By Marc J. Elzenbeck On Monday, February 10th on Wax Orchard, the road was still dark at 6:47 AM. Something had knocked over a big Murrey’s blue bin near 249th, plastic and metal recycling was blocking southbound lane. I steered around and my kid said, “If you ran over that, it might’ve popped a tire.”…
Gardening, Island Interviews, March 2025
Littlest Bird Farm
By Andy Valencia For Kim Kambak, owner of Littlest Bird Farm, her farm is deeply intertwined with a catastrophic event in her life. There was her life before, and then there was how she continued afterward. The latter part happened here on Vashon, as she healed the land and brought it back to life as…
Island Voices, March 2025
Our Sound Adventures
By Seán Malone and John Sweetman Seán and I have had many adventures on boats over the decades. Some involved fishing and crabbing, but most involved “outboard” motors which were always cranky and infused with “trouble.” Trouble starting, running, and just plain ordinary reluctance to do what they were supposed to do. Seán and I had different…
Announcements, Island Voices
Ride To Doctor Appointment?
An Infomercialby Bernie O’MalleyMayor 2016 Oh my, nobody told you we got Island Bluebirds who drive cars? Over Town in the City? Well, it’s true. If you have a medical/dental appointment off-Island, a Neighborly Bluebird picks you up, whisks you there, waits for you until the visit is done, then brings you home, true door-to-door…
Island Businesses, March 2025
Giraffe: Slow Fashion, Artisan Goods, and a Global Sensibility
By Caitlin Rothermel Walking into Giraffe, located in the heart of town, always gives me that peaceful feeling of entering a special place. Every corner is so carefully arranged. The store’s warm tones are so inviting, making me feel both restful and attentive. When I visited most recently, soft yet peppy Malian music was playing in…
Announcements, March 2025
When Birds Talked and People Sang
By Erin Durrett Everyone who lives on Vashon, no matter how young or old, has had an amazing experience with birds: a song so sweet it melts your heart, a majestic heron sweeping over the water in the early dawn light, or the screech of an owl hunting in the depths of a windy night….
Island Voices, March 2025
Hello There. Or Maybe Not?
By Dave B. My wife and I have been on Vashon for almost 20 years. We have seen a lot of good and some not so good. We are lucky to live in a place where you can be you, get your freak on, and dress not to impress. But I have noticed a shift…
Island Voices, March 2025
A Little Health Thing
By Pam (“Gates”) Johnson The on-going health saga of Ma Johnson continues. After a little heart-related health scare recently, the doctors decided that the root cause may be sleep apnea. We all know at least 10 people who have sleep apnea and are getting along just fine with a CPAP machine, so my fear-ometer dropped…
Island Voices, March 2025
The Curation of an Opinion
Our skills at onboarding and offboarding information determine the quality of our opinions By March Twisdale Hundreds of books are written, lectures are given, and manuals are printed every year, educating businesses on “How to Onboard and Offboard Employees.” This is because bringing in new individuals, and shedding those who are problematic or no longer…
Island Voices, March 2025
Upside Down Times
By Melanie Farmer There will be two eclipses in March. An eclipse happens when three celestial bodies align, blocking each other. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the moon, while a solar eclipse happens when the moon blocks sunlight from reaching the Earth. In Vedic astrology, Rahu represents the solar…