City of Redmond Television Is Packed With Community News

Redmond City TV (RCTV) is available on both Comcast (channel 21) and Ziply (channel 34) cable systems. You can also catch RCTV live online 24/7 or replay OnDemand programming from city video archives. 

At the top and/or bottom of the hour from 8 - 10 a.m. the following block of helpful and interesting programing is run continuously.  I highly recommend tuning in.  No commercials! ☝

• The Mayor’s monthly video “Our Stories, Redmond Connects”
• “Bird’s Eye View,” a poem by our previous poet laureate
• Homelessness and panhandling message from Tisza Rutherford, Redmond’s Homeless Outreach Administrator
• Heat pumps and Energy Smart Eastside
• Green Redmond
• Recycling Plastic Bags
• King County House Repair
• Connected by Water, How Redmond protects our water
• Meet Redmond’s new K9 Officer
• Redmond Senior & Community Center tour
• Licensing your pet in King County
• Being visible after dark
• The Together Center
• Redmond’s Stream Team
• King County Jury system

City Council and Planning Commission meetings are available on RCTV, as well.  They are also live streamed on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/CityofRedmond) and YouTube (www.YouTube.com/CityofRedmond). 

Rosemarie Ives Funds Two Scholarships For Redmond High Graduates

Rosemary Ives / soundaction.org

Four years ago, former Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives (1992-2007) funded a new scholarship to support a Redmond High School graduate furthering her/his education.   

"One of the most rewarding aspects of being mayor was observing and recognizing potential in people, telling them what she saw and believed about them, and encouraging them," Ives said.  As the words from the Bette Midler song "Wind Beneath My Wings" suggest, Ives hopes that the scholarship will provide a bit of "wind beneath their wings" of a Redmond High School graduate.

 

For the first time this year, there are two scholarship recipients:  Mia Moran and Delaney Chenevert.  Previous recipients are Asma Masude (2021) at University of Washington, Marina Montanez (2020) at University of Idaho, and Melanie Ortigoza-Rios (2019) at Washington State.

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Several times when watching our daughter play basketball at RHS we saw Rosemarie and her husband in the bleachers!  So exciting to see her!  BY

Rosemarie is a Board Member of Sound Action.  "Sound Action is a watchdog group working to protect vital nearshore habitat."

6/16/2022

Rockwell Elementary Salmon Release

The 4th grade salmon fry release is an incredible experience for our kiddos.  The release is not only about learning, but an opportunity to experience nature and the outdoors.  For many it's a lifetime memory. My 30-year old daughter, Lexie, participated in the release with her teacher, Mr. Sheridan. I was lucky to look on. But, it didn't stop there.  Mr. Sheridan kept a fish tank in the hallway so the kiddos could watch the fry grow. Lexie now works for an engineering firm as an environmental planner. I attribute a tiny seed of her career motivation to Mr. Sheridan's teachings.

-- Bob Yoder, 4/14/2022

Herfy's Hamburgers Scheduled For Tear Out - 6-Story Sunrise Apartments Construction Soon

The Redmond Corner Market was a poorly lit convenience store.  My daughter's coach bought his trophies from "Redmond Trophy."

.

Herfy's is the cornerstone of the mall.

Herfy's has the broadest selection of hamburgers at the lowest price.  Great shakes too.
Click to enlarge. Find the "mask required sign."  Delta Covid variant is running wild.

 

A warehouse will be built on this site, south of Sunrise.  The popular Brown Bag restaurant was here. Click (double) to see a mall sign and Animal Emergency sign.

 

Description of the Six-Story Sunrise Apartments

Story and photos by Bob Yoder

8/4/2021

Redmond Pool Outdoor Art

 

Do you see: 5 bicycles?  A flying fish?  A salmon?  Moose?  Whale?  Squid?  A Dog?  Dog bone? Bass? My daughter?

The Pool is Open

The Redmond Pools was previously closed for a two-phase improvement project. Construction was completed at the end of April 2021, and the pool is open. The City's Operational partner, Wave Aquatics, has information on programs and activities. To plan your visit, please go to www.waveaquatics.org.  Again, the pool is open.  I saw few swimmers there today, Saturday.  Go for it!  It's an awesome renovation. The City did a great job!

-- Bob Yoder & redmond.gov, 7/31/2021

   Photo, Yoder

Click this link for the artist's website. His background is amazing.  

In the Light of the Shining Moon

 

Waxing Gibbous Moon as seen from the Sammamish River Trail ~ 5-fold magnification
Photo by John Reinke, 4/22/2021 : 6.49 p.m.

For those who weren't Boy or Girl Scouts, "waxing" means becoming a full moon. 

I see the moon and the moon sees me,
The moon sees somebody I wanna see
God bless the moon and God bless me:
And God bless that somebody I wanna see.

Clifton Johnson, 1896

Mental Health Walk A Smashing Success - Candidates Steve Fields and Hank Myers Join In

The NAMI 5K Mental Health Walk to "bust stigma" was a smashing success!  Great people, great cause!  We were supporting EvergreenHealth's plans to open an outpatient mental health care clinic. Three councilmembers Hank Myers, Steve Fields, Tanika Padeya, and my wife are holding the banner. 

- Bob Yoder

Redmond, Then And Now

 2017 Credit/ Bob Yoder

 The Hilton Garden Inn, 2019 Credit/ Bob Yoder

The "Hilton Garden Inn" will open at 166th and Redmond Way....the site of  iconic Frankie's Pizza. The hotel will be 6 stories, 177 rooms with two levels of underground parking. (photo taken on June 6, 2019.) This Frankie's Pizza photo with my wife Pam, was taken on January 7, 2017. All is not lost. In April of this year Spark Pizza opened with "Homage to Frankie's" pizza on their menu. Frankie took part in it's creation. Tony and Carolyn Scott own the establishment.

Idylwood Park tree restoration was a total success

Idylwood Park restoration/ Photo Yoder

Last year, most of the cottonwoods in Idylwood Park were removed owing to danger from falling limbs.  This Saturday GreenRedmond sponsored a restoration project to restore and enhance the park landscaping.

In this photo, councilmember Hank Myers is in the foreground along with 4 other volunteers. Dr. David Morton is digging in the backgound.  Hank leads on most of the City's environmental projects.  Besides restoration, Hank is an expert and advocate of Redmond salmon and their habitat in Lower Bear Creek. I've heard him present at Redmond Kiwanis and was blown away by his knowledge.

Over 70 trees and 350 shrubs were planted that day by 50 residents, including kiddos. We were blessed with beautiful, sunny weather.  It was so rewarding to watch the toddlers plant.  In the future we will need these little ones to help us battle climate-change.

-- Bob Yoder
    3/17/2019

"Icicle art"

Education Hill frozen rain-chain

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Redmond Historical Society marks milestones amid many changes

Redmond Reporter published this thorough and interesting report on the Redmond Historical Society -- an organization embedded into the fabric and culture of City of Redmond and our neighborhoods. Katie Metzgar, the author, graduated from Redmond High School the same year as my daughter Lexie.  Last week she wrote an excellent article about Hopelink's  "Reaching Out event."  

- Bob Yoder
10/23

Plant park trees to restore Redmond forests

"yours truly"

Save the date to plant trees with the Green Redmond Partnership!  Join us at Juel Park on Saturday, October 27th, 9 am - Noon to help keep our forests healthy and green. Everyone can help! All ages welcome, no experience necessary. Green Redmond will have all gloves and tools for you to use, as well as coffee and snacks to get the morning started.

Planting events will be held at two other park sites this year. Advanced registration is strongly encouraged as some sites will fill up.  Find your favorite park and sign up via the link below!

We only have a few more spots open to volunteer with us on Oct 27th, so please email us below if you would like to sign up. Sign up at www.greenredmond.org.

-- Bob Yoder

Source:  redmond.gov

Downtown Park pavilion art

Credit:  B Yoder

October 4th

Fall colors

Fall colors

My wife, Pam, is standing in front of our beautiful Palmataum Japanese maple tree. With great sadness we lost this cherished tree two years ago to severe back-to-back annual droughts.  It thrived on our property for 43 years. Other's in the neighborhoods lost their trees. The City also had to cut down some of their street trees and cottonwoods at Idylwood Park owing to drought.   

Bob Yoder

My trip to Europe -- Redmond History & urban transportation

Two long rows of "scooters-motorcycles " blanket a plaza
in Sorrento credit/ Pam Yoder

On July 23, our family burst out of the Redmond bubble for an eye-opening visit to Ireland and Italy.  After 40 years of life in Redmond it was about time to gain new perspectives!

Our trip was instigated by my nephew, playing the Irish in a  Aussie Rules Football. tournament.  We lost both games but the Guinness, Jamison and lively pubs made up for it.

I had my eye out for the McRedmonds in Ireland.  None to be found.  Luke McRedmond immigrated to America during the potato famine and homesteaded here in 1850.  Upon becoming postmaster in 1882 he renamed the town from "Salmonberg" to Redmond.  [Click on the hyperlink to read a fascinating account of the early development of Redmond up to Microsoft's presence.]

My daughter Lexie, and her boyfriend had to leave after the tourney.  Pam and I extended our trip to visit Venice, Rome, Sorrento and Capri.  Great times!! but the biggest negative was a plethora of noisy, invasive "scooters" in Sorrento (pop. 16,500.)  They appeared as a scooter-motorcycle hybrid....not the kind I know...and often drove only feet from back-street restaurants.  As opposed to Ireland, Italian streets have no curbs so the "scooters" can drive and park most anywhere,  Cars had less presence. I saw a handful electric bikes and bicycles but no bike shares.  Rather, the streets and plazas were loaded with many large scooter parking spaces, as seen in the photo.

Electric bikes and bike shares have a smaller parking footprint than scooters and our curbed streets make these bikes less invasive and more controlled.  Electric bikes and bike shares are more appropriate than scooters for our urban centers and are the wave of the future for Redmond.

B. Yoder, opinion

A Father's Day to Remember

A lucky dad with Pam and Lexie  .

One of the joys of living in Redmond is our proximity to the majestic Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges.  My wife, daughter and I were at this Mt. Index lookout of Father's Day after only a one hour drive.  We found the 3.3 mile hike at a Snohomish County Park trailhead. The hike was a serene and hearty 760 ' elevation gain through a cool-green cedar, fir and aspen forest.  Only an hour away from the bustle of downtown Redmond construction and we were here, alone at peace.

B. Yoder

Youth Bike Camps at Marymoor Park

When I learned about Pedalheads Bike Camps at the Redmond Town Center Extravagance festival I was blown away.  Twenty years ago when my daughter Lexie was learning how to ride we struggled teaching her, she fell a lot, became anxious about the sport and never tried it again. Had a bike camp existed we would have immediately put her into it.

I rode the PIM ebike to Extravaganza and chatted with
Pedalheads at their booth

Even though Redmond is known as "The Bicycle Capital of the Northwest" it's hard to believe the city's  never offered a bike camp.  We have lacrosse camps, softball classes, flag-football clubs, soccer camps, swim classes, basketball camps, baseball clubs, a variety of community center classes but nothing for parents wanting to teach their kids how to ride safely and securely.

I called Pedalheads to learn about their Marymoor Park classes.  The popular Level One class, June 26-29 is already filled.  They have a special, July 2-6 for $188.00.  July 9-August 27 half day classes cost $235/week and are still open. To register call 1-888-886-6464 or visit their website.

B. Yoder

Redmond Town Center "Chalk Fest" drew artists from all over the west

"The Flying Car"  - Artist Remko van Schaik with arms out enjoying the ride

The "Chalk Fest and Sidewalk Sale: in Redmond Town Center drew street artists from all over the west coast. Artist Remko van Schaik is pictured here with his art. (click to enlarge)

Remko van Schaik's Biography:  

Born in Amersfoort, The Netherlands in 1967 I had an early interest in drawing.
After successfully graduating ‘The School of Decoration’, followed by a job in Stand-Design, I started working for myself in 1992. Making murals, illustrations and 3D objects from polyester and concrete was my profession. Clients were fun-parks, swimming pools and restaurants.In the summer of 2007 I witnessed a group of street painters, making street paintings in my hometown Utrecht, and immediately I got very excited about this great art form!

Since my first my first drawing in 2008 street painting has been the focal point of my work and indeed life.Initially making traditional 2d-streetpaintings! I became more and more fascinated by the technique of 3d street paintings.

After making an increasing amount of these anamorphic paintings, I now specialize in this type of street painting. My 3d paintings are done primarily for commercial assignments and Street art festivals.

Not only is 3d Painting a great challenge of creativity and skill, it is also a fantastic social happening with plenty of interaction with the public. I truly feel blessed to be given the chance to express myself in this way and hope to be able to continue to improve and push this art form for many years to come.

3D Steet Painting features Rembro's art.porfolio

PS.  the cute lady on the car is my wife!

Bragging rights

Bragging rights from a "Blog'n Bob"

Lexie

My daughter Lexie graduated from LWSD, K-12, "future ready." According to Lexie, she had lots of very good teachers along the way, but several really stood out for her. She felt lucky to have Mr. Town, a nationally recognized environmental science teacher. Lexie is soft spoken and remembers Mr. Anderson "made" her do a skit, taking her out of her shell.  As a high school student she loved helping Ms. Leonard teach her Horace Mann students. To this day they are good friends.   

I'm proud to say, Lexie graduated from Gonzaga cum laud with a double major in Biology and Environmental Studies and last week graduated from University of Montana with a Master of Science in Environmental Studies.  She was "spotlighted" in UM's annual "Vision" publication (page 23.)

Okay, I'm done with my boasting...for now!!  

But there's more!  Police Chief Kristi Wilson earned a "Masters in Organizational Leadership" from Gonzaga University. And, it's my understanding Rob Odle, Director of Planning and Development has a son who graduated from the Zag engineering department. I've heard Mr. Odle speaks highly of "community" at Gonzaga.