Thirty-eight LWSD students named National Merit Semifinalists

Thirty-Eight Lake Washington School District (LWSD) high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the semifinalists on September 13. 

Sixteen thousand high school seniors nationwide qualified. About 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level. More than half will win a National Merit Scholarship. These students will be able to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $32 million

Students qualified for these awards by completing the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The semifinalists include the highest scoring students in each state. The semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. 

LETTER: Vote for Cassandra Sage, the right choice for our students and communities

There is probably no elected position that has a greater direct impact on our families and communities than that of Director for our school districts.  These individuals have a profound impact on the lives of all of our children, helping to build knowledge, skills and abilities that will help our students achieve their full potential in life.

This year, we are especially fortunate to have the opportunity to elect Cassandra Sage as our Lake Washington School District Director for District 3. Cassandra has been an outstanding leader and advocate for education for more than 20 years.  With a degree in early childhood education, experience owning and operating a pre-school, and active service to the LWSD that resulted in her receiving four Golden Acorn awards, she is the clear choice for District 3.

Cassandra is a strong advocate for ensuring the needs of ALL students are met. She will work for more inclusion of special education students, expanded vocational education opportunities, and greater assistance with college preparation for those going on to university studies.  Endorsed by retiring LWSD Board Director Nancy Bernard, who has served as LWSD Director for District 3 for the past 20 years and is not seeking re-election this year, Cassandra has also been endorsed by former LWSD Directors Jackie Pendergrass, Doug Eglington, and Johanna Palmer, and is endorsed by the Lake Washington Education Association, the labor union that represents educators in the LWSD.

Cassandra Sage is the right choice for our students and communities!

Sherie Valderrama
Sammamish, WA 98074

Sammamish River salmon / J. Reinke

Family-fun Fire Prevention events in Redmond

Meet your local firefighters and make your own emergency escape plan.

Kid adventures:

• Hang out with your firefighters
• Meet Sparky the Fire Dog
• Explore firefighters' vehicles
• Try on firefighters' fire gear
• Tour your neighborhood fire station

Redmond fire photo

Fire Station Open Houses:

6–8 p.m. (unless otherwise noted)

Monday, October 9 - Station 13
8701 208th Ave. NE, Redmond
Maps to Station 13: Bing, Google

Monday, October 9 - Station 14
5021 264th Ave. NE, Redmond
Maps to Station 14: Bing, Google

Tuesday, October 10 - Station 16
6502 185th Ave. NE, Redmond
Maps to Station 16: Bing, Google

Wednesday, October 11- Station 17
16917 NE 116th, Redmond
Maps to Station 17: Bing, Google

A regional approach to affordable housing

Affordable Housing – A Regional Approach to a complex Problem

Posted on September 20, 2017 by claudia balducci

Over the last year, I’ve been doing a lot of reading, listening and thinking about the problem of crushingly high housing costs in our region.  With the support of my colleagues at the County Council and the County Executive, last year I sponsored a motion creating a regional task force of elected officials from around King County to study the regional parameters of this challenge and come up with regional approaches to address it.  We kicked this work off this summer, and it will continue for about the next year.  

In the process of pulling this affordable housing task force together, I have heard the following type of comment several times:  “We don’t need a task force.  We know what the problem is and we know how to fix it.  We just need X.” In these discussions, “X” is the one approach – or at least the predominant approach – that will solve the problem.  For some people, “X” is increased investment in government-subsidized affordable housing.  For some, it is regulatory reform around growth management rules that prevent suburban sprawl.  For others, it is the political will to change land use rules to allow significantly more infill development.  For still others, increased mandatory inclusionary zoning — requiring higher levels of affordable housing units in every new development or payments.  Accessory dwelling units.  Tiny houses.  Transit oriented development.  Condominium liability reform.  “We’ve just got to put a stop to all this growth.”  The list goes on.

I believe that if any one approach, or even any one type of approach, to this kind of a complex problem would more or less “solve” it, we’d be on our way to a solution by now.  Yet costs to own and rent a home in our county continue to spike.  As H.L. Mencken famously said:  “For every complex problem, there is a solution that is concise, clear, simple and wrong.”

UPDATED 9/24: It's "salmon seeson!"

Looking for Sammamish River salmon from the "Rrusty bridge"  

Today is the second day of Fall and it's salmon seeson!  Have you seen them yet?   Polarized sunglasses help but all of us were able to see a sluggish salmon hanging out below the "Rusty bridge" -- located north of the Powerline Trail in the vicinity of the Overlake Christian Church.

Further upstream, on the Trestle Bridge John Reinke "saw a number of large Chinook salmon migrating south towards Lake Sammamish."  First he spotted "5 or 6, then maybe 8 minutes later counted 24....then 5 minutes another 9 or 10."  To find the Trestle bridge walk west on the downtown Connector Trail for about a half mile.

You should be able to see salmon now through mid-October.

-- B. Yoder

9/24:  We saw a dead salmon this afternoon and heard a few splashes  but that was it.  A kayaker yelled up that he saw LOTS of salmon in Woodinville....so more to come!

LETTER: The importance and value of trees

Tree Art in Anderson Park / Credit B.Yoder

Urban tree canopy cover is the percent of a city covered by the leaves, branches, and stems of trees as seen in an aerial view. Trees have a positive impact on the physical health and well-being of those living in urban communities. We should try to maintain and increase the many benefits trees provide to current and future generations. There are many important benefits of trees.

Trees have public health and social benefits:

.

Trees clean the air. They produce oxygen, intercept airborne particulates, and reduce smog, enhancing a community’s respiratory health. The urban tree canopy directly contributes to meeting a city’s regulatory clean air requirements.

Access to trees, green spaces, and parks promotes greater physical activity, and reduces stress, while improving our quality of life. Urban landscaping, including trees, helps lower crime rates. Studies show that urban vegetation slows heartbeats, lowers blood pressure, and relaxes brain wave patterns. People with a view of nature and trees score higher on tests of self-discipline.

Steve Fields' and Byron Shutz's "Vision Statements"

Mr. Shutz's and Mr. Fields' "Vision Statements" were harvested from their Candidate Websites and City Candidate videos.

Byron Shutz's Vision:  "Redmond's Mayor and City Council continue to lay the ground work for Redmond's next 100 years, and beyond. My email byline reads:   

Redmond -- a great place to live, work, and play for over 10,000 years -- all true, and keeping the long view in mind --the archaeological site on Bear Creek dates to over 10,000 years ago."  

As your Council member, I'll continue to work City aims to:  

• Serve each resident and visitor with respect, dignity, and trust.

• Collaborate regionally on all municipal issues, and continue my focus on strengthening ongoing human service infrastructures for every resident.

• Improve connections to area transportation and transit infrastructures - lightrail arrives in Overlake 2023 and Downtown in 2024.

• Connect our residents and businesses with regional aspirations and expectations.

• Facilitate transparency and continual improvement in collaboration among city, county and state services.

-- Byron Shutz's Candidate Website


Steve Fields' Vision:  "Build Community, not Just Buildings." 

Promote a Smart and Sharing City

Our quality of life is good, but as we’ve grown, we’ve been steadily losing ground. We can choose to be smarter and do a better job of managing our growth. This begins with reevaluating how we make our decisions and improve our current approaches and methods to be more inclusive and more comprehensive. Our best city planning resources are the people who live and work in Redmond. If elected, I will be an advocate for community involvement in determining what our city will look like and what amenities we will insist on.

Plan Growth with Innovative Ideas

Our buildings, streets, public gathering places should be placed to enhance our everyday lives and the beauty of our built and natural environment. We should not be stuck in traffic congestion every time we want to get somewhere. Our city government should be innovative, creative and thoughtful. We need to take the time to plan and understand what is best not just do what is quick and easy. I will ensure that Redmond uses the most advanced analytical tools and information to plan our growth with innovative ideas.

School District builds gigantic vaults on North Redmond Elementary project site.

Construction continues at the New Elementary School in North Redmond. Steel construction is expected to begin in the next 30 days. Two newly installed underground vaults will keep storm water clean at the school. The north vault has 138 panels with a capacity of 920,000 gallons of water (that’s the size of 1.4 Olympic-sized swimming pools). Watch a time-lapse of the construction on YouTube. This vault was built between August 14-22, 2017. Because the vault was built out of pre-fabricated panels, the installation time was shortened by four months.

Principal Barker is in the process of interviewing and hiring 12 general education staff members, and one of each specialist (counselor, PE teacher, music teacher, librarian and Special Education teacher).

-- LWSD

Green Redmond forest restoration is coming to our neighborhoods.

High school students also attended -- great workers!  (click to enlarge)

Last Saturday we clipped and shoveled out  the blackberry bushes invading the neighborhood forest patch off of 104rth St. near Avondale in the "East Valley Heights Natural Area."  Besides this important habitat restorative work it was a great opportunity to hang out with Sue Stewart, Susan Cripps, Rachel Molloy and Jake --  all very active community volunteers living in the neighborhood.

King Conservation District, Forterra, and Green Redmond are partnering together to launch a new pilot Neighborhood Steward program If you’re interested in volunteering or would like more information, please email Nicole Marcotte at nmarcotte@forterra.org or call 206-905-6924!

This link gives information on the Monticello work party planned for this Saturday, 9/15. 9-12 AM  https://forterra.org/event/kickoff-work-party-redmonds-monticello-estates-natural-area

If you want to be a forest steward go here for information:  http://forterra.org/subpage/neighborhood-stewards

--B. Yoder

Osama Hamdan endorses Steve Fields for Redmond City Council

Osama Hamdan

The theme for my race for Redmond City Council was #ConnectingRedmond. I believe we need to prioritize better planning and more community parks in order to better connect our communities. Even though I am no longer a candidate, my priorities have not changed and I am actively looking to continue the efforts of #ConnectingRedmond.

While the results of the race did not get me into the general election, the results did make it very clear that voters are looking for change. Redmond is at a crossroads and the City Council needs to ensure it is making the right decisions for the residents it serves.

I have had the opportunity to meet with both Byron Shutz and Steve Fields to better understand their positions and how they align with my own vision. While I believe both candidates have the best intentions for our city, Steve Field’s vision is more aligned with my own and can help us be more focused on building the city we need.  Steve wants to “Build Community, not Just Buildings” and he aims to have the city be more engaged with the residents of the community.  These positions reflect the spirit of #ConnectingRedmond and have therefore led me to endorse Steve Fields for Redmond City Council Position 2. 

This November, I plan to vote for Steve Fields. I encourage supporters to do the same and help get Steve elected to the Redmond City Council. 

-- Osama Hamdan

Steve Fields candidate website

UPDATED: The importance and methods of communicating with LWSD

Are you a school district taxpayer and supporter of our schools and would like to be more informed about upcoming bond measures?   (Remember the capital bond measure didn't pass twice until after a community Task Force was formed?)  Did your child graduate from the district and now wants to know what's going on with their school?  Are you interested in updates and information of community gatherings like Boundary Review Community meetings?  If so, then you definitely want to sign up for the "Connections e-Newsletter."  Click HERE to subscribe.

Public School Board meetings are an excellent venue to comment about bond measures, describe any problem your student is having in the classroom,  propose improvements, and yes, even thank the Board and Dr. Pierce for the work they do!  The school board volunteers  many hours to represent us (while working at their day jobs.)

If you want to attend a public Board Meeting to comment on an issue this link gives a convenient notice and reminder of upcoming Board Meetings. The meetings start at 7 pm and are held in the District Resource Center.  Go here.for a timely and convenient notice of upcoming Board meetings. 

You may e-mail the Board. at BoardMembers@lwsd.org  

Bethany Pendergrass is an excellent person to talk to about any school issue you have.. She's the  "Director of Communications and Public Engagement".  Her e-mail is bpendergrass@lwsd.org. or call 425-936-1342

--B.Yoder

City of Redmond achieves favorable State audit

Redmond, WA – For nine consecutive years the City of Redmond has achieved a favorable audit and in 2015 was awarded the State Auditor’s Stewardship Award in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the stewardship of public resources. 

Important Redmond area boundary community meetings

To Sign-up for information and updates on boundary review meetings click here.

Dear Redmond Parents, Families, [and Community], 

Please join us at one of the following meetings to provide feedback on new scenarios for the Redmond area boundary review process.

Community Feedback Meetings:
• September 26: 6:30-8 p.m., Redmond Middle School
• September 28: 6:30-8 p.m., Evergreen Middle School 

In January 2017, LWSD started the work to redraw attendance boundaries for Redmond area schools. Two new elementary schools are on schedule to open September 2018 and a new middle school is scheduled to open September 2019. With the opening of new schools, new attendance boundaries must be drawn. Additionally, many schools in the Redmond area are currently over or are projected to be over capacity.

LWSD Statement on DACA

Lake Washington School District Statement on DACA

Sep 8 2017

All Lake Washington School District students have the right to public education. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Plyler vs. Doe (457 U.S. 202 (1982)) that undocumented children and young adults have the same right to attend public primary and secondary schools as do U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Lake Washington does not ask for or collect immigration status information.

Lake Washington remains committed to serving all students and providing educational opportunities for all. We will continue to uphold the U.S. Supreme Court ruling and serve all students, regardless of their status.

"Walking School Buses" have many benefits, Apps make them easy

Walking Bus App

A Walking Bus is a form of student transport for schoolchildren who, chaperoned by two adults (a "Driver" leads and a "conductor" follows),walk to school along a set route, in much the same way a school bus would drive them to school.  Like a traditional bus, walking buses have a fixed route and designated "bus stops" and "pick up times" in which they pick up children.  

Walking contributes to overall good health and fitness and students who walk to school arrive at school alert and ready to learn.  A walking school bus adds in a fun and social aspect to walking as well as flexibility for the parents by sharing the walking duties. It takes cars off the roads and reduces carbon footprint.

The School Board and Traci are holding a public meeting tonight, September 11th, 7 pm at the School Resource Center in Redmond Town Center.  I hope some of you will turn-out to encourage Walking Buses at LWSD  There's a 3-minute "comment period" on the agenda where you're invited to talk to the Board and Traci about anything you want.  I hope to see you there!

 -- B. Yoder   

Lake Washington students shine on Smarter Balanced Assessments

Students continue to score well-above state averages

Redmond, Wash. –Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students continue to score well-above the state average in all areas tested by the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA).

“Student performance on state assessments is one important measure of academic achievement and progress,” noted Dr. Traci Pierce, superintendent. “We are pleased with our results and our teachers, building administrators will continue to work hard to ensure that every single student in our district is learning, growing, and succeeding.”

Students in grades 3-8 and in grade 11 took the Smarter Balanced Assessments in English Language Arts and in Math. In English Language Arts, the percent of LWSD students meeting the new standards ranged from 79 percent in sixth grade to a high of 87 percent in 11th grade. At the state level, the percent of students meeting the standard in English Language Arts ranged from 53 percent in grade 3 to a high of 74 percent in grade 11. 

45th & 48th District Legislative Candidate Forum

This Forum was organized and moderated by Paige Norman and was sponsored by the "Education Hill Neighborhood Association." Paige did an awesome job.  All of the candidates attended and there was an opportunity to "meet and greet."  The event was held at the Baptist Church on Education Hill. 

WA Senator Dst.#45	Manka Dhingra
WA Senator Dst.#48	Patty Kuderer
WA  Dst.#48, Pos.#1	Vandana Slatter

Manka did well.  My wife had a good talk with Patty and Vandana.. Vandana encouraged me to work with EvergreenHealth to improve mental health care.  We felt Patty was the star of the show.  She's exceptionable.    

- B. Yoder

UPDATED: Mayor Marchione stimulates talk on mental health and substance abuse recovery

Mayor Marchione read a proclamation last week to recognize September as "National Recovery Month"   The purpose is to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover. 

I know something about mental health disorders. For three years I sold an SSRI for OCD, slow-release Ritalin for ADHD and  sustained-release lithium for bipolar disorder.   Poor mental health is rampant in my family, especially on my mother's side. Many of my relatives have recovered (myself included) some better than others, with the exception of my younger brother Rick. He died at 46, from complications of severe bipolar disorder, co-morbid alcoholism, and prescription drug self-medication.

The Eastside has many good recovery and treatment programs.  Kent Hay, Redmond's Outreach Specialist provides psychiatric and social services for the vulnerable and homeless. Youth Eastside Services, Friends of Youth, HERO House. NAMI Eastside and other Eastside non-profits have recovery programs. - Therapeutic Health Services in Bellevue offers opioid  addiction treatment.. 425-328-3757

I can't stress highly enough the importance of finding a science-oriented doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Overlake Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic in Bellevue provides excellent doctors (20) who accept Medicare and Medicaid patients.

EvergreenHealth doesn't employ psychiatrists or psychiatric nurses or have an out-patient clinic. However, they provide an "In-Home" program operated by trained social workers.. Evergreen opened a 14-bed "Transitional Care Unit" this year to attend to  their Emergency Department patients awaiting transfer to a mental health facility..In the past some of these patients had to be "boarded." (strapped to a gurney for hours or even days.) 

Evergreen is a public hospital and supported in part, by King County taxes. Unfortunately. this year the State legislature reduced mental health funding in King County by over 8% from last year.  Washington State has the lowest access to mental healthcare in the Nation!

There's far to little "talk" to mitigate the stigma associated with poor brain health. Discrimination in the workplace occurs. Doctors, medications, counseling and family support can only go so far and it's easy to lose hope or courage. Spiritual support can help a lot.. Two churches on the Eastside offer support programs. A group in Bothell meets once a month at St. Brandon's Catholic Church.  The  "Celebrate Recovery" group at Overlake Christian Church on Willows Road in Redmond has an excellent program. They meet every Tuesday at 7 pm  About 125 citizens attend their meetings. 

One in five Americans have a mental health condition and only half are treated.  Please tell your friends and neighbors about the recovery programs available in our community and celebrate with those who have recovered!

Bob Yoder 

UPDATED: Steve Fields and Byron Shutz's preliminary positions on "transportation"

Campaign signs:  Let the games begin!

ADDRESSING THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE:(AS FOUND ON CANDIDATE WEBPAGES AND FACEBOOK SITES)

"Redmond City Government MUST immediately take actions to improve our capability to move in and around our city centers and neighborhoods. We are growing past our capacity to handle the impact of traffic congestion with the current infrastructure and transit capabilities. This is an immediate priority. Our prosperity, health, and well-being greatly depends on the effort and time it takes to get to all those places that make our everyday lives enjoyable and successful.

Our downtown areas are very fragmented. We need to improve our spatial planning and make typical trips more convenient and less spread out.

There are also things we can do immediately to make things better such as investment in information technology to inform commuters on real-time traffic issues and placing better visual cues for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians to improve traffic flow."

 -- Steve Fields transportation Issue statement on Mr. Field's candidate website

To find Mr. Shutz's position READ MORE >>

Trestle bridge connector trail is almost complete

Steps going up from the Sammamish River Trail to the Trestle bridge  Credit John Reinke

I took this photo today along the Sammamish River Trail, looking south.  As you can see, work is nearly completed on the Redmond Central Connector where spans the railroad trestle bridge.  Note the new aluminum staircase which provides access from the River Trail to the Connector.

I spoke to a man who was working there, and he said this section will open sometime next week, with the official opening occurring on Saturday, September 23.

-- John Reinke

Total cost of Central Trail Connector Phase 11 is:  $6,411,600  ( $5,561,000 grants)