Noto Earthquake Benefit

Two Japanese tea ceremonies and demonstrations, led by Mercer Island tea ceremony instructor Kyoto Matsuda, will take place on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 24, at Mukai Farm & Garden, at 18017 107th Ave SW.

The first session will take place from 1 to 1:45 p.m. and the second from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. During each 45-minute session, Matsuda will talk about the history of “Chano-Yu,” and demonstrate the tea ceremony, and participants will enjoy Japanese “Wagashi” and tea.

There is a suggested donation of $10, to benefit those impacted by the massive 7.6 earthquake in the Noto Peninsula of Japan on Jan. 1. The event was organized by 10-year Vashon resident Ayumi Luke, who experienced the earthquake first-hand while visiting her parents in Japan.

This is the second “Pray for Noto” benefit event organized by Luke. On Feb. 11, she presented a well-attended concert at Mukai by acclaimed violinist, concertmistress, and teacher Yuuki Hashimori, to raise funds for Noto.

Grief Ritual

A monthly community grief ritual is held on the first Sunday of every month, from 1-3 p.m. at the Tree of Life Wellness Center at 17331 Vashon Highway, with donations accepted. Islanders are invited to share and witness, either in silence or out loud, grief for loved ones, pets, relationships, the climate, and wars. Questions? Call Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232.

Poetry Open Mic

Margaret Rancone, Vashon’s Poet Laureate, will host the island’s monthly open mic poetry event at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at the Coop. Sign-up will begin at 5:45 p.m. Find out more about the Coop on Facebook.

Senior Center

The Senior Center will celebrate all of its members who have birthdays in February with a free lunch for them from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Feb 26. Please make a reservation. On the same day, at 1:30 p.m., the Center’s book group will discuss “Demon Copperhead,” by Barbara Kingsolver, with Carolyn Gellerman leading the discussion.

Join author Sally Jean Fox at the Center at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 for an afternoon of storytelling, performance and conversation based on her memoir, “Meeting the Muse After Midlife: A Journey to Meaning, Creativity, and Joy.” Guests Richard Osborne and Suzanna Leigh, musician and artist, will join a conversation about the challenges and rewards of living a creative life — at any age, but especially as we age. The event will include simple practices anyone can use to center, calm, and find more of their creative spirit.

Join the book group of Vashon Library and Senior Center from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Vashon Library. Book selections will be focused on the subject of Black History.

A talk on the history of Vashon women, with Maria Glanz, will take place at 1 p.m. Friday, March 1, at the Center. Thanks to the help of historians from Vashon Heritage Museum, this year’s talk will highlight exceptional island women from the time of the sx̌ʷəbabš (Swiftwater) People, through today, including Lucy Gerand, Dr. Belle Baldwin, Agnes Smock, Marjorie Stanley, Mary Matsuda Gruenwald and others.

Climate Action on Vashon

Join Vashon Island Unitarian Universalists in welcoming guest speaker Kevin Jones, at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at Lewis Hall, at 23905 Vashon Hwy (behind the Burton Community Church). Kat Eggleston will also play music at the meeting.

Jones, a member of the leadership team of Vashon Climate Action Group and a member of Indivisible Vashon, will speak on the topic of climate action for islanders, discussing current climate legislation in the state and the Take Action Network (TAN).

TAN is an online platform that provides individuals a way to receive automatic updates on legislative matters of personal interest, among other functions. Jones will also address the initial stages now in development for a Vashon Maury Climate Action Plan and how people can get involved.

Water Taxi petition

Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce is asking islanders who support adding King County Water Taxi service to Vashon to make their voices heard by visiting tinyurl.com/mrxv6wxn — a petition in support of State Rep. Emily Alvarado’s request for $3.1 million in funding to expand water taxi service between Vashon and Seattle. (See “Catching Up with Vashon’s legislators” on page 1.)

King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda has also submitted a formal letter of support for the expansion.

According to the Chamber, islanders must take action by Feb. 26 to support this budget appropriation request by contacting Representative Jay Fey, Chair of the House Transportation Committee. Find out more and sign the petition here.

Speed limit change?

King County Road Services has an upcoming 14-day comment period for a speed limit reduction proposal for two stretches of Vashon Highway SW. For more information, visit online. The comment period will run from Feb. 26 through March 11.

Sharpen an ax

Woodcutters, lovers of the wedge and edge, Vashon MakerSpace is offering a three-hour class — come learn the differences between a felling ax and a splitting ax, and how to shape and sharpen them both according to their intended use. For those interested, the class could even explore what makes a good side ax, swamper or limbing ax.

The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Vashon MakerSpace classroom, in the building adjacent to Open Space for Arts & Community. For more information visit VashonMakerSpace.org and click on “classes and events.”

Lecture on stories from Ukraine

Peter Lippman, a Seattlite, lifelong human rights activist, writer, Yiddishist, and klezmer musician will speak at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Vashon Havurah, about his travel to eastern Ukraine last October, where he spoke with Ukrainians about their experiences, how they feel about Russia and using Russian or Ukrainian language, and their hopes for the future.

Lippman has a history of witnessing the resistance of people and communities to injustice in such places as Nicaragua, Bosnia, Kosovo, Palestine, and most recently, Ukraine.

The Havurah is located at 15401 Westside Highway SW. This lecture is part of the Havurah’s Phil Cushman Memorial lecture series.

Land Trust Reception

The Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust invites islanders to a reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 1, to visit with others, have a snack, sip on something nice, and meet Theron Shaw, the Land Trust’s new executive director. There will be a short program at 6 p.m. highlighting 2023’s accomplishments and a sneak peek at the organization’s plans for 2024.

Colwell Scholarship Benefit

A special fundraiser performance, featuring many well-known island singers and songwriters, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at Vashon High School Theater.

The event will raise funds for the Paul Colwell Music Scholarship, which is part of the Vashon Community Scholarship Program and was created to honor Paul’s contributions to music on Vashon and around the world. The scholarship is awarded annually to graduating high school seniors who intend to continue with music in higher education.

Performers will include Mark Graham, Orville Johnson, Susan Lewis, Chris Andersen, Kat Eggleston, Camille Reeves, Steve Amsden, Mark Wells, Carter Castle, Rick Doussett, Steve Itterly, David Hawkins, Kate Atwell, Mindy Little, Chuck Roehm, and Paul and Steve Colwell.

There is a suggested donation of $10 to $20 at the door. Those who cannot attend the performance may donate to the fund by visiting vashonscholarshipfoundation.org and clicking on the donate button — include the words “for the Paul Colwell Music Scholarship” in the comment or memo box.

Community Scholarships

Our Community Credit Union has announced that ten $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating 2024 high school seniors who attend school in Mason, Grays Harbor, Thurston Counties, and on Vashon Island. Eligible individuals must be members of the credit union. Applications and guidelines for the scholarship program are available at ourcu.com/scholarship-program. Applications will be accepted through April 30. Winners will be announced in May.

Sign up for services

The state’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) van will come to Vashon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at Vashon United Methodist Church. Islanders can apply for cash assistance, basic food assistance (EBT cards), medical assistance and the Medicare Savings program.

Also, attendees can drop off paperwork, complete an eligibility or mid-certification review, or make changes to an existing case.

Buzz into spring

Vashon Island Beekeepers Association (VIBA) is here for islanders’ honeybee dreams. VIBA’s very own teaching apiary on Vashon is a resource for beekeepers of all levels. The group holds regular meetings there to raise bees and beekeepers. The first meeting of the 2024 season will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16 — yearly membership is $25.

This year, the group will offer a course for new beekeepers, Beginning Beekeeping. The course will be four hours on two Saturday mornings, on March 23 and April 6. The cost is an $80 donation to VIBA which includes your membership for the year, due at the first meeting.

To join the hive and find out more, including the location of meetings and classes, visit facebook.com/groups/VashonBeekeepers or email vashonislandbeekeepers.info@gmail.com.

Guiding Good Choices

VARSA, a coalition working to raise youth mental health awareness and decrease youth substance use, will present Guiding Good Choices, a free training series to help parents and guardians connect and bond with youth aged 10-14 as they navigate adolescence — a time of increased opportunity to engage in risky behavior including substance use.

The five-session series will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursdays, March 7, 14, 21, and April 4, at the VARSA office in the Thiftway complex, across the parking lot from ACE Hardware.

Register and receive more information, including options for training in multiple languages, by emailing info@varsanetwork.org. Virtual and hybrid options are available for commuter families.

Girl Scout Cookies

Vashon’s Girl Scout Troop #41983 will be out selling cookies at the following places and times: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday March 3, at Thriftway; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Vashon Market IGA and Vashon Pharmacy; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at Thriftway.

Expand your consciousness

Join fellow Vashonites at the Vashon OM Center (Oneness Meditation), who gather from 5-6 p.m. every Monday, at the Vashon United Methodist Church’s sanctuary, 17928 Vashon Hwy SW, to chant, meditate, practice Oneness Yoga, and share. The event is by optional donation.