News - Vashon-Maury Island

Glacier gets green light to build pier on Maury Island

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday issued a permit to Glacier Northwest allowing the company to build its controversial 400-foot dock off the eastern shore of Maury Island, a move that means the company could begin the mammoth construction project as soon as next month. The Corps, in a news release issued Wednesday, said it made the decision after Glacier proved to the agency that its project "will not result in significant impacts to the human environment." The Corps' permit calls for the multi-national corporation to comply with certain restrictions, including extending the dock's loading area beyond sensitive eelgrass beds near the shoreline, limiting loading to one barge at a time to reduce shading and limiting hours of operation.

State ecology puts Glacier corp. under scrutiny in Maury mine clean-up

The state Department of Ecology has decided to require Glacier Northwest to provide extensive public review and comment as the corporation devises a plan for how it will handle arsenic-laced soil at its mining site on Maury.

Is it time to build a new Vashon High?

When Keith Putnam designed what is now the main building at Vashon High School some 35 years ago, he included in one of his mock-ups covered walkways connecting the school’s scattered buildings. “And the school board said, ‘Why should we have covered walks? Let them walk in the rain; it’s good for them,’” he recalled. Now, that architectural feature — a hodge-podge of buildings that makes the campus both wide open and, in the winter months, a source of colds and discomfort — is seen as one of its greatest liabilities. Educators say that kids sit in classrooms wet and cold in the winter months, and attendance falls. They say the fact the campus is “porous,” as some have put it, makes it far less secure in this post-Columbine era, where student safety has become paramount. They also say an ill-fated educational concept of the ’70s, when Putnam designed Building A, has resulted in a building that today is cramped and unworkable. When Putnam came up with the design — three large octagons connected to a central area — open classrooms were vogue; no walls separated the classrooms, and the building, though not quite big enough even then, could accommodate all the students, he said. But the open classroom concept did not last long; walls were soon built to give teachers the noise barriers they needed to teach effectively. And today, Building A — the main classroom building at the sprawling campus — is crowded, dark and difficult, teachers and administrators say. Earlier this month, the school board agreed to offer up to Islanders a couple of different architectural scenarios for a potential bond levy next February. One of them — the option preferred by many teachers and administrators — includes a new 40,000-square-foot structure that would replace Building A as the main classroom facility: a square, two-story building that would have big windows, adequate classroom space and only a couple of entrances.

Amidst the chaos, Loren Hill fostered a love of learning

Loren Hill strolled leisurely across the front of the classroom, thumbs in his belt-loops and shoulders thrown back, “moseying” for his third-grade class at Chautauqua Elementary School.

School board votes to close high school campus, ending senior perk

Vashon High School seniors will no longer be able to zip to Subway, take a quick trip home or run to the beach during their lunch period as a result of a decision made by the five-member board that oversees the Vashon Island School District.

New director to take helm at troubled county animal care program

A new acting manager has been named to lead King County’s troubled Animal Care and Control program, which has come under harsh criticism for the crowded conditions at the county’s main shelter in Kent.

Maury park could soon get a facelift

t A $7,500 grant will pay for signage, trail work and more.

Fire commissioners are close to selecting new chief from among six finalists

The board of commissioners at Vashon Island Fire & Rescue has chosen six finalists in its search for a new chief to head the fire department and will likely select one of them to lead the agency in as soon as next week.

County takes over cost of foot ferry

King County this week assumed the cost of providing passenger-only ferry service between Vashon and downtown Seattle, a move that marks the beginning of the county’s eventual full operation of a route that for years has been provided by Washington State Ferries.

Former Obama delegate will work as page at national convention

Laura Hicks, 18, made a remarkably strong political showing at the Washington state Democratic convention in June, energized by Barack Obama’s powerful promise to change the nation. She was one of 400 vying for 29 national delegate positions left, and made it to the final round of selections.