LWSD PTSA Special Needs Group Update: Autism

From the desk of Beth Angelo, Chairperson for the LWSD PTSA Special Needs Group:

Happy New Year!

Parent Support Group-Supporting Positive Behavior:
Tuesday, January 5th   6:30-8pm   Puget Sound Autism Services
5105 200th Street SW, Suite 100 Lynnwood, WA
For information Contact Cynthia Allen-Weissinger cxa0833@yahoo.com
(Thank you Jamie Coonts)

King County Chapter of the Autism Society 
MEETING:  Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
6:30 - 8:30 pm
(last 30 minutes for networking)
Bellevue Regional Library, Meeting Room 1
1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue 98004

♦ Understanding and Supporting Your Child with Autism - Sara Gardner  (last 30 minutes for networking)

Families  may be interested in a new effort called “We All Belong”.

The goal of "We All Belong" is to call attention to items Governor Gregoire proposed in her budget to reform how Washington supports and cares for people with developmental disabilities.
You can also check out the effort's website at http://www.weallbelong.org/

Check their website  http://www.weallbelong.org/  where you can learn more about the effort and sign up to receive newsletters about the effort's progress.

Take care,
Beth Angelo
Chairperson, LWSD PTSA Special Needs Group
1/3/10

Witnesses sought in Highway 202 bike accident

Witnesses sought in Highway 202 bike accident

The State Patrol is seeking witnesses who saw a red minivan that reportedly forced a bicyclist off the road Saturday on Highway 202 east of Redmond.

Troopers said the bicyclist rode into a ditch to avoid being struck head-on by the erratically driven van. The bicyclist suffered serious injuries and was taken to Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue.

by Seattle Times staff

"Reflections Art Show" coming soon!

Reflections Art Show 

PTSA sponsored arts recognition and achievement program!

Theme: " Beauty is..."

Reflections Art Show - Friday, January 8, 2010

6:30-8:30PM

LWSD Resource Center

Art is on public display during normal business hours after the show from 1/11-13.  Reflections is sponsored by the Lake Washington PTSA.  Fabulous youth art on display!!!

Students and parents!  Send a photo of your art work for display on the Redmond Blog!  Attach your photo (jpeg) and a message to my email at:  redmondblog@gmail.com. 

posted by Bob Yoder

Top 25 posts of the year

Top 25 posts of the year, by Todd Bishop

Goodbye 2009. Hello 2010. Here's your chance to catch up with the most read posts of the year on TechFlash. Enjoy!!

1.) "Rule No. 1: Hide the iPhone from Ballmer at the Microsoft meeting" (143 comments)

2.) "iPhone app wins top honors at Microsoft sponsored event" (19 comments)

3.) "One force of nature vs. another: Bill Gates tries to stop hurricanes" (76 comments)

4.) "Pioneering Internet 'detox' center looks to cure online addicts" (47 comments)

5.) "Microsoft cancels campus pub" (72 comments)

Bio-swale near "Avondale Villas" (Avondale Crest) is improved.

A unique stormwater treatment facility is located at the NW corner of 104th Street and Avondale Road   It's called a "bio-swale".   It's behind a reddish, metal fence and hard to see, but I've been monitoring it since 2007.  Bio-swales treat stormwater by oxygenation and by filtering silt, chemicals and other contaminants. 

The left photo shows the swale after a downpour in 2007, prior to the Marchione Administration.   It is filled with debris and contaminants.  The inlet pipes are clogged and one is buried.  This bio-swale is in serious need of maintenance. 

The right photo was taken in December, 2009.  It is in immaculate condition.  The swale has been broadened and dug to improve treatment.  Old, contaminated soil is removed.  The inlet pipe at the "elbow" is visible and functional.  Concrete blocks now line the swale walls to prevent erosion.  Surrounding vegetation is clipped and cleared.  Doesn't it look good!?   The city really cares!

This bio-swale is particularly important because it treats stormwater flowing into salmon bearing, Bear Creek.  Stormwater flows through two inlet pipes from several upland developments and Avondale Road.   It exits the swale to Bear Creek through a culvert under Avondale Road.

It is my understanding:  Owners of Avondale Villas (L090117) will use the bio-swale after pre-treatment by "wet-vaults".  Based on an earlier 9-lot short plat review (Avondale Crest), the landowner will not have to pay for bio-swale maintenance, but will have to pay for the wet-vaults and their maintenance.  I'll confirm.
by Bob Yoder
photos & story

cc:  City Planner, Thara Johnson, tmjohnson@redmond.gov

Redmond Rotary Foundation donates $12,500 from popular RED-SPOKE bicycling event.

100 finishers in Spokane, 2009.  Next ride:  7/14-18/2010.  300 miles from Redmond to Spokane

Redmond Rotary Foundation donates $12,500 from popular RED-SPOKE bicycling event to Hope-link.

Hopelink is proud to have been chosen as a recipient of the proceeds from this very popular and successful fundraiser.

Funds will be used to support emergency services and asset building programs aimed at giving individuals and families the tools, knowledge, and support they need to make lasting change in their lives. Thank you Redmond Rotary for this wonderful donation.  by Hopelink News

Photo by RED-SPOKE

Port of Seattle completes rail corridor purchase - BNSF donates the "Redmond Spur".

Port of Seattle completes rail corridor purchase

King County plans to build hiking and biking trails on the line south of Woodinville. BNSF donated the southern portion of the corridor between Woodinville and Renton and the Redmond Spur that goes through the City of Redmond.   by Seattle Times

Microsoft response to Google maneuvers in China | Seattle Times Newspaper

Microsoft response to Google maneuvers in China Seattle Times Newspaper:

To get around Web censorship in China, Google has found a hack -- by redirecting users to its search engine in Hong Kong."  read article

Posted By Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958
Seattle Times

UPDATED, 01/02: Body found in Redmond.

Redmond police investigate "suspicious" death, 01/02

Redmond police are investigating the death of a man who was found face down in ivy on Wednesday near the old Group Health campus on Bellevue-Redmond Road.

The body of the man, who appears to be in his late 40s or early 50s, was found at 10:35 a.m. by a passer-by who called 911. The body was in a planting strip near an unused parking lot in the 15400 block of Bel-Red Road.

The King County Medical Examiner's Office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death, said Bove. The medical examiner's office will also release the man's identity.

According to Bove, police are investigating the death as suspicious because investigators determined the body had been on the ground for more than 24 hours and there was blood at the scene.

Seattle Times staff.

Breaking news on the body found in Redmond, 12/30

UPDATE on the body found in Redmond, 12/30

PTSA, Pemco, JSF donated $53,743 to LWSD schools in November

November Donations to District schools, reported at the School Board Regular meeting, 12/7

$7132  Christa McAuliffe PTSA donation for grants, supplies, stipend.

$13,880  Ben Franklin PTSA for stipends.

$1006 Juanita School Foundation to Juanita El. for stipend

$1500 Pemco Foundation to Explorer Community School for Golden Apple Funding Award

$15,525 Renaissance School PTSA for outdoor education

$2000 Helen Keller PTSA to support library

Peter Kirk PTSA to purchase basketball hoops

Norman Rockwell PTSA for choir, council and education stipends.

Total  $53,743

Source,  12/7  Regular Meeting packet

Redmond Digital Arts Festival: High Tech Meets High Touch

Redmond Digital Arts Festival: High Tech Meets High Touch

The Redmond Arts Commission welcomes you to the 2nd Digital Arts Festival, beginning with special events in December 2009 and featuring workshops and presentations on January 15 and 16, 2010. Here are some of the free featured ....more

by the Redmond Library Blog

Redmond to get its own "Central Park"

Redmond to get its own "Central Park" 

The city already owns about half of the property, which contains some old office buildings and a strip mall, said Jean Rice, a senior management analyst for the city's parks department.

A foundation is being formed to solicit private donations for the purchase. The total cost is estimated at $16 million to $17 million, she said.

by the Seattle Times