You’ll notice our event section looks a little different this week.

The Beachcomber is experimenting with how we print our usual “Happenings” section with the goal of sprucing up our front page and making more room for community events. Though the look might change, the name is the same: “Happenings” features community activities, cultural events and nonprofit activities on Vashon. Arts events will remain on the arts pages.

Send submissions to editor@vashonbeachcomber.com; include the who, what, where and when. The deadline is noon Thursday for subsequent Thursday publication. Notices are free and printed as space permits. Due to the volume of entries received, we cannot always confirm if a submission will run in this section.

We prioritize free or low-cost events that are open to as many people as possible. We’ll sometimes include information about paid classes and workshops, but sparingly. For those events, we encourage you to take out a paid advertisement by contacting publisher@vashonbeachcomber.com.

EVENTS

Vashon Highway closure: Vashon Chamber of Commerce will bookend summer with “Vashon Summer Nights” road closures from 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 6, and Friday, Sept. 5. On those evenings, Vashon Highway will be closed to traffic from the Subway Restaurant to Vashon Highway, allowing islanders to take to the street for First Friday activities, shop, dine, and visit with friends and neighbors. The fun will also include a Pride dance and related activities for islanders of all ages, presented by the DOVE Project and taking place in front of Vashon Theatre, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Food bank meal: Join the Food Bank for a free meal from 5-6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 6 at Vashon Methodist Church prepared by Gravy owner and chef, Dre Neeley — who is also a Food Bank board member. It’s a chance to learn about Picnics in the Park and other Food Bank updates. RSVP at tinyurl.com/VashonFoodBankJune25 or call 206-463-6332.

Learn to row: Join the Vashon Island Rowing Club for one of two identical sessions (10 a.m. to noon or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) on Saturday, June 7 to learn how to row, first on the rowing machine and then in a real shell. All ages 12 and older are welcome, the lessons are free, and no experience is necessary. Visit vashoncrew.com, email info@vashoncrew.com or contact Debby at 206-463-3729 for questions.

Dish library: Zero Waste Vashon hosts the Vashon Dish Library Open House from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 at its new home: the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit at 15420 Vashon Hwy SW. Islanders are invited to enjoy light refreshments while visiting the newly reorganized and rehoused dish lending library, which has provided dishes and utensils to groups and households for 20 years. The library is ready for lending, so come learn what’s available, how to reserve items and how to become involved in its success.

Bird walk: Skilled birders Sue Trevathan and Steve Caldwell will lead a birding-by-ear walk sponsored by the Vashon Bird Alliance. Meet at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 8 at the Judd Creek Preserve parking lot in Paradise Valley at the intersection of SW 204th Street and 111th Avenue SW. Prepare to walk about two mostly flat miles with some uphill. No dogs, please.

Racial justice film: Vashon Island Unitarian Universalists and Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) will cosponsor a screening of the documentary “Racially Charged: America’s Misdemeanor Problem” at Vashon Theatre at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10. It will be followed by a panel discussion.

Men in Black: Celebrate the origin of the “Men in Black” film series — the mysterious 1947 Maury Island Incident — from June 13-22 at the Men in Black Birthday Bash in Des Moines. For more information and tickets, visit mib622.com.

Graduation: Celebrate Vashon High School Class of 2025’s graduation on Saturday, June 14. From 12-1 p.m., the Class of 2025 parade rolls through downtown Vashon. From 5-7 p.m., the graduation ceremony is held outdoors at the VHS Football Stadium, rain or shine. The stadium opens at 4:30 p.m. Seating is first come/first served.

Juneteenth: Celebrate Juneteenth from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 at the Vashon Center for The Arts Atrium with education, music and snacks.

Summer reading party: King County library’s Summer Reading Program, titled “Curious Creatures,” begins Saturday, June 7. Anyone 17 or younger can sign up at Vashon Library and earn prizes for reading. Learn more at kcls.org/summer. On Saturday, June 21, celebrate the launch of the program at the library; from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., all ages (with an adult) can make tie-dye tote bags, and from 2:30 to 4 p.m., those eight and older can make a foam sword and cardboard shield, then participate in staged fighting on the library lawn.

PRIDE MONTH

Celebrate Pride Month and the island’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community this June with a variety of events.

Fantasy film: At 4 p.m. on Friday, June 6, Vashon Theatre hosts a free screening of “Nimona,” a science fantasy action film starring a genderfluid shapeshifter and a gay knight.

Dance and activities: At 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 6, Vashon’s DOVE Project and partners will present a PRIDE dance and related activities for islanders of all ages, taking place in front of Vashon Theatre.

Story time: At 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, enjoy family story time at Vashon Library — read stories, sing songs, learn about rainbows and make a rainbow-themed craft.

Accessorize: From 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, accessorize for Pride at Vashon Library with craft pride bracelets, buttons, bowties and more for all ages.

Pride crafts: At 1 p.m. on Monday, June 16 those ages 55+ can come for lunch at the Vashon Senior Center and stay to make Pride-themed crafts.

Pride celebration: From 3:30-6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18 those ages 11-19 can celebrate Pride and the end of the school year with karaoke, food and prizes at a celebration at ORBIT Youth Space at Open Space for Arts & Community.

Love and Modems: At 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 20, learn how LGBTQ people used technology to explore identity, find love and access resources for those living with AIDS in the internet’s early days at a talk at Vashon Library titled “Love and Modems.”

Be an ally: From 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, Not on Our Island hosts a community talk on “How to show up as a trans ally,” hosted by counselor Rachel LordKenaga, an art therapist and mental health counselor. Register at hello@notonourisland.org.

Rainbow book club: From 2-3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25 at Vashon Library, students in grades 6-8 can enjoy the kick off to the library’s ROYGBIV (Rainbow) Summer Book Club at a meeting that will will include activities, snacks and picking up books for the summer.

CLUBS & RECURRING

Vashon-Maury Island Garden Club: Monthly meeting is at 9:30 a.m. Monday, June 9, at the Bethel Church gym, with a talk about the establishment of a Master Gardener Pollinator Garden at Mukai Farm and Gardens.

Vashon Senior Center: Enjoy a hot lunch at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and activities throughout the week. Visit vashoncenter.org for a full monthly event calendar. Upcoming events include a talk on mindfulness, presented by Aaron Hendon, at 1 p.m. Friday, June 6, and free haircuts from Donnie Myers, of The Estuary Salon, for seniors with limited means at 1 p.m. Monday, June 9. Call 206-463-5173 for an appointment.

Vashon Low Vision Group: Meetings are at the Senior Center on the first Thursday of the month. An open group discussion at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 5, is for everyone with vision challenges.

Vashon Death Café: Meets from 6:30-7:30 p.m. every first and third Friday of the month, at the Tree of Life Wellness Center, at 17331 Vashon Highway SW. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session, and intends to raise awareness of death and help people make the most of their finite lives.

Grief Ritual: Islanders are invited to share and witness each other’s grief on the first Sunday of each month from 1- p.m. at the Tree of Life Wellness Center, 17331 Vashon Highway SW. Questions? Call Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232 or Brad Davis at 206-799-7235.

The Breathable Body: Take Buteyko Breathing education classes with Robert Litman in June and July. Learn more at thebreathablebody.com/course-schedule or email robert@thebreathablebody.com or call 206-707-1639.

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.

PUBLIC MEETINGS & SERVICES

Vashon Park District: 6:15 p.m., Tuesday, June 10 at the Ober Park Administration Building, 17130 Vashon Hwy SW and via Zoom. The board meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Visit vashonparks.org.

Water District 19: 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11 at the district board room, 17630 100th Ave SW. The board ordinarily meets the second Tuesday of the month; this meeting is an exception from the regular schedule. Visit water19.com.

Vashon Cemetery District: 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, at 19631 Singer Rd SW. The board meets the second Wednesday of the month. Visit vashoncemetery.org.

Vashon Island School District: 6 p.m., Thursday, June 12 at Chautauqua Elementary School, Room 302, 9309 SW Cemetery Road. The board meets the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Visit vashonsd.org.

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