Bond issues alone wouldn't solve LWSD growth problems:

Local News Growth forces Lake Washington School District to shuffle students Seattle Times Newspaper:

"The district will likely try to pass another bond issue or a levy to accommodate the growth, but wants to have public forums, most likely this fall, to figure out what type of ballot measure is most likely to win support, Reith said.

And a bond issue wouldn't solve the underlying problem: that the junior highs and high schools in the west end have low enrollments, while the east-end schools are crowded.

The district receives impact fees from developers when new homes go up, but those fees account for less than half the amount the district needs to build new schools for the students who will move into those houses, Reith said.

For example, the developers of Redmond Ridge, in unincorporated King County, must pay the district $7,040 for each new home they build, Reith said. But the district estimates it would need to collect almost $20,000 for each new home to make up for the cost of constructing a new school to accommodate the development's students.

Read Complete Article

Katherine Long: 206-464-2219 or klong@seattletimes.com. News researcher Gene Balk contributed to this report."

Making bike connections from Fremont to Redmond | Seattle Times Newspaper

Seattle Sketcher Making bike connect

In the summertime, Caitlin Kehoe enjoys commuting from Fremont to Redmond taking bike trails around Lake Washington. But most days she does a combination of bike and bus commute, riding 3.5 miles to Montlake Freeway Station on the west side of the S520 bridge and continuing her journey on the 545 bus.

"At peak times there are a lot of people waiting," said Kehoe, 24, when I caught up with her at the stop Wednesday morning. She said sometimes it can take half an hour until a bus with empty bike racks arrives.

Read More

Seattle Sketcher
An illustrated journal of life in the Puget Sound region by Times artist Gabriel Campanario
Illustration used with permission of The Seattle Times

Queen of Jordan and scores of CEO's at Microsoft campus May 19

Queen of Jordan and a number of corporate titans are on Microsoft campus today, Wednesday
 

So a queen, a secretary and a salesman walk into a conference room ... and how does the rest of it go?

More than a hundred chief executives will find out Wednesday, at Microsoft's 14th annual CEO Summit in Redmond.  (Photo:  Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer)

The attendee mix includes the Queen of Jordan Rania Al Abdullah, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and a number of corporate titans: Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffet, Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos, Wal-Mart Chairman Rob Walton, J.P. Morgan Chase CEO James Dimon and IAC CEO Barry Diller.   Read More.....

Report By Sharon Pian Chan
Seattle Times Technology reporter

Redmond, WA. is the fourth largest employment center in Puget Sound.

Redmond, WA – Governor Chris Gregoire and Redmond Mayor John Marchione were among the many guests at the grand opening of Nintendo’s new state-of-the-art corporate headquarters at 4600 150th Avenue NE. While Nintendo has been a fixture in Redmond for 26 years, this new headquarters building is a very visible sign that they are committed to growing in Redmond.

Nintendo is not the only one to feel that way. Last year, DigiPen University announced they will develop their new school facility in the Redmond Willows Road area and it will open for classes this fall. Group Health located its Eastside clinic in the newly opened River Park complex and Swedish and Evergreen Hospitals are both building emergency, diagnostic and medical facilities in Redmond.

As the fourth largest employment center in the Puget Sound region, Redmond’s businesses contribute a great deal to the area by pumping annually almost $8 billion of salary into the local economy. City officials are working hard to ensure this statistic will continue to grow in the years to come.

Source:   City of Redmond, WA. press release

American Heart Assoc. endorses Nintendo - a first for video games

American Heart Assoc. endorses Nintendo, a first for video games

Sorry, couch potatoes, but video games are becoming a full-body activity. As evidence of that trend, Nintendo of America today scored an endorsement that would have been almost unthinkable five years ago.

Nintendo and the American Heart Association announced a new partnership that aims to promote video games, and specifically Nintendo's motion-based Wii system, as a way to help people become more active and healthy.  Read More.  

By Todd Bishop
Tech Flash
5/17/2010

Did you know the Redmond Senior Center has two Wii games?   See how they work to help your heart! 

Lake Washington School District parents plan to rally against boundary changes - Kirkland Reporter

Lake Washington School District parents plan to rally against boundary changes - Kirkland Reporter:

"A group of Lake Washington School District parents concerned about the district's recent decision to change school feeder patterns plan to rally against the redistricting during a public meeting May 20 at Bell Elementary." Read More

Kirkland Reporter
Carrie Wood, Editor
5/17/10
Superintendent Kimball
Photo courtesy of LWSD

Redmond High Students Visit Puget Sound Energy's Wild Horse Wind Farm

"During my visit, the rotor blades took five seconds to complete a full rotation. There was a dramatic swooshing sound as the blades carved through the air."

AP Students Visit Puget Sound Energy’s Wild Horse Wind Farm

On April 23, 100 Advanced Placement Environmental Studies students from Redmond High School and International Community School took a field trip to the Wild Horse Wind Farm in Ellensburg, Wash. This wind farm provides approximately the annual energy requirements of 69,000 homes.  Students also learned what careers are available for work on a wind farm.  Lake Washington Schools Foundation funded the bus ride. 

See a fascinating technical review of how wind farms look as described on the Redmond Library Blog.

Posted by Bob Yoder
Sources:   LWSD press release & Library Blog

Eastside Catholic School wins State Girls Lacrosse Championship

This is a mixed-bag of photos from both teams. Eastside Catholic (blue/orange) vs. Kennedy (white) and Lakeside (plaid) vs. Bainbridge (blue). Both games were played in Sammamish, WA.

May 15, Girls Division I – State Finals
Foreman’s 9 goals leads Eastside Catholic over Kennedy for first girls lacrosse state championship.

SAMMAMISH, Wash. – Junior Alex Foreman scored 9 goals to lead Eastside Catholic to its first Washington State Girls Lacrosse Championship with a 17 – 5 defeat of Kennedy Catholic High School, Saturday at Charlie Acosta Field on the campus of the Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish.

The Crusaders used a relentless defense led by Male Bachesta and Shannon Graves to put its offense in position to command the state title game. “Our defense made the game for us,” said the Crusaders’ Foreman, who was selected US Lacrosse player of the game after scoring 7 of her 9 in the first half. “We were struggling on defense all year. We really stepped it up today. The win was a team effort.”

SCORING HIGHLIGHTS: Eastside Catholic 17, Kennedy 5 (Eastside Catholic wins first girls lacrosse state championship) (Alex Foreman, EC, 9 goals, 1 assist, 4 ground balls; Lauren Breynaert, EC, 4 goals, 3 ground balls, 5 draw controls; Amanda Tsitsis, EC, 2 goals, 1 assist, 1 ground ball; Danielle Leider, EC, 1 goal, 1 ground balls; Allison Talbot, EC, 1 goal, 2 ground balls; Brittany Cardoza, EC, 1 goal, 2 ground balls; Allie Hawes, EC, 7 saves; Natalie Merrill, K, 3 goals, 2 ground balls, 6 draw controls; Lizzy Delaney, K, 1 goal; Shey Thommasen, K, 1 goal; Sofie Morales, K, 8 saves)

May 15, Girls Division II – State Finals

Lakeside drops Bainbridge for 5th consecutive girls state lacrosse title

SAMMAMISH, Wash. – Sarah Pollnow scored 7 goals to lead Lakeside to its fifth consecutive Girls Division I high school lacrosse state championship with a 15 – 10 defeat of Bainbridge High School, Saturday before a record 1,152 spectators at Charlie Acosta Field on the campus of the Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish.

OPINION: Mayor to Proclaim National Historic Preservation Month" at May 18 Council Meeting

Updated:  Citizens in Redmond will join thousands of individuals across the country to celebrate National Historic Preservation Month this May.   I will post a Special Report this week on Brown's garage, the city's 1920 landmark building and now our new liquor store.
  
Historic preservation is inherently green (in more ways than one.)  The construction, operation and demolition of buildings accounts for 48 percent of the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions. Historic preservation is a good thing for our environment.  See "Old is the New Green"

Join the Historic walking tour of the Downtown, including five landmark buildings on Sunday, May 16 at 1pm sponsored by the Redmond Historical Society (see www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/RHS/index.php )

These five landmarks were once the Bill Brown saloon, Brown’s garage, Redmond Hardware, Wiley home and the Odd Fellow Hall. Today they have been remade into the Matador Restaurant, Redmond Liquor Store, Gerk’s Ski and Cycle, Stone House Restaurant and Odd Fellows Restaurant.

Editor's Note::  Brown's garage has been a subject of controversy ever since it was leased by the State Liquor Control Board.   Councilman Richard Cole commented in the last Council Meeting about the loud red signage suggesting the city do something to protect our 14 Landmark buildings.  Various readers have posted concerns and comments on Redmond Neighborhood Blog, in an earlier story about the signage.  The window-dressing with historical artifacts was installed by request of the City. 

Stay tuned for my Special Report this week.  Watch Tuesday's public comments on City TV - Channel 21. 

Opinion By Bob Yoder
Sources:  Redmond Blog readers, Council meetings, Redmond Historical  Society, City Press Release, State Control Liquor Board.

Joint Pilot Project designed to enhance safety on Sammamish River Trail

This May, King County and the City of Redmond begin a joint pilot project designed to enhance safety on the Sammamish River Trail. Over the last several years, conflicts due to congestion have increased among the various trail users (walkers, skaters, cyclists, etc) along portions of the trail through downtown Redmond. The pilot study area is between NE Leary Way to just north of NE 90th Street.

The year-long study will bring several changes to the trail in this area. In the next couple of weeks, a dashed yellow stripe will be painted down the center of the trail to encourage users to keep to the right, vegetation will be cleared further from the trail to improve sight distances and trail etiquette signage will be added.

Having been a heavy bicycle user of the Sammamish River Trail when training for the STP I can vouch for the value in this pilot program, particularly the yellow stripe for safety and to slow traffic.   What do you think about the changes? 

The County also plans to install another kiosk just south of the NE 90th Street trail access point that will hold the Share the Trail brochure along with the Regional Trails in King County Map and additional Regional Trails System information. King County will also open portions of the West Sammamish River Trail in 2010. This unpaved trail on the west bank of the river should have access points at NE 90th Street, the PSE Powerline Trail Bridge and NE 116th Street. Use of this alternative trail by pedestrians is intended to help relieve congestion along the Sammamish River Trail.

By Bob Yoder
Source:  City Press Release

"Neighborhood Network" program launched

Redmond, WA – Thursday night, nearly 20 Grass Lawn residents gathered at Rose Hill Junior High to discuss their neighborhood with City of Redmond Planning staff. The City initiated the meeting as part of the pilot Neighborhood Network program. One objective of the program is to check-in with residents regarding their neighborhood’s plan.

Mayor John Marchione opened the meeting by reminding residents of his vision of a connected and supportive community. Mayor Marchione sees neighborhoods connecting physically through completed sidewalks and trails, but also connecting at gathering places where neighbors can exchange ideas and celebrate their successes.
In addition to providing an opportunity for neighbors to discuss additions and priorities for their neighborhood plan, residents shared concerns and ideas on such topics as housing, traffic, open space and public safety.

In October, a second Neighborhood Network meeting will take place in the Education Hill neighborhood to discuss their neighborhood plan. After these two meetings, the program will be evaluated for further connection with all of Redmond’s ten neighborhoods in 2011 and beyond.

The Grass Lawn neighbors who attended the meeting at Rose Hill Junior High considered the evening a success. They left with a better understanding of what the neighborhood plan is and how its implementation will continue to enhance the area.

I've asked Kimberly Dietz, Senior Planner running the Neighborhood Network program for an interview at Grass Lawn Park, one of the premier parks in Redmond.   Do you have questions for her? 

By Bob Yoder
Source:  City Press Release

Redmond beats Skyline 6-2 for KingCo 4A title / Baseball

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/highschoolsports/2011861195_mason14.html

Mason Kelley's High School Sports Blog

WOODINVILLE — When in doubt, hit a few out.

After struggling out of the gates in the KingCo 4A title game Thursday night, Redmond took advantage of three home runs to claim a 6-2 win over Skyline at Woodinville High School.

"They're all big," Redmond coach Dan Pudwill said of the homers. "When you win 6-2, we'll take them all."

Read More

By Mason Kelly
Seattle Times