See Booshoot's web site (created by How It Works of Anacortes) at http://www.booshootgardens.com/. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia will award Heinricher with $10,000 to continue pursuing her dream. See video clip at http://www.marthastewart.com/article/clip-of-the-day-dreamers-into-doers-winner-jackie-heinricher

Recalling the Wall

International news on November 9 recalled the anniversary of the "fall" of the Berlin Wall. The names Gorbachev and Reagan come to mind, as does the fact that the wall was "pushed" into that pages of history. "General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" His State Department officials were opposed to his words, but it is obvious President Reagan's timing was perfect. Two years after his Berlin Wall speech, the wall was toppled. Shortly thereafter, the Soviet Union broke into nationalist pieces. I was surprised earlier this year on a visit to an aviation museum (Evergreen) in McMinnville, Oregon, to find this small section of the wall on display. It's awesome to know Berlin is now open ... but Mr. Putin is no Gorbachev. Will he soon be "president for life?" If you like aircraft and space exploration, check out this site: http://www.sprucegoose.org/

Train blast from the past

This photograph from my archives captured a moment during an early Eighties "experiment" that placed Tommy Thompson's narrow gauge train on Commercial Avenue. Thompson (center, in conductor's hat) dreamed of a railroad route leading from downtown Anacortes (the historic Depot) to the state ferry terminal. Ultimately Thompson's dreams were not realized, and the train was moved out of the area, but traces of the narrow gauge line still remain between the waterfront and Commercial Avenue.

Up and away

This brief video clip represents an experiment on my part following a recent adventure on the shoreline of Fidalgo Bay. Noise in the background is traffic on nearby Highway 20. Next step is to successfully eliminate unwanted tree frames at tail end of video. Fun to learn on the fly (no pun intended).