By Caitlin Rothermel New information is now coming out quickly regarding myocarditis caused by the mRNA vaccines. On April 16, 2024, the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM – formerly the National Academy of Science) released an expert report finding a causal relationship between the SARS-CoV2 mRNA vaccines and myocarditis. The language is…
Class Action Lawsuit Offers Boon to Local Business Owners and Highlights Growing Concerns about “Bank Taxes”
By March Twisdale If you’re a consumer, this article will offer new information regarding the growing push back against “Bank Taxes” designed to skim the cream off the top of local economies everywhere. If you’re a business owner, this article will point you in the right direction, should you wish to submit a claim. This…
Elderflowers
By Kathy Absascal The elders have just started blooming on the Island. Each spring, I am a bit surprised by how many elders grow here, as they only become noticeable when their flowers appear. In the Northwest, we mostly have red-berried elders (Sambucus racemosa). The red berries are not toxic in small amounts, but are…
Rhubarb Patch on Hardscrabble Mountain
By Seán Malone and John Sweetman Seán and I spent several decades in Ferry County and had a number of adventures, some of which we can tell now that time has passed. The county is not the largest of the 39 counties of Washington state, but is the most remote, and like Vashon, is basically…
Vashon Community Care Center
By Andy Valencia Way too many people are dying from their addictions. The latest United States annual report on drug overdose deaths puts the count above 111,000, but that is only a small portion of the misery present throughout our society. The federal budget allocates more than $42 billion dollars for drug programs. But how…
On The Rise – Island Bakery Makes Good, Part 1
By Jane Valencia Visit the VIGA Farmers Market on Saturday morning, and you’ll come upon Fernhorn Bakery and their selection of fresh-made sourdough organic breads and bagels. Taste, and you know you’re eating a bread like no other, attentively made, nutrient-dense, and with unique, vibrant flavors. Please join us in a conversation with Thomas Vroom,…
Book Review – Station Eleven
By Emily Kiefer In “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel, we follow the collapse of civilization as we know it. Though that sounds bleak, the story also serves as a new beginning; one of introspection and the evidence of the enduring power of art. Mandel’s prose tells tales from before and after a devastating…
Of Innocence and Demons
By Michael Shook This summer, I will turn 70. There will come an anniversary in August – late August, if I remember correctly. One would think I might remember clearly the date, given the life-changing experience that it was. Let it suffice to say, late summer. Here, a little background is necessary. For my 40th…
Legends of Vashon – One Night at the Airport
By Tioga Webb Ever since I’ve been out on my own, most of my housing has been “informal.” There’s lots more places than you might think to bed down for the night. It isn’t always dry and comfy, but the price is right. And sometimes you see things. I wrote about my time down near…
Sailing Into the Sunset
By Suzanna Leigh Rich and Suzanna on Eli-Oh My beloved and I had a “Qufi” wedding; I am a Quaker and Rich is a Sufi, so we combined traditions. We were married on the solstice, on the beach at Lincoln Park in Seattle, where friends from Seattle could find us easily, and friends from Vashon…