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BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Vol. 61, No. 5
www.vashonbeachcomber.com
75¢
At 40, Granny’s Attic sees business boom in town By SUSAN RIEMER Staff Writer
When Granny’s Attic closed its doors last week for its annual break, it marked 40 years supporting health care needs on the island and one year at its new location, where it had its busiest year ever. The thrift shop saw more than $800,000 in sales last year, up $50,000 from the year before, and — per its mission — gave away some $271,000 to island nonprofits that provide healthrelated services, according to Tim Johnson, the store’s manager. The business also settled into its new space in the IGA shopping complex, after having spent 38 years at Sunrise Ridge. Board President Janet Kime noted that the move was difficult for some because of the shop’s long history at Sunrise Ridge, but it was necessary for the business to thrive. “It was a real wrench to leave there for many of us, but we could not continue to grow there,” she said. “We were just out of space,
Susan Riemer/Staff Photo
Sisters and frequent Granny’s Attic shoppers Faith, left, and Emma Sohl check out a coffee maker at Granny’s make-an-offer day last week. and there was no way to expand.” Indeed, in the shop’s new location, with its increased footprint, higher visibility and improved access, business has expanded considerably. The store had its most profitable February
ever when it re-opened in town on Feb. 7, Johnson said. It also experienced its largest month in its history: In December, sales hit $91,000, up from $72,000 the December before. Last November’s “Green Friday,” the day after Thanksgiving,
was the store’s largest day ever, bringing in $14,500 in just three hours. Overall, sales were up by 11 percent each day the store was open, Johnson added. “On any given day, we have more out to sell and are better organized. We
have wide aisles people can get down, and we are handicapped accessible now,” he said. In a testament to just how popular the store is, scores of shoppers routinely line up outside, waiting for the doors to open. In the summer, Kime said the line can be 100 people long. More than 60 people lined up outside last Tuesday, when the store hosted its annual “make-an-offer” day. Inside, shoppers scooped up items, and the checkout clerks greeted the patrons with an unusual question to hear at a cash register: “How much would you like to pay today?” Johnson noted that enthusiasm for the store does not belong simply to bargain hunters, but is shared by all involved. “We know that people love Granny’s by the lines in front of the store,” he said last week. “I am not sure the community understands how much the Granny’s volunteers and staff love SEE GRANNY’S, 19
Chautauqua Elementary School principal retiring Metzger was at the helm through curriculum, testing changes in recent years By ANNELI FOGT Editor
Chautauqua Elementary School principal Jody Metzger will retire at the end of the school year, six years after she began leading her pod of 542 “orcas” and their more than 30 teachers. The search for a replacement has begun, and Vashon Island School District Superintendent Michael Soltman is in the process of creating a search committee comprised of himself, a district board member, parents, teachers and administrators. The committee will be tasked with finding another principal who can communicate effectively, solve problems, is highenergy and creative and can become active in
the community. The position, with a yearly salary that ranges from around $95,000 to more than $110,800, was opened and posted earlier this month. The district will accept applications from those with state administrative credentials and experience in elementary schools through Feb. 29. Screening and interview processes with the search committee will be conducted in March, and the new principal should be selected by the end of March. Metzger’s last day will be the last day of the school year at the end of June. Soltman and Metzger have a working relationship that spans back to the early 2000s when he was superintendent in Friday Harbor and she taught at Friday Harbor Elementary. Soltman hired her as principal of that elementary school before she left to become principal SEE CHAUTAUQUA, 20
Anneli Fogt / Staff Photo
Jody Metzger is retiring as Chautauqua principal at the end of this school year.
County homeless population up from 2015 Annual count reveals 38 homeless on Vashon By SARAH LOW Staff Writer
More than 1,100 volunteers spent three hours combing the streets throughout King County last Friday in the annual effort to count the increasing number of men, women and children who are homeless and sleeping outside. Included among the volunteers were eight dedicated islanders who counted 38 people on Vashon without shelter between 2 and 5 a.m. on Jan. 29. In total, the Seattle-King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH), which organizes the count, found 4,505 people sleeping in cars, tents, blankets under bridges or in doorways, riding late night buses or just walking. “This is surely what an emergency looks like,” said Alison Eisinger, executive director of the coalition, in a press release of this year’s tally. With this year’s total reflecting an increase of 19 percent over last year, King County has seen a staggering 40 percent increase in its homeless population in the last two years alone. And the numbers are understood to be low, as it would be logistically impossible to count everyone, and this year six count areas were excluded on the recommendation of the Seattle Police Department due to last week’s shootSEE HOMELESS, 18