Halloween
Vashon Highway will close between SW 178th St and Ober Park from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, for the island’s annual Halloween festivities.
Expect spooky fun at local businesses, live music, and contests, as islanders young and old take strolls through Vashon’s town center in a wildly creative display of costumery.
Also on Halloween, from 5-7 p.m., the Vashon Senior Center’s FUN committee will host a gathering with candy, $5 hot dogs with a beverage, and pumpkin carving. The Senior Center is located at 10004 SW Bank Rd.
Senior Center
The Vashon Senior Center offers hot meals on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as well as a host of activities, talks, clubs and more throughout each month.
Upcoming highlights include a talk by Tess Louis, “Artificial Intelligence 101: For Seniors,” at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. On Saturday, Nov. 2, the Center’s Wild Walkers group will venture out to walk about a mile around Dockton. Meet at the Senior Center at 10 a.m. to carpool, or join the group at the Dockton Park’s upper parking lot at 10:20 a.m.
Find out more about these and other goings-on, and learn more about the organization’s services offered to island seniors ages 55 and older, at vashoncenter.org.
Indigenous art and film
An evening including an Indigenous art showcase, silent auction, and film screening, held in support of Seattle Indian Health Board’s Thunderbird Treatment Center, will take place from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at Vashon Center for the Arts.
Featured artists will include Jack George, Steph Littlebird and Kitana Connelly.
The award-winning documentary film, “Bring Them Home,” will also be screened. The film chronicles the inspiring, decades-long effort to reintroduce buffalo to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
Narrated by Nez Perce actor Lily Gladstone, “Bring Them Home” won the Big Sky Award at the 2024 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, given to films that honor the American West’s history, tradition, and imagination.
All are welcome to this evening of Indigenous art and culture. Tickets are $20, at the door.
Fix-It Café
Registration is open for the Fall Fix-It Café, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Vashon Eagles. This event helps restore items and keep them out of the landfill.
You can register to be a fixer or to have a small household item (such as appliances, lamps and jewelry) fixed by visiting vashonfixit.com.
Service by fixers is free unless the fix requires purchasing any parts. Items must be portable and not contain gasoline or other flammable liquids.
Grief Ritual
A monthly community grief ritual is held on the first Sunday of every month, from 1-2 p.m. at the Tree of Life Wellness Center at 17331 Vashon Highway SW, with donations accepted. November’s first Sunday of the month is November 3. Islanders are invited to share and witness, either in silence or out loud, our grief. Grief is our human response to loss, change, and transition. The power of public grieving is its ability to connect us and drive healing. Questions? Call Susan Pitiger at 206-818-4232 or Brad Davis at 206 799-7235 or Colleen Carrette at 206 351-7769.
Services Van
Washington’s DSHS Mobile Office will bring its services to the Vashon Food Bank’s parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 10030 SW 210th St. Apply inside the van for food, cash, and medical services. Islanders can also drop off paperwork, complete a case, make changes to an existing case, or request an EBT card.
Support meeting
Vashon’s chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness will hold a friends and family meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in the library of Vashon Presbyterian Church. All are welcome.
Health Insurance
Miguel Urquiza, representative of King County Public Health, will help islanders sign up for Affordable Care Act health insurance, food stamps, and ORCA Lift discounted transportation from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Vashon Library. The open enrollment period is for health insurance that will start in 2025.
If Wednesday is not convenient, contact Urquiza at 206-477-6965, 206-491-3761, or miguel.urquiza@kingcounty.gov.
Food Bank tour
The Vashon Food Bank has embarked on a journey to relocate to the Vashon United Methodist Church’s property at 17928 Vashon Hwy. The project will result in a vastly improved food bank, as well as the creation of a community resource hub to better collaborate with other island social service agencies.
Come out for the next tour of the current and future sites from 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12. Meet at the current Food Bank at 10030 SW 210th St, behind the Sea Mar Clinic). Executive Director, Emily Scott, will guide the tour and give updates bout the project. Bring water, weather-appropriate clothing, and any questions you have.
RSVP to minta@vashonfoodbank.org.
Water District 19
Water District 19’s next regular board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, in the district’s board room. The date is a change from the district’s regularly scheduled second Tuesday of the month meeting, due to a scheduling conflict. The water district will also have a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Vashon-Maury Land Trust building, to receive community input on the District’s allocation process.