HELPING OTHERS
A toast to Hilary Emmer
At the beginning of this new year, it is time to express gratitude for living on this beautiful island and for those beings who help to make the lives of others who live here better. I would, therefore, like to thank Hilary Emmer (featured in the Dec. 22 Beachcomber article on rent assistance) who has done outstanding work over the years on behalf of the underprivileged on Vashon.
Hilary has been a warrior in the cause of equalizing life for those who have less — fighting the good fight for the “have nots” in a rainbow of programs over the years: VYFS partnerships which have included free tax help, low-cost/free dental care for islanders, IFCH programs including the rental assistance program, among others.
She has, at times, “troubled the waters,” creating “good trouble” (as John Lewis would put it), in pursuit of the truth or best option for others. So today I toast Hilary — may she be well, continue to do good work in her good causes, and have a fulfilling New Year!
Shelley Calabrese
CLEAN CLOTHES
Vashon needs a laundromat
I’m still in mourning months after Suds Laundromat, in town, shut its doors.
Perhaps you’ve seen me walking down the highway to the bus stop with my yellow gym bag stuffed with two weeks’ worth of clothes slung over my shoulder. I miss Suds so much, and I hate going all the way to West Seattle just to wash my clothes. My laundry woes have been exacerbated by my dependence on buses and our middling ferry service, and it’s gotten to the point where even someone who voluntarily lives a car-free lifestyle is sick of carrying this bag everywhere.
With the encouragement of the Vashon-Maury Community Council, I’d like to see if there is any interest in forming a small coalition to see if we can find a way to fill the gap in Vashon’s laundry services. Everyone needs clean clothes.
If you’d like to work something out with me, please contact me at pawlrowlee@gmail.com.
Paul Rowley
GREEN BURIAL
Returning to nature
Regarding the commentary, “Green burial — a common sense approach to going beyond,” (Dec. 1, Beachcomber), I hope to find a green burial site for myself and would be delighted to have it located on Vashon. Our daughter’s family owns property there. If it were legal, they would accept my eventual burial in their woods.
To eventually be part of the earth sounds like a beautiful transformation. Home burial in a wooden box is not a new idea. Sooner is better than later. I am 85 years old.
Susan Fuches
