By Caelan Angell Landing on Island and surveying the possibilities of restoration work, the first major and apparent challenge is handling the intimidating blackberry buttresses. Their thick ridged canes form seemingly impenetrable thorny defenses, any attempt to wrestle them resulting in a desert sky’s worth of red and purple constellations. Their ability to regenerate and…
By Mary Tuel When the Loop folded its tent and crept away last summer, I thought, well, that’s that. I was recovering from a broken back at the time, and that took up a lot of time and energy. So, I blessed The Loop and let it go in peace. Then word came that The…
By Orca Annie Stateler “Killer Whale and Salmon Nations of Whulj” Side A – By Odin Lonning Tlingit artist Odin Lonning recently installed a panel on the lawn shared by The Lodges on Vashon, Wine Shop Vashon, and Vashon Brewing Community Pub. “Killer Whale and Salmon Nations of Whulj” is a cutout hardwood panel painted…
By Seán Malone & John Sweetman We sat together on Seán’s deck overlooking outer Quartermaster and lifted a small glass of single malt as a mutual toast to the revival of “The Loop.” The deck in particular had been the “source” of many of our stories that ran in the earlier Loop; which had earlier…
By Jonathan Laine Many years ago, after deciding to leave northern California and continue exploring the West Coast, I checked in with a new friend of mine in Arcata. He asked where I was going, but I wasn’t sure. I told him I wanted to go north. He said: “I know exactly where we are…
By Vanessa Burgess Many Vashon Island children start music lessons and overcome the challenges of practicing regularly only to be confronted with the question of whether they should continue with music lessons in favor of pursuits deemed more profitable or worthwhile. Most musicians don’t get scholarships to music school, go on tour, or make a…
By Mark A. Goldman There is a great misunderstanding as to what values human beings must study and adhere to in order to remain sovereign and in possession of their natural abilities, inalienable rights, and possible states of higher consciousness. This lack of understanding has evolved because of the various social, educational, economic, and political…
We honor this island, known today as Vashon-Maury Island, upon which we live and work. We are nourished and blessed by the rivers and waters, the trees, and the fish, the plants, and birds, and many other beings in the soil, Sound, and air who make up this beautiful place we call home. We especially…
By Rich Osborne. At 1:30 PM every Tuesday, Music Mends Minds gathers at the Vashon Senior Center. MMM is a Vashon Rotary-sponsored sing-a-long for folks suffering dementia. It’s also for folks who just miss singing together. We are Rotarians and non-Rotarians, volunteer musicians playing together to improve the quality of the lives of our neighbors….