CHOMP!, King County’s local food celebration, returns to Marymoor Park with tasty food, live music, sustainable workshops, and free family activities
CHOMP!, King County’s celebration of local food and sustainable living, returns Aug. 19 to Marymoor Park in Redmond with live music from Blind Boys of Alabama, plus a full day’s worth of free, fun activities for all ages. Activities will start at 10 a.m. and include a farmers market, local food vendors, tree climbing, NW Kung Fu lion dance, petting zoo, a fix-it fair, and scavenger hunt. Bring your gardening questions for Washington State University Master Gardener volunteers or make your own seed balls to take home. Read more in the full press release.
Ending the HIV epidemic: King County’s new Heroes Award
Crossposted from Public Health Insider In February 2019, the U.S. federal government announced the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EHE) – with a goal to decrease new HIV infections in the U.S. by 75% by 2025 and 90% by 2030. The initiative aims to capitalize on scientific advances in HIV diagnosis, treatment, and prevention to accelerate national progress in controlling the now 40-year-old HIV epidemic. The plan directs resources to geographic areas in the U.S. with the largest number of new HIV diagnoses each year. King County is one of the 57 regions funded…. Read More
Metroadeo veteran Tammy Klein reclaims title
Crossposted from Metro Matters Our operators are the best when it comes to handling large vehicles in tight spaces, but how do you determine the “best of the best?” You hold a “Roadeo!!” In June, some of King County Metro’s top operators came to Metro’s South Base for our “Metroadeo,” the annual transit Olympics for some of Metro’s most skilled drivers. Operators maneuver their buses through left and right turns, passenger stops and tight spaces, taking care to adjust speeds and set up just right to perform each maneuver. It’s all scored… Read More
King County makes historic investment to tackle Racism as a Public Health Crisis with $25 million in grants to more than 120 small businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations
King County Executive Dow Constantine and fellow co-chairs of the Gathering Collaborative, Dr. Ben Danielson and Abigail Echo-Hawk, announced $25 million in grants awarded to 123 nonprofits, community organizations, and small businesses to advance the work of addressing racism as a public health crisis in the region. Since March 2022, King County and the co-chairs have met weekly with the Gathering Collaborative, a group of diverse and trusted community members, to co-create the grant program. The Collaborative is the result of reimagining a different grants process in partnership with Black and Indigenous communities, and to… Read More
A llama-zing story
Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Office newsletter On July 15, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Communications Center received a call from a delivery driver stating that he was unable to deliver a package due to a llama standing in the middle of the road and blocking traffic. Deputy Connor Paczosa responded to the location and sure enough, found said llama in the roadway refusing to move. Using his de-escalation skills and standing just a tad over spitting distance, Deputy Paczosa was able to sweet talk him into putting on a… Read More
Best Starts 2022 Annual Report and Data Dashboard is now live
Crossposted from the Best Starts for Kids blog In 2022, Best Starts for Kids expanded into new investment areas, responding to community input and need, including funding equitable access to high quality, affordable, and well-compensated child care. Best Starts launched an equity-centered capital program to build, repair, and expand community spaces to better serve communities. Best Starts extended contracts to support continuity of services, offered 34 funding opportunities, and distributed over $110 million to community partners. Best Starts partnered with more than 450 community-based organizations operating more than 500 programs to reach over 264,000… Read More
New program bridges gaps to meet the health and wellness needs of King County’s veterans
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Many of America’s veterans, servicemembers, and their family members face challenges in accessing healthcare and wellness supports. Often times, challenges arise due to gaps in eligibility for health coverage, difficulties navigating large healthcare systems such as the VA, and the complexities in applying for and receiving disability benefits. Since 2005, the King County Veterans Program (KCVP), the nation’s strongest local veterans program, has supported King County veterans, servicemembers, and their families through a range of financial assistance, employment and job training supports, housing resources, mental health counseling, and social engagement… Read More
Bringing a global upbringing to transport local impact: Meet William D. Clark with King County Metro
From the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika Affinity Group As a Functional Analyst III for King County Metro Transit Facilities Division, William D. Clark (he/him) feels a responsibility to try to positively promote wellbeing and engagement in the workplace. This care expressed itself in his quiet but powerful presence, and his commitment to personal growth, learning, and living fully. “I would say that my interest in the transportation environment was due to my upbringing. We were always on the move and being accustomed to unrest and unease about staying in one… Read More
Voting materials available in 7 languages
New this Primary Election: King County Elections now provides ballots and voting materials in Russian and Somali. Voters can now receive their voting materials, from ballots to voters’ pamphlets to ballot alerts, in seven languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Sign up to receive voting materials in the language of your choice at https://kce.wiki/languages. For more information about King County elections visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections.
FMD flies the flag for Pride, manages flags for county buildings
Crossposted from the DES Express Each year during the week before the LGBTQ+ Pride Parade, Facilities Management Division (FMD) staff prepare to raise the Progress Pride flag at the Administration Building. Graphic designer Daniel Quasar’s Progress Pride Flag added five arrow-shaped lines to the six-colored Rainbow Flag, which is widely recognized as a symbol of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) community. It’s one of many flags FMD manages for special holidays, sports team accomplishments and other events. In addition, FMD manages lowerings of the American flag at county buildings for… Read More
Employee News 