PSE’s Planned “Blackouts” in Wildfire Season Will Shut Off Our Water By Jenny Bell Have you heard? Our utility company, Puget Sound Energy, is planning community-wide “PSPS” (Public Safety Power Shutoffs) or “blackouts” that PSE will use on Island “During high-risk wildfire conditions … shutting off power lines to help prevent wildfires from starting.” These outages may…
By Dr. Steven Nourse As Bob Dylan said, “Everybody has to serve someone.” Regarding the Vashon Health Care District, it has to effectively serve both the healthcare clients it provides funding to and the taxpayers that pay its bills. Several years ago, when healthcare on Vashon was in crisis, I was approached by two now-former…
By Marc J. Elzenbeck “All creatures great and small,All things bright and beautiful;All things wise and wonderful,The Lord God made them all.” Sipping a second cup of coffee at around 10:00 a.m., the phone rang. The caller said, “So, your cow. She wrecked my truck.” Stronger words may have been used. Bottom line, our girl…
By Andy Valencia In college, a friend of mine periodically ran a game called “Assassin.” None of the players knew each other, and all were paired up: one target, one assassin. You were “assassinated” with a chalk mark, and the target could defend with chalk-filled small cloth bags. The rules favored the target once they…
If you have input for Vashon Health Care District, here’s how to share it By Caitlin Rothermel In this issue of The Vashon Loop, Islander Steven Nourse gives his opinion on the Vashon Health Care District’s new budgetary priorities. This article is an extended version of Steve’s comments that were presented to the Vashon-Maury Community Council on…
By Michael Shook As I write this, first spring and now summer have unfolded in a lovely manner. June was a delight, with some sunny days breaking up the deliciously cool and cloudy ones that were at times even a bit moist. The rhododendrons both on the Island and off seem to have bloomed particularly…
By Pete Welch The Vashon Park District is excited to bring back Concerts in the Park this year in collaboration with Vashon Events. Join us every Thursday night in August from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM for a delightful evening of music. Concerts in the Park is a family-friendly event series that gathers the community for…
Every Monday in August, 5, 12, 19, and 26, please join our Spiritual Book Club at the Vashon Oneness Center, where we just celebrated our first year in operation in July. We will meet from 5:00-6:00 p.m. on Mondays at the Vashon Methodist Church, to share “The Four Sacred Secrets for Love and Prosperity, A…
By Seán Malone and John Sweetman When Seán and I talked about this story, the original intent was to reflect our adventures in sailing various boats. Things got out of hand in that Seán had his own darn good story to tell. His boat was a wooden rig ketch of indeterminate age powered by some…
By Jane Valencia Our conversation with Thomas Vroom and Jordan Ashley Beck of Fernhorn Bakery has ranged through many topics. From the origin of their bakery, to concerns regarding commodity wheat, to benefits and connection with the exciting prospects of Vashon grown-grains and possibilities for strengthening Island resilience, we return to where Fernhorn Bakery is…