Flower Farmers: The Story of the Hmong in Puget Sound

The Redmond Historical Society Saturday Speaker Series is pleased to announce its March 2015 program.   

 

Saturday, March 14^th

FLOWER FARMERS: THE STORY OF THE HMONG IN PUGET SOUND

10:30am – noon (Doors open 10:00)

Redmond Historical Society Speaker Series

 

Many of the fabulous flower bouquets at Seattle-area outdoor markets are grown and arranged by families from a Southeast Asian people known as the Hmong. Join the Hmong Association of Washington as they share their remarkable story of CIA- backed guerilla warfare during the Vietnam War, fleeing Laos after the war, and the challenges of resettling in a new land.

Potential 6 Year Levy proposed for the City of Redmond

The City of Redmond is proposing a potential 6 Year Levy in 2016.  Click this link to see the tax impact on a $500,000 house.  Infrastructure (roads & sidewalks), parks, and safety are the three targeted priorities of this levy.  The link is to the City of Redmond website.

2015 "Invest in Youth" Breakfast

 

WHO: More than 900 leaders and youth from across Puget Sound.

 

WHAT: A morning of compelling stories from kids who have overcome the odds with the help of Youth Eastside Services (YES).

 

WHEN: Wednesday, March 4, 7:30–8:45 a.m.

 

WHERE: Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 (map)

 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

·         Welcome – Meeghan Black
·         Building Better Lives – Patti Skelton-McGougan, YES executive director
·         Marah’s Story – Penny LeGate
·         I Feel Like I Can Do Anything – video showcase
·         I Can Be Whoever I Want – Julianna’s story (YES client)
·         Yo Soy / “I am” – Judith, Evelyn and Placido’s stories (YES clients)
·         Call to Action – Brad Smith and Kathy Surace-Smith  Read More >>

Redmond's Downtown Park

 

Location: The park site is located between Redmond Way and Cleveland Street, and is bordered by the new 161st Ave NE on the west, and the Stone House Restaurant on the east. The grassy space that is present along 161st now is about ¾ acre. When complete, the ultimate size of the park will be two acres.
Project Phase: Design
Timeline: Master Plan completed in December 2011; to be constructed in phases over several years
Contact: B Sanders, Project Manager, 425-556-2328

Overview

Every great city has a signature place that serves as a destination, an icon for the city, and a catalyst for economic growth. The Downtown Park will be Redmond’s signature park, and will create a place for community members to gather and celebrate. It will be a vibrant community space that encourages special events, arts, music and fun. The enhanced pedestrian environment in and around the park will stimulate economic activity in the neighborhood.

Cleveland Street Streetscape project almost finished

Location: Cleveland St from 161th Ave NE to 164th Ave NE
Project Phase: In Construction
Estimated Timeline: Construction 2014
Contact: Lisa Singer, Project Manager, 425-556-2723

OVERVIEW

Constructs the west half of Cleveland Street between 161th Avenue NE and 164th Avenue NE to develop a vibrant and flexible “main street”. 

The Cleveland Streetscape project is on track to be completed around the end of 2014, with final work finishing in early 2015. The construction started in January 2014 and, as of the end of the September, the project will be two-thirds of the way complete. All of the utility work is complete; most of the illumination is finished; and the new traffic signal at Leary Way was turned on in August. Concrete work for the new roadway, parking areas and sidewalks is anticipated to be complete in early fall. The later fall schedule includes the installation of pavers, specialty lighting, benches, signs and landscaping.

The Cleveland Streetscape project enhances the developing community gathering place in the heart of downtown by widening sidewalks, improving the street to curbless, concrete, and preparing for eventual two-way street operation. The project is located in the heart of the historic downtown, between the future Downtown Park and the Redmond Central Connector Trail. Project features include signal improvements, sidewalks, on-street parking, street lighting, utilities, and landscaping.


Upon completion of the future Downtown Couplet Conversion project, both Redmond Way and Cleveland Street will be converted to two-way operations - anticipated early 2017. The Cleveland Streetscape and the Downtown Couplet Conversion projects are the final transportation stages in the implementation of the Downtown East/West Corridor Study (DEWCS), reinforcing downtown Redmond as an economically healthy, people-friendly place, enhanced by the movement of pedestrians, bikes, cars, and a diversity of businesses.

Anjumann E Burhani Mosque project neighborhood meeting

Neighborhood Meeting:
Wednesday, May 14 at 7 pm
Redmond City Hall, Council Chambers
City of Redmond planning officials are hosting a second neighborhood meeting regarding the Anjumann E. Burhani Mosque project. Tonight’s meeting is a continuation from the first neighborhood meeting held on April 30, 2014 and will further collect input from community members that did not have an opportunity to share their questions at the first meeting.
At this time, the City is still in the data collection process with community members and will provide detailed answers to all questions received at a third neighborhood meeting; date and time to be determined.

Next steps - as a result of the April 30 neighborhood meeting and the questions fielded so far, City officials have asked the Anjumann E. Burhani applicants to provide additional project information in response to addressing the community’s questions and will no longer present this project at the May 15 Design Review Board meeting.

Once the City has determined the applicants have adequately addressed the issues, a third neighborhood meeting will be conducted to share the applicant’s updated information and answer all the additional community members’ questions. Until this process is completed no further project application action will be processed.

Redmond Police Dept Notice: Get Set for "Redmond Ready"

 

Learn how to be prepared for the unexpected with Redmond Ready, presented by the Redmond Office of Emergency Management and the Redmond Citizen Corps Council at the Redmond Police Department. The 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. event on Saturday, March 7 gives attendees the opportunity to be certified in First Aid and CPR for a discounted price of $25. Redmond Ready also features a two-hour class covering personal preparedness. Registration is available online through Redmond Parks and Recreation (course #53619). The registration form can also be mailed to the address on the form with a $25 check payable to "City of Redmond." If special accommodations are required, please contact Janeen Olson at jrolson@redmond.gov. We look forward to seeing you at Redmond Ready! Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. on March 7.

2015 Polar Plunge

Join the Redmond Police Team! We are less than one month away from the March 14 Polar Plunge at Idylwood Park!   The Redmond Police Department will once again join law enforcement agencies across the state in support of Special Olympics Washington. We invite members of our community to join the Redmond Police Team.   To join us as we take the plunge into Lake Sammamish, see our online registry. Choose "Join a Team" and select "Redmond Police." Participants who raise $50 or more receive a Special Olympics t-shirt and are entered to win prizes. There is no fee to register. Last year, the Polar Plunge raised nearly $28,000; we aim to raise $30,000 this year.   Check-in for the Polar Plunge begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 14 at Redmond's Idylwood Park, 35 West Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE. The highly anticipated plunge starts at noon, followed by a team celebration at JJ Mahoney's restaurant in Redmond.    Thank you for your continued support, Redmond Police Department

Burglary Suspect Arrested

 

Multiple agencies involved in investigation      

Redmond, Wash. - Nikolay Prohorov, 23, has been arrested in connection with a series of residential burglaries throughout King County, including 11 burglaries, two attempted burglaries and one vehicle prowl in Redmond's Education Hill District between Nov. 9, 2013 and Jan. 20, 2015.    Nikolay Prohorov, 23 Through a multi-agency coordination, Bellevue Police Department found Prohorov to be connected to six cases. Kirkland Police Department arrested Prohorov on Jan. 30 following a morning residential burglary and three attempted burglaries. Upon serving a search warrant of Prohorov's vehicle and residence, police found property belonging to Redmond victims.    Victims reported wallets, purses, electronics and jewelry taken from their homes, with entry into the majority of residences appearing to be through unlocked rear sliding doors or windows. Credit and debit cards were used immediately after the burglaries in four of the cases. Investigators used footage from store surveillance where fraudulent transactions were made and fingerprints located at a burglary scene to identify Prohorov.     Prohorov was booked into King County Jail and charged with eight counts of Residential Burglary.

Angela Birney announces campaign for Redmond City Council Position 5

Today, Parks and Trails Commissioner Angela Birney announced her campaign for Redmond City Council Position 5.  “I will be a fresh voice representing our community,” said Birney.  “Redmond is experiencing unprecedented growth and development.  As a 17-year resident, I understand what makes Redmond a unique and desirable place to live, work, and play.  As we continue to grow, it is important to balance urban development with enhancements to our thriving local neighborhoods.  From making innovative transportation solutions to developing our neighborhood parks, it will be important to find ways to engage residents of Redmond in long range planning.  As a parent, community volunteer, and neighbor I am eager to offer my experience and insights to Redmond City Council.”

 

Currently, Birney serves as the vice chair of the City of Redmond’s Parks and Trails Commission and is a community representative on the Lake Washington School District Middle School Science Adoption Committee.  She has served on the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross vestry, Norman Rockwell PTA Board, Lake Washington Schools Foundation Junior High Science Grant Committee, as well as other volunteer positions in and around Redmond. Read More >>

Flynn Will Not Seek Second Term on Redmond City Council

Redmond, Washington (February 8, 2015) – Councilmember Tom Flynn announced on Sunday, February 8, that he will not seek a second term on the Redmond City Council. Flynn was elected to the Council in 2011, filling Position #5 after Richard Cole’s retirement.

“It has been very rewarding to serve the city of Redmond,” said Councilmember Flynn. “During my term, it has been gratifying to see the city make steady progress towards a sustainable vision of two livable urban centers, planning for future light rail, and retention of our single family neighborhoods.”

Councilmember Flynn said that he and his wife Kim, now empty nesters, plan to downsize from their house on Education Hill and move to another home in or near Redmond after his term is completed at the end of 2015. Flynn expects to remain involved in public policy and community leadership roles in the areas of sustainable development, arts and culture, and fiscal policy.

Flynn is current Chair of the council’s Planning and Public Works Committee. He is also a member of the council’s Public Administration and Finance Committee. He represents the city as a Board Member for OneRedmond and Cascade Water Alliance. Flynn is also Manager of Generation Operations at Puget Sound Energy. 

“The city council and Mayor work well together, and they share a strong vision for a sustainable and livable Redmond rich in art and culture,” said Councilmember Flynn. “I expect that other local community leaders will step forward to help move that vision forward in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Willow Road Corridor at Risk

Willows Road Corridor Worth Billions to Regional Economy   An Economic Asset of Regional Importance at Risk   Redmond, WA, February 9, 2015 -- OneRedmond today released the Willows Road Corridor Analysis estimating the economic impact of businesses operating in the Willows Road Corridor. The 244 companies who depend on this corridor as their primary transportation access employ over 5,900  that in turn support over 16,000 jobs in the King County economy. These companies generate over $4.5 billion in gross revenue which supports over $6.1 billion in business revenues in the region with a state impact of over $89 million.   "The Willows Road Corridor is home to a diverse mix of companies including globally significant technology and services businesses" said Bart Phillips, CEO of OneRedmond. "The innovative talent employed by these companies power the economy from writing code that control's the globe's electric grid to manufacturing the engines that landed Curiosity on Mars. However, growing traffic congestion is a significant risk to these companies' ability to stay competitive for attracting and retaining high-skill, high-wage workers."  Read More >>

Redmond Police: Sexual Assault Investigation

Redmond, WA – On February 5, 2015 at approximately 9:00 PM, Redmond Police officers responded to a report of an assault in progress in the 16100 block of NE 85 St.  Officers contacted a female who reported as she was leaving her place of employment she was approached by an unknown masked male who initially demanded money, but when the victim refused the suspect physically assaulted the victim.  During the altercation the suspect placed his hand inside the victim’s clothing to commit a sexual assault.  The victim was able to scream and fight back causing the suspect to run off.  A K-9 track was unable to locate the suspect.
The general suspect description is an unknown race male, of average height and build, wearing a dark jacket or sweatshirt.
The case is under investigations by Redmond Detectives. If anyone has information related to this case, please contact Detective Natalie D’Amico at (425) 556-2500.

"The Streamkeeper": caring for local salmon and trout streams, Feb 26

From: Adopt A Stream Foundation
Northwest Stream Center, 600 –128th Street SE, Everett WA 98208
Web: www.streamkeeper.org

Contact: Tom Murdoch, 425-316-8592

Event: The Streamkeeper: caring for local salmon and trout streams
Date: Thursday February 26, 2015Time: 7pmPlace: Northwest Stream Center at the south end of Snohomish County’s Mc Collum Park, 600 – 128th Street SE, Everett WA 98208; driving directions: http://www.streamkeeper.org/aasf/Contact.html

The Streamkeeper

Many of our local streams are beautiful to see and full of aquatic life.  Read More >>

Lake Washington District Open Enrollment is Feb 2-27

Some schools closed to those outside their area

Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District holds an open enrollment period once each year for parents who want their children to attend a school other than their neighborhood school. To take advantage of open enrollment for students in grades one through 12, parents may apply for a change to that school assignment, also known as an in-district transfer or variance, between February 2 and February 27, 2015.

For kindergarten students, parents must request the variance at the time of registration. Kindergarten registration begins Thursday, February 5, 2015, from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the schools.

This open enrollment option only applies to those schools that have space available. The list of schools that are closed to students outside their neighborhood is available on the district website at http://www.lwsd.org/Parents/Student-Registration/Pages/In-District-Transfer-Options.aspx. Schools are closed if current and projected enrollment indicates that school capacity will be reached with those students who live within their boundary areas.

In-district transfer forms can be picked up at any school during the open enrollment period. The completed request must be submitted to the student’s home school. Acceptance is based on space available in a school, grade or program.

Students from outside the district who wish to attend Lake Washington’s schools can apply for enrollment at any time by initiating a request with their home school district. Please refer to the LWSD website for schools that are listed as unavailable for Inter-District Transfer requests. However, students within the district have priority for available spaces. Students from outside the district will be placed after the in-district students are accommodated if space is available.

Parents who live in the district will be notified of the result of their in-district transfer request as soon as possible. Kindergarten and Inter-District Transfer requests may not be notified until later this summer.

The Student Placement Office, at (425) 936-1283, can answer any questions on this process.

Eddie Bauer, the man and his innovations, is focus of Redmond Historical Society program

Say “Eddie Bauer” and great Pacific Northwest clothing comes to mind. But the international brand name got its start with a real Eddie Bauer, and his roots were wide across the region. Born on Orcas Island, he started his career in Seattle and later had a weekend home in what was then a slow-paced Redmond, along Bear Creek.

 

The fascinating history of the man, his innovations and his company will be the focus of the next Redmond Historical Society Saturday Speaker Series program on February 14, from 10.30-noon.

Colin Berg, company historian at Eddie Bauer Inc., will use vintage photos and artifacts to tell the story of how a young man’s passion became an international brand’s identity.

“Eddie’s personal story is the embodiment of the adage, ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’,” says Berg. “For Eddie, the outdoors was his necessity, and the Pacific Northwest was his laboratory.”  Read More >>

Donate your blood on Education Hill Feb. 2

While many of us are incredibly excited with the prospect of another Super Bowl Championship right around the corner, we can’t forget about the patients in our community that we work so hard to support! Currently, at the University of Washington Hospital we are supporting a 47 year old patient who underwent a heart transplant and has required 12 units of red blood cells, 12 units of plasma and 2 units of platelets. Thanks to donors like you, she has a fighting chance!

 

Get your game face on and Sign up to donate blood! Help defend patients in our community against cancer, trauma, surgery, and blood disorders.

 

You are eligible to donate on Monday!

 

Monday, February 2

1:00 pm to 7:00 pm

(closed 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm)

REDMOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Corner of NE 100th St &166th Ave NE

For information and to sign up contact: Blood@HolyCrossRedmond.org

 

City of Redmond Holds Open House for Potential Levy

Redmond, WA - On Tuesday, February 3, 2015 and Tuesday, February 10, 2015, the City of Redmond will host two community open house gatherings regarding a potential levy, and the public is invited to attend. The open houses will take place in the lobby of Redmond City Hall, from 6:00 – 7:15 p.m., each evening.

Public feedback on additional resources needed for public safety, city infrastructure, and a greener Redmond, will be the focus of each gathering. The feedback gained will be used to develop priorities for a potential levy that may take place later this year. Open house attendees will be asked to rate various priorities while calculating implications to their individual annual property taxes. Ratings results will form recommendations that will be presented to City Council at the February 17, 2015, meeting.

If you have questions, please contact Lisa Rhodes, Communications Manager, at larhodes@redmond.gov or 425-556-2427.

Good To Go: I-405 Express Toll Lanes - coming in 2015

The I-405 express toll lanes between Bellevue and Lynnwood, set to open later this year, will help ease traffic on one of the state’s most congested corridors. Express toll lanes will give I-405 drivers a choice to travel faster by paying a toll. Transit, vanpools and carpools meeting the occupancy requirement will be able to use the lanes toll free. Toll rates will adjust to keep traffic moving 45 mph or faster in the express toll lane, similar to the SR 167 HOT lanes between Renton and Auburn. Read More >>

Redmond Bike Park - Volunteer Winter Planting Work Party

 Hi Bike Park Volunteers,
The plants for greening up the Bike Park will be delivered this week and we would love your help putting them in the ground.
Come join us for the Bike Park Planting Work Party!

Tuesday, February 10
9am to 2pm At the Bike Park

Parks Staff will lay out the plants and give instructions on tool safety and planting techniques.  Tools and gloves will be provided.  RSVP if you plan to come so we can plan for the right number of tools.
Here's a checklist for the Work Party to get you all set up:  Read More >>

Redmond Police Arrest Suspect for Possession of Child Pornography

 

21-year-old male in custody       

Redmond, Wash. - Redmond Police Investigations, Pro-Act and Patrol Units served a search warrant and took custody of a 21-year-old male at approximately 9 a.m. today in the 15800 block of NE 111th St. in Redmond.   The suspect was arrested on the charges of Dealing in Depictions of Minor Engaged in Sexual Explicit Conduct (RCW 9.68A.050) and Possession of Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct (RCW 968A.070).   Detectives obtained computer evidence from the residence. Forensic analysis of the equipment is in progress. The suspect confessed to distribution of child pornography at the time the warrant was served. The residence is less than a block away from Rockwell Elementary School.

The suspect will be transported to King County Jail today.

###

LWSD boundary changes approved

Changes to rebalance growing enrollment

 

Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District is facing an immediate need to house its growing enrollment. That enrollment has increased close to 2,000 students over the last three years to 26,708. A process to change neighborhood school boundaries began in September. It concluded last night as the district’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept a set of recommendations for boundary changes.

The changes enable the district to most efficiently use current school buildings to house the growing enrollment.

“We have this issue because we have more and more students coming to our schools,” noted Jackie Pendergrass, president of the district’s Board of Directors. “They deserve to have a place to be educated.”  Read More >>

OPINION: Board's decision on reboundary is disappointing

OPINION, By Ritu/Reetu Gupta, Parent and Taxpayer

 

I am very disappointed by the decision made by the board yesterday to move forward with the recommendation of re-boundary. Board meeting felt like a pre-scripted play where outcome was already determined and meeting was just a formality. Ironically board and district were patting on their backs for how wonderful job district has done while room was packed with unsatisfied parents and tax payers complaining about the process, lack of communication, and irresponsible recommendations by the district.

 

A decision to put more students in overcrowded EMS while you have close to over 200 available capacity in Rose Hill and Finn Hill Middle School is most reckless decision I have seen. It’s like giving one extra push to someone who is already slipping (EMS), instead of giving them a helping hand and rescue them.  Read More >>

Avoid IRS Telephone Scams This Tax Season

 

With recent reports of tax scams in the 2015 tax filing season, Redmond Police Department reminds citizens to avoid being victimized over the telephone by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) impersonators.

The IRS reports a surge in phone scams in recent months. Agent impersonators are known to call citizens and demand payment, sometimes threatening police arrest, deportation and license revocation. Scam artists often alter caller ID numbers to make it appear like the IRS is calling and use fake names and badge numbers. The criminals rely on such threats to scare citizens into providing their financial information. Those whose first language is not English and the elderly community are among the most commonly targeted groups.

The IRS will never initiate first contact with taxpayers over the phone; notification is typically made via mail. A new video was recently released by the IRS with tips to avoid being scammed.

The IRS will never:

• Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
• Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
• Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here's what you should do:

• If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS workers can help you with a payment issue.
• If you know you don't owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to the TIGTA at 1-800-366-4484 or at tigta.gov.
• If you've been targeted by this scam, also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their "FTC Complaint Assistant" at FTC.gov. Please add "Telephone Scam" to the comments of your complaint.

OPINION: Superintendent Traci Pierce's controversial boundary recommendation, By Julianne Bogaty

OPINION:  The larger Redmond school community will voice concerns at tonight's meeting of the Lake Washington School District board, which is scheduled to vote on Superintendent Traci Pierce's controversial reboundary recommendation. In the aftermath of three failed ballot measures to expand school capacity, the proposal would send more students from other areas to already-overcrowded Evergreen Middle School in unincorporated Redmond (adding more portables there, for a total of 13). Community members are asking the district to first utilize empty permanent classrooms at nearby schools such as the newly modernized Rose Hill Middle School, which is closer to Redmond Elementary than Evergreen and recently expanded to a spacious building capacity of 921. The new Tesla STEM school could also house a special program such as Quest (for highly capable students).

 

The superintendent's proposal calls for Evergreen Middle School's original building capacity of 672 to jump to 1,120 students—55 percent over capacity. The fiscally irresponsible plan would also spend $2.5 million of remaining capital funds to add four portables and restroom portables to the nine portables already on site at Evergreen, while shrinking teacher-planning space to squeeze in even more kids. Meanwhile Redmond Middle School, a school with a larger original capacity of 841 within City of Redmond limits, would be a smaller 32 percent over its original capacity (not the true "rebalancing" the district claims). Since the district is only permitted to add one more portable at Redmond Middle School, other area schools with excess space such as Rose Hill Middle School and Tesla STEM should first be utilized before sending Evergreen 55 percent over capacity. Evergreen's current, significant issues with traffic safety, overcrowded buses, sewer and water will be even more compounded with such a high enrollment. Crowds are also an issue for hallways, cafeteria, lockers, sports and electives, as there is simply not enough space to contain all students.

When:

TONIGHT, Monday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. (start of board meeting, which includes 30-minute public-comment period on the reboundary topic)

 

Where:

Board Room, LWSD Resource Center

(near the Marriott at Redmond Town Center)
16250 NE 74th Street
Redmond, WA 98052