August 28th Community Update
King County, Washington sent this bulletin at 08/28/2025 05:53 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 announcement of Sound Transit Link Light Rail's arrival in Federal Way this December, PICA WA's first Elders Fair, the King County DCHS Audit, the Re+ Seed Grants, King County Parks updates, the South County Recycling and Transfer Station, India's Independence Day, local events, travel and road updates and more.
Washington Trivia This global package delivery service was founded in Seattle by two teenage messengers precisely 118 years ago. What is this company? (Answer is at the bottom) Today, I had the honor of joining my fellow Sound Transit Board Members at the announcement of the arrival of Sound Transit Link Light Rail Line 1 in South King County. I always thought hell would freeze over before Federal Way got light rail, but I am very happy that South King County is getting an early Christmas gift on December 6th before the busy holiday season. For those who have been patiently waiting (and paying!), this is our own “Polar Express”, and I am grateful to the Sound Transit Board for accelerating the opening of Link Light Rail in Federal Way. Anyone who has battled the sea of red lights on I-5 will appreciate the 16-minute trip from Downtown Federal Way to Sea-Tac Airport, or the 46-minute trip to Seattle. Daily commutes, travel, sporting events, and more will be more predictable for families across our region. Thank you to the white collar, blue collar, and no collar workers who were able to get this done.
With King County Councilmembers and fellow Sound Transit Board Members De’Sean Quinn & Claudia Balducci, Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine, 30th District Rep. Jamila Taylor & Sen. Claire Wilson, Auburn Mayor and Sound Transit Board Member Nancy Backus, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, Des Moines Mayor Traci Buxton, and Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell
Metro Fares Change Beginning September 1
As the school year approaches, Metro reminds youth aged 18 and under about the Free Youth Transit Pass, which allows free travel on public transit year-round. While not mandatory for boarding, it is widely utilized by students. To get the pass, check with your school or visit FreeYouthTransitPass.com. The card can be tapped for buses and light rail and is valid until you turn 19. After that, users can add funds or explore reduced fare options. Don't forget to add the pass to your school supply list.
PICA WA Celebrates its First Elders Fair There are more than 120,000 Pacific Islanders residing in our state, and Trinity Church radiated with laughter and goodwill when I spoke at their lunch gathering at the inaugural Elders Fair hosted by the Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington (PICA WA). PICA WA is dedicated to supporting families and promoting goodwill, along with advocating for good health! We are fortunate to have such a vibrant melting pot in South King County. Mahalo!
With PICA WA Executive Director Sili Savusa and Elder Services Manager Seiuli Tiare Chanel
King County DCHS Audit On Tuesday, August 26, the King County Auditor’s Office presented the findings of its audit on the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) to the King County Committee of the Whole. For further details about the full report, visit the King County Auditor’s website.
Re+ Seed Grants Now Open for Application
King County Parks Updates Fee Assistance Program
King County Parks has launched a Fee Assistance Program to ensure access to park facilities regardless of financial ability. This program outlines eligibility criteria and includes a formal application process, allowing for the full or partial waiver of user fees for qualifying individuals or organizations. Click here for more information.
Become a lifeguard at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center with a FREE training program. No prior experience needed. Get hired, earn while you train, and secure a part-time position with flexible hours and good pay. Apply here by August 31.
South County Recycling and Transfer Station August Update
Construction is moving ahead across the South County Recycling and Transfer Station site. The waterline installation is nearly complete, with connections expected soon. Ongoing work includes mechanical, electrical, and plumbing in the main transfer, hazardous waste, and administration buildings. Crews are also advancing with siding and painting on the transfer and hazardous waste buildings, while construction of the scale house building has started. View time-lapse photos of the worksite updated daily.
Happy India Independence Day Happy India Independence Day! 79 years and counting! America is fortunate to have India as a strategic partner, sharing numerous values and interests. I am doing my part to understand cricket, a sport in which India excels. Congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our local Consul General Prakash Gupta.
With Consul General Prakash Gupta and Seattle Orcas co-owner Vijay Beniwal
Local Events Back-to-School Youth Clothing Swap
Join the City of Federal Way and South King Tool Library for a FREE back-to-school clothing swap. Drop-off your CLEAN school-age (size 5-juniors), school-appropriate clothing and shoes at the South King Tool Library through August 29 during open hours (Monday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesdays, 2-6 p.m.). Then, come shop for FREE on Saturday, August 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations are not required to shop. Please bring your own bags. Questions? Email recycle@federalwaywa.gov or click here.
Annual Shredding Event It's that time of year again! On Saturday, September 13, residents of South King County will have two opportunities to participate in a free shredding event. Seadrunar, a secure document disposal company, will have mobile shredding units at two locations: the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and The Outlet Collection Mall in Auburn from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Attendees will have the chance to witness their documents being shredded on-site. Note: No commercial/for-profit shredding allowed. Individuals/businesses attempting to shred documents on behalf of customers for a fee are strictly prohibited.
Road Updates Proclamation of Emergency on the Closure of White River Bridge on SR 410 In response to the King County Office of Emergency Management's report on the State Route 410 White River Bridge closure, King County Executive Shannon Braddock declared a Proclamation of Emergency. While SR 410 is a state highway managed by WSDOT, this declaration allows King County to help mitigate the impacts of the closure and directs the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks to ensure 24-hour access to the Foothills Trail Bridge for pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency vehicles. Read the Emergency Proclamation here. To sign up for timely alerts, visit WSDOT | King County Roads | King County Metro | Sound Transit.
SEA Offers Travel Tips for Final Weekend of Record-setting Summer As Labor Day approaches, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is concluding a record-setting summer with high passenger levels. SEA reminds travelers about the new Checkpoint 1, an expanded check-in area, and other travel tips about construction along the airport expressway. Read more here.
Seattle Travel Industry Update: June 2025 Report According to Visit Seattle's latest update, June surpassed May as the best performing month for hotel performance but still lagged last year's numbers due to a decrease in group room nights. The downtown Seattle hotel occupancy was 84% with rooms booked by groups at 370,200 and an economic impact of $372M. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. added only 14,000 jobs in June, with weak overall growth averaging 16,500 jobs from May to June. The unemployment rate stayed at 4.1%, but the labor force participation rate declined. The inflation rate rose to 2.7%, up from 2.4% in May, marking the largest increase in five months, attributed to tariffs and rising fuel costs. Additionally, TSA screenings fell 1% year-over-year in June, following a 1.7% decline in May, while international visits to the U.S. dropped by 5%, with overseas visits decreasing by 1.2% in the first half of 2025. An analysis by the U.S. Travel Association reveals that overseas visits to the U.S. show significant outliers. Most regions outside North America are close to last year's numbers, but Canada and Mexico together had 932,000 fewer visits and $1.4 billion less in travel spending in the first half of 2025.
Sources: Tourism Economics, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), StatsCanada, U.S. Travel Association, US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)
Non-Profit Corner
Did you ever wonder where words and phrases originated from? Show your true colors Meaning: To reveal one's real nature or character. Origin: This phrase originates from the 1700s with a nautical background, referring to the flag every ship must display at sea. Pirates used false flags to deceive other vessels into thinking they were friendly, leading unsuspecting ships to approach and fall into ambush. The pirates revealed their 'true flag or color' only after the attack. Travel light Meaning: To travel with a minimum load or minimum luggage. Origin: The phrase "travel light," in its literal sense of carrying minimal luggage, dates to the 1920s. However, its metaphoric uses, signifying the absence of burdens, emerged around the mid-20th century and has been articulated in various forms, notably in a famous quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery: "He who must travel happily must travel light."
Local Services Contact Information Code Enforcement Links: Auburn | Algona | Federal Way | Kent | Pacific | Unincorporated
Mariners’ Schedule | Seahawks’ Schedule
With best wishes,
Washington Trivia Answer: United Parcel Service (UPS) originated as a messenger service in Seattle's Pioneer Square in 1907, founded by 19-year-old James E. "Jim" Casey and Claude Ryan. Starting with two bicycles, a phone, a small office, and $100 borrowed from Ryan’s uncle, they established the foundation for what would become a multi-billion dollar global corporation in the logistics of goods, funds, and information. As Seattle's population surged from 81,000 in 1900 to almost 200,000 by 1907, communication options were limited, and most deliveries relied on horse-drawn wagons. On August 28, 1907, Casey and Ryan, who had previously worked as messenger boys, launched the American Messenger Service. Their first office was a small space beneath a saloon, where they advertised their "Best Service at Lowest Prices" and offered 24/7 service. Their team of teenage messengers, including Casey's brother, followed a strict code of conduct and quickly gained a reputation for reliability, expanding to 100 employees by Christmas 1912. For two years, the U.S. Post Office was the largest client of American Messenger Service until 1913, when the company shifted to package delivery, merging with McCabe's Motorcycle Delivery Service to become Merchants' Parcel Delivery. By 1915, it had 20 foot messengers and used vehicles for deliveries, introducing a brown motif in 1916. Major Seattle department stores became clients by 1918. In 1919, it expanded to Oakland and rebranded as United Parcel Service (UPS), acquiring a Los Angeles company that aided its growth. By 1927, UPS reached major Pacific Coast cities and the East Coast by 1930. The 1950s saw it pursue common carrier rights, leading to competition with the U.S. Postal Service. The headquarters moved several times, and Jim Casey retired in the 1960s to focus on the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which supports disadvantaged children and continues its work today following his death in 1983.
Photo source: Historylink.org
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Starting September 1, 2025, adult fares will increase for King County Metro buses, Metro Flex, Seattle Streetcar lines, and Water Taxi routes to match Sound Transit’s $3 flat fare. ORCA LIFT fares for Water Taxi routes will also change, but reduced fares for Seniors, Disabled, Youth, and ORCA LIFT riders will stay the same. The Metro Vanpool/Transit pass will increase from $99 to $108. 
Free Youth Transit Pass
King County Aquatic Center Hires Lifeguards
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