McKenna, Facebook and spam; $90K tech salaries

 

Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna is putting the resources and expertise of his office behind a problem that is plaguing social media giant Facebook: spam that is targeting Facebook members.


This week: McKenna, Facebook and spam; $90K tech salaries:

Feisty fights over online spam, rising tech salaries, Apple earnings and a few major deals dominated the news this week.

Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna has teamed up with Facebook to fight spam that targets Facebook uses -- a.k.a. clickjacking -- by lobbing suits against Adscend Media LLC, a Delaware-based online ad network.  Read More >>

Source: TechFlash.com
Photo:  PSBJ photo/Anthony Bolante

Redmond and Kirkland councilmembers volunteer to count unsheltered homeless

(l-r) John Stilin (red), David Carson, Penny Sweet, Hank Margeson, Pat Vache' (red), Hank Myers, Toby Nixon (back)

"Last night was the "One Night Count" where the community goes out and counts how many homeless people we have in our cities so that we can raise awareness of the problem of homelessness. Hank and others went out in the middle of the night to do this, so proud of all of them."
   -- Patti Margeson

These Redmond/Kirkland volunteers are all city councilmembers.  Penny Sweet and Toby Nixon are from Kirkland.  John Stilin, David Carson, Hank Margeson (V.P.)  Pat Vache' (Pres.), Hank Myers are from Redmond.  Thank you for your service to our community councilmembers!!

2012 Results for the Eastside:  138 unsheltered homeless.  Of those, 52 were found inside cars and trucks.

'Sustainable Redmond' Files Petition with Superior Court on Group Health Clear-cut Decision

Group Health 28-acre site to be clear-cut

January 25, 2012

Sustainable Redmond Files Land Use Petition

Redmond, WA – On January 24, Citizens and Neighbors for a Sustainable Redmond filed a land use petition in King County Superior Court, seeking review of the City of Redmond’s decision to approve Group Health’s request to clear cut a 28-acre urban forest within the Overlake neighborhood so as to facilitate the development of a master planned mixed use development. This includes 65 landmark trees, estimated to be 150 to 250 years old, and 985 significant trees, up to 150 years old. Sustainable Redmond was joined in the appeal by Friends at Overlake Village, Villa Marina Condominium Association, and Rosemarie Ives, former mayor of Redmond, 1992-2007. In support of the appeal are the Eastside Audubon Society, Sherwood Forest Community Club (a nearby Bellevue neighborhood), and Techies for Trees (workers in the Overlake neighborhood).

Members from Sustainable Redmond, along with many local citizens and several groups, had urged the Council to reconsider the Group Health Overlake Village development agreement at public hearings in November and December. On December 13, the City Council approved, 6 to 1, the Group Health Overlake Village Master Plan and Development Agreement, with councilmember Allen dissenting.

While Sustainable Redmond supports transit-oriented development, Read More >>

READ MORE >>

UPDATED OPINION: Citizen claims actions by AWR industry are not environmentally insignificant

AWR Storm water pond  connects to Evans Creek. (2006)

The following public comment was submitted by me and others, to the City, to protest approval of an environmental land use action on Redmond's polluting AWR industry

Public comments for or against this action (SEPA determination) are due to the city by 2/6/2012.  Send your Comment to city planner Kelsey Johnson  kjohnson@redmond.gov

 Dear City of Redmond,

I disagree with your determination that "All Wood Recycling" (AWR) proposal (L110009) is non-significant to our environment as referenced to the State Environmental Policy Act.   And, I ask you not  approve this environmental action favoring AWR  

Evans Creek banks enclosed
by impervious concrete
 paving. (click to enlarge)

This industrial proposal is environmentally significant owing to the location of AWR over our city aquifer. City staff publicly warned Council late last year that contaminates are leaking into the Redmond aquifer and threatening our valuable drinking water resource. AWR "recycles" hazardous waste-concrete, chemically treated wood products and other toxic materials, including sewage which remains un-piped and unconnected to the City.  Heavy machinery and trucks drip hydrolic fluids into the soils.  In some places the water aquifer is less than 6 feet from the surface so it's a short journey for their waste and toxins to enter our water supply.

Most of the ground surfaces in AWR are impervious owing to compacting of soils by vehicular use, clogged or removed stormwater pond systems, and paved roadway and work areas. Thus, most AWR stormwater is untreated, toxic and washes into Evans Creek, stressed creek banks (photo), underground streams and adjacent commercial sites.  AWR proposes one vault and one stormwater pond to treat the entire industrial site. At least two vaults are needed - one on both sides of the creek.


Evans Creek runs through AWR property, shown here 

 Evans Creek is a "Class One" stream of highest value and runs through the site. It's regulated by the Department of Ecology and the City as a "Shoreline of the State."  In 2008, the Mayor proclaimed riparian corridors like Evans Creek locally important.


Stormwater run-off carries untreated pollutants (photo) from AWR into the creek, harming Federally protected Chinook salmon and destroying their habitat. Sub-surface, underground streams connecting to Evans and Bear Creek were recognized by the Planning Commission during their Critical Areas Ordinance Update several years ago. Underground streams connecting to contaminated Evans Creek storm flows could spread toxins further into our aquifer before they can be treated by downstream facilities.

Toxic run-off can't percolate
 through impervious surfaces
and runs off untreated.  Heavy
equipment drips hydrolic fluids.

The City will incur certain liabilities should significant trending to aquifer contamination be traced to this AWR site and it's vicinity. Approving this "Determination of Non Significance" (DNS) is setting a precedent for further neglect in the SE Redmond industrial complex, besides AWR. By approving this DNS, the C.O.R. is placing itself at risk to lawsuit and most significantly, potential loss of a highly valuable and important municipal natural resource - potable water. 
Read More>>

READ MORE >>

Lake Washington's Dental Hygienists’ Society offering free preventative dental treatments



Lake Washington Institute of Tecnology's Dental Clinic in Kirkland

 Free Kids Dental Sealant Day at Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Kirkland, Wash.: In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, Lake Washington’s Dental Hygienists’ Society is offering a free preventive dental program for children ages 6 to 13, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

State-registered dental hygienists and Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWIT) dental hygiene students will place dental sealants. Exams (provided by licensed dentists), bitewing x-rays, and fluoride varnish (a value of more than $300) will also be provided to children who would otherwise not receive this cavity-prevention treatment due to a lack of insurance.

Children whose teeth cannot be sealed due to decay may have their cavities filled at a later date at the LWIT Dental Clinic at no charge.

Sealants are non-toxic white coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of molars to protect teeth from cavities. The painless process can protect children’s teeth for 6-8 years, and is typically done in less than an hour.

Space is limited. To reserve a place in LWIT’s Dental Sealant Day, please call the LWIT dental clinic at (425) 739-8130.   Read More >>

READ MORE >>

UPDATED: Two "meet & greet" meetings with superintendent candidate Traci Pierce are rescheduled

"Meet and Greets" with candidate Dr. Pierce are rescheduled to January 25 and February 7.   Feedback taken til February 22.

The meeting scheduled for Dr. Traci Pierce, preferred superintendent candidate, at the LWSD Resource Center has been rescheduled for THIS Wednesday, January 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. 

The meeting scheduled for Dr. Traci Pierce, preferred superintendent candidate, hosted by the City of Sammamish, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 7, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

The School Board of Directors will listen to your feedback and recommendations until February 22. 

The Board is likely to take action to hire a Superintendent at one the following Board meetings (at the District Resource Center):

Jan 30, Board meeting, 5:30PM (a vote is unlikely)

Feb. 27, 7PM  (public comments accepted)

March 26 7PM (public comments accepted)

 

By Bob Yoder

EXTRA! Snow days prolong the end of semester for LWSD secondary grade schools

Due to the snow days, the end of semester for LWSD junior high and high schools has been delayed by one week from January 27 to February 3. An updated exam schedule will be posted soon at the daily schedule page on the RHS web site.

  --RHS-PTSA Mustang Weekly EXTRA, 1/23/12

FROM LWSD ADMINISTRATION: 

Due to the snow days, the end of semester for junior high and high schools has been changed from January 27 to February 3.

Also due to the snow days, many meetings were cancelled last week. Here is a list of the new dates for those meetings that have been rescheduled:

Inglewood Middle School 6th grade parent night: 7p.m., January 31 starting in the gym

Stella Schola mandatory information night:Wednesday, January 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Rose Hill Junior High cafeteria

Redmond High School meeting for parents of incoming 2012 freshmen: Wednesday, February 1 at 7 p.m.

STEM School mandatory information night: Friday, January 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Redmond Junior High.

Discovery Community School information night: Tuesday, January 24 at 6:30 p.m
 
  --LWSD ADMINISTRATION

UPDATED: Bus Transportation and Overcrowding Problems at Rural Alcott Elementary



CLICK TO ENLARGE

Bus Transportation and Overcrowding Problems at Rural Alcott Elementary

By Susan Wilkins

LETTER:  Alcott Elementary and Rockwell Elementary are two identical schools built from the same architectural plans in the mid-1980s. Rockwell is centrally located in the middle of an urban neighborhood on Education Hill in Redmond. Alcott Elementary is a rural school along Redmond-Fall City Road that was built for rural students who live in the sparsely populated east side of the school district. When we compare the number of students who are transported to each school by bus and the distance that students must travel, we see that locating schools inside Urban Growth Boundaries where students live is more convenient for students and saves school districts money on transportation costs.

Alcott Elementary has an unusual student population.  Read More >>

READ MORE >>

Redmond High News & Events - Town Meetings with Jane Todd rescheduled

Breaking News:  Due to the snow days, the end of semester for junior high and high schools has been delayed by one week from January 27 to February 3. An updated exam schedule will be posted soon at the daily schedule page on the RHS web site.

INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR FAMILIES OF INCOMING STUDENTS. For families with an incoming RHS freshman or sophomore, the Town Meetings with Principal Jane Todd have been rescheduled to:  January 25 and February 1, as follows: 

· Freshmen. For the parents of incoming freshmen, there will be a Town Meeting in the PAC with Principal Jane Todd on January 25th.  A second freshmen parent meeting on February 1 will feature an evening orientation presented by RHS counseling staff.

· Sophomores. For the parents of incoming sophomores, there will be an evening orientation presented by the Redmond High School counseling staff on January 25th.  A second incoming sophomore parent meeting on February 1 will feature a Town Meeting in the PAC with Principal Jane Todd.

###

CHEER FOOD DRIVE. In Washington State, 1 in 4 children live in families that struggle to put food on the table on a regular basis. Cheer is running a food drive to help stamp out hunger in our area. Please support Hopelink by bringing a donation of food to ALL home basketball games! Hopelink needs our help! Questions? Please ask a cheerleader.Read More! >>

READ MORE >>

Washington state prep lacrosse schedules announced - 10 new boys and girls high school teams

Washington state prep lacrosse schedules announced 

2012 lacrosse continues to grow in Washington state with the addition of 10 new boys and girls high school teams among the 157 now available to students in nearly 200 state high schools.

SEATTLE –The Washington State Chapter of US Lacrosse today announced the 2012 schedules for boys and girls high school lacrosse for its 34th season in Washington state. 

The spring season for school teams throughout western Washington and the Spokane, Wenatchee, Tri Cities and Yakima areas in eastern Washington gets underway on March 9.   The season concludes with the girls state championships Saturday, May 19 at The Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish and the boys state championships, Saturday, May 26 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle.  Read More >>

READ MORE >>

"The Hugging Tree" crashes down

"The Hugging Tree"  crashes down - remaining stump and debris in foreground

LETTER:  Wanted to be sure you know about this loss to a beloved part of Redmond history:

From the Ferrel McWhirter Park facebook page, we have learned that the "hugging tree" was destroyed by the snow and ice.  This tree was a major focal point of the south side of the park.

As the name implies, generations of kids attending the City-run preschool at the park regularly would make a circle around this wonderful tree. Call them tree-huggers or not, but they did learn to love nature!

Even kids now grown are crushed to learn of this loss. Perhaps someone should be brought in to create a fitting piece of art out of the remaining stump?

The nearby preschool at the park is one of the hidden gems of Redmond, and my kids have grown up with some of the friends they met there.

They all consider this "their" park forever, and it is an anchor to the area for us all.

Letter by anonymous reader
Submitted to RNB on 1/21/12

Real-time Power Outage Updates

Real-time Power Updates: Real-time Updates and Service Alert Map

Despite a new and damaging storm Saturday morning with wind gusts of 45 miles per hour, Puget Sound Energy crews continued their work to restore power to customers who have been out of service due to this week’s snow and ice storms.

On Saturday morning, 188 power line crews, along with crew coordinators and damage assessors--nearly 900 people--are in Thurston, Pierce and King counties making repairs and restoring power. Read More for updates and details >>

Urban Coyote with prize squirrel

KIM / Urban Coyote with Squirrel

"Guess everyone deserves a good breakfast...that's when this took place...he returned later to blink at us....ha."

 --Kim,  Education Hill residential neighborhood, South-end

Photo by Kim, 1/18/2012

UPDATED: Bloodmobile in Redmond closes early due to storm - 7 pints collected

Bloodmobile has "room for five"

 A serious shortage of blood at the Puget Sound Blood Bank was announced by the city yesterday and today.   One of their bloodmobile's drove up from Tukwilla (said  traffic on 405 was the worst) and parked outside the Police Safety Building.   They were in operation from 10a.m. to 1p.m. and collected from no more than seven donors.  That would be 7 pints.  They were supposed to be open til 4p.m. but left early owing to the roads.

I ran into an old acquaintance giving blood, Art Sullivan.  Art's the Executive Director of  the A Regional Coalition of Housing. (ARCH).  He's got a really cool website that was just updated with a new category on Senior housing options.

Even with the shortened hours and ongoing snowfall, I thought there'd be more than seven donors.  The city advertised the blood drive on their website, by email, and press release.  Are city communicatons getting through?  It was a while since I gave blood and I barely noticed the needle.  It felt good to give ha ha!  The staff were nice, with juice and cookies afterwards!  

Updated Opinion By Bob Yoder
Photo was taken by bloodmobile staff

Safety Alert from the City of Redmond

from the desk of Jim Bove, City of Redmond police community facilitator at 9AM, 1/19 ...  

Roads are very slick today with sleet covering them. Just because it’s not snowing doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive. Enjoy the winter weather if you can from home and stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. The other day when it started we had a few people disobeying road closure signs—they thought because they had 4-wheel drive they could make it. They did not, so we had to pull officers from other areas to help them get out .

Yesterday was completely different – everyone got an A+ as far as we’re concerned—people stayed off the roads and those who did drive did so very cautiously.

Speaking of lives, if you are close to downtown, the Puget Sound Blood Center has notified the City that its blood supply will be at 70% below safe supply levels because of the storm. To make up this deficit, the Blood Mobile will be at Redmond City Hall (between City Hall and the Police Station) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (with a break from 12:30 to 1:30).   All eligible donors are welcome. If you are close and a donor, please consider stopping by. If you have questions, you can contact Maggie Lovell at mlovell@redmond.gov for assistance. Be safe (…and warm…and dry)!

Jim  Bove
Redmond Police Community Facilitator

Please click this link for Community Traffic and Emergency weather Alerts. 

Overlake Continues to Expand Clinic Network; Overlake Urgent Care Opens in Redmond

Open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Creekside Crossing Shopping Center across the street from Safeway. 

Overlake Hospital Medical Center is continuing to grow its network of clinics on the Eastside.  Its brand new Urgent Care Clinic at Overlake Medical Clinics Redmond opened January 9, 2012. The clinic is located at Creekside Crossing Shopping Center in Redmond and will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

“Overlake is an independent, community-focused hospital that is driven by the key objective of best serving the Eastside community,” said Craig Hendrickson, Overlake’s President and CEO. “The continued expansion and opening of this Urgent Care Clinic in Redmond allows us to continue to provide our patients with excellent care and our signature attention to detail, quality and patient safety.”  Read More >>

READ MORE >>

Tune into Redmond Community Radio AM 1650 for severe weather and traffic alerts

Tune into Redmond Community Radio AM 1650 for severe weather and traffic advisories.

Reception is best from vehicle radios.  24/7.
Look for AM 1650 road closure signs.

School Board should consider Jane Todd for Superintendent

Jane Todd speaking from District podium, 2009

OPINION:  The Redmond Reporter's January 6 article: "Community invited to meet LWSD superintendent candidate” is misleading.  They write that: "Pierce will replace Dr. Chip Kimball, who is leaving to take a school superintendent position in Singapore."  District Director Kathryn Reith's  press release is the source of this mis-information.  The school board hasn't decided to replace Dr. Kimball with Dr.Traci Pierce. They prefer Traci Pierce and are open to feedback and candidate suggestions from the community.  On December 6, when I asked for clarification, Communications Director Ms. Reith wrote:

"The board did not hire Traci. It stated that she is their preferred candidate. She will go through a process of being introduced to the community (meet and greets) and the board will solicit feedback. The board could after that feedback decide not to hire Traci. If that is their decision, they could indeed look at other internal candidates or external candidates."

I commend the school board on engaging the community in this critical decision requiring their vote. Leaving their decision open to community feedback is a wise and thoughtful action. I have attended many school board meetings and work sessions and have seen Traci in action. She's excellent and a good fit with the Board. I don't know who could replace her.

As Traci makes her rounds, I am thrilled parents are getting a glimpse of Jane Todd's LEADERSHIP skills during school "Town Meetings" on configuration. Jane Todd is a skilled and admired LWSD principal with experience leading Juanita High and RHS administrations. Some may say she is the “people’s choice.” Administrator Todd is a leader in a time when we need leadership the most. And, who can possibly replace Traci Pierce as Deputy Superintendent of School Support. It’s a massive job. The School Board should take a second look at their “preferred.” In these times, LWSD needs a leader.

The School Board is asking for your feedback and candidate suggestions  Write them by February 6 to Board@lwsd.org.

Opinion by Bob Yoder

Published  in the Reporter, 1/13