By Caitlin Rothermel For a practice built around slow breathing and gentle movement, qigong has had a surprisingly turbulent history. Originating in China and thought to date back more than 2,000 years, qigong has moved into favor, out of favor, and eventually back into favor again. During the “qigong fever” of the 1980s and 1990s,…
Olympia lawmakers are poised to begin discussions of a proposed “Equitable Ferry Initiative,” with plans to pursue legislation in 2027 to increase revenue while balancing personal responsibility among Washington State Ferry system users. Washington State is unique in that its ferries are part of the state Department of Transportation highway system. Known as the “marine…
By Caitlin Rothermel There is something we can probably all agree on. Even right now. It’s something you may or may not think about. You want to take care of your nervous system. You want to be able to calm it down. You don’t want it running on high all the time. You may be…
By Caitlin Rothermel My Uncle Mike lived in Breezy Point, New York. It was a sandy, lovely beach town, and during the summers and holidays, my family would visit his. Sometimes, Uncle Mike would cook lasagna. He didn’t just cook for us. Mike was a New York City firefighter, and I got to watch him…
By Caitlin Rothermel It’s time to talk about COVID booster shots and the implications of encouraging their use. Before I go there, it’s important to first summarize some vaccination policy changes that have occurred at the federal and state level. On October 6, 2025, the CDC officially voted to shift COVID-19 vaccination guidance for all eligible U.S. residents…
By Caitlin Rothermel You are probably outsourcing too many of your health care decisions, and your health plan is one of the biggest drivers of both the costs and choices you are and are not allowed to make. It’s no secret that the price of Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans is increasingly untenable. It’s…
Vashon Island Rowing Club is inviting all present and past VIRC junior and adult rowers to our 35th Anniversary All-Alumni Row & Potluck Brunch on Sunday, August 17, 8:00-10:00AM at Jensen Point Boathouse! VIRC was founded in 1990 and since then has served hundreds of Vashon-Maury Adults and Youth. Get on the water, or just come for brunch (~9:30AM). For…
By Caitlin Rothermel What’s brought Russ Baum, a central Indiana-based touring musician, to Vashon’s Strawberry Festival? It started with a long-distance friendship formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is part of a bigger story about the ways musician-audience engagement changed, quite suddenly, during that time. Baum describes his music style as “folk-rock, Skamericana,” that also…
By Caitlin Rothermel Since 2001, the Northwest School for Animal Massage, run by Lola Michelin and her husband, David Cota-Robles, has trained students in the art and science of animal bodywork. In 2011, the school relocated to a scenic 12-acre property north of Vashon town, and now welcomes between 80 and 120 students each year….
By Caitlin Rothermel This spring’s 2025-2026 session of the Washington state legislature has pushed the envelope in terms of how much state government should spend and how little the public needs to be involved in the process. The final 1,366-page 2025-2027 proposed operating budget totals $77.9 billion and was released with barely a day to…