Happenings features community, cultural and nonprofit events; notices are free and printed as space permits. Due to the volume of entries received, we edit submissions and cannot always confirm if a submission will run. Send submissions to editor@vashonbeachcomber.com; include the who, what, where and when. The deadline is noon Thursday for subsequent Thursday publication; The Beachcomber cannot guarantee late submissions will be included.

EVENTS

End of life conversations: Three more sessions of “Traveling With Grief Through the Winter Months,” facilitated by island therapist Kenny Alton, will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, Nov. 20, and Dec. 11 and 18, at Women Hold the Key, 9822 SW Gorsuch Rd. The series, funded by Judith Neary and RJ’s Kids, is open to all genders. Sessions will focus on both sharing and witnessing grief, with Alton leading participants through questions such as, “What is your story of your grief, and what is the story behind the story? What is the gift of grief? How can we be present in the world with grief? What is the story you want to start telling?” Registration is requested, but drop-ins are welcome. To find out more, contact Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232.

Food Bank tours: Attend tours of the current Vashon Food Bank site on Sunrise Ridge and its future site on Vashon United Methodist Church property at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, or 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4. Food Bank Director Emily Scott and board members will lead the tours. Each tour can accommodate 10 people. RSVPs are required; email minta@vashonfoodbank.org. Each tour begins at the current food bank at 10030 SW 210th St., behind the Sea Mar Clinic.

Hunger Strike Live: The Rotary Club of Vashon, along with the Vashon Senior Center, Vashon Food Bank, Vashon Youth and Family Services, Vashon HouseHold and the Vashon Eagles Club, is joining forces with island businesses and community organizations for the national Hunger Strike campaign — a movement to end systemic hunger in America.

Fundraising will culminate in Hunger Strike Live, a nationwide interactive trivia game show streamed on YouTube from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20. Islanders can gather at Vashon Theatre, the Vashon Eagles Club and other participating venues to play in real time using their phones or computers.

Half of all funds raised by Vashon teams will support the Vashon Food Bank and Senior Center food programs, with the rest benefiting Rotary’s national partners. Participants can form or join teams online and compete for prizes, including trips to Hawaii and Las Vegas. Find out more at hungerstrike.online/vashon and vashonrotaryclub.org.

Turkey Trot: Lace up those running shoes and join the Vashon Island Turkey Trot at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Meet in the parking lot of Vashon Recess Lab (next to Island Queen) and get ready for a free 5K that winds through town and Island Center Forest. Runners, joggers, walkers, families, kids and dogs are all welcome. The run is organized by the Cross Country Booster Club.

Guide dogs: Vashon’s Guide Dogs for the Blind club will celebrate 25 years of raising puppies on the island from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at McMurray Middle School, 9329 SW Cemetery Rd. All raisers, puppy sitters, handlers and their families are invited to attend for beverages and celebration cake.

Jingle Bash: Kick off the holiday season at this family-friendly event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at Vashon High School. The fair includes more than 60 art, craft and specialty food vendors. Lunch will be served hot by Aeggy’s Food Truck and Iyad Syrian Grill, as well as coffee and specialty drinks from Sylvan Spirits. Photographer Yui Holbrook will take Santa Claus photos (book in advance at tinyurl.com/3b5pwyk2) and musical guests will include the Colette Jones (Americana duo) from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Pine & Shake (blues, jazz and jug and ragtime band) from 1-2:30 p.m. Find out more on Instagram at ilovevashon.

Free community dinners: Free community dinners are served Mondays through Fridays from 5 to 5:30 p.m. at Vashon Presbyterian Church, 17708 Vashon Hwy SW, hosted by the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness.

VASHON LIBRARY

Ukulele jam: Join the monthly ukulele jam from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Vashon Library. Open to ages 9 and up, the session offers a chance to learn new songs, play together and connect with others. Bring your own ukulele or borrow one from the Vashon Musical Instrument Library. Space is limited; registration required. Sponsored by the Vashon Friends of the Library.

Medicare open enrollment information session: Learn about Medicare open enrollment from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, at the Vashon Library. The free session, presented by the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program, will cover choosing and changing plans and getting help with costs. No registration required.

LEGO Brick Builders: Kids ages 3 and older can build and play creatively with LEGO bricks from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, at the Vashon Library. Drop in anytime; all materials provided. No registration required.

Teen Crafternoon: Winter wreaths: Teens in grades 6–12 are invited to make festive winter wreaths from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at the Vashon Library. All supplies and snacks provided. Registration required. Sponsored by the Vashon Friends of the Library.

SENIOR CENTER

Enjoy a hot lunch at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the following activities throughout the week at the Vashon Senior Center, 10004 SW Bank Road, unless noted otherwise.

In Center Talk: “I’m a Senior!”: Join Executive Director Maria Glanz at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, for I’m a Senior! Glanz will discuss how perspectives on aging are shifting and introduce the Senior Center’s new “Golden Decades” celebration of senior life.

Square dancing at Ober Park: Kick up your heels at the final square dance class with Frog Holler from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, at Ober Park. No partner or experience needed — beginners welcome.

Birthday lunch: Celebrate November birthdays with lunch at 11:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 24, at the Senior Center. Members with November birthdays eat free.

Hello book group: The Senior Center’s Hello Book Group will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, to discuss “The House of Sand and Fog” by Andre Dubus.

Friendsgiving lunch: Enjoy a Friendsgiving lunch at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, followed by a time to share poems and stories of gratitude. Call ahead for reservations.

Thanksgiving closure: The Senior Center will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28–29, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Vashon-Maury Community Council: The council holds regular meetings on the third Thursday of the month. The annual meeting of the council members and the community will take place from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Lewis Hall, 23905 Vashon Highway SW (Behind Burton Community Church) and on Zoom. Highlights will include a social mixer at 6:30 p.m followed by a panel discussion on food insecurity on Vashon and the council’s annual meeting. Find out more at v-mcc.org.

Water District 19: Usually holds regular board meetings on the second Tuesday of the month at the district’s board room at 17630 100th Ave SW. Visit water19.com.

Vashon Health Care District: Holds regular meetings the fourth Thursday of the month at Vashon Presbyterian Church, 17708 Vashon Hwy SW, and on Zoom. Visit vashonhealthcare.org for more information.

Vashon Island School District: The board holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, at Chautauqua Elementary School, Room 302, 9309 SW Cemetery Road. All meetings are recorded and posted online at youtube.com/@visdpublicmeetings6034/videos. Visit vashonsd.org.

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue: VIFR’s board typically meets on the fourth Wednesday evening of each month. Visit vifr.org.

King County Cemetery District #1: Meetings are typically held at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month, at the cemetery office at 19631 Singer Rd SW. Visit vashoncemetery.org.

Char Phillips stands with Soda, the 30th dog she’s raised for the Vashon Guide Dog Program, outside Vashon High School. Vashon’s Guide Dogs for the Blind club will celebrate 25 years of raising puppies on the island from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at McMurray Middle School. (Aspen Anderson Photo)