Free tax preparation

Volunteers from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) will offer free tax preparation on Thursdays at the Vashon Lutheran Church again this year, beginning on Feb. 8.

The free tax preparation services are available to anyone, regardless of age. However, AARP-prepared returns are limited to non-complex returns. Acceptable returns can include wages, Social Security and pensions, unemployment, dividends/interest, capital gains, and self-employment income — but no inventory or depreciation. Sorry, no rental income.

Email VashonAARP@gmail.com to provide your phone number and a range of times/dates when volunteers can call you to set up an appointment.

Community Council

Come at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 to the Vashon-Maury Council community meeting, and mingle with snacks at the Vashon-Maury Land Trust building. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in person and on Zoom.

Both Washington State Ferries and the Islanders for Ferry Action will be there. Also come meet Vashon’s new Precinct 4 Captain Eric Muller, and Precinct Major Koby Hamill. Learn more about Puget Sound Energy and its property easements. Meeting details and Zoom link at v-mcc.org/event. All are welcome.

Fruit tree workshop

Join Vashon Island Fruit Club (VIFC) for a hands-on workshop on winter pruning of apple and pear trees, led by a club orchard specialist, from 12- 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at Dr. Bob Norton Memorial Orchard, 10088 SW 210th St., on Sunrise Ridge.

Learn essential techniques for maintaining healthy fruit trees, and maximizing fruit production. This event is suitable for both seasoned gardeners and novices. Bring pruners.

The event is free for VIFC members, or $30 for 2024 VIFC dues, payable at the event. Email questions to Lisa Loeffler at secretary@vashonislandfruitclub.org, or find out more at vashonislandfruitclub.org.

Joining together for peace

On Sunday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m., Vashon Havurah will host a Zoom session for Standing Together, a joint Jewish and Palestinian peace organization in Israel. Two of the leaders of Standing Together will speak, and there will be ample time for discussion.

All are welcome. Pre-registration is required. To register and receive a Zoom link, visit here.

Bee talks

Opportunities abound to learn more about Mason bees.

Join Vashon Island Fruit Club for “Get Ready for Spring Pollination with Mason Bees,” a presentation by local Mason bee specialist Jerry Gehrke, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Vashon Library, 17210 Vashon Hwy SW.

The event is free for VIFC members, or $30 for 2024 VIFC dues, paid at the event. Email questions to Lisa Loeffler at secretary@vashonislandfruitclub.org, or find out more at vashonislandfruitclub.org.

Vashon-Maury Island Garden Club will also present a workshop by Gehrke, “The Life Cycle of Mason Bees,” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the greenhouse of Dig Deep Gardens. To sign up, contact Sharon Montoya-Welsh at oysterlady@gmail.com or call 206-771-0972.

Inclusive Screening

Inclusion Island will present the beloved family film, “The Princess Bride,” from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at Vashon Theatre. This free screening, for adults with developmental disabilities and their families and friends, includes free concessions. Meet at Island Queen at 12 p.m. to hang out before the show. For more information, contact hersheyhousing@gmail.com.

Brown Briefly

Did you know that Vashon has its very own modern-day “juke joint?” Join the Brown Briefly crew, Craig Beles, Kevin Jones, Bruce Haulman and Truman O’Brien, at 11 a.m Tuesday, Feb. 20, on the Voice of Vashon, 101.9 FM, streaming live at voiceofvashon.org, and on the free VOV mobile app, when the show’s guest will be the owner and founder of the Coop, Chris Anderson. The hosts will ask Chris about the Coop’s history and find out what the heck goes on there anyway.

Health Insurance

Islanders can sign up for affordable health care, with coverage beginning next month, or make changes to their current plans, from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Vashon Library. Miguel Urquiza, from King County Public Health, will be at the event, and can also help with access to ORCA Lift and food stamps. Can’t make that date? Call or email Urquiza for help in Spanish or English, at 206-477-6965 or 206-491-3761, or miguel.urquiza@kingcounty.gov.

Urquiza will return to Vashon on March 20.

Climate Action on Vashon

Join Vashon Island Unitarian Universalists in welcoming guest speaker Kevin Jones, at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at Lewis Hall, at 23905 Vashon Hwy (behind the Burton Community Church). Kat Eggleston will also contribute music at the meeting.

Jones, a member of the leadership team of Vashon Climate Action Group and a member of Indivisible Vashon, will speak on the topic of climate action for islanders. He will discuss important current climate legislation in the state and the Take Action Network (TAN).

TAN is an online platform that provides individuals a way to receive automatic updates on legislative matters of personal interest, among other functions. TAN can alert people when a pertinent bill is active in the legislature and needs immediate messaging to legislators and provide the links. Jones will also address the initial stages now in development for a Vashon Maury Climate Action Plan and how people can get involved.

Water Taxi petition

Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce is asking islanders who support adding King County Water Taxi service to Vashon to make their voices heard by visiting tinyurl.com/mrxv6wxn — a petition in support of State Rep. Emily Alvarado’s request for $3.1 million in funding to expand water taxi service between Vashon and Seattle. King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda has also submitted a formal letter of support for the expansion.

According to the Chamber, islanders must take action by Feb. 26 to support this budget appropriation request by contacting Representative Jay Fey, Chair of the House Transportation Committee. Find out more and sign the petition here.

Speed limit change?

King County Road Services has an upcoming 14-day comment period for a speed limit reduction proposal for two stretches of Vashon Highway SW. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/2akmke2s. The comment period will run from Feb. 26 through March 11.

Sharpen an ax

Woodcutters, lovers of the wedge and edge, Vashon MakerSpace is offering a three-hour class — come learn the differences between a felling ax and a splitting ax, and how to shape and sharpen them both according to their intended use. For those interested, the class could even explore what makes a good side ax, swamper or limbing ax.

The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Vashon MakerSpace classroom, in the building adjacent to Open Space for Arts & Community. For more information visit VashonMakerSpace.org and click on “classes and events.”

Forest Stewardship Course

Owners of wooded property on Vashon can build skills for caring for their trees by taking Washington State University Extension’s Forest Stewardship Coached Planning course.

The course — open to property owners of all skill levels with properties of any size — will be held on Wednesday evenings, Feb. 21 through April 17, at the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust building, 10014 SW Bank Rd. Participants will also be able to develop personalized forest stewardship plans that will qualify their properties for recognition as stewardship forests and may help otherwise qualifying landowners enroll in conservation cost-share grant programs or property tax reductions through King County’s Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) program.

Each participant will receive a private consultation site visit by a stewardship forester and/or wildlife biologist. The all-inclusive course fee is $175. Pre-registration by Feb. 16 is required, at forestry.wsu.edu/nps/events/cpvashon or by calling 425-738-0103. The program is open to all without discrimination. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact Sarah Stewart, 425-738-0103, sarah.stewart1@wsu.edu at least two weeks before the event.

Expand your consciousness

Join fellow Vashonites at the Vashon OM Center (Oneness Meditation), who gather from 5-6 p.m. every Monday, at the Vashon United Methodist Church’s sanctuary, 17928 Vashon Hwy SW, to chant, meditate, practice Oneness Yoga, and share. The event is by optional donation.

Land Trust Reception

The Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust invites islanders to a reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 1, to visit with others, have a snack, sip on something nice, and meet Theron Shaw, the Land Trust’s new executive director. There will be a short program at 6 p.m. highlighting 2023’s accomplishments and a sneak peek at the organization’s plans for 2024.

Colwell Scholarship Benefit

A special fundraiser performance, featuring many well-known island singers and songwriters, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at Vashon High School Theater.

The event will raise funds for the Paul Colwell Music Scholarship, which is part of the Vashon Community Scholarship Program and was created to honor Paul’s contributions to music on Vashon and around the world. Paul has decades of experience with youth as the co-founder of the renowned organization Up with People, and in his years of work as a paraeducator at VHS.

Performers will include Mark Graham, Orville Johnson, Susan Lewis, Chris Andersen, Kat Eggleston, Camille Reeves, Steve Amsden, Mark Wells, Carter Castle, Rick Doussett, Steve Itterly, David Hawkins, Kate Atwell, Mindy Little, Chuck Roehm, Paul and Steve Colwell.

Craig Beles will emcee the show, and Martin Feveyear will provide the sound equipment, with Soup Rossignol doing the sound.

All funds raised will go to the Paul Colwell Music Scholarship, which is awarded to graduating seniors who intend to continue with music in their higher education.

A suggested donation of $10 to $20 at the door would be appreciated.

If you cannot attend the performance you can donate to the fund by visiting vashonscholarshipfoundation.org and clicking on the donate button. In the comment or memo box, be sure to include the words “for the Paul Colwell Music Scholarship.”

Community Scholarships

Our Community Credit Union has announced that ten $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating 2024 high school seniors who attend school in Mason, Grays Harbor, Thurston Counties, and on Vashon Island. Eligible individuals must be a member of the credit union. Applications and guidelines for the scholarship program are available at www.ourcu.com/scholarship-program. Applications will be accepted through April 30. Winners will be announced in May. Questions can be directed to Amber Trail at 360-427-3405 / 1-800-426-5657 or emailed to atrail@ourcu.com.

Sign up for services

The state’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) van will come to Vashon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at Vashon United Methodist Church. Islanders can apply for cash assistance, basic food assistance (EBT cards), medical assistance and the Medicare Savings program.

Also, attendees can drop off paperwork, complete an eligibility or mid-certification review, or make changes to an existing case.

Corrections: In the print editions of the Feb. 15 and Feb. 7 Beachcomber, an incorrect email was given to contact the organizers of an inclusive screening of “The Princess Bride.” The correct address is Hersheyhousing@gmail.com. We regret the error.