Happenings | July 31, 2025

All aboard: The Virginia V is returning.

July 29, 2025 1:30 am
The Virginia V, made from local old-growth fir, serviced Vashon Island and surrounding communities from 1922 to 1938 and is a National Historic Landmark. On August 24, the vessel will return to Vashon for two cruises — one for adults and one for kids — to benefit Vashon Heritage Museum. (Vashon Heritage Museum photo)
The Virginia V, made from local old-growth fir, serviced Vashon Island and surrounding communities from 1922 to 1938 and is a National Historic Landmark. On August 24, the vessel will return to Vashon for two cruises — one for adults and one for kids — to benefit Vashon Heritage Museum. (Vashon Heritage Museum photo)

• EVENTS •

MIH session: Learn about Vashon Island Fire & Rescue’s free Mobile Integrated Health program from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, July 31 at Vashon Library.

Yard sale: Vashon Presbyterian Church holds its annual yard sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, at 17708 Vashon Highway. Items will not be priced and will instead be sold under the “take what you need, pay what you want” philosophy. All proceeds will be donated in equal amounts to Vashon Maury Community Food Bank and Vashon Household.

Workshop: As part of a larger series of events, “Sanctuary: At Home in the Body,” Anita Bondi, the founder and co-director of Wellspring Holistic Center, will present a workshop at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 3. The workshop, presented in collaboration with Vashon DOVE Project, is aimed at helping participants create an inner sanctuary in their own bodies. Registration is required at vashondoveproject.org/events; with the workshop’s location provided after registration. For more information, visit kintsugisomaticart.com.

Brown Briefly: At 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, the radio show will explore what’s on tap for the fourth annual Vashon Island Film Festival, presented by Vashon Film Insitute from Aug. 7-10 at Vashon Theatre. Hosts of Voice of Vashon’s Brown Briefly show will be joined by the Film Institute’s founder and president, Mark Sayre, and its development director, Richard Hazzard. Tune in at 101.9 FM or stream the show live at voiceofvashon.org or the free VoV mobile app.

Workshop: A free workshop, “Lay Your Burden Down,” will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at a location to be provided upon pre-registration at vashondoveproject.org/events. Facilitated by Carina A. del Rosario, the workshop will result in a textile artwork created that celebrates the release of hard memories and trauma. The workshop is part of a larger series of events, “Sanctuary: At Home in the Body.” Find out more at kintsugisomaticart.com.

Kizoku Ishiki Obon: This celebration of belonging will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 9, at Vashon Cemetery. It is a free cultural event that will include dance, art displays, walking tours, picnicking, performances and more. Learn more at vashoncemetery.org and mukaifarmandgarden.org.

Inclusion island picnic: Join Inclusion Island, a group of adults with developmental disabilities and their friends and family, for a summer picnic from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, at Bethel Church, located at 14736 Bethel Lane SW. The afternoon will include sizzling barbeque and more. Questions? Email hersheyhousing@gmail.com.

All aboard: The Virginia V, a steamboat that served Vashon from 1922 to 1938, returns from Lake Union to Vashon’s north end passenger ferry dock on Sunday, August 24, for a cruise around Vashon and Maury Islands to support the Vashon Heritage Museum — and there are two chances for the public to join the cruise: A kids’ cruise to Blake Island in the late morning, and an adult cruise that afternoon circumnavigating Vashon and Maury islands. For more information and tickets visit vashonheritagemuseum.org/events.

Farmers Market: The Vashon Island Growers Association’s Farmers Market runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday at the Village Green through September 27. Visit vigavashon.org/market.

Free community dinners: Held Mondays through Fridays from 5-5:30 p.m. at the Vashon Presbyterian Church (17708 Vashon Highway SW) by the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness.

• 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:

Gray whale talk: At 1 p.m. on Friday, August 1, the Vashon Nature Center will deliver an update on the gray whale that died and was recovered from Vashon shores last summer. Learn about the life and anatomy of gray whales, and hear how scientists, students, local artists, and community members are working together to rebuild the skeleton for an educational display.

Artist talk: Susan Lowrey, 5-7 p.m. on August 1.

Grief Ritual: Islanders are invited to share and witness each other’s grief on the first Sunday of each month from 1-2 p.m. Questions? Call Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232, or Brad Davis at 206-799-7235. The next meeting is August 3.

Movement class: Cultivate inner strength during 60-minute classes that weave basic yoga postures, chi -gong, breath awareness, and various energy medicine techniques. Classes take place 1-2 p.m. on August 4, 11, 18, and 25 and are free for Senior Center members.

• PUBLIC MEETINGS •

Water District 19: 6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 5 at the district board room, 17630 100th Ave SW. The board ordinarily meets the second Tuesday of the month, however, at the July 9 board meeting, the Board of Commissioners changed the regular meeting from August 12 to August 5. Visit water19.com.

• NOTICE •

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.