Happening | April 6 edition
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Photography talk
Island photographer Ray Pfortner will give a free, illustrated talk, “Designing the Compelling Photograph for All Cameras,” from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 7, at the Vashon Senior Center. Attendees and all islanders are also invited to a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, for a retrospective of Pfortner’s work, “Island Home — 29 Years of Photographing Vashon,” currently on view at the Senior Center.
Audubon work party
Join Vashon Audubon for a stewardship work party in support of the Vashon Land Trust and native wildlife, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, at the Paradise Valley Preserve. The team will install tree shelters and remove invasives, including blackberry, holly, ivy and more. Meet at the Judd Creek Loop trailhead on 111th Ave. S.W. Parking is along the road. Bring work gloves, wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Tools will be provided, though if you have a favorite shovel, please bring it. For more information, contact Jim Evans at 206-678-8914 or frangula54@gmailcom, or Jody Pritchard at 206-920-7833 or jpritchard789@gmail.com.
Land Trust Open House
The Vashon-Maury Land Trust will hold its annual open house for volunteers and supporters from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 7, at the Land Trust Building, at 10014 S.W. Bank Road. Islanders can enjoy wine, sparkling water, light snacks, great company, and catch up on Land Trust news. A short program at 6 p.m. will include a brief business meeting, remarks from the board president, and the opportunity to ask any questions.
Egg Hunt is back
Vashon Park District’s annual Extravaganza Egg Hunt will return at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 8, at Ober Park. Open to children ages 1-10, the event will feature more than 3,000 candy-filled eggs scattered throughout Ober Park. Plus, the event will be attended by a special guest — one very large bunny — who will be available for photo ops with kids.
Learn to save a life
Vashon Island Fire & Rescue will be conducting community classes teaching CPR and basic first aid. Registration is now open. The classes are free and open to all island residents ages 12 and up. For class dates and to register, visit online.
Free Health Fair
All are welcome to attend a free health fair, led by Vashon Youth & Family Services, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Vashon United Methodist Church.
The fair will offer screenings for diabetes and heart disease, bilingual assistance in Spanish and English, and showcase island resources for staying healthy. Sign up for insurance, renew Medicaid vouchers, and get assistance from state and local resources. The fair will have activities for kids, free refreshments and many health-related giveaways.
The Swedish Mammography Van is now booking appointments for both mammography and pap smears at the health fair; pre-registration is required. Call Patricia Banuelos at 206-348-4252 to see if you qualify.
Brown Briefly
Northwest Folklife is an arts organization that has celebrated the multigenerational arts, cultures, and traditions of a global Pacific Northwest since 1972. Vashon artists of all kinds have been an integral part of Folklife celebrations since their beginnings. Join Truman O’Brien, Bruce Haulman, Kevin Jones and Craig Beles at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, on Voice of Vashon, 101.9 FM to hear Folklife’s artistic director (and aspiring Vashonite), Benjamin Hunter, discuss the organization’s year-round programming and the focus of this year’s Memorial Day weekend festival.
Tech Talk
The San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands and north to Desolation Sound contain many world-famous boating destinations. Join Kevin Jones at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, in the Vashon Library meeting room for the next Quartermaster Yacht Club Tech Talk. Jones will discuss route selection through the narrows and currents that lie between Vashon and the ports of call and anchorages which grace the cover of cruising guides. The talk will cover the area from Anacortes to Desolation Sound, including crossing the Strait of Georgia.
Horse Show at Paradise Ridge
Sassy’s Spring Fling, a schooling (no ribbons or scores) show, will be presented by Olympus Pony Club from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Paradise Ridge Park.
A “ride a buck and human steeplechase” will take place from 12-12:30 p.m. — everyone is welcome to join in this event, where humans run a 2-foot jump course (no horses required). Email olympusponyclub@gmail.com for the entry forms.
Plant Sale
Vashon Park District will host a free invasive-removal native plant workshop, at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Ober Park. Find out more at vashonparkdistrict.org.
Are islanders prepared?
A group of undergraduate research fellows wants to find out what islanders are doing to get prepared. A 12-minute survey is designed to help them (and VashonBePrepared) understand how folks in the Pacific Northwest seismic zone are preparing for and thinking about earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural hazards.
Take the survey, which is being conducted by the Cascadia Coastlines and Peoples Hazards Research Hub here.
