The Greater Maple Valley Area Council met October 5 at the Maple Valley Fire Station to discuss the potential redevelopment of Druids Glen Golf Course (376 acres) into a gated community of 75+ homes. The council approved a letter to King County urging protection of critical wetlands and ecosystems, including Covington Creek, and exploring preservation mechanisms like Conservation Futures Tax. The council also announced its 29th Annual Train Show October 17–18 in Ravensdale and the next monthly meeting November 2.
The Tahoma Band Boosters are hosting their Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tahoma High School’s west entrance (23100 SE Bear Blvd., Maple Valley). The event features food trucks, crafts, raffles, a bake sale, and live music—a festive way to support the band program and get your holiday shopping started.
Linda Connor Worley, 78, of Maple Valley, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2026. She was a dedicated teacher and 20-year volunteer at the Maple Valley Community Center Senior Program. A Celebration of Life will be held November 6 at noon at the Maple Valley Community Center, 22010 SE 248th St., with lunch served. In her memory, the family suggests donations to the Seattle Humane Society.
Taylor Creek Church in Maple Valley shares a spiritual reflection on life planning and faith. The piece, published in Voice of the Valley, invites readers to consider eternal preparedness alongside practical planning. Taylor Creek Church holds Sunday School at 9 AM and Worship at 10:15 AM at 21110 244th Ave. S.E., and welcomes visitors interested in learning more about their faith community.
Tahoma School District held a Financial Focus Group meeting on October 14 to discuss district finances. Since Tahoma School District serves Maple Valley families alongside other communities, this update affects local residents interested in school budgets and fiscal planning. Details and meeting materials are available through the district’s communications.
King County Council approved a sales tax increase taking effect January 1, affecting all King County residents including Maple Valley. The bump aims to increase emergency services funding. Voters did not weigh in on the decision, which was made solely by the county council.
King County Council voted 6–3 Tuesday to approve a 1-cent sales tax increase on $100 purchases starting January 1, supporting children and family services. The $10.3 million annual revenue will fund child care, youth mental health programs, and rental assistance. The council approved the increase without a voter referendum, drawing criticism from some members who favored the traditional approach of seeking public approval.
Leaders of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) will face the King County Council over nearly $17 million in missing, unrecoverable funds. The hearing will examine how the organization lost this significant amount of money. Since King County services and policies affect Maple Valley residents, this regional accountability matter may have broader implications for county spending and homelessness initiatives.
Valley Medical Center & Clinics, which serves over 625,000 residents across South King County including Maple Valley, has joined TPC Membership. This membership likely brings new benefits and partnership opportunities for the healthcare provider that serves our community. The move reflects the medical center’s commitment to expanding resources and services for local patients in our foothill area.
King County and Seattle leaders announced a nearly $17 million funding shortfall at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA), revealed by an independent review through July 31. The deficit stems from administrative spending that outpaced grant revenue as service providers used less funding than anticipated. County and city officials pledged to address the shortfall over several years while maintaining homelessness services, though some council members are calling to dissolve the agency entirely.
Two South King County schools have canceled their varsity football seasons due to safety concerns. Both districts are working to arrange junior varsity competition for the rest of the season to ensure players still get game experience. While the specific schools aren’t named in this report, the cancellations affect multiple programs in the region serving Maple Valley families.
King County Council appointed Stuart Robinson, an FBI veteran with 26 years of federal service, as the county’s first inspector general for a five-year term. Robinson will lead a new oversight office investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in county programs and contracts—part of broader reforms following audits that uncovered nearly $700,000 in questionable spending across community organizations. The office will operate a fraud hotline, issue subpoenas, and protect whistleblowers, with Robinson saying the setup will take several months to fully staff and operationalize.
King County Council approved a 0.01% sales tax increase in a 6–3 vote Tuesday to fund emergency shelter and services for homeless children and families. The tax adds one penny per $100 purchase, is expected to raise up to $10 million annually over three years, and takes effect January 1. Maple Valley residents will see this reflected in county-wide sales tax, though individual cities can enact their own version to prevent double taxation.
Voice of the Valley explores Jim Hawk’s ambitious 1983 proposal to expand Lake Sawyer’s development with Palmer Coking Coal Company, envisioning 55 additional waterfront lots through dredging and canal systems. Though the project never materialized due to environmental laws like the Clean Water Act and Shoreline Management Act, Hawk later built Jade Greens Golf Course on S.E. Lake Holm Road east of Auburn in 1990, which operated for 27 years before closing in 2016. The article credits photo enhancements to Boomers Photography of Maple Valley.
King County Council voted 7–2 Tuesday to oppose two statewide ballot initiatives: Initiative 638 on school sports and Initiative 001 on parental access to student information. Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda led the effort, with Councilmembers Reagan Dunn and Pete von Reichbauer dissenting. While the county’s position doesn’t decide the initiatives, it signals King County’s official stance ahead of November’s voter decision.
Tahoma National Cemetery is underway with Phase 3 expansion, a major $80 million project in its northwest quadrant set to finish in July 2027. The 43-acre development will add ten interment sections and a new loop road, creating 28,914 additional gravesites including traditional burials, green burial options, and columbaria. The expansion extends the cemetery’s capacity through 2060, ensuring it continues serving veterans and families for roughly 35 more years.
King County’s Transportation District voted 5-4 on Friday to impose a 0.1% sales tax on county residents starting January 1, 2027, raising roughly $100 million annually for road and bridge maintenance. Maple Valley residents will see this tax on their sales receipts; the vote happened without a public ballot, despite county voters rejecting an identical tax proposal in 2014. The Roads Division faces a $200 million annual shortfall and needs the revenue, but the board proceeded without asking voters again.
South County Fire District advanced a $420 million bond measure to the November ballot Tuesday. The commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with the proposal, which would fund new fire stations, station replacements, and seismic upgrades across the service area that includes Maple Valley.
Daylight saving time ends on November 1, 2026 at 2 AM — remember to turn your clocks back one hour. This annual reminder affects all Maple Valley residents, so mark your calendars and don’t miss the extra hour of sleep!
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority faces renewed scrutiny after a review found a nearly $17 million funding shortfall that Seattle and King County taxpayers must cover. The agency overspent its budget based on grant money it failed to secure after not meeting service goals. Seattle Councilmember Maritza Rivera and King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski are calling to dissolve the agency, citing years of mismanagement and five CEO changes since its inception.