Thursday night vigils

Vashon Island Unitarian Universalists invite community members to vigils for the people of Gaza and Israel, to be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 and 14, at Lewis Hall, on SW Burton Drive just up the hill from the Burton Coffee Stand. These vigils will offer a quiet safe space for people to come together in their thoughts and hopes during this time of crisis.

Sign up for services

The Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) van will be on Vashon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Methodist Church. Islanders can apply for cash and medical assistance, food stamps, and the Medicare Savings Program at the van, and/or drop off paperwork or review their eligibility for services.

Death doulas talk

Islanders who seek to serve as skilled and compassionate liaisons to help islanders and their loved ones navigate death will hold an informational session from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Tree of Life Wellness Center, at 17331 Vashon Hwy SW. Susan Pitiger, Brad Davis, and Colleen Carette will explain their services, which they are offering as a gift to the community with donations gratefully accepted. To find out more, contact Pitiger at 206-818-4232; Davis at 206-799-7235; and Carette at 206-351-7769.

Audubon work party

Join Vashon Audubon members and others to work to restore healthy ecosystems for birds, wildlife, and people at the Vashon Land Trust’s Paradise Valley Preserve. At 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, Audubon members will begin the winter planting of hundreds of native trees and shrubs to improve habitat and absorb and store carbon. Tools will be provided, but bring your own work gloves. Sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended.

Meet at the Judd Creek Loop Trail trailhead, on the east side of 111th Ave. S.W. in Paradise Valley, and park along the road. (This is not the Kneeshaw Trailhead parking lot, which is further north and on the west side of 111th). Late arrivals can follow signs to the worksite. For more information, contact Jim Evans at frangula54@gmail.com or at 206-678-8914.

Toy Drive

Vashon’s Holiday Toy Drive, sponsored by John L. Scott, seeks donations or direct gifts of new, packaged toys in toy boxes located at Ace Hardware, Vashon Thriftway, Vashon Pharmacy, and The Country Store & Farm. Additionally, donations can be made via check (make payable to VYFS and mail to John L. Scott at PO Box 2009, Vashon 98070) or through Venmo (Heidi-Grimsley-1). Collected toys will be distributed at a toy store located at Camp Burton on Dec. 16.

Toy Swap

Open Space for Arts & Community will host its third annual no-cost Toy Swap from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at Open Space. The event helps islanders share used toys with a new generation of kids who will love them, or pick up new gifts without the economic or ecological impact.

Participants do not need to bring items to participate. Visit openspacevashon.com to learn more about the items accepted for the toy swap, or email info@openspacevashon.com.

Celebrate Chanukah

Vashon Havurah will host a Chanukah party at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 at the Vashon Havurah, at ​​15401 Westside Hwy SW. A potluck dinner with latkes will be served. The evening will begin with Chanukah storytelling by island author and educator Merna Hecht, accompanied by Michelle Dodson on cello, to be followed by dinner.

Portage Fill Concert

The Portage Fill Harmonic will play a holiday concert filled with jazz and swing favorites, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Vashon Theatre. The concert, presented by Vashon Island Community Church, has a suggested donation of $10, with all proceeds going to support the work of the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness.

Mukai Open House

Mukai Farm & Garden, located at 18017 107th St SW, will hold a holiday open house and Japanese scroll sale from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. Light refreshments and drinks will be served.

Garden Club

Join the Garden Club at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11 for its monthly meeting featuring a special presentation by Mary Rabourne on Furoshiki, a Japanese traditional gift wrapping with cloth, by Mary Rabourne.

Meetings are held at the Bethel Church’s multi-purpose building, 14736 Bethel Lane SW.

The meeting will begin with the Garden Club business meeting, followed by talks by the club’s gardening experts, and then the special guest speaker presentation, starting at 10:45. Meetings will conclude before noon, with the potluck meal to follow.

PSE Discount

Maria Dozeman, outreach manager for Puget Sound Energy, will help sign people up for PSE’s discount program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the Vashon Food Bank. Those who sign up must bring their PSE bill or account number, and state their gross monthly household income (no proof needed). Sign up online at pse.com/discount.

Dockton Park playground re-opens

Attend the grand re-opening of the new playground at Dockton Park and Marina, at 9500 SW Dock Street, and help plant some of the new native plants in the playground’s landscape, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16.

Come rain or shine, suit up in your warm gear to have fun, improve the local environment, play some lawn games with the King County Parks’ Mobile Engagement Team, and enjoy hot beverages and refreshments.

Arrive at 10 a.m. sharp to sign in and attend the planting and safety tutorial at 10:15 a.m., and feel free to bring a favorite shovel or garden trowel. Planting will begin at 10:30 a.m. Register for the event by Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Grievers Book Box

Find out more about the new Grievers Book Box, located outside Vashon Senior Center, at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, at a talk by Pamela Belyea, the volunteer project manager of the book box, at the Senior Center.

Belyea will discuss the gestation of this community project, its mission, and long-term goal, and invites grievers and non-grievers alike to come and learn more about the book box — a non-commercial, non-denominational and non-judgmental project that dispenses love and compassion to the silent sufferers among us.

Water District 19

Water District 19’s next regular board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, in the District’s board room. Normally, the district’s meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month but the December meeting has been re-scheduled due to conflicts with the Board of Commissioners.

Health Insurance

Everyone who lives in Washington state now has the opportunity to buy health and dental insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder, regardless of immigration status. People with no documentation will be able to sign up for health insurance coverage that begins on Jan. 1, 2024. Miguel Urquiza, from King County, will be on Vashon to help islanders sign up from 1-3 p.m. on both Saturday, Dec. 16, and Wednesday, Dec. 20, at Vashon Library.

Solstice Ceremony

Join Michael Meade at Dig Deep Gardens at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, for a community candlelit Solstice celebration that will include a remembrance of those who have passed, a ritual of forgiveness, and a collective song marking the end of the darkest time of the year and the coming renewal of light.

Meade, a well-known author, storyteller, and mythologist will also host an online solstice celebration from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21. Register to attend at mosaicvoices.org/events and receive a recording of the event.

Those attending the online event may send remembrances of those who have died, as well as prayers and remembrances for all those lost in collective tragedies, conflicts, and upheavals plaguing the world at this time. Attendees are also invited to send brief statements of forgiveness and prayers for the future. Send to info@mosaicvoice.org.

Dig Deep Gardens is located at 19028 Vashon Hwy. Donations for both events will be gratefully accepted at mosaicvoices.org/donate.