By Steven Nourse If you’re reading this someday, it means I’ve finally joined that club I once thought only belonged to grandparents. Funny how life sneaks up on you. One minute you’re young and invincible, and next you’re standing on your porch at 78, realizing that a 50-year roof warranty is more of a joke…
Arrival Stories, March 2026
Meet Nadja Vol Ochs, Vashon Wilderness Program’s New Executive Director, Pt 1
What Brought You to the Island By Jane Valencia Nadja Vol Ochs on her boat, Sophie After 20 years of operation, the Vashon Wilderness Program has a new Executive Director, Nadja Vol Ochs. As I walked with her at the marina to her boat, Sophie, Nadja pointed out such waterbirds as mergansers, surf scoters, and…
Island Vehicles, March 2026
Island Rides – Ford Focus
By Marc J. Elzenbeck In a previous installment, we looked at the Toyota RAV-4 in its early forms, a handy-sized workhorse renowned for its durability and steady character. But among the many things a 20-plus year old RAV-4 has never been known to say are, “Hey, wanna see how fast we can make it down…
Island Voices, Letters to the Editor, March 2026
AMERICANS: MAGA VOTERS ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS
About 155,000,000 United States citizens voted in the 2024 Presidential election. About 64% of eligibles! Millions & millions is an amazing number of our US citizen-neighbors: each somehow made the independent decision to vote for a person they never met for lunch, perhaps saw mostly on TV, heard some promises made by practiced politicians that…
Letters to the Editor, March 2026
In Response to “Thanks, Uncle Sam” (Vashon Loop 1/7/26)
Yes, the men considered to be the founding fathers and builders of our country’s foundation were audacious, courageous, determined, and visionary. And yes, many of us can imagine living with laws, rights, and freedoms especially if we have benefited from those protections. Now imagine being excluded from those original laws, rights, and freedoms because you…
Island Voices, March 2026
“Comes the Revolution …
By Michael Shook “… we all eat strawberries with cream – whether we like strawberries with cream, or not.” My mother had a number of sayings she was fond of, and this was a standard around the house, used when one of the three of us kids would whine about something not being fair. It…
March 2026, Nature
The Gift
By Rocky (Donna) Liberty At 3:30 p.m., I realized the time and charged to the beach to capture the last bit of day. Walking south towards the light, I scoured the beach for aggies, shells, and the odd bit of interesting glass. Curiosity and the thrill of discovery have always spurred me to walk miles…
Island Voices, March 2026
Boy Howdy
It’s Been a Couple of Interesting Months Around the Old Johnson Farm By Pam (“Gates”) Johnson I’ve been slowly going out of my mind with inactivity since my spinal surgery in early December. A couple of friends are also going through some recovery. One had a shoulder replacement, another badly broke his leg. When the…
Island Voices, March 2026
The Beauty of Her Being
By Suzanna Leigh Marj Watkins – Illustration by Suzanna Leigh I dreamed about my mother early this morning. She is 101 now, and I see her about every other day. I watch her slow decline and wonder how long she will continue to enjoy life. Sometimes I dream that she is walking easily again, the…
Island Resilience, March 2026
Time for a Lark – Contra Dance on Vashon
By Jane Valencia One late afternoon, I showed up to dance. I’d been working all day, and felt I had two left feet. I had never contra danced before, yet I was willing to stumble my way through. Three musicians opened the session with a sweet waltz. I put on a lei to designate that…