By Steve Lane I don’t disagree with the President: we should rein in consumption. But that is certainly a departure from the new era of prosperity that he campaigned on. And it demonstrates the disconnection of Privilege from what normal people experience. Yes indeed, there is a lot of fat to be trimmed. But is…
Island Voices, June 2025
Changing History/Greatness
By Scott Harvey In a recent issue of The Loop, a January 17th Seattle Times article was quoted by author Michael Shook. According to Rev. Leslie Braxton, “[America’s] reality was enslavement and injustice and discrimination. America was founded and grounded in racism. And anybody who says differently is being intellectually dishonest.” In the present day, I believe most…
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),…
Island Voices, June 2025
Save, Invest, Spend
By Stephen Buller Save for a rainy day. Invest for the future. We all know these nuggets of wisdom, so why – by recent surveys – Junedo one in four Americans have less than $1,000 in savings and only around half feel ready for a $400 emergency expense? The obvious answer is wages are too…
Island Voices, May 2025
There’s No Place Like Home – A Ukrainian Woman’s Journey
Raccoons and All, Part 1 By Daniel Hooker I met Olga as I walked into Island Lumber here on Vashon Island (a place I’ve called home for many years). Olga’s bright smile and courteous questions immediately caught my attention. As I walked on, the faint accent registered. I turned and asked Olga where she was…
Announcements, Island Voices, May 2025
Let’s Learn Twulshootseed
(also known as Lushootseed) By Jane Valencia In the January and February issues, David Turnipseed, a language instructor with the Puyallup Tribal Language Program, taught us about Twulshootseed, the language spoken by the indigenous people of Puget Sound. He invited us to support its revitalization by learning some of it ourselves. Today, we embark on…
Island Voices, May 2025
Complicated Conversations: Part I
By Deborah Anderson September 1969. I sat on the edge of my bed in my first year at Mills College for Women and said to myself, “It’s safe to be a woman here.” As with many of my epiphanies, I wasn’t sure how I knew that or why it was important, but it brought peace…
Island Voices, May 2025
Are You a Mearcstapa?
By Suzanna Leigh Strange word, “mearcstapa.” According to artist Makoto Fujimura in his book “Culture Care,” mearcstapa is an Old English word used in Beowulf. It translates as “border walker” or “border stalker.” A mearcstapa was someone who lived at the edge of their group or tribe, someone who moved between groups. Remember Strider from…
Island Voices, May 2025
Gone to the Dogs
By Michael Shook Almost 20 years ago, I at last fulfilled a childhood yearning, and acquired my first Scottish Terrier. I had wanted one ever since reading Marjorie Flack’s delightful series of children’s books about a Scottie named Angus. Additionally, the books of James Thurber (who had Scotties himself), were a fixture in our house,…
Island Voices, May 2025
Planetary Ayurveda
Saturn Transits By Melanie Farmer Ayurveda, known as the “science of life,” is an ancient medical system that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It employs a holistic approach to health and wellness, focusing on harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit by balancing internal and external energies, represented by the five elements: air, space,…