Aspen Anderson

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber • 3rd February 2026

New doc details islander Amanda Knox’s quest for closure

“There’s a dark shadow hanging over all of us right now,” islander Amanda Knox said, settled at a table in the back of the coffee shop. A small group of protesters were just a few feet away at the four-way stop in a last-minute demonstration, calling out ICE operations nationwide — particularly in Minnesota.

Los Angeles Times • 21st August 2025

A woodworker gives life to maple and ash in his stunning handcrafted furnishings

On a hot August morning, sunlight pools across a warm-toned teak dining table in Harold Greene’s backyard in San Pedro.

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber • 18th November 2025

Vashon’s artful activists get national attention

On Oct. 18, three identical banners — each 18 feet wide and painted with the words “We the People” — unfurled in three different cities at once. In Washington, D.C., Chicago and Seattle, marchers — both Vashonites and strangers — held the edges, carrying the scroll through the cities.

The Seattle Times • 15th January 2025

Longtime Seattle radio host looks back amid cancer diagnosis

At 68 and in the late stages of his terminal cancer diagnosis, Rivers was determined to reach the summit.

Los Angeles Times • 3rd September 2025

A free L.A. hike, yoga and a sound bath under the full moon? Here’s how to join

As the last bit of the afternoon sun beamed down on a patch of grass right outside Elysian Park, hikers unfurled yoga mats and stretched beside a busy street.

The Seattle Times • 5th May 2025

A whale washed ashore on Vashon Island. Now these high schoolers are working with the bones

The 164 pieces once belonged to a gray whale that swam through Puget Sound. Now, they’re part of a scientific and educational project unfolding in the hands of teenagers.

Los Angeles Times • 31st July 2025

'Japanese walking’ promises big health gains in 30 minutes. Health experts are skeptical

Dubbed “Japanese walking,” the latest viral fitness trend is all over TikTok and has people wondering whether this short-interval workout can improve health more efficiently than a traditional stroll.

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber • 15th October 2025

‘Move it or lose it,’ say three active elders

On Vashon, age doesn’t mean slowing down. It means plunging into the icy Puget Sound, saddling up for dressage, or swinging a golf club straight into a championship.

Los Angeles Times • 11th July 2025

Is walking 10,000 steps a legit fitness goal or a marketing myth?

The magic number shows up on smartwatches, fitness apps and office step challenges. For many, hitting 10,000 steps in a day has become a marker of good health — a goal that prompts post-dinner walks, lunchtime laps around the block and a reason to park a little farther away.

Cascade PBS News • 25th May 2024

WA mom reclaims son’s story after University of Idaho killings

For Stacy Chapin, starting Ethan’s Smile Foundation has been paramount in navigating her grief for her son. She has been able to cultivate space to honor her son’s true essence and legacy, which she feels was overshadowed
by the notorious murder.

Los Angeles Times • 10th July 2025

At 90, he's a competitive stair climber. 'It gives me a goal, and that's why I keep going'

Gripping the stairwell railings inside the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel on a recent afternoon, Tom Kutrosky ran up the steps two at a time — part of his training for an upcoming race that involves taking on 110 floors’ worth of stairs.

HeraldNet.com • 27th March 2025

Everett home hit by lightning, catches fire

Jeannie Nichols and her family were watching TV on Wednesday night, listening to the deep rumbling of thunder and watching lightning flash outside their Everett home.

The Seattle Times • 18th March 2025

Seattle seniors say Woodland Park Zoo walks are a hoot

On a crisp February morning at Woodland Park Zoo, Neil Lind gripped two sturdy hiking sticks while Henry Bjornsson kept pace with a cane.

HeraldNet.com • 25th March 2025

‘An uphill battle’: South County firefighter facing his toughest fight | HeraldNet.com

For Nick Jessen, firefighting was never a question of if, but when. He grew up trailing his grandfather on 911 calls, absorbing the rhythms of service from the station floor.
Now, at 38, after 22 years in the fire service, Jessen is facing a battle far more personal: stage four lung cancer.

The Seattle Times • 25th March 2025

Beware of art: This eccentric Seattle home refuses to blend in

In a world of beige, shades of white, and a Seattle sky that loves to be gray, one family was tired of conformity.

HeraldNet.com • 17th April 2025

Family searches for answers in 1982 Gold Bar cold case murder

David DeDesrochers’ children spent years searching for him before learning he’d been murdered. Now, they want answers.

The Seattle Times • 14th December 2024

10 storage units’ worth of Christmas decor goes into the display at this West Seattle house

This holiday season, same as ever, the minute Jack and Linda Menashe step out their front door, they’re usually greeted with smiling faces and fist bumps.

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber • 20th November 2024

How Granny’s Attic manages an island of donations

When you donate a gently worn pair of jeans or last season’s jacket to Granny’s Attic, where does it end up?

10th January 2026

Thrift stores in the Seattle area — a guide to some of our favorites

What can I say? I love clothes. I love throwing on an outfit that makes me feel like a new person — bright colors, fun prints, bell-bottoms, vintage sweaters. Pieces that feel one of a kind.

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber • 28th August 2024

Honey, postcards, and flags: How islanders are supporting Kamala Harris

Six teal and canary yellow beehives, along with a local resident sporting a navy blue shirt with rainbow “Vote” lettering, mark the site of “Honey for Harris” — a local effort infusing island energy into the 2024 presidential election.

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber • 1st November 2024

Vashon family returns from Hurricane Helene stranding in North Carolina

The celebratory getaway in the small mountain town of Weaverville — a place much like Vashon, known for its friendly community, scenic charm and vibrant arts scene just eight miles from Asheville — quickly turned into a survival story with an unlikely hero.

HeraldNet.com • 9th April 2025

Books behind bars: A personal mission for change

On a sunny Saturday morning, Bryson Fico brought 379 books through the Marysville jail doors, offering what he calls “small escapes” for people with nowhere to go.

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber • 19th February 2025

Couple displaced by California fires finds refuge on Vashon

It was Jan. 7 when her phone rang. On the other end, a friend’s frantic voice: “The hill is on fire.”

Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber • 16th October 2024

Review: “Edgar Sawtelle” revives Book-It Repertory’s legacy

Through a partnership with Vashon Repertory Theatre, Book-It’s style returns in a world premiere adaptation of “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle,” now running at Vashon Center for the Arts.