Destination Vashon
BIG WINS ON THE WATER Rowing club sends record number to Nationals. Page 15
publishes today!
Look for your copy of The Beachcomber‘s premiere guide to Vashon Island.
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013
Vol. 58, No. 21
www.vashonbeachcomber.com m
Caretakers at two parks face difficult choice
With cuts at risk, schools foundation extends deadline
New policy places limits on employment options at the park district
By NATALIE JOHNSON Staff Writer
The Vashon Schools Foundation has extended its fundraising deadline, hoping to raise at least $100,000 more in order to stave off painful cuts at the school district. “We’re really happy with how people have stepped up. We just need them to keep stepping up,” said Zabette Macomber, the foundation’s board president. With cuts to high school electives and elementary school class sizes hanging in the balance, foundation volunteers are now asking that all school district families consider giving and are promoting an anonymous match now offered up by two school district families. “It’s not daunting if everyone pitches in,” Macomber said. The foundation — which aimed to bring in $500,000 this spring to once again supplement the Vashon Island School District’s budget — originally hoped to wrap up its campaign last Wednesday, promoting one last fundraising push on the Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG day. And the foundation did well during GiveBIG, board members say, bringing in about $80,000 in donations — half of which had been pledged earlier — and earning about $8,000 in matching funds from the Seattle Foundation. In fact, the foundation ran the ninth most successful fundraiser that day, sharing the top-10 SEE SCHOOLS, 13
By SUSAN RIEMER B Staff Writer St
Natalie Johnson/Staff Photo
Pedestrians in Vashon town pass the schools foundation thermometer, which on Monday showed the nonprofit had raised $250,000. The foundation hopes to bring in at least $100,000 more.
An artful life
Island arts stalwart takes a new path up her desk at the Blue Heron for the last time and walked out the door to chase new Book the talent. Write press releases and adventures. “I feel like my job here is done,” Randall text for the website. Design the posters. Set said over a quick lunch at The Hardware the lights. Welcome the audiences. Dress up Store Restaurant, as she took a break from for the auction. And once a year, roller skate tying up the loose ends of her final week at through town, leading Vashon Allied Arts’ the Blue Heron. “I want to make way for the delegation in the Strawberry Festival parade. next generation and the next phase of VAA’s For almost 20 years, Janice Randall has growth.” done all that and much more for VAA, servRandall has found a new job, as coming in several high profile positions in the munications director for Plymouth arts organization. Congregational Church in downtown Seattle Most recently, she’s been VAA’s director — a place where she’ll continue to do some of communications and performing arts, as of the same things she’s done for the past well as the editor of its monthly publication, two decades at VAA. The church has thrivIsland Arts. File Photo ing music and art ministries, and concerts In many ways, she’s become the most by well-known performers are frequently Janice Randall holds up a piece of artwork at public face of the bustling arts organization. Vashon Allied Arts’ 2010 art auction. A week ago, though, Randall straightened SEE RANDALL, 18 By ELIZABETH SHEPHERD Staff Writer
775¢
Following a decision by the Vashon Park District’s board of commissionP e ers, two parks employees must choose between keeping their jobs and remaining b in their homes. Currently, employees at two Vashon p parks serve both as caretakers — living rent-free at the parks in exchange for r c caretaker duties — and as full-time maintenance workers earning hourly wages. te However, long-standing concerns about this th arrangement recently resurfaced, and last la week the park board unanimously approved a policy requiring that employa ees e hold only one position with the district. They also approved a measure stattr ing in that the employees affected by the new policy will have until the end of the year to p make the transition. m “I’ve got to choose my job or where we live. That’s probably the most difficult li choice ever,” said Scott Provost, who with c his h wife Sydney Luhr has been a caretaker at a Paradise Ridge for 15 years. Provost has h also been a park maintenance worker for fo 17 years. The couple and their two daughters live in a mobile home they own d but b that sits on park land they rent from the th district. Also affected by the policy change is Eric E Wyatt, who has been a caretaker at Point Robinson for three years and lives P in an apartment in one of the Keeper’s Quarters; the district hired him for a fullQ time maintenance position Jan. 1. ti While Wyatt declined to comment on the th situation, Joe Wubbold, the president of o the Keepers of Point Robinson, called Wyatt “a great asset” to the park and park W district and said he wished the board had d taken another route. ta “There’s a way we could do it legally, ethically and morally, and the board electe ed e not to do that,” he said. “I am disappointed about that.” p Park commissioners, however, said SEE CARETAKERS, 19