After the high winds and rain this weekend, fall seems to have spilled across the island. The roads are carpeted in oranges and reds and our office is just as fittingly adorned — a soft leaf-strewn path leading to the newsroom door. It’s the perfect backdrop for this week’s edition, which feels as seasonally Vashon as it gets.

It’s back to school with a look at McMurray’s phone-free policy one year in — where students and teachers say the “away for the day” rule is reshaping how kids socialize and learn.

It’s a step into the woods for a deep dive on the island’s deer population — and a chat with bow hunter James Cottrell, who’s helping others navigate the balance between sustainability, safety and tradition.

And, of course, it’s witches on the water, as Vashon’s paddle board coven once

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