Happenings | Jan. 15 edition

Published 10:30 am Thursday, January 15, 2026

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

Bird walk: Birder Ginny Lohr will lead the monthly Vashon Bird Alliance bird walk on Saturday, Jan. 17. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Ober Park parking lot. Lohr said she expects participants will find many species, including songbirds that are actually singing. The three-hour walk is free and open to all, including beginning birders.

Women of the Torah: Vashon Havurah will present a lecture by historian Mika Ahuvia, “Women of the Torah: Biblical Women in History, Memory and Ritual Life,” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Vashon Havurah, 15401 SW Westside Highway. The lecture is part of the Havurah’s Phil Cushman Memorial Speaker Series.

Ahuvia, an associate professor of classical Judaism at the University of Washington, will share recent contributions to the study of Jewish women’s history, ritual and memorialization of the past through examples of lesser-known biblical figures, like the daughter of Jephthah, and well-known heroines like Miriam and Esther.

Admission is $18 per person, $15 for seniors and free for children. Light refreshments will be served after the lecture. For more information, visit vashonhavurah.org.

Community Passageways: Local members of Community Passageways, a Seattle nonprofit focused on preventing youth incarceration by rebuilding communities, will discuss the organization’s mission, accomplishments and impact at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Lewis Hall, 23905 Vashon Highway SW (behind Burton Community Church). The talk will be held during the Sunday meeting of Vashon Unitarian Universalists. Find out more at communitypassageways.org and vashonislanduu.org.

Heritage Museum: The Vashon Heritage Museum will host several events in mid-January, including the final chance to view An Island Revered: Honor and Friendship, the Swift Water People and Sherman Family Collection, which closes Sunday, Jan. 18.

Saturday, Jan. 17, is the first Family Day of the year, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring winter crafts and storytelling for children. From 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, the museum and Mukai Farm and Gardens will collect five-minute oral histories from community members. No appointment is required. Admission is free.

Indivisible Vashon: Indivisible Vashon will hold a “Walk Out” protest Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the four-way intersection of Bank Road and Vashon Highway. Organizers describe the event as a peaceful demonstration opposing fascism and encourage participants to bring signs and noisemakers.

The group will also join a regional action with West Seattle Indivisible on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 12:30 to 3 p.m., beginning at Hiawatha Park. Find out more at indivisiblevashon.org.

Bayou Boogie: Join in a night of authentic Louisiana gumbo, live music, drinks and dancing to support Vashon Baseball Academy at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Vashon Eagles Club.

The Baseball Academy provides youth with a competitive level of baseball training at an affordable cost. The fundraising event — for ages 21 and older — will include a raffle for two Diamond Club seats to a Mariners’ game and a 50/50 raffle. Purchase event tickets at tinyurl.com/sb2ad6fj and purchase raffle tickets at tinyurl.com/2yv337e6. You do not need to be present to win. Questions? Contact Robin at magonegil@gmail.com.

Food Bank: Construction on the new Vashon Food Bank is nearing completion, with the project expected to finish in early spring. Organizers said the project still needs just under $500,000 to reach its fundraising goal and complete remaining construction work.

The Food Bank will host a guided tour at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27. The tour will cover the current and future sites behind the Sea Mar Clinic and the Vashon United Methodist Church property and will be led by the organization’s executive director. Space is limited to about 10 people, and RSVP is required by emailing minta@vashonfoodbank.org. Participants should meet at the current Food Bank, 10030 SW 210th St., behind the Sea Mar Clinic and dress for the weather.

Living with grief: A series of group sessions focused on living with grief is now underway, led by therapist Kenny Alton, on Mondays at Women Hold the Key, 9822 SW Gorsuch Road. The series is presented in collaboration with RJs Kids, Women Hold the Key and End of Life Conversations Vashon. Sessions will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 26; 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9; 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23; 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 9; and 4 to 5:30 p.m. March 23.

To register or for more information, contact Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232 or email judith.neary@gmail.com.

Healthcare forum: The Vashon Health Care District will host a public forum, “Who Ya’ Gonna Call: A Community Forum on Island Health Care,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in the Vashon High School theater.

The forum is designed to help islanders better understand which local health care providers to contact for different medical and emergency needs, outlining services, hours and payment options. Providers participating include Vashon Fire & Rescue, Sea Mar Clinic, Vashon Natural Medicine, Vashon Mobile Integrated Health, DispatchHealth, Vashon Pharmacy and Neighborcare School Clinic.

The event is free and open to the public and will be live-streamed on the district’s YouTube page at youtube.com/@vashonhealthcare, with subtitles available in multiple languages. Residents are encouraged to submit questions in advance by Friday, Jan. 16, at vashonhealthcare.org.

Group discussion: A private group discussion, hosted in Vashon Senior Center’s side room, will take place from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, led by Janice Palm, the executive director of Roanoke Park Counseling, a 40-year-old non-profit agency in Seattle dedicated solely to treating adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The impact of sexual abuse in childhood affects not only the victims, but the entire community. Palm and participants will discuss the prevalence and impact of childhood sexual abuse and ways to increase awareness and support for survivors.

Ultimate Frisbee: Islanders of all ages and skill levels are invited to a free, weekly drop-in ultimate Frisbee game sponsored by the Vashon Park District. Games are held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays under the lights at Vashon High School Stadium. For more information, email nic.warmenhoven@gmail.com.

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

Teen hangout: Teens in grades 6–12 can drop in for crafts, games and Nintendo Switch play most Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the library. Snacks provided.

Baby and toddler story time: Vashon Library will host a baby and toddler story time from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. The event is open to newborns through 24 months with a caregiver; siblings are welcome. Registration is not required.

Preschool story time: A preschool story time will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Vashon Library. The event is open to children ages 2 to 6 with a caregiver; siblings are welcome. Registration is not required.

Reading buddies: The Reading Buddies program will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Vashon Library. Volunteers help students practice reading aloud, pairing two students with each volunteer by reading level. The program serves readers in grades K-8 and English language learners in grades K-12.

Public health assistance: King County Public Health staff will offer assistance with health insurance enrollment, King County Metro reduced-fare programs and EBT cards from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Vashon Library. Services are available in Spanish. Residents may drop in during the scheduled hours or contact Miguel Urquiza at 206-477-6965, 206-491-3761 or miguel.urqiza@kingcounty.gov.

Teen hangout: A teen hangout will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Vashon Library. The drop-in program includes arts and crafts, board games, role-playing games and Nintendo Switch games. Snacks will be provided. The event is open to students in grades 6-12. Registration is not required.

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.

Strength training: A new weekly session of strength training will take place from 8:45-9:30 a.m. Mondays at the Center. Sit or stand; all levels welcome. The program is also offered Wednesdays.

Stroke awareness talk: Paul McGown, a physician assistant with Vashon Mobile Integrated Health, will give a talk on recognizing the signs of stroke at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at the Senior Center.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: The Senior Center will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No programs or lunch will be offered.

Photography club: The Senior Center Photography Club will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21. Photographers of all skill levels and camera types are welcome. New members can email photoclubvsc@gmail.com for information.

Fraud prevention: Sandy Gilliam, Vashon branch manager for PSCCU, will present a one-hour program on protecting yourself from financial fraud at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Senior Center.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Vashon-Maury Community Council: The council holds regular in-person meetings on the third Thursday of the month. This month’s meeting will take place from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Vashon Land Trust Building, 10014 SW Bank Rd. Find out more, including the Zoom link to the meeting, 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. Visit vashonsd.org.

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

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.