Redmond Historical Society: "Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales"

 

Saturday Speaker Series Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales: Fossils of Washington State

Did you miss this excellent presentation by David B. Williams? A recording has been uploaded to the Redmond Historical Society YouTube channel, and will be available until December 31st, 2024. The video is provided below. Please feel free to share this program. https://youtu.be/sncOmu2gNZI  And, don't forget to check out David's Walks & Talks or his Street Smart Naturalist Newsletter.

Old Redmond Schoolhouse Early Learning Center

In 2016, Lake Washington School District received a bond approval to begin renovating the original schoolhouse to be the district’s first early learning center. It technically opened in September of 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to celebrate its opening. Instead, a crowd gathered on February 1, 2023 to mark the delayed opening with a presentation, ribbon cutting and a community open house.

Fun fact: Redmond Coucilmember Osman Sulahuddin is in this video. He always wears clean white sneakers😃. Osman is the youngest member on Council and he represents our youth exceptionally well.

posted by Yoder

10/12/2024

NBC Interviews Police Chief Lowe On First Responder Drones

"Redmond is one of the first in police departments in the U.S. to implement drones as first responders to get to the scene faster. But the drones pose privacy concerns." - NBC News’ David Noreiga has the latest on the tech transforming policing.

Posted by Yoder

9/16/2024

GreenRedmond Tree Planting Events , Two Locations

Below are planting event dates and site locations. Find a site map here  Email:  greenredmond@redmond.gov for the times.  The event usually starts at 9 AM.  

September 2024
Microsoft work party  (closed) 09/25/2024 Arthur Johnson Park
Last Saturday of the Month Volunteer Event  (Click) 09/28/2024 Viewpoint Open Space
October 2024
First event of planting season  (Click) 10/19/2024 Arthur Johnson Park
Green Redmond Day Planting Event  (Click) 10/26/2024 Viewpoint Open Space

Posted by Yoder, 9/13/2024

Let's Move Redmond: An Open Streets Festival

This video interviews attendees of the first Let's Move Redmond event. MOVE REDMOND opened up 161st Street in Downtown Redmond, WA so people could bike, scoot, walk, and play in the streets.

IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN A DOWNTOWN APARTMENT, A GOOD PLACE TO PARK IS IN THE REDMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOT OR RIDE A BIKE, TAKE A SCOOTER, OR WALK FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.  I WOULD NOT ADVISE DRIVING.

Redmond Police

Mayor Birney / Senior & Community Center

Critical Area Ordinance, Public Hearing

 Great Blue Heron 
"Species of Local Importance"  
Sammamish River, Redmond, WA.   

Hello Planning Commissioners:

"I only caught part of your meeting last night, but it sounds like the State is requiring updates to the Critical Area Ordinance? 

As a college educated biologist -- similar to Mayor Angela Birney -- Critical Areas are important to me.   In the Ives Administration, I made "Species of Local Importance" and "Habitat of Local Importance" comments to the Planning Commission chaired by Mr. Snodgrass.  After much discussion, the commission decided on the Great Blue Heron (GBH) and Riparian habitat, in which it lives.   

UPDATED 5/16/24: Council Review Of "The Homeless Hotel" And Plymouth Housing

Video of Council's "Safety & Human Services Committee Meeting." 8/16/2024 (Mayor Birney didn't participate.)

Notable viewing stops:  

Min 18:15 - Police Chief's Quarterly Activity Update (hyperlinked topics)

Min 40:00 - Start of the Permanent Supportive Housing Update (hyperlinked topics)

Min 45:35 - Emergency role of the HTH Overlake Homeless Hotel.

Min 47:50 - Community Advisory Group

Min 56:55 - Council Policy 

Min 1:14:10 - Councilmember Steve Fields' dialogue with Planning Director Carol Helland:  

Helland said, as the Administrator carrying out Council's policy, "there is no Hearing required" by State law.  Background information is included in the Plymouth Housing - Redmond FAQ's.

Downtown Homeless Housing Controversy, City Hall Is Packed / Video

One of Many Signs Staked in Downtown Redmond 

 Video-link to the March 19th Redmond City Council Meeting 

https://redmond.granicus.com/player/clip/2809 

The video shows a packed house at City Hall with demonstrators peacefully holding SafeEastside signs -- "Demanding a Say on Low Barrier Housing in Downtown Redmond."  40 citizens commented.

Pro and Con Comments Of Note:

 

Aspen Richter  39:43m

Al Rosenthal 43:36m

SafeEastside activist

Kiki Montgomery 53:43m

Dennis Ellis 59:43

Ramon (from China) 1:10:23

Cynthia Young 1:14:19

Paul Stephano 1:19:45

Linda Yang 1:22:20

SafeEastside Chair

Lisa Tracy 1:35:14

Karen Rodrigues 1:39:17

HopeLink

Bob Yoder 1:46:36

Redmond Blog

Kyle Parker 1:54:37

Sean Moyer 1:55:30

Kathy Lambert 2:08:03

Retired King County Councilmember 

Yuyan 2:15:14 

Video Sources : redmond.gov  YouTube clip

3/23/2024

UPDATED: Redmond Branded "Space District" - Video Presentation

Hosted by John Oftebro, President of the Redmond Historical Society, Saturday Speaker Series.

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

Mayor Birney Visits a Cool, New Plant Store

I stopped by Plantify about a half year ago and loved it! The owner was kind and very patient with me, answering all my questions about his exotic plants. The plants were gorgeous, but expensive for me. He wished for better parking, but once the nearby construction is finished in a few years, shoppers will be walking to the business! In the meantime, you may find some parking on the side street next to Anderson Park. I love this shop! Probably will gift. Definitely revisit!

-- Bob Yoder, 2/13/2024

Redmond Lights 2023 - Hrailmore Ukrainian Band

Soloist with choir:   1:58 minutes

Chorus with man and boy featured 58 seconds

by Yoder, 12/4/2023

Rumble in Redmond Robot Competition

Builders from all over North America brought their robots to Redmond Middle School for an all-out robot clash where innovation and excitement collided. This event will serve as a qualifying event for the Robot Combat League National Championship in May 2024, allowing passionate builders to compete at the highest level of robot combat. 

Competitors unleashed their custom-built remote-controlled armed with hammers, flippers, or blades, delivering stylish and crushing blows to their opponents. Builders invest days, weeks, or even months perfecting their designs for competitions. 

The National Championship was held in Seattle last year.  Three bots from Redmond's league qualified for the tournament.  The Nationals will be held in Seattle again next year.  

Special thanks to OneRedmond for sponsoring this event.  They're hoping for more of them in the years to come.   

-- Post and video by Bob Yoder, 10/23/2023 

UPDATED: Mayor Angela Birney's Story / Pedestrian Safety / RCTV

I found Mayor Birney's Story on Pedestrian Safety while watching Redmond City Television (RCTV) on Comcast Channel 21.  

I'm amazed how RCTV programming has improved.  There's much more content.  Tune in at 9:00AM for a half hour of local news, grant opportunities, and tips.  

All of  Mayor Birney's 52 YouTube stories can be watched in a rolling sequence. 

posted by Bob Yoder, 10/11/2023

UPDATED: Mayor Angela Birney's 2022 Year-In-Review

Mayor Birney / credit Hopelink

Hello Residents, 

Different cultures celebrate the start of a new year in very distinct ways. For most, it's a time to rejoice, pause, and reflect on the past and future. A sense of normalcy returned in 2022 and provided an opportunity to build upon the lessons learned over the past few years. We have so much to be thankful for in Redmond, and I'd like to share some of the City’s accomplishments this past year: 

Environmental Sustainability: In the area of environmental sustainability, we worked with the community to preserve and enhance our natural environment. And now it’s easier than ever to see that progress through our new Environmental Sustainability Data Dashboard. We completed a Climate Vulnerability Assessment to advise our long-range environmental planning efforts. And we partnered on programs and challenges to bring resources to you, such as the Redmond Climate Action Challenge and Energy Smart Eastside. Together, we planted trees, shrubs, and ground cover to expand and enrich Redmond's natural environment. 

Connected Community: Creating connections and opportunities in our community continues to be an ongoing priority. Thousands enjoyed the return of Derby Days and the new elements to Redmond Lights. The City awarded lodging tax funds to over 22 Redmond events, and the Parks and Recreation Department returned to full in-person programming last year. We broke ground and are making tremendous progress on the new Redmond Senior & Community Center, which will soon offer arts, events, and recreational options for residents of all ages.

Infrastructure: City staff continued to work with and support Sound Transit’s light rail project in Redmond, bringing dependable access and connection to the region. And we continued to invest in our infrastructure by completing current projects and being awarded nearly $4.5 million in grant funds to leverage other transportation projects. 

"Redmond Lights" Redux

Pam and Zo at popular art installation
(click pic to find Zo)

It was a blustery, cold and very rainy night but we went Redmond Lights anyway. A friend was working a booth and asked me to come. Pam and Zo tagged along too but they were not a happy puppies.

There wasn't much new:  Same five light installations.  Relatively scant residents, and fun music on the pavillion.  Unfortunately, food trucks don't have much room for parking at the downtown park.  We did see an espresso wagon and ice-cream van.  Sounds silly, but the colorful restroom lights fit in well with the show.  

-- Bob Yoder, 12/10/2022, opinion 

Indian Kokanee Salmon Event October 12th

culture.snoqualmietribeweb.com

"Spawning Grounds" film

www.bit.ly/SpawningGroundsFilm

 "Trout Unlimited" President recommends this film.

Produced by eight salmon-related agencies

Hello -

I wanted to send a quick reminder about the Release the Kokanee event coming up next week, October 12^th at 5:00 pm at the Lake Sammamish Boat Launch. We are excited to celebrate the work of this group, connect, and ceremonially release some of the kokanee we are working so hard to save. We hope you will join us at this KWG sponsored event.

Sharing: Please share the event with your staff, partners, supporters and friends!  Feel free to use the attached flyer or share a post from the Lake Sammamish UWRP social media (Facebook, Instagram) or the Snoqualmie Tribe Ancestral Lands Movement (Facebook, Instagram). Event info web address: www.bit.ly/KokaneeRelease.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like additional information.

 

Best,

Alix

 

 

Alix Lee-Tigner (she/her)

Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership Coordinator

(406) 868-1902

alix.lee-tigner@tu.org

Trout Unlimited is "a rapidly growing community struggling to save its native Little Red Fish."

--  Posted with edits by Redmond resident and Trout Unlimited member Gary Smith.

Detention Tanks Safeguard Sammamish River, WLWB Exit Dangerous

In this image, notice the beginning of  the West Lake Sammamish Blvd. exit off of SR-520.  Do you see the beginnings of  light rail construction on the right?  The train will run right over the exit ramp. 

This exit was one of the most dangerous for me in Redmond for a while, especially at night.  The "fake" stop light, further down the sharp ramp was very misleading. Did this exit frighten you too?  Finally, it's fixed.

The video shows two points of interest.  

1)  As you drive east on SR-520, notice how close the rail is to the highway.  

2)  Orange stormwater detention tanks are densely massed together for a good reason; the Sammamish River is immediately below the filthy construction site.  Detention tanks "filter" contaminated sediment from construction runoff. 

Sound transit is a steward of our environment.  

--Bob Yoder, opinion/ Video Yoder, 5/29/2022

Redmond Fire Tells Their Story

This is one of Mayor Birney's most informative videos on City operations, in this case the Fire Department. It includes engaging interviews with staff and amazing statistics.  

I can most relate to Fire Marshall Todd Short's interview.  He's responsible for fire prevention.  One of his duties is "proper addressing." 

Thirty-five years ago, I almost lost my  rental to a kitchen fire. The tenant was toasting pop tarts. The fire crept behind the oven; smoke took over the whole upper level. The fire fighters said they had a terrible time finding the house. Several engines drove all around looking for the road and street sign.  Once there they did an excellent job extinguishing the fire. Even though the temperature readings were okay, they put an axe to the sheetrock behind the stove to look for evidence of fire. Yikes. I was really impressed and thankful when they blew out the smoke with a powerful fan.  

Okay, it was time for trouble-shooting. I looked for the street signs next to my rental. Three close-by streets form a Y leaving no street sign next to my house.  We didn't have a Fire Prevention Marshall back then so I called CM Richard Cole who incredibly drove to my rental, and looked at the roads and signs. It wasn't long before Public Works installed proper signage.  Thank you Richard!

One last experience:  Last year my neighbor told us her house had a mild "burn" smell.  We called the Fire Department and soon three firefighters arrived. They were very thorough. One of them spent a very long time looking at the furnace...it may have been Mr. Short.  Turns out the filter hadn't been changed for years. She was told to buy a new furnace.  They said calls like this are very common in the Fall when folks start-up their furnaces.  They fanned out the smell!  Great customer service!

-- Bob Yoder, 3/14/2022