The Maple Valley Food Bank is hosting an adult-only Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 5–7:30 p.m. at Cedar Lodge. Community members and local businesses can bring decorated trunks to compete for prizes, while ticket holders ($20–$160) enjoy treats, drinks, games, and a chance to win Best Costume. Both indoor and outdoor options will be available.
Pierce Transit presented a major service expansion plan Monday that would increase bus service by 40% if voters approve a 0.3% sales tax increase this November. The plan includes four new routes, more frequent service across the system, and expanded evening hours. Without new funding, Pierce Transit faces a financial crisis starting in 2027, potentially forcing service cuts by 2031. The agency will hold community engagement sessions in early June before the board votes on the package by July.
Seattle’s City Council approved a new Seattle Transit Measure in July that would double Metro bus funding from $50 million to $100 million over 10 years if voters approve a 0.3 percent sales tax this November. The measure includes a council amendment prioritizing overnight bus service expansion, which could benefit workers and late-night travelers across the region, though it remains unclear how much funding will specifically go to nighttime routes.
Trailhead Direct, King County Metro’s shuttle service connecting Seattle hikers to popular trailheads along the I-90 corridor, is returning in 2026 with Seattle Transit Measure funding covering 50% of operating costs. The service offers a “Park. Ride. Hike.” model that lets outdoor enthusiasts access five hiking destinations without driving to the trailhead. While based in Seattle, the service may appeal to Maple Valley residents exploring regional hiking options via public transit.
Seattle City Council unanimously approved a renewed transit funding measure Tuesday that will go to November voters. The measure doubles the sales tax rate from 0.15% to 0.3%, generating about $138 million annually to add roughly 100,000 bus trips per year and expand subsidized transit passes for low-income residents. While Seattle’s measure could indirectly affect regional transit planning, it primarily funds Seattle-specific service and doesn’t directly impact Maple Valley.
An opinion piece in The Urbanist proposes using tax-increment financing (TIF) to help fund Sound Transit’s stalled Ballard Light Rail extension, which faces a $7–9 billion funding gap. The author analyzes King County property data from 2018–2027 to show land values around existing light rail stations have appreciated significantly, and argues that capturing a portion of future value increases around a new Ballard station could generate up to $2.59 billion over 30 years toward the project.
Everett and Community Transit are restarting talks to merge Everett Transit into the larger countywide agency, potentially doubling bus funding in Everett from 0.6% to 1.2% sales tax. Both the Everett City Council and Community Transit board will consider an interlocal agreement this fall, which could increase all-day frequent service routes from 3 to 14 and evening service routes from 3 to 15 if approved.
Wild Waves Theme Park in Covington is closing its water park operations permanently, though the amusement park will reopen September 26 for BooVille and Fright Fest before the entire facility shuts down November 1. While not in Maple Valley, the regional attraction has been a summer destination for many foothill families.
Seattle completed a $4 million Denny Way improvement project in late August that added a dedicated bus lane for Route 8, which serves 7,000 daily riders between Seattle Center and Capitol Hill Station. Early September data shows Route 8’s eastbound on-time performance reached 78.2%, a significant improvement from 53.1% in June and the best monthly performance since the pandemic. Mayor Katie Wilson participated in a symbolic race against the bus to highlight the improvements.
Sound Transit announced Thursday that West Seattle Link light rail will open in 2035, three years later than the previous 2032 estimate. The board’s System Expansion Committee approved $765 million for property acquisitions to begin the project, with the full board voting August 27. The delay stems from design complexities, including a challenging bridge crossing over the Duwamish River, though the agency says cost-saving measures totaling $2+ billion have been implemented.
Hotel workers at Embassy Suites in downtown Seattle’s Pioneer Square have been on strike since June 18, marking Washington’s longest hotel strike in history. Through UNITE HERE Local 8, workers are demanding roughly $3 hourly raises over two years, year-round health insurance, and ICE notification procedures. The strike involves about 7,000 hospitality workers across Oregon and Washington, with King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson expected to join a Labor Day rally on September 7.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay joined striking workers at the Embassy Suites in Pioneer Square on Labor Day to support their fight for higher wages, year-round healthcare, and immigration protections. The strike, which began June 18, is now the longest hotel strike in Washington history, with 117 workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 8 seeking $3-per-hour raises over two years while management has offered $5.35 spread over five years.
Sound Transit announced that Seattle’s Pinehurst light rail station will open September 30, 2026, between Northgate and South Shoreline stations. The elevated station will serve both the 1 and 2 lines with an estimated 3,400 daily boardings and trains arriving every four to five minutes. The opening coincides with University of Washington fall quarter classes and features station art by Seattle-based artist Romson Bustillo.
Mark Ryan Winery owner Mark McNeilly shares his personal story and interests in a 425 Magazine profile. Starting as a waiter in Kirkland in 1999, McNeilly built his garage winery project into a successful operation with tasting rooms in Woodinville and Walla Walla, now selling across the U.S. and beyond. The profile highlights his journey, favorite local spots, and sources of inspiration from music and family.
Harbor Island Studios, a publicly-owned film production facility in Seattle, has new operators: Kirk Nordenstrom and Kris Flink from the nonprofit CREATE48. King County Executive Girmay Zahilay announced the transition Tuesday, giving the 117,000-square-foot studio with two sound stages another temporary reprieve. However, the lease ends June 30, 2027, and the county plans to eventually sell the property, leaving the studio’s long-term future uncertain.
Seattle’s Independent Bookstore Day, running April 25–May 3, 2026, expanded to 33 participating bookstores across the region. The event, held over ten days to reduce crowding, invites readers to collect passport stamps at participating shops. While the article focuses on a Seattle-based transit challenge, the bookstores span multiple counties and communities, including some in neighboring areas like Bremerton, Poulsbo, and Edmonds.