By Andy Valencia After the night of packing, the car was already racing along as the first rays of sun woke Tom up. They were going very fast, and there were countless cars around them. As Tom watched the world go by, he wondered Just how big IS the world? The answer was: very, very…
Entertainment, November 2025
The Observant Frog’s Log
By Alex Soriano The Observant Frog’s Log by Alex Soriano
Entertainment, Llaughing Llamas
Llaughing Llamas Chronicles – November
By Daniel Hooker I’m doing some work on the house. First floor, everything is on track and going well. But upstairs is a different story. ~ The definition of Irony: the opposite of Wrinkly. ~ Witches are really bad at math, but great at spelling. ~ A pony goes to the vet, and says, “Doc,…
Island Voices, October 2025
Treat or Trick
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…
Legends of Vashon, October 2025
Legends of Vashon: His Night Out
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…
October 2025, Photography
October Photos
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…
Gardening, Literary, October 2025
Harvesting Stones
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…
Editorial Page, October 2025
Deer Hunting With the FBI
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…
Editorial Page, Health Matters, October 2025
Against Boosterism
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…