The Viaduct pause; hope it’s worth it.

Saturday (yesterday) we ventured to Seattle Center and opted to use the city streets as our passage after crossing the West Seattle Bridge. All was well until nearing the First Ave. South exit; then the backlog commenced. It was 12:10 p.m. Already, cars were using the bus lane to cut over to the offramp and my loathing for rude drivers churned. The short version: It took us an hour to get to Seattle Center.

Along the way, we witnessed the ceremonious “farewell” during the two-week closure and more loathing kicked in. In a sea of red tail lights, unrealized (full) green light intersections and a halted viaduct in view only one thought came to mind: WE ARE SCREWED, VASHON! Mid day traffic on a Saturday (no games in progress at SoDo)? What’s going to happen Monday when the real traffic arrives to swell on city streets? As much as I’ve read the “Don’t believe the doomsday” advice about the viaduct closure, I can tell you that the P.O. boat commute already is a crapshoot to make or not make the cut; it was nice having a plan B to come home via Fauntleroy – now is where things get REALLY interesting. I hope the City of Seattle and King County Metro are ready for the cluster that’s about to hit.

Commuters, you have my deepest sympathies. Right there with ya. -h

Where does it go from here?

Here’s a question for you, Beachcomber readers: Is Vashon Island a releasing ground for live raccoons that have been trapped in other parts of King County?

No less than 10 Islanders have told me over chicken-keeping conversations about how King County brings the critters here, but I find no evidence to support it when calling the County or looking online. Raccoons are here with or without the importation of more on Vashon; this I realize. If you’ve ever been to Blake Island, they run the joint over there!

What I did find on the WDFW (state) site was a wonderful resource page about raccoon management and “thwarting” tips. Also in the text the state notes:

It is unlawful to release wildlife anywhere within the state, other than on the property where it was legally trapped, without a permit to do so (RCW 77.15.250; WAC 232-12-271).

So IF (and that is only IF) the County is practicing this, they would need to have a permit. Public disclosure, however, probably not. Who knows the answer to this? Thank you for debunking or affirming this raccoon assumption. I’d love the straight story.

You have to love a Hero water camera. A flick of the wrist...

After a few weekly dips at Dilworth with the ladies who rock (“G-Pod,” represent!) and swim fervently on a regular basis out there, I have ventured with a friend to Burton where Whulging is a regular summer affair. We’ll go again this afternoon. Yesterday, I decided to dip in a little closer to home, by La Playa on the North End. Kayak escorts (son and hubbie), I went marker to marker on the east side of the dock. The tide was high, the kelp was all around, and halfway through a surprisingly tidal swim (my heading was challenged by current) I realized a harbor seal was in tow just a few yards behind me. BIGTIME!

Water, water everywhere: Vashon's north end

Suffice it to say, this sight of a head outta water staring at me - one bigger than a human head – and those big dark eyes, yeah, it expedited my swim. I triangulated straight back for the restaurant with close escorts, and am pretty sure that was probably my best swim time yet! At any moment I pictured an angry mama seal body-bumping me from beneath on the way back in…or worse yet, a male pursuing a potential mate in a black Xterra wetsuit! The imagination runs away, really. Yay, boat ramp! The only thing better would’ve been Miguel running out with a shot of some-some to warm me up. LOL.

I think I’ll stick to Dilworth and Burton…

View of Whulge Beach/Burton from the water.

Water Daze participants get a workout hoisting the boat for the first time.

VIJC couldn’t have asked for a better day when it hosted 2011 Water Daze. This gentle introduction to crew saw kids ages 8th grade and up erg-ing (distance clocked on the rowing machine), hauling the boats to shore and doing boatloads of Q&A in their consideration of the sport. This is not for everyone, but if you love water, teamwork and sweating then this could be the ticket.

Unless you’ve been delinquent in keeping up the Beachcomber reading you know this has been a banner year for crew: two of its VIJC teams placed during the USRowing Youth National Championships. The men’s lightweight doubles came home with a third placing, and the women’s varsity quad placed second. Not too shabby in the big picture: 1,500 rowers in 18 racing categories (in 93-degree heat in Tennessee!). Congratulations to Coach Steve Full and all the hardworking athletes!

Minis at Mingelment. Twin "Mins."

Every year, usually on a sunny weekend, a caravan of Mini Coopers new and old hit the island for a Mini meet up at Minglement. June 4 they showed up again, the cars neatly angled out in front in myriad colors. It’s quite a sight. I checked the Mini user groups online and the meet-up doesn’t appear to have popped up. There was a fun inquiry on one of them I’ll hyperlink here (where the user asks about Vashon as a potential meet-up space and tries to verify previous meet-ups), but still the backstory intrigues me. This has to be Vashon-specific, right? At least Vashon instigated….

This all-day affair lets you jump in at either the North End or Paradise Ridge Park, and is self-paced with two suggested routes. If you deviate, there’s no cycling police, folks! The main purpose of the event is to get people to recreate on Vashon in a sustainable way.

For all the spandex-clad, uber game-faced cyclists that hit Vashon’s windy roads each weekend, this event welcomes off-island groups as readily as banana seat-straddling pedalers. Learn all the details at http://www.parktopark.org. And have fun!

This Tacoma resident is currently featured on “The Voice” with Cee Lo Green as her coach.

Really?  Wow. Who knew?

Your 2011 champs

The Tacoma Adult Soccer League has its 2011 champs and you’ll recognize several players from Vashon! Congrats to Mid-Sound Boomers players including  David Leonhardt, Mark Scheer, Sean Harrison, Sjardo Steneker, Skip Tavakkolian, Don Amick, Tom Hennessey,David O’Neill, Lorin Reinelt, and Greg Martin.

This update is shamelessly lifted from Skip’s Facebook profile. Thank you!

Attached is a new coop from David Skrzypek (Birds & Bees) using the homeowner’s reclaimed materials. Most of them came from a remodel years ago of Pioneer Square’s beloved Merchants Cafe. The pieces find new life in Merchants Henhouse! (click) Merchants Henhouse – Vashon

Hope you can make the tour. More on tickets soon here.

Granted, I swung to the younger side of the age curve in this class, but this is not a workout for the wimpy. Props to the ladies in there kicking and shimmying and doing slow-mo roundhouse kicks! You rock. The music reminded me of my cab rides last fall along the bumpy roads of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, where tunes on the cranked up radio consisted of naughty b-boys flexing their dancehall reggaespanol to catchy beats of timbales against booming bass. You WANT to move your body.

At first, watching the instructor doing the moves barefoot on the outside of the pool took some getting used to – in the water you have to adapt the range. Her sweeping leg movements whip through the air in 1.5 seconds, whereas on someone who is 5’9″ those leg sweeps take a little longer to get through the movement. You learn what actually works in the pool v on land. Give it a shot. You’ll get a great all over workout without the impact on the knees and you’ll feel it in your shoulders and forearms, quads and calves.

Zumbandale!

Sunday brings the Church of the Great Rain “VD” special. You choose what the VD signifies; we choose good company at the O Space.

Learn more, including the article  in the Beachcomber: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/vashon/vib/entertainment/115664799.html

or newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/4n244y2

or  FB: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=185109234854932

 Amen.

I think for my husband and I, when we stumbled into Two Wall Gallery and our eyes locked on the first piece by John Brucker (left wall, big one) the first words out of both our mouths were “Oh. My. God!” But rather than feeling aghast, or shocked, we were thrilled as we strolled through. Fascinated. Enthralled. I picked up the Goya vibe–a little austerity and “not pretty” as Sheperd noted, but also so impressed by the sheer detail and care of these fantastic works. O’Driscoll’s clever mockeries incited giggling.

Jack Strubbe, Two Wall curator, loves to push our collective comfort zone. Yeah! One thing many may not know is he also advocates for youth to discover art as an outlet, namely for teens and at-risk populations. He has experience here, and his dream is to rent out a space (like the one where Good Merchandise and the glass studio was in the center of town)  as a workshop space for youth to drop in discover art as a creative means of expression. Not at all a youth center, this is strictly art talkin’.

For those who have yet to set foot between those two walls, one great place to start is by clicking here and then “joining” instantly on Facebook. There you can click through photos and see what you’ve been missing. Get in and see the Brucker and O’Driscoll works while you can (or before someone takes them down and places them on the floor, canvas turned around).

Whoopsy.

It’s a new car! Well, actually it’s not a car. And it’s not new. This metal thing on the street, just blocking the driveway is upside down and is an SUV. The driver began coming down parking lot hill and felt the vehicle banking. Kelli Knutsen explained she went to gently drive it out of the roadway as it became clear things weren’t cooperating, when it unexpectedly rolled to its current upside down position. On the street.

Tomorrow morning (Weds), it should be towed. For the duration of the night, its hazard lights shall blink until their termination. Here’s hoping no drivers try to rush for the lot or the boat in the morning. You may be in for a crunchy surprise if so!

Go, Pacific Research Labs. Congratulations.
Skip to the 8-minute mark to see the good stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETHYny3lNng

sawbones 2010 holiday announcement

And the video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3arS0tc0yc

Holiday Show
Sunday, December 12, 4PM at Open Space
Special musical guest Vicci Martinez

The Vashon Community Care Center “Christmas Miracle” will be highlighted at our special Holiday show. While there’s no doubt that comedy and music will rule, we will wholeheartedly celebrate the generous, activist spirit of this little Island we call home.

Dine out after the show at a participating restaurant and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Vashon Community Care.

Join the congregation and enjoy holiday magic with the Church House Band and the Holy Roller Radio Players, along with our special musical guest Vicci Martinez.

Doors open at 3PM.
Adults $8, Kids 12 and under $5.
Tickets available now at brownpapertickets.com
and Vashon Bookshop and Books By The Way.

Rated PG13 so parental guidance is advised.

————————————————————————————

Those stranded islanders made their way to Third Avenue along the bus stops to hop on the W Seattle bus routes. The 54 mistakenly passed a snow stop en route, and when it did a small mob of islanders chased the bus down the street in true activist style (woot!). One woman insisted the driver open the door and scolded him for disregarding the snow stop. She led the way for about 20 more people to get on the bus in what would turn into a FIVE AND A HALF HOUR ride to Fauntleroy (with a change of #54 buses on California Ave.). No, really. We hopped on at 3rd and Unionish at 535 and off it dropped us at 11:15p. Ferry workers said they’d never seen so many walk-ons taking the 1140 boat (except Mariner games in the glory days)! We were tired, hungry, but happy to be on the way back home.

My walk up parking lot hill revealed some smart person thought they could take the icy hill in their truck; its tracks had made a bee line for where my mailbox and wine barrel half ONCE WERE. Both are displaced, smashed and destroyed. THANKS for letting us know, not. This was not what any commuter wanted to find at 12:30 a.m. after a very long day. It was bad enough the power was out (and the next day is still out on the North End)

Don’t drive today. And for goodness sakes if you must, do NOT come down that hill! Turn left at 112th Ave SW from Vashon Highway and get to the parking lot the gentler way between boats.

Could one in the front seat survive this? Did they survive this? Was it road conditions, alcohol, a little of both, or speeding?

The car was literally wrapped around the utility pole. It defied probability. I can only hope there were no fatalities.

Post edit: because I posted this the morning it happened, and ASKED questions about it on this blog and another car accident link, I appear to have offended. Note the QUESTIONs, not statements. This is a mere posting of a photo before the accompanying police report and article had even shown up in the BC. No offense intended.

This is a systemic problem. After the KC Water Taxi hits its magic 150-limit, it’s buh-bye time. We’re turned away whether coming or going when capacity hits. With Russell Financial moving its offices from Tacoma to Seattle, all the Kitsappers and Gig Harbor folks working for that company now come via Southworth. It’s tipped the scales to overload nearly everyday. We endure. We turn about and hang out at Ivar’s til the next boat (making darn sure we’re early for the next boat!).

The 150-people thing is not the boat’s capacity, however; it’s the crew-to -passenger ratio and a security rule that would mandate new bureaucratic headaches for this little boat. It’s icky. It’s like playing musical chairs on the race to the boat–and a definite cause and effect since Russell joined the commuter party.  So, beg to telecommute if you can, because taking the PO boat these days is no cakewalk.

It is for both youth and adults. Ages start at 8 (median is 13-15). Helmets are mandatory. You can sign up for single Saturday trips up ($30 round trip bus + lift tix), lessons with bus, or a season pass with full 7-bus trips. The seven  Saturday trips are all day–pretty much 8a to 8p. This gives the skier/boarder access to Summit at Snoqualmie, and this year Summit East has opened up! More can be found at VashonParkDistrict.org. The registration deadline is Dec. 15, so get hoppin!

PS Congratulations to VSS for raising more than $850 at annual ski swap Saturday! Thanks to all who made it lively.

Dear Vashon Island Friends and Neighbors:

Acting as a concerned citizen, I’ve put together a public meeting where a representative speaker from the Sheriff’s Department will provide information about the recent rash of thefts and burglaries on Vashon Island. I contacted the Vashon Community Council and ask if such a meeting could take place prior to their regular meeting on Monday October 18th at 6pm at McMurray School. They agreed and were gracious enough to facilitate the use of the room for the meeting. They also offered to continue the dialog at a subsequent Community Council Public Safety Committee meeting on October 28th, if there is enough interest in having additional public dialog about this problem.

I have arranged for Sgt Calvin Beringer of the King County Sheriff’s Department to facilitate the meeting and address the recent crime and theft problems on the island, including what the police know, possible suspects, what law enforcement is doing, what they think is the root cause of the rash thefts and burglaries and what we can do to reduce these type of crimes on the island.

I like to invite you to attend the meeting and also invite you to help me spread the word about the meeting. I think it’s a good idea to have a public dialog about the crime and thefts on Vashon rather then only depending  on rumors and press reports. If you agree, I hope that you will attend and would appreciate it if you could forward the information about the meeting to your friends and contacts on the Island. 

If you have any questions feel free to contact me. (please feel free to reproduce the attached flier and forward it to your contact lists) 

Sincerely, Danny O’Brien
vashonisland@gmail.com
206 227-6976

The Church House Band traversed genres, from The Who to Right Said Fred, with ease and got in on the fun. If you pay attention, you’ll understand a very deliberate connection from skit to song. Danny O’Keefe with guest Joel Tepp (who has played with Bonnie Raitt and gobs of chart-toppers and is a treat in his own right) and their sweet-voiced singing companion nearly moved us to “eye leaks.” The next event is Oct. 31 (Sunday). It’s all fine for kids, but leave the wiggling, squealing ones at home. Please.

For those who missed out, you’ll catch it here, on VOV, go to Facebook, or scope out YouTube in a search for past acts.

My favorites from last night were:
Reappointing VMICC – the folly of board formalities
Vashon Fashion show – “pilled sweater with calf length skirt…Thriftway re-bags in black, green and SGK pink?” Killed it!
Roll call – The multiple, hyphenated, even hybridized last names on Vashon are epidemic! Genealogy be damned.
Eastern WA bad dream – Yes, “Spokanatchee,” we do commute by boat.

Thank you for being witty, for not dumbing it down, for showing us so much talent, and for giving us Jeff’s voice. Amen.

Take a look at how cleverly this Vashon-Maury take on Westside Story is played out!

Perhaps they were compensated, but it didn’t look too welcoming! Yeah for improvements; boo for the hours.

MoveOn.org Civic Action is a 501(c)(4) organization which primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on important national issues. MoveOn.org Political Action is a federal political committee which primarily helps members elect candidates who reflect our values through a variety of activities aimed at influencing the outcome of the next election. MoveOn.org Political Action and MoveOn.org Civic Action are separate organizations

Jockeying around parked cars was bad enough, but we poor suckers in cars figured it out. I crept to the curbside at a corner where a woman put on her blinker to turn (she was parallel on the left side of me in the road), but she didn’t turn into the corner. Instead, she jumped in the ferry line in front of me. I laid on the horn. She didn’t flinch. The cars behind me did the same. My kids were saying “no way!” at the audacity of this woman in front of me. They said “maybe it’s because she has a handicap license plate,” to which I quipped that doesn’t mean she is mentally incapacitated.  If she thought that license plate was going to land her a sympathy spot in line (yes, this thought also crossed my mind) this was not going to be her day.

I consulted with the car in front of the offending driver and then the one behind me. Both corroborated her “cut.” I then went to her.

Me: You jumped the line and you need to go to the back.

Her: I’m sorry. I was just confused. I never take this boat.

Me: (Noticing her Bremerton framed license place) Then you know now, and need to go to the back of the line.

Her: (Shrug. Shaking head no.) I”m sorry.

Me: You cut all those cars. GO TO THE BACK OF THE LINE NOW, OR LATER.

She looked dead ahead and tuned out. I got in my car, wrote down her plate #, my cell # and sent my son for a walk to the patrol officer at the front of the line to flag her once our fleet arrived (me, her and two witnesses). About 45 minutes of staring at her Bremertonian framed plate (gold Honda Civic) seething with sentiments of how unfair this crap is, the patrolman SENT HER PACKIN’ TO THE BACK OF THE LINE!

I have seen a few cutters get away with this. Not this time. There is justice in the world sometimes, even if the victory is this small. It is integrity. It is the principle. This is not anarchy.

Just don’t do it. And don’t let people get away with this. If there are exceptions, that’s for these folks to take up with the ferry and WSP workers.

Do you see the new sign?

Tube Art truck cometh; Tube Art truck taketh away. Et voila, a sleek, new eletronic Thriftway sign rises in the place of its olde timey marquee. And I don’t dislike it at all. It’s tastefully done, as lighted electric billboards go. It gets my attention in a good way. Snoqualmie cones were a quarter off yesterday. See, it even had recall for me! Success already, Thriftway. I always got the willies watching the willowy employees hiking the ladder to switch out messaging. 

So here we are, entering a new era of Vashon Hwy electronic signage.  We shall see who follows!

Three brave Whulgers on a recent afternoon: Laurie Stewart, Theo Krah, and Lynne Cadigan. Photo: Scott Bonney

Wander over to the Burton Coffee Stand and ask the klatsch in the Adirondack chairs “Where’s Whulge Beach?” and undoubtedly, one diehard Burtoner is going to look at you like you’re a tourist. Which this writer, in essence, was. Just south of the four-way stop sign, beyond the road’s curve was the very beach Scott Bonney was mentioning for sunny afternoon swims.

The Whulgers, a loosely knit, open water swim group that occasionally finds its way to the Beachcomber pages, found its way to this blog because Scott invited its blogger to swim with the minnows. She did. It’s pretty fun! One just can’t be afraid of current, jellies, or cold-ish water. Swim as little or as much as you like. It’s self-paced, mutually supportive, and those who fear commitment need not worry. Do what you like. Wetsuit, goggles, cap, earplugs or none of it…it’s all your choice.

Love swimming in open water and want to buddy up with the Whulgers?

Go to the GoogleGroup here to get on the ListServe.

I would like to raise another question: What happened to Dayna Rogers?

Did anyone notice that in late May Dayna was the poster child–even depicted on the Beachcomber’s front page– for being Vashon Pool’s manager, bringing in a template program, getting ops underway and then suddenly once things are running, she’s no longer needed? I bought a family pass for summer 2010 BECAUSE Dayna was running things, and I knew I’d get great lessons for the kids under her team, and be assured of a consistent, safe and respectful operation. When I inquired with Dayna about what gives, she couldn’t fully articulate it because she was still trying to figure it out, too.  Today, she’s coaching, working at VAC and I’ve even chased her to the Vashon Country Club so my kids can enjoy her instruction.

I am sorry the lifeguard lost his job for not following protocol, and I understand how it feels (literally) to get brushed on by a stranger in a pool. Given the molestation incident that happened at that pool last year I’m guessing the lifeguard erred on the side of defense. All good intentions.

It’s a wonderful pool. I hope the staff members we grow to know and love can stick around.

This young fellow, Zach, incoming 7th grader at McM, is donating his new Sector 9 youth skateboard to be live auctioned during the event. He rode it for two hours–it is essentially pristine and ready for some skater to shred it to toothpicks as the board rightly should be! The retail value is $150, and sitting in a child’s closet it does nothing but gather dust. So somebody out there spread the word there’s an awesome skateboard to be had in which ALL the funds will go to BARC. That’s love, people! Thank you, Zachy (from mama).

Lance, to the right.

That’s when you REALLY feel like the world is shrinking. Lance Morgan. Mariners v. Angels. Diamond Club.  Yesterday (June 6). Fun!

Passerby chatting with one of a couple recent sign-holders

I’m intrigued. I’ll bite. But I’m not about to get preachy. Having lived in cities with massive homeless and hungry populations (San Diego, San Fransicso, and Honolulu), I’ve passed many a cardboard sign in my day unfazed. But on Vashon? Fazed. And two on the same day? Conspiracy theorist fazed!

Not something you see often on Vashon: the cardboard sign

Eric Wyatt, imposed via clever graphic design

Eric Wyatt, come on down!

Your new Point Robinson lighthouse keeper, Eric Wyatt, is also known as the Vashon Dreamboats calendar guy, father of two adorable kids, that tall dude on the P.O. boat, avid cyclist, yoga disciple, the dry-witted Facebooker and a native Iowan. Let’s congratulate Mr. Wyatt on his recent appointment. It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.

The swarm successfully housed at the left; Amy and David are done!

No, I mean literally “buzz.”  The next couple weeks are the testy ones for crowded, productive, ready-to-run bees bursting with new queens. This can be an outcropping of just really, really prolific bees or not checking the hive frequently in spring, or a combination of both. I’m just repeating what the beekeepers say, and have had the luxury of seeing it on video in my own backyard last year. You can too, right here. So…history repeats itself in some ways, but with people to help you (and answer the call), the swarm of bees can still be housed.

This weekend on the Vashon Beekeepers list serve, a call for assistance went out by Wax Orchard residents Amy Greenberg and Chris Robison. Their bees swarmed and were hovering about 15 feet up in a fir tree just yards from their garden. David (Skrzypek, a carpenter at SDS and hobbyist beekeeper–and my husband!) was excited to take on the challenge–a careful rigging of ladders, buckets, bee suit and all–to house the honey bees and help Amy establish a second hive on her property (whose garden plot is also serving as the Vashon Community Food Bank’s garden–a whole other wonderful post waiting for another time!). After rallying this-n-that for a second hive (stacking supers to make a decent bee box, frames, etc), the mission was successful. Afterward, Chris and Amy warmly fed us a homemade Navy bean soup, farmstead style, on their lovely back porch. Suddenly, new friends come from David reaching out to strangers. Let that pseudo Seattle Nice be damned! This is the wonder of Vashon.

Your blogger suited up and took pictures, and silently fought off a panic attack as the bees swirled all around us.

4th super down at the bottom and still healthy activity

Checking Amy's existing hive--very, very packed with goodness

Amy Greenberg and Chris Robison, realtors and "backyard" beekeepers

David heads down with the excluder bucket o' bees

Chris steadies the ladder as David ascends

The swarm in the upper center of the photo.

I got it this morning and nearly sprayed my morning coffee all over my monitor in shock. This little island? Police getting rough? On sweet Jess? Seriously?!

Here’s Mardi’s email, verbatim:

Dear Islanders,

Yes, I am writing to you in a call for help!  Friday night, of our much loved First Friday gallery walk, turned out to be a much larger scene than us Islanders would like to experience in our quiet comfortable community of neighbors.  Some of you might have already heard of the citizen vs. police brawl up town Vashon on Friday night as people were strolling around checking out this months offerings.  As far as I’ve heard the situation was blown to extreme proportions by a few overly ambitious officers that decided that talking problems out wasn’t going to be an option for them that night. Instead, a few fairly violent occurrences happened which include taking down one of our favorite peeps Chef Jessica Dewire from The Gusto Girls.  Jess and two other co-softball players were walking across the main highway in the center of town from their team sponsor after having after game burgers and ended up being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  

They were told to stop and they did, but for some reason Jessica was thrown to the ground face down, punched, and then had mace sprayed in her face.  As Jess tried to protect herself from the macing she scratched one of the officers in the face and was then arrested for assault and hauled off to jail, where she will sit until Monday at 2:30 for her arraignment. From other reports she was not the only person that experienced unusual force.

There are other factors that as a community we should be very concerned about. One is that the police brutality that we so often see on the news these days has crept onto our peaceful little home. The mob of bystanders that witnessed the events leading up to and then after Jessica’s arrest that I have spoken to are quite adamant that the police on duty did not act in a non violent manner from the beginning.  The general concenses is that the whole sequence of events that evening were a prime example of police brutality.  Keep in mind that Jessica is NOT the only person nor was she the first person that the law had altercations with during gallery walk.

I myself will be in that court room tomorrow to show my support for Jessica, as well as any others that are there with her from the same event.  It is crutial that our police are held accountable for their bad behavior also.  The recent string of police killings is upsetting, but not a good reason to come to Vashon and treat our community like we’ve had a police hating history. If you would like me to take a letter of support with me tomorrow please email me before 10:30am. Even better would be your support in the court room. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this email.  I just couldn’t sit and do nothing this time.  It’s just not fair.  Unfortunely, this whole bad deal will probably end the ability for anyone other than liquor liscense holding establishments from being able to serve wine during art walk, as I’m sure the authorities will blame our behavior on that. We need to be present to stand up for our rights, we do have them.

Mardi Ljubich
Shefidgets Catering
and Sound Food

Following that was an email from Pamn Aspiri, warning that statements from eye witnesses are key. I, of course, am not an eyewitness, but here’s her thoughtful note:

I love Jessica.

The police were out of line.

People who are calm and WITNESSED the event should go to court or write letters explaining exactly what they saw.

People who are only going on “hearsay” (Vashon Rumor Mill) would probably be ignored or might  actually hurt the case.

I was present the night this all went down, and though I did not witness it first-hand, I  am fairly clear on what actually happened from talking to the two main witnesses at the scene and speaking to Officer Kurt Lyson as well. As Jess’s softball manager and friend I was concerned and wanted to help her. The accounting below is not quite correct. It leaves out some crucial information and adds some untruths. Ever play the game “telephone” when you were a kid?

This I do know:

• We all love Jessica.
• We all want to help her.
• We want to address police conduct on Vashon.
• We need to do it in a calm and informed manner so we are taken seriously.
• We have gathered contact information  from eye-witnesses at the scene to help support Jessica’s case.
• We made sure that statements were taken that night by officer Lyson from eye-witnesses, not by the overtown officers.
• We can show support for her but I caution people to keep the story to themselves unless they actually saw what happened.
• Inflammatory or inaccurate information  won’t help Jess and could possibly make things worse.
• Thirty years here has taught me to be very cautious about “news” on Vashon Island. We all love Jessica, and we want to help.

Think about how you can best help her.

Thanks for taking the time to read this if you did.

Pamn Aspiri

Coop Tour 2010 at Fowl Play Farm on the South End

This weekend, you’ll want to catch the coop tour if you’re planning on keeping backyard chickens, or just want to amuse mom on Mother’s Day Weekend. Saturday and Sunday, this benefit for Interfaith Council on Homelessness will feature five coops. Here’s a video tour of one of them..that my husband David and son, Zach, built over the course of an early, wet spring.

Island sound guru and laidback promoter Ruben Arnot of Rez 1 Productions (I dare you to ask him about his nickname!) has already assembled a raucous lot for what promises to be his biggest and best Vashon Island Music Festival yet!

Here’s what we know:

In the spirit of the great outdoor concerts (think Woodstock and Lollapalooza !) this year’s show will feature 24 bands and artists over three days. Held on the weekend of July 30 to Aug. 1, shows start at 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Concerts end at dusk each day. This year the venue will move from its former Agren home to Paradise Ridge Equestrian Park, with the addition of camping available for the public.

The 2009 event at Agren Parklast featured 21 bands over the three days. V.I.M.F. is proud to feature a majority of local or locally affiliated bands for a real hometown showcase. Returning favorites include:

• John Browne
• Radio Daddyo
• Resonance
• 5:01
• Subconscious Population
• Trolls Cottage and many more

Visit rez1productions.com for updated band roster and more info

Earlier I posted about Roxy Hathaway’s and Nancy Scott-Wienker’s intent to join Annalisa Lafayette of the shop, Good Merchandise, in her move to the a shopfront next door to The Hardware Store—the three planned on forming Good Merchandise and Friends. Well…the best laid plans…yeah.

Rox and Nanc are hanging back after all, and Annalisa will enjoy her very own, wonderful new space on the main drag. So that’s it.

 -h

There have been several promising breakthroughs relating to the neurological condition, putting research fundraising as a top priority as the Society edges toward the causes of and cures for MS.

Catch the KOMO4 news clip of the Vashon team at MS Walk in the very beginning of the footage here.

There is an Island support group with more than 20 members living with MS. They meet for lunch the first Friday of every month. Contact Heidi throught the Beachcomber office to learn details.

In just four days we’ve managed to raise $3,100 and counting! Thanks go to Islanders close to us and anonymous donors who’ve rallied for the cause. You can read the personal stories of two Islanders dealing in different stages of MS here and here. Follow the links on those links to take you through more information.

Way to go, Vashon!

Vashon Ultra is coming up as a summer event for the endurance-enabled, running elite. 50K and 10 miles, this event is currently rallying for volunteers and you could be one of them!

Here is a tad of the info from VashonUltra.com. You can pull Bruce Cyra aside the next time you catch him in motion if you have questions! LOL

Don’t forget tonight is Oscar Night (on a completely unrelated note!), if you want the fun to take you through the evening.

VSS noted more than half of its 2010 participants were snowboarders, which saw more females learning the sport. The median age for participants is 14. The program is for those ages 8 and up.  Sign up for 2010-11 through the Vashon Park District in fall 2010.