By Rich Osborne Like every other Islander, I have endured the Judd Creek bridge closure. And yes, it added five minutes and 20 seconds to my commute. Every time. But I noticed something. Somehow, it increased my toleration of other drivers. I found myself channeling Bobby McFerrin. “Don’t worry, be happy.” My friend John said,…
Announcements, Island Voices, October 2026
The Magic of Music with Marj
By Rich Osborne Many of you know Marj Watkins. Air Force wife, writer, artist, charitable donor, and a dozen other roles in the 102 years of her life. She has a new role. She now has a performance venue for Island Musicians. It started innocently enough. I lead “The Island Rockers” in the “Music Mends…
Entertainment, Island Voices, September 2026
Theater on Vashon, VCA, and Ghost Boat
By Rich Osborne It has been a good summer for performances. We saw “Rent” at the Vashon Center for the Arts. Spectacular. Strong cast, great musicians, the whole meal deal. A well-deserved standing ovation. I laughed, I cried, I remembered what it was like, performing in New York, in the late seventies. (Yes! I was…
August 2026, Island Businesses, Island Resilience
Cash Is Queen
By Rich Osborne, Owner, ALL THINGS RICH at the Waterfront Market @ Ruston Fifteen years ago, I started taking credit cards. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I engaged a local processor. I bought a card reader to plug into my cell phone, and away I went. Within weeks I started having…
Announcements, July 2026
Tires Redux
By Rich Osborne Hey, Vashon, it’s summer! Time to relax for a moment and enjoy our victory. To remember all the Coho Salmon we just saved. Not to pretend that we are done, but to smile over a glass of something and look forward to next year. I‘m talking beach tires, of course. In 2025…
Island Businesses, Island Resilience, October 2025
Cash is Queen
By Rich Osborne My name is Rich Osborne. My company is All Things Rich. I sell olive oil, vinegars, sauces, spices, salts, rubs, and local raw honeys. Also dragons. I was a vendor at the Vashon Farmers Market on Saturdays for five years. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, my retail sales opportunities were closed down….
Announcements, July 2025
Music Mends Minds (MMM)
By Rich Osborne Eight years ago, my buddy Karen Dale came up to me and said “Rich, you have got to come out next Tuesday afternoon and sing and play guitar with this group of musicians at 1:30 at the Vashon Community Care Center (VCCC). We have a sing-along for folks living with Alzheimer’s or…
Announcements, June 2024
Marj Watkins for Mayor of Vashon!
By Rich Osborne Marjorie Watkins was born 100 years ago, on July 21, 1924, on Chehalam Mountain, Oregon. She was raised on the Oregon coast during the Great Depression. Her family, the Brunsons, were loggers, farmers, and hunters. At age 14, Marj started writing a regular column for the Tillamook newspaper. She wrote ad copy…
Announcements, September 2023
Music Mends Minds
Sounds simple, no? It is simple. If you embrace music, music will heal you. I have been leading the MMM sing-along for five years, and at the Vashon Senior Center for a year-and-a-half. Every Tuesday, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Maybe you should come? People come for the joy of singing. For friendship and laughter in…
Commentary
VIFR Levy: Pro
By Rich Osborne Yes, Vashon, at long last, we need to fully fund our fire department. Someone wiser than I said “Expecting better results while repeating the same behavior is the definition of insanity.” VIFR just getting by is risky in a warming climate with, whisper it, GLOBAL WARMING increasing our fire risk every year….