 Retired South King Firefighter Sven Schievink (left) was one of the major forces behind this memorial, including driving 55 hours to collect the steel beam from the World Trade Center.
The anniversary of 9/11 is a day to remember those who lost their lives or their loved ones and to contemplate the value of gratitude, resilience, and unity. Gratitude for the bravery and sacrifice of first responders who put themselves at risk to help others. Resilience as we come back from even the darkest times with earned wisdom and determination to work toward a better future. Unity borne of the common experience of grief, hardship, and rebuilding.
Today I was so grateful to be able to attend the annual commemoration organized by South King Fire, where members assembled a beautiful and fitting memorial to the 343 firefighters and 74 police officers lost on 9/11. This moving tribute, located at Fire Station 64 in Federal Way and open to the public year-round, features a piece of a steel beam from the Twin Towers, a stone from the crash site in Pennsylvania, and a block of limestone from the Pentagon. These artifacts, collected by South King Firefighters Scott Mahlen and Sven Schievink in honor of their fallen brethren, stand alongside two basalt columns representing the Twin Towers and a pear tree, the same kind as the “survivor tree” that withstood the fall of the towers and still stands at Ground Zero today.
Thank you to those who brought back significant memories from New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. and spend time each year honoring the first responders and all who were impacted 23 years ago today.
This Saturday, September 14, the City of Kirkland will host their annual City Hall for All to celebrate the effort to become a welcoming community for everyone. From 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Kirkland City Hall (123 5th Ave, Kirkland), stop by for cultural performances and local entertainment, meet and greets with city councilmembers, city services like pet licensing and scheduling passport appointments, an Eastside business pop-up market, and more!
In 2026, the FIFA World Cup is coming to Seattle, and with it the world’s attention on King County. To showcase what’s special about our region and to highlight the talents of local artists, Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 (SeattleFWC26) is launching the Host City Poster Contest!
SeattleFWC26 is soliciting submissions for poster designs that represent our city and state, capturing the essence of the culture, community spirit, people, and passion for soccer that make our region special. They will select up to four finalists, who will each receive a $2,500 finalist fee, and the winning design will be featured as the official poster for Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026, gaining national and international recognition. Register to submit your design by 12:00 am, Friday, September 27.
 On Sunday, September 15 from 1:00-3:00 pm, you are invited to join Centro Cultural Mexicano and the Mexican-American community for El Grito, a celebration of Mexico’s independence and a wonderful way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month. Enjoy free food, live mariachi music, and “El Grito,” a ceremony commemorating the cry for independence that helped launch Mexico’s War of Independence.
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