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.

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. Thursday, Oct. 24. 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.

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

Not On Our Island events

Island anti-hate group Not On Our Island has several events planned for the fall, most of which you can register for by contacting the group via email (hello@notonourisland.org). You can also sign up for more info by visiting notonourisland.org. Their next event, a course on recognizing traumatic invalidation, is from 1-3 p.m. on Oct. 26.

Home care scholarships

Vashon Care Network offers scholarships to cover the cost of training to become a Home Care Aide (HCA), certified by the State of Washington. The training provides an education for caregivers and a base for further careers in the health care field, and Vashon has a shortage of qualified HCAs.

Applications and guidelines are available at vashoncarenetwork.org. Applications will be accepted through October 25 and selection will be completed by November 25. For additional information, email Tory Hayes at victoriansmith@comcast.net.

Inclusion Island Harvest Party

Join Inclusion Island, a group of adults with developmental disabilities and their friends and family, for a fall Harvest Party from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Vashon Lutheran Church, located at 18623 Vashon Highway SW.

The afternoon will include pumpkin decorating, snacks and more.

Questions? Contact HersheyHousing@gmail.com.

Senior Center events

The following events all take place at the Senior Center, located at 10004 SW Bank Rd.

From 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, the Senior Center will be celebrating all members who have birthdays in October; birthday members eat that day for free. Please make a reservation. Later that day, from 1:30-3 p.m., the Senior Center book group discusses “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness,” by Jonathan Haidt. All are welcome.

That afternoon, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. the Board of Directors monthly meeting will take place.

On Halloween, from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 31, the Senior Center’s FUN committee hosts a gathering with candy, hot dogs, beverages and pumpkin carving.

Voice of Vashon war series

Island radio host, educator and disability advocate Dr. Steven Nourse will begin the conclusion of his series on the war in Vietnam on Voice of Vashon starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Three men — each of whom, Nourse says, are heroes in their own way — will be interviewed in this concluding series: Brigadier General Joe Ulatoski, who served in three wars (WWII, Korea and Vietnam) and had tours of duty as a combat infantryman, paratrooper, ranger and green beret; Colonel Joe Schweitzer, who served in the US Army Corps of Engineers and as an assistant professor at the United States Military Academy, among other roles; and Chris Anderson, a local musician and retired decorated Vietnam War veteran.

Tune in at KVSH 101.9FM.

Halloween

Vashon Highway will close between SW 178th St and Ober Park from 5-8 p.m. on Halloween (Oct. 31) for the island’s annual spooky bash.

Expect ghastly fun at local businesses, live music and contests, and a menagerie of costumes strolling up-and-down Vashon Town.

Fix-It Café

Registration is open for the Fall Fix-It Café, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Vashon Eagles. This event helps restore items and keep them out of the landfill.

You can register to be a fixer or to have a small household item (such as appliances, lamps and jewelry) fixed by visiting vashonfixit.com.

Service is free, unless the fixing requires purchasing any parts. Items must be portable and not contain gasoline or other flammable liquids.

Grief Ritual

A monthly community grief ritual is held on the first Sunday of every month, from 1-2 p.m. at the Tree of Life Wellness Center at 17331 Vashon Highway SW, with donations accepted. November’s first Sunday of the month is November 3. Islanders are invited to share and witness, either in silence or out loud, our grief. Grief is our human response to loss, change, and transition. The power of public grieving is its ability to connect us and drive healing. Questions? Call Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232 or Brad Davis at 206 799-7235 or Colleen Carrette at 206 351-7769.

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, Nov. 6, 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 an EBT card.

Health Insurance

Miguel Urquiza, representative of King County Public Health, will help islanders sign up for Affordable Care Act health insurance, food stamps, and ORCA Lift discounted transportation from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Vashon Library. The open enrollment period is for health insurance that will start in 2025.

If Wednesday is not convenient, contact Urquiza at 206-477-6965, 206-491-3761, or miguel.urquiza@kingcounty.gov.