NEWS | Lawmakers work to save PO boat’s dock. Page 3 COMMENTARY | An Islander’s look at health care reform. 6 SPORTS | Vashon Aikido teams with Seattle for an event. Page 18
ART THAT GLITTERS World-renowned jeweler makes a stop on Vashon. Page 11
DINE ON MAURY The golf club opens its restaurant to the public. Page 5
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012
Volunteers at VIFR
Fire agency explores a new approach
Vol. 57, No. 9
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
A NIGHT WITH THE STARS, VASHONSTYLE
Staff Writer
If the King County Sheriff ’s Office’s proposal for a resident deputy program on Vashon is approved by the deputies’ union, Islanders will see a significant decrease in police presence on Vashon as soon as April 1. The Island will also, however, gain a full-time sergeant to oversee Vashon’s operations and follow crime trends. Several sheriff’s office officials laid out the proposal at a VashonMaury Island Community Council (VMICC) meeting last week, making an official announcement of the plan reported by The Beachcomber based on anonymous sources two weeks ago. Many who attended the meeting expressed concern that the new system — which would rely heavily on on-call officers — would result in longer response times. However, some also said they understood the sheriff ’s office is faced with making tough budget cuts.
Staff Writer
SEE VOLUNTEERS, 9
Sheriff’s office plans to reduce coverage By NATALIE JOHNSON
By LESLIE BROWN
The grey-blue house on a quiet street in Burton looks like a classic family home — with a twocar garage, a crimson-red front door and a peek-a-boo view of Quartermaster Harbor. But instead of housing a family, the 2,200-square-foot residence stands as a new effort on the part of Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR) to reduce emergency-response times to the outer reaches of the Island. These days, two young men — volunteer emergency medical technicians or EMTs — live in the four-bedroom home, situated a block away from the Burton fire station. When a call comes in, they don their gear and hustle to the station, where they climb into an aid car and rush to the scene. It’s a scenario that routinely shaves two or three minutes off the response time to the southern end of the Island and a minute or two to parts of Maury, VIFR officials said. And while that might not seem like much, fire officials say, those few minutes could mean life or death to someone who’s having a heart attack or is in need of oxygen. “Two minutes can make a huge difference,” said Candy McCullough, who chairs the fire commission. “I think it’s definitely worth it.” The residency program, as it’s called, is part of a larger effort on VIFR’s part to reduce response time by strengthening volunteer participation in the department, one of the few in King County that still draws heavily on the
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More than 200 people turned out for the 15th annual Oscar Night at Vashon Theatre, a lavish affair replete with (faux) Hollywood celebrities. This year included appearances by Helen Mirren, the war horse Joey, Asa Butterfield (aka Hugo) and several others. Many awards, of course, were handed out. Visit The Beachcomber’s website for a list. Above, left, Oscar Night announcer Susan McCabe and hosts Aimee Demarest and Fiona Hope take a limo ride. Above, right, Emily McAthur, a sixth-grader, steps onto the red carpet. And right, costume contest judge Karen du Four des Champs enjoys hors d’oeuvres offered by Craig Sutherland (aka Jack Nicholson).
Leslie Brown/Staff Photos
SEE SHERIFF, 20
From 12 to 93, Islanders learn the joys of photography A new intergenerational workshop brings seniors and students together By SUSAN RIEMER Staff Writer
On a recent rainy afternoon, several photographers gathered among the vibrant quilts and bright-colored bolts of fabric at Island Quilter. Some nestled their cameras right up to their subjects, taking the closest pictures imaginable, while others stood further apart to capture the long view.
While much about the afternoon could have passed as an ordinary photo shoot, other parts of the event were in fact remarkable: The youngest photographer in the bunch was in sixth grade, and the oldest, 93. Those gathered were part of an intergenerational photography workshop led by Island photographers Chris Beck and Ray Pfortner. The class, which began in January, includes sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at The Harbor School and residents of Vashon Community Care. Twelve meetings in all, the class gathers twice a week, one day dedicated to a workshop, where photos are displayed and the students and teachers comment on them at VCC, and
the other day dedicated to a field trip. So far, the 13-member group has traveled to Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie, the Bone Factory, the quilt shop and DIG; next week they’ll head to Point Robinson. Working sometimes in student-senior pairs and sometimes alone, class members are learning about photography in the digital age as well as about each other. “It’s always wonderful to get the generations interacting,” said Naomi Goldick-Davis, the VCC manager of social work and community outreach. “That’s my passion.” The first seeds for this class were planted last year when several Island photographers SEE PHOTOGRAPY, 10