King County announces second season for Trailhead Direct
Shared from the Washington Trails Association
After a successful pilot season for the Trailhead Direct, King County has announced the program will continue in 2018 with hopes of expanding.
Last summer, the pilot program developed as a joint effort, on behalf of King County Metro and King County Parks Department, to reduce vehicle congestion at popular trailheads in the Issaquah Alps. It was a step towards ensuring more equitable access and public transportation to trails as the demand for hiking opportunities around Seattle, Issaquah and North Bend continue to grow.
Read more at the Washington Trails Association
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Tech Tip: Calendar shortcuts
It’s fast and easy to show or hide other people’s calendars that you have to access often. Here’s a screen shot of an example on my own Outlook calendar pane. Right click on My Calendars and select New Calendar Group to create a “folder” so you can organize your calendar shortcuts in a way make sense for you. Then right click the new group/folder and select Add Calendar, then From Address Book… find the person whose calendar you want to add and click OK. Then you can drag and drop the calendar shortcut to be in the order you prefer, and right click on the shortcut to rename it if desired. Now, when you need to see that person’s calendar it’s as easy as checking the box next to their name.
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Seven lessons from Harry Potter about letting youth lead
Crossposted from the Best Starts for Kids Blog
We’ve all seen movies where an adult walks into a young person’s life and everything changes. There are heartfelt monologues, touching moments, and in the best of them, at least one inspiring musical number. While there is a special place in our hearts for these movies, the truth is that young people don’t need adults to save them—they need us to get out of their way. But that doesn’t mean there is no role for adults in youth movements. We need to get behind our young people, and use the power we wield to move their work forward.
How do we do this? We found inspiration in the source of life’s most important lessons: Harry Potter. Here are 7 ways you can get out of the way and get behind young people, brought to you by the cast of Harry Potter.
Read more at the Best Starts for Kids Blog
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All-purpose fixers do their thing at free public events
The King County EcoConsumer public outreach program sponsors free repair events around King County (outside Seattle), where people can bring small household items and clothing. Our experienced all-purpose fixers and sewing fixers will work on them, and can help you learn repair tips as well.
Each repair event might operate a little differently, based on the venue, the needs of the local community, and more. They might be one-time events, or they may eventually be adopted by a local community and run by other organizations.
At these repair events, people bring in items such as lamps, vacuums, fans, chairs, tools, VCRs, music players, blenders, toasters, toys, pants, dresses, hijabs and much, much more! Our overall success rate at these events for repairing and mending items or helpfully diagnosing the problem (you may need to get a new part, for example) has been 80 percent or higher. See the list of upcoming repair events here.
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Considering buying a home?
Homestreet Bank offers King County employees a variety of free home buying seminars at Homestreet Bank each month to help demystify the home buying and financing process. In addition, they offer free on-site seminars on a range of topics—from refinancing and remodeling to budgeting and buying your first (or second!) home—in the Chinook Building and King Street Center.
For more information and to sign up for a seminar, go to homestreet.com/KingCO and scroll to Upcoming Events.
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Code changes strengthen emergency management in King County
King County Council has passed a series of ordinances, strengthening the role and responsibilities of emergency management within King County government. One bill designates Office of Emergency Management Director Walt Hubbard as the lead authority for emergency planning, response, and recovery for King County government, as required under RCW 38.52. This represents a transfer of title and authorities previously assigned to the Director of the Department of Executive Services.
Another ordinance codifies our Emergency Management Coordinating Committee (EMCC), charging the group with specific roles and responsibilities for interdepartmental coordination of emergency preparedness matters. The EMCC has been instrumental in ensuring all departments and key divisions now have current Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs). A third bill strengthens the ability of the Emergency Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) to fill vacant elected positions more efficiently, which helps facilitate the committees’ work.
This legislative package is the capstone to a five year strategic reorganization of OEM that has included an independent performance audit and internal assessment tied to the successful bid for accreditation under the Emergency Management Accreditation Program.
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Director Taniguchi honored for his advocacy of the leadership of women in transportation
Crossposted from Inside Transportation
From the time he joined King County in 1983, Harold Taniguchi has always made it a point to surround himself with leaders dedicated to excellence — and in particular with professional women who, in his words, felt “free to speak their minds and were not intimidated by anyone else’s position.”
Over his expansive 35-year career, Taniguchi has built a reputation as a leader who supports the professional development of his employees and advances people based on merit and talent. As director of the King County Department of Transportation, he has created a work culture that fosters inclusion, one where women now hold nearly one-third of the leadership positions at KCDOT.
Read more at Inside Transportation
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Golden anniversary: King County Metro operator marks 50 years working full-time
John Helm never thought he’d have lasted this long, in the same job, the same city.
But given the chance to fulfill his childhood dream, he said retirement surely could wait.
Helm reached his amazing milestone Wednesday, March 7, which was 50 years to the day since he first became a bus driver for the Seattle Transit System, a predecessor to METRO and King County Metro.
Over modest pizza and cake, surrounded by longtime friends, colleagues and family, John took it all in, a little shy at the attention. People praised him for his big heart, his calm demeanor, his professionalism. He was honored with two plaques for his longevity.
Pictured: John Helm and his recognition award from King County Metro.
Read more at Metro Matters
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King County scorecard on legislative session: Progress made on key priorities
King County’s legislative agenda was focused on five priorities: reforming the state’s tax system, protecting Public Health – Seattle & King County’s ability to respond to communicable disease outbreaks, reforming juvenile justice, stabilizing the community behavioral health system, and addressing local roads and bridges. The Legislature took meaningful action on most of these fronts.
“In a short session, the Legislature made much progress on issues that have long languished in Olympia,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “For the residents of King County, that means more property tax relief, and more access to drug treatment and mental health services for our neighbors in need. Thanks to these timely investments and other reforms, we are better able to build a stronger, more equitable community.”
Read more in the official press release.
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