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 Auburn Postmark Center, the University of Washington’s Raise the Woof 2023, sports, transit, travel, event, crime and health updates, and more.




Washington Trivia

This device was one of the technological innovations that was unveiled at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. What was it?
(Answer is at the bottom).




Auburn Postmark Center

Auburn celebrated its new Postmark Center for the Arts this weekend, and Mayor Nancy Backus and her team deserve a standing ovation for turning vision into reality. I was pleased to join others to turn this former post office and county health center into an urban center for Auburn. The Muckleshoot Tribe helped kick off the ceremonies for this regional resource.



With Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus and Muckleshoot Tribe members at the Auburn Postmark Center


Transit Update: September Service Changes

King County Metro’s and Sound Transit’s service changes are now in effect. To match transit service with bus and workforce availability, Metro suspended 20 peak-only commuter routes and reduced service on 12 routes. Alternatives are available for nearly all affected routes. Most riders will see no changes as 124 of 156 routes and 92% of boardings are not affected. For more information on these service changes, please visit King County Metro’s and Sound Transit’s websites.


Taste of Federal Way Returns

The Federal Way Farmers Market’s annual Taste of Federal Way event returns from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 23rd. Tickets cost $20 and include a feast of dishes from at least eight restaurants, plus a drink and dessert. The event also features live music and performances. One-third of each ticket sale goes to a nonprofit, one-third to the restaurant and the last piece to the Federal Way Farmers Market. Read more in the Federal Way Mirror article here.


University of Washington’s Raise the Woof 2023

Whether you are a Husky or not, you have to be proud of Michael Penix Jr. His team may be ranked 8th in the country, but he and his teammates are #1 in commitment! Ironically, in the presumed last year of its existence (good luck WSU and OSU), the Pac-12 has more teams in the Top 25 than the SEC.



With UW Huskies Quarterback Michael Penix Jr.


Travel Industry Update

Visit Seattle’s most recent travel industry update indicates July 2023 was an exceptional month for Seattle, which kicked off with visitors for the MLB All-Star Week festivities and two Taylor Swift concerts —the same weekend T-Mobile Park was packed with visiting Blue Jays fans and six cruise ship dockings, two downtown conventions, and two large festivals.

Throughout the month, Downtown hotels broke their previous performance records on four occasions, with other contributors to occupancy and revenue from 57 cruise ship dockings and seven convention center groups with a combined attendance of 12,500 attendees—all atop the regular influx of visitors during the summer months.

Downtown Seattle had a revenue of $122.4M, which is 15.6% higher than the previous record month August 2018. Compared to July 2019, revenue was up 19.3%. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) broke a record with $300 for Downtown hotels and exceeded the previous record in August 2018 ($290) by 6.2%. Employment levels in Leisure & Hospitality were recorded at 173.7 thousand jobs, just below the peak of 174.3 thousand in June 2023. Read more here.




Washington State Fair

Catch the Washington State Fair through this Sunday, September 24th. Tickets are still available at https://www.thefair.com/washington-state-fair/fair-tickets-deals/.






Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks Want You to Volunteer at Food Banks

The Seattle Seahawks and former Seattle Seahawks wideout Doug Baldwin’s organization, Vault89 Strategies, are partnering to encourage more people throughout the state to volunteer at local food banks. The “Back To Action Day of Service” kickoff will be on September 23rd where members of the Seahawks Super Bowl 48 championship team will be joined by Seahawks staff to volunteer. The event will run through December 31st, with the goal of signing up 3,000 or more food bank volunteers for hunger resource organizations across the state. Read more in the Auburn Reporter article here.


Non-Profit Corner

South King County Non-Profit Organizations

Auburn Food Bank 
https://www.theauburnfoodbank.org/

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

Bloodworks Northwest 
https://schedule.bloodworksnw.org/DonorPortal/

Federal Way Kiwanis
https://federalwaykiwanis.square.site/

Federal Way Senior Center
https://www.federalwayseniorcenter.org/

FUSION Décor Boutique
https://www.fusiondecorboutique.com/

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

The Salvation Army 
https://federalway.salvationarmy.org/federal_way_corps

Donations for Maui Residents
Maui County has listed links to organizations accepting donations to benefit Maui residents affected by fires.


Seattle Seahawks and Mariners Schedules

Click the images to view the upcoming Seattle Seahawks schedule and the remaining Seattle Mariners schedule this season.






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 complete list of benefits for public safety officers and survivors as shared by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), click here.


September is National Preparedness Month

The Ready Campaign’s 2023 National Preparedness Month theme is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3”. The campaign will focus on preparing older adults for disasters, specifically from communities that are disproportionally impacted by the all-hazard events, which continue to threaten the nation. National Preparedness Month culminates on September 30th with National Preparedness Day, the national day of action.

Emergency managers and all those who work with people with disabilities and support older adult communities are encouraged to access Ready.gov/older-adults and Ready.gov/disability.




Health Updates

King County Public Health Insider: Q&A on the New COVID-19 Vaccine

Last week, the CDC recommended that everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the newer variants and potentially serious COVID-19 complications now ahead of possible increases in infection this fall and winter. Dr. Eric Chow, Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology & Immunization, answered questions about the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Read more in the Public Health Insider blog here.

King County COVID-19 Case Update

Yesterday, Seattle – King County Public Health reported 125 daily average positive cases, bringing the total in King County to 569,127. In addition, Public Health reported 0.5 daily average deaths, bringing the total in the county to 3,625.

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 the uninsured and underinsured: Visit Vaccines.gov to find appointments near you. This website will allow users to search for locations that offer "Bridge Access Program" vaccines for uninsured and underinsured people.

For students: School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) offer free vaccinations for students at many schools including COVID-19, flu, and required childhood vaccines. For information and to find a SBHC, visit kingcounty.gov/immunization/SBHC.

For in-home vaccination: Call 206-848-0243, weekdays, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Say your preferred language when connected. You will be asked a few questions to confirm you are eligible for in-home vaccination. When scheduling, please note how many people in your home would like to get vaccinated.

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:

The world’s first wireless telephone was unveiled in the Space Needle restaurant at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Pacific NW Bell invented a form of wireless phone that connected the phone to a radio transmitter that then connected with an operator. Only five were made and one is at the Connections Museum Seattle.

According to Peter Amstein of the Connections Museum Seattle, people wanted to make calls from their table at the top of the Space Needle and because the restaurant rotates, people could not use a phone with a cord on it.



Photo source: KUOW.org (Harriet Baskas, Connections Museum Seattle)

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