Happenings | April 27 edition
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Support Group for Family Caregivers
The Vashon Care Network invites those who are caring for a parent, spouse or friend to join other family caregivers in a safe, supportive space to share their experiences. Support circles are offered from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Vashon Lutheran Church, to provide an opportunity for caregivers to share their concerns and struggles, make meaningful connections, and find inspiration and energy. If attendees need someone to stay with their loved ones so they can participate, please let us know. Join for coffee, tea, cookies, and community.
Questions? Contact Kathy Shafel at kshafel@comcast.net or 206-718-1458, or Tory Hayes at victoriansmith@comcast.net, 206-304-4544.
Calling all volunteers
On April 29, join Vashon HouseHold for Volunteer Day, and help contribute toward projects supporting the development of affordable housing on the island, including hauling, gardening, and fence-building. Visit vashonhousehold.org for more details and to register.
Talk on Israel
A free public discussion, “Understanding Israel,” with Nancy Koppelman, will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at Vashon Havurah, located at 15401 Westside Highway.
The talk, part of the Havurah’s Phil Cushman Memorial Speaker Series, aims to provide the history and context of this complex nation. Koppelman will explore the 12 features of Israel’s history, diverse ethnic and religious ways of life, governance and justice structures, and educational system.
Koppelman is a professor at The Evergreen State College, where she teaches interdisciplinary programs that combine history, literature, philosophy, and other fields.
Celebrate six decades in teaching
A party to celebrate Cornelius Lopez’s retirement and 60 years in public education is being funded by donations, and the Vashon community is invited to attend. Join the McMurray Middle School Staff at 3 p.m. on May 13 at the Vashon Theater’s outdoor plaza for a concert by alumnus Cap’n Dick and The Portholes, as well as a cash bar, food, and refreshments.
To support the celebration, connect with Kelly Murphy at kmurphy@vashonsd.org.
NAMI Support Group
The National Alliance on Mental Illness Friends and Family Support Group (NAMI) will meet on Zoom and in person at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 4, at the Vashon Presbyterian Church 17708 Vashon Highway SW. Click here to join on Zoom.
This monthly support group aims to assist individuals who have a loved one with a mental health condition. For further information, call 425-221-1142 or send an email to pastorleigh@comcast.net.
Zen for beginners
Join fellow islanders interested in starting or resuming a meditation practice from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, at the Puget Sound Zen Center (PSZC), 18005 Vashon Highway SW, for a free, informal monthly one-hour introduction to Zen. Held on the first Saturday of each month, the course will provide a brief overview of Zen Buddhism as it is practiced at PSZC, including how to sit in zazen (Zen meditation) and what to expect at a PSZC service, with time set aside for questions.
For more information, go to pszc.org.
Mobile Community Services office hours
Experts from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at the Methodist Church, 17928 Vashon Hwy SW, to assist islanders in applying for cash assistance, basic food assistance (EBT Cards), medical assistance, and the Medicare Savings Program.
Islanders can also drop off documents, complete an eligibility evaluation, or review or modify an existing case.
Library Book Sale
The Vashon Friends of the Library is hosting a fall book sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 in the Vashon Library’s conference room. Items on sale include fiction and nonfiction, children’s books and Young Adult novels, wellness and self-improvement books, cookbooks, gardening books, and rare vintage books.
Donations of gently used books (contemporary literary fiction, recent nonfiction, cookbooks, gardening books, and large paperbacks) in good condition can be dropped off during library business hours beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, April 28. There is a two-bag limit.
Help needed at CES pond
Lend a hand from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 29, and help clean up the Chautauqua Ponds. Volunteers will prune back blackberries that are choking previously planted natives and spend the day pulling invasive weeds. The Beall Road expansion gate will be open for easy access. Bring work gloves, loppers, and any other useful tools. Contact Amy Bogaard at 206-406-9774 or email aogaard@vashonsd.org with any questions.
Care Closet giveaway and open house
The Care Closet’s barns at 18623 Vashon Highway S.W., are overstocked, so from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29, the organization will host an open house and give away surplus medical equipment and supplies including walkers, crutches, shower chairs, compression socks, salves and much more. All are invited to attend and learn more about the work of the Care Closet, one of several lending organizations on Vashon celebrating National Library Week.
FurBall tickets
Vashon Island Pet Protectors will hold its FurBall Auction on May 13, at Vashon Center for the Arts.
After a long pandemic pause, the event will be held live, with the theme of “High School Promiest Furball Ever.”
The FurBall will feature a live auction, two silent sections, heavy appetizers and a self-serve spread from Herban Feast. In addition, wines from Palouse Winery and beer from Camp Colvos, a Ruby Brink Punch and other surprises will be in store. Master of ceremonies, Geoff Fletcher, and fundraising auctioneer, Laura Michalek, will offer up such items as trips to Italy, Paris, Hood River, Oregon, and Lopez Island, Alaska Air tickets, local private dinners and tickets to concerts.
The event provides 40% of VIPP’s operating budget for the year. For more information or to buy tickets, visit vipp.org.
