By Seán Malone and John Sweetman Our assignment this month from The Loop editors was to write a “spooky” Halloween story. Now normally we do not take story “assignments,” but this seemed a quite reasonable request since we were running low on story ideas, and a little additional “direction” came just in time to forestall…
By O.S. Van Olinda One afternoon in early September 1895, Mr. Lehmann started out from Seattle in his little sloop, having with him his pretty little three-year-old daughter. He intended sailing over to Vashon Landing, tying his boat up there and walking across to visit his brother John, who at that time owned the farm…
By Claudia Hollander-Lucas September 29 on the way back from the hutch we stop at the grocery store full of Dia De Los Muertes decorations, and, oh, the bins full of tiny ghost pumpkins – boo! Late Sept – Popular Day of the Dead Decorations Everywhere. Photo by Claudia Hollander-Lucas These Cacti Look Too Much…
By Jane Valencia A reflection from 25 years ago, when our family lived on the Island’s west side. We are deep into autumn – on All Hallow’s Eve, it so happens – a day whose crone eyes decree decay and change, and spark with new beginnings. The apples on the old tree in our front lawn…
The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that a rifle cartridge commonly known as the Springfield Thirty Ought Six (.30-06) was used last month to assassinate a prominent conservative activist during an outdoor rally at a Utah college. Online pushback against this statement began immediately and continues to thrive, with an ongoing cottage…
By Caitlin Rothermel It’s time to talk about COVID booster shots and the implications of encouraging their use. Before I go there, it’s important to first summarize some vaccination policy changes that have occurred at the federal and state level. On October 6, 2025, the CDC officially voted to shift COVID-19 vaccination guidance for all eligible U.S. residents…
By Daniel Hooker You’re new. If you really want to be part of the community, get involved. You’ll feel better about being involved, and your body will feel better. For me, many years ago, saving myself from pancreatic cancer and heart disease (68% blocked descending aorta) involved coming to peace with myself and finding salvation…
By Rich Osborne My name is Rich Osborne. My company is All Things Rich. I sell olive oil, vinegars, sauces, spices, salts, rubs, and local raw honeys. Also dragons. I was a vendor at the Vashon Farmers Market on Saturdays for five years. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, my retail sales opportunities were closed down….
By March Twisdale Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed the perfect proof that social media can churn up a hurricane of inaccurate memes, cherry-picked quotes, and other sloppily shared content that utterly misconstrues the true breadth and width of a person’s very public and very well documented life. As the world responded to…
By Suzanna Leigh Sailing season is winding down; I don’t sail much in winter any more. Now I’m off to a new adventure: making watercolor paint from plants. Color from plants gives me a very different palette than I am used to working with. Will I even like it? Have you ever tried to dye…