Eight ducklings rescued from airport storm drain
Crossposted from the DES Express Employees at King County International Airport-Boeing Field recently rescued eight ducklings who had fallen into a shallow storm drain, reuniting all of them safely with their mother. Thanks to Ryan Johnston, Brian Kruml, and Jadyn Saporito for the rescue. It all started with a phone call to Airport Operations from a corporate client that a mother duck and her ducklings were walking around near a storm drain on their ramp, according to Sam Priest, Airport Duty Manager. The tenant was worried that some ducklings may have fallen… Read More
King County first in the nation to order new hybrid fire truck
Crossposted from the DES Express King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) is the first airport in the nation to finalize the purchase of a hybrid electric fire engine. The Striker Volterra 6×6 Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle is made by Oshkosh Airport Products, a division of Pierce Manufacturing Inc. The new rig will complement the airport’s existing diesel-powered firefighting vehicles, also made by Oshkosh, and will allow the airport to retire its oldest diesel fire truck. Read more.
Recognizing 37 years of service of retiring DJA Director Barb Miner
Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) Director Barb Miner is retiring after 37 years with King County. While her last official day is July 21, her last day in the office is Friday, July 14, which King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Patrick Oishi and Chief Administrative Officer Linda Ridge have proclaimed “Barb Miner Day.” “Barb’s commitment to excellence and quality have helped shape DJA into the high performing Clerk’s Office it is today,” they said. View the official proclamation here and congratulations Barb! Thank you for your service.
ARFF attend live fire training in Montana
Crossposted from the King County Sheriff’s Newsletter The King County International Airport’s Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) Team recently completely rigorous live fire training. The training was held at the esteemed Rocky Mountain Emergency Services Training Center in Helena, Montana. During this intensive training program, the ARFF team demonstrated their excellent skills by fearlessly combating full-scale aircraft fires. Equipped with their specialized fire trucks, they showcased their proficiency in extinguishing these formidable blazes. However, their training didn’t stop there. The team also engaged in simulated scenarios where they skillfully navigated their way into… Read More
DNRP’s Shin Yu Pai talks with disability activist Alice Wong
Shin Yu Pai is not just a storyteller for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP). Among her other accomplishments — and accolades — she’s the author of eleven books of poetry, the current Civic Poet for the City of Seattle, and host of the KUOW award-winning podcast Ten Thousand Things. Recently, Shin Yu had a conversation for her podcast with disability activist Alice Wong, founder of the Disability Visibility Project and author of the best-selling memoir Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life. Growing up in a suburb of… Read More
FSA mid-year check
We’re more than halfway through 2023, and it’s a good time to check your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) balances and take steps to make sure you spend your remaining funds before the end of the year. Here’s some additional reminders: Health Care FSAs Use Health Care FSA funds to purchase summer-related items such as sunscreen, first aid kits, and prescription sunglasses. Schedule any necessary back-to-school check-ups and sports physicals if you have children. Many over-the-counter items are FSA-eligible, such as pain relievers, cold and allergy medicine, antacids, and feminine care. See the… Read More
Moving stories from the King County Refugee Resettlement Hotel program
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections “When he entered their private room and saw they had a small kitchen with a two-burner stove and a sink that spit out clear water, he called his mom in Afghanistan. ‘We have everything in here,’ he [Ahmad] told her.” The Seattle Times, recently published an article, “A King County refugee program turned 2 hotels into communities of support” on the efforts of the DCHS team, partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions, state partners, and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Together, this program impacted the lives of 793 people, including… Read More
What’s on in Seattle for MLB All-Star Week
Friday marks the start of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week in Seattle. Throughout the weekend and leading up to Tuesday’s All-Star Game, employees can check out several activations around the area, many of them free-of-cost. So whether you’re going to the stadium to catch one of the games or just out enjoying the summer weather, check out the Visit Seattle page for activities to participate in!
What makes a place worthy of preservation? King County Landmarks Coordinator Sarah Steen shares her thoughts
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green King County is creating a new approach to historic preservation. The field aims to protect physical reminders of a community’s past, but the traditional approach to historic preservation tends to overlook historically marginalized groups within those communities. Sarah Steen, landmarks coordinator for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, is working to bring a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion to King County’s Historic Preservation Program. Sarah explains her perspective on how to make historic preservation a more inclusive space. Read more.
July is BIPOC Mental Health Month
Established in 2008 in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, the formally recognized National Minority Mental Health Awareness month was created to bring awareness to the unique mental health struggles that underrepresented groups in the U.S. experience. Anyone can experience mental health challenges; they do not discriminate based on race, age, gender or identity. At the same time, one’s background and identities can present unique experiences, specific barriers, and opportunities to get support. Read more here about how to support yourself and your community with mental health resources and worksheets.
Employee News 