By Daniel Hooker I watch our Island community batten down the hatches, preparing for the ongoing storm that is a bipartisan multi-billion dollar cluster bomb of a budget. It’s dropped on the most impoverished portion of our population. I take pride in the people of Vashon-Maury Island and our determination and organized efforts to keep…
Entertainment, Llaughing Llamas
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles – November
By Daniel Hooker I’m doing some work on the house. First floor, everything is on track and going well. But upstairs is a different story. ~ The definition of Irony: the opposite of Wrinkly. ~ Witches are really bad at math, but great at spelling. ~ A pony goes to the vet, and says, “Doc,…
Island Resilience, October 2025
Community: Being Part of a Whole
By Daniel Hooker You’re new. If you really want to be part of the community, get involved. You’ll feel better about being involved, and your body will feel better. For me, many years ago, saving myself from pancreatic cancer and heart disease (68% blocked descending aorta) involved coming to peace with myself and finding salvation…
Entertainment, Llaughing Llamas, October 2025
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles – October
By Daniel Hooker I was going to cook alligators tonight. But then I realized I only had a crock pot. ~ What kind of award does a dentist get for excellence? Aw, he just gets a little plaque. ~ Singing in the shower is fun, until you get soap in your mouth, then it becomes…
Island Resilience, September 2025
Food Banks and Farm Bucks: A Much Needed Service for Our Community
By Daniel Hooker In addition to the Vashon-Maury Island Food Bank, we have other sources of help on the Island. One alternative is “Farm Bucks,” which you can acquire at Vashon Library on Friday and Saturday mornings. This is for our local organic and organic-practice farms. Food stamps and EBT cards can be used to…
Entertainment, Llaughing Llamas, September 2025
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles – September
By Daniel Hooker “If you haven’t ever tried archery blindfolded, you’ll never know what you missed.” That’s a pointless joke! ~ This joke is from Keena: Q. What to do you get when you cross a snake with a pastry? A. A pie-thon, of course. ~ My dog is so smart. I asked him, “What’s…
Announcements, August 2025
A Village Resource: Food Banks
By Daniel Hooker This article series started off as a local Vashon-Maury Island piece, then I had a thought, wait a minute! We are all doing this – helping others – in many cities, towns, and island communities. I started interviewing food banks around Western Washington about what they offer as vital services for our…
August 2025, Entertainment, Llaughing Llamas
Llaughing Llamas – August
By Daniel Hooker From Evelyn at Thriftway: Q. What do you call a waffle on the beach? A. A San Di-Eggo. ~ I can’t help being funny. I was born wit’ two humorous bones. ~ Q. At the Strawberry Festival, what did one strawberry say to the other? A. You got us into this jam….
Entertainment, July 2025, Llaughing Llamas
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles
By Daniel Hooker This joke comes from Bob at Ace Hardware: A customer is at the checkout stand, and the cashier asks, “Paper or plastic?” The customer answers, “You choose.” The cashier replies, “Baggers can’t be choosers.” ~ At the Olympics I saw a guy carrying a long stick. I asked, “Are you a pole…
Island Voices, June 2025
There’s No Place Like Home, Part 2
By Daniel Hooker Olga and I met at our Vashon Library, to complete the second part of her story (“There’s No Place Like Home.”) I listen to Olga and the details of her intensive caring for two raccoon cubs. From the after-meal belly massages (feeding being done with a small eye dropper of a bottle),…