Costs of "The Redmond Saturday Market" lease

Redmond Town Center leases land to the Saturday Market for $950/day.

UPDATED:  The Saturday Market has been a part of Redmond's culture for the last thirty-four years.  With the move to "Buy Local" the Market is more popular than ever before.   Driving down Leary it's not hard to see the bustle in the farmers and craftspersons white tents.   Do you see the tents behind Redmond Town Center's gateway sign?

The Market and parking lot sits on 8,000 square feet of land leased from Redmond Town Center (RTC).  According to  Market Manager, Martha Tyler, they pay Redmond Town Center $950/day to rent "the dirt", or $3,800/month.  The Sani-Cans are extra.  The Market is open for six months from May 1 - October 30 so the total payment to RTC each year is $22,800.   But, RTC sponsors the Market with a $3,000/year donation plus advertising space valued at $1,800/year by RTC.   Market Manager Martha Tyler said:

"It would be great if the market parking lot was donated each Saturday since it's a community service for the folks of Redmond.  Many farmer market sites in the state of Washington are donated or charged a very small amount so that the market can operate with less of a financial burden, we're talking farmers and crafters here, not big business". 

About two years ago, Jim Hoagland, Saturday Market President, approached City Council asking for funds to help cover their lease payments and attract entertainment.  According to Ms. Tyler, Council has approved a $5,000/yr. payment to the Market (a nonprofit) for the last two years.  Three other government-funded entities sponsor the Market:  Evergreen (Public) Hospital ($1,000), Think Redmond ($1000) and R-Trip ($1000).  Read More.

The donations and new management have brought back the bustle!  Have you heard about their big "Howl-O-Ween Day" event on October 30?    Read More >>

Lake Washington PTSA looking for "Special Needs Liaisons"

Julie Shalaby says....

I have a list of schools where we still need Special Needs Liaison's. Our goal is to have a Liaison at every school in the district. It's not a big time commitment and you can make it what you want but it really helps the families in your school become connected with this community.

Lake Washington, Juanita , Redmond HS

Northstar, Inglewood, Renaissance

Audubon, Bell, Einstein, Peter Kirk, Rush, Sandburg, Smith, Twain, Rachel Carson

Here's all you need to do (or NOT do!) as a liaison. It's easy!!!

Contact our SNG Liaison Coordinator, Amy Verrall, to let her know you are interested or if you have questions. home@verrallfamily.com    Read More.

Redmond overpowers Woodinville 20-6

Mustang cheerleaders hovering  like angels



Falcon fans trying to spook Redmond

 It was a rainy night in Redmond, but you'd never know it.  The Mustangs, led by Quarterback Michael Conforto and a superb coaching staff,  flushed out the Falcons in the second half picking off a long interception deep to the end zone for a touch-back.  A few plays later Conforto heaved a 50-yard pass to #13, a sharp-eyed receiver for the score....and the KIRO play of the game!  Redmond is 2-1 for the season. Watch the KIRO clip of the High School Football Game of the Week!"    (up for only one week)

Read the Redmond Mustang Football Facebook Fan Page!   Sign-up!

YouTube video submitted by Zach Bloom on KOMO site.

By Bob Yoder
Photos by Yoder

Storm title a big win for Bing

Story by Todd Bishop of Tech Flash (click link)

Storm title a big win for Bing

Rain Didn't Blurr "The Redmond Central Connector" Visioning Event




This citizen is totally engaged in her Catbird Seat during her "visioning" interview.   I wonder what she is saying?  

Despite rain, the turnout for the Redmnd Central Connector "Visioning Event" on September 15 was  pretty good.   People clung to their positions under the tents while city planners and consultants answered questions.  The event was held on a large green space separate from the Connector, but close-by.  It was interactive.  People got to leave comments, sketches, and drawings on the exhibit "white board" table paper.  The sandwiches were good.

Lots of questions were answered.   Some were not.  Bev, a Redmond Arts Commissioner has an interest in bringing "green" and "interactivity" into the Art in the Connector (a linear park).  A city arts consultant suggested using art themes to connect the entire linear park.  Another consultant pointed out the nearby "Heron Rookery" as a unique Gateway feature next to the Connector.

One citizen had concerns of the "Wall" effect from the large, boxed apartment buildings.  A Berger consultant agreed that the Connector appears to have it's back to the apartments.  Discussion ensued with an agreement that future buildings near the Connector should blend and flow like a river rather than look as a ditch.

The City Council had a study session on the Central Connector the night before, but many still showed up.  Hank Margeson, Hank Myers, Pat Vache' and Mayor Marchione were all available.

Reported By Bob Yoder
Photo by Yoder

LW School District addresses overcrowding and lack of classroom space.

Strategies for space: addressing overcrowding in Lake Washington School District

In elementary schools around the district this September, the scramble was on to find enough classroom space for all the students arriving through our doors. About 650 more students showed up than last year, exceeding increased enrollment projections. By the fall of 2012, there will be over 1,000 more students in our system than our classrooms can accommodate. The move to four-year high schools in the fall of 2012 actually helps the situation, by moving students out of our overcrowded elementary schools and into the high school level, where more space is available.

Strategies to handle the increased numbers of students include changing boundaries, running two shifts at high schools (morning and afternoon), adding portables, building new classrooms and building new schools.  "Read More" to learn about the community input sessions and read the Sammamish Reporter exclusive. 

"Grass Braid Art" discovered on the Sammamish River Trail



The grass braid is continuous and runs about 30 feet along the Sammamish River Trail just south of the 124th St. Bridge.   In the right picture the artist loops the braid.  Do you can see the River Trail.  The artist name is Sarah Kavage.   Do you like this?

iPhone photos by Yoder

 

Construction of Redmond Bike Park to begin early 2011

Carolyn Hope, Project Planner for the Redmond Bike Park says in a letter to stewards....

According to the original schedule, the City hoped to have the Redmond Bike Park under construction by now. However, we took some extra time to discuss alternatives with community members and are now completing some special studies that will help us develop a 60% design, including drainage. We plan to hold another public meeting this fall when those 60% plans are complete, then we will finalize the plans, go through City permitting, and begin construction in early 2011.

Due to this delay, the City is working with the Redmond Bike Park stewards, the Steering Committee, to provide some dirt to maintain the jumps that exist on site. Last week, the group filled in holes and improved some jumps and this week they will continue that work.

Thank you for your interest in this project.
Carolyn Hope
Project Manager, Redmond Bike Park, City of Redmond
cjhope@redmond.gov

Photo by Yoder

Lake Washington School District SAT scores continue to increase

Kathryn Reith, LWSD Director of Communications says....

Over the last five years, average SAT scores in Washington State and nationally have fallen or remained the same. At the same time, Lake Washington’s average scores have increased 11 in math, 13 in critical reading and 14 in writing on average.

“We are seeing steady, sustained improvement in SAT scores,” noted Dr. Chip Kimball, superintendent. “Hard work by our teachers and students led to the continuous improvement we are after.”   Read More.

Safety Message from Councilmember David Carson

Dear Redmond neighbors and neighborhood watches,

Just wanted to let you all know that today a burglary-in-progress was stopped and both suspects were apprehended. This follows another arrest of another burglar last Tuesday who broke into a Bellevue house and then fled to Redmond where he apparently lives. There were a spate of 24 home burglaries in August which are currently unsolved, but with the three arrests in the last 8 days it’s my hope that these will be solved and the stolen property will be returned.

In both burglary cases, a member of our community (in the first case, a resident of Bellevue) get the credit for the tip that allowed the Redmond Police Department (with cooperation from neighboring jurisdictions) to nab these people. Please see attached the media release from the Redmond PD about the incident.

Note that "Vader" (our K-9 German Sheppard officer) also had a nice collar in June, so maybe we need to start a Facebook Fan Page for him. ;)    Read More about "Vaders" police work. 

Thanks!
David Carson
Redmond City Council

The Education Hill Network

Education Hill Network  details are here.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2010 FROM 6:30-8:30pm

REDMOND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Cafeteria

Residents helped update the Education Hill neighborhood plan in 2007.

Come share your thoughts on how things are going since the plan update!

City of Redmond removes beaver dam to protect spawning fish.

A beaver dam underneath the "Avondale Road -Powerline Bear Creek bridge" was removed by the city a few weeks ago, with permitted approval from Fisheries and Wildlife.  The County has jurisdiction over the creek, but the bridge is owned by the City.  Teresa Kluver, city parks employee says:

Due to the proximity of the dam structure to the bridge and the anticipated movement of Salmon it was decided early removal would be beneficial. We are currently monitoring the location for renewed beaver activity.

Lindsey Walimaki of PSE said salmon can usually swim through beaver dams.  Could it be that some of the vegetative-woody debris floating from the PSE power line project contributed "building materials" for the beavers?   The salmon are expected under the bridge anytime now.  In this picture, the dam is "under construction" by beavers.  The entire creek was eventually damed up by some very busy beavers.

Special thanks to a Water Tender for the tip.

Reported by Bob Yoder
Photo by Yoder