Call a Bluebird!
An Infomercial
by Bernie O’Malley
Mayor 2016
Oh my, nobody told you we got Island Bluebirds who drive cars? Over Town in the City? Well, it’s true. If you have a medical/dental appointment off-Island, a Neighborly Bluebird picks you up, whisks you there, waits for you until the visit is done, then brings you home, true door-to-door service.
WOW. Thanks for letting me in on this semi-secret program. Who collects these Bluebirds for me? The Senior Center Village Manager Fran Brooks. Must be a “catch!” Yes, just 2: be Island residents and minimum 55 years old. That’s so easy to have a Village program to keep us Islanders healthy and happy.
Okay, what does this program cost and who pays for this wonderful service? The average Bluebird to Seattle/Tacoma cost is $115 per round trip (ferry, mileage, driver). In 2024, Bluebirds provided over 400 off-Island rides. Most of those trips were paid by the King County’s Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy (VSHSL), funded by your tax-payer dollars, plus your Grannies donations. Some Island neighbors chipped in an extra $5 or $10 or $20-$40 as donations to the program.
What’s new in 2025? Well, there’s some happy news and some not completely happy news. The happy news is that now more Island Neighbors like you will take advantage of this service. Up to now, the “advertising” was just a process of quiet mentions here and there, to slowly grow the service. Now 600+ Bluebird rides in 2025 is quite possible.
The not completely happy news: long story short, King County’s 2025 priorities for returning your property taxes (VSHSL) as funding the Island Bluebirds is way less than it was in 2024. So the Vashon Senior Center program now needs additional funding. One method of several methods: ask riders to consider making a meaningful contribution as a donation for their rides, whatever each rider capable of offering. Yes, an extra $5 – $40 donation is difficult for many Islanders, and that’s okay because making any donation is not required for Bluebird rides.
Other methods: to check in with Councilmember Theresa Mosqueda about her work on this funding problem. And Pramila Jayapal back in the other Washington might have some capacity to help our Island Veterans and Seniors be healthier.
Some Important Notes from the Vashon Senior Center Staff:
- The Vashon Senior Center Village program fully expects to keep the Bluebirds available to All our Island Neighbors. The Bluebirds ask you to consider whatever subsidy your situation comfortably allows in 2025 to keep the Village Bluebirds in flight for medical appointments Over-Town.
- Off-Island Bluebirds are for medical appointments only: requires 24 hours absolute minimum notice, a week is preferred, a month is helpful.
- Bluebirds are available On-Island for appointments, shopping and other errands.
- Requests for Bluebirds depend on your Village Neighbor’s availability as a volunteer driver.
Do you like to drive in the City or on Island? Are you ready to be a Bluebird? Or do you have questions about how to use the service? Call Fran at 206-485-4335!
