Downtown Station Light Rail Mural

Light Rail Line 2 Downtown Station Art Mural / photo Yoder

This 8'x4' piece sits on a pedestal directly north of the light rail bicycle/pedestrian trail.  It visually screens some buildings.   

Updated, 6/24/25: Another Small Business Bites The Dust

 

Tian Tian Noodle, 16421 Cleveland Street

My wife and I enjoyed an awesome Chinese dinner at Tian Tian Noodle tonight! I ordered "Cranequin Spicy & Crispy fish" and liked it so much I tossed away the chop sticks and dug in with the fork. Pam enjoyed the savory broccoli and pork dish.  [Orders to go: 425-242-1915.]

The waitress said the "owners are taking a break" and will be shuttering the restaurant July 3.   Tian Tian  Noodle will be the last small business standing in an old one-story "Redmond Square" mall.  All the other  businesses are gone including the developer's remnant EASTLINE leasing office. 

A proposal is under review  to remodel the exterior and interior of the existing retail mall in which Tian Tian is located. 

-- Bob Yoder

    redmond.gov 

   6/23/25, updated 6/24

UPDATED: 2-Line Service Suspended For Power Issues And Copper Wire Theft

Sign up for text alerts and other service notifications 

For most of Saturday, June 20, the 2 line light rail was suspended due to copper wire theft in Bellevue.  It isn't immediately clear how Sound Transit will protect plans to protect the Eastside corridor from falling victim to similar incidents. The problem has since been resolved.  -- Seattle Times, 6/22/25

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2 Line service was suspended July 21 between South Bellevue and Spring District stations until further notice due to a power issue.

Trains are still running between Downtown Redmond and Spring District stations.

Sound Transit has ordered 2 Line Shuttle buses to replace 2 Line service between South Bellevue and Spring District stations. Updates will be provided once 2 Line Shuttle buses are available.

Passengers are encouraged to seek alternative service options and plan ahead for additional travel time.

Last updated: Jun 21, 2025 4:41 AM

CEO Palazzo Updates Kirkland Alliance Of Neighborhoods

 

I'm grateful to the Kirkland Alliance of Thirteen Neighborhoods (KAN) for the opportunity to provide an update on King County Public Hospital District #2 / EvergreenHealth, including information about our upcoming levy lid lift on the August 2025 ballot. As a Kirkland resident for over two decades, it’s an honor to live and work in such a special city!

-- Ettore Palazzo, MD

    EvergreenHealth CEO

    6/19/2025

UPDATED: Old Fire House Teen Center Analysis

Old Fire House Teen Center

After two listening sessions Council still hasn't made a decision on saving the Old Fire House Teen Center.  Councilmenbers Steve Fields and Jessica Forsythe see the 50-year old builidng as a city treasure. 5/19.

Background:  It took years of deliberation on funding and design for "rebuilding" and expansion of the Senior Center.  Council actually considered a $17,116,000  "councilmanic"  bond fundiing that doesn't require a vote of the people. Later, they decided to discard and replace this funding with "one-time money" (funds from retail construction excise taxes.)

Thus, I agree, Council could find the money to renovate  the Old Fire House Teen Center, but Mayor Birney would have to work with the One Redmond Foundation, with backing from the historical society and Director Helland to make it happen.  According to historical society President John Oftebro, the building isn't safe.  

The Mayor has to conclude the Old Fire House a totally unsafe while taking heat from the development community. The Center is used primarily by a tiny, vocal segment of the city in a time with affordable housing is at a premium.  The longer this teen review process goes on, the more deteriorated their mental health will be.    

An unwelcome alternative to renovating our cherished firehouse is tear down the entire Old Fire House  (including the basketball courts)  and expand to 5-6 stories for affordable housing with the lower 1-2 stories reserved the for the teens. The teens would have final say on the programs there, as per listening sessions.

-- Response to a reader's comment, by Bob Yoder, 6/19/2025, 6/23/25

Join us for Redmond's Soccer Watch Party on June 23

Join Redmond's Soccer Watch Party

Watch Seattle Sounders FC take on Paris Saint-Germain of France on Monday, June 23, at a watch party in the heart of Redmond Town Center (7525 166th Ave NE), complete with a pre-match meet and greet with Sounders legend and MLS all-star Jhon Kennedy Hurtado. Take in all the action on a giant outdoor screen, enjoy food specials from local businesses, and join the family-friendly fun.

• 10:30 a.m. – Pre-match activities begin, including a meet and greet with Jhon Kennedy Hurtado
• 11:15 a.m. – Event welcome and opening remarks
• 12 p.m. – Kickoff, Seattle Sounders FC vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring their own picnic blankets or camping chairs. The event will take place rain or shine.

WORLD CUP OVERVIEW

City To Partner With County On Crisis Response

 

City Plans to Partner with King County's Mobile Rapid Response Crisis Team.

• In 2018, the Police Department launched their co-response model, utilizing a mental health professional on police calls. In 2021, the City expanded to a tiered community health model called THRIVE including homeless outreach, mobile integrated health, and community care coordinators.
•  As an addition to the current program, the Redmond may partner with King County’s Mobile Rapid Response Crisis Team (MRRCT) to provide the city with 24/7 mental health response.
• OUTCOMES: Staff has recommended partnering with MRRCT to provide de-escalation services 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. MRRCT is equipped with two-person units, staffed by behavioral health professionals and peer counselors. The teams respond to incidents involving adults aged 18 and older experiencing mental health crises. 
• King County placed a team in Redmond, stationed at the Together Center  "SOUND," office. although there are other Crisis Teams countywide. All teams are a part of King County’s Behavioral Health Program and the teams are dispatched through 911, 988, or their direct line. 
• Utilizing King County’s services comes at no additional cost to Redmond as it is funded through the King County Crisis Care Levy. 
•  SOURCE:  Committee of the Whole - Public Safety and Human Services (Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 4:30 p.m.)

EvergreenHealth Receives Environmenal Sustainablily Award

There are many ways hospital systems can impact the health of our communities including minimizing our environmental impact. Congratulations to David Reed and the entire Environmental Services Team at EvergreenHealth for once again earning Practice Greenhealth's Partner for Change Award. Your continued leadership in sustainability helps create a healthier environment for everyone we serve.

-- Ettore Palazzo, CEO EvergreenHealth

One of EvergreenHealth’s core values is to provide high-quality health care while minimizing our environmental impact. The Greenhealth Partner for Change Award recognizes our ongoing dedication to improving our environmental performance and our efforts to integrate sustainability and resiliency into the operations and culture of our organization.

-- David Reed, EvergreenHealth Environmental Services Team

EvergreenHealth Proposition 1 Levy Lid Lift Measure

The current levy for EvergreenHealth’s public hospital district is $0.14 per $1,000 of estimated home value, based on 2023 data. This is the first time EvergreenHealth has requested a levy lid lift in its more than 50-year history.  

When the levy was first passed in 1970, it was set at $0.75 per $1,000.  Over time, as property values increased, the levy rate was reduced in accordance with district regulations.  Proposition 1 proposes to increase the levy $0.36, bringing the total, if passed, to 50 cents per $1,000 assessed home value. 

 

If passed, levy funding will help EvergreenHealth expand services and infrastructure, which means more access for more people. Those expanded services will also attract and retain providers and staff, increasing access and expanding key service lines to meet the community’s need, including:

 

• Expanded access to primary, urgent and specialty care, advanced diagnostics, and outpatient behavioral health
• Funding to recruit and retain additional providers to improve appointment availability and to increase capacity to meet current and future demand for services on the Eastside
• Upgrading facilities in preparation for projected population growth

 

EvergreenHealth will continue to use levy funding to help support free and low-cost community education classes, programs, and events on a wide variety of everyday and specialized health and wellness topics, developed by experts and available to everyone in our community.

-- Commissioner Virgil Snyder

   Chair, EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners

Updated 6/27: EvergreenHealth Levy Funds Community Programs

EvergreenHealth, Kirkland
Your Community - Owned Hospital

EvergreenHealth will continue to use levy funding to help support free and low-cost community education classes, programs, and events on a wide variety of everyday and specialized health and wellness topics, developed by experts and available to everyone in our community.

LEVY FUNDED PROGRAMS:

The Community Healthcare Access Team (CHAT) is probably EvergreenHealth's flagship levy-funded community service: 

• If you have a loved one looking for quality long-term care CHAT will help you. Trust me, this is a great service.  We were "left on our own" when my mother in California desperately needed a decent long-term home. 
• CHAT also offers financial assistance, insurance coverage "navigators", and assistance for low-income and underinsured. 
• CHAT partners with Hopelink for psycho-social asistance and transporting patients. 

The EvergreenHealth levy invests in our youth and seniors:  

• They provide four social workers at LWSD for help during a mental health crisis.
• The North Shore School District hires levy-funded mental health therapists to provide access to mental health providers.  They held 2,961 visits in 2024.  
• Levy provide access to "Palliative"  support for you and family members facing serious illness; and Hospice care.  
• There's off-site access to geriatric care for seniors with dementia and behavioral health problems.  

EvergreenHealth offered access to 114 community-funded educational health classes in 2024, including the "Youth Suicide Emergency Kit."

If the levy lid lift passes, outpatient behavioral services will be accessed in primary care clinics and psychiatric services accessed in EvergreenHealth's two Emergency Departments.  

-- Bob Yoder, 6/15,2025, updated 6/27/2025

City PRIDE Month Celebration Goes Dark

As you know, it's PRIDE month with many celebrations around town.  However, in Council's June 3 Businees meeting during the public comment period, PRIDE went dark.

It all started with the first 3-minute testimony by Aeron H.  He's a Redmond transgender and gave an horrific story of humiliation and death threats. He reported it to the police "with a picture, message, and name and the police did nothing, they did NOTHING!"  Fearful, "I stayed locked in my apartment for two months. No wonder PRIDE doesn't trust the police."  

At this point pro tem mayor, President Kritzer stated "in conclusion," signifying that Aeron's allowable 3-mintute speaking time was up.  Councilmember Fields made a motion to suspend the rules and extend the time.  It was seconded by CM Forsythe. 

After 13 minutes of  Council rules discussion and advice from the city attorney, they decided to suspend the 3-minute rule for this one meeting and allow 4-minute testimonies. Councilmember Stuart thanked Aeron for his patience.  Aeron was annoyed, and then went on for over a minute about "targeted hate crimes" and his distrust for the police. 

-- Bob Yoder, 8/13.25 

Source:  6/3/25 Business meeting video of testimonies  (Aeron's testimony starts at 8:00 min.)

(Historically, the comment period at Business meetings had been 4- minutes but the present council reduced it to 3-minutes; Councilmember David Carson had strong objections to this limitation.) 

Downtown Redmond Homeless House Stalled, Federal Funds At Risk?

 

I chatted almost an hour with Sarah Dickmeyer today in her Together Center office. Sarah is the "Exterrnal Affaires Manager" for Plymouth Housing. They plan to open permanent supportive housing for 100 men and wowen,mostly seniors with disabilities. 

I wanted to know why the ground isn't yet broken for construction; late April was the target month.  Sarah thinks August is the likely start time.  The large AMLI apartment project is still under construction and is interfering.  Sarah said the delay had nothing to do with finances, at this time.   

Federal money accounts for 25 - 30% of their system-wide funding!  The funding goes through the county first (a jursidiction in the hole.) Of course, Trump has cutting federal, homeless funding on his list (along with everything else.)  Ms. Lee, the Plymouth CEO, is very concerned and is planning for the worse.  Sarah was worried Medicaid is on the chopping block as well.  CONNECTIONS Behavioral Health Crisis Center in Kirkland offers hope. Plymouth's dual diagnosis individuals can be treated for free.  EvergreenHealth is also close by.  

Los Angeles, New York and then Seattle have the highest homelessness in the Nation, according to a study in the Seattle Times.  The cities that do the best for homeless focus on shelters.  Shelters give immediate care.  It can take almost a decade to construct and fully develop a permanent suportive building. In the meantime, individuals die in the streets unsheltered. It's happening in Seattle and with light rail, Kenmore, Redmond and Kirkland will follow.   

Call our Senators Patty Murray and Maria Canwell to protest withdrawals of federal funds and Medicaid cuts.  

-- Bob Yoder, opinion. 6/11/25

Riding light rail is a snap, just ask Mayor Angela Birney!

2 Line Train Problems Continue

The following 2 Line Train problems were reported by Sound Transit today, June 11:

Marymoor Village Station - Elevator 1 unavailable until further notice. Elevator at Exit A.  

2 Line trains are sharing one track at the BelRed Station until further notice due to maintenance activity.

2 Line trains are sharing one track from Redmond Technology Station to Downtown Redmond Station until further notice.

2 Line trains Downtown Redmond Station - Elevator 1 unavailable until further notice. 

Exit B

2 Line Downtown Redmond Station - Elevator 2 unavailable until further notice. Exit A.  

Contact Sound Transit to be put on service alert texts. 888-889-6365

Ukranian Resident Runs 100 Miles In One Day

Dima Voyt, a Redmond Ukranian resident ran 100 miles in one day!  Why??  He was raising awareness (and funds) for the challenges facing Ukranian amputees -- physical mobility, mental health, and financial needs.  It's estimated 80,000 amputees are war related. 

Dima beat the hot weather running mostly at night.  He left from his home in Marymoor at 12:01 a.m. and finished the next day in the Downtown park about 7:45 p.m.  Dima is an ultramarathoner;  he ran almost four marathons that day!

A few ran alongside him from time to time.  Some stops:   Lake Sammamish,  the Sammamish River Trail, Kenmore, Seward Park, Washington University, 3-legs in Bellevue, the SR520 bridge, Totem Lake, and HOME to fanatic Ukranians. and local cheerleaders.  I learned about the event from Steve Fields.  The iced drinks were cool 😅 

-- Bob Yoder, 6/10/2025   

Five Years of COVID-19: Caring For the Future of Our Community

Five years ago on February 28, 2020, EvergreenHealth's Kirkland campus became the first hospital in the U.S. to respond to the first known cases of community spread of COVID-19. 

"Since then, we've continued to expand and improve access to care, implementing what we learned as an organization and as an industry during the COVID-19 pandemic—which will undoubtedly benefit us in meeting the needs of our growing community," said EvergreenHealth CEO Ettore Palazzo, MD, who was the hospital system's chief medical and quality officer at the outset of the pandemic.

EvergreenHealth's experience as one of the first hospitals to navigate the pandemic was featured extensively by media, including coverage in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, 60 Minutes, PBS Frontline, CNN, NPR and dozens of other publications and outlets.

-- EvergreenHealth.com

Sound Transit To Run Service For World Cup

 

Luman Field, Seattle 

Sound Transit to run additional service for Club World Cup, in part, to stress-test light rail for FIFA 2026.

Link more frequent.  Six matches at Lumen Field in Seattle June 15 --25.  Sounder game trains available for five of six games.  150,000 people fans are expected.

Sound Transit is preparing to welcome FIFA Club World Cup 2025 soccer attendees by running additional service on Link light rail as well as special Sounder game trains.

Passengers taking transit during the 10-day, six-game span can find all the information they need in one place by visiting https://www.soundtransit.org/worldcup.

Additional security personnel and Sound Transit staff will be available at stations to help passengers during FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Even with extra service, trains will be crowded during peak times. In order for passengers to have the best riding experience, Sound Transit has tips to help riders during FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and throughout the busy summer season. These include:

• Sign up for service alerts
• Spread out on platforms. The first and last cars are frequently less crowded.
• Get to your destination early and leave later.
• Consider alternative routes or other ways of getting around.

Following are details about service during FIFA Club World Cup 2025:

Link light rail service

There will be increased service on the 1 Line, post-game on Sunday, June 15 and all-day on June 23, with 8-minute headways, to both serve game attendees and our regular riders. As is typical for previous large events at the stadiums, additional trains will be on standby to manage demand and fill any service gaps throughout the tournament.

2 Line Shuttle Buses Are Replacing Some 2 Lines Due To Power Issues

2 Line Shuttle buses are replacing the 2 Line from BelRed Station to Downtown Redmond Station until further notice due to power issues.  Last updated: Jun 08, 2025 3:17 PM

OPINION: Rebuild And Enlarge the Old Firehouse Teen Center, Everyone Wins

After participating in the Marymoor "Listening Session" and talking to the Parks Director and historical society, I see little hope of saving the Old Fire House (OFH) for the teens. 

Affordable housing is desparately needed.  Rebuilding and enlarging the firehouse to 6-stories may be the best solutionl.  The two lower floors could be used for teen programs; the top four floors for work-force housing.  

 A resident gave testimony at the last council meeting, recommending re-opening the outside areas of the OFH center this summer until council takes action. The chairs, tables and 2 basketball courts could be put to good use for performing arts and social space.  

_ Bob Yoder, 6/8/2025, opinion

Feel free to post (and read) a comment...

EvergreenHealth Public Hospital District No. 2

Your Care, Your Community

Ettore Palazzo, MD, FACP, the new CEO. 

School District To Host Inaugural Wellness Fair

Please join us! Lake Washington School District to host Inaugural Wellness Fair.

Saturday, June 14 community event will celebrate wellbeing

Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District (LWSD) invites staff, families, and the broader community to its inaugural Wellness Fair on Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the L.E. Scarr Resource Center (16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA 98052).

This free, family-friendly event is hosted by the LWSD Workforce Mental Health Workgroup and celebrates wellness in all forms—mind, body, and spirit.

Attendees will enjoy a rich lineup of wellness experiences—like yoga, sound baths, Zumba, art therapy, and a build-your-own succulent bar. Interactive booths, a curated wellness book nook by Brick & Mortar Books, and expert-led panels round out the day’s offerings.

Families can enjoy face painting and interactive wellness games all set to the sounds of LWSD student ensembles performing live throughout the day. Meet adoptable dogs from The Haus of Dogs and discover the healing joy of pet companionship. There will also be a Q&A session with a professional dog trainer, Joshua from Heel and Heal K-9, offering insights on pet care, training tips, and the benefits of pet companionship.

Local food trucks, including Nacho Rio, will be on site serving up delicious bites.

“Our aim is to create a space that restores, uplifts, and connects,” said Dr. Joy Ross, Co-Chair of the Workforce Mental Health Workgroup. “Whether it’s mindfulness or movement, adoptable dogs or rich conversations that support our mental health journeys, this event is about embracing the fullness of wellbeing and reminding ourselves that joy, healing, and wholeness are within reach.”

We look forward to celebrating wellness with you!

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About Lake Washington: Lake Washington School District  is a high-performing, fast-growing public school district serving Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, Washington. It is the second largest district in the state of Washington, with over 30,500 students in 55 schools.

Redmond Resident Runs To Downtown Park For Ukranians

 

Dima is a Redmond resident!  

His ultramarathon is a one-day run on Sunday, June 8 to support Ukranians who have lost their limbs. The Last Leg:  Totem Lake to Redmond Downtown Park - SR 520 Trail and Cross Kirkland Corridor.  

7:35 PM finish time at the Downtown Park.  I hope some residents will come out to cheer and celebrate Dima as he crosses the finish line.  Bring some sliced oranges, hydration packets and a bucket of ice! And, don't forget your wallet!

Many thanks to Council member Steve Fields for the heads up!  Steve said he'd be there.