Bill Gates provides guideposts for nation's governors on education: effective teachers, larger class sizes, charter public schools and no furlough days

Bill Gates addressing National Governor's
Association, February 28, 2011

Bill Gates provides guideposts for nation's governors on education: effective teachers, larger class sizes, charter public schools and no furlough days

March 2, 2011 by Liv Finne

Bill Gates, in Monday’s speech before the National Governor’s Association, offered practical policy changes to improve education within existing revenues. Mr. Gates’ recommendations echo research and recommendations for improving education from Washington Policy Center.

Mr. Gates challenged the view that reducing class size is the best way to improve student achievement. He pointed out that this view has driven school budget increases for more than 50 years, so that today, U.S. schools have almost twice as many teachers per student as they did in 1960. In 1960 the ratio of students to public school employees was 20 to 1; today that ratio is 8 to 1.

Mr. Gates notes that increased staffing and spending have failed to yield the desired results. Student achievement is roughly the same today as it was in 1960. Mr. Gates observed that we have poured money into proxies for improving education, like smaller class sizes, automatic salary increases based on seniority and a pay bump for earning an advanced degree. None of these expenditures has been shown to improve student learning.  Read more >>

Read More >>

Microsoft's Bing gains search engine ground on Google

Microsoft's Bing gains search engine ground on Google:

"Microsoft’s Bing saw its search traffic increase by 5 percent in February, according to Experian Hitwise.

Bing had 13.5 percent of the internet searches in the U.S. in February, according to the latest Hitwise Search Engine Analysis report released today. Bing’s searches grew 21 percent in January.

Google is still the dominate search engine, with nearly 67 percent of searches in the U.S. That is down 2 percent from January, according to Hitwise.

Yahoo had 15 percent of the U.S. searches in February, up 3 percent. The report was first reported by Geekwire.com."

By Greg Lamm
TechFlash, 3/10

LW District music students win big at Northlake Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival

Lake Washington District music students win big at Northlake Regional Solo & Ensemble Festival

On Saturday, February 12, students from each LWSD high school performed at The Northlake Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival held at Bothell High School. Below are the results by school.

The state contest (for winners in each category) is at Central Washington University in Ellensburg on April 29 and 30.

Read More for complete list of music students, by school >>

College lacrosse action this weekend on the Plateau!

Attention:   Lacrosse players, aficionados, youth, parents and public-at-large!  

Ever wanted to see lacrosse?   Learn the fine points of the game?  Or just lay back and enjoy the action of "the fastest game on two feet?"   This weekend and next you'll have great opportunities to watch lacrosse played at a very high level right in your own back yard!

Admission $5/game or $10 for all three!  Players wearing their lacrosse team jersey get in free. 

Next Weekend of  Friday, March 18.: See a marquee match up of two Top 10 MCLA lacrosse teams face-off in our own backyard:   Eastside Catholic School, Sammamish, WA.

Friday March 18 @7pm at the Eastside Catholic School Stadium
#9 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY vs. #4 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO

Redmond Boys and Girls Lacrosse websites are found here! Join a team! Register! Learn about the game!

Source:  Redmond Boys Lacrosse website  (girls lacrosse websites are linked)

Large Metro transit service reductions forecast for 2012 - 2015

Redmond transit but stop

Large Metro transit service reductions are forecast of 2012 - 2015 owing to a drop in sales tax revenues.

During this week's Redmond city council study session some startling statistics for King County's Metro transit were laid out:  

• 62% of Metro's budget is supplied by sales tax
• During 2008 - 2010 sales tax revenue dropped significantly.
• Large service service reductions are forecast for 2012 - 2015.
• A shortfall of 600,000 hours of existing bus service could result in 2012 -2015
• 600,000 lost hours of service is equivalent to all the service provided by Metro buses on the Eastside OR all weekend service in King County.
• Population is expected to increase 42% by 2040 and jobs up by 57%. 
• The average cost per ride is $11-12/ride in King County. In high density areas like Queen Ann service cost drops to ~$2.00/ride.
• King County Metro service hours are approaching 3 million/year.
• King County Metro is in the Top 10 of all transit providers in the country.

Last year, King County Council formed a "Regional Transit Task Force" of thirty members to set-up a policy framework plan for growth and contraction of the Metro transit system.  After seven months of work, the task force recommended new performance measures and follow-up from a 2009 audit.  Social and geographic equity, environmental sustainability, and population density were key factors in their review.

Jim Stanton, Microsoft's representative and member of the Regional Task Force stated bus "transit is an essential public facility" and helps to move 40,000 Microsoft employees to job and education centers.

Mayor John Marchione is a member of the King County Metro Transit Board.

Reported by Bob Yoder
Source:  Redmond City Study Session, 3/8
Internet photo

Spring Training Registration for Mustang Baseball and RW Little League. Coach Pudwill's Redmond Mustangs ranked 41st nationally.

REDMOND MUSTANG SPRING TRAINING,  March 29 -31

9 hours of Spring Break Baseball camp instruction for ages 7-12, beginning March 29, 30, 31 from 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM at Hartman Park. Includes a free T shirt. No experience necessary.

"Led by Coach Dan Pudwill and his Redmond High School staff, ranked #1 in the state and ranked 41st nationally by Baseball America. At least four of the starters will be attending Division 1 Colleges next year and playing baseball. This may be the first time this many players of this caliber have played on a local high school team. It's a great opportunity for young players to develop their skills and hang out with the team.

The Redmond Mustangs have set their 2011 schedule. It features six non-league contests, beginning with two match-ups against Kingco 3A opponents, Mt. Si and Juanita. From there, the Mustangs will board a bus and head to the Tri-Cities to take on the talent laden Southridge Suns. Other non-league contests, played in the midst of the Redmond Kingco 4A conference schedule, include the continued rivalry with Lake Washington and a first time meeting with Shorewood. The entire schedule is found here - REDMOND MUSTANG 2011 BASEBALL SCHEDULE."

First game of the season, Monday, March 14, 6 pm HARTMAN FIELD vs. Mt. Si.
Second game of season , Wednesday, March 16, 6 pm HARTMAN FIELD vs. Juanita

Source:  Redmond Mustang Baseball website

###

REDMOND WEST LITTLE LEAGUE, MARCH 18

“Hey RWLL Players – looking for something to do during the week of

Break? Want to improve your baseball skills? Then consider attending the Lake Washington Kangs Baseball training camp.   (Softball training camps weren't advertised on the RWLL site).

Read More about the clinic >>

5th Avenue Theatre, Evergreen Hospital, Together Center host Brain Health events.

A Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner musical 

 5TH AVENUE THEATRE
"Next To Normal" Musical,  5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle - A women and her family dealing with Bipolar disorder in an otherwise normal life.  Critically acclaimed.  Ticket and Details here.  March 8 - 13, 2pm and 7pm shows.

EVERGREEN HOSPITAL
Charles Radican, MA presents An Educational Forum On “Multiple Personality Disorder: Can You Identify?” March 15, 7-9 pm

Davie Avery, MD presents An Educational Forum On "Psychiatric Illness and Sleep: Synchronization of Body Clocks as Treatment"   April 19, 7-9 pm

TOGETHER CENTER - Redmond
Free Training - National Alliance of Mentally Ill,  Redmond 
March 15, 2011: "Special Needs ...Caring for Loved Ones under Unique Circumstances”

March 18-20, 2011: Peer-to-Peer:
Peer-to-Peer is one of NAMI’s signature programs. It is a unique, experiential learning program for people with any serious mental illness who are interested in establishing and maintaining their wellness and recovery.

April 15-17, 2011: Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

FOR DETAILS READ MORE >>

"The Legacy for Learning" luncheon and more!

A LEGACY FOR LEARNING LUNCHEON.  .

The Lake Washington Schools Foundation in Redmond, WA is pleased to announce its sixth annual A Legacy for Learning Luncheon on April 20 at Juanita High School.  Keynote speaker is Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, recently retired President and CEO of the Museum of Flight and veteran of five space shuttle mission.

This event is fun, informative, and brief (register from 11 to 11:15 AM, out by 12:30 PM), and comes with plenty of parking, good food, and good friends. Consider being a Table Captain and inviting up to nine education supporters to join you. Please contact Lisa Wylie. Smaller table groups are welcome, too. This year you can register on-line! The event is free but we suggest a contribution of $150 or more. Over the last six years, your donations have provided over $700,000 in grants to the students in our District.

THE FUTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN WASHINGTON STATE.

There has been a lot of news lately about our state budget and the deep cuts proposed for our colleges and universities.  READ MORE >>

LETTER: St. Jude applying for Tent City permit

 "St. Jude Ave.", TC-4  (two years ago)

Dear Bob,

Tent City 4 has asked St. Jude to host their homeless encampment this spring. We are in the process of the applying for a permit with the city. The proposed dates are from April 23 until near the end of July. This would be the third time that Tent City has visited Redmond.

Blessings,

Fr. Dave Rogerson
St. Jude Parish senior pastor
Redmond, WA.
425-883-7685

Photo By Yoder

from desk of Bob Yoder...
RNB is looking for comment balancing this entry.

COMMENT:   OK. We get it already - there are poor people who don't have permanent homes and live in tents. Poverty and homelessness are an age-old problem. We've seen Tent City up-close and what it's like to be homeless (twice so far) and I do have sympathy, but hosting a 10-week camp out every other summer just doesn't solve their long-term social, mental and economic problems and creates security problems for the neighborhood. Maybe St. Jude's should work on building and funding a transitional housing facility, but not in the middle of a residential neighborhood. 
 -- By Anonymous, 3/8

LETTER: Every elementary school in Lake Washington District needs a "walking school bus"

LETTER:  I'm often surprised at parents who drive their children to school when they only live a short 5-minute walk away. The school district is also guilty of wasting money on school bus trips to deliver kindergartners to their doorstep even if child lives less than a block from the school.  An adult has to be present to receive them from the bus, so why doesn't that adult just walk around the corner and pick them up rather than spending taxpayer dollars and polluting the environment with the bus trips?  This KING 5 News article describes a solution Horace Mann parents are using.  Every elementary school needs walking buses!

 -- Cathy Wittel,  Redmond Neighborhood Blog Fan, 3/4   (Published with Cathy's permission.  B.Y.)

Horace Mann Elementary

"Eastside school launches a walking school bus"
By TERESA YUAN / KING 5 News
updated 3/4/2011 

REDMOND, Wash. – A Redmond elementary school is attempting to buck a growing trend on how parents are getting their children to school these days.

According to a recently released National Household Travel survey, more parents are driving their kids to school even though they live less than two miles away.

That has caused some problems at Redmond’s Mann Elementary School.

READ MORE >>

Facts about Lake Washington School District spending and exam results

from the desk of WPC intern Kendra
UPDATED:  3/10/2011

Washington Policy Center (WPC)
PO Box 3643 Seattle, WA 98124
P 206-937-9691
http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/

Key Facts about Lake Washington Public Schools
February 2011

New research released by Washington Policy Center, a non-partisan public policy research think tank based in Seattle, provides key facts for the Lake Washington School District.  Education budgets in Washington State are at historic highs, reaching $10,200 per student statewide.  Average teacher pay in this area (LWSD) is $58,981. Yet, because of restrictive work rules and multi-layered bureaucracy, only 59 cents of every education dollar reaches the classroom and public school students continue to lag in academic achievement.

READ MORE (student failure rate, average teacher salary, superintendent salary, spending/pupil, etc.) >>

I-405 to close completely in Bellevue April 1-4 ; more news on "Good To Go"

No fooling: I-405 to close completely in Bellevue April 1 – 4

It’s no April Fool’s joke: We plan to close all lanes of I-405 in Bellevue in both directions the weekend of April 1 - 4 to remove the old NE 12th Street Bridge. The closure, between NE Eighth Street and SR 520, will start at 11 p.m. on Friday, April 1 until 4 a.m. Monday, April 4.

Nearly 450,000 vehicles travel through Bellevue on I-405 on a typical weekend so be sure to plan ahead. The bottom line: take alternate routes, avoid the area unless you plan to go to Bellevue, and plan for delays – even if you’re using I-5.

Removing the old bridge will allow crews to finish building a new, longer, wider bridge over I-405 at NE 12th Street.

Expect a busy construction season in King County

Road crews will be out in force over the next several months as our 2011 construction season gets under way. We just posted a map highlighting the major projects in King County. Check it out to learn how construction will affect your commuting routes later this year

Good To Go! staffing and website improvements underway

Read More >>

Redmond musician Clint McCune to play concert on Mt. Everest next month

Clint McCune and baby May
strum his graphite mountain guitar in
 SoulFood coffee house & bookstore 

OPINION:  Clint McCune, a popular local musician in Redmond, is going global.   He's climbing to a base camp on Mt. Everest with a co-worker, 5 international musicians, a novelist and DJ to sing to the world.  Their song is a voice for truth, harmony with earth and "a serenade to the Sherpa's mountain goddess of the earth."  Their purpose is not to "trek and conquer" but to "walk consciously, tour and broadcast an awareness of climate change".  Clint says, "now is the time to make a change and take action not just talk about it".

Clint's tour with co-worker John Mower starts this Friday, March 4, 8-10) at SoulFood bookstore elevation 43 feet!  Their destination? 17,590 feet up.  SoulFood is Clint and Sara's organic coffee shop located in Redmond Square next to Ben Franklin.  A map and hours of operation are here. This may be one of Soulfood's largest events - larger than when Redmond's poet laureate performed.  It's possible NPR will attend.  Clint's father hosted an outdoor show for KOMO for 20 years.  Hello media?  

Read More >>

Eastside residents invited to March 12th town hall with Reps. Eddy, Hunter, Tom

Washington State Legislature
48th Legislative District
Sen. Rodney Tom, Rep. Ross Hunter and Rep. Deb Eddy

Eastside residents invited to March 12th town hall with local legislators

The 2011 legislative session is now halfway through. State Sen. Rodney Tom (D-Bellevue) and Reps. Ross Hunter (D-Medina) and Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland) invite Eastside residents to a Town Hall on Saturday, March 12 for an update and discussion on the budget and other legislation of interest.

When: Saturday, March 12th at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Redmond City Hall (15670 NE 85th Street)

For more information, contact Representative Hunter’s Legislative Assistant Marilyn Pedersen at (360) 786-7936.

# # #

Contacts: Sen. Rodney Tom - (360) 786-7694 or rodney.tom@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Ross Hunter – (360) 786-7936 or ross.hunter@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Deb Eddy – (360) 786-7848 or deb.eddy@leg.wa.gov

Molbak's calendar for gardening seminars + March planting tips

Egon and Laina Molback
1957

Molbak's calendar for gardening seminars + March planting tips

The seed was planted in 1956. My parents, Egon and Laina Molbak arrived in rural Woodinville from Denmark. They brought with them a passion for gardening, and a dream of creating their own business that would take root and grow, and could be passed down from generation to generation.

Now over five decades later, the dream is in full bloom. Molbak’s has grown into one of the Northwest’s premier garden and home destinations.

Click here for tips and seminars:.

http://whatcounts.com/dm?id=8B21F91E40AB6E1CB436E44D57DFCF8607F4A5F21A2D3308

13625 NE 175th St.
Woodinville, WA 98072
email: contact_us@molbaks.comphone:
(425) 483-5000

LETTERS & COMMENTS: Post your opinions about Redmond light cameras here.

OPINIONS:  1900 red light camera violations have been reported between February 1 and March 1.  Redmond Police start writing $124 fines for red-light camera violations on March 3. 

You're invited to post your Letters and Opinions about Redmond's red light cameras here. All you have to do is write to redmondblog@gmail.com , or leave your name with a comment under any entry to post on this page.  Anonymous are posted as a Comment. 

LETTER:  I pass through the Union Hill/Avondale intersection three times a day/five days a week, and have nearly always seen the [red light camera] flash while I'm passing through. As with the previous two commenters, I have rarely seen any activity there that would have caught the attention of a police officer. It appears that 1,900 number is largely bloated by activity for which no police officer would have handed out a citation.

I'm deeply concerned by how this is going to play out starting Thursday.

Douglas Burchard
Rose Hill neighborhood
March 1, *Ref: 

Read More Letters and Comments >>

Redmond red light traffic cams catch 1,900 violations

RNB Editors Note:  As of 3/26 a petition has been circulated to ban red light cameras in Redmond.  http://bancams.com/petition/redmond/

Redmond red light traffic cams catch 1,900 violations

BY CHRIS SULLIVAN
KIRO Radio

Redmond police says they're frightened by the
the number of infractions their new red light
cameras have turned up.

Redmond police say they're frightened by the number of infractions their new red light cameras have turned up.

Redmond installed red light cameras at three intersections, and speed cameras in one school zone, in December. They went active last month for testing, and the police are amazed at what they've found.  They found 1,900 drivers blew through the red lights at those intersections in just three weeks.

"I'm actually a little frightened by how many there are," said Redmond Police Commander Shari Shovlin. "We are actually surprised at the speeds at which people are just going through red lights without even hesitating."  Despite two months of warnings to drivers that the cameras were being installed, Shovlin said they aren't getting the message.

"We're going to have to continue to do some public education on these dangerous driving behaviors. Slowing down is not the same as stopping at a red light."

The $124 tickets will start going out in the mail on Thursday.

By Chris Sullivan
KIRO Radio

Posted on MyNorthwest
Internet photo
For the latest Redmond neighborhood news on MyNorthwest click here

City of Redmond assigned a AAA bond rating

S & P Affirms Redmond’s AAA Credit Rating

Redmond, WA – Standard & Poor’s announced February 25 that they assigned the City of Redmond’s 2011 limited-tax general obligation bonds a “AAA” rating, while affirming its “AAA” rating on the City’s outstanding general obligation bonds. “These ratings are consistent with Redmond’s strong institutional financial policies,” said Standard and Poor’s credit analyst Kaitlyn Connors.

LW District High Schools compete at DECA Area Conference

from LWSD Communications...

Please congratulate the following students at Redmond High, Eastlake High and Lake Washington High for their performance at the DECA Area Conference and advancing to state. This year, almost 800 students competed from the Northshore, Riverview, and Lake Washington School Districts, as well as Eastside Catholic.  Do you know what DECA means?  Or how to join?   Click here.

Eastlake High School:

· Akaash Nanda, Business Services Composite, first place

· Lincoln Doyle & Simon Lee, Financial Services Team, fifth place

· Grace Hung, Restaurant and Food Service, sixth place

· Midori Ng, Advertising, sixth place

· Jacob Jensen & Chris Wright, Buying, Merchandising Management Team, seventh place

Lake Washington High School:

· Alexis Hamilton, Marketing Management, second place

· Nathan Brand & Kevin Middleton, Marketing Communications Team, third place

· Camille Worsech, Marketing Management, fourth place

· Shannon Ong & Maggie Lehr, LW Advertising Campaign, fifth place

· Jordan Cox & Curtis Donahoe, Finance Team, seventh place

Redmond High School:

· Jackie Gaherity & Peyton Halstead, Hospitality Team Decision Making, third place (third place for the role play subcategory)

· Joey Costello &Sam Notarianni, Financial Team Decision Making, second place (Joey took first place in the test subcategory)

· Bri Dankberg, Sports Marketing, third place (second place in test; third place for role play)

· Paul Cretu –Accounting Services, fourth place (first place in test)

· Ashlyn Trussel & Katie Morris, Buying and Merchandising Team, fifth place (second place for role play)

· Madeleine Harrison, Apparel and Accessories Marketing , fifth place

· Myeka Powers, Apparel and Accessories, fourth place

· Will Yoo & Luke Hatakeda, Business Law and Ethics Team, fourth place (third place for role play)

· James Boker & Dan Mobley, Sports and Entertainment Team, third place

· Kelly Weiss & Brittney Montag, Marketing Communications team, second place (first for role play)

· Kastlie Joseph & Ashley Swanson, place Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan, sixth place

· Everett Boker & Brett Hanaford, place Travel and Tourism Team, seventh place

· Erin Windham & Logan Dougherty, Sports and Entertainment Team, seventh place

OPINION; "Good-To-Go" passes are a good deal for infrequent travelers, but buying online is a pain.

OPINION:   Buying a Good-To-Go (GTG) Tolling pass for the SR-520 bridge is a good deal even for infrequent commuters, but the purchase process is a royal pain, at least for now.

A week ago I visited Sherry in the Washington State GTG van at the Library to find out if its worthwhile for infrequent commuters (1-2 trips/month) to buy a toll pass.  Yes, it is!  Not only are the tolls cheaper, but paying for them with a pass is more convenient than by mail.   For example:   With a GTG pass, a 1-way toll during the morning rush hour (7-9) is $3.50; this is a $1.50 savings vs. paying by mail.  (Cameras start reading license plates for tolling sometime after April 15.  The exact date is yet to be decided.)
.
In the late '70's we stopped at a booth before the bridge to pay a 20 cent toll.  Today, everything is electronic.  No toll booths!  No tolling congestion!  Cameras read our licence plates or the bar code on our GTG passes and the toll is automatically deducted from our online account!  Payment is less convenient if you don't buy a pass. Without a pass, you either pay by phone within 72 hours of the toll or they mail a bill and you have 80 days to pay it.

The minimum balance for an account is $30.00,  but if you're an infrequent traveler you get your money back if you don't use it all.  That sealed the deal for me.  For a daily commuter, it's a no-brainer to have a pass.

As of today, the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is still struggling with their website to process my order.  Yesterday, their registration site page crashed after I spent 20 minutes on it.  (You have five passes and three payment methods to choose from.)  My form data and user-name were lost.  An email for help wasn't returned.  Today, their phone line doesn't work.  On day one, the WSDOT vans couldn't process orders.  I hope it's all just a fluke, but I'm  holding off for a few weeks before trying again. 

Please don't let me deter you from registering.  Take comfort in the $10 discount for registering by April 15.
How did your registration go?  Registration at a Safeway store may be the ticket. Do you have any tips? 

Opinion by Bob Yoder

LW - PTSA - Community Digest for the Week

COMMUNITY DIGEST

Here's the latest LW - PTSA Topics for the Week

Family Facing Problems?
College Sorority Information Forum
Plant Trees for Pearl Jam
Leadership Workshop.  The Power of Hope
Digital Arts Festival
Ride Shakedown Ride
Fifth Annual Classic Rockathon
Whiz Kids Wanted
Soccer Spring Training Workshop

To learn more about any of these topics, Read More >>

LETTER: City donation to Saturday Market benefits all Redmond residents

THE SATURDAY MARKET

President of Saturday Market responds to  Letter from Redmond resident

LETTER:  Mr Frazier, I'd like to point out a couple of misconceptions about the city's sponsorship of Redmond Saturday Market. This is not a direct subsidy to the vendors, instead it allows us to provide better amenities and entertainment, creating a better atmosphere for the community. And rather than siphon business from other stores, the market attracts customers to all our surrounding businesses. Rather than a 'gift' benefitting only the market vendors, this should be looked at as a gift to all Redmond residents and their guests, similar to the parks, sculptures and plants the city provides to make the community that much more enjoyable!

Jim Hoagland
President - Redmond Saturday Market
Watercolor by Patti Simpson

Backyard feral cats and kittens on Education Hill

Become a member of the "Friends who like Redmond Neighborhood Blog" and get all the top stories!


Last November my small dog was barking crazy. When I went to get her, a mom cat was hissing with all teeth showing protecting her small litter of kittens.  The mom nested her babies near a crawl vent under an eve.  We kept the dog away and fed the family, yet the Tom cat wasn't to be seen.  Soon after their birth, the heavy winds and rains came.  The nursing mom moved her babies (by the scruff) to our above-water, wooden club house about 130 feet away!  We kept feeding her.  Later, I learned most wild kittens die from starvation.  The mom cat hissed and wouldn't get near to us. Oh no, it's a wild, "feral" cat!  One of more than a million in Puget Sound!


It was cold!  The mom moved her kits, again, under the chimney framing to stay warm.  This mom is smart!   We kept feeding her.  The Tom cat finally made his appearance.  He was huge and strong.  He could have easily taken our 10 pound dog down; but Tom was wild and skittish, too.  OMG!  We were feeding a family of four now!  I told Pam and Lexie we had to start thinking about getting them fixed.  But they were so cute!  Look at those little guys looking at you  with their Mom protecting the rear.  What would you name them?

When they were almost up to this size, the Mom moved them from the chimney to our barn-shed down below.  Lots of shelter under the shed and some great places to practice climbing!  The mom was teaching her kits to run and climb when they saw me.  They were 8 weeks old and almost weaned.  Since we couldn't get close to hold them, they became "feral" kittens.  We kept feeding them   Tom always ate first to test the food.  Mom ate next, after submitting, and then her kittens.


I started to get anxious about these guys growing up and going off on their own to make more cats!  Plus, I inherited four cats and never wanted any!  So, I rummaged through the Internet to see what to do.  I was amazed at all the organizations and non-profits with help and advice.  I called a Redmond "Feral Cat Coalition" (no longer in operation) and guess who answered?   Richard Grubb, a beloved Redmond city councilman of 10 years.  [I always remember Richard speaking up to protect Perrigo Heights Woodlands and help us cope with the ordeal.  He is a friend of the environment, a great writer of Letters and true public servant.  I don't know anyone at City Hall who doesn't admire and respect Richard.  ]

Richard gave me four cat traps and told me how to be gentile while using them.  Traps are hard to come by.  I was lucky and caught the Mom first using food for bait.  Tom cats roam alot but he came to see what was wrong and got caught next!  The white kitten was next.  But "blackie" was coy; I caught him in the afternoon.  I drove all four caged cats to a clinic in Lynwood that fixes them for free.  The Tom was heavy!  12 pounds!   These Tom and Mom pictures were taken the day after they got fixed and just before I released them into my backyard.  You can see the mom cat wasn't too happy.  So what came of the family?  The kittens were fostered by a clinic volunteer expert in training wild kittens!  Phew!
The Tom ran off. Will he come see us?  I hope so!  The mom decided to stay and  is "ours"!  Do you want to see a picture of her in our yard?  She's living in the club house and we feed her every day.  She's a good ratter and is nice enough to let us (and Roxy) see her outside of meal-time.

Bob & Pam Yoder

Read More >>

On March 3 Redmond Police will begin issuing $124 citations for red light safety camera violations

Citations Begin March 3 for Safety Camera Pilot Program

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond implemented the 30-day warning period for its Safety Camera Pilot Program throughout the month of February. During the month, the Redmond Police and camera technicians fine-tuned the equipment and issued warning tickets for violations. On March 3, Redmond Police will begin issuing citations with a fine of $124 for a safety camera violation.

The program will run through December 2011. Over the course of the year, the City will evaluate its effectiveness and determine whether or not to continue the program.

“The goal of our safety camera program is to change dangerous driver behavior, reduce preventable collisions at signalized intersections and prevent car-pedestrian collisions in school zones,” stated Commander Shari Shovlin. “The revenue generated by the fees will be used to support the program itself, with any excess revenue used only for traffic safety programs.”

The locations of the three intersection cameras are eastbound at 148th Avenue NE and Redmond Way, eastbound and westbound at 156th Avenue NE and NE 40th Street and westbound and northbound at Union Hill Road and Avondale Road.

The school zone safety camera is installed eastbound and westbound in front of Einstein Elementary on NE 116th Street in north Redmond and is only active when the yellow beacon is flashing.

All the locations are clearly signed as photo enforcement areas.

The violation is a civil infraction; it is processed the same as a parking citation, does not become part of a person’s driving record and is not reported to insurance companies.

Information about the program and a list of frequently asked questions is available on the City’s website at www.redmond.gov/SafetyCameras . For additional information, contact Commander Shari Shovlin at sshovlin@redmond.gov  or 425-556-2564.

Lake Washington Technical College provides free dental services to low-income kids

LWTC students help provide $45,000 in free dental services to low-income children

KIRKLAND, WA (February 17, 2011) – Lake Washington Technical College (LWTC) dental students combined with Lake Washington Dental Hygienists’ Society, and local dental professionals to provide over $45,000 in free services to low-income children during their annual Free Dental Care Day on February 5. Children ages 6-13 were eligible for the services.

The group treated 144 children in the Dental Clinic on the LWTC campus. During the day they placed 405 sealants, took 291 bitewing x-rays, and administered 133 fluoride varnish treatments. The Lake Washington Dental Hygienists’ Society estimated the day's services to be worth nearly $45,000. In 2010, the groups treated 134 children.

On March 5, they will provide follow up treatments to some of the children.  Read more...
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UPDATED: Downtown Businesses Contemplate Relocation as Park Plans Move Forward, by Caitlin Moran, Editor of "Redmond Patch"

Redmond Patch opened shop last Thursday, Februray 17.  It's a socially interactive, grassroots, digital newspaper that operates with light-speed. When I found this article about the Downtown Park I felt it would be a dis-service to my readers not to publish it.  I'll write a story about Patch soon (and an Opinion about Redmond newspapers). but when you go to their site, really not much more needs to be said..  This is new-age journalism at it's finest.  --- Bob Yoder, Editor of Redmond Neighborhood Blog 

"Downtown Businesses Contemplate Relocation as Park Plans Move Forward Downtown Businesses Contemplate Relocation as Park Plans Move Forward"   

By Caitlin Moran, Editor of  "Redmond Patch"

Redmond Cycle, a local mainstay for more than 40 years, is one of about five properties that the City of Redmond is still working to aquire as part of its plan to build a downtown park. Preliminary drawings indicate the park will be located between Redmond Way and Cleveland Street along what will eventually be an extension of 161st Avenue Northeast.

City Parks Director Craig Larsen said approximately six properties have already been acquired and torn down as part of the street extension phase of the project. The city aims to finalize the remaining property negotiations by the end of the year, he said, and expects to pay a total of about $20 million for the acquisitions.

"We're making progress," he said. “The first part was easy because it was all one big piece, and now it’s much more fragmented.”  Read More...

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LETTER: "Proud Redmond Libyan Arab American" asks for help.

4th in a series on the cultural contribution and influence of international residents in Redmond.

Koloud's family and friends at Seattle's Saturday protest.   
Flags were made by Koloud

Bob asked me to write a piece for this blog when he noticed how vocal I was on Facebook about what is happening to Libya. I wrote several drafts before I decided to just be honest and ask for help. I realized that you can get a full history of Libya and where it lies on a map by checking on Wikipedia. You can Bing images of Mummar Gaddafi and compare photos of when he first took over power in 1969 and what he looks like now, just as you would with Thin Elvis or Fat Elvis. And some of you, most importantly, can start see what this is doing to your gas prices at the local petrol station in downtown Redmond.

But I’ll let you do that on your own time. Right now we need your help for the genocide that is taking place to other peace loving people that just want their voices heard. We need you to start using the most powerful tool we have here in the West: The freedom to write.

Go to Facebook, starting posting about what you are seeing on the tv. Get a twitter account. Start writing with the hashtags of #libya #gaddafi #cnn #feb17 #bengazi #tripoli #dayofrage. Get on blogs on CNN, UN, Human Rights websites, local tv news, newspapers, Redmond Reporter, the Stranger. Mention what is happening to your co workers on your lunch break. Get on YouTube and watch videos after you do a search of “Libyan protests” to make those videos get higher ratings and get on the front page. Then send the link to everyone you know that lives here in the US, including your congresswoman or man, your dentist and your Girl Scout troop’s parents. Anything. Just write and help us get the word out so something is done and people can stop dying.

They say that the Egyptian revolution was won over the Internet. But that was with little bloodshed. Hundreds are dying right now, so let’s try to make this revolution get here faster by using our collective voices.

Koloud ‘Kay’ Tarapolsi
Proud Redmond Libyan Arab American

Find all of Koloud's RNB stories here.

Comments are welcome below this post!  Send stories of your home country here!

Public Hearing scheduled for STEM school

LAKE WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING* ON THE PROPOSED "STEM" SCHOOL ON MARCH 8

THE MARCH 8 STEM SCHOOL HEARING HAS BEEN POSTPONED.  CLICK HERE FOR DISTRICT UPDATES.

LWSD is holding a Public Hearing on Tuesday, March 8, at 6 p.m. at Alcott Elementary in Redmond.  The Hearing's purpose is to take public comments and give information on the proposed STEM School.

This is the public's chance to give oral comment at the Hearing, request additional information, or give comments in writing about the STEM school.  Comments will be entered for the record.

Send your written comments and request for additional information to Forest Miller, LWSD Public Facilities Manager at fmiller@lwsd.org or to the school street address.  (The Notice doesn't say when the written comments and requests for information are due.)

The Hearing Notice ("read more") was published in the Seattle Times on February 16. 
Reported by Bob Yoder

To find the "Notice of Public Hearing" read more>>

UPDATED: "Lunch Buddy", Tutoring and Classroom Assistant volunteer training

Learn how to make your mentoring and tutoring more interactive and productive.
Students today deal with social pressures, including bullying and stereotyping,
that can affect their ability to concentrate on school work.

The need for "Lunch Buddy" mentors, "Tutors" and "Classroom Assistants" can't meet the demand.
LINKS (Looking Into the Needs of Kids and Schools) is a program of the Lake Washington School District (LWSD), with funding provided by the Lake Washington Schools Foundation

COMMENT:    I was a "Lunch Buddy" mentor for three Horace Mann  kids over seven years.  It's impossible to articulate all the benefits since much of the gain comes from the heart.   Link mentoring should extend into the Junior High since 7th grade is one of the most difficult transitions. School office managers and secretaries used to run the program until Links took it over three years ago.  The secretaries probably know your buddy better than any and can be a huge resource.  It's important to understand how they fit into the Links program.  - Bob Yoder

Redmond council approves $10 million bond for parks and open space land

Redmond City Hall



In their last Regular meeting, Redmond city council voted 5-2 to "approve $8.5M limited tax general obligation bonds - not to exceed $10M - to obtain part of the 2011 funds necessary for park and open space property acquisition."   The Downtown Park will consume most of these funds. Council President Richard Cole stated: 

"I'm not going to vote for this tonight".  "We have $120,000,000 debt in this city - about a half of that is for this building (City Hall); although the cost of financing here is now less than (the principal).  Two years ago we borrowed when the bidding climate was good, but this is above my threshold."

Councillor David Carson was the other vote against the bond "but for another reason".  Carson said " I mean...the bonds should be spent in favor of infrastructure for capital projects, not for land acquisition."

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