Articles

Progressing from college sophomore to folk-music groupie-worshiper of Tom Rush, Fred Neil, Buffy St. Marie & Bob Gibson in early-60s Miami, John’s musical career has been what he jokingly refers to one long, downward spiral to this present time……but we all know differently. 

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.

I have been summoned for jury duty again. The summons says I have to report to the courthouse at 8 a.m. Monday morning. Eight a.m.! Are people still doing that? Wow. I do get up at six-thirty a couple of days a week because that’s how my life is, but I don’t like it.

Garth Reeves has been playing professionally for over 18 years. After cutting his teeth in the halcyon days of the Olympia scene, Garth moved to Seattle to explore that cities burgeoning music explosion. A short of list of bands Garth has been in include:  Dangermouse, Nubbin, Goodness, Blue Spark…

This charming chamber opera written in 1947 by Benjamin Britten will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter. The busybodies of the Loxford May Day committee cannot find a virtuous female to be the May Queen, so they name the shy, coddled grocer’s son, Albert Herring, as May King.

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).

It’s staggering to me that there are over 2,500 operas and yet today’s opera companies perform the same top 10 over and over again.  This is a trend because yes -  the top 10 or top 20 are great works - but also because it’s a huge financial risk for any opera company not to fill the seats for their performances. This spring folks ask “What is your spring opera?”

A few weeks ago in the not too distant past, I was confronted by a friend in the aisles of our local food emporium and random issues forum. It was not so much a dramatic confrontation as it was a questioning as to why I hadn’t been present  at recent meetings being held to discuss the latest problem with bikes on the new foot ferries being offered up at or watery doorstep.

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.

I am grateful to Marcia C. Pearson, Joana Gardiner and Jo An Herbert for kick-starting awareness around our food choices and the environment. The angle they bring is well-documented and accurate. Modern agricultural practices have huge and devastating impacts on our environment.

Grief is a lifetime sentence. I have heard many times that you don’t get over losing someone. The death of someone you love is at first unthinkable, and gradually becomes a part of you with which you make as much peace as you can, depending on who you lost and in what circumstances.

“My Praguers understand me”––Mozart’s famous quote is the inspiration for Vashon Maury Chamber Orchestra’s spring concert. The program features Mozart masterpieces and charismatic works by Czech composers, including the dreamy “Idyll” by Leos Janacek and a collection of movements by Smetana, Suk and Martinu.