Foster parents gather
A Vashon foster parent support hub is available for all interested existing or potential foster parents, relative caregivers and adoptive parents.
Join us to connect, sharing ideas and information as we help meet children’s needs. For more information and to RSVP, contact me at 463-5783 or vashon.fostering@gmail.com.
— Michele Eastly
Rodgers leads with laughter
Weslie Rodgers shared with Vashon Kiwanis recently the value and some techniques of getting more laughter into your life.
A certified laugh teacher, she’s been teaching on the Island for three years. Basically, laughing more, even if a bit forced to begin with, leads to feeling better, better health and less pain, she said. Her techniques came from the findings of an Indian doctor, she said. It’s not laughing at someone, but “laughing in celebration.” Try laughing in the mirror in the morning, for example. When you laugh, it triggers laughter in others, she added. Smiling more often is also a step to sharing laughter, she said.
In other action, Kiwanians discussed budgeting for the next Kiwanis year. This included a problem identified by the budget committee. Details will be presented at the Sept. 2 meeting including options for a vote of members. The problem is that not enough members buy dinners and the club then must meet a guarantee.
— Jay Becker
Gardeners host Morse
Jonathan Morse, who started gardening when he was 13 years old and grew up to be in charge of Island Lumber Nursery, will be the speaker on Monday, Sept. 8, when the Vashon-Maury Island Garden Club begins its 2008-2009 year.
Morse, who has worked as a grower as well as in retail nursery sales, attended the University of Minnesota and Western Washington University and, as part of an agricultural exchange program, spent time in the Netherlands working in a greenhouse.
The Garden Club, which has been going strong since at least 1952, is dedicated to learning about and encouraging horticulture. Some of its activities include planting and taking care of several public areas, providing college scholarships, supplying floral arrangements weekly for the Vashon Senior Center and participating in horticultural activities in Vashon schools. It also holds a very popular plant sale in May and a much-visited Flower Fair in August.
Meetings are held the second Monday of each month, except August and September, at Vashon Lutheran Church. The club starts at 10:45 a.m. with sign-in and a business meeting, followed by a short informational exchange about plants and gardening, then a sack lunch. The speaker begins around 1 p.m.
Everyone who is interested in gardening is encouraged to attend and is invited to come only for the program if they so choose.
— Arlene Hess
Computer Club resumes
The Vashon Computer Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the Vashon Senior Center.
This is the first meeting of the new season and will include introductions, troubleshooting and descriptions of summer adventures and misadventures with computers or otherwise. This is always an enjoyable occasion. Anyone may attend this meeting and participate in the discussion free of charge; the public is always welcome.
Membership is affordable and offers additional benefits.
— Almita Ranstrom
Southenders host potluck
The Southend Community Club will hold its annual picnic at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Scott, Lisa, Nathan and Nick Betz’s home, 12921 S.W. 300th St., phone 463-5456.
Everyone is welcome; bring something for the barbeque for your family, a potluck dish and beverages of your choice. The Southend Club will provide soft drinks and juice, ice cream and games.
Join your southend neighbors for an enjoyable summer afternoon and chance to visit.
For information, call Iain and Suzanne Adams at 463-4780, Carol Slaughter at 463-2274 or Bailey de Iongh at 463-5224.
— Almita Ranstrom
Cribbage king is crowned
Who is the best cribbage player on Vashon? Among those who play tournament cribbage, Jim Ranstrom earned the title tournament champion last season.
Join us at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Vashon Eagles when we crown Jim and kick off the 2008-2009 tournament season.
The Vashon Cribbage Club is a sanctioned grassroots club under the American Cribbage Congress. Each week we play nine games of cribbage against nine different opponents.
It’s a great way to meet new people and make new friends. If it’s Saturday at 1 p.m., it’s cribbage at the Eagles. Join the fun.
For more information, call me at 930-1379 or e-mail vashonislander@hotmail.com.
— Mike Sudduth
Quilt guild looks ahead
Vashon Island Quilt Guild heard an interesting program on Aug. 19 when Liz Theaker, new director of the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum, was the guest speaker. Theaker reported on the museum’s permanent collections and showed some special items from it. Current and upcoming shows and exhibits were announced, and many questions were answered.
Myrtle Walls, Margaret Bickel, Donna Lund and Mary Lou Hillendahl were the meeting hostesses, and Caroline Dyer was welcomed as a guest.
Lorraine Kimmel and Jo Ann Bardeen reported on the recent Quiltfest sponsored by the Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters in Seattle. Judy Dohm’s upcoming classes were announced.
It was decided that the mystery quilts should be completed to show at the March 2009 quilt show along with the Challenge Table Runner project.
It was announced that Taproot Theater in the Greenwood area of Seattle will be staging the play “Gee’s Bend” in January. Nancy Johnson volunteered to look into group tickets when they become available in October. A guild field trip may be planned.
Show and Tell yielded the usual terrific variety of quilts and projects to admire.
The next meeting, which will be an auction of quilting-related items, is 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Presbyterian Church.
— Jo Ann Bardeen
Green party talks politics
The Vashon-Maury Island Green Party’s monthly meeting (second Tuesday of each month) will be at Joy Goldstein’s home at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12. The address is 10329 S.W. Bank Rd; the phone number is 463-3468. Park along Bank Road.
The agenda includes questions and comments, Cynthia McKinney’s presidential campaign, the Green Party of Washington State fall convention (over the Internet) and Vashon-Maury Island Community Council’s board nominations and upcoming vote on plurality versus ranked-choice voting. Questions? Call Steve Graham at 463-9579 or me at 463-3468.
— Melvin Mackey
