Join me for Seattle Pride events
Dear fellow King County employee,
At a time when the rights of many in our country are under threat, King County remains steadfast in our commitment and support for fairness, justice and diversity. Wherever you are from, whether you arrived here last week or your family has lived here for generations, you belong here.
I hope you will join me and King County Council Chair Joe McDermott tomorrow, Friday, June 23, at 12:15 p.m. as we raise the Pride Flag over the Administration Building to show our support for all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, or class background.
I also invite you to join me and hundreds of fellow employees, family and friends this Sunday, June 25, as we march as One King County in the annual Pride Parade. We’ll meet at 10 a.m. on Fourth Avenue between University and Seneca streets. Just look for the King County Metro bus.
If you are scheduled to work and wish to attend either of these events, please seek approval via your department’s applicable leave policies.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Creating a stronger, safer and racially just community
Dear fellow King County employee,
We are all dealing with strong feelings of anger, grief and despair over the tragic death of Charleena Lyles in Seattle on Sunday. We all have many questions, and await more details as they emerge.
Meanwhile, we continue to witness acts of violence and terrorism and the senseless loss of life across this nation and around the world with startling frequency.
This is a difficult time for many of us. I invite you to come together with fellow employees tomorrow, Friday, June 23, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the 8th floor conference room at King Street Center, where we can share how these incidents are making us feel and seek ways to make us a stronger, safer, and racially just community.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Farmers, residents, fish and wildlife win in historic Snoqualmie Fish, Farm and Flood accord
Crossposted from The Downstream Blog
On June 12, at the historic Carnation Farms – with its expansive views of the lush Snoqualmie Valley for a backdrop – King County Executive Dow Constantine met with the Snoqualmie Fish, Farm and Flood Advisory Committee that has spent more than three years forging the first major agreement in the county to strike a balance between farming interests and salmon recovery.
At the core of the Fish, Farm, Flood agreement is a series of immediate, mid-term, and long-term recommendations for action to address overall Snoqualmie Watershed goals.
“I gave the Fish, Farm and Flood Advisory Committee a difficult assignment: Overcome competing interests to achieve shared goals – and they delivered,” said Executive Constantine. “They produced recommendations that will help us restore salmon habitat, strengthen our agricultural economy, and reduce flood risks.”
Read more at The Downstream Blog
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Moving history strikes back – an archival screening night at Northwest Film Forum, June 22
Crossposted from Bytes and Boxes
On Thursday, June 22, the King County Archives will be participating in “Moving History Strikes Back!”—an archival screening night at Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum, presented by Moving Image Preservation of Puget Sound (MIPoPS).
At MIPoPS’ first screening in 2013, the King County Archives contributed clips from interviews with artists participating the King County Art Commission’s 1979 Earthworks: Land Reclamation as Sculpture demonstration project and symposium.
In this screening, we will be sharing a newly digitized video from the same Earthworks collection. In this interview, New York artist Mary Miss discusses her plans for an “airport free zone” adjacent to SeaTac International Airport.
Read more at Bytes and Boxes
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No Water Taxi service during dock construction in early August; Riders encouraged to consider travel options, attend open house June 21
Crossposted from The Captain’s Blog
Riders of the King County Water Taxi will need to make other transportation plans for up to 10 days starting in early August.
Both routes of the popular foot and bike ferry service will be suspended while their crews move the Water Taxi’s float on the Seattle waterfront from the south end of Colman dock to the north end (toward the fire station and Ivar’s restaurant).
The temporary move is part of a larger project by the state to renovate Colman Dock. The Water Taxi will move back to a new and improved facility at the south end of the dock in about a year and a half.
That improved Water Taxi facility will have a weather-protected waiting area as well as elevators and a pedestrian bridge to the new Washington State Ferries terminal and its amenities.
Read more at The Captain’s Blog
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New employee discount for US Bank
Employees can now receive up to 0.25% off a loan amount and deduct it from closing costs, up to a maximum of $1,000. This offer is available to all King County employees and retirees plus their families. To learn more, please contact Eric Scofield at 855-257-4391 or eric.scofield@usbank.com and mention King County Employee Discount Program or visit usbank.com/mortgagebenefits.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
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Social Media Spotlight: King County International Airport Facebook
King County International Airport, known as Boeing Field, is owned by King County and managed by the Aviation Division. For more information visit www.kingcounty.gov/airport.
Follow the King County International Airport on Facebook today!
Click here to view all King County social media pages.
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Tech Tip: Keep your desktop and hard drive free of clutter
If your desktop looks like the picture to the left, then it’s time to clean things up a bit. Not only does a cluttered desktop make things harder to find. Once you’ve gotten that messy desktop under control, make it a habit of keeping it organized, and transfer those same ideas to the rest of your files and folders too. The easier it is to find what you’re looking for, the less time you’ll spend frustrated.
This Tech Tip is courtesy of Life Hacker.
<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/33081776″>Designing and Creating an Organized Desktop – Introduction</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/dachis”>Adam Dachis</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>
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Yesler Bridge Rehabilitation Project: Update, June 2017
With summer just around the corner crews look forward to completing a large portion of construction activities. To carefully complete this work, nightly and full weekend closures of 4th Ave S between S Washington St and Jefferson St will be required. Contractor crews will install fascia girders, pour concrete and paint the bridge. Dates of scheduled closures and what to expect are listed below.
Nightly partial closures, with 4th Ave S reduced to one lane between S Washington St to Jefferson St will take place Monday, July 10 – Friday, July 14 from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Full weekend closures, with 4th Ave S closed between S Washington St to Jefferson St will take place Friday, June 30, 7 p.m. – Monday, July 3, 5 a.m. AND Friday, July 14, 7 p.m. – Monday, July 17, 5 a.m.
Please expect large construction vehicles, lights, noise from trucks, back up alarms and other equipment. Be aware of pedestrian, bicycle, vehicle and bus detours around full closures. Fourth Ave S will be recuced to one lane between S Washington St and Jefferson St on June 12 – June 16 and July 10 – July 14.
The Yesler Way Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which will improve safety and reliability while preserving the bridge’s historical elements, will continue through fall of 2017. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the project further, please contact YeslerBridge@seattle.gov or 206-684-8684. To learn more about the project, visit the project website.
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Pet Project: Meet and greet cat room
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Pictured from left: Lori Mason, who spearhead the project, and Melissa Kelly who helped in the designing of the room.
Dreams can come true! Lori Mason, Licensed Veterinarian Technician and foster coordinator, has been eager to provide a more relaxing and stress free environment for cats during their stay at Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) in Kent.
“The thing about cats is that they need more space than a kennel to show their personality. Cats are different to dogs, they are not ones to solicit attention to potential adopters who graze by the cages. Dogs will bark, jump, or even make eye contact… whereas most cats will tend to just lay in their kennels. Sure, there are cats that get adopted quickly because they will walk over to the kennel door and purr or meow. But, this room was created for the cats that don’t get adopted out as quickly because they are more timid. This spacious cozy room allows for (older) cats to relax in this stress-free environment and to be seen by potential adopters show casing their personality, and ultimately ensuring that they too get adopted soon.” says Lori Mason.
Read more at Tails from RASKC
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