Happenings features community, cultural and nonprofit events; notices are free and printed as space permits. Due to the volume of entries received, we edit submissions and cannot always confirm if a submission will run. Send submissions to editor@vashonbeachcomber.com; include the who, what, where and when. The deadline is noon Thursday for subsequent Thursday publication; The Beachcomber cannot guarantee late submissions will be included.

EVENTS

New VoV general manager: The Brown Briefly team will welcome Amanda Kelly, the new general manager of Voice of Vashon, as their guest at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, on KVSH 101.9 FM. The show will air live on the radio and stream online at voiceofvashon.org. Kelly has been active in island nonprofits and the local performing arts community and will discuss her new role leading the community radio station.

Vashon Chorale: Vashon Island Chorale begins its next concert session at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, with a rehearsal at the Presbyterian Church. Registration will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 3, at Windermere Vashon. Singers can also register beginning at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6, before the first rehearsal. The Chorale’s “We Are the Music” concert will be held May 2 and 3. The Chorale will also perform in the third annual Kay White Invitational Choral Festival on Sunday, March 29.

New singers are welcome without an audition. Additional information and costs for the session will be available soon at vashonislandchorale.org.

Garden Club to host talk on Carex plants: The Vashon-Maury Island Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the Bethel Church gym. The meeting will include club business followed by a presentation from landscape designer John Coghlan of HomeGrown Organics.

Coghlan will discuss the use of sedges, or Carex, in gardens, focusing on their design value, resilience and ecological benefits, including support for pollinators and soil stabilization. The meeting is open to the public.

Health care forum: The Vashon Health Care District will host a public forum, “Who Ya’ Gonna Call: A Community Forum on Island Health Care,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in the Vashon High School theater.

The forum is designed to help islanders better understand which local health care providers to contact for different medical and emergency needs, outlining services, hours and payment options. Providers participating include Vashon Fire & Rescue, Sea Mar Clinic, Vashon Natural Medicine, Vashon Mobile Integrated Health, DispatchHealth, Vashon Pharmacy and Neighborcare School Clinic.

The event is free and open to the public and will be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube page at youtube.com/@vashonhealthcare, with subtitles available in multiple languages. Residents are encouraged to submit questions in advance by Friday, Jan. 16, at vashonhealthcare.org.

Free community dinners: Free community dinners are served Mondays through Fridays from 5 to 5:30 p.m. at Vashon Presbyterian Church, 17708 Vashon Hwy SW, hosted by the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness.

VASHON LIBRARY

Teen Hangout: Teens in grades 6–12 can drop in for crafts, games and Nintendo Switch play most Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the library. Snacks provided.

SENIOR CENTER

Enjoy a hot lunch at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the following activities throughout the week at the Vashon Senior Center, 10004 SW Bank Road, unless noted otherwise.

Zumba returns: A Zumba class will be held from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, at the Senior Center. The class, led by Ture and Mary, features upbeat Latin-inspired dance moves.

Spinal mobility class: A spinal mobility and decompression chair class will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 2, at Ober Park.

New Year intentions activity: At 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, the Senior Center will host a special “Word Play” activity led by Margaret Rocone, inviting participants to reflect on and share their New Year intentions.

Art show: An opening reception for an art exhibit by Jeff Good will take place from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9.

Strength training: A new weekly session of strength training will take place from 8:45-9:30 a.m. Mondays at the Center. Sit or stand; all levels welcome. The program is also offered Wednesdays.

Death café: Join others from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, for tea, cookies and conversations to increase awareness of death, with the aim of helping people make the most of their lives.

Trip: Visit the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Wright Park, starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. Exotic tropical plants and orchids should be blooming at the historic glass conservatory. After exploring the conservatory, lunch will follow at McMenamins Pub at Elks Temple, which serves classic Northwest fare in a room with a view. The former Elks Temple has been converted into a hotel and restaurant. Call 206-463-5173 for a reservation.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Vashon-Maury Community Council: The council holds regular meetings on the third Thursday of the month. Find out more at v-mcc.org.

Water District 19: Usually holds regular board meetings on the second Tuesday of the month at the district’s board room at 17630 100th Ave SW. Visit water19.com.

Vashon Health Care District: Holds regular meetings the fourth Thursday of the month at Vashon Presbyterian Church, 17708 Vashon Hwy SW, and on Zoom. Visit vashonhealthcare.org for more information.

Vashon Island School District: The board holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, at Chautauqua Elementary School, Room 302, 9309 SW Cemetery Road. Visit vashonsd.org.

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue: VIFR’s board typically meets on the fourth Wednesday evening of each month. Visit vifr.org for more information.

King County Cemetery District #1: Meetings are typically held at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month, at the cemetery office at 19631 Singer Rd SW. Visit vashoncemetery.org.