LW School District addresses overcrowding and lack of classroom space.

Strategies for space: addressing overcrowding in Lake Washington School District

In elementary schools around the district this September, the scramble was on to find enough classroom space for all the students arriving through our doors. About 650 more students showed up than last year, exceeding increased enrollment projections. By the fall of 2012, there will be over 1,000 more students in our system than our classrooms can accommodate. The move to four-year high schools in the fall of 2012 actually helps the situation, by moving students out of our overcrowded elementary schools and into the high school level, where more space is available.

Strategies to handle the increased numbers of students include changing boundaries, running two shifts at high schools (morning and afternoon), adding portables, building new classrooms and building new schools.  "Read More" to learn about the community input sessions and read the Sammamish Reporter exclusive. 

"Grass Braid Art" discovered on the Sammamish River Trail



The grass braid is continuous and runs about 30 feet along the Sammamish River Trail just south of the 124th St. Bridge.   In the right picture the artist loops the braid.  Do you can see the River Trail.  The artist name is Sarah Kavage.   Do you like this?

iPhone photos by Yoder

 

Construction of Redmond Bike Park to begin early 2011

Carolyn Hope, Project Planner for the Redmond Bike Park says in a letter to stewards....

According to the original schedule, the City hoped to have the Redmond Bike Park under construction by now. However, we took some extra time to discuss alternatives with community members and are now completing some special studies that will help us develop a 60% design, including drainage. We plan to hold another public meeting this fall when those 60% plans are complete, then we will finalize the plans, go through City permitting, and begin construction in early 2011.

Due to this delay, the City is working with the Redmond Bike Park stewards, the Steering Committee, to provide some dirt to maintain the jumps that exist on site. Last week, the group filled in holes and improved some jumps and this week they will continue that work.

Thank you for your interest in this project.
Carolyn Hope
Project Manager, Redmond Bike Park, City of Redmond
cjhope@redmond.gov

Photo by Yoder

Lake Washington School District SAT scores continue to increase

Kathryn Reith, LWSD Director of Communications says....

Over the last five years, average SAT scores in Washington State and nationally have fallen or remained the same. At the same time, Lake Washington’s average scores have increased 11 in math, 13 in critical reading and 14 in writing on average.

“We are seeing steady, sustained improvement in SAT scores,” noted Dr. Chip Kimball, superintendent. “Hard work by our teachers and students led to the continuous improvement we are after.”   Read More.

Safety Message from Councilmember David Carson

Dear Redmond neighbors and neighborhood watches,

Just wanted to let you all know that today a burglary-in-progress was stopped and both suspects were apprehended. This follows another arrest of another burglar last Tuesday who broke into a Bellevue house and then fled to Redmond where he apparently lives. There were a spate of 24 home burglaries in August which are currently unsolved, but with the three arrests in the last 8 days it’s my hope that these will be solved and the stolen property will be returned.

In both burglary cases, a member of our community (in the first case, a resident of Bellevue) get the credit for the tip that allowed the Redmond Police Department (with cooperation from neighboring jurisdictions) to nab these people. Please see attached the media release from the Redmond PD about the incident.

Note that "Vader" (our K-9 German Sheppard officer) also had a nice collar in June, so maybe we need to start a Facebook Fan Page for him. ;)    Read More about "Vaders" police work. 

Thanks!
David Carson
Redmond City Council

The Education Hill Network

Education Hill Network  details are here.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2010 FROM 6:30-8:30pm

REDMOND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Cafeteria

Residents helped update the Education Hill neighborhood plan in 2007.

Come share your thoughts on how things are going since the plan update!

LETTER: "Why does race matter?" By Paige Norman

Why does race matter?

Recently parents in the Lake Washington School District received a letter from Dr. Chip Kimball, Superintendant, asking them to report student(s) race and ethnic data through the Parent Access System or by completing the included questionnaire.

How many parents were surprised to find that the classifications for race and ethnicity included 57 racial categories, under the headings of 5 major groups: Hispanic/Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and White? I was even more surprised that there were no classifications for European or Middle-Eastern races, including Pakistan, India, Romania and other countries.

I contacted Kathryn Reith, Communications Director for LWSD to voice my objection regarding the study; however I realized this was not merely a district request, but was more likely required through State and Federal programs as well. My main concern was that, in addition to the lack of European, middle-eastern and other races, the classification of “white” excluded many other racial and ethnic families that live in our district boundaries. I was also interested in more in-depth rationale for the usage of such information.  Read More.... 

City of Redmond removes beaver dam to protect spawning fish.

A beaver dam underneath the "Avondale Road -Powerline Bear Creek bridge" was removed by the city a few weeks ago, with permitted approval from Fisheries and Wildlife.  The County has jurisdiction over the creek, but the bridge is owned by the City.  Teresa Kluver, city parks employee says:

Due to the proximity of the dam structure to the bridge and the anticipated movement of Salmon it was decided early removal would be beneficial. We are currently monitoring the location for renewed beaver activity.

Lindsey Walimaki of PSE said salmon can usually swim through beaver dams.  Could it be that some of the vegetative-woody debris floating from the PSE power line project contributed "building materials" for the beavers?   The salmon are expected under the bridge anytime now.  In this picture, the dam is "under construction" by beavers.  The entire creek was eventually damed up by some very busy beavers.

Special thanks to a Water Tender for the tip.

Reported by Bob Yoder
Photo by Yoder

City of Redmond and County want to improve Power Line trail connections.

"Trail Hunter", an avid Power Line Trail mountain biker, first tipped Redmond Neighborhood Blog (RNB)  of Puget Sound Energy's easement widening project east of Avondale.  His concern was not so much about the deforestation ("Read More") as an opportunity to improve the trail linkages.  "Trail Hunter" received the following response for the City of Redmond: 

"The property between Farrel-McWhirter Park and the Watershed Preserve is not owned by the City of Redmond. Puget Sound Energy has responded to questions about the trail in this section with the following comment:

There is no authorized "trail" on PSE's land, between the Watershed Preserve and Farrell McWhirter park. Although the City and County have been negotiating with PSE for over a decade, for an easement or permit to construct such a trail, no easement or permit has been issued and no rights for such a use have been granted by PSE -- we have, however, informally allowed individual recreational uses, such as horse riding and mountain biking, to occur on our land. The existing "trail" is, in fact, simply a utility access road and is planned to be maintained as such. PSE would be prohibited by the UTC from expending utility rate-payer funds (i.e. from recovering the costs through utility rates) to upgrade the road for recreational purposes.

I know there continues to be an interest by the City of Redmond and King County in making this trail connection."

Teresa Kluver
Park Operations Supervisor   

"Trail Hunter" has stopped biking on the powerline trail.  Of course, it's not as scenic, but he has also popped three tires on recent rides.  The County says they will replace the 3-4 inch rock construction road with a suitable trail surface.  Posted by Yoder, Photo:  internet   READ MORE  (see pictures)

Headmistress Brigitte Tennis of Stella Schola Middle School is a Jewel!

Brigitte Tennis

Headmistress Brigitte Tennis, is an award-winning 8th grade teacher of Lake Washington District's  Stella Schola. Middle School on Rose Hill.   Brigitte is one gem of an educator! 

On September 22, Mrs. Tennis will be flying to New York to accept a national teaching award on Martha Stewart's Living program  featured on the Hallmark Channel.  It will be a live taped program, so stay tuned!   Brigitte is joining six other teachers from across the nation to receive national recognition for teaching excellence and a $1500 school award for her school.   For more information click "Jones Classroom Award". 

Halfway through my interview with Brigitte, I realized her New York award is just one of many facets to her commitment and passion as an educator:    

Mrs. Tennis  is a teacher and an entrepreneur.  She founded Stella Schola over a decade ago; Schola is the District's fourth public Choice school and first traditional 6-8 middle school.

In 2009, Mrs. Tennis was asked to contribute to a collection of inspirational stories from America's top educators called "Today I Made a Difference',  Edited by Joseph W. Underwood.   On  page 155 & page 162 of Brigitte's story "Teaching Gems",  I quote Brigitte:

"But, within the everyday work of striving to instill the fire of learning in our young people, small gems show themselves in tiny, but flashy sparkles - the challenge is, how observant are you - the teacher?  Can you catch those glimmers of gemstone in the classroom?"

"So when people ask me why I am a teacher, I just smile and tell them of the treasured gems that I have collected over the years.  I have a whole chest of beautiful sparkling jewels, and that's enough for me!"   Read more....

The Redmond Central Connector will affect city life forever.

Don't miss this short video on the Connector! 

Former BNSF Corridor was recently purchased by the City of Redmond and will be redevelped into "The Redmond Central Connector", a linear park!   The City is holding a public visioning event on Wednesday, September 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of Bear Creek Parkway and Leary Way.

They want to hear from you.  This is an big project and will extend the length of the city parallel to Redmond Way and Cleveland Avenue, from Red  Robin to Wendy's.   What we decide to do with it will affect the City forever. 

Light refreshments and live music by the Toy Boats.  For more information please go to this city web page.  

Requested by Chris Hoffman

Redmond Historical Society Current Events

Redmond's Poet Laureate reads Saturday, September 11

Did you know Redmond has it's very own Poet Laureate? She's Rebecca Meredith, and she will be our speaker this Saturday, September 11, at the auditorium in the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, at 16600 NE 80th St, Redmond, from 10:30 to noon. She will be talking about the "Power of Place," and how the work of poets, and the audiences response to their work, are shaped by their relationship to places in their lives.

Please Click Here to Read Redmond Historical Society's Full Newsletter

Past Redmond Mayors Chris Himes and Doreen Marchione interviewed 

We are proud to announce our own Chris Himes, President of the Board of Directors (& Redmond's first woman mayor)  along with former Mayor Doreen Marchione, were interviewed by the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) as part of their celebration of 100 years of women voting in the state of Washington.. MOHAI interviewed five former mayors in King County and the transcripts of their interviews are on our website, or you can listen to part of the interviews at MOHAI's site, http://www.seattlehistory.org/ , under "Women's Votes."

Eagles Scout Cemetery Project

Eagle Scout Matthew Beecroft worked with his troop and other volunteers to map out and photograph the head stones at the Old Redmond Cemetery. He found there were almost 1000 grave stones, all carefully photographed, with the information on each stone recorded, he then gave RHS a disk with the photos and a file with info from each stone. Please come by our office to learn more about this project.

Founder of Northwest rail company proposes tourist train - guest speaker on October 9  Read More

City may revisit the backyard chicken ordinance

Redmond resident, Ms. Dennis, asked the city last night to take a second look at our "backyard animal ordinance".   She spoke during the public comment period to City Council, specifically about the value of backyard hens to sustainability and health. 

Ms. Dennis reminded Council of the widespread salmonella contamination to chicken eggs nationwide this year.  According to a New York Times article of 8/27/2010 more than 1500 infections have been tied to bad eggs since May - the highest incidence since FDA studies began in 1973. 

Ms. Dennis trumped many of the common objections to backyard chickens.  Salmonella contamination is uncommon with organic eggs.  Referring to neighboring city ordinances, she proposed council approve up to three backyard hens, no roosters; saying noise is limited in the absence of roosters.  She said rats and insects follow people.  People will dogs and cats must clean up; just as one does for hens.  

Councilwoman Allen  agreed completely with Ms. Dennis saying she is aware of the widespread outbreak of salmonella in eggs and has always endorsed the sustainability concept.  Ms. Allen was Chair of the Safety Council Committee.  Council Finance Chair, Hank Margeson agreed wholeheartedly with Ms. Allen and Ms. Dennis.  Council Safety Chair Meyers was positive, as well.

The Council needs four votes to proceed with an ordinance change and they've got three now.   Who do you think is a 4th aye?   Senior Councilman Richard Cole used to have backyard horses.  Councilman Carson said his wife would vote for the hens, but that he still needed to think on it.  You can lobby council.  Email: council@redmond.gov.

Reported By Bob Yoder
Photo from Google images

Click:  "Redmond Neighborhood Blog" Facebook page for comments.

Video: Microsoft Double Rainbow

From Todd Bishop -

Fans of Paul "Bear" Vasquez and his legendary reaction to seeing two rainbows across Yosemite National Park may find it a little tough to watch this promotional reenactment of the famous Internet video for Microsoft's Windows Live Photo Gallery software. Then again, it is pretty clever as a marketing trick.



By Todd Bishop
Tech Flash Microsoft Blog

LETTER: Red Light & Speed Cameras Planned for Redmond, By Susan Wilkins

RED LIGHT & SPEED CAMERAS PLANNED FOR REDMOND

City Council will decide whether to authorize cameras at 7:00 PM meeting on Tuesday, September 7

The Redmond City Council’s Public Safety Committee has been discussing the use of traffic cameras to, in their words: “modify dangerous behavior, reduce preventable collisions at signalized intersections and prevent car-pedestrian accidents in school zones.” As a parent of school age children who has been trying to identify and improve safety and reduce school-generated traffic on Education Hill for the past year, I am offended and bewildered by this lame attempt to provide improved safety through the use of traffic cameras. They plan to pass an ordinance at Tuesday evening’s City Council Meeting that authorizes the use of Traffic Speed Cameras in school zones and the use of Red Light Cameras at intersections. 

During December 2009, a company called American Traffic Solutions (ATS) conducted traffic surveys on a number of intersections and school zones in Redmond. They suggested that a speed zone camera be installed at Redmond Junior High to catch drivers exceeding the 20 mph speed limit while driving up 166th Avenue NE as they approached RJH from the south. There are severe traffic safety problems at RJH, but speeding in the northbound lane on 166th is the least of them. In the initial pilot program, a traffic speed camera will not be installed at RJH, but it is planned for a year from now. This is not a solution for the RJH traffic mess – it will just generate traffic tickets.  Read More!

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly in Redmond's Overlake area; and Audubon Elementary

The Ugly:   As reported by Rose Egge in KOMO TV, Redmond News, and www.MyNorthwest.com

According to Kathryn Reith from the Lake Washington School District on 9/2, Thursday night, someone got into Audubon school and threw tempura paint from the school art room all over nine classrooms. Walls, desks, “pretty much everything” was splattered with paint, Reith said.

Nothing was stolen. Reith said the actions were just “mean-spirited.”

Classes at Audubon Elementary began Wednesday and a custodian discovered the vandalism Thursday night. He had been in the gymnasium and the portables vacuuming when the crime occurred. He didn’t hear anything, but saw the paint when he was finishing up for the day.

The custodian joined other staff cleaning up the mess all night. By this morning, everything was cleaned up – although a couple classes were delayed.

Reith says the vandalism was completely unexpected. “It’s a wonderful neighborhood. This is completely out of the blue.”

The Bad:  As reported by Alyssa Kleven of www.mynorthwest.com and Jim Bove, Redmond Police

On 9/2, not far from Audubon on Bell-Red Road in Overlake, Bank of America was robbed.  "The suspect demanded money but did not use, or imply that he had, a weapon. He left with an undisclosed amount of cash."   Nearby,on 8/25, in Overlake on NE 25th St. US Bank was robbed.   In addition, an alarming number of burglaries (24) have been reported in August -many in the Overlake area.  

The Good:  As reported by Jim Bove, Redmond Police Public Information Officer on 9/4.

The Redmond Police Department is hosting an "informational meeting" at 7 p.m., Wednesday, September 8 at Audubon Elementary School, 3045 180th Ave NE in Redmond.  425-936-2500.  It's geared towards Overlake residents because of the unusual incidence of crime in the area.

Posted By Bob Yoder on 9/5
Internet Photo

"Racquettes": coming soon to a tree near you. By John Reinke

See the two Racquettes?

I was approaching my condo unit at dusk recently after a walk along the Sammamish Slough, when I spotted some movement up ahead. It was a mother raccoon and 3 baby raccoons (are they called racquettes?).  When they spotted me through the trees, the young'uns scrambled part way up the nearest trunk. 

I quickly whipped out my trusty point-and-shoot.  The mother stood her ground as I approached to within about 10 feet. She emitted a low visceral growl, warning me not to come closer. I took the hint and backed off. 

Read More...

Lake Washington PTSA launches seven student-parent support activities

Julie says

Aspiring Youth: An array of programs that help young people build confidence, life skills and friendships. *Fall social skills groups will begin the week of 9/27. Our groups run for 8 week cycles.

For more information click this link: http://www.aspiringyouth.net/  Fun, activity-based social skills groups for children, teens, and young adults! And a “Girls Rule” group! They look at each group to make sure that there will be good group fit and the potential for long-term friendships. The curriculum is delivered by outstanding Master’s level facilitators and is specific to each age-range and focus on specific topics based on the goals of the members of the group. There curriculums have been purchased and implemented by local school districts and they are constantly improving and updating topics and activities.

See all seven activites.  Read More!

Juanita Rebels crush the Mustangs, 41 - 7 in opener

Juanita Rebels crush the Redmond Mustangs, 41-7 in their Friday night football opening game at Redmond.  View the game stats and league season schedules here.

 Courtesy of the Seattle Times HS sports report

The Price of Redmond's Downtown Central Park

 Windermere-Redmond, Quiznos, Redmond Cycle, Brown Street Square and a few small buildings behind it will be soon be demolished.  161st Street,  in the foreground, will connect to Cleveland St.

The above downtown buildings are taking their "last stand" before demolition for the new, Downtown Central Park.  Completion of the park is anticipated between 2012 - 2014.

I ran into Mike Richards, owner of Brown Street Square, outside his building yesterday.  It's on the demolition list.  Mike said he decided to move here in 2001 because apartments and condos were planned for the area and could benefit from the businesses in his building.  He never expected a 2-acre downtown park.  It wasn't on the drawing boards.   A KING 5 reporter on February 16th interviewed and videoed some of the Brown Street Square tenants in distress about having to leave.   

Mike said  land was cheaper further east on Redmond Way.  He said the city will be spending $40,000,000 for this park and location.  The price for the park varies depending on your source, but over time the trend is up.  The Seattle Times reported $16-17,000,000 on 12/23/2009.   On 7/16/2009, the Redmond Reporter wrote the City budgeted $27,000,000 for the downtown park.    

A public-private nonprofit "Redmond Foundation" was formed several months ago to raise private donations.   Mayor Marchione is on the Board .  Council subsidized it with a $50,000 grant to pay administrative expenses and to jump-start the Foundation.  Councilman Richard Cole was the only member voting against the grant. 

In an inteview with KING 5's Lori Matsukawa, Richard Cole said:  "We are putting 5,000 dwelling units in the downtown and those people, in order to attract them here, we think a park is an absolute requirement."   The City hasn't announced how many residents outside of Downtown are expected to use the new park.
  
Reported By Bob Yoder
iPhone photo by Yoder

Education Hill hiker asks for a Nike - Hartman Parks trail connector

Hiking from the South, on the left is the National Guard  (Nike facility), an easement, Lookout Ridge, & Perrigo Heights cul de sac. The Hartman Park Trails are further to the north.  Nike Park is south (below) the photo 

I love walking and running on the Education Hill trails, and one of my favorites is to connect Nike Park (via the trail that skirts the old missile station or whatever it is) to the Jonathan Hartman Park trails...but now there's a big new house right where the trail exits the "Nike Park Woods".

I can't remember the name of the street, but I've attached a photo (you can see the Nike facility in the lower left corner) of my gps tracks - as you can see, they're going straight through that property, and I'm assuming the new owners won't appreciate smelly runners sneaking across their lawn (there's actually a fence there now).

Do you know if "they're" going to make an alternate trail to connect the two parks, or was it never an official trail to begin with? Is there already and alternate trail that I don't know about?

By Ingunn
Education Hill
9/2

The Trail was discovered  --  Read the story:  "Have you hiked Redmond's "Mystery Trail"?"