Summer learning: Enhancing programs through partnership
Crossposted from Best Starts for Kids Blog Kids watched in wonder last week as King County Executive Dow Constantine sprayed water on a model town, simulating a rainstorm. “There it goes!” one child exclaimed as water gathered and flowed through storm drains and into the imaginary Puget Sound. “That affects salmon,” explained Larry Reymann, a Volunteer Educator with the Environmental Science Center, “And who eats salmon?” A chorus of voices chimed in, “Bears! Whales! Us!” Read more from Best Starts for Kids Blog
One day only: Rerouting southbound 1st Ave buses to 4th Ave
Crossposted from Metro Matters As you may have read, on Thursday, August 15, southbound routes heading to West Seattle, Burien, and neighboring areas that normally go through Pioneer Square along First Avenue are being rerouted for one day only. This reroute is to evaluate alternate routing designed to save time for those routes, while still providing a bus stop in the Pioneer Square area. The data we collect will be compared against current routing and last week’s temporary reroute and used to determine options to improve pathways during the “Seattle Squeeze.” Read more… Read More
No traffic and the best commute around: New and improved Water Taxi terminal debuts as regional passenger ferry network grows
The King County Water Taxi began operating out of the new passenger ferry terminal at Pier 50 on Monday, Aug. 12, featuring a new covered facility, ADA improvements, and expanded space. Commuters, travelers, and tourists pass through the terminal on their way between downtown Seattle and West Seattle, Vashon, Bremerton, Kingston, and coming next year, Southworth. “The King County Water Taxi represents the best of our region: an innovative mobility solution that gets people out of traffic and where they need to be, rain or shine, with an on-time record that is… Read More
Training Spotlight: Mindful Eating
Mindful Eating, September 10: In this four-hour workshop, held over the lunch hour, we’ll explore mindfulness and how it’s application to eating helps us become wiser and more joyful in our approach to eating. Mindfuless is the capacity to bring full attention and awareness to one’s experience, in the moment, without judgment. Mindful Eating brings mindfulness to food choice and the experience of eating. Mindful eating helps us become aware of our thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations related to eating, reconnecting us with our innate inner wisdom about hunger and satiety. This course is sponsored by… Read More
Balanced You Worksite Fund update
Thank you for you patience as Balanced You finalizes the 2019 Balanced You Worksite Fund review process. This announcement helps to share the updated timeline with applicants. This year, the Worksite Fund received an overwhelming response, with 159 applications. That is a 59% increase from last year! The Balanced You team worked with leadership to adjust the timeline to extend the review period due to the increased number of applications. This also allows more time to work with departments to identify alternate funding streams for some of the projects. Balanced You now plans to announce… Read More
Chinook conference room technology employee open house and trainings
The Facilities Management Division and KCIT have been working on a joint project to upgrade the video conferencing technology in the Chinook first floor conference rooms 115, 121, 123 and 124 to the KCIT standard. KCIT is hosting employee open house events to showcase the new technology and provide onsite training that includes the specific audio-visual systems in each room. Drop by for some quick Q&A or stick around for some in-depth training with the new tech. Training and Q&A Sessions: Room 115: Thursday, Sept. 5, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday, Sept…. Read More
King County mobilizing for 2020 Census
Crossposted from DES Express You may have heard some buzz about the U.S. Census in the news lately. Whether the “citizenship question” can be included in the Census has been the focus of much debate. While the Supreme Court ruled that the question can’t be included, many communities still feel uneasy about participating in this important, once-a-decade civic event. “It leaves the immigrant communities to believe that the [federal] government is still after information that could endanger them,” Denise Hulett of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund told Slate magazine. King County made early decisions… Read More
We want to hear from you: Community feedback needed on proposed future transit options in south King County
Crossposted from Metro Matters King County Metro seeks community feedback on its proposed future transit options to connect Renton, Kent, and Auburn, with faster, more frequent, and more reliable bus service and innovative travel options. This effort is a follow up to the public survey issued in March that identified transportation needs for people who live, work and play in the impacted area. Metro is now proposing transit options to address those needs. Community summer events, an online open house and a new survey, which closes August 25, will help Metro understand which… Read More
Executive branch EEO/AA Committee recruiting new committee members
The Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Committee is recruiting new committee members for the 2020– 2022 term. The committee is employee-based and serves in an advisory capacity to the county executive; developing and reviewing strategies, systems, policies and guidelines to implement and enhance executive branch EEO/AA plans. The committee is actively recruiting representatives from: Department of Natural Resources and Parks Elections King County Sheriff’s Office Metro The application period closes Sept. 6. Please visit www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for additional information regarding qualifications and to apply. For questions, contact Lisa D. Longdon, Workforce Equity Program Manager at 206-477-3258… Read More
King County employee honored for working to advance social justice
Janine Anzalota, Equity and Civil Rights Manager in the Office of Equity and Social Justice, will be honored with the Hubie Jones Urban Service Award, a Boston University School of Social Work Alumni Award. Janine will receive the award in September. This prestigious award is named after Hubert Eugene Jones, better known as “Hubie,” who shaped and defined the civic and social landscape of Boston, MA, for more than 45 years. He played a leadership role in the formation, building, and rebuilding of at least 30community organizations within Boston’s Black community and across all neighborhoods in the city. He… Read More
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