News Briefly
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Sept. 16 — Update and correction: an earlier version of this article said that a renaming ceremony for a section of the road on which Vashon’s Mukai Farm & Garden is located would take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 17. Due to a forecast for heavy rain, the ceremony has been posted and will be held at another time, later this year.
‘Mukai Way’ is Vashon’s newest road
A section of the road on which Vashon’s historic Mukai Farm & Garden is located will be renamed as “Mukai Way,” with an honorary re-naming ceremony taking place later this year.
On Aug. 17, the King County Council unanimously approved the designation. It also directed the Road Services Division to place signage recognizing the section of the road, located off SW Bank Road, where Mukai Farm & Garden is located.
A half-mile section of SW 107th Avenue SW will soon display the honorary road name designation, paying tribute to the Mukai Family and the Japanese American immigrant community’s contributions to the island in the 20th century. Founded by Issei pioneer B.D. Mukai in 1926 as a strawberry farm, Mukai Farm & Garden today is on the National Register of Historic places with its rare heritage home, Japanese garden, and barreling plant. Find out more at mukaifarmandgarden.org.
A concert and light show coming to Open Space
“Liquid Light,” an outdoor sound and light show, will take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, at Open Space for Arts & Community. At 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, the Seattle band General Mojo’s will play an outdoor show, closing Open Space’s Summer Stage series. Visit openspacevashon.com for tickets and more information.
New rent subsidy program to launch
As affordable housing for island workers becomes harder to find, Vashon’s Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness (IFCH) is responding to what has become a crisis for some local families with a new lottery program.
The application process is simple: households will fill out a preliminary application, and if they meet the program guidelines, they will be entered into a public lottery. Everyone who qualifies will get a number. The first 10 households will receive a rent grant of $500 a month for only one year, amounting to $6,000 total. For every additional $6,000 raised, the next household in line will receive similar assistance. All checks will be mailed directly to the homeowners.
Once chosen, households will then submit proof of income, proof of expenses and a landlord/tenant agreement.
Applicants must live in unsubsidized housing; be employed or living on government fixed income; have a household gross income is 250% or less of the poverty level; pay 50% or more of their household gross income for rent, and live in a long-term rental unit with a lease, that is separate from the residence of the homeowner.
“We believe our island workers and individuals receiving Social Security should be able to live in their community,” said Hilary Emmer, who is involved in the project. “Our hope is that this program will help to create and preserve affordable housing opportunities. Please share with anyone who might qualify.”
For an application, email Hilary Emmer at hilonvashon@yahoo.com or call her at 206-463-7277. To donate to the program, send a check to IFCH, with “rent program” in the memo line, and send to IFCH, P.O. Box 330, Vashon, 98070.
