OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD Vashon Youth Theater will perform Wizard of Oz. Page 10
NEWS | Islanders voice concern over Dockton bike trails. [3] COMMENTARY | Bikes were least of roadside distractions. [6] ARTS | Local woman creates art with discarded spray cans. [11]
NEW RESTAURANT Chef plans to open eatery in February. Page 12
BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2015 Vol. 60, No. 50
Noteworthy year for some island nonprofits A scrappy canine duo and massive construction project were highlights for island nonprofits By ANNELI FOGT Editor
Editor’s Note: This is the second story in a series that will explore the state of nonprofits on Vashon, specifically how they fared in 2015 and what they have planned for 2016. Two dogs make international headlines after staying at each other’s side for more than a week; construction begins on a multi-million dollar performing arts center and gallery, and talks of a centralized food hub for local farmers to sell their food wholesale begin. 2015 was just another year for Vashon’s nonprofits. The above-mentioned events were just a few of 2015’s memorable moments, but all are results of the work done by Vashon’s dozens of nonprofit organizations. With the season of giving upon us, nonprofits are looking to donations to help continue their work in 2016. Vashon’s story of the year came from Vashon Island Pet Protectors (VIPP) in September. The organization serves as the island’s animal rescue and adoption service and aims to make sure “there are no homeless pets on the island,” the VIPP website states. It was during a search-and-rescue efforts in early September that VIPP volunteers stumbled upon the dogs they were searching for: a pair comprised of a bassett hound named Phoebe and a setter mix named Tilly who belong to B.J. Duft, owner of Herban Feast and Herban Bloom. The duo made international headlines as word about their friendship got out. When Phoebe fell into a cistern, Tillie stayed by her side, leaving only to look for help. Tillie was later awarded Governor Jay Inslee’s Washingtonian of the Day award. VIPP Director Geoff Fletcher said the SEE ORGANIZATIONS, 19
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
75¢
Islanders’ poetry gets rush hour viewership Work of four local poets displayed on Seattle buses, bus shelters for a year By JULI GOETZ MORSER Staff Writer
With less space to fill than a tiny tweet, placards printed with poems of 50 words or less replaced ads on Seattle Metro buses for the past year, offering poignant and distilled insights into the nature of home. Islanders Merna Ann Hecht, Yvonne Higgins Leach, Carlos Adams-Tres and Seth Zuckerman were among the Northwest poets chosen in the wide-reaching public arts campaign — Poetry on Buses — sponsored by 4Culture and Metro Transit. The collaborative project received over 600 submissions from poets of all ages and numerous cultures. Carlos, 10, was one of the youngest poets whose work rode the buses for thousands of riders to read. When the year-long program kicked off in the fall of 2014,
the event organizers invited Carlos to read his poem “Oh Brother” at the opening ceremony. In front of 800 participating poets and their families packed into the Moore Theatre, he became a bit of a hero, according to 4Culture spokesperson Christina DePaolo. “Carlos became a sensation at the event,” she said. “He had stage fright and gave it several tries before he read the poem through. The crowd gave him their all, rooting for him.” Tamar Benzikry-Stern, 4Culture’s public art project manager, said she was grateful to Carlos and his parents for sharing his honest vulnerability, believing his courage had a large effect on the evening and exemplified an important mission of the project: to foster community. “It was dark. He came in and out of the spotlight, and people were cheering, saying, ‘We love you, Carlos,’” she said. “It did something to the evening to promote community. We felt like a community around him. It was quite SEE BUS POEMS, 17
Courtesy Photo
Top: Island poet Seth Zuckerman with his Poetry on Buses project portrait. Right: 10-year-old islander Carlos Adams-Tres was one of the youngest poets chosen to be part of the project.
Timothy Aguero Photography
Fuller Store new owner: ‘No plans’ for historic building By ANNELI FOGT Editor
Anneli Fogt / Staff Photo
The Fuller Store, a King County Historical Landmark, has been sold to a Seattle man who owns multiple coffee shops and pizzerias.
The Old Fuller Store’s new owner is also the founder and owner of Seattle-based pizzerias and coffee shops, but he says he has no plans to expand either business to the island. King County Assessor’s Office records show the building was sold for $750,000 in late September to McConnell Real Estate, LLC, a corporation with the same address on East Pike Street as the flagship store for a coffee shop called Caffe Vita. The founder and owner of the independent chain of coffee shops is Michael McConnell, a Seattleraised businessman who started the cafe 20 years ago. The Caffe Vita website says that the business is focused on the “Farm Direct movement,” meaning the company aims to get coffee beans from growers that it develops “longterm, mutually fruitful relationships with.” McConnell’s original Cafe Vita on East Pike Street is one of 11 locations throughout Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and New York SEE FULLER STORE, 18