 “So, old friends, now it’s time to start growing up, taking charge, seeing things as they are, facing facts, not escaping them, still with dreams, just reshaping them, growing up.”
– Stephen Sondheim –
Image courtesy of WSDOT
The weekend closure of southbound SR 167 near Kent is postponed again due to weather and there is not yet a rescheduled date. While that's certainly a sigh of relief for many in our region, that corridor will eventually close for a few days as Washington State Department of Transportation continues its work on the SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project.
The SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project will upgrade toll equipment on SR 167 to match I-405, creating a smoother, more consistent 50-mile express toll lane system from Lynnwood to Puyallup. This includes adding a southbound auxiliary lane between SR 516 and South 277th Street in Kent. When finished, drivers will enjoy a modern toll lane experience that connects with the I-405 system from Renton to Bellevue.
You can learn more about the project on the WSDOT website and get real-time traffic info by following them on X/Twtter.
While the SR167 project has been delayed, that doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet!
I-405 has northbound closures all weekend:
- Between SR 167/Rainier Ave S and SR 169/Maple Valley Hwy in Renton from 11:59 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Monday, August 26.
Plan your routes accordingly!
 The Employment Security Department of Washington State is holding its 8th annual multi-state agency fundraiser this Saturday at Game Farm Park!
This annual fundraiser, in partnership with agencies across the state, raises hundreds (if not thousands!) of dollars for various charities as part of the Washington State Combined Fund Drive. Monies go towards organizations that help with health and medical research, house the homeless, provide family support for children and youth, provide international relief for refugees, provide senior care, and more.
If you're free this Saturday, consider dropping by and donating! If you'd like to more, check out the Washington State Combined Fund Drive website.
 This week has been a little emotional at the City of Auburn because today we give our final farewell to the #NextStepAuburn interns!
This precocious group of young talents delivered their final presentations Tuesday, a capstone to a 10-week program that involved a lot of learning and even more doing and growing.
I was incredibly impressed by their presentations and one thing in particular stood out to me -- each intern, working in departments across the city, spoke about a profound sense of place, self and duty to the residents of Auburn. They used the word "we" a lot more than "I," and they all understood that each of our work is part of a collective effort to deliver services to our residents.
 They shared details on the projects they've completed day-to-day and innovations they've helped implement. Several also talked passionately about how, before their internship at the City, they didn't think much about what goes into making such a large operation run smoothly. That all changed of course!
I'm so proud of all of them, and especially our Human Resources Coordinators Bri Winters and Chardae Gillespie! Without their fresh ideas, expertise and guidance, none of this would have been possible!
So interns, this isn't saying goodbye -- not really. It's just a farewell for now! From the sounds of it, many if not all of you have careers waiting for you somewhere in local government.
 Thursday morning, about 7,000 Puget Sound Energy customers in southeast Auburn and beyond woke up to no power. While that's inconvenient enough, that also meant several intersections across our city were dark!
Please remember to treat dark or flashing red intersections as a 4-way stop. While we have many traffic signals are on battery backup, not all of them are, and it's always good to remember and follow this simple rule!
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