Health insurance assistance

Have health insurance questions? A volunteer from the statewide health insurance benefit advisers will be available on the third Tuesday of each month at the Black Diamond Community Center. They will help with any questions and guide through health insurance plans available. Appointments are necessary. They are available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. To set up an appointment call the community center at 360-886-1011.

Property taxes due beginning of May

The first half of 2016 property taxes are due by May 2. If payment is submitted after the date, charges and penalties will be added to the tax bill. There are several ways to pay that King County has provided. Payments can be made online at www.kingcounty.gov/propertytax in the online eTax application. Payments can be made by mail with a check or money order, but has to be postmarked by May 2. Taxpayers should include their tax statement and write the property tax account number on the check or money order. King County Community Service Centers and the King County Administration Building also accept payments in person. To find the nearest King County Community Service Center, visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSC.

King County earth heroes

Students, teachers and others will be honored with the King County earth heroes at School ceremony on May 5. Earth heroes inspire others to create projects that conserve resources, protect the environment and educate others about how simple actions can contribute to a healthier planet.

Tahoma High School Green Team member, Molly Bricker will be honored at the ceremony. Bricker is a teaching assistant in the special education classroom.

She trained special education students to answer questions about recycling, composting and proper sorting of waste during lunchtime. Her efforts contributed significantly to the school’s waste reduction success.

We the People placed at nationals

At the April 25 Maple Valley city council meeting, Mayor Sean P. Kelly announced that Tahoma High School’s We The People team placed 9th in the country at the National’s competition in Washington, D.C.

On Jan. 9 the team earned the honor of representing Washington state at the national competition. The team has been working hard since June 2015 for their competitions.

Last year, they also qualified for national’s and they finished in fourth place. 2016 was their fourth time they qualified for National’s. Only the top 10 teams in the country qualify.

Robotics team heads to nationals

After a stressful season, nothing could keep the Tahoma High School’s Robotic’s team from qualifying for the FIRST Robotic’s championship in St. Louis, Missouri.

Their robot was stolen earlier in the season, but was returned. The team worked hard to make it to the championship despite some setbacks.

Teams from around the world competed on April 27-30. Including 79 teams from other countries and 17,000 youth from across the nation attended.

The teams have been competing since the beginning of February. Their mission was posted in January and the teams had six weeks to build their robot before competitions started.

Maple Valley Area Council meeting

The monthly meeting of the Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on May 2 at the Maple Valley Fire Station. Community members are encouraged to attend and can address the Area Council on any issue during the open comment period. The Area Council advocates issues of local importance to King County. For more information on the Area Council, visit www.greatermaplevalleyareacouncil.org

45th annual plant sale dates moved

The annual spring plant sale is moving from May 6 and 7 to April 29 and 30.

“Due to a conflict with the Master Gardeners plant sale, which is scheduled on Mother’s Day weekend this year,” says longtime coordinator Colby Collier, “we are moving our plant sale one week earlier than our traditional dates, this one time.”

This is the 45th annual plant sale, an important fundraising event. The event benefits the Lake Wilderness Arboretum Foundation. It is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on April 29 at the Arboretum nursery. On April 30 it is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the nursery as well. It features a variety of native and specialty plants, garden accessories and crafts for sale. Parking is free for the event. Arboretum staff and Master Gardener volunteers will be available to answer any questions. Free Arboretum garden tours will be available throughout the day.