King County District 2: History is Made Here

King County Council Appoints Rhonda Lewis, Making History with First Black Woman and First Majority-Woman Council

August 14, 2026

Good Evening Neighbors,

Councilmember Rhonda Lewis and Kathleen Quinene organizing and packing produce at Food Lifeline.

There’s something grounding about a farmers market on a Wednesday evening, or a Saturday morning, that reminds us that food security is a weekly errand, a conversation with the person who grew your tomatoes, and a chance to stretch a grocery budget a little further. That matters more now than it has in years. Cuts at the federal level have already pulled residents off SNAP statewide, and the USDA has slashed funding from the program that keeps our region’s food banks stocked. When Washington, D.C. steps back, it falls to us — county government, city government, state government, and community institutions — to fill the gap. Our neighborhood farmers markets are part of that answer, and I want to make sure every household in District 2 knows what’s available right here at home.

Columbia City Farmers Market

Every Wednesday from 3 to 7pm, right off Rainier Ave and two blocks from the Columbia City light rail station, this market brings together more than 30 vendors selling everything from Asian greens to Ethiopian specialties, reflecting one of the most diverse zip codes in the country. SNAP/EBT is accepted, and the market’s Fresh Bucks matching program means every dollar of SNAP spent on fruits and vegetables gets matched. You can learn more by clicking here.

Central District Farmers Market

Formerly known as the Madrona Farmers Market, this market has served the Central District, Madrona, Cherry Hill, and Madison Valley since 2005 and was renamed for the 2026 season to reflect its growing reach. You’ll find it Fridays from 3 to 7pm in the parking lot of the Madrona Grocery Outlet on MLK Jr. Way, with SNAP/EBT, WIC, Senior FMNP, and Fresh Bucks all accepted. You can learn more by clicking here.

University District Farmers Market

Seattle’s oldest and largest farmer-and-food-only market, founded in 1993, runs every Saturday from 9am to 2pm, year-round, on University Way between 50th and 52nd. It’s grown from about 17 farmers in its first season to more than 80 booths today, and it’s been recognized nationally, including by the New York Times, for its quality and community feel. You can learn more by clicking here.

Beyond our farmers markets, District 2 is home to food banks doing essential work every day. Rainier Valley Food Bank, now at its new home at 9021 Rainier Ave S, is one of Seattle’s busiest food bank and serves more than 16,000 families a month. I also want to highlight Food Lifeline, the regional hub that supplies food to nearly 300 food banks across Western Washington, including many right here in District 2. Food Lifeline moves roughly 80 million pounds of food a year, all made possible by the thousands of wonderful volunteers who sort and repack donations in two-hour shifts. A fun fact: volunteers as young as 10 are welcome alongside their families, and it’s not unusual for a single shift to repack thousands of pounds of produce bound for local pantries within days. My office did it back in June in fact!

D2 team & friends after volunteering at Food Lifeline!

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to give back, I’d encourage you to sign up for a shift. I have been pleased to direct county funding to some of the organizations doing the work to provide food security in District 2, including Rainier Beach Action Coalition, The Silent Task Force, Nurturing Roots, Colored Girls Garden, Black Farmers Collective, and more.

It is my honor to represent you on the King County Council.

You are always welcome to contact my office at 206 477-1002 or Rhonda.lewis@kingcounty.gov.

My D2 team looks forward to assisting you.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Lewis, Councilmember
Metropolitan King County Council, District 2

August 10-14: Council & Committee Actions

Council Recess

The King County Council is on “recess” August 3-August 14. This means that the Council will not be holding its weekly council meeting or most committee meetings. However, offices will remain open for business. The next Council meeting will be August 18.

August 7-14: This week in D2

Friday, August 7: Skyway West Hill Movie Night

The Councilmember joined the Skyway community for an evening of fun and connection at the Skyway Outdoor Cinema. Before the screening of Inside Out 2, neighbors enjoyed local food and treats, live music, double-dutch, face painting, balloon artists and even more activities from Skyway Recreation staff.

The Skyway West Hill community will be hosting Movie Nights again on Friday, August 14: Hoppers and Friday, August 21: Wicked For Good!

Saturday, August 8: Hillman City Block Party

This past weekend, Councilmember Lewis joined neighbors and local businesses at the Hillman City Block Party. It was wonderful to celebrate the people, artists, small businesses, and community spirit that make Hillman City!

Sunday, August 9: Festival Weekend - Othello International Community Festival

This past weekend, Councilmember Lewis neighbors and local businesses at the Hillman City Block Party. It was wonderful to celebrate the people, artists, small businesses, and community spirit that make Hillman City!

From lion dancing and Bollywood to West African drumming and Mexican folklórico, the festival brought together music, food, art, and community in a joyful, welcoming atmosphere. It was a great opportunity to connect with community, support local vendors and celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions that make Othello such a vibrant part of Washington.

Coming Up . . .

July 10-August 15: Shakespeare in the Park

Looking for a fun, affordable way to enjoy summer in Seattle? GreenStage invites audiences of all ages to experience the magic of Shakespeare in the park, completely free. GreenStage has spent decades bringing high-quality productions of Shakespeare's plays to parks throughout Seattle and King County. There are no tickets, reservations, or admission fees required . Find more info, here!

Saturday, August 15: King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Walk

All community members are invited to the King County International Airport (KCIA) Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Walk on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 7:30 to 10 a.m. It is a great opportunity to walking around the airport runway, help keep the airfield safe for aircraft, and enjoy refreshments. Participation is limited. Please RSVP here.

Saturday, August 15: CHOMP

Mark your Calendars!  Learn what’s fresh in King County and join a full-day of family-friendly fun with free activities, live music, food vendors, hands-on activities, and more at King County’s CHOMP! on Aug. 15 at Marymoor Park in Redmond. 

Saturday, August 15: Youth Art Exhibition

The Communities of Rooted Brilliance alongside the Best Starts for Kids Division at Public Health of Seattle & King County, is hosting a BIPOC Youth Artistic Showcase and Workshop on August 15th from 12 PM to 5 PM! Go celebrate talented youth artists from across King County showcasing original works centered on youth healing through the lens of cultural heritage, identity, and community!

Saturday, August 15: Columbia City Night Market

Come visit the Columbia City Night Market on August 15^th. Held every third Saturday of the month, the Columbia City Night Market is a lively, free, street market that features over 50 local vendors, food trucks, and live music. For more information on how to get involved and volunteer click here.

August 16th, 23^rd, & 30^th: UHeights Online Zumba

Join the UHeights community for a virtual day of upbeat, low-impact Zumba workouts taught by Sellyna Ehlers! Classes are open to people of all ages and abilities. For more information on various August events hosted by UHeights and Zumba registration forms, click here!

Saturday, August 22: UW Football Fan Fest 

Kick off the 2026 Husky football season at Fan Fest on August 22 at Husky Stadium! Starting at 4:30 p.m., fans can enjoy food, games, giveaways, face painting, performances, and opportunities to meet Husky athletes, followed by a free football mock game at 6:30 p.m. Fan Fest tickets are $5 and include admission to the mock game.

Saturday, August 22: 98118 Fest

Kick off the 2026 Husky football season at Fan Fest on August 22 at Husky Stadium! Starting at 4:30 p.m., fans can enjoy food, games, giveaways, face painting, performances, and opportunities to meet Husky athletes, followed by a free football mock game at 6:30 p.m. Fan Fest tickets are $5 and include admission to the mock game.

Saturday, August 22: 98118 Fest

Come enjoy the sun at this year’s 98118 Fest! This free event will feature local artists and vendors, food trucks, and activities for all ages. Join the fun on August 22nd from 2-8pm at Columbia Park! Click here to learn more.

Tuesday, August 25: King County Home Improvement Fair (Skyway)

Do you have a home improvement project and need help getting started? King County’s Department of Local Services is offering two free events to assist with your needs! Home improvements can include house remodels, new accessory dwelling units, deck construction, and more! Meet with home construction vendors and King County Permitting staff and learn more about the process to improve your home. The Home Improvement Fair will take place at the Skyway Resource Center located on 12610 76^th Ave S, Seattle WA 98178. For more information click here.

September 12: Best Starts Family Engagement Resource Fair

The Positive Family Connections (PFC) Family Network will be hosting their second annual Family Engagement Resource Fair on September 12! They are seeking up to 50 organizations to participate as a vendor to share resources and support for families across King County. For more information click here.

I will continue to provide updates on my work as your representative. I invite you to reach out, let me know what your thoughts are and what you think District 2 could look like in the future.

Every Friday from September 18-November 20: Acting Fundamentals

Explore acting, improv, and live storytelling in this supportive 9-week class for adults 18+! Meet Friday evenings, September 18–November 20, at University Heights Center, with a final live storytelling performance on November 20. No prior acting experience is required. More information can be found here.

District 2 - a great place to live, lead and make history! Together!

King County District 2

District 2 (D2) is comprised of 273,758 constituents living in Skyway, Rainier Beach, Columbia City, Rainier Valley, Central District, Capitol Hill, Montlake, Eastlake, U-District and Ravenna. It is a beautiful district full of talent and diverse heritages and families. 22% of the D2 population is foreign-born, 28% multi-lingual and 52% rent their homes. Forty-one of Seattle Public Schools’ 109 schools are in District 2.

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Rhonda Lewis
King County Councilmember, District 2
206-477-1002
Rhonda.Lewis@kingcounty.gov
kingcounty.gov/lewis