TOP-NOTCH ROWERS Vashon crew competes at world’s largest regatta. Page 16
NEWS | A star performs for Vashon Community Care [4] CRIME | Marijuana operation [5] discovered on Maury SCHOOLS | High school crowns royalty at Homecoming [15]
MUSIC FOR THE WORLD Colwell’s career has taken him around the globe. Page 11
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012
Dismay mounts over the state of Vashon’s fields
Vol. 57, No. 43
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
NEW FIELDS OPEN TO YOUNG SOCCER PLAYERS
By LESLIE BROWN Staff Writer
The rains have barely begun, but Vashon’s busiest athletic field is already pockmarked by large brown patches, worn areas that will turn into mud holes as the play continues and the rain intensifies this fall. During a recent tour of the McMurray Middle School field, built eight years ago as a state-of-the-art athletic surface, Dave Wilke, Vashon School District’s maintenance director, pointed out what he sees as the field’s problems — patterns of wear that will only get worse. “This is where the kick-off tussle happens,” he said, nodding toward a swath where the grass is patchy. Pointing toward a large bare spot in front of the goal, he said, “That’s where the goalie stands.” At this point in the season, after a summer of minimal use and robust grass growth, the McMurray field — the Island’s main soccer field — should be an even carpet of green, Wilke said. The fact that it’s already sporting bare spots, he said, “is alarming.” “What’s it going to look like when the rains really settle in?” he asked. The state of Vashon’s fields has been a vexing issue for years among the Island’s recreational sports community, an issue that has become increasingly tricky and even contentious as the number of Islanders playing soccer has climbed. In many ways, it’s a good dilemma, says Wilke: He and others at both the school district and park district are encouraged by the large number of young people turning out for SEE FIELDS, 20
Michael and Miriam FitzPatrick hold a pair of ferrets at their home, which doubles as Ferret Shelter Northwest.
Natalie Johnson/ Staff Photo
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More kids at Chautauqua suggest enrollment could climb By NATALIE JOHNSON Staff Writer
Leslie Brown/Staff Photo
Vashon Park District Commissioner Joe Wald and some kids cut the ribbon at the park district’s partially completed field complex next to The Harbor School Sunday. The field then opened to play for the youngest members of Vashon’s soccer club. “There have been challenges along the way, but I have to say, the blue skies have opened up,” a smiling park district commissioner David Hackett told the gathering. Many of the young players, their parents and coaches were pleased by the soft and level expanse of green grass. “I think it looks fantastic,” said Kevin Wing, who oversees the U8 and U10 teams. “The project’s half complete. Let’s finish the deal.”
After years of slowly declining enrollment at the Vashon School District, school officials are pleased to see a large crop of new students at the elementary school this year. Though enrollment across the district is still slightly down, Chautauqua, the school that typically sees smaller class sizes each year, is up by about 15 kids. And the actual number of new faces is closer to 30, Chautauqua administrators say, since a large class of fifth graders graduated last year. Some Chautauqua classes are now brimming with up to 30 students. The school even hired a new para-educator to help with the large number of fifth graders and to corral students at the buses. “It has been a big growth,” said Principal Jodie Metzger. “It was an overwhelming sense of new children, and it has been all fall. We feel that change.” School officials aren’t ready to declare that enrollment is back on an upward path, but they say they’re encouraged by the numbers at Chautauqua. SEE ENROLLMENT, 18
A Vashon couple gives it all for ferrets By NATALIE JOHNSON Staff Writer
Two years ago, Michael and Miriam FitzPatrick decided they shouldn’t take in any more ferrets for a while. The couple, who run a small nonprofit ferret shelter, were in debt from veterinary bills and needed to hold off until they were out of the red. That was nine ferrets ago. “We’re kind of suckers for them,” Michael FitzPatrick said. A couple weeks ago Michael, a tall and slender 61-year-old, stood with his wife in a room full of
cages at the couple’s small cabin, which doubles as Ferret Shelter Northwest, and nuzzled a brown and gray ferret named Jack. The small, sleek animal seemed to return his love, giving what Michael calls kisses to his silver, trimmed beard. “He’s wild and crazy, but when you pick him up he’s a cuddler and a kisser,” Michael said. Another ferret scurried around on the carpet and tried to crawl up Michael’s pant leg. A couple others stood alert in their cages, waiting for their turn to run around, and still others lay content in old sweaters or SEE SHELTER, 13