This time of year, we are reminded of all the communities that make Vashon vibrant.

Our front page story details this year’s commemoration of the Day of Exile, and its unjust, unconscionable forced removal of islanders of Japanese ancestry. We cherish Mukai Farm & Garden and all those on Vashon who work tirelessly to keep the island’s Japanese history and heritage alive — reminding us that while we cannot forget the grief of injustice, we also cannot forget to celebrate joy where we find it.

It’s a similar story for the island’s LGBTQ+ community, who we’ll soon celebrate this June for Pride Month. Islanders may be aware that Vashon is home to one of the highest concentrations of same-sex couples in the state and country. Vashon is a place where kids can freely discover their identity, adults can love who they wish, and human beings of all kinds can be themselves. By celebrating those truths — publicly, and with lots of rainbow flags — we help to keep the island a place for all.

So too are we appreciative of naturalists, sporting enthusiasts, environmentalists and outdoor educators who create opportunities for our youth that you’d only find on Vashon — like the annual Trout Derby and the project to catalogue and reconstruct Singer, the gray whale. Thanks to groups like the Vashon Sportsmen’s Club and the Vashon Nature Center for instilling in our youth a respect for nature and the cycles of life and death, and for giving them memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime.