Spring – a natural time for lawns
Use Natural Yard Care tips to create and keep a lush, healthy lawn. This season start mowing about 2 inches high for most lawns, and switch your blade to mulch mow, which chops the leaves into fine clippings for free fertilizer. For lawns in poor condition: aerate, overseed, and top-dress with 1/2 inch of compost. Kasey Keller, Hall of Fame soccer player appreciates that Puget Sound Starts Here with every lawn. Watch his and the new how-to videos at naturalyardcare.info. Brought to you by STORM (Stormwater Outreach for Regional Municipalities) a coalition… Read More
May is Puget Sound Starts Here month
May is dedicated to appreciating the streams, lakes and stormwater drains that connect everyone with Puget Sound. Puget Sound Starts Here has programs that get people involved in habitat restoration and preventing water pollution. Cities, counties and nonprofits have hundreds of local programs and events lined up at PugetSoundStartsHere.org. Join us at Puget Sound Starts Here Night at the Mariners (Safeco Field) – May 14, 6:10 PM game against the Angels and visit our booths. Tickets are $15 View Level, $32 Main Level; Deadline to purchase: Friday, May 13 – 5:00 p.m….. Read More
Trade industries fair highlights the ‘other’ four-year college
For more than 35 years, the Women in Trades Fair has helped young women (and some young men) learn about career opportunities in diverse industries from transportation and utilities to maintenance, energy, and more. The event is held every spring at the Seattle Center, and is attended by more than 1,000 people. Over 80 exhibitors are featured at the fair, providing workshops, first-hand learning opportunities, career information and resources. Notable exhibitors have included Seattle Pipe Trades, Pacific Northwest Ironworkers, and last year’s first place exhibition winner, King County Wastewater Treatment Division. The… Read More
Vets 4 HIRE, a bridge from military to civilian employment
The King County Vets 4 HIRE (Heroes In Reintegration Experiences) Fellowship Program was created to support military personnel and veterans in making a successful transition to civilian employment. The Program goal is to provide veterans with valuable hands-on, practical experience to increase their competitiveness for King County and other civilian positions. The Program started in response to President Obama’s 2012 plans to downsize the military. King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn and others motioned for the Human Resources Division to explore creating an internship program for veterans. “A disproportionate unemployment rate exists among… Read More
From the Hip: Lorinda Youngcourt, Director, Department of Public Defense
A promising program helps young people take charge of their lives As public defenders, we’re often representing people who have already experienced considerable trauma in their lives, people in need of much more than a good criminal defense lawyer. We represent people who are homeless and mentally ill, who are poor and jobless, who have few resources and little support. That’s why I’m so pleased when we’re able to take steps that help to address some of the underlying issues that bring a person into the criminal justice system. And one such… Read More
Supporting Employee Growth and Development
When Kathy Waymire in the Department of Natural Resource and Parks’ Water and Land Resources Division talked to her staff about the One Thing the group would focus on for their action plan, Growth and Development bubbled to the top of the list. Some were interested in improving skills for their current jobs and some were interested in looking down the road at what might come next for them. So, Kathy, eager to do something to support these aspirations now, turned to development plans as a tool to help her staff identify… Read More
A local organization’s perspective on why Communities of Opportunity is receiving national attention
Crossposted from the Best Starts for Kids blog In King County, many have taken note of Communities of Opportunity (COO), a ground-breaking partnership between community, the Seattle Foundation and King County to address inequities in health, social, racial, and economic outcomes. Now this approach is getting national attention. This past weekend, US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro honored Communities of Opportunity. The Seattle Foundation received the Secretary’s Awards for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships in Washington D.C. at the Council of Foundations annual conference. Read more at Best Starts for Kids
Discounted tickets to see the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm Ticket prices between $16-$29, most sections within 101-128 Friday, June 3, 7 p.m. vs Phoenix Mercury Sunday, July 10, 4 p.m. vs Indiana Fever Friday, August 26, 7 p.m. vs Los Angeles Sparks Click here to access this offer and enter promo code: KING2016. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount Webpage.
Seventh annual Big Backyard 5K supporting King County Parks
Register for the seventh-annual Big Backyard 5K in support of King County Parks. The race is Sunday, June 5 at 9 a.m. at Marymoor Park. The course is flat, chip-timed, and stroller and dog friendly! Register as an individual or team today! And as a King County employee use promo code KCP5 for a $5 discount on your registration fee. Don’t forgot to stop by the King County Parks info booth for your Healthy Incentive’s Parks Fitness Challenge code! For more information about the Big Backyard 5K visit http://www.bby5k.com.
Administrative Professionals Recognition Day, April 27
On Wednesday, April 27, 2016, King County celebrated National Administrative Professionals Day. Guest speakers included King County Executive Dow Constantine, Rhonda Berry, King County Deputy Executive for Operations, King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, Susie Slonecker, Interim-Deputy Director-Human Resources Division, and Joanne Lee, Business and Development Manager of Seattle Colleges. Thank you to the Administrative Professionals Advisory Committee for their great work in putting this event together!! Click here to see a video of the event, or watch it below.
Employee News 