School District V.P. Mark Stuart Running For Re-election

LWSD School Board V.P. Mark Stuart

I am proud to say that the following organizations and individuals are raising their voices in support of my candidacy:

King County Democrats
45th District Democrats

48th District Democrats

41st District Democrats

1st District Democrats

(4 for 4 in LWSD)

Labor Organizations

Lake Washington Education Association (LWEA)

Teamsters Local 763

LiUNA Laborers Local 242

Elected Leaders

State Senator Patty Kuderer, 48th LD

State Senator Derek Stanford, 1st LD

State Representative Vandana Slatter, 48th LD

State Representative Amy Walen, 48th LD

State Representative Roger Goodman, 45th LD

State Representative Larry Springer, 45th LD

State Representative MyLinh Thai, 41st LD

State Representative Shelley Kloba, 1st LD

Tanika Padhye, Redmond City Council President

Vanessa Kritzer, Redmond City Councilmember

Penny Sweet, Kirkland Mayor

Jay Arnold, Kirkland Deputy Mayor

Neal Black, Kirkland City Councilmember

Jon Pascal, Kirkland City Councilmember

Amy Steele Falcone, Kirkland City Councilmember

Joyce Bottenberg, Chair of Sammamish Human Services+

Eric Laliberte, LWSD President+

Ram Dutt, Snoqualmie Valley School Board Director

Roy Captain, Redmond Planning Commission &

Lake Washington School Foundation Chair

Community Leaders

Sarah Perry, Candidate for King County Council

Janet Richards, Candidate Redmond City Council and LWSD parent

Tara Van Niman, Candidate Redmond City Council and LWSD parent

Joan McBride, former 48th LD State Rep and Kirkland Mayor

Hank Margeson, former Redmond City Councilmember

Byron Shutz, former Redmond City Councilmember

Arnold Tomac, former Redmond City Councilmember

Pat Vache, former Redmond City Councilmember

Dave Asher, former Kirkland City Councilmember

Santos Contreras, former Kirkland City Councilmember and Deputy Mayor

Ramiro Valderama, former Sammamish City Councilmember and

Deputy Mayor

Jackie Pendergrass, former LWSD president

Sue Stewart, former chair of Redmond Human Services Commission

Larry Gilmore, Kiwanis immediate past president

Rabbi Burt Schuman

Anu Gopalam

Renay George

Cary Young

Reetu Gupta

CJ Kahler

Mardi Rhodes

Susan Weston

Tori Cannaday Jesse

Lisa Guthrie

If that's not enough. Read Mark's website.

Vishal Misri Running For School Board

 Voter's pamphlet:

Vishal Misri

"This last year has been challenging for everybody. 18 months ago, nobody could have visualized a world where kids were not in classrooms. While our educators have done a great job of adapting to unprecedented times, we have also seen the gaps in our system widen. And while we all hope for a return to “normalcy” we need to learn from this disruption to education and work together in an innovative fashion to move forward in an inclusive, equitable and a welcoming learning environment.

As parent to twins and a member of the PTA, my experience with the LWSD prompted me to join the race to ensure that our schools are ready to meet the challenges and help our children thrive.

I’m committed to draw on my background to bring fresh energy, responsible fiscal management, and innovations to the LWSD focusing on these four areas: equity and inclusion, mental wellness, school infrastructure, and teacher support.

I will be a voice for students, families and community members and will seek out the unheard students and parents. I know with the right leadership, the LWSD can build on our strengths to expand opportunities and deliver high-quality education for every student."

LWSD Position 4  https://www.facebook.com/electvishalmisri/

ATTENTION: The "Redmond Blog" Is Now User Friendly On Smart Phones!

 Redmond Neighborhood Blog is now much easier to read on smart phones!  

 Search "Redmond Blog." Special thanks to the reader who brought this feature to my attention!

-- Bob Yoder

Jeralee Anderson Up For Re-election

 

City Council Vice President Jeralee Anderson

Dr. Jeralee Anderson is serving her first term as Councilmember in the City of Redmond, Washington and is currently Vice President of Council.  Jeralee is running for re-election in November.

​

Professional

In her day job, Jeralee Anderson is the President/CEO and co-founder of Greenroads International, a globally recognized nonprofit organization leading the green and equitable transformation of the transportation industry through education and the independent third-party sustainability certification of transportation projects. Currently, she manages an infrastructure project portfolio of over $35 billion dollars in more than 11 states and 8 countries. She collaborates with public works professionals, departments of transportation, ecologists, planners and designers, general contractors, and multiple non-profit partners daily.

​

She earned her undergraduate degree in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and her doctorate from the University of Washington in construction engineering and sustainability, including a certificate in business administration from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

 

Dr. Anderson is a licensed civil engineer in Washington State and California and legacy LEED Accredited Professional. As the executive leader for the small nonprofit she founded in Redmond, she manages day to day operations and is responsible for governance, board development, program management, human resources, budget, strategic planning, and more. 

 

In 2013, President Obama recognized her and her team at Greenroads as White House Transportation Champions of Change for the 21st Century.  View her Greenroads YouTube presentation HERE.

She serves in a variety of Mayoral and Council appointments including as an alternate on the King County Regional Transit Committee as part of the Sound Cities Association (SCA).

 

Dr. Anderson also is an alternate to the Mayor on the Cascade Water Alliance Board of Directors, and sits on its Finance & Management Committee.

 

Recently, in 2020, the Mayor appointed her to serve on the Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters (LEOFF I) Disability Board.

22-Acre Urban Village Planned In The "Redmond Center" Area

 

For design review and more legible maps, click here and scroll down

"Project One" (Charles) is the first new building in the Nelson Master Plan. The Master Plan is 22 contiguous acres in the northwest corner of the downtown in the City of Redmond. This property has been the quintessential center for goods and services to the city for the last 30 years. Looking towards the future, the goal is the redevelopment of the 22 acres around a cohesive master plan that significantly increases density and adds a mix of residential, office and retail uses, that offer a dense work, live and play environment. This new Northwest district developed over time seeks to include northwest architecture that expresses natural materials, structures, indoor/outdoor spaces, transparency, respect and support of the environment, and great people spaces and facilitate a broad inclusionary community."  

--- Design Review Board memo, including legible maps, 12/03/2020  (According to the legible map, the urban village vision includes development of the Redmond Center.  Perhaps a linear park along the Sammamish River is in the plan.)

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Tom Markl, CEO of Nelson Legacy Partners says..

"The master plan is a vision rather than a specific, detailed plan.  The 22 acres encompass the properties owned by the Nelson Legacy Group businesses stretching from the Aqua Quip Building on the corner of 161^st to the open field behind Ben Franklin which touches the Sammamish River Trail.  The timing of the redevelopment will be gradual and evolutionary. You will not see sudden, rapid, dramatic changes.  Our vision is to gradually create an urban village and the central place in the downtown where the community can shop and gather, and also a place where people can live and work.  The timing of each project in the redevelopment will be determined by many factors, including the leases of our current tenants and the needs and opportunities presented by the marketplace.  Since retail is an important component of the vision, we will strive to retain our current tenants.  As for the timing of the connection of 158^th to Redmond Way, this is a city street and the city has discretion over the planning, timing and priority of street projects."

 

Regards,

 

Tom

 

Thomas L. Markl

CEO

09/03/2021

 

16508 NE 79^th Street

Redmond, WA 98052

Senior & Community Center Taking Donations For Solar Power

 

Become a Solar Champion

Leave a green legacy! Help Redmond become carbon neutral and ensure the sustainability of our environment by purchasing a solar panel to power up the new Redmond Senior & Community Center.

Benefit to Champions:

• Solar Champion Sticker
• Name recognition as a Solar Champion on the website
• Your name/organization listed on a Solar Champions plaque in the lobby of the new Redmond Senior & Community Center
• Businesses: Recognition through social media (over 10,000 followers) and one feature on our Parks and Recreation eNewsletter sent to over 28,000 subscribers
• Your investment is tax deductible!

Become a Solar Champion

Redmond Historical Society "Duwamish River" Video Presentation

The Redmond Historical Society recorded Saturday's program about the Duwamish River. If you'd like to view it, the link is https://youtu.be/5xSrz_UNQEw. The recording is up now, and will be up for about a month.

In this video, the society quotes our City's ancient indigenous Indian dwellers.  Redmond City Council, led by Varisha Kahn, occaisionally  acknoweleges our ancient Indian enhabitants before their meetings start.    

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Redmond Historical Society

Virtual Saturday Speaker Series

Saturday, 10:30 AM, October 9, 2021

"The Snoqualmie Tribe: A Brief History of the Lake Sammamish Area"

Zoom Webinar

To register: https://tinyurl.com/4n5jvxfy

Speaker: Steven Moses
Director of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, Snoqualmie Tribe 

Steven Moses is the Director of Archaeology & Historic Preservation and a Tribal member of the Snoqualmie Tribe. Join him as he explains the Indigenous connection to the north Lake Sammamish area from 13,000 years ago to today. Steven will touch on the recent archaeological discoveries of Bear Creek and its significance as a fish habitat. He will also discuss ways in which our communities can work together to preserve our shared history of the Pacific Northwest. 

-- Redmond Historical Society

Environmentally Sensitive Light Rail Construction Underway

 

Construction of the Downtown Redmond Light Rail Extension will impact a swath of trees and riparian habitat along Bear Creek in the vicinity of the Overlake Urgent Care Center west to Creekside Crossing and Redmond Center Open Space.  Clearing and grading permits are required to remove 144 trees to accommodate the rail, Bear Creek "restoration," and construction access. Most of the trees will be planted off site because they won't survive in the wetland areas. For each significant tree removed, 6 saplings will be planted; for each landmark tree removed 18 saplings will be planted. A section of Bear Creek will have to be dredged to create a "back channel" for flood control and wetland habitat. Back channels are also valuable for salmon rearing.

Overall, approximately 500 linear feet of Bear Creek will be "restored or enhanced" when all is said and done.  The Design Builder is encouraged to reuse previously removed trees for onsite habitat features. In addition, Sound Transit plans to purchase off-site wetland mitigation credits at the Keller Farm site further upstream along Bear Creek for any restoration that cannot be accommodated on-site.

All the work near Bear Creek described above is subject to review as part of the City’s shoreline and clearing and grading permits, the Army Corps and the tribes.  Construction is over 3 years out.  

  -- City Council Study Session, 5/28
      Meeting memo (map)

* In 2020 I took a tour of the site with City staff.  They said the light rail will run five feet over Bear Creek.  B.Y.  

Leashed Dogs Are Enjoying The Downtown Park

"Buttons is ~maybe~ the first dog in Downtown Park."

"I like to think he was the first dog in Downtown Park- the fencing had just come down. It’s amazing to see in just three years how many people, families, and dogs are enjoying this space!"

-- Mayor Angela Birney and her dog "Buttons."

Facebook, 9/14/2021

Pat Vache' -- One Of Redmond's Finest

 

Honorable Pat Vache'

Long-time councilmember Pat Vache', a staunch community organizer and advocate for the people.  Pat founded the Redmond Kiwanis, sits on the One Redmond Foundation Board, was past President of Hopelink, co-founder of Lake Washington School Foundation, Chamber of Commerce trustee, among  other activities.  He served City Council 1982-90 and 2002-09.

Thanks to Arnie Tomac, past Councilmember (1980-1991) for submitting Pat's picture and Council tenure.

Redmond's Homeless Hotel - A Recovery Resource

 National Recovery Month 

In the September 7th Business council meeting Mayor Birney proclaimed September as National Recovery Month.   Immediately afterwards, during "Items From The Audience," over 15 individuals vehemently spoke against the Silver Cloud Homeless Hotel, some even challenging Mayor Birney. They were bothered by poor notice, poor information on how the hotel will operate, it's location near 12 schools, absence of long and short term goals, and other issues. Unfortunately, the hotel will be low barrier. 

Stigmatism of the mentally ill at the meeting was at an all time high. The importance of consistent medical pharmaceutical treatment was barely addressed.  Hotel shelter and socialization with case managers would provide a safe environment to reliably facilitate medical management.  

In each weekly report I will address one mental health and/or substance abuse topic relevant to the Homeless Hotel.  My first topic is the mentally ill and "acts of violence":

SUMMARY:

1. Most individuals with serious mental illness are not dangerous.
2. Most acts of violence are committed by individuals who are not mentally ill.
3. Individuals with serious mental illness are victimized by violent acts more often than they commit violent acts.
4. Being a young male or a substance abuser (alcohol or drugs) is a greater risk factor for violent behavior than being mentally ill.
5. No evidence suggests that people with serious mental illness receiving effective treatment are more dangerous than individuals in the general population.

That being said, a small number of individuals with serious mental illnesses commit acts of violence. Individuals who are not being treated commit almost all acts of violence; many of them also abusing alcohol or drugs.

Source: "Treatment Advocacy Center"

-- Bob Yoder, 9/13/2021

Microsoft return to U.S. offices delayed indefinitely

 

technologyrecord.com

Date September 09, 2021   Time 11:39 AM Source Associated Press REDMOND, Washington (AP) — Microsoft told employees Thursday that it has indefinitely delayed their return to U.S. offices until it's safer to do so. “Given the uncertainty of COVID-19, we’ve decided against attempting to forecast a new date for a full reopening of our U.S. work sites," Jared Spataro, a corporate vice president, wrote in a blog post.

Large School Of Chinook Spotted At Redmond Trestle Bridge

Photo by John Reinke, Redmond resident, 9/10/2021
(click to enlarge)

"Thanks (John Reinke) for sending the photos of the salmon in the Sammamish River. I saw them when I was walking on the trestle bridge as well, and I agree, it is the biggest school of salmon (mostly Chinook) that I have seen. We've saw a few in lower Bear Creek last week, and they should really move upstream with the rain later this week. 

I believe the Chinook congregate upstream of the trestle because there is a deeper channel/pool there compared to many places in the river. There may also be some groundwater flow into the river that helps to keep it slightly cooler. There are also salmon concentrating under and downstream of the 90^th Street bridge outfall because there is groundwater being pumped into the river through the outfall pipe there. The groundwater entering the river provides a cooler pocket of water for the fish to rest until moving upstream.

 

Thanks, and enjoy the fall,"

 

Tom

  

Tom Hardy (he/him) Stream & Habitat Planner, City of Redmond
425-556-2762    twhardy@redmond.gov    www.redmond.gov

Community Favorite Janet Richards Is Running For City Council

 

Janet Richards canvassing with her daughter, Mayor Birney, LWSD Director Bliesner,
County Council Representative Balducci and countless other supporters.

Meet Janet Richards

I am running for Redmond City Council (Position 2) as a voice for everyone, but specifically the voices that are all too often not included in our traditional methods of engaging the community.

Community service has been a lifelong passion of mine. I find understanding the unique journey of individuals eliminates false assumptions and opens the door to connection, enabling all to work in a manner that honors each person.

I believe a city council member should work with everyone, regardless of political party. This allows me to facilitate the challenging conversations necessary to impact the lives of people in our community. As a volunteer, mother, and professional in the high-tech industry, I understand our community and will continue to listen.

As Human Services Commissioner, I worked to prioritize funding to ensure community members in need receive necessary support. I was also an active, early member of the Redmond PD Community Equity Action Team (CEAT) to advocate for the concerns of the BIPOC community. At Seattle Children’s, I led increasing the Diversity of the Family Advisory Council and was the only non-hospital employee included in the task force to update the hospital’s security policies to be more equitable.

The next four years will transform our city into a major transportation hub. I will work to ensure that we retain the unique charm of Redmond, while safely and equitably welcoming the new opportunities and diverse people this will bring.

I live in the Overlake neighborhood with my husband Colin, two children (with an older child living overseas), and rescue dogs Frodo and Winter.

My Experience

• Redmond City Human Services Commissioner, Vice Chair
• Redmond PD Community Equity Action Team (CEAT)
• Seattle Children’s Hospital Family Advisory, Council Co-Chair
• Seattle Children's Hospital Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council (HEDI) member
• Right to Breathe Association, Leadership Team
• Microsoft, 22 years, Business Program Manager
• Microsoft, 6 years, Project Management Consultant

Education

BA Theology and Management Information Systems, Ambassador University

Learn More

Learn more about Janet's priorities for the City of Redmond. 

Nature Abounds On The Sammamish River

Sammamish River wildflower/ John Reinke

Pup Demos Proper Mask Wearing

24 Hour Fitness poster

Only 12 unruly pups were seen romping around this day. 😅

-- Bob Yoder, 9/3/2021

UPDATED: 60 Evergreen Saplings Planted Along The Ashford Trail

Ashford Trail evergreen saplings

The Ashford Trail is not far from my Education Hill house; I walk it often...sometimes to Avondale Road.  The trailhead is at the Bike Park.

Last week, I was surprised and happy to see a planting of ~60 evergreen sapling trees on the south side of the trail. Most of them were hard to spot but the orange tape helped.  Can you see the three trees in this picture?  After much back-and-forth Customer Service confirmed they were planted by the Green Redmond Partnership three years ago.

Two City of Redmond water barrels were visible in the woods. City staff probably tied on the orange tape to mark for watering.  Despite severe heat this summer the trees looked healthy.  It's nice to know the City and Green Redmond forest steward (?) are looking after the saplings.

Additional Green Redmond Community tree planting programs are planned for the Fall of this year:

9/25, Smith Woods / 10/30, Smith Woods / 10/30, Ferrel-McWhirter

-- Bob Yoder, 9/5/2021

Salmon and Art On The Central Connector Trail

double click to enlarge

When walking across the Redmond Central Connector railroad trestle bridge we heard and saw salmon splashing in the Sammamish River below us. They were hard to see but persistence paid off. They migrate from August to November so there's plenty of time to see them. 

Eight panels of iron art are attached to the bridge. As you walk down the trail towards the Overlake Church these colored "boulders" welcome you for a rest. (Public Works Art?)  The entire trail is pervious and awesome for the environment but very expensive.  Low profile "street" lights line the trail.  

It was 4:15 and there was plenty of traffic.  An electric scooter zoomed by.  We saw three Limes.  Two were parked and one with a rider.  He told us he rides the Connector to Overlake then over the river and as far as the Burke-Gilman Trail.  He said it's fun!  We also saw about 3 bicyclists, a few joggers, some hikers and a couple dog walkers.  

Get out and watch those fish flip and flap!  We saw a 2 footer  jump completely out of the water!

-- Bob Yoder, 8/31/2021