2023 Redmond Derby Days Drone Show Highlights

Pickleball

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS  (click) 

Rock'in On The River - Line-up

 

Wednesday, Aug 2: Rockfish and Friends An 11-piece band consisting of some of Seattle’s most talented and experienced musicians, Rockfish And Friends focus on an eclectic mix of “Classic Rock That Kicks Brass” from the 60’s, 70’s and 80's. You’ll be hard pressed to find another group in the area so accurately recreating the very best from artists like Chicago, Steely Dan, Heart, Lighthouse, Doobie Brothers, Toto, Wings, Blood, Sweat & Tears and many more.
Wednesday, Aug 9: Catch a Wave This Beach Boys tribute band comes direct from California. Established in 2001 Catch A Wave is the original striped shirt true-to-form Beach Boys show. Others just don't quite measure up. The idea for this incredible show was to recreate the look and sound of a live Beach Boys concert circa 1964 to 1969.
Wednesday, Aug 16: Laurel Canyon Legacy Laurel Canyon Legacy celebrates the explosion of popular music that came out of LA’s Laurel Canyon in the mid-60s as folk music blended with rock and went electric.  Come take a musical journey through the 60’s and 70’s as they perform your favorite songs by groups like The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, The Byrds, Beach Boys, Carole King, America, Buffalo Springfield, The Mamas and the Papas, and more.

Free Summer Concerts begin at 6 p.m. on the great lawn next to Redmond City Hall. 

DERBY DAYS! A Smashing Success!

 

                                                          

DERBY DAYS INFO!

"The Redmond Recorder Newsletter," New and Improved.

 Brought to you by the Redmond Historical Society

"The Redmond Recorder" 

Every Town Has it's History, Discover Ours.

The Redmond Recorder News was once the name of Redmond's local newspaper. It was replaced by the Sammamish Valley News, which later folded. We've since adopted The Redmond Recorder as the name for our newsletter, published 9 times a year since 1999.

Read Our Recorder Newsletter!  New and Improved!  The Redmond Recorder is going quarterly—and bigger.

Download the latest Recorder Newsletter! 

John Oftebro, President, Redmond Historical Society

Featured this month!

"The Four R's - River. Redmond, Resource, Rockets"

By John Oftebro

 Author's Note:  This is the first of a series about Redmond's development beginning with it's lifeblood - the Sammamish River.  

-- Posted by Bob Yoder, 4/15/2023

UPDATED: City Council Meeting Notes, 04 April 2023

 

CM Melissa Stuart
Featured
City Council group picture not available

CLICK THIS LINK FOR VIDEO NOTES OF COUNCIL'S REGULAR MEETING 

OF 04 APRIL 2023:   

https://www.facebook.com/CityOfRedmond/videos/1005053090870596

 (short pause at start of tape)

ADVANCE TO 3:00 for poet Laureate Laura Da's description of her poetry inspired "Nature & City History Walk" around our lakefronts.     

ADVANCE TO 4:52 for Dr. David Morton's "Item From The Audience" suggesting solutions to various city challenges.  

ADVANCE TO 11:53 - Mayor  Angela Birney kicks off Council's OMBUDS report where resident inquiries (positive and negative) are addressed.  As follows: 

CM Varisha Kahn passes the baton to Council VP Vanessa Kritzer. Kritzer mentions a resident's concern about the mayor's salary; resident complaint about "State of the City" recording glitches. Domestic violence. CM David Carson brings attention to businesses coping with simultaneous road construction on 76th and Cleveland Street.  CM Melissa Stuart gives an excellent report of the city's C.E.R.T. program dealing with first responder preparations for an earthquake.  Council President Jessica Forsythe directed the OMBUDS report and city process. Traffic. FBI. CM Jeralee Anderson, QR Codes for park users, "Show and Tell" by Anderson on recycled materials used to build "green roads."  Stuart summarizes Public Works committee report. CM Steve Fields had nothing to say.  

Angela Birney, Carson, Forseythe, Kahn, and Kritzer's terms end 31 December 2023. 

Reported by Bob Yoder, Community volunteer, 04 April 2023

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! "Poetry Showcase Event" Featuring Live Readings from Local Poets. April 22nd.

Credit: Columbia Lutheran Home, Seattle, WA

National Poetry Month is April

In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Redmond Historical Society will be hosting a Poetry Showcase on Saturday, April 22nd in the Old Redmond Schoolhouse at 1:00 PM. This event will be free, and open to the public. Enjoy live readings from local poets, an opportunity to explore the Redmond Historical Society's display space, and more!!

###

The Redmond Historical Society is actively seeking poets for this event. 

• Selected poets must be able to provide either a live or recorded reading of their poem for the event.
• Poems should be submitted by March 22nd at 5:00 PM. A submission form is available HERE 

For more information, contact the Redmond Historical Office at 425-885-2919 or poetryshowcase@redmondhistoricalsociety.org. 

Special thanks to Hallee Turner, Administration & Collections Manager.

Redmond's "Addiction" To Pickle Ball, Nation's Fastest Growing Sport

24 Hour Fitness.Players from all walks of life. Rocket scientist, housekeeper, choral singer, anthropologist, retired fitness instructor and author, mortgage broker, stay-at-home dad, software engineer, passers through, Redmond historian... See the 89 year-old playing with his son?!
 (click picture to enlarge)

                                                        Exercise -  -  Socialize - - Learn

Pickle Ball Basics video.  All ages, body types, and fitness levels. Players willing to share advice. Games are short, lasting about 10 minutes.  Doubles is most common.  Mind  the "kitchen" while "dinking!"  Founded on Bainbridge Island. 

Court Locations and Times:

Old Redmond School House for seniors.  Fun and welcoming group. 3 inside courts.  M,W,Th  9:30 - Noon.  (practice before 9.) Nominal fee.  

Redmond Perrigo Park.  4 outside courts (the way it was made to play.)  "Bangers," Intermediates, Novices, and Families. No fees. Share with 2 tennis courts.  Arrive early to play and practice.  After playing we like to hike the adjacent farmland trail with our dog.  

Redmond Meadows Community Park.  3 outside courts.  Good for families. Courts are rooty.  

Nike Neighborhood Park, 1 outside court, little used.

Senior & Community Center.  Under construction.  2 outside courts.  2-3 inside courts on occasion.  

24 Hour Fitness. One inside court.  9 - 3pm.  7 days a week.  Great for practice!  Membership fee OR health insurance pass. 

Fort Edwards State Park.  Juanta.  6 indoor courts. Medium to high level of play. Adjacent monastery converted to 86-room boutique hotel, fine art, and fancy restaurant. A must! Walk the dog. 

-- Bob Yoder, 2/9/2023

   I've played for 6 months with Pam. Was a very slow learner on the serve and challenged by complicated scoring! 

Residents Invited to Senior & Community Center "Topping Ceremony"

1 - 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Redmond Senior & Community Center

REDMOND, WA - Redmond’s new community gathering place continues to mark milestones and make great strides in construction. Next week, the community is invited to join the City of Redmond in celebrating the Redmond Senior & Community Center Topping Out Ceremony, as the project team places a beam in the tallest section of the building. The event will take place from 1 - 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3 at the construction site adjacent to Redmond City Hall at 15670 NE 85th St, Redmond, WA 98052.

UPDATED OPINION, 2/23/23: Redmond Town Center's New Owner Proposes Amendments Allowing 12-Story Buildings

Imagining a new town center

OPINION:  It's all so confusing and I'm still unclear.  The new owner of Redmond Town Center, Fairbourne Properties, is proposing "zone text amendments" that would allow two 12-story buildings on his property in exchange for "public benefits" such as, affordable housing, environmental stewardship, and business diversity (eg. retail retail, retail; restaurants, entrepreneurs, recreation, small business, commercial,   The benefits are vague and Council is working to clarify them.

A partial summary of the proposed amendments appear as follows:

1) Increase maximum height to 12-stories through an incentive program of 3 extra levels for above grade parking per building, electric bike space and decent pedestrian lighting.   

2) One amendment involves the owner offering "exceptional amenities" for additional height.  I crave colorful, covered plazas and courtyards, eclectic and cultural artworks, sustainable-public-rooftop-patios-with-pristine-views, public spaces for daycare and pets, and above all else, well lit performing arts spaces welcoming and entertaining all, including commercial and retail employees.  Pickleball is a craze and rooftop courts to activate the Center are being looked at.

3) It's my understanding, the final amendment, if passed, could expand "Town Center Mixed Use" into certain parcels along Bear Creek Parkway; serviced by an office gateway.  The expansion plan is unclear; and it may never happen.

-- Bob Yoder, Opinion, 1/30/2023, Updated 2/22/23, Resident of Redmond, WA.

SOURCES:  

Council "Planning and Public Works" Committee of the Whole memo, 1/3/2023, excerpted and edited.  Unfortunately, the city red-lined this memo. 

City Council memo, 1/17/2023 - discusses privately initiated text amendments.

FAIRBOURNE Properties (owner)

Hines, RTC owner's consultant and outreach arm.  (Patrick Woodruff is the Hines lead; he's local and enthusiastically seeking ALL opinions and feedback.) 

Engage with the community and the owner HERE)

Carol Helland, Director of Planning and Community Development.  (Ask for Ms. Helland's contact information at info@redmond.gov or Mayor@redmond.gov)

Arnold Tomac, Past President Redmond City Council, a Town Center founder, and co-founder of the Ped/Bike Advisory Committee.  Arnie's BIO.  

-- Bob Yoder, 2/23/23

Redmond - Bicycle Capital of the Northwest - Mini-Documentary

Redmond's "Space Needle" Entrance Sign

By Jerry Torell

Jerry Torell in front of the current sign 0f 3/15/2017. Yoder

The Redmond Bike Derby Road Races including the "Bike Derby Parade" from the first year, have always been a major part of the city's civic events with riders coming from around the country and Canada to compete in the annual race.  In the mid 1970’s while I served on the Redmond Chamber of Commerce Board as Vice President, I was also Publicity Chairman for the chamber. Over the years several of my dry cleaning customers commented that the city needed an entrance sign on the west end of Redmond.

I started thinking about it and with the history of the bicycle in Redmond I knew the bike had to be a key part of the sign, so I proposed the idea to my Chamber committee along with a plan to build it. Getting the chamber's approval of the plan, I contacted our City Mayor “Bud” Young to get his thoughts…He LOVED the bicycle sign idea!!   He offered the city staff to lay out some sketches. 

From an earlier Jaycee project I had met Chuck Johns who was the metal’s instructor at Redmond High School.  I called Chuck and explained our city entrance sign plan, asking him if his class could help build an old fashioned bicycle with the “big front wheel and the small back wheel” not knowing then, it was known as the “Penny Farthing.” 

(l-r)  Bud Young, Fred Habenicht, Kim Murrey, Jerry Torell
Credit/ Sammamish Valley News

A key committee member, Fred Habenicht, owner of Frederick’s Appliances, volunteered to contact John Gunderson of Gundy’s Signs to carve and provide a wooden face for the sign.  I then re-contacted the Mayor to confirm the city's help installing and keeping it in good order plus maintaining the grounds around the sign.  The Mayor agreed! and “Gundy” worked out the slogan, “Redmond Bicycle Capital of the Northwest.” The sign was completed and dedicated in July of 1976. 

AS THEY SAY…THE REST IS NOW HISTORY !!

The Bicycle Entrance Sign has become the “Space Needle of Redmond," has Redmond’s symbol, and is copied by most everyone as a logo on literature and replicas mounted on sides of buildings around town. I was originally concerned that the sign would be damaged by vandals but to my knowledge this has never happened and the sign has become a key symbol of Redmond pride. 

The sign is now reconstructed of cement end posts and a redesigned wooden face and lit up with white lights at night and encircled with shrubs and flowers the year around bidding..."WELCOME TO ALL!"

.....so I designed and created the sign.

In 2013, I learned from 90-year old Ray Adams, that kids used to race around Redmond and local citizens would bet on who was the fastest. Ray in 1939 was then 16 and he and his buddy Charlie Lentz were in that first race of about 14 to 16 racers.  

Actually only about 6 of the racers made it all the way around the lake to cross the finish line including Ray and Charlie.   The lake road then was only partly paved on the west side and the rest was mainly dirt and gravel. Ray and Charlie suggested the race be around the lake. Anyway, the idea was accepted and Redmond Bike Derby Race was off and rolling…to become today, the nation’s oldest bicycle race, due to a small town’s public spirit, no matter the hardships.

  --Jerry Torell

Minor edits and photograph by Yoder

"Camp Gileadvent," Carnation, 12/18/22
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Awesome Art Planned For Redmond Lights, "Luminary Walk" Goes by the Wayside

Michael Dylan Welch was a Redmond Poet In Residence

"Thank you for your inquiry on Redmond Lights. This year’s Redmond Lights will consist of a month-long celebration of light and art in Redmond’s Downtown Park from December 1 – January 4. Enjoy art and light installations every night from 5 – 11 p.m. and Friday night celebrations Dec. 2, 9, 16 from 6 – 9 p.m. This does not include a luminary walk like past Redmond Light Celebrations. For more information on Redmond Lights art installations and Friday night celebrations, please visit Redmond Lights | Redmond, WA."

-- Redmond Customer Service, 12/2/2022

Comment/ Bob Yoder:

Judging by the site map it appears all the outdoor art is installed in the Downtown park.  Find descriptions of the art elsewhere on the site or probably by QR code.  

The Luminary Walk first started under Mayor Rosemarie Ive's Administration decades ago.  I'm assuming the Walk was cancelled owing to Senior and Community Center construction.  

-- posted by B. Yoder

WELCOME TO REDMOND!

 WELCOME TO REDMOND!

It's fun and enlightening to learn the origins of Redmond residents.  

• 60% are native born and have voting rights.
• 40% are foreign born, welcome!
• of those 40%, 13% naturalize and can vote (it takes over 14 months to naturalize)
• the rest are non-citizens and can't vote
• Factoid: 37% of Redmond residents are Asian (includes East Indians.)

It's clear Redmond enjoys the richness of diversity but with that comes the responsibility of inclusion and equity.  I pulled a page off the City of Redmond website to give you an idea of their welcoming resources:

THE CITY WEBSITE:  The City of Redmond partners with various local organizations to support our newly arrived residents and immigrant community. Here you will find information about various local organizations, resources, and services to assist you as you make Redmond your home.

• Local resources for new residents 
• Translation and interpretation 
• Naturalization and citizenship resources
  • Why Naturalize? (PDF)
  • Cities & Counties for Citizenship
• Immigrant services and resources
• Fact Sheet: King County provides refugees a temporary place to stay in Redmond (PDF)
• MAPS is the largest Islamic Center in Washington State, provides events, activities, educational programs, resources, and community services.
• CISC helps immigrants throughout King County by providing information, referral, advocacy, social, and support services.
• Immigrant Women’s Community Center is a safe community gathering center for immigrant women and their families. 

CC:  mayorcouncil@redmond.gov, Timberlake, MAPS, boardmembers@lwsd, Superintendent Holmen, EvergreenHealth community hospital, Lake Washington PTSA, Redmond Cricket association, neighborhood social media groups.

-- Bob Yoder, 11/21/2022

Redmond Demographics, 2021   

                                                                                                        

Utility-Box-Art -Wraps On Leary, the City Can Do Better

from sidewalk 

 

facing Leary Way

Traffic Operations and Cultural Arts doesn't seem like a good mix.  Just look at it.  IMHO, the Cultural Arts Administrator and Commission need to up their game for things to come, like Redmond Town Center and Overlake and downtown buildings with plazas. Box art can be cool (library) but the 2050 goal for equity and inclusion will require a myriad of significant cross-cultural art works. 

According to the Cultural Arts Administrator, the utility box artworks were selected from a public art call as part of a pilot program by the City (a partnership between Traffic Operations and Cultural Arts) 

The utility box artworks were selected from a public art call as part of a pilot program by the City (a partnership between Traffic Operations and Cultural Arts)

 

Info on the artist can be found on the Cultural Art web pages -- Arts & Culture | Redmond, WA

and our communications team is working on some stories and posts coming soon. We will also be adding signage next to the boxes in the coming months.

The artists were paid $250 each.  

-- Photos and opinion by Bob Yoder, 10/31/2022

   click on the photos to enlarge

Happy Halloween!

 

John Marchione's old neighborhood cul-de-sac. 

(click pic to enlarge)

Photo, Yoder

Am I Enough?

 

click to enlarge

"Am I Enough?"

"Indigenous Peoples' Day" was celebrated at Lake Washington High School on October 1st. 

LWSD filmed an excellent video of the event HERE.

Mary Wilber, Program Coordinator of the Eastside Native American Indian Association organizes the events.  Ms Wilber invites indigenous students from three districts to her Monday evening classes. 

A Proclamation On Indigenous Peoples' Day,  by Joseph R. Biden, October 7th, 2022 (excerpt)

For centuries, Indigenous Peoples were forcibly removed from ancestral lands, displaced, assimilated, and banned from worshiping or performing many sacred ceremonies.  Yet today, they remain some of our greatest environmental stewards.  They maintain strong religious beliefs that still feed the soul of our Nation.  And they have chosen to serve in the United States Armed Forces at a higher rate than any other group.  Native peoples challenge us to confront our past and do better, and their contributions to scholarship, law, the arts, public service, and more continue to guide us forward.

  

Pam and I celebrated and honored the Eastside Native American families at this event, and a Pow Wow.

Both touched our hearts. School Board members Siri Bliesner and Mark Stuart partook in the festivities.  

Eastside Symphony Young Soloist Winners Perform October 22nd

 Please join us at the Redmond High Performing Arts Center, as our Eastside Symphony Young Soloist Competition Winners perform this Saturday, October 22^nd, at 7:30. These kids are fantastic, and will blow you away for being so young! You can purchase tickets at www.eastsidesymphony.org or buy them at the door.

 Koussevitsky Concerto for Double Bass, 3rd mvt, with Anderson Widjaja

Sarasate Zigeunerweisen, "Gypsy Airs," with Rachel Jung, violin

Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3, 1st mvt, with Melanie Liu, piano

Paganini Violin Concerto No. 1, 1st mvt, with Annie Song, violin

Lake Sammamish Kokanee Salmon Release Celebration

It was special for all of us to join with the Snoqualmie Tribe in celebration of  the Release of the endangered "Little Red Fish." 

l-r, Redmond Council Member and Vice President Vanessa Kritzer, Congresswoman Kim Schreier, Issaquah dignitary and King County Executive Dow Constantine. (click to enlarge)

Steve Laing, President of Trout Unlimited, Three Rivers Chapter, Issaquah.
(click to enlarge)

 Redmond Council Vice President Vanessa Kritzer describes the potential and restoration of Idylwood Creek  (YouTube)

Snoqualmie Tribe and Guests Celebrate the Release of Kokanee (YouTube)

King 5 video of the Kokanee comeback

Kokanee Salmon Work Group

"Spawning Grounds" www.bit.ly/SpawningGroundsFilm

 A film on Saving the Little Red Fish

Lake Sammamish Kokanee

Posting,  pictures and video by Bob Yoder, 10/15/2022

Eastside Native American Education Pow Wow

Click picture to enlarge

 Fancy indigenous dancer and others

 Grand entry

 Ceremonial drumming

A tribute to veterans 

 "Eastside Native American Education" program is composed of LWSD, Northshore and Bellevue students.  They meet every Monday, 7 p.m. at Lake Washington High.  Mary L. Wilber, Osoyoos Indian Band, has been teaching for 22 years.  Mary is 4th from the last in the Grand entry video. mwilber@lwsd.org

According to Ms. Wilber, 91 tribes are represented on the Eastside 

-- Bob Yoder, Juanita High School, 10/1/2022 (photos and video)

Cascadia College Providing "American Indian and Indigenous Studies"

 

Courtesy of Cascadia College

Cascadia College recently hired Dr. Victor Begay as its first American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AIIS) professor and Tribal Liaison. Begay is an educator and scholar from the Navajo Nation.

Cascadia is partnering with the University of Washington to provide the AIIS program. Classes at Cascadia transfer directly to the UW AIIS degree program.

“Students will engage with concepts such as the cultural and socio-political foundations of Tribal Sovereignty, Indigenous identity, critical significance of native foodways, and highlight the nuanced experiences of Indigenous peoples in the PNW,” said Cascadia Dean for Student Learning Kristina Young. 

A press release by the school states the program is a part of the school’s push “to provide equity and social justice-oriented education to everyone by centering the experience of all of the historically marginalized members of its community.”

“I am thrilled with the continued growth within the Office of Equity and Inclusion,” said Chari Davenport, Executive Director of Equity and Inclusion at Cascadia. “Our focus on supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion for everyone within the Cascadia community has truly been expanded in all of the work that we do.”

WOODINVILLE WEEKLY, 9/22/2022

excerpted by B. Yoder