Passport2Pain

Drivers, walkers and runners should stay alert on Vashon roads starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, as hundreds of riders are expected to participate in the Passport2Pain Bicycle Ride. The Vashon Island Rowing Club puts on this ride annually to benefit the Junior Rowing program and support the Vashon Food Bank, Vashon Youth & Family Services and One Village. For more information, visit passport2pain.org.

Calling all skateboarders

Vashon Parks District will present “Pump the Bump, Attack the Track,” at Burton Area Recreation Course (BARC) on Saturday, September 14. The schedule of events is as follows: Event Registration: 12-1 p.m. | Time Events: 1-2 p.m. | Best Trick Contest: 3-4 p.m. | Awards: 4:30 p.m.

Helmets are required for all participants. Participants under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver form. All registered participants will receive a wristband after providing a signed waiver. Wristbands are required to compete.

Find out more on the Vashon Park District website.

Post Office hiring event

The Vashon Post Office will be the site of a job fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13 and 14. Applicants must be able to work weekends and holidays. For more information, visit usps.com/careers.

Senior Center

Vashon Senior Center will present a talk by Bruce Haulman about the history of health care on the island at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at Vashon Heritage Museum. Attend this overview and find out how we got the clinic at Sunrise Ridge, Granny’s Attic, and the Vashon Health Care District. Also on Sept. 13, Vashon Threshold Choir will offer individual “song baths” to anyone who requests the service at Vashon Senior Center. Ask choir members how to receive a private session.

A presentation by Grievers Library manager Pamela Belyea, on “Growing with Grief,” will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at the Senior Center. Belyea will introduce inspiring projects created by bereaved individuals and host a resource table with free books about coping with grief for attendees to take home.

Latino Market

Comunidad Vashon will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) with its second Latino Market of the year, from 12-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, in Vashon Theatre’s outdoor Backlot. The market will feature local vendors, live music, a performance by the dance group Folclor Oaxaqueño, traditional foods, and artisan goods.

Comunidad Vashon engages year-round with Latino communities on Vashon Island, Pierce County, and throughout unincorporated and South King County, with a strong focus on economic and workforce development.

Celebrate scouting

Celebrate 100 years of Vashon Island scouting from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Dockton Park. (The location has changed from the Sportsman’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.

Recycling event

The 2024 Vashon residential recycling event takes place this year from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the K2 Building. For more information, visit kingcounty.gov/recycling-events.

Bells and chimes

Vashon United Methodist Church is looking for members to join their hand chime and handbell choir. The choir participates in events and provides music during some church services. The first meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at the church. All are invited and no experience is necessary. Contact pastor@vashonmethodist.org for more information.

Brown Briefly

Join Brown Briefly radio show hosts Truman O’Brien, Bruce Haulman, Kevin Jones, Craig Beles and Amy Drayer at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, on Voice of Vashon, 101.9FM, to hear from Lennon Bronsema, Washington Conservation Action’s vice president of campaigns. Bronsema will discuss ballot initiatives proposed in the Nov. 5 election.

Fruit Club

The Vashon Island Fruit Club will present a workshop by Dr. Jaime Pinero and graduate student Ajay Giri about controlling the codling moth at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, in person at Vashon Library and also via the Zoom link umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/97162393210. Discover eco-friendly pest control tips that are suitable for homeowners, small-scale growers, and orchard enthusiasts. Three topics will be covered: biology and monitoring of codling moth; attract-and-kill systems; and organic materials that can be applied to control codling moth.

Friends of Mukai

Join King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda and Friends of Mukai at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at Mukai Farm & Garden, at 18017 107th Ave SW, for a celebration of the acquisition of Mukai’s Fruit Barreling Plant. Cake and beverages will be served.

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.

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

Community Council

The Vashon-Maury Island Community Council will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at Vashon Presbyterian Church, at 17708 Vashon SW, and also via Zoom, accessible at tinyurl.com/bdhkp395.

There will be a discussion of the Seattle Indian Health Board’s Thunderbird Treatment Center on Vashon. The Chamber has developed a fact sheet about the center, accessible at tinyurl.com/yc296yet. Islanders can contribute on a public document at tinyurl.com/3cdknkzt; commenters are asked to share their names.

The meeting will include a vote by Council members on a motion made by Dune DeSmet at the Aug. 15 meeting on behalf of and with the support of an island community group, Friends of Thunderbird, that the Council “endorse the effort to bring Thunderbird Treatment Center to Vashon as soon as possible, given that the addiction crisis is a reality on Vashon-Maury Island as well as in King County.”

Another motion, forwarded by Victoria Barr, will also be voted upon: for the Council to write to the King County Council and Executive, asking for a public meeting to allow islanders to share their thoughts and concerns about the County Council’s striking amendments to the Executive’s proposed 10-year Comprehensive Plan.

Sign up to become a member at v-mcc.org.

Food Bank tour

The Vashon Food Bank has plans to relocate to the Vashon United Methodist Church’s property, at 17928 Vashon Hwy SW, resulting in a vastly improved food bank and 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 project 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, at 10030 SW 210th St, behind Sea Mar’s healthcare clinic. Emily Scott, the Food Bank’s executive director, will guide tour-goers. Bring water and wear weather-appropriate clothing. RSVP to minta@vashonfoodbank.org or 206-930-9098.

Call for volunteers

The Vashon Heritage Museum will hold a volunteer information session from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the museum on Bank Road. Islanders are encouraged to attend to find out what opportunities are available and meet new friends.

Walk in the Woods

The sixth Walk in the Woods, led by Vashon Forest Stewards, will traverse a 27-acre private property containing some of the most pristine forest on Vashon, including old growths and unique flora rarely found on Vashon. Much of these woods have been placed in permanent conservation. The walk will follow a network of nearly three miles of trails — some on very steep terrain — and will visit the Grandfather tree, a Douglas fir that is 8 feet in diameter — one of the largest such trees remaining in King County.

The free walk will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. For more information, including the location to park, contact David Warren at 206-295-6670 or email vashonforests@gmail.com.

Vaccination clinic

Vashon Pharmacy will begin high-volume vaccination clinics on Wednesday, Oct. 2. COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines will be available.

With support from volunteers at Vashon Medical Reserve Corps and VashonBePrepared, the vaccination program will run for six weeks. Vaccinations will take place in the pharmacy’s new clinical services area, which will provide more space and privacy. Get details at vashonpharmacy.com/covid-vaccine.