CALENDAR

THURSDAY 5

Kids’ music

Kim Thal will lead Swing Set and Singing Stories for kids ages 1 to 3 at Vashon Bookshop from 10:30 to 11 a.m.

The group will “sing” one book and do musical activities that relate to the story.

Space is limited. For more information and to register, call the store at 463-2616.

DSHS rep here

A representative from the Department of Social and Health Services will be at Vashon Youth & Family Services from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5.

No appointment is necessary. Call Vashon Youth & Family Services at 463-5511.

FRIDAY 6

Mercado

The Harbor School will host its annual Mercado (market) from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6.

This is a cultural event, where students learn to make food and beverages from Latin America and Spain. It is also a fundraiser for Casa Hogar Nacidos para Triunfar, a shelter for children in Guadalajara, Mexico.

This year’s eighth-grade class will take funds from Mercado to Casa Hogar in May.

The community is welcome at Mercado. Call the school for more information at 567-5955.

SATURDAY 7

Horse farm tour

Horses for Clean Water and the King Conservation District will conduct a tour of a 12-acre Vashon commercial horse property that works hard to maintain the health of its natural features as well as the health of its Dutch Warmbloods. Participants will see pastures interspersed among mature fir and cedar trees, mud-free sacrifice areas, winter turnouts and a covered arena. An ecology block bin collects stall waste for giveaway to Island growers. Horse aficionados can observe chore-efficient horse management techniques that make horse life easier and reduce environmental impacts.

Participants can win a coupon for $100 off expenses to install barn gutters, exclusion fencing, winter paddocks or other best management practices.

The tour will be held at Paxhia Farms from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 7.

Read to a pooch

Vashon’s local chapter of Paws to Learn will visit Books by the Way from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7.

Paws to Learn is one of many groups with the goal of helping students of all ages to appreciate books by reading to a dog. There is no fee or reservation required; just stop by and snuggle up to a dog with a favorite book and enjoy.

Call Books by the Way for more information at 463-2696.

Adopt-a-cat day

Vashon Island Pet Protectors (VIPP) hosts an Adopt-A-Cat Day every Saturday from 11:30 am. to 2:30 p.m. at its adoption center at 12200 S.W. 243rd St.

Go to www.vipp.org for directions or call VIPP at 389-1085.

‘Stone Soup’ for orphans

The Vashon Homeschool Co-op will perform the play “Stone Soup” at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Bethel Church. A delicious soup dinner will follow, and Merna Hecht will tell stories.

Admission and dinner are by donation; bring the family. All the proceeds go to supporting Haitian orphans. RSVP to Krissy Durston at 463-0338.

SUNDAY 8

Opera preview

The Vashon Library will present an opera preview on “Bluebeard’s Castle” and “Erwartung” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8.

The 20th century has provided many challenging musical experiences, including these one-act masterpieces, containing some of the most dramatic operatic music written in the last 100 years. Veteran opera lecturer Norm Hollingshead will explain how both these operas are troubled love stories. In recent years, it has become common to mount these two works together, creating a powerful evening of theater.

Call the library for more information at 463-2069.

Spelling bee

The Vashon Community Scholarship Foundation Spelling Bee will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at the Vashon High School theater.

Tickets are $15 and available at the Vashon Bookshop or the door. There will be a costume competition with an audience vote.

MONDAY 9

Yoga for peace

Islanders are invited to experience an evening of yoga in “Taking Your Yoga Practice Home,” presented by Amy Huggins at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Land Trust Building.

The gathering is part of the Winter Feast for the Soul, where Islanders learn how others seek and practice peace in their own lives.

Contact Zubin Goldman for more information at 463-2620.

UPCOMING

Harbor School

The Harbor School will host an open house from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11.

For more information, call the school at 567-5955.

Presidential voting

The Vashon unit of the League of Women Voters of King County South will meet at the Vashon Library from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15.

The topic for discussion is the “National Popular Vote Compact,” a method that in essence, works around the Electoral College to assure election of the president by popular vote, but without having to amend the U.S. Constitution.

Roger Fulton will be the resource person. Everyone, members and non-members alike, is welcome to participate. For more information about the issue, see www.nationalpopularvote.com.

For more information about the meeting, contact Ellen Kritzman at 567-4837.

Science Fair

The annual Science Fair will be Saturday, April 18. Entry forms and information packets are available at the Vashon Library during the month of February.

Call Donna Gagner at 463-4225 for more information.