Loop V4 #12aVAA’s 17th annual Garden Tour is no secret, to be sure, but this year a special...

VVVVVol. 4, # 12ol. 4, # 12ol. 4, # 12ol. 4, # 12ol. 4, # 12 TO INFORM AND AMUSE ~ TO PROVOKE THINKING AND ACTIVISM June 6, 2007

Pages 18 & 19Page 11

Movementat Midlife in

Hanna’s barn

Jazz guitaristextraordinaire, 8

more words, dresseson trees, Mugoux hits

the beach in Greece

The Backbone Campaign willhold a benefit concert at Bishop’s,Saturday, June 9, 8 p.m. tomidnight, featuring 30 differentIsland musicians. Each will play afavorite Beatle song. There will alsobe a live and silent auction ofBackbone Bodywork, (with LIVEdemonstrations!) and anappearance of Vashon’s favoritetwisted criminals, the Chain Gang.Master of ceremonies SteffonMoody will entertain the crowd atthis important fundraiser andsendoff for the organization’sAtlanta trip.

VAA’s 17th annual GardenTour is no secret, to be sure, but thisyear a special pre-Garden Tourevent, “Secrets of the Garden,” willhappen Friday, June 23, 1 to 4 p.m.Designed with the serious gardener

The National HistoricLandmark Steamer Virginia V isthe last of the wooden hullpassenger steamers that werecalled the “Mosquito Fleet”because they swarmed over PugetSound like mosquitoes. TheVirginia V’s home port isLisabuela and for much of the1920s and 1930s, she carriedpassengers, mail and freight on theWest Pass route. This summerIslanders will have a chance toexperience a “Mosquito Feet”cruise around Vashon and MauryIslands aboard the Virginia V onSunday, August 19. The Vashon-Maury Island HeritageAssociation and Vashon Collegeare teaming together to offer a“Mosquito Fleet” experience that

Experience theMosquito Fleet Years

By Bruce Haulman, Island Historianwill highlight Island history,geology and ecology.

Tickets for the Mosquito FleetCruise aboard the Virginia V arenow available, at $60 for VMIHAmembers and $75 for non-members. For more informationor to purchase tickets, contact DickGordon at (206) 463-5277 or [email protected]. Proceedssupport the Island HeritageMuseum.

The cruise will begin and endat Vashon’s north end passengerferry dock. Boarding will beginat 12:30 p.m., and the vessel willdepart at 1:00 p.m. The cruise willrun until approximately 5:30 p.m.Bring your own lunch; no alcoholallowed; soft-soled shoesrequired.

The Virginia V. Photo Courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives

Backbone Revolution:

Benefit ConcertFeatures 30

Island Musicians

Continued on page 6

Shhh…GardenSecrets

17th annual Garden Tour

Caption-Margaret Tylzcak’s watering canwill be one of a dozen on display andavailable to bid on, sponsored by SPLASH!

By Janice Randall

Last Thursday night at a Budgetwork session, District FinancialManager Brenda Hunt informed theSchool Board that the budgetshortfall for this year is $660,000, not$360,000, as was previouslybelieved.

“We underestimated the cost ofbenefits, and overestimated ourrevenues,” Hunt said. “We are

Fewer Teachers,Larger ClassSizes Ahead

By Mary Litchfield Tuel

School Budget Blues:

Continued on page 5

Board member Bob Hennessey and ActingSuperintendent Terry Lindquist discuss budgetoptions after the budget work session lastThursday. Loop photo

Father Tryphon, of the All-Merciful Saviour Russian OrthodoxMonastery here on Vashon, writes,“I just returned from Moscow,Russia, this past Tuesday, May22nd, where I attended toUnification Service in Christ theSaviour Cathedral. After some 90years of separation, the two parts ofthe Russian Church have reunited.The Russian Orthodox Church,Moscow Patriarchate, and the

Father Tryphon Returnsfrom Moscow, Russia

Continued on page 4

Continued on page 11

Page 16

Small buns,fun run,

sports shorts,rock and roll

Father Tryphon speaking with monks andpilgrims in the courtyard of SretenskyMonastery in Moscow, Russia

The Chain Gang. Backbone Campaign photo

In this issue: Marva Dawn, Radio Field Day,Road Trips, Bear tips, Home and heart,Dinner for the unattached, Travels withMugoux, Don’t take that aspirin - hand methe chamomile! And much more!

June 6, ‘07The Vashon Loop, p. 2

The Vashon LoopWriters: Kathy Abascal, Deborah Anderson, RachelBard, Sarah Blakemore, Marie Browne, MEarth, EricFrancis, Troy Kindred, Melissa McCann, Orca

Annie, Kevin Pottinger, Rex Morris, Alice Orr,Jonathan Shipley, Ed Swan, Mary Litchfield Tuel,

Marj Watkins, Susan Wolf

Guest Writers: Devon Atkins, Angela WeissIntern: Morgan WegnerOriginal art, comics, cartoons: DeeBee, EdFrohning, Rick Tuel, Jeff Hawley

Ad sales and design: Barbara Stratton Email:[email protected]; (206) 463-4004

Editor: Mary Litchfield TuelEmail: [email protected]; (206) 463-3327

Publishers: Marie Browne and Troy KindredPO Box 253, Vashon, WA 98070

Paid advertisements in The Vashon Loop in no wayexpress the opinions of the publisher, editor, or staff.We reserve the right to edit or not even print stuff.

Deal with it.Published every two weeksby Paradise Valley Press© June 6, 2007 - Volume IV, Issue 12

Don’t miss an issue!Subscribe to The Loop!

$50 a year gets The Loop delivered to yourmailbox every two weeks. Call (463-3327)or write (PO Box 253, Vashon) or [email protected]!

Get in The LoopWet WhiskersGrooming SalonProfessional InternationalTrained Groomer Certified

We Offer:Wash and Go

Bath and Brushout

Thin and Trim and Full Grooming

Call today for anAppointment!

(206) 463-220017321 Vashon Highway SW

Conveniently located inside

Pandora’s Box

Adopt-a-Cat DaysVashon Island Pet Protectors will

host an Adopt-A-Cat day EVERYSaturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30p.m. at Pandora’s Box. Please stopby or call VIPP (206) 389-1085.

Be part of Vashon Island PetProtectors’ 2008 Pet Calendar andmake your pet a star. Email yourpet’s photo to [email protected] are welcome — cats, dogs, pigs,goats...don’t delay! Photos must bereceived by Sunday, July 15. Formore information call Kathy (206)463-9203.

VIPP 2008 PetCalendar

Jack

ie M

ollis

on

Buyer’s Agent(206) 225-4726

Your Home Team Realty(206) 463-LIST (5478)

www.kwvashon.com

Correction: the ad above, “Queen of Fruits,”did not have the correct website last issue.The address has been corrected this issue.

The Vashon Education Association is encouraging team-oriented,collaborative community members to run for the School Board. Idealcandidates would be strong supporters of public education, with nopersonal agendas, who are willing to educate themselves on the roles andresponsibilities of School Board members. Interested candidates need tofile their candidacy by Friday, June 8 with the King County ElectionsBoard. Information is available online at: http://www.metrokc.gov/elections

Saturday, June 16, Vashon Island Fruit Club is having an orchardtour that will feature the care and maintenance of various fruit trees andberries. The tour starts at 1:30 p.m. at the home of Lu-Ann and ErikBranch at 7118 SW 240th St. (go to Maury Island south on Dockton Rd.,turn east on 240th, go up the hill past the former Peter’s Pumpkin Patch,and park on 240th). The second location will be at 2:30 p.m. at the homeof Bob Norton at 6122 244th St. SW (continue east to 59th, turn south to244th, turn west for 1/2 block, and park on the property). Nonmembersare welcome and can sign up for a membership on the tour. For furtherinformation, please contact Mary Ornstead at (206) 463-0565.

What can we do to help friendsand relatives with depression or anymental illness? A support grouplearns from each other what mayhelp. We will meet on Tuesday, June5th at 7:00 PM at the Presbyterianchurch. Call Sally Knutson forquestions, directions, or help, (206)463-2466

On Sunday, June 10, internationally renownedtheologian, educator, and author, Dr Marva J. Dawn, willbe preaching at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit.Dr Dawn will speak at both the 7:45 a.m. and at the 10:15a.m. services. She has also graciously agreed to chair theReligious Exploration hour at 9 a.m. For this hour, shehas suggested the topic, “Being Part of a Larger Story:What does it mean to be a Christian in these crisis times?”

Everyone is welcome to attend any or all of the timesthat Church of the Holy Spirit is honored to host this woman of faith. Afellowship hour will follow the later service. The Episcopal Church islocated at 15420 Vashon Highway SW, across from the Vashon CommunityCare Center.

School Board Members Needed -- File by Friday

Orchard Tour -- Fruit Tree Care and Maintenance

Dr Marva J. Dawn Speaks on Island June 10Theologian, educator, and author

Mental HealthSupport Group Meets

Saturday, June 9, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.Shop for Christmas now! Gently usedquality Toys, clothing, books, movies,and more! Go East on Gorsuch, justNorth of town...follow signs!Questions: (206) 463-0870

Not Your AverageGarage Sale!

Did you know that only 15% of the Island’sphones can work at the same time?

Our telephone system is not designed to provide service toeverybody at the same time. During a disaster, don’t use your

phone unless it’s a life-threatening emergency.

And if you haven’t joined a Neighborhood Emergency ResponseOrganization: Do it now before you need it! Each NERO meets once ayear to get acquainted and learn how to check on one another in anorganized way if disaster strikes. Call Joe Ulatoski at 463-1321.

Car-Free Vashon PossibilitiesOn Sunday, June 24, from 5 to 7 p.m., the Vashon-Maury Island Green

Party will host a community discussion on “Car-Free Vashon” at the LandTrust on Bank Road.

Pros and cons of biodiesels, use of electric car shuttles, ways to increasebicycle use, and working with Metro will all be covered. Panel memberswill include Duff Badgley of Ballard Car Free and an expert on the effectsof biofuels; Tom Herring, a Vashon retired physicist; and, Wendy Van deSomple, a Vashon bicycle activist. The VMIGP hopes to lead the communityin effecting a change in how we view our automobiles and perhaps serveas a model for how communities can become car-free. The Green Party ofWashington State (GPoWS) is sponsoring this event on Vashon inpreparation for a statewide campaign. For more information, pleasecontact Maryrose Asher, Outreach Liaison Officer, GPoWS CoordinatingCouncil, (206) 567-0593 or [email protected].

Marva Dawn

It is not too late to join the seriesof classes on Italian wine offered byChris Zimmerman. Classes will beheld one Sunday evening a monthat Ferrara Ristorante from 5 to 6:45p.m. Pre-enrollment is required. Toenroll or to get more information,please call Chris Zimmerman at(206) 567-5903 or email him [email protected].

Italian Wine Classes

Don’t worry about avoidingtemptation. As you grow older, it willavoid you — Winston Churchill

The blood drive is moving nextdoor to the Penny Farcy Memorialbuilding this summer. Blooddonation days will be on July 19,September 20, and November 15,2007. Come on down and get yourcookies and juice, plus the gratitudeof a lot of people, most of whomyou’ll never meet. Blood Drives onVashon are sponsored byWindermere Realty, andcoordinated by Windermere agentCarolyn Amick.

Blood Drive Moves

The Vashon Loop, p. 3June 6, ‘07

Glendale Business Center

www.yourhtr.com

Your Home Team Realty (206) 463-LIST (5478)

Burton CharmerLive the good life in this adorable and well-known home in the heart of Burton. Walk to thebeach, the historic corner store, the coffee stand, the local art gallery and restaurant. Hikethe trails on the Peninsula, launch your kayak off Jensen’s Point. Then come home to abright and spacious 4 bedroom home complete with hardwood floors, a cozy fireplace, anda covered porch for watching the world go by in the Outer Harbor. And there’s more: a fullbasement, a fully fenced back yard, lots of built-ins complete the picture of this ideal andrare Island home. $659,500.

Tramp Harbor TidelandsUnusual opportunity to own yourown tidelands off Tramp Harbor,just north of the fishing pier. Thisproperty is tidelands only, notwaterfront.

MLS # 26201915$9,000

Other HTR Properties Northilla Waterfront100 feet of pristine private waterfrontnear Piner Pt in Northilla Beach.Southern exposure and verysecluded! Great sound, city andmountain views. Water shareavailable. $99,950

MLS # 27045308

Open Housesin June

Checkwww. yourhtr.com for details

Troy and Marie Hug a Salmon

Troy: Hey Marie, how was your workshop?

Marie: Fantastic! I learned tons about Puget Sound shoreline ecologyand geology, and how the growth and development in the area areimpacting both. I also learned a few practical ideas for howwaterfront property owners can protect their property whileminimizing impact on the really complex ecosystem here in the PugetSound region that we all depend on.

Troy: I know that property rights and conservation do not need to bemutually exclusive goals – but you are sounding suspiciously like atree hugger.

Marie: Maybe. I am actually more of a salmon hugger. Did you know thatthe Chinook salmon is now on the endangered species list?

Troy: I did not know that. I’ll do my part by eating less salmon and morePerry burgers.

Marie: Absolutely not. But we are not here to discuss your diet. Speakingof diet, did you know that 50% of a salmon’s diet consists of terrestrialinsects? Isn’t that amazing? I thought they just ate stuff that lives inthe water.

Troy: Amazing. But what do salmon have to do with waterfront property?

Marie: It’s pretty complicated, but in a nutshell the answer is that thenearshore area, which is basically the zone where the land and thewaters meet, is hugely important for salmon – and the vast majorityof wildlife here in King County. In fact, 80% of our wildlife lives inriparian areas, where water and land meet.

Troy: It’s not surprising that animals prefer to live by the water. Mosthumans do, too. OK, so we all depend on the water and thenearshore environment. Obviously, we need to protect the waterfrom pollution. What else?

Marie: Work with Mother Nature instead of trying to fight her. She alwaysgets her way, so you might as well respect her. The folks who put onthe workshop showed some pictures of things that waterfront ownershad done that were just ridiculous – like clearing all the vegetationoff a high bank to get a better view. Some of these houses got agood view, all right – after a heavy rainstorm as they slid down thebank to the beach. A better solution might be to prune trees for afiltered view (which is often more interesting anyway). There arealso places where bulkheads can actually cause more harm thangood by undermining the shoreline behind it. And those blackcorrugated pipes that everyone uses to divert water to the beach?Hah! Those things pinch and buckle and break and often causeerosion rather than prevent it. The better solution is to use moredurable (and more expensive) HDPE pipe to capture water anddissipate it before it hits the beach. Also, people who dump theiryard waste off the side of the slope should not dump it in the sameplace each time. Too many grass clippings can kill off the underlyingvegetation and cause a slope stability problem. There’s more, butwe don’t have space for everything here.

Troy: I see you got a great little booklet that that tells about shorelinestewardship. Maybe if people want one, they can call us?

Marie: That’s a great idea. Call us at 463.LIST (5478) or [email protected] for a copy. We can also tell you abouttechnical assistance that the King Conservation District provides tohomeowners who want to learn how to protect their property in anenvironmentally sensitive way.

Last Saturday Marie attended a workshop called “Where the Water Begins: Land Management Practices for Marine Shoreline andBluff Property Owners.” The workshop was presented at Vashon’s Land Trust building by the King Conservation District. In Marie’sopinion, this agency seems to be one of the better uses of tax dollars. Troy has no opinion, as he decided to sleep in that morning.

If you have suggestions for topics to cover in Tips For Homeowners, or ifyou want to receive your copy via email, please write [email protected] if you need real estate services, please give us a call at (206) 463-LIST.We would love to work for you.

Sunny, level half acre lot with solid three bedroom, two full bath doublewide manufacturedhome. Cozy wood stove, separate laundry room, greenhouse in the backyard. Close totown and park and ride. Is this your chance to become an owner? It’s a great deal for theright buyer. $ 225,000

Great Location,Affordable Price

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2 Baths!!!!!

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MLS # 27071774

9330 SW 171st St

3 bedrooms

Near TownWood Stove

24010 99th Ave SW

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4 bedrooms

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1700 Sq Ft

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Full basement!!!!! Hardwood Floors

MLS # 27032424

Enough is enough! DDES is a governmental agency run amuck, and it’s time to shine a light on their often ridiculous behavior. They haven’t earned the nickname“Dysfunctional Department of Extortion and Sadism” for nothing. Don’t get us wrong: Of course we have to protect the environment and ensure safety inconstruction. And, in fairness, we do know some people who have had good experiences with DDES. But many of the stories are appalling. We recently heard aboutan elderly couple who got ensnared by Code Enforcement for building a small deck without a permit. The deck issue morphed into a septic issue, and now they arebeing told to make repairs that will cost tens of thousands of dollars that they don’t have. They feel their only option is to sell. That is just plain wrong. What’s yourstory? Want to blog about it - ANONYMOUSLY? Got to www.yourhtr.com and click on the link to the DDES blog.

Stop the Insanity! Tell us about your DDES experience


Elizabeth de la Vega, author ofUnited States v. George W. Bush et al.,will speak at Courthouse Square onSaturday, June 23. De la Vega is aformer federal prosecutor with morethan twenty years of experience.During her tenure, she was amember of the Organized CrimeStrike Force and Chief of the SanJose Branch of the U.S. Attorney’sOffice for the Northern District ofCalifornia. Her articles haveappeared in The Nation, the Los

Angeles Times, the Christian ScienceMonitor, Salon.com, and MotherJones. She is also a frequent guest ontalk shows, including The ThomHartmann Program, DemocracyNow! and The Colbert Report.

In her book, set as a presentationto a grand jury, de la Vega bringsher experience and her passion forjustice to the most important caseof her career. The defendants areGeorge W. Bush, Dick Cheney,Donald Rumsfeld, CondoleezzaRice, and Colin Powell. The crimeis deceiving the nation into war, or,in legal terms, conspiracy to defraudthe UnitedStates inconnection withp r e - I r a q -i n v a s i o nintelligence.

U M OEnsemble, thew o r l d -r e n o w n e dVashon-Island-based physical theater company,will present a staged reading ofshort selections from de la Vega’sbook. They invite everyone to comeand get a chance to be on the jury!The Backbone Campaign’s ChainGang puppets will also be on handto welcome attendees.

This free event is open to thepublic. It begins at 7 p.m.; doorsopen at 6:30. Participating groups:The Vashon-Maury Island GreenParty, the Vashon Democratic Club,UMO Ensemble, and the BackboneCampaign.

For more information, contactMaryrose Asher at 567-0593 [email protected].

Elizabeth de la VegaComes to

Vashon Island

Elizabeth de la Vega

Also appearing:UMO Ensemble

Tuesday, June 12, 7 p.m. - monthlyGreen Party meeting at: JohnCornelison’s house: 10506 SW 132ndPl. Please call (206) 567-0010 fordirections. If you would like to participatein the Strawberry Festival, please dropby.

Thursday, June 14, at 6:45 p.m.— The documentary Sound and Furywill be shown at Café Luna as part ofthe VMIGP Progressive Film Series.Josh Aronson’s remarkabledocumentary takes an unexpectedapproach to the “medical miracle” filmby examining the political and emotionalturmoil that erupts between brothersover the cochlear implant that might allowtheir deaf children to hear. The ways inwhich a so-called miracle cure can divideas well as heal families and communitiesis the focus of Sound and Fury, whichexplores with almost painful intimacy thepolitics of disability. Oscar nominatedfor best documentary feature. The filmseries is free and open to the public.

Saturday, June 23, at 7 p.m. -Elizabeth de la Vega, author of UnitedStates vs Bush et al, will speak atCourthouse Square (across from DIGNursery) on Vashon Island. Elizabeth dela Vega, a federal prosecutor for morethan twenty years, was an Assistant U.S.Attorney in Minneapolis, as well as amember of the Organized Crime StrikeForce and Branch Chief in San Jose,CA. In the book, United States v.George W. Bush et. al., de la Vega bringsher twenty-one years of experience andher passion for justice to the mostimportant case of her career. The

June Green Party Eventsdefendants are George W Bush, RichardCheney, Donald Rumsfeld, CondoleezzaRice, and Colin Powell. The crime istricking the nation into war, or, in legalterms, conspiracy to defraud the UnitedStates. UMO Ensemble, the worldrenowned Vashon Island based physicaltheatre company, will be presenting astaged reading of short selections fromMs. de la Vega’s book. They inviteeveryone to come along and get a chanceto be on the jury! The BackboneCampaign’s Chain Gang will also bepresent to welcome attendees. Doorsopen at 6:30 p.m. This event is free andopen to the public. Participating groups:The Vashon-Maury Island Green Party,the Vashon Democratic Club, UMOEnsemble, and the Backbone Campaign.

Sunday, June 24, 2 to 4 p.m.Vashon Tea Shop — Monthly book clubmeeting. We will be discussing Peace isthe Way by Deepak Chopra. All arewelcome.

Sunday, June 24, 5 to 7 p.m. atthe Land Trust - The Vashon-MauryIsland Green Party will host a communitydiscussion on “Car-Free Vashon.” Prosand cons of biodiesels, use of electriccar shuttles, ways to increase bicycle use,and working with Metro will all becovered. The VMIGP hopes to lead thecommunity in effecting a change in howwe view our automobiles and perhapsserve as a model for how communitiescan become car free. For moreinformation, contact Ivy Sacks,Secretary, Vashon Maury-Island GreenParty, (206) 463-9579 [email protected]

Russian Orthodox Church Outsideof Russia are now one. And I wasthere for a whole week of

pilgrimages to monasteries and holyplaces.”

Fr. Tryphon will be sharing someof his thoughts and experienceswith Loop readers in future issues,but for now he has sent these twophotos from his journey.

Continued from page 1

Father TryphonReturns

On Thursday June 14 at 7 p.m.,the VMICC Economic Committeemeets at Courthouse Square. We’llbriefly review Island economichealth, and discuss what to focuson. The topic list includes Islandgrowth and benchmarks, ferryservice impacts, affordable housing,

Island Economy Discussionthe K2 property, the KCComprehensive Plan, agriculture,sustainability, and the legacy of theEnergy PUD.

I was always taught to respectmy elders, but it keeps gettingharder to find one.

The Vashon Maury IslandRadio Club will be participatingin the national annual “Field Day”exercise, on Saturday, June 23and Sunday, June 24. It will beheld on the field behind theVashon Health Center andGranny’s. The public is invited toattend and speak to our membersabout ham radio. Youwill be able to seemany forms of hamradio communicationand even try your handat transmitting amessage.

Field Day was designed to testoperators’ abilities to set up andoperate portable stations underemergency conditions such as the

loss of electricity. Not only is thisevent a serious test of skill, formany clubs and groups it’s asocial occasion too. During the

weekend, participantstry to contact as manyother participatingField Day stations aspossible.

Amateur Radio (or“ham radio”) operatorsthroughout the United States willput their emergencycommunication and technicalexpertise to the test during theField Day.

The annual exercise is onefacet of activities Amateur Radiooperators undergo to ensure theywill be ready to volunteer theirassistance with communicationsduring disasters and emergencies.Field Day is sponsored by theAmerican Radio Relay League(ARRL) — the national associationfor Amateur Radio.

Vashon MauryIsland Radio ClubHosts Field Day

By Sharon Danielson, KE7HBZ

Ward Silver making contact at the 2006 FieldDay. Loop photo

Phil Zook at 2006 Field Day. Loop photo

Give us a call. Loop photo

Father Tryphon standing inside the altar of Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.Courtesy photo


(206) 794-9451 ~ Troy

Rock your Islandwith Loose Change!

Now booking forSummer and Fall

2007!(Not to mention

the holidays)

projecting that we will have a very,very small fund balance at the endof the year, if any.”

The Budget Modification Planwhich the Board adopted on May17 will free up the $360,000.Hearing that another $300,000 wasneeded was clearly a blow to all themembers of the Board.

Hunt explained that the actualsituation is the same; but the figuresthat she and others used to craftbudget modifications were $300,000short of the actual need. The end ofthe year Fund Balance will beapproximately $44,000, which,Gene Lipitz noted, is, “virtually zero.We are at zero.”

Hunt said that the budget fornext year will total $13.2 million,and projected expenditures will be$13.025 million, “if we do budgetmodifications, if everything goesaccordingly.”

Board Chair Susan Loflandadded that Hunt meant additionalrecommendations for budgetmodifications, above and beyondthose already adopted by the Board.

Acting Superintendent TerryLindquist said, “If we choose not tofill the three positions which are notfilled now, we should end up in 2008with a $220,000 Fund Balance.”

“We need to look at the staffmix,” Lindquist said. “It is notnecessarily these three positions thatneed to be unfilled.”

Teachers currently employed bythe District might be qualified tomove in to these positions.

It was clarified that the highschool positions in question are 1FTE Special Ed; 1 FTE Math; and .25FTE Science.

Susan Lofland said, “Rehiringthose FTEs would continue ourliving beyond our means. We havelegal requirements for maintenanceand transportation (as well as staff).The recommendations are tough tostomach, but we have to get back toliving within our means.”

“So,” Lipitz said, “we’ll reduceby 5.5 FTEs.”

“In 2001 we reduced 7 or 8FTEs,” Hunt said.

Lindquist said, “I know howdifficult this is. There aren’t any easyanswers. I would like the Board toconsider staffing alternatives, andcome back on June 14. Considerreducing 3 FTE certified staff, andone classified, as well as otheralternatives.” This would be inaddition to the 2 FTE certified and.5 FTE classified reduced in theinitial Budget Modification Planadopted on May 17.

“There is no easy way to dealwith this. Class size is not the onlything. Staff training is moreimportant than class size,”Lindquist said. “If we fill thesepositions, they become part of theproblem. If we don’t put a lid onstaffing, it will be an ongoingproblem. We have a projected FundBalance of $44,000. A one per centerror in the budget is $120,000, and

there is potential litigation out therethat may hit the budget.”

Lofland said, “I’d be extremelyuncomfortable hiring someone intothis situation.”

Jake Jacobovitch asked Lindquistto set week by week goals for theBudget process through June,“because the time limit to get it donein July is coming up fast.”

“I can do that,” Lindquist said.“The Board is instructing me to comeback with three alternatives on June14, and we’ll need to make a decisionthat night.”

“We’ll need a second budgetmodification plan to go forwardwith the Budget for presentation,”Lofland said.

Jacobovitch moved that, “At thenext regular meeting on June 14 wehave additional budgetmodifications for a decision item toaddress the shortfall presented atthis meeting.” The motion wasseconded and passed.

Chair Susan Lofland concludedby saying that she and TerryLindquist, with input from FinancialAdvisor Robert Boesche, and usingthe State Auditor’s guidelines,would come up with better controlson budget planning and spending.

School Board member GeneLipitz reported to The Loop that themorning after Thursday’s meeting,Financial Manager Brenda Huntwas able to inform the Board thatmoney for the Debt Service Fund isnot all gone, as was believed thenight before.

The Debt Service Fund is set upto pay off a loan taken out for theCapital Fund to do building repairand mold removal. Funds acquiredin a legal settlement weredesignated to pay it off, and are stillin the Reserved Fund Balance.

What is still the same as it wason Thursday night, Lipitz said, is,

“The budget is not only notbalanced, but it is off more than wethought because we hired threepeople mid-year.”

“The Vashon District has 70teachers per 1000 students, whichis the highest number of certificatedstaff per thousand students in thestate, but we do not have the highestfunding in the state. We will beshaving certified positions this yearand next until a total of nine staffare gone and we have 64 or 65 staffper 1000 students.”

“A lot of the problem is thatbenefits are going up in cost. Healthinsurance accounts for 32% of theDistrict payroll now. Also, we haveteachers who are paid by the stateand teachers who are paid by thelevy. When the state raises teachers’pay 5%, we have to raise the pay ofall the other teachers by 5%, but wedon’t have a 5% raise in funding.”

“Our co-curricular activities arenot funded by the state at all.”

Continued from page 1

School BoardBudget Blues

And Furthermore...Slightly Good, Slightly

Bad Budget News

It is time to nominate someonefor The Doors of OpportunityAward. This annual awardrecognizes and honors a VashonIsland teacher, administrator, oremployee, pre-kindergarten through12th grade, who exemplifies a truespirit and grit that goes beyond theclassroom to open doors andmaximize students’ potential.

To begin identifying candidates,we ask the community, faculty,students, and parents to send anomination letter no later thanSunday, June 10 to:

Doors of OpportunitySelection CommitteeC/o Vashon Community PTSAPO Box 2364Vashon, WA 98070

Submit your Vote forthe Doors of

Opportunity Award


Spiritual SmartSpiritual SmartSpiritual SmartSpiritual SmartSpiritual SmartAleckAleckAleckAleckAleck

By Mary Litchfield Tuel

Concert organizer Pete Welch hasassembled an amazing and diverselineup of Vashon talent. “I invited severalartists to perform one Beatles song at thebenefit. Although it won’t be acoustic perse, it won’t be a big amplified hugeextravaganza either. Collaborations canbe pretty cool, so I’ve encouraged peoplethat if they want to do a duet withsomeone or have someone accompanythem…by all means, these types of thingscan turn into some pretty specialmoments. It should be fun and somethinga little different than the norm.”

Musicians include Spoken Word byErin Miller and by Brian Quackenbush,solo music by Sarah Church, GregDember, Mark Shepherd, John Browne,Bob Krinsky, Erik Reimnitz, MaryLitchfield Tuel, Mike Marlatt, RobynLandis, Maren Metke, Hamish Todd,Patrick Bennion, Mark Borax, SarahChristine, Brent Magstadt, and GlenRukwid. Songs presented by two or threemusicians on stage will be performed by:Ron Hook, Steve Brix, and Richard Lipke;Gaye Detzer, Annie Roberts and MaryWalker; Rick Vanselow and Kim Thal;James Clapperton and Colin Brynn;Rochelle Wolfe and Linda Hatfield; GayeDetzer, Laura Cerven, and Elizabeth Nye;Greg Parrott and Frank Hein; DevinSullivan and Chris Hayward; and Steffonand Arlette Moody.

Attendees will have a chance to bidon bodywork gift certificates and dessertswill be for sale. Tickets will be sold at thedoor; suggested minimum donation is$10. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; all ages arewelcome until 9:30 p.m.

Since the musicians, organizer andthe venue have all provided their servicesfree of charge, all proceeds will go totoward the Backbone Campaign’supcoming Progressive Cabinet Summit inAtlanta, June 26th, and the Campaign’sparticipation in the first ever U.S. SocialForum, June 27 – July 1st in Atlanta.

Several policy leaders – members ofthe Backbone Progressive Cabinet – willbe at the Cabinet Summit, including HollySklar (Secty of Labor), Byllye Avery (Sectyof Health and Human Services), TomHayden (Secty of Peace), Emira Wood(Secty of State – Africa), Stephen Zunes(Secty of State – Middle East), Eric Cooper(Secty of Education), Jakada Imani(Attorney General), Josh Silver (Chair ofthe FCC), and many more. Leaders of theProgressive Media such as John Nicholsof The Nation and Matt Power of LibertyNews TV will be part of the discussion,which will be focused on “How do weconvey the message that progressiveshave the leaders and the ideas to run the

country?” Progressive Movement Leaderssuch as Medea Benjamin, Tim Carpenter,Nina LaBoy, David Swanson, and GeorgeFriday will contribute to the day.

Following the Summit will be the U.S.Social Forum, whose theme is “If anotherworld is possible, another US isnecessary.” The Backbone Campaignwill present three workshops and willorchestrate the first Procession for theFuture at the opening day procession. Acontingent of eight activists will be partof the Backbone Campaign’s team,including Islanders Doug Skove, WallyFletcher, Logan Price, Amy Morrison, andBill Moyer. Other Backbone Teammembers going to Atlanta are DianeWittner of Baltimore, Linda Wiener ofVancouver, and Kety Esquivel, Spanish-English Translator.

Bill Moyer, Executive Director of theBackbone Campaign, explains, “For toolong progressives have been definedaccording to what we oppose, neglectingto identify what it is we propose. At thispotentially historic Progressive CabinetSummit, progressive policy, movement,and media leaders will begin workingtogether to develop a framework forcommunicating our movement’spropositional capacity.

“The Summit will build on theBackbone Campaign’s work over the pastthree years. In 2004 we initiated aninteractive Cabinet Roster andnomination process. In 2005 we began aseries of podcast/webcast conferencecalls (57 so far) called Conversations withthe Cabinet, featuring our nation’s mosteffective progressive policy andmovement leaders. Now it is time to takethe next step and convene the first-everProgressive Cabinet Summit.”

The Backbone Campaign could notdo this work without the generoussponsorship of our Vashon community.Please join us in celebrating the spirit ofrevolution. We’ll see you on June 9.

Continued from page 1Backbone Benefit

“Now I’ll eat another cookie, put thepedal to the metal, and drive, drive,drive…”

That’s a line from a song I wrotemany years ago, after making ascreaming trip down the SacramentoValley in the middle of the night.Driving 85 miles per hour in a HondaCivic hatchback next to semi-trucksalso doing 85 is not the most securefeeling in the world. I guess it shookup my psyche enough that I wrote thesong.

As I was driving home fromEastern Washington a couple of weeksago, I was thinking about the GreatAmerican Road Trip, and wonderingif it was a 20th century dinosaur thatwill pass away as surely as thepetroleum made of dinosaur bones ispassing away. I was also thinking ofroad trips I’ve known.

The worst: My dad had a buddywith whom he served in the SouthPacific during World War II, and thebuddy lived in Idaho. Two or threetimes during my childhood we madethe trek from California to Idaho tovisit. The year I was eleven we madethe trip, and we spent our first nightin Carson City, Nevada. We atedinner at a restaurant called “The PineCone,” a name etched into mymemory. My parents and I had thesirloin tips and noodles, but my 15-year-old brother had a hamburger.

We got up the next morning andheaded out across the Nevada desert.Some time during that day, myparents and I began to realize thatSomething was Terribly Wrong. Wemade it to Elko, and checked into amotel.

We had the worst night of ourcollective family life. My father, mymother, and I were violently ill. Soviolently ill that if I had been theowner of that motel and had comeinto that room after we departed, Iwould have seriously consideredgiving up the motel business. I’m notgoing to go into any more detail thanthat. You’re welcome.

My brother was the only one ofus who was fine, so we alwayssuspected the sirloin tips and noodles.My brother had his learner’s drivingpermit, and he graciously offered

several times to drive, but my fatherdeclined. We drove on, three gut-ravaged invalids and one heroicteenaged boy willing to come to therescue of his family but deprived ofthe opportunity.

My mother fainted in a gas stationbathroom in Arco, Idaho. That waswhen my parents decided to see adoctor, a kindly old gent straight outof Norman Rockwell who diagnosedfood poisoning and prescribed castoroil followed by a chocolate mintflavored stomach soothing mixture. Icouldn’t eat chocolate mint for yearsafter that.

We spent a week recuperating ina motel. In fact, I believe that is whenI learned the word “recuperate.” Thenwe went to visit my dad’s buddybefore heading home. No road tripsince has equaled that one for green-gilled wretchedness.

The road trip is a classic Americanexperience, made iconic by JackKerouac in On the Road. There issomething about getting in the car andgoing that gets your blood pumpingand makes you feel free.

Now that gasoline costs more, Iwonder again if the Great AmericanRoad Trip will be history. The firsttime I wondered that was during thegas crisis of 1973. I can tell you frommy recent trip over Snoqualmie Passand back that a lot of people are stilltaking road trips, many of themdriving RVs.

I suspect that our romance withdriving is far from over – whether wedrive a car fueled by gasoline,biodiesel, electricity, or whateversomeone comes up with next. I thinkthat if gasoline is no longer available,we will find a way to drive, drive,drive. Cars have only been around alittle over 100 years, but humanbeings have always had wanderlustand the love of travel.

Happy road trips, Vashon. Stayaway from the sirloin tips andnoodles. And you might want tocheck out the Car-Free Vashondiscussion at the Land Trust onSunday, June 24, at 5 p.m. Ironically,you’ll probably have to drive to getthere.

The Great AmericanRoad Trip

Backbone volunteer. Photo courtesy ofBackbone Campaign

Check out w

ww

.vashonloop.com for details

or call 206.463.4004

Advertise in T

he Loop!

Thousands of loyal readers -Fourth year of

publication

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The Back Bay InnThe Back Bay InnThe Back Bay InnThe Back Bay InnThe Back Bay Inn(206) 463-5355

Solution on page 17

Island Birding GuideIsland Birding GuideIsland Birding GuideIsland Birding GuideIsland Birding GuideSpecies IdentificationSpecies IdentificationSpecies IdentificationSpecies IdentificationSpecies IdentificationHow to Attract BirdsHow to Attract BirdsHow to Attract BirdsHow to Attract BirdsHow to Attract Birds

Ed SwanEd SwanEd SwanEd SwanEd Swan(206) 463-7976(206) 463-7976(206) 463-7976(206) 463-7976(206) 463-7976

[email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected].

Deck OpeningStop by for a burger and a beer

on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Across 1 Droop 4 Stone 9 Loose gown worn at mass12 Draped14 Part of the UK15 Canal16 Western state17 Like an org.18 Hold19 Almost (2 wds.)21 “Night of the ____”23 Compass pt.24 Business abbr.25 Gold28 Move a boat31 Chest muscles34 Subordinate36 Awful38 When ship is coming in40 Still asleep41 Poor43 Smell44 Spiritedness45 Humorous46 Begin a journey48 Remain51 Query53 Light54 Hair product

56 Building addition58 Bedroom furniture61 Abducts66 After awhile67 Sepals of a flower69 Manner70 Essence71 Utopian72 Less than usual in size,power or character73 Pigpen74 Feathery75 Unhappy

Down 1 Eschew 2 Cab 3 Tiny insect 4 Admirer 5 Wine sipper 6 Otherwise 7 Constellation 8 Computer code forcharacters 9 Realm10 Legal claim11 Torah table13 General headquarters15 Deduce20 Preposition

22 Gross national product(abbr.)25 Jeers26 Tactless27 Cover29 Complies30 Bundle32 Native tree33 Narrative34 Traveler’s aid35 Compass point37 Henna39 Noah’s boat42 Epoch43 Kimono sash47 Thick drink49 Clerk50 Congressional vote52 Certain African citizen55 Clear57 Not strictly58 Containers59 One60 Good outlook61 Killed62 Villain63 Tints64 Writer Bombeck65 Stated68 Flurry

Don’t Forget the BirdsDon’t Forget the BirdsDon’t Forget the BirdsDon’t Forget the BirdsDon’t Forget the Birds

By Ed Swan

The Washington StateDepartment of Health started up itsWest Nile Virus monitoring againon May 31. Their press release ath t t p : / / w w w . d o h . w a . g o v /Publicat/2007_news/07-085.htmprovides some interesting reading.The state hasn’t been hit hard yet butmore may be coming if Washingtonfollows the same trends across thecountry. An article out in May in thejournal Nature also talks about howhard the virus has hit birdpopulations. It looks like it mightbe a good idea to regularly emptyout the bird baths and eliminateaccidental standing water in potsand other places around the yard inorder to keep the mosquitoes down.

According to the Consortium forConservation Medicine, the WestNile Virus is the most importantmosquito-borne illness in the UnitedStates. Its introduction and spreadacross the continent resulted in over996 human deaths and an estimated280,000 illnesses. The WashingtonState Department of Health pressrelease remarks that Idaho wentfrom three reported illnesses in 2004to 1000 human infections and 23deaths in 2006. In Washington in2006, the first three humaninfections occurred and 13 birdsfound dead tested positive for WestNile.

The article in Nature follows astudy by Drs. Shannon LaDeau andPeter Marra of the SmithsonianInstitution’s Migratory Bird Centerand Dr. A. Marm Kilpatrick withthe Consortium for ConservationMedicine. They decided to studybirds that past history indicatedmight most likely be infected withdiseases from mosquitoes. Reportsshowed since the beginning of theonset of West Nile Virus in NorthAmerica that crow and jaypopulations (both of the corvidfamily) plummeted under the

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Bird Virus Update impact of the sickness. Thesescientists wanted to look at howwide spread the phenomena wouldbe across a number of bird families.They looked at Breeding Bird Surveydata from 1980 to 2005 and foundmany species hit hard afterexposure to West Nile Virus.

The study demonstrated thatdifferent bird species sufferedvariably in illness from infection.Many backyard species, birds livingin urban and suburban areas, suchas American Robins, Tufted Titmice,Carolina and Black-cappedChickadees and Blue Jays, wereseverely affected. American Crows,Eastern Bluebirds and House Wrensfaced less dramatic declines. Manyof these species lost at least 50% oftheir population across a wholeregion with only Blue Jays andHouse Wrens showing some bounceback over time. We’ll have to hopethat none of the rarer speciesharmed by other factors such ashabitat loss belong to the categoryof birds facing the most significantlosses.

Here’s the advice from the stateDepartment of Health: “The bestprotection against West Nile virusis to avoid mosquito bites. Stayindoors when mosquitoes are mostactive (dusk to dawn), coverexposed skin, and use an effectiverepellent. Reduce mosquitobreeding habitat around the homeby dumping standing water; changewater in birdbaths, fountains,wading pools, and animal drinkingcontainers once or twice a week.”

In Bird Flu news, a recentreview of research on the spread ofHighly Pathogenic Avian InfluenzaH5N, published in the BritishOrnithologists Union journal Ibis,finds that the poultry industryremains the main vector for globaldiffusion of avian flu. Birds in thewild maintain a reservoir of fluviruses but the worst viruses dependon a high density population, suchas in industrial poultry farms, in

order to develop and then disperse.Wild birds found with the especiallyvirulent form of the disease wereinfected by association throughscavenging or predation of domesticbirds or their food sources. Nospread of the disease throughmigratory corridors followed thewild bird infections. Instead,poultry industry workers picked upthe disease and passed it on to otherhumans. The distribution of thedisease follows closely the majorroutes and patterns of humancommerce. Correspondingly, the fluexpanded its territory during non-migratory periods. The scientistsconclude that the best strategyconsists of strong veterinaryobservation and intervention intrade. They also state that thecontinued focus on wild birds takesaway resources from the true causeof the virus’ ability to reach newpopulations.

In local birding news, the lastof our regular migrants arrived withWillow Flycatchers showing up nearKVI Beach May 24 and seen by Johnand Ellie Friars. ChippingSparrows, very rare on the Island,visited the cemetery and AlanHuggins’ place on the north end ofthe island. On the south end, GaryShugart saw the first Green Heronof the year at the Tahlequah dock.Usually they don’t appear until fall.If you have an interesting bird toreport or a question about localbirds, call me at 463-7976 or emailat [email protected].

With spring and summer slowlyapproaching, if you have visitors tothe Island interested in seeingVashon’s birds, I am available forguiding tours to the best birding hotspots on the island or for findingparticular species. Also, I visitproperties to help identify birdspresent and give advice onattracting birds to one’s property.Give me a call or email, I’m availableboth during the week andweekends.

Festival CarnivalTickets on Sale Now

This year’sF e s t i v a lCarnival will beopen ThursdayJuly 12 and runt h r o u g h .Sunday July 15.Pre-sale ticketsare nowavailable atIsland Variety and Video. The costagain this year is $15.00 and sessiontimes are on the tickets. All unsoldpre-sale tickets will be picked uponThursday prior to the openingsession. For any questions please callthe Chamber at (206) 463-6217.


By Sarah Blakemore, RQE

The Reigning QueenThe Reigning QueenThe Reigning QueenThe Reigning QueenThe Reigning Queenof Everythingof Everythingof Everythingof Everythingof Everything

Last we left the RQE her legswere cramping while sitting cross-legged on a hardwood floor in asharing circle listening to FrizzyHair yelling about walking in anger.

Now it is time for the rest of thegroup to share. We have to pick upthe “talk rock” and tell somethingwe know is true. Example: I knowthat Frizzy Hair WALKS INANGER. The talk rock is passedaround and the usual stuff comesout of everyone’s mouth. “I knowthat bad body image is the result ofan uncaring society, I know thatthere will be a woman presidentsometime in my lifetime, I know thatI do not need anyone else’svalidation for my life (then why areyou here?????) and other suchplatitudes. Several of the women arecrying.

Ethnic scarf woman grabs thetalk rock.

“I know that I am angry. I knowthat it is not my fault my parentsdidn’t love me. I know that I am astrong woman. I know that… [insertanother 10 minutes of what sheknows].”

She puts the rock down.“Pick up the damn rock,” my

inner bitch hisses. I pick up the rock.My inner bitch seizes the moment.

“I know that 10 years of therapywas worth it,” my inner bitch says,looking around. I put the rockdown.

One woman laughs and then isquickly hushed by the silence ofeveryone else.

The sharing continues.We have to go around the circle

and share what we want to overcome. It comes to my turn. Well, let’ssee.

I’m single and loving it. I’mwriting/directing theatre that willsoon be on a stage and loving it. Ilove my job. I love my apartment. Ilove my dog and my friends and myGod child. What am I going to do?I have nothing to complain about.So I share this with the group and itis met with total silence. For amoment I think this might be thepart where they drown me in thealtar we are still sitting around.

The afternoon culminates in theparticipants having to stand in twosingle file lines shoulder to shoulder.This, we are informed, is a symbolicbirth canal. We are now going to bereborn as empowered women.Frizzy Hair beats on the drum whilechanting our “empowerment word”that we have chosen while PudgyFriend orchestrates the birthing.

I am not, repeat, NOT makingthis up.

By the time Elise, Friend and Iget through the symbolic birth canal,the afternoon is gone. Frizzy Hairand Pudgy Friend make a pitch fortheir empowerment workshops,which, by the way, cost hundredsof dollars. Uh, right. My inner bitchwonders if I can pay them in stickyone dollar bills that men stuff in mygarter.

Out on the street, I break fromElise as quickly as possible. I am“walking in anger” because I justwasted an entire afternoon. To befair to Elise, she thought it wasstupid too. But I’m still pissed aboutmissing a sunny afternoon to listento a bunch of older women talkabout things they should havegotten over a long time ago.

I’ve traveled in a lot of ThirdWorld countries, where women donot have the luxury of “walking inanger.”

Walking in anger won’t feedtheir kids or help them becomeliterate. It won’t stop them frombeing raped and beaten by theirhusbands, family members or militiagroups. We spend a lot of time in thiscountry making up problems forourselves. A bad relationship withone’s parents/children becomes adebilitating problem rather thansomething to get over. A fear ofcommitment becomes a badge ofhonor to be worn proudly – look atme, I’m scarred and jaded!! Wemake excuses for not having thejobs, partners and lives that wewant, when, really, it is all there forus. “If only things were different, wecould have what we want,” we tellourselves. The only person holdingyou back is you. Spend less timewalking in anger and more timelooking at yourself. The results willbe striking.

My neighbor, Weisa, is a 36-year-old Polish immigrant. She is asingle mom of two kids, divorcedfrom her alcoholic husband. She islearning English and putting herselfthrough school. Weisa doesn’twhine, she doesn’t complain andshe most certainly doesn’t “walk inanger.” She cooks, she studies andshe has me over for the occasionalglass of wine. My dogs play at herhouse with her kids. She goes tocounseling to sort through some ofthe stuff she’s been through but shedoesn’t waste her life “walking inanger.” She lives her life andcelebrates the joy of it all despite thethings she has been through.

That is an empowered woman.I, and my inner bitch, wouldhappily waste a sunny afternoonwith her.

The RQE Learns toWalk in Anger

At one point this week, throughsome quirk of fate, I had four relatedbut unrelated articles on my desk. Onewas from the Sunday Times/P.I. abouthow Scott Fischbach had seen ouryoung bear visitor jump into the waterat Pt. Robinson and start swimmingtoward Des Moines (Washington, notIowa).

The second was from the frontpage of a May 5, 1960 Beachcomber(thank you Rayna Holtz) about howRonger Jensen had shot a coyote inParadise Valley, west of Center. Hehad been reporting sightings for someweeks and no one had believed him.The headline read; “.30-06 QuietsCritics, Coyote as Ronger JensenProves Point.” The article alsoincluded a picture of Buckly Jensen,Ronger’s son, with the dead coyote.

The third was actually from abook called Isle of the Sea Breezes byRoland Carey, published in 1976, alsoprovided by Rayna Holtz, whichrecounts the 1915 slaying of a cougarby Dan Landers in the Cross Landingarea, off Redding Beach Road.Landers, at least, had some reason tokill the cougar—he had reason tobelieve it had been stalking hisdaughters.

The reason all these articles cametogether in my mind is because I hadheard that some of the young Islandhunters had gone home to get theirguns and drove up and down thehighway after the bear sighting hadbeen reported. The first thing thatcame to mind was that people haven’tchanged a lick in a hundred years.

First of all, it is a grossmisdemeanor to hunt a bear withouta license and out of season. It is alsohighly illegal to hunt from yourmotor vehicle. People who did noteven see the bear were activelybreaking the law and could (andperhaps should) have been cited.What the hell were they thinking?

Secondly, Sgt. Kim Chandler ofthe Department of Fish and Wildlifeis quoted in the Tuesday P.I. assaying, “...no Washington residentshave been killed by black bears in thepast 50 years, even though WesternWashington is home to more than20,000 black bears.”

The proper thing to do, shouldyou encounter a black bear, is remaincalm and, as one Island womanlearned last week, DO NOT RUN. Letthe bear know you are there and thatyou are a human being—in myencounter with a bear, years ago, I justtalked to it. It seemed to listen.

Do not engage in eye contact,which bears take as a threat—it is the

cougars you can stare down, not thebears. Back away slowly and calmly.Likely as not, the bear will go theother way—unless it is on the trail ofa particularly tempting garbage can.

It is we who have foisted outlifestyle into increasing numbers ofthe nooks and crannies that belongedto the bears since long before wecame. If they do us the honor ofcoming onto our Island, they shouldbe treated with respect and maybethey could teach us a thing or two.

I am glad to hear that numerouspeople did not have that reaction tothe bear on our Island. There are moresupporters of wildlife on the Islandthan there ever have been and I amglad of that. I agree with most ofthem—we must realize we share aplanet with other big predators andwe must find a gentle way to makepeace with that. Such creatures areour closest relatives in this entireuniverse. It is high time we treatedthem accordingly.

Our brother bear, namedColumbia by someone, was clearlyheaded somewhere. It is not easy toget from the north end of the Islandout to Pt. Robinson. Did he cross atPortage? At last report, he wascaptured by Fish and Wildlife andtaken to a “remote location in theCascades.” I hear he was pissed offwhen they caught him and I hopewhere they took him was somewherenear where he wanted to go.

Garden TheGarden TheGarden TheGarden TheGarden TheWorldWorldWorldWorldWorld By MEarth

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Br’er Bear

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Friday, June 15

Loopy sez: Deadline for thenext edition of The Loop is

Only Irish coffee provides in asingle glass all four essential foodgroups: alcohol, caffeine, sugarand fat. — Alex Levine

The publishers of The Loop received complaints about a joke thatran on the Loopy Laffs page in the last issue, and want readers toknow that offense was never intended. We are sorry. We will see thatit doesn’t happen again.

The joke was a line attributed to Charles Pierce, an actor and nightclub performer. Peter Mintun of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote atthe time of Pierce’s death in 1999: “His career included acting, andradio announcing, but as a female impersonator, Pierce has left hisaudiences weak with laughter, and brightened their lives with hiswicked and sometimes irreverent impressions of film stars...” We’resorry that this joke was a little too wicked and a little too irreverentfor some of our readers.

Retraction


EssayAn Essay by Alice OrrI have done a lot of what the

English refer to as “moving house.”I can’t blame my birth family for myrestless spirit and its quest forsomething never long presentwherever I happen to be. They livedin the same house from the time Iwas six months old until I left forcollege. Once, when they mentionedthe possibility of selling our gray-shingled bungalow, I gripped a darkmahogany pillar between the livingroom and dining room and wept. Iloved the look and feel of that houseat 439 East Avenue in Watertown,New York, but I never truly thoughtof it as Home.

What is “Home” exactly? Wetalk a great deal about it, foreversearching for one or running awayfrom one or missing one so much weare stricken “homesick.” All ofwhich indicates intensity. We arenever lukewarm about home. Weeither burn to be there or yearn toget away. Anywhere that fails toexcite such passion is merely aresting spot, a temporary stopping-off point on the road to our heart’strue destination. In my own history,three such heart places stand outfrom the incipient restlessness of therest. In each of these, a specialrelationship occurred, a quality oflove and caring not previouslyencountered, nor to be experiencedquite the same way again.

First came Grandma’s house at833 West Main Street, also inWatertown, a place I mention often.I’ve written of her garden, herkitchen, her bedroom but neverabout what she called her “middleparlor.” The front parlor was aspecial occasion room, saved forChristmas, family reunions andeventually her funeral. The kitchenat the back of the house was aworkroom, where she toiled at afairly urgent pace three times a day.Grandma worked in her middleparlor, too, but with her needles.Years later, when I discovered fiberart, I realized that Grandma hadbeen a fiber artist. Her yarns,embroidery flosses and tatting toolswere her creative media. Sheworked with them lovingly, and sheincluded me in that love. I wasfrequently with Grandma in thekitchen cooking or in the gardenplanting. She was always kind andpatient, but she expressed thesweetest tenderness while workingin her middle parlor. She would stopstitching for a moment, reach downand run her fingers through my hair

in a slow, gentle movement andwhisper, “Spun gold.” Mygrandmother’s middle parlor wasthe first place in my life that qualifiesin my estimation as Home.

The second was only a few milesbut nearly two decades away. Ishared the house on Moffett Streetwith my friend Gayle and ourseveral combined children. Gayleand I were both escapees fromunwise marriages. My three Homeswere havens of refuge as well aslove and caring. Grandma’s housewas refuge from my parents’ chaoticlife. Moffett Street was refuge fromthe chaos of life in general, thoughit didn’t appear so on the surface,particularly the surface of ourkitchen table. Each of our kids ate adifferent breakfast cereal, and eachspilled some of it every morning.There was never time to clean upthe mess before rushing off to workand school. Every evening wereturned to a mosaic of cereals gluedto the tabletop in a paste of milk andsugar that generally required thesharp edge of a metal spatula toscrape loose. Our Moffett Streetbrood was like that also, a familyglued together by affection ratherthan blood. It would take the hard-scraping edge of sharp lifecircumstance to dislodge useventually from one another.

A few more years and miles on,my third Home memory happens,at Burnup Road in Black River, NewYork. All of my life I’d hoped for butnever quite believed in the OneGreat Romance that I would not fallbut plummet into, crazy in lovebeyond reason and doubt. That lovetook flame on Burnup Road. I recallthe bedroom most vividly, and notjust because of the S-word. We toldeach other our deepest secrets there.We had our first technicolorquarrels there. We ate chocolatecake and drank whiskey sours there.Visitors to Burnup Road wouldmarvel at our housekeeping. Theliving room, kitchen, bath and yardwere always in perfect order. Wewere careful never to show themour bedroom. Not just because ofthe perpetual mess, but because itwas another refuge. Our refugewhere we could leave the baggageof the past at the door.

We have moved house one moretime recently to yet another heartlocation, the neighborhood whereour grandchildren live in Seattle.Our granddaughter wants to learnneedlework. Our grandson spillscereal and milk on the tabletop quiteregularly. And, though agemediates against too muchchocolate cake and whiskey sours,my one great love and I still spendlots of time in the bedroom, nowwith two kids and two catscrowding in. Perhaps, I have foundHome yet again.

Home Is Where theHeart Is

I moved to this Island for a veryspecific reason. Simply put, it is safehere. I was able to raise my boys asa single parent knowing that whenI left for the day, they would beintact when I returned. The schoolsare great. The community is caring.The weather is tolerable both insummer and winter. Sure, nowhereis perfect, but this place comes close.

So, now that the boys are grownand gone, what keeps me here?Frankly, it is still because it is safe.When I come home after a long day,I can unwind or be involved, totallyup to me. I have established myfriends and community family alongwith new interests and hobbies.Everybody knows my name. At leastit seems that way. However, thoughI have been single most of my life,now that the boys are gone I havediscovered what this really means.Now, an invitation means just me,not me and the boys. I seem to havefound a small crowd of 40-something and 50-something folkswho have also found themselves inthe same situation. There are a fewof us but we keep ourselves busywith the activities we enjoy most.The friends whom we have come totrust. The community we have cometo love. A comfortable circle.

So how do we find other singleson the Island? That is the question.

There is a group who hang outat the local pubs and they seem toknow each other. There is a smallergroup that goes to wine tastings. Butwhat about those of us who don’tfocus our time on alcohol? Don’t getme wrong, I love a good glass ofwine with some great cheese or adelicious meal but Wine, althoughterrific, isn’t my main focus in life. Iwant to talk about books, current

Finding a Safe Placeand Meeting Singles

By Angela Weiss

events, or travel. I want to attendthe art tours and gallery walks aswell as shop at the Village Green onSaturday mornings. I want to havedinner parties to explore my newlove of cooking and attend dinnerparties hosted by others in turn. Sowhere does one find activities andcompanions when a primary reasonfor choosing an Island lifestyle issafety, both physical andemotional?

My gut tells me that we need tobroaden the circle of knownavailable singles and maybebroadcast that interest a bit. Invitethose who don’t feel so safe to leavetheir comfortable circle or couch.Especially those men who tell thereal estate agents that the mainreason they are selling their home isbecause there are no single womenon the Island. Are you kidding?There are so many of us but wedon’t have a way of finding eachother.

An idea whose time has come:In January, just in time for mydivorce, I started hosting dinnerparties for my single friends. Thishas become a monthly event. Theyhave become so much fun that a fewpeople are calling and asking to beput on a list for the next one. Onecall was from a friend of a friendwho lives all the way over on QueenAnne. Wow, what does this say,that single men are calling fromSeattle and Tacoma for a seat at adinner table on Vashon? Oneparticipant has come from Tacomafor three events and counting. So, Ifind the idea works well.

Next time: the ground rules forsingles dinner parties.

Single onVashon

Tom Wallace

FarrierLicensed Massage TherapistPracticing on both humans and equines

Because there was a crooked rider who rode a crooked horse

www.vashonfarrier.com | Tel: 206.463.9689

We do passport photos -- apply for passports at theCourthouse on Tuesdays, Noon-3:30 pm; 4-7 p.m.

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ooooooFrustration is trying to find

your glasses without your glasses.


The Dorsal Spin

(206) 463-3401$8 Nail trimming with no appointment

17321 Vashon Hwy SW Big Red building w/Animal Stuff on the porch

The Dorsal Spin is undergoing amajor transition and will return soon.Please continue to report whale sightingsto the VHP at 206- 463-9041. Thanks toeveryone, especially ferry commuters, forrecent reports.

Hallelujah!!!Jenny has flown home from down south.Come say hello and shop on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday.

Then order something really difficult just to keep her on her toes.

Horus is still hanging in there,and he appreciates all your kind wishes.

Come give him some extra love.

Yesterday morning Henry (whois now part of Wolftown’s team andan old dear friend) and I followedmy little sheep dog Cap through thewoods to try to spot where a bearwas holing up in the warm part ofthe day.

Funny, this was not east of themountains, but on Vashon. Cap thesheep dog is just recently learningtracking work which by the wayhelps us with our non-invasive fieldwork studies off-Island. Cap findsthis rather amusing from the dailygrind of moving a flock of rams andanother flock of ewes and lambs tothe various pastures aroundWolftown.

Cap followed scent ‘til Henryand I spotted tracks and scat of ablack bear. While we walked,thoughts came and went throughmy mind.

I had received about ten callsabout the bear and I personallyspoke to sheriff officials and StateFish and Wildlife numerous timeswithin the past several days.

The bear brought up manythings to me.

The first is the fact that peoplefreaked out. Now please realize themajority of people on Vashon didn’tfreak but the more freaked onescalled me right away. Maybe someof you that are not freaking need tocall me so I can balance thissomehow. And those who did freak,I understand you freaked becauseyou were faced with the unknownand you were truly concerned foryourselves, the bear and your pets,livestock and gardens…in thatorder.

A refreshing change fromdealing with a Montana rancherwho has lost four horses and twocalves to grizzly and wolf. Theyfreak in an entirely different way. Itcan involve much cursing andwaving of weapons andshovels…but usually can be workedout.

But I needed to look at thisclosely.

First those that were concernedwith safety issues. Black bears do notconsider people food. They canattack people…but folks, THIS ISEXTREMELY RARE! The bear on-Island had been frightened by whatit thought was a terrible danger andhad scrambled 12 feet up a tree toescape — horror of bear horrors —a 75-year-old grandma looking out

Lions and Tigersand Bears!

Or Aunt Em!By T Martino

Sheep dog Cap. He is learning to track, andpracticed tracking the bear. Wolftown photo

a window at it. Ahhhhhhhhh! Runaway!

Bears are actually very shy. Howmany of you have seen them in thewild? As Henry and I walkedthrough the forest of Vashon wewere in what many would callsuburbia…5 acres and a house butwith a thick belt of trees between.These are wildlife corridors. Henryand I walked with all ourequipment, with a dog that had abell on, and people surrounded usand they did not see us. Bears arelike that. You don’t see them, theyare hiding! This is because they arescared of people. And Henry and Iwere much more conspicuous and Ilost my shoe and got trapped bybranches on MY idea of a trail.When I take interns off-Island Ireally have to LOOK to find bears.

Now here’s the rub. That ismostly true of adult bears. This isbecause they have lived a season ortwo and know that people huntthem. So they learn to avoid people.Juvenile bears like the one on Islandhave not learned this lesson. Thatbear had been probably chased offhis territory by an adult. Black bearsbreed in June.

Someone told me they werekeeping their children home fromschool because of bears. This wasinteresting.

I grew up where there werebears and lion and MANYrattlesnakes. Funny — therattlesnakes liked to rest on ourporch and my Pop was alwayssweeping them off. Sometimes he atethem, too, which helped control thepopulation but that’s another story.My relatives taught us from a veryearly age what to do aroundwildlife.

Common sense things like, don’trun. Keep your eyes open. Stay withyour brothers, yell, look taller. Don’tbother young cubs, don’t bothercarcasses…and the biggest one: Donot bring it home!

The last thing was a really bigone for my family.

The famous photo: Bear on Gorsuch Road withcar escort. Photo by Maria Winkler, King CountyNoxious Weeds official

I guess I thought everyone hadlearned this as a child but I guessnot. But it’s OK to learn this now.

On the bear’s side is it better forthe bear to be here or elsewhere?Hum? Well the bear chose to comehere. He sought out a place where Ihad seen bears in times past onVashon. It has good berryingpotential.

It is good for our ecosystem tohave the bear here. For one becauseof carrion which Wolftown is nolonger taking. By the way, the scatwe found was 95% plant material.Bears try to eat the easiest things tofind and catch. Prey that does notrun fast - like berries, shoots, grassand dead stuff.

As far as your pets areconcerned: Keep your pet foodinside. Do not let your dog chasebears. When I was a kid we did notlet our dogs out to run unattended.This was because they, beinghunting dogs, would run deer or

livestock and get shot. They alsocould get bit by rattlesnakes that myFather had not eaten yet.

Our dogs treed bobcat and lionoccasionally and so I think theywere savvy on the cat end of things.

I got called out by a local VashonSheep person and they wereconcerned about letting their flockout to graze after sighting the bearrecently. A mature ewe can out-dodge a bear if she has enoughroom. And the bear is going tothink, hum, this is too hard. But thisflock had garbage cans, incontainers which was good, butright next to the sheep pens. So thatneeded to be moved. Also 4 strandsof heavily charged hot wire set atdifferent heights will deter mostblack bears. This also helps withgardens.

And your garbage and gardenscan also be kept free of deer, dogs,and raccoons with hot wire.Raccoons carry a parasite thatfrankly I fear more than any bear.And I do worry about our deer withtheir parasite load. The bear could

help with these things. Read myarticle on Wolftown’s blog calledBalance.

You folks are my community andI love you even though sometimesyou kinda baffle me. But I am sure Ido the same to you sometimes.Please know that I will help at anytime day or night if you have anyproblem with the bear.

And I will help Fish and Wildlifeor the Sheriff remove him if he is aproblem. But the law says they haveto ask me. But I hope we can learnto live with him. When I saw histracks in the forest leaf litter ofVashon…I thought of my childhood.There’s no place like home!

Sound & Fury ( 2000) is thismonth’s film. It will show onThursday, June 14, at 6:45 p.m. 80minutes NR. Josh Aronson’sremarkable documentary takes anunexpected approach to the“medical miracle” film byexamining the political andemotional turmoil that eruptsbetween brothers over the cochlearimplant that might allow their deafchildren to hear. The ways in whicha so-called miracle cure can divideas well as heal families andcommunities is the focus of Soundand Fury, which explores withalmost painful intimacy the politicsof disability. Oscar nominated forBest Documentary Feature.

Progressive/GreenParty Film Discussion

Series

More Wolftown News:Check that SnagT Martino of Wolftown

Sanctuary reports that they werecalled the other day to rescue a litterof raccoon kits. An Islander waslandscaping his yard and knockedover a tree snag, only to discoverthat it was being used as a nurseryby a raccoon mother.

“They called us right away,which was the right thing to do, andwere very gracious about helping usfind a safe place to put the babieswhere their mom would come backand find them,” Martino said.

Martino has been working withwolves since 1984 and Wolftownhas had a 501-3 C non-profit statusfor ten years.

“We do a talk the last Fridayeach month at Back Bay Inn,”Martino said, for people interestedin learning about wildlife andWolftown.


in mind, participants will spendmore intimate time with gardenerswhose gardens have been featuredpublications such as PacificMagazine, Fine Gardening, GardenDesign, Sunset and more.

DIG owners Sylvia Matlock andRoss Johnson invite participantsinto their garden sanctuary to learnhow 17 years of gardening havebeen reinforced with a striking newexterior on their home. Cindy andSteve Stockett will tour participantsthrough recently redesigned andrefurbished beautifully designedgarden rooms and water features.In addition, the Stocketts will sharesecrets of how to have a successful,abundant garden, good plantcombinations, citing plants ideally,and how to integrate designelements.

Continued from page 1Annual Garden Tour “Secrets” will include plant lists

from both gardens. Complimentaryrefreshments provided at DIG,courtesy of The Monkey Tree.Tickets for “Secrets of the Garden”are $55 per person or $70 (includesweekend Garden Tour ticket) andare available by calling Blue HeronArt Center, (206) 463-5131.

As for Garden Tour itself, youwon’t want to miss the five fabulousgardens, along with art, music andpoetry. And don’t forget to bid onyour favorite watering can,creatively embellished by Islandartists! VAA’s annual Garden Touris graciously sponsored by John L.Scott. Additional sponsors includeVashon Thriftway, Puget SoundEnergy, DIG and SPLASH and JRCrawford. Tickets are availablenow by calling Blue Heron, (206)463-5131. See you at the GardenTour!

Many Islanders know of JoanHanna’s barn – that glorious studiowhere movement of all kinds takesplace, that sun-drenched,beautifully–floored structure nestledaway in a meadow dotted withstatues of the Buddha andflowerbeds, the place where manya dancer has surelystood and thought:I’ve died and goneto Heaven. This isit.

Joan createdthe studio in thelate 80s afterreturning fromNaropa Institute inBoulder, Coloradowhere she studiedDance and TheaterImprovisation. Formany previousyears, she was aninstructor of yogaand Tai Chi. In thedecades since,Hanna’s barn hashoused classesacross a broad spectrum ofmovement, music and theater.

New to the barn this summer isMoving At Midlife with BrendaHowald, a modern dance class foradults where you stretch,strengthen, and learn to moveeffortlessly from your core. ThisMonday morning, 10 to 11:30 a.m.,class will begin Monday, June 11,and includes patterns fromBartenieff Movement Fundamentals,yoga, and Feldenkrais work. Theformat is one of basic locomotorpatterns in space, floor work,standing strengthening work, anddance combinations across the floor.Both trained and non-traineddancers do fine with this material.Brenda danced with DanceKaleidium of St. Louis and Co-motion Dance in Seattle, of whichshe was a founding member. Ifyou’ve been partner dancing andwant to break out on your own, ifyou simply want to get out the kinks,or if you’re new to movementaltogether, this is your class. Brendais also looking to start an eveningclass on Wednesday or Thursdayevenings in another location inVashon, so if you’re interested inevening slots only, or for any

Joan Hanna’s Barn: Movement on MauryBy Brenda Howald

Patti Kiriazis at Pt. Robinson. Photo by Molly O’Brien

Patti Kiriazis. Photo by Molly O’Brien

questions about the class, please callher at (206) 463-4080.

On-going is Joan’sContemplative Dance Practicewhich meets Friday mornings from9:30 to 11 a.m. and includesmeditation, personal warm up,

interacting in OpenSpace, and writing/drawing. Class fee ison a donation basis.Joan’s MondayMornings, from 7:30to 9:30 a.m., is a classin which new themesare introduced eachweek, an approachthat focuses oninvestigating the useof the body ineveryday movement,a session where, asJoan says “Rest isalways waiting to berecognized, Just abreath away.” Forquestions call Joan at(206) 463-3530.

Another on-going favorite isYoga with Patti Kiriazis on Tuesdayand Thursday mornings, whichpresents Patti’s blend of Hatha andKundalini yoga to folks of a varyingage and fitness range. Theintermediate level class meets from9 to 10:30 a.m., both days, and aneasier class follows called“floorwork/gentle” from 10:30 to11:30 a.m. both days. Patti’s yogaexperience is vast, beginning withher studies with renowned teacherMarie Svboda, and followed by 20years of teaching in venues all overthe Island, including The VashonAthletic Club, K-2, Ober Park andthe YMCA. Patti brings to herapproach a solid knowledge of howto successfully work through injurywithin the class discipline. Forquestions, call Patti at (206) 567-0018.

Future possible offerings at thebarn include a Lotte Berk methodExercise class with Carol Eggen,which is a non-aerobic, non-highimpact method of working the body.Those interested in a class shouldcontact Carol at 567-0066.

Come on down to the barn at7712 S.W. Point Robinson Road(Call individual teachers fordirections).

Much more than just a bike storeBreeze on in and ride out

Same day serviceDowntown Vashon next to the Post Office

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(206) 463-6225(206) 463-6225(206) 463-6225(206) 463-6225(206) 463-6225

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Vashon IslandBicycle

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Kathy Abascal is a professionalmember of the American HerbalistsGuild and is certified by Michael Mooreof the Southwest School of BotanicalMedicine. She recently started a blogwhich you can read atwww.herbsandinfluenza.com/blog.

You can email her if you havequestions about herbs([email protected]) or you can

stop by the Roasterieon Fridayafternoons todiscuss any aspectof herbal medicinewith her in person.

You can buyKathy Abascal’sbook Herbs &Influenza – How herbsused in the 1918 flupandemic can be

effective today at local Vashon stores.For more information on the book andon the 1918 flu pandemic, visit Kathy’swebsite at http://www.HerbsandInfluenza.com.

Inflammation plays an importantrole in healing. In chronic diseases,however, inflammation tends tocomplicate healing. In fact, it is hardto think of a chronic disease that doesnot involve some degree ofundesirable inflammation.Hypertension, heart problems, jointproblems, Alzheimer’s, eczema, andintestinal disorders all involveinflammation. Often anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed tosuppress this inflammation and quietits uncomfortable effects. However,studies increasingly show that longterm use of these drugs may actuallyworsen the underlying disease,especially in osteoarthritis andrheumatoid arthritis. In addition,anti-inflammatory drugs havesignificant sideeffects.

Have you everread the warningson some of thec o m m o nprescriptions forpain andi n f l a m m a t i o n ?Ibuprofen warns“this medicine canincrease your risk ofl i f e - threa ten ingheart or circulationproblems, including heart attack orstroke. This medicine can alsoincrease your risk of serious effectson the stomach or intestines,including bleeding or perforation(forming of a hole). These conditionscan be fatal and gastrointestinal effectscan occur without warning at any timewhile you are taking ibuprofen. Olderadults may have an even greater riskof these serious gastrointestinal sideeffects.” Tylenol is harmful to theliver and its use is associated withsome 25,000 hospitalizations, and 450deaths every year. A study testing theuse of Aleve in Alzheimer’s diseasewas stopped because those on Alevehad about a 50 percent greater chanceof suffering strokes or heart attacksthan those taking the placebo.Celebrex and Vioxx are now used verycautiously because of their ability tocause strokes and heart attacks.Overall, the drugs we typically use toquiet the pain of inflammation are farfrom benign.

Many herbs can be used as analternative to these anti-inflammatorydrugs. Although often called “anti-inflammatory,” these herbs do notsimply suppress inflammation.

Instead, they moderate and temper it.They act on multiple targets, andgenerally do not act as strongly on asingle target as drugs do. The resultis a gentler, slower onset of actioncoupled with vastly reduced orabsent adverse effects compared tofast-acting, powerful but more toxicdrugs.

Curcuma longa (turmeric) andMatricaria recutita (chamomile) are twowell known herbs that can be used toquiet inflammation.

Turmeric root is a relative ofginger and is acommon cookingspice in manycultures. Itscomponents work ona wide range of thedifferent aspects ofour inflammatoryresponse. Moststudies have lookedonly at one oft u r m e r i c ’ sc o m p o n e n t s ,curcumin, but many

of its other constituents have also aquieting effect on an out-of-balanceinflammation response. But, unlikeanti-inflammatory drugs, turmeric isnot sufficiently powerful to suppressinflammatory pathways to the pointthat adverse effects occur. It does notcause stomach bleeds or ulcers. Infact, it has been used as a treatmentfor stomach ulcers. It protects theliver and in animals helped protectagainst the liver damage fromTylenol.

Studies show that turmeric is aseffective as phenylbutazone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, atreducing postoperative inflammation.Turmeric in combination with otherherbs like Withania somnifera(ashwagandha) and/or Boswellia carteri(olibanum, frankincense) quieted thesymptoms of osteoarthritis. It alsorelieved symptoms of rheumatoidarthritis but did not do so quite asefficiently as the drugphenylbutazone. Turmeric is very safeand appears to help prevent liverdamage, cancer, and Alzheimer’sdisease as well as quiet inflammation.

Chamomile flowers also have asignificant ability to quiet

inflammation. Chamomile has a muchmilder action than drugs but probablyis better in the long run because, liketurmeric, it acts on multiple pathwaysinvolved in inflammation, and hasnumerous other beneficial actions: Itis antioxidant, soothes jangled nerves,is mildly antimicrobial, and quietsspasms. It is widely used to sootheand quiet the stomach, and has anability to prevent stomach ulcers. It isalso extremely safe, with no adverseeffects except rarely causing allergicreactions in some. It is safe for use inpregnancy and lactation as well as inchildren of any age includingnewborns. In fact, a recent studyconfirmed that chamomile tea canquiet colic in babies.

Chamomile is particularly usefultopically, whether applied directly tothe skin or taken as a tea to act as atopical for the gut. In fact, studiesconfirm that chamomile extracts areas good as low-dose corticosteroidsat relieving chronic atopic dermatitis.It is good for any type of abrasion tothe skin and may be useful as part ofthe treatment for mucositis due tochemotherapy.

If you are suffering from aninflammatory condition and areconsidering taking an anti-inflammatory drug, I would stronglyrecommend that you first experimentwith diet and herbs. If you learn howdiet can slow or reverse many chronicailments and select herbs that will

quiet the symptoms of your particularproblem, you will be able to “save”the anti-inflammatory drugs foroccasional flare ups when you reallyneed to suppress the entireinflammatory process. This way, youwill not need to rely on drugs withsubstantial side effects on a day-to-day basis and will benefit from a moreintegrated approach to wellbeing thatmelds the best of modern andtraditional medicine.

By Kathy Abascal

oooooo

Herbs That QuietInflammation

Learn more about quietinginflammation:

Eating for health and weight lossBeing overweight is an

inflammatory condition that takes a tollon your health. In this series of 5 classesyou will learn how to use diet and herbsto quiet inflammation and improve yourhealth. A significant side benefit is arelatively effortless weight loss,improved sleep, and the disappearanceof annoying aches and pains. A newclass series begins Thursday June 14at 6 p.m. Advance registration isrequired. For more information, contactKathy Abascal (463-9211 [email protected]) or pick up aclass outline at the Roasterie.

Panel Presentation oninflammation

Join Kathy Abascal and otherhealth practitioners for a discussion onhow diet, herbs, and body work canhelp you reduce chronic inflammationand pain. Wednesday June 13 at theVashon Library 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Chamomile


Aries (March 20-April 19): Your chartis giving the impression you’re living atwork these days. If so, I suggest you bringin a real toaster oven rather than amicrowave. In fact, bring in home-cookedmeals and bring enough for everyone.What are you up to, anyway? Regardless,your aspirations, be they money-making,creative or just generically ambitious, feedyourself well and keep those in yourenvironment fed well. I tell you, just belowthe surface, this is all about food, and theconnection between your emotions andfood. This is the time to have all thosemysteries reveal themselves, and to get agrasp on what’s really good for you.

Taurus (April 19-May 20): You seem,once again, to be feeling cramped in yourenvironment or attitude. Stick with it.Within that feeling are many layers ofinformation, each of which containsspecific advice to yourself about what youneed. Dialog with a partner is essentialnow: they, too, are sensing the inevitablebrink that you are crossing over, which isnone other than a bridge to the here andnow. That bridge involves reckoning withso much you have experienced in thepast. It involves burying the dead, sayinggoodbye to those lost and forgotten, andaffirming that you are indeed quite aliveand in the midst of your life.

Gemini (May 20-June 21): Keepclearing out the clutter and making roomfor what is new. The more junk you getrid of, the more space you will have forfeeling, for breathing and generally forfeeling like you have enough space to live.Much of what you are getting rid of arethings that hold an emotional attachmentto the past. I don’t suggest you just throwthem on the fire, however; take a little timeand feel the sensations associated withthese things, particularly if they belongedto your parents. Once you’ve madecontact, say goodbye and let go of them.

Cancer (June 21-July 22): To be in thepresent, one must let go of the past. Thatrequires a grieving process, or some otherconscious way of releasing what existedbefore. You can feel that you’re reallyletting go in part because of the uncertainsense of the future. Make friends with thatuncertainty, if you have not already doneso. It is rich; it is full of life and more thananything, it begs the question of what youwant. Once you know what you did not

want, and what you do not want, Isuggest you let the

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