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 eNewsletter visit the archives.

Engage with King County

Free Civil Rights drop-in information sessions

The King County Office of Civil Rights is hosting free community drop-in information sessions at libraries to help people learn more about their rights and responsibilities under anti-discrimination laws. A Civil Rights Specialist will provide practical advice, such as how to recognize discrimination, where and how to report it, and how to prevent discrimination from occurring. Sessions are set May 20 at Fall City and North Bend; May 21 at Covington; May 28 at Vashon; and June 12 at Algona-Pacific. For details visit the Web site.

Rural economic strategies public involvement

In response to changing economic needs, King County is continuing to solicit public and rural Unincorporated Area Council input to update its rural economic strategies. Later this month the 2008 Rural Economic Strategies Annual Report will be available. For more information, contact Julia Larson, Rural Economic Strategies Coordinator at julia.larson@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-1062.

Marymoor Connector Trail Grand Opening

Now open to the public, the Marymoor Connector Trail is a critical link in the "Locks to Lakes" regional trail corridor. With the Marymoor Connector Trail in place, the cities of Seattle, Lake Forest Park, Bothell and Woodinville are now connected on the Burke-Gilman and Sammamish River trails with Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, and the Mountains to Sound Greenway via the East Lake Sammamish Trail. Join us on the trail to celebrate the grand opening
at Marymoor Park, Thursday, May 14 from 11 a.m. to noon.

News

Summer Youth Employment Program

King County Work Training Program is announcing summer youth employment program for at-risk teens and young adults. Call 206-205-6765 or visit the Web site.

Protect your family from H1N1 (swine) flu

Protect yourself, your family, and your community from influenza by staying home when you're sick, washing hands frequently, and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve. For the latest information on H1N1 flu in King County, visit the Web site.

Community Service Center locations announce new hours

Three King County Community Service Centers have adjusted operating hours as a cost-saving measure to limit the daily use of heating and air conditioning systems within King County buildings. These locations will open earlier and close earlier, but total operating hours will not change. New hours are as follows: Black River Community Service Center in Renton, Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.); Licensing Office at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Northshore Community Service Center in Bothell, Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.). The schedule for all other Community Service Centers remains the same.

Metro debuts more online tools for transit customers

A new online look and two new notification tools were unveiled recently by King County Metro Transit to help customers stay in touch with the latest transit news and disruptions. A more user-friendly Metro Online home page, a new "KCMetro-Alert" e-mail subscription service and a pilot project called "Eye on Your Metro Commute" help keep customers informed of incidents that could cause delays in bus service. These products are part of a series of improvements Metro has committed to delivering following one of the worst winter storm seasons in recent memory. These new services will alert riders of disruptions that could impact bus service during morning and afternoon commutes. For more information visit the Web site.

Community events prepare vulnerable populations for a disaster

In coordination with the Maple Valley area food bank, volunteers recently provided emergency preparedness information and assisted in survival kit assembly for residents who visited the food bank. This Community Action Project event was organized by local AmeriCorps-ReadyCorps-Vista participants with the aim of preparing vulnerable populations in King County for natural disasters and emergencies. A similar event will take place at the Vashon Island food bank within the next two months. For more information, contact Regina Quigley at regina.quigley@kingcounty.gov.

King County illegal dumping hotline

King County relies on the public to help identify and report illegal dumpsites so that they can be addressed quickly. These sites can attract rats and other vermin, are dangerous to children, can pollute land, water and wells, and, if they're not cleaned up quickly, can invite more illegal dumping. Report illegal dumping using the online form, or by calling the 24-hour Illegal Dumping Hotline at 206-296-SITE (296-7483), toll-free at 1-866-431-7483, TTY Relay: 711.

Victim Information & Notification Everyday (VINE)

VINE is a service through which victims of crime can use their telephone or Internet to search for information regarding their offender's custody status and register to receive telephone and e-mail notification when their offender's custody status changes. The automated VINE system is available in a number of languages including, English, Spanish, Amharic, Vietnamese, Russian and Chinese. To learn more, please visit the Web site.

Candidate filing at Elections Office

This year's candidate filing begins on June 1. Visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections for your one-stop shop on everything related to candidate filing. To sign up for King County Elections' periodic electronic newsletter with important news and deadlines, please e-mail your request to vbm@kingcounty.gov.

DDES now offers real-time permit tracking online

The DDES Web site now allows permit customers to track the status, current review station and assigned review staff for any permit being processed. The tracking system provides information in real time, so that permit customers can see the precise status of their permit application. Customers can track their "Permit at a Glance" on the Web site. For additional information, please contact Paula Adams, Public Information and Records Officer at 206-296-6682.

DDES announces new Rural Permit Coordinator

The Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) has hired a new rural permit coordinator, Ms. Fereshteh Dehkordi. Services provided by the rural permit coordinator include: Free, walk-in assistance at the DDES Permit Center to rural and agricultural property owners regarding zoning regulations; Coordination with other King County agencies for projects requiring farm, forestry, or rural stewardship plans; Coordinating permit applications involving forest management practices or location in a forest zone; and Intake of particularly large or complicated rural or agricultural permit applications. For more information, please contact Fereshteh Dehkordi at 206-296-7173.

Find a new pet

Meet adoptable cats and dogs at adoption events during the month of May. Event times and locations are posted on the visit the King County Animal Care and Control Web site. If you can't make it to the adoption events, plenty of cats and dogs are waiting for their forever home at the King County animal shelters. For hours and directions, and information about a recently opened cat building at the Kent Shelter, visit the www.kingcounty.gov/pets or call 206-296-PETS.

King Conservation District district-wide public comment sessions

The King Conservation District is hosting a series of six public comment sessions in May and June to provide input on conservation priorities and programs that would be funded by the reauthorization of the district special assessment. Sessions are set for May 14 at Shoreline; May 19 at Mercer Island; May 21 at Kent; May 27 at Seattle; May 28 at Carnation; and June 2 at Issaquah. For details visit the Web site.

Community news

Four Creeks/May Valley

Bicycle safety rodeo

Come join in on the fun as the King County Sheriff's Office hosts Four Creeks/May Valley area's first ever bicycle safety rodeo, Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., rain or shine, at the Liberty High School parking lot, 16655 SE 136th St, Renton. We will provide bicycle safety lessons, helmet fittings, offer helmets for purchase at a low cost, and provide a course to practice your skills. Please bring your bike and helmet to join in on the fun. We will have a limited number of bicycles and helmets available for those who do not have their own. Hot dogs, hamburgers and popcorn will be available for purchase from the Liberty High School PTSA and ASB.

May Creek Bridge replacement

King County Road Services Division will host an open house on the May Creek Bridge replacement project on Thursday, June 11, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Briarwood Elementary School, 17020 SE 134th Street in Renton. Next summer, the county plans to replace May Creek Bridge on May Valley Road east of State Route 900, which could necessitate a complete road closure for up to three months. The community is invited to attend this open house to learn more about the project and to provide feedback and suggestions.

Greater Maple Valley

Flu, flooding focus of UAC meeting

On Monday, May 4, the Greater Maple Valley Area Unincorporated Council held its monthly meeting. Due to this past winter's flooding, and the recent flu concerns, guest speakers and topics were very timely: Sue Rooney, Executive Director of the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed, and Kathryn Howard from the King County Office of Emergency Management. More information and a full summary of the meeting can be found on the GMVAUC Web site.

Upper Bear Creek

Free concert lineup for Cottage Lake Park

MUSIC IN THE PARK at King County's Cottage Lake Park at 18831 NE Woodinville/Duvall Rd. in Woodinville. Please join us for a series of six FREE family concerts presented by Upper Bear Creek Community Council. Performances are on Thursday evenings from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Please bring your own seating or ground cloths.

July 2 — Woodinville Band — Jazz
July 9 — Smilin' Scandinavians — #1 Polka Band
July 16 — Bill Mattocks Band — Blues, Jazz, Swing
July 23 — Fidgety Feet — Dixieland
July 30 — Down the Road — Bluegrass
August 6 — Panduo — Steel Drums

For more information visit the visit the Upper Bear Creek UAC Web site or call Nancy at 425-788-5841.

West Hill

What's all the fuss at Skyway Park?

University of Washington students are helping to build a new picnic shelter and gathering area. This complements efforts by another University of Washington class, which has been restoring the adjacent wetland since September. Both projects will be completed by June, with a dedication scheduled for June 11 at 3 p.m. More info visit the Web site.

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If you have comments or suggestions about future content, please contact Lauren Smith at 206-263-7146 or lauren.smith@kingcounty.gov.