Telling Vashon’s stories

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Dear Vashon,

Let me introduce myself. I’m Tess Halpern and I’m so pleased to be joining the Beachcomber and the Vashon community during the month of January as a contributing journalist.

I’m originally from Seattle, but my studies have taken me across the country to Williams College in Massachusetts, where I am in my sophomore year.

There, I write and edit for the features section of my campus newspaper, The Williams Record. The support and training I’ve received there have encouraged me to pursue further opportunities in journalism.

My college has a Winter Study term during which we can find our own internships for the month of January. When planning this year’s Winter Study, I knew right away that contributing to the Beachcomber was exactly the kind of work I wanted to do.

I’ve always been drawn to writing, and through my campus paper I’ve found a passion in crafting detailed stories about people’s lives.

My favorite stories have centered around the things that make us so very human: our connections with others, our ability to help build our communities up in the worst of times, and the mistakes we make along the way.

I’ve written about the decades-long friendship of a group of alums, a cohort of biology researchers trying to better understand their natural environment through research and small-business owners trying to keep up with the rapidly shifting modern landscape.

In my college town, you know everyone, at least by sight. I’m used to small-town news, and I know how impactful stories in tight-knit communities can be.

As a young person in today’s world, having journalistic aspirations isn’t exactly a straightforward ambition. Local news is rapidly disappearing — more than 130 local newspapers closed down in 2025 alone, leaving the U.S. with more “news deserts,” than ever. In a time where newspapers should be the most important institutions, the keepers of truth, they instead seem to be slipping through our fingers, whispering away like fine sand.

The Beachcomber is a rare thing nowadays — a newspaper staffed by local reporters which provides timely, high-quality reporting to the community in which it resides. I admire the hard-working journalists who write for its pages every week and I am honored to be joining them in their mission.

What keeps me coming back to journalism is the connections I’ve made and the voices I’ve managed to help bring into the light. It’s an incredible feeling to share a story with a community that otherwise would have gone untold.

Civic engagement, and appreciation for community, can only spread if people know what others are doing. To play a small role in the spread of goodwill is a reporter’s best hope.

During my short time at The Beachcomber, I plan to focus on sharing feature stories that highlight the best of Vashon: its people, landscape, and history.

Growing up across Puget Sound, I always looked forward to my Vashon visits for the island’s verdant hues and vibrant culture. Whether it was attending the Vashon Sheepdog Classic as a young girl, happening upon the Strawberry Festival Car Show one summer, or finding my favorite lamp at Granny’s Attic, Vashon has become integral to my idea of the Pacific Northwest. I’m struck by the community’s welcoming arms and tough resilience in the face of challenge. Vashon residents do not give up, nor do they hesitate to make their voices heard.

Returning to the island once again is a dream come true — I can’t wait to learn more about the place and its community. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be traveling the island, interviewing people across industries and walks of life to write my articles.

By listening to your stories and getting to know the island, I hope I can earn your trust.