Another successful year for King County’s Annual Transition Resource Fairs 

Shared from the DCHS Touching Base Newsletter  The Department of Community and Humans Services’ Developmental Disabilities Division (DDD) sponsored its 10th Annual Transition Resource Fairs on March 11 and March 14 this year. With growing turnout each year, the popular fairs provide information for youth with developmental disabilities and their families to help them prepare for the student’s successful transition from high school to adult living. The Transition Resource Fairs took place on March 11 at Highline College and March 14 at Microsoft, drawing more than 1,650 people out to the two events!… Read More

New philosophy makes animal adoptions more successful

Regional Animal Services of King County has just adopted a new philosophy, along with several new policies and procedures, as part of the Humane Society’s Adopters Welcome program. “This new program is challenging us to be more open-minded about adoptions,” said Nickie Ford, RASKC Animal Services Coordinator. “It has really made us take a step back and realize that on the whole, people love their animals and want to do the right thing.” Adopters Welcome is a Humane Society of the United States philosophy that embraces community members, encourages them to adopt,… Read More

Boeing Field is a giant classroom for high school aviation students

Crossposted from The Centerline  A group of budding aviation students from the San Juan Islands recently turned King County International Airport/Boeing Field into a giant classroom. On March 12, the seven grinning students from an introductory aviation class at Friday Harbor High visited the Airport in one of the coolest field trips ever. The students were joined by their instructor Mari Peterson, an Assistant Chief Pilot for Westwind Aviation in Friday Harbor who regularly flies out of Boeing Field. They toured the Airport, conducted an airfield inspection, ate lunch at the Museum… Read More

Getting creative: Local 17 supervisor uses visual mapping to engage employees in the decision-making process

This article original appeared in the PTE Local 17 Insight Magazine. We have been given approval from L17 to use this article. When Local 17 member Keith Siebler started working at the Auburn Public Health in King County nearly five years ago, he encountered a few conflict situations between employees. And while it’s not unusual for supervisors to manage conflict, Siebler wanted to come up with a creative and productive way to address some longstanding issues. As a Public Health Administrative Support Supervisor (PHASS), Siebler supervises Administrative Support staff and is in… Read More

That plume you see is sediment, not sewage

Crossposted from Clean Water Stories  The power of imagery was on full display in a March 12 front page Seattle Times aerial photograph of West Point Treatment Plant and its adjacent waters. The photo purported to show a plume of sewage and stormwater that had discharged from the plant’s emergency outfall before the bypass gate was closed early in the morning of Feb. 16. The accompanying story began:  “A mighty river of brown, raw sewage and stormwater makes a plume offshore at Discovery Park, plainly seen from the air…It’s from the West Point Treatment plant, gushing untreated wastewater… Read More

A promising local solution to ensure a fair shot at local jobs

Crossposted from Best Starts for Kids Blog   Earlier this month, staff from King County’s Natural Resources and Parks were busy getting ready for the upcoming spring and summer season when Pacific Northwesterners experience our parks in full force. This time of year also marks hiring for important jobs to ensure our parks are ready for the season. This hiring event took place at the local community center in White Center. The event is part of a purposeful effort to address the growing disparities we see in our region between those that have opportunities to… Read More

Women’s History Month Celebration March 24

Please bring your lunch and join us in County Courthouse Room E-942 for our second annual “Women’s History Month Celebration.” This event is part of the Legislative Branch Equity and Social Justice Committee’s Lunch and Learn series, co-hosted by the King County Women’s Advisory Board. Friday, March 24 from noon to 1:30 p.m. King County Courthouse Room E-942 The event will feature a panel discussion moderated by Councilmember Kohl-Welles. Click here or on the image below for more details and information about the guest speakers. If you would like more information about this… Read More

KCCF Corrections Officer Chris Chu lives for moments of peace and solace   

Shared from the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention’s Employee Spotlight The Chinese New Year in downtown Seattle’s International District can be heard clear across the skyscrapers to the Puget Sound. KCCF Corrections Officer Chris Chu provides the rhythmic drumbeat during the Lion Dance. When he is finished, he walks amongst the participants and onlookers, mounts his BMW motorcycle, and briefly, the exhaust’s roar mingles with the boisterous festivities. A pile of fallen orange and red leaves scatter excitedly as the motorcycle roars across I-90 as its rider travels up to Snoqualmie… Read More

Employee discounts to Washington State Spring Fair 

Employees can get discounts to the 2017 Washington State Spring Fair. Single gate tickets prices are: Adult $9.50 (usually $12), Student (Ages 6-18) $7.50 (usually $10), Kids (Ages 5 & under) ALWAYS FREE! The Spring Fair runs April 20-23 in Puyallup. To purchase tickets, visit thefair.com/corporate, click the “Buy Tickets” button, and enter access password king17. Discounted tickets are available through April 20 only at thefair.com/corporate. Learn more. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount Program webpage.

The story behind MV Sally Fox’s cribbage boards 

Crossposted from the Captain’s Blog Regulars on King County Water Taxi’s Vashon Island route know them well: glossy wooden cribbage boards stationed at one of four seating areas in the lower passenger deck of the MV Sally Fox. On almost every run, enthusiasts of the popular card-and-board game can be seen huddled around one of these game boards, studying their cards, positioning their pegs and hoping for a coveted hand of 29. Seasoned cribbage players such as Mike Sudduth know the game’s lingo inside and out. After all, the Management Services Analyst… Read More