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Remembering a President – and much more

Wednesday was a national day of mourning for our former President George H. W. Bush, who passed away Nov. 30, 2018 at the age of 94. The 41st president was the last World War II veteran to serve as Commander in Chief. In 1942, then 18-year-old...
Planning for the Future and Remembering the Past

New Year’s Day will be upon us before we know it, and after a lot of important work by our departments and the Council, we are ready to both close out our 2018 financial year and start on 2019. I am very thankful for all the folks who work very hard...
Hope and healing in the Orting Valley

Last year, 11.4 million Americans aged 12 or older reported misusing opioids. Drug addiction is an issue that affects everyone, even here at home. In Pierce County, from 2007 to 2017, the number of opioid-related deaths rose to 833. The Orting...
Thanks, a lot!

Have you ever seen that TV show, “Dirty Jobs?” The host, Mike Rowe, takes on different difficult jobs (Season 6 Episode 24 “Fish Squeezer” & Episode 30 “Medical Waste”) sharing the gross details with the audience. It’s easy to blanche at the...
Food for Thought

One in seven people in Washington state lacks access to food sufficient for a healthy and active lifestyle. In Pierce County, about 1.3 million visits are made to food pantries and meal sites every year. More than half of these visits to emergency...
Transitions

Election season is an exciting and intriguing time. With a more than 65% voter turnout, new equipment and improved processes, our Auditor and her team have had a challenging few weeks. While there are still a couple of undecided races and the...
A salute

They’ve served our country with courage and skill. The work to transition to the “real world” begins when the uniform is hung up for good. Veterans face a challenging journey when they finish their military service and come home to those who love...
A grateful nation extends across the Pacific

I have always felt a powerful personal connection to the people of the Philippines, stemming from my time in the Navy. Tens of thousands of Filipinos have become US citizens through service in our Navy, and Filipino-Americans have a strong history of...
45 years?

A few weeks ago I wrote in the blog about our terrific colleagues who were recognized with Standing Ovation Awards. We had a great time this week cheering for their terrific accomplishments. Folks were on the edge of their seats as raffle tickets...
Let Us Help

John Adams passed the Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen in 1798, marking the first federal public health law. Over the next 200 plus years, many laws and much legislation would be passed cementing the government’s role in ensuring the...
Leverage

Archimedes is quoted as saying “Give me a lever long enough, and I shall move the world.” While I am not looking to move the world, I am interested in leveraging our resources to better serve our residents. Whenever I read reports of natural...
Does it get better than October?

October is my favorite month of the year – and today is a great reason why. It is a spectacularly beautiful day in Pierce County! High School football teams will be under the lights tonight and the Huskies will defeat the Ducks tomorrow! Many of...
Mental Illness Awareness Week

Growing up, he often acted with reckless disregard for structure and rules. When he was 30 years old, his family received a call from the ER informing them that he was in a psychosis and had been diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder. Over the next three...
Food for thought

We are blessed to live in a country with ready access to food. But, for too many of us, that access provides a myriad of unhealthy food choices. Now, I’m the first to admit that I love scones from the Fair and peanut M&Ms. They really are my...
Rock the vote!

College students fill the campus square. And voter registration is in the air! It’s no accident that National Voter Registration Day was September 26th, 2018, as we prepare for the November General Election. The Auditor’s Office had a blast at Rock...
One Smart Cookie

First jobs are seldom glitzy, glamorous or fun. But every career path must start somewhere. Whether you’re delivering papers or flipping burgers, it’s important to realize every first job is a chance to develop skills future employers will be...
Serving those, who have served us

It is not a surprise that our days at the County Council are filled with many meetings. Sometimes, we are fortunate enough to get invited to tour facilities that house programs we have funded. Staff and I recently had the opportunity to tour one of...
Bravo

One of my favorite days of the year happened this week. No, it wasn’t my birthday or anniversary. It was the day we recognize our Standing Ovation Award winners! There were many deserving nominations received this year and I’m confident the selection...
The long road home

This past Monday, I finished an excellent book – “Indianapolis: the True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the 50 Year Fight to Exonerate and Innocent Man” by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic. ...
Seeds of hope

In Washington, approximately 1 person dies by suicide every 8 hours. That is 3 people each day. From the shores of the Pacific, through the beautiful Cascade mountains, across the rolling hills of the central valley, across the Palouse and up and...