EvergreenHealth Opens New Progressive Care Unit

The new inpatient wing adds 31 single-patient rooms to its Kirkland campus

EvergreenHealth Medical Center Silver tower
Credit:  Evergreen  

Kirkland, Wash. – Recently, EvergreenHealth opened a new Progressive Care Unit (PCU) on the health system’s Kirkland campus as part of the first phase of a 10-year master facility plan to grow to meet the community’s evolving health care needs. The new PCU, located on the fourth floor of the hospital’s Silver tower, adds 31 inpatient rooms equipped with advanced patient-care technology and innovative design. 

The opening of the fourth-floor PCU will be followed later this spring by the addition of a 31-bed cardiovascular and neurovascular unit on the Silver tower’s fifth floor, as well.

“The opening of these floors comes as our community’s need for additional inpatient capacity is growing. We are eager to meet this demand with new patient-focused state-of-the-art technology, design and construction,” said EvergreenHealth CEO Bob Malte. “These new floors were made possible by the foresight of our Board more than 10 years ago, and are the product of thoughtful and innovative design based on valuable feedback from patients, frontline staff and our medical and nursing leadership.”

Updated: Redmond Downtown Park

Bird's-eye view of the Downtown Park pond

During the last City Council meeting CM Angela Birney, Chair of Parks and Human Services, mentioned noticeable work on the Downtown Park will be underway

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LWSD News Updates

Redmond High student art Advanced Placement (AP) Exam registration period begins soon Advanced Placement (AP) Exam registration started on March 6, and runs through Friday, March 17. Students will receive registration materials in their AP classes. If your student is enrolled in an AP class, please remind him/her to sign up by the end of the last lunch on March 17 to be able to take the exam. AP Examination Dates are May 1-19.  For specific testing information, visit the College Board AP Central website.  4 more updates

Explore Redmond's Unique History

Join the Historical Society for a Walking Tour!

"Hotel Redmond"  Credit/ Miguel Llanos

REDMOND, WA - The Redmond Historical Society is excited to announce the date of its next walking tour on Sunday, April 9 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

These tours are a fun opportunity to learn about the people and places that helped make Redmond what it is today. Join our guide Tom Hitzroth as he takes a look at Redmond from the Settlement Period to the mid- 1920s and highlights the sites of early business buildings that defined Redmond’s core, paving the way for the present commercial district.

A $10 donation is suggested for each person. You may pre-register for the event by calling 425-885-2919 or by sending a check to the Redmond Historical Society at 16600 NE 80^th Street, Room 106, Redmond, WA 98052.

The tour begins across the street from the Hotel Redmond (Jensen/Fey Architects) at 7730 NE 76th St.  There is a significant amount of walking and standing included in the tour, with limited opportunity for resting. We recommend comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing. If you have any further questions, please contact Halee Turner at 425-885-2919 or manager@redmondhistoricalsociety.org.

Other tour dates include:
Sunday, May 21, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Sunday, June 11, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Sunday, Sept 10, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Construction update for the new schools

​Project ​Concept Design* ​Schematic Design ​Design Development ​Project Progress Updates ​New Elementary in Redmond Ridge East ​* ​April 19, 2016 ​Sept. 30, 2016 ​Sept. 30, 2016 ​New Elementary in North Redmond ​* ​April 19, 2016 ​Sept. 30, 2016 ​Sept. 30, 2016 ​New Middle School in Redmond Ridge ​* ​May 9, 2016 ​Sept. 30, 2016 ​Sept. 30, 2016 ​Juanita High School Rebuild & Enlarge ​June 6, 2016 June 27, 2016 ​Sept. 30, 2016 ​ ​Planned for January 2017 Mead Elementary Rebuild & Enlarge ​Planned for January 2017 ​ ​ ​ ​Kirk Elementary Rebuild & Enlarge ​Planned for January 2017 ​ ​ ​   * - Completed prior to committee being established Construction has not yet begun on any of these projects. We have been going through the permitting processes for the two new elementary schools and the new middle school. The two new elementary schools are scheduled to open in the fall of 2018. The new middle school will open in the fall of 2019. Juanita High School is still in the design process. It was originally scheduled to be completed in fall 2021 but the planned opening is now fall 2020. There is more information on that change in the opening date and in the plans for the school, based on community feedback, on the Juanita High School project page: http://www.lwsd.org/For-Community/School-Construction/2016-Bond-Building-Projects/Pages/Juanita-High-School.aspx   --Kathryn Reith, Director of Communications, LWSD

UPDATED, 4/16/18: The challenge and need for "dewatering" downtown construction sites

Station House Lofts -- This "deep-dig" sits over and in our aquifer 

Completion of the above "Station House Lofts" is expected in early 2018.  According to the project Superintendent, it will be a 6-stories with 197 apartments and two levels of underground parking.  The construction site is across the street from the Redmond United Methodist Church on 16533 NE 80th St. will be "box-like" with no visual transition into the neighborhood.  The tall grey building in the background is the Old Redmond Firehouse Teen Center.  

To help scale the size of the dig, look for the workers...those orange and yellow specks. (Click on the photo to see the influence of the camera angle on size.)  

The city aquifer is a few yards from the surface so the site has to be "dewatered" and sealed off.  Notice the white water pump pipe in the foreground.  Six inch diameter water pipes also surround the site but can't be seen in this picture. 

Owing to extreme rains this winter there's copious aquifer water that must be pumped out.  The pumping is actually lowers the water table of our city wells. Construction aquifer water is tested every two weeks for oil and lubricants before it's dumped into the stormwater system. Many downtown developments need dewatering.

Public Works is concerned about the disruption aquifer water flow from parking lot digs. andd wrote a new ordinance to protect the aquifer during development; and to bill those developers who excessively drain the aquifer and our wells.

In a few places around the city, the aquifer can be as close as 3 feet from the surface. According to the Superintendent it's my understanding they had to dig 2-3 feet into the alluvial aquifer in places. 

B. Yoder
Photo, Yoder

Since publishing this post and alerting the City Ombuds. a new policy was instituted requiring some future developers to build their parking above grade, rather than subterranean.  Building height could increase up to 2 levels as a result.    

This is an excellent article explaining  the process and challenges of dewatering construction sites.

This is an archive of all my aquifer and groundwater posts over the years.   .

Council Appoints Tanika Padhye To Fill Vacancy

Tanika Padhye is appointed to Redmond City Council  Credit/COR

Redmond City Council appointed Tanika Padhye yesterday to fill the vacancy in Council Position 4. She was sworn in immediately and was seated as a City Councilmember,

Padhye has lived in Redmond for 13 years and has served on both the City of Redmond’s Planning and Parks and Trails Commission. She has been a member of the Community Centers Stakeholder group and contributed to updates on the PARCC Plan and projects including Redmond Central Connector (Phase II) and the Downtown Park. She is a licensed attorney in the State of Washington, with legal expertise ranging from work as a Civil Rights Investigator to cases dealing with employment and housing discrimination.

“I feel strongly about connecting with Redmond residents because it creates a healthier government that is a reflection of the people it represents,” said Padhye.

“I have complete confidence in Councilmember Padhye’s ability to serve the people of Redmond, and I look forward to working with her as a new Council colleague. Her years as a resident of Redmond and experiences as a Commissioner on the Planning and most recently the Parks and Trails Commissions have prepared her for this role,” stated Council President Hank Margeson.

School district graduation rate gaps

"Our overall graduation rate for the class of 2016 is 91.3%. This is one of the highest rates in Washington State. We are proud of our overall rate. However, when we dig deeper into our results, we find that the rate for our Latino students is 85%. The rate for our Black/African American students is 81.5%. The rate for our low-income students is 79.2%. The rate for our [special education] students with IEPs is 76.3%. The rate for our English Language Learners is 70.8%. These rates represent actual students with hope and dreams for the future. We need to improve these rates. Lake Washington is committed to closing achievement and opportunity gaps for students where they exist."

   -- Dr. Traci Pierce
      March, 2017

Community Immigration Forum

The City of Redmond, Lake Washington School District. and Eastside Legal Assistance Program, are partnering to host a community meeting on the issue of Immigration Wednesday, March 22 from 6–8 p.m. at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, 16600 NE 80th St. in Redmond.

The goal of the meeting is to provide accurate and timely information on the current Immigration situation.  Immigration attorneys will present.  

Community members will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns. English-Spanish interpretation will be provided. The event is free and open to the public.

6:00 Welcome Remarks

·         City official - Council President Margeson

·         Jerry Kroon – Eastside Legal Assistance Program Executive Director

6:05 - MC to provide overview of program, introduce speakers – Aneelah Afzali, MAPS

6:10 - Police Chief Wilson

6:15  - School District Representatives – Kelly Pease/Dr. Pierce

6:20 - Presentation by Attorneys, ELAP and CAIR

·         Jay Stratton, Attorney-at-Law

·         Joan Thomas, Attorney-at-Law

7:05 - Q & A with cards

MAPS video:  http://www.mapsredmond.org/who-we-are/our-mosque/

Questions?  Contact Lisa Maher, City Communications Manager  lmaher@redmond.gov

UPDATED: Jerry's Art Collection

Jerry Torell proudly showing off  his art collection - he has over 100  pieces

Have you ever in your life seen a collection of art in a dry-cleaners? It would have to be a first, don't you think?  Well here is Jerry Torell beaming in front of part of his collection. He managed to work a deal with the owner to work part-time if he could display and sell his art on the side.    

"Camms/Northstar Dry Cleaners" is located on 14701 N.E 20th Street by I-Hop off of 148th Avenue.  Jerry frames most of his art and sells the pieces at affordable prices.  His collection is diverse and quite interesting.  I may be buying a piece.  Jerry normally has not sold his art online, preferring the personal touch.  You can find him at the dry-cleaners Thursday's and Friday's 10 am to 6 pm, or make an appointment (425-957-0485.) for other times.

Jerry, now a Redmond "old timer," has a fascinating background.  His father immigrated from Germany on a "tall ship" and settled in Seattle into a marriage of 66 years.  Jerry moved to Redmond 50-years ago to run "One Hour Martinizing."  At the time, the city had one stoplight and no more were needed. Most of Redmond was trees and open space.   

I first met Jerry at a Redmond Kiwanis Club meeting a few months ago.  He's an amazing community-minded guy.   Only by persistent questioning did he reveal his community service credentials:  In years past, Jerry was Vice-President of the Redmond Chamber, he's a charter member and JCI Senator of the Redmond Jaycees, the co-founder of Redmond Toastmasters and last year's President of Redmond Kiwanis and also creator of the Redmond Bicycle Entrance sign. Several pictures of him are in Naomi Hardy's  "Redmond Reflections, from settlers to software."

Everybody enjoys his ready smile and custom service from several past Redmond dry 
cleaners. Crumpled clothes to clean or not, you must say Hi!

Bob Yoder

edited by Jerry

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Where are all the homeless tents?

My interview with homeless sheltered in Camp Unity.  

Since writing this piece it appears the screening around the tent is partially removed from the tents.  I saw Dan in his orange vest walking the sidewalk picking up litter so his job is more than security.    

I live only a quarter mile from the St. Jude homeless encampment and walk by there often. Where are all the tents? The western parking lot is almost empty and in years past the lot was always full. What's going on?  Aren't we in a crisis?

With mild trepidation, I approached Dan, an encampment resident to try to understand the dearth of tents.  Dan is a nice guy and articulate and very graciously offered to give me a tour of the facility.

Dan wears a City of Redmond safety vest
while on security duty.  

We found only 16 tents in the "village" -- 2 of of them were empty -- and there was space for five others. My goodness!  He said most of the homeless prefer shelters where the "facilities" are nicer;

Dan said the corrupt Camp Unity board was purged last year and their new leadership is running a very tight ship. Once the "applicants" pass a warrant check, breathalyzer, and upon presenting an I.D. they are  registered and can move in.  Camp Unity charges them $30/month in dues.  It almost seems like a club. If you don't have the money they'll take cashed-in food stamps.

Dan emphasized the "crazies" and the drug infested homeless live in Bellevue's "low barrier" encampment where they'll take anyone.  He was little concerned about heroin.

For job and other personal assistance a case worker visits the encampment.  The camp (village) is on a bus line and residents have bikes to get to employers. Dan bikes down to the library. Recently a church donated a large van.  I asked if the van could transport residents to Home Depot to find day labor; Dan thought long and hard but didn't respond. If you listen to the YouTube clip, the need of WiFi for jobs and affordable housing is a high priority over community supplied food, blankets and clothing.

Bob Yoder, opinion

St. Jude hosts a car camp in the parking lot next to Camp Unity.  According to Dan, about 4-12 cars are parked there at night and the parish runs this camp.  Dinner is served inside every evening for all the homeless on site.  

Barn Again

Posted on March 1, 2017 by claudiabalducci

King County’s “Barn Again” program provides grants to preserve historic barns and outbuildings that reflect our agriculture heritage.  In 2016, six barns, three milk houses, one milking parlor and one chicken house located in eastern and southern rural areas have received Barn Again grants totaling more than $235,000.  The next round of grants is coming up this Spring!  If you have a barn or outbuilding that is historically associated with the working life of a farm, please consider applying!  To be eligible, buildings must be:

Redmond City Council to select a new member Tuesday

Redmond City Hall

This is a very good article by Samantha Pak of the "Redmond Reporter." She writes about the three finalists under consideration to replace Council position #4 vacated by Ms. Allen on January 31st. The article describes the selection process and some very interesting information about the candidates. Councilmembers Angela Birney and John Stilin answer a few questions about "what it takes to be a councilmember." The article was published in yesterday's print and online editions.

Bob Yoder