Killer whales visit Vashon

Ann Stateler — aka Orca Annie — reports that the 25-strong J Pod was spotted Monday in the waters off Vashon, a particularly welcome sight since no members of the pod made it to Vashon last winter.

Stateler and her partner Odin Lonning spotted the killer whales, which come to central Puget Sound to feed on chum and chinook salmon, off of Point Robinson and in Colvos Passage. Stateler was alerted to their presence by an alert rider on Monday’s passenger-only ferry boat, she said.

Whale researchers — including regional expert Mark Sears — were able to track and videotape the whales. Stateler urges anyone who sees them to call her hotline at 463-9041.

Bike to school on Friday

Friday, Nov. 9, will be the last bike to school day of 2007 for Chautauqua Elementary School students and parents.

Riders will meet at 8:25 a.m. at the former Vashon Elementary School gym next to The Harbor School on Vashon Highway and will leave no later than 8:35 and ride in to school together. Bikes may be stored in the Chautauqua gym. Parents are responsible for making arrangements for the return trip from school in accordance with school policies.

Participants should have decent bikes, helmets, high-visibility clothing and road-riding experience.

Farm-to-school project forming

A new group is forming to try to develop a Vashon farm-to-school project, an effort to get healthy, locally grown foods into the public school cafeterias.

The group’s first meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Chautauqua Elementary School’s multipurpose room.

Farm-to-school projects are gaining currency at school districts around the country. Organizers Fran Brooks and Amy Kessel say they hope this meeting will help to launch a similar effort on Vashon.

Donate food at wine shop

The Vashon Wine Shop is using November to raise awareness about hunger on the Island by partnering with the Vashon-Maury Island Food Bank as a drop-off point for food donations.

Stephen McClure, the shop’s owner, says he’ll encourage Islanders to donate to the food bank in November, often a critical time for food donations. He says he’ll also urge people to provide foods that are high in protein as well as items, such as shampoo and pet food, that are not covered by Food Stamps.