Redmond Chamber of Commerce members renewing in April

Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce April Renewing Members

Platinum 30+ Years

Precision Press 1978

Western Industrial Tooling Inc.1978

Gold 20 - 29 Years (1980 – 1989)

Evergreen Healthcare 1980

Genie Industries 1982

Silver Cloud Inn - Redmond 1982

McDonald’s Book Exchange 1983

Overlake Christian Church 1988

Redmond Wekshop 1989

Silver 15 - 19 Years (1990 – 1994)

Family Resource Center 1993

B.E. Meyers & Co, Inc. 1994

Bronze 10 - 14 Years (1995 – 1999)

Strobe Data Inc. 1996

Julin & McBride, PS 1997

J E Cumming Corporation 1999

Redmond Endodontics 1999

Sound Mental Health 1999

Renewing

Redmond Self Storage 2001

Habitat for Humanity East King Co.

US Healthworks 2002

Speedware Motorsports, LLC 2005

Edward Jones 2006

Send Out Cards 2007

Essential Moves Inc. 2008

White Coyote Technology 2008

Eakins Insurance Agency 2009

Express Employment Professionals

Heart of the Clutter, LLC 2009

Hilton Valve Inc. 2009

Rubbish Truck 2009

Source:  Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

By Bob Yoder

"Lake Washington School District Will Not Cut Next Year’s Budget
More local levy dollars will fill in for state cuts

Redmond, Wash. – While the final state budget, adopted yesterday, includes cuts to state funding of K-12 education, Lake Washington School District has analyzed the impact to its budget and determined that expected cuts will not be needed for the 2010-2011 school year.

The legislature’s local levy authority package as enacted will allow the district to collect enough in local levy dollars to make up for those state cuts. Because the budget will be flat for next year, the district will not hold budget input meetings this spring.

“We’ve gotten a reprieve,” noted Dr. Chip Kimball, superintendent. “I’m relieved that cuts ended up being less than anticipated in the proposed budget packages. However, I’m concerned about the state’s increasing reliance on local taxpayers to pay for what the state should provide, and am concerned about the loss of federal stimulus dollars in another year.”"

Excerpt from LWSD press release

Green Redmond "Last Saturday" volunteers needed to restore local parkland forests.

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond and the Cascade Land Conservancy joined together to form the Green Redmond Partnership. It is the Partnership’s goal to bring 1035 acres of Redmond’s forested parkland into active management over the next 20 years. Active management allows Redmond’s forests to remain an important element of the native ecosystem.

To ensure our forests stay healthy, volunteers are needed to work in the parks removing non-native invasive plants. The first work party of 2010 is Saturday, April 24 from 9am to noon at Viewpoint Park, 1840 NE 24th Street. No prior experience is necessary and tools and gloves are provided.

This event is part of a series of work parties – “Last Saturday” of each month through October. To plan ahead, following are the dates and locations for 2010:

May 29 – Westside Park, 5810 156th Avenue NE

June 26 – Grass Lawn Park, 7031 148th Avenue NE

July 31 – Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park, 19545 Redmond Road

August 28 – Idylwood Park, 3650 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE

September 25 – Hartman Park, 17300 NE 104th Street   (near Redmond Bike Park)

October 30 – Idylwood Park, 3650 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE

BREAKING NEWS: LWESP bargaining unit overwhelmingly ratifies agreement.

LWESP bargaining unit agreement goes to LWSD administration on May 3 for school board approval.

 UPDATED:  The Lake Washington Educational Support Personnel (LWESP) bargaining unit met this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. in the Redmond High cafeteria and overwhelmingly voted to ratify the package agreement.

It didn't take long for the approximate 90 LWSD office managers and support personnel to discuss and vote on the agreement.  The union has 160 - 170 members.  The meeting lasted one and a half hours.    

Donna Lurie (left), chief negotiator for the LWESP bargaining team, stated "the ratified package agreement: 1) includes improvements to contract language, 2) clarifies procedures, 3) provides wage increases, and 4) resolves issues of the sick leave use on March 8." The agreement is retroactive to August 16, 2009. 

Ms. Lurie praised the mediator team of John and Carol Glaser.  "They were very skilled facilitators and helped create a safe environment.  They were enormously helpful, I think, to both parties."  The team was brought in several weeks ago.  Donna said "she was very thankful it's settled and we look forward to a more respectful and productive relationship in the future."   The agreement lasts three years, ending 8/31/2012.

Negotiations for LWESP started in February 2009 and came into loggerheads.  Ms. Lurie stepped in early January 2010 and moved the negotiations forward with tangible proposals, according to Kathryn Reith, LWSD Communications Director.  Donna Lurie has been negotiating for 28 years. She works out of the Bothell Washington Cascade office covering Shoreline, North Shore, and LWSD.

The tentative agreement is now in the hands of the District Management Team.  Deputy Superintendent Janene Fogard and Communications Director Kathryn Reith will recommend the agreement  on May 3 for ratification by the School Board.   

By Bob Yoder
Seattle Times Communities Partner

Photo by Yoder

High School Sports Blog | Redmond knocks off Bishop Blanchet

High School Sports Blog Redmond knocks off Bishop Blanchet Seattle Times Newspaper:

"Redmond's Matt Kimmel went 3 for 3 with a two-run homer and an RBI single to lead the Mustangs past the Braves, 11-5.

'He had been scuffling a little bit and struggling and getting a little bit anxious at the plate,' Mustangs coach Dan Pudwill said. 'We talked to him about being patient and getting his pitch and he really did a good job of that. We talked to him about hitting with two strikes and being great with two strikes and he was. He hit a ball over the right-field fence with two strikes. It was something else.'" Unabridged story here

By Mason Kelly
Seattle Times "High School Sports Blog"

PC shipments soar in first quarter

PC shipments soar in first quarter -Good news for Microsoft:

"Worldwide personal-computer shipments rose more than 24 percent in the first quarter, according to numbers released by the IDC research firm this afternoon, as the PC market continued to show signs of recovering from the economic recession.

Combined with strong quarterly results yesterday from industry bellwether Intel, the numbers are good news for Microsoft as the Redmond company prepares to report its quarterly earnings next week." Read more

By Todd Bishop
Tech Flash

Redmond High's MIke Town to Receive the Green Prize in Public Education

Mike Town to Receive the Green Prize in Public Education

Washington, DC (April 14, 2010) – The NEA Foundation will present Redmond High School Teacher Mike Town with the inaugural Green Prize in Public Education.   An award ceremony will take place at Redmond High School's Performance Arts Center on Monday, April 19th at 9:30 am.

Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation will be joined by Philippe Cousteau, CEO of EarthEcho International and Correspondent for Planet Green to present the award.

Mike Town was selected for the Green Prize for innovative efforts to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and spirit needed to be successful in the 21st century and to address the gauntlet of environmental challenges facing our planet. Mike will be awarded $25,000 and the recipients’ work will be shared with educators and students nationwide.

The NEA Foundation is an independent, public charity created in 1969 and sustained by contributions from educators, corporate sponsors and others. The NEA Foundation offers grants and programs that support educators' efforts to close the gaps in student achievement, increase classroom innovations, salute excellence in education, and provide professional development. Visit http://www.neafoundation.org/

Press Release
Posted by Bob Yoder

"Adopt - A - Neighborhood" - A new city litter program?

I found this new sign today driving home from Bella Bottega Shopping Center.  It's on NE 98th Street up the hill a block from Red-Wood Road in the Education Hill neighborhood. Map.  At first, I thought it was a city sign and some kind of a new "neighborhood program" the city was starting.  It was professionally installed; a locator service was used.  

But, where is the City logo?   Could this be a home-made sign?  I phoned a city neighborhood planner I know and sent her a picture.  It was news to her.  Come back soon.     

By Bob Yoder 

Photo by Yoder

City of Sammamish Schools Ranked Second in the U.S. for the buck by Forbes

City of Sammamish Ranked Second in the U.S. for Best Schools for Your Housing Buck

Forbes Magazine announced on Tuesday, April 6 that the city of Sammamish is ranked second in the United States for “Best Schools for Your Housing Buck.” To generate these ranking, Forbes worked with GreatSchools, an independent nonprofit,  to analyze 17,377 cities and towns from 49 states.  

The city of Sammamish ranked second, only behind Acton, Mass. in the $400,000-$599,999 median home price category. Here are the statistics from GreatSchools used in this comparison:· Number of Public Schools: 13 (eight in LWSD, five in Issaquah School District)

· Population: 35,242

· Education Quality Score: 95.88

· Median Home Price: $569,140

· Property Taxes as a % of Home Value: 0.81%

· Unemployment Rate: 5.9%

The Seattle Times earns Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News coverage of 4 officers' killings | Seattle Times Newspaper

Local News The Seattle Times earns Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News coverage of 4 officers' killings Seattle Times Newspaper:

"The Seattle Times won its eighth Pulitzer Prize in the newspaper's 114-year history on Monday, earning the top prize in journalism for coverage of the shocking murders of four Lakewood police officers.

The Pulitzer committee, in awarding the Breaking News prize, cited The Seattle Times' 'comprehensive coverage, in print and online,' of the killings — the worst act of violence against law enforcement in state history — and the 40-hour manhunt for the shooter, Maurice Clemmons." Read More

Seattle Times Staff Report

Posted By Bob Yoder

Seattle Times Communities Partner

I was talking to the Seattle Times Communities Manager when the Pulitzer Prize announcement hit the News Room.  ROAR!!  

Redmond Region Orchestra sets a Guinness World Record

Bob - Just wanted to let you know that String Jam '10 was a huge success!  392 musicians - met all the criteria for a Guinness World Record(TM) for the world's largest string ensemble playing the same tune under one roof.  (Juanita High Field House).

The Redmond Region Orchestra is composed of Redmond High, Redmond Junior, Evergreen Junior and invited community members.

For more information and pictures visit:  http://www.redmondorchestras.org/    

By Mary Bourguignon

Redmond resident and community volunteer

Source:  "Redmond Neighborhood Blog"  Fan Page

The City and Code Rewrite Commission seeks public participation

As part of the City of Redmond’s effort to rewrite its zoning code, the City (and Code ReWrite Commisioners) will host a drop-in Open Office Event on Thursday, April 15 from 3 to 6:30pm in the Trestle Room on the first floor of Redmond City Hall, 15670 NE 85th Street. The purpose of rewriting the City’s zoning code is to improve the clarity, conciseness and predictability of the Municipal code for all users.

Drop-by the Trestle Room to tell City staff how regulations for Downtown, Overlake, land division, telecommunications, performance bonding and design standards can be improved. Ideas now being considered include:

■Update Downtown and Overlake street cross-sections to be consistent with transportation study outcomes

■Emphasize the relationship between buildings and the street in the Downtown and Overlake urban centers

■Clarify when design standards are required vs. when they are encouraged

■Consolidate and streamline performance bonding, telecommunications and land division regulations

City staff seeks your input prior to review of these sections of the zoning code by the Code Rewrite Commission, which will begin its review in May 2010.

If attendance to the event is not possible, provide all ideas either through RCDGrewrite@redmond.gov  or by calling 425-556-2440. To subscribe to the weekly code rewrite e-newsletter, send an email to the above address. More information about the process is available at www.redmond.gov/rcdgrewrite .
-City Press Release

COMMENT:  I participated.  I think I've been the only citizen who has participated, to date.  (Will confirm with public record request).  My total effort was 25 minutes of speaking during three commission visits.  I showed the commission a 15 minute slide presentation on Camwest's Perrigo Heights development - addressed land use public notice failures, final plat deficiencies, and poor maps.  The City would probably get more public participation if they gave more thanks to citizens for participating.
By Bob Yoder