By Daniel Hooker Compliments of my land lady, and expanded upon by me: I used to be interested in being a banker, just like my grandfather in Nome, Alaska. But I lost interest in making cold, hard cash. ~ You can get a sleigh online this time of year, if you’re willing toboggan. ~ What…
By the Footloose Foodie Hello friends and neighbors! I have returned from summer adventures. Alaska, crabbing on the Peninsula, visiting family, and embracing new friendships. The last I wrote the plan was to visit, breweries on Vashon. I tried, but was disappointed. One was not following posted business hours and the other, well, was less…
My name is Rose. I woke up to a glowing light and many, many brothers and sisters. I ate, drank and slept, and then suddenly I was in a box. The box opened, and I was on Vashon. It’s great, except for the dogs, cats, raccoons, coyotes, eagles, and hawks. And the cold. And the…
Say hello to “The Bird King.” He holds court at Point Robinson Park on Maury Island daily from 8 AM until dusk, and entrances young and old alike, including a curmudgeon or two at The Vashon Loop. Drive to 3705 SW Point Robinson Road, and park in the upper lot. Then follow the steady flow…
By Claudia Hernandez Not much is better on a leisurely weekend afternoon than a snack of sharp cheese, good bread, and a homemade preserve. At once spicy, sweet, and tangy, this plays well not only on a cheese board, but also spread on roasted winter squash or a sandwich. This recipe for Autumn Plum Chutney…
By Andy Valencia The cafes of Vashon certainly provide coffee drinks, but their true value is in the surprises that often accompany your order. At Luna one morning, I was just getting my laptop ready when I heard a young woman in line mentioning that she had returned from playing semi-pro soccer in Europe. I…
By David Earle Vashon, along with many other established communities in western Washington, has a serious housing problem. Land hoarding is a thing. For instance, the Reed family of Tacoma owns 770,000 acres of land in Washington State. There are many landowners in the United States who own more than 1,000,000 acres. Our property tax code encourages…
By Shannon Smith My grandmother always lived on Vashon, that’s how it felt as a kid visiting, and it still feels like that. But I really didn’t start to hear all the old stories of Vashon until my parents broke up around 1996 and I moved to Grandma’s. Not that she shared many stories, but…
By Pam (aka Gates) Johnson I’d always dreamed of living on a farm, but resigned myself to a life in Portland, just like everyone else in my family. That all changed when I got married. I was 21 years and two weeks old, and had been married for one weekend when we packed up everything…