Unincorporated Area Community News
Welcome to Community News, King County government's monthly newsletter for unincorporated area residents. You can find the newsletter online with links to program details, at www.kingcounty.gov/UnincorporatedAreaNews. To see previous versions of the Unincorporated Area Community Newsletter visit the archives.
Engage with King County
Do you want to have a voice in King County's human services planning?
Consider volunteering to serve on a human services advisory boards. There are openings now on boards working for veterans, mental illness, drug and alcohol prevention and recovery, developmental disabilities, aging and more. Play a role in program and funding decisions. For more information, visit the website.
Transit Advisory Commission seeks new members
Metro is looking for people to apply for seats on its Transit Advisory Commission. There are current vacancies for County Council districts represented by Kathy Lambert and Jane Hague.
News
Metro exploring ‘other ways to get there’
King County Metro Transit is looking at alternatives to fixed-route buses, especially in areas where that kind of service is not cost effective. Find out more and take an online survey by May 11.
Bike-and-bus to celebrate Bike Month
Try a bike-and-bus trip during Bike Month. From May 14-18 any cyclist loading a bike on a Metro bus or Sound Transit Express bus operated by Metro in King County will ride free.
May is Volcano Awareness Month
Washington is home to five major active volcanoes: Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams. Both Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens pose potential danger for those living in King County. Residents living on or near these mountains, or in nearby valleys, can be affected by lahars (or mudflows) if an eruption should occur, as well as ashfall that could impact a much larger area, depending on wind speed and direction. For more information about volcanoes and staying safe, visit the hazards and disasters website.
King County Parks third-annual Big Backyard 5K is May 20
There’s still time to register for the third-annual Big Backyard 5K presented by Group Health in support of King County Parks. The fun run is set for Sunday, May 20 at King County’s Marymoor Park. Event is dog and stroller friendly, and will feature a post-race concert with Caspar Babypants. For more information and to register, visit the event website.
Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series
The Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series kicks-off on Saturday, May 12 with a 5-mile race. Stop by your local North Face Store (downtown Seattle, Bellevue Square, University Village) to register. Learn more about the five races in the series on the website.
'Movies@Marymoor' summer lineup
The 2012 summer lineup at the popular “Movies@Marymoor” outdoor cinema series is sure to draw families, film buffs and outdoor enthusiasts to King County’s Marymoor Park during the long summer evenings this July and August. The First Tech Movies at Marymoor series is presented by Overlake Medical Clinics and kicks off on July 11 with “Grease.”
Concerts at Marymoor
A summertime full of live music awaits at one of the region’s best outdoor music venues, as King County’s Marymoor Park prepares to host the ninth-annual summer concert series. For the full line-up and ticket information, visit the website.
Regional trail improvements
King County Parks will be making improvements at parks and trails throughout the county this summer that include a temporary closure of a two-mile long segment of the East Lake Sammamish Trail in Issaquah with construction beginning on May 14 through December 2012. Keep up to date on the closure timeline and updates on the ELST project page.
Public Health serves you online
Need a restaurant, plumbing or other permit from Public Health? Use the online portal to buy permits, file a complaint, or report a concern. Food workers can obtain food worker cards, take a mandatory training class and subsequent test online. Birth and death certificates are also available online from our Vital Statistics Office.
Household hazardous waste
Get the new What to Do with Unwanted Household Hazardous Products flyer by calling the Hazards Line at 206-296-4692 or 1-888-TOXIC-ED. The flyer contains information on what is hazardous, how to dispose of it, maps and hours of facilities, and options for other things like unwanted medicine or electronics. It is also available in Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese and Somali.
Small business hazardous waste
Qualifying King County businesses may also use hazardous waste disposal services. For a Small Business Hazardous Waste Disposal flyer or more information, call the Business Waste Line 206-263-8899, toll free at 1-800-325-6165, ext. 3-8899. The flyer is also available in Spanish, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese.
Considering running for office?
Citizens who want to run for an elected position in King County can file online from May 14 at 9 a.m. until May 18 at 4 p.m. Check the candidate resource website for more information about filing for office.
Community news
Four Creeks
Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council meeting
May 16, 7 p.m., at the May Valley Alliance Church, 16431 SE Renton-Issaquah Rd. in Renton
Greater Maple Valley
Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council
(This item submitted by the GMVUAC)
The Area Council completed its detailed review of the 2012 King County Comprehensive Plan update. Oral testimony was provided to the King County Council's Transportation, Economy, and Environment (TrEE) Committee at a local public forum in Ravensdale on April 25. Many area council members also gave individual testimony, and detailed written comments were submitted to the TrEE Committee on April 27.
Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council meetings
May 7 and June 4, 7 p.m., at the Fire Station, SE 231st & Hwy 169 in Maple Valley
North Highline
Learn more about Metro’s Route 120 project
Metro is making changes to improve the speed and reliability of Route 120 – one of its busiest routes. These improvements will be made between summer 2012 and spring 2013.
North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting
June 7, 7 p.m., North Highline Fire District Office, 1243 SW 112th St. in Seattle
Upper Bear Creek
Public meeting on proposed zipline project at King County’s Gold Creek Park
King County Parks wants to hear from neighbors and others interested in a proposal from a locally based company to build a zipline adventure park at Gold Creek Park in Woodinville. A public meeting has been scheduled for June 6 from 7-9 p.m. at Northshore Junior High School, 12101 NE 160th St., Bothell. More info on the meeting can be found on the website.
Upper Bear Creek Community Council general meeting
May 22, 7:30 p.m. at Woodinville Water District Office, 17238 NE Woodinville Duvall Rd. in Woodinville.
Vashon
Vashon road meeting set for May 21
The King County Road Services Division is hosting an open house about the installation of rumble strips on Vashon roads on Monday, May 21, 7 p.m. at Chatauqua Elementary School.
King County Assessor to visit Vashon Island
The Vashon Island Unincorporated Area Council will host King County Assessor, Lloyd Hara and staff on Monday, June 18 from 7 – 8 p.m. Assessor Hara will address the property assessments process, valuations on Vashon Island, senior exemptions, online services and the appeal process. For more information, visit the King County Department of Assessments website or contact Phillip Sit at 206-296-5141.
Vashon-Maury Island Community Council general meeting
May 21, 7 p.m. at McMurray Middle School, Multi-purpose room, 9329 Southwest Cemetery Road, Vashon
Vashon-Maury Island Community Council Board meeting
May 7 and June 4, 6:30 p.m. at McMurray Middle School, Multi-purpose room, 9329 Southwest Cemetery Road, Vashon
West Hill
Section of Lakeridge Drive closes for repairs May 7
A two-block section of Lakeridge Drive in an unincorporated area of Southeast Seattle will be closed for repairs starting Monday, May 7. The road will be closed between Rainier Avenue South and Dixon Drive South on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about road closures, visit the My Commute website.
West Hill Community Council Board meeting
May 9, 7 p.m., Fire District #20, 12424 76th Ave S. in Seattle
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If you have comments or suggestions about future content, please contact Kate Karpf at 206-263-7147 or kate.karpf@kingcounty.gov.