City of Federal Way employee Adrien Kimbrough checks out shoppers, weighing out their bags of clothing to track the results of the free clothing swap. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Life

Community Clothing Swap boosts wardrobes, cleans out closets

At least 36,000 pounds of clothing have been redistributed through 10 events.

Local farmers filled the market with vibrant fresh produce on opening day of the Federal Way Farmers Market. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Life

Photos: Federal Way Farmers Market opens for the 2025 season

Market runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through October at The Commons mall parking lot.

KEEP shares one last gift toward Camp Kilworth’s future at the grand opening on May 7. Camp Kilworth is located at 30900 50th Ave. SW, Federal Way, near Dash Point State Park. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

News

Camp Kilworth opens doors to connect a new generation

Summer camp registration is open now.

The Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) team’s two units at South King Fire includes social workers Tamara Liebich-Lantz and Lily Alfaro and Registered Nurses (RNs) Celi Moser and Maria Gorodyuk. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Life

Beyond 911: South King Fire unit helps vulnerable individuals

Mobile Integrated Health program adds second unit after completing first year.

Heaps of bright produce were on display at the Federal Way Farmers Market on Saturday, June 29. Photo by Bruce Honda.

Life

Federal Way Farmers Market opens for the season this weekend

Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10.

This year’s Easter Egg hunt at the Light of Christ Community Garden featured fun photoshoots with giant easter eggs. Photo by Shelley Pauls

News

Light of Christ Community Garden property is up for sale

After 15 years, the garden has generated thousands of pounds of produce while fostering community connections.

MSC’s Redondo Heights Food Bank. Photo credit: Clover Laine Photography

News

Multi-Service Center to close food bank due to funding issues

Food distribution will still occur, moving to the new Redondo Heights housing complex, but with a reduced staff.

4th grade students line up to wait their turn to release salmon at the Storming the Sound event this week. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Life

Federal Way fourth-graders release salmon into Hylebos Creek

Salmon tradition spawns lasting connections in city and school district.

Carol Grimes is a Master Gardener and works at the Neely Mansion, and is a member of the Marine Hills Garden Club. She picked up an order that included some herbs for the mansion’s kitchen garden. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Life

For Marine Hills Garden Club, giving is always in season

Many Marine Hills Garden Club members are also Master Gardeners.

Ken Blevens shared his support for the planned youth psychiatric facility after a Q-and-A with operator Emerald City Behavioral Health. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror.

News

Stand Up Federal Way hosts meeting about youth psychiatric facility

The community Q-and-A was a response to a city council decision process that public commentors and even members…

Example of a graphic rendering of ADU that’s used for Renton’s Permit Ready Accessory Dwelling Unit program. While ADUs are increasingly gaining popularity around the region as codes become less restrictive, the application of this building type in Federal Way is still fairly low. (Courtesy image)

News

Backyard cottages and more could soon be easier to build in Federal Way

City council will vote soon on changes to Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permitting.

Margaret Reyhner is Federal Way’s Hometown Hero for the month of April for her work to protect Steel Lake in Federal Way. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Life

Steel Lake steward does it all for the love of her community

Margaret Reyhner is the Mirror’s Hometown Hero for April 2025.

Rebecca Martin, CEO of the Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce, leads a meeting to create a task force in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be partially hosted in the region. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Business

Federal Way businesses strategize for FIFA 2026

The Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce hosts a task force to support preparations for next summer’s World…

Participants had the chance to see some examples of native plants like lupine and lavender at the South King Tool Library event on Saturday, April 5. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Life

Washington Native Plant Society gets their hands dirty in Federal Way

Group also hosts work parties at local parks.

Aerial photo from 2023 of the soccer fields and skate park near Steel Lake where the future operations and maintenance facility for the city’s parks department will be located. Photo courtesy of Bruce Honda

News

Maintenance facility’s public art budget sees challenge

The site is located next to Steel Lake Park on 28th Avenue South.

Many demonstrators spoke about the importance of protecting refugees and immigrants that make up much of the Federal Way community. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

News

Hundreds participate in Hands Off rally in Federal Way | Photos

It was part of a nationwide protest against the Trump administration’s actions and policies.

Councilmembers Jack Walsh and Jack Dovey consider the resolution to support Emerald City Behavioral Health, ultimately voting no. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

News

FW City Council supports youth psychiatric facility in split vote

In a surprise agenda item, a resolution was passed to support facility operator.

Mayor Jim Ferrell received an award of appreciation and an elaborate loaf of bread from the Ukrainian community of Federal Way at their event on March 30. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Life

‘Laskavo prosymo’ says Ukrainian Community of Federal Way

Group based in Federal Way wants to share culture and build connections.

Senior Advisor for Architecture Yuki Seda-Kane and Executive Project Director Linneth Riley-Hall for Sound Transit at the Federal Way downtown bus loop ribbon cutting on Wednesday, March 26. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

News

New bus loop opens for Federal Way riders

Federal Way Transit Center is now the Federal Way Downtown Station bus loop.

Paul Peterson, founder and CEO of OCD Anxiety Centers, licks a trash can as he describes how exposure and response prevention therapy can help people gain higher tolerance to triggers. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Business

Federal Way facility focuses on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center held an open house and ribbon cutting on March 20.