Community Council

The Vashon-Maury Community Council will host local election winners and a representative of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority at its next meeting, from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, at the Land Trust Building and on Zoom.

Votes will be taken on the Council’s environmental recommendations for the 2024 state legislative session, its 2024 budget, and proposed new board member Rick Shrum. Get more details at v-mcc.org.

Solstice Ceremony

Join Michael Meade at Dig Deep Gardens at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, for a community candlelit Solstice celebration that will include a remembrance of those who have passed, a ritual of forgiveness, and a collective song marking the end of the darkest time of the year and the coming renewal of light.

Meade, a well-known author, storyteller, and mythologist will also host an online solstice celebration from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21. Register to attend at mosaicvoices.org/events and receive a recording of the event.

Those attending the online event may send remembrances of those who have died, as well as prayers and remembrances for all those lost in collective tragedies, conflicts, and upheavals plaguing the world at this time. Attendees are also invited to send brief statements of forgiveness and prayers for the future. Send to info@mosaicvoice.org.

Dig Deep Gardens is located at 19028 Vashon Hwy. Donations for both events will be gratefully accepted at mosaicvoices.org/donate.

Jingle Bell run

The Vashon Running Club’s annual Jingle Bell fun run/walk will return to uptown Vashon at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 23.

Those participating will gather in the parking lot next to Recess Lab and head out on a short 2.5-mile fun run /walk on the streets through town, and down and up one of Vashon’s more awesome hills. The run/walk is entirely free and also open to furry friends and strollers, so invite visiting off-islanders. Adding even more jingle to the run this year, the class of 2024 Safe Grad Night committee will host a bake sale with hot beverages and home-baked goods for runners to enjoy before and after the event. The Fun Run benefits the island’s Cross Country teams.

Intergenerational Book Group

Vashon’s Senior Center will partner with the Vashon King County Library to present a new intergenerational evening book group for ages 18 and older, to meet monthly on the fourth Wednesday of each month, starting from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, at the library. Sam Harris, Teen and Adult Services Librarian, will host the group. Make suggestions for the book group here.

“Rock” Wrestling tournament

Vashon High School’s wrestling teams will host 15 other schools from around the area in an annual wrestling tournament to take place on Thursday, Dec. 28 and Friday, Dec. 29. The girl’s varsity tournament will begin at 3 p.m. on Dec. 28; and the boy’s varsity event begins at 10 a.m. on Dec. 29. For more information, visit govashonpirates.com/events.

New Year’s Day with the Huskies

Watch the undefeated #2 Washington Huskies take on the #3 Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl at the Vashon Theatre on New Year’s Day. The game starts at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $10 here, and proceeds benefit Vashon Rotary and the Vashon Chamber of Commerce.

Poetry Open Mic

The next Island Poets’ open mic reading, organized by Vashon Poet Laureate Margaret Rancone, will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at The Coop, at 15245 115th Ave. SW. Sign-up to read at 5:45 p.m.

Criminal Justice Reform

The Church of the Holy Spirit on Vashon Island (Episcopal) is sponsoring a webinar on criminal justice reform in Washington State, to take place from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4.

Webinar speakers will explain three top-priority bills before the 2024 state legislature to help undo the racial, social, and spiritual harms of Washington state’s criminal justice system.

Cindy Arends Elsberry, of the Washington Defender Association, will moderate the discussion. Enoka Herat, an ACLU attorney, will discuss traffic stops. Rachel Seevers, a staff attorney for Disability Rights Washington, will discuss solitary confinement, and David Triewiler, a criminal defense lawyer and chair of the End Mass Incarceration Project, will discuss reining in sentencing “add-ons.”

The webinar is sponsored by Vashon’s Church of the Holy Spirit (Episcopal). Registration is free by emailing camille@wacdl.org with the subject line “Criminal Justice Webinar.”

Christmas Services

Bethel Church

A morning service and evening Christmas Eve service will take place at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 24. The church is located at 14736 Bethel Lane SW.

Church of the Holy Spirit (Episcopal)

A Holy Eucharist service will take place at 10 a.m. on Dec. 24 to celebrate the fourth week of Advent. On Sunday evening, there will be a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 6:30 p.m. There will be caroling before the service at 6 p.m. The church is located at 15420 Vashon Hwy SW. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.

St. John Vianney Catholic Church

Christmas Eve Mass will take place at 5 p.m. on Dec. 24, with Christmas Day Mass at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 25. The church is located at 16100 115th Avenue SW.

Vashon Lutheran Church

A Dickens caroling group will perform at 3:45 p.m. followed by a one-hour community caroling event at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24. The Lutheran Church at located at 18623 Vashon Highway SW.

Vashon Presbyterian Church

A morning service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 24. The church is located at 17708 Vashon Hwy SW.

Vashon Island Community Church

Christmas Eve service will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 24, preceded by coffee and Snapdragon pastries at 9:30 a.m. The church is located at 9318 SW Cemetery Rd.

Vashon United Methodist

A candlelit Christmas Eve Service will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24, at 17928 Vashon Hwy SW.