Drunk driving

Cavalier attitude makes us part of the problem

A speeding pickup overturned on Vashon Highway in mid-afternoon on Thanksgiving. My wife was out, accompanied by our family dog, running her last three-miler before the Seattle Marathon the following Sunday. She saw the old pickup turn over within 40 feet of her. Knowing first aid and CPR, she sprinted to the truck. Hoisting herself on top of the side of the truck, she opened the door to let the male driver out, who my wife said “reeked of alcohol.”

I called my wife back, yelling into the phone, “I don’t want you running on the highway or Vashon roads anymore. This is the second truck we know has flipped because the driver was intoxicated in the short 16 months we’ve been here. Run only on the trails!”

I was frightened that my wife and pet out on their run could be so vulnerable to a driver under the influence.

Was this an isolated incident for this driver? Had he been on the last warning by a sympathetic judge? Did someone know he was drinking that afternoon? Why didn’t someone call the police? It would’ve been a preventive call, which may have spared the driver from overturning his truck, towing costs and possible arrest.

Some folks I speak to about our civil responsibilities often respond, “I don’t do the cop calling thing!” “If they get caught, they get caught!” The problem with this “it’s not my problem,” cavalier — “if it ain’t happening to one of mine” — attitude is that at some level it renders us culpable, irresponsible, thus morally placing us on the side of the problem, not the solution.

— Eppie Wilson

Island Lumber sign

It is their business

The Island Lumber sign, which seems to have alarmed some, is the reason for this letter.

It is their business, and as such they should be able to do with it as they like. Right? Doesn’t that make sense?

The sign is on their property. It really doesn’t matter if it offends one’s sensibilities. To many on the Island I am sure the sign says “Another example of gaudy capitalism, why here on Vashon Island?” To me it shouts, “Everybody shops here, and we do well enough to have this big sign — you should shop here too!”

If you don’t like the look of a place, don’t shop there. We all make those decisions every day. If you don’t like the sign, don’t look at it. If you want to change it, put forth an astronomical offer to buy the place, and once it is yours, you can do whatever you would like with it.

There are too many people who seem to feel that they should have the right to decide what is good for other people, even on their own property.

— Andy Amstrup

Traffic safety is a bigger issue than the new sign

I believe the more dangerous problem at the main intersection is the drivers who, 30 feet from the stop sign, turn left into the Thriftway parking lot by crossing the double yellow line, as well as the drivers who enter the main highway from the Thriftway parking lot by driving past the small sign stating, “Right turn only,” stopping the traffic in both directions crossing the double yellow lines and proceeding 30 feet to stop again at the four-way stop.

Instead of bashing Island Lumber, let us do something, (classes, tickets?) about teaching people how to make one’s way through a four-way stop, what double yellow lines mean, and that Thriftway has three exits/entrances and how to use them.

Failing that, let us have a red/green traffic control sign.

I like Island Lumber’s nice, big, colorful sign. I like the information it provides.

I am also grateful for, and thankful to, the people who shop on Vashon for their lumber and hardware, thereby making it possible for Island Lumber to afford their new sign and to contribute to the welfare of all the people involved in the manufacture, transporting and installation of the sign.

— Connie DuFresne

Mormonism

Yes, we believe in Jesus

Do Mormons believe in Christ? This is a question I have heard more than once — even recently. Quite honestly, it astounds me as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that one could think that we do not believe in Christ. One needs to look no further than the real name of the church to obtain the answer. Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith.

Perhaps it is the constant reference to the nickname of the church — Mormon. Where does this nickname come from? Mormon was the name of a man who lived around 550 AD here on the American continent. Mormon was called as a prophet (just like Moses, Noah or Abraham).

The calling he was given was to summarize the writings of his people as there were numerous writings compiled over the course of 2,500 years. The prophet Ezekiel prophesied of the coming of this book when he spoke of the stick of Judah (Bible) being joined with the stick of Ephraim.

Mormon summarized these records and compiled them together — the Book of Mormon. The most important chapters record Christ’s birth and a subsequent visit to the American people after His crucifixion and resurrection.

We use the Book of Mormon, together with the Bible, as scripture. The Bible and the Book of Mormon contain the gospel of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

— Gene Kuhns, Jr., First Counselor,

Vashon Branch Presidency

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints