Articles in "Community"

When I was a boy of 10 or 12, my family had 5 acres at Cove and we loved every square foot of it.  There was a story for every part of it.  One day I nearly drowned my brother Mike on purpose; or at least he thought so.

Under the Sea is this year’s theme for the eighth annual Father-Daughter Dance. On Saturday, June 6, girls and their partners celebrate at the Vashon Golf & Swim Club. The dance is limited to 120 participants, and an early sell-out is expected again.

In October, I found out I had been hired as the Family Support Specialist for our new ECEAP preschool.  ECEAP stands for Early Childhood Assistance Program and is funded by the State of Washington and Vashon School District.  It is a FREE preschool for 3, 4, and 5 year old eligible children.  An affordable (free) preschool had long been a dream of many on Vashon.

Five students, all 4th and 5th graders at Chautauqua Elementary, celebrated their winning entries in the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Association’s second annual “History Project Contest” on Friday evening, May 8.

Three seats are up for grabs in the November election. Bill Ameling and Joe Wald have refused to say whether they are running again. Bill has been on the Park Board almost since its beginning--nearly 30 years now. Term limits, anyone? Scott Harvey had a short term because he was filling out the seat originally vacated by Michael DeBlasi. But to be on the ballot in November, all candidates MUST FILE WITH THE KING COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE BY MAY 15 (by 4:00 by email, or 4:30 at the KC Elections Office itself--where you can look to see who else is filing for each seat).

Writers are like chameleons. They tend to disappear into the multi-colored canvas of life unintentionally and generally without regret. As such, most islanders are unaware that the Vashon they know and love is considered to be, by the Seattle Writing Scene, “an island of writers.” Our goal, as members of the VWO, is to open your eyes to the literary menagerie that surrounds you.

Sometimes it starts with a simple story.  No joke.  A guy walks into the Senior Center... He asks about an inexpensive way into town for a doctor’s appointment because he’s on limited income and no longer drives.  He talks to Executive Director, Ava Apple, who tells him about the limited and sometimes inconvenient options currently available.

I view Vashon as something of an academic oasis.  In a broader State educational landscape suffering from the “drought” of program cuts and staff reductions that result in incrementally failing each year’s “crop” of children, the Vashon Public School district stands as a thriving exception.

Have you ever been enraptured by a good book? The hours slide away as the story unfolds, and you can’t help but continue to turn the pages. This past sentence summarizes a countless portion of my youth. I would read during family meals, at school, and even when I had friends over:

Six years ago when we last voted for the park levy, we had a vibrant Park District.  We had numerous summer camps, summer concerts in both Ober Park and the Village Green with weekly dancing at the Village Green.  Parents were able to register their children for sport activities and their own adult classes at the Ober Park office. 

Friends of Mukai will celebrate Poetry Month by presenting an evening of verse at the Vashon Maury Island Land Trust on Wednesday, April 15th, featuring Lawrence Matsuda and Lonney Kaneko.  Joseph Okimoto will host the program and introduce the poets at the free 7 p.m. event.

Washington State Ferries sails into its busy season with the spring schedule starting Sunday, March 22. Peak season surcharge fare increases go into effect May 1. Three-boat service on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route returns on Saturdays and Sundays, plus five minute sailing time adjustments during weekday a.m./p.m. commute hours.