Take a solar tour

A solar tour will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4. Islanders can pick up a self-guided tour map at the tour’s “kickoff location” — 13129 S.W. 248th St.

Visit one, a few or all eight sites that demonstrate a range of solar hot water and/or photovoltaic technologies. Question-and-answer forums will be held at the kickoff site at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Tour maps are also available at the Saturday Farmers Market. For more information, contact Jennifer Williams at jwfarm@centurytel.net.

Library closure

Vashon Library will be closed Thursday, Oct. 9, until 2 p.m. because of staff training. The library will be open from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The King County libraries in Burien, White Center and Boulevard Park will also be closed that morning.

Food bank benefit

An “empty bowl” fundraiser for the Vashon Maury Community Food Bank will be held 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Presbyterian Church.

For a $20 donation and a can of food, people can choose an artisan-made pottery bowl and enjoy light salad and bread along with coffee and cookies. All proceeds support the food bank.

George Wright and Mary Hosick are organizing the event, and several artists have donated bowls, including Hosick, Liz Lewis, Sharon Munger, Frank Gosar, Vicki Hamilton, Ken Turner, Amy Kitchener and Donna Tousely.

WSF adds service

Thanks to lobbying efforts by Vashon’s Ferry Advisory Committee, the state ferry system has decided to start the third boat on the Sunday run from the north-end ferry terminal to Fauntleroy two hours earlier. The run was often overloaded on Sundays, ferry advocates say. The change, reflected in the new schedule, should ease congestion throughout the day, they add.