MAKING MUSIC Teresa Turdury brings her gifts to the Open Space. Page 10
NEWS | Pertussis continues to spread on Vashon. Page 3 COMMUNITY | Students shine at a special open mic. Page 18 EDITORIAL | It’s OK to use tax dollars to support our pool. Page 6
RECYCLING GOWNS Dresses are donated for another magical night. Page 4
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012
Vol. 57, No. 11
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
“For 50 years, we had a real good place.”
An era ends at a beloved clubhouse By LESLIE BROWN Staff Writer
For five decades, the South End Community Club was at the heart of a thriving neighborhood on the southern tip of Vashon. Families held monthly potlucks at the simple, two-story structure perched above the Tahlequah ferry dock. They threw Halloween parties for their kids, held Fourth of July parties replete with parades and marked milestones in their tight-knit community — graduation parties, wedding receptions, memorial services. Now, after watching the demographics of their neighborhood shift and the building fall into disuse, the 20 or so remaining members of the South End Community Club have decided to gift their property to Vashon Island Fire & Rescue. “There’s a time to finish something off if it’s not working anymore,” said Carol Slaughter, who, with her husband Al, helped build the structure. “I’m a little sad. But for 50 years, we had a real good place here.” “We had so many fun activities,” recalled Bob Hallowell, another member. The community, he added, centered around the kids — and there were a lot of them. “Now, there are almost no chil-
75¢
Acupuncture school begins a program on the Island By NATALIE JOHNSON Staff Writer
received when the clubhouse was constructed. Fire Chief Hank Lipe said he’s pleased by the members’ decision. The building is simple, but the property — a third of an acre
This spring the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine (SIOM) will open a satellite program on Vashon, bringing what will be the first college courses offered on the Island in recent history. The school, which currently operates at a campus near Green Lake in Seattle, purchased a 24-acre wooded property with a home on Cemetery Road. The parcel will serve as a facility for graduate students to study acupuncture during weekend-long intensives. “Chinese medicine is based in a natural medicine context,” said SIOM president Paul Karsten. “We though it would be a great idea to have students learn in a natural area.” SIOM has offered a Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree since 1994 and recently added a Master’s in Acupuncture program with the intent of eventually holding classes on Vashon. Karsten said the Vashon facility
SEE CLUB, 15
SEE ACUPUNCTURE, 12
Michele AnneLouise Cohen Photo
Al and Carol Slaughter, on the deck of the South End Community Clubhouse, helped construct it 50 years ago. dren,” he said, adding, “The clubhouse just doesn’t have an active group that meets there and supports it anymore.” Club members met three weeks ago and voted unanimously — with one abstention — to give the property to the fire department.
It was a move that made perfect sense, members said. The structure was built in part to provide fire service to the south end of Vashon — a fire truck is parked in the bottom half of the building — and VIFR has nearly 50 years left in the 99-year lease it
Igniting art: A garage morphs into a gallery By ELIZABETH SHEPHERD Staff Writer
During the past two Friday night gallery cruises, art lovers have beaten a path to a new destination in the heart of Vashon — a multi-use venue that combines artist studios, classroom space and a small, well-appointed gallery. The new space, Ignition Studios, has been an instant hit on Vashon, drawing hundreds to opening receptions that offer a chance to ogle artwork and stand around two outdoor fire pits to schmooze with friends and neighbors. Kids have been treated to s’mores, and Zamorana’s taco truck has parked on the premises to provide adults with south-of-theborder treats.
Best of all, it seems, Ignition Studios is located in a repurposed, historic place — a garage and shop tucked just behind and to the north of Movie Magic. The space, built in 1946, was once part of a downtown automotive complex owned and operated by the Brennos, a longtime Island family. The large garage most recently housed a boat repair shop and, before that, Brian Brenno’s glass-blowing studio. But in its new incarnation, the place presents itself as an all-purpose arts center, with huge garage doors, ample square footage, concrete floors, high ceilings and rustic retro charm. It took an Island newcomer, Lisa Hurst, to recognize the potential and pony up the cash to invest in SEE GALLERY, 11
Michele AnneLouise Cohen Photo
Lisa Hurst stands in front of her colorful abstract art at Ignition Studios.