News and Opinion on Neighborhoods, Schools and Local Governments of Redmond, WA.
Sunday, September 18, 2022
Eastside Native American Drum Making Project
Thursday, September 15, 2022
2022 Superintendent Dr. Holmen's Reflection on the First Day of School
Dr. Jon Holmen serves as Chief Executive Officer. He provides strategic vision, leadership and direction to Lake Washington School District. Dr. Holmen is a skilled education leader with 22 years of experience in public education. On July 1, 2020, he became Lake Washington School District’s 13th superintendent.
Student Representatives Selected for Lake Washington School Board
Two students to share student voice in Board conversations
Redmond, Wash. - Starting this year, the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors will include two student representatives. Student representatives were selected through an application and interview process.
Evan Kurtz (Juanita High School, Class of 2023) will serve as the student representative for the west side of the school district for this school year. A new student representative from the west side of the district will be selected for a two-year term starting in 2023-24. Evan was first introduced at the August 22 School Board meeting.
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Shivani Sama (Tesla STEM High School, Class of 2024) will serve as a student representative for the east side of the school district. She will serve in this role for the next two school years. Shivani was first introduced at the September 12 School Board meeting.
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The goal of adding student representatives to the board is to add the perspective and experiences of students as the Board considers various topics.
Evan was selected to serve for the 2022-23 school year while Shivani will serve through the 2023-24 school year. Annually, the Board will select an incoming junior for a two-year term.
9/15/2022
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About Lake Washington: Lake Washington School District is a high-performing public school district serving Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, Washington. It is the second largest district in the state of Washington, with over 30,000 students in 57 schools.
Sunday, September 11, 2022
"Lyrical Currents," A Poetic Map of Redmond and the Sammamish River
Redmond's Poet Laureate, Laura Da' created this lyrical nature walk through the downtown natural, cultural and historical places of Redmond. QR Code will open the map guiding you through five special places.
Laura Da' is a poet and teacher. A lifetime resident of the Pacific Northwest, Da' studied creative writing at the University of Washington and this Institute of American Indian Arts. She is Eastern Shawnee. Da' lives near Seattle with her husband and son.
To take the tour, on your phone, click on the small Google square next to the microphone symbol, hover over the QR code and click on it as if taking a picture.
Saturday, September 10, 2022
Inslee Announces End of COVID State of Emergency
Governor Inslee, credit NY Times |
Inslee announces end of COVID-19 state of emergency by Oct. 31
Gov. Jay Inslee announced Thursday that all remaining COVID-19 emergency proclamations and the COVID-19 state of emergency will end by Oct. 31.
Though the state’s emergency orders are ending, public health leaders continue to emphasize the importance of vaccines and masks in keeping communities safe. Vaccines and therapeutic treatments are available to prevent hospitalizations and death. However, COVID-19 remains a threat, killing 300 Americans every day and more than 10 people a day in Washington state. In his announcement, the governor reiterated the importance of vaccinations and booster shots.
“We’ve come a long way the past two years in developing the tools that allow us to adapt and live with COVID-19,” Inslee said. “Ending this order does not mean we take it less seriously or will lose focus on how this virus has changed the way we live. We will continue our commitments to the public’s well-being, but simply through different tools that are now more appropriate for the era we’ve entered.”
Washington was the first state in the U.S. with a reported case of COVID-19. Inslee was swift to enact protective measures that have since resulted in one of the lowest per capita death rates in the nation.
“I can’t express enough how grateful I am for all the health care workers, public health teams, and other frontline workers who have helped save thousands of lives during the past two years and will continue to support our communities in staying safe and healthy,” Inslee said.
Washington had the fifth-lowest death rate from COVID-19 in the nation, per CDC data. A decisive state response to COVID-19 saved thousands of Washingtonian lives. Posted by Yoder 9/10/2022
Friday, September 9, 2022
The Education Hill Earthquake Event
In 2001, a *6.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Education Hill.
It seems like only yesterday this earthquake shook the homes and schools on Education Hill. My wife, Pam was in the clothes closet when it happened. I was out of town on business. Pam was on the "Earthquake Emergency Committee" at Horace Mann where my daughter attended. By the time she got to Mann the Principal had already moved the children out of the building; the Principal panicked so the gym teacher took over. The school's "emergency metal container" was opened but unused. Tents, triage materials, food etc. Pam and two other mom's phoned as many parents as they could. Pam guesses "the ground shook maybe 30 seconds." She said only a couple of students were panicky.
Our tri-level is next to the Bike Park. Apparently, the chandelier swung mildly. A weight-bearing beam in our 2-story rental on Ed. Hill cracked, shifted and had to be replaced.
Stephan A. Siebert, P.E. with Associated Earth Sciences, Inc. in Kirkland is an Associate Geotechnical Engineer. Mr. Siebert wrote in "Rosehill Cottages" Redmond project report:
Earthquakes occur in Puget Lowland with great regularity. Large, deep earthquakes occur as evidenced by the 1949, 7.2-magnitude event; the 1966, 6.5-magnitude event; and the 2001, *6.8-magnitude event. The deep 1949 earthquake appears to have been the largest in this area (Redmond) during recorded history. Evaluation of return rates indicates that an earthquake of a magnitude between 6.0 and 7.0 is likely every 25 to 40 years in the Puget Sound area.
Is it time the school district updates their earthquake preparedness safety manual?
Is it time the City of Redmond updates their earthquake preparedness safety manual?
-- Bob Yoder, 9/9/2022, opinion
Downtown Redmond sits on a three-six foot deep aquifer in places! video
San Francisco earthquake liquefication event video. Redmond's downtown aquifer has similar characteristics.
Seattle fault zone / 3 earthquake types in the Pacific Northwest. video
File: LWSD, COR
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Road To Recovery
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
"This National Recovery Month, we thank peer recovery support professionals, counselors, addiction specialists, first responders, scientists, family members, and everyone who works tirelessly to help our fellow Americans recover from substance use disorder. We offer strength to our loved ones at every step of their recovery process.
My Administration is working to ensure that achieving and sustaining recovery is within reach for every American and that everyone has equal access to economic mobility and improved health. This year, we secured nearly $22 billion from the Congress to support drug prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services, with a focus on underserved communities. With the additional $4 billion investment from our American Rescue Plan, my Administration is expanding recovery community organizations, recovery high schools, collegiate recovery programs, and recovery residences. These vital support networks allow people to balance healing with their everyday responsibilities. We are also advocating for recovery-ready workplace policies across the public and private sectors to promote inclusive hiring, enable employers to assist in the recovery process, and help companies retain talent. And to incentivize new innovations, the Department of Health and Human Services is launching its first-ever behavioral health Recovery Innovation Challenge to award funding to peer-run and community-based programs that advance recovery and can be scaled nationwide. As I outlined in my State of the Union address this year, a key pillar of my Unity Agenda is beating the opioid epidemic. ...." JRB
Find a substance abuse treatment center near you. Find behavioral health care treatment near you.
Find an opioid treatment center in your State
Posted by Yoder, 9/6/2022
UPDATED OPINION: Projects Over Aquifer Susceptible To Earthquakes
AMLI paper notice box empty. No defined "comment period." City will post QR codes on all yellow boards in the future. (click to enlarge) |
Below, is my formal comment to the city planner managing the AMLI Project which is still under review / no decision.
Saturday, September 3, 2022
UPDATED OPINION, 1/12/2023: Calling a Superbubble: Front Row With Jeremy Grantham
- economic inequality
- capital gains tax preferred
- less fluid economic mobility than other developed countries
- climate change - need to live within means
- natural environment is poisoned, failing
- short Russell 2000, emerging markets are undervalued, positive on hedge funds / venture capital
- Superbubble: collapse in equities, bonds, and real estate. Four superbubbles (including Japan.)
- Grantham is a permabear, a value investor, a billionaire.
Friday, September 2, 2022
Lake Washington School District Hires Additional Mental Health Counselors
Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen |
Thank you for your information and advocacy. We are in agreement that there needs to be an expansion of services and available beds for acute care. We are pleased to have been able to expand the implementation of mental health counselors at our secondary schools. Through district resources and some grant funding, all secondary schools in LWSD will have a full time mental health counselor this school year. We will continue to work to maintain and expand services through direct district support services but also through partnerships with community agencies, municipalities and other entities with a mission of supporting the mental health and well being of the youth in our community.
I hope you are doing well.
Thank you,
Jon
Dr. Jon Holmen
Superintendent
Lake Washington School District
jholmen@lwsd.org | 425-936-1257
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Mental Health Is In the Forefront At EvergreenHealth
EvergreenHealth "Silver Tower" funded by the community |
Mental health is in the forefront these days
King County Councilmember Perry Visits EvergreenHealth , Wants "Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinics"
King County Eastside Councilmember Sarah Perry |
Hi Bob, Thank you so much for reaching out to Councilmember Perry’s office to share this information and feedback. Councilmember Perry has been actively engaged in the behavioral health conversations happening at the County in conjunction with the budget conversations beginning now. While I don’t have more details to share at this time, I know that having a 23 hour behavioral health facility in the district is a top priority for Councilmember Perry. Additionally, we are currently in the process of scheduling a visit to Providence in Everett to see their behavioral health facility with State and County legislators, DCHS and other stakeholders to help inform these ongoing conversations, especially as the Executive gets ready to transmit his budget proposal to the Council later this Fall. We are also in the process of setting up a meeting with each of the hospitals in our district and surrounding areas, including Overlake, EvergreenHealth, and others, to make sure we are including them in this ongoing conversation. I will be sure to pass this along to Councilmember Perry as she prepares to have these conversations with the health facilities. In the meantime, we really appreciate you passing this feedback along. Please let us know if you have anything else you would like to share with us as the Councilmember continues to work on this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Robby Paige
Legislative Aide
King County Council, District 3
206-445-9246
Video of Providence/Everett's "Behavioral Health Urgent Care" with
psychiatrist and social worker narrating.
Posted by Bob Yoder, updated, 2/23/2023
Monday, August 29, 2022
EvergreenHealth Opens Redmond Town Center Primary Care
EvergreenHealth Primary Care - RTC 7345 164th Ave NE, Suite 1-105 Redmond, WA. 98052 425-522-8312 |
How to find us: Our entrance is on the ground level right off of NE 74th Street between 163rd Place NE and 164th Avenue NE.
Get care from the experts at our clinic in the comfort of your home when you select a virtual visit when scheduling your appointment. Hours 8-5 Monday through Friday. Closed Saturday and Sunday. If you need a same-day appointment, we ask that you call the office.
Get care from the experts at our clinic in the comfort of your home when you select a virtual visit when scheduling your appointment. Hours 8-5 Monday through Friday. Closed Saturday and Sunday. If you need a same-day appointment, we ask that you call the office.
We're located in the southwest corner of the Redmond Town Center directly across NE 74th Street from the Seattle Marriott Redmond.Free parking is available behind the building off of 163rd Place NE.
Website, 8/29/2022, excerpted
Posted by Bob Yoder, 8/29/2022
Sunday, August 28, 2022
OPINION: Community Comments On EvergreenHealth's Behavioral Health Practices
Molly Schroeder
Jennifer Z D Baldwin
Friday, August 26, 2022
Opinion: King County Needs "Behavioral Health Urgent Care"
A letter to the EvergreenHealth CEO Tomlin and the Commissioners:
The article flatly states: "The county has no walk-in urgent care center for people experiencing a mental health crisis, youths and adults wait hours or days in emergency departments before landing an inpatient bed." Seattle Times, 8/11/2022.