Utility bill assistance available
Puget Sound Energy assistance is available to customers living in the Black Diamond area.
The Black Diamond Community Center and the Salvation Army have appointments available for low income families, seniors or disabled persons.
Eligible households include those in Black Diamond, Ravensdale, Maple Valley, Covington and unincorporated Kent with the zip code 98042.
Call the center to make an appointment at 360-886-1011.
Up to $250 per household is available. Urgent notice or final notice must appear on a letter from PSE.
Interested in running for office?
The King County Elections office is hosting a series of candidate workshops for those interested in running for office.
Discussion topics include: offices up for election, how to become a candidate, filing fees, campaign signs, finance information and candidate statements for the voter’s pamphlet.
For a list of dates, times and locations, visit https://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections/for-candidates.aspx.
Covington calls for artists
The city of Covington along with the Covington Arts Commission is looking for submissions from local and regional artists to exhibit their artwork during the 2019 gallery season at city hall.
Displays run May through December. Selected artists will display for one month.
The deadline to apply is by 5 p.m. Thursday, April 4.
Submissions can be emailed to ppatterson@covingtonwa.gov. They can also be mailed or hand delivered to city hall at 16720 SE 271st St., Suite 100.
For details on how to apply, visit https://www.covingtonwa.gov/arts/covington_call_for_artists.php and click on 2019 Covington City Hall Art Gallery Call for Artists.
Library bingo night
The Maple Valley Library Guild is hosting a fundraiser March 29.
The bingo night will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Maple Valley Library.
Bingo cards are $2 and additional donations including books are also welcome.
Pre-order tickets by March 22 at maple.valley.library.guild@gmail.com.
Community members can also support the library by tying rewards programs including Amazon and Fred Meyer to the library guild.
To register for Amazon, visit Smile.Amazon.com and to register your Fred Meyer card, visit https://www.fredmeyer.com — click on Community Rewards on right side of page and enroll using either: Maple Valley Library Guild or LD 362.
Campaign reminds boaters to get educated
The Black Diamond police want boaters to be prepared as the upcoming season arrives.
During the national Spring Aboard campaign from March 17 through 23, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators along with other partners are aiming to educate boaters on safety before the season begins.
More information on boater education can be found online at www.boatered.org.
The Black Diamond police are also offering a free boater education training March 23 and again on April 20.
For more information, contact Officer Kris Chatterson at KChatterson@blackdiamondwa.gov.
5th District town halls this weekend
State legislators from the 5th Legislative District — Sen. Mark Mullet, Rep. Bill Ramos and Rep. Lisa Callan — will be hosting town halls Saturday, March 16.
The first is 10 a.m. at the Tahoma High School Performing Arts Center, 23499 SE Tahoma Way, Maple Valley.
The second at 12:30 p.m. is scheduled for Issaquah Blakely Hall and the final one of the day is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the North Bend Library.
We The People team honored
Tahoma’s We The People team was honored Feb. 27 at the Washington State Senate with a resolution sponsored by Sen. Mark Mullet and Sen. Mona Das — recognizing the team on the school’s 23rd state championship.
The team won the state competition Jan. 12 — the 10th consecutive win for Tahoma and the 23rd out of 25 years of competing.
Tahoma will represent the state at the national finals this spring.
Tahoma student serves as page
Mason Shankland, from Tahoma, served as a page in the Washington State House of Representatives, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Callan, D-Issaquah.
Pages take on a wide range of responsibilities including presenting the flag, distributing amendments on the House floor as well as drafting their own bills and participating in mock committee hearings.
