By Claudia Hollander-Lucas
December 2023, Literary, Poetry
Christmas Tree
By Yvonne Higgins Leach after Connie Wanek To stand tall but not in earthto survive in plastic and faucet waterto live for wearing colored lightsto ignore the four walls and no skyto show off ornaments and still be simpleto be evergreen and oxygen and holiday spiritto bless the one family who picked you. “Christmas Tree”…
November 2023
Back on Track: An Island Mom Rejoins Roller Derby – Part 1
By Jane Valencia Roller derby practice is tonight. After a full day as a mom, Alice Watson drops off her three-year-old son Sorrel with her co-parent Caelan at the tail end of his work day. Then she rushes off to the ferry with a drive to north Seattle on the other side, a 1½ hour…
Island Businesses, November 2023
The Barbell Betties Experience
By Josh Thorn I’m thrilled to introduce you to a program that’s been making waves right here on Vashon Island. It’s not just about fitness, it’s about nurturing strong bonds among women as they navigate life’s changes. Let’s shine a spotlight on VashonStrong’s “Barbell Betties” program, affectionately known as “Fire & Iron” among its members….
Commentary, Editorial Page, November 2023
Does College Still Make Sense?
By Andy Valencia It’s hardly worth printing as news: college is horrendously expensive. Over the span of my life, its price has doubled several times. When making financial decisions, there’s the useful concept of cost versus benefit. You spend a certain amount of, say, money. And in return you receive something of a certain value….
Announcements, November 2023
Holiday Rainbow BLINGO
Naughty Or Nice… Join the Vashon Senior Center for another fabulous fundraiser on Saturday, December 2nd. Holiday Rainbow BLINGO takes place at beautiful Camp Burton Lodge, with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. and Bingo at 7:00 p.m. Lovely hostess and chanteuse Louvel returns, along with jello shots, a delicious dessert auction, all-cash prizes, and a chance to show…
Island Voices
Entering the Workforce – Part 1
By Mickey Fontaine College is a big decision, and it can have big consequences. Although it can create new opportunities, it can also close off doors later in life. It is very expensive, and debt can have a huge impact on your long-term financial stability, making it very hard to change the course of your…
Island Resilience, November 2023
The Nuts and Bolts of Paying with Plastic
By March Twisdale Nowadays, you can walk into almost any business, whip out your preferred form of plastic, and buy what you want. If you’re over 50 years old (like I am), you remember when this was anything but normal. But, here we are, and the question is: “Do we want to stay here?” If…
Island Resilience, November 2023
Corporate Gift Cards? Give Cash!
By Jane Valencia The holiday season approaches, and with it, choosing gifts. If you’re like me, you often send gift cards to your teen and young adult loved ones, so they can purchase just what they want. But if you’ve been reading the “Cash On Vashon” articles these past months (see vashonloop.com), and striving to…