Madison Park Times 04302025 by Pacific Publishing Company

Hometown Heroes

By Laura Marie Rivera Contributing Writer

Girmay Zahily celebrated the best of Seattle at his third annual Hometown Heroes event last month at the Paramount Theatre. Zahily was re-elected as Madison Park’s representative on the King County Council in 2023 and is now the Chair of King County Council. At this year’s celebration, he began by recognizing the many audience and community members that make the world a better place and continued to stress the need to acknowledge the people lifting others up instead of tearing them down.

Friends of Madison Park Update

In the spirit of lifting others, Zahily would like to see King County lead the nation in economic mobility, safety, innovation and inclusivity. Citing his childhood, he says he has seen this firsthand. Zahilay was born in a refugee camp, and his family came to King County when he was just 3 years old. “This county gave us a second chance – public housing, strong public schools, a thriving private sector that provided jobs and opportunity.” He went from public housing to graduating from Stanford University, from Spring is in the air! Friends of Madison Park volunteers have been hard at work planning events, projects and advocating for our neighborhood.

Bathhouse Renovation and Shoreline Restoration Project.

Our regular Neighborhood Meeting on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Bathhouse will focus this month on the Bathhouse and Beach Project.

■ Learn about the renovation project, share your ideas, and help us develop a shared vision for the Bathhouse and shoreline.

■ This is a pivotal moment in imagining what’s next for this beloved waterfront space – your voice matters!

■ Hear from expert teams at Signal Architects and Anchor QEA Landscape Architects as they answer questions, review past projects, and give an overview of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

One Seattle Plan Update

Madison Park’s official appeal to the One

Seattle Plan, along with all six appeals, was dismissed before the City Examiner in April. Undeterred, FoMP continues to be in discussions with the Mayor’s office, the Office of Planning and Community Development, Public Utilities and City Council Joy Hollingsworth.

Among other actions taken, the Friends of Madison Park has updated the proposed One Seattle Plan for Madison Park with adjusted boundaries and zone designations for several residential blocks. Feedback is much appreciated, so please submit opinions in writing to City Council representative Joy Hollingsworth, the Office of Planning and Community Development, and/or the Mayor’s Office. Visit the Friends of Madison Park website friendsofmadisonpark.com for email templates and more information on how to make your voice heard.

A Joyful Easter Egg Hunt on April 5 In case you missed the early Easter Egg

FRIENDS, 5

King County Council Chair Girmay Zahilay pauses to take a selfie outside last month’s Hometown Heroes Awards.

COURTESY OF GIRMAY ZAHILAY ZAHILY, 5

TEACHING YOURSELF TO FISH: PREPPING TIPS ON YOUTUBE

Ilike the expression “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.”

I’ve been wanting to learn more about preparedness – why not leverage the wisdom of people who do this for a hobby (and sometimes a living!)?

YouTube videos have been a surprisingly useful resource for my own prepping research for several reasons: 1) They have dates (unlike some websites) so I can usually find recent information 2) I can see items or techniques they’re recommending in detail and 3) The videos can make sometimes dry topics personal, practical and often fun. Please note that I don’t agree with all the tips discussed (I don’t think you should use candles for lighting or cooking, for safety reasons).

In this column, I grouped YouTubers by their main specialty or topic. The YouTube channels are listed by their YouTube handle (preceded by @). Using this item in YouTube’s search bar means you’ll get to the right channel!

GENERAL PREPPING

@TheUrbanPrepper: A dapper Seattle resident who focuses on city preparedness and has tons of tool/gadget recommendations, Cliff has been uploading preparedness content for 14 years! Videos include “Urban Shelter Design Strategy,” “Top 10 Preps to Buy at Costco,” (he also does Home Depot and AutoZone), and “The 10 Cs of Urban Survival.”

I enjoy his straightforward, easy-to-follow approach (when it comes to shelter, Cliff says, be sure

Armstrong Madison Park Emergency Hub

to consider three things: what you sleep under, in, and on.) His videos are professional, to the point, and have a real sense of fun.

@ModernRefugee: Sporting a deep, reassuring voice and common-sense attitude, MR has all the prepper cred you’d want. Videos include “Be Cautious & Build Everyday Redundancy,” “Have An Egress Plan,” and “Turn a Blanket Into Clothing.”

MR discusses a wide range of preparedness topics, including “country skills” like camping, fishing, and farming. I enjoyed the discussion of current events, like rising prices and everyday SHTF situations (a prepper term for when “Stuff (well, not stuff, but this is a family paper) Hits The Fan”). From a user in MR’s Redundancy video comments section, I also learned a great phrase: “One is none, two is one, and three is better.” I definitely feel this way about prep stuff!

@AmericanResiliency: Dr. Emily Schoerning is a science educator seeking to educate people on preparedness and awareness. Videos include “Workshop, Bunker Not Required,” “What is Reasonable Prep? 2025 Update,” and “120 Degrees: No Power.”

A can’t miss: the channel’s Workshop video above included access to a Google Sheets doc that lets you plan skills and stuff you’d need for “Three Bad Days,” “Three Bad Weeks,” and “Three Bad Months.” I made a copy for my own use.

Honorable mentions: @ cityprepping

(though it has a bit too much emphasis on doom and gloom for me)

PREPPING FOOD (AND MORE)

@TheProvidentPrepper: This upbeat family makes videos on emergency prep and self-reliance, including a lot of info on food and cooking. Videos include “Top 10 Foods to Hoard for ‘The End of the World as We Know It,’” “6 Lifesaving Tips to Keep Warm During a Winter Power Outage,” and “12 Food Storage Myths Debunked.” This content-packed channel includes a complete playlist for power outage cooking and a 10step video for newbie preppers, including the practical tips we often stress here at the Hub: water storage, sanitation, and shelter.

@PrepperPotpourri: Calm and savvy Mary Ellen has a very well-stocked pantry! Videos include “10 Genius Kitchen Hacks Using

Shelf-Stable Ingredients,” “Absolutely the Best Way to Store Flour Long Term,” and “Pantry Preps: Buy Before the Next Big Storm.”

In addition to abundant food tips (she also has rice and pasta storage tips), I enjoyed her “My B.O.B (Get Home Bag)” video. B.O.B. is prepper-speak for Bug Out Bag: a smallish bag full of things you’d need in an emergency. Her bag includes a surprising amount of goodies for its size – the most intriguing items for me were clips for making a tarp into a tent and a collapsible bowl (why didn’t I think of that?).

Honorable food prepper mentions: @RoseRedHomestead @ AcreHomestead @twobearshomestead.

FLASHLIGHTS

@Lumencraft: YouTuber Matt does deep dives into flashlights. And that’s it! Videos include “Comparing the Lightest Headlamps” and “Brightest Flashlight under $50.”

I was in the market for a strong flashlight several years ago (mainly to help me find dog poop under fall leaves, I admit, but also in case of extended power outages) and ran into this fun creator. He makes videos about flashlights much more

entertaining than you’d expect them to be – they’re hard to stop watching!

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL (JUST FOR FUN)

@SurvivalLilly: Perhaps more entertaining than practically useful, Lilly is an Austrian “survivalist” with over 1 million subscribers and a past stint on the TV show “Naked and Afraid.” Here in the city, we won’t likely need most of her tips (like how to make a water container out of a log), but I include this for one fascinating video: “Survival Kit you want to wear on your BODY.” In this video, Lilly fits a stunning amount of prep gear inside a tiny Altoids mints box including a super tiny knife! Anyway, I’ve only scratched the surface of what’s available on YouTube. I hope that you’ll do your own exploration of what YouTube has to offer, preparedness-wise. Thanks again to Reddit’s r/ TwoXPreppers subreddit for inspiration and information.

As always, this column is part of Madison Park Emergency Hub’s outreach effort. We’re an allvolunteer org focused on neighbors helping each other after a disaster. Contact us at madparkhub@ gmail.com to get on our mailing list.

Dana

COURTESY

Meditation for renewal

Our bodies are in a constant state of renewal much like the earth itself. Just as leaves unfurl, rivers forge new paths, and seasons shift; our cells undergo constant change. Meditation helps us reconnect with this natural rhythm of change, allowing us to observe the subtle shifts in our bodies and minds. Through meditation – attention to and equanimity with what is – we can observe our own regeneration.

Last month I attended my first 10-day silent meditation course. For 10 hours each day, beginning at 4 a.m. when we woke to the song of the gong, we sat in meditation, bringing our attention inward. With practice we trained our minds to come to stillness, perceive sensations in our bodies, and observe that each is fleeting. One moment I might observe an intense pain or burning in my hip. As I’d sit there and watch it without reacting – without bracing, without sifting in my seat to find ease, without even wishing it would go away – it would unfailingly shift. Sometimes it would

shift within moments; sometimes it would be there an hour later. But eventually it would shift.

Not only did we observe intense sensations in our bodies as they came up, but we attended equally to the minute.

I observed, for example, my breath naturally entering my left nostril one moment, and shifting to enter my right nostril minutes later. I observed a tickle on my upper lip –that I could have scratched to find relief – but instead simply watched with curiosity and non-reaction, until it

disappeared, as all sensations eventually do. Over hours and hours and days and day, I came to know in my being that every sensation, every pain, every tickle eventually shifts.

Modern life pulls our minds in a thousand directions; our bodies, responding to this chaos, can become burdened with stress. Meditation teaches us to attend to all moments and shifts with equanimity – without attachment or aversion, without desiring the breath to stay in one

particular nostril, and without wishing a pain away, or a new sensation to arrive. We simply observe with equanimity, knowing this too with change.

Because meditation fosters a mind state of equanimity, it allows the body to shift out of tension and into the parasympathetic mend mode. Acupuncture similarly draws the body into a parasympathetic rest and rejuvenate state, and as an acupuncturist I love helping people shift their bodies and minds from constriction to

ease and repair. But meditation is a tool we have access to all day, every day, for free. As long as we are alive, we are breathing; regardless of circumstance we can return our attention to our breath. By focusing on the breath or bodily sensations without reacting, we let go of the stress that hinders our healing process, and transformative healing shifts can occur. During my deep-dive, 100-hour meditation course, I observed as tensions unravel that had been there for decades.

Science corroborates the healthful shifts that meditation can usher in. Studies show that through meditation, cortisol levels drops, inflammation recedes, oxidative stress decreases, and immune function is boosted, and the body’s nature cellular regenerative abilities are heightened.

Studies suggesting that meditation may increase telomerase activity, and thus foster longevity and healthy aging, are particularly exciting. Telomerase is the enzyme that repairs and lengthens telomeres (which cap our chromosomes). Because telomeres act like aglets on shoelaces, protecting chromosomes from fraying during cell division, shortened telomeres are linked to cellular aging, increased risk of disease, and decreased longevity. So clearly, the higher levels of telomerase found in people who meditate regularly is an intriguing avenue of research being pursued by Nobel laureates and others.

Annie Lindberg is a licensed acupuncturist, Chinese Medicine practitioner, and Ayurvedic practitioner. She also holds a Masters of Environmental Studies. She owns and practices at The Point Acupuncture & Ayurveda, located in Madison Park and is a regular Madison Park Times health columnist.

How aging and dehydration are intertwined

By MetroCreative

The human body is everchanging. Though it’s not often so easy to detect the changes the body goes through, such alterations may become more noticeable with age.

One age-related change that’s easy to overlook is related to thirst. The Cleveland Clinic notes seniors typically do not feel as thirsty as they once did. That compels seniors to consume less fluids, which in turn makes them more vulnerable to dehydration.

Why is my risk for dehydration higher now than when I was younger?

Seniors may ask this question, and body composition changes that correspond to age are often to blame. According to the Cleveland Clinic, seniors’ bodies do not demand water in the same way they did when they were younger. So, people tend to drink

less water as they age. Some also suffer from decreased kidney function that also

compromises fluid levels in the body. These things mean many seniors have less

water in their bodies than they used to, which increases their risk for dehydration. How serious is this threat?

The threat posed by dehydration is serious. In fact, the Cleveland Clinic notes that dehydration is a common cause of hospitalization among adults 65 and older. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality also notes that adults 65 and over have the highest hospital admission rates for dehydration of any group.

How do I know if I’m dehydrated?

As noted, aging adults do not typically feel as thirsty as they did when they were younger. That’s important to remember, as the Cleveland Clinic notes that thirst might actually be a sign of early dehydration. The following are some additional physical signs of dehydration:

■ Fatigue and weakness

■ Dizziness or a loss of coordination

■ Dry mouth and/or a dry cough

■ Headache

■ Muscle cramps, which can be caused by a loss of electrolytes through sweating

■ Chills or heat intolerance

■ Flushed skin

These symptoms are notable in their own right, but some may make seniors vulnerable to additional issues. For instance, dizziness or a loss of coordination resulting from dehydration may make seniors more vulnerable to falls. Falls are a significant threat because they increase the likelihood of broken bones and other serious injuries, but a fall also can adversely affect mental health. A fall that causes injury may lead seniors to withdraw from certain activities, including recreational sports or other physical activities often

performed alongside fellow seniors. Withdrawing from such activities can lead to isolation and depression. How can I avoid dehydration?

The good news is that hydrating is pretty easy, particularly when seniors are aware of their vulnerability to dehydration. The Cleveland Clinic urges seniors to consume sufficient fluids each day, even spicing up water with a fruit slice if necessary.

In addition, seniors are urged to avoid caffeine, which can force more trips to the bathroom to urinate and thus lose fluid. Cucumbers, celery and, of course, watermelon also can be incorporated into seniors’ diets each day, as these foods are high in water content.

Dehydration poses a serious threat to seniors’ health. But that threat can be easily overcome when seniors make a concerted effort to stay hydrated each day.

ADOBE STOCK

Annie Lindberg

REVISITING THE PARK: Only 60 to 70 years ago

Madison Park used to be filled with pre-war residents and survivors of the Great Depression. After World War II, many homes became vacant as the shipbuilding workforce moved away. College students, office workers and flight attendants soon moved in, attracted by the great location and cheap rent, blending into the community. At 21, we enjoyed this new environment, often meeting at the Red Onion and the Attic. The restaurants were as good back then as they are now. Taking a date to the Quality Café in 1950 (where the Attic is today) was a hit, with great roast beef sandwiches on the menu. The drugstore soda fountain served homestyle hot lunches. The Bamboo Terrace was the best Chinese cuisine for miles, taking Madison Park by storm, drawing people citywide who formed long lines on Sundays. We would often close

the Attic at midnight on a Saturday. With 16-ounce new Buds in hand, we walked to the Terrace and dined until the early summer sun rose, then hit the beach for an early nap.

A few of us used to sit in the big back booth at the old Red Onion, where the kitchen store stands today. Side note: the only thing separating the RO from the Attic was the Dime Store owned by Bill and Ada.

My mom’s uncle, John Swank, owned the Lynnwood Tavern and it featured waitresses in hot pants who served beer. That with the free popcorn from an old theater style popcorn machine made it a destination.

One of the niceties of the area in the ‘60s was having a laundry service, which included folding – once in the drawer, it spoke of how neat a person one was. While dining at Egg Cetera right next door, waiting for self-operated dry cleaning could be done.

Along with the nearly every weekend parties, socializing was accomplished by attending or participating in baseball/football games between tavern patrons since all the bars were closed on Sundays

One evening, while discussing the pitfalls of singlehood in the park, some obvious no-no’s came to mind. If there were several roommates in a house, one should not attempt to date more than one girl unless ground rules were approved. One should not date another roommate’s girlfriend even if they are broken up. One should always ask permission to ask said girlfriend

out. Feelings would still linger, so an unwritten rule was to remain sensitive.

With all the bases covered, your reputation takes shape: You like to cook, mix a good drink, and enjoy lots of friends. It doesn’t take much for this status to crumble, however – just one little incident can occur that multiplies by 10 and travels just a little over the speed of light. Your reputation is created, good or bad.

One friend, by all indications, had been getting along very well with a Madison Park gal. He also dated a young lady at work who lived in Queen Ann. There was no worry of a chance meeting. Are you kidding? In 1959, Seattle was small!

He walked into the Attic to meet friends. Members of the Attic Ski Club were occupying the tables in the back room. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness and smoke, he saw his Madison Park number 1 sitting with his Queen Ann number 1. With no exit in sight, he looked for a possible hole in the wall. One of the guys at the table asked him to join them, but he couldn’t even talk. He eventually joined in and said little, trying his best to be invisible. Fortunately, the conversation was centered elsewhere. Sometime later, Queen Anne number 1 went back to her number 1.

The thorny scene also existed in the workplace. My cubicle was some 20 feet from the receptionist who sat at the front of the office. She was a tall blond girl poised with a warm greeting who met and directed clients.

Once in a while, when the red light blinked on the switchboard, she would answer with a smile forming on her lips – followed by a flirtatious laugh. At the same

Measles case identified in a King County adult

Submitted

Seattle & King County was notified on April 4, of a positive measles case in a King County adult. This is the fourth case of measles in Washington state in 2025. This case is not connected to any of the previous local measles cases.

The individual was likely exposed to measles during recent international travel.

Public Health disease experts assess each measles case to determine the potential risk of exposure to the public and determined that there is minimal to no risk of measles to the general public from this new case.

time a project engineer who sat nearby was on the phone with similarly animated mannerisms.

People passing my desk asked if I thought there was a little funny business going on, but I acted dumb, replying I hadn’t noticed and changing the subject. They asked me who I was dating, but acting dumb had become an item for office gossip.

Some mornings, I came in early to work on rushed projects. One day, the receptionist approached me with a grin and asked if I had figured it out. I told her it wasn’t anyone’s business. To distract people from the possibility that her engineer friend, who was out working in the field, had asked me to take her to lunch, which helped curb the rumors about the two of them.

Not long after that, I took someone to lunch, and a girl from the office was in the smoky lounge with another employee. The company should have had a “who’s dating who” roster.

Back in Madison Park the possibilities were endless where to meet someone. A chance meeting at the bakery, the R.O., the Attic, concerts at the park, Seward Park, summer parties, friends with boats, and many more. There were some rules that had to be followed. If two friends had eyes on a specific gal, the other one had to back off or risk getting a black eye or split lip. A roster posted somewhere in Madison Park might make for a convenient match-making tool, as long as the rules are stated.

Madison Park has all the makings of sociability and events that leave happy memories. Our neighborhood has proudly remained a neighborhood where most folks are content to stay.

“This is the fourth case of measles in Washington state this year, and we continue to see that measles is spreading around the U.S. and world. The good news is that we have a very safe and effective vaccine to protect our children and our community from measles,” said Elysia Gonzales, Medical Epidemiologist for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “If you’re planning international travel, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider about what vaccines may be needed for you and your family to stay healthy and protected while traveling. Babies ages 6-11 months should get an early dose of the MMR vaccine if traveling internationally. They will still need two additional doses later. In Washington State, all children under age 19 can get vaccines for free.”

Measles symptoms begin 7 to 21 days after exposure. Measles is contagious from about 4 days before the rash appears through 4 days after the rash appears. People can spread measles before they have the characteristic measles rash.

Measles can lead to ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and rarely, encephalitis (brain inflammation) or death.

Complications from measles can happen even in healthy people, but those at high-est risk include: infants and children under 5 years, adults over 20 years, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems from medications or underlying disease.

Measles is preventable with the safe and highly effective measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles and that protection is long lasting.

For more information about measles and measles vaccination, including where to get measles vaccinations: www.kingcounty.gov/ measles

Richard Carl Lehman Revisiting the Park

From page 1

Hunt, an estimated 1,000 children and families hunted for close to 5,000 Easter Eggs, played games, met the Easter Bunny, had their faces painted, had delicious treats and relished the sunny spring day. Watch our video of the day on our website’s newsletter at friendsofmadisonpark. com. A few pictures here too.

Spring Clean Day

Madison Park Bathhouse & Beach

Renovation Meeting

Tuesday May 6th at 7pm at the Bathhouse

Join your neighbors during the next monthly community meeting to learn more about future improvements of these well-loved spaces

Share your ideas and meet the architecture and landscape design teams

Attend the meeting in person or watch the livestream at youtube.com/live/gE8-KSz_8Ds

Please join us on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to noon to help clean and beautify our community spaces. Check-in at the Bank of America parking lot, and though some tools will be available, volunteers are welcome to bring along their own as well.

Madison Park Garden Tour

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Madison Park’s annual garden tour. Prepare to be inspired as 14 neighbors have opened their gardens to showcase landscaping and flora. Tickets are $20 per guest and can be purchased online at friendsofmadisonpark.com. Proceeds benefit the Friends of Madison Park. Subscribe to the Friends of Madison Park newsletter for updated information on neighborhood happenings, and please attend the next community meeting on Tuesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. at the bathhouse. We look forward to seeing you there.

Farmer’s Market

The Seattle Farmers Market Association and Seattle Department of Transportation have let us know that final decision on the Madison Park Farmers Market will be issued by early May. Stay tuned.

ZAHILY

From page 1

experiencing poverty as a child to now representing our community in public service. He is now running for King County Executive to make sure that every child and every family in King County can have the same opportunities for a better life.

His plan will be to focus on the Three B’s: Bringing people together, Building, and Boots on the ground. By creating spaces for people to come together, he aims to foster a collaborative environment that ensures the people of King County will benefit from the brilliance that is already here in our communities. He plans on building the county’s infrastructure that includes more housing, more businesses, and more childcare. And employing a boots on the ground strategy that fosters relationships, deploys resources, cleans up our communities, and makes visible improvements in people’s lives.

Zahilay said, “This is how we bring back that feeling of forward motion. We restore hope through real connection and collaboration, by being visible and solving problems in our communities, and by building things that truly improve people’s lives.” And he went on to pay tribute to some of the many talented changemakers in that theater.

First up was Gary Payton – the

King County garbage fees may increase regardless of changes to capital projects

By Spencer Pauley The Center Square

A recent audit of King County’s Solid Waste Division planned capital projects found that per-ton garbage disposal fees could double in 10 years as a result, but the division notes delaying these projects could also increase fees for customers.

In April, King County Auditor’s Office report found that per-ton garbage disposal fees could increase from $203 per ton in 2025 to over $413 per ton by 2034 in order to cover the estimated $1.36 billion cost between 2025 and 2040 for capital projects.

According to the audit, “SWD funds capital spending largely through bond sales, and the increase in capital spending means that debt service for these bonds could grow over 450 percent between 2024 and 2034.”

Residential customers could see a wide range of garbage disposal fee hikes.

An increase of about $210 to $252 per ton for commercial haulers by 2034 would also result in an average residential curbside annual increase of around $73 to $396, depending on customer can size.

For self-haul minimum users, who make up almost half of all self-haul trips to transfer stations, per-ton garbage disposal fee increases mean that the cost to enter transfer stations to dispose of garbage could increase from $32.60 in 2025 to over $68 per transaction in 2034, according to the audit.

The King County Solid Waste Division provides garbage transfer, disposal, and recycling services for approximately 1.9 million people in King County. With a large number of customers that would be affected by the fees, the division acknowledged the report’s findings and is reevaluating its future capital programs.

“King County’s Solid Waste Division will be

seriously considering the auditor’s feedback to better inform our capital project investments,” Department of Natural Resources and Parks Director John Taylor said in a statement. “Already, our teams are reevaluating our capital program, and we will include the Auditor’s recommendations in this review.”

However, customers could see costs increase no matter what the division chooses to do. King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Communication Specialist Joe Basile told The Center Square in an email that delaying capital projects will likely contribute to higher garbage disposal fees for customers in the long run. This is due to planning and construction costs increasing over time.

Basile noted the Solid Waste Division has already paused the planning of a redevelopment project for its transfer station in Renton and is currently building a new transfer station in south King County that is anticipated to open sometime in 2026.

The division is also in the planning phase of a new station in Kirkland.

These projects are intended to replace aging stations across the county in order to make recycling and transfer of waste materials easier for the public and safer for employees.

“These new modern recycling and transfer stations are needed across King County to serve a growing population with services such as recycling, yard waste, and household hazardous waste disposal,” Basile told The Center Square. “They will replace facilities that are past their life use and were built when stations were designed to only accept garbage.”

Along with Solid Waste Division leadership, the King County Council and county executive would be required to approve legislation to delay any capital projects as part of a plan to minimize rate impacts on customers.

Seattle Supersonics legend who has given so much to the city, both on and off the court. “Gary Payton wasn’t just one of the greatest basketball players to ever wear a Seattle SuperSonics jersey – he was the heart and soul of the team,” Zahily said. The Gary Payton Foundation is committed to fostering personal growth, leadership skills, and academic success. Payton was quite the team player, hanging around to talk to fans and taking the time to sign jerseys and basketballs.

The second award was for Mujer al Volante, which translated means “woman behind the wheel” and they do just that. They believe that empowering low-income immigrant and refugee women and mothers with access to transportation also provides access to opportunities in the community. They are putting women in the driver’s seat, literally and figuratively, and offer their services in eight languages.

Luna Crone-Barón was the

third honoree. She is one of the first student members of the Seattle School Board and made history as its first openly transgender member, using her platform to push for stronger mental health resources and comprehensive sexual health education. CroneBarón used the spotlight to honor all the transgender youth in King County, saying, “This moment, for me, symbolizes recognition and honor for the bravery, sacrifice, and resilience of trans youth in

living our truths each day.” While recognizing the dark time for the trans community, she vowed to fight against the federal administration’s efforts to attack and erase their existence and to work to uplift the beauty and dignity of trans existence.

Toyia T. Taylor is the executive director of Speak With Purpose who “helps young people find their voice and inspires them to become changemakers in their community,” Zahilay said. Taylor said her organization is dedicated to amplifying the voices of our region’s young scholars and is the only public speaking program embedded into classroom curriculum across King County. She calls her work sacred, in that it’s a calling to remind the youth who they are. She said, “That no matter what this world hands them, they are not alone. They belong to a community that sees them, believes in them, and will rise with them.”

And the last award of the day was a legacy award for Frank Chopp, a long serving Washington State representative from the 43rd District. His wife Nancy was in attendance to accept the award on his behalf, and she shared beautiful words to remember and honor his lifetime of service. It was a moving close to an uplifting program. Each year, Girmay Zahilay uses his spotlight to illuminate the work of others in the community. More information can be found at www.electgirmay.com.

friendsofmadisonpark.com

Girmay Zahily with his wife Joyce Bruce celebrate the Hometown Heroes with the 900 people in attendance at last month’s award ceremony at the Paramount Theatre.

COURTESY OF GIRMAY ZAHILAY

THE LUSTROUS POWER OF GREEN

Steve Lorton Tree Talk

ith the floral explosion of May, garden columns are filled with examples of the magnificence of spring color. I’m all for it. Writers also like to proclaim the importance of our plethora of greens which form a background for that color.

But there are a tiny few greens that vibrate as fiercely as any red, yellow or purple: Euphorbia wulfenii is one of them. This splendid shrub-like perennial, filed with fleshy, upward reaching stems lined with blue-green leaves, bursts into bloom in the middle of March and will hold its splendor well into June. The dense flower stalks have a plump conical shape in eye-popping chartreuse. The dome of foliage can reach 4 feet in height with an equal spread and will anchor any bed or bright corner of the garden year around. Once planted and properly

MARKETPLACE

maintained, you’ll have this plant for decades, if not a life time.

This Euphorbia is part of a genus of over 1,600 noteworthy plants: perennials, annuals, biennials, evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees. Poinsettia (E. pulcherrima) is a cousin, as is the freely self-sowing and much loved annual, Snow-onthe-Mountain (E. marginata). The electric orange flowering E. griffithii, with its copper colored leaves is also in the family. All are worth considering. As is too often the case, horticultural nomenclature can be inconsistent and tricky. Common names can be maddeningly inaccurate. E. wulfenii is sometimes listed as E characias wulfenii, other times as E, veneta. Some times you’ll see it labeled as spurge. Stick with E. wulfenii, you’ll find your plant.

Native to the Dalmatian Coast and Montenegro, E. wulfenii, thrives in exposure to full sun. It tolerates hot dry spells, doing best in rich, well-drained soil. The plant in this photograph has flourished for years on a gentle, west-facing slope, unobstructed to the south. In late winter it gets a feeding with 12-12-12 sprinkled around its root system. In the most scorching weather, it is irrigated at the base.

When the flower heads turn to seed in late June it is time to cut back, to the ground, the stalks they bloom on. New shoots will quickly sprout up and grow, becoming an excellent background plant or garden focal point for the remainder of the year.

It is very important to note that most Euphorbias produce a white sap of near glue consistency. You

may have noticed this if you’ve ever cut a Poinsettia bloom. This sap can cause dermatitis in some people, ranging from an irritating rash to a severe allergic reaction. Be very careful when you cut the spent stems back. Wear gloves, long sleeves and even glasses, to protect your eyes from even the slightest splash of sap. To some, the sap is akin to poison ivy or poison oak. In primitive cultures, the sap was sometimes used on arrow and spear tips to slow or stupefy the hunted game. And for that reason, Euphorbia should never be planted next to a garden water feature which is home to fish. A broken branch, exuding its sap in the water, can kill the whole school.

With this important cautionary news clearly stated and constantly considered, it is fair to say that E. wulfenii is a marvelous plant, well worth growing. You’ll find it in onegallon cans in nurseries now, to be set out immediately.

Many years ago, I pointed this plant out to my toddler son. My goal was for him to see memorable plants and hear botanical names attached to them. I pointed and slowly said, “You-for-be-a wolf-en-eye.” He stared at it for a moment, pointed, and then shouted out, “Wizard of Oz !”

Now, whenever I see this plant I cannot get his joyful comment, or The Yellow Brick Road, out of my mind. And while you may not have a Dorothy, a Toto, a Scarecrow, Tin Man or Cowardly Lion in your life, put this plant in a sunny spot and you’ll always be dancing as if you’re headed to the Merry Old Land and the Emerald City.

PHOTOS BY MARY HENRY

Spice up brunch this Mother’s Day

By MetroCreative

Children commonly like to give their mothers a break from cooking on Mother’s Day. Youngsters may be eager to help out in the kitchen and whip up something that Mom is certain to enjoy. But many recipes can be complicated for younger children or others who might not be so adept with meal creation. However, with a few ingredients that families may already have on hand, it’s possible to craft a delicious Mother’s Day brunch.

This recipe for “Wee Chicken & Waffles with Jezebel-Maple Syrup” from Denise Gee’s “Southern Appetizers: 60 Delectables for Gracious Get-Togethers” (Chronicle Books) utilizes commercially available miniature waffles and popcorn chicken bites to create a chicken and waffles dish with a kick. Serve alongside mini muffins, deviled eggs, cheese and crackers, and other brunch dishes that are simple for youngsters and their little fingers to prepare.

Wee Chicken & Waffles with Jezebel-Maple Syrup

Serves 10 to 12, Three or Four Waffles Each

■ Jezebel-Maple Syrup

■ 2 cups maple syrup

■ 1⁄4 cup pineapple preserves

■ 1⁄4 cup apple jelly

■ 11⁄2 tablespoons prepared horseradish

■ 3⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper

■ 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

■ 40 mini waffles from a 10.9-ounce package, lightly toasted

■ 40 pieces cooked fried popcorn chicken

■ Finely chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley or green onion for garnish (optional)

■ Hot sauce for serving

To make the syrup: In a large microwave-safe glass measuring cup with pour spout (one holding at least 3 cups) or a bowl, add the maple syrup, pineapple preserves, apple jelly, horseradish, pepper, and salt; whisk to combine.

Microwave the mixture on high for 35 seconds. (You also can heat it in a small saucepan on low until the mixture is warm.) Stir and taste, adjusting the flavor if desired. Set the syrup aside.

Place the toasted waffles on a large serving platter. Top each waffle with a piece of chicken. Drizzle the chicken-waffle bites with about 1 teaspoon of the syrup. Garnish with the parsley, if desired, and serve with the remaining syrup and hot sauce.

Savvy Senior: How to protect yourself from identity theft scams

Dear Savvy Senior, I am very concerned about Elon Musk and the so-called DOGE team getting access to my Social Security number and personal financial information through their government office raids. What can I personally do to help protect myself from this identity theft mess?

Worried Senior

Dear Worried, It’s a great question! I’ve been hearing from many older readers around the country that are deeply troubled by the news that the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted access to millions of Americans’ Social Security records that include highly sensitive personal information.

The major concern among data privacy experts is what could happen if your Social Security number, bank account information or tax records somehow gets leaked or breeched in all the data shuffling. If your information gets in the wrong hands it could

lead to identity theft, which means scammers could use your personal information to open credit card accounts, bank accounts, telephone service accounts, and make major purchases – all in your name.

If you’re concerned about the privacy of your personal information, the best way to protect yourself is to put a “fraud alert,” or better yet a “credit freeze” on your

credit file.

A fraud alert is a notification placed on your credit report that signals to potential creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit in your name. While a credit freeze completely restricts access to your credit report, essentially preventing anyone from opening new accounts in your name without your explicit authorization.

A credit freeze provides much stronger protection than a fraud alert, but there is a drawback. When you freeze your credit, you won’t be able to open new credit cards or get a new loan while the freeze in place. It does not, however, prevent you from using the credit cards you already have open. If you do need to get a new credit card or some type of loan, you can always lift

the freeze on your account until you get the card or loan approved, and then refreeze it.

You’ll also be happy to know that a credit freeze is completely free to put in place and lift, as are fraud alerts. And neither action will affect your credit score.

FRAUD ALERT SET-UP

To set up a fraud alert, you’ll need to contact one of the three major credit reporting bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – either by phone, online or by mail. You only need to contact one of these agencies, and they will notify the other two. Here’s the phone and website contact information for each of the three bureaus.

■ Equifax: 800-685-1111 or Equifax.com/personal/ credit-report-services

■ Experian: 888-3973742 or Experian.com/help

■ TransUnion: 888-9098872 or TransUnion.com/ credit-help

If you haven’t been a victim of identity theft, you’ll need to set up an “initial fraud alert,” which lasts for one year, although you can

renew it for additional oneyear periods.

CREDIT FREEZE SET-UP

To set up a credit freeze you’ll need to contact each of the three previously listed credit reporting bureaus –Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A credit freeze lasts until you unfreeze it.

But remember, before you apply for new credit card or loan, you’ll need to temporarily lift the security freeze by following the procedures from each of the credit reporting bureaus where you placed the freeze.

If, however, you don’t want to set up a fraud alert or credit freeze, you can still keep an eye on your credit file by reviewing your credit report regularly. You can get a free credit report each week from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion by going to AnnualCreditReport.com.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

ADOBE STOCK

METRO CREATIVE

T his year began with a bang in the Seattle real estate market. Every home my team and I had on the market went under contract within weeks. The homes we had on sale last year that took their listings off the market for the holidays came back on. All of them sold or are pending. We’re actively working with even more sellers

to get their homes ready to hit the market. Chris Sudore

plan with flexible living spaces perfect for today’s lifestyles. Perched above the street for stunning lake views and privacy, with a level back entry, attached 2-car garage and EV charging. Offering a versatile apartment that can be private or integrated into the home. The epic hotel-like primary suite features an office, huge walk-in closet, and a soaking tub with a view you must see to believe. Multiple home office options. Spacious entertaining terrace. Incredible walkability to shops, dining, and of course the lake!

ADOBE STOCK

It was fast and furious and a bit surprising. After last year’s lack of inventory and buyers for that inventory, it was a quick reversal.

We had a fantastic home listed in Denny Blaine last year. It was on the market for six months. We had great traffic, at least three to four buyer appointments every week. It never got an offer, and it went off the market for the holidays.

On Jan. 15, just five days after re-listing, we received a fullprice offer matching the previous list price.

It was just one of many. By mid-April this year, Area 390 — which includes all neighborhoods covered in this distribution — recorded 553 closed sales, compared to 351 during the same period in 2024. That’s a significant increase.

WHAT’S

BEHIND THE SURGING MARKET

There are several differences between this year’s activity and last year’s. There’s more inventory, and more buyers out actively working to find their next home. That’s simple to see from the data. The underlying reason for both is that people are thinking — and feeling — differently about home selling and buying. When my team and I talk to prospective buyers and sellers, discussions are about their

Even with that buyer caution, we’re still in a strong seller’s market. Though there are more available homes for sale by the numbers, there are still more buyers looking and making offers. That translates into 1.5 months of inventory. Real estate analysts define a neutral market as four to six months of active supply. Even at the higher end of the market, those homes above $5 million, three properties are pending, and 13 available. That’s 2.5 months of supply in a sector that usually sees homes on market for six to 10 months.

needs and wants. That hasn’t been the case in the last year or two. Most recently, people have been fixated on mortgage rates. The jump from super-low rates around 3 percent up to 7 percent cooled the market, especially on the selling side. Sellers couldn’t get past the idea of giving up historically low mortgage rates to move into a home they wanted or needed while paying more each month in interest. Buyers were choosing to wait until the promised rate cuts. Which never happened. That all changed this year. The waiting game is over, and sellers and buyers are making decisions the way we all did before the rates rose. The need for more bedrooms, good schools, and more space inside and out for

growing families matters more than the interest rates for buyers. Or the need for fewer bedrooms, and less space inside and out for downsizing sellers now matters more.

It’s a return to normalcy –driven in part by the fact that today’s interest rates are no longer a shock. Buyers have adjusted, recognizing they can purchase now and refinance later if/when rates decline.

A MORE NORMAL CADENCE

We’re expecting a return to a more predictable market rhythm, like we had before COVID disrupted it and so many other things. That means a strong market through June, when schools let out and vacations happen. Typically, we

see an uptick in activity from September through November, when people return to their normal routines and hunker down for the holiday season.

We’re anticipating that, but recent volatility in the stock market – driven in part by the ongoing tariff seesaw – has already caused a few hiccups. When the market dipped, some buyers planning to use investment funds for all-cash purchases became more cautious.

MAKE YOUR PLANS

If you’ve wanted to sell but were cautious due to interest rates, it’s time to get going. Buyers are out and active. But they’re not looking for just any place to hang their hats — this generation of buyers wants a turnkey experience. That means getting your home in great shape inside and out. So many buyers target homes based on

the photos they see in the online listings, so how your home is staged, photographed, and marketed makes an enormous difference in the number of showing appointments made. Buyers are tired of waiting and moving fast. If you’re a buyer, make sure you have your financing in place and a broker who will fight for you. We’re seeing multiple offers on prime properties again, so having an experienced broker who knows how to structure an offer that will get you into the game and negotiate it to win. Be ready to move fast when you find that unicorn property, because it’s going to be competitive. While it’s a much more normally paced market, there’s still uncertainty about the future. So many homeowners have questions about their real estate investment, and what that means to them. My team and office are based here in Madison Park, we work here and live here. If you have any questions about what’s right for you, now and in the future, let’s set up a time to talk.

Chris Sudore is a Madison Park resident and Managing Broker Coldwell Banker Bain | Global Luxury. Reach him at KingCountyEstates.com or at Chris@KingCountyEstates.com

What My Clients Are Saying...

“Laura Halliday is a consummate professional as a real estate broker. We hired her for a second time (one sale through her previously) to sell our Seattle condo and everything went exceptionally smoothly. She had gorgeous photos taken that showed our place to full advantage. Her marketing efforts generated considerable interest. The sale closed exactly on time, aided by the very competent back office and escrow agents that Laura selected.” - Jeffrey Hanna

CAPITOL HILL

Port challenges Seattle rezoning that allows housing near pro sports stadiums

By Spencer Pauley

Center Square

The Port of Seattle is following through on promises to take legal action to halt a recently approved Seattle bill that allows residential housing near Seattle’s professional sports venues.

The Port filed the appeal in the King County Superior Court in mid-April, arguing that the bill is unlawful.

Council Bill 120933 amends the city’s land use code to allow for workforce housing in the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District, which encompasses Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park.

According to a fiscal note, the intent of the bill is to create a livelier Stadium District by allowing residential uses that serve a mix of incomes.

During discussions on the legislation, Seattle City Council Chair Sara Nelson said the bill will help address the city’s affordability crisis and help small businesses. Planned privately subsidized housing and workspaces will also be built using 100% unionized labor.

The Port’s appeal accuses the city of “spot-zoning,” which is a controversial practice where landuse rules are changed for a small, specific area in order to benefit a single project.

The appeal alleges that the city approved the legislation to rezone a small, three-block area of industrial land for one single project

that promises to add up to 990 residential units. Issues taken up by opponents of the passed legislation include the possibility of thousands of new residents right next to some of the city’s busiest industrial arterial streets, and pushing low-income residents into more polluted and less protected areas.

“The Port feels we must take these actions to defend industrially zoned lands critical to our economic development and job creation mission,” Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck said in a statement. “The harmful impact to maritime and industrial operations caused by this spot rezone were not dutifully considered and there

are many inconsistencies with state, county, and local land use regulations.”

The office of Mayor Bruce Harrell and the City Attorney's Office declined to comment on active litigation.

Harrell’s office told The Center Square in an email that it continues to believe in legislation from 2023

that rezoned the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District to an urban industrial zone, but unlike other urban industrial zones, most residential uses were prohibited within the district.

“We remained neutral on this legislation throughout the City Council’s recent process,” the mayor's office concluded.

Chris Sudore

“As

Bassetti

The

ADOBE STOCK

Jefferson shares stories of a ‘nomad’

By Laura Marie Rivera Contributing Writer

Quinton Jefferson is the nomad of the NFL. In his nine years as a professional football player, Jefferson has had the honor of playing for the Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and again for the Seahawks. And of all the places this Pittsburgh-born player has lived and played football, he says Seattle is the best. That’s why he and his wife, Nadia Jackson Jefferson, have chosen Queen Anne as the home base to raise their four children. Jefferson grew up playing

football and basketball at Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And he played college football at the University of Maryland. His successful college football career led him to enter the NFL draft in 2016. When he went pro, his high school became one of the schools with the most professional players. Other notable players from Woodland Hills High School include Jason Taylor and Rob Gronkowski.

That 2016 draft would prove to be a pivotal moment of the life and career of this 6’4” 291-pound defensive lineman. Jefferson said that waiting for the draft

Think Spring!

was one of the most stressful times in his life. And it was immediately followed by one of the most exciting times of his life. Then he took a moment to breathe and realized, “The work is just beginning, can’t really relax!”

As a coveted fifth-round draft pick, he and his young family moved to a townhome in Renton and quickly came to love not only the Seahawks, but the fresh air, surrounding nature, city life, and the great people of Seattle.

“The Pacific Northwest is beautiful,” he said, and a sharp contrast with the industrial feel and sulfur smell of Pittsburgh, “it’s so green here and the air is so fresh and so crisp.”

In addition to clean air, Jefferson found wonderful role models and a great team culture. “There’s no other experience like that,” he said.

Originally, he was intimidated to play with a superstar like Michael Bennett. But he soon found that not only did they share the same position, they shared the same values. Bennett became a mentor and taught Jefferson how to be a professional.

“Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to play for 9-10 years and still be a dad, a husband, and have time for my family,” Jefferson said.

Jefferson considers himself

lucky to have been able to find a culture like the one Pete Carroll built here in Seattle.

“He’s a coach that understands culture. He brings it to the essence with music and guests and fun,” Jefferson said.

He said that Pete Carroll is a great guy, with no ego, just respect... and energy.

This week, while Jefferson is considering what the future may hold for his football career, he’ll also keep his eyes on the Seahawks and Pete Carroll out in Las Vegas to see what they will do in the draft. He says they don’t call football a young man’s game for nothing. But if the culture, location, and finances are right, he’d be happy to play his tenth season in the NFL. But he says won’t be as stressed waiting for this draft, he has a lot of important things to keep him busy here in Seattle.

In addition to the rigor of his offseason workout regimen, he looks forward to watching and coaching his four kids play softball, basketball, and of course football. He also has other big ventures in the works.

“I’ve always been a creative person who just happens to be good at football,” he said. When he met a fellow creative spirit at the gym, they continued to stay in touch and develop their working

Quinton Jefferson shares his personal story with business partner, Nick Beeba. More info at www.memoirsofanomad.com.

relationship.

Nick Beeba grew up in Magnolia and met Jefferson during his first season for the Seahawks.

“We have a lot in common,” Beeba said. The two share a passion for telling the stories of people that often go unheard and decided to launch their own creative venture: Nomad Studios. Starting with their friends and teammates, they also work to elevate the stories of vintage shops, businesses, and local restaurants. “We believe in the power of storytelling to help people reach their dreams.”

“The path to follow your dreams is not always linear,” Beeba said. He considers Jefferson one of the most

Stalled funding and diminished tax credits: King County’s housing-first model at risk

By Spencer Pauley The Center Square

King County’s housing-first approach to addressing homelessness could be threatened by recent federal policies under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The King County Regional Homelessness Authority, or KCRHA, estimates this housing-first strategy – which prioritizes placing people into permanent housing before addressing other root causes of homelessness – could cost $450 million to $1.1 billion per year over the next decade. Now, that strategy faces major threats from shrinking federal support.

The Trump administration, working with the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has proposed cutting the Department of Housing and Urban Development workforce in half. The Associated Press also reported the administration has stalled at least $60 million in funding intended largely for affordable housing projects nationwide.

KCRHA Deputy CEO Simon Foster warned that these moves could critically impact the region’s homelessness response.

For one, the HUD Continuum of Care program is the third largest funding source for KCRHA. This year, the agency received $23 million from the program, down 66% from the $68 million it received in 2024.

In total, King County received $66 million from HUD this year. Foster said $7 million goes directly to contractors, such as Catholic Community Services, Downtown Emergency Services Center, and Friends of Youth.

KCRHA estimates that 4,490 people will be impacted by the reduced funding, including 241 employees across KCRHA funded

programs who are at risk of furlough.

“These funding delays or reductions could prevent states, communities, nonprofit organizations, and homeless individuals and families from receiving the critical resources needed to address the crisis on sheltered and unsheltered homelessness,” Foster said during a Select Committee on Federal Administration and Policy Changes meeting on April 3.

In addition to direct funding cuts, the development of affordable housing is being impacted by the volatility of low income housing tax credits –which is a federal source used in the majority of subsidized housing projects.

Naomi See, vice president of investor relations at Hunt Capital Partners, told the committee that uncertainty over federal policy is driving down the value of the tax credits by 10 to 15 cents on the dollar. Investors previously paid up to 90 cents per credit; now the rate is closer to 75 to 80 cents.

The low income housing tax credits usually make up about 40% to 70% of the overall capitalization of an affordable housing project, according to See.

Investors are anticipating the corporate tax rate going down to 17%, which would lead pricing to drop another 10 cents.

“Years ago, we were getting up to 90 cents on the dollar for tax credits in Seattle and King County, and oftentimes at the lower tier we’re seeing 75-80 cents – we are seeing a dramatic drop in average pricing,” See said.

Tariff unpredictability could also raise development costs. See noted that 72% of imported lumber comes from Canada and 74% of imported gypsum board, or drywall, comes from Mexico –both critical for housing construction.

On Wednesday, Trump backed off his tariffs on most nations for 90 days even as he further jacked up the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%.

Last year, KCRHA counted 16,385 people experiencing homelessness in the county, an alltime high for the region. Despite rising numbers, county and city leaders remain committed to the housing-first approach.

PHOTO BY JAKE MAGRAW

JEFFERSON, 7

Acting King County executive unveils

levy renewal with reduced tax rate

From page 6

fashionable figures in the NFL but says first and foremost, “Q is an amazing human being and friend with a big heart. He’s a creative visionary who breathes life and support to all of his friends and family!” Beeba looks forward to helping Jefferson reveal more of his personal story. He said it’s a powerful story of the man who knows where he came from and chose to make our beautiful city his home. Their “nomad” name came from Jefferson’s work throughout the NFL and the country.

A lower-rate EMS levy proposed by acting King County Executive Shannon Braddock would extend emergency services funding through 2031.

The Medic One/EMS levy funds King County’s network of medical services, which operates in a coordinated partnership with four dispatch centers, five paramedic agencies, and 23 fire departments.

The network previously included 28 fire departments, but recent consolidations have reduced that number to 23, according to Amy Enbysk, Braddock's press secretary.

Enumclaw no longer provides EMS dispatch

services; coverage has been absorbed by one of the four remaining regional dispatch centers.

The proposed rate is set at 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value and would cost the owner of a median-valued home about $211 in 2026.

According to the county, this would be one of the lowest EMS levy rates in Washington.

The current levy began at 26.5 cents in 2020, but as assessed values increased, the effective rate dropped to 24.8 cents in 2022.

King County voters have paid property tax dollars toward EMS services since 1979. The levy has been renewed several times, typically with broad voter approval. The current levy was renewed with nearly 80% of voters.

According to a September Finance

Subcommittee meeting, a 25-cent levy rate would result in $1.56 billion in total revenue for the King County EMS fund through 2031.

King County’s EMS system serves more than 2.3 million people across the region. The county estimates that the regional network provides emergency services every two minutes on average.

“Our regional system is recognized as one of the best emergency medical service programs in the country,” Braddock said in a statement. “This proposal continues to invest in lifesaving services that every community can count on.”

If approved by the King County Council, the six-year levy renewal would appear on the November general election ballot.

“This game keeps moving, it does not always love you back,” Jefferson said. And if he were to offer any advice to young players, he’d say, “Make sure you have a good foundation of people around you. It’s not if, but when, you hit adversity, your people keep you going strong.”

Our Queen Anne readers can watch for Jefferson in the neighborhood and hopefully playing with a team that we know and love in the fall. Until then, fans can hear the stories and check out the merchandise at www.memoirsofanomad. com.