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| Rick with Scully On Education Hill Happy Easter Neighbors! |
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| Scully all suited up for Saint Paddy's Day |
-- Bob Yoder, 3/22/26; photos
click pictures to enlarge
click pictures to enlarge
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Rick's Outdoor Neighborhood Art
Friday, March 20, 2026
Mayor Birney's 2026 State of City Address
This video leaves one with a sensation of pride for our City. The address shows the essence of Redmond and will help put us on the world map. Seriously. Peal away from national news for an hour and enjoy the entertainment! Mayor Angela Birney hit a home run on this.
-- Bob Yoder, 3/21
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
UPDATED 4/10/26 Part 1: New HOA Governance Law
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| Washington State Capital |
The Washington Legislature passed the "Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership" Act, (WUCIOA) codified by RCW HB 64.90 that has changed the landscape for Homeowners Association Associations, (HOA.) And, those who know about it are scrambling to meet the requirements and deadlines.
I'm an HOA member of a large association in western Washington. It exemplifies undemocratic, governance neglect our owners have endured for over 25 years, However, with this new law the Board, in good faith, is slowly changing their ways.
As of March 15, 2026:
- Meetings weren't Open.
- A Board member once told me "we don't have agendas."
- If you happen to learn of a Board meeting your comments are restricted to agenda items.
- No Special Meetings on significant issues. (Our Board made a $250,000 decision to buy a new dock system via the Reserve Fund without owner Special meeting participation or vote.)
- Owner contact information is "kept in a vault" by the property manager.
- Board members are voted in year-after-year, one for over 35 years.
- No formal Maintenance Committee at the time when over $900,000 special assessments were required to renovate the buildings and landscaping. No Special meetings or vote. NO RESERVE.
- An early property manager was a felon skimming funds.
Under RCW 64.90.445 Meetings (and Voting requirements) must be implemented by January 1, 2027.
I'm very happy with RCW 60.90 (1) (c) (d.) It states: "Unit owners must be given a reasonable opportunity to comment at ANY meeting regarding ANY matter affecting the common interest community interest or the association."
Monday, March 16, 2026
UPDATED: Grouping of Redmond Historical Society Leaders
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| ~ 100 residents (sitting on the right) attended the Lisa Dupar Speaker Series |
Left to Right: John Oftebro (dressed in Cougar colors), Patsy Rosenbach, Halee Turner, Laura Lee Bennett, speaker Lisa Dupar
John Oftebro, President of Redmond Historical Society
Patsy Rosenbach, Photography/Greeter - a brief history
Halee Turner,Staff, Administration and Collections Manager
Laura-Lee Bennett, Vice President, "Culture, Weaver, Community Builder"
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Updated 4/11: ANNOUNCEMENT: City Council / School Board Drop-in Gathering
ANNOUNCEMENT
Thursday, March 19, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Redmond Middle School
10055 NE 166th Ave.
- an informal, drop-in gathering with City Councilmembers and Lake Washington School District Board Members to discuss topics of importance to attendees
- Councilmember Sayna Parsi, 3/15
Lisa Dupar Of Pomegranate Bistro, Redmond History Saturday Speaker Series
On a snowy day in March over 100 residents turned out for the "Redmond Historical Society Saturday Speaker Series featuring Lisa Dupar, owner of the Pomegranate Bistro. She spoke enthusiastically and expressively to "Ya'll" about her life, and work as a restaurateur, chef, caterer. Her first restaurant was in deceased Mayor Brown's House on 164th, before the Brown Bag closed.
The Bistro is offers casual dining, with a southern bent, a bar, and pastry selection. I ordered a "Fried Chicken & Waffle," Yummy. Their tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwich is iconic. Lisa's ramping up her breakfast fare to Monday -- Friday, 8 AM -- 3 PM.
Left to Right: John Oftebro (dressed in Cougar colors), Patsy Rosenbach, Halee Turner, Laura Lee Bennett, speaker Lisa Dupar
John Oftebro, President of Redmond Historical Society
Patsy Rosenbach, Photography/Greeter - a brief history
Halee Turner, Administration and Collections Manager
Laura-Lee Bennett, Vice President, "Culture, Weaver, Community Builder"
Reported and photos by Bob Yoder, 3/15/2026
Friday, March 13, 2026
Spring Snow On Education Hill
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I woke early this morning, through open the sash, and look what I saw! ....this snowy view from our house on Education Hill. My gladiolus and camellias are already in bloom, tulips are not too far behind, with hostas soon coming.
And this is basically Spring ... mid March! Will the Mayor show off her new fleet of snowplows? I wouldn't doubt it. My favorite is named "Control Salt Delete."
Coming from Minnesota, Chicago, Illinois, a New York it's a dusting. But, that doesn't mean you don't have to look out for the other guy, slip sliding away....
-- Bob Yoder, 3/13/2026
Thursday, March 12, 2026
SE Redmond Park Project Design
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| CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE AND SEE DETAILS |
The SE Redmond Park project includes the design and construction of a new 3.2-acre park in the SE Redmond
neighborhood. It will buffer the residential neirborhoods from northern commercial. Planned features include recreational
amenities such as playgrounds, a picnic shelter, and sports courts; public art; stormwater improvements;
and sustainable landscaping with expanded tree canopy.
As part of the project, two studies will be conducted to evaluate parking needs and assess noise impacts from a proposed pickleball court. In addition, community outreach will be conducted to define and incorporate a community identity feature into the park design. The site is located along the north side of NE 68th Street, bounded by 188th Avenue NE to the west, 191st Avenue NE to the east, and undeveloped land to the north.
SE Redmond Park location site maps and description.
SE Redmond Park Master Plan - comprehensive and informative
-- Source: Council Memo, 3/3/2026
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Friday, March 6, 2026
Updated: United Healthcare And EvergreenHealh Reached An Insurance Agreement, Silver Tower Expansion
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| Silver Tower |
Very good news!
And more good news! At a Board meeting yesterday, I learned all our district levy money ($255,000,000) will over time pay for expanding the second floor of the Silver Tower and Plaza Building without need for a new levy or bond. WE let Evergreen increase our property taxes for this to happen -- to build capacity and access for more doctors, more specialists, more beds, a cardiac-cath lab, instrumentation, woman's health services and more. We'll soon be reaping the benefits! Thank you Dr. Palazzo. Thank you Board of Directors.
-- Bob Yoder, 3/6/2026, updated 3/8/2026, 3/9/2026
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
UPDATED: EvergreenHealth Prepares Patients For Negotiations with United Health
Below, are the measures from EvergreenHealth recommended to assist patients during the failed negotiations.
Sunday, February 22, 2026
UPDATED: Council Office Hours and Committees - Forsythe, Kritzer, Stuart, Parsi
Jessica Forsythe
Position #3City CouncilCouncil Term Expires 12/31/27Phone: 425-305-7206Office Hours: By Appointment (feel free to email)
Running for Washington LD 48th
Boards/Committees: AWC Federal Priorities Committee, Eastrail Regional Advisory Committee, Eastside Transportation Partnership, Disability Board
Past Boards/Committees: Council President 2022-2023, PSRC Executive Board Alternate, Growth Management Policy Board, Redmond Senior & Community Center Stakeholder Group, Parks and Human Services Committee Chair, Eastside Human Services Forum Representative
City Council 2024 Subcommittees: Alternative Crisis Response Planning, Multi-Modal Transportation Planning
Past Boards/Committees: Council President 2022-2023, PSRC Executive Board Alternate, Growth Management Policy Board, Redmond Senior & Community Center Stakeholder Group, Parks and Human Services Committee Chair, Eastside Human Services Forum Representative
City Council 2024 Subcommittees: Alternative Crisis Response Planning, Multi-Modal Transportation Planning
Vanessa Kritzer
Position #5
City Council
Council Term Expires 12/31/27
Phone: 425-305-9892
Office Hours: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 3-4 pm at Redmond Senior and Community Center Lounge (outside community room)
Running for Washington LD #45
Boards/Committees: Community Facilities District Board of Supervisors, Eastside Transportation Partnership, OneRedmond Board of Directors, Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 8 Salmon Recovery Council (Chair), Lake Sammamish Kokanee Interlocal Agreement Management Committee, King Conservation District Advisory Committee
City Council 2026 Subcommittees: Tenant Protections
City Council 2026 Subcommittees: Tenant Protections
Melissa Stuart
Position #4
President, City Council
Council Term Expires 12/31/29
Phone: 425-588-6550
Office Hours: 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 3 - 5 p.m. at the Redmond Library.
No office hours: May 14, June 25
Boards/Committees: King County Growth Management Planning Council, King County Regional Water Quality Committee, Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board, Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee, Association of Washington Cities Legislative Priorities Committee, OneRedmond Government Affairs Committee, Community Facilities Districts Board of Supervisors
Sayna Parsi
Position #1
City Council
Council Term Expires 12/31/27
Phone: 425-556-5845
Sayna Parsi was sworn in as a Redmond City Council Member on January 20, 2026. She previously served on Redmond’s Parks, Trails, and Recreation Commission, where she championed outdoor fitness amenities, sustainable park management, and equitable access to public spaces.
Sayna serves on the board of the Washington Native Plant Society’s Central Puget Sound chapter and works with Eastside Audubon on conservation and environmental education. With professional experience across small businesses, nonprofits, and large corporations, she brings a broad, results-oriented perspective.
Sayna serves on the board of the Washington Native Plant Society’s Central Puget Sound chapter and works with Eastside Audubon on conservation and environmental education. With professional experience across small businesses, nonprofits, and large corporations, she brings a broad, results-oriented perspective.
Friday, February 20, 2026
What A.I. Says About Redmond Blog
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| City of Redmond Neighborhoods, February 2026 |
"The Redmond Neighborhood Blog is generally considered a valuable, long-standing resource for hyper-local news, though whether it is "good" depends on what you are looking for—objective reporting or community advocacy.
Strengths & Content Focus
- Hyper-Local Expertise: The blog has been active for nearly two decades (since at least 2007) and provides deep dives into topics often overlooked by larger outlets, such as city council decisions, land use policies, and local school district levies.
- Active Advocacy: The site's primary author, Bob Yoder, explicitly describes the blog as an "advocate" and "trouble-maker" intended to bring balance and accountability to local government.
- Niche Investigative Reporting: It frequently covers environmental concerns, such as potential aquifer contamination, and tracks the impacts of rapid development on Redmond's "soul" and affordability.
Things to Consider
- Opinion-Driven Tone: Many posts are written from a specific viewpoint, focusing on "watching" the city administration and critiquing rising costs of living and property taxes.
- Format: As a Blogger-hosted site, it has a traditional, text-heavy layout that may feel less modern than newer media platforms.
- Community Presence: It maintains an active Facebook Group (Friends of Redmond Neighborhood Blog) where residents can discuss local issues directly.
- Comparison to Other Sources
Source Best For Redmond Neighborhood Blog Deep-dive civic analysis and critical community advocacy Experience Redmond Tourism, events, and highlighting local businesses City of Redmond News Official government announcements and public meeting notices Move Redmond News specifically about transit, biking, and urban walkability
UPDATED: EvergreenHealth To Expand 2nd Floor Of Silver Tower, Insurance Issue Resolved.
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| EvergreenHealth community-owned hospital |
ANNOUNCEMENT:
EvergreenHealth will expand the 2nd floor of the Silver Tower with levy money for access to more providers, instrumentation and more. A levy lid lift or bond won't be needed.
EvergreenHealth reached and insurance agreement with United Healthcare, retroactive to March 1, 2026.
EvergreenHealth is the largest public hospital in the State of Washington. It is community-owned and remains independent of the large hospital chains.
Dr. Etorre Palazzo is Evergreen's CEO. Here's a short clip of Etoree (1.5 min) explaining Evergreen's attributes and mission in our community. Dr. Palazzo has done much to enlarge capacity for services, including mental health treatment in primary care clinics and emergency departments.
My daughter was born at Evergreen General Hospital 33 years ago. Their maternity services are exemplary.
-- Bob Yoder, 2/20/2026, updated: 3/34/2026, 3/9/2026, 3/13/2026
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