Two Ultraviolet Sanitizing Machines Donated to EvergreenHealth

Anonymous Donor Gifts EvergreenHealth Foundation Two Ultraviolet Sanitizing Machines to 

Support the Health and Safety of Patients and Staff

Advanced UV-C technology kills infection-causing pathogens to provide another layer of protection

Kirkland, Wash. – An anonymous donor recently provided a generous grant to the EvergreenHealth Foundation for the purchase of two additional Clorox Healthcare^® Optimum-UV™ Enlight Systems in recognition of the hospital’s comprehensive infection control plan and adept response to COVID-19. Following standard cleaning and disinfecting procedures, the mobile Optimum-UV™ Enlight System is used to ensure even hard-to-reach areas are thoroughly treated with short-wavelength ultraviolet light, or UV-C, which eliminates dangerous pathogens in 20 minutes or fewer.

Outdoor Census Art

Outdoor art is reminding citizens to register for the Census 2020.  Four other pieces have been scattered around town.  Have you seen any of them?  There is one on Avondale (westside.) This one is in the Downtown Park.

-- Photo by Yoder

Sammamish River Pond Nature Photos By John Reinke

Male Western Tanager (top)  Green Heron with frog (bottom)

Redmond Middle School Responds To COVID-19 Crisis

The Heroes Of Horace Mann

Horace Mann teachers are heroes!

Horace Mann Students Give Thanks To Their Teachers

Students and parents of Horace Mann El. give thanks to their teachers. "We Miss You" is spelled out by punching red plastic cups through the fence. 5/12/2020

The Redmond Historical Society Wants You To Share Your Story

REDMOND, WA - History is happening - around the world, and right here in Redmond. In an effort to document the effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on our community, the Redmond Historical Society is collecting personal histories from Redmond residents and community members.

To submit a personal statement or to record your observations, visit RedmondHistoricalSociety.org and click on the “Share My Story” button. These submissions will be included in the Historical Society’s archives, and provide a firsthand account for future historians.

While you are writing, they ask that you consider the following: How has COVID-19 affected your day-to-day life? How has it impacted your ability to work, or go to school? What changes have you observed in your community? How will this pandemic impact the future of your community?

In addition to first hand accounts, digital archives and physical artifacts will be an important part of documenting this unusual time. Do you have newspaper articles, photographs, temporary closure signs, or other items related to COVID-19’s impact on Redmond? Please contact the Redmond Historical Society at manager@RedmondHistoricalSociety.org or 425-885-2919 for more information on how to make a donation. 

Councilmember Jessica Forsythe, Position 3

Jessica Forsythe is an award-winning Creative Director and owner of a small graphic design studio which works primarily with clients who seek to better their community. Ms. Forsythe is a thoughtful, creative thinker who takes a holistic approach to every project. She believes strongly in being involved at the local level and knows first-hand the impact one person can have on their community.

Originally from Northeast Ohio, Jessica graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design with a concentration in Environmental Design. She has worked in environmental design, architecture, branding, and was the Art Director for the Seattle Symphony. She has volunteered with numerous community and charity organizations, most notably her decade-long involvement with Help Portrait International for which she is the Founder of the Redmond, Washington Chapter. Jessica has also served on various non-profit boards including the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County Executive Board and as the c3 Treasurer.

She enjoys hiking, running, cycling, kayaking, skiing, and rock climbing.

Jessica upset Hank Margeson in the 2019 election. 

-- redmond.gov

2020 Census Art

Pam  wearing mask in Downtown Park

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond has partnered with Centro Cultural Mexicano and King County’s 4Culture Creative Consultancy grant program to promote the 2020 Census through art. Over the next few months, residents of Redmond will find five vibrant sculptures created by local artists Angie Hinojos Yusuf and Carlos Jimenez in key locations throughout the City.

All five sculptures debuted in Downtown Park this month and will be there until May 15 before being deployed across the City of Redmond for the remainder of the summer. Centro Cultural Mexicano will host a virtual scavenger hunt to find each sculpture and to post the images on social media. Learn more on their Facebook page @centroculturalmexicano.

Redmond Parks Are Open

City Parks are open, but we don't know if the restrooms are open

Need For Behavioral Health Services - COVID-19

Amy Blondin, Chief Communications Officer Health Care Authority 360-688-0131

Need for behavioral health services anticipated to grow during COVID-19 pandemic; HCA secures funding to significantly expand services

Funding will expand crisis counseling support, treatment for substance use disorder

Camp Murray, WA — The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) has secured more than $4 million in federal funding to respond to increased behavioral health service needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a time of great stress, uncertainty and isolation, and we must ensure that the well-being of Washingtonians is addressed. That includes making sure they can get the mental health counseling and substance use disorder treatment they need,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “These new resources will help meet the needs of residents as we all navigate this unprecedented, challenging time.”

“As Washington residents grapple with the stress and uncertainties of this time, we need to be sure there is an adequate support system to meet their needs and help them cope,” HCA Director Sue Birch said. “These grants will create and contribute to services to help our families, friends and neighbors during these times.”

The grants will help ensure Washington residents have access to mental health counseling and substance use disorder treatment:

• A $2.2 million Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) grant through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency. HCA will roll out a program called Washington Listens that helps reach people who are affected by the stress of the outbreak.

LWSD Refinances Bonds

Taxpayers Save $18.6 Million

Redmond, Wash. - On April 30, 2020, Lake Washington School District (LWSD) sold a total of $118.85 million of tax-exempt refunding bonds, which will refinance $134 million of its existing debt, to take advantage of lower market interest rates. The refinancing will save the District’s taxpayers more than $18.6 million over the next nine years. 

SR 520 Trail Grade Separation

Project Overview

Washington State has provided funds to grade separate the 520 Trail from vehicles at NE 40th Street. The project will construct a tunnel under NE 40th Street near the westbound SR 520 ramps.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements

The tunnel will enhance safety by moving much of the pedestrian and bicycle traffic away from the vehicular traffic on NE 40th Street. Travel times will also be reduced as tunnel users will not have to wait for the traffic signal. The tunnel is expected to attract additional walking and biking traffic to the area by increasing access to the freeway flyer stop, the Redmond Technology Light Rail Station, and Microsoft.

Project Number:  SEPA-2019-00967
Project Type:  State Environmental Policy Act
SEPA Project Details (PDF)

Related Environmental Documents
Hazardous Material Report (PDF)
Storm Drainage Report (PDF)

City Leadership Proposes Budget Reductions

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Redmond has identified approximately 6.3 million dollars in proposed budget reductions. These include a combination of temporarily decreasing the 2020 investment in the Capital Improvement Program, reducing ongoing service and supplies, eliminating nine staff positions which are currently vacant, and freezing all non-critical expenditures. These proposed reductions will balance the expected deficit in the current budget, but if conditions remain as they are currently, additional reductions will be needed in the 2021-2022 budget. City Council will review the detailed program cuts and policy adjustment at the Finance, Administration and Communications Committee of the Whole meeting on May 26, and vote on the final budget adjustment in June.

redmond.gov

Large Woodbridge Project Under Review

THE WOODBRIDGE PROJECT: (Under review.)  The project is proposing a 170 for-sale dwelling units (17 of which will be affordable) and consists of 118 townhomes and 52 carriage flat condominiums. 2.67 acres of open space and associated infrastructure upgrades are also planned as part of this development. The Master Plan proposes to increase the housing diversity within the City and provide a school bus shelter, a pedestrian connection of Woodbridge Community, and the dwelling units are to be built to 3-Star Built Green standards. The project will extend 191st Avenue NE north to NE 70th Street and construct NE 70th Street from 188th Avenue NE to the project site.

Project context:

Project Context The proposed project is located within the Southeast Redmond Neighborhood and is zoned Northeast Design District (NDD1). The site is approximately 11.94-acres in size and is currently undeveloped. The site was previously used as an industrial gravel pit and contains manmade steep slopes on the east, west, and south portions of the site. It is bounded by rural Unincorporated King County to the east, Woodbridge single-family community to the south, an undeveloped lot and Southeast Redmond Park to the west, and Cadman industrial gravel pit to the north. The Northeast Design District (NDD1) zone is in a unique location. It includes both heavy industrial uses and residential uses, as well as protected natural environment to the east. NDD1 is intended to create a transition from the more intensive heavy industrial uses to less intensive single-family uses through thoughtful siting of buildings, vegetated buffers, and parks. To ensure that transition between industrial uses and placement of residential is effective, the zone includes additional standards that apply to site design.

Public Hearing is August 18, 2020

EvergreenHealth Prepares for Second Arm of Clinical Trial After Initial Findings Show Promising Results for Remdesivir as Potential Treatment for COVID-19

Kirkland, Wash. – Following yesterday’s announcement from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), EvergreenHealth is preparing to move forward with the next phase of clinical research studying the anti-viral Remdesivir as a potential treatment for COVID-19. The trial known as the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial, (ACTT), sponsored by the NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health, is the first clinical trial launched in the United States to evaluate an experimental treatment for COVID-19. 

The second phase of the trial, ACTT II, will eliminate the placebo group, and instead provide all study participants with Remdesivir to further evaluate its effectiveness against the virus. The new protocol will also allow for patients currently enrolled in the study and receiving the placebo, to roll over into the group receiving open-label Remdesivir. This means that the nine patients currently in EvergreenHealth’s care and enrolled in the study will now all be eligible to receive open-label Remdesivir, as opposed to the placebo. 

According to Gilead and the NIH, results from the trial’s primary ACTT phase, which included 1,063 participants across 68 trial sites, showed that hospitalized patients with advanced symptoms of COVID-19 who received Remdesivir recovered 31% more quickly than those who received the placebo. Results also suggested a survival benefit, with a mortality rate of 8.0% for the group receiving Remdesivir versus 11.6% for the placebo group.

“We are very pleased by the initial findings of the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial, and incredibly honored to contribute to this significant body of research in the fight against COVID-19,” said Jeff Tomlin, MD, CEO of EvergreenHealth.

Kirkland, Washington-based EvergreenHealth was the first site on the west coast, and the second site globally, to enroll qualifying patients in the Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT) in partnership with the NIH’s Division of Microbiology and Infectious Disease (DMID). Normally an eight- to 12-week onboarding process, the hospital was able to launch the trial within only six days in collaboration with DMID partners, who arrived on site on March 7. EvergreenHealth has remained one of the top-enrolling trial sites throughout the first arm of the study, with 34 patients enrolled at present.

“From the very beginning, I’ve been inspired by the way every one of our staff members has jumped into action to come together and launch these research efforts as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Diego Lopez de Castilla, EvergreenHealth infectious disease specialist and lead investigator for the ACTT. “From our nursing to pharmacy teams, it is amazing and humbling to witness this level of teamwork and dedication to exploring new opportunities to potentially advance our ability to provide treatment options for critically ill COVID-19 patients.”

Summer Events Cancelled

Redmond, WA – Out of an abundance of caution, the City of Redmond has canceled all City produced summertime events, including Derby Days, the Rockin’ on the River concert series, So Bazaar, and Big Truck Day. All permitted special events scheduled through August 31, 2020, are also canceled, and the City is working closely with the event producers to cancel or postpone their events. In addition, the previous cancellation through April 30 of all spring camps, activities and rentals, has now been extended through June 20.

Sammamish River Goslings

Photo Credit/ John Reinke

Geese with their five goslings - swimming on the Sammamish River, Redmond

A Message From Mayor Birney - Coronavirus Update

The safety of the community and our employees is always at the forefront of all decisions being made by the City during this unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation. Recently the media has reported several inaccuracies related to the City’s response to employees that tested positive for COVID-19. To provide the Redmond community with continued transparency, I’d like to take this opportunity to provide you with the facts.

First COVID-19 Positive Case: (Employee 1)

The City was made aware of the first employee positive COVID-19 case on March 12. Employee 1, who tested positive, was off work starting on March 6 and did not show any symptoms until March 9. Prior to March 6, the employee was symptom-free. 

At no time did the City instruct the Fire Command staff to stay quiet. 

Redmond Fire Chief Told To Stay Quiet About Having Coronavirus

https://www.kuow.org/stories/redmond-covid-19-leaders-told-to-stay-quiet-about-their-positive-results-sources-say

Those who got coronavirus were Redmond Fire Chief Tommy Smith, emergency manager Pattijean Hooper, deputy fire chief Don Horton, program coordinator Janeen Olson, and battalion chief Tom Langton.

Mayor Birney said she was limited by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and that she couldn’t require staff to inform her of their positive results, and couldn’t share the number of positives, even when withholding names, with people.

Councilmember Varsha Kahn said,"In a time of public crisis, our city leadership could have aspired to a higher bar by being transparent and honest, but instead decided to function behind closed doors and by lying," Khan said. "Disregard for the public and the truth is not governance."

Excerpts from--KUOW, NPR, 4/8 article

Goose Nesting On 95th Street Pond Tree

Photo by John Reinke 

This is one "smart" Redmond goose!

Carol Helland Appointed City Of Redmond's New Director Of Planning And Community Development

Redmond, WA – At last night’s meeting, Redmond City Council approved Mayor Angela Birney's appointment of Carol Helland as the new Director of Planning and Community Development. Carol previously served as deputy planning director and began serving as interim planning director after Erika Vandenbrande announced her retirement in January this year.

“In her time with the City, Carol has shown she has the experience, knowledge, and dedication to positively lead Redmond’s Planning and Community Development Department,” said Mayor Angela Birney. “She has provided effective guidance, advice, and counsel to the Mayor, City Council, and staff on community development and land use, and we look forward to her continued contributions to the Redmond community.”

Before joining the City of Redmond in 2019 as the deputy planning director, Carol served the City of Bellevue as its Land Use Director. She has over 30 years of land use, planning, environmental, governmental affairs, and legal experience in local government and as a practicing attorney. As an attorney, she focused her practice on land use and environmental law, and during the 1990s, she served on the City of Redmond Planning Commission. Carol and her family have lived in the City of Redmond since 1989 and feel a deep connection to the people and places that make Redmond a wonderful place to live.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to lead the dedicated and talented Planning and Community Development staff as their Director. “I am also excited to join the City’s executive team in service to the community where my husband and I have raised our children and lived for more than 30 years.”

A Comedy Video

Chasing An Otter

I finally got out this afternoon for a walk along the Sammamish River, starting at the south end of the Opportunity Bldg.  I headed south toward Marymoor Park.  As the weather was mild and somewhat sunny, the trail was fairly busy.  I had almost reached the Redmond Way Overpass when I noticed a young couple intently staring across the river at the fairly steep and wooded west bank.

I approached them and asked them what they were looking at.  When they whispered "otter", I immediately began getting my camera in gear.  Sure enough, I quickly spotted a solitary otter about ten or twelve yards uphill from the water's edge.  With its thick dark brown fur coat, it was the largest one I have ever seen in this area. It briefly nosed and shuffled about with its typical slinky gait, before suddenly ambling downhill and launching itself into the river.

I snapped off a few shots as it did so, hoping that at least one of them would turn out well.  It began swimming north (with the current) at a rapid rate.  The young couple scrambled out ahead of me and followed it north at a fast pace along the trail.  I got going behind them, pushing myself to keep up with them.  We constantly glanced over to the river to see if the otter was still moving ahead, or had decided to stop.  However, it continued paddling quickly and we did our best to stay even with it.

We eventually rushed out onto the promontory that overlooks the river at the south end of the Opportunity Building, believing we had managed to get a few yards ahead of it.  However, we failed to see any further sign of the otter and had to give up the chase.  It was a marvelous experience, and certainly provided me with a more strenuous outing than I had originally anticipated.

Photo and story by John Reinke

Cabin Fever? Try a 7 Minute Workout

Adjust the cadence to meet your needs.

New York Times slideshow