Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Founder of Xplore, Brands Redmond "Space District"


Hosted by John Oftebro, President of the Redmond Historical Society, Saturday Speaker Series. Advance to 9:20 m

Lisa Rich discusses her commercial space company Xplore, designed to collect infinite streams of proprietary data from the XCRAFT®, its next-generation satellite. Speaker bio: Lisa Rich is a successful serial entrepreneur, investor and thought-leader who entered the space industry in 2014 to accelerate sustainable business that positively impact the environment, education, national security, and advance the $1T space economy.

She is Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Xplore, a commercial space services company using its multi-sensor platform to store and transmit data, achieve data fusion, on orbit processing.

Ms. Rich is also Founder of Hemisphere Ventures, a top space sector VC that has invested in 37 outstanding commercial space companies including Axiom Space, Umbra and Lynk. She presents at conferences, engages Fortune 500 think tanks to discuss space strategy and the landscape for space investment.

Ms. Rich was nominated to the National Space Council User Advisory Group led by Vice President Kamala Harris; she played a pivotal role in establishing the Redmond Space District in Washington State. Media appearances include Bloomberg and CNBC.

-- Posted by Yoder, 3/14/2024

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Mayor Birney Honors Women's History Month


In honor of Women's History Month, Mayor Birney recently met with the Redmond Historical Society to learn more about the incredible women who helped make our community what it is today. The Mayor and Laura Lee are speaking from the Society's museum; jam-packed with artifacts and exhibits!

Do you know the Historical Society has a monthly Saturday Speaker's Series? The next one is April 13th at 10:30 a.m. It's all about bicycles in Redmond! Location: Old Redmond School House.

Check out the historical society's website for details and the Series line up at: https://www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/rhs-events

Posted by Yoder, 3/13/2024

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Redmond Satellite Space COO To Present -- Redmond Historical Society's Speaker Series

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how Xplore—a key member of Redmond's "Space District”—is contributing to our local history!" J.O.


"DATA FROM SPACE"

Saturday, March 9th at 10:30 AM

In the Old Redmond Schoolhouse
16600 NE 80TH ST, Redmond, WA 98052


John Oftebro, President of the Redmond Historical Society says....

Founder and COO Lisa Rich will discuss her commercial space company Xplore, designed to collect infinite streams of proprietary data from the XCRAFT®, its next generation satellite. Her company’s ability to proliferate—and provide access to many types of Earth Observation data—will help solve many global challenges across the commercial sector, national security, environment, nonprofit sector, education, research, the media industry, and more.

- posted by Yoder, 3/8/24

Monday, January 29, 2024

UPDATED 1/29/24: Pearce PRD Deforestation Rivals the Devastation of Group Health's Tree Habitat

A Bobcat's "last stand" in Sigmund and Werner's backyard / credit Sigmund

In 2007, I made two trips to Sigmund and Werner's house to commiserate with them about their severe loss of a forest bordering their property.   Losing a neighborhood forest and it's wildlife is close to losing and mourning the loss of a dear friend. It hurts and it takes time. I know this from the Education Hill Perrigo Heights clear-cut. Sigmonde showed their pictures and I listened. She took me on hurried walk through the forest before the clear-cut. It was all over in just a few days.

The photograph of this urban Bobcat was taken by Werner & Sigmund. Their home borders on a North Redmond 18-acre forest.  Over 300 mature trees were cleared for 76 single-family homes with lot sizes ***4000 - 22,000 SF, according city documents. The project (178th Ct. NE & NE 116th St.) is known as "Pearce PRD" and is one of many environmentally sensitive projects in Redmond developed by Eric Campbell's Camwest Development, Inc. of Kirkland, WA.

According to a "Wildlife Study Report" filed by wetland , wildlife, and forest consultant Chad Armour, LLC on January 20, 2007 "the site may have the potential to support as many as 68 different species of wildlife". Sigmund has also observed coyotes and deer in her backyard and there have been neighborhood reports of *black bear. Where will they go?

Camwest paid an arborist for a tree preservation plan required by city permit. The arborist reported that 294 significant trees were clear-cut. That's 54% of the 489 significant trees on the project. 39 Landmark trees were presumed removed.  Landmark trees are supposed to get special protections. (see Councilwoman Kim Allen's statement, below).

Chad Armour made two brief site visits. Among Mr. Armour's qualifications, he is a "certified wetland delineator" and has a certificate in commercial real estate. He was hired by Camwest to write environmental reports for the city land use permit. 

Mr. Armour reported: nine wetlands and 20 State Priority habitat tree snags, ideal for Pileated Woodpecker nesting. He identified a foraging P. Woodpecker, and a Great Blue Heron "in the vicinity". The Great Blue Heron is valued by the State and Redmond as a Priority Species of Local Importance. Nesting P. Woodpeckers are potentially endangered and have protections when nests are present. I was told by a resident Armour spent only several hours during each of his two visits to the site.

Mr. Armour stated a heron rookery is located about one mile SE of the site. City planner Cathy Beam indicated months ago these eastern rookery nests were vacated. Mr. Armour also noted a stream map indicating coho salmon migrate to within a few hundred feet of the project site. A tributary to Bear Creek and two ponds are present.   

Obviously, significant and devastating deforestation of  "urban open space" has occurred. Habitat destruction was far more extensive than Camwest's Tyler's Creek and Perrigo Heights developments. Fortunately, Camwest does a good job restoring and enhancing their streams, wetlands, and forest buffers. However, according to the neighbors, the development will be setback only 20 feet from their properties and exposed neighborhood trees will be endangered by resultant high winds.

Councilwoman Kim Allen is to be commended for speaking up for the neighborhood during Werner's Landmark Tree Exception appeal. Councilman Richard Cole appeared insensitive during reconsideration of the Landmark Tree appeal stating Werner was slowing down the project. Ms. Allen is a qualified lawyer and is a strong council advocate for "green" protections and standards. ** Ms. Allen's statement urging amendments to city tree preservation standards are below. The city is holding a Community Meeting on Thursday, 7/28 to ask for ideas on how to improve Residential Development permitting. Contact Jeff Churchill for more information by emailing: jchurchill@redmond.gov.

*** The City Neighborhood Map and Notice of Application quote different lot size ranges.

**'Councilmember Allen read a written request to the staff as follows, 'Tree retention is an expressed value of the citizens of Redmond articulated in the Comprehensive Plan, Neighborhood Plans, and community meetings. Redmond’s tree retention law reflects that a detailed and thoughtful analysis by the Administrator of what should be a detailed and written account of extraordinary circumstances is required to justify the felling of any landmark tree or drastically reducing our declining canopy. In this case there is no record of that detailed analysis by staff which does both the staff and the citizens a disservice. Our Code Administrators should begin to provide a written and detailed analysis of their reasoning on all of these exceptions to our Tree Retention Ordinance and that the code should be amended to provide notice to adjacent property owners when such a request is made.' - contributed by Werner

###

QUESTIONS:  Was off-site mitigation required?  It not, how where were they replaced? PRD' appeals are Quasi-Judicial. Was there adequate notice?  Tom Hinman, a respected planning commissioner, influenced the city years later to map significant and landmark trees on the Notice of Application. Why did it take so long?   In 2022, Tree Regulations were updated to protect/preserve Redmond's remaining trees on private properties.  It's 2024 and the updated tree regulations still haven't been implemented owing to legal issues Kirkland is facing. No comment.   

Opinion and report by Bob Yoder, ~ 2007, updated 1/29/2024  

Additional "land use" articles are found using the blog search engine.

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Learn About Mt. St. Helens' Blast November 11th.

 


Laura Lee Bennett, VP Redmond Historical Society says...

Hey, you History Buffs! Join the Redmond Historical Society next Saturday, Nov. 11th, 10:30 AM, for a journey into the Mount St. Helens blast zone--40 years later. Writer and biologist Eric Wagner talks on the remarkable recovery of the Mount St, Helens ecosystem. Nature finds a way!

This is an in-person program at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center.

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Bird's Eye View -A Poem by Redmond's Poet Laureate


The Redmond Historical Society invites the community to an exciting conversation with Redmond Poet Laureate, Laura Da’, on the topic of “Currents of Time and Place: Poetry that Engages with History and Image in Cascadia.” 

Saturday, 10:30 AM, October 14, 2023. Doors open 10:00 AM.

Location: Old Redmond Schoolhouse, 16600 NE 80th St., Redmond, WA 98052. 



This program is the second of the Society’s Saturday Speaker Series for the Fall 2023 season. This will be an in-person program at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse. Admission is free to RHS members, and a suggested donation of $5 for non-members.

Monday, October 2, 2023

Redmond Poet Laureate Laura Da' Events, October 6th / 14th

Redmond Poet Laureate Laura Da'

J
oin Poet Laureate Laura Da’ at Idylwood Park on the shores of Lake Sammamish to celebrate the debut of her "Poetry Walk" inspired by the ecosystem within Redmond that supports the kokanee salmon. 

  • Friday, October 6th, 6:00 - 7:30PM
  • Idylwood Park

This unique and important environment has carried life in the region since time immemorial and is at the heart of this year’s projects by Da’. The Redmond STEM Center and the Seattle Design Nerds will also be creating a one-night-only projection in the park inspired by the Poetry Walk prompts, poems by Da’, and the workshops hosted by the Poet Laureate at Old Firehouse Teen Center.

The projection is made possible by a grant from the Academy of American Poets for Laura’s recognition as one of the 2023 Poet Laureate Fellows.

-- Redmond Parks and Recreation

###

Redmond Historical Society - Saturday Speaker Series

On October 14th, the Redmond Historical Society invites the community to an exciting conversation with Redmond Poet Laureate, Laura Da’, on the topic of “Currents of Time and Place: Poetry that Engages with History and Image in Cascadia.” 


Date/Time: Saturday, 10:30 AM, October 14, 2023. Doors open 10:00 AM.

Topic:  "Currents of Time and Place: Poetry that Engages with History and Image in Cascadia”

Speaker:  Laura Da', Redmond Poet Laureate

Location: Old Redmond Schoolhouse, 16600 NE 80th St., Redmond, WA 98052. 



This program is the second of the Society’s Saturday Speaker Series for the Fall 2023 season. This will be an in-person program at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse. Admission is free to RHS members, and a suggested donation of $5 for non-members.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

UPDATED: Work Underway For Innovative "Anderson AMLI Project"

click image to enlarge
FedEx, Value Village and 8 small businesses are removed or re-located:
Dog Day Care, Romos, Gyros 2 Go, Costumes, Fun&Study, Kim's Hair
and Malt & Vine.  

                                                        AMLI  PROJECT  DEMOLITION
                                             Correction:  FedEx moved  next to Jersey Mikes  

Location:  AMLI:  Redmond Way & Avondale Way.  Adjacent McDonalds and Anderson Park; in the old Value Village mall

The applicant proposes the construction of two adjacent buildings, referred to as the “West” building and the “East” building respectively. The project includes a "pouch porch" dog run with space for hop scotch, 4-square and living green walls.  The applicant is proposing a woonerf on Avondale Way to safely connect the buildings.

Plantings and a green wall element were added along the ground level to enhance the pedestrian experience along the Redmond Central Connector. Two variations for the integration of planters and vertical green wall trellises are proposed to create visual interest along the concrete wall. 

The west building is a mix of residential and retail uses and varies in height ranging from five to seven-stories. 11,070 sf of commercial retail uses located along Redmond Way. On levels two through seven, there are 249 residential units. 237 internal parking stalls are also provided at ground levels B1 and subterranean levels L1

The east building is six stories and is a multi-family apartment building. Residential amenity space is provided at the ground level. On levels two through six, there are 127 residential units. 205 internal parking stalls are also provided at ground levels B1 and subterranean levels L1. 

A future elevated rail line is proposed south of the project as a part of the Sound Transit Downtown Redmond Link.

-- Design Review Board, April 2022

Three additional posts on this innovative AMLI project are HERE.

Prepared by Bob Yoder, 9/26/2023

Saturday, April 15, 2023

"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.



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

Friday, April 7, 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

Friday, March 31, 2023

Historical Society Speaker Series: "All Over the Map: Surprising Places and Place-names of the Evergreen State"

 Speaker:  Feliks Banel
Redmond Historical Society 
Saturday Speaker Series
Saturday, 10:30 AM, April 8, 2023

Topic: All Over the Map: Surprising Places and Place-names of the Evergreen State” 

HYBRID EVENT: Online + live at Old Redmond Schoolhouse, 16600 NE 80th St., Redmond, WA. 98052

To register for Zoom Webinar:  tinyurl.com/RHSAllOverTheMap


Broadcaster and historian Feliks Banel has been studying place-names since his sister gave him a copy of “Washington Place Names” when he was 10 years old. In this illustrated presentation, Banel explores the stories behind some of the formal and informal names of places and things around Western Washington – including some not found on any map.

Speaker bio:
Feliks Banel is a broadcaster and historian who focuses on Pacific Northwest history, geography, cartography, and pop culture. He presents stories about Northwest history twice each week on KIRO News radio and is host of the weekly radio program and podcast Cascade of History heard live Sunday nights. Feliks also produces history documentaries for the Seattle Channel. 

Special thanks to: 

Laura Lee Bennett

Senior Vice President

Program Committee Chair

Redmond Historical Society

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www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org 

programs@redmondhistoricalsociety.org

206-351-2826