Administration requests $226,220 to track groundwater recharge and potential influx of contaminants.

The Administration is requesting $226,220 for groundwater monitoring engineering services at their 10/20/09 City Council Meeting.   

UPDATED 10/21, City Council approved the funding for this project.  We (Administration) propose installing twelve additional groundwater monitoring wells and three "high pressure water monitors" at selected sites for use in conjunction with surveying and monitoring. The proposed monitoring facilities are designed to track the recharge of groundwater and the potential influx of contaminants into the Redmond alluvial aquifer.  We propose contracting for professional engineering services in an amount of $226,220 for the Groundwater Monitoring Network Project.

The objective is to obtain additional monitoring data that will lead to a better understanding of movement of groundwater and contaminants within the Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA) and understand the primary mechanisms by which groundwater in the City’s alluvial aquifer is recharged. Three principal recharge processes are recognized, as follows:

 Direct infiltration of surface water flows into Bear Creek, Evans Creek, Sammamish River.

 Stormwater infiltration from retention ponds, vaults, storm drains and other infiltration facilities throughout the City; and infiltration through previous surfaces (dirt, sand, beddings, grass, etc.)

 Upland runoff that percolates into the margins of the alluvial aquifer at the valley floor.

Documents and Maps of the critical recharge areas, proposed groundwater monitoring wells and pressure monitors and streams  : http://redmond.gov/insidecityhall/citycouncil/20091020pdfs/AM09225.pdf

BACKGROUND
The City of Redmond operates five shallow groundwater supply wells that deliver between 3.5 and 5 million gallons of water per day, supplying approximately 40 percent of Redmond’s drinking water. These five wells, which draw from the shallow alluvial aquifer, are located in the heart of Redmond’s downtown and industrial areas, and are highly susceptible to contamination due to the local geology and proximity to potential pollution sources. In October 2003, the City Council adopted a wellhead protection ordinance to meet federal, state, and regional requirements for the protection of the Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA) and the City’s drinking water supply. An important requirement of the ordinance is the establishment of a city-wide groundwater monitoring program to detect the presence of contaminants and declines in water levels before they impact a water supply well.

Hazardous Materials Questionnaire and Aquifer Map.
Source:  Redmond City Council Consent Agenda, 10/20/09

posted by Bob Yoder

Vote YES on King County Charter "Open Space Amendment" #4

Letter from the Water Tenders

We have endorsed King County Charter Amendment 4, on your November ballot. The Open Space Amendment (OSA) will provide enhanced protection for approximately 156,000 acres of natural open space owned by King County.  (photo of Cougar Mountain)

Through a new section in the county charter, the Open Space Amendment  (#4) strengthens protection of certain high conservation value properties by requiring a 28-day public comment period, a finding of facts, and a supermajority vote (7 of 9) of the County Council before the property could be sold or transferred. This public process will help to safeguard our most cherished green spaces for future generations.

These properties are among our most treasured conservation and recreation spaces. County lands to receive additional protection include all the Bear Creek Waterways properties in Unincorporated King County (Cold Creek Natural Area, the Upper Bear Creek Conservation Area, Evans Creek Natural Area and many more) Squak Mountain/Tiger Mountain Corridor, Cedar River Waterways, Cougar Mountain, the Upper Raging River Forest, and the Snoqualmie Forest.

The properties protected by the Open Space Amendment are already owned or held in a conservation easement by King County – the amendment involves no new land purchases or direct costs.

The Open Space Amendment is unanimously supported by the County Council, Executive, Municipal League, many environmental groups, and community leaders. You can see a full list of endorsements and learn more about he Open Space Amendment at http://www.openspaceamendment.org/.

We urge you to vote Yes on King County Charter Open Space Amendment #4. 

The Water Tenders
submitted by Terry Lavender
9/4

Artist Christopher Janney's "Sonic Forest" will connect and inspire the public at Redmond Town Center

"The Sonic Forest" is coming to Redmond Town Center

Recently, an arts enthusiast and neighbor told me Christopher Janney’s exciting light and sound “Sonic Forest” art will be installed at Redmond Town Center Dec. 4-12. Perfect timing for Redmond's “Winter Festival of Lights!

Mr. Janey is an architect and jazz musician, world renowned for his "sound and light" art installations found in public spaces throughout the nation. Read my report and opinion  on Janey's May 15 interview with the Redmond Arts Commission and learn more about his installation art!

Paraphrasing Arts Commission Chair John Stilin: 'Art connects people. The purpose of Art in Redmond is to build community. Art brings people together. It's what gets people talking together.'

Last week the Arts Commission pounded out their new Vision Statement: "The community is connected and inspired by arts and culture". Will you connect and be inspired in the Sonic Forest December 4 -12?

Michelle Vallene, our longtime PEPS group friend, educator and mother of three announces a New York City media blitz of her new book!

"What Children Need to Learn to Read, by Michelle Vallene" - The Complete parent's guide to ensuring literacy, a love of reading, and school readiness.  Birth through the Early Grades. 

Hi Bob,

As you know, I was accepted to attend the National Publicity Summit in New York City this next week to promote my new book. I am leaving on Saturday and won’t be back until the following weekend.  In New York, I will be meeting with producers from TV shows like Good Morning America, The Today Show, etc. and magazine and newspaper editors and radio show producers. It is like speed dating with the media. I have been working with a media coach and taking on-line classes for the last couple of months to prepare my story/show pitches for the media.

I am excited, but very nervous about going!  By the way, we have extended the pre-order date to October 30th so people can still pre-order my book at our current website.

Pre-order book here:  http://www.chateau-education.com/book.html

Thanks for your support!

Michelle

Bob's note:   Wow, Michelle!   Congratulations!  Thanks for sharing your book and this "breaking news" with me!  I look forward to your feature story in the local reporter.  Good luck on your tour!  I will try to find the AMAZON.com link to add to my site so readers can order your book!   When you come home next week from New York and have some time, I want some coffee time with you at Tulleys!   

-Edited by Bob Yoder
Photo by Dave Randall

The King County Elections ballots are in the mail! "Let the games begin"!

Council President Nancy McCormick is retiring after 6 terms of dedicated service to the City of Redmond.

Redmond Council Vice President Pat Vache' and Arts Commissioner John Stilin are both running unopposed. 

Councilmember Kimberly Allen is running for re-election (Seat #4) against upstart Sally J. Chen.   

Chuck Pilcher is running for commissioner of  Evergreen County Hospital District #2 against Rex Lindquist.  Dr. Pilcher is endorsed by every hospital district commissioner except Lindquist.  Redmond Fire and Medics endorse Pilcher. 

King County Charter Amendments One, Two, and Three are mostly housekeeping.   Charter Amendment Four is significant and deserves study.   The Municipal League of Woman Voters recommends "yes" on all four. 

LWSD Directors Nancy Bernard ("Kirkland" area District 3) and Doug Eglington ("Sammamish Plateau" District 4) are again running unopposed.   Julie Wright has withdrawn from the race, according to LWSD. 

King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert is running unopposed.

The Big Race is for King County Excecutive.   "Outsider" Susan Hutchinson is running against King County Councilmember Dow Constantine.   Do you care who just got the Seattle Times endorsement?

All local candidate websites and charter amendments are posted on this sidebar.

For these and all other Eastside races, the link to the King County Candidate website is:    http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/elections/200911/contestscandidates.aspx

text and photo by Bob Yoder

Rafa's story of overcoming gangs and bullets with help from Youth Eastside Services

Dear Bob,

Eighteen year old Rafa was born in Pakistan and lived there until he was in fourth grade. He is now a senior at an Eastside high school and his outgoing presence, personal creativity and generosity of spirit make him the perfect driving force behind the poetry/rap slams he helps organize.

But like many children with immigrant parents, Rafa is the liaison between his parents and the culture and language of the U.S. "By the time I got to high school I didn't know where I belonged," says Rafa. "I'm more American than my parents, but I don't fit easily into the white, Latino or black cliques and cultures at school."

As a freshman and sophomore, Rafa often feared for his safety at school. Racial slurs became shoving matches which escalated into physical threats and violence. "I decided to join a gang after I was shot at while walking home alone from school one night."

But Rafa knew he needed help and he found it from a Youth Eastside Services (YES) school-based counselor. His counselor helped him disassociate from his gang and introduced him to the Newcomer Program at YES. With the help of YES, he learned to cope with his feelings of isolation, embrace his dual cultures and find safety outside of a gang affiliation.

Rafa's story is just one of thousands of stories of youth who come to YES and - thanks to a giving community - find the help they need to meet and overcome the challenges they face.

Best Wishes,

Patti Skelton-McGougan
Executive Director
http://www.youtheastsideservices.org/
stock photo

Neighbor asks: HAVE YOU SEEN HER? Redmond High sophomore Jamie Stevens is missing.

JAMIE HAS BEEN FOUND AND SHE IS BACK HOME. 11/01

Bob, I'm passing this along to Redmond friends. 15-year old Jamie attends our church and Redmond High School and has been missing for 3 weeks. It would be great of you to pass this along. 
   by Steve Hitch

HAVE YOU SEEN HER?  A 15-year-old Redmond High School sophomore ran away from home Sept. 21 and her mother is now fearing the worst.  Jamie Stevens stormed out her parents' home in unincorporated King County near the Woodinville-Redmond border three weeks ago and has not returned, according to Jamie's mother, Judy.

"She left angry and frustrated and walked off with nothing but the clothes on her back, she has nothing, no money, no ID, nothing," Judy said. "It's really a big mystery."

Judy and her husband, Jim, contacted all of Jamie's friends and nobody had seen her the day she ran away. They went around the neighborhood, the high school and her favorite hangouts, hoping to find some clues that would lead to the whereabouts of their daughter.

Judy said she finally got an e-mail from her daughter the night of Sept. 29, telling her mother that she planned to come home soon and that she just needed some time to "cool off."

But since then, "nobody has heard anything," Judy said. "She has not been on Facebook or MySpace, she's not responding to e-mails, so I know something is happening. She has stopped communicating with us and that's our biggest concern."

Judy and Jim are working with an investigator from the King County Sheriff's Office, trying to find their runaway daughter, who got into a verbal altercation with her father before running away.

"We've done lots of follow-up work in this one but haven't tracked her down yet," said Sgt. John Urquhart, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office.
Judy said they have turned up some leads as to who she is with, and "it's not good. They are people we don't know and they seem to be caught up in bad things."

Judy said Jamie "was frustrated and stressed out" with her home life, but Judy never expected her to run away and not come back. Jamie is a talented artist and was a strong student in the classroom, according to Judy. Jamie told her parents that she planned to compete for the Redmond High track and field team in the spring, Judy said.

"It's very hard," said Judy, who is also working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "She's talented, she's smart and she's really engaging. I know wherever she is, it's bad. I just don't know how bad it is."

Jamie has dark hair and is diminutive in stature, around 5-foot-2, 105 pounds, according to her mother.  If you have seen Jamie, call Judy at (425) 260-7054 or (425) 895-8566 or call Jim at (206) 491-6858.

Submitted by Steve Hitch   
Redmond, WA.

The Mayor Crowns Kaily Trussel Homecoming Queen at Redmond High.

Mayor John Marchione crowns Kaily Trussel   

...and brings a few of his firemen to the game to celebrate "Fire Prevention Week"  

photos by Bob Yoder

Evergreen Hospital Medical Center is Ranked No. 1 in State for Stroke Care

KIRKLAND, WA. − Evergreen Hospital Medical Center was ranked first in Washington and in the top five percent of hospitals in the nation for treatment of stroke by HealthGrades, the country’s leading healthcare rating system. Evergreen also was ranked in the top five for gastrointestinal services. For the sixth consecutive year, Evergreen received five-star rating for maternity care. The rankings for 2010 were released by HealthGrades today.

In addition, the hospital was named one of the Top 10 in Washington for general surgery, overall critical care and overall pulmonary services.

HealthGrades studies nearly 5,000 hospitals each year, reviewing more than 40 million hospitalization records before it awards the ratings. Complete information is available at www.healthgrades.com. More information about Evergreen Hospital Medical Center and Evergreen Healthcare can be found at www.evergreenhealthcare.org.

Contact: Sherry Grindeland, Evergreen Communications Director, 425-899-1882

October 13, 2009

Matt Campbell launches "Sportspixs.com" photo sharing service for Greater Redmond community.

Hi Bob,

My name is Matt Campbell.  In 1971 my family moved to Redmond from Seattle. I have been a citizen of Redmond since I was five years old.  Thanks for getting involved and doing this blog to make Redmond a better place to live.

I have a hobby website, that posts sports pictures I take of Redmond High School, Redmond Junior High and other events. My wife is the RHS Cheer coach.  Lately, I've posted pictures of  Mustang Football, Wrestling, and Cheer.  At the request of the  local Reporter, I've worked with them to photgraph the Girls Soccer team.  I'm going to try to get around to the community and support other groups, like girls and boys lacrosse.

I recently took a few photos of the kids in the park.  These kids do amazing things on bikes and boards and get little recognition for their sport.  Look for a folder called "Skate Park"!

My site is becoming a place where people can go to see their pictures, share them and in some cases download them.  Some pictures, but not all, can be freely downloaded.  However, they may all be viewed and enjoyed.  I'm an IT guy for a manufacturing company in Woodinville and this is a total side job that helps support my passion for photography,

I'd like to share the site with you and your Readers.  Please feel free to use some of my pictures for community Blog stories, at no charge to the Redmond Neighborhood Blog.  All I ask is you please reference my name and website with the pictures you post.

Contact:  matt@sportspixs.com
Site:  http://www.sportspixs.com/

by Matt Campbell
photo & text by Campbell

edited by Yoder

October Donations to Lake Washington School District

October Donations to LWSD

Lake Washington Schools Foundation gives $30,500.00 to LWSD for support of LINKS (Lunch Buddy) Program.

Lake Washington Schools Foundation gives $1,496.24 to John Muir Elementary School  to purchase assessement materials for the library.

Mark Twain PTSA gives $4535.00 to Twain Elecmentary to provide tutoring stipend ($1735) and support fireld trips ($2,800). 

Fire Drill at the Evergreen Hospital County District Commission Meeting!

I attended my first Evergreen Hospital District Commission meeting last week.  No sooner did I enter the room than fire bells sounded!   The fire alarm was a first for a Board Meeting and a double for me!   This meeting was a "Study Session".   I found them as professional as Redmond council meetings and more formal than the relaxed LW school board  "Work Sessions".  

The Hospital District holds study sessions in their Chambers without video taping them.  The Redmond Council holds their study sessions in Chambers, with LIVE TV, video and audio taping and recorded Minutes.  The LW School Board holds their work sessions in a back room and this Fall, started taking Minutes.   In summation, city council study session governance is the most visible, followed by the hospital district and then school district.

This being my first meeting, I hesitate reporting too much owing to distractions.    

1. Of interest, Mr. Davis, a hospital construction manager, reported 45 construction projects planned or underway.  Evergreen Hospital Medical Center appears it's own little city!   
2. Dr. Weinberg asked for Board Action (on October 20) to:  close the hospital oncology department and contract with Cascade Cancer Center for comprehensive medical oncology services.  My neighbor is a pediatric nurse for the highly regarded Dr. Weinberg and I used to call on him for ADHD sales. 
3. Lake Washington Voc. Tech is expanding allied health, giving the hospital an opportunity for improved visibility there and additional space (400sf) in two years. 
4. The hospital  performance audit will be brought to the public during a November Public Hearing.

Board meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm in the TAN Building #250.  The public has up to 10 minutes, per speaker, to address the Board on 3rd Tuesdays.  Hospital chambers are less intimidating than the towering city hall chambers.  School board chambers are the least intimidating. Regardless, will you turn out at meeting  and share your thoughts and opinions?  Or make a comment below the Blog posts?  Or, send in a story to share at the Blog?   Go for it!      

Everyone was friendly.  Shirley Grindland, Communications put me under her wing.  Steve Brown, CEO and Commissioner Auggie Kemph said hi.  Auggie represents Redmond and Sammamish tax payers.  His email is: auggie@kempfco.com.   Auggie is Chairman of a financial planning, insurance and financial advising company.  He is past President of the Redmond Chamber of Commerce.  (photo on right).

by Bob Yoder