September 2024

The History of Minnie the Heifer
Island Voices, September 2024

The History of Minnie the Heifer

Editor’s note: Even before coming to Vashon, a calf named Minnie showed off her early escape skills, thereafter aided by her bullock brother Chuck. Minnie’s original owner has written this story to fill in the many blanks in Minnie’s life before she became Leslie the Cowzilla. By Pam (aka Gates) Johnson A bunch of years…

Rather Than Lose the Argument
Commentary, Editorial Page, September 2024

Rather Than Lose the Argument

By Andy Valencia Imagine you’re in an argument – you, your opponent, and some people listening. Your audience is nodding their heads when your opponent speaks; they’re expressionless when it’s your turn, and you’ve already used all of your best material. The honorable person will graciously acknowledge their defeat. What do the other kind of…

Why Now? Why Here? Part 1
Island Interviews, News, September 2024

Why Now? Why Here? Part 1

An Expert Interview About the Thunderbird Treatment Center By Caitlin Rothermel Dr Marli Parobek is a doctorally prepared nurse practitioner, board certified in family practice and psychiatry. Starting in 2018, she developed and managed a voluntary inpatient medical rehab/detox center (American Society of Addiction Medicine [ASAM] level 4.0 and 3.5) and an involuntary inpatient psychiatric unit…

First There Was Cardaea
Island Voices, September 2024

First There Was Cardaea

By Suzanna Leigh Don’t get me wrong; I love my husband very much. Rich has enriched my life and makes me quite happy. It’s just that … sometimes, sometimes, I miss my late husband Bob so much I could curl up and cry. It was a beautiful day for sailing, my first sail of the…

Musicality
Island Voices, September 2024

Musicality

By Michael Shook The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche is perhaps most famous among the general public for his statement “God is dead.” He also wrote, “Without music, life would be a mistake.”  In contrast, the author Kurt Vonnegut once remarked, “Music is to me proof of the existence of God.” I think Vonnegut would agree with…

Search for the Bottom
Island Voices, September 2024

Search for the Bottom

By Seán Malone and John Sweetman In our explorations of Vashon history, John and I came upon the original survey of Vashon, an 1841 map by Captain Wilkes and the “Ex. Ex.” or “Exploration Expedition,” which resulted in our Island’s exploration. His crew did not like Captain Charles Wilkes. Because of his “obstinate and overbearing nature,”…

Legends of Vashon, Bigfoot-Free Zone
Legends of Vashon, September 2024

Legends of Vashon, Bigfoot-Free Zone

By Tripper Harrison We’re pretty safe from Bigfoot sightings here. Some Islanders have reported experiences around Western Washington, but I don’t know of an example on Vashon. If anybody saw a Bigfoot here, one of the first comments would be, “Did it take the North End or South End ferry? You know they can cut…

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