UPDATED: EvergreenHealth Honors Third Quarter 2016 Health Heroes

EvergreenHealth Honors Third Quarter 2016 Health Heroes

Kirkland, Wash. – EvergreenHealth is pleased to announce the recipients of its Health Hero award for the third quarter of 2016. The award is given quarterly to staff, providers, volunteers and teams across the health system who work to provide patients and families with the best possible care and experience, exemplifying the core values of compassion, collaboration, accountability, respect and excellence that EvergreenHealth is built upon.

“Bestowing this award is one of a handful of ways we thank employees and providers for their commitment to offering exceptional care and service to the patients and families in the community we serve,” said EvergreenHealth CEO Bob Malte. “We applaud this quarter’s Health Hero recipients for continually displaying excellence in their field and embodying the values and principles that represent our health care system.”

The third quarter’s Health Hero award recipients are recognized for their ability to provide superior care and experiences that demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of those they serve. These awards span multiple “hero” categories that include clinical, physician, patient safety, organizational, volunteer and team. The third quarter “heroes” are:

·         Clinical Hero: Mariana Shank, Physical Therapy

·         Physician Hero: David Island, PA-C, Emergency Department

·         Patient Safety Hero: Kira Maloof, RN, Surgical Services

·         Organizational Hero: Jeff Sterritt, Health Unit Coordinator, Family Maternity Center

·         Volunteer Hero: Alex Llop, Emergency Department

·         Team Hero: Security & Safety Team

The Health Hero award program acknowledges the efforts of employees and providers who consistently display EvergreenHealth’s core values while working interminably to ensure patients receive exceptional care. EvergreenHealth Health Heroes receive a personalized trophy at a ceremony where they are honored by an audience of more than 50 organizational leaders.

Editor's Note:  I'm not sure if a volunteer Community Advisor has ever received or been considered for a Health Hero award. If not, then I encourage the Administration to do so.  Advisors make recommendations to the Board and CEO and are critical to the success of the organization.            

ATTN: Middle school students and old timers: Don't miss the "Salmon in the Forest" event!

 The Trout Steam Exhibit is totally amazing!  

“Deep Forest” printed with permission from artist Ray Troll, www.trollart.com and new 

NW Stream Center interpretive sign focal point

On Thursday, October 13th, 3PM the Adopt A Stream Foundation (AASF) is presenting Salmon in the Forest at the Northwest Stream Center in Snohomish County’s Mc Collum Park (600-128th Street SE, Everett WA 98209).  

This  unique event is geared for middle school kids to old-timers.  After viewing trout, sculpin, crawfish, and fresh water mussels through viewing windows into a very unique Trout Stream Exhibit, you will see a wonderful 45-minute film called the Salmon Forest (narrated by Dr. David Suzuki). Then, you will enjoy a naturalist led tour of the new 1/2 mile long Elevated Nature Walk through the Northwest Stream Center’s own Salmon Forest.  

Reservations are required by calling 425-316-8592: $7 Adopt A Stream Foundation Members; $10 non-members; attendance is limited to 30 per event.  The trail along the Trout Stream Exhibit and the Elevated Nature Walk are universally accessible.

“The Salmon Forest film presents the fragile connection between salmon, bears, trees and people in NW rainforest,” say AASF Director Tom Murdoch.   Everyone who has attended past Salmon in the Forest events raved:  “It was great” said Darlene Calene.  “I was amazed that I learned so much in such a short time!”  Julie Anne Billings added “It was a most interesting movie and I loved the Salmon in the Forest walk.

Hartman Pool Lifeguard Charged with Voyerism

King County District Court, Redmond, WA
(grabbed from the Internet)

Becky Range, Public Information Officer

brange@redmond.gov

425-556-2545

REDMOND, WA -  On October 4, 2016, Allen Sze, 25-yr-old WAVE Aquatics lifeguard, was charged by the King County Prosecutor's Office (KCPO) with eight counts of Voyeurism RCW 9A.44.115. Arraignment is scheduled for October 17, 2016 at the King County Courthouse.

On September 7, 2016 at 6:39 am, Redmond Police responded to the Hartman Pool located at 17535 NE 104th Street for the report of a cell phone found inside the WAVE Aquatics female staff locker room taped to a wall. Officers arrested Sze, who was there on-duty as a lifeguard. After interviewing Sze and searching all files on his phone and iPad, our investigation determined the following: 

• The phone was placed in only one location in the pool, the WAVE Aquatics female staff locker room. 
• There were nine videos on the phone, with dates ranging from June 30, 2016  – September 7, 2016, depicting what appear to be seven different females.
• We have no evidence that videos were shared.  

We identified three WAVE Aquatics staff members on the videos.  The four other victims have not been identified. Due to the sensitive nature of this case and the fact that all identified victims are minors, we have been very cautious with the identification process. We conducted this investigation with discretion, but also with investigative diligence to ensure the appropriate type and severity of criminal charges could be recommended.

Throughout this investigation, we coordinated closely with groups and local schools who utilize this facility.  Any pool patrons or residents with remaining questions are encouraged to contact us. 

For questions and more information, contact Becky Range, Public Information Officer, at brange@redmond.gov or 425-556-2545. 

Questions for WAVE Aquatics should be directed to Mr. Tyson Wellock attysonwellock@waveaquatics.org or 719-201-5691.

Mental Health illness is prevalent in our neighborhoods

One in 5 Americans live with a mental health condition 

This week is National Mental Health Awareness Week.  We have a lot of homelessness in our city and studies have shown about a quarter of them suffer from a severe mental health condition.  It can wreck a person's life.  

According to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) amazingly one in five Americans live with a mental health condition in a given year.   Your next door neighbor could well be struggling and you may never know it.  

If you or your friends want to learn more about brain disorders and their prevalence, Nami-Eastside, located in downtown Redmond, has an excellent video.  

Bob Yoder

www.nami.org

http://www.nami-eastside.org/tablet/about-us.html

Five musical events, somewhere on or near Redmond Way

To attract residents to businesses suffering from the construction on Redmond Way, the city started at "Dig Downtown Redmond" campaign of entertainment events.  The events are held on Monday evenings. The hitch is you have to drive around the downtown roads to find them...kinda like "hide and seek."

Three events have been already held; unfortunately I couldn't find any of them. Please comment below this post if any of you know where they were held, so we can drive down there and support those businesses.  Thanks!

Five events remain in the line-up.

October 3: "Barbershop & Acapello"
October 10 "Tropic Tonight"
October 17 "Brass Attack"
October 24 "World and Jazz"
October 21 "Downtown Spooky Town"

They sound very enticing.  Maybe I'll see you there!  Questions?  E-mail Nicole Wiebe, Community Outreach Coordinator, nwieb@redmond.gov

Happy hunting,

Bob Yoder

Witness the salmon journey through Redmond and Woodinville

Water Tenders educating children at Bear Creek in Woodinville on the Tolt Pipeline trail

Native salmon – sockeye, chinook, coho and chum – have begun their journey from the open ocean to their birthplaces in the streams and rivers that feed into Puget Sound. You may be able to witness their amazing journey at locations around King County.

Best viewing late September to mid-November (self-guided daily during KIS Farm hours)Bear Creek in Redmond, 12526 Avondale Rd. NE
For info on docent-led visits: Linda at 425-882-1846 or lyhussey@comcast.net 

Oct. 5 and 12 (3-6 p.m.); Oct. 8,9,15 and 16 (1-4 p.m.) Bear Creek in Woodinville, on the Tolt Pipeline trail 
More info: 206-437-8754
Sponsored by Water Tenders

10/26 UPDATE: About "Us" - why I write this blog

Bob Yoder, Editor and Scribbler
older photo

As you will find, my blog is a one-man show...so here goes:    

I'm 66 years old, have lived in Redmond 36 years, and started blogging about 11 years ago.  When I moved here from the mid-west, to sell medical supplies, Redmond was a rural one-stoplight town.  We loved visiting the downtown feed store to play with the chicks; golf the downtown course; drive through the horse farms, line up at for ice cream at Thenos and generally just enjoy a peaceful lifestyle away from the big city.  

In the early 2000's, things started to change -- developers moved into our Education Hill neighborhood leveling evergreens. The City of Redmond's, less-then-perfect public notice of an environmentally sensitive project provoked me to start my blog to "get the word out." I've been writing it ever since under the well known premise that governments fostering  "transparency and citizen participation" are good governments.    

Since local print media doesn't cover all our community news and minority opinion, I do a lot of general reporting and story-telling.  I'm especially interested in our local environment, student education, and now mental health advocacy. You'll see more posts on Redmond's natural resources, fine schools and soon advocacy for the mentally ill and disabled.  A life-threatening brain disorder is generational in my family.       

One of my favorite activities is watching the City Council and Mayor on RC-TV.  Yes, I'm a government wonk. However, now that Council holds meetings in our neighborhoods I'm more of a community advocate than activist.  My interest in city government extends into governance reporting of our school district and local public hospital district. 

Investigation, analysis and input on the school district's old organizational chart and their leadership roles furthers accountability and transparency.  And, after a very prolonged, testy investigation involving blog leverage, EvergreenHeath hospital began day-lighting their government and re-focused their attention to customer service, revamping website pages.

So now you know something About "Us."  :) 

Cheers, 

Bob Yoder

Disclaimer:  I'm a Seattle Times news partner, but by far no where close to a citizen-journalist.  Errors. omissions and miss-representations occur on a regular basis; and my posts aren't always sourced. ,

Email:  redmondblog@gmail.com. Twitter: @RedmondNeighbor    Facebook Page:   Subscribe by email  Sign up for membership to Friends Who Like Neighborhood Blog

Privacy Statement:    Facebook and Redmond Neighborhood Blog comments are very rarely posted. If possible, I'll contact the author before posting.  

The downtown salmon are here!

Credit: John Reinke

Have you been out yet to look for the salmon migrating up the river and into Bear Creek?  John Reinke, an Education Hill resident, known for his downtown nature photography, saw salmon jumping under the 80th Street Bridge yesterday. Here's one of his pictures!  

It's funny, I went upstream to the Bear Creek nature park behind Safeway yesterday and couldn't find any.  I saw a lot of people enjoying the park and looking for these amazing, colorful fish.  My guess is they'll make it up here by early October?

I hope you're enjoying these beautiful Autumn days!

--Bob Yoder

UPDATED,9/28 We know who runs the district's facility planning and transportation team, but what's "Support Services?"

OPINION: Yeah!  Superintendent Dr. Traci Pierce revamped the school district's organizational chart; more importantly she is now posting the job descriptions of her Leadership team!  This is a significant improvement in governance transparency.

 grabbed from the Internet 

Now we know Forest Miller is responsible for facilities planning and transportation! His title is "Director of Support Services." -- it's kinda confusing. From my limited knowledge, his participation during Bond Task Force meetings was, in part, over-ridden by one of the superintendents and, in my opinion, this led to a lack of confidence within the community.  Do you remember the negative Letters to the Editor?

Last week, my wife and I attended the North Redmond Elementary school meeting at City Hall. Mr. Miller gave a super 30 minute presentation on the proposed school and actively participated in the poster sessions.  He's an approachable professional, kind, and an excellent speaker.  I'm so happy Forest was taken out of his cubical so we could see his true talents and feel more confident about how our new schools are built and district land is acquired.

We also know Janene Fogard is the district's Chief Operating Officer!  Yet, at the North Redmond El presentation she was introduced by her old title, "Deputy Superintendent of Support Services."   Huh? What does that tell us, other than she's important?

As COO she has a huge responsibility -- oversight of district finances and the budget (still not transparent), oversight of the district computers and software, oversight of facilities planning, oversight of transportation....and on. For accountability alone, it's important we know she's the COO, not just someone in charge of Support Services.

Bob Yoder

The City hosts Archaeology Day at Lower Bear Creek

REDMOND, WA - The City hosts 2016 Archaeology Day, part of an annual global exploration of archeology, on Saturday, October 15, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Bear Creek project director Dr. Robert Kopperl will be presenting at the new overlook of the Lower Bear Creek habitat restoration area across form 164th Ave. NE along the Bear Creek recreational trail. Participants will have the opportunity to find out more about the Bear Creek study, new knowledge gleaned from the site, and the broader picture of the past as seen in our archaeological heritage.

The Bear Creek site, located in the heart of the City of Redmond, is the oldest excavated archaeological site with stone tools in Western Washington. It was first identified in 2008 during a routine environmental survey for a City habitat restoration project, and since then it has generated a wealth of information about Native American life from over 10,000 years ago near the outlet of Lake Sammamish.

Dr. Kopperl will be on-hand to informally provide information about the Bear Creek site and to answer questions about the project and Washington state’s shared archaeological heritage.

Learn more about the Bear Creek site here.