The Status Of Mental Health Care At EvergreenHealth

 

"The many colors of  bipolar mood disorder"
Dale Chihuly art (Internet) 

The National Association of Mental Health says 1 in 5 Americans struggle with a mental health condition in a given year and only half are treated.  COVID brought this home.

This Spring, EvergreenHealth's seven commissioners and CEO Palazzo approved  psychiatric and therapy treatment for their two Emergency Departments and three of their Urgent Care clinics. This is a giant leap forward for EvergreenHealth (Evergreen) and the community. The COO of Trauma is putting the program together. She's hiring psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and advanced social workers; it will be remote and in-person. Evergreen is community-owned and a levy lid-lift may be proposed this year or next in support of this program and others.   

Some of the levy-supported Programs today are:  EPIC (MyChart,) "Community Healthcare Access Teams," Grief, Palliative and Hospice care services, Geriatric services, a "Mental Health First Aid Kit" program for LWSD student suicide prevention, and perinatal mood and anxiety maternity care.  

Construction Art

"Construction Art installation" on Cleveland Street / B. Yoder

Puzzle:  What's inside?  😄

3/22/2024

Redmond Town Center's Heron Art

click pictures to enlarge

 

It's all a matter of perspective and taste. By night Fairbourne's RTC art installation draws you towards an amenity of the Center; its proximity to Bear Creek.  But in daylight, what's it trying to convey?  

(After dinner, our waitress at BJ's took our picture!) 

"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 

2020 Redmond Lights Extended For Safety

Downtown Park

Festivities have been extended this year (December 4 - January 3) to allow for physical distancing and safety precautions. I assume for physical distancing.) Redmond Lights is a celebration of light, art, and culture. This winter experience is a month-long art and light installation at Downtown Park. Follow the lights down Cleveland and 164th by foot or by car to Redmond Town Center where the festivities continue with Santa, business window decorating contests, and blinker stops. Honoring the holiday spirit that is an integral part of the community, this years’ experience will emphasize hope, joy, and safety in a new way.

13 art installations are on display in the Downtown Park.  "Mexican Lanterns" is just one.

Mexican Lanterns by Hinojos & Jimenez Art

Hinojos & Jimenez Art presents, "Mexican Lanterns", inspired by papel picado or "pecked paper," a popular design form in Mexico used in banners and festivals. The lanterns contain luminous and colorful patterns of angels, the three wise men's crowns, doves, and other rich cultural images for this holiday season.  Of note, Mr. Jimenez ran for City Council this year.

-- Redmond.gov, 12/28/2020

   Photos, Yoder

City Reimagines Redmond Lights In Response to COVID

REDMOND, WA - This year's Redmond Lights will celebrate hope, joy, arts, and light while adhering to the State’s Safe Start Plan. With the inability to gather and hold events, the City of Redmond has reimagined Redmond Lights to be a month-long art and light installation at Downtown Park. Art and light installations are sponsored by Microsoft, BECU, and Evergreen Healthcare. 

With a generous sponsorship from Redmond Town Center, Cleveland Street and 164th Ave NE will be lit to lead visitors to Redmond Town Center, where the experience continues with visits with Santa and more. The installations will be in place from December 4, 2020, to January 3, 2021. 

Using a free smart phone app, visitors will take a self-guided tour through the experience. Traditional elements that included the tree lighting, performances, booths, and large gatherings will not occur this year. Instead, the City of Redmond invites visitors to #LetItGlowRedmond. 

Businesses surrounding Downtown Park and at Redmond Town Center are invited to decorate their windows, sponsored by Minuteman Press Redmond, and participate as “Blinker Stops,” where visitors can get their exclusive 2020 Redmond Lights blinker, sponsored by Experience Redmond. Residents will be invited to share their home light displays and vote on their favorite entries. 

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our opportunities to gather, spreading light, hope, and joy in the community is even more important,” says Mayor Angela Birney. “This year will showcase art and light installations that will help connect our community, even when we are physically distanced.” 

Plans For "Winter Lights" Underway

redmond.gov

On December 7th and 8th, 2019, the City will host the 20th Redmond Lights.

This community celebration of our diverse winter traditions, cultures and faiths is explored through light and art. The event brings community together to experience unique art programming including artistic light displays, live performances, and activities that celebrate the magic of the winter season and Redmond’s cultural diversity.

The event will have a two-night format this year with Saturday being the livelier evening and Sunday being more peaceful, without as many activities. 

The following is a summary of the planned activities. Saturday, December 7, 4:00 to 8:00 PM: “A Joyful Celebration”

  Begin at City Hall to pick up your blinker, explore fun family activities inside City Hall and at outdoor booths, experience visual art installations and the hot air balloons, and watch cultural and festive performances on stage. Close to 5:00, crowds will anxiously await Santa Claus and Mayor Marchione’s last count down for the tree lighting. Afterwards, participants can listen to more music, continue exploring the hot air balloons and activities, or begin the luminary walk. 

 As participants walk down the Sammamish River Trail to the Redmond Central Connector, they will encounter new artistic light installations and five performing groups. At 161st Ave NE, participants will turn left and have an opportunity to warm up by burn barrels and with some warm treats from food trucks and in the beer and wine garden at Downtown Park. The Moving Art Center will be energized by music on 161st Ave NE, vendors will be situated along the west end of the park, an artwork by Jen Szabo will be on display in the lawn, and Buoyant will be activated by Artist in Residence Maja Petric.

 As walkers exit the park on Brown street, they will walk east on the Redmond Central Connector, passing festive light displays and encounter a fire dancer and steel drum band on the way to Redmond Town Center. There, participants will explore community and faith groups of our city, vendors, another performing arts stage, Santa’s house, a skating rink and ice sculpture photo booth. Sunday, December 8, 5:00 to 8:00 PM “A Peaceful Interlude” 

 Begin at City Hall experience beautifully illuminated trees and a visual art installation. 

 As participants walk down the Sammamish River Trail to the Redmond Central Connector, they will encounter the artistic light installations. 

 At 161st Ave NE, participants will turn left and have an opportunity to warm up at burn barrels and with some warm treats from food trucks and in the beer and wine garden at Downtown Park. 

 At Downtown Park, an artwork by Jen Szabo will be on display in the lawn and Buoyant will be activated by Artist in Residence Maja Petric. 

- Redmond City Council Committee Memo

Redmond's "ERRATIC" Outdoor Art installation Will Be Relocated

Below are two pictures of Redmond's Centennial "ERRATIC" art installation.  It was constructed with railroad plates to recognize Redmond's status as a railroad town.  It's called ERRATIC to recognize that glaciers shaped Redmond.  Erratics are huge boulders left behind by glaciers.  

At the January 8th Council meeting Staff announced owing to light rail impacts the ERRATIC wil be moved from it's present location on 166th near Redmond Town Center to "Gilman Landing" south of the Matador near Leary Way.  Sound Transit will pay $576,000 towards its re-location.  The City will move it....a laborious job. The original cost to the City for the art was $115,000.  

A public record request in December, 2019 revealed the total estimated cost for relocation is $616,300 - though, the exact relocation cost won't be known until it's completion in June of 2020. The  request also revealed part of the relocation $40,000 will be funded by Redmond Parks CIP.  Rumors have it the total relocation cost to the city will be close to $1M. 

Bob Yoder

2/24/2020

Redmond Lights

Redmond, WA – Mark your calendars as Redmond Lights returns on December 1 and 2, 2018, in celebration of the City's diverse winter traditions, cultures, and faiths. In addition to traditional light displays, this year’s event will continue to incorporate public art by featuring six new temporary artist-commissioned light installations. Installation details and locations are listed below beginning with the City Hall Campus and ending at Downtown Park.

Redmond Lights features multiple light displays

Redmond, WA – Mark your calendars as Redmond Lights returns on December 1 and 2, 2018, in celebration of the City's diverse winter traditions, cultures, and faiths. In addition to traditional light displays, this year’s event will continue to incorporate public art by featuring six new temporary artist-commissioned light installations. Installation details and locations are listed below beginning with the City Hall Campus and ending at Downtown Park.

As the Luminary Walk begins, attendees will walk below the NE 85th Street Bridge and see the “Untitled” sculptural work by Will Schlough that features a slightly larger than life-size steel blue heron illuminated by LED lights. The heron poses as if she has just taken off from the river and will instill feelings of joy and imagination in the viewers, developing a connection with the river and surrounding natural environment.

“RainBrella” is an interactive light-art installation by local artist group Seattle Design Nerds that celebrates our rainy Pacific Northwest Climate. It will be installed on the Sammamish River Trail, directly along the side of the luminary pathway so attendees can experience it along the walk. The piece features a series of highly reflective umbrellas with hanging LED strands that will be animated to appear like drops of rain.

Once attendees are walking along the Redmond Central Connector and have crossed the bridge over Redmond Way, they will experience an ethereal immersive installation, "Cloud Reflecting" by Hannah Gabr. The installation is a series of 15 LED-rigged projection mapped clouds that are suspended in the air for attendees to walk directly underneath.

Further down the Redmond Central Connector is the next installation, "Adelita and Lanterns"by Angie Yusuf. These traditional Mexican-style lanterns highlight different aspects of the traditional holiday season and will be displayed next to "Adelita," an illuminated sculpture that honors the women rebels of the Mexican Revolution known as the Adelitas.

Once attendees reach Downtown Park, they will be greeted by “Odd Jelly Out,” an interactive sculpture by Uckiood, comprised of seven oversized Jelly Babies. The figures elicit childlike joy in their colorful form and decoration, while also encouraging the broader conversation about diversity and community.

We Need More Downtown Art

2002 manhole public art 

OPINION:  Redmond is becoming a dull place to live and it will get worse.  Installing green street trees and the build out of the Downtown Park will help but Redmond needs more "punch" to make us a great city.

On May 8th council discussed a much greater emphasis of art in their budget.  Major projects like Buoyant in the Down Park need funding.  It will cost >3% of the total park construction.  The present grass and concrete downtown park is of course better than another one or two 6-8 story rental buildings.  A "landmark" art installation like Buoyant near the pavilion would make it a true park and sparkle our downtown.

"Signature" art installations are needed too.  They would cost 2-3% of total constructions costs at places like the main streets of Overlake, the Marymoor Village gateway, key public buildings or high traffic parks or trails like the Connector Trail Signals art.

Then there is the "Hallmark" public works art funded currently at 1% of construction costs. It's scattered all over the city and few probably notice it.  However, if you look hard you can't complain about the cement-colored salmon hidden under the Redmond Way bridge.  Here's the ultimate... "Rosemary Ives" leaf art on a manhole cover celebrating the installation of a traffic calming improvement on our street.  

Per the Administration, if council approves the new art ordinance  -- to make our city more livable and lively -- the average investment in public art would increase from $188,778 per biennium to approximately $370,000.  Is this asking too much?   

UPDATED: City of Redmond and LWSD tie loose ends on joint partnership

OPINION:  It's been 25 years since the City formally agreed to partner with the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) on sports field use, community programs, and other joint-needs.  Well, in last week's study session, Council sat down with city staff and the LWSD Director of Finance Barbara Postumous to take a parting glance at a thoroughly vetted updated partnership.

LWSD agreed to rent 9,795 sf (25%) of their Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center on a five-year lease to provide "innovative space" for City of Redmond  community center programming.  The district will have the pre-school classrooms, a gym, and cafeteria space as voted in by last year's bond.  

Space for: Redmond Historical Society meetings, popular Zumba classes, Adaptive recreation, adult volleyball, pickleball, youth basketball, art, and non-profits are provided in the lease.  The space will be dedicated to the city and open until 9:30 pm.  Anticipated revenue is $45,000 annually.  

Jeff Hagen,city recreation program manager said gym space for youth basketball is at a premium with almost 800 children 1st-12th grade needing facilities.  He will work closely with the district to maximize school gym capacity to accommodate this growing sport.  Jeff will also schedule city owned parks, tennis courts and picnic shelters for school and city use. 

My opinion:  Council member David Carson gave a loud hoot during the meeting when "capital programs" were brought up.  I firmly believe this inter-local agreement could lead to the installation of turf fields in key school locations.  For one, LWSD owns the large, sometimes mucky and potholed athletic fields of Redmond El and the adjoining Old Redmond Schoolhouse.  The District could "swap" the land for turf and lighting installations paid for by the city.  (I coached MS lacrosse at Redmond El during rainy, dark, afternoons; no one else wanted to play there.)  Lacrosse and cricket fields are in demand;  a cricket field could be lined here.  Perrigo Park already has two turf fields lined for lacrosse. Turf and lighting could also be installed at Redmond Middle School for cricket or lacrosse.  Someday many LWSD fields will be turf, as  in Bellevue.  

B. Yoder 

After this post was published Council member Carson wrote:  "The city would be looking to leverage partnerships with associations that have funds for field development instead of general fund dollars.  Also, the City of Redmond participates in a county-wide consortium to bring down the costs of turf fields."

UPDATED: The Status And History Of Mental Health Care At EvergreenHealth

"The many colors of  bipolar mood disorder"
Dale Chihuly art (Internet) 

The National Association of Mental Health says 1 in 5 adults in the United States suffer from a mental health condition in a given year and only half get treated.  COVID brings this home.

In the Spring of 2024 Evergreen's seven commissioners began work on a preliminary plan to provide psychiatric treatment in their two Emergency Departments and two Urgent Cares using remote and in-person care.  Careful budgeting of funds with help from the community could move this forward.    

Years ago, EvergreenHealth planned a 14 transitional care bed unit to keep their acute mentally-ill patients from being "boarded" in the Emergency Department.  

They later decided against building the unit and instead remodeled the emergency department and partitioned 7 "Rainier beds" from the working part of the department for peace and quiet until services could be found. Sometimes it takes weeks. 

They sponsored a community awareness event several years ago emphasizing 1 in 4 have a mental health "disease." It was an excellent free educational forum; surprisingly none of the 7 commissioners attended.   

Staff was considering an "Outpatient Mental Health Urgent Care" clinic 2020 but  momentum was lost by onset of the pandemic.  Providence in Everett pioneered one of the first mental health urgent care clinic's in the Nation; during the pandemic if proved great success. 

For friends and family needing psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, Overlake Medical Center offers a variety of  services, including 16 in-patient hospital beds, day care and an outpatient clinic.

EvergreenHealth offers telepsychiatry for "in-home mental health service," restricted to adult King county Medicaid patients living distant from Evergreen.  An application is required. 

Several "soft" programs are offered,  including:  1) a  levy-supported "Community Health Access Team."  2) Smokey Point behavioral health evaluations, 3) Grief and Bereavement Services, 4) Social work youth suicide program with L.W.S.D. (no other district, 5) Perinatal mood, and anxiety care.  

Glass artist Dale Chihuly is struggling with his mental health. At 76 and still in the throes of a decades-long glass artist career, he discussed his bipolar mood disorder for the first time in an interview with The Associated Press.  Several  photos of his amazing glass art are included in this article.  I'm not sure if Mr. Chihuly has passed away.  

Brain disorders are generational in my family. 

Bob Yoder, updated: 6/3/2024

LWSD is committed to the arts

Director Siri Bliesner, a strong advocate for the arts, attended the Community Center Task Force meeting at VALA  ​Lake Washington School District recognizes the arts are an important part of a balanced education. Schools provide an opportunity for students to participate in band, choir, orchestra, drama, art classes, and more. Read recent stories of arts in education below. Additional activities will be added to this page throughout May. Wall of woven fabric welcomes Sandburg/Discovery families for art walk. Students braided and wove more than 1,000 pieces of fabric into the chain link fence at Sandburg Elementary and Discovery Community School before their art walk on May 18. They worked on the art installation throughout the week, mostly during lunch recess. The project allowed them to explore the process of weaving on a large scale and experiment with different weaving techniques. This year, teachers at Sandburg and Discovery have been field testing the art curriculum, “Deep Space Sparkle.” The curriculum was recently approved for use in LWSD elementary schools in the fall. The art walk gave students a chance to display their artistic creations. The walk also featured student work created with PTSA art docents, who facilitate art lessons in the classrooms.

Artist-Commissioned Light Installations at Redmond Lights

Everything you would want or need to know about "Redmond Lights."

Redmond Lights returns on December 3, 2016 to celebrate the City's diverse winter traditions, cultures and faiths. In addition to traditional luminaries, light displays, and performers, this year’s event will feature a stronger arts presence than in years past. Four temporary artist-commissioned light installations and a balloon installation by Redmond Poet Laureate Shin Yu Pai will punctuate the event along the Luminary Walk. Near City Hall, Redmond Poet Laureate Shin Yu will share some of her poetry at Redmond Lights via a custom balloon installation. Poetry balloons will be available for the first 250 attendees. A floating light installation in the shape of holiday lights by Suzanne Tidwell will illuminate the Sammamish River. The installation can be viewed along the Luminary Walk or from above on the 85th Street bridge.

Art Installation at So Bazaar, 8/25

Art Installation at So Bazaar REDMOND, WA – So Bazaar Night Market features artists, performances, artisan market, food and drink along the Redmond Central Connector located between 161st Ave NE and Leary Way. The last of three events will take place on Thursday, August 25 from 5-10 pm. "The residents and visitors feel moved by So Bazaar,” said Mayor John Marchione. “The performance and participatory art productions create a sense of joy and community,” he added. “Join us on Thursday for the final evening of the year.” On the last night of So Bazaar, the Redmond Central Connector will be further transformed by a large-scale public art installation of rangoli. Rangoli is one of the oldest Indian art forms—far predating sculpture and painting, and uses materials such as colored rice, sand, four, or petals to create temporary designs on the ground. The large-scale rangoli installation at So Bazaar will also feature a central mandala of fresh flowers snaking its way through John Fleming’s “Sky Painting” in the Redmond Central Connector parking lot, which currently holds the title of being the largest painted surface in the state of Washington. It will be created in collaboration between curator Latha Sambamurti, artists Sudha Rajasekaran (rangoli) and Annie Penta (mandala) and the Art Docents of Audubon Elementary, leading a group of Redmond school children and any volunteers that want to participate. For more information and a complete listing of So Bazaar market elements, please visit: www.RedmondSoBazaar.com. If you have questions, please contact Jessica Rubenacker atjarubenacker@redmond.gov. This press release is available on www.redmond.gov.

SKY PAINTING -- You May Have Parked On It, But Have You Seen It?

SKY PAINTING, a site-specific art installation that is now considered the largest painted surface in the state of Washington. The piece also doubles as a parking lot at the corner of Leary Way NE and Bear Creek Parkway.  😐

"This piece celebrates a grove of trees standing at the entrance to the new parking lot. Ten-foot rings in alternating blue and yellow draw the eyes to the trees. What results is an interactive painting that adds aesthetic appeal to an exciting new Downtown entry and asks us to consider what it is that we are parking over."  

SOURCE: City Website 

Updated: "Poets in the Park"

Last Saturday my wife and I went to Anderson Park for the annual "Poets in the Park" event. My wife painted at the VALA Arts Center booth and spent time talking to Michael Dylan Welch about his passion for haiku.  Michael is Redmond's third Poet Laureate.  My favorite haiku was by Christopher Herold.

foghorns

we lower our kayak

into the sound

I discovered the poem in Michael's installation "Haiku on Sticks."  I spent a lot of time talking to Dawn Laurant at the VALA Arts Center booth.  Dawn is the VALA Arts Director and Chair of the Kirkland Arts Commission.  She could be a tremendous resource for the "Redmond Arts and Culture Committee."  (The City of Redmond really needs to up their game, specifically in outdoor art.)

Dawn is especially excited about "Ekphrastic Assimilations: Finding Poetry in Art."   It's an exhibition of visual art and poetry including 6 artists from China, 6 artists from Washington and several featured poets. Sept 15th - Oct 31st.  The art will be displayed at VALA with poetry readings in Kirkland.  www.Ekphrasic.org (starting July 1) A lot of work and fundraising is going into it. Need I say this will be an incredible event.  It will draw regional attention and put Redmond on the map.

VALA is developing into an exciting arts center for Redmond.  Stop by the gallery in RTC, 8201 164th Ave NE. and pick up their June-September line-up. 100% of the proceeds from art sales go to the artist!  They just hired a new Executive Director, Vicki Todd.  Lots going on!

Poets in the Park activities:  poetry readings, open mics, workshops, a poetry book fair, and free ice cream. Also featured, mini-golf, Poetry on Sticks, art activities sponsored by VALA Art Center, and a Redmond Historical Society display. "Redmond Association of Spoken Word" (RASP) organized the event.  The City of Redmond co-sponsored it with RASP.  The current Poet Laureate, Shin Yu Pai, recited. and her performance drew me to the event.  Michael Dylan Welch (http://www.graceguts.com/) was the Event Director and made it all happen.   

Bob Yoder

Updated: Musings on Redmond Arts

There's art and then there's entertainment and a mix of both. I'd like to see a night club in Redmond where we can dance and listen to live music all year long. Hopefully the OneRedmond Foundation, Chaired by John Stilin, will consider promoting this and similar kinds of downtown entertainment.  

Soulfood Coffee House is Redmond's go-to-place to enjoy musicians and artists like Clint McCune, jazz, an open mic, poetry readings, etc. Would Soulfood go so far as to include East Indian music, etc?  Of course, that would be up to the free market, not the city "Arts and Culture" committee.   

For years Clint and Sara Peflrey's Soulfood Coffee House was "the heart and soul" of Redmond.  I'll never forget the "opening night" for Redmond's first poet laureate. She performed at Soulfood and the TV media covered it region-wide. Council Member Hank Margeson was there, everyone. 

When Clint and Sara sold Soulfood they left somewhat of a cultural void. 

For several years it seemed the city wandered seeking a new harbor for our "soul." Will it be the Downtown Park? The Historic Core?  Both?

I like how the city is installing outdoor art and memorabilia representative of our history.  The "erratic" representing the glacial age, was constructed of old railroad rail plates. The Linear Park has a railroad Signal installation. The Mayor says a totem pole installation is planned near Lower Bear Creek.  There's a small park with wood Indian carvings near the Slough. The original school bell is installed (but on an obscure exterior wall of the Public Safety building.)  A stone marker sits by Perrigo Springs -- the first water source for Indians and pioneers. The Downtown clock tower was renamed Naomi Hardy Clock Tower.

Is it remotely possible the city, with our emphasis on culture. will install outdoor East Indian art, European art, Chinese art, ecetera?  After a botched City Hall installation designed by Portland artist (the water feature wouldn't work) the city fortunately found John Fleming from Ballard for the erratic installation. The erratic was first promoted as a place for kids to play. Today it sits near the future transit corridor, in an obscure RTC location, under-appreciated and little-used accept for the few kids that find it. Later, Mr. Fleming did the interesting railroad Signal installation. Please more outdoor art in the future, especially in our developing Downtown Park and Urban Centers.   
   
Bob Yoder, opinion
Listen to Clint McCune's music

Vala Eastside Announces Artist in Residnce Public Art Installation

Dan Cautrell creates “The Breeze Gave Freely” for Redmond Town Center

 

Redmond, WA – July 17, 2014 – VALA Eastside is pleased to announce JSH Properties (owners of Redmond Town Center) sponsorship of artist Dan Cautrell and his public art project "The Breeze Gave Freely" at Redmond Town Center.  The VALA Artist in Residence [AIR] Program was started in 2013 as a way to give local artists the opportunity to develop and create an art project and implement it in a way that creates a strong connection to the local community.   “Connecting the community to art and artists is core to the mission of VALA and we are excited to be able to offer opportunities like this to our local artists,” says VALA Co-founder and President Jessica Lambert.  Lambert adds further, “This is the first VALA AIR (Artist in Residence) public art project to get private sponsorship -- RTC supports artists beyond measure and it is a natural step for them to be our first formal sponsorship.  We are lucky to have such commitment to the arts from the private sector in our local community.”  Read More >>