News briefs: Kimmco closing, Open Space grand opening and VHS honored

November 28, 2017 1:30 am

Remodeled Open Space to host grand opening

The Open Space for Arts & Community will host a free grand opening ceremony from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9.

After the official ribbon-cutting, guests will be able to enter through a new protected entry, experience the new black box theater and tour four multi-use rooms, suitable for 2D works, circus gymnastics or conference space. The Grand Hall has also been reconfigured, and the event space now features more bathrooms and heat.

Work from island artists will be showcased, including larger-than-life sculptures by Shawn Nordfors, suspended stage costumes created by Patricia Toovey and a new fir bench by Hans Nelsen.

Special guest artist Yuming Zhu will occupy the center of the new Grand Hall to create large Sumi paintings with interactive art opportunities.Aerialists of all ages (from UMO School of Physical Arts) will demonstrate their skills in the atrium, while circus gymnastics will take place in adjacent spaces.

The Open Space is located at 18870 103rd Ave. SW.

Kimmco to close

Kimmco, Inc. will close after 50 years of serving Vashon and Maury Island.

Mike Kimmel established the construction company on Vashon in 1967. He died in February of 2015 and left the company to his four children.

The family has decided to close the business and will hold a public auction on site at 17816 Vashon Hwy. SW; heavy equipment, vehicles and tools will be sold.

The auction is set for on tomorrow, Thursday, with a preview from 8 to 10 a.m. The auction will begin promptly at 10 a.m.

For more information, see murphyauction.com.

A final estate sale is scheduled for Dec. 9 and 10.

VHS earns honor

Twenty-one high schools in the Puget Sound Region — from Tacoma to Everett — are among the best in the nation, according to data from US News & World Report.

Vashon High School is on that list of 21, coming in at number 14; it was ranked in the top 1,800 schools nationwide. This analysis named Tesla STEM High School from the Lake Washington School District as the best in the region and the 28th best in the country.