Nationally acclaimed RainWise program brings together mosques, employees and others through green, eco-friendly practices
In just a few years the RainWise program has become a national model for other organizations interested in effectively addressing combined sewer overflows (CSO). It’s well renowned for its fruitful community partnerships and by offering rebates that cover most of the installation costs for rain gardens and cisterns to qualifying property owners. “It’s a great County collaboration with the City of Seattle to showcase our environmental efforts and Best-Run Government initiative,” said John Phillips, King County’s Program Manager for RainWise. “I get calls for more information weekly from all over the country.”… Read More
Cedar Hills Regional Landfill 50th Anniversary Open House
To commemorate 50 years of operations at the award-winning Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, the King County Solid Waste Division invites the public to come tour the facility, hear from division and county leadership and enjoy informative displays. Guests will also have the chance to see some landfill heavy equipment up close and take the “One Less Bag” challenge! This is a great learning opportunity for the whole family – children age five and over are welcome to join if accompanied by an adult. Parking is provided and participants will board a King… Read More
April 10 is Community Appreciation Day – come sample the West Seattle Water Taxi!
Now that the clouds are parting and it’s starting to feel like spring, King County Executive Dow Constantine is inviting you to get out on the water and experience West Seattle’s new water taxi. Sunday, April 10 is Community Appreciation Day, hosted by the King County Marine Division. So bring your friends and family out to Seacrest Dock and get an up-close look at the M/V Doc Maynard and take a ride across the bay to Pier 50. All trips will be free as the water taxi kicks off its summer sailing… Read More
ORCA cards make transfers between buses and Link free and easy
Crossposted from Metro Matters Now that Link light rail and our northeast Seattle and Capitol Hill bus changes are just around the corner, we’re hearing a lot of questions about how fares will work when using both buses and Link light rail to make trips. Having an ORCA card will be the easiest and cheapest way to pay. This post will hopefully help you better understand how to navigate the Metro and Sound Transit system seamlessly, how ORCA can work for you, the different ways to get an ORCA card, and how… Read More
Department of Public Defense Employees Feed Homeless
More than 130 homeless people in Seattle were served up dinner by public defenders who volunteered for Operation Nightwatch (ONW) on Saturday, Feb. 20. The menu included Sloppy Joes, rice, salad and gourmet brownies. This was hardly a first for public defense. In fact, members of the department have been serving dinners for homeless men and women every other month for more than five years.
Language portal shares Haz Waste info in 22 languages
Your friends and neighbors speak a language other than English. They want to know how to get rid of hazardous products they no longer want to use. What do you do? Send them to the language portal on the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County website. They may be able to find the information they need in their own language. With colorful thumbnail images, videos, web pages translated into Spanish and a Spanish Facebook page, this portal makes hazardous product information accessible to more people and businesses in our county.
Spanish language classes create opportunity for connection
When the phone rings and the woman on the other end asks her question in hesitant English mixed with Spanish, she finds herself surprised that the King County employee responds to her in Spanish and directs her to a translator who can better assist. Such smooth and welcoming customer experiences might be all thanks to King County’s Language in Motion program. King County has partnered with Seattle Colleges to offer Introductory Spanish business language classes. The classes are aimed at getting frontline employees in agencies such as Elections and Records and Licensing,… Read More
Eat healthy & support local farmers through Farm Fresh Local
Healthy IncentivesSM began on Tuesday, Feb. 2. and the program has a number of ways to help you eat healthy, including a new focus area, Farm Fresh Local. Through the Farm Fresh Local Text for Well-Being Individual Action Plan, you’ll receive tips and inspiration for eating local and making a difference—directly to your phone. During this Text for Well-Being program, you’ll learn fun facts about local food in King County, find out what’s in season, and get motivated to eat farm fresh food. Look for Community Supported Agriculture this spring As part of… Read More
Disability doesn’t stop dancing employee
If you happen to see a man busting a move while cleaning up hedge trimmings or emptying a trash can at Marymoor Park, it’s probably Parks Specialist Dwight Lewis. Dwight has been with parks for 17 years and his enthusiasm for the work is showing no signs of waning. “He actually makes people on our crew want to be better at what they do,” Andy Boland, Parks Maintenance Coordinator, said. “He pushes us, he comes in with a lot of energy, positive attitude, and it’s really what we need; he’s a spark… Read More
Breaking down barriers with Supported Employment: Jodeen Wieser
Jodeen Wieser is a 20-year employee with King County’s Environmental Lab, a Lab Assistant who performs a wide range of essential tasks that help the Lab do its work of collecting, analyzing and monitoring samples that protect our local environment. Jodeen is also a supported employee through a King County program that pairs her with a job coach to help with learning new skills, communication and any other issues that arise. “When you meet someone with a disability that maybe is a different picture of what you thought someone was or what… Read More
Employee News 