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Public Health
South King County students can still get free COVID shots and school-required vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccines and vaccinations required for school entry are still available to children through age 18 at no-cost vaccination events. Check Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Find a Clinic web page for a current list of places and times.
Each event will provide COVID-19 vaccines and boosters as well as all vaccines required for K-12 school entry—including Tdap, DTaP, MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, and polio. And every child who gets vaccinated at these clinics will receive two free tickets to a Seattle Storm home game, while supplies last!
These events are intended for children through age 18 living in south King County, as well as children who are uninsured, are experiencing homelessness, or who recently moved to the U.S. and do not have a health care provider. No one will be turned away for lack of insurance.
Please wear short sleeves and bring any vaccination records you may have from other states or countries. Language interpretation is available upon request.
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Animal services
Does your pet have “Collar ID”?
We all know how valuable Caller ID is on our mobile phones. The same holds true for having “Collar ID” on your pet.
A pet license from Regional Animal Services of King County not only provides identification that protects pets 24/7 if they get lost, but also helps fund King County's animal services program.
Last year, your RASKC (Regional Animal Services of King County) Shelter took in 3,763 lost pets. They were able to return 895 to their owners. Just think how many more might have been reunited with their families if they had been licensed.
Cats and dogs are legally required to be licensed in King County, and non-compliance could result in fines of up to $250.
Learn more or license online, or call 206-296-2712
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Natural Resources and Parks
There's still time for property owners with low incomes to apply for a Surface Water Management Fee discount
If you qualify as a low-income household and live on your own property in unincorporated King County, you may be eligible for a 50% discount on the annual surface water management fee on your land parcel(s).
Residents approved for the King County Senior Citizen and People with Disabilities Reduction in Property Taxes are already approved for this discount and do not need to apply.
The application period is August 1 through September 15 of each year. Learn more about the fee discount on the King County website, call 206-477-4800, or send email. Information about the discount is available online in English, Español | 한국어 | Af-Soomaali | русский | 中文 | Tiếng Việt (Spanish, Korean, Somali, Russian, Chinese, and Vietnamese).
Got Hazardous Waste? The Wastemobile can help!
King County's Wastemobile offers free, easy, convenient, and safe hazardous waste disposal. Residents and small businesses can drop off household hazardous waste such as oil-based paint, batteries, antifreeze, or pesticides to the Wastemobile at no cost.
The Wastemobile website offers a full schedule and instructions as well as complete lists of accepted items and quantity limits for households and eligible businesses.
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Public Health
Be smoke-ready in 4 steps
 Is it smoky out? Stay safe indoors. Breathing wildfire smoke particles can damage your health. Limit exercise, keep children and pets inside, and help at-risk neighbors.
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Check local air quality daily at PSCleanAir.org
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Stay indoors when air quality is:
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Orange (101–150 AQI): People with asthma or respiratory and heart conditions. Children and adults age 65+ may be at risk.
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Red, purple, and maroon (151 AQI and higher): Everyone
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Watch for symptoms of smoke exposure
- Move someone inside if they have a headache, sore throat or nose, cough, burning eyes, dizziness, or wheezing.
- Keep inhalers and medications ready.
- Call 911 if someone has shortness of breath or chest pain.
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Improve indoor air quality on smoky days
Learn more about wildfire smoke and your health at kingcounty.gov/wildfiresmoke
Get ready to renew your Medicaid or Apple Health insurance
Don’t risk a gap in your health insurance! Apple Health is the name for Medicaid in Washington. Apple Health is free or low-cost health insurance for those who qualify.
For the past three years, more than 100,000 King County residents kept Apple Health coverage without needing to reconfirm their eligibility every year. Because of the pandemic, those requirements were suspended. Now many clients will need to verify that they’re still eligible for Apple Health and submit a renewal.
Get ready to renew now! Follow these steps to help determine if you still qualify:
- Make sure your contact information is up to date.
- Check your mail for a renewal letter.
- Or complete your renewal online at WAHealthPlanFinder.org
Have questions? Need help?
Learn more: How to keep Medicaid Apple Health insurance as policies change – Public Health Insider
Community art murals installed at historic pet cemetery
 Photo by Julie Seitz
Three murals painted by community members during Kent Cornucopia Days were dedicated on August 9 by Washington State Representative Tina Orwall at the Seattle-Tacoma Pet Cemetery on Kent's West Hill. The two-part community art project (painting and dedication) was funded by a King County Alan Painter grant, the City of Kent Arts Commission, the Kent Community Foundation, and several area businesses.
Greater Maple Valley News
Area council submits comments to King County on proposed RV Park in Ravensdale
On August 6, the Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council submitted comments to King County's Permitting Division on a permit application to site a commercial facility in Ravensdale, in the Rural Area and in the Cedar River/Ravensdale Rural Forest Focus Area. The RV Park would have 49 campsites as well as parking, toilets and showers, a kitchen, an office, and an onsite store for campers.
The comments identified four key concerns: impacts to the Kent Wellhead Protection Area and Critical Aquifer Recharge Area; siting a high-density commercial enterprise in the Rural Area and the Rural Forest Focus Area; potential contamination from the on-site septic system; and traffic impacts on two-lane roads.
Read the comments on the Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council website.
—Submitted by Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary, Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council
Rural Area news
Joint Team of unincorporated area councils, associations, and organizations submits comments on King County’s Comprehensive Plan update
As part of its ongoing work on the King County Comprehensive Plan update, the joint team reviewed the public review draft released on June 1. On July 14, the team submitted 97 pages of comments to Comprehensive Plan Manager Chris Jensen. Topics included the following.
- How well the county follows its Guiding Principles
- Follow-through on policies defining “rural character”
- Environmental policies
- Policies to protect and enhance parks and open space
- The financial system for county roads
- Siting urban or urban-serving facilities and businesses in the Rural Area
- Implementation of policies and codes regarding permitting, land use, code enforcement, and other issues that affect development on, and uses of, parcels in the Rural Area
- Enforcement of growth targets
- Special-use, temporary-use, and conditional-use permits
- Permit exceptions
- Multi-family housing in rural towns.
- Creation of affordable housing.
The King County Executive will submit his recommended plan to the King County Council in December.
—Submitted by Peter Rimbos, Corresponding Secretary, Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council
:: Community Alliance to Reach Out and Engage
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
12819 160th Avenue SE, Renton
See blog for the latest information and to confirm meetings.
:: Enumclaw Plateau Community Association
Third Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
Muckleshoot Library (King County Library branch)
39917 Auburn Enumclaw Road SE, Auburn
Monthly board meetings are open to the public, and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. For more information email Nancy Merrill.
:: Fall City Community Association
First Tuesdays – Virtual meeting (7-8:30 pm)
The Fall City Community Association promotes building of community, proactively communicates on local issues, and takes action on selected issues that affect the Fall City community. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month, and are open to the public. For more information, visit fallcity.org or email send email.
:: Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council
Second Tuesdays – Virtual meeting via Zoom
Visit the website for the latest information and to confirm meeting dates and locations.
:: Greater Maple Valley Unincorporated Area Council
Monday, September 11, 7-9:30 pm – in person or via Zoom
Maple Valley Fire Station
22225 SE 231st St (across from the King County Sheriff’s Precinct #3)
Visit the website for the agenda, guest speakers, and Zoom information, which will be posted several days before the meeting.
:: Green Valley/Lake Holm Association
The Green Valley/Lake Holm Association advocates for those who live in unincorporated southeast King County. Primary goals are to maintain the community’s unique historic, agricultural, and rural character; protect the environment; and sustain quality of life in the area. They engage regularly with local government agencies to address concerns and influence policies on topics of mutual interest, such as growth and development, transportation, public safety, and flood control. Stay connected by visiting their Facebook page.
:: North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
Monthly board meetings are open to the public and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from local organizations. For more information, email Liz Giba.
:: Skywest Tool Library
Working to start a new tool library in Skyway. The purpose of the library will be to share ideas, teach, learn, and borrow tools and more. To learn more, email [email protected].
:: Upper Bear Creek Community Council
For information, call Nancy Stafford at 425-788-5841 or visit the Facebook page.
:: Vashon Chamber of Commerce
Send email or visit the website.
:: Vashon-Maury Community Council
Thursday, August 3, 7-8:30 pm – in person or via Zoom
Vashon Land Trust
10014 SW Bank Road, Vashon
Monthly board meetings are open to the public, and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. For more information visit the website.
:: West Hill Community Association
Meetings are in person or via Zoom
Skyway Fire District 20 Admin Building
12424 76th Avenue S, Seattle
Monthly board meetings are open to the public, and often feature guest speakers in addition to community reports and information from a variety of local organizations. For more information, send email or visit the website.
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