Articles in "Community"

The first of its kind Sheepdog Classic Afghan Project was set in motion October of 2011 at the close of the United States Border Collie Handler’s Association dog trials here on Vashon Island.

Attention! Vashon’s most unique festival is back again. Islewilde starts this Friday, August 3rd with an introductory meeting and campfire party at 7pm at the Meadow on Old Mill Road. Free public workshops begin the next day (Saturday, August 4th) and continue through August 16th. Islewilde’s 20th Free Community Performance Celebration will be held Friday August 17th and Saturday August 18th.

The life of a National Rodeo Correspondent is one of desperate privations: gas station food, cheap motels, loneliness and long hours in the saddle. I wanted my mind to soar, but sometimes it just makes my butt sore. The Rodeo, always just ahead, is worth it, though, and it is always a surprise.

On your marks, get set, salmon bake! One of Vashon’s longest-running summer traditions continues — the 52nd Annual Salmon Bake of St. John Vianney Church will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 29, on the church grounds. All Islanders are invited to attend.

It’s officially 7/01/12 and I wanted to be the first one to wish our darling Gypsy a "Happy 37th Birthday!" What a girl! In honor of her day it brings us great pleasure to announce that the movie, "The Pony Man," starring Miss Gypsy, will be showing at the Vashon Theater on 7/15/12 at 1:00 p.m.

It is an honor to name Lou Engels as the Strawberry Festival Grand Marshal for 2012. Lou has been an Islander since 1950 when his father opened Engels Towing and Repair in its current location in 1951. Lou took over the business in 1969 and has been hard at work servicing Island vehicles six days a week for the past 43 years, the second oldest continuous business on the Island.

Well on Vashon that is really "Unofficial" Mayor. But while my name is up there and it looks like I am running, I am really fundraising for two causes that I have been working on for the last year. My platform is to "help make HealthCare accessible to all Vashon residents".

The certification testing has come to a successful close for our Kimberly Stove. I am happy to report that Kimberly excelled in every aspect, finishing the battery of tests in half the time, and proving herself an extremely safe stove in very small spaces. With no protection on the walls we can place Kimberly within 6 inches of a combustible wall. This allows it to be installed on a 22 x 26 inch floor pad, with 3" vent parts. Our E.P.A. Emissions of 3.2 grams per hour and a top output of 40,000 btu (cord wood) makes this the most powerful and clean burning small stove that Omni Labs has ever seen, and allows for heating of homes up to 1500 square feet. 

Nudibranchs (which is pronounced nudibranks) are the most amazing, complex and beautiful creatures of the sea.

I thought that I would draw a cartoon for this article, since nudibranchs are really hard to describe…but I thought that might not be such a great idea since the Loop is printed in black and white and I didn’t have a lot of confidence in being able to render a nudibranch without using color.

What better way to spend the afternoon of the Forth of July than on the beach with family and friends? Come enjoy one of the summer’s best low tides out at Point Robinson with the Vashon Beach Naturalists who will be there to teach folks of all ages about our shoreline neighbors. Before you go out on the beach check out the Festival area which will be set up by the lighthouse this year. As you come in you will learn some important things about how to take care of the animals and habitats that surround the point.

Please join us in welcoming James Marsh, the new Executive Director of the Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce.

Jim brings a wealth of experience to Vashon businesses and the community. He has been a private business owner, the President of the Board of the Evanston Illinois Chamber of Commerce and was co-founder and organizer of the Evanston Grand Prix.