Senior Center

Find out more about preparedness at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, when VashonBePrepared’s Vicky de Monterey Richoux will give a talk at the Senior Center about how to get ready for severe weather, landslides, earthquakes, or other kinds of adverse incidents.

Topics covered will include making a plan to shelter in place, building a kit for the car, and staying informed with alerts. Attendees can learn more about creating a “go kit” with critical supplies for three days, and how to pull together three weeks of supplies to stay even safer and more comfortable during a longer emergency. The talk will also include information about becoming involved in a Neighborhood Emergency Response Organization (NERO) for mutual aid and support in case of disaster.

The Senior Center will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day.

The Senior Center’s Low Vision Group meets on the first Thursday of each month, with the next meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. All are welcome at this open group discussion for those with vision challenges.

Find out more by calling 463-5173.

River Bend for IFCH

The popular island band, RiverBend — Paul Colwell, Peter Larsen, Chuck Roehm, Dick Gordon, Mike Witmer, and Kathleen Hendrickson — will perform an evening of bluegrass and old-time music from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (or so) on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Dig Deep Gardens. The performance is a fundraiser for the Vashon Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness (IFCH), supporting the organization’s mission to keep people housed. Food and drink will be available.

Grief ritual

A monthly community grief ritual is held from 1-2 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month, at the Tree of Life Wellness Center, at 17331 Vashon Hwy SW, with donations accepted. September’s first Sunday of the month is Sept. 1. Questions? Call Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232 or Brad Davis at 206 799-7235 or Colleen Carrette at 206 351-7769.

Brown Briefly

Ever wonder how Vashon-Maury Island ended up with a Passport2Pain? Join Truman O’Brien, Bruce Haulman, Craig Beles, Amy Drayer, and Kevin Jones at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3 on Voice of Vashon, at 101.9FM or via voiceofvashon.org, to hear Bruce Morser and Jeff Hoyt talk about the creation and the 2024 edition of the Passport2Pain cycling event.

Tramp Harbor Dock meeting

A new Tramp Harbor Dock is possible with the work of the “Friends of Tramp Harbor Dock” group, which will have its first gathering from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024 at the Vashon Library. It will include a 10 minute presentation regarding plans for the dock, a question and answer period and open discussion on strategies to build community engagement and how to raise the funds needed to make this opportunity a reality.

This event is organized by the Vashon Parks Foundation. Learn more at vashonparksfoundation.org.

Support group

Vashon’s National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) friends and families and family support group will meet in person at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, in the library of Vashon Presbyterian Church, at 17708 Vashon Highway SW. The meeting can also be attended by Zoom, via zoom.us/j/442169680.

Japan Festival

Join Mukai Farm & Garden from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7 for the organization’s annual Japan Festival, located at 18017 107th Ave SW.

The festival will feature food, traditional bon dance, mochi pounding, lino print, kimono demos, an artisan market, and a kids’ village. There will be 15 community booths and festival workshops throughout.

The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA) will host a Spirit Garden to raise funds to restore and transform the historic Mukai Fruit Barreling Plant into a Food Hub for local farmers, and the festival finale will feature the renowned Japanese indie pop star Tomo Nakayama.

The festival’s grand opening starts at 11 a.m., followed by a Japanese swordsmanship display. The main stage will feature Troy Osaki’s poetry, the Kokon Taiko ensemble, Koto music by teen musicians, a workshop by Kokon Taiko, a community Bon Odori dance, and the concert by Nakayama. For more information, visit mukaifarmandgarden.org/japan-festival.

Granny’s grants

The fall granting season for Granny’s Attic is now underway — submissions for healthcare-related grants are due by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11. For more information, email brian@vashongrannysattic.org.

Services Van

Washington’s DSHS Mobile Office will bring its services to the Vashon Food Bank’s parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept 11, at 10030 SW 210th St. Apply inside the van for food, cash, and medical services. Islanders can also drop off paperwork, complete a case, make changes to an existing case, or request food stamps.

Water District 19

The next regular board meeting for Water District 19 is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, in the district’s board room. This is a change from meetings typically held on Tuesdays, due to one board member being unavailable on that day of the week this month.

Celebrate scouting

Celebrate 100 years of Vashon Island scouting from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Vashon Sportsmen’s Club. The Vashon community, scouting alumni, families and friends are invited to enjoy family-friendly games, a free chili feed, and 100 years of memorabilia from Troop 294 on Vashon. Reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and learn what makes scouting on Vashon so special.

Health insurance

Miguel Urquiza, representative of King County Public Health, will help islanders sign up for health insurance, food stamps, and King County Metro’s reduced fare program from 12:30-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at Vashon Library. This is for health insurance that will start the following month.

Those dates not convenient? Contact Urquiza for help at 206-477-6965, 206-491-3761, or miguel.urquiza@kingcounty.gov.

Food Bank tour

The Vashon Food Bank has embarked on a journey to relocate to the Vashon United Methodist Church’s property, at 17928 Vashon Hwy SW. The project will result in a vastly improved food bank, as well as the creation of a community resource hub to better collaborate with other island social service agencies.

Islanders are invited to find out more about this vision in a series of tours of the current and future sites. The next tour will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. Meet at the current Food Bank: 10030 SW 210th St, behind Sea Mar’s healthcare clinic on Sunrise Ridge. Emily Scott, the Food Bank’s executive director, will guide tour-goers and give updates and more details about the project. Be sure to bring water and weather-appropriate clothing.

RSVP to minta@vashonfoodbank.org or 206-930-9098.

Grief retreat

Facilitators Peter Jabin, Cristina Manzoni, Reve Shannon and Siena Tenisci will host a Grief Retreat from October 18-20 at Camp Burton.

The weekend will be facilitated by experienced grief mentors who will guide participants through chanting, poetry, teaching, writing exercises, small group sharing, and the creation of a grief shrine. It will culminate in a communal grief ritual. All participation is invitational; nothing is “required” beyond being present with and sharing the griefs you are carrying, to the best of your ability.

The retreat will utilize Francis Weller’s “Five Gates of Grief” to connect participants to their distinct and multifaceted experiences of grief in the context of a “sudden village.”

More information and registration can be found at tinyurl.com/griefritualvashon. The registration deadline is October 4.