Islander Karl Olsen won the traditional early morning hydro race around the island on July 4, edging out two fellow competitors to retain the perpetual trophy, passed from winner to winner.
The two health networks potentially interested in establishing a clinic at Sunrise Ridge are slated to meet with clinic providers this Friday, while the public meeting scheduled for that evening has been cancelled. Meanwhile, efforts remain underway to secure interim medical services for the island should they be necessary.
King County’s public health department announced last week that it will not pursue its onsite septic system oversight program and fee proposal that it had recently shared in several communities, including Vashon.
By this fall, King County property owners who are behind in their property taxes are expected to benefit from a new program that will allow them to make partial payments on what they owe.
Vashon Community Care has recently hired James Buttitta, MD, as its new medical director and resident physician.
After a year of construction at the north-end ferry dock, the ferry system has announced that construction is nearly complete and that waiting cars will again line up on the dock beginning Friday, July 1. Two-way traffic on 103rd Avenue will resume at the same time.
With just six weeks before CHI-Franciscan Health closes the island’s largest medical clinic, two health care networks have expressed interest in operating the clinic at Sunrise Ridge and may provide a viable option for Vashon.
On Mother’s Day one year ago, islander Pete Welch celebrated with his family by having breakfast out and taking a trip to Tacoma to play laser tag, but the day ended in an unexpected way — with an emergency helicopter flight off the island to a Seattle hospital.
At a public meeting on Vashon last week, King County received several comments on its proposal to charge annual fees to all King County residents who have onsite septic systems, and officials say they remain open to feedback.
Vashon Community Care will close its adult day health program, Break Time, at the end of the month with the hope of bringing it back in the future.
Vashon Household will host an open house celebration for its new affordable home ownership project this weekend.
With the August closure of the longtime clinic at Sunrise Ridge growing closer, several island agencies that are part of the island’s extended health care community are taking concrete steps to prepare for the change, while the group working to stabilize island medical care says it is continuing its efforts to develop sustainable health care on the island.
With the fire department facing a leadership transition, district commissioners have appointed Bob Larsen to the interim assistant chief of operations position.