Happenings | Jan. 18 edition
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Weigh in with WSF
Washington State Ferries (WSF) will host virtual community meetings for riders of all routes on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 17-18. Meeting times are 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, and 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. Register for the Jan. 17 meeting at tinyurl.com/5n8y3abs; register for the Jan. 18 meeting here.
WSF staff will answer questions and give updates to attendees. Visit online to find out more and participate, as well as view recordings of the public meeting one day after they occur.
American Exchange Project
American Exchange Project, a free domestic exchange program for high school seniors to visit a community different from their own for one week, has a deadline for application this Friday, Jan. 19. Find out more and get involved at americanexchangeproject.org.
Community Council
At Vashon Maury Island Community Council’s next meeting, from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Land Trust Building and on Zoom, key topics will include island roads, the Vashon part of the proposed King County Comprehensive Plan, island water resources, and big plans for the Food Bank. Puget Sound Energy is also scheduled to attend to share its policies on tree cutting and property easements. More details, including the Zoom link for the meeting, can be found at v-mcc.org.
Active performance
An old-time string band, Frog Holler, will play toe-tapping live music for square dances at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Vashon Senior Center. Easy-to-follow instructions before each dance will get everyone moving. No partner is necessary.
Call for youth singers
Young singers are needed to participate in a choir to be part of the Vashon Island Chorale’s “Carmina Burana” concerts at Vashon Center for the Arts on April 27 and 28.
Marita Ericksen will direct the group with rehearsals on Tuesday nights from 6:30-7:30 p.m., beginning in late February at the Vashon Presbyterian Church. There is no cost to participate.
Age requirements for the group range from school-age children who can read, up to high schoolers with “unchanged voices.” For additional information or to sign up, send an email to info@vashonislandchorale.org.
Woodworking Classes
Vashon MakerSpace will offer two six-week, 15-hour woodworking classes beginning the last week of January. Learn Introductory Woodworking skills, or build a Wooden Tool Tote. Classes are on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evenings from 6:15 to 8:45 p.m. For more information visit vashonMakerspace.org, and click on “Events and Classes.”
Parkour, anyone?
UMO School, located at Open Space for Arts & Community, has announced expanded offerings in its Parkour program — an exciting speed sport that emphasizes agility and overcoming physical obstacles.
Abraham McBride, as lead instructor, will offer sequential classes in Parkour Games, Parkour Basics 1 & 2, Parkour Strength and Tricks, and two special workshops. The current winter session, which started Jan. 8 and will run until April 4, will be followed by a spring session from April 15-July 6. Find out more and sign up at umo.org/school. Scholarships are available; inquire at school@umo.org.
Brown Briefly
What do we expect from our school district? Join Brown Briefly hosts Truman O’Brien, Bruce Haulman, Craig Beles and Kevin Jones at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, on Voice of Vashon, 101.9FM, to hear Jenna Riggs, a member of the newly formed Equitable Futures group, talk about new opportunities for community engagement to support equity in our public schools.
Expand Your Consciousness
Join fellow Vashonites at the Vashon OM Center (Oneness Meditation), who gather from 5-6 p.m. every Monday, at the Vashon United Methodist Church’s sanctuary, 17928 Vashon Hwy SW, to chant, meditate, practice Oneness Yoga, and share. It’s by optional donation.
And from 8:30-9:30 a.m. January 27, Saturday, there will be a special event at the same place, but at a different time. This will be a live-streamed event from India, with the spiritual master, Sri Krishnaji, giving a blessing for the New Year. All ages are welcome.
Talk on Health Care Directives
Start the year by learning more about an essential document — a health care advanced directive to communicate your wishes for health care to family, friends and medical providers.
Join Jane Neubauer and Sheila Brown at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 at Vashon Senior Center, when they will review what is included in an advanced care directive, talk about new burial options on Vashon, and discuss what to expect from a death doula. Blank forms will be available at the event.
Attendees are also urged to bring their current health care directive to the event, for review, and/or will be able to sign up for support at a later date to complete a directive. Islanders can also contact Sheila Brown for a referral, at 206-463-0811.
Lacrosse season
Save the date for Vashon Lacrosse Club’s annual kickoff event and general meeting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at McMurray Middle School’s gym.
Registration is also now open for boys and girls ages 7-18. No lacrosse experience is necessary. Sign up at vashonlacrosse.net or send questions to info@vashonlacrosse.net.
Film screening and discussion
Join VARSA for a free community screening of “Screenagers: Under the Influence,” from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Vashon Theatre. The film provides a concise look at the impact of alcohol, marijuana, vaping, and other substances on adolescent health today, and how teens’ decision-making is influenced by online and digital media. This is not an alarmist “phones are bad” film, according to organizers, but rather, filled with accurate and up-to-date information that comes from authoritative sources. A panel discussion will follow the film screening.
For more information about VARSA and this event, connect to VARSAconnect on Facebook and Instagram.
Help with AmeriGas
A small group of islanders is available to help if island customers of AmeriGas experience delivery or service problems with the propane provider. Contact changeagas@gmail.com. for help.
Comp Plan
A meeting scheduled for next week will kick off the King County Council’s once-a-decade overhaul of the county’s comprehensive plan. This legislation guides King County’s land use policy.
At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, the Council will hold a special evening meeting to gather public input, both on Zoom and in person at King County Council Chambers on the 10th floor of the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Seattle. Doors open for the in-person meeting at 6 p.m. Find out more here.
The Council will hold a public meeting with the Vashon community at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at Vashon Center for the Arts.
Learn more about the planning process at kingcounty.gov/CompPlan or via a video here. Questions can also be sent to the King County Council at councilcompplan@kingcounty.gov.
