By Marc J. Elzenbeck When we last left our 3,500 pound purebred Holstein flight risk, we had upgraded the 4 foot high fence she had jumped, topping and criss-crossing it with electric wire. The group that hated the 100 mile-rated Zareba Energizer’s power included Leslie Lou “Minnie” Moo, her new calf Nettie, our dogs, their…
December 2025, Island Resilience
The Pursuit of Happiness
By Stephen Buller ‘Tis the season to give thanks. I have many things to be thankful for; some I often take for granted, like a roof over my head and food on my table. Some that fill me with gratitude every day, like my wife and children, and some I feel lucky for, like being…
December 2025, Sports
Save Our Softball (SOS!)
By Andy Valencia Most young Islanders are good at video games. The hand-eye coordination when you target and shoot, the reflexes to respond in the blink of an eye to a new threat. The ability to maintain situational awareness under stress – maybe it’s time to get outdoors, play in the dirt, and “touch grass”…
December 2025, Island Voices, Technology
So Now I’ve Used AI
By Andy Valencia I was writing an article about some undeveloped parcels of Vashon land that are on the market. In case you don’t know, building on Vashon has a history of being expensive and fraught with regulatory delays and other surprises. People might be thinking about building, and an article on the subject could…
Announcements, December 2025, Island Resilience
Our Local Democracy As Living Complexity
Vashon-Maury Community Council’s President’s Address By JC Graham Since its inception in 1933, our community council has had its ups and downs. Periods of coherence have been followed by dysfunction, or even disintegration, before – some time later – a new form of Council has taken shape. That’s what happened in 2022, when V-MCC was…
December 2025, Island Voices
… miles and miles of Texas
By Michael Shook Against all rational judgment, my wife and I again traveled. One would think our journey to France last spring would be enough to put us off of it for a few years, but it was time to visit friends and family in the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS! Which is kind of how…
December 2025, Island Voices
It’s Better To Give Than To Receive
By Seán Malone and John Sweetman Seán and I have been exchanging gifts for years. Usually, these are things we make or special odd things we acquire that would not make sense to others. I suppose this may have started in our early childhood when we began thinking about Christmas in July or August by…
December 2025, Island Voices
Board or Not?
By Dave B. Marketing is an endless stream of figuring out a way to sell your clothing line, used car or boat, a campaign for a position in government, and pizza. It is expensive and can be a large part of a small businesses’ bottom line. Here on Vashon you have various options, including The…
December 2025, Island Voices
Surgery Is A’Comin’. What Do I Do?
By Pam “Gates” Johnson Lucky me. I’ve been having trouble with my stupid feet for a few years. Foot doctor, neurologist, and Joe Blow on the street all told me there is nothing they could do, so just get used to it. Pain and tingling and numbness worsened, and finally my primary care doc said,…
December 2025, Island Voices
Art and Music – A Meditation That Affects Our Hearts and Collective Minds
By Daniel Hooker We in society have been molded and shaped into a form by words on paper, visual art, and music that resonates in our souls. When I was a young man, I returned from Europe, with my mind, body and soul changed by all that I had experienced. I came home to a…