VCC’S NEW LEADER Center gets new administrator after years without. Page 5
NEWS | K2 cleanup moves to groundwater pollution. [3] COMMENTARY | Humor: In the scar wars, I lost. [6] ARTS | First Friday showing art [10] in various mediums.
PLAYOFF BOUND Boys’ soccer heads into post-season this weekend. Page 14
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2016
Vol. 61, No. 18
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
Three drunk-driving deaths in year’s time cause concern
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WARM WEATHER USHERS IN MAY DAY SWIM
By SUSAN RIEMER
the influence, compared with just two all of last year — a number that Boe readily When a young woman was killed in a acknowledged was too low. Deputies have also stepped up their viscrash on the north end last December, she was the third islander to die on Vashon in ibility in Vashon town, he said, and have slightly more than a year while driving under made repeated visits to Vashon’s bars in part because of public concerns regarding bars the influence of drugs or alcohol. A King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) over serving alcoholic beverages to patrons. In an interview last week, Mikhail report released last week indicates that at the Carpenter, a spokesman for the Washington time of her death on Dec. 29, Molly Adams State Liquor and Cannabis Board, said that had a blood alcohol level of .18 — more than double the legal limit — as well as marijuana if customers appear drunk, businesses are and methamphetamine in her system. Her not allowed to sell them additional drinks death follows fatal crashes in December 2014 and must remove any alcoholic drinks the and May 2015. In both cases, the drivers patrons already have. Typically, he added, had blood alcohol levels nearly three times it is enforcement personnel from the liquor the legal limit, and one of the drivers also and cannabis board, not police officers, who conduct oversight checks and enforce the law, had marijuana in his system, but he noted such personnel according to official reports. are limited, and their loca“Is it a trend? Is it bad KCSO’s Ted Boe, Vashon’s checks are often driven precinct captain, addressed luck? I honestly don’t tion by complaints. Carpenter this situation at a public know.” could not say how frequently meeting in January. He noted Ted Boe, enforcement personnel come that from 2009 through 2012, King County Sheriff’s Office to Vashon; The Beachcomber Vashon had no fatal crashes Precint 4 Captain has filed a public information from any cause, and in 2013, request to obtain that recent there was one, unrelated to history. alcohol. In 2014 and 2015, however, five fatal While enforcement of current laws is vital, crashes occurred, with the last three due to experts say it is only part of the picture of drivers who were impaired. “Is it a trend?” he told those gathered. “Is it reducing or eliminating impaired driving, which is often connected to larger substance bad luck? I honestly don’t know.” In an interview last week, Boe said the use or abuse issues. “Clearly the island has a struggle on its deputies who serve Vashon have stepped up enforcement efforts in a range of areas, hands,” Vashon Youth & Family Services including speeding and impaired driving — (VYFS) Executive Director Kathleen Johnson changes that were made in response to con- said last week. “We have high rates of substance use particularly in youth and young cerns raised at the January meeting. “We have asked the officers to be diligent,” adults.” Johnson pointed to the recent fatalities as he added. Staff Writer
In the first quarter of this year, deputies have arrested five people for driving under
SEE DRUNK DRIVING, 19
Anneli Fogt/Staff Photo
Dozens of islanders beat the heat on Sunday and helped the Vashon Park District break in the pool by participating in the May Day Splash Down. “We had a really great crowd for the lap swim and kids have been coming and going all afternoon,” Aquatics Director Scott Bonney said Sunday. “This event is helpful for us because we can make sure everything is working before the summer.” With swimming season fast approaching, the Vashon Park District is expecting a final report from Tacoma-based Orb Architects, aquatic specialists who recently evaluated the Vashon Pool and all of its systems. That report, to be delivered this month, will include recommendations regarding what must be repaired or replaced both now and in the future, and will assist the park district in planning for the pool’s future. Park district Executive Director Elaine Ott has begun looking at grants to help fund some of the work that will be needed at the facility, which was built in the 1970s. The Vashon Seals swim team is partnering with the district and has committed to raising nearly $10,000 as part of necessary matching funds for one King County grant. The park district opened the pool to the Seals during one cold week in February, and the Seals’ board president Karin Choo said the team enjoyed and benefitted from practicing in the competition-sized pool despite the chilly temperatures. She stressed the club is grateful for its good relationship with the Vashon Athletic Club — where it trains outside of the summer months — but like many swim enthusiasts on Vashon, Choo said members of the club would like to see the Vashon Pool made accessible to the community year round in the near future.
Vashon’s unofficial mayor race heats up, five running for title By ANNELI FOGT Editor
Four island humans and a sheep have announced their run for Vashon’s unofficial mayor, carrying on a long-standing annual tradition that uses the election as a platform to raise funds for nonprofits. Every year, the whimsical mayoral race that has been organized by Vashon’s chamber of commerce since 2001, raises thousands of dollars for charitable work on Vashon. Contestants enter the mayoral race and then compete for votes, each worth $1, by campaigning and holding fundraising events such as carwashes. Donations can also be placed
in dropboxes set around town. Proceeds from the votes go to the designated charities. The winner will be announced in the Strawberry Festival’s beer garden at 10 p.m. Saturday, July 16. Candidates have until 6 p.m. that day to collect donations. In the past few years, the event has raised between $6,000 and $9,000, with some years bringing in far more and others far less. Eighty-five percent of the total for each candidate goes to their designated nonprofit, and 15 percent goes to the chamber. “It’s about the charities,” chamber Executive Director Jim Marsh said. “It’s a fun way to raise money … and we just enjoy it. There’s no power that comes with the mayoral title. It’s just another way to get people to pay attention.”
Working this year to get people to pay attention to island organizations are Noodle the Sheep, running in support of Vashon Youth and Family Services (VYFS); The President of Me’s Rebecca Wittman, running in support of the VashonMaury Island Heritage Association; Bernie O’ Malley and Hilary Emmer, supporting the Vashon Senior Center and Joe T., running in support of Rj’s Kids. The deadline for candidates to declare to run is June 1, so more mayoral hopefuls are likely. “I’m excited, it’s always fun” Marsh said. SEE MAYOR, 18