KEEPING ZOMBIEZ ALIVE Owners fundraise to keep restaurant in business. Page 5
ELECTION | Islanders campaign for food labeling. [4] COMMENTARY | Rethink all the pink this month. [6] SPORTS | Rowers rake in gold [14] at latest regatta.
THE ISLAND’S MEOW Drama Dock puts on ‘Cats’ with style. Page 11
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013
Vol. 58, No. 42
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
75¢
County plowing reductions could affect island in a snowstorm Vashon service not reduced, but backup is no longer available By NATALIE JOHNSON Staff Writer
Natalie Johnson/Staff Photo
Park board candidate Stephen Evans speaks at last week’s forum. Other park board candidates, from left, are Lu-Ann Branch, Doug Ostrom, Robin Magonegil, Scott Harvey and John Hopkins.
Park board hopefuls make their cases Roughly 90 people turned out last Thursday to hear the views of six islanders running for three seats on the Vashon Park District board and two candidates vying for a spot on the Water District 19 board. Most of the two-hour forum at the Penny Farcy center was given over to the public to ask questions of park district candidates. Incumbents Lu-Ann Branch and John Hopkins are both running for re-election to the board, challenged by Stephen Evans and Scott Harvey, respectively. Newcomers Doug Ostrom and Robin Magonegil are vying for the seat that will be vacated by commis-
sioner David Hackett. Throughout the forum, the contenders all spoke of the need for change at the district, which has experienced significant financial difficulties and a turbulent few years. While the candidates boast a variety of backgrounds, they voiced common themes and common priorities, including the need for greater transparency, community outreach and financial accountability at the agency. For profiles of each park board candidate and highlights from the forum, see page 19.
Vashon could see less snowplowing service this winter, as county budget cuts mean road workers from the mainland can no longer back up Vashon’s small snow removal crew during a widespread storm. “We’re planning for a little less, but hoping for full coverage on Vashon,” said Brenda Bauer, director of the King County Road Services Division, which provides snow and ice removal services in unincorporated King County. “You can get pretty isolated our there,” Bauer said, referring to Vashon. “That isolation and the challenge the rest of the county faces means there won’t be anyone
riding to the rescue.” The roads division recently announced that towns across unincorporated King County will see more roads go unplowed in the event of a major snowstorm this winter, as it plans to reduce its snow and ice removal services by two-thirds compared to recent years. The agency released a map showing that only the highest priority highways and arterials will see plowing, sanding and de-icing in the event of a countywide storm. On Vashon, the outlook isn’t quite so bleak, Bauer said. Since Vashon is somewhat isolated and the island’s road maintenance crew is already small, she said, staffing hasn’t been reduced here in years and snow removal services will remain the same. However, should one or more of the island’s seven county road workers be unable to get to work in a SEE PLOWING, 18
A HOMETOWN CELEBRATION Vashon High School’s annual Homecoming celebration again drew hordes of teens, families and community members to the high school stadium to see the Pirates battle it out over the pigskin. The school’s spirit week concluded with a halftime celebration, parade of high school royalty and, of course, the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen. This year due to construction at the high school, students couldn’t put on a full parade with floats on the track around the football field. Nonetheless, they paraded royalty voted on by students in a halftime show, and this year, with help from the Vashon Maury Island Chamber of Commerce, students revived an old Vashon tradition and paraded through town the afternoon before the game, when they were greeted with green and gold balloons and skull-and-crossbone flags outside many local businesses. The night ended with a disappointing loss on the field to Charles Wright Academy, but the Pirates recovered in time to enjoy a homecoming dance the next evening at the Vashon Golf & Swim Club. For more photos of this year’s Homecoming events, see page 13. Linda Henley Photo