The Vashon Heritage Museum, in partnership with Vashon Community Care, presents "Lives Well Lived - Strawberry Festival Luminaries: Two Women Who Shaped Vashon." With this year's local focus on the Strawberry Festival, join us as highlight two women who have made a huge impact in the community.
Moderated by Susan McCabe, this talk will feature Bettie Edwards and Melinda Powers as they discuss building businesses and community, and how the island has changed over the years.
MODERATOR BIO
Susan McCabe abandoned corporate life in Chicago to move to Vashon and wallow in the arts -- theatre, literature, radio and TV. Since landing here she's established Shakespeare in the Park, written and performed a one-woman show and comedy sketches with Island variety show Church of Great Rain. She produced/stage managed Drama Dock's Into The Woods and Kat Eggleston's Cyclone Line. For five years she managed Voice of Vashon's Radio & TV station, and continues to host her own weekly talk show, REALTalk.
SPEAKER BIOS:
Bettie Edwards is proud to be a longtime volunteer for VCC and has witnessed the center fluidly evolve with the changing needs of the community. She is a former business owner who moved to the island in 1972, dedicated her time as a past two-term (six-year) VCC board member, and has volunteered with the VCC Dinner Club for 10 consecutive years. In 2017 Bettie ran for Unofficial Mayor of Vashon and raised thousands of dollars in “votes” to benefit VCC. She cares deeply for the island’s elders and is thrilled about the recent opening of the accessible trail behind the center facility, which fosters more outdoor opportunities for all. Bettie is also excited about VCC’s memory support program to help meet patient needs and keep island families close.
Melinda Powers opened The Hardware Store restaurant in August 2005. Creating a community gathering place, she and her 55 employees served great food to almost 15,000 customers a month. Melinda retired and sold the restaurant in January 2020. She has a long history of community service and was the President of the Vashon-Maury Chamber of Commerce, the Board Chair and Co-founder of the Vashon YMCA, a board member of Seeds for Success, two-time Unofficial Mayor of Vashon, and a member of the Washington Restaurant Association.