VASHON ISLAND FIRE & RESCUE

Thanks to the chief

I would like to thank Chief Matt Vinci for his extraordinary leadership, hard work and his vision for the department. Your vision on staffing the department has brought VIFR into the 21st century of professional fire departments, which I believe the island needed. Your leadership has increased the morale of the department which benefits all who work there and the island’s residents.

When the levy lift was passed, you were ready on day one to staff the Burton station after it had been unmanned for years. That saved hundreds of Vashon residents money from increased property insurance. Staffing the Burton station has proven that we needed that station, as close to 30% of emergency calls on the island are handled by the Burton station now.

You and your staff’s hard work has brought resources to the department that otherwise would have been left on the table. Those total well over three million dollars. That money brought more fire fighters, two ambulances and a fire engine to the island at little cost to the taxpayers of the island. Extraordinary.

Bringing Mobile Integrated Health to the island and implementing it shows that you are always thinking of how to help islanders. Your vision of taking MIH to another level of urgent care also showed that you thought a community-based system for Vashon benefits Vashon. That shows your vision of what the possibilities could be for our community. I hope that it continues expanding.

It’s with great sadness that I see you leaving the community, but I understand your decision and wish you success with your new endeavor.

Thank you again for what you have done for the island community.

Ron Smothermon

New Year’s Resolutions

Get functionally fit

In the name of New Year’s resolutions, I have a perspective on fitness that I’d like to share.

I’m all about functional fitness. We’re not all Olympians. That level of fitness takes a ton of time and can do a number on your joints, especially on the aging body. Many of us want to be able to have the fitness level that helps us live the life we want. Some of us just want to get through the day without our backs acting up or our knees hurting.

I am an active person, but going to the gym was never my thing. I like doing things that actively engage my mind as much as my body. This is why I have been a dancer, a Pilates instructor, and lately, a Liangong instructor.

A practice stemming from ancient qigong forms, Liangong was brought to the U.S. by Wen-Mei Yu. Debbie Leung, my teacher in Olympia, learned this form from Wen-Mei Yu, so I feel very close to how this series is taught and the very positive effects it yields.

The series is designed to help heal your aching back, increase your strength, stretch and lengthen you, help create better proprioception skills, give you better focus and to help you relax.

I also have the benefit of stronger legs and knees, better range of motion, better balance, and the mental focus and clarity I get are huge.

It takes about a year to learn the entire form, which is broken down into three series with 18 exercises in each series. Some are challenging and others are calming and simple. It is a very disciplined practice that has an order to it that I am appreciating more and more. I don’t have to worry about what to do next — once learned, the entire 54 exercises are accompanied by Chinese music and take 40 minutes.

I have a new class series starting Jan. 9. To register and for more information, please visit arlettemoodymovement.com.

Arlette Moody