April 14, 2025

Illahee Middle School Students Visit City Hall

Sixth grade students from Illahee Middle School visited City Hall last week. They had a question and answer session with Judge Dave Larson in the courtroom, a meeting with Mayor Jim Ferrell, a visit to the City Council Chambers with City Administrator Brian Davis, and a meeting with Police Chief Andy Hwang before receiving a tour of the police department.

The 11 students who participated in the tour were members of Illahee’s “boys’ group” that helps students build self-esteem and learn how to present themselves. The visit was an opportunity for them to get an up-close-look at their local city government in action. 

Congratulations Finance Course Graduates

The City of Federal Way congratulates the participants of the nine-week Ramsey Financial Peace University facilitated financial management course and the Mujer Al Volante "Driving My Finances" course.

More than 30 Federal Way residents participated in the Ramsey course (pictured left), while another 22 participated in the Mujer Al Volante classes (pictured right). These kinds of opportunities provide Federal Way residents with the tools to succeed financially both personally and professionally.

Youth Commission Hosts Car Wash Fundraiser at Community Center

The Federal Way Youth Commission hosted a car wash fundraiser on Saturday at the Federal Way Community Center. All proceeds support the FirStep scholarship, which funds one recreational program or a three-month Community Center membership for eligible students in grades 6-12.

The Youth Commission is a youth-driven body dedicated to fostering future opportunities for the youth of Federal Way. The commission advises the City Council and the community on matters concerning youth policies, initiatives, and pathways.

Civic-minded residents in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply for the Youth Commission if interested in filling one of the vacant positions. Visit our Youth Commission webpage for more information and eligibility requirements.

Mayor Ferrell Attends Vaisakhi Sikh Community Celebration

Mayor Jim Ferrell attended the Vaisakhi Sikh Community Celebration on Saturday. It included a religious parade that walked along the roads around the former Weyerhaeuser Campus. The parade began at and was hosted by the Khalsa Gurmat Center on 344th Street as part of the organization’s Sajana Diwas events.

Vaisakhi is about celebrating the harvest as well as the birth of Sikhism.

Mayor Ferrell Speaks at St. Luke's Men's Breakfast

Mayor Jim Ferrell spoke at the St. Luke's Lutheran Church's monthly men’s breakfast on Saturday morning. It was an opportunity to talk about the important issues we’re facing in Federal Way and answer questions from attendees.

Mayor Ferrell is incredibly proud about where we’ve been as a city and very optimistic about where we’re going. The meeting was a great opportunity to share our progress and future.

Public Works Hosts Mattress and Tire Recycling Event

Federal Way residents didn’t sleep on the free recycling event at the South King Tool Library this past Saturday. Our Drive-Thru Mattress and Tire Recycling event was a the perfect opportunity to recycle mattresses and tires in an environmentally-friendly manner.

More than 370 cars came through the event and residents recycled 127 mattresses and 326 tires.

Our Environmental Services team hosts recycling events throughout the year. It’s the best way to be sure you are disposing of various items in a way that keeps Federal Way green. Visit our Community Events page to find out when the next recycling event will be hosted in Federal Way.

Featured Upcoming Event

Free Financial Literacy Classes

The City of Federal Way is partnering with community volunteers and the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University to offer a free nine-week course teaching financial skills for Federal Way residents.

The classes will be held every Thursday from April 16 through June 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Federal Way Community Center.

Free child care is available for class participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

FWPD Corporal Mickelsen Receives Life-Saving Award

Federal Way Police Department (FWPD) Corporal Chris Mickelsen recently received the department’s Life-Saving Award for his actions to a “CPR in Progress” call in December.

Upon arrival at the scene, Corporal Mickelsen located a male on the ground experiencing a medical emergency and receiving CPR from another individual. Corporal Mickelsen assessed the victim and recognized he had no pulse, was not breathing, and had a bluish hue to his lips.

Recognizing this as a drug overdose, Corporal Mickelsen administered one dose of Narcan nasal spray to the victim. He began CPR compressions for about 90 seconds until the victim responded with a sudden, deep breath.

The victim’s pulse was restored and Corporal Mickelsen rolled him to a recovery position until fire personnel arrived. The victim regained consciousness and ultimately survived the ordeal due to the quick thinking and fast action of Corporal Mickelsen.

Native Plant Appreciation Month

Native plants are naturally occurring plants in an area that benefit the entire ecosystem. In the Puget Sound, we have many beautiful native plants, including cedars, huckleberries, and sword ferns, to name a few. This spring, consider gardening with native plants- not only do they attract native wildlife, they also help reduce pesticide, fertilizer, and water use. For more tips on native plants and natural yard care, visit King County Hazardous Waste.

April 15 City Council Meeting

What’s Next: The Federal Way City Council meets Tuesday, April 15, 2025, for a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.

How to Attend: Attend in person at Federal Way City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S. or watch live on Zoom, the City's YouTube channel, or FW Channel 21.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Parks Appreciation Day April 26

Join us for Parks Appreciation Day on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to noon.

We will be hosting volunteer events at three different locations, so grab your gloves and help with planting, weeding, and cleanup to make a lasting impact in our green spaces.

Plan to pitch in at one of the following sites:

• Site 1: Brooklake Blueberry Farm (726 S. 356th St.)
• Site 2: Steel Lake Annex (2645 S. 312th St.)
• Site 3: Celebration Park (1095 S. 324th St.)

Pre-register online if you plan to attend!

Free Senior Lunch Program at Federal Way Community Center

FREE! SENIOR LUNCH PROGRAM

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Lunch served at noon)

Second Wednesday of each month.

Seniors are invited to drop in for a FREE monthly lunch—no registration required! Enjoy a nutritious meal in partnership with Steel Lake Presbyterian Church and the Federal Way Community Center.

Upcoming 2025 Dates: April 9, May 14, June 18, July 16, August 20.

Located at the Federal Way Community Center.

Community Clothing Swap May 10

Join us for a free community clothing swap on Saturday, May 10, at the South King Tool Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Drop off your adult clothing, accessories and shoes and take home amazing and new-to-you items while helping reduce textile waste.

Items should be clean, usable, and seasonably appropriate (for Spring/summer). Items on hangers appreciated. Donations are not required to shop, and all items not claimed will go to local non-profits for reuse and recycling.

Senior Health and Resource Fair on May 15

The Senior Advisory Commission is hosting a free Senior Health and Resource Fair on Thursday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Performing Arts and Event Center.

The event will feature more than 50 vendors from local organizations with special ties to the senior community. All ages – especially seniors – are welcome.

Watch the video recap of last year's event for more information.

BonsaiFEST on May 10 & 11

Join Pacific Bonsai Museum this World Bonsai Day/Mother's Day Weekend, May 10 & 11, for its annual BonsaiFEST! — a free, family-friendly celebration featuring hundreds of meticulously crafted living artworks.

Shop for your own bonsai treasures, enjoy delicious food truck offerings, and let the kids unleash their creativity at the games and art station. Free parking is available across from the museum at the Garden Parking Lot

Earth Day Celebration at the PAEC April 19

The Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center (PAEC) is hosting All the World's a Stage, a free Earth Day Celebration, on Saturday, April 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The event is a fun, family-friendly celebration of nature and creativity with hands-on crafts, exciting entertainment, and more!

Bring the whole family and celebrate the beauty of nature, art, creativity, and community.

Paid vendor spots are still available.

PAEC Upcoming Events

The Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center (PAEC) puts on a wide variety of events year round. Upcoming events include:

• April 17: BYU-Idaho Symphony Band Presents "Symphonic Soundscapes"
• April 19: All the World's a Stage - Community Earth Day Event
• April 26: State of Ballet Theatre of Ukraine's Swan Lake
• April 30: Living the Braveheart Life: An Evening with Randall Wallace
• May 4: Ode to Joy: Presented by Auburn Symphony

Visit the PAEC event calendar page for a full list of upcoming events.

Trouble in Mind at Centerstage Theater

Centerstage Theatre is putting on "Trouble in Mind" March 28 through April 20 at the Knutzen Family Theater located at 3200 SW Dash Point Rd.

Taking place entirely in a rehearsal space in an old New York theatre, "Trouble in Mind" brings us up close and personal with a group of artists working to open a new Broadway show. Themes of race, class, gender, and whether and when to separate the art from the artist are as poignant and critical now as they were when the show was first written.

General Admission Tickets are $36 in advance (online or over the phone) and $39 at the door. Student, Military, and Senior Ticket discounts are available. More details available online or by phone at 253-661-1444. 

Fermín’s Great Book of Dreams at Centerstage Theater

Centerstage Theatre is putting on "Fermín’s Great Book of Dreams" April 5-19 at the Knutzen Family Theater located at 3200 SW Dash Point Rd.

"Fermín’s Great Book of Dreams" is an original play by local playwright Julieta Vitullo. It tells the story of a young boy who struggles with belief when he doesn’t receive a visit from Ratón Pérez, a mouse that visits children after they lose a tooth and exchanges the tooth for a gift.

Tickets are $15 in all ages (online or over the phone). More details available online or by phone at 253-661-1444. 

Federal Way Symphony Season

Established in 1983, the Federal Way Symphony has provided our community with high-quality, professional music for more than 40 years.

Performances are held at the Performing Arts & Event Center. The Federal Way Symphony is currently inviting those interested to buy a ticket to attend performances for their current season, titled "Cosmic Melodies."

Visit the Federal Way Symphony website to view their full calendar listing and to purchase tickets.