King County study of Lake Washington sediment shows decline in once-common dangerous chemicals, offering a roadmap to address newer health risks
A King County study of Lake Washington’s lakebed sediment shows levels of PCBs, the once common and dangerous chemical are expected to fall below currently detectable levels within the next two decades. Researchers say the findings reaffirm the effectiveness of regulations and personal actions and offer a strategy for addressing emerging environmental threats, including stormwater pollution.
The pilot study, including lakebed coring conducted by scientists aboard the King County research vessel SoundGuardian, also showed how the techniques for collecting and analyzing samples could be used in other research projects to detect human-caused changes in environmental conditions.
“The research conducted by our scientists on the sediment layers beneath Lake Washington sends an unmistakable message: The best way to protect people, fish, and wildlife from harmful chemicals is to stop their production and use,” said Executive Constantine. Read more.
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Discounts available for Seahawks and Huskies
King County employees can now purchase discounted tickets for several upcoming football games for the Seattle Seahawks and University of Washington Huskies.
For the Seattle Seahawks, tickets are available for four home games on Aug. 24, Nov. 3 and 24, and Dec. 22. Ticket prices start at $35, plus a $3 handling fee. Use promo code KING24. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
For the UW Huskies, tickets are available for three home games on Aug. 31, Sept. 21, and Nov. 15. Ticket prices start at $18. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
See all available employee discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
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Black Women’s Experience Project examines equity at King County
Crossposted from the DES Express
The Black/African Women’s Affinity Group, co-chaired by DES’s own Miesha Vaughn, Tort Claims Investigator in Risk Management, and by Ebony Frazier, EIB Manager in the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD), recently released a report with the Wright Resource Group, “An examination of the experiences of Black women employees at King County.”
From the Executive Summary:
“The purpose of the project is to understand the current state of Black Women employed at King County and to provide recommendations to address possible inequities and promote a healthy workplace culture that supports an intersectional demographic that is often not fully incorporated into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) or Equity and Social Justice Initiatives. Read more.
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Maple Valley Bike Rodeo teaches kids about safety
On the beautiful morning of Saturday, June 22, the Maple Valley Police Bicycle Rodeo at Lake Wilderness Park provided an excellent opportunity for new bicycle riders to hone their skills. Children ages 10 and under were able to practice essential cycling skills, such as navigating around distracted pedestrians in crosswalks and maneuvering around “boulders,” painted foam pieces on the road.
Sixty-two kids took turns overcoming these obstacles under the guidance of Officer Baldwin and Master Police Officer Olmsted, along with the assistance of the Maple Valley Explorers, a volunteer program for young adults to participate in community events and police training. This year, the event was joined by Bicycle Rescue for Youth, a nonprofit organization which set up bike stations and ensured that the participants’ brakes and tire pressure were in top condition before they took on the course. Along with great memories, each child received a certificate, safety reflectors, and other cool giveaways at the conclusion of the event.
Maple Valley Police contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) to develop this annual event, as the officers who lead it are KCSO deputies. View photos and more information at https://www.facebook.com/MapleValleyPolice.
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FMD Security Officer Brian Pollack saves man from overdose
Crossposted from the DES Express
Security Officer Brian Pollack from the Facilities Management Division (FMD) saved a life last month outside the Robert Clewis Center (RCC), a low-cost medical clinic in downtown Seattle. An RCC customer was overdosing outside the center, which was closed at the time. The man’s friends had tried to administer Narcan but weren’t successful. Pollack acted quickly due to training he recently received.
“I am grateful for the Opioid Reversal Training I received from Public Health, which proved invaluable during a critical incident,” said Pollack. “I’m thankful I could use my training to save the life of a valued community member. Inspired by this experience, I recently became an Opioid Reversal Training instructor for the King County FMD Security Unit. I look forward to teaching others this life-saving skill.” Read more.
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July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month
July is Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Health Month, a time to highlight the unique strengths and challenges faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in relation to mental health. Named in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, a journalist, teacher, author, and mental health advocate, this month is dedicated to continuing her legacy by focusing on the mental health needs and experiences of BIPOC communities.
Fear of judgment, cultural beliefs, generational differences, and lack of access to resources often prevent people of color from addressing mental health struggles openly and seeking the help they need. To overcome these barriers, it is essential to foster open and honest conversations about mental health. Breaking the silence is a crucial step toward healing and prioritizing mental wellness. Read more.
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In their own words: Meet the dynamic AANHP Leadership Council
Since its inception, the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pasifika (AANHP) Affinity Group has flourished under exceptional leadership: Sung Cho and Stephanie Santos (2019 – 2020), Renee Hosogi and Phoebe Naguit (2020 – 2022), and Helen Potter and Guru Dorje (2023 – 2024). As we transition into a new phase, a collective decision has been made to establish a joint leadership structure known as the AANHP Leadership Council (ALC). This council aims to honor the collective identity of the AANHP community through collaborative leadership. The ALC comprises the following members:
- Allen Ikua Gomes, Crafts Crew Carpenter at Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Parks Operations Section;
- Mark Manuel, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Manager at Metro;
- Meon Yu, Neighborhood Pop-up Customer Service Coordinator at Metro, Mobility Division;
- Molly Marie Faletufuga, Permit Review Coordinator at the Department of Local Services, Permitting Services Division;
- Tyler Jenicek, Lead Customer Services Coordinator at Metro Transit, Mobility Division; and
- Yingying Huang Fernandes, Service Planning at Metro.
We welcome these new leaders as we learn what motivated each of them to step into their roles and how they plan to lead collaboratively. Read more (Sharepoint).
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New Mindfulness offerings for King County employees
Balanced You is excited to share that we heard employees’ requests for more class variety to accommodate busy schedules. As such, Balanced You worked with CuriosityBased and SolJoy to offer shorter class options at varied times beginning in August. Initially, all classes will be online and there will be in-person classes in the future. A schedule and class registration for summer 2024 can be found here.
We look forward to offering new mindfulness programing to all King County employees as we continue our mindfulness journey together.
For more information on mindfulness and other offerings, contact Balanced You at balancedyou@kingcounty.gov. Read more.
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Remembering DNRP’s Steve Bleifuhs
The Seattle Times recently published a tribute for Steve Bleifuhs, a longtime member of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Water and Land Resources Division leadership team who died July 7 in a small plane crash in Eatonville. The article shares:
Steve Bleifuhs worked as a bicycle mechanic while studying economics at the University of Wisconsin, and later in Seattle’s University District, where he moved to in 1994.
He then started a nearly 30-year career working at the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, where he eventually managed a team of about 70 people.
“Everybody is devastated because of the suddenness” said Josh Baldi, director of the King County Water and Land Resources Division and Bleifuhs’ boss. “We’re going to be processing this for a long time.”
Read more in the original article, Family, friends remember 2 men killed in Eatonville plane crash.
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“The Southard:” Homeownership that is inclusive and sustainable
Patti Southard, a nationally-acclaimed pioneer in her field, as a Green Building Program Manager for King County Solid Waste Division in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks for 14 years, until she passed away in 2019.
Homestead Community Land Trust held a ribbon-cutting event on Friday, June 28, 2024 to celebrate the completion of the Southard, named after Patti. Located in the Cascade View neighborhood of Tukwila, the Southard is Homestead’s latest net-zero energy, Salmon Safe, affordable homeownership development.
June 28, also Patti’s birthday, was commemorated as Patti Southard Day by King County Executive Dow Constantine. He recognized it by presenting this proclamation to Patti’s twin sister Ellen Southard at the event.
Pictured: The ribbon cutting event was attended by many who remembered Patti fondly, including project partners and her sister Ellen Southard.
Kathleen Petrie, King County Program Manager for Green Building Communitywide, said, “The Southard emulates all Patti worked so hard for throughout her career and life. Patti was a teacher, providing guidance on projects when green building practices were not as common as they are today.”
“Homestead Community Land Trust has carried these practices forward by striving to create developments that exceed code and can be replicated across our region, thereby providing healthy affordable housing for people in our community,” she added.
Nori Catabay, King County Solid Waste Division Supervisor for Green Building, also recognizes the impact of this event and Patti’s legacy.
“It was a great event to congratulate Homestead Community Land Trust for building carbon-neutral, sustainable, affordable homeownership. Their achievement is no small miracle during COVID-19 and the construction climate,” she said. “It was a great way to remember the legacy of Patti that continues on, providing much needed housing in our community in an equitable and sustainable way.”
Kelly Rider, Director of the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) outlined the importance of providing homeownership options that meet climate standards.
“I was fortunate to get to know Patti in our shared commitment toward sustainable, healthy, affordable housing especially here in South King County. Patti’s legacy can be felt and seen throughout every part of The Southard’s design. From the use of materials that reduce environmental impacts and utility bills, to the solar panels and other energy efficient systems meant to achieve net zero energy usage, The Southard is a culmination of this community’s efforts to build affordable homeownership opportunities that also achieve stability, opportunity, and high environmental standards,” said Kelly.
Pictured: Kathleen Hosfeld, Executive Director of Homestead Community Land Trust, holds the Salmon Safe certification plaque.
“Because of these high standards, The Southard is also the first co-certified Zero Energy and Salmon Safe project in the U.S.,” she continued.
“Through affordable homeownership efforts like this, we can reduce racial and ethnic inequities in homeownership access and address climate equity, a vision that we all share for our region. This is a vision that Patti championed and fought for, and I want to applaud the Homestead team for advancing it here and across their work, and for commemorating Patti’s legacy of a restorative and regenerative community carried on in The Southard.”
Elizabeth Loudon, WaterWorks Grant Program Manager in the Wastewater Treatment Division, was inspired by the project and excited to see it come to fruition and congratulate community partners, Homestead Community Land Trust and Parkview Services.
“WaterWorks grants funded exemplary stormwater systems and education at The Southard and that work continues. Ellen Southard, Salmon-Safe, and others are working to share and expand this model of building watershed friendly affordable housing,” she said.
“It was very fitting that Patti’s vision brought us together for this wonderful event. Patti was brilliant at networking and worked hard to connect people and programs. I’m honored to be involved in this visionary project bringing together the highest standards in affordability, community empowerment, and sustainability. And there’s more to come!”
When Patti died, her colleague and friend David Burger, with the non-profit Stewardship Partners, touched on that legacy, and what Patti meant to people.
“We have lost an incredible driving force in the green building community. Patti was a brave and loving friend who made everyone smile and had an infectious way of making hard environmental and social justice work fun. Her environmental contributions at every level surpassed those of anyone I’ve ever met. She was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.”
For more information about the Southard visit www.thesouthard.com. To learn more about the Green Building Program and King County’s efforts to develop sustainable, affordable housing visit the King County website.
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