Vashon rocks

“Antiques Rockshow: Uncovering and Understanding Vashon’s Rocks,” a program presented at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Vashon Library, will give islanders an opportunity to learn about Vashon’s rocks and bring their own prized rocks, for assessment, by a panel from the Vashon Union of Geologists. Registration is not required.

Buddhist-Christian Exchange

“Buddhist-Christian Contemplative Exchange: Embodied Practices for Everyday Mystics,” will be offered from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Church of the Holy Spirit (Episcopal) sanctuary.

This free event will be a morning of stillness and inquiry into Zen Buddhist, Christian, and other practices, and include discussion facilitated by contemplative leaders, including Rev. Paul Rietmann, author and retreat leader. No registration is required, but for more information, call Shana Hirsch at 206-384-7350.

Trout Derby

The Vashon Sportsmen’s Club will host its annual Kids’ Trout Derby at 12 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at 19720 Singer Rd. SW.

Free and open to children 12 and younger, the Derby offers fun for the whole family. In addition to the fishing contest and the opportunity to win new fishing gear, club members will serve up hot dogs, chili, chili dogs, pop and water, all at reasonable prices.

Island singer/songwriter John van Amerongen will emcee and provide live music at the event.

All children must be accompanied by an adult. Participants should bring their own trout gear and bait. No dogs, please. Questions? Contact Jim Chun at vscinfo47@gmail.com.

Get wildfire ready

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue (VIFR) will host a wildfire preparedness class from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at VIFR’s Penny Farcy training center. The class will be taught by Mike Lasecki, from King County Conservation District, covering the following topics:

Wildfire behavior and risk in Western Washington State; How to identify and understand wildfire risk on Vashon Island and on your property; How to mitigate wildfire risk on your property and in your neighborhood; Free services and financial support that is available to help residents mitigate wildfire risk from King Conservation District and Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Register for the class here.

Brown Briefly

Join The Brown Briefly’s hosts Truman O’Brien, Bruce Haulman, Kevin Jones and Craig Beles at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 23 on Voice of Vashon (VoV), 101.9 FM when we’ll bring it all home with VoV’s executive director, Kate Dowling, to discuss the many ways your local radio station is the “Island Connection.”

Letters from Vietnam

The final installment of a three-part radio series on the Vietnam War, “A Letter Is a Living Voice,” will premiere on Voice of Vashon at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 23.

Of the 2,709,918 American service members in Vietnam from 1964 to 1975, 58,148 were killed and 75,000 were severely disabled.

Longtime islander and host Steven Nourse will read letters and documents written by Vietnam veterans and their families, many of which were composed by Vashon residents. The documents painfully illustrate the complicated emotions associated with war, from fear to rage, to love and fellowship.

The correspondences contain only the opinions of the document’s authors, not those of Voice of Vashon or the readers. Some of the language in the documents contains negative depictions of people or cultures. While these attitudes were as wrong then as they are now, they will be included in order to provide listeners with a complete understanding of the veterans’ perspectives.

For more information or to stream episodes, visit voiceofvashon.org.

Scholarship Awards

The annual Vashon Community Scholarship Awards Ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at Open Space for Arts & Community. The in-person ceremony will be attended by students, their families, and the community donors that make it all possible. Anyone else interested in viewing this wonderful event can live stream the program. Find a link and more information about the Scholarship Foundation at vashonscholarshipfoundation.org.

Morning prayers

All are invited to join a group of islanders now singing morning prayers in a Benedictine style, read from the Mundelein Psalter, which is also called the “Liturgy of the Hours.”

Prayers are sung from 6:30 to 7 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the Burton Community Church. The purpose of the practice, said organizers, is to “strengthen our bonds of unity by praying according to the time-tested technique of the Benedictines.” Questions? Email Collin Medeiros at collin@stellamarisfarm.com.

Tramp Harbor Dock

Vashon Park District invites the public to attend the discussion with representatives from KPFF Consulting Engineers about the “30 percent” design for the Tramp Harbor Dock. The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, both in person at the Ober Park Administration Building, 17130 Vashon Hwy SW, or virtually, with a link posted on the district’s website.

The “30 percent” design represents the foundation for the dock’s length and width, the platform size and location, materials used, beach access, and parking. More complete information about the process and next steps can be found on the front page of vashonparks.org.

Get ready for Rainbow ‘Blingo’

In an early celebration of Pride Month, Vashon Senior Center will present a Rainbow “Blingo” gala event starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at Camp Burton. Find out more about the fundraising event and other upcoming Senior Center programs at vashoncenter.org.