June 19th Community Update
King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 06/19/2025 05:00 PM PDT
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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 King County Council's Juneteenth Proclamation, the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service Award, the “Good Eggs” Breakfast Meeting with Washington Hospitality Association President & CEO Anthony Anton, Solid Waste Division's Comprehensive Plan, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in Seattle, 4Culture and transit updates, local events, and more.
Washington Trivia This recently celebrated holiday was first conceived and celebrated in Spokane 115 years ago. What day does it commemorate? (Answer is at the bottom) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. often asked the question, “What are you doing for others?” Each year, as a member of the King County Council, I take the opportunity to recognize an individual who exemplifies this spirit through exceptional and selfless service in the South King County community with the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service Award. This year’s District 7 awardee is Estela Ortega.
As the Co-Founder and Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza, The Center for People of All Races, Estela Ortega has responded to Dr. MLK Jr.’s question through her unwavering commitment over five decades to bringing people together and creating spaces where they can celebrate their unique backgrounds. Viva y Gracias, Estela!
With Estela Ortega, El Centro de la Raza staff, and her family Previous MLK Awardees: Unleash The Brilliance Founder Terrell Dorsey (2024), Looking Out Foundation Executive Director Catherine Carlile (2023), Muckleshoot Tribal Council Vice Chair John Daniels Jr. (2022), Overcomer Covenant Church Pastor Gordon Banks (2021), Café Pacific Owners Amy and John Hatcher (2020), FUSION Founder Peggy LaPorte (2019), Former Federal Way Mayor Mike Park (2018), Thomas Jefferson High School Baseball & Girls Bowling Coach Joseph Townsend (2017), and The Auburn Food Bank Executive Director Debbie Christian (2016).
“Good Eggs” Breakfast Meeting with Anthony Anton At this month’s “Good Eggs” Breakfast, we had the opportunity to hear from Anthony Anton, President & CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association. He provided valuable insights into the current state of the hospitality industry, addressing how the state's business model in this sector has consistently posed challenges for local businesses from the pandemic to the present day. Thank you, Anthony!
With Auburn Councilmembers Lisa Stirgus & Kate Baldwin, Kent Councilmember Toni Troutner, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, Pacific Mayor Vic Kave, Washington Hospitality Association President & CEO Anthony Anton, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, Algona Mayor Troy Linnell, Auburn Councilmember Hanan Amer, Algona Councilmember Tim Fairley, Des Moines Mayor Traci Buxton, Federal Way Councilmember Jack Walsh, Edgewood Mayor Dave Olson, Algona Councilmember David White, Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro, and Auburn Chamber President & CEO Kacie Bray
Solid Waste Division Comprehensive Plan Public Meetings King County's Solid Waste Division will host a series of in-person and virtual meetings to provide an opportunity to learn and ask questions about what will be studied as part of the environmental review process for the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan and to share your feedback on the scope of that work. Learn about the full Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan and the environmental review process at the Online Open House. Digital commenting will be available on the site during the formal scoping period through July 7. You can also send comments during the scoping period to SWDCompPlan@kingcounty.gov or by mail to: King County Solid Waste Division June 24 6 PM to 7:30 PM North Bellevue Community Center June 25 6 PM to 7:30 PM Kent Commons Community Center July 1 6 PM to 7:30 PM Virtual meeting, sign up to join via Zoom July 2 6 PM to 7:30 PM Skyway Library
4Culture's Launch Grant Workshops 4Culture will be holding Launch Grant Workshops beginning July through August 2025. Workshops can make a major difference in how competitive an application is. They provide an opportunity for applicants to meet staff, learn about the process, meet other applicants, and ask questions. 4Culture is working with local experts to produce three Lunch & Learn events on nonprofit management topics that will be most relevant to Launch applicants as they are drafting their applications. These Lunch + Learn topics were selected based on what will be most relevant to Launch applicants, but they are open to anyone. For more information, contact Casey Moser at 206-477-2316, casey.moser@4culture.org, or visit 4Culture’s website. Introduction to Board Development with Dr. Naho Shioya July 16, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm on Zoom | Register
Introduction to Grant Writing with Gabriela Denise Frank July 29, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm on Zoom | Register
Introduction to Hiring Your First Staff Member with Jodi Nishioka August 6, 12:00 – 1:30 pm on Zoom | Register
Transit Updates Sound Transit Coffee Town Hall On July 8, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., I will be hosting a Coffee Town Hall with Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine at KO-AM TV in Federal Way. To sign up, scan the QR code below or click this link.
King County Metro to Install Operator Safety Partitions Fleetwide King County Metro bus operators are evaluating safety partition designs as part of the planning process for retrofitting up to 1,300 of the agency’s 1,400 buses. Existing buses not being upgraded will be replaced by a recent order for 89 new buses that have a partition already installed. From now through July 5, four buses, each with a different style of partition currently available on the market, will be touring Metro’s bases. The safety partitions, which riders will begin seeing on both new and existing buses later this year, offer increased size and durability to better protect Metro bus operators. Read more here.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025
King County Metro’s one-stop shop has everything you need to take transit to the match. To accommodate demand, weekday Sounder schedules will see adjustments, along with additional trips on select Sound Transit Express routes to enhance service. Read more here.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Schedule
Click here for the Mariners’ Schedule
West Valley Highway South Closure This Weekend West Valley Highway South will be completely closed to vehicles from 7 p.m. on Friday, June 20, until 5 a.m. on Monday, June 23. This closure will take place between 15th St SW and 1st Ave N in Algona. Expect daytime construction and possible nighttime work. Allow extra travel time and follow posted detours along SR 167 or local roads during this period. After the culvert installation, crews will begin utility work on-site and along West Valley Highway South, with intermittent one-lane closures to allow truck access. The station is expected to be complete in the spring of 2026. View time-lapse photos of the worksite updated daily.
Hanwoori Garden Grand Opening There are over 100,000 Korean Americans in our region, and many of them were at the Hanwoori Garden dedication last week. South King County is the melting pot of the world and the collaboration between Donghae, South Korea and Federal Way has established a high bar with their unique pagoda and garden located near the Aquatic Center. As we enter the century of the Pacific Ocean, we must build cultural bridges within the Pacific Rim. Visit the Hanwoori Garden located at 550 S.W. Campus Dr. next to the Panther Lake trail head.
With 30th LD Rep. Kristine Reeves, Republic of Korea Consul General Eun-Ji Seo, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell & Councilmembers, former Federal Way Mayors Mike Park & Jeanne Burbidge, Jim Burbidge, and Wes & Bev Stock
Catholic Community Services I had the pleasure of meeting with Catholic Community Services team to present a grant from King County. This funding will support their ongoing efforts to assist our most vulnerable populations in South King County, especially at the Federal Way Day Center.
With Program Director Sekeenya Newsome and Family Therapist/Clinician Jennifer Williams
Auburn Area Connect Spotlight Awards & Multi-Service Center Spring Into Action What a great weekend in Auburn! From the Multi-Service Center’s annual Spring Into Action dinner to Auburn Area Connect Spotlight Awards, I had the honor of presenting Green River College’s George Frasier with the Bill Kyle Leadership Award!
(Left) With Leanne Guier, former 30th LD Rep. Jesse Johnson, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus, Paras Malik, Harborview Board President Steffanie Fain, David Malik; (Right) Green River College President Dr. Suzanne Johnson, VP for College Advancement & Foundation Executive Director George Frasier, and King County Council Chair Girmay Zahilay
While I appreciate the phone calls and messages that my office receives, I recognize that many who read this newsletter do not have luxury of making phone calls during business hours. I want to create every possible opportunity for you to give me feedback. This new section in my newsletter will feature issues or questions that have come up recently and give you the chance to share your thoughts immediately. How accessible are fresh and nutritious food options in your local community? Please click this survey link to provide your input.
Non-Profit Corner
Local Events King County Fair Summer is on the horizon and so is the King County Fair. Renowned as one of the state's longest-running fairs, this event offers thrilling rodeo performances, live music, engaging exhibits, and fun games. Join in the celebration of tradition, enjoyment, and community at the Enumclaw Expo Center from July 17 to July 20. Click here for more information.
South King Tool Repair Café On Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the City of Federal Way Environmental Services is hosting a FREE fix-it event at the South King Tool Library (1700 S 340th St, Federal Way, WA 98003). Bring your damaged furniture, broken small household items, dull knives, and torn clothing. Expert fixers will do their best to make your items usable again! Click here for more details and to RSVP.
Did you ever wonder where words and phrases originated from? Shebang Meaning: Rustic dwelling, hut, shed or shelter. Origin: During the American Civil War in the 1860s, soldiers were instructed to construct shelters that could accommodate many. These shelters were known as "shebangs." Over time, this term evolved to refer to everything within a group, which has led us to the modern phrase, "the whole shebang," meaning the entirety of something. Barking up the wrong tree Meaning: To promote or follow a mistaken course or idea. Origin: The phrase's origin can be traced back to the late 1800s and American hunting practices, particularly those related to raccoon hunting. When hunters used dogs, if a raccoon leaped from one tree to another, the dogs would often continue barking at the initial tree, mistakenly thinking the raccoon was still present. This literal situation has since transformed into a figurative expression, signifying the pursuit of a misguided course of action or making an incorrect choice.
Local Services Contact Information Code Enforcement Links: Auburn | Algona | Federal Way | Kent | Pacific | Unincorporated
U.S. Army My part of the 250 years started with KP (Kitchen Patrol) as an ROTC cadet at Fort Bragg, NC (yes, we peeled potatoes). My duty tours took me to Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, Fort Benning, GA, overseas in Hokkaido, Japan and Camp Murray. For the majority of its 250 years the US Army was a true melting pot of our country, and I am the better for having served with so many people from so many divergent backgrounds. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, U.S. ARMY! Please thank anyone you see in uniform for their service.
With best wishes,
Washington Trivia Answer: Father’s Day: The inaugural Father’s Day in the United States was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Washington state. Sonora Smart Dodd, a young mother, artist, and poet from Spokane, believed that fathers deserved a day dedicated to their respect and recognition. Dodd's inspiration stemmed from a 1909 sermon she heard at Spokane’s Central Methodist Church that highlighted the virtues of mothers. Her sensitivity to the role of fathers was profound, as her father, William Jackson Smart, had raised all six of his children after the passing of their mother in 1898. To advocate for this recognition, she drafted a petition designating a specific Sunday in June as Father’s Day. After successfully convincing the Spokane Ministerial Alliance and the local YMCA to recognize this new day, the ministers agreed on June 19, 1910, as the nation’s first Father’s Day, delivering sermons throughout the city about the significance and responsibilities of fatherhood. The story gained traction through wire services, spreading the idea across communities nationwide. As the next decade unfolded, more cities celebrated Father’s Day, gaining support from politicians like William Jennings Bryan and Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge. By the 1920s, it was widely observed. However, it took 58 years after Mother’s Day was made official by President Woodrow Wilson for Father’s Day to achieve the same status, finally becoming a national holiday in 1972 under President Richard Nixon.
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The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will bring six matches to Lumen Field between June 15 and June 25, marking the first time the U.S. hosts the tournament. With up to 150,000 visitors expected over ten days, a surge in ridership is anticipated.
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