DSHS van on Vashon

Washington’s Department of Health and Social Services (DSHS) van will be on Vashon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at Vashon United Methodist Church, 17928 Vashon Hwy SW. Visitors can apply for cash assistance, basic food assistance (EBT cards), medical assistance and Medicare Saving programs. It’s also a place to drop off papers, complete an eligibility or mid-certification review, or make changes to an existing case.

Helping the helpers

On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14, several neighboring fire districts will arrive on Vashon to respond to aid and fire calls as needed during a two-day health and wellness retreat for all members of Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR). Participating departments will include Mountain View, Port of Seattle Fire Department, Skyway Fire and Puget Sound Fire.

This is the second time in the past year that grant funding has been provided for a national company, O2X Human Performance, to present a health and wellness retreat for VIFR volunteer and career staff as well as commissioners, volunteers and administrative staffers. A retreat held in the spring was funded by a Granny’s Attic grant; this one received support from Building Homes for Heroes, a national nonprofit that supports fire, police and military organizations.

Sam Yates SaveStation

Working in partnership with islanders to create safer athletic venues, the Sam Yates Community Foundation invites all to the ribbon-cutting dedication of a new, life-saving SaveStation with an automated external defibrillator (AED), at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at the VES Fields,16100 Vashon Hwy SW (Harbor School).

The AED is placed outdoors, in a climate-controlled box (SaveStation), and will be accessible to coaches, players and families day and night 24/7. It was purchased through generous donations, in memory of islander Sam Yates, who died of sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 24 on June 23, 2022. At the time of his death, Sam was a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, completing training at The Basic School in Quantico.

The aim of the foundation, said Sam’s parents John and Jill Yates, is to raise awareness, and training in the use of public accessible Automated External Defibrillator (AED) devices on Vashon — especially in school and sports settings including school district fields, parks and places where older athletes play sports.

The opening of the SaveStation and AED at VES fields is a major milestone for the foundation as it continues its work to save lives on Vashon. Learn more at thumbsupfoundation.org or follow the organization on Facebook at Sam Yates Foundation.

Health Resource Fair

Vashon Health Care District will join with a wide array of island healthcare providers and organizations to present a free Health Resources fair, open to all without pre-registration, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Vashon United Methodist Church.

Island health and social services organizations will be on hand with information about their services and about specific health needs.

Free flu and Tdap (tetanus) vaccines will be provided by Vashon Pharmacy, and blood pressure and blood glucose screenings will be available. Bilingual OASIS navigators will be there to offer assistance to people seeking more information about medical and social service resources. The Vashon Senior Center and The Vashon Care Network will offer information on fall prevention.

Morning coffee will be served at 10 a.m. and a light lunch will be provided at 12 p.m. Participants can sign up for a raffle to win an array of items donated by local businesses.

The following organizations will be represented at the fair: The DOVE Project; NeighborCare Health School Clinic; Sea Mar Community Health Centers; VARSA; Vashon Care Network; Vashon Food Bank; Vashon Health Care District; Vashon HouseHold; Vashon Pharmacy; Vashon Senior Center; Vashon Youth and Family Services (VYFS) including VYFS Substance Use Disorder program and VYFS OASIS Community Resource Navigators.

Audubon work party

Join a Vashon Audubon crew working to restore healthy habitat for birds and wildlife at the Vashon Land Trust’s Paradise Valley Preserve from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14.

Tasks include removing invasive species and preparing areas for planting with native trees and shrubs this fall and winter. Tools will be provided; bring your own work gloves. Sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended. Meet at the Judd Creek Loop Trail trailhead, on the east side of 111th Ave. S.W. in Paradise Valley, and park along the road. (This is not the Kneeshaw Trailhead parking lot, which is further north and on the west side of 111th). Late arrivals can follow signs to the worksite. For more information, contact Jim Evans at frangula54@gmail.com or 206-678-8914.

Orca Recovery Day

The Southern Resident orca is one of the most iconic species of the Salish Sea, but without community care and action, their future is uncertain. Orca Recovery Day, this year slated for Saturday, Oct. 14, is an annual collective day of action through the Puget Sound region to support South Residents. Learn more and sign up for one of the 40+ events that will happen on Oct. 14 to help restore salmon populations and support the Southern Resident Orca at betterground.org.

Brown Briefly

Have you heard about the Maury Island UFO Incident of June 1947? According to legend, a month before the now famous Roswell, New Mexico sighting, UFOs were hovering above our islands. Join Truman O’Brien, Bruce Haulman, Craig Beles, and Kevin Jones at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, on Voice of Vashon, 101.9FM, to hear islander Cyrus Anderson discuss the Maury Island UFO Incident.

Health insurance and other services

Meet in person with King County Public Health representative Miguel Urquiza from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesdays, Oct. 18 and Nov. 15, at Vashon Library, to sign up for or adjust current health insurance through Washington’s program for low-income people. Open enrollment begins on Nov. 1. Urquiza can also assist islanders in signing up for food stamps and ORCA Lift. He is also able to assist by email or phone, in Spanish or English: 206-477-6965 or 206-491-3761 or miguel.urquiza@kingcounty.gov.

Community Council

The Vashon-Maury Community Council reports that Vashon had the highest participation of any other unincorporated King County community in the recent community needs survey.

The Council will share and discuss the results at its meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Land Trust Building and on Zoom. Attend to hear what islanders said about their priorities for King County’s departmental budgets for the next two years, and add to the list if needed. A representative from King County will be there, too. Find the Zoom link to the meeting here. All are welcome.

Women Hold the Key

Women Hold the Key, an island nonprofit focused on building community between women, will present a one-day training intensive, “Communication Alchemy: Transforming the Relationship Mindset,” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at Mukai Farm & Garden.

Organizers describe the day as a “one-of-a-kind opportunity for women to transform their relationships through communication.” Lunch and snacks will be provided for participants.

This program will be facilitated by Vashon residents Paulette Sun Davis and Nicole Mercolino, of Empowerment Technology Corp/One Now. Both facilitators are experienced coaches, consultants, and leaders for both human development and commitment-based communication.

The cost of the training is $200; a limited number of scholarships are available. Contact Tina Shattuck at director@womenholdthekey.com for more information, or go online.