Bank Road Southwest on Vashon Island will be closed in the 9200 block for up to three weeks beginning Tuesday, Feb. 21. During the closure, crews will be replacing an old, deteriorating drainage pipe underneath the roadway that is starting to cause damage on the road surface.
Did that headline scare you? Good. I’m glad. That was the hoped-for effect.
No, it hasn’t actually happened... yet. Which probably qualifies the above headline as the worst sort of sensationalist journalism, for which I apologize. But only a little. Because even shrieking "Fire!" in a crowded theater is permissible if you have legitimate reason to believe it’s about to happen. But before I get to any legitimate reporting, let me indulge in a little more sensationalism while I have your attention.
Heron’s Nest invites you to their grand reopening celebration First Friday, March 2. Heron’s Nest, Vashon Allied Arts’ retail uptown store, located between Blooms and The Tea Shop, provides a retail outlet for a wide variety of fine art and handcrafted items created by Island-based and regional artists on consignment basis.
Vashon Islander, Dr. Tag Gornall, is one of the world’s foremost Marine Mammal Veterinarians. He is known for his work with the heart and diving studies of Namu, the first orca in captivity. He worked with sea otters during the Exxon-Valdez oil spill and has helped design aquariums around the world. He has been consulting veterinarian for the Seattle Aquarium, Pt Defiance Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, and other national and international aquariums.
October 3, 2011, 5:13pm, SeaTac Airport. The British Airways jet touches down, Amanda Knox is home and our collective breath is released, but our joy was tempered with thoughts of Meredith Kercher’s family.
Standing on the deck of a ferry, I had the unexpected pleasure of watching that jet fly over Seattle and drop below the treetops as it descended onto the tarmac, later I would learn that Amanda was remarking how "surreal" it was to see home. She’s right. Her plight affected many of my friends and throughout this ordeal we chanted, "When her plane touches down at SeaTac, then it’s over."
That’s the question explored by African American filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman as he embarks on a cross-country campaign to do just that. Community Cinema Vashon presents More Than a Month this Sunday, Feb 19th.
He looks like he’s had a hard life. There is no smile and no conversation. He tries to look out the window. I smear the frost with the curtain but it is so cold outside that the glass is instantly iced up again. "Kan bu chu", I say. Can’t see out. "Ah," he says, dimly realizing that I know some Chinese. We are fellow passengers on the blue bus bound to see the Great Golden Buddha of Pu Tuo Shan. They are pilgrims and I am a tourist, the only foreigner.
Change was on the minds of the Oscar Night planning committee at their most recent meeting. Fiona Hope remembered how a Polaroid camera was used to capture the red carpet festivities in the early years, and Marty Schafer said it was always a challenge to borrow a vintage car to be the event’s limousine.
Chief Deputy Steve Strachan, second in command at the King County Sheriff’s Office will give a presentation and answer written questions related to the staffing of officers on the island at the next Vashon Maury Island Community Council meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. at the McMurray School.
All Island Forum invites ALL ISLANDERS to an interactive forum to explore VASHON:
What really matters to you? Join friends and neighbors to share ideas about the character and future of Vashon. For each of us, what are the essential characteristics of a Vashon worth working for?
A new General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) club is forming on Vashon Island. The first, "get acquainted" meeting will be held on March 4th, from 2:00-4:00PM in the Ober Park Performance Room. It will be used to educate potential members about the GFWC and begin shaping the Vashon Island Club’s agenda. According to Pam Robbins, who first proposed formation of a club, all women age 18 and older who can volunteer a few hours a month to a community service project are encouraged to attend.
The chilly winter weather doesn’t dampen the energy and enthusiasm of the Vashon Solar LLC group who are gathering interested parties to learn about solar incentives available to individuals.
State energy incentives are available through a community solar program.
Vashon Islander, Dr. Tag Gornall, is one of the world’s foremost Marine Mammal Veterinarians. He is known for his work with the heart and diving studies of Namu, the first orca in captivity. He worked with sea otters during the Exxon-Valdez oil spill and has helped design aquariums around the world. He has been consulting veterinarian for the Seattle Aquarium, Pt Defiance Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, and other national and international aquariums.
On Vashon, everybody pulls together in a tough situation. So, when three winter storms lashed the Island during the recent Snowmageddon week, people were looking for a rallying point — a place to help each other out by sharing information. They found that community rallying point in Voice of Vashon.
I would like to introduce myself: my name is Micheal Amanyire, and I conceived of the idea for TOCI about 5 years ago. TOCI ("tow-chi") stands for Twerwaheno Orphans Community Initiative, and works to address the needs of children orphaned by HIV/Aids, some who are mentally ill, and the most vulnerable of children in this area who are in need of assistance.
We arrive in Ningbo from Hangzhou where we have been visiting in-laws. We will stay at the splendid "Hua Jiao Hao Sheng" which translates as "Magnificently Talented Chinese Expatriate." The suppliers that my wife is visiting are paying for the hotel, so we will live in luxury for a couple of days. The Hua Jiao Hao Sheng. It sounds so desirable, so dreamy and so languid after our long, challenging day. It will be Xanadu.
Voice of Vashon is again hosting a film contest for islanders. Newly-named RockFlicks, the contest is in its second year. RockFlicks is a themed, short-film competition judged by age group. Filmmakers this year will explore the possibilities in the concept Insider/Outsider.
Author and mythologist Michael Meade brings his vital blend of storytelling, poetry and discussion to Vashon on Thursday, February 23rd, 7 p.m. at the Vashon United Methodist Church. In this compelling and dynamic evening, Meade explores the original idea of genius: the natural spirit, inner qualities, and unique gifts of a person. This inner spirit in each of us seeks to be known and desires to serve some greater purpose in life.
Did you know that you could save or improve the life of 50 very sick people by being an organ and tissue donor? There is no age limit to being a donor. Nearly everyone can donate tissues or organs or both. Do not assume that you are not healthy enough to donate. Organ transplant teams can decide that at the time of death.
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.
Vashon Community Care’s 13th annual Labor of Love Online Auction is now open! You can bid on hundreds of unique items and services made or performed by your Island neighbors at www.LaborofLoveVashon.org. The auction runs for two weeks, ending at noon on Wednesday, February 15.
Jack Randal, an 83-year-old man missing since Wednesday evening, was found Saturday afternoon in a home on Luana Beach Road. The owners of the home are away on vacation. Randal was found after the daughter of the homeowners went to check on the house.
Congressman McDermott invites residents, business and community leaders in the Vashon-Maury Island community to meet with him at The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie for a cup of coffee and to exchange thoughts on current issues in Congress and/or to request help with issues with the federal government.
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.
The Vashon Island School District announced Thursday that it would close schools on Friday — the third consecutive day this week--due to weather conditions. All programs, activities and building use is cancelled. Following the School district the Vashon Park District will also be canceling all events and activities for Friday. The Harbor School is also closed Friday
Most of Vashon remained Iced in Thursday after the morning Ice/Snow mixture weighing down tree branches on roads and Power lines across Vashon Maury Island. It is estimated that most or all of Maury Island is without power. Also, most or all of south end is without power from around 220th St south. Other outages are being reported island wide. Although there are crews working to restore power on the island, PSE encourages customers to plan on being without power until at least Friday and perhaps longer, depending on weather conditions
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