New Year’s Day with the Huskies
Watch the undefeated #2 Washington Huskies take on the #3 Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl at the Vashon Theatre on New Year’s Day. The game starts at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $10 at tinyurl.com/VashonSugarBowl; proceeds benefit Vashon Rotary and the Vashon Chamber of Commerce.
Poetry Open Mic
The next Island Poets’ open mic reading, organized by Vashon Poet Laureate Margaret Rancone, will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at The Coop, at 15245 115th Ave. SW.
Support Group
NAMI (a support group for friends and family members of those experiencing mental illness) will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, in the library at Vashon Presbyterian Church, at 17708 Vashon Highway SW. The meeting can also be attended remotely via the Zoom link, zoom.us/j/442169680. Questions? Contact Pastor Leigh Weber, at 425-221-1142.
Criminal Justice Reform
The Church of the Holy Spirit on Vashon Island (Episcopal) is sponsoring a webinar on criminal justice reform from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4. Registration is free by emailing camille@wacdl.org with the subject line “Criminal Justice Webinar.”
Celebrate Heritage Museum
Join the Vashon Maury Island Heritage Museum from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5 to celebrate with food and drinks before the museum closes for six months for a major renovation / remodel project. Visitors will get a sneak peek of the new museum.
Affordable housing meeting
Jill Beytebiere has organized an Affordable Housing State of Emergency meeting, made up of an ad hoc group of islanders interested in taking action on housing affordability, to take place from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Vashon Library.
The meeting will propose asking local and state governments to declare a state of emergency around housing, and solutions such as utilities, locations, surpassing financial roadblocks and sanitation.
Monthly Grief Ritual
A grief ritual, to be held monthly on Vashon and led by islanders Susan Pitiger, Brad Davis and Colleen Carette will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Tree of Life Wellness Center. All who are suffering grief from any loss — of loved ones, pets, relationships, aging, the political and global causes — are invited and may speak or not during the ceremony. Questions? Call Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232.
“Standing in witness is powerful,” said Pitiger. “Being seen in our grief is healing. Grief out loud is opening.”
Vashon Climate Action meeting
The Vashon Climate Action Group will host a meeting of its membership from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Land Trust Building. Start the new year with concrete ways to get involved in combating climate change and work to make Vashon a model carbon-free community.
Weigh in on ferries
Washington State Ferries will host virtual community meetings for riders of all routes on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 17-18. WSF staff will answer questions and give updates to attendees. Visit bit.ly/WSF-public-meetings to find out more and participate.
