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 upcoming shredding event in Federal Way, a visit to the Indian Consulate in Seattle, the statewide burn ban, groundbreaking for the Federal Way National Little League turf fields, Seahawks Training Camp at VMAC, the 70th Kiwanis Salmon Bake, transit updates, local events and more.
Washington Trivia
This Blue Angels pilot, originally from Spokane, completed his final Seafair performance in 2024, making him the most recent Washingtonian to fly the “Fat Albert.” Who is he?
(Answer is at the bottom)
Annual Shredding Event
Bring your old bank statements, letters, and documents to our live shredding event this Saturday, August 8, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Key Works (previously known as Seadrunar) will have a mobile shredding unit in the parking lot of the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to see their documents shredded right on-site.
Note: Commercial or for-profit shredding is not permitted. Individuals or businesses attempting to shred documents for customers for a fee will be strictly prohibited. For questions, please call 206-477-1007.
A Visit to the Indian Consulate in Seattle
In 2025, the total trade between the USA and India reached an impressive $239.4 billion. Whether it is aerospace or agriculture, our state has reaped the benefits! Yesterday, King County Councilmember Steffanie Fain and I met with Consul General Prakash Gupta to talk about expanding cultural ties and trade between India and King County, focusing on the importance of Elliott Bay. Notably, our county is home to nearly 200,000 residents from India.
 With King County Councilmember Steffanie Fain, Indian Consul General Prakash Gupta, and Outreach & Special Events Advisor Dash Debadutta
Transit Updates
Metro Announces Major Service Expansion Across King County
Metro is expanding bus service in King County starting August 29, introducing nine new routes and over 3,000 additional weekly bus trips. The changes will enhance connections to new South King County Link light rail stations and launch Metro Flex, an on-demand transit service, in Auburn and Federal Way on August 31. South King County will experience the most significant improvements in Metro’s service change, including more frequent trips, extended service hours, new weekend service, and better links to Link light rail and RapidRide. Read more in the King County Matters Blog here.
Metro Flex Expanding in South King County
Metro will pilot Metro Flex service in Auburn and Federal Way on Monday, August 31, providing on-demand rides that connect people with neighborhoods, transit hubs and other local destinations. Using the Metro Flex app, riders can book rides on accessible minivans, including wheelchair accessible vehicles and vans with bike racks, for the same fare as a Metro bus ride. Riders can download the app in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or call 206-258-7739 to book a ride when service launches.
 Download the South King County Fall 2026 Service Change map here.
Open Houses
Riders can also learn more about the upcoming service changes during Metro's online information sessions on August 19, 24 and 26. To request language services or other accommodations, please contact community.relations@kingcounty.gov at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
• Eastside: 12 p.m., Wednesday, August 19. Register online.
• North King County: 6 p.m., Monday, August 24. Register online.
• South King County: 6 p.m., Wednesday, August 26. Register online.
Sound Transit Bus Changes
Sound Transit’s fall service change also will begin on Saturday, August 29. Many ST Express bus routes will undergo changes, ranging from discontinued routes to major adjustments and minor service improvements to enhance reliability. For a complete list of Sound Transit service changes, visit https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/changes-affect-my-ride/service-changes.
Sounder Trains Available for Mariners vs. Rays
Seattle sports fans can save time by taking Sound Transit’s Sounder trains to the Mariners game on Sunday, August 9. The special service complements Link light rail, ST Express, and King County Metro. The inbound Sounder S Line train leaves Lakewood at 10:11 a.m., arriving at King Street Station by 11:27 a.m. The Sounder N Line train from Everett departs at 10:45 a.m. and arrives by 11:44 a.m. Both return trains leave 45 minutes after the game ends. For the full schedule, visit www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/event-service.
Statewide Burn Ban
Following the wildfires in Spokane, Washington, on August 1st, a statewide state of emergency has been declared due to drought conditions, unusually high temperatures and high winds, all exacerbating record-setting wildfires. This declaration includes a statewide ban on most outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30, 2026.
For state wildfire resources and burn restrictions, visit dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources.
Unincorporated King County is still under a Stage 1 Burn Ban. Learn more about fire safety burn bans on the King County website.
Wildfire Ready Toolkit
King County has a new toolkit to help make homes and neighborhoods more resilient to increasing wildfire risk. Click here or scan the QR code to download the toolkit.
Wildfire Smoke in the Region
As wildfire smoke impacts the region, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency reports air quality levels will be MODERATE to UNHEALTHY for sensitive groups this week. Monitoring local air quality and smoke forecasts is essential as conditions can change. Health issues from smoke include chest pain, coughing, and asthma attacks, particularly affecting:
• Children and teens
• Individuals with asthma, lung or heart disease, diabetes, or a history of heart attack/stroke
• Pregnant individuals
• Seniors over 65
• Smokers
• People with colds, flu, or COVID
Visit PSCleanair.gov and AirNow.gov for more information about air quality in your area. For additional resources, visit KCEmergency.com.
Local Events
70th Kiwanis Salmon Bake
As someone who grew up in an era when community service clubs were a rite of passage for men and women, I was proud to be at the 70th Salmon Bake of the Kiwanis Foundation of Federal Way, raising money to help young people. Nearly 1,000 coho salmon dinners, great music and collegiality! If we want to improve communities, we need more community service clubs.
 With Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell
Federal Way National Little League Turf Groundbreaking
Since 1959, generations of young people of all ages and degrees of skills have been a part of the Federal Way National Little League, bringing families together. We would have less teens shooting at each other if we had more sports fields. Last week, I joined in the groundbreaking for new turf fields and was honored beyond words by the board naming a field after me.
 With Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, Auburn School District Superintendent Dr. Alan Spicciati and his wife Shannon, and Federal Way National Little League Board Members
Seahawks Training Camp at VMAC
Football and cricket coexisted at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC) as I joined Indian Consul General Prakash Gupta and Dash Debadutta from the consulate to watch the Seahawks practice. We also talked about the pending purchase of the Seahawks by the Indian-born Khosla family. Great talking with Joey Schneider, David Young and the most popular person in King County: Mike Flood.
 With Seahawks COO David Young, VP of Outreach & External Affairs Mike Flood, Indian Consul General of Seattle Prakash Gupta, Outreach & Special Events Advisor Dash Debadutta, and Seahawks Salary Cap Analyst/Assistant to the General Manager Joey Schneider
Federal Way Community Festival 2026
Federal Way will celebrate its diverse population with a vibrant, family-friendly festival on Saturday, August 8, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Town Square Park. This free event will include kids’ activities, food vendors, an entertainment stage, and exhibitors providing information on employment, healthcare, financial, educational services, and local crafts.
Annual FUSION Gala
FUSION’s Annual Gala, themed “There’s No Place Like Home,” will be held on Saturday, August 8th, at 5:00 pm at Dumas Bay Centre. The event celebrates the importance of home for families. While online ticket sales have closed, tickets can be purchased at the door for $150. For more information, visit https://fusionhousing.org/gala/.
Bloodworks Blood Drive
The City of Federal Way is partnering with Bloodworks Northwest for a blood drive at City Hall on Tuesday, August 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Walk-ins may be available, but spots are limited. To make a one-hour appointment for the blood drive, visit https://donate.bloodworksnw.org/donor/schedules/geo.
Auburn Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Registration Now Open
Registration is open for the Auburn Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) fall session. The free 6-week course teaches disaster response skills through hands-on and classroom training, covering topics like medical care, fire extinguishing, and search and rescue. Classes are on Wednesdays from August 26 to September 30, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at 1 East Main Street, Suite 380, Auburn, with two mandatory Saturday drills on September 19 and October 3. Participants must be at least 16 years old, or 13-15 with a parent. Registration closes on August 12. For details, call 253-876-1925 or email emergencyprep@auburnwa.gov.
South King County Non-Profit Corner
Learn more about the nonprofit organizations listed below:
Auburn Food Bank | Auburn Noon Lions | Auburn Valley Humane Society | Bloodworks Northwest | Eileen & Callie’s Place | Federal Way Historical Society | Federal Way Kiwanis | Federal Way Lions | Federal Way Public Market | Federal Way Senior Center | Friends of the Federal Way Libraries | FUSION Décor Boutique | Kent Lions | Multi-Service Center Food Bank | Orion Works | Rotary Club of Federal Way | Soroptimist International of Auburn | Soroptimist International of Federal Way | The Salvation Army | Unleash the Brilliance
 Did you ever wonder where words and phrases originated from?
Tip of the iceberg
Meaning: A small, visible part of a larger, unseen problem.
Origin: The idiom "tip of the iceberg" refers to a small, visible part of a much larger issue, reflecting that about 90% of an iceberg is submerged. It entered English in the late 18th century from the Dutch word "ijsberg," meaning "ice mountain." The term has roots in Old Norse and Germanic languages. The figurative usage of this phrase in print began in the early 1960s and quickly gained traction in journalism and politics. Given that the sinking of the RMS Titanic occurred 57 years prior to the idiom's first recorded use, some believe that this disaster inspired the expression. A similar phrase to “tip of the iceberg” is “does not even scratch the surface.”
Out of the frying pan into the fire
Meaning: Transitioning from a challenging or unfavorable situation to one that is significantly worse, often in an attempt to escape the initial problem.
Origin: Its roots trace back to ancient proverbs about escaping danger. It gained specific imagery from a 15th-century fable by Laurentius Abstemius, where fish jump from a pan into burning coals. Thomas More first recorded the phrase in English in 1528, though it has older references in Giovanni Boccaccio's work, The Decameron, from around 1350. This saying reflects the idea of worsening situations throughout history.
 MYTH: Abraham Lincoln wrote his Gettysburg Address on the back of an envelope during his train ride from Washington to Gettysburg on the day of the speech.
FACT: Lincoln spent weeks drafting his Gettysburg speech for November 19, 1863, after receiving the invitation in August. He collaborated with associates on drafts and produced five original copies, indicating careful preparation rather than haste.
MYTH: The Liberty Bell cracked on July 4, 1776.
FACT: The Pennsylvania Assembly commissioned the Liberty Bell in 1751 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of William Penn's Charter of Privileges. Funded with about 100 pounds, it was made at London's Whitechapel Bell Foundry and arrived in Philadelphia in August 1752, but cracked during its initial test strike, leading to two recasts. The final bell, weighing around 2,080 pounds and measuring 12 feet in circumference, has a complex history of cracking, notably in February 1846, which halted its ringing. It tolled for significant events, including the signing of the Constitution and the deaths of notable figures. Initially called the State House Bell, it became known as the Liberty Bell in the late 1830s. Contrary to popular belief, it likely did not ring on July 4, 1776. The bell toured the U.S. before its condition deteriorated, and it now resides at the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia, where it is occasionally tapped for special occasions.
MYTH: Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as national bird.
FACT: Franklin's critique letter to his daughter of the bald eagle's design for the Great Seal led to a false story about him advocating for the turkey as a national symbol. He described the bald eagle as a "Bird of bad moral Character" and praised the turkey as a "more respectable Bird" and a "true original Native of America." However, Franklin did not actually suggest that the turkey replace the bald eagle as a key symbol of America.
Seattle Mariners 2026 Schedule
 Click here to see the Seattle Mariners 2026 Schedule
Seattle Seahawks 2026 Schedule
 Click here to see the Seattle Seahawks 2026 Schedule
With best wishes,
Pete von Reichbauer
King County Councilmember
Washington Trivia Answer:
Inspired by his Army pilot father, Major Joshua Soltan from Spokane, Washington, pursued a career as a Blue Angels pilot. His early experiences, such as watching Blue Angels practices in Pensacola and wearing his dad's flight gear, fueled this aspiration.
In 2010, he graduated from Central Washington University (CWU) with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation and a Minor in Business Administration. Looking back on his journey, Soltan recognized the dedication and effort over the past two decades that brought him to aviation, particularly after shifting from baseball to Central's aviation program, which rekindled his love for flying.
Soltan trained on the KC-130J Super Hercules, serving as a copilot and instructor with VMGR-252 and VMGR-152, and participated in humanitarian missions in Asia. He became a Joint Terminal Attack Controller with the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, supporting multiple deployments. In September 2021, he was appointed as a Blue Angels demonstration pilot for the C-130J program, serving as lead pilot and narrating for the F/A-18 team until November 2024. He later became the Aircraft Maintenance Officer for VMGR-153 and Executive Officer for Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24). Soltan, the second Central alumnus selected for the Blue Angels, emphasizes his commitment to representing the Navy and Marine Corps.
After three years of developing leadership skills and receiving feedback, he concluded his time with the Blue Angels with a “Drop Salute” in Pensacola before transitioning to a C-130J squadron in Hawaii. Reflecting on his final air show, he expressed hope for future CWU graduates to become naval aviators and possibly even astronauts. With over 2,500 flight hours and numerous accolades, including the Meritorious Service Medal, he is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of aviators by donating his Blue Angels gear to the CWU Aviation department.
 Photo sources: CWU.edu and 1stmaw.marines.mil
King County Emergency Preparedness Guide
Emergencies can happen at any time, often without warning, and their impact can be reduced with the right preparation. This Emergency Preparedness Guide is designed to help individuals, families, and communities take practical steps to stay safe before, during, and after a crisis. From natural disasters to unexpected disruptions, being prepared means knowing what to do, having essential supplies ready, and staying informed. By planning ahead, you can protect yourself, support others, and respond with confidence when it matters most.
Read the Emergency Preparedness Guide compiled by my office here.
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