About Redmond

Redmond is the seventh most populous city in King County and the sixteenth most populous city in the State of Washington, with a residential population of approximately 59,180 in 2015. It encompasses an area of over 17.14 square miles and is located less than 20 miles east of downtown Seattle at the north end of Lake Sammamish. The city prides itself for its high quality of life with good schools, a healthy economic base, a parks system that provides a variety of active and passive recreational opportunities, diverse offerings for shopping and dining, safe neighborhoods, and an emphasis on quality development and protection of the natural environment. 

Redmond's park system consists of 31 developed and 14 undeveloped parks on over 1,345 acres and 29 miles of developed trails. Facilities range from community, neighborhood, and resource parks to undeveloped open space, beautification areas, and gathering places. They include a waterfront park on Lake Sammamish (Idylwood), a wildlife preserve known as the Redmond Watershed, and a farm with equestrian facilities at Farrel-McWhirter Park. Recreation programs provide learning, socializing, and entertainment opportunities for preschoolers through senior adults and an active cultural arts scene. Facilities include a senior center, a teen center, a community center, and two log cabins at Anderson Park. In addition, King County operates numerous trail connections with Redmond's system and points beyond. 

The city is well known as a center of technology and the location for a number of nationally known high-tech and biomedical companies. Among these are Microsoft, Nintendo, AT&T and Physio-Control. Redmond Town Center, a large downtown retail center, offers numerous shops, restaurants, three movie theaters, special events, and live performances by a repertory theater company and other arts-related groups.

As Redmond continues to evolve into a thriving city of increasing diversity, it seeks to promote its sense of community through programs designed to celebrate its heritage, enhance its neighborhoods, and preserve its historical and natural treasures.

With 53 schools and more than 24,000 students, the Lake Washington School District, the school district for the cities of Redmond, Sammamish and Kirkland combined, is one of the largest in the state. It is also a reflection of the community it serves, generally upper middle class and technology-comfortable. Scores on standardized tests place the district in the state's top 10 percent. The curriculum has been praised in several national education publications for its comprehensive approach to student-centered learning, and over 100 districts around the country are adapting it for their own use.

-- redmond.gov, 2016 -- two log cabins? fuuuunty!  Who wrote this?   by

LETTER: Redmond Community Environmental Action Meeting

We are already seeing devastating cuts to many environmental protections by the Trump Administration here in Puget Sound. With these ruthless cuts affecting us in our local communities, it’s time for us to come together to prepare ourselves for the next election cycle and the battle ahead of us to protect our local communities and environment. Washington Conservation Voters is all in this election season to work with you on the environmental issues you care most about and resist the onslaught of environmental attacks.

Join us in Redmond on April 11th to discuss the most pressing environmental issues facing us now, hear from our environmental policy experts about what needs to happen next, and share with us what issues are most important to you and your community.

What: Redmond Community Environmental Action Meeting
When: Tuesday, April 11th from 7-8pm
Where: Redmond Library meeting room (15990 Northeast 85th St. Redmond WA)

Washington Conservation Voters: https://wcvoters.org/

RSVP to receive updates!
Questions: Email:  emily@wcvoters.org. 

Hopelink and City of Redmond groundbreaking event

Hopelink provides a network of critical social services through a number of different programs – including housing, transportation, family development, financial assistance, employment programs, adult education, financial literacy training and five food banks. The agency’s service centers, housing and transportation programs help more than 60,000 people every year. 

Join us on Friday, April 28, 9AM as we break ground for Hopelink’s new Integrated Service Center in Redmond!  Location:  8970 154th Ave. NE.  Redmond, WA.

The Redmond Integrated Service Center represents another major milestone in Hopelink’s ongoing plan to double our services to people in our community. Our capital campaign has already brought about the refurbishment of our Kenmore Shelter and the grand opening of our new Shoreline Integrated Service Center. Now, we are breaking ground on our largest project thus far.

The new center – made possible through a partnership with the City of Redmond – is the latest project to be funded by Hopelink’s Campaign for Lasting Change; a multi-year initiative that will double the number of people gaining the tools to exit poverty, while also ensuring more people receive healthy food from our food banks and more homeless families have access to safe and affordable housing.

Event Parking

There are no parking spaces at the new Redmond site; therefore, we ask all those attending the groundbreaking to park at the nearby Overlake Christian Church. We will be providing two shuttles to transport people the short distance to the site. This shuttle service will begin at 8:30 a.m.

We advise guests to arrive 15 minutes early to allow for transportation.

We look forward to sharing this exciting day with you!

Derby Day Waste Management scholarship event

REDMOND, WA - Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 Derby Do Gooder Scholarship award, presented by Waste Management. Currently in its third year, the Derby Do Gooder Scholarship will be awarded as a part of the 77th Annual Derby Days summer festival, happening in Redmond July 7-8.   

New this year, the 2017 award amount has been increased to $1,500. The scholarship will reward a Redmond high school senior who has demonstrated exemplary leadership through community service. “As the recycling and solid waste service provider for Redmond, we are invested in your community and want to help recognize others who are equally invested. The Do-Gooder scholarship mirrors our values by recognizing a local student’s contribution in community service and engagement” stated a Waste Management representative. 

Derby Days is historically rooted in the spirit of friendly competition, and the Derby Days scholarship opportunity is just one of the many ways that the City of Redmond is bringing that history to life. “Expect to see an increased focus on interactive elements, races and competitions for kids and adults alike at this year’s Derby Days”, said Megan Worzella, events and marketing administrator at the City of Redmond. The recipient will also be honored with an appearance in the Derby Days Grand Parade, Saturday, July 8, 2017.

The Do Gooder scholarship application is available at www.RedmondDerbyDays.com. The application deadline is May 15, with a recipient being announced June 7.

Wouldn't it be nice if the City could partner with other organizations for Derby Day scholarships?  Our community is very charitable.  B.Y.

UPDATED: Go Zags!

Traveled out to Spokane to be with them.  No tickets but lots of frosty beer.
We are so proud of our Zags!

Powerline Trail  Credit/ Ingunn Markiewicz

New Members Join the Redmond Kiwanis Club

			Six new members recently joined the Redmond Kiwanis Club.  The new members are shown in the photo above from left to right: Bob Yoder, Roy Captain, Mark Stuart, Gary Schimek, and Don Horton.   New member Tommy Smith is missing from the photograph. Kiwanis is a global organization dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time.  The Redmond Kiwanis Club serves the Redmond community with an emphasis on youth-oriented projects.  The Club meets weekly at the Family Pancake House in Redmond.  Meetings start at 7:00 a.m. and end at 8:00 a.m.  If you would like to attend a Club meeting and learn more about Kiwanis, contact President Pat Vache' (425- 883-2314)' ### The Kiwanis Club in Redmond improves the lives of youth and families of Redmond and the surrounding communities through increasing hours of service, dollars of support, and positive role models for the youth and future leaders of the community.

 

EvergreenHealth Medical Center will take your unwanted medications

Drug collection and disposal kiosk at EvergreenHealth Pharmacy is open

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Kirkland, Wash. – EvergreenHealth Medical Center now offers a secure kiosk in the EvergreenHealth Professional Center Pharmacy on its Kirkland campus to allow staff and community members to drop-off unwanted household medications for collection and disposal.

The new program is part of King County’s Secure Medicine Return regulations aimed at reducing preventable deaths from drug overdoses and to protect public health by keeping waste medicines out of waterways and water supplies.

Eastside event raises $650,000+ for families in crisis

Youth Speakers /Credit YES

BELLEVUE, WASH. — Yesterday’s Invest in Youth Breakfast benefiting Youth Eastside Services (YES) drew 1,000+ attendees and raised more than $650,000 to help Eastside families in need heal from devastating issues such as depression, substance abuse, trauma and more.

“We can’t thank our community enough for standing up for families,” YES Executive Director Patti Skelton-McGougan said. “Our children are our future, and it’s only through our collective efforts that they’ll succeed.”

The funds raised will support low/no-cost mental health care and substance abuse treatment for families in need — as well as education and prevention services.

Featured speakers included renowned early childhood researcher Dr. Patricia Kuhl, retired KING 5 TV news anchor Dennis Bounds, Warm 106.9 radio personality and mental health advocate Shellie Hart, local restaurateurs and community advocates John and Debbie Howie, plus youth speakers from YES.

Docent Naturalists Wanted at the Northwest Stream Center

Do you have a passion for forests, wetlands, streams, fish and wildlife? Enjoy communicating with small groups of people?  Would you like to wander a few times a month through a very beautiful 20-acre natural area where views of flora and fauna change every day?  Then the Adopt A Stream Foundation’s Northwest Stream Center may the place for you.  

The Adopt A Stream Foundation is recruiting volunteers to become Docent Naturalists (Nature Trainers) to conduct interpretive tours at the Northwest Stream Center in Snohomish County’s Mc Collum Park (600 –128th Street SE, Everett WA, 98208; http://www.streamkeeper.org/aasf/Contact_and_directions.html).

Initial Docent Naturalist orientation dates are March through April.  

UPDATE: Protective measures in place to protect city aquifer, drinking water wells and stormwater conveyance system

Oil truck parked next to Station House Loft construction site

UPDATED:  A Council Study Session meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, 7:30pm at City Hall during which staff will give a status update on the development of the City’s groundwater model, stakeholder engagement associated with the on-going review and assessment of the wellhead zone boundaries, and future policy discussion items. 

The meeting is open to the public or you can watch it on Comcast Channel  21, Frontier Channel 34, and streamed. Details HERE.

The following protective measures are in place to protect our aquifer, drinking water wells and stormwater conveyance system from potential impacts associated with temporary construction dewatering. 

Orange Soldiers Advance, Take the Hill

Orange "foot soldiers" on 166th Ave NE

....advance to 171st Street on Ed Hill

...the City's first water supply

      And on to Perrigo Springs

Redmond Participating in Puget Sound Regional Council Travel Study

Ain't this purdy? 

Redmond, WA – The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is conducting a regional travel study to better understand the transportation needs and preferences of the region's residents. 

Between March 2017 and June 2017, Redmond residents will receive invitations to participate in this important transportation study led by PSRC.

“This survey will provide us with a current overview of how Redmond residents get around and guide our transportation investments in the future,” said Hank Margeson, Redmond City Council President and PSRC’s Vice Chair of the Growth Management Policy Board.

Demand for travel in the Puget Sound region is expected to increase by 25% between now and the year 2040.

Water Tenders is resurrected

Key Club members help to restore a Bear Creek tributary
My daughter Lexie is far left; she recruited the Key Club
members.

Water Tenders is a group of people who care about the wetlands and streams in the Bear Creek area and King county.

The torch of Water Tenders (WT) leadership was passed from President Eric Soshea to Susan Wilkins at the WT Annual Meeting last week.  Many of the of the original tenders were present, including a relative of the founder. Leader Terry Lavender and past president Dick Schaetzel were out of town. Gary Smith was present. Debbie Aftebro from Novelty Hill had never attended a WT meeting yet she collects and measures rainwater for Guy Baltzelle's program. She wanted to meet Guy but unfortunately he wasn't at the meeting.  Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl was up front with Susan and Eric. Shirley was once President and is now the Treasurer, replacing John Reinke,who replaced Dick S.  One of the new board members, Heather Poe was president and secretary for WT in the Early 2000 - 2005 era (before Susan became a member.) Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl was also once a president along with five others. 

In her presentation, (video) Susan held up a map of the entire Bear Creek watershed. She was re-directing and expanding our attention to the entire Bear Creek watershed.  She states:

UPDATED: A Brief History of Redmond's Rapid Growth

Rob Odle, Redmond's Director of Planning  and
Community Development

Rob Odle, Redmond's director of planning and community development is the guest speaker in the Redmond Historical Society's Saturday,April 8th Speaker's Series  He explains how growth really took off in the early 1990s with the adoption of Washington state's Growth Management Act.  

What a difference 50 years makes – at least when it comes to Redmond. In 1966, it literally was a small town: 4,800 residents who had just gotten their first traffic light. Today, more than 60,000 people call it home and the population doubles weekdays due to battalions of workers at Microsoft, Genie and dozens of smaller companies.

Redmond did grow a bit in the 1970s and '80s, but it really took off in the early 1990s, with the adoption of Washington state's Growth Management Act. Rob Odle, Redmond's director of planning and community development, will explain that history and process at the Redmond Historical Society’s Saturday Speaker Series meeting on April 8.

      "Under the GMA," he says, "the key decisions were to: focus future growth in our urban centers and not disburse growth evenly throughout the community; advocate for a clear and close-in growth boundary; support Sound Transit and light rail to Redmond and the Eastside; plan to create a walkable and connected downtown; and work to ensure that in Redmond  residents have choices such as in housing, transportation  and employment."  

Updated: City Council encourages Dick's Drive-In to locate here

It was announced the new Dick's Drive-In will be located somewhere in South King County

The Redmond City Council passed a resolution to "wholeheartedly encourage the siting of Dick's Drive-In's 7th restaurant within the city."  

DICK'S DRIVE-IN is deciding where they'll build their next restaurant based on popular vote between the East and South regions of Puget Sound.  **Redmond of course is one of the good guys in the Eastern region. Voting closes this Friday, March 24th. 

DICK'S WEBSITE -- VOTE HERE!

http://www.ddir.com/

Dick's 6th restaurant is in Edmonds

Dick's is a family owned favorite for 63 years.  Their first location opened in 1954. They are known for their Classic menu including famous Pacific Northwest fries. WATCH THE VIDEO!

There are NO Dick's restaurants on the Eastside!

Dick's is a community asset:  $25,000 scholarships are awarded to their employees.
Their "Change for Charity" program was started in 1998 to collect customer's donated change in support homeless charities.

VOTE
:)

**Bellevue, Kirkland, Sammamish, Woodinville, Issaquah, Bothell, and Mercer Island are in the Eastern Region so please vote too!!  At this time the South is ahead. Come on you guys!

NOTICE: Important joint Art and Parks Commission meeting

On Thursday, March 30th the Parks & Trails Commission will hold a joint meeting with the Arts & Culture Commission from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Council Conference Room, Redmond City Hall.  The topics of discussion are "Community Centers" and/or the PARCC Plan.  

Homelessness in Redmond

Many of the homeless in Redmond are invisible and the statistics are startling:  

According to a city web page:  

1.  357 homeless kids in the Lake Washington School District are homeless.

2.  There's a 39% increase in homelessness for every $100 increase in rent.

3.  Homeless families wait 6 months on average for housing in King County.  

Bob Yoder
internet photo

Metro and Sound Transit meeting at Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, March 20th

Metro and Sound Transit are reaching out to transit riders and communities like Redmond to get input on transit service in the State Route 520 corridor. They and the City of Redmond would like to know how we are using today’s service and what we think about it. This input will help Metro, Sound Transit and the city to develop ideas for improvements. 

A meeting will be held on March 20th, 6-8PM at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center to get input on transit service in the SR 520 Corridor.  That may include the Overlake and Marymoor stations.  If you can't make the meeting, here are other ways to "have a say." 

Bob Yoder

"2017 Invest in Youth Breakfast" to support Youth Eastside Services mental health programs

WHO: 1,100+ community members and business leaders from across the Puget Sound region

WHAT: The Eastside’s premier fundraiser benefiting youth and families in need who are struggling with trauma, depression, grief, substance abuse and more. Donations support Youth Eastside Services’ mental health, substance abuse treatment, psychiatric, and education and prevention services for children, teens and families.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 22, 7:30–8:45 a.m.

WHERE: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6^th St., Bellevue, WA 98004

SPEAKER OVERVIEW:

·         Dennis Bounds, emcee

·         Dr. Patricia Kuhl, renowned early childhood development researcher and keynote speaker

·         John and Debbie Howie, restaurateurs and community co-chairs

·         Shellie Hart, Warm 106.9 radio personality

·         Mason Bernardo, youth speaker

·         Irie McCaughran, youth speaker

·         Patti Skelton-McGougan, YES executive director

ABOUT YOUTH EASTSIDE SERVICES (YES)

YES provides mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, psychiatric support, and education and prevention services for children, teens and families at more than 70 locations across East King County. Since 1968, YES has helped thousands of families struggling with depression, grief, trauma, substance abuse, anxiety, gender- or cultural-identity issues, and so much more. YES accepts most major insurance providers, and no family is turned away because they can’t pay for services. Learn more atwww.youtheastsideservices.org.

"Festival of Color" event has been changed to Sunday, March 19th owing to weather

Northwest’s largest free color festival (holi) will be on Sunday March 19th,12PM-5PM at the Redmond City Hall. It's the only NW color event with free admission and is attended by around 7,000 to 8,000 color enthusiasts. The festival of color is organized by Vedic Cultural Center, Sammamish in partnership with City of Redmond. The festival of color is City's official Spring event.

The ancient festival of Holi (Festival of Color) is celebrated every year in India and now it has come to Northwest. The Festival of Color frees all of inhibitions so they can relate others with pure joy. It brings people together and creates a community of happy people. You won't believe the amazing fun of coloring while dancing and jumping blissfully with your friends and newcomers. Enjoy 5 hours of colors, music, dance, fun and tasty Indian food. The best and most joyful event for complete family on the very first day of spring.

Watch this fun video!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1de2-j3kL4c

Invite your all friends. !!! Free admission !!! Need to buy colors only!! 

Redmond's "Space Needle" Entrance Sign

By Jerry Torell

Jerry Torell in front of our current sign/Yoder

The Redmond Bike Derby Road Races including the "Bike Derby Parade" from the first year, have always been a major part of the city's civic events with riders coming from around the country and Canada to compete in the annual race.  In the mid 1970’s while I served on the Redmond Chamber of Commerce Board as Vice President, I was also Publicity Chairman for the chamber. Over the years several of my dry cleaning customers commented that the city needed an entrance sign on the west end of Redmond.

I started thinking about it and with the history of the bicycle in Redmond I knew the bike had to be a key part of the sign, so I proposed the idea to my Chamber committee along with a plan to build it. Getting the chamber's approval of the plan, I contacted our City Mayor “Bud” Young to get his thoughts…He LOVED the bicycle sign idea!!   He offered the city staff to lay out some sketches. 

From an earlier Jaycee project I had met Chuck Johns who was the metal’s instructor at Redmond High School.  I called Chuck and explained our city entrance sign plan, asking him if his class could help build an old fashioned bicycle with the “big front wheel and the small back wheel” not knowing then, it was known as the “Penny Farthing.” 

(l-r)  Bud Young, Fred Habenicht, Kim Murrey, Jerry Torell
Credit/ Sammamish Valley News

A key committee member, Fred Habenicht, owner of Frederick’s Appliances, volunteered to contact John Gunderson of Gundy’s Signs to carve and provide a wooden face for the sign.  I then re-contacted the Mayor to confirm the city's help installing and keeping it in good order plus maintaining the grounds around the sign.  The Mayor agreed! and “Gundy” worked out the slogan, “Redmond Bicycle Capital of the Northwest.” The sign was completed and dedicated in July of 1976. 

AS THEY SAY…THE REST IS NOW HISTORY !!

The Bicycle Entrance Sign has become the “Space Needle of Redmond," has Redmond’s symbol, and is copied by most everyone as a logo on literature and replicas mounted on sides of buildings around town. I was originally concerned that the sign would be damaged by vandals but to my knowledge this has never happened and the sign has become a key symbol of Redmond pride. 

The sign is now reconstructed of cement end posts and a redesigned wooden face and lit up with white lights at night and encircled with shrubs and flowers the year around bidding..."WELCOME TO ALL!"

St. Patrick Irish Music Event Fills ORSCC

I'm learning the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center (ORSCC) auditorium is used for more than occasional Redmond Historical Society meetings.

The auditorium was filled this Saturday evening by a very special St. Patrick Irish Musical event.  My wife and I really enjoyed the performance and especially the dancers.  I was surprised to see so many children and teens running around the halls and coloring books in the backside of the auditorium. There must have been close to twenty.

On March 22, the ORSCC auditorium will probably be packed again with the "Community Immigration Forum.  The event is free and open to the public.  Here's the agenda: 

Join in a Neighborhood Conversation with your Elected Officials

On March 30, 2017, City Council will host the first Neighborhood Conversation of 2017 at Rockwell Elementary, located at 11125 162nd Ave. NE, Redmond, from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. These forums are a casual and convenient way for residents to interact with their elected leaders. Each meeting is held in a different part of the city, and they are open for residents to direct the topics—whether it’s a neighborhood issue or the vision for Redmond. 

Seeking part-time work

As many of you know I'm very passionate about Redmond.  Everyday I report on something going on in our community always seeking stories not usually found in the newspaper.  Most of my days are spent researching, investigating, photographing, collaborating.and writing stories.  I'm a community advocate and every once in a while I activate worthy outcomes.

I'm currently seeking part-time work to get busier and make a few bucks.  If you have any leads on a good job please let me know!  Thank you.

Bob Yoder

I can be reached at 425-802-2523 or by emailing redmondblog@gmail.com