Report it to Stop it: Let’s put an end to sexual misconduct on our services

Crossposted from Metro Matters By Rob Gannon, King County Metro General Manager Today Metro launched an important public awareness campaign to encourage reporting of unwanted sexual harassment and misconduct on board our services. We’re working with the King County Sheriff’s Office, Metro Transit Police, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, and local law enforcement to increase awareness, encourage reporting, support victims, and reduce misconduct through our “Report it to Stop it” effort as part of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. All of us have a critical role to play in keeping one another… Read More

Sign-up for the Big Backyard 5K and get your $5 hoodie today!

The ninth-annual Big Backyard 5K presented by Kaiser Permanente is happening on Sunday, June 3 at King County’s Marymoor Park in Redmond. This run/walk is an event for the whole family, and it’s dog and stroller friendly! All participants will receive awesome t-shirts, refreshments, snacks, a chance to win prizes, and the satisfaction of supporting King County Parks! The chip-timed course winds around the magnificent (but flat) Marymoor Park and, for kids ten and under, there is a free 1/4 mile Kids Dash. And thanks to our friends at Harborstone Credit Union,… Read More

Airport Career & Internship Fair draws 300 visitors

Crossposted from The Centerline The future of aviation is exciting, especially when you get to see it up close. The Airport got the chance to do so during our Career and Internship Fair last month, when nearly 300 professionals, college and high school students packed our Arrivals building to discover opportunities in the industry. Representatives from King County International Airport / Boeing Field and several of our tenants offered the attendees – who represented schools from across the state – a glimpse into what we do. Companies and organizations represented at this… Read More

Kudos! to Melanie Maltry of Public Health

Melanie Maltry, Home-Based Services Manager with Best Starts for Kids, will be receiving a Preceptor of the Year Award for the Population Health track in the University of Washington School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Melanie, who manages BSK’s Home-Based Services investment area, has served as a mentor for DNP School of Nursing student Nadine Martinez over the past year. Nadine conducted research in the community for her report, “Exploring Service Gaps and Systems Needs for Prenatal-to-Five Home-Based Services in King County’s Best Starts for Kids.” The findings from… Read More

Creative health permit process gives paws, not pause

Crossposted from Public Health Insider Our friends at Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) deserve a treat – they’ve helped increase the pet adoption rate in King County by 20 percent in a single year. RASKC attributes some of this success to the several cat cafés located in our area. But, these cat cafes raised some questions for us. We’ve heard about horses in coffee shops, but cats in cafés? Is that okay? We called our Public Health Veterinarian Beth Lipton to get her perspective on these establishments. We’ve been hearing a… Read More

Pet of the Week: Anubis

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Can you open your heart and home to Anubis, our Pet of the Week? This five-year-old gray tabby was brought in by a good Samaritan in early January. His personality color is “Rambunctious Red,” meaning he’s a spirited cat with a fun-loving personality. Anubis loves to be around people and he always wants to get your attention! He loves petting, and if you stop he will nudge your hand for more! He also loves to rub on people and knead their clothes. Though he likes petting, Anubis… Read More

King County’s noxious weed team tackles several high-priority species in April

Crossposted from KCWeeds King County’s noxious weed specialists have their hands full this month and it isn’t going to get easier anytime soon. Top priority noxious weeds they are focusing on this month include garlic mustard, European coltsfoot, giant hogweed and shiny geranium. Other regulated noxious weeds that are following close behind are spotted knapweed, wild chervil and sulfur cinquefoil. And that’s just the short list of priority species that are regulated under Washington’s state noxious weed law. Garlic mustard is probably the most challenging species we are chasing this month. It… Read More

King County increased the pet adoption rate by a record 20 percent in a single year

Regional Animal Services of King County – which has dramatically increased the pet-save rate in recent years – set a new record for adoptions last year, delivering on Executive Constantine’s commitment to transform humane animal care. Executive Dow Constantine thanked the staff and volunteers at King County’s animal services division for increasing the pet adoption rate by a record 20 percent in a single year, building on the successful transformation of regional animal services. The latest milestone is the result of several strategies, including partnering with cafes and pet stores to make… Read More

Creating pipelines to future careers

Crossposted from WTD’s Clean Water Stories Half of King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s valued employees are expected to retire in five years and one of the biggest questions we face is: How will those spots be filled? How can we reach out to the next generation? We want high school students to be aware of these career opportunities. We host two high school career events in the spring every year and hire 10 high school interns for a summer, and they do some amazing work for us, even if they choose a different… Read More

Pet of the Week: Bindi

Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Introducing Bindi, our Pet of the Week! This eight-year-old Boston Terrier mix came to us because her previous family could no longer care for her. Bindi is a very smart girl, and already knows sit, stay, and come. She becomes very attached to and protective of her family, and would do best in a low-traffic home with no children. Bindi loves to go on walks, but does have some leash aggression. She gets along with other small dogs and cats, but would still do best with a… Read More