Municipal League Releases 2010 Candidate Ratings

SEATTLE - The Municipal League of King County released its non-partisan evaluations of 122 legislative, judicial and local candidates today. The ratings are available online at http://www.munileague.org/ .

The non-partisan ratings process is similar to a job interview and investigates each candidate's potential to be effective in the office he or she seeks and to beneficially serve the community. Political affiliations or stances on particular issues are not considered during the League rating process. The Municipal League attempted to contact every candidate in a contested race. Candidates were rated even if they declined to participate.

Legislative District 45, State Rep. Pos. 2
Larry Springer - Outstanding
Mark Isaacs - Not Qualified

Legislative District 45, State Senator
Eric Oemig - Very Good
Andy Hill - Good

Legislative District 48, State Rep. Pos. 1
Diane Tebelius - Very Good
Ross Hunter - Very Good

Legislative District 48, State Rep. Pos. 2
Philip L. Wilson - Not Qualified
Deb Eddy - Very Good

Legislative District 48, State Senator
Rodney Tom - Outstanding
Gregg Bennett - Good

Major Delays This Weekend on SR520 in Redmond

This camera is on the Northside of SR520.   (Upated every 1.5 minutes)

Drivers should plan for long delays and take alternate routes this weekend as crews completely close a portion of eastbound SR 520 in Redmond. From 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday crews will close all lanes of eastbound SR 520 between SR 202 and Avondale Road.

This work begins the final phase of the SR 520 widening project in Redmond. During the closure crews will pave the highway and move barrier to create a new work zone in the median. Until now crews have been working on the north and south sides of the highway.

All eastbound SR 520 traffic will exit at SR 202, take a right onto SR 202, left onto 180th Avenue SE, left onto Union Hill Road to Avondale Road. Drivers headed for the Sammamish Plateau are encouraged to take I-90 to East Lake Sammamish Parkway. Drivers coming from I-405 can use SR 908 to get to downtown Redmond.
WSDOT will be working with the city of Redmond to keep traffic moving as much as possible along the alternate routes.

For more information go to: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520/WLakeSamPk_SR202   .

Released by Mike Murphy, WSDOT on 7/21

Over-prescribing and inadequate disposal of pharmaceuticals hurts our kids

Growing numbers of neighbors, schools, and local governments have serious concerns about the dangers of keeping unused pharmaceuticals in our medicine cabinets and  later flushing them down the toilet.   For one, drugs like estrogen, anti-depressants, ibuprofen, and antibiotics, when flushed, enter our water supply.  They have been found to change the sex of small fish and some can never be removed from our water supply.

An overriding concern is the ready availability of controlled substances like hydrocodone, oxycontine, and demerol -- getting into the hands of children, students, contractors, and even house guests.  According to USA Today "prescription drugs are more accessible to teens than beer". 

My experience shows doctors tend to over-prescribe pain-killers - out of habit, convenience and/or favor to their patients.   Over-prescribing contributes to substance abuse and disposal issues.    Example 1:  An oral surgeon pulled my daughter's four wisdom teeth and  prescribed 20 tabs of Hydrocodone 500M ("Vicodin") and 25 tabs of Ibufrofen 600mg.  But, she only used 10 tabs of the Hydrocodone.  (Some mothers refuse to give their kids any Hydrocodone, but the doctors still prescribe it in advance).  When I called the office nurse about it, she told me "larger adults can take more."  What does that mean? The doctor wouldn't return my call.  

Example 2:  I found 11 tabs remaining of a 20 tab prescription of Vicodin prescribed by an Urgent Care physician for a shoulder pain.  Example 3:  28 of 40 expired Demeral tablets were found.  I lock controlled substances in a safe.  The examples in my house show our doctors prescribed twice as much controlled pain medication as my family needed.

So where do we dispose of these unused pharmaceuticals?   I spent half a day figuring it out.  Not one pharmacy I visited would take back the controlled substances.   Most pharmacies refer you to Bartell Drug at Bridle Trail Village (425-881-5544).  They have excellent service and advice.  Bartell's take your non-addictive pharmaceuticals and incinerate them.  Both Bartell and Group Health (425-882-6150) recommend you to throw controlled substances in the trash, ground up with water and coffee grounds.  Group Health will dispose your non-addictive drugs in a locked container per their "take back program".   I called Evergreen Hospital.  They are looking into it.  

The QFC pharmacist recommended flushing controlled substances like Vicodin and OxyContin down the toilet, per FDA advisory.  She referred me to Redmond's Group Health "take-back" program.    She also recommended pouring both non-addictive and controlled medications into a sealable plastic bag, crushing it and adding water and then add coffee grounds.  I think the best website to visit for advice is http://www.safedrugdisposalnw.org/ .  They don't recommend flushing any pharmaceuticals. 

Redmond Councilman Hank Margeson has a keen interest in this problem and is working on it.  Redmond Councilman Hank Myers is interested.  Perhaps we can help Hank and encourage our State Representatives,  candidates, and health care providers to take action?

Report and Opinion by Bob Yoder

Comprehensive Update on LWSD Administration and School Board - including salaries, public access, the budget, & elections

School is out for the summer and the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors have suspended their meetings for seven weeks.  But, there is still much to report!

Open This Link to find the following: 

• Participate at the August 9 Board meeting (7pm) when the Final Budget will be proposed (and approved). 
• Learn what we pay LWSD administrators - from the Chiefs to the Coordinators. 
• How do you run for School Board?   Three district terms end in 2011. 
• and much more... 

Report & opinion by Bob Yoder

UPDATED, 7/18 Breaking News: Shooting at Lake Sammamish State Park, 7/17, 9:38 AM

KING NEWS, UPDATED 7/18, 7:38 AM.  VIDEO & ARTICLE:   Shooting at Lake Sammamish State Park

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Updated,   Q-13 FOX NEWS:  7/17 10:03 pm  Lake Sammamish - A beautiful summer evening is shattered when two people were killed and another injured by gunfire at Lake Sammamish State Park tonight.

Sheriff's deputies and other police agencies are investigating and looking for possible suspects.
Investigators are looking for suspects -- who are apparently still on the loose.

We're told this happened inside park boundaries, which is packed with families on a beautiful summer day like today.The state patrol and Issaquah Police are assisting with the search and the investigation.

 

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Updated,  KING 5 NEWS:  ISSAQUAH, Wash. 7/17, 10:05 pm - Two people have been killed in what appears to be a gang-related shooting at Lake Sammamish State Park.

According to the Washington State Patrol, dispatchers received a call from a park ranger about multiple shots fired in the park at around 9 p.m. According to the Patrol shots could be heard during the park ranger's call.

The Patrol says two are dead and there are at least five injured.  The Patrol believes it is gang related.

The park is in lock down, nobody is getting in or out.

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MOBILE VIDEO of interview with the Sheriff. 7/17 10:09 pm  -- canine search, some suspects possibly still at large

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Updated,   Q13 FOX NEWS:  7/17, 10:48 pm  VIDEO, 2 dead, 4 injured. 

What do you think about the new Evergreen ER Clinic planned for Bella Bottega?

REVISED:   Do you think 16 new acute ER exam rooms and a four-story building are an appropriate land use in Bella Bottega shopping center -- 4 miles from Evergreen Hospital?  In 2007, Evergreen Hospital was awarded a "Certificate of Need" to build 28 new acute care ER rooms and a 10 "rapid assessment" rooms for their hospital.  Why do we need more?   (A "Certificate of Need" is not required for ER Clinics.)   Swedish Medical Center is building an 18-room ER facility on Union Hill.  When you add them all up, Redmond will have 62 ER rooms, when only 28 are certifiably needed. 

Sherry Grindeland, Evergreen Healthcare Media Relations emailed:   "As a Public Hospital District, our mission is to provide outstanding medical care and service to the community."   An Evergreen marketing manager told me free-standing ER clinics are a marketing strategy used throughout the country to attract new patients.  ER clinics provide shorter waiting times, conveniences and emergency care a step-above urgent care.  However, response times may be delayed at ER clinics.  For example, compromised heart patients may drive directly to the ER Clinic only to find they must be rushed to the hospital for critical care.   

An Overlake Hospital manager said Evergreen's original plan was to consolidate three Redmond primary care facilities into a 2-story primary care/urgent care facility in Bella Bottega,  But, when Swedish announced plans for an ER clinic for Union Hill, Evergreen shifted gears and  hurried to push through the comprehensive 4-story ER facility.

Doesn't the "Certificate of Need" awarded to Evergreen Hospital for 28 new 'ER rooms' three years ago (2007) validate we are already getting "outstanding medical care and service"?  Is the Evergreen Bella Bottega facility even necessary?    Do users and taxpayers need more ER beds and millions of dollars of imaging and laboratory equipment with additional staffing when our needs are met?   No doubt patients will benefit from shorter waiting times, other conveniences and certified ER care.  But, according to Overlake Medical Clinic, the cost for sewing 10 stitches in a stand-alone ER is about 3 times the cost at their Urgent Care facility in SW Redmond. 

What are the best and highest uses of our medical resources....and our tax dollars?   The City needs a new downtown park, community pool and a fire station.  LWSD needs two new elementary schools, a modernized Juanita High School, and expanded Redmond and Eastside Highs.   Hospitals must pay for indigents.  How do you rank your priorities?   Does our Public Health District really need 62 ER rooms servicing Redmond?

Last year property taxes for the City of Redmond increased 1%. But not much media attention was given to the 1.7% increase levied by our Evergreen Hospital District Board of Commissioners in 2010. The 2010 Property Tax increased $280,056 to $14,914,002 - that's almost the amount needed to fund Evergreen's new $15M Redmond ER Medical Clinic building in Bella Bottega. Any thoughts on this?

Sammamish Rowing Association granted boathouse permit; will break ground this month

By Marcy Chartier, SRA Director

SRA was granted our final building permit this month, after a seven-year process. This project has been extremely challenging to get permitted, since the new boathouse is in the wetland buffer that surrounds our current location. We are now completely permitted by the City of Redmond, which allows us to begin construction.

We are breaking ground this month!! Construction on Phase I of the New Boathouse Project will begin in July. Classes will continue as usual throughout this phase of construction, and more information will be sent regularly as we begin this eagerly anticipated project. For more details on construction phasing, building plans and more, click here.

2010 Construction Highlights:

• This summer we will begin site prep at SRA. This includes clearing at both the building site and along the path.
• We plan to lay utilities along the SRA path from West Lake Samm. Pkwy to the building site.
• Turn-lane construction will begin this winter.
  

2010 Movies in Marymoor Park

2010 MOVIES LINEUP  

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Wednesday 7/21
7 p.m.  (dusk ~8:30)

The Blind Side
Wednesday 8/4
7 p.m.

The Neverending Story
Wednesday 8/11
7 p.m.

Star Trek (2009)
Wednesday 8/18
7 p.m.

The Princess Bride
Wednesday 8/25
7 p.m.

http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/inventory/marymoor/movies.aspx

Come and meet Katie at Derby Days!

Come and meet Katie at Derby Days!

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Derby Days 2010

Redmond Derby Days Summer Festival July 9 and 10

Redmond, WA— This summer, Redmond will celebrate the 70th Annual Redmond Derby Days Summer Festival. The festival begins on Friday, July 9 from 6 to 10pm and continues on Saturday, July 10 from 10am to 10pm at Redmond City Hall Campus, 15670 NE 85th Street.

Back by popular demand is the free multi-band concert, Friday Night Live. The first group on the Nintendo sponsored stage is Gentleman GaGa, an Old Firehouse Classic Rockathon finalist, followed by The Daily Flash, playing classic 60’s rock. The headliner is the area’s premier Beatles tribute band, The Nowhere Men. They play all the Beatles classics, sounding just like the original Fab Four. Food vendors are on hand for dinner or a snack and the beer and wine garden, sponsored by Black Raven Brewery, provides a great spot for both people and band watching.

New this year is the REI Friday Night Poker Ride, benefitting Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center. The 22.5 mile ride through Redmond and Issaquah begins at the Redmond REI store from 5 to 7pm and ends at City Hall Campus, where riders will pick up prizes and enjoy the entertainment, food and drinks. Participants can register at REI.com.

Saturday begins at 10am with the Derby Days Kids Parade, the longest running kid’s parade in the nation. Children and families decorate their “wheels” and themselves in one of the many parade categories. Parade sign-in begins at 9:15am in the Redmond Medical Center parking lot, with the parade beginning at 10am. Arriving early is strongly recommended in order to sign-in before the parade starts.

The Grand Parade immediately follows the Kids Parade. Best viewing of the bands, drill teams and floats is at the corner of NE 85th Street and 161st Avenue NE and along 85th to City Hall.

The Criterium, the nation’s longest running bicycle race, starts at 1:15pm with the last race at 7:15pm. Race spectators can enjoy the fast paced race from the Black Raven Brewery Beer and Wine Garden, located just off the first corner. The beer and wine garden opens at 1pm and offers a prime view seat.

Microsoft is pruning more jobs

Microsoft is pruning more jobs.

Microsoft is preparing to make a new round of job cuts as early as tomorrow, according to people with knowledge of the situation, but the unconfirmed numbers we're hearing are relatively small in the scheme of things -- far less than the thousands of jobs cut by the company last year.  Complete article

By Todd Bishop
Tech Flash
7/6

Redmond entrepreneur speaks: "Building for Smart and Sustainable Growth"

Hi Bob,
One month ago I got back from Entrepreneurial Masters Program (EMP) at MIT. It has been an amazing experience and every day I think about what I’ve learned. I’m amazed by the other 64 entrepreneurs in my class and humbled to be a part of this group. When my class graduates, we’ll be the 20th class to have completed this program. There have been some very impressive individuals that have gone through this program, like Michael Dell (just to name one).

A few of the thinkspace members suggested that I share what I’ve learned and discuss what I’m implementing in my business from the EMP program. So next week, on Thursday, July 8th at noon, I’m going to give you guys a quick overview and give you a few takeaways that can help you grow your business.