Aspen Richter Opposes Martin For LWSD Director #4

Aspen Richter

Aspen Richter is running for Position #4 of the LWSD Board of Directors and has broad support from the community.  I first met Aspen at a "Move Redmond" luncheon; she always has her notebook with her to record salient points.  She likes to "move around" on her e-bike; and avoid guzzling cars!   

Environmental sustainablity at LWSD is a big thing for Aspen.  Below, are some personal notes of her accomplishments:  

Lake Washington PTSA Council Sustainability Chair, 2023-2025.

While Chair, I focused on bringing both district employees and sustainability chairs from the various school PTSAs together to exchange information and strengthen our sustainability efforts. 

I also collaborated with Matt Gillingham (Deputy Superintendent of Operations & Legal Affairs) to hold a linkage session for the board's draft sustainability policy with PTSA chairs, parents, students, and teachers.  I'm looking forward to what 2025-2026 brings for our environmental efforts in LWSD!

I am on the LWSD advisory committees for:

1) Sustainability

2) Facilities: I joined because of the financial and environmental impact of our buildings, and because I had children at two of the schools slated for rebuild from the proceeds of the 2024 levy.

3) Levy: A temporary committee in the spring and summer of 2025, because levies are how we fund facility improvements such as solar panels, switching to electric boilers, and installation of ground-source heat pumps to reduce our environmental impact. The levy committee is one I take very seriously, because the purpose of levy funds---funding our schools---is incredibly important and also because I am aware the end result is very real for property owners in LWSD.

EvergreenHealth Honors Redmond Resident, "2024 Community Service Award"

 

(l-r) sister Joanne Dearth from No. Carolina, Bob Yoder, Pam Yoder

"Since 1998, EvergreenHealth has recognized individuals who make a meaningful impact on community health through its Community Service Award. This year, Bob Yoder was honored for his outstanding leadership and advocacy in mental health care.

Through his thoughtful presentations and compassionate voice, Bob has helped deepen the Board of Commissioners’ understanding of mental health challenges and emphasized the importance of expanding behavioral health services. His work has shaped EvergreenHealth’s response to community needs and strengthened support for vulnerable populations.

We are grateful for Bob’s dedication and proud to recognize his contributions to advancing the health of our community."

Learn more here: http://bit.ly/4luYEKh

-- Virgil Snyder, Chair

Board of Commissioners

EvergreenHealth

EvergreenHealth Commissioner Robin Campbell Runs To Retain Seat

Robin Campbell, PhD

Commissioner Position #5 

At-Large representative
Board member since 2024
Term ends Dec. 31, 2025

In 2023-24, Dr. Campbell served as an  EvergreenHealth Community Advisor and was

appointed EvergreenHealth Commissioner in 2024.  His term ends December 31, 2025

and he is on the ballot in November to retain his seat.  He has earned a Health Care

Governance Certification from the Washington State Hospital Association.

Robin Campbell is a retired executive and board director with over 35 years of

experience in management and executive roles in several life science companies such

as Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals and Amgen.  

From 2004 to 2008, he was President and CEO of  Naryx Pharma , a specialty pharmaceutical company. From 2011 to 2021, he was the Executive Chairman of Aptitude Medical Systems. He has served on the Board of Directors of several public healthcare companies and was also Chairman of the Board of the Cancer Support Community in Ventura County, California, a non-profit organization that provides free support and resources to people with family members fighting cancer.

From 2009 to 2018, Dr. Campbell held an appointment as a Lecturer in the Technology

Management Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, teaching courses

on life science business, general business strategy and marketing.  

Currently, he volunteers with SCORE, offering free coaching to small business owners,

as well as serving as a Zoo Ambassador volunteer at Woodland Park Zoo.  Campbell

holds a BA in Zoology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a PhD

in Microbiology and Immunology from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Ribbon-cutting Celebrates Completion Of Redmond Central Connector Trail

 

The third and final phase, being celebrated next month, covers an additional 1.6 miles to Redmond’s city limits and connects with the Eastrail, where it branches north toward Woodinville and west toward Kirkland.

Redmond Celebrates Completion of Major Bike and Pedestrian Trail

REDMOND, WA - Redmond Mayor Angela Birney will lead a public ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, to mark the completion of the third and final phase of construction of the Redmond Central Connector Trail.

The event will take place on the trail near Overlake Christian Church on Willows Road and celebrates the opening of the final 1.6 miles of trail that completes the 3.9-mile Redmond Central Connector bike and pedestrian trail, connecting Redmond to the 42-mile Eastrail trail network and beyond. With this, Redmond becomes the first city to fully complete its section of the Eastrail, an important milestone in connecting the region.

Event Details

• What: Ribbon-cutting to celebrate the completion of the Redmond Central Connector Trail
• When: 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 12
• Where: Redmond Central Connector Trail near Overlake Christian Church
• How: Media wishing to cover the event are asked to RSVP with City of Redmond Communications Manager Kelly Schutz for further details

Event Speakers

Speakers from the City of Redmond will include Mayor Angela Birney, Council President Vanessa Kritzer, Council Vice President Jessica Forsythe, Parks and Recreation Director Loreen Hamilton, and Public Works Director Aaron Bert. Speakers from the project design team will include Berger Partnership Principal Guy Michaelson and Otak Principal Nico Vanderhorst. United States Rep. Su.zan Delbene and Eastrail Executive Director Katherine Hollis will also share remarks

“Completing the Redmond Central Connector Trail marks the culmination of a decade and a half of visionary leadership and hard work,” said Redmond Mayor Angela Birney. “This trail not only connects Redmond to our neighbors in Sammamish, Kirkland, and Woodinville—it also connects us to many of the things that make Redmond special, including the natural beauty of the Sammamish Valley, parks, gathering places, public art, transit, local businesses, and the energy of Downtown.”

The first phase, a one-mile segment through Downtown, was completed in 2013 and included Redmond Central Connector Park, with multiple public art installations. Phase two, completed in 2017, constructed 1.3 miles of trail from east of the Sammamish River to the intersection of Willows Road and the 9900 Block, near DigiPen and Overlake Christian Church. This phase included retrofitting the Sammamish River Trestle. The third and final phase, being celebrated next month, covers an additional 1.6 miles to Redmond’s city limits and connects with the Eastrail, where it branches north toward Woodinville and west toward Kirkland.

From 1889 to 2008, a railroad ran through the heart of Redmond, connecting the City to the wider region, but also creating a barrier through the center of town. The City acquired the property in 2010 with a new vision for the abandoned rail corridor: to create a trail that would bring our community together and draw people to Redmond.

Redmond Central Connector Amenities and Connections

• East Lake Sammamish Trail
• Bear Creek Trail
• Sammamish River Trail
• Powerline Trail
• Eastrail
• Redmond Central Connector Park
• Public Art Installations
  • Erratic
  • Signals
  • Sky Painting
• Sammamish River Trestle
• Sound Transit Light Rail - 2 Line – Downtown Redmond Station

Automated License Plate Readers To Enhance Public Safety

 

CONTACT

Jill Green, Redmond Police Department Public Information Officer
jgreen@redmond.gov
425-556-2627

Redmond Police Deploy Automated License Plate Readers to Enhance Public Safety

 

REDMOND, WA - The Redmond Police Department has taken another step forward in integrating advanced public safety technology into its daily operations by deploying Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in strategic areas across the city.

The ALPR system enhances the department’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to crimes, missing persons, and public safety threats. These cameras automatically alert officers and analysts when a vehicle linked to a crime, missing person, stolen vehicle, or other critical incident is detected.  Before any action is taken, every alert is verified and confirmed to ensure the information is accurate and valid.

"With tools like ALPR, we are able to act faster and more precisely to protect our community," said Chief Darrell Lowe. "It's important to note that these technologies are not intended for general surveillance. We use them solely to track vehicles involved in crimes or emergencies, ensuring that privacy and individual rights are always respected."

EvergreenHealth Quality of Care Top 10% of 4,500 Hospitals Nationwide

 

Ettore Palazzo, MD, FACPEttore Palazzo, MD, FACP   Premium • 1stChief Executive OfficerChief Executive Officer 4 days ago • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn

"Congratulations to the hardworking staff at EvergreenHealth for earning a 5-Star hospital designation from CMS again this year, our 10th consecutive! We are proud to be among just 291 hospitals nationwide to receive this recognition in 2025. Thank you to every member of the EvergreenHealth team for making quality and patient safety the foundation of everything we do."

EvergreenHealthEvergreenHealth17,294 followers17,294 followers4 days ago • Edited • Visible to anyone on or off LinkedIn

EvergreenHealth Medical Center has earned the five-star designation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the 10th year in a row!

This award recognizes the incredible quality of care our providers and staff deliver every day to every one of our patients, putting EvergreenHealth in the top 10.1% of over 4,500 hospitals nationwide.

Historic 'win' for EvergreenHealth Proposition 1, Levy Lid Lift

With 24.12% of EvergreenHealth Prop 1 ballots counted on August 5th, 25,453 (60.54%) were approved and 16,591 (39.46%) were rejected.  Passage of this measure was an historic 'win' for the community! 

8/6/2025

City News Now | August 4, 2025

Updated: Overlake Bellwether Housing Development, Affordable

Overlake Bellwether Housing 
2027 - 2028 completion date

The City of Redmond is seeking to enter into a 2.4 acre purchase and sale agreement with Bellwether Housing for the acquisition of a commercial property on the ground floor of an affordable housing project. This project is located adjacent to the Overlake light rail station and will contain two additional commercial spaces and 328 affordable housing units. 

Approval of the purchase and sale of Bellwether allows the City of Redmond to acquire 1600 sf of coveted commercial space in the Overlake Neighborhood right next to light rail.  The development will include a six-story, mixed-use building housing small businesses, “mini town hall,” and nonprofit services. · 

Most importantly, affordable housing for ~328 homes include studios, 1, 2, and 3-bedrooms will be available at 30% to 80% Area Median Income (AMI) however, families will qualify only for 50% AMI. 

Below are outlined some other potential benefits: 

 City services: Potential for increased access to city services, such as customer service, translation services, bill pay, mobile integrated health, Police desk, and other city services, along with rotating art.  

 Co-location of  1,600 sq commercial condo adjacent to a planned multicultural small business hub. The City envisions the use of the parcel as a dedicated to open space, suitable for small-scale community use. 

Multicultural services:  In the Overlake Intercultural District more than 42% of the residents are foreign born and 46.5% speak a language other than English at home. 

Multi-modal transportation on sidewalks and streets close to the Overlake Station.  

The Mayor has approved allocating $1 million in funds budgeted for Bellwether's housing development.  King County staff have proposed a matching contribution with an additional $1.15 million. City staff has applied for federal and state grants to support the acquisition and tenant improvements. The City was successful in receiving a state grant earmark and Department of Commerce grant. 

Source:  Council Committee of the Whole, 8/5/2025  (Election Day) 

City of Redmond Design Review agenda

ELECTION RESULTS

 

Election closes August 5, 8 PM  

 

ELECTION RESULTS

(click)

FOR CANDIDATES AND MEASURES

Previous results reports will be made available by 4:30 p.m. the next day

• August 5 results report  UPDATED
• August 6 results report
• August 7 results report
• August 8 results report
• August 11 results report
• August 12 results report
• August 13 results report
• August 14 results report
• August 15 results report
• August 18 results report
• August 19 results report  (certification) 

Of 21.37% of EvergreenHealth Prop 1 ballots counted, 25,453 (60.54%) were approved and 16,591 (39.46%) were rejected.  Amazing 'win' for the community!

EvergreenHealth Community Healthcare Access Team (CHAT)

Sahayra Bororjas Tapia, Outreach Liaison with the EvergreenHealth Community Healthcare Access Team (CHAT), discusses CHAT’s resources, from housing, transportation services, to helping a patient find a provider.

If you or someone you know are in need of assistance, please call CHAT at (425) 899-3200 or email CHAT@evergreenhealth.com.

The EvergreenHealth Community Healthcare Access Team (CHAT) is levy-funded.

EvergreenHealth Board Appoints Ettore Palazzo CEO, December 2023

Ettore Palazzo, MD, FACP  assumed his new role as CEO of EvergreenHealth 

on Dec. 10, 2023.  Since then, he's reached out to over 14 organizations addressing the community's  "State of Healthcare."  

 

KIRKLAND, WA – The EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners appointed Ettore Palazzo, MD, FACP, CEO of EvergreenHealth, a public hospital district and two-hospital healthcare system effective Dec. 10, 2023. Dr. Palazzo assumed the role following the retirement of CEO Jeff Tomlin, MD.

 

“Over the past 20 years, some of the greatest, as well as most challenging, moments of my personal and professional life have taken place at EvergreenHealth,” said Dr. Palazzo. “It is the honor of a lifetime to work for this organization and serve its community as the next Chief Executive Officer.” 

 

Dr. Palazzo has served EvergreenHealth and its community for 20 years. He joined EvergreenHealth in 2003 as a hospitalist and most recently served as the Chief Medical and Quality Officer.

 

When Dr. Palazzo joined EvergreenHealth, he was soon elected managing physician of the Internal Medicine hospitalist service, acting as the liaison between hospitalists and the EvergreenHealth Administrative Council. He then spent almost nine years as IT Medical Director of Inpatient Services while continuing to see and treat patients.

 

In 2014, Dr. Palazzo was appointed Quality Medical Director and was tasked with improving EvergreenHealth’s readmission rates. He created and implemented successful strategies that not only achieved lower readmission rates but also led to patient safety and outstanding outcomes awards and recognitions from organizations like Healthgrades, Leapfrog and the Lown Institute.

 

In 2019, just months before EvergreenHealth would be the first hospital in the U.S. to report community spread of COVID-19, Dr. Tomlin offered Dr. Palazzo the role of Interim Chief Medical and Quality Officer. Dr. Palazzo accepted the role and began overseeing risk management, quality/patient safety, regulatory, infection control, pharmacy services and hospitalist/intensivist services. Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Palazzo demonstrated his ability to lead compassionately as he guided his teams through unprecedented issues and helped the hospital system to continue delivering high-quality care.

 

“The last several years have been incredibly challenging for the organization, both clinically and financially, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftereffects,” said Dr. Palazzo. “Despite those challenges, EvergreenHealth has remained true to its mission, vision and values, achieving its highest marks in quality and patient safety in the history of the organization, as our staff consistently strives to achieve even better outcomes.”

 

Ultimately, Dr. Palazzo accepted the permanent position of Chief Medical and Quality Officer. In addition to his roles at EvergreenHealth, Dr. Palazzo has been a member of the Eastside Health Alliance Quality Council since July 2017 and is currently a Board of Directors member and Appointed Chair of the Washington State Hospital Association’s Patient Safety Committee. Dr. Palazzo also served as a Quality Committee member for the Eastside Health Network from July 2017 to May 2023.

 

“We’re delighted and honored to confirm Dr. Palazzo’s selection as CEO of EvergreenHealth and look forward to his leadership in the years to come as we continue our journey of 50-plus years, enriching the health and well-being of every life we touch,” said EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners Chair Virgil Snyder.