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VAASHON SHO -MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 Vol. 60, No. 47
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VIFR sets 2016 budget, increases volunteer funding Department overspent in legal fees, overtime in 2015 By ANNELI FOGT Editor
Anneli Fogt/Staff Photo
SUNNY SATURDAY BRINGS CROWD TO MARKET Clear blue skies on Saturday morning brought many Vashon residents to the weekly farmers market next door to Thriftway, where many customers enjoyed the colorful, locally grown produce on display. Patty Freebourn steamed tamales out front, and the smell pulled in passersby who were out enjoying the sunlight.
Vashon Island Fire & Rescue’s (VIFR) proposed 2016 budget of $2.35 million increased roughly $53,000 over this year’s, and the department’s volunteer program is seeing the largest increase in funding. When compared to 2015, more than $60,000 additional dollars are going toward volunteers in 2016, and VIFR Fire Chief Hank Lipe said the move is because the department relies heavily on volunteers and their increasing work-
load. “We’re pretty proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish with ... reconstructing the volunteer program,” Lipe said. “It’s been a systematic approach by (Assistant Chief) George (Brown) to bring in wellqualified people. We’re getting lots of calls, which means more response by volunteers.” The $60,197 of additional money includes an increase in funding for the Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Program from $500 in 2015 to $10,000 in 2016 and also increases volunteer reimbursement by almost 25 percent. VIFR volunteer coordinator Ross Copland said that he put in various SEE BUDGET, 20
Island real estate sales strong this year, further improvements expected By SUSAN RIEMER Staff Writer
When Emily Browne first began looking to buy a home on Vashon last fall, her progress was slowed by the marked lack of houses available, but when a small home went up for sale last spring, she acted fast and is now happily living on the island. “It all worked out for me in the end,” she said. “I was really thrilled. It has been fantastic. Even through the storm last week, it was great.” Acting fast is key in Vashon’s current real estate climate, those in the profession say, as Vashon closes another strong year in home sales. Through
Oct. 31 of this year, 153 island houses sold, the same number as through Oct. 31 last year, but several more homes are slated to close before the year ends, and sales are expected to exceed last year’s total of 182 homes. “I would say it has been a fabulous year,” said Ken Zaglin, the owner of the John L. Scott office on Vashon. The Seattle real estate market is frequently in the news, with tales of rapidly escalating prices, bidding wars and cash sales. Vashon is more balanced than that, Zaglin said, and many people — from young families to grandparents — are taking notice of the
island as a more affordable option than some other nearby communities. “We’re looking to be an extremely good option for folks,” he said. “Relative to Seattle and the Eastside, we are such a wonderful, available market.” Like others in the real estate profession on Vashon, his advice for people looking to purchase a home in the $300,000 to $600,000 range is to be ready to buy, be informed when homes come on the market and look at them as quickly as possible. Buyers broker Emma Amiad agrees about speed being important, but has Susan Riemer/Staff Photo
SEE HOUSING, 19
Maria Glanz and Kenny Judd feel fortunate to have found an island home in their price range.