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 “Good Eggs” Breakfast with King County Metro’s General Manager, Pacific’s Interurban Trail War Memorials Groundbreaking Ceremony, the Whiskers and Paws Gala, our upcoming Free Professional Shredding Event, updates on the Federal Way Link Extension, crime and health updates, and more.


Washington Trivia

These Highline Distinguished Alums are not only known for their remarkable contributions to their community through literature and karate, but also for the world-renowned gourmet sauce that is part of a multimillion-dollar conglomerate and available at your local Costco store. Who are they?
(Answer is at the bottom).




“Good Eggs” Breakfast with Metro General Manager Michelle Allison

“Safety and stability are the keys to restoring Metro to its pre-covid position,” King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison told our “Good Eggs” breakfast group last week. Michelle also addressed the staffing shortages and noted that Metro has numerous openings available to people with high school diplomas and above. Moving forward, Metro is focused on many areas, including rider safety, route reliability, and rapid transit, that will improve the quality of service in our region.



With Pacific Mayor Leanne Guier, Algona Mayor Troy Linnell, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, and Maple Valley Mayor Sean Kelly


Memorial Day: City of Pacific Interurban Trail War Memorials

From the 6th grade on, Memorial Day has been a special day in my family; a day to remember and reflect. I cannot help but think of those I served with in uniform who are no longer here, and how shocked they would be at how history is repeating itself today. Trust but verify!



On Memorial Day, May 29th, the City of Pacific hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Interurban Trail War Memorials, which will commemorate heroes of World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and the Afghanistan, Gulf, and Iraq Wars. If you are interested in purchasing pavers for $100 each, please contact iutwarmemorials@gmail.com with the subject line “Paver Purchase”.  




Whiskers and Paws Gala 2023

Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” This was the focus at the Auburn Valley Humane Society’s Whiskers and Paws Gala held at Hotel Murano in Tacoma on May 20th. The gala successfully raised over $123,000 that will help the Auburn Valley Humane Society save and change lives…four paws at a time.




Save the Date: Free Professional Shredding Event

On Saturday, June 24th, I will be hosting a free professional shredding event 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. More details will be shared soon.


Updates on the Federal Way Link Extension

At the recent Sound Transit Board meeting, updates were provided on the progress of the Federal Way Link Extension. To date, there have been two million labor hours and over a billion dollars in work performed on the project. Underground earthwork and aerial guideway work are nearing completion. Construction is transitioning into the track stations system phase of the project.

At the Kent Des Moines Station and garage, structural steel and concrete placement is complete. Station finishes are all progressive and paving on 236th is also complete. Construction is expected to be physically complete in the third quarter of 2024.

At the Federal Way Downtown Station, structural steel and concrete placement is complete, with station finishes underway. The extension of the existing garage is in progress. Construction at Federal Way Downtown and Star Lake garages and stations is scheduled to be completed during fourth quarter of 2024.




Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month

As the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month concludes, please take some time to watch videos featuring the work of King County’s Pasifika community, particularly the Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington (PICA-WA)’s work on advancing wellness for Pacific Islanders.





Highlights from the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy

VSHSL in Your Community

On June 7th, the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) will have an Open House at Kent Memorial Park Building from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, open to all King County residents. No registration is necessary to attend. If you are unable to attend a VSHSL Open House, watch this video from a recent Open House.

The VSHSL Open House will create a space for VSHSL-funded providers to share about their organizations to community members and other local community organizations, offer networking opportunities, and provide an update on VSHSL renewal plans. To register your organization for a table, click here.

CCM Program Receives National Recognition for Work Housing Veterans

The Collaborative Case Management Program (CCM), a first-in-the-nation program, has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The award honors innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.

CCM blends the rental assistance provided by a Housing and Urban Development- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher with supportive services through the King County Veterans Program (KCVP). The program is based on a strong partnership with the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System (VAPSHCS), the King County Housing Authority (KCHA) and KCVP. Read more here.


Seattle Mariners June Schedule



Click the image to visit the Seattle Mariners website


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:

South King County Scholar Athlete Fund: 2023 SKC Scholar-Athlete Breakfast (SOLD OUT)
June 3rd, 8:00 am | Emerald Downs Racetrack in Auburn
https://www.skcscholar.org/

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




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.



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.


King County COVID-19 Case Update

Yesterday, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 47 daily average positive cases, bringing the total in King County to 559,792. In addition, Public Health reported 0 daily average deaths, bringing the total in the county to 3,563.

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 King County COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977.

To register by phone: Call King County COVID-19 Call Center at 206-477-3977 or Washington COVID-19 Assistance Hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #.

For veterans: Call 206-716-5716 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: Call 9-8-8 to connect to the new Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, text TALK to 741-741 or visit https://988lifeline.org/.

Find your King County Council district here.


With best wishes,

Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember




Washington trivia answer:

Highline College is an unforgettable place for alums Junki and Linda (McFarren) Yoshida. This is where they first met and fell in love, as well as where they discovered their paths to success.

In 1968, at the age of 19, Junki left Kyoto and traveled to Seattle with only $500 in his pocket, which he used to purchase a used Plymouth Valiant. He parked it at Alki Beach and called it home for some time. With the challenges of adjusting to a new place, Junki taught karate and used his minimum-wage salary to enroll at Highline in 1970 to study English. Linda came to Highline in the 1970s and pursued an Associate of Arts degree in literature and business administration. She met Junki through karate demonstrations.

One Christmas, in the basement of the karate school, the couple created a homemade teriyaki-based cooking sauce from Junki’s family’s 60-year-old secret recipe and gave bottles away as Christmas gifts. Word-of-mouth spread and the demand grew, so he decided to sell it in local grocery stores. This was where Mr. Yoshida’s Original Gourmet Sauce, the first product in what would become a multimillion-dollar conglomerate, was conceived.

Junki later worked his way up until he became Japan Karate Federation’s chief instructor for the state of Washington. Linda pursued a professional writing career and received the Publisher’s Award of Excellence for her novel Flaherty’s Crossing. Linda eventually created the Soulful Giving Foundation, which helps expand research, care and treatment to cancer patients and their families.

The Yoshidas were named Highline Distinguished Alum Award recipients in 2003 (Junki) and 2011 (Linda). They continue to support Highline as well as community colleges in Oregon, where they make their home.



Photo source: Highline College

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