TESTING THE WATER Emergency drill tests marine lifeline. Page 5
CRIME | Police urge calm in face of sex predator’s presence. Page 4 NEWS | Count raises questions about VAA’s project. Page 12 COMMENTARY | Vashon Theatre deserves support. Page 6
ROWING TO VICTORY Junior crew garners medals at Nationals. Page 18
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012
Vol. 57, No. 24
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
New board takes over Mukai farmhouse Island group worked behind the scenes to oust former board
By LESLIE BROWN Staff Writer
A new board of directors comprised entirely of Islanders has taken over the organization that owns the Mukai farmhouse and garden, considered one of the most historically significant Japanese-American properties in the country. The board was quietly elected at a membership meeting last week, after three Islanders — Glenda Pearson, Ellen Kritzman and Lynn Greiner — worked behind the scenes for months to find a way to replace an absentee board that they say has failed to safeguard the historic site. As a result, Island Landmarks, the organization that holds title to Mukai, is no longer helmed by Mary Matthews, a former Islander who founded the group and who now lives in Texas. Four other board members, including Matthews’ husband and another out-of-state resident, were also removed from the board. In their place is a new 11-member board made up of several well-known Islanders, many of whom have been actively involved in Vashon nonprofits over the years. Pearson, a University of Washington librarian, was elected
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K2 Commons reborn as a nonprofit development By LESLIE BROWN Staff Writer
Leslie Brown / Staff Photo
A new board has stepped in to take on the protection and restoration of the Mukai farmhouse and garden. From left, Glenda Pearson, Helen Meeker, Bruce Haulman, Ellen Kritzman, Anita Halstead, Lynn Greiner, Kelly Robinson and Yvonne Kuperberg. Not pictured are board members Sally Fox, Rayna Holtz and Bob Horsley. president; Kritzman and Helen Meeker have been named vice presidents; Rayna Holtz is the secretary, and Yvonne Kuperberg is treasurer. Other board members are Island historian Bruce Haulman, Bob Horsley, Anita Halstead, Kelly Robinson, Sally Fox and Greiner, an attorney. The group, several board members said, will work to ensure that the promise of the historic site is
Vashon’s grads mark their big day The Vashon High School gym on Saturday was packed tight and full of smiles, laughs and tears as family and friends gathered to celebrate the graduation of the VHS class of 2012. Highlights included a humorous speech by senior Sam Crosby, who was elected by his classmates to speak. Valedictorian Zoe Ferguson-Steele also gave a heartfelt speech about looking to the future and later sang with classmate Anna Hicks to a standing ovation. Special notice was taken of staff members who are retiring this year, including teachers Cindy Powell and Mike Zecher. In a crowdrousing moment, the two, who addressed the graduates together, donned their own graduation gowns and threw their caps in the air. At right, Rachel Taylor and Melanie Taitano smile as they wait with other seniors for “Pomp and Circumstance” to signal their entrance. See more photos on pages 14 and 15. Rik Forschmiedt Photo/RiksImages.com
fulfilled — a vision that Matthews articulated several years ago but was never able to realize. The Mukai farmhouse, built by B.D. Mukai in 1928, and the traditional Japanese garden, designed by his wife Kuni, were purchased by Island Landmarks a decade ago with $400,000 in public grants. Island Landmarks, according to the three women who led the effort to replace its board, has failed to
care for the property or open it to the public, as promised in various grant applications. The organization is behind on its property taxes. It is no longer a nonprofit, a status that was revoked by the IRS for its failure to make annual reports. And the farmhouse is in a state of disrepair, the women said. “I’m encouraged that we are SEE MUKAI, 22
K2 Commons, a proposed development that would turn the former ski manufacturing plant into a center with a swimming pool, bowling alley, restaurant and hotel, is in the process of becoming a nonprofit helmed by a board of well-known Islanders. The vision remains similar to the one Dick Sontgerath and Truman O’Brien articulated six years ago, when they first announced plans to purchase the 180,000-square-foot structure and turn it into a mixed-use facility. But instead of trying to make the ambitious effort pencil out as a for-profit enterprise, the project is now organized as a nonprofit — one that could be backed by social investors and foundations and with rental proceeds used to support other Vashon agencies, board members said. Sontgerath, reached Monday night, declined to comment about the project, referring questions to Nancy Foster-Moss, K2 Commons’ project director. Foster-Moss could not be reached. Five board members, however, spoke enthusiastically and easily about the project — calling it audacious, progressive, challenging and exciting. “The change to a nonprofit tipped me over,” said Bernie O’Malley, one of seven board members. When Sontgerath and O’Brien first put forward their vision, some Islanders objected, assuming, O’Malley said, that the project was in the hands of “a developer who would make a ton of money. It didn’t matter if it was true or not; that’s what people thought.” But with a nonprofit model, O’Malley said, the project just SEE K2 COMMONS, 11