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Holiday travel? Metro will help you get there
Emergency exercise tests communications ahead of World Cup
King County Wins 2025 Geospatial Professional Network Award for Innovative AI-GIS System
Recognizing the service of Metro veterans
News
Turning passion for people into opportunities
By Katelin Gladney, Customer Service Intern Take a walk around King County and you’ll see how residents’ experiences can vary wildly. Some are doing well and benefitting from the strong, tech-fueled economy. But far too many are struggling to even keep a roof over their heads. Finding ways to help those struggling is the mission of King County employee Andréa Akita, Director of Communities of Opportunity (COO). King County partnered with the Seattle Foundation a local philanthropic organization, to create the initiative aimed at providing equity and social justice to all communities… Read More
Advice for working in smoky air
You have probably noticed the smoky air in our region. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, the agency that oversees outdoor air quality, is reporting air quality levels as UNHEALTHY for everyone possibly through much of this week. Their latest press release includes more information about what to expect. Wildfire smoke can cause a range of health problems, including chest pain, coughing, fast heartbeat, headaches, and asthma attacks. With our current unhealthy air conditions, it’s recommended that you limit your time outdoors. If you are concerned about doing field work in these conditions, please talk with… Read More
Enhancements to Employee Engagement Survey
No survey in fall of 2018. Next Survey will be spring of 2019. Annual administration of the Employee Engagement Survey is moving from fall to spring. This and other improvements are being made in response to your feedback. Employee Engagement Manager Brooke Bascom and Senior Performance Strategy Analyst Vince Vu are the team hard at work enhancing the survey and improving efforts to respond to the data. “We’re constantly seeking feedback about efforts to improve engagement,” said Bascom, who pointed to some consistent themes: The survey is too long. Spring would be… Read More
Lift Every Youth graduation: Each one, teach one
Last week, we shared how our Lift Every Youth Employment & Mentorship Program is helping to break down barriers to well-paying jobs and career success for young people through an innovative internship and mentorship program that intentionally prioritizes young people with the greatest needs in Internship program breaks barriers for young people most affected by inequities. This year’s program participants graduated last week, and marked the occasion with a graduation event with King County Executive Dow Constantine at the Dexter Horton Building. “Over the last two years, Lift Every Youth has been… Read More
King County uses ACS data to help older Americans with housing affordability
King County uses the American Community Survey data in many ways to support our residents. The following story from King County Assessor John Wilson was featured in the ACS User Data group; which includes users from cities and counties around the nation. This story was put together by the assessor’s office, the Executive Office, and Public Health staff; including Chandler Felt and Susan Kinne. When I became King County Assessor in 2016, real estate values had been jumping at a double-digit pace annually and housing affordability was headed towards a crisis level—especially… Read More
2018 Equity & Social Justice Speaker Series
You are invited! The 2018 Equity & Social Justice Speaker Series invites you to a Lunch & Learn Tuesday, Aug. 28, noon to 1 p.m. in room 123 of the Chinook Building. This session features The Anti-Defamation League, with a presentation by Hillary Bernstein and Miri Cypers (Director), and is brought to you by KC Equity Fund and KCIT ESJ: Learning, Advocating, Cultivating.
Equity from birth: Why community-based support is crucial
Crossposted from Best Starts for Kids Blog Via The Giving Compass – Original contribution by Brenda Blasingame, M.A., Executive Director at HealthConnect One and Dila K Perera, MSW MPH, Executive Director at Open Arms Perinatal Services In communities across King County, parent peer support programs are building networks of resources and social supports for caregivers. Best Starts seeks to strengthen and expand these programs by partnering with community organizations that serve expecting parents, families, and caregivers, and who have expertise in providing maternal-child health and prenatal and perinatal peer support direct services. If this describes your work, stay tuned to the… Read More
Learn more about Metro’s Shared Employer Shuttle program
Crossposted from Metro Matters By Scott Gutierrez Have you heard about Metro’s “Shared Employer Shuttle” program? On Aug. 15, employers who are interested can learn more during an informational meeting at Metro’s main office. Metro launched the program earlier this year to work with groups of employers interested in sharing transportation services for their workers. This represents a great opportunity for employers to improve the coverage or frequency of their transportation services, lower the cost of providing service, and help improve regional mobilty. Read more. Interested groups of employers need to submit… Read More
Employee Discount: Seattle Symphony
King County employees can receive 15 percent off most Seattle Symphony concerts this year by using Discount Code CONDUCTOR19. The first offer this season is for 15 percent off the Nine Piano Concerto Concerts happening throughout the year. The promo code Conductor19 will also work on the National Geographic Live presentations, which begin Oct. 23 with Social By Nature. To order tickets: Order online: www.seattlesymphony.org Enter your Promo Discount Code, CONDUCTOR19 prior to selecting your seats. Order by phone: Call and order by phone. 206-215-4747 or 1-866-833-4747 and give the operator your Promo Code. Order in person: Purchase… Read More
Weed of the Month: Brazilian Elodea
Crossposted from Noxious Weeds Blog Have you visited a lake or river to swim on one of these hot summer days, only to find the water thick with submerged plants? Some of those aquatic plants are natives, but others are nasty invasive species that can quickly dominate a waterbody. One of King County’s peskiest submerged invasives is Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa), a regulated Class B noxious weed. Originally from parts of South America (including Brazil), Brazilian elodea was introduced to the U.S. as an aquarium plant. When people dumped their aquariums into… Read More
Kudos! to Public Health for innovative use of comics for emergencies
During a severe disease outbreak or bioterrorist attack, people will likely experience stress levels that will make it difficult to process emergency information. Public Health’s Preparedness and Communications sections worked with a professional comic artist to produce illustrations to help the public quickly comprehend what to do in a public health emergency that requires them to get emergency medications or vaccinations. The premier public health publication, American Journal of Public Health, included an article about the innovative use of these comics in its July issue, Medical Countermeasure Comics: Visualizing a Public Health… Read More
A Photo Finish for 2018 Clean Team Ambassador of the Year Scott Siemers
Shared from King County Superior Court and Downtown Seattle Association King County Superior Court has several treatment programs. One of the programs is Family Treatment Court. The Downtown Seattle Association recently voted a 2016 Family Treatment Court graduate Scott Siemers the DSA Clean Street Ambassador of 2018! Enjoy! The judge asked for a picture of Scott Siemers. Not for legal reasons, but to celebrate his graduation from the treatment program that successfully reunited Siemers with his three-year-old daughter and fiance. It was a good day, and Siemers ended it by getting married. Siemers has… Read More
Workforce Magazine Presents 2018 Game Changer Award
For someone new to HR, Zackary King has the drive, humility and forethought of a true Game Changer. The Public Health, Seattle & King County Education Engagement Strategy (EES) Program nominated Public Health Human Resources Analyst Zack King for Workforce Magazine’s Game Changer Award. King is now one of 25 recipients of this national recognition. The Game Changer Award recognizes King’s support of strategic plans for Public Health Environmental Health Services Division’s Office of Equity. The EES Program conveyed appreciation and seeks to expand its partnership with Public Health’s HR team. Zack’s activities supported: Public Health’s focus… Read More
Social Media Spotlight: King County Environmental Lab on Instagram
Welcome to the King County Environmental Lab’s Instagram! This is the SoundGuardian, King County’s high-tech, fully equipped research vessel. If you visit the Ballard Locks on the right day, you might see it and the crew on their way to collect samples out in Puget Sound. (Photo: Vigor Ballard) King County Environmental Lab helps safeguard the region’s water quality, and the Environmental Lab’s research vessel SoundGuardian plays a significant role in that effort. SoundGuardian is currently deployed in the north Puget Sound area supporting the orca recovery efforts! Follow kcenvirolab on Instagram… Read More
Featured Job: EMS Instructor I and II – Short Term Temporary
Closing: 09/09/18 11:59 PM Salary: $38.06 – $48.25 Hourly Location: Multiple locations in King County Job Type: Short Term Temporary, Part Time, Standard Weekly Hours Vary Department: Public Health – Seattle & King County Job Number: 18NH08502 The EMS Instructors I and II will teach basic Emergency Medical Services (EMS) skills to students completing basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and CPR Training. This recruitment will be used to build a pool of Short Term Temporary EMS Instructors level I & level II. Who May Apply: This position is open to the general… Read More
Pet of the Week: Mark
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Gentle giant Mark is our Pet of the Week! This five-year-old Siberian Husky loves to be around people. His personality color is “Bashful Blue,” meaning he can be a little shy at first. But, once he gets comfortable, Mark is a very happy and easy-going boy. Mark has been in a foster home for a few months while he was recovering from some digestive issues. He lived with two dogs, a cat, and children ages 9 and 15. He got along well with everyone, but did want… Read More
Finding hidden value at the bottom of a sediment tank
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories What’s the real cost? Have you ever been undecided when buying an appliance, trying to choose between a standard or select model? You probably wished you had some data to help you make an informed choice. Well, by studying costs and crunching the numbers, maintenance engineers at West Point determined that what looked like a higher priced option for certain replacement parts was actually the best value in the long run. The cost of equipment isn’t just the cost of buying it. We work on being smart… Read More
Teams trying to save ailing orca practice feeding live fish off Lummi Nation boat and SoundGuardian
The King County SoundGuardian was featured in a recent article by the Associated Press, highlighting its participation in efforts to save a sick orca whale in Puget Sound. Teams taking drastic measures to save a young, ailing killer whale loaded up two boats with fat live salmon as the sun rose Friday and rushed to waters off Washington state’s San Juan Island, preparing if needed to test-feed the critically endangered orca a day after injecting it with medicine. By early afternoon, it appeared the 3½-year-old female orca called J50 was too far north… Read More
Boogie up the Block with the Archives Saturday!
Archives will be participating in the Boogie up the Block Urban Arts Festival, coordinated by our neighbors at Washington Hall. The walls of the Archives and Records Center will once again provide a surface for the Graffiti Mural Competition. Images from last year’s event can be seen on Bytes and Boxes. Archives will also have a table at the Street Arts Festival, featuring their new “photo booth” that allows people to become part of King County history today!
CHOMP! in Your Big Backyard Saturday
Enjoy a full day of activities at CHOMP!, King County’s celebration of local farming, food, and sustainability, Saturday at King County’s Marymoor Park! King County Parks is has another great music line-up this year! Enjoy free performances by Matisyahu, Caspar Babypants, The True Loves, and more. For more details about CHOMP!, visit chomplocal.org and follow updates via the event Facebook page. Eat Well. Live Well. at CHOMP! See you Saturday!
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