What do you do when you get sick on Vashon? With no hospital or specialists operating on Vashon, the island has a long history of difficulty accessing medical care locally. With the creation of a Health Care District, access to a variety of services has grown. But who ya gonna call? To gain a deeper understanding of the services and level of care now available to islanders, there will be a Community Vashon Health Care Forum at the Vashon High School Theater on Thursday, January 29^th, from 7 to 8:30PM. The forum will answer questions, clarify services, and foster a better understanding of the local healthcare landscape. Once again, the Vashon Health Care Forum will be held on Thursday, January 29^th from 7 to 8:30PM at the Vashon High School Theater. Just coming will make you feel better, cross my heart. This has been a Voice of Vashon Public Service Announcement, Say “Wellness” Department.

Event at Vashon Senior Center by Janice Palm, LMHC on January 30, 2026

If you agree that the United States is in trouble politically and you’re interested in progressive change, then it would make sense for you to come to the Methodist Church at 7PM onWednesday, January 14^th, when Indivisible Vashon has its first meeting of the year working on building a progressive majority at the state and national level and resisting the current Administration. Be a new face in the New Year for a Good Cause. January 14^th, 7PM at the Methodist Church. This has been a Voice of Vashon Public Service Announcement, Scooping Up the Newbies Department.

The big, beautiful Van – the Health Department’s mobile office – filled with helpful representatives – will be coming to the Island on Wednesday, December 17^th and will be parked at the Food Bank from 10AM till 2PM. We know that many people have been getting letters from them and some rules are changing in 2026, so you might want to stop by if you have an account to make sure that everything is the way you want it to be. You can apply inside for food or cash or medical insurance, drop off paperwork, complete a review, make changes to an existing case or request an EBT card. That date again: Wednesday, December 17^th. The DSHS van and mobile office, parked at the Food Bank between 10 in the morning till two in the afternoon. This has been a Voice of Vashon Public Service Announcement, Staying Afloat Department.

Weatherization is the foundation of a home’s energy efficiency. It prevents the loss of warm or cool air through unseen leaks and seams. It’s an easy, cost-effective way to increase the comfort of your home while saving money and energy. Reducing energy use also helps the environment.

Puget Sound Energy has programs that support you in weatherizing your home by offering savings on insulation, air sealing and duct sealing. This support will help you keep the heat inside where you want it and stay warm all winter long.

Learn more at pse.com

This message was made possible by your electricity and natural gas provider, Puget Sound Energy.

Heigh-ho! It’s the Holidays! What a trip! What a party! What a mess! Did you know that, during the Holiday Season, Americans typically generate 25% more trash than the rest of the year?! Do you think, maybe, we could amend that figure? Sheesh! Talk about getting wasted! We could, you know, buck this terrible trend by utilizing Vashon’s free resources devoted to reducing waste and encouraging reusables. Make your next party a no-trash bash using the Vashon Dish Library. It’s all laid out for you on the Zero Waste Vashon website homepage under Quick Links. You can score nearly anything and everything you need for a Class-A event free of single-use items: dishware, tablecloths, linens and utensils. Forget paper and plastic. It’s like you made a real investment in this event. Additionally, you can avail yourself of the Vashon Chamber of Commerce’s Reusable Cup Project, which offers a stash of stainless cups that are perfect for beer, wine and other beverages. Contact the Chamber to learn more. Thank you for helping to keep Vashon clean and green over the holiday season.

Be honest now. I know, I’m just a voice on the radio, but I have a really important question for you. Are you afraid? Afraid of someone or something out there and it’s kind of messing up your life right now? And getting help is so painful and awkward that it’s like so hard that it’s easier just to put it off. But what if help were to meet you half way? Because we’ve got that for you, just a phone call away. Two days ago King County announced the launch of the Stop Hate Hotline. And here it is: 833-766-7481, or 833-STOP-H81. The launch of the Stop Hate Hotline represents King County’s unwavering commitment to creating a community where every resident feels safe, valued and protected from hate and bias. This hotline provides crime victims and survivors support, resources and assistance in reporting the crime to law enforcement if they choose. Now people can speak up anonymously against hate and know their privacy will be safeguarded. That number once again: 833-766-7481 or 833-STOP-H81. This has been a Voice of Vashon Public Service Announcement.

Indivisible Vashon is excited to announce a series of talks that have the possible potential of calming jangled nerves in a tough time. Dr. Larry Hubbell, a Professor Emeritus at Seattle University and an 11-year Vashon resident, will offer four evenings in which he will present “Finding Courage in Dark Times – Public Sector Heroes Rediscovered”, examining the lives of John Lewis, Eleanor Roosevelt, Fred Korematsu, and Eugene Debs. Each of these people will be matched with other people who stood on the opposite side of our heroes, namely Sheriff Bill Clark of Selma Alabama, Senator Joe McCcarthy, Attorney General of California, Earl Warren and President Woodrow Wilson. These talks will illustrate the kind of crises Americans faced in the 20^th Century, not unlike the crises we face today during the second term of the Trump administration. Each talk will be introduced by a notable Vashon-Maury Islander followed by a summary of the actions Indivisible is currently taking to address the current day crises. The talks are sponsored by Indivisible Vashon and will be offered at the Vashon High School theatre at 7PM on the following dates: September30, October 14, October 28 and November 11. The talks are free but a donation is requested of those who are able. The first talk of September 30 looks at the civil rights pioneer, John Lewis, and will be introduced by Islander and historian, Bruce Haulman. This has been a Voice of Vashon Public Service Announcement.