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

Dear Friends:

Today’s update includes news about our "Good Eggs" Breakfast with U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, PNW's Official Major League Cricket Team Name and Logo, the Lower Russell Levee Setback Project and Van Doren’s Landing Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, our Free Mobile Shredding Event in Federal Way, King County's Comprehensive Plan Survey, gas prices, crime and health updates, and more.




Washington Trivia

This Western Washington University Alum invented Pictionary. Who is he?
(Answer is at the bottom).




“Good Eggs” Breakfast with U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier

At this month’s Good Egg’s Breakfast, we were joined by Congresswoman (and Doctor) Kim Schrier, whose congressional district includes portions of King, Pierce, Snohomish, Chelan, Douglas, and Kittitas counties. She spoke to the importance and prevalence of bipartisanship, despite the rhetoric we see on the news, and how those efforts have advanced legislation that work to end hunger in America by supporting food banks and food programs in schools. She also mentioned how she is working to create stronger ties to her community, especially with local government, to improve outcomes for her constituents.



(Top) With U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro, Des Moines Deputy Mayor Traci Buxton, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, and Kent Councilmember Toni Troutner; (Bottom) Local Business Leader David Malik and Auburn Food Bank Executive Director Debbie Christian


PNW’s Official Major League Cricket Team Name and Logo Reveal Party

It was great being a part of the name and logo announcement of our Pacific Northwest Region’s newest professional team, the Seattle Orcas, one of the six Major League Cricket teams in the United States. The name and logo were officially unveiled to local officials, business leaders, boosters, and youth cricket organizations that have been working to establish the Orcas in Seattle. It was as an honor to have been recognized by the families behind the team for my work in supporting the second most popular sport of the world.



(Left) With Phani Chitneni, Seattle Thunderbolts Managing Partner and General Manager, and Jagan Nemani, Major League Cricket Head of Academies and Head of Technology; (Right) Vijay Beniwal, Seattle Thunderbolts Cricket Co-owner, and David Malik, local business leader


Lower Russell Levee Setback Project and Van Doren’s Landing Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Parks, like the updated Van Doren’s Landing in Kent, give families and individuals a space to gather and relax. I was pleased to see the King County Flood Control District’s partnership with the City of Kent and the Muckleshoot Tribe to ensure the Lower Russell Levee Setback Project succeed as an important community asset, rain, or shine, for people and habitat. The total cost was $58 million, with the Flood Control District paying $48 million.



I joined Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, Former Mayor Suzette Cook, King County Flood Control District Chair Reagan Dunn, Supervisor Dave Upthegrove, and Executive Director Michelle Clark, and other civic leaders for the ribbon cutting ceremony.



The Muckleshoot Tribe were great partners in this project, represented by Warren KingGeorge, Muckleshoot Fishing Commissioner.


Free Mobile Shredding Event

On June 24th, over 200 vehicles lined up for my first post-covid shredding event at the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center parking lot. Whether it was old financial papers, personal notes or unnecessary family files, people lined up early to dispose of them at the PAEC to help fight identity theft.




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.

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.




Washington Gas Prices Now Highest in U.S

Last week, Washington dethroned California as the state with the most expensive gasoline, exceeding $5 a gallon last week. Some experts think the surge is linked to the new climate legislation, specifically the new carbon-pricing program launched this year that charges businesses for the greenhouse gases they emit. Other experts say oil companies are choosing to pass on the compliance fees to consumers, which add up to about 50 cents per gallon. Read more in the Seattle Times article here.




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

Next week, 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.

To report the sale and use of consumer fireworks in unincorporated King County, call 206-848-0800 or file a violations report online.



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.


Health Updates

Two King County Beaches Closed Due to Fecal Bacteria

Due to high fecal bacteria levels, West Seattle’s Lincoln Park Beach and Kirkland’s Juanita Beach are currently shut down. The King County Environmental Lab oversees testing the water at 27 beaches, including Juanita Beach. For more information about lake swimming beach bacteria and temperature, click here.



King County COVID-19 Case Update

Yesterday, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 53 daily average positive cases, bringing the total in King County to 561,400. In addition, Public Health reported 0.3 daily average deaths, bringing the total in the county to 3,574.

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:

Robert Angel, an American board game inventor, created the popular word guessing game Pictionary in 1985. Angel was born in Vancouver, Canada and moved to Spokane, Washington with his family when he was five years old. He attended Joel Ferris High School and went on to Western Washington University and graduated in 1981 with a degree in Business and Economics while also working as a waiter.

After graduation, Rob spent five months throughout Europe backpacking and upon his return to Spokane, he moved in with three high school friends, which is when Pictionary was first conceived. After work, he would gather with friends to play a version of the game that required each player to randomly locate a word in the dictionary, then sketch it for his teammates.

In 1984, Rob moved to Seattle and found his old notes of the game. After a few tests with his family, he went into his backyard and read the entire Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate dictionary to compile the original word list. His business partners Terry Langston and Gary Everson joined the company, and they produced the first 1,000 games in his apartment. He called it Pictionary (Pictures + Dictionary). They first published Pictionary in 1985 through Angel Games and managed to sell 6,000 copies in one year at $35 each. They licensed the game in 1986 in a joint venture between Western Publishing and The Games Gang. In 2001, Pictionary was sold to Mattel and at that time a total of 32 million games sold worldwide.

Rob is now focusing on self-discovery and being of service. Apart from writing a book, he has been giving speeches and talks, as well as posting on social media to help inspire others in becoming game changers themselves.



Photo source: The Seattle Times (Courtesy of Rob Angel)

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