Lip-Synch Battle

Voice of Vashon’s annual Lip-Synch Battle fundraiser will conclude with a live performance by lip-synch championship contenders at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at Open Space for Arts & Community. To find out more about the fundraiser and vote for performances already recorded on video, visit online.

Community council meeting

The Vashon-Maury Community Council’s November meeting will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Land Trust Building and online. Find more information and a link to join the meeting by Zoom at v-mcc.org.

Attendees will meet Teresa Mosqueda, Vashon’s newly elected King County Council representative and also hear the council’s proposed environmental agenda for the coming year.

Volunteer firefighter information

Vashon Island Fire & Rescue is currently recruiting island residents as volunteer firefighters, and holding two upcoming meetings for those who are interested in learning more. Meetings will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. Saturdays, Nov. 18 and Dec. 2, at VIFR Training Center, 10019 SW Bank Rd. Find out more about the fire district at vifr.org org.

Woodworking Classes

Vashon MakerSpace presents Santa’s Workshop, offering two 3-hour holiday decoration classes in December. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, make a snowman using the wood-turning lathe. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, learn to use the bandsaw and scroll saw to make a centerpiece and a tree ornament. Also being offered again is the popular wooden spoon carving class, from 9 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. For more information visit vashonmakerspace.org, and click on Events and Classes.

Taxing District budget hearings

The Vashon Park District will hold its final 2024 budget meetings at 7 p.m. Nov. 28, at the Ober Park Administration Building, 17130 Vashon Hwy. SW, or via Zoom. For more information, visit vashonparks.org.

Vashon Island Fire District (VIFR) will hold its final discussion and vote for its 2024 budget at a special board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27, at VIFR’s Training Center, 10019 SW Bank Rd, or via Zoom. To find out more, visit vifr.org.

Vashon WinterFest

Visit the island’s uptown for a winter wonderland from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2. The Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event will include the island’s annual holiday parade, a merchant open house and a chance for kids and families to visit Santa Claus at his cottage.

The parade, featuring lighted tractors, floats and walkers, begins at 5 p.m. at Vashon Village and concludes at the sound end of the uptown area with lighting festivities including singing, dancing, photos with Santa, and a massive tree lighting. There will be activities for families at Vashon Village before the parade begins.

Motorists should be aware the highway will be closed from 171st to 178th Street from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. during the event. Parking along Vashon Highway will close at 4 p.m. to allow cars time to clear the streets.

For more information, visit online.

Sign up for youth cardiac health event

The Sam Yates Community Foundation will bring the Nick of Time Foundation to Vashon High School from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6 for a free heart screening event.

The event will feature EKG heart screenings for young people between the ages of 12 and 24. The process includes a survey about family health history and an EKG to analyze the person’s electrical heart signals. The screening is non-invasive and doesn’t involve needles or X-rays.

The screenings can identify serious heart conditions that a stethoscope can’t detect and can give families knowledge to prevent a future cardiac event. Sudden cardiac arrest can affect anyone, including young people who are exercising, playing, or competing in sports.

Sam Yates foundation co-creator Jill Yates said the event will bring a total of 80 volunteers to screen island youth, including some of the best cardiologists in the Seattle area.

Organizers hope to register up to 300 youth between 12 and 24. Appointments are open to anyone in that age range who is a student, no matter where they attend school.

“If they’re in the community now, we want to get them screened,” Jill Yates said.

Students must pre-register for the event here. Return completed forms to the VHS main office or email them to nickoftime@vashonsd.org. Questions? Call 206-463-9171.