Help track invasive crabs

Washington Sea Grant’s “Crab Team” is looking for volunteers for invasive crab monitoring on Vashon Island.

The European green crab (Carcinus maenus) is considered one of world’s worst invasive species, first discovered in inland Washington’s waters nine years ago on San Juan Island.

The invasive green crab hasn’t yet been detected near Vashon, but the Crab Team is looking for volunteer monitors this year to help collect data to find out quickly if, and when, the critters arrive near Raab’s Lagoon, or many other sites across the state. Each month, monitors visit their assigned site to set traps and identify species.

Those interested can sign up at tinyurl.com/crabteam2025 or contact Washington Sea Grant staff at crabteam@uw.edu for more information on Crab Team work or for the similar Molt Search program, which trains volunteers to look for the shed exoskeletons of invasive green crabs.

This year’s Crab Team training series begins on March 11.

Get licensed for child care

Vashon Youth and Family Services (VYFS) will host a free pre-licensing orientation for current and prospective child care providers at 5 p.m. on March 11 over Zoom.

Led by BrightSpark Early Learning Services, in collaboration with VYFS’ child care coalition, the orientation will help those interested in starting a child care business, or current providers seeking licensing.

VYFS has been funded by the state Department of Commerce to expand local child care capacity and access.

To participate in the orientation, email gbusic@vyfs.org to RSVP. To learn more about the child care coalition or to get involved, visit vyfs.org/project-child-care.

VYFS earns county grant

VYFS was awarded $207,946 for the second half of 2024 and all of 2025 through the KCICN Behavioral Health Career Pathways Project.

The Pathways Project aims to increase the number of licensed Behavioral Health counselors in King County, prevent burnout and retain licensed counselors, and to better represent communities across the county.

At VYFS, the money will go toward attracting and retaining a well-supported Behavioral Health team, VYFS Grants Manager Emmy Bell said. It will provide stipends for interns, cover clinical supervision costs and professional certification and licensing fees, fund clinical training for career advancement and a matching workforce wellness program for VYFS counselors and staff.

Learn more about VYFS at vyfs.org.

DOVE Project receives grant

The DOVE Project is a recipient of an approximately $738,000 King County grant to fund its advocacy programs for the next five years.

The funding comes from a roughly $15.5 million King County investment through the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL). DOVE offers community and legal advocacy for survivors of interpersonal harm, community wellness offerings, and prevention education programming for youth in pre-K through high school.

This funding supports DOVE’s advocacy programs, which include direct advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and victims of sexual assault and human trafficking, according to DOVE Project Executive Director Heidi Jackson, as well as DOVE’s legal clinic, advocacy program and emergency financial assistance. It will also support DOVE’s Mobile Advocacy Program, which meets survivors where they are to help address their needs.

The DOVE Project received notice of the award in late November, Jackson said.

Learn more about DOVE at vashondoveproject.org.

Lower your energy bill

Income-qualifying islanders can get an annual grant of up to $1000 once per year, or a monthly discount of up to 45% of their Puget Sound Energy (PSE) bills.

Islanders can sign up or reapply for the discount — as is required annually — with a PSE representative by bringing their PSE account number/utility bill from 12-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, to Vashon Library, located at 17210 Vashon Hwy SW. Applicants must also state their gross monthly income, and the names and birth dates of all residents in the home.

Email Zachary.Kaija@pse.com with questions.

Claim property

Feb. 1 was National Unclaimed Property day, and the state Department of Revenue wants to remind Washington residents that they can reclaim unclaimed property from the government by visiting claimyourcash.org.

Visit unclaimed.org/search to check for unclaimed property in other states.

The state’s unclaimed property program is a free service that helps people recover lost or forgotten money or property which they rightfully own. If your name or the name of your business or organization comes up when searching the website, you’ll be directed on how to reclaim that money or property.

Public meetings

The following taxing districts, government bodies and citizen groups have civic meetings coming up:

• Vashon Park District’s next scheduled board meeting is at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11 at the Ober Park Administration Building, located at 17130 Vashon Hwy. SW, and via Zoom. Visit vashonparks.org for more information.

• Water District 19’s next board meeting will be at 6 p.m. on March 11 at the district’s board room at 17630 100th Ave SW.

• The Vashon Cemetery District’s next regular board meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, at the District’s office, located at 19631 Singer Rd SW. The board meets on the second Wednesday of every month.

• Vashon Island School District’s next board meeting begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March. 13, at Chautauqua Elementary School, Room 302, 9309 SW Cemetery Road. Visit vashonsd.org for more information.

This article previously gave an incorrect date for the PSE energy bill visit to Vashon Library. It has been corrected.