Kudos! to Public Health’s King County Vital Statistics team at Harborview Medical Center
Catherine Hinrichsen reached out to Executive Constantine and King County on Twitter after having had a great customer experience with the Vital Stats team at Harborview Medical Center. “Wish all interactions with local govt agencies were like this. Thanks to you & staff!” Kudos, Vital Stats!
Kudos! to DNRP’s Solid Waste Division
The Solid Waste Association of North America announced last month SWD’s Factoria Replacement Project is the recipient of the SWANA Gold Excellence Award in the Transfer Station category. The King County Solid Waste Division has received national recognition for its newest recycling and transfer station, which advances the division’s commitment to environmentally and economically sound solid waste management. The new station replaces the old with a 78,200-square-foot LEED gold facility. Constructed in four phases and sequenced, the facility maintained service to customers throughout construction. The winners will be acknowledged and awarded at… Read More
Metro driver Mark George honored for pulling two people from burning vehicle
Crossposted from Metro Matters By Scott Gutierrez, King County DOT King County Metro bus driver Mark George didn’t hesitate when two people in a burning car needed his help. On the evening of May 12, George was driving his usual route near the Eastgate Park-and-Ride when an oncoming vehicle lost control while turning and collided with the side of his bus. The car ricocheted into a boulder wall and caught fire. George quickly checked on his passengers and rushed to the other vehicle with a fire extinguisher. He doused smoke rising from… Read More
Parks Specialist Anthony Haapasaari awarded Polish Armed Forces Medal
Anthony Haapasaari is a Parks Specialist with King County Parks’ South Trails Crew, and he recently received the Polish Armed Forces Medal during a visit to Seattle by Major General Cezary Wiśniewski, Defence Attaché at the Embassy of the Polish Republic in Washington D.C. “Receiving this award was a very humbling experience,” said Haapasaari. “It recognizes the work I have been doing at public events and military ceremonies here in Seattle and Vancouver, Canada to commemorate and increase awareness and appreciation of the heroic – yet little known – contributions of the… Read More
Kudos! to Parks and Metro for Trailhead Direct recognitions in Seattle Magazine
Seattle Magazine ran a great Northwest Travel and Outdoors feature story covering Parks’ and Metro’s Trailhead Direct program. With the support of sponsors REI Co-op and Clif Bar, and many partners throughout the region, Trailhead Direct eases vehicle congestion, reduces safety hazards and expands access to hiking destinations along I-90. Seattle Magazine’s piece provides a great overview, a little bit of history, a few impressive KPIs, and news that the program is gaining the attention of other municipalities. Kudos, Parks and Metro!
Employees recognized for service by Executive, Council
Congratulations to all of the employees who were recognized at Monday’s Service Awards ceremony in County Council chambers:
Parks employee competes in 2018 Special Olympics USA Games
Rama ‘RJT’ Tall has been a King County employee since 1990 as a Parks Specialist with the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. He is also one of the employee athletes who represented the State of Washington during the Seattle- and King County-hosted 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. Like Metro’s Jonathan Leckband, featured in Employee News leading up to the games, RJT competed on the soccer field. He and his manager, Parks District Maintenance Coordinator Gary Brown, shared some of RJT’s story before the games began. “I’ve been playing soccer since 1987,”… Read More
King County #RiseWithUs highlights
Dear Athletes, Coaches, Family Members, Volunteers, Games Partners, Supporters of the Games, and Greater Seattle Community: Thank you! The 2018 USA Games said, ‘Rise with Us’ and you did – with open hearts and minds. You were magnificent hosts. Chairman Tim Shriver, Special Olympics International Over the first week of this month, we hosted approximately 4,000 athletes and coaches, 15,000 volunteers and 70,000 spectators for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. We at King County also were the athletes, the coaches, the volunteers, and the spectators – and more! Rama ‘RJT’ Tall… Read More
Kudos! to Public Health’s Dr. Matt Golden
Public Health HIV/STD Program Director Matt Golden, M.D., M.P.H. received the annual Nettie Award from Beyond AIDS for leading the first successful North American campaign to reach the UNAIDS goal of 90-90-90 by 2020. Dr. Golden is the first in the United States to be granted the award! Read more on our 90-90-90 accomplishment on Public Health Insider. Thank you, Public Health! Kudos, Dr. Golden!
Kudos! to Metro driver Michael Mackay
Zachary Cohn @ZacharyCohn gave props on Twitter Friday to one of our many great Metro drivers, after being impressed with how Michael Mackay avoided a potential accident: Props to @kcmetrobus driver of e line bus 6202 today at 1150. someone pulled out in front of him on Aurora. He slammed on the brakes, leaned on the horn, expertly avoided an accident, then calmly reached for the radio to apologize for the inconvenience and ensure riders were ok. Thank you, Zachary Cohn, and Kudos, Michael!
