Articles

In your ideal life, you may picture yourself as a miller or a cobbler, selling your products for Vashon currency that you can exchange for all your needs. The fact is, though, we don’t have much of a market for those occupations just yet, and you won’t be able to pay your mortgage or other debts with Vashon currency. Since we produce very little out here, most of our income comes via those of you that commute to the mainland everyday. So how do we get from this "business as usual" world to a saner one we would like to live in?

We all know we live in a very special and unique community composed of an amazingly diverse population. But have you ever been curious about the island itself…it’s geology, ecology and history. Or the culture, the social science and demographics that give insight into the past, present and future of our island and its population.

Tangletown Cabaret, an all-women trio, includes classically-trained, mezzo-soprano/composer Sarah Mattox (who performed with Vashon Opera) violinist/violist Jo Nardolillo and pianist Judith Cohen. The talented trio will entertain with a Valentine’s concert for VAA’s Panache Jazz Series, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb 11 at Vashon Allied Arts, complete with champagne and chocolate.

Jewelry trunk show features guilt-free gemstones

This Valentine’s Day give a gift with heart from Vashon-based Zavida Gemstones-rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and pendants in silver and gold with precious stones and natural gemstones-during a one day trunk show 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 5, at Blue Heron Gallery. Offering handmade jewelry from around the world, Zavida’s socially conscious philosophy, developed by Lee Gelb and Shelley Milano, combines art, philanthropy and travel.

Winter doldrums can numb your brain, make it perform as if chained. Buds opening into new, oxygen-producing leaves help to unchain it. It’s invigorating to get outdoors and breathe early-spring air, especially when the sun shines. So does giving your brain the fuel it needs. Choline is a prime nourisher of neurotransmitters.

Last week our big projection television lost its electronic mind and began showing pictures in strange colors, and also breaking the images into streaks and blotches, while making a noise like something inside was whirling around furiously losing pieces, and getting ready to explode. We turned it off and moved a back-up television from my office into the living room. We seldom leave the house and television is our main form of entertainment, and I didn’t really need to watch TV while working on the computer, did I?

The Search and Rescue team has been searching today for an elderly Alzheimer’s patient wearing tennis shoes and red pajamas.  He was last seen Wednesday evening around 6:30pm near Engel’s Gas Station on Maury Island walking on Dockton Rd.   He lives near Portage on Maury Island with his son Jory Randles.  The Search team has not found him yet and have just called off the search for the day due to darkness.

If you are out in the community, please keep an eye out for him.  His name is Jack Randal, he is a white 87 year old male, has white hair and a white mustache.  He is approximately 150 lbs. and 6 ft tall.  If you live near the area where he was last seen and have any out-buildings on your property that he might be able to take shelter in, please check them to see if he might be there.

Last scene:  Engel’s Gas Station area on Dockton road, last 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, wearing red pajamas

Call 911 and asked for the information to be passed to the Search Command post.

First snow now an ice storm has canceled schools and meeting on Vashon. Many island businesses remained closed for a second day in a row. Many people found themselves Iced In when they woke up Thursday Morning. Roads still closed on Vashon include;

SW 268th St. between 99th Ave SW and 94th Ave SW
103rd Ave SW (Also known as “Ferry Hill”) between Vashon Hwy SW and SW 112th St. 87th Ave SW between SW Cemetery Rd. and Dockton Rd. SW

Travelling the world with his guitar, harmonicas, and engaging wit, he sings the traditional songs of Scotland and his own masterfully crafted songs in a style which is modern and accessible, yet utterly authentic. He is highly regarded as an interpreter of the songs of Robert Burns, and has been described as "one of the finest singers in Scotland in any style".

Vashon Island School District will be closed Wednesday, January 18th, due to predicted snow accumulation over night and tomorrow. All
programs, activities and building use is cancelled.
The Vashon Park District has also canceled all classes and programs.

This issue, I’d like to talk about an element of personal resilience that, happily, we can all put in place. You will probably recall a few times in the last two winters when the roads were covered by a sheet of ice. If you didn’t have a fire-breathing, snow-eating four wheeler, you may have been a bit wary about venturing out into what could end up being an all day harrowing experience or worse. Your vehicle could end up joining the lost souls in the roadside snowdrifts at the bottom of one of our hills. We would have stayed home if there were nothing we needed to get. It may have been batteries or candles if the power was out, but, most likely, it had to do with food and water.