2013-2014 destination vashon

Destination Destination

The

island

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you!

www.vashonbeachcomber.com || 2013–2014 3

Destination Vashon

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Th e Good Life.It’s Just A Ferry Ride Away.Th e Good Life.It’s Just A Ferry Ride Away.

Th e Best of Puget SoundIf this is your fi rst visit to Vashon Island, you’re about to discover one of the best-kept secrets on

Puget Sound. A fi ft een-minute ferry ride from either Seattle or Tacoma, Vashon Island off ers more than fi ft y miles of saltwater beaches, acres of rolling pastures, breathtaking views along its country

roads, and majestic forests. Th e thriving community off ers a full range of services, top-rated schools, and encourages active involvement at every cultural level from the arts to the environment.

Finding Your Own “Best Place”I came to Vashon in 1976, seeking a quieter, more open place to live and garden. Zoned rural in 1971 (a move which restricted subdivision enormously), the island is the same size as Manhattan and has a population of 10,000+ permanent residents. As the designated broker/owner of Windermere Vashon,

I represent all types of properties, focusing on listing high-end waterfront and estate settings and buyers’ agency. When you are ready to explore, come and talk to me!

Th e Good Life Can Be Yours - On Vashon Island.

Beth de GroenCRS, GRI206-463-9148 x206


contents

Buy what you want. Rent what you needSM.

SERVING THE VASHON COMMUNITY SINCE 1977

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12 | Arts and entertainment

19 | Vashon Opera rivals city theater

23 | Burton: A hamlet by the harbor

24 | Cycling: Thrills and hills

25 | Running: Take on a race

26 | Enjoy island-made spirits

28 | Farmers Market: A Saturday bounty

30 | Farm stands offer local produce

36 | Beaches galore

37 | Kayak in a paddler’s paradise

38 | Whales: A shoreline delight

41 | Virginia V: Take a ride back in history

46 | Island hikes: Walk in the woods

50 | A dog-friendly island

53 | Traveler’s guide: Helpful information

54 | Bike in the Tree mystifies

59 | Places to stay: A B&B listing

64 | Strawberry Festival and other fun

66 | Dining: A restaurant listing

72 | Fun abounds for kids

73 | Calendar of events

8 | Vashon by the Season: Enjoy a getaway any time of year By Susan McCabe

16 | Open Space: A big, bold and sometimes magical venue By Elizabeth Shepherd

20 | Artistry in Burton: A new shop showcases color and design

By Rebecca Wittman

34 | Raccoon Island: It’s a love-hate relationship

By Natalie Johnson

42 | Living History: The pioneer families of Vashon By Verna Everitt

56 | A walk through time: Vashon’s colorful, quirky cemetery

By Leslie Brown

CONTENTS Special Featuresshort takes and more|

Cindy Koch Photo

6 Destination Vashon || 2013–2014

welcome to Vashon

www.WindermereVashon.com

Let us help you find your perfect Island home..

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17233 Vashon Hwy SW | PO Box 1867 | 206-463-9148 Windermere Real Estate Vashon-Maury Island, LLC

Knowledgeable Caring Committed Professional

PublisherDaralyn Anderson

EditorLeslie Brown

Design & ProductionNance Scott, Dennis Clouse

MarketingDaralyn Anderson

WritersLeslie Brown, Verna Everitt, Natalie Johnson,

Susan McCabe, Elizabeth Shepherd, Rebecca Wittman

PhotographersLeslie Brown, Jeff Dunnicliff,

Martin Halliwell, Natalie Johnson, Cindy Koch, Rondi Lightmark, Kristi Lloyd, Ralph Moore, Ray Pfortner,

Robert Teagardin, Mike Urban, David Weller

Destination Vashon is a publication of the

Cover design by Nance ScottCover photos: girl running, Ann Lennsen; kayaker, Ray Pfortner;

flowers, Ray Pfortner; river otter, Cindy Koch To get reprints of these or any other pictures found in Destination

Vashon, email The Beachcomber at [email protected].

Destination Vashon is published annually by Sound Publishing, owner of The

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber. No part of this publication may be reprinted without permission. For additional copies, call (206) 463-9195 or e-mail [email protected]. ©2013 Sound Publishing.


welcome to Vashon

The Amiad Advantage:

Emma AmiadOur Mission:

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Amiad & Associates

Destination Vashon is our annual tribute to this place we call home — a chance to consider why some 11,000 souls put up with ferry lines, scant services and high gas prices to live on an island in the sound.

Peruse these pages, and it’s easy to see why.

In part, it’s the sheer beauty of the place. Winding roads that give rise to sweep-ing vistas. Expansive beaches dotted with driftwood. A patchwork of pastures and woods, barns and cottages that suggests a simpler time.

In part, it’s the community. What happens when you take 11,000 people and put them on an island in the maritime Northwest, where the win-ter nights are long? A lot, it turns out. Opera, art, theater, music, sophisticated lectures, book readings, wine tastings,

cookie contests and com-munity gatherings of every stripe. A fount of creativity seems to exist on this island, nurtured by rain, fog, fresh air and beauty.

In this issue of Destination Vashon, we try to give a feel for what awaits you on this small island in the sound — from hikes to beachcombing, galleries to thrift shops. But this is not just a publication for visitors. Those who have already carved out their island niche will find gems in the pages that follow as well.

We begin our tour of the Island with a piece by Susan McCabe, a longtime islander who seems to know Vashon from the inside out and tells of some of the surprises that await visitors as well as island residents all year round.

Drink it in. The island awaits you.

Our island home

Ray Pfortner Photo

Will You Fall in Love?It can happen the moment you drive off the ferry and onto this beautiful island. Something stirs

your soul and you feel like you are home at last. I know the feeling. Let me share my experience, my community connections and my expertise. Vashon is a dream come true.

SUSAN LOFLAND, REALTOR© GRI, SRES, ASP

(206) 999-6470 susanlofl [email protected] JOHN L SCOTT VASHON 13401 VASHON HIGHWAY SW VASHON, WA 98070

Island life, by the seasonsEnjoy a quick getaway, to a

world separate and apartBY SUSAN MCCABE

visiting Vashon

Cindy Koch Photo


It’s a known fact that weekends as they are now constructed just don’t cut it. You hustle five days to make your contribution to American produc-

tivity just to get to Friday, when you’re finally free to do what you want.

And to get the kind of weekend you’ve earned in those five days of hustling, you need to get far away. But who’s got time to make a faraway trip on a weekend? You do, if you come to Vashon Island. It’s the perfect weekend getaway — a mere 20 minutes by ferry and an easy commute from Seattle, Tacoma, the Kitsap Peninsula, even Bellevue. What’s more, it’s a scientific fact that weekends last longer on Vashon-Maury Island. Why? Because there’s so much here to engage you that time loses its meaning, no matter what time of year you visit.

Consider first, of course, summer, Vashon’s “busy” season (the word in quotation marks because busy on Vashon is hardly busy by city standards). Drive your car onto the ferry and take a deep breath. In front of you there’s nothing but Puget Sound’s slate blue waters and, beyond that, the forested knob that’s Vashon Island. Chances are, you’ll feel your blood pressure drop, and by the time the ferry lands, you’re on Island Time.

Drive to your one-of-a-kind vacation rental (we have more than 55 on Vashon — see a listing on pages 59 to 63), drop your bags, step outside and take in the view. Beach, forest, pasture, even town — almost any view on Vashon showcases the island’s beauty.

But don’t let this sleepy island fool you. On an average Friday night in the high season, you can choose from several venues offer-ing a range of music — rock, folk, bluegrass, chorale, opera or jazz, indoors and out. Saturday morning, partake of the abundance at

the Farmers Market (see page 28), a lively scene where you can buy island-grown organic produce, meats, even wines, bread and cheese, as well as special gifts for those poor souls you left behind.

Take that picnic you just got at the Farmers Market and rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard on the Burton Peninsula (see page 37). Paddle off onto the sparkling waters of Quartermaster Harbor. There are plenty of beaches to accommodate your picnic lunch before you return the boats. After all that fresh air and sunshine, you might be ready for a nap — or you might enjoy moseying through the eclectic mix of galleries and shops in Vashon town until you close your day dining at one of Vashon’s fine restaurants. Choose from upscale American, Northwest specialties, gourmet Thai, pizza, burgers, vegetarian and more.

Wake up late and refreshed Sunday morning and ease yourself into brunch, then wallow in nature with a hike through one of the island’s many and varied trails. You can engage one of Vashon’s birding experts to show you hidden Audubon treasures or give your dog a beach run. Most of Vashon is dog friendly to friendly dogs.

If you come to Vashon during the Strawberry Festival in July (see page 64), Friday night launches a full weekend of music from Northwest artists, including a majority of island-grown talent at outdoor stages. The Strawberry Festival boasts a beer garden or two, street vendors galore, wine and jazz for those inclined, a carnival, booths overflowing with island-grown art and two parades, one Saturday and another on Sunday.

The Point Robinson Lighthouse on Maury Island’s tip is a favor-ite spot for island visitors, especially during the Low Tide Festival, this year to be held June 23. Free Sunday lighthouse tours, May

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through September, start at 1 p.m., led by Vashon’s own sea captain, a lively fellow named Joe Wubbold (known affectionately as Captain Joe by most islanders). You’ll go home from your summer weekend feeling as though you’ve been to a world apart — relaxed, refreshed and filled with your own

tales to tell.Autumn offers up other delights to those

seeking a quick getaway, starting with the Vashon Sheep Dog Classic, this year to be held Sept. 13 to 15 (see page 65). Highly trained sheepdogs from across the country demonstrate their finesse at controlling

small herds of wily lambs, traversing more than 30 acres of rolling hills fringed by firs. The event — now in its fourth year — wel-comes visitors from all over to picnic and marvel at these working dogs.

CiderFest, the second weekend in October, offers fresh-pressed apple cider, homemade apple crisp and information about apples all day at the Famers Market. Partake of the harvest abundance from island farmers and crafters, then dance the night away at a Barn Dance with all the hard cider — and local wine — you can sample, plus a scrumptious island-grown meal. Stay the night in a secluded B&B, and rise to discounted brunch specials at island restaurants and shops.

Hunters are invited to thin the deer population in Island Center Forest during a limited deer hunt in late October and early November. Hunters must purchase a modern firearm hunting license. Bows and arrows, crossbows, muzzleloaders, revolver-type handguns and shotguns are allowed, while all other uses of the forest are prohibited.

Halloween on Vashon is reputed to rival the West Hollywood celebration, but with a family theme. The main street through

Ray Pfortner Photo

The Point Robinson lighthouse, which boasts a beautiful Fresnel lens, is worth a summertime visit. The lighthouse is open for free tours every Sunday from May to September.


visiting Vashon

Music Comedy Film Theater Opera Dance Art Heritage

The website for all the happeningson Vashon Island

music, art, fi lm, theater, dance, comedy, charity

The scene at your fi ngertips in one location without all the other mumbo jumbo

but don’t take our word for it,check it out yourself!

town is closed for ghosts, goblins and ghouls of all ages. Impromptu parades break out after dark, and haunted houses lure the daring.

Or take advantage of cooler temperatures for bicycling the island’s popular on- and off-road trails, or do some horseback riding in the woods.

Winter on Vashon is the place to make your holiday dreams come true. Come to Vashon for the Artists’ Studio Tour the first and second weekends of December, when you get to step into the cottages, yurts, sheds and studios where art is cre-ated. Make it your goal to visit all the studios on the tour — usually more than 30 — and take the whole weekend to do it. Art and artists are Vashon’s most bountiful product, and the Studio Tour makes a daz-zling display of them. This is your chance to meet the artists, see their processes up close and purchase their distinctive cre-ations at wholesale prices. Combine the Studio Tour with your Christmas tree hunt and you’ve checked off your list for the year, mall-free.

For a uniquely peaceful winter getaway, spend a weekend huddled before a cheerful

fire in one of our hidden vacation rentals. Bring that book you’ve been trying to find the time to read — or bring your book club. Bundle up in the afternoon to circle Fisher Pond’s bird sanctuary. In the evening, sip

wine from a local winery and let the quiet sink in.

Spring on Vashon bursts into bloom with boundless Northwest color. Our gardeners are artists in their full glory this time of year. Come for the Solstice weekend tour of selected gardens, and add an airplane ride over the island to take in the color like one big painting. Spring also hosts ballet performances from two island dance orga-nizations and special exhibits at the Vashon Heritage museum. Island farms at this time of year have piglets, chicks, lambs and kid goats to share with visitors and plenty of organic greens for sale at the farm stands.

Spring is a great time to tour the Seven Wonders of Vashon, from the bike in the tree to the UFO at Vashon’s Municipal Airport. And during May’s first and second weekends, artists once again fling open their studios to visitors.

Vashon Island is a sleepy hamlet with a big secret — it’s only sleepy if that’s what you want. Spend a weekend discovering the little secrets Vashon holds for visitors.

— Susan McCabe, a longtime islander, runs an island concierge service called

Vashon Vacations.

Ray Pfortner Photo

Tomatoes are a staple at Vashon’s bustling Farmers Market in late summer.

Vashon is something of a mecca for art-ists, luring painters, sculptors, photog-raphers, potters, tile-makers and more. And it’s particularly delightful on the first Friday of each month, when galler-ies, retail shops, even restaurants open their doors for an evening of artistic cel-ebration. Musicians often play, and food is sometimes served. Where to look for art? Here are a few suggestions.

Vashon Allied Arts Gallery19704 Vashon Highway S.W.Situated in the Blue Heron Arts Center about two miles south of town, the VAA Gallery hosts shows nearly every month, and it’s a happening scene during the

First Friday Gallery Cruise each month. Visit www.vashonalliedarts.org.

Ignition Studios17630 Vashon Highway S.W. Ignition is located in a 1939 four-bay auto shop, which became a collab-orative arts space a couple years ago. Today, this all-purpose gallery with

rustic retro charm is home to numer-ous local artist and craftspeople. It also hosts classes and drop-in demonstra-tions. Visit www.ignitionartists.com for more information.

Raven’s Nest17635 Vashon Highway S.W.This small, bustling shop showcases Northwest Coast Native art, much of it created by Tlingit Master Carver Israel Shotridge, a Vashon resident. Visit its Facebook page for more information.

VALISE17633 Vashon Highway S.W.This collective, located in the heart of town, shows a provocative mix of art, often with a humorous, ironic or activ-ist bent. Sometimes fine art adorns the wall, other times mind-bending installa-tions. See www.valisegallery.org.


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short takes Galleries

FIRST FRIDAY Enjoy Vashon’s art walk on the first Friday of every month. It usually runs from 6 to 9 p.m. See the arts section of The Beachcomber for details.

Karen Hersh at work at Ignition Studios.


arts

19704 Vashon Hwy SW206.463.5131

VashonAlliedArts.org

Vashon Allied Arts is the island’s premier arts organization, a venerable institution that has been showcasing art, music, the-ater and dance for more than 40 years.Community favorites — “The Nutcracker” every December, a New Works series featuring aspiring island artists and a Family Series that delights young audiences — have made VAA part of the fabric of the island. Recently, it added a new crowd-pleaser to its lineup — an arts and humanities lecture series that brings regional luminaries to the island. It also now hosts a chamber music series, often featuring guest performers from the Seattle Symphony and other regional stars. And its annual Garden Tour, a fundraiser for VAA, gives people from around the region a glimpse into some of Vashon’s loveliest gardens. VAA is situated about two miles south of town in the Blue Heron Arts Center, a historic structure built by the Odd Fellows 100 years ago. The building, rich in character, holds both a small gallery and small theater, and on any given day, it’s a hub of activity: Dance classes take place upstairs, the gallery’s rotat-ing exhibits are on display, events — dance, drama, jazz and more — occur nearly every weekend. VAA has grown over the years, and the arts organization is in the midst of a significant fundraising campaign in the hope of

building a 20,000-square-foot performing arts center. The Blue Heron won’t go away, however. Under the current plans, the white-washed, clapboard building will house the organization’s administrative offices.

VASHON ALLIED ARTSA hub for art, dance, music and more

Courtesy photo

Kids dance at a VAA Family Series event featuring Caspar Babypants, aka Chris Ballew.

VAA’s two biggest fundraisers are its Garden Tour, June 22-23, and its auction, Sept. 20-21. See the calendar on page 73 for other upcoming events. Visit www.vashonallied arts.org or call 463-5131 for more information.


arts

short•takes» Art Studio Tour

Vashon’s Art Studio Tour started some 25 years ago as a way for the island’s small pottery community to sell its wares. Over the years, the tour has grown into a rich and thriving twice-yearly tradi-tion. These days, as many as 100 artists throw open the doors to their studios, inviting the public to come in and have a look.

Visitors can step into a glass-blowing studio and watch a vet-eran glass-blower at work, a yurt on a small working farm where delicate Ukrainian eggs are painted, a cottage where a potter works at her wheel and a home where a celebrated jeweler sells intricate silver bells. Textiles, candles, pottery, paintings, jewelry, blown glass, tiles, garden art and painted furniture are among the creations Vashon’s prodigious arts community produces.

The tour takes place twice a year — in May, the quieter of the two tours, and in December. Both give visitors an opportunity to purchase original artwork and support small-scale, local artists. The tour is also a wonderful way to see the island: Many of the studios are tucked in the woods or perched above the water in intimate, private settings. Each stop along the way is like stepping into another world.

Organizers of the tour issue a detailed map several weeks prior to the event. Visit www.VashonIslandArtStudioTour.com to learn more or to download the map.

f

Leslie Brown PhotoCory Winn, who makes glazed tiles and vases, at work in her studio during a recent studio tour. Above, one of her intricately designed vases.

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arts

artist collective & gallery17633 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon 98070

www.valisegallery.org

MUSIC ON THE ROCKEvery weekend, it seems, Vashon’s venues are alive with the sound of music — from folk and rock to chamber and opera. Consider what the island has to offer: Its own opera company, an 80-person chorale, a choir that sings world music, two

chamber orchestras, dozens of small, independent bands and its own beloved big band, the Portage Fill (a name inspired by geogra-phy — Maury and Vashon are one island, thanks to a fill installed near-ly a century ago at Portage). The Red Bicycle Bistro & Sushi — known as The Bike among locals — is one of the island’s hot spots, a place that’s rocking most weekends with an eclectic lineup featuring players from Vashon and beyond.

The bistro features every kind of music, including rock, country and reggae. It also has a full menu — from burgers to sushi.Vashon Allied Arts brings an impressive lineup of local, national and even international acts to its intimate stage at the Blue Heron Arts Center. Jazz, classical, chamber music or vocal soloists are on tap nearly every weekend.The Open Space for Arts & Community is a warehouse-turned-arts space that brings a remarkable variety of acts — from hip hop to jazz to Hawaiian slack-key guitar.

Ian Moore, a popular Vashon musician, often plays at The Bike. Drama Dock: Great community theater

Jeff Dunniclif f Photo

Marshall Murray in a scene from Drama Dock’s “Black Comedy.”

Drama Dock, now in its 37th year, is an Island institution — a community theater company that showcases Vashon’s remark-able theatrical talent. Every year, the organization presents a full season of plays and musicals and in recent years has added a vibrant new program — Drama Dock’s Youth Theatre Initiative.

This summer, the small but ambitious group will produce Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” a production that promises to be one of its best. Performances will be July 19 to 21 and 25 to 28 at Bethel Church, located at 14736 S.W. Bethel Lane (at the corner of 119th S.W. and S.W. 148th).


arts

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The wonderful world of ‘Open Space’A new venue adds to Vashon’s artistic vibrancy BY ELIZABETH SHEPHERD

Jeff Dunniclif f Photo


arts

There’s a place on Vashon where aerialists fly through the air, kinetic sculptures whirl and turn, big bands blow their horns and all

kinds of other magical things happen.For the past four years, that place has been the Open Space for

Arts & Community — a former SBC coffee warehouse retrofitted to serve as a vibrant home for Vashon’s arts and nonprofit communi-ties. Auctions, celebrations, and theatrical and musical presentations have all taken place there, as well as classes and all shapes and sizes of community events.

But long before the crowds began to show up, the space existed in the imaginations of two intrepid islanders, Open Space co-founders Janet McAlpin and David Godsey.

When the pair, who are life partners, first laid eyes on the empty warehouse in 2004, they saw a world of possibilities.

“We couldn’t stop talking about it,” Godsey said, recalling the heady time immediately after they discovered and then purchased the raw space. “That was it.”

The cavernous building, tucked a few blocks off Vashon Highway just outside town, had more than 9,000 square feet of wide-open space and ceilings high enough to accommodate the trapezes, ropes and rigging essential to McAlpin’s artistry as an acrobat and aerial-ist and the couple’s work as founders of UMO Ensemble, a local physical theater troupe. But beyond that, McAlpin and Godsey were also able to visualize the space as a place that could serve the dreams and ambitions of other islanders, as well.

Now, the Open Space for Arts & Community has turned into much the kind of venue they imagined, a community anchor as well

as a location for arts happenings. And many events that have taken place there — including performances and galas that have attracted upwards of 600 people — simply couldn’t have taken place were it not for the size and flexibility Open Space offers.

Some of those events give more than a hint as to the island’s dis-position and leanings.

The first event ever held at Open Space was a 2008 election night party for supporters of Barack Obama — a gathering that drew hordes of ecstatic islanders. Another celebratory event that drew a standing-room-only crowd was a 2011 victory bash marking the successful end of a 13-year battle to block Glacier Northwest’s efforts to expand its gravel mining operation on Maury Island.

Islanders have also flocked to the venue for fundraisers for Vashon’s PTSA, Vashon Island Pet Protectors, The Harbor School, the Backbone Campaign and UMO Ensemble. According to records kept by Open Space staff, fundraisers held in the space have gar-nered more than $1.1 million for island organizations.

Other programming for the space is originated by McAlpin, Godsey and the small staff of Open Space, as well as community members who can rent the space or partner with Open Space to present their own big ideas.

“This is a great place to make your dreams come true,” McAlpin said. “Whatever you are dreaming about, come do it here. We’re big, we’re flexible and we’re fun.”

UMO Ensemble has premiered new pieces and revived old ones in the space, and McAlpin has launched a new burlesque series there. High school students have filled it for three raucous “Sharing

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80


artsthe Stage” concerts featuring Seattle rappers Macklemore, Blue Scholars and The Physics. Increasingly, Open Space is being used as a music venue: Recent concerts have boasted evenings with Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Makana, Seattle jazz innovator Bill Frisell, award-winning island composer Eyvind Kang and the string orchestra Scrape.

Open Space has a high-end sound sys-tem designed by islander Bob Moses, who donated his time to install the system because he believes so strongly in McAlpin and Godsey’s vision for the space.

“They are doing this for the community,” he said.

Other technical accoutrements for the venue have been put in place. Early on, Godsey and McAlpin were able to purchase, at a sizable discount, what Godsey called a world-class lighting system, made up of 180 lighting instruments once used by the Pacific Northwest Ballet. The velvet cur-tains and many of the theater seats in the space were also donated.

A peek at Open Space’s online calendar reveals a lot of things coming up — their

second annual “Open Air” aerial festival, slated to take place in August in a meadow outside the space, an interactive sculpture exhibition that will start during Strawberry Festival weekend, social dances featuring the island’s Portage Fill big band and a camp for kids that combines science and comedy. And at times, Godsey says, the space will take on a club atmosphere, as a DJ spins records for islanders who want to dance the night away. Celebrations are also planned for both the summer and winter solstices, and a new series, called “Sundays at 4,” will draw islanders to the venue for an eclectic lineup of entertainment.

Beyond those events, Godsey and McAlpin both said, there are sure to be other surprises — shows and events that well up from minds of creative community members.

“This is about listening to what people want to do and saying yes,” said Godsey.

— Elizabeth Shepherd is The Beachcomber’s arts editor.

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WE FEATURE:

Jeff Dunniclif f

David Godsey and Janet McAlpin at a recent event.Learn more about Open Space and its schedule of events by visiting www.openspacevashon.com or calling the office at 408-7241.


arts

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Vashon has become known as a haven for arts, and perhaps one of the island’s most stand-out artistic efforts is the Vashon Opera, a small opera company that turns out shows that rival big-city productions. It’s pretty rare that a place the size of Vashon would boast its own opera company. But after a pair of professional opera singers landed on the island, Vashon Opera was born — and since its inception, the company has drawn sellout crowds and considerable praise.Jennifer Krikawa, a willowy, full-throated soprano who hails from the East Coast, founded the company in 2009. Since then, she and her husband Andrew Krikawa (he’s a baritone) have produced nine full-scale operas — including “La Boheme,” “Madama Butterfly” and “The Tender Land.”The Krikawas have sung principal roles in each opera. They’ve been joined on stage by up-and-coming singers and well-known luminaries from the Northwest’s vibrant professional choral scene.This year’s fifth-anniversary season opens with “Die Fledermaus,” a German comedic operetta by Johann Strauss, sung in English. It will play Sept. 20 and 22 at the Vashon High School theater. In the spring, the company will put on “Werther,” a French opera that tells a tragic love story; it will be performed May 16 and 18 at Bethel Church. Jennifer Krikawa says both operas are different than any the company has done before. “I’m really excited about it,” she said. See www.vashonopera.org for show and ticket information.

short•takes»Opera

Courtesy Photo

Vashon Opera founder Jennifer Krikawa, left, sings with Charles Robert Austin and Sarah Mattox at a Vashon Opera gala.


Burton

Denise KatzManaging Broker

[email protected]

www.VashonHomeInfo.com

Direct: 206-390-9149

Windermere Real Estate Vashon-Maury Island, llc

Top Producer

Community Volunteer

Excellent Customer Service

In Burton, a new studio celebrates color, composition and artistry

THE BEAUTY OF BERGAMOT

BY REBECCA WITTMANMike Urban Photo


Burton

If Vashon Island had a mas-cot, it would be a dog named Lucky, the contented canine

who holds court at Bergamot Studio in Burton. Lucky came to his mistress, Kassana Holden, as a rescue dog and now finds himself on a giant pillow living the Vashon dream, surrounded by a kaleido-scope of color and textures and wonderful art, making a steady stream of new friends every day. Lucky is an apt metaphor for all of us who see ourselves as having been rescued from a hard-edged world and deposited into a cocoon of creative inspiration, supportive community and friends who give us the courage to step eagerly into an exciting next chapter.

“I’ve been welcomed in a way that was beyond my expectation,” Holden says, speaking, no doubt, for them both.

Bergamot Studio is a brilliantly diverse enterprise, at once a sophisticated shop and a textile design studio, tucked into the funky charm of the Burton commercial dis-trict. When Holden opened the business in October 2012, she faced a tall order: fill the revered dimensions of the old Masonic Hall and the former shoes of Silverwood Gallery. When that beloved art gallery closed, the Burton community held its breath, and the Masons crossed their fingers. Everyone wanted another arts-oriented tenant because of the long, happy history with Silverwood. Holden, who had just moved to the island, saw the for-lease sign on the Masons’ building.

“At first it seemed like it was out of reach, because I was primarily looking for stu-dio space,” she said. “But when I saw the space, I began to imagine the possibilities, … not only a studio but a shop-showroom attached to it.”

Holden is a mille-feuille of artistry, and when the shop threw open its doors, it reinforced the building’s role as an arts milieu as well as a community gathering

11YEARS

Proudly serving Vashon

Island since 2002.

Dogwood Associates is now

offering year-round accounting, tax,

and bookkeeping services.

Call us at 463-9995 or visit dogwoodassociates.com

Kristi Lloyd Photo

Kassana Holden and her dog Lucky, both of whom have landed happily in Burton.


Burtonplace. “I think people are really glad to see vibrancy come to this little corner again, and I’m hoping I can be a part of making more happen out of that,” she said. “I feel like Burton is where it’s happening on the island. It’s a great, vibrant place.”

Stepping from the historic covered porch onto polished bamboo floors delivers a visitor into a moment of real-time creativ-ity and smart commerce. To a first-time patron, the shop gives but a hint to the depth of artistry at work in there. “There’s a lot of patience required; the shop is not about turning over product every two months,” Holden said.

Handmade pillows, quirky objet d’art and antiques, Technicolor bud vases (those have a name: “Little Shirleys”), art print greet-ing cards, one-of-a-kind lighting, jewelry, silk scarves, sculpture, vintage photography books, textile collections for interiors. At first blush, it reminds one of a thoughtfully curated museum gift shop. It’s a showroom of sorts, showcasing the studio’s designs. But it’s also a gallery, featuring, in addi-tion to Holden’s work and the rest of the eclectic collection, a rotation of fine art from regional artists, each new show hew-ing to a color theme. (Recent exhibitions have included “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and “Indigo, Blues and the Abstract Truth.”) Step beyond the crisp white burlap drapes at mid-space, however, and one enters a world of serious textile development. Giant Epson printers and an “inspiration wall” suggest this is no ordinary home decor mer-cantile. Holden’s vision for the studio side of the business is to develop a line of home furnishings fabrics, wall-coverings and lighting that will be available “to the trade” and online.

Holden earned her undergraduate degree from Goddard College in Vermont, then studied drawing and printmaking at The Evergreen State College and industrial design and photography at the University of Washington.

“I started in textile design by pure hap-penstance,” she said. “I was invited to a meeting where there were maybe 20 other artists. A couple of women had started a textile design company. I’d never heard anything about textile design or anything about how fabrics were printed, and they basically taught us the business in a couple of weeks, … how it worked, how things

were designed, how things were sold, how things were developed.”

That was the beginning of Holden’s tex-tile design career, “and I really never looked back.” In the first month she sold 10 designs to the company, “which for a starving stu-dent was pretty incredible, so I thought ‘Wow! I’m just going to keep going and see where this goes.’”

From 1987 to 1999, she was a part-time instructor in the Apparel Design & Services Program at Seattle Central Community College, all the while honing her textile design portfolio. For 15 years she worked for Eddie Bauer Home, rising to design director and ultimately heading the licens-ing team for the home division. Her textile work was always present in some form in that alliance. When she left Eddie Bauer, she wanted to return to a more pure form of textile design, so she bought her first Epson wide-format inkjet printer, which prints on fabric, and began “a whole other adventure,” she said.

She found her way to Vashon through Mary Margaret Briggs, a celebrated Vashon artist and close friend who had been one of the artists in that original textile design studio. Over the years she’d stayed in touch with Briggs. “I came over for many meals and events and always felt like it was a lovely place to be,” she said, adding that she had always admired the arts community here and wanted to be a part of it. “This is a place where it’s really assumed that you can be working to your full creative potential.”

Holden’s work is a celebration of her dual passions for color and composition. It reveals a strong instinct for life’s serendipi-

ties and a keen eye for what honors the built world. The shop itself is a reflection of her quiet genius, respect for her peers and a firm grasp of the concept of white space in good design. “What I hear often when peo-ple come into the shop is that it’s very relax-ing and a very calm space.” Indeed, time spent in Bergamot Studio is like a mental holiday. The collection is accessible, engag-ing, confident but not dictatorial. The shop gives you permission to absorb the elegance around you, with no imperative to hurry up and make decisions or get going to the next place. “I want it to be a source of inspira-tion. … I want it to be personal,” she says.

Those who’ve met them would say Kassana Holden and Lucky are both liv-ing the Vashon dream. Burton is lucky to have this beautiful shop. And anyone who steps into Bergamot Studio is lucky for the chance to soak in the inspiring vision of this talented woman. Lucky, too, for the chance to be greeted by that sweet dog. He really should be our island’s official mascot.

— Rebecca Wittman is a writer and designer on Vashon who has a line of

clothing called The President of Me.

TO LEARN MORE Visit www.bergamotstudio.com or call 792-0476 to see what’s new in the shop and textile design studio. Bergamot Studio is located in Burton at 23927 Vashon Highway S.W.

Natalie Johnson Photo

“Little Shirleys,” bud vases in a range of colors, are one of the shop’s many offerings.

Perhaps because of its striking location, or maybe because of the merchants who have made it their place of business for so many years, Burton is a burg rich in personality.

Approach it with urban eyes, and it might seem inconsequential. Get to know it, and it becomes a place full of life.

These days, two commercial operations provide Burton’s anchor: The Harbor Mercantile, where Sandy rules, and the Burton Coffee Stand, a veritable meeting ground run by a barista named Kathy. (Last names? Don’t bother in Burton.)

The Merc, as locals call it, is a general store of the sort one doesn’t see much anymore — an eclectic mix that offers up everything from supplies for your boat to kitschy ceramics to nails and hardware. Oh yeah, there’s even food. As Will North, a writer and Burton resident, put it, “If they don’t carry it, you probably don’t need it.”

The Burton Coffee Stand, meanwhile,

is a social hub, with its brightly painted Adirondack chairs and wise-cracking collection of regulars. It makes a mean cup of joe.

Other places beckon. Lost & Found is a sophis-ticated thrift store, selling items on consignment that are old, colorful, stylish or simply cool. The Inn on Vashon provides four gracious rooms. And the Burton Community Church, a Baptist church with a decidedly liberal bent, opens its doors every Sunday morning.

Burton is situated in one of the most picturesque spots on the island, bracketed between inner Quartermaster Harbor, home to both a marina and a yacht club, and outer Quartermaster Harbor, a long and narrow bay.

Founded in 1892 by Miles Hatch,

Burton was once Vashon’s biggest town. Its wharf, which jutted into the bay on the southern edge of the burg, brought scores of visitors from Tacoma and Seattle. A hotel — recently restored as a private home by an extended Vashon family — was perched on that southern corner just above the wharf.

Topping it off was Vashon College, one of the first 10 colleges founded in the state, built in 1892 on the hillside to the west of Burton. A brick edifice, it was a going concern until 1906, when a dormitory fire demolished part of it. A crippling fire four years later proved its demise.

So drop by Burton. Grab a cup of coffee. And be sure to say hi to Sandy.


Burton

Custom Framing

Readymade Frames

Photo Albums

Mirrors

Computerized matcutter

(many design options)

Creative design suggestions

Custom ordering of prints & posters

Serving Vashon For Over 30 Years

9926 SW Bank Road (between PSCCU & Cafe Luna)www.vashonframeofmind.com 206-463-3933

Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 5 Closed Sunday & Monday

The charm of Burton

Passport to Pain | A hilly tour of Vashon


sports

Ed Palmer Construction, Inc.

Custom Homes & RemodelingQuality Work Since 1976

(206) 463-4111Cell (206) 571-4446

www.edpalmerconstruction.com

Harbor Mercantile (Burton Store)Harbor Mercantile (Burton Store)

Forget the Chilly Hilly, Bainbridge Island’s 33-mile bike ride with a vertical gain of a mere 2,675 feet. Cyclists who want to prove their mettle — and feel every aching muscle in their body the following day — should head to Vashon for the now-annual Passport to Pain. If one does the full 78-mile course, called, sardonically, “The Idiot,” one climbs 10,000 feet. But not to worry. Less ambi-tious cyclists can go for “The Weenie,” a 30-mile route with 3,400 feet of elevation gain.The Passport to Pain (or P2P) started a few years ago as a fundraiser for the Vashon Island Rowing Club, a robust program that supports Vashon’s excellent youth and adult teams. Still largely an island phenomenon, the event is start-ing to draw attention from serious athletes. Adventure cyclist Willie Wear came last year, writing a few days later on his blog, “Pain has never been so much fun.”The event — it’s not a race but a fundraiser — takes place on

Saturday, Sept. 14. And what a way to see the island.P2P’s circuitous course strings together Vashon’s steepest hills (27, all told), circumnavigating both Maury and Vashon island and visiting nearly every waterfront community with paved access along the way. The concept, as Wear said in his blog, is brilliant. Riders obtain a “passport” with a pledge of $100. That passport gets stamped at 18 strategic checkpoints along the route, “monitored by smiling locals and adorable kids,” Wear wrote. Every stamp gives the rider a $4 “rebate,” so that those who collect all 18 stamps end up making a contribution of only $20. (Many riders, however, forgo the rebate.)The ride begins and ends at the Jensen Boathouse on the Burton Peninsula. A barbecue tops off the affair. Last year, 124 cyclists attended, and the rowing club raised $9,000. Organizers expect a bigger response this year, now that it’s becoming known as the toughest bike ride in the region — a ride, organizers note, with an attitude.

EXTREME SPORTS Cycling and running Sure, Vashon’s mostly known as a bucolic place, with colorful artisans, alternative farmers and a laid-back vibe. But it’s also a place to get sweaty.Those looking for a physical chal-lenge should consider two increas-ingly popular events, the Passport to Pain (see vashoncrew.com/p2p) or the Ultramarathon & Trail Run (visit www.vashonultra.com).

Just want to take a nice little bike ride? Visit Vashon Island Bicycles in town at 9925 S.W. 178th St. to rent a bike and get some route suggestions. Or call 463-6225.

Cyclists climb the hill out of Gold Beach at last year’s P2P. David Weller Photo


sports

ESSENTIALS 4www.essentials4.net

Specializing in recycled and recyclable products

Specializing inEnjoying VashonIslandPurchase a Kite and

enjoy a great pastime!

Vashon Art Store

Thinking Games

Poetry... Short Story...Start your Book...

ISLANDSECURITYSELF STORAGE

“The Key to Your Storage Needs”Next to Post Office

206-463-0555vashonstorage.com

10015 SW 178th St.

Vashon’s Ultramarathon & Trail Run, now in its fourth year, takes runners on a beautiful course that wends through the island’s vast expanse of woods and parks, one of the few runs in the region that is almost entirely on trails. The event, scheduled for Saturday, June 8, includes two races — an ambitious 50-kilometer run and a simpler 10-mile one, both over terrain that can be tricky. Stations every five miles pro-vide water and morale boosts for participants. The race is certified by USA Track & Field and has strong local support: Last year, 45 percent of the entrants were islanders.

Ultramarathon | A run in the woods

Consider a triathlon Xterra will host a triathlon on Vashon on Sunday, July 7, an event that will include a half-mile swim, 12.4-mile bike ride and 3.5-mile foot race. Promoted by the Vashon Athletic Club, the event is another way to enjoy the island. Visit www.buduracing.com for information.


spirits

www.palousewinery.com12431 Vashon Hwy SW

206.567.4994

Come sample our award-winning

hand-crafted wines

Open for wine tasting year-round,

Fri.–Sun. 12:00-5:00PM

Available for private events

Just one mile from the north end ferry landing

Open for tasting Saturdays 2-5April 1st

to October 1st

10317 SW 156th St(206) 567-0055

[email protected]

Wineries offer up a taste of Vashon

A small place with classic taste, Vashon Island boasts five commercial wineries. Two of them are open to the public for tastings, so wine lovers can set aside a summer afternoon to meet local vintners and get a taste what they make.

A mainstay on Vashon’s wine scene, Vashon Winery has been producing semillon, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and its reserve red for more than two decades. Ron Irvine, the winery’s owner, was named Best Winemaker of 2012 in the Seattle Weekly’s Best of Seattle edi-tion. Some of his bottles now incorpo-rate grapes grown right on Vashon.

Irvine has also been gaining a follow-ing for his hard cider, and he recently introduced a new product. A lightly sparkling white wine made with grapes from Bellingham and Vashon has quickly become a top seller.

Palouse Winery on Vashon’s north end produces 1,000 cases of handcraft-ed wine a year. Owners George and Linda Kirkish, whose bottles have won a slate of awards, complete the entire winemaking process on site using Eastern Washington grapes, aging the wine in French oak barrels.

The winery, conveniently located on

Island winemakers produce award-winning flavors, sometimes from local grapes


spirits

Destination Destination

The

island

welcomes

you!

Find a complete version of

Vashon on our website

www.vashonbeachcomber.com

Destination

Mon - Sat 10am-8pmSun 11am ‘til at least 4pm

463-216317607 Vashon Hwy SW

beer growlersgift baskets & more!

Vashon Highway and overlooking Colvos Passage, is open for tastings weekends year-round.

Other wineries sell their vintages at outlets on Vashon and in Seattle.

Andrew Will WInery, maker of several kinds of highly acclaimed wines, produc-es about 4,500 cases a year. The tiny but growing Maury Island Winery is a fam-ily-run operation that has won accolades — and awards — for its pinot noir, made with island-grown grapes. Sweetbread Cellars, made by Sea Breeze Farm, is another Vashon vintage. It’s available in specialty Seattle shops.

Sample wineVashon Winery is open for free tasting from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 1, and for tours by appoint-ment. See www.vashonwinery.com or call 567-0055. Palouse Winery is open for tasting from noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday and by appointment. Tastings are $10, with $5 refundable with a purchase. See www.palousewinery.com or call 567-4994.

Enjoy other Island spiritsVashon Brewing Company, a nano-brewery, offers original beers brewed right on Vashon and often with local ingredients. Several local restaurants carry the beer, often called “Cliff’s Beer” after the brewer, and it’s offered on the Issaquah ferry. Or pick up a growler at Minglement or the Farmers Market. Dragon’s Head Cider was introduced to Vashon last summer and has already made its way onto Seattle shelves. The semi-dry Engish cider is made by an island couple who currently use apples from both on and off the island but are growing their own cider apple orchard. Dragon’s Head Cider is available at Thriftway and Vashon Liquor. Seattle Distilling Company recently began crafting hard alcohol on Vashon, debuting with its Rocket Vodka. The three men who run the operation plan to release a gin in 2013 and expand from there. Seattle Distilling Company vodka, and soon gin, is available at Vashon Liquor and at the distillery on Vashon Highway at Center (for hours, see www.seattledistill-ingcompany.com). Most Island bars also carry it.

“Where M

ayberry Meets Burning M

an” – N

Y TIM

ES

Your Guides to Lifein the Slooow Lane

Vashon Island, Washington – all in one zip code


farms

Trees of LegacyTREE NURSERY

We have 1,000’s of trees in containers!Choose from different types & sizes.

Buy direct from a local grower.Lower prices/higher quality.

Specimen trees in exotic shapes, windswept, leaning and dwarf trees.

and landscapers!

Located on Vashon Island

(206) 463-1588(206) 853-4387

13005 SW 267th Lane…at the south end of Wax Orchards Rd.

Now at Vashon True ValueThe Meadow Creature Broadfork

MeadowCreature.com

The Country StoreAND Gardens

Store HoursMon thru Sat 9:30 to 5:30 – Sun 10-4

The Country Store and Gardens

www.countrystoreandgardens.com

™

Come take a stroll or picnic in our park-like setting!

Vashon’s Farmers Market is the quint-essential community experience. It’s a great place, of course, to buy fresh, organic produce, vibrant flowers and wonderful hand-crafted items — from caramels to jewelry to carved wooden spoons. But it’s also a place to revel in the Vashon vibe. Most Saturdays, island musicians play. The smell of fresh-baked pastries and pizzas topped with local veggies wafts through the air. Children run around. And friends and neighbors catch up with one another.The market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday, starting in early April and ending in December. Until November, it’s held at the Village Green in the heart of town; it then moves to McMurray Middle School for the last few weeks, when the crafters hold center stage. Throughout the year, there are special occasions, including a “tomato taste-off,” a celebration of lavender and CiderFest, when island-grown apples steal the show. To get the weekly “fresh sheet,” visit the Vashon Island Growers Association’s web-site, www.vashonviga.org.

short•takes»Farmers market

Leslie Brown Photo

During good seasons, islander Bob Norton grows enough cherries to sell some at the Farmers Market.


farms

Open daily in July 10-5U-Cut and lavender essentials12 varietiesFresh bunches, dried buds, oil, soap, gifts

10425 SW 238th St.Two blocks from Burton - follow our signs

call 206-463-2322 (July)email: [email protected]

Find out what’s blooming: www.lavenderhillvashon.com

LAVENDER HILL FARM

Our farmhouse is also a vacation rental!See VRBO.com/301090 and our ad under accommodations for more info

short takes Farm stands

Country Store & Gardens20211 Vashon Hwy. S.W.U-pick berries, produce, plants and morewww.countrystoreandgardens.com

GreenMan Farm8800 S.W. Dilworth Rd.Produce, eggs, plant startswww.greenmanfarm.com

Hilltop Garden13011 Vashon Hwy. S.W., Produce

Hogsback Farm16530 91st Ave. S.W.Produce, eggs, plant starts

Island Meadow Farm10301 S.W. Cemetery Rd.Produce, flowers, eggsislandmeadowfarm.wordpress.com

LaBiondo Farm & Kitchen20602 111th Ave. S.W.Produce, plant starts, eggswww.labiondofarm.com

Lavender Hill Farm10425 S.W. 238th St.U-pick lavender in Julywww.lavenderhillvashon.com

Pacific Crest Farm23720 Dockton Rd. S.W.Produce, fruit, eggs, plant startswww.pacificcrest.org

Pacific Potager Farm and Nursery27918 Vashon Hwy. S.W.Plant starts, produce, eggs, flowerswww.pacificpotager.com

Want to eat locally? On Vashon, that’s increasingly possible.Like many communities around the country, Vashon boasts a growing crop of small-scale farmers, people who are sup-plementing their incomes or even making a living tending small, fertile patches of land. Organic vegetables and berries, fresh eggs, flowers, even meat butchered here on the island are available to consumers.Many of the farmers have self-serve stands, marked by hand-painted signs noting their offerings. So pay them a visit. It’s a great way to see the island and a great way to support an important, life-sustaining movement. For more on each farm stand, see vigavashon.org/farm-stands.

Ray Pfortner Photo


farms

Wool, Carpet, Marmoleum, Vinyl, Engineered Wood, Bamboo, Laminate.

Vashon Floor Store

Stop by the store today to start your flooring project.

Chuck & Mary Robinson, Owners(206) 408-7155

17504 Vashon Hwy SW (Next to Bob’s Bakery)

Plum Forest Farm20020 107th Ave. S.W.Produce, fruit, eggswww.plumforestfarm.com

Ravensong Farm12202 S.W. 153rd St.Produce, craftswww.ravensong.info

Stop Sign Farm14016 SW 240th St.Produce, eggs, culinary specialities

Sun Island Farm24002 Vashon Hwy. S.W.Next to Harbor Mercantile Produce, fruit www.sunislandfarm.com

Tahoma View FarmFruit, flowersCall for availability: 463-7216

Wolftown and Yam Lamb Sheep Co.By appointment: 463-9113www.wolftown.org

Caitlin Carnahan of Island Meadow Farm with flowers from the farm.


thrift shops

Treasures • Variety await you at Vashon’s thrift, consignment,

and antique shops

Have an adventure and shop Vashon!

100t

h A

ve S

W

97th

Pl S

W

SW 174th St

OberPark

SW Bank Rd

SW 178th St

DowntownVashon

South ofTown

in Burton

Post Office

Map not to scale2013-2014

Library

Vash

on H

wy

SWVa

shon

Hw

y SW

Wendy’sWeathered

Wear

Duet

TreasureIsland

Granny’sAttic

Lost & Found

The businesses shown on this map are paid advertisers.

Whether you’re looking to

update your wardrobe, searching for that heirloom piece of furniture, or wanting to be surprised on your next shopping trip, stop by these quality merchants to see all that they have to offer you.


thrift shops

Sunrise Ridge - Vashon, WA

206-463-3161Retail Hours: Tues/Thurs/Sat 10-5pmDonation Hours: 7 days a week 8-4pm

“You never know what you need

CLOTHING • HOUSEWARES • SPORTING GOODS TOYS • COLLECTIBLES • AND MORE!

OPEN EVERY DAY 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM206-463-2083

Located in Town, across from the Vashon Movie Theater

Estate JewelryPre-Owned TOOLS

Quality FURNITURE • COLLECTABLESLike-New Kitchenware • Vintage Clothing

Antiques • Fine GARDEN ART

We Pay TOP-DOLLAR for GOLD AND SILVER

Treasure Island“Vashon’s Quality Second-Hand Merchant”

WE BUYWE SELL

WE CONSIGN

Choice and Vintage

Lost FoundEclectic & Affordable • Furniture,

Antiques, Clothing, Art & Consignments

206.550.6204Bonnie Auer

23832 Vashon Hwy SW, Burton, WA 98013 (next to the Burton Post Office)

F F

• •

•• duetAn eclectic mix of new, vintage & recycled home decor,

clothing, jewelry and local artExclusive retailer of original art by Michael Spakowsky

Mosaic art and Jewelry by Lisa Betz

Unique Boutique, Gift Shop & Art Gallery

206.724.2904 17624 Vashon Hwy SW

WENDY’S WEATHER’D WEARConsignment

Hours: Tues-Sat. 10-5

206-455-1801

Wendy Rogers, Owner

Treasures • Variety


wildlife

BY NATALIE JOHNSON

One sunny afternoon, islander Martin Halliwell was pruning trees at a

rental home on Vashon when he sat down for a lunch break. He had barely begun to eat when he turned to find eight little faces, just feet away, staring curiously at him.

Halliwell, an avid photographer, hap-

pened to have his camera nearby and snapped a shot of the fearless raccoons.

“They’re almost as cute as baby pigs,” he said with a laugh.

Halliwell, who often works outside, said he has seen even larger groups of raccoons on the island.

“I’ve seen as many as 15 or 16 together,” he said. “It’s bizarre.”

Wildlife experts say that raccoons, intel-ligent and highly adaptable scavengers, are found in large numbers all around the Seattle area and aren’t necessarily more abundant on Vashon Island. But while the cute and pesky creatures knock over trash cans and pick fights with dogs in the city, on Vashon raccoons — who frequently raid gardens and massacre flocks of chickens — seem to have earned a special place of won-der, amusement and disdain among island residents.

“If you’re ever lacking something to talk about on Vashon, just bring up chickens or raccoons,” said Will Forrester, who owns GreenMan Farm. “Everyone loves to one-up each other on raccoon stories.”

Indeed, the stories abound. From the dis-gruntled farmer who has killed more than 100 raccoons to the naïve neighbor who feeds 20 of them a day to the woman who arrived home from vacation to find rac-coons had ransacked her home and killed her cats, raccoon shenanigans are endless.

Even those with seemingly nothing to attract raccoons have found themselves victims of the animals’ antics. Lesley Reed, like many islanders, has been woken dur-ing the night by footsteps and thumps on the roof of her home. And when her husband threw water and rocks on the rac-coon invaders, she said, it seemed to barely phase them.

Martin Halliwell Photo

Raccoons thrive in large numbers on Vashon. This group of raccoons snuck up on islander Martin Halliwell near Tramp Harbor.

Vashon’s resident critters amaze and annoyCute but pesky, raccoons are both loved and despised on Vashon


wildlife“They would look at us, and

they just didn’t really care at all,” she said.

Most, however, will agree that the island’s chicken owners seem to suffer the brunt of the raccoon mischief.

Forrester is one of many who have learned the hard way. After losing a number of chickens to hungry raccoons — he found they could even dig under a fence and unravel chicken wire — he and his wife built an extra-fortified chicken pen complete with electric wire at the top and bottom.

“We call it Guanotanamo Bay because of all the chicken (poop) inside,” Forrester said. “It’s secure like a prison.”

Bob Norton, a local fruit expert who has a small orchard on Maury Island, said raccoons can’t stay away from his fruit either.

“They’ll strip a plum tree or a fruit tree totally overnight,” he said. “You’re just about ready to pick, and the next day you go out to pick and they’re all gone.”

Unable to build a pen around his trees, Norton has resorted to trapping and killing some of the most troublesome raccoons.

“I don’t enjoy killing any-thing, but I’ve got a lot of money invested in this little farm, and I can’t give it all to the raccoons,” he said.

Norton said killing raccoons seems to be a common practice on Vashon, as he knows many farmers who have trapped even more than he has. Some, he said, have buried 30, 50, even 100.

“They’re just trying to protect their fruit and their gardens,” he said.

State wildlife officials say kill-ing nuisance raccoons on one’s own property is legal, but they recommend other methods to

deter the animals first — secure trash cans, remove outside pet food and scare off the animals when they do come around.

Some on Vashon, however, like it when raccoons come around their homes, and even encourage them to do so. Many

islanders have stories of neigh-bors who leave food out for raccoons or even provide shelter for the creatures.

Though it’s not against the law, wildlife experts say feed-ing raccoons is bad for both the

animals and people. Raccoons fed by humans become less afraid of homes and people and will likely cause problems for other neighbors. Raccoons also spread disease more easily when they gather in large groups.

“It’s creating a situation where wild animals might lose their wildness,” said Chris Anderson, a biologist with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. “It may end in the ani-mal having to be trapped and killed. If we love the raccoons, we don’t want to do that.”

Islander Bella Ormseth knows this better than any-one. A neighbor on one side of her home on the south end of Vashon feeds raccoons, she said, while a neighbor on the other side shoots them.

“I’m like Switzerland — I’m in the neutral territory,” Ormseth said with a laugh.

Bianca Perla, a local ecolo-gist and the director of Vashon Nature Center, said she wishes no one had to resort to killing raccoons. At the same time, she

said, Vashon’s raccoon popula-tion, like its deer and rat popula-tions, has gotten out of control due to a lack of predators that would normally kill the animals.

“Personally, … I don’t really like the idea of shooting an animal,” she said. “If raccoons are really a nuisance animal, it’s hard to know what to do, but I personally don’t like it.”

Perla said perhaps islanders should do something to discour-age those who feed the raccoons and in doing so feed the prob-lem.

“It might be something for us to think about as a commu-nity,” she said. “Do we want to do more education, at least? Do we want to pass some kind of ordinance?”

Dana Schuerholz, a direc-tor of a farm-based school on Vashon, agrees raccoons are a nuisance for anyone on Vashon with a farm or even a trash can. But she tries to take the problem in stride, she said, and has even turned it into a learning oppor-tunity at the small school on Vashon’s west side.

Schuerholz has trapped and killed four or five raccoons that wouldn’t stay out of her chicken pen, and students at her school helped tan the hides. When they save up enough hides, she said, they’re going to make coonskin hats.

“I want to have wildlife on the island, and you don’t get to pick and choose what kind of wildlife you get, and that’s OK,” she said. “I think we’ve disturbed the bal-ance, and we kind of have to live with that.”

— Natalie Johnson is the editor of The Beachcomber.

Raccoons often approach the door of her Vashon

apartment, where a former tenant used to feed them

table scraps.

“They’ll strip a plum tree or a fruit tree totally overnight. You’re just about ready to pick, and the next day you go out to pick and they’re all gone.”

— Bob Norton, local orchardist

Cindy Koch Photo

Some islanders, drawn by raccoons’ good looks and pet-like nature, leave food for them outside their homes.


beaches

Dockton ParkOwned by King County, this 23-acre park is a favorite on Vashon — especially among teens, who swear the water is the warmest on Vashon. The park has a playground, a grassy lawn, restrooms, a boat launch and a pier. It’s also the beginning of the Dockton Historical Trail. Directions: From town, go south on Vashon Highway. Turn left at S.W. 204th Street. When it comes to a T at the water’s edge, turn right onto Dockton Road S.W. Cross the isthmus to Maury and continue south until you enter Dockton.

Jensen PointThis small beach and boat ramp on the Burton Peninsula is a great spot to head to on the Fourth of July, when fireworks are launched over Quartermaster Harbor. It’s also home to the park district’s kayak rental center.Directions: From town, go south on Vashon Highway until you reach the four-way stop in Burton. Turn left onto the Burton Peninsula, and when you reach a T, take either a left or a right. Jensen Point is about midway on the loop. KVI BeachThis beach, named for the AM tower that pro-vides not only a radio signal but also a roost site for bald eagles, is a favorite among locals. With

its expansive sandy spit and slow-moving slough, KVI is especially fun for young ones and amazing at low tide. Dogs are allowed.Directions: From town, head south on Vashon Highway. Turn left at S.W. 204th Street. Turn left on Chautauqua Beach Road, then right on S.W. 204th Street. Limited parking.

Lisabeula ParkA quiet, west-facing beach, Lisabeula is the per-fect spot for evening sunsets and family picnics. It also boasts a grassy expanse for Frisbee throwing, some picnic tables and restrooms. Directions: From town, head south on Vashon Highway. Turn right at S.W. 204th Street. Turn left on Old Mill Road. Turn right on S.W. 220th Street. Continue down a winding road until you reach the park.

Maury Island Marine ParkThis 320-acre park, owned by King County, was once a gravel pit. But thanks to an ongoing restora-tion campaign, the park — an expanse that begins in the woods and ends at the shore — is looking increasingly natural and verdant. It’s a steep, half-mile walk from the parking lot to the beach. Directions: From town, head south on Vashon Highway and turn left on S.W. 204th Street. When it comes to a T, turn right on Dockton Road S.W. At a Y in the road, veer left onto S.W. Point Robinson Road. Take a right onto 59th Avenue S.W. and a left onto S.W. 244th Street. Proceed to the end of the road.

Point RobinsonThis may be Vashon’s most famous seaside destination, and for good reason. The driftwood-strewn beach is long and sandy, and the historic lighthouse — built more than a century ago — boasts a Fresnel lens, a beautiful piece of Victo-rian technology that traveled from Paris to Vashon in 1915. Though now decommissioned, the lens sits in the original spot and is wired, so visitors can see how it works. The lighthouse is open for tours on Sundays from May until mid-September. And the beautifully restored Keepers Quarters are available to rent.Directions: From town, go south on Vashon Highway. Turn left at S.W. 204th Street. When it comes to a T at the water’s edge, turn right onto Dockton Road S.W. Cross the isthmus to Maury; when the road reaches a Y, go left onto S.W. Point Robinson Road. Follow it until you reach the beach.

Winghaven ParkThis 12-acre park on the north end of the island suggests Vashon’s grand past; it’s the site of a for-mer waterfront estate and still boasts a crumbling balustrade. The rocky, quiet beach offers views of Mount Rainier. Owned by the Vashon Park District, it’s a great place to collect beach glass.Directions: From the north-end ferry dock, head south on Vashon Highway. In about a mile, take a left on Cunliffe Road. The park entrance is a half-mile down the hill, on the left side.

Low Tide CelebrationVashon’s Low Tide Celebration has become a favorite island tradition, a chance to learn more about the region’s rich marine ecology from trained naturalists on a day when the tide is low enough to unveil plants and animals one often can’t see.

This year, it will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, with the lowest tide at 11:20 a.m. Expect informa-tional booths, food, guided walks and a special visit by the Blue Heron Canoe, a beautifully carved traditional Native American vessel, slated to arrive with the lowest tide.

The beauty of a beachWith 45 miles of shoreline, Vashon has lovely and diverse beaches — empty stretches for quiet explores, sandy expanses that delight children, places that are hard to reach and others that one can drive to. Here’s a list of beaches that are open to the public.

Martin Halliwell Photo


kayaking

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Some call Vashon a paddler’s paradise.An island surrounded by the Puget Sound, Vashon offers plen-ty of easy, shore-hugging paddles for those inexperienced in the sport. The more adventurous kayaker can venture farther off-shore and find swift currents that provide a thrill.One can kayak at night, when the moon is out, or in the early morning, when the island is shrouded in fog. Sea birds and seals abound. Lucky paddlers might encounter a family of river otters or see an orca whale spy-hop in the distance.There are a few boat launches for easy put-ins — Dockton Park, Jensen Point and the north-end ferry dock all offer easily accessi-ble sites. Those who don’t own a kayak can rent one from Vashon Watersports, new owners of the kayak center at Jensen Point. There’s also a Vashon Island paddlers group with a Yahoo account. Sign up to find out about the next weekend outing by visiting groups.yahoo.com/group/Vashonislandpaddlers.For those who want to camp, Vashon is a part of the Cascade Marine Trail and has three sites designated for kayakers by the Washington Water Trails Association. Visit www.wwta.org/trails for a map.

short•takes» Kayaking

Vashon Watersports is located at the Jensen Boathouse on the Burton Peninsula. Rates range from $20 to $30 per hour; kayaks can also be rented by the day or week or delivered to another spot on the island. Or buy a summer fun pass, with discounted pricing. Visit www.vashonwatersports.com or call 463-9257 or 408-7495.

Ray Pfortner Photo

A kayaker enjoys a quiet moment in Quartermaster Harbor.


whale watching

Vashon’s shoreline provides a front-row seat when Puget Sound’s resident orcas come to town. Pods J, K and L — about 90 whales in all — spend the warmer months in northern Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. But periodically during the fall and winter — and sometimes at other times — they venture south to Vashon, feeding on salmon and providing a spectacle for those lucky enough to see them. The show is greatest when the whales pass Point Robinson, Vashon’s easternmost tip, where they often come very close to the shore. The point has even been named as a site on the Whale Trail, a list of the best whale watching spots in the region.Those with sharp eyes might also spot other types of whales, such as gray whales, humpbacks and small minkes, animals that make occasional visits to our waters.Whale sightings aren’t necessarily frequent, though, so those wishing to see them should be proactive. Sound Action, a local nonprofit, will send text or email alerts when whales come to Vashon for a small annual fee. Sign up at www.soundaction.org. The Facebook page for The Orca Network often posts whales’ locations as well.The Vashon Hydrophone Project, a local whale research group, also asks that whale sightings be reported to them at 463-9041.Don’t forget, however, that the orcas are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. Vashon activists pro-mote only shore-based whale watching, and under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, boats must stay at least 200 yards away from whales and other marine mammals.

Whale-watching: An island treat

Meg McDonald Photo

A man takes a photo of an orca whale

cavorting off the shore at Point Robinson.


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Every other year, the historic Virginia V circumnavigates Vashon Island — a special fundraiser put on by the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Association. On Sunday, Aug. 18, the 125-foot steamship — built in 1922 of beautiful old-growth fir — will again sail around the island. The ship has a strong Vashon connection. From 1922 to 1970, it carried girls from Seattle to Camp Sealth, on the western edge of the island, adding to the girls’ camping adventure. This summer’s circumnavigation — a bring-your-own-lunch affair — will begin at 12:30 p.m. Tickets, $80 for non-members, $65 for members, are on sale now. Call ticket manager Barbara Steen at 463-9355 for tickets or drop by the museum at 10105 S.W. Bank Road.

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Vashon Island was born of both rugged independence and civic-minded deter-

mination — where families pieced together hard-scrabble lives but also watched out for each other, creating a sense of community along the way.

Nothing illustrates the island’s colorful, community-minded past better than the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Museum’s newest exhibit, “Vashon 1885 – The Early Settlers,” a photo-rich homage to the home-steaders who came west to start a new life on the island.

Vashon, like the rest of the West, was opened to Euro-American settlement in the 1860s, with the passage of The Homestead Acts, a series of laws that offered federal land

grants of 160 acres to claimants 21 years and older. People streamed westward, first by horse-drawn wagons and then on newly built railroads, to places like Seattle and Tacoma. These two hubs were poised to become major cities, and Vashon Island lay in between.

In 1885 — more than 20 years after the first Homestead Act but before Washington had become a state — a territorial census was held, and today it sheds light on those early years on Vashon, when the island was still an isolated outpost.

In keeping with the times, native people were not included in this count. Though

most were forced onto reservations in Tacoma and Puyallup, several S’Homamish people still lived on the island in 1885. The census also did not include a population of Chinese people who lived in a settlement on the southern edge of Maury Island called “Hong Kong.” By some accounts, 3,000 Chinese people lived there before their near-overnight disappearance in 1885 — likely due to the anti-Chinese sentiments that erupted in riots in both Tacoma and Seattle that same year.

But the census does give us a picture of Vashon as a Euro-American settlement, a


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Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Museum Photo

At left, berry pickers on Vashon Island, circa 1907.


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place profoundly shaped by the westward migration triggered by The Homestead Acts.

As highlighted in the exhibit, “The Early Settlers,” Vashon by 1885 was a developed community of some 347 individuals, pio-neers who lived and worked all across the island. The museum’s exhibit traces the sto-ries of 10 families — the Shermans, Wards, Bibbins, Fullers, Hofmeisters, Landers, Anways, Snows, Livesleys and Cristmans — who were included in the census and whose descendants have continuously lived on the island and are still here today.

There were no shortages of natural resources on Vashon, and by 1885 these founding pioneers, a few of them Civil War veterans, had established a number of resource-rich industries — among them, farming, fishing, logging, lumber-milling and brick-making. Clay deposits along the shorelines made the island a natural loca-tion for brickyards. Burton was home to the largest — Bleeker Brickyard — and another half-dozen others dotted the island’s perimeter. The brickyards fueled growth in Seattle and Tacoma, and when fires wreaked havoc on both cities, Vashon’s brick-making output grew.

In 1885 islanders were able to travel across Puget Sound on a twice-weekly steamer called the Swan to Tacoma. A fog signal was installed at Point Robinson. Two churches were constructed. And a school house, two stores and a post office were operating.

One of the key features of “The Early Settlers” is an entire wall displaying the Sherman Family tree, beginning with Salmon and Eliza Sherman, who landed on Vashon in 1877. Eight generations unfold to reveal more than 200 descendants who lived through the 19th and 20th centuries and continue to reside here today.

Though a man named Matthew Bridges,

a logger, was the first settler on Vashon in 1865, islanders consider the Shermans to be one of Vashon’s founding families because they put down roots as farmers and estab-lished permanent homesteads.

Gene Sherman, born in 1919, is today the family’s patriarch, and he not only helped to curate the current exhibit but was also instru-mental in the creation of the museum itself. “I got myself involved in the museum because I knew it was important to preserve the past, to create a place for future generations to come and see how our ancestors lived.”

The Heritage Museum is a repository of iconic relics, such as 9,000-year-old arrow-heads used by the native S’Homamish and dishes used by the Chinese in the “Hong Kong” settlement at Manzanita. The first radio owned by Sherman’s parents, a relic from 1923, is on display, as is the cast-iron kettle his grandmother carried with her across the plains. As part of the 1885 exhibit, Sherman also contributed his grandmother’s rolling pin, butter mold and thimble — necessary accoutrements of a

pioneer woman’s life.Sherman, now 95, was born shortly after

those settlement years and still lives a life with some of the sensibilities of those origi-nal pioneers.

Asked recently if he had lived anywhere else other than Vashon, he answered in his no-nonsense style: “Where else is there?”

— Verna Everitt, a third-generation islander, is on the heritage museum’s

board of directors.

The Heritage Museum’s exhibit “Vashon 1885: The Early Settlers” runs through Oct. 20. The museum is open 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. It’s located just west of Vashon town’s main intersec-tion at 10105 S.W. Bank Rd. For more information, call 463-7808, email [email protected] or visit ww.vashonhistory.org.

Photo Courtesy of Vashon-Maury Heritage Museum

Vashon men line the porch of the post office at Portage, circa 1903. In the center is store owner Charles Van Olinda.


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island walks

Island Center ForestNow more than 400 acres in size, Island Center Forest is the largest and most popular expanse of trails on Vashon. The site, owned by King County and managed by a consortium of users, was once a working forest. Today, this large, con-tiguous forest boasts a warren of trails, two ponds, extensive wetlands and an artful, open-sided shelter for picnics and social gatherings. And, as the name suggests, it’s centrally located. Kiosks are now in place, replete with maps that can help hik-ers find their way. But be sure to wear your boots — trails are often muddy. The forest also closes for a few weeks in the fall to all but hunters. How to get there: There are several entrances into the forest, but the one that offers the best parking is off of Vashon Highway. Head south from town, take a right on S.W. 188th St. Go to the end — about a quarter of a mile; the en-trance is on the right. Dogs, horses and mountain bikes are allowed.

Dockton Forest / Maury Island SiteLike Island Center Forest, these two natural areas — Dockton Forest and Maury Island Site (formerly known as the Glacier site) — are big enough to get lost in. Combined, the two sites are now more than 400 acres, an expansive

forest with a confusing but delightful warren of trails. Hardy walkers can go from shore to shore at this site — trails lead from Dockton Park on Quartermaster Harbor all the way to the eastern edge of Maury Island on Puget Sound. A strik-ing highlight is the hundreds of acres of madrone forest, considered ecologically significant in the region. The Glacier site went into public ownership only a few years ago, after a 13-year battle by conservationists to protect it from industrial sand and gravel mining. Portions of it still look like a former gravel pit, but the views are dramatic and the history rich. How to get there: The easiest entrance is right across the road from Dockton Park. Head to Dockton on Dockton Road S.W. A pullout large enough to accommodate horse trailers can be found on the south side of the road just before reaching the park. Another approach, which begins on the ridge overlooking Puget Sound, is reached by going to a gated entrance at the corner of 79th Ave. S.W. and S.W. 260th St., just west of Gold Beach. Dogs and horses are allowed.

Fisher Pond PreserveA lovely, half-mile trail circumnavigates Fisher Pond, named for islander Bill Fisher, who do-nated this 90-acre preserve to the land trust more than a decade ago. At the west end, a

picnic shelter and table are perched above the pond, providing views of this shallow, bird-friendly pond. Look for wood ducks, herons and pied-billed grebes. The land trust has built an additional trail from the east end of the loop, which extends through a lovely forest to Cove Road, and another from the west end, which extends almost to Agren Park.How to get there: Fisher Pond is located on Bank Road S.W., about a mile west of town. Just before reaching the pond, there’s a pullout along the road with room for a few cars. The trail heads north from there. Dogs are not allowed.

The Johnson TractAn extension of the Fisher Pond Preserve, this gently rolling parcel once belonged to David and Dorothy Johnson; a meadow that is now studded with young firs once held their herd of cattle. Today, it’s the site of a lovely trail that extends from 115th Avenue S.W. to Cove Road, past a small pond and the so-called bottle tree (where bottles of both old and recent vintage hang). Visit in March and take in the profusion of snow drops along one stretch of the trail. How to get there: From the center of town, head west on Bank Road and turn right on 115th Avenue S.W. The entrance is about a quarter-mile down the road on the east side, just past a dark brown house. Dogs are not allowed.

Take a walk in the woods

Vashon’s forests offer miles of trailsVashon is a walker’s paradise. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust, King County and the Vashon Park District, the island is laced with trails, some of which wind for miles through moss-draped forests. And while popular, they’re often quiet, offering up sweet solitude for those in search of a bit of tranquility. But enter the woods prepared. Some of the trail systems are complex — warrens of paths that go in myriad directions. And remember that these are multi-use trails: Walkers, runners, cyclists and equestrians can be found on many of them.

Rondi Lightmark Photo

A trail wends through the woods in the Johnson Tract between Cove Road and 115th Avenue S.W.


island walksShinglemill Creek / Fern CoveVashon’s newest trail is a delightful two-mile traverse that takes hikers along the crest of a ridge, into a tree-studded ravine, across Needle Creek and along the shores of Shinglemill Creek, a salmon-bearing stream that empties into Fern Cove. At the end of this topographically diverse trail, cross Cedarhurst Road S.W. and pick up the last leg — a final stretch that leads to the expansive mudflats at Fern Cove on Colvos Passage. Bring your binoculars; birds abound at Fern Cove.How to get there: From town, head north on the highway about two miles; head west on S.W. 156th Street about a third of a mile. The trailhead is on the right side of the road, and there is a small parking lot. Dogs are allowed on the trail but not at Fern Cove.

Christensen Pond PreserveA birder’s paradise, this 30-acre preserve on the west side of the island was protected in 2000 with the help of the Vashon Audubon Society. It offers both a small pond and extensive wetlands — a haven for migratory songbirds, waterfowl, owls and hawks. A trail, not quite a mile long, circumnavigates the pond through a pleasant coniferous forest. The pond forms the headwaters of Christensen Creek, the best preserved drainage area on Vashon.

How to get there: The preserve is due west of Burton on Wax Orchard Road just south of S.W. 232nd Street. Look for the small sign that says “nature preserve.” Dogs are not allowed.

Burton AcresThis 64-acre park on the Burton Peninsula offers several lovely trails winding through a mature, diverse forest, with towering big-leaf maples, Douglas firs and the occasional Pacific yew. The trails are flat and provide easy walking.How to get there: Take Vashon Highway into Burton and head east onto S.W. Burton Drive. Turn right at 97th Avenue S.W. and follow the road to Jensen Point Park, where parking is available. Dogs are allowed.

Detailed trail maps of some of these preserves are available from the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust, located at 10014 S.W. Bank Road. Or download them from its website at www.vashon-landtrust.org. Information and direc-tions can also be found on the Vashon Park District’s website: www.vashon-parkdistrict.org. King County also offers excellent maps. Google the sites you’re interested in.

Robert Teagardin Photo

A pileated woodpecker works on the trunk of a Douglas fir. The region’s largest woodpecker, the pileated has been put on the state’s “watch” list because of its declin-ing population. They are sometimes seen on Vashon.


parks

Enjoy your Parks!!!

Vashon Park District Facilities and Their AmenitiesAgren Memorial ParkBurton Acres/Jensen PointBurton Adventure Rec Ctr.Fern CoveFisher PondInspiration PointLisabuelaLost Lake (boat only)North End Boat RampOber ParkParadise Ridge ParkPoint Robinson LighthouseSpring Beach (boat only)Tramp Harbor DockV. Commons/School CampusVashon PoolVashon Fields (VES)Village GreenWingehaven (walk-in only)King County Parks on Vashon IslandDockton Park & ForestEllis Creek Natural AreaIsland Center ForestMarjorie Stanley Nature AreaMaury Island Marine ParkPiner Point (boat only)

Vashon Park District offices are located in the Ober Park Community Center, 17130 Vashon Highway SW. Our offices are open Monday-Friday 8a-4p • Phone: 463-9602 • Fax: 463-9614

Parks are open Dawn to Dusk.

No smoking. No alcohol without permit/insurance.

No removal or destruction of park property.

Visit our website: www.vashonparkdistrict.org


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SOUTH SEATTLE206870-1661

Tear Offs and Reroofs Done Year Round

Providing Personal Service From Start to FinishRESIDENTIAL EXPERTS

www.abetterroofing.com

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pets

VI Horse Supply, Inc.(206) 463-6430 17710 112th Ave. SW

(8/10 mile west of town off Bank Road)

One-stop shoppingfor your horse, barn,

pets and more:

Owned &

Nutrena, LMF, Life Design, Nature Smart Organics, LeFeber, Nature’s Café, Sun Seed & Zupreem + Dog Food, Collars, Leashes, Crates & the best dog toys on the Island!

Painted Ponies

Wet Whiskers

17321 Vashon Hwy. SWVashon Island

206-463-2200Open 7 days

a week

It’s a dog’s world

Dogs have it pretty good on Vashon. There are several parks and beaches where a dog can be off-leash if it’s under voice command. KVI Beach is a favorite spot for well-behaved dogs to romp or chase sticks. (See page 36 for directions.) Another favorite spot is Island Center Forest, a 400-acre expanse where dogs are allowed. (See page 46.) But dogs need to share the trail with horses, cyclists and joggers — so aggressive and overly dogs need to be on leash. If your dog gets lost (or if you want to adopt one while visiting the island), contact Vashon Island Pet Protectors, a local animal welfare organization, by visiting its website, www.vipp.org. For pet emergencies, contact Fair Isle Animal Clinic at 463-3607 or Vashon Veterinary Clinic at 463-3668.

Robert Teagardin Photo


pets

206-389-1085Cat & dog adoptions, spay/neuter program

and lost and found.Visit www.VIPP.org for information,

adoptable cats & dogs, and VIPP events.17633 97th Place Sw Vashon

206-463-5000 - Open 7 Days A Week

Vashons Feed, Farm & Pet Store

For your pets…


automotive services

DIAGNOSTIC & REPAIR SERVICE, INC.

Full Service Auto Repair & TowingLock Out & Emergency Road Service

463-9277

Serving Vashon since 1989

Vashon Rental Cars, Inc.The Island’s Only Rental Car

463-RENT or call


AutomotiveServices» On Vashon

TO FROM NEAR FAR HERE THERE HITHER YON FORTH BACK

VASHON Seniors ferries Natives Newbies Lovers

FINALLY!TAXISeattleLOCAL HONEST RELIABLE. PETS

boaters Tours 206.434.1121

KIDS!

BIKERS

Need auto help while visiting

Vashon? The island has great

mechanics, towing services, even

a place where one can rent a car

or call a taxi for a ride on or off

the island. Vashon also has public

transportation: King County Metro

runs buses on Vashon every day

but Sunday.


helpful information

Office Space Available for Lease17141 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon Island

206.935.7500 or [email protected]

206.463.4248www.guildhallinc.com

Though not far from Seattle, Vashon is a rural place with rural sensibilities. That means the two grocery stores close at 9 p.m., and there’s no bus service on Sunday. Here are a few other things you might find helpful. Note that the only area code on the island is 206.

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue10020 S.W. Bank Rd463-2405 | Emergency: 911Vashon Island Fire & Rescue is equipped to handle major emergencies and has the coop-eration of the ferry system and local medical helicopters.

King County Sheriff’s Office19021 Vashon Hwy. S.W.463-3618 | Emergency: 911The local sheriff’s station is located south of town in Courthouse Square.

For help in a domestic violence situation, call The DoVE project, which operates a 24-hour hotline, at 462-0911.

Medical ClinicsVashon has several clinics that provide care for is-landers and visitors when health needs arise. You can reach Vashon Health Center at 463-3671, Fulton Family Medicine at 463-3696, Chad Magnuson Family Medicine at 463-5401 and Vashon Women’s Health Center at 463-2777. Naturopathic physicians are available at Vashon Natural Medicine at 463-4778, Maxwell Family Medicine at 463-1480 and Fulton Family Medicine.

Post officesThere are two on Vashon. The downtown office (463-5134) is located on S.W. 178th Street. Another is in the core of Burton on Vashon Highway.

Whales / Marine LifeSupport marine mammal research by promptly calling the Vashon Hydrophone Project at 463-9041 if you spot a whale. VHP also handles calls about injured or dead marine mammals.

TidesFor information on tides on Vashon, visit www.saltwatertides.com, go to “Washington” and click “Burton” or “Tahlequah.” For information on red tides, visit www4.doh.wa.gov/gis/mogifs/biotoxin or call (800) 562-5632.

Public libraryVashon’s branch library, a part of the King County Library System, is undergoing a major re-model and is closed, but a temporary branch has

opened at Vashon Plaza, located at 17707 100th Avenue S.W., due west of the main intersection.

Taxi serviceVashon has a small, locally operated taxi service, called Vashon Taxi, providing service on the island and to off-island locations. Call 434-1121 or email [email protected] Shuttle Service also provides transit ser-vices, especially to the airport. Call 463-2664 or email [email protected].

HELPFUL INFORMATIONNew to the island? Here are a few important things to know

Chamber of Commerce The Chamber of Commerce is a fount of information about island activities and events. Visit its office at 17141 Vashon Hwy. S.W., across the street from Ober Park and right next to The Beachcomber office. The chamber is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday during the summer and Monday through Friday the rest of the year. Call the chamber at 463-6217 or visit its website at www.vashonchamber.com.

The Vashon Golf & Swim Club is a semi-private club on 54 acres overlooking Quartermaster Harbor. It offers a challenging 9-hole course, an over-sized outdoor pool and a restaurant open to the public. The club provides a special package to off-island and summertime residents. Daily and weekly passes are also available for off-island visitors. The club is located on at 24615 75th Ave. S.W. Contact the club at 463-9410 or visit its website, www.vashongolfandswim.com.

HEAD TO THE GREENS


attraction

Tales abound about how a red bicycle came to be lodged in a Vashon tree a dozen feet off the ground.

Some say it ended up there by chance, while others contend it was intentional cleverness. There’s a heart-rending story about it being left behind by a soldier who went off to World War I and never returned. And one former islander, Berkeley Breathed, transformed the magical mystery into a colorful children’s book.

But a longtime island family has laid a solid claim to the bicycle in the tree just north of Sound Food on Vashon Highway. Two gen-erations concur that the bicycle belonged to Don Puz, who left it in the woods in 1954, when he was 8 years old.

Don received the bicycle after a tragedy struck his family: A fast-burning blaze swept through his Dockton home one evening, when everyone in this family of seven was gone but Don’s father, Anthony Puz. His father perished in the blaze. Islanders, moved by the trag-edy, responded in tender Vashon style, offering up clothes, furniture, financial support and a new bike for Don.

But the bicycle wasn’t his favorite. It had hard, solid rubber tires “and skinny little handlebars like a tricycle,” he said. “I was too big a kid to ride it.”

So one day, when he and his friends were playing in the woods, Don left his bike behind and headed home to where his family now lived — a farmhouse a few hundred yards away on Vashon Highway. He never returned to fetch his bike.

“Apparently, he wasn’t too excited about that bike,” his mother, Helen Puz, told The Beachcomber a few years ago, shortly before her death at age 99.

After the bike was discovered in the woods behind Sound Food in the 1980s, making headlines and garnering attention, both mother and son paid it a visit.

“We went down there in the woods, and there was this bike in the tree, and I said, ‘That’s my bike,’” recalled Don. “I recognized it immediately. ... When I saw that bike, I recognized it, because I don’t think I’ve ever seen another one like it.”

The bicycle in the tree has become a legend on Vashon, and many travel to the island simply to take in the curious site. Its fame con-tinues to astound the family. Don’s sister, Marilyn Bost, now a New Jersey resident, was recently at Sound Food for a Vashon High School reunion when a woman came to the establishment’s door asking if anyone could tell her where she and her family could find the famous bike in the tree. When Marilyn walked out to show the family the bike, another family pulled into the parking lot in search of the bike.

“It’s astonishing, isn’t it?” she said during a recent interview. “It’s really quite fun.”

Now, Marilyn Bost is taking it one step farther. After her mother passed away and she took on ownership of that farmhouse, she real-ized it could become a nice vacation rental — a gracious but mod-est place for those who want to be centrally located or for those so smitten by the story of how a bike came to be perched in a tree that they want to stay in the house where the saga began.

“It just struck me,” she said. “A light bulb went off: You’ve got what could become the most famous house on Vashon, to go with the most famous tree and most famous bicycle.”

The house — with three bedrooms and one bathroom — is not big. But it’s where Helen Puz went on to raise her five children. A Croation by birth, she ended up living in the house nearly 60 years. She, too, was an island star and a beloved member of the Vashon community: In 2002, she was named Strawberry Festival Grand Marshal.

The curious tale of the bike in the treeThe house where it all began is now available as a vacation rental

Ray Pfortner Photo

The Bike in the Tree House is available for rent this summer. Visit www.thebicycleinthetreehouse.com or call Bret Taitch with Vashon Maury Island Property Management at 463-4864. To find the bicycle in the tree, park in the Sound Food parking lot and fol-low a well-worn trail on the northeastern edge of the property.


worship

ALL-MERCIFUL SAVIOURORTHODOX MONASTERY9933 SW 268th St (south of Dockton)

SUNDAYS: DIVINE LITURGY 9 a.m. – followed by Potluck– Visitors Welcome –

www.vashonmonks.comCall 463-5918

For gift shop hours, call the monastery

BETHEL CHURCH14736 Bethel Lane S.W.

Sunday School - 9 a.m. Sunday Worship Service - 10 a.m.Sunday Children’s Church, Fellowship Groups, AWANA

Youth Pastor: Gregg Bernheiselwww.bethel-efc.org

Phone: (206) 567-4255E-mail: offi [email protected]

BURTON COMMUNITY CHURCH23905 Vashon Hwy S.W.Sunday Service - 11 a.m.Pastor: Bruce Chittick

CALVARY FULL GOSPEL CHURCH

Sunday Morning Worship/Children’s Church - 10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship- 7:00 p.m

Saturday Prayer - 7:30 p.m.Midweek Bible Study- Th ursday 7:00 p.m.

Pastor: Steve Sears

E-mail: [email protected]

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT15420 Vashon Highway S.W.

Sunday Services: 7:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.Religious Exploration and Childcare – 9 a.m.Wednesday Mid-week Eucharist - 12:30 p.m.

Th e Rev. Carla Valentine Pryne, RectorTh e Rev. Ann Saunderson, Priest Associate

www.holyspiritvashon.orgPhone: (206) 567-4488

E-mail: offi [email protected]

VASHON LUTHERAN CHURCH

Sunday Service - 10:30 a.m.Pastor: Th e Rev. Bjoern E. Meinhardt

Th e Rev. Jeff Larson, Ph.D., Counselingwww.vashonlutheranchurch.org

Phone: (206) 463-2655E-mail: [email protected]

HAVURAT EE SHALOM15401 Westside Hwy. S.W.

Serving the spiritual, social, and intellectual needs of Vashon’s Jewish communitySaturday Morning Torah Study 9:30-11:00 am,

Bet Sefer Sunday School 10-12 noon, twice monthly

www.vashonhavurah.org

ST. JOHN VIANNEY CATHOLIC CHURCH

Saturday Vigil Mass - 5 p.m.Sunday Masses - 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Weekday Masses: Mon, Wed, Th urs, Fri at 10 p.m.

VASHON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH17708 Vashon Hwy. S.W.

Phone: (206) 463-2010

VASHON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Sunday School for all ages - 9:00 a.m. * Sunday Service - 10:00 a.m.Adult Bible Study - Wed. 11:00 a.m.

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Kathryn MorsePhone: (206) 463-9804 * E-mail: offi ce @vashonmethodist.org

VASHON ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH9318 S.W. Cemetery RoadSunday Service - 10 a.m.

VASHON ISLAND UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIP23905 Vashon Hwy S.W.

In Lewis Hall behind Burton Community ChurchCommunity, Diversity, Freedom of Belief, Enrichment of the Spirit

Sunday Services - 9:30 a.m. Mid-September through Mid-JuneReligious Exploration for Children and Youth

E-mail: [email protected]

VASHON FRIENDS WORSHIP GROUP (QUAKERS)

Sunday 10 am Silent Worship Meeting in Members’ Homes Call for location, phone: (206) 567-5279

E-Mail - [email protected]

Worship ON OURISLAND

PLACES OF


Vashon cemetery

The artful beauty of Vashon’s cemetery

BY LESLIE BROWN

Two years ago, on what would have been Lt. Robert Bennedsen’s 26th birthday, family and friends held a party at his graveside at the

Vashon Cemetery. They barbecued burgers, drank beer, swapped stories, wept and had a great time, recalled Lisa Devereau, one of Bennedsen’s relatives and a Vashon Cemetery commissioner.

“The hardest part was explaining to the little kids why we were having a birthday party for a person who wasn’t there,” she said.

Devereau recently saw a group of women hold a picnic next to their friend’s tombstone. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hang on a tree beside a 14-year-old’s grave. A pair of dice is at the base of the tomb of Augie Takatsuka, who loved to gamble. Reese’s candy bars

line the top of an artful glass marker made by renowned designer Greg Lundgren. And a heart-rending quote by David Thoreau about living life fully is written on a card and placed among the stones at mountain climber John Arum’s graveside.

Such is the whimsy, beauty and heart of Vashon’s cemetery, the only publicly owned cemetery in King County.

Walk through it on a beautiful morning, and you’ll be reminded not only of death, but of life — of children who loved Ghostbusters, mothers who quilted, girls who rode horses, fathers who made carvings. Sea shells, poems, candles, model airplanes, even chewing tobacco cans are among the items placed at graves by visitors.

Cemeteries, increasingly, are governed by rules limiting the size and shape of tombstones and the memorabilia that can be left behind. Few such rules govern Vashon’s cemetery. Indeed, The Stranger, Seattle’s irreverent weekly newspaper, recently made a plug for the “expressive, eclectic monuments” at the Vashon Cemetery. The place, it added, is “a peacock among graveyards.”

Every now and then, the whimsy at the Vashon Cemetery gets out of hand, Devereau and Tim Lafferty, another commissioner, noted. One family member left a mannequin dressed in the dead woman’s favorite yellow rain slicker on a bench next to her grave. They had

A place that celebrates life, even while it

pays tribute to those who have died

Leslie Brown Photo

Briana Chwaszczewski’s transculcent glass marker is a particularly beautiful one, a tombstone that shows her love of horses. She died at age 23 in an accident with a horse.


Vashon cemetery

to remove the mannequin when the wind knocked it over, causing some visitors to think a person was lying on the ground.

But for the most part, the small crew that oversees the cemetery — a rolling expanse that abuts the Sportsmen’s Club off of Cemetery Road — is a tolerant bunch.

“People make things very personal. Most cemeteries won’t allow that,” Devereau said.

The cemetery was started in 1888, when Frank and Clara Miner sold two acres to a newly formed cemetery board for $15. The first lots — room for eight grave spaces — sold for $5. (An individual space now sells for $850 to $1,200, depending on location.)

For decades it was run by volunteers, including the Ladies Auxiliary, a group that raised $500 in 1946 to keep the Scotch broom in check, according to a two-page history of the cemetery written by islander Barbara Steen. The cemetery board, how-ever, needed a steadier stream of revenue to tend to the property, and in 1976, Vashon voters approved the county’s first — and only — cemetery district, with a three-member elected board.

Today, the cemetery district operates on an annual budget of $107,000, funded by Vashon property taxes. All told, it’s about 19 acres in size, though only 12 acres are developed. Two people, groundskeeper Vance Price and part-time administrator Wendy Braicks, are the only paid employees. About 4,000 people are buried there, 500 of whom are veterans.

By almost any definition, Vashon Cemetery is a beautiful place — “a charm-ing little cemetery,” as Commissioner Jay Hanson calls it. Towering Douglas firs sur-round it, and a few huge trees offer shade and structure in the middle. A marble columbarium — a wall with vaults in it for

cremated remains — sits near the center, not far from a large granite monument honor-ing men and women who died in war.

And if one’s lucky enough to take a walk through it with Devereau, one gets a glimpse into island history. Devereau was raised in a home a half-mile down the street. Today, as the funeral director at Island Funeral Services and a cemetery dis-trict commissioner, she jokes that her whole life “is at this cemetery.”

And indeed, as we wander among the tombstones and markers, she seems to have a story to go with many of the names we see. That was her former babysitter. Those two were the island’s first dispatchers. And there’s the name of a girl who used to get Devereau’s phone calls when she was young because their names were adjacent in Vashon’s tiny telephone book.

She points out names that are familiar to me, as well: Larry Wall, the original owner of the Wallflower Building in town; Bea Ryan, who owned Bea’s Boutique where the credit union is now located; Bill Akers, a celebrated Vashon artist who died at age 41, three days after Devereau saw him at a First Friday event in town. Other names ring familiar because they’re now place names on the island: Hake, Raab, Wax.

Devereau likes the old section near the center of the cemetery best, a place of etched granite markers, many now hard to read. She points to one, topped by a lamb carved of granite. “You’re not going to get anyone to grind you a lamb out of granite these days,” she said.

But some of the newer ones also capture her imagination. “Do you like Harry Potter,” she asked. When I said yes, she took me to Brianna Chwaszczewski’s translucent glass marker, where the faint photo of the young woman

with her horse seemed to appear and then disappear, depending on the light, remind-ing Devereau of the moving photographs J.K. Rowling describes in her epic series.

She also loves Arum’s artful grave, adorned by stones, native plants, poems and pictures, a site that suggests the rich life Arum, an envi-ronmental lawyer and activist, lived before his untimely death two years ago.

As we took it in — the simple beauty of the site — Devereau read aloud the quote from Thoreau tucked among the stones: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

— Leslie Brown is the former editor of The Beachcomber.

Leslie Brown Photos

A range of gravestones adorn the cemetery, including a traditional granite marker at Robert Raab’s site, a mosaic tile marker designed by island artist Clare Dohna and a carved sculpture atop the gravestone of Gene Amondson, who carved many of the larger-than-life wooden sculptures found on Vashon. Below, Lisa Devereau looks at her family’s plot.

Chamber of Commerce206-463-6217

Tom Stewart Memorial Classic Car Parade July 21, 2013

CiderFestOctober 12, 2013

Trick-Or Treat NightOctober 31, 2013

Vashon Island WinterFest WeekendDecember 6 -8, 2013

Gingerbread House TourDecember 6 -15 2013

Spring Fling Easter Egg HuntApril 19, 2014

Join us for the 104th

STRAWBERRY festivalJ U L Y 19, 20, 21, 2013


accommodationsPlaces to stay

Experience Vashon Island, spend a few nightsV ashon is a picturesque

place that has something for everyone. But you can’t

experience all the island has to offer in just one day-trip across the sound. So stay a few extra nights at one of Vashon’s diverse accommodations. There are no hotels on Vashon, but a wide array of bed & breakfasts and other rentals— cabins tucked in the woods, breathtaking waterfront beach houses, sprawling estates that can hold large groups or quaint cot-tages where you can get away from it all. The following is a list of the island’s many vacation rentals. Book early for summer — some fill fast.

Cindy Koch Photo


accommodations

Our Island Beach Getaway

Simply the best waterfront on Vashon

Enjoy direct access to waterfront activities and views Spacious 1 bedroom (Queen Bed) Kitchen fully stocked, board games and cards provided Ideal for a couple or family with children. Kayaks (3) and Bikes are available and encouraged at no extra charge. Rates vary by season from $125- $200 /night no single night availability Send inquiry online to: www.vrbo.com/68828 or call Caroline at 463-1999 or email [email protected]

206.388.8953www.CoreCentricTraining.com

TRXSuspension Training

On Location Fitness

At the Beach – In our Studio – At your B&B

Pilates Yoga Therapy Personal Fitness

Michelle Reed Sandi Silagi

www.plumlodge.comemail: [email protected]

Private entrances Private bathsWifi TV Great breakfast Dogs welcome

6 acres of fi elds, gardens and woods

Facilities for small group retreats

(206) 408-7162

B E D & B R E A K F A S T

Andrios Guest House(206) 817-4764 www.vacationrentals.com (#31704)

A&E Bed & Breakfast(206) 276-5136 www.vashonbandb.com

Artist’s Studio Loft B & B(206) 463-2583 www.vashonbedandbreakfast.com

AYH Ranch Campground(206) 463-2592 www.vashonhostel.com

Belle Baldwin House(206) 463-9602 www.vashonparkdistrict.org

Betty MacDonald Farm(206) 567-4227 or (888) 328-6753 www.bettymacdonaldfarm.com

Dilworth Point Bed & Breakfast(206) 550-7714 www.vrbo.com/378103


accommodations

The Bicycle in the Tree House™

Stay in the house of the little boy who ditched his unappreciated bike in the woods and went home without it.

The house is much the same as when his widowed mother raised her

family after the fire that claimed her husband’s life and destroyed the family

home at Tahlequah. There are pictures and news accounts of the tragedy as

well as stories and memorabilia about the most famous bicycle in the world.

If you are seeking a luxury rental this is not for you. It is a simple house

with three bedrooms; one with a king size bed in the master bedroom and two

double beds. It is on the main highway, within walking distance to the Metro

bus stop, Vashon High School and of course, the elusive Bicycle in the Tree.

www.thebicycleinthetreehouse.com Phone 206-463-4864

www.vacationrentals.com#31704

Dean [email protected]

206-817-4764

ANDRIOS GUEST HOUSEVashon Island Retreat

Romantic Island Getaway...Maury Cottage

...a bed and bath experience!An elegant, northwest-style guest cottage featuring:

TM

Lavender Hill Farm6 bedroom farmhouse

available weekly and weekendsviews of harbor and Mt. Rainier

VRBO.com/301090

lavenderhillvashon.com323-376-6444

[email protected] our lavender farm in July

(see our ad on pg. 11)

VACATION RENTAL

www.vashonbeachcomber.com * 24/7 on the web

Eagle Heights Cottage Bed & Vegetables(206) 304-7188 www.eagleheightscottage.com

Giraffe Guest Suite(206) 463-1372 www.giraffevashon.com

KVI Beach House(206) 463-6276 www.vrbo.com/408415

Last Resort Guest House(206) 495-1410 www.vashonchamber.com

Lavender Duck Inn(206) 463-2592 www.vashonhostel.com

Lavender Hill Farm(323) 376-6444 www.lavenderhillvashon.com

Maury Cottage(206) 463-4558 www.maurycottage.com

Northview Guest House(206) 463-9181 www.onvashon.com

Our Island Beach Getaway(206) 463-1999 www.ourislandbeachgetaway.com

Plum Lodge Bed & Breakfast(206) 408-7162 www.plumlodge.com


Built 1896Three bedrooms (queen beds); one

bedroom (twin beds), full guest kitchen,all rooms have private baths. Close totown, on bus line, newly remodeled

Exceptional Value – $85 per [email protected]

Artist’s Studio Loft B&B“Best Places to Kiss in NW”

Hot tub/Jacuzzi Spa FireplacePrivate entrances Private Baths

Luxury Cottages Wonderful GardensLight delicious Breakfast

Please call Direct for Reservations

www.vashonbedandbreakfast.comemail: [email protected]

(206) 463-2583

Wolf GlenVacation Rental

Getaway

2 Bedrooms + Loft1.5 Baths

Sleeps 4–6Hot Tub

206-409-5579

www.vacationvashon.com

Point Robinson Lighthouse/ Keeper’s Quarters(206) 463-9602 www.vashonparkdistrict.org

Swallow’s Nest Guest Cottages(800) ANY-NEST www.vashonislandcottages.com

The Bicycle in the Tree House™(206) 463-4864 www.thebicycleinthetreehouse.com

The Two Tides (206) 445-2412 www.thetwotides.com

Read a complete version of Destination Vashon

on our websitewww.

vashonbeachcomber.com


accommodations

Romance,Charm &Sunsets

await you…•

View of Colvos PassageBeach Access

Hot Tub

Experience Peace and Quiet.

Last Resort Guest House206.495.1410

www.vashonchamber.com

[email protected] (206) 276-5136 www.vashonbandb.com

Quiet, one-bedroom suite with kitchenette, bath and private deck located on Burton Hill.

WEEKLY RATES AVAILABLE.BEAUTIFUL GARDENS.

C O T T A G E SIDEAL FOR COUPLES OR FAMILIES

The Swallow’s Nestwww.vashonislandcottages.com

Northview Guest HouseNorthview Guest HouseWe have plenty of room and a view at our2,000 sq. ft. guest house on Vashon Island!

*2-day

minimumFree WiFi!

Triplebrook Guest Cottage and Barn(206) 463-3386 www.triplebrookvashon.com

Villa Vashon Event Venue & Accomodation(206) 650-0766 www.villavashon.com

Wolf Glen Vacation Rental(206) 409-5579 www.vashonvacationrental.com


island fun

Islanders know how to have a good time. And the best party of the year, without a doubt, comes each July, when the Chamber of Commerce puts on the Strawberry Festival.

More than 30,000 people attend the three-day affair — a classic, community-styled celebration, replete with parades, booths, beer gardens, carnival rides and an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Vashon’s festival is very homegrown, and as befits an island full of creative people, it boasts plenty of performances by Vashon musi-cians, handmade arts and crafts and a funky, rural vibe.

The festival this year will be held July 19-21, when the town core will close to traffic and the main road through town will be given over to booths filled with crafts, food and information. The high-light — this year as in previous ones — will be the Grand Parade, which takes place Saturday at 11 a.m., led by a colorful contingent of children.

The festival goes back many years. According to the chamber, it began in 1909, when Vashon shipped more than 120,000 crates of strawberries off island. Its name has changed over the years; it’s been called the Peach Festival, the Harvest Festival and the Vashon Island Festival. In 1980, the event took on the Strawberry Festival name again. And this year, in an effort to see the event reclaim its roots as a celebration of all things strawberry, the Chamber prom-ises a strawberry-rich affair — strawberry sundaes, strawberry lemonade, strawberry iced tea, strawberry funnel cakes, strawber-ry-topped pancakes, strawberry/kale smoothies and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Other highlights will include favorites from years past — the classic car parade on Sunday, a street dance Saturday night, the Bill Burby Fun Run, a carnival and music by Vashon performers at numerous outdoor venues.

There will also be shuttle service from both the north-end and south-end ferry docks for those who want to leave their car behind.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVALOld-fashioned fun, Vashon style

Leslie Brown Photos


island fun

Vashon seems to have a celebration to mark every season and holiday — com-munity-wide affairs that showcase the island’s creativity and fun-loving spirit.What might you want to experience? Consider these home-grown highlights.Spring Fling, when the Easter Bunny makes an appearance, is a delightful, kid-friendly event. It takes place the Saturday before Easter and includes an egg hunt in Ober Park. A celebration of water, wind and sky, Kite Day draws islanders and guests to the beach for the annual May event at Point Robinson. The day includes good food and good music, kites available to purchase and tours of the light house. Halloween is a particularly spirited time on Vashon, when the town core closes to cars and both kids and adults — dressed in colorful, crazy, often home-made cos-tumes — wander the streets. Merchants stay late, handing out treats to the kids. And occasionally, there’s a haunted house or two to explore. Before the big day, many islanders carve pumpkins with intricate designs and put them on display at the Vashon Island Coffee

Roasterie, creating a visual cornucopia of jack-o’-lanterns large and small.

WinterFest, this year slated for Dec. 6 and 7, is another celebration that high-lights Vashon’s creativity. It coincides with the first weekend of the Art Studio Tour, when artists open up their studios and sell their wares directly to the public. It also includes a Santa-led parade and tree-lighting, music on the streets, roast-ed chestnuts and other holiday favorites. In a new tradition, Vashon businesses get into the spirit of the season and put island creativity to good use, when employees create elaborate gingerbread houses and display their ornate creations for two weekends in December.

Come summer, Concerts in the Park draw a crowd to Ober Park. This summer three bands will play: Incendio on July 5, Billy Joe & the Dusty 45s on July 25 and Picoso on Aug. 22. Pack a picnic dinner and enjoy the sounds of summer. CiderFest celebrates the bounty of the fall harvest on the island with apple cider and treats at the Farmers Market Oct. 12, and ends with an old-fashioned barn dance in the evening.

The Vashon Sheepdog Classic has become a celebrated island event, drawing dog-handlers from around the West Coast who demonstrate the remarkable bond between dog and handler and the skill of these highly trained animals.Slated to occur Sept. 13-15, the trials take place at a site that could hardly be more perfect for an event that harkens back to pastoral England — 30 acres of rolling meadows at Misty Island Farms. Spectators sit on blankets or chairs, watching the herding action from the natural amphitheater created by Misty Isle’s terrain.The Vashon Sheepdog Classic, the most well-attended herding event on the West Coast, is a nationals-qualifying event for the U.S. Border Collie Handlers Association. In recent years, as many as 140 dogs have run the Misty Isle courses, most of them border collies. Maggi McClure, a profes-sional dog trainer, started the event in 2010, after a previous effort to put on a sheepdog classic fizzled in 2003.The event also features food, crafts and raffles — with proceeds going toward Vashon organizations that support youth education and enrich-ment. Last year, the event raised more than $8,000.

short•takes» Celebrations

VASHON SHEEPDOG CLASSIC DOGS AT WORK


restaurants

Easy Parking located at 17639 100th Ave. SW, Vashon WA 98970

Look for us on

Home i s wh ere your market i s… Just around the corner. Whether you need just a gallon of milk or a full basket of groceries, we are

convenient for all your shopping trips! Why waste gas driving any further than you need to?

W hat’s cooking on Vashon? A lot, it turns out. The island boasts

three Mexican restaurants, some great American fare, multiple pizza joints, Asian food, hearty burg-ers and more. Here’s a listing of some of the many fine eateries on Vashon. Bon appetit!

AJ’s EspressoThe island’s only drive-through coffee stand, AJ’s brews a mean cup of joe, and the baristas are always friendly. You can also pick up breakfast items, snacks, des-erts and fresh-made salads and sandwich-es. A landscaped patio makes the small stand pleasant for walk-up customers. 17311 Vashon Highway S.W. 383-01955:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun.

Bob’s BakeryThis anchor in the heart of town has been a going concern for 25 years. It serves deli-cious baked goods — from rich cinnamon rolls to gluten-free muffins — organic bread made from grains milled at the bak-ery, pies and cakes. It also offers several lunch and dinner items, including pizza, sandwiches, roasted veggies and soups. 7506 Vashon Hwy S.W. 463-1441. 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat., extending to Sunday in June.

Café LunaAn island institution, Café Luna is a clas-sic coffee house — a bustling place with comfy couches, free wi-fi and some of the best coffee on the island. It also serves scones, brownies and other baked goods made right at the cafe, as well as soup, paninis, breakfast sandwiches and great organic salads. Beer and wine are available. 9924 S.W. Bank Rd. 463-0777. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun.

Casa BonitaThis small, family-run restaurant is a favor-ite among families, offering up heaping platters of food in a warm, relaxed atmo-sphere. Its menu includes homemade tamales, molcajete or Mexican stew, veg-etarian entrees and a nice tortilla soup. On Sundays, children’s meals are $1.79. 17623 100th Ave. S.W. 463-6452. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Green Ginger Chinese CuisineGreen Ginger serves nicely seasoned Asian fare. The menu is vast, offering both veg-etarian and meat dishes. The Mongolian beef is particularly good, as are the shrimp curry, szechuan-style green beans and almond chicken.

Grab a bite to eat

Taste the island’s many flavors


restaurants

17526 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon, WA 98070

Pacific Northwest | Regional | Global Dishes

[email protected] NirvanaVashon.com

= OPEN =

17506 Vashon Hwy (around the corner from Thriftway

and directly across from the Sat. Market)

463-14 41

BOB’S BAK E RY

(206) 463-7777

Scary Good Burgers & Morepassenger side drive-thru

Open 7 Days 11am-7pmweekend breakfast, espresso

9851 S.W. Bank Rd. 463-7788. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon to 9 p.m. Sun.

The Hardware Store RestaurantLocated at Vashon’s busiest intersection, this lively eatery offers a fine selection of American-style fare — from premium steaks to gourmet burgers to flat-bread pizzas. It also has daily specials, vegetar-ian dishes and ample salads as well as an extensive wine list and full bar. It serves breakfast until 2:30 p.m. daily. The restau-rant is located, as the name suggests, in a former hardware store — Vashon’s oldest commercial building. A historic landmark, the restaurant retained many of the old store’s features, including its wide fir floors and high ceilings.17601 Vashon Hwy. S.W. 463-1800. 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., with a late-night bar menu most nights.

May Kitchen + BarOne of the newest options on Vashon’s dining scene, May’s Kitchen + Bar opened last year, serving up beautifully presented Thai fare in a space adorned with polished teak wood paneling and artful Thai deco-rations. Owner May Chaleoy hails from Thailand and owned an award-winning Thai restaurant in Seattle before coming to

Vashon. In her short time on Vashon, her new eatery has already garnered strong reviews. Consider its flavorful green curry or, if you can pronounce it, phad metma-muanghimmaphan, a spicy stir fry.17614 Vashon Highway S.W. 408-7196. 5 to 9 p.m. Wed.-Thurs., 5 to 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 5 to 9 p.m. Sun.

Mileta Creek RestaurantThe only restaurant on Maury Island, Mileta Creek is part of the Vashon Golf & Swim Club, perched above the rolling golf course with views of Quartermaster Harbor. For years, it operated under another name and was open only to club members. Last year, it changed its name, revamped its menu and opened to the public. Mileta Creek offers a wide range of American fare — salmon, pork, fish and chips, pasta and more; it also has a full bar and an extensive wine list. In the summer, its large deck opens for outdoor dining. 24615 75th Ave. S.W. 463-9410. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues., 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wed.-Thurs., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fri-Sat., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.

NirvanaOnce an Indian restaurant, this spacious eatery reinvented itself last year and now

serves fine food from the world over and a lounge and dining area designed with diners’ comfort in mind. It still makes a few Indian dishes but also offers a rotat-ing menu with small plates such as open-faced samosas and ale-steamed clams and main dishes such as cioppino, Tandoori chicken, New York strip loin and seafood dishes. Nirvana is often hopping on week-ends, when live music fills the house. 17526 Vashon Hwy. S.W. 463-4455. 3 to 9 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 3 to 9:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun (brunch), 3 to 8:30 p.m. Sun. (dinner).

PureThose who want healthy, natural and good food should head straight to Pure. Located near the heart of town, the small vegan café serves soups, salads, pizzas, snacks and other items that are organic, made fresh, often raw and always free of wheat, egg, gluten, white sugar and dairy. Ingredients are seasonal, with many coming from island growers. Pure also serves unique and sea-sonal juices and smoothies. 9925 S.W. Bank Rd. 463-144211 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon to 4 p.m. Sun. Extended summer hours.


restaurants

Located in downtown Vashon on Vashon Hwy.

17618 Vashon Hwy SWVashon Island, WA

206.463.5959www.RedBicycleBistro.com

Serving Lunch & Dinner

PremierLive Entertainment

WeeklyCall For Tickets

Pool Tables

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!Immediately adjacent to the 9th hole,

Maury Island’s only full service restaurant and lounge.Open to the public as well as all members.Reservations & Hours 206-463-2005

Stop in for a frosty beer or glass of champagne, wide choice of foods& special menu for KIDS! Well-appointed Banquet facilities for 50 to 200.

24615 SW 75th Ave., Vashon, WA 98070

Orders To Go 206-356-5684 Monday – Saturday 10–7

Conveniently located on Vashon Hwy SWon the north end of town

Drive-up EspressoFeaturing

Organic Vashon Coffee Organic milk andmilk alternatives

ServingBaked goods, Salads

and Wraps with Gluten Free Options

Get $50 for $40 Pay cash-save 20% on drinks.

Mon-Fri 5:30 am - 4 pm Sat 7 am - 3 pmSun 8 am - 2 pm

Editor’s note: Restaurants paid to be included in these listings, which were written by Beachcomber staff.


Red Bicycle Bistro & SushiThis roomy restaurant in the heart of town offers both American fare and sushi, with a classic menu that features salads, sev-eral types of burgers, steaks and seafood. There are at least two dozen different sushi rolls to choose from, and several Islanders who claimed not to like sushi have been won over by sampling a Red Bicycle sushi roll. The adjoining bar has two pool tables and serves a limited bar menu until 2 a.m. There is live music every weekend.17618 Vashon Hwy. S.W. 463-5959. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sun.-Thur. (lounge open until midnight), 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. (lounge open until 2 a.m.)

The Rock Island Pub & PizzaKnown by locals as The Rock, this hop-ping restaurant has pizza as well as salads, pasta dishes and, at lunch time, subs. Its specialty pizzas are inventive and popular; consider the spicy Thai chicken pizza, the Burton Blaster, with bacon, red onions and gorgonzola cheese, or the Mexican-inspired tostada pizza. The restaurant has a full bar and several beers on tap. It also has a fireplace and a large-screen TV.17322 Vashon Hwy. S.W. 463-6813. 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Saucy Sisters Brick Oven PizzeriaVashon’s newest pizza place specializes in individual pizzas, 10 inches in size, with toppings and dough type — whole wheat, white or gluten-free — selected by the customer. Pizzas are made right in front of diners before being baked in a high-heat brick a oven. There are several specialty pizzas to choose from, and larger pizzas can be ordered, too. Hand-tossed salads are on the menu, and beer and wine are available. A Coca-Cola Freestyle drink machine features more than 100 varieties and flavors of juice and soda. Don’t have time to sit down? Call ahead for takeout. 17636 Vashon Hwy. S.W. 463-7743. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Open later on high school game nights.

SnapdragonThis popular eatery on the south end of town offers hearty vegetarian food — soups, salads and pizzas — as well as delicious pastries, rustic breads, wine and beer on tap. At night, the fare is lighter — cheese plates and sweet potato fries, for instance. It’s a local hangout, much-loved because of the warmth and

Truly healthful meals, daily specials, salads, soups, bowls, fresh organic juice bar, wheatgrass shots, seasonal local farm produce

gf vegan muffins cowgirl cookies & desserts to live for!

Organic Vegan gluten-freeKitchen Cafe

Seattle WeeklysBest Vegan Cafes

2012feel good food

OPEN 5 days a wk Mon-Tues-Wed-Sat 11-5 Sun 12-4 Extended summer hrs.9925 SW Bank Road 98070 public Facebook page PURE VASHON pure.earthling@gmail

MAY KITCHEN + BARLUNCH DINNER TAKE OUT

“We’re in New York right now, and I cast no aspersions on New York,

but I haven’t found anythingas good here as May.”

– Shauna Ahernwww.glutenfreegirl.com

(206) 408-7196maykitchen.com

17614 Vashon Hwy SWVashon WA, 98070

463-7788

Lunch - Dinner - TakeoutMonday - Saturday 11am - 9pm

Sunday 12pm - 9pmair conditioned - banquets - beer & wine

GREEN GINGER C H I N E S E C U IS I N E

9851 SW Bank Road, Vashon Island

Vashon Tea Shop

W

here Special Teas are our Specialty. . .

Organic Teas-Coff eesLight meals-Desserts-Unique gifts

Vegan/gluten-free options available

206-463-5202

Open Everyday 10am–5pm


restaurants

Great Food! Great Prices! Great People!

TACO TuesdaysHard or Soft Shell or Taco Salad 5–7pm

BURGER WednesdaysOur “Eagle Burger” is 1/2lb. premium beef with fries or onion rings

PRIME RIB FridaysBest price in town! 6pm ’til it’s gone

SUNDAY BreakfastCooked to order! 9am–12 noon

VASHON EAGLES #314418134 Vashon Hwy SW206.463.5477

Food always open to the public

Don’t miss our locally known...

$40.00 YearlyMemberships

Family run business for over 30 years

17611 Vashon Hwy SW ★ Where the Locals Go!

Breakfast

Lunch

LiveEntertainment

CASA BONITAMexican Restaurant

Lunch & Dinner Daily11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

–Summer Hours–Fri. & Sat. open til 11 p.m.

(206) 463-645217623 100th Ave SWVashon, WA 98070

generosity of its owners, Adam Cone and Megan Hastings-Cone. Live music is played most Wednesday nights. Check out its flower-bedecked patio in the summer.17817 Vashon Hwy. S.W. 463-1310. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wed.-Sun.

Sporty’sSporty’s is a popular, down-home break-fast spot and bar. Heaping diner-style breakfasts are its specialty (its pancakes fill an entire plate), though the cook can also oblige smaller orders. It also has a large TV screens, a bar with a limited menu and sometimes live music on the weekends.17611 Vashon Hwy. S.W. 463-0940. 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Full breakfast from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Limited bar menu from 1 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Vashon Eagles #3144Vashon’s chapter of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles is open to the public for dinner weeknights, lunch on Thursday and break-fast on Sunday. The dinner menu varies nightly, usually offering one item — tacos on Tuesday, burgers on Wednesday and prime rib on Fridays. Breakfasts include a wide range of items — steak and eggs, a breakfast burrito and the popular Eagle

Slam, to name a few.18134 Vashon Hwy. S.W. 463-5477. noon to 10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., noon to midnight Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun.

Vashon PizzaVashon Pizza is the only restaurant on the island that delivers, and they’ll go anywhere for $5 to $6, depending on the distance. They also have calzones, cheese bread and cupcakes for dessert. Try the “Price Destroyer,” a souped-up supreme pizza with three meats, three veggies, gar-lic and double cheese. 17639 100th Ave. S.W. 567-4992 (56-PIZZA). 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Thur. (closed Tues.), 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fri., noon to 9 p.m. Sat. and noon to 8 p.m. Sun.

Vashon Tea ShopThe Tea Shop serves tea, of course; in fact, it offers dozens to choose from. But it also serves much more — including espresso, pastries and light lunch items. The shop’s miso soup is delicious, as are its sushi bowls with brown rice, quiche, Japanese pickled vegetables and smoked salmon. New to the menu are gluten-free cookies and gluten-free scones. The shop also sells colorful teapots, French presses and cards.

17610 Vashon Hwy. S.W. 463-5202. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Zamorana Mexican FoodZamorana began as a food truck dishing up authentic Mexican fare. It now serves the same from a small space in town that shares a wall with Treasure Island. Owner and cook Jorge Garnica worked under well-known chef and author Kurt Timmermeister before opening his own restaurant and frequently served celebri-ties such as Martha Stewart and Dave Matthews. Zamorana is named after his hometown, and he says he makes tacos, tortas and burritos similar to what he enjoyed growing up there. 17222 Vashon Highway S.W. 356-5684 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie & MinglementThe roasterie is located in a century-old building, with floors made from old-growth fir, wide-paned windows and an inviting front porch. As the name sug-gests, the roasterie roasts its own coffee beans; it also has several coffee-related antiques, making up its “coffee museum.”


restaurants

CaféLunaOPEN EVERY DAY

9924 SW Bank Rd 463-0777 www.cafelunavashon.com

WiFi – Wine – BeerLocal & Organic ingredients are used to create our savory and sweet menu items.

Hand Tossed

Gourmet/Traditional

Pasta & Salads

Ribs & Wings

Beer Garden/Lounge

Fireplace

Families Welcome

Lunch & Dinner

Open Tuesday – Saturday


The food includes a wide range of lunch-style options — sandwiches, salads, soups and dips, all made with organic ingre-dients. It also sells organic produce and other healthy grocery items. It is located at Center, a historic area at the crossroads of Vashon Highway and Cemetery Road.19529 Vashon Hwy S.W. 463-9800. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun.

ZombiezChanging the name of this old burger joint from Zoomies to Zombiez started off as a joke when the new owners realized they’d need to add only one new letter on the sign to form the new name. But the own-ers’ kids liked Zombiez, so it stuck. Since then, the Vashon couple has truly bought this restaurant back to life. The colorful, Zombie-themed eatery now serves quality fast food — burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, wraps and more. A rotating menu means there are always new and interest-ing options, such as a bacon jam avocado burger or shrooms and chips. 17705 Vashon Highway S.W. 463-7777. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Extended summer hours to be posted later.


kids

In the age of endless electronic entertainment and jam-packed schedules, Vashon is a place to unplug and take in life’s simpler pleasures. With its beaches, woods and parks, Vashon is the perfect playground for kids of all ages. Here are a few ideas.

Take a dip The Vashon Pool, owned by the island’s small park district,

opens on May 25, 2013, with free swimming from 1 to 5 p.m. It will be open weekends only until June 19, when the regular season begins and it will be open daily until 7 p.m.

The pool has a curlicue slide, diving board and plenty of pool toys. It’s also affordable — daily admission is $5 for kids and seniors, $6 for adults. Individual and group lessons and private pool rentals are available, too. Call pool manager Scott Bonney at at 240-7721 for more information. The pool is located at 9600 S.W. 204th St. next to the high school. It is ADA accessible.

For the brave of heart and those who prefer to take to the open waters, head to Dockton Park and jump off the dock. Locals say it’s the warmest water in the sound.

Head to the parkOber Park, at the north edge of town is an excellent choice and

was even once handed the Seattle Weekly’s Reader’s Choice award for Best Children’s Playground. Other play areas include Dockton Park, with play equipment feet from the beach, and Chautauqua Elementary School’s play equipment, which also offers basketball hoops. Agren Park offers large fields to run and play Frisbee as well as a diamond for baseball.

Skateboard at BARCThe Burton Adventure Recreation Center — or BARC — is

the park district’s “alternative park,” offering a supervised indoor skateboard and in-line skate facility, a nine-hole disc golf course, BMX trails and a regulation sand volleyball court. BMX, disc golf and volleyball are free. The skate park charges a small fee. Bring your own equipment or borrow some there. It’s located at 10500 S.W. 228th St. in Burton. See wwwvashonparkdistrict.org for details.

Vashon TheatreVashon’s small, one-screen theater offers a weekly lineup of films

— blockbuster movies and more artsy flicks — for both adults and children. It usually has one or two screenings per day. The theater is a local treasure. Several community events are held there each year, and it regularly screens films or holds events as fundraisers for local nonprofits.

In 2012, theater owners thought they may have to close their doors because they couldn’t afford a new digital projection system required to screen new movies. However, community members

raised about $80,000 to help the theater purchase the new system. For current showtimes, see www.vashontheatre.com.

More activities for kidsSeveral island organizations hold weekly activities that children

can drop in on with or without their parents. The PlaySpace holds playtimes, the Vashon Library has story time and other activities and Vashon Allied Arts puts on arts-related classes and camps for all ages. See The Beachcomber’s weekly calendar section for a list-ing of current activities for kids.

A kid-friendly islandVashon offers places and activities to keep even the youngest visitors busy

Natalie Johnson Photo (top) / Leslie Brown Photo (bottom)

Above, kids play on the equipment at Ober Park. Below, wrestling in the Vashon pool.


June7 First Friday Gallery Cruise. Artist receptions. Most galleries are open from 6 to 9 p.m.

8 Vashon Ultramarathon & Trail Run. Run a 50K or 10-mile route mostly on woodland trails. See www.vashonul-tra.com for details. 8:30 a.m. 50K race begins, 9:30 a.m. 10-mile race begins at the Open Space for Arts & Community.

22 Summer Solstice Costume Ball. Dress for fantasy and get set for sum-mer. 7 p.m. at the Open Space for Arts & Community.

22 and 23 Vashon Allied Arts Garden Tour. Experience five outdoor sanctu-aries, complete with garden talks, live music, art in the garden and more. For tickets, call 463-5131 or see www.vashon alliedarts.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

23 Low Tide Celebration. Celebrate the wonders of the deep exposed at one one of the lowest tides of the year. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Robinson.

July

5 First Friday Gallery Cruise. Artist receptions. Most galleries are open from 6 to 9 p.m.

5 Concert in the Park. Incendio, a Latin guitar-world fusion group, will play. 7 p.m. at Ober Park.

8 XTERRA Vashon Island Off-Road Triathlon. Contestants will swim a half mile, bike 12.4 miles and run 3.5 miles. See www.xterraplanet.com for more information. 9 a.m. at Dockton Park.

19 to 21 Strawberry Festival. Vashon’s annual summer festival includes a parade on Saturday, a classic car parade on Sunday, a carnival, music, arts and crafts and more.

25 Concert in the Park. Billy Joe and the Dusty 45s will perform. Free. 7 p.m. at Ober Park.

August2 First Friday Gallery Cruise. Artist receptions. Most galleries are open from 6 to 9 p.m.

17 Open Air, Outdoor Aerial Performance Festival. Local, regional and national artists will perform. Bring a picnic and pay what you can. 4 p.m. at the Open Space for Arts & Community.

18 Take a Ride on the Virginia V. The trip around the island on the historic vessel supports the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Association. See www.vashon-history.org for more information. 12:30 p.m. from the north-end ferry dock.

22 Concert in the Park. Picoso, a seven-member band grounded in the sounds of the Caribbean, will play. Free. 7 p.m. at Ober Park.

September

1 Raft Up. Help set the world record for “rafting up” in canoes and kayaks and raise funds for Vashon Youth & Family Services. Festivities will begin the day before with kayak and canoe races, a waterfront festival and more. See www.vyfs.org for details. 11 a.m. gather, 1 p.m. raft up in inner Quartermaster Harbor near Burton.

6 First Friday Gallery Cruise. Artist receptions. Most galleries are open from 6 to 9 p.m.

13 to 15 Vashon Sheepdog Classic. Watch trained sheepdogs and their handlers take control of sheep from the Willamette Valley. Dawn until dusk at Old Mill Road and 220th Street.

14 Passport to Pain. Cyclists bike a course with 10,000 feet of elevation gain over 80 miles. Shorter courses will also be available. 8 a.m. at Jensen Point.

20 and 21 Vashon Allied Arts Art Auction. Two evenings of art, food and entertainment in support of island arts. 6 to 10 p.m. at the Blue Heron.

20 and 22 Vashon Opera Presents “Die Fledermaus.” The island company will present this work by Johann Strauss.For tickets, see www.vashonopera.org. 8 p.m. Sept. 20 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Vashon High School theater.

October4 First Friday Gallery Cruise. Artist receptions. Most galleries are open from 6 to 9 p.m.

12 CiderFest. Enjoy-fresh pressed cider and apple crisp at the Farmers Market and an old fashioned barn dance in the evening at the Open Space for Arts & Community.

31 Community Trick-or-Treat. Island merchants open their shops to ghosts and goblins. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. down-town.

November 1 First Friday Gallery Cruise. Artist receptions. Most galleries are open from 6 to 9 p.m.

December6 First Friday Gallery Cruise. Artist receptions. Most galleries are open from 6 to 9 p.m.

6 to 8 Winterfest Weekend. Enjoy galleries Friday night, the community tree-lighting and a visit from Santa on Saturday night, artist studios open for the art tour and check out merchants’ gingerbread houses.

7, 8, 14 and 15 Holiday Art Studio Tour. Island artists will open their studios to the public. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Enjoy the island all year long Mark your calendar for these events!

calendar

Rondi Lightmark Photo

Proud to Work and Live on Vashon Since 1994

TogetherOur 34 years of experience helps our clients complete their dreams of home sweet home.

Paul19 years turning dreams into reality through new

custom homes, restorations and re-designs.

Connie15 years of local knowledge,

negotiation skill & passion helping both buyers

and sellers.

Connie SorensenManaging Broker

206.819.7669

Paul SorensenOwner

206.947.1976

Find your Home atwww.ConnieSorensen.com [email protected]

Quality Custom Homes & Remodels

Your Vashon IslandRealtor

Catering206-463-1310

Tuesday thru Sunday 9 am - 9 pm

Beer & WineGarden Patio

17817 Vashon Hwy, Vashon WA 98070

SnapdragonRustic Bakery & Savoury Cafe

Sound ViewH O M E S E R V I C E S L L C ™

ROOF & GUTTER CLEANING WINDOW CLEANING POWER WASHINGMOSS CONTROL YARD CARE DECK MAINTENANCE AND MORE!

Year Round Professional Cleaning & Maintenance

Environmentally Friendly Recommended by Fox Roofing Company

and Ed Palmer Construction

206.567.4765soundviewvashon.com

SW 112th StSW 112th StSW Biloxi Rd

SW 116th St

Fauntleroy Ferry to West Seattle orSouthworth/Kitsap Penninsula

Dolphin Point

Winghaven Park

Glen Acres

Vashon Point

PattenPalisades

Sylvan Beach

SW SylvanBeachSW 125th

SW 127th

SW 132 Pl

SW CorbinBeach Rd

Burm

a Rd.

SW

SW 122 PlSW 123 Pl

Cunliffe Rd. SW

SW BunkerTrail

SW133 Pl

SW SW 140 St Old Hwy

SW

SW 145 Pl

SW 148 St

SW 156th St

SW 158th St

SW 161th St

SW 166th St

SW Cove Rd.

SW 160 St

SW 156St

SW 153

SW 148

Olympic Dr. SW

SW 151

SW 144SW 144

SW 154

SW 158

SW Ober Beach Rd

Colvos

FernCove

SW McCormick Pl

SW Cedarh

urst

Rd.Cedarhurst

Bethel Lane SWSW 146

107 Way SW

Glen Acres Rd.

SW GlenLanding Rd

SW 148 Pl

SW 152nd LnSW VanOlinda Rd

SW 159 StSW 157 Pl

82nd Pl SW

80th Pl SWSW Hawthorne Ln

Dilworth Point

91Av

eSW

Verm

ontv

ille

Rd S

W

SW Dilworth Rd

Shanahan Rd SW98

Ave

SW95

Ln

SW

87th

Pl S

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87th AveSW

SW Gorsuch Rd

SW Bank Rd 107t

hAv

eSW

121st Ave SW

112t

h Av

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DowntownVashon

(blue shaded area)

115t

h Av

e SW

119t

h Av

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115t

hAv

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SW Cemetery Rd

SW 180th St

SW 183

188th188th St

103r

dAv

e SW SW 192nd St

SW 184 St

SW Soper

Rd

90 A

ve S

SW Klahanie

Ridge Rd SW

Heyer Point

8Beal

l Rd

SW

7Ave

SW

Crescent Dr. SW

Columbia Ave

SW 166

129t

h Ln

Wes

tsid

eHw

ySW

Paige Ln SW

Com

mon

sRd

SW

125t

h Av

e SWSW 184

Wes

tsid

eHw

ySW

131t

h Av

e SW

SW 196 Cemetery

Sunset Rd SW

Robinwood Rd SW

SW 204 St 107t

h Av

e SW

SW 208th StSW 206 Ct

SW 210 StSW 211 St

SW 212 StSW 216 St

SW 220th St

107

Ave

SW111

Ave

SW

Morgan

Hill11

9 Av

e SW

Old

Mill

Rd

SW

131

Pl S

W

135

Ave

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SW 216th St

ParadiseRidgePark

SW 204 StSW 207 Ln

SW Madrona Rd.

198 St

McMurrayMiddle School

ChautauquaElementary

Vashon High

Mon

umen

tRd

SW

SW 216 StSW Elisha

SW 232 St 111

Ave

SW

107

Ave

SW

SW 228

SW 236 St

SW 224 St

Wax

Orc

hard

Rd

SW

115t

h SW

SW 240 St SW 238 St

WaxOrchardAirport

Burton StreetCourse

SW Quartermaster DrSW Quartermaster Dr

DugwayRd SW

SW225

103

SW

100 Pl SW96 Ln SW

99 Ave SW

Chautauqua Beach Rd SWEllisport

Portage Wy SW

Portage Tramp Harbor

Tramp Harbor Rd.

Tramp Harbor DockPublic Fishing Pier

Bicyclein a tree

Melchert Way SWDeppman Rd SW

SW Maury Pk Rd

QuartermasterHarbor

DocktonRd SW

80 A

veSW

SW 236

KingsburyRd SWMarina

Boat RampJensen Point

63 A

veSW

Luana Ln SW

BurtonAcresPark

Harbor DrBurton

LuanaBeach Rd

50th PlSW

Luana Beach Rd

Luana Beach

LighthouseSW Pt Robinson Rd

64 AveSW

71 A

veSW

59 Pl SW60 Pl SW

SW 244 St

SW 248 St

68Av

eSW

75Av

eSW

79Av

eSW

SW 260 St

Dock

ton

Rd S

W

86 Pl SW

SW 245

Pt.Robinson

Maury Island RegionalMarine Park

Park

RacomaBeach

49 P

l48

Pl

47 P

l

43 S

W

Gold Beach

SW 255 St

Gold Beach Dr. SW

237Pl

SW 268

SW 264SW 263 St

SW Dock St

97 Ave

SW Windmill St

Dockton

Stuckey Ave SW

262 Pl

265 St

101 Ln SW101 Pl SW

SW 249 LnSW 250 Ln

SW 251 LnSW 252 Ln

SW 270SW 274

99 A

ve S

W97

Ave

94 A

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W

SW 280 St

Hake

Rd

SW

280 Ln

90 Ave SWSandy Shores Dr SW

Summerhurst

SW 275 St

HarborHeights

InspirationPoint

254 Ln

120 Ln

PillsburyRd SW

SW266 Ln

SW WesleyanWy

SW 276 St

Magnolia

SWShawnee

Rd

SW 248 St

Vasho

n Hwy S

W

Vashon Hwy SW

SW 270 St

264 St

267 Ln

101

Ave

SW

Manzanita

Bch Rd SWManzanita

Rosehilla

Northilla RdPiner Pt

Pt P

iner

Rd S

W

SW Summerhurst Rd

SW 285 StSW 288

131

Pl S

WW

ests

ide

Hwy

LisabeulaPark

Lisabe

ula

SW Lisabeula Rd

141

Ave

SW ReddingsBeach Rd

Care

y Rd

SW

SW 236 St

Singer

Rd SW

SW CrossLanding Rd

RaymondRd SW

ReddingsBeach

Land

ers

Rd S

W14

3Av

eSW SW 244

St

SW Caster Rd

135 Ave SW

138 Pl SW

140 SWBates Rd

Paradise

SpringBeach

Christianson Cove

Robinwood Beach

Sunset Beach

James Point

COLV

OS P

ASSA

GE

King CountyTransfer Station

CoveBates

Walk SW

SW CampSealth Rd

CampSealth

121 CtSW 250 Wy

SW 244 Pl

129

Ave S

W

120 Ave

SW 280 St145

Ave

SW

142

Ave

SW14

0 Av

e SW

143

Ave

SW

141

Ave

SW13

9 Av

e SW

137

Ave

SW

135

Ave

SW13

3 Av

e SW

129

Pl S

W

125

Pl S

W

297 Wy

Vash

on H

wy

SW

SW Pohl Rd

131AveSW

SW 300

124 Ln SW

129 Pl SW129 SW

SW Bachelor RdTahlequah Ferryto Tacoma

SW SpringBeach Rd

AgrenPark

SW 272 Pl

MauryIsland

BayviewDr.

SW

96 P

l SW

94 P

l SW

96 P

l SW

94 P

l SW

DocktonPark

DocktonPark

W

SW 125th

Visitors Guide to

Vashon-Maury Island

174th

Visitors Guide to

Vashon-Maury Island

74th

SW

SW 148

DocktonPark

DalcoPoint

Neill Point

SW Cowan Rd

VashonAirport

SW 171stSW 171st

MAP IS NOT TO SCALE

SW 153

See Table of Contents for Park Listings

See mapinset onreverse

96 P

l SW

94 P

l SW

Morgan

Hill

SW 154SW Ober Beach Rd

SW 216 St

VashonAirport

ParkOber

Vashon Highway

Bike Loop

Map is not to scale

2013-2014Vashon-Maury

Island

Discover what awaits you on our beautiful island!

Library

Discover what awaits you on our beautiful island!

FisherPond

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Passenger only Ferry to Seattle

©2013 Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Popular Bike Routeon Vashon

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NORTH END 1 BELLE BALDWIN HOUSE

11408 SW Cedarhurst Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9602 2 BETHEL EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH

14736 Bethel Lane SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .567-4255 3 BETTY MACDONALD FARM 11835 99th Ave SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567-4227

4 DILWORTH POINT BED & BREAKFAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 550-7714

5 EAGLE HEIGHTS COTTAGE 13528 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 304-7188

6 JOHN L. SCOTT REAL ESTATE 13401 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .567-1600

7 LA PLAYA 10824 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567-0020

8 NORTHVIEW GUEST HOUSE 104th Pl SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-9181

9 ST. JOHN VIANNEY CATHOLIC CHURCH 16100 115th Ave SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .567-4149

10 VILLA VASHON SUITE & EVENTS 10836 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . .206 650-0766

NORTH OF TOWN 11 AYH RANCH CAMPGROUND

12119 SW Cove Rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2592

12 ARTIST’S STUDIO LOFT B&B 16529 91st Ave SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2583

13 CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 15420 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567-4488

14 HARBOR SCHOOL 15920 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .567-5955

15 LAVENDER DUCK INN 16503 Vashon Hwy SW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2592

16 PALOUSE WINERY 12431 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .567-4994

17 VASHON WINERY 10317 SW 156th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567-0055

18 WOLF GLEN VACATION RENTAL 11312 SW McCormick Place . . . . . . . . . .206 409-5579

WEST OF TOWN 19 LAST RESORT GUEST HOUSE

19807 Robinwood Road SW . . . . . . . . . 206 495-1410 20 TRIPLEBROOK GUEST COTTAGE & BARN

17705 Westside Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-3386

21 VASHON ISLAND HAVURAH 15401 Westside Hwy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-1339

22 VI HORSE SUPPLY/CEDAR VALLEY STABLES 17710 112th Ave SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-6430

23 WESTSIDE STABLES 21200 Westside Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9828

IN TOWN 24 AMIAD AND ASSOCIATES

17500 Vashon Hwy SW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-4060

25 THE BEACHCOMBER 17141 Vashon Hwy SW, Suite B . . . . . . . . . . .463-9195

26 BLOOMS & THINGS Corner of Bank Road & Vashon Hwy SW . . . 463-3682

27 BOB’S BAKERY 17506 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-1441 28 CAFÉ LUNA

9924 SW Bank Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-0777 29 CARPE DIEM PRIMARY SCHOOL 10014 SW Bank Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 375-8898

30 CASA BONITA 17623 100th Ave SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-6452

31 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 17141 Vashon Hwy SW, Suite A . . . . . . . . . . 463-6217

32 CONSTANTINOPLE! 17508 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-0994

33 CORE CENTRIC PERSONAL TRAINING 17205 Vashon Hwy SW B-3 . . . . . . . . 206 388-8953

34 DOUG’S AUTO REPAIR 17224 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9106

35 DOVA SILKS 17600 Vashon Hwy SW Suite 112 . . . . . . . . 463-4888

36 DUET Across from the Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . .206 724-2904

37 ESSENTIALS 4 17326 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-7706

38 FRAME OF MIND 9926 SW Bank Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-3933

39 GIRAFFE 174th and Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-1372

40 GREEN GINGER 9851 SW Bank Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-7788

41 THE HARDWARE STORE RESTAURANT Corner of Hwy / Bank Road . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-1800

42 HERON’S NEST 17600 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-5252

43 IGNITION STUDIOS & GALLERY 17630 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 856-7157

44 ISLAND ESCROW SERVICE 9929 SW Bank Road #204 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-3137

45 ISLAND HOME CENTER & LUMBER 17633 97th Place SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-5000

46 ISLAND SECURITY SELF STORAGE 10015 SW 178th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-0555

47 VASHON ISLAND DENTAL/MARC LANGLAND, DDS. 17425 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9282

48 MAY KITCHEN + BAR 17614 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 408-7196

49 NIRVANA 17526 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-4455

50 NORTHWEST SPORTS Thriftway Plaza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-5906

51 PANDORA’S BOX 17321 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-3401

52 RAVEN’S NEST GALLERY & GIFTS 17635 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567-5826

53 RED BICYCLE BISTRO & SUSHI 17618 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-5959

54 RICK’S DIAGNOSTIC & REPAIR SERVICE 9919 SW 178th Street. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9277

55 ROCK ISLAND PUB & PIZZA 17322 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-6814

56 SAUCY SISTERS BRICK OVEN PIZZERIA 17636 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-7743

57 SNAPDRAGON 17817 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-1310

58 SPIDER’S SKI & SPORTS 17626 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 408-7474

59 SPORTY’S 17611 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-0940

60 SUBWAY 17408 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-4800

IN TOWN CONTINUED

61 TREASURE ISLAND 17722 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2083

62 TRUE VALUE HARDWARE Thriftway Plaza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-3852

63 VMI PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 17233 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . .463-4864(4VMI)

64 VALISE 17633 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . .206 375-5886

65 VASHON FARMERS MARKET Village Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 778-8001

66 VASHON FLOOR STORE 17504 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . .206 408-7155

67 VASHON ISLAND LIQUOR STORE 17607 Vashon Highway SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-2163

68 VASHON-MAURY ISLAND HERITAGE MUSEUM 10105 SW Bank Rd. . . . . . . . . 463-7808

69 VASHON ISLAND MUSIC Thriftway Plaza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-0552

70 VASHON PARK DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS 17130 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9602

71 VASHON PHARMACY 17617 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-9118

72 VASHON PRINT & DESIGN 17627 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-6100

73 VASHON RENTAL CARS, INC. 9919 SW 178th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-RENT

74 VASHON SELF STORAGE 17425 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-7411

75 VASHON TEA SHOP 17608 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-5202

76 VASHON THRIFTWAY 9740 SW Bank Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2100

77 VASHON TOWN SQUARE 17141 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . .206 935-7500

78 VASHON WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTER 17407 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2777

79 WENDY'S WEATHER'D WEAR 17502 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 455-1801

80 WET WHISKERS 17321 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2200

81 WINDERMERE REAL ESTATE 17233 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9148

82 ZAMORANA 17722 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . 206 356-5684

83 ZOMBIEZ 17705 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-7777

SOUTH OF TOWN 84 ADVANCED DENTAL CARE OF VASHON

19001 Vashon Hwy SW, #100 . . . . . . . . . . .463-9115

85 BICYCLE IN THE TREEHOUSE 20426 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-4864

86 COUNTRY STORE & GARDENS 20211 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-3655

87 ED PALMER CONSTRUCTION, INC. 22024 103rd Ave SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-4111

88 FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES 18134 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-5477

89 GRANNY’S ATTIC 10010 SW 210th St . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-3161

90 KVI BEACH HOUSE 20252 77th Place SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-6276

91 MEADOW CREATURE, LLC 18850 103rd Ave SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 271-9547

92 OPEN SPACE FOR ARTS & COMMUNITY 18870 103rd Ave SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206-408-1241

93 SEATTLE DISTILLING COMPANY 19429 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-0830

94 UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 17928 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9804

95 VASHON ALLIED ARTS GALLERY 19704 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-5131

96 VASHON DENTAL/LEIF RASMUSSEN, DDS. 19715 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-3685

97 VASHON HEALTH CENTER 10030 SW 210th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-3671

98 VASHON ISLAND COFFEE ROASTERIE & THE MINGLEMENT 19529 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9800

99 VASHON ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH 9318 SW Cemetery Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-3940

100 VASHON LUTHERAN CHURCH 18623 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2655

101 VASHON SPORTSMEN’S CLUB 19720 Singer Road SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9440

SOUTH END*B NUMBERS BELOW ARE IN THE TOWN OF BURTON

102 A&E BED & BREAKFAST 10910 SW 232nd St . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 276-5136

103 BERGAMOT STUDIO 23927 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . .206 792-0476

104 BURTON COMMUNITY CHURCH In Burton on Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9977

105 CALVARY FULL GOSPEL CHURCH 13107 SW 220th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2567

106 HARBOR MERCANTILE Burton Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2500

107 LAVENDER HILL FARM 10425 SW 238th St. . . . . . . . . . . . . .(July) 463-2322

108 MADRONA MEADOWS BED AND BARN 21828 Monument Rd SW . . . . . . . . . . .206 295-6233

109 QUARTERMASTER INN 23824 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . .206 794-9451

110 SWALLOW’S NEST GUEST COTTAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 (800) ANY-NEST or 463-2646

111 TREES OF LEGACY 13005 SW 267th Lane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-1588

112 VASHON ISLAND BOOKS 22100 Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . .206 408-7017

113 VASHON ISLAND UNITARIAN CHURCH In Burton on Vashon Hwy SW . . . . . . . . . . . 463-4775

114 VASHON WATERSPORTS Jensen Point Boathouse 463-9257 or 463-YAKS (9257)

MAURY ISLAND115 ALL MERCIFUL SAVIOUR ORTHODOX

MONASTERY 9933 SW 268th St. . . . . . 463-5918

116 MAURY COTTAGE 5313 SW Pt Robinson Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-4558

117 MILETA CREEK RESTAURANT 24615 75th Ave SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-2005

118 PT ROBINSON LIGHTHOUSE 3705 SW Pt Robinson Road . . . . . . . . . . . . 463-9602

119 SWALLOW’S NEST GUEST COTTAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 (800) ANY-NEST or 463-2646

120 THE TWO TIDES 8208 Quartermaster Drive . . . . . . . . . . . 206 445-2412

121 VASHON GOLF & SWIM CLUB 24615 75th Ave SW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463-9410

NOT ON MAPA Better Roofing Company ..............206 935-1575All Around Upgrades ......................206 940-7535Bob Webster Handyman ................. 206 455-4245Dogwood Associates ............................463-9995Goforth Gill Architects ...........................463-5222 Guild Hall Construction .......................... 463-4248 Healthier Air & Heating ......................... 463-4265Joanna Gardiner .................................... 567-0560K's Housecleaning ................................. 463-9587Persephone Consulting ..........................463-9052Plum Lodge ...................................206 408-7162Sound View Home Services .................. 567-4765Trilogy Homes ........................................463-1963VashonEvents.comVashonVacations.comVashonBicycleTours.comVashon Island Pet Protectors (VIPP)

............................................206 389-1085Vashon Taxi ...................................206 434-1121

206 463-9195 [email protected]

[email protected]

Vash

on H

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SW

100t

h A

ve S

W

97th

Pl S

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SW 174th St

Ober Park

SW Bank Rd

SW 178th St

DowntownVashon

Post Office Map not to scale2013 – 2014

Library

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The businesses listed on this key and on the reverse map are paid advertisers.

Continued on back…

2013-2014 destination vashon

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