Specials & Shorts

The City of Seattle and King County celebrates essential workers and thanks them for their service. We honor and celebrate the public employees working to build a brighter future for the people of our region.

For those returning and those who never left, City and County government employees are celebrated and welcomed to a reopened downtown Seattle. The City Hall Plaza event, held on the first day of summer, featured food trucks, the sounds of King Youngblood and The Black Tones, and remarks by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. Watch the full concert here.

The Seattle City Hall flag-raising tradition dates back to June 1, 2013, just months after same-sex marriage was formally recognized in Washington state. In this year’s pride flag event, Mayor Bruce Harrell and other community leaders reflected on LGBTQ+ history and looked to the future work that remains.

A giant 85-foot-high roller coaster once poked through the tree line of Seattle’s Bitter Lake neighborhood. Opened on May 24, 1930, just months after the great stock market crash, Playland debuted as the largest amusement park of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. The 12-acre “million-dollar pleasure resort” enticed thrillseekers with rides, entertainment, and concessions. Here’s the story of the rise and fall of the once-popular destination.

Nearly 4,000 volunteers participated in over 125 events across the city in the One Seattle Day of Service. Community-based organizations, neighborhood groups, business improvement area organizations, and neighbors have embraced Mayor Bruce Harrell’s commitment to civic engagement by organizing over 100 sites for volunteers to get involved.

Mayor Harrell joined Garfield students, their families, and Seattle Public Schools leadership at his alma mater to help pick up litter, garden, and beautify the area. He also joined Build Lake City Together with six former Seattle Sonics players to lead street beautification projects and a litter pick up in the Lake City neighborhood.

“It's just so great to be back together again.” No one could remember exactly how long it had been since Seattle Center employees had gotten together for an all-staff photo. This year marks the Seattle Center's 60th anniversary and what better way to kick off a season of celebration than with a group photo!

“I think herons are cool because they look like dinosaurs.” Go ahead, get out your binoculars and crane your neck for epic Great Blue Heron watching at Commodore Park, just alongside the Ballard Locks. Every spring, the popular tourist spot becomes a noisy spectacle, with dozens of Great Blue Heron nesting in the treetops above the canal. Members of Heron Habitat Helpers explain why the birds are so special and why they single out Ballard. Video by David Albright

Governor Jay Inslee and Mayor Bruce Harrell join a celebration of the completion of the Miller Community Center Microgrid. This project was a collaboration between Seattle City Light and Seattle Parks and Recreation. It was funded in part by a $1.5 million Clean Energy Fund grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The project included the installation of 132 solar panels on the Miller Community Center’s roof, which send energy to a battery storage system. This system provides backup power storage for the community center during emergency events, such as a windstorm or unplanned power outage. During such an event, the microgrid generates and supplies power allowing the center to continue providing valuable services to the community. It also helps to meet the City of Seattle’s goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable (solar) energy and enhances the resiliency of Seattle’s electricity grid. 

“We all have to come together to do something.” -Quynh Pham, Friends of Little Sài Gòn

From the Little Saigon neighborhood, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced Monday the first-ever “One Seattle Day of Service,” a citywide volunteer event that will take place on Saturday, May 21, 2022.

Hoping to inspire a sense of Seattle comradery, Mayor Harrell and the City of Seattle aim to have about 2,200 volunteer opportunities across more than 80 different activities throughout the city. Volunteer efforts have been organized with community groups, business associations, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Seattle Public Utilities, and are supported by local businesses, civic organizations, and Seattle’s sports teams.

The “One Seattle Day of Service” will have opportunities for everyone, across ages, abilities, and interests from cleanup and beautification to gardening and restoration to helping neighbors in need. Interested people can visit seattle.gov/dayofservice to learn more and register to volunteer.

Built in just eight months for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, the Seattle Monorail has stood the test of time. Fast forward to today, and the workhorse continues to zip passengers from Westlake to Seattle Center. On Tuesday, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, city leaders, and others celebrated the Monorail’s 60th anniversary, and pledged to invest in the iconic rail system’s future.

"Our hopes are just to come back together as a community again." On the first Saturday of each month, organizers and volunteers from Friends of Little Sài Gòn work to remove trash from Seattle's historic Vietnamese neighborhood. In March, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison joined the cleanup to help bring attention to Little Saigon, which had been struggling with public safety issues.

The Seattle Fire Department (SFD), in partnership with American Medical Response (AMR), has added a new option for callers using the 911 system. The first program of its kind on the West Coast, the Nurse Navigation Program line will take low acuity calls that are non-life-threatening and do not require an ambulance, freeing up more availability for 911 operators to take emergency calls. In 2021, SFD received about 160,000 911 calls, and an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 of those calls could have been transferred to the Nurse Navigation Program line.

More information: http://www.seattle.gov/fire/safety-and-community/nurse-navigation-program 

Launched in 2016, Vanishing Seattle is a project that documents the displaced and disappearing institutions, small businesses, and cultures of Seattle. It also celebrates the histories, spaces, and communities that give the city its soul. In partnership with Cynthia Brothers and Martin Tran, Vanishing Seattle Film Fest features short films produced by independent filmmakers that document a few of Seattle's changing communities.

You can always count on a festive, and sometimes over the top, holiday light experience from Olympic Manor. Stroll or roll through the mid-century modern neighborhood near Crown Hill and enjoy house after house decked with elaborate displays that will put you in the holiday spirit. To experience the lights, enter at Northwest 85th Street and 21st Avenue Northwest or at 24th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 90th Street.

Portable generators can be essential during power outages, but as their use increases so does the danger of deadly carbon monoxide exposure. It's important to learn how to operate generators in a safe and effective way and also how to recognize the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Local firefighters from Eastside Fire and Rescue offer tips to help you and your family stay safe during the holidays and year-round.

Watch other videos in this series:

Candle Safety
Christmas Tree & Lights Safety 
Kitchen Safety
Ladder Safety
Portable Generator Safety & Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Portable Space Heater Safety
Smoke Alarm Safety

Multitasking is a given during the holidays but it's really important to be alert and aware when you're cooking in the kitchen. Local firefighters have some tips that will set you up for success, but also help you be ready when things go wrong. Bellevue Fire Department offers up the recipe for safe and delicious cooking during the holidays and year-round.

Watch other videos in this series:
Candle Safety
Christmas Tree & Lights Safety 
Fire Extinguisher Safety
Ladder Safety
Portable Generator Safety & Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Portable Space Heater Safety
Smoke Alarm Safety

Whether you have a live or artificial Christmas tree, there are some hidden hazards you'll want to look out for. To reduce fire risk, live trees need to stay hydrated. Vintage lights may look nice, but they can generate heat and it's important to inspect all of the light strands for damage. Local firefighters from South King Fire and Rescue offer tips to help you and your family have a festive, and safe, holiday season.

Watch other videos in this series:

Candle Safety
Fire Extinguisher Safety
Kitchen Safety
Ladder Safety
Portable Generator Safety & Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Portable Space Heater Safety
Smoke Alarm Safety

Smoke alarms are one of the best ways to keep you and your family safe from fire. But placement is important, and they need to be tested monthly and replaced every ten years. Local firefighters from Seattle Fire Department offer tips to help you and your family stay safe during the holidays and year-round.

Watch other videos in this series:

Candle Safety
Christmas Tree & Lights Safety 
Fire Extinguisher Safety
Kitchen Safety
Ladder Safety
Portable Generator Safety & Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Portable Space Heater Safety

Candles can be an essential part of holiday decor for many people, but if used incorrectly they can be a fire hazard. It may seem obvious, but a few simple reminders about safely using flame candles go a long way. Local firefighters from Seattle Fire Department offer tips to help you and your family stay safe during the holidays and year-round.

Watch other videos in this series:

Christmas Tree & Lights Safety 
Fire Extinguisher Safety
Kitchen Safety
Ladder Safety
Portable Generator Safety & Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Portable Space Heater Safety
Smoke Alarm Safety

During the colder winter months, we sometimes rely on portable space heaters to keep us cozy and warm. But, to avoid fire hazards it's important to operate them in a safe manner. Local firefighters from Seattle Fire Department offer tips to help you and your family stay safe during the holidays and year-round.

Watch other videos in this series:

Candle Safety
Christmas Tree & Lights Safety 
Fire Extinguisher Safety
Kitchen Safety
Ladder Safety
Portable Generator Safety & Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Smoke Alarm Safety

Every year, firefighters get numerous calls from people who have suffered injuries from falling off a ladder. Whether you're up on the ladder place holiday lights or clean out gutters, it's important to keep a few things in mind. Local firefighters from South King Fire and Rescue offer tips to help you and your family stay safe during the holidays and year-round.

Watch other videos in this series:

Candle Safety
Christmas Tree & Lights Safety 
Fire Extinguisher Safety
Kitchen Safety
Portable Generator Safety & Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Portable Space Heater Safety
Smoke Alarm Safety

Portable generators can be essential during power outages, but as their use increases so does the danger of deadly carbon monoxide exposure. It's important to learn how to operate generators in a safe and effective way and also how to recognize the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Local firefighters from Eastside Fire and Rescue offer tips to help you and your family stay safe during the holidays and year-round.

Watch other videos in this series:

Candle Safety
Christmas Tree & Lights Safety 
Fire Extinguisher Safety
Kitchen Safety
Ladder Safety
Portable Space Heater Safety
Smoke Alarm Safety

The City of Seattle is ready to launch its third Health One vehicle.  Operated by the Seattle Fire Department, Health One is a special unit designed to respond to individuals immediately in their moment of need and help them navigate the situation, particularly those suffering from a substance or mental health crisis. This new unit will be based in South Seattle, and will help reduce non-emergency call responses for police. Each vehicle is staffed with an SFD EMT and Human Services mental health case manager.  The unit is scheduled to hit the streets January of 2022.

Every autumn, the sounds of rakes and leaf blowers signal the changing seasons. Where do all those leaves go? In many cases they are transformed into compost, a nutrient-rich soil that help plants grow without the need for chemical fertilizers. Learn how Seattle Public Utilities' composting program turns yard waste into "conditioner for your soil" while reducing greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change. Aerial video provided courtesy Cedar Grove. Produced by Matt Mills McKnight

You may not think of hip graphic design when it comes to government entities, but Seattleites Nate Hoe and Ryan Hunt are here to change your mind one vintage logo at a time. They co-founded Seattle Department of Design (SDOD), a "wearable research project" that celebrates retro local government graphics and our city's unique design aesthetic. Produced by David Albright