Get rid of household hazardous waste
Between June 9 and 11, the Wastemobile household hazardous waste collection comes to Covington.
Community members are encouraged to visit the Wastemobile to safely dispose of old car batteries, oil, paint thinner and many other household hazardous items at no cost. It will be stationed in the parking lot of the Kent Fire Station No. 75 in Covington. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Qualifying businesses can also use the no-cost service of the Wastemobile. For more details, call 206-263-8899 or find details at hazwastehelp.org.
Summer kicks off with blood drive
A blood drive will take place from 7 a.m. to noon on June 17 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Covington. The Bloodmobile will be ready to take donations between those times.
Kids bike camp coming to Black Diamond
The Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance Dirt Camp is coming to Black Diamond in July. The camp will be held at the Black Diamond Open Space. The camp hopes to offer more opportunities for young mountain bikers in south King County, according to a press release.
While this is the first year the camp will be in Black Diamond, it will be the sixth year the camp is running the program. Over 1,000 mountain bikers have participated in the camps. The camp focuses on basic skills at the beginning and progresses to riding technical trail features and jumps.
The camps will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday between July 17 and Aug. 7. For more information or if you’re interested in attending, visit evergreenmtb.org/education/youth-dirt-camps.
Maple Valley Police Explorers get challenged
Six Maple Valley Police Explorers competed in a two-day tactical challenge. The challenge is put on by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office on the weekend of May 20 and 21. The Maple Valley team won nine first place trophies and a third place trophy for Best Overall Team.
The competition has a SWAT/Tactical theme where teams compete in events ranging from a fitness challenge, downed officer rescue, hostage rescue and active shooter scenarios, to name a few.
“The event was both physically and mentally challenging,” Maple Valley Deputy Greg Victor said.
There were nine teams overall in the competition.
Kent School District names employees of the year
Eleven outstanding employees were chosen for the 2016/2017 school year. Michelle Martin, Safety Officer at Mattson Middle School was chosen because she is consistently with students and helping them out. She is the one person students feel safe talking to when something happens and is she is always there for the students.
Blake Solomon at Kentwood High School was chosen because he is a state championship winning basketball coach who inspires students through fun and team-centered work, who never allows students to give up on themselves or others.
The following teachers were also honored: Linda Novak from Cedar Valley Elementary School, Denisha Saucedo from Kent Education Association, Carla James from Millennium Elementary School, Amelia Nabarrete from Martin Sortun and Meadow Ridge elementary schools, bus driver Michelle Collier, Daran Blackwell from the maintenance team, Tom Ogg who works with the nutrition services, Patricia Vanden Heuvel from Martin Sorum Elementary School and Vicki Lawrence from the Kent School Food Service Association.
All of the employees of the year were nominated by co-workers and occasionally students. They will be honored at 7 p.m. on May 24 at the school board meeting.
Pig roast dinner fundraiser
The Black Diamond Community Center is gearing up for another wonderful fundraising event. On June 23 a pig roast dinner will take place at the community center. The event will benefit families and seniors in need of assistance. It is a Hawaiian dinner and dance.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with appetizers, beer, wine and a life band. The dinner will include a barbecued pig, Hawaiian chicken, rice pilaf and a salad. Cash is suggested for the dessert dash and the raffle. Live auction items will include Seahawks tickets, a 32-inch TV and more.
Tickets for the event are $30 each. Advance purchase is recommended, please contact the community center at 360-886-1011 for questions or tickets.
Click It or Ticket began Monday
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission is emphasizing one of the simplest steps people can take to stay safe while driving — buckle up.
The national Click It or Ticket campaign began Monday and will run through June 4.
“It’s more than just putting your own seat belt on in the car; it means making sure everyone else in your car is properly restrained, especially children,” said Cesi Velez, Project Manager of Washington’s Child Passenger Safety Program, in a release.
Covington, Renton residents graduate June 5
Eleven students from Covington and Renton will graduate next month from Eastside Catholic School.
The ceremony will take place beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Benaroya Hall in Seattle.
The students who are graduating are:
• Joseph Almanza
• Christian Amador
• Thomas Bourns
• Mallie Floresca
• Spencer Hansen
• Molly Houlihan
• Nicholas Huse
• Jonathan Kvech
• Steven Moran
• John Munar
• Katelin Schreiber
Building for a cause
On May 20, Iva “Jeanne” Williams got a much needed wheelchair ramp built on her home.
The Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties organizes a Rampaton where member builders build ramps for people that need them.
Building Beyond the Walls built the ramp Saturday for Williams.
“This is so exciting! It’s going to be wonderful. I’m going to run up and down it,” Williams said.
The founder and executive director for Building Beyond the Walls, Sue Z. Hart, said their purpose “is to build for the community.”
“I love Rampathon because it changes people’s lives. She’s (Jeanne) is going to get out of her house for the first time in a long time by herself without being carried by her children,” Hart said.
Information was provided by Sharon Couts, public relations manager for the Master Builders Association.
Got news?
Email community news and notes to Sarah Brenden at sbrenden@soundpublishing.com.
