Veterans Day

Veterans Day, which always takes place on Nov. 11, regardless of the day of the week, is a day set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military — in wartime or peacetime.

Events honoring veterans will begin at 12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, when a Veterans Day lunch, hosted by local Scouts, will take place at Vashon Senior Center.

The menu will include stuffed pork loin with potatoes, followed by ice cream sundaes made by the Scout and the Senior Center’s FUN Committee. Attendees should RSVP for the lunch at 206-463-5173. At 1 p.m., historian Bruce Haulman will talk about the Vietnam memorials on Vashon. At 2 p.m. Vashon’s Threshold Choir will offer song baths and soothing harmonies.

On Saturday, Nov. 11, islanders will observe 148 flags placed by the Vashon Veterans Association along Vashon Highway all the way from the John L. Scott building to the Burton Inn, as well as others placed in the center of Vashon, and are encouraged to visit memorials to island veterans. (See “Time & Again” on page 4).

Also on Saturday, Voice of Vashon (KVSH 101.9) will air a special live show, hosted by Steve Nourse and Rick Ames, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., playing music suggested by Vietnam War veterans who responded to the question, “What music had a special meaning to you during the time you spent in Vietnam?”

The program will also include stories and conversations about the war, with islanders and Vietnam veterans Mike Dorsey, Chris Anderson, and Chris Gaynor.

The show will be archived online for future listening.

On Saturday evening, Vashon Eagles will celebrate Veterans Day with a free dinner for all local veterans at 5:30 p.m. at the club, at 18134 Vashon Hwy SW. The meal, with a menu of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and salad, will cost $5 for accompanying spouses and caregivers accompanying veterans, and $15 for all other Eagles members and the public.

The meal will also serve as a membership drive for the Eagles.

Lacrosse club registration opens

Registration for the 2024 season and the High School Boys Fall Ball practice is now open. Visit www.vashonlacrosse.net and select the appropriate link for your player to register for the 2024 season or for High School Boys’ Fall Ball or other 2024 seasons for high school girls or other students in elementary or middle school.

Fall Ball practices began Tuesday, Nov. 7, and will continue until Dec. 1. Practices take place from 6-8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, at the Vashon High School stadium. Questions? Email Terry VanderWaal at president@vashonlacrosse.net.

Water District meeting

Water District 19’s next regular board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, in the district’s board room.

Poetry at Senior Center

Vashon Poet Laureate will lead a joyful word-play experience at Vashon Senior Center at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Vashon Senior Center. All attendees should bring a notebook, pen, and their imaginations.

Health Insurance and PSE discount sign-up

King County representative Miguel Urquiza will help islanders sign up for health insurance, food stamps and ORCA Lift transportation from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Vashon Library. Urquiza can also help islanders at other times via phone or email, at 206-477-6965, 206-491-3761, or miguel.urquiza@kingcouonty.gov.

Islanders can also sign up for Puget Sound Energy’s new discount program from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the library. This new program will help income-qualified islanders save 5 percent to 45 percent on utility bills. To find out more or sign up online, visit online.

Maria Dozeman, PSE’s outreach manager, will also help islanders sign up for the discount from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, Dec. 6 and 13, at Vashon Food Bank.

Taxing District budget hearings

The Vashon Park District will hold its budget meetings at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Nov. 14 and 28. The public is welcome to attend in person at the Ober Park Administration Building, 17130 Vashon Hwy. SW, or via Zoom. For more information, visit vashonparks.org.

Vashon Health Care District will hold a public hearing on its budget and levy at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, with approval of the budget and levy scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15. Both meetings will take place at Vashon Presbyterian Church and on Zoom. For more information, visit vashonhealthcare.org.

Vashon Fire District will hold a public hearing of its 2024 budget at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15. The board plans another discussion and vote for the budget at a special board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27. Both meetings can be attended in person at VIFR’s Training Center, 10019 SW Bank Rd, or via Zoom. To find out more, visit vifr.org.

Community council meeting

The Vashon-Maury Community Council will hold its next meeting 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 their newly elected King County Council representative — whoever wins — and hear the council’s proposed environmental agenda for the coming year.

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.