UMO HEADS EAST Performance group takes its show on the road. Page 14
NEWS | Creamery, laundromat planned for downtown. [5] COMMUNITY | More changes set for island health care. [4] SPORTS | The Burby draws a [16] hot crowd.
FERRY CHANGES Dock construction slated to begin soon. Page 3
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015
Vol. 60, No. 29
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
HOT WEEKEND MAKES FOR A FUN, SWEATY STRAWBERRY FEST
75¢
Public safety a concern as plan for paramedics moves forward By NATALIE MARTIN Staff Writer
Natalie Martin/Staff Photo
A year after Vashon’s fire board approved an overhaul of the island’s paramedic program, the changes have not yet happened and there are growing concerns that the plan might compromise public safety. Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR) paramedics say they are open to the plan, which will make the island responders a part of the larger South King County system. However, several of them, as well as other VIFR staff, say that without knowing more details, they’re worried that the new system will actually leave the island at times without paramedics to respond to the most serious medical emergencies. “The irony is that in order to bring the quality of care up to King County standards, King County appears to be willing to reduce the level of service, which is a disgrace,” said paramedic Steve Palmer. What’s more, it’s unclear who will have final approval of the controversial transition, and there’s no plan for public outreach on Vashon before the change takes place. “The longer this goes, I just keep thinking they still aren’t forthcoming with the plan, and we’re getting so far down the road on this thing,” said Andy Johnson, another paramedic. “I think it’s reasonable for the public to have an idea before it happens and perhaps a little bit of a voice to influence it.” Meanwhile, officials with VIFR as well as King County Medic One, the countywide paramedic program, say that while the SEE PARAMEDICS, 18
Park district benefits from last-minute effort to curtail fields costs By SUSAN RIEMER Natalie Martin/Staff Photo
Daniel Green Photo
Temperatures reaching into the 90s last weekend didn’t stop hordes of island residents and visitors from heading to town for the Strawberry Festival, the annual celebration that typically draws 40,000 to 50,000 people. Attendance appeared to be down slightly this year, said festival organizers, who credited the heat with keeping people indoors. Still, they called the weekend-long event with food, live music, vendors and activities for kids another success. “It also felt less frenetic,” said Jim Marsh, director of the Vashon Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the Strawberry Festival. Festival organizers prepared for the heat as much as they could, he said, adding extra tents to concert areas and quickly creating a spray station that sent a cool mist on those who found their way to it. Also new this year was a homegrown carnival, with attractions such as pony rides, rock climbing and a giant slide. The chamber of commerce, which didn’t use a traditional carnival company this year, pieced the event together. Marsh said he heard positive feedback about the carnival, though he’s not sure if the chamber made money on it. “It was an experiment,” he said. “I’m already thinking of ways to improve it for next year.” Pictured above, a girl rides a mechanical bull at the carnival (top), Delilah Pearl & The Mantarays perform in Ober Park (bottom left), and a pirate ship appeared in the grand parade on Saturday (bottom right). See more photos on page 13.
Staff Writer
King County officials made an 11th-hour decision earlier this week, enabling the Vashon Park District to save some $100,000 in its effort to finish the VES Fields north of town. This late-breaking change means that the district will be able to spend $120,000 less than it had recently planned to pave a parking lot at the athletic fields, leaving it as gravel as long as it is used four days a week or less. This news follows prolonged criticism of the park district for its spending at the fields project, which has cost more than double early projections and now totals $2.5 million, though approximately $1 million has come from grants and donations of money, time and equipment. District officials have been pushing to get final work there done before a construction permit expires and had planned to go into additional debt to cover the costs. SEE FIELDS, 20