Calendar submissions: Calendar is published in each edition of the Reporter on a space-available basis. Items for the Wednesday edition must be submitted by noon the previous Thursday. Items for the Saturday edition must be submitted by noon the previous Tuesday. Submit calendar items to calendar@reporternewspapers.com.
Auctions
May Day Madness Dinner and Auction: 6-10 p.m. May 1. Auction items include hot air balloon and flight simulator rides. Sponsored by the Covington Chamber of Commerce. Cost: $50 per person; reservations required. Meridian Valley Country Club, 24830 136th Ave. S.E., Kent. 253-631-6117, www.covingtonchamber.org or info@covingtonchamber.org.
Blood drives
Puget Sound Blood Center: 1-7 p.m. April 16 at Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 20730 S.E. 272nd St., Covington; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 26 at Safeway, 26916 Maple Valley Highway, Maple Valley. Information: 800-398-7888 or www.psbc.org.
Classes
Home Buyer’s Seminar: 6:30 p.m. April 17; 10:30 a.m. April 19. Free clas about how to purchase a new home. Presented by John L. Scott Real Estate, Maple Valley Fire Station 81, 22225 SE. 231st St. 206-459-3821.
“America’s Boating Course”: 7-9 p.m. April 28 and May 1, 5 and 8. Boating safety course offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary through the Tahoma Learning Community. Course satisfies the state’s new boater education requirements. Cost: $5, plus $25 materials and testing fee. Registration required. Call for details, location. 425-413-3405.
Meditation classes: 6:45-8:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month. Classes include “Theta Brainwave the Body meditation,” “Theta Brainwave the Spirit meditation” and “Val Moore drumming meditation.” Black Diamond Community Center, 31605 Third Ave., Black Diamond. 360-886-1011.
Families/Children
Tahoma Learning Community Father/Daughter Ball: 6:30-9:30 p.m. April 19. Features music, dancing and refreshments. Cost: $45 per dad-daughter couple; $10 per additional daughter. Tahoma High School, 18200 SE. 240th St. 425-413-3405.
Fund-raisers
Rainier Christian Schools auction: 5-9:30 p.m. April 12. Theme: “Running the Race.” Program includes dinner and silent and live auctions. Cost: $55. Proceeds go toward school programs, projects and scholarships. Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N., Kent. Information: 425-255-7273 or www.rainierchristianschools.org.
Foster Kids Shoe Drive: Through April 13. Donors can bring new shoes for foster children to any Sleep Country location. Call for details, directions. 888-887-5337 or www.sleepcountry.com.
Tahoma Cooperative Preschool Fiesta Family Night and Silent Auction: 6-9 p.m. May 3. Features taco bar, children’s crafts, entertainment by Musically Minded, auction items and more. Cost: $5. Greater Maple Valley Community Center, 22010 SE. 248th St. 425-584-7776.
Friends of the Black Diamond Library Annual Plant Sale: 9 a.m. May 3. Native plants, shade-loving ground covers, perennials, shrubs and some trees available for purchase.
Libraries
Black Diamond Library, 24301 Roberts Drive. 360-886-1105 or www.kcls.org. Library events include:
• Friends of the Black Diamond Library: 7 p.m. April 16.
• Black Diamond Brown Bag Book Bunch: 12:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month. Open to ages 8-12, and parents and siblings. Topic: April 22, “No Talking” by Andrew Clements.
• Annual Poetry Contest: Submissions due April 25. Contest open to all ages. Pick up entry forms at the library.
• Friends of the Library Annual Plant Sale: 9 a.m. May 3. Native plants, shade-loving ground covers, perennials, shrubs and some trees available for purchase.
• Story times: Library offers story times for children and families. Call for details.
• Ready-Set-Read: Elementary school students can read 20 minutes per day for 20 days to win a free new paperback book.
• Read Three, Get One Free: Teens, ages 12-18, can read three books, write three short reviews and get a free new paperback book. Pick up an entry form at the library or online at www.kcls.org/read3. Books read for school count for this program.
Covington Library, 27100 164th Ave. S.E. 253-630-8761 or www.kcls.org. Library events include:
• Covington Grass—A Bluegrass Concert: 1 p.m. April 12.
• Meet the Author—Pennie Morehead: 7 p.m. April 17. Morehead to discuss her book, “Green River Serial Killer-Biography of an Unsuspecting Wife.”
• Annual Poetry Contest: Submissions due April 25. Contest open to all ages. Pick up entry forms at the library.
• Young Readers Lunch Book Bunch: 12:30 p.m. April 26. Topic: “Fly Guy Stories” by Tedd Arnold. Bring a sack lunch.
• Game On!: 4 p.m. Wednesdays. Teens can play GameCube, Xbox 360, PS2 and Nintendo Wii games at the library.
• Ready-Set-Read: Elementary school students can read 20 minutes per day for 20 days to win a free new paperback book. Forms available at the library on online.
• Story times: Library offers story times for children, families and foreign language speakers. Call for details.
Maple Valley Library, 21844 S.E. 248th St. 425-432-4620 or www.kcls.org. Library events include:
• Game On!: 4 p.m. April 24. Teens can play video games at the library.
• Annual Poetry Contest: Submissions due April 25. Contest open to all ages. Pick up entry forms at the library.
• Recess Monkey Concert: 7 p.m. April 28.
• Maple Valley Men’s Book Club: 6:30 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month. Topics: April 30, “Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West” by Hampton Sides.
• Maple Valley Writers’ Group: 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month.
• Story times: Library offers story times for children and families. Call for details.
• Ready-Set-Read: Elementary school students can read 20 minutes per day for 20 days to win a free new paperback book.
• Read Three, Get One Free: Teens, ages 12-18, can read three books, write three short reviews and get a free new paperback book. Pick up an entry form at the library or online at www.kcls.org/read3.
• Study Zone: 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students in kindergarten-12th grade can drop in for free homework help from volunteer tutors. Volunteer tutors needed; call 425-369-3312.
Seniors
Cornerstone United Methodist Church Silver Servants: Noon April 19. Luncheon open to all seniors. Cost: $5; advance registration recommended. Rooter’s Barbeque, 29030 216th Ave. SE., Black Diamond. Information: 360-886-2246.
Black Diamond Community Center, 31605 Third Ave., Black Diamond. 360-886-1011. Activities include:
• Metro Bus Workshop Part 2: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 16. Trip to the International District in Seattle. Cost: Free. Bring lunch money. Registration required.
• Senior Birthday Day: April 17. Free lunch for all seniors with April birthdays.
• Reiki Wellness Clinic: 1-5 p.m. April 17. Cost: $15 donation. Call for appointments.
Greater Maple Valley Community Center, 22010 S.E. 248th St., Maple Valley. 425-432-1272. Activities include:
• Senior trips: 9 a.m. April 12, Tulip Festival and PACCAR Open House. Cost: $20. Trips depart from the community center. Reservations recommended.
• AARP Meeting: 1:30 p.m. April 14. Representative from the FCC will talk about the national switch to digital television in February 2009.
• Sock-knitting class: 10 a.m. Mondays through April 21. Cost: Free. Bring your own materials.
• Senior Lunch: Noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Cost: $3 donation.
Volunteers
Junior Youth Council: Eighth and ninth-graders in the Tahoma School District can be a part of a cool social group while planning fun events for other youths. Information: 425-432-1272.
Meals on Wheels: Meal-delivery program has openings for volunteer drivers and co-coordinators at sites throughout King County. Time commitment for drivers averages three hours once a week, with 35-cent reimbursement per mile. Coordinators may work one or two days a week, four to six hours total. 206-448-5767 or www.seniorservices.org.
Multiple Sclerosis Association of King County: MSA of King County is looking for people to assist those with MS in maintaining their independence and quality of life. People are needed to assist with water-therapy programs, visit isolated individuals, provide transportation, go shopping, do yard work or other household chores, teach computer skills and more. Volunteers are also needed to assist with an ongoing school-assembly program that educates elementary-school children about coping with the challenges of disabilities. 206-633-2606 or www.msakc.org.
Date Wise: Dating violence awareness program is recruiting for teen volunteer peer educators. 425-432-1272.