School receives recognition
Nature Nuts, a nature school in Maple Valley, recently received national accreditation as a Cedarsong Forest Kindergarten.
According to a media release, this is the first in the country to receive this recognition. “Cedarsong Nature School is an award-winning leader in the U.S. Forest Kindergarten movement and has received international accolades for its groundbreaking work,” the release stated.
Nature Nuts was established in 2004 and is now registered as a non profit. It currently serves children from Maple Valley, Covington, Renton, Kent, Issaquah, SeaTac, Edgewood, Black Diamond, Auburn, Tacoma and Seattle.
“We are proud to receive this recognition,” said Nature Nuts Founder and Executive Director Brenda Running, in the release. “It is important to us that standards are set in this field as it is rapidly growing and there are lots of new schools cropping up that do not meet any of the basic criteria.”
For more information about Nature Nuts, visit www.naturenuts.org. The school is located at 25306 SE 184th St. in Maple Valley.
World’s largest 6K kicks off May 19
Beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 19 participants in more than 10 countries will participate in World Vision’s Global 6K for Water.
The 6K represents the average distance people walk to get water for their families and homes in the developing world. Proceeds from registration for the walk goes toward providing clean water to one person.
This is the second year this event is happening in Maple Valley. Last year, 120 participants raised more than $10,000 and provided clean water to more than 200 people.
So far this year, the Maple Valley 6K has raised more than $19,000 and is the No. 1 fundraiser out of nearly 600 teams globally, a media release stated.
For more information on the Global 6K for Water, visit www.worldvision6k.org and for more information on the Maple Valley event, visit www.teamworldvision.org/team/MVPC.
Spring book, media sale
The Maple Valley Library Guild is hosting its semiannual book and media sale the weekend of May 17-May 19.
The event will be held in the meeting room at the Maple Valley Library, 21844 SE 248th St. from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 18 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19.
Donated books, CDs, DVDs will be sold and most items are marked $2 or less.
On Saturday, shoppers are welcome to fill a grocery bag for $5.
Proceeds from the sale go toward funding children, teen and adult programs at the library.
New medical center opened Tuesday
The 58-bed inpatient facility at MultiCare Covington Medical Center opened to patients April 24.
The new portion of the medical center features inpatient care, a birth center and three operating rooms.
This four-story facility connects to the emergency department and is named the Cecchettini Pavilion. It is named after Diane Cecchettini who served as president and CEO of MultiCare until 2014. The process of expansion began during her time as CEO, a release stated.
Search is on for planning commissioners
The city of Maple Valley is looking for those interested in serving as a planning commissioner or as an alternate.
The duties of this position include attending meetings and making recommendations to the city council. The commission meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
To qualify, you must be a resident or own property or a business within the city limits of Maple Valley. And you should show an interest in environmental affairs, planning, land use and development.
The term of the commissioner is four years and the alternate is two years.
The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, May 25. Interviews will be scheduled for sometime after the deadline.
Applications can be picked up at City Hall, 22017 SE Wax Road or found online at www.maplevalleywa.gov.
If you have any questions, contact Matt Torpey, community development manager, at 425-413-8800.
Got news?
Email community news and notes entries to editor Sarah Brenden at sbrenden@soundpublishing.com for a chance to be published in an upcoming edition of the Reporter.
