News from and about King County… from health updates to community news affecting our daily lives.

Dear Friends:

Today’s update includes news about the recipient of this year's MLK Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service Award, the South King County Scholar Athlete Breakfast with Mariners President Jerry Dipoto, King County's Comprehensive Plan Survey, a Free Mobile Shredding Event in Federal Way, the MLB All-Star Game, crime and health updates, and more.


Washington Trivia

This Pacific Northwest local invented the down parka and patented the first quilted down jacket, as well as the badminton shuttlecock that we know today. Who was he?
(Answer is at the bottom).







Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service Award

On June 6th, I awarded Catherine Carlile with the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service, an award that recognizes individuals whose work has answered the question asked by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “What are you doing for others?”

Catherine Carlile has responded to Dr. King’s question, “What are you doing for others?” through her leadership at the Looking Out Foundation, which supports social justice and humanitarian causes across the United States and globally, including raising funds to help disaster-stricken communities recover from devastating natural events.

The foundation’s most recent campaigns include raising over $300,000 in seven days for earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey, as well as raising over $500,000 as part of Nashville’s Love Rising benefit.

Despite their international work and success, Catherine and her family have chosen to make South King County their home. Although Catherine retains her English accent, she has adopted the Northwest value of looking back and giving back.



With Catherine and Brandi Carlile and their children Evangeline and Elijah


South King County Scholar Athlete with Mariners President Jerry Dipoto

Seattle Mariners President Jerry Dipoto hit home runs at Auburn’s Emerald Downs with softball and baseball teams from South King County school districts. He spoke about the holistic programs they offer to the Mariners baseball players, which contribute to their success on and off the baseball field. An inspiring speaker, great food and an incredible auction helped raise money for local high school sports.



(Clockwise) With Mission Africa Leaders, Seattle Mariners President Jerry Dipoto, Thomas Jefferson High School Coach Joseph Townsend and Baseball Team, Auburn School District Superintendent Dr. Alan Spicciati and son Andrew, and Decatur High School Softball Team


King County Asks for Public Input on its Comprehensive Plan

From June 1-July 15, King County residents have a once-a-decade opportunity to offer their input and make significant changes to the updates proposed for the Comprehensive Plan, a document that guides where people live, work, and play in unincorporated communities outside of city limits.

The Comprehensive Plan drives county decisions and planning for services in unincorporated areas such as where homes, offices, or stores can be built; how roads, buildings, and trees contribute to the look and feel of neighborhoods; investments in transit, sewers, and parks; protection of working farms and forests; and access to clean water, clean air, and a healthy environment.

There are additional opportunities to share your input and suggest changes to the proposed updates. Your input is critical to shape the proposals that matter most to your neighborhood. Take a survey.

For questions or comments, please email CompPlan@kingcounty.gov or visit kingcounty.gov/CompPlan.




Free Mobile Shredding Event in Federal Way

On Saturday, June 24th, I will be hosting a free professional shredding event at the Performing Arts and Event Center in Federal Way from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Please prepare your piles of paper, unsolicited mail, and any other documents for free shredding.




Non-Profit Corner

South King County may not have the same large benefactors that Seattle does, but our non-profits work just as hard to help people and good causes in our region. Below are a couple places where your donations go a long way:

Auburn Valley Humane Society 
https://www.auburnvalleyhs.org/ 

Multi-Service Center Food Bank  
https://mschelps.org/getinvolved/donations/  

Bridging A Gap Weekend Feeding Program 
https://www.bridgingagapfw.org/get-involved/adopt-a-school/

Federal Way Kiwanis: 67th Annual Salmon Bake 2023
July 28th, 4:00 pm | Steel Lake Park
https://federalwaykiwanis.square.site/




MLB All-Star Game

In a few weeks, Seattle will welcome the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, one of the biggest annual sporting events in the country. To view the schedule of events lined up from July 7th through July 11th and buy tickets, click here.




Crime and Law Enforcement Updates

This update is intended to inform you about what is happening in our communities and where. My hope is that this information will not only make us better informed, but also provide us with solutions for how we can address the issues facing our community as we move forward. Click the following links to see crime information in Auburn, Federal Way, and all of King County.

To report illegal street racing in your neighborhood, dial 911.



For a detailed 2022 end-of-year law enforcement officers fatalities report, click here. For a complete list of benefits for public safety officers and survivors as shared by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), click here.



This quarterly gun violence data report from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is the most comprehensive and consistent firearm violence analysis available in King County. The report helps inform prevention and intervention strategies designed to reach individuals the data suggests are most at risk of firearm violence victimization.


King County COVID-19 Case Update

Yesterday, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 52 daily average positive cases, bringing the total in King County to 560,610. In addition, Public Health reported 0.1 daily average deaths, bringing the total in the county to 3,569.

For more information on the latest data, visit the King County COVID Daily Summary Dashboard here.



Vaccine Locator: To find COVID-19 vaccine appointments, visit Vaccine Locator.

For King County residents: Register here to schedule your appointment at one of the high-volume vaccination sites in King County.

For in-home vaccination: Call 206-477-3977, press option 3.

For veterans: Call 1-800-698-2411 or visit www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine.

For more information, visit getting vaccinated or getting tested in King County.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat https://988lifeline.org/ to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Find your King County Council district here.


With best wishes,

Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember




Washington trivia answer:

Born on Orcas Island in 1899, Eddie Bauer developed a deep love for the outdoors at an early age. When he was 20, he opened his own retail business called Eddie Bauer’s Sport Shop.

In 1923, Bauer was on a winter fishing trip in Washington when he developed hypothermia. This near-death experience inspired him to develop alternatives to the heavy wool outer garments that he and most sportsmen used at the time. He bought $25 worth of goose down and began experimenting. The down was light weight and insulating, but bulky, so he tamed the bulkiness by adding quilting. He made several jackets for himself and his friends.

In 1936, Bauer introduced the “Skyliner”, a quilted, down-filled jacket that became standard gear for outdoorsmen and patented the first quilted down jacket. Jim Whittaker of Seattle wore one when he became the first American to climb Mount Everest in 1963. Additionally, Bauer’s company was the first independent company the U.S. Army allowed to use a logo on the Army-issued uniform. He provided thousands of flying suits known as “Eddie Bauer B-9 Flight Parkas” and sleeping bags for servicemembers stationed in Alaska and Europe.

Bauer is quite the inventor. He played a role in popularizing badminton in the U.S. with his reverse-engineered and patented shuttlecock using goose feathers and cork, replacing the expensive European “birdies”, and called it “The Bauer Shuttlecock”.

Eddie Bauer continued to live in Bellevue and died of a heart attack at Bellevue’s Overlake Hospital in 1986.



Photo source: gearpatrol.com

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