Happenings | May 29 edition
Published 8:30 am Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Celebrate Pride
Celebrate Pride Month and the island’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community this June with a variety of events.
• To read about Vashon Center for the Arts’ calendar of Pride performances and events, beginning on May 30, see page 8.
• Sunday, June 1: At 4 p.m., catch “A Kingdom Jack’d” — a nonbinary reading of Scott Bradley’s alternate-history version of Shakespeare by local performers at Open Space for Arts & Community.
• Friday, June 6: At 4 p.m., Vashon Theatre hosts a free screening of “Nimona,” a science fantasy action film starring a genderfluid shapeshifter and a gay knight. Then, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., enjoy the Pride Street Dance outside Vashon Theatre with dancing, music, activities and more.
• Saturday, June 7: At 11 a.m., enjoy family story time at Vashon Library — read stories, sing songs, learn about rainbows and make a rainbow-themed craft.
• Saturday, June 14: From 2-4 p.m., accessorize for Pride at Vashon Library with craft pride bracelets buttons, bowties and more for all ages.
• Monday, June 16: At 1 p.m., those ages 55+ can come for lunch at the Vashon Senior Center and stay to make Pride-themed crafts.
• Wednesday, June 18: From 3:30-6 p.m., those ages 11-19 can celebrate Pride and the end of the school year with karaoke, food and prizes at a celebration at ORBIT Youth Space at Open Space for Arts & Community.
• Friday, June 20: At 4:30 p.m., learn how LGBTQ people used technology to explore identity, find love and access resources for those living with AIDS in the internet’s early days at a talk at Vashon Library titled “Love and Modems.”
• Saturday, June 21: From 1-3 p.m., Not on Our Island hosts a community talk on “How to show up as a trans ally,” hosted by counselor Rachel LordKenaga, an art therapist and mental health counselor. Register at hello@notonourisland.org.
• Wednesday, June 25: From 2-3 p.m. at Vashon Library, students in grades 6-8 can enjoy the kick off to the library’s ROYGBIV (Rainbow) Summer Book Club at a meeting that will will include activities, snacks and picking up books for the summer.
Senior center events
The Vashon Senior Center offers a hot lunch at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and activities throughout the week. Visit vashoncenter.org for a full monthly event calendar. The following events take place at the center unless noted otherwise.
At 11:45 a.m. on Friday, May 30, all May birthday members eat for free at the monthly birthday lunch. Call 206-463-5173 for reservations. Then, from 1:15-2:30 p.m., enjoy dance with the Seattle Dance Group at the Ober Park exercise room. Register at the center for this free event.
At 1 p.m. on Monday, June 2, come listen or dance to the Frog Holler band playing traditional Appalachian music. There will be a dance and clogging demonstration as well.
Wildfire mitigation presentation
Join Vashon Island Fire & Rescue from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at 10020 SW Bank Rd for an educational event with speakers from King Conservation District, King County Wildfire Mitigation & Natural Resources, and the VIFR Wildland Firefighting Team. Learn how to prepare your home and property for wildfire season with practical tips and expert advice. (See article, page 4).
RSVP by visiting vifrwildfiremitigation.rsvpify.com.
Baseball, softball jamboree
Vashon Youth Baseball & Softball hosts its annual Jamboree from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at the VHS and McMurray ballfields. The all-day fun will include games for all age divisions, a cookout/potluck, raffle prizes, wiffleball/field games, and a speed pitch station.
Grief ritual
A monthly Grief Ritual is held the first Sunday of the month from 1-2 p.m., including June 1, at the Tree of Life Wellness Center, 17331 Vashon Highway SW. Islanders re invited to share and witness each other’s grief. Questions? Call Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232 or Brad Davis at 206-799-7235.
Boater tech talk
The Quartermaster Yacht Club will offer a tech talk for Vashon boaters from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 3, at Meyer’s Hut at the yacht club, 23428 Vashon Hwy SW.
At this free event, open to the public, yacht club member Rick Oppegaard will show boaters how to use OpenCPN, a free maritime chart plotter and navigation software. Bring your PC or Mac, but be aware that Rick is a PC guy. To register, email mariebrowne2000@comcast.net.
Indivisible Vashon
On 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, Indivisible Vashon will welcome islander, storyteller and scholar of mythology, anthropology, and psychology, Michael Meade, to a talk at Vashon United Methodist Church. Meade will convey the mythological perspectives of our current political environment, as group members relate that perspective to Indivisible Vashon and actions islanders can all take together. Doors to the event will open at 6:30 p.m.
Services van
Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Mobile Office will bring its services to two locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday June 4: The Vashon Food Bank’s parking lot at 10030 SW 210th St, and at the Methodist Church, at 17928 Vashon Hwy SW. Apply inside the van for food, cash, and medical services, or drop off paperwork, complete or change a case, or request an EBT card. Visit washingtonconnection.org for more information.
Food Bank meal
Join the Food Bank for a delicious, free meal from 5-6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 6, at Vashon Methodist Church prepared by Gravy owner and chef, Dre Neeley — who is also a Food Bank board member. It’s a chance to learn about Picnics in the Park and other Food Bank updates.
RSVP at tinyurl.com/VashonFoodBankJune25 or call 206-463-6332.
Death café
The Vashon Death Café meets from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on every first and third Friday, at the Tree of Life Wellness Center, at 17331 Vashon Highway SW. Upcoming dates include June 6. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session, with an objective to increase awareness of death and help people make the most of their finite lives.
Dish library open house
Zero Waste Vashon hosts the Vashon Dish Library Open House from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 at its new home: the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit at 15420 Vashon Hwy SW. Islanders are invited to enjoy light refreshments while visiting the newly reorganized and rehoused dish lending library, which has provided dishes and utensils to groups and households for 20 years. The library is ready for lending, so come learn what’s available, how to reserve items and how to become involved in its success. (For more information, see page 4.)
Bird walk
Skilled birders Sue Trevathan and Steve Caldwell will lead a birding-by-ear walk sponsored by the Vashon Bird Alliance on Sunday, June 8. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Judd Creek Preserve parking lot in Paradise Valley at the intersection of SW 204th Street and 111th Avenue SW. Prepare to walk about two mostly flat miles with some uphill. No dogs, please.
Garden Club
The Vashon-Maury Island Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 9, at the Bethel Church gym. Following a business meeting, the club will offer a talk about Rick Edwards, about the establishment of a Master Gardener Pollinator Garden at Mukai Farm and Gardens, where they hope to boast a colorful floral display and a host of bees and butterflies later this summer. A potluck will follow this year-end meeting of the club.
Racial justice movie
Vashon Island Unitarian Universalists and Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) will cosponsor a screening of the documentary “Racially Charged: America’s Misdemeanor Problem” at Vashon Theatre at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 10. It will be followed by a panel discussion.
Men in Black bash
Celebrate the origin of the “Men in Black” film series — the mysterious 1947 Maury Island Incident — from June 13-22 at the Men in Black Birthday Bash in Des Moines. For more information and tickets, visit mib622.com.
Graduation
Celebrate Vashon High School Class of 2025’s graduation at these events on Saturday, June 14.
12-1 p.m.: The Class of 2025 parade rolls through downtown Vashon, sponsored by the Voice of Vashon and broadcasting on 101.9FM and livestream.
5-7 p.m.: The graduation ceremony is held outdoors at the VHS Football Stadium, rain or shine. The stadium opens at 4:30 p.m. Seating is first come/first served.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Juneteenth
Celebrate Juneteenth from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 at the Vashon Center for The Arts Atrium with education, music and snacks.
