Zika in King County: What it means and who should be concerned
Crossposted from the Public Health Insider blog Blood tests confirmed the first case of Zika virus in King County today in a man in his forties who had recently been in Colombia. This is the third case of Zika virus in the state of Washington, all found in people who became infected while in countries that have current Zika outbreaks. We caught up with Dr. Jeff Duchin, King County Health Officer, to find out what this means for people who live here. Were you surprised that we’ve gone this long without having… Read More
RASKC unveils new multilingual support on website
Crossposted from the DES Express blog Serving our diverse community is important for every King County agency. To reinforce Regional Animal Services of King County’s (RASKC) commitment to improving access and delivering better and more direct service, the agency recently unveiled a “version 2.0” website that features multilingual content functionality. Read more at DES Express
ESJ fairs to showcase how we’re addressing equity
Achieving equity and social justice doesn’t just happen on its own. It takes thoughtful intention, a willingness to honestly evaluate our practices, a spirit of innovation, and persistence in the face of obstacles. Throughout King County, committed employees have not shied away from the challenge. In every department, concrete actions are underway to further equity and social justice in how we do business, how we work with the communities we serve, and how we interact with one another. You can find out about these efforts at one of three Equity and Social… Read More
Spring – a natural time for lawns
Use Natural Yard Care tips to create and keep a lush, healthy lawn. This season start mowing about 2 inches high for most lawns, and switch your blade to mulch mow, which chops the leaves into fine clippings for free fertilizer. For lawns in poor condition: aerate, overseed, and top-dress with 1/2 inch of compost. Kasey Keller, Hall of Fame soccer player appreciates that Puget Sound Starts Here with every lawn. Watch his and the new how-to videos at naturalyardcare.info. Brought to you by STORM (Stormwater Outreach for Regional Municipalities) a coalition… Read More
May is Puget Sound Starts Here month
May is dedicated to appreciating the streams, lakes and stormwater drains that connect everyone with Puget Sound. Puget Sound Starts Here has programs that get people involved in habitat restoration and preventing water pollution. Cities, counties and nonprofits have hundreds of local programs and events lined up at PugetSoundStartsHere.org. Join us at Puget Sound Starts Here Night at the Mariners (Safeco Field) – May 14, 6:10 PM game against the Angels and visit our booths. Tickets are $15 View Level, $32 Main Level; Deadline to purchase: Friday, May 13 – 5:00 p.m….. Read More
Trade industries fair highlights the ‘other’ four-year college
For more than 35 years, the Women in Trades Fair has helped young women (and some young men) learn about career opportunities in diverse industries from transportation and utilities to maintenance, energy, and more. The event is held every spring at the Seattle Center, and is attended by more than 1,000 people. Over 80 exhibitors are featured at the fair, providing workshops, first-hand learning opportunities, career information and resources. Notable exhibitors have included Seattle Pipe Trades, Pacific Northwest Ironworkers, and last year’s first place exhibition winner, King County Wastewater Treatment Division. The… Read More
Vets 4 HIRE, a bridge from military to civilian employment
The King County Vets 4 HIRE (Heroes In Reintegration Experiences) Fellowship Program was created to support military personnel and veterans in making a successful transition to civilian employment. The Program goal is to provide veterans with valuable hands-on, practical experience to increase their competitiveness for King County and other civilian positions. The Program started in response to President Obama’s 2012 plans to downsize the military. King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn and others motioned for the Human Resources Division to explore creating an internship program for veterans. “A disproportionate unemployment rate exists among… Read More
A local organization’s perspective on why Communities of Opportunity is receiving national attention
Crossposted from the Best Starts for Kids blog In King County, many have taken note of Communities of Opportunity (COO), a ground-breaking partnership between community, the Seattle Foundation and King County to address inequities in health, social, racial, and economic outcomes. Now this approach is getting national attention. This past weekend, US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro honored Communities of Opportunity. The Seattle Foundation received the Secretary’s Awards for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships in Washington D.C. at the Council of Foundations annual conference. Read more at Best Starts for Kids
Discounted tickets to see the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm Ticket prices between $16-$29, most sections within 101-128 Friday, June 3, 7 p.m. vs Phoenix Mercury Sunday, July 10, 4 p.m. vs Indiana Fever Friday, August 26, 7 p.m. vs Los Angeles Sparks Click here to access this offer and enter promo code: KING2016. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount Webpage.
Seventh annual Big Backyard 5K supporting King County Parks
Register for the seventh-annual Big Backyard 5K in support of King County Parks. The race is Sunday, June 5 at 9 a.m. at Marymoor Park. The course is flat, chip-timed, and stroller and dog friendly! Register as an individual or team today! And as a King County employee use promo code KCP5 for a $5 discount on your registration fee. Don’t forgot to stop by the King County Parks info booth for your Healthy Incentive’s Parks Fitness Challenge code! For more information about the Big Backyard 5K visit http://www.bby5k.com.
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