Dear Friends:

Today’s update includes information on grants for the Federal Way Boys and Girls Club, and the Seattle Sports Commission, the state’s new COVID-19 reopening plan, King County Parks Youth and Amateur Sports Grants, health updates and more.


Washington Trivia

How did Newcastle get its name?

(Answer is at the bottom).




Federal Way Boys and Girls Club childcare and recreation grants

I recently met with Federal Way Boys and Girls Club Area Director Brandee Paisano, Board President Bob Oliver, and Operations Director Duwayne Le’i to discuss the $20,000 grant the Federal Way Boys and Girls Club received from King County. The grant will help continue providing childcare services and recreation for our youth who have been adversely impacted by the pandemic.



With Bob Oliver, Brandee Paisano and Duwayne Le’i.


Governor Announces New COVID-19 Reopening Plan

Today, Gov. Jay Inslee and the state Department of Health announced a new reopening plan called Healthy Washington. The new plan, which starts as a two-phase plan, will allow regions to reopen upon meeting new metrics on hospitalization, case data and test positivity. The state will add more phases as the situation improves.

Regional assessment will be conducted weekly with analysis done each Friday. Transitions will be automatic per the recommendation of the state DOH, therefore there will be no application process unlike last year’s Safe Start Plan. All eight regions will begin in Phase 1 and in order to move to Phase 2, a region must meet the following four metrics:

• 10% decline in case rates
• 10% decline in coronavirus hospital admission rates
• Less than 90% ICU occupancy rates
• Less than 10% test positivity rate

The new Phase 2 will allow indoor dining and indoor fitness centers at 25% capacity, increased wedding and funeral capacity and sports competitions with limited spectators. Watch the press conference and read more in the King 5 News Article here.


Seattle Sports Commission Regional Athletic Events Bidding

Congratulations to the Seattle Sports Commission for receiving a $50,000 grant from King County for event bidding such as national, NCAA and PAC-12 championships. I was joined by Seattle Sports Commission President Beth Knox to discuss how the sports commission will utilize the grant to host these events and generate jobs in the hotel and restaurant industry in South King County.



With Beth Knox, Seattle Sports Commission President, at the King County Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center in Federal Way.


King County Parks Youth and Amateur Sports Grants

King County Parks is now accepting applications for youth sports capital projects and program grants. Read the grant program guidelines (PDF) and visit the online grant portal to start the application process.

• Capital Projects and Programs requesting $20,000 or more have a two-step application process and are required to submit a Letter of Interest through the online grant portal, due by noon on January 27th. Select applicants will be invited to submit full proposals.

• Programs requesting an Activation Grant of $15,000 or less are required only to submit an application through the online grant portal, due by noon on January 27th.




Weekly King County Health Update: Eating Your Way to a Healthier You

Recent surveys report that Americans’ top resolution for 2021 is better health. One essential ingredient to better health is good nutrition. Eating a well-rounded diet helps children to develop optimally and reduces the risk of chronic diseases (brain function deficits, obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers) in all age groups. Furthermore, a healthy diet can help people with chronic diseases avoid further complications. Eating nutritiously can be a simple and delicious way to a healthy and longer life.*

The CDC offers these healthy eating tips:

Add healthy fats – Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are essential to your brain and heart health and are found in foods such as olive oil and some fish. Try to incorporate more of these good fats into your diet and limit the amount of trans fats you consume.

Cut the sodium – Aim for the recommended 2,300 mg/day (approximately 1 tsp).

Bump up your fiber – Fiber helps keep you regular, feel fuller longer, control blood sugar, and lower cholesterol levels. Good sources are fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Read this for fiber sources.

Aim for a variety of colors on your plate – Essential vitamins, fiber, and minerals are found in colorful fruits and vegetables. Read here for good food sources.

*Access to nutritious foods can be a challenge. King County and community efforts offer these resources to King County residents.




King County Case Update

Today, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 232 new cases, bringing the total in King County to 65,144. In addition, Public Health reported 14 new deaths, bringing the total in the county to 1,110.









Stay In. Stay Healthy. Stay Strong.

Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember




Washington trivia answer:

Once known as one of the first coal mining areas and most successful coal mining towns in northwestern Washington due to its proximity to transportation routes, Newcastle was named after Newcastle upon Tyne in England, which was also a major coal mining area.

At one time, Newcastle had a larger population than Seattle and helped fuel the economic growth of Seattle and the region. It was eventually incorporated as a city on September 30, 1994.



Compiled by Cyndee Navarro of my office.