News Briefs | Nov. 13 edition
Published 10:00 am Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Flood control
King County Flood Control District is now making sandbag materials available free of charge to help protect homes, businesses and property during the current flood season.
On Vashon, find sandbag materials at the Vashon Island Fire & Rescue property operated by King County Roads at 10019 SW Bank Rd. The self-service site (bring your own shovel) is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Islanders are limited to 25 sandbags per vehicle.
Sandbag materials are also available at multiple other locations throughout King County. Find a full list of locations and instructions for proper sandbag use at tinyurl.com/2cn4e5uh.
“Preparing for flooding before heavy rain arrives can make a huge difference in protecting people and property,” said King County Flood Control District Chair Reagan Dunn. “The Flood Control District invests in flood risk reduction projects across King County, but we also want residents to have the tools and information they need to protect their homes and neighborhoods. Programs like free sandbag distribution are an important part of keeping our communities safe.”
The King County area typically experiences its highest flood risks between October and April, when heavy rainfall, saturated soils and rising river levels can combine to cause flooding.
“When rain events coincide with King Tides, flood risk can rise quickly,” said King County Flood Control District Supervisor Teresa Mosqueda. “Taking advantage of the free sandbag program now is a simple, effective way to protect your property.”
King Tides — defined as tides above the highest water level reached by an average daily high tide — are the highest predicted tides of the year and are expected to occur on the following dates in 2025: Nov. 7–9 and Dec. 6–9. In 2026, King Tides are expected between Jan. 4–6.
The district encourages all residents to review their flood risk and make a preparedness plan. Resources include information about flood alerts, insurance, evacuation routes and floodplain maps — all available on the district’s Flood Resources website at tinyurl.com/4h6cu446.
Superintendent search
The Vashon Island School District Board of Directors is continuing its search for the district’s next superintendent. A total of 127 people completed the input survey conducted by executive search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) as part of its outreach to students, staff, parents and community members. HYA will present a leadership profile report at 6 p.m. Thursday Nov. 13 in the district’s boardroom at Chautauqua Elementary School.
The firm continues to recruit and conduct outreach, with 10 applicants so far — three formally submitted and seven in progress. HYA will provide another update at the Dec. 8 school board meeting. The application deadline is Jan. 9, followed by a special board meeting Jan. 14 to review applications and finalize interview questions. Semifinalist interviews will take place Jan. 23, and finalist interviews are scheduled for Feb. 3-5. The new superintendent is expected to start July 1.
Legislative forum
Vashon’s state legislative delegation — Sen. Emily Alvarado, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon and newly elected Rep. Brianna Thomas — will be on the island for a forum at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Vashon High School Theatre, 9600 SW 204th St.
The elected leaders will review their accomplishments from the last legislative session and look ahead to what’s coming next when they reconvene in January.
Moderated by Craig Beles and hosted by Islanders for Ferry Action, the advocacy group working to improve ferry service, forum topics will include accountability and transparency at Washington State Ferries, along with other issues that affect island residents, including housing, health care, education and public safety.
Some nonprofit groups have submitted questions in advance, and members of the audience will be able to submit questions before the forum begins.
Warm clothing/gear needed
Hilary Emmer, who has long worked with the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness to assist islanders who lack stable housing, is collecting apparel and gear for islanders sleeping outside in cold weather. To donate warm socks, gloves, coats, sweatshirts, sleeping bags and raincoats, email hilonvashon@yahoo.com.
Post Office hiring
The Vashon Post Office is currently hiring rural carrier assistants (RCAs) with a starting salary of $20.85 per hour, paid biweekly.
A hiring event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at the post office, located at 10005 SW 178th St. Register to attend at tinyurl.com/5cuc4m7v and find out more at uspsblog.com/applying-for-a-job.
Silent auction
The Vashon-Maury Community Council is holding an online auction throughout November, featuring gift cards from island businesses, handmade goods and more. Proceeds will support the council’s operating costs for the 2026 budget cycle. Find out what’s on offer at tinyurl.com/4bhpy3fb, and learn more about the work of the council at v-mcc.org.
Beachcomber prizes
On Oct. 23, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) celebrated the winners of the Northwest Excellence in Journalism Contest — a group that included Beachcomber writers awarded two first-place trophies for their work in 2024.
The annual contest — one of the largest of its kind in the nation — honors journalism published or broadcast across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.
The Beachcomber’s wins include a first-place award for former editor Alex Bruell in the photo essay category for “A whale of a tale: Researchers collect skeleton of gray that washed up on Vashon,” published in September 2024. Reporter Elizabeth Shepherd won a first-place prize in the art review category for her review of Vashon High School’s 2024 production of “Trap.”
Bruell’s and Shepherd’s work were judged alongside other entries from similarly sized circulation groups.
Shellfishing closures
Some Vashon-Maury Island beaches remain closed to recreational shellfishing due to unsafe levels of paralytic shellfish toxins. Check the Department of Health’s map at fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin.html or call 800-562-5632. Commercial shellfish sites are monitored separately.
