Rhody out for a month

The 34-car ferry Hiyu will replace the 48-car Rhododendron on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah route starting this week for about a month.

The Hiyu will operate on the regular Point Defiance-Tahlequah schedule, with an additional midday round trip — 12:50 p.m. departure from Point Defiance and 1:15 p.m. departure from Tahlequah.

With capacity reduced, customers can expect longer wait times and should arrive early and consider using the Fauntleroy-Vashon route instead.

DDES land use seminar

King County’s Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) will host a workshop for Island residents on building and land use processes in unincorporated King County from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, in the Land Trust Building.

Topics include the permitting process, critical areas, shorelines, farm and rural stewardship planning and health issues.

The workshop will include 10 speakers from DDES, the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks, the Department of Public Health and the King Conservation District.

Contact Paula Adams at 296-6682 or Paula.adams@kingcounty.gov or Joelyn Higgins at 296-7159 or Joelyn.higgins@kingcounty.gov.

School board to meet

The Vashon Island School District’s board will review a new contract for certificated employees when it meets at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at Courthouse Square. The contract has already been approved by the Vashon Educators’ Association, the union that represents Island teachers.

The board will also decide the fate of the Vashon Elementary School gym. Superintendent Terry Lindquist recommends its demolition, since the district has no use for it.

Farm tour this weekend

Four Vashon farms — Blue Dog, Greenman, Sister Sage and Plum Forest — will be part of King County’s annual farm tour 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. The free event features live music, cider-pressing, demonstrations and more. Visit http://king.wsu.edu/foodandfarms/HarvestCelebration.html for a complete schedule.