Site Logo

Alex Bruell

Kate Dowling

News

Kate Dowling stepping down from Voice of Vashon

She’s wrapping up five years at VoV to care for her aging parents closer to her home in…

Laryn Young, left, and Hatsune Matsudaira, musicians of the Koto no WA ensemble, played traditional Japanese koto music during the Kizoku Ishiki Obon celebration. The koto is a string instrument, not unlike a harp, which typically features 13 strings plucked by musicians who use three fingerpicks worn on their right hand. (Alex Bruell photo)

News

Islanders celebrate, commemorate belonging

The event featured speakers, dancing, Japanese koto music, walking tours and more.

This screenshot from the state Department of Health on August 9 shows the full recreational shellfishing closure across Vashon beaches.

News

Shellfishing closure extended to all of Vashon beaches

The Washington Department of Health has extended its closure of recreational shellfish harvesting to all of the shores…

Camp Fire Executive Director Rick Taylor shakes hands with King County Executive Shannon Braddock at the easement signing ceremony July 10. (Alex Bruell photo)

News

County buys third easement protecting Camp Sealth from development

This transfer is the biggest land right purchase of its kind between the camp and King County.

Workers from Meade Building Company work on a ramp at Cynthia and Fred Matusky’s Sunflower Community Land Trust home the afternoon of Wednesday, July 30. They finished the final touches on the project on Monday, August 4. (Alex Bruell photo)

News

Vashon ‘Rampathon’ winners feel the love

Before last week, a trip outside for Cynthia Matusky meant a roll of the dice on whether she’d…

Lindsay Hoffman, married in 1968, and her niece Manda McCoy, married in 2023, show their wedding dresses at the show at the Presbyterian Church. (Courtesy photo)

News

Weddings dresses tell history at Presbyterian Church

They included the dress of Edith Roosevelt Derby Williams, granddaughter of Theodore Roosevelt.

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue staff evaluate a minor crash into the Thriftway building the morning of Tuesday, July 22. (Alex Bruell photo)

News

No injuries reported in crash at island Thriftway

No one was reportedly injured in a minor collision in the late morning of Tuesday, July 22 when…

This map from the state Department of Health shows the area in Quartermaster Harbor (the red criss-cross grid) in which shellfish harvesting is temporarily closed due to high levels of paralytic shellfish poison.

News

Shellfishing closed at Quartermaster Harbor due to unsafe poison levels

The closure was announced Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

Festival parade Grand Marshal Doug Snyder waves to the crowd from a blue Corvette during the Strawberry Festival parade. (Alex Bruell photo)

News

Islanders jam out at Strawberry Festival

Crowds once again jam-packed the streets of Vashon town for a sweet Strawberry Festival weekend, enjoying the fruits…

News

Ballots mailed to islanders for August primary

Islanders will help select the candidates for county executive and decide the fate of Proposition 1.

Vashon Island Fire Rescue crews respond to a fire Sunday at 153rd Street off of Vashon Highway. (Courtesy photo)

News

VIFR crews battle raging house fire early Sunday morning

Update: The family has posted a fundraiser, which you can find at gofund.me/f4ea83b4.

Kimm Shride accepts a bouquet of flowers during her retirement party on Monday, June 30. (Alex Bruell photo)

News

Kimm Shride retires from decades-long ferry career

Shride celebrated her last day of work Monday with WSF.

Taylor Umetsu, research and programs associate with the Vashon Nature Center, hands 4-year-old Ophelia Hoetger a moon snail. Ophelia was one of many kids on Saturday discovering the kinds of sea life that thrive in the intertidal zone. (Alex Bruell photo)

News

Islanders explore the world beneath the tides

Families swarmed across Point Robinson on Saturday, June 28 for the annual Low Tide Celebration, learning about marine…