Island closed to recreational shellfish harvesting
Paralytic Shellfish Poison has been detected at unsafe levels on Vashon and, as a result, the Washington State Department of Health has closed all of the island except for Quartermaster Harbor to recreational shellfish harvesting.
According to Department of Health (DOH) officials, the poison was found in shellfish at Point Vashon and Tramp Harbor. Advisory signs are being posted at beaches warning people to not collect shellfish.
Commercial beaches are sampled separately and commercial products should be safe to eat.
The current closure includes all species of shellfish including clams, geoduck, scallops, mussels, oysters, snails and other invertebrates. The closure does not include crab or shrimp, but the guts of crabs can contain unsafe levels. To be safe, clean crab thoroughly and discard the guts (“butter”).
A person cannot determine if PSP toxin is present by visual inspection of the water or shellfish and the toxin is not destroyed by cooking or freezing. Anyone who eats PSP-contaminated shellfish is at risk for life-threatening illness.
Symptoms of PSP usually begin 30-60 minutes after eating the contaminated shellfish, but may take several hours to appear. Symptoms are generally mild, and begin with numbness or tingling of the face, arms, and legs. This is followed by headache, dizziness, nausea and loss of muscle coordination. Sometimes a floating sensation occurs. In cases of severe poisoning, muscle paralysis and respiratory failure occur, and in these cases death may occur in two to 25 hours.
If symptoms are mild, call your health care provider or the Washington Poison Center at (800) 222-1222. Public Health should also be called at (206) 296-4774. If symptoms are severe, call 911 or have someone take you to the emergency room immediately.
Recreational shellfish harvesting can be closed due to rising levels of PSP at any time. Harvesters are advised to call the DOH Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632 or visit the shellfish safety website before harvesting shellfish anywhere in Puget Sound.
Providence extends contract at VCC
Providence Health & Services will continue to manage Vashon Community Care for the next 90 days while the center continues talks with a new managing partner, according to Verna Everitt, the executive director of the Vashon Community Care Foundation and the spokesperson for the transition.
Providence’s management contract with the care center expired on Sunday, and Everitt said the agreement to continue with “business as usual” was reached last week.
Talks with the potential new managing partner, previously identified as Tranforming Age, are ongoing, and Everitt said she can provide no further information until the talks have been finalized. She did say, however, that she believes the care center has a “very bright future.”
As she has before, she stressed that ongoing community support is essential during this time.
“Success rests on the community’s continued support as we work through this transition,” she said.
School supplies needed for annual back-to-school drive
Vashon’s annual back-to-school drive, which provides school supplies to island families in need, is underway.
The drive, a partnership between island volunteers and the PTSA, is organized this year by islander Amber Crandall. After sorting though donations already received, she said on Monday that the items she most needs are cardboard magazine holders, compasses and three ring binders, ranging in size from one-half inch to 3 inches.
Items will be distributed to children and families from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — or while supplies last — Friday at 9730 SW Bank Rd., Suite 107C. This spot is a conference room in the Thriftway complex between Sarah’s Salon & RO Enterprises. People should be ready to provide the student’s grade and teacher to ensure correct supplies.
Those who cannot make it to the distribution day should contact Crandall directly at (206) 399-9997 to make other arrangements to receive items they need.
Donation bins will remain at Thriftway and Vashon Pharmacy through Labor Day weekend for additional donations, Crandall said.
Nearly 100 show up for Seals’ pool marathon fundraiser, $9,000 raised
The Seals Swim Team’s swim marathon fundraiser earlier this month raised $9,000 to go toward the upgrading and covering of the Vashon Pool.
The Aug. 18 event was the most recent fundraising effort by the team and encouraged islanders to come to the pool, register and swim as far as they could. In total, roughly 100 swimmers swam 102 miles, Seals Board President Karin Choo said.
The team, which has been spearheading the effort to cover the public pool for months, has nearly met its $100,000 fundraising goal. A thermometer display outside the island’s chamber of commerce building reads the current money raised is $80,000.
The temporary inflatable bubble that will cover the pool from October to May has been ordered and will be erected “hopefully in mid-October,” Choo said. Construction work to fix the pool’s drain and install efficient toilets and upgrade the locker rooms will take place once the pool closes early next month.
“It’s super exciting,” Choo said. “People have been working for years and years (to cover the pool). We’re just really grateful for the support of the businesses and community.”
For more information about the pool cover and the fundraising effort, visit coverourpool.org.
