When I first wrote about my support for our country’s actions in Iran, it was mid to late February. A la my “cancel culture series,” I was following through on the promise I made to my fellow Islanders back in January. Each month, I would explore harms caused by cancel culture and share my thoughts…
Island Resilience, Island Voices, May 2026
What’s Next After You Get the Big C Diagnosis
By Gates (Pam) Johnson It’s been a rough few months. In December, I had major back surgery that would hopefully help my foot neuropathy, but would take a year to heal. Okay. I can deal with that. Not fun, but chances are good that life will get better because of the surgery. A couple of…
Island Voices, May 2026
How Do You Make a Grandmother Cry?
By Rocky (Donna) Liberty Raggedy Andy & Ann – crafted by the author How to make a grandma cry. Take a labor of love, add in animal instinct, throw in some time (thyme), fate, and Voilà! She was ten years old and the apple of my eye. I would die for my grandchild if necessary,…
Island Voices, May 2026
Memories of a Banyan Tree
By Suzanna Leigh James and I landed in Honolulu in late February of 1974. No one to meet me, of course. Culture shock; people in shorts, brightly colored shirts, long muumuus, fragrant plumeria leis around their necks. The very air smelled different. I knew no one. I sat on the edge of a fountain with…
Island Voices, May 2026
Dismal Fruits
By Michael Shook Over the last two months, we’ve gotten “thumbnail” sketches of both the innate desire of humans for a perfect, usually communal, society, and of the father of modern Communism, Karl Marx. Now it’s time for a look at some of the fruits of the ideologies of Marxism and Communism. For all Karl…
Island Voices, May 2026
Going After Vashon: Encouraging More
By Deborah H. Anderson I had an opportunity recently to get some closure about my years as a pastor on Vashon. I was one of the first full-time female pastors, and for sure the first soccer Mom pastor. It was sweet and gentle, and I was able to forgive many. Forgiveness is easier when the…
Island Businesses, May 2026, Nature
Meet Nadja Vol Ochs, Vashon Wilderness Program’s New Executive Director, Part 2
By Jane Valencia Nadja Vol Ochs. Photo by Dawn Stief In Part 1, printed in our March issue, we heard the story of how Nadja Vol Ochs came into nature connection work and onto the Island. In Part 2, we learn about her role as new executive director for the Vashon Wilderness Program (VWP). Stacey…
May 2026, Nature
Core Routines and Sit Spot (and Gratitude, Too)
We asked Nadja to explain what a nature connection core routine is, and to tell us a little about the two routines referred to in the article, Meet Nadja Vol Ochs, Vashon Wilderness Program’s New Executive Director, Part 2 By Nadja Vol Ochs Core routines or routines of connection are simple, repeatable practices that help…
Island Resilience, May 2026
Social Money
By Stephen Buller Capitalism is under attack by many even though it is the economic system that has brought us more prosperity than any other. Why, then? Because, at a time when the wealth divide is vast and daily expenses are stretching budgets to the limit, “capitalism” doesn’t seem to be working for most Americans….