Strawberry Festival
Vashon Strawberry Festival takes place July 19-21, in Vashon’s town center and Ober Park.
The beloved annual event, presented by the Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce, comes complete with a grand parade, unofficial mayor contest, vendor booths, activities for kids, music stages and much, much more.
Find out everything that’s happening this year, and start planning, by visiting thisisvashon.com/strawberryfestival.
Want to volunteer? In-person orientation sessions for volunteers will take place from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, July 7, and 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, July 8. Register and find out more at thisisvashon.org/volunteer. Volunteer at TeenJam, a festival event space in Vashon Theatre’s Backlot for island high school and middle school students, at outreach@vyfs.org.
Parade registration closes on July 8, so be sure to sign up for that, too, at thisisvashon.com/parade.
Support group
The Vashon chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) friends and family support group will not meet at its usual time on the first Thursday of July, but will reconvene at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug 1, in the library at Vashon Presbyterian Church and on Zoom. Find the Zoom link at vashonpreschurch.org. Questions? Call
Senior Center
The Center will present a series, “Self-Care for Seniors” at 1 p.m. on Mondays, July 1-22. Join Nyn Grey, from the Vashon Dove Project, for any or all classes. The conversation will be loosely guided by the facilitator and mostly informed by the group participants’ interests.
A new book group will meet at 9 a.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month through August, to study Sanaya Roman’s book, “Personal Power Through Awareness” — a guide to finding peace, joy, compassion, and acceptance in any situation. Bring a notebook for taking notes. The series began on July 3.
Grief Ritual
A monthly community grief ritual is held on the first Sunday of every month, from 1-3 p.m. at the Tree of Life Wellness Center at 17331 Vashon Highway; with donations accepted. July’s first Sunday of the month is July 7. Islanders are invited to share and witness, either in silence or out loud, grief for loved ones, pets, relationships, the climate, and wars. Questions? Call Susan Pitiger at
Water District 19
Water District 19’s next regular board meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, in the district’s board room at 17630 100th Ave. SW.
King County Cemetery District
King County Cemetery District’s next regular board meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, in the District’s office at 19631 Singer Rd SW.
Get health insurance
Miguel Urquiza, representing King County Public Health, will be on Vashon three times in the coming months to help islanders sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, fix problems with their current insurance, and sign up for food and transportation benefits.
Urquiza’s upcoming visits will happen from 12-3 p.m. on Saturdays, July 13 and 17, and 12:30-3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at Vashon Library. Those dates not convenient? Call Urquiza at
