By Deborah H. Anderson Four times in my life I have been been given a particular hiatus, for 12 weeks. It’s an interesting fact, maybe more so a phenomenon. The first time was 12 weeks in the hospital in my hometown when I was nine years old, after being in a car that was hit…
By March Twisdale As we step into 2024, I think we can agree on one thing. Our interconnected lives are directly impacted by individual choices, including our habits and decisions as consumers. Everyone can agree that options are good for customers, and what’s good for customers is good for business. This includes payment options. Indeed,…
By Daniel Hooker Recently, a friend, who like most people I know, quotes the media’s “facts” surrounding the unhoused/homeless situation, said: “Most people who are homeless are unwilling to accept help – because they’re on drugs.” It’s hard to empathize when success is measured by a human’s abilities to be a “contributing taxpayer.” Please understand…
By Cynthia Sadurni Arroz con leche, rice pudding Mexican style, is one of those comfort food desserts of my childhood. It is sweet and wholesome, almost like a loving hug. This delicious and easy to prepare sweet treat comes to us from Spain, and before that, well, that is quite a long story! There are…
By Marj Watkins My father cherished his half-dozen bee hives. The bees never stung him. He placed some hives in his friend’s orchard, where they helped the fruits to thrive by pollinating the flowers. Honey is one of the oldest sweeteners in the world. Many variations of honey are cherished around the world, both for…
Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie – Illustration by Anne Cotter Moses.
By Shelley Headley and Tristan Carbery We have learned a lot about “fats” over the years – what’s healthy for us, what’s not – and many have come to understand that heavily processed and refined oils, such as corn, canola, soybean, and sunflower, should be avoided. At the same time, there has been a wave…
By Andy Valencia For those without the room or the budget for their own washer and dryer, it’s been tough since our laundromat in town closed. But they’ve now reopened at the same location – with a large number of very nice-looking washers and dryers. Both cash and cards are supported, with washers running $4…
By Jane Valencia, inspired by the song “Binwag’s Lullaby,” lyrics by Debra Knodel Once upon a time, a Bear King lived in a great forest hall in the north. During summer and the time of abundance, he had many visitors to his hall – Deer, Chickadee, Raccoon, and Red Fox to name a few who…
By Yvonne Higgins Leach for Cora “Honoring Meadowbrook” is about a moment when my daughter, new to the area of North Bend, took me out to view the elk. Up against the wetland forestwhere bands of light fuse with frosty grass,the bull’s crown of points cuts the skylike a lapidary cuts stone.My daughter, new to…