Stay tuned...
EvergreenHealth Educational Session meeting, August 1, 2025, 7 AM
The City names their construction work at Meadows Park a "replacement." It seems more of a renovation with the extensive new beddings and shrubs they are planting around the courts. Note the rich, dark soil in the foreground. Total cost is $593, 910.
Trump administration finalizes plan to open pristine Alaska wildlife refuge to oil and gas drilling
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday finalized plans to open the coastal plain of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to potential oil and gas drilling, renewing a long-simmering debate over whether to drill in one of the nation’s environmental jewels.
U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the decision Thursday that paves the way for future lease sales within the refuge’s 1.5 million-acre (631,309 hectare) coastal plain, an area that’s considered sacred by the Indigenous Gwich’in. The plan fulfills pledges made by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to reopen this portion of the refuge to possible development. Trump’s bill of tax breaks and spending cuts, passed during the summer, called for at least four lease sales within the refuge over a 10-year period.
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When finished the project will have three tennis courts (one lined for pickleball) and a basketball hoop. A worker said he's been bombarded by people asking why the sports court would cost $1.8 million. According to the supervisor, a potable water reservoir of 3,100 gallons rests under the courts. The lid was 50 years old, deteriorated and had to be replaced, not restored. That costs money.
Estimated time of completion is 2026.
Hello from Legislative Assembly!
When this newsletter hits your inbox, we will have concluded our time at the Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly. We are pleased to report that we have a large number of LWPTSA members representing their communities at Legislative Assembly this year. Although it can seem like a less than thrilling way to spend a weekend, it is actually a fantastic opportunity to network, to learn more about how to advocate, and to have some fun (ask our DEIB Chair Morgan about winning a raffle). We look forward to sharing a more detailed report with you in next week's newsletter.
This past week the LWPTSA Council hosted a School Board Candidate Forum. Thank you to those who attended and/or submitted questions for our candidates. It was a fantastic evening, and we all thoroughly enjoyed meeting our four candidates and hearing their thoughts and ideas on a variety of key district topics and issues. Please remember to have a plan to vote on or before November 5. Your voice matters! Seriously!
At our Council board meeting last week, we voted as a board to endorse and financially support the local levies. We will now bring that to our Council general membership meeting next month on 11/6 to vote on the endorsement as a general body.
Finally, please take a look at Brooke’s October Safety Spotlight!
Sincerely,This Week
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| Photo credit LD 48 Representative Osman Salahuddin |
October 18, 2025 Downtown Park "NO KINGS" protest
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| March, 2025 Medicaid presentation by EvergreenHealth CEO Dr. Ettore Palazzo and Senator Maria Cantwell |
North Carolina and Idaho have already announced plans to cut Medicaid payments to health care providers, including hospitals, doctors, and caregivers.
In Michigan and Pennsylvania — where lawmakers have yet to pass budgets this year — spending on Medicaid is part of those debates. In Washington state, lawmakers approved cuts to the program that will not affect who is eligible, said Hayden Mackley, a spokesperson for the state’s Office of Financial Management.
Source: Internet, 9/2025
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| Anderson Park Community Gardens Construction |
Turf Replacement, Grass Lawn Park Softball Field 1 Construction October 2025 $1,851,216
Redmond Central Connector Phase 3 Redmond Central Phase 1 $1,851,216 2019-2020 Complete August 2025 $8,075,000
Turf Replacement, Hartman Park Baseball Infield Construction October 2025 $599,245 2019-2020
Reservoir Park Sports Court Replacement Construction October 2025 $1,181,682.
Meadow Park Sports Court Replacement Construction October 2025 $593,910 2019-2020
Pre-Design $599,245 2019-2020 $593,910 2019-2020 Idylwood Park Parking Lot/ Expansion and Frontage Improvements/
SE Redmond Park $4,476,663 2025-2026 This is a joint project with Traffic Operations Pre-Design October 2028. $13,757,591 2025-2026 Project is starting earlier than planned.
Disclaimer: I did not watch this meeting on Comcast Channel 21, in-person, Facebook or streaming on the website or a study session. Some of the labeling of the construction projects may not be aligned with the dates but the dollar amounts are correct.
-- Council Public Works joint meeting with Parks, October 3, 2025
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| Seattle/ Internet |
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Becker's Hospital Review has named EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland among the nation's 100 great community hospitals for 2024. EvergreenHealth was selected for improving the health of their communities, staying focused on personalized care and clinical excellence. Our 354-bed hospital is only one part of our system, which is community-owned. As a public hospital district, EvergreenHealth also provides health outreach, community education and free services that benefit the community as a whole.
Becker's Hospital Review's list was based on nominations and several outside rankings and ratings organizations, including U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades, CMS, The Leapfrog Group, the National Rural Health Association and The Chartis Center for Rural Health.
This update will integrate art into everyday life across parks, downtown, cultural districts, and neighborhoods. Reflect Redmond’s diversity, history, and innovation as both a tech hub and a creative, collaborative community. It is long overdue though one must say the downtown station light rail art is fabulous and hard to beat.
Council Study Session, February, 2026
Finalize Plan, March, 2026
Source: Council Park Committee of the Whole memo, 9/20/2025
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| Old Fire House facility |
At the conclusion of this community engagement process, Council will receive a recommendation from the Stakeholder Group via Focus Group to help guide the decision on the future of the Old Fire House. The Stakeholder Group will evaluate options and recommend either a renovation of the existing facility or a rebuild (location TBD). The final report will summarize the rationale for the recommendation, highlight key community priorities, and provide Council with insight into the benefits, challenges, and trade-offs of each option to support an informed decision.
Old Firehouse facility recommendation process - slide bank
- Source: Parks Committee of the Whole memo, 9/23/25
Comment: The memo quoted cost for the Stepherson & Associates work as $115,00. This is obviously a typo. The final decision is expected by Council late 2026 after 9 months of deliberation, engagement, outreach and study. BY
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| State Representative Osman Salahuddin, 48th Legislative District |
Like many in our community, I've navigated life as a renter, a user of public transit, and a graduate of our public education system in the Lake Washington School District.
I've brought new leadership and fresh ideas to the Legislature, and I am proud to represent the 48th Legislative District.
I am deeply committed to my community and to making ethical, equitable decisions that will help our district and the entire state thrive."
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| State Representative Osman Salahuddin Our Home Grown Representative. Committed to Community. Dedicated to Progress |
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Every four years the Educational and Operations (EP&O) and Capital Technology and Facilities levies are up for renewal. The board will take formal action on the 2026 levies at their meeting on October 6, 2025. Once approved by the board, these replacement levies would be placed on the February 10, 2026, ballot.
Currently, 16% of the Lake Washington School District budget is funded by these two "replacement" levies. The school board is proposing a special "excess" increase in the 2026 levy ask owing to:
EP&O Levy Program Funding (% of total program funds:)
CANCELLED, 10/12
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| EvergreenHealth Commissioner Robin Campbell, PhD Coffee with the commission reschedule to October 27 |
Thank you to the City of Sammamish Council for the opportunity to provide an update on EvergreenHealth and to share insights on the ever-evolving healthcare landscape."
“We look forward to partnering with you to continuously improve our shared community of care. EvergreenHealth is proud to serve Sammamish & the entire Eastside community with high quality healthcare,” said Dr. Palazzo.