neighborhood villages

While walking along a portion of the Bear Creek Trail south of Leary Way here in Redmond, I encountered a friend who used to live in the condo below mine.  After we greeted each other, she motioned through the open gates of an adjacent fenced-in maintenance area. She wanted me to see a robin-sized bird with long legs, whose young were skittering about on the open gravel-covered surface.  I was quite surprised and pleased to see them, and explained that this was a killdeer with its chicks.   I mentioned that I had photoed a pair of killdeer at the nearby pond more than a month previously.  We were now evidently looking at the resultant offspring After my friend departed, I continued to observe the scene.  A second adult killdeer flew up on the grass outside and scampered into the enclosure.  Now both parents were on the scene to protect their young. I set out to try to photograph the young.  This was difficult, as they were small and quite nimble, ...

Mayor Marchione is way underpaid.  His salary is ~$137,000.  In contrast, the Communications and Community Engagement Director at Lake Washington School District is paid $169, 285 and only works 10 months a year.  Nine Associate Directors are paid $153,800 per year. This video is a must listen even if you see only the first 5 minutes.  

Lake Washington School District Superintendent Search Update Ray & Associates consutlants The Lake Washington School District Board of Directors is working with Ray and Associates, a Superintendent Search firm, to hire the next LWSD Superintendent. Starting in late April, Ray and Associates held five community forums and 32 focus groups around the community. They also posted two surveys on the LWSD website, gathering 1,470 responses. The results of those meetings, focus groups and surveys are posted on the  Superintendent Search webpage . This feedback also informed the creation of the  job profile , also available on the LWSD website. The job is now posted, and is open through  June 4 . An  updated timeline  is available on the  Superintendent Search webpage . Save the date!  The community is invited to a Town Hall event with the final 2-3 candidates on  Thursday, June 28 . The Town Hall is scheduled from  5-8 p.m.  at the Lake Wash...

Last Friday  GO REDMOND held a "Bike Bash" event awarding commuters colorful GO REDMOND tee shirts.  Though I'm retired and not much of a commuter I signed up for a ride on the 520 Bike Trail starting at Leary.  My destination was Kirkland for an espresso at Rococo; but  prior commitments confined my journey to 2 hours from my home on Education Hill. On my PIM electric bike , I did it without a sweat. 520 Trail - yellow specks are struggling road bikers.  My PIM is front center The 520 Bike Trail was most interesting.  Most of the road bicyclists struggled up the first hill. I cruised at almost 3x the speed -- and could have gone faster.  They had to breathe the 520 exhaust fumes for a long time.  I was out of there and soon high above SR520 and it's noise. My first stop was a Microsoft water station serving iced water infused with fruits. On 148th Ave. NE I met a Honeywell worker biking to Burger King.  I passed quite a few Microsoft pedest...

LWSD student art May is Arts in Education Month May is Washington State�s Art Education Month � a time to celebrate the wonderful arts education in our schools and the terrific art our students create as a result. What does art mean to you? For LWSD students, art provides a way to express themselves. It is fun, magical, creative, beautiful and awesome.  I really like going to the school board meetings sometimes just to see the art.   At every board meeting there's a "host school" where the principal and staff explain their accomplishments and challenges.  The students from the host schools always draw art.  It's posted behind the dias and all around the room.  These kids have fun!  They are creative!  And they are good! B. Yoder

View from the 166th Ave. sidewalk     This construction site at 8360-165th Ave. NE is visible from 166th Ave. and 165th Ave.  It's currently named "The Village" and will have 96 multi-family apartments.  The entrance will be from 165th. At last week's school board meeting, LWSD Director Mark Stuart suggested taking students to the school construction sites to study construction engineering AND the trades. Hiring and pay is strong in the trades. What a novel, innovative teaching idea!    Board member Cassandra Sage agreed with Mark. President Bliesner tabled the idea to move the meeting on. In my opinion, the construction sites shouldn't have to be restricted to schools like Juanita.  This site can be easily and safely studied from a sidewalk, rain or shine with no mud.  Teachers could plan field trips around convenient times for the workers to learn from them,,,, maybe lunch time. B. Yoder

The Lower Bear Creek re-alignment project uncovered 6-10,000 year old Indian artifacts.  The geology and environment of Redmond are reviewed.  

NE 148th is in the foreground.  The light rail piers are paralleling SR 520. This photo was taken by me on 148th Avenue NE, just south of NE 29th Place on the SR 520 bridge sidewalk.  It's my understanding the three concrete piers will support light rail from the Overlake Station to the Redmond Technology Center station . (RTCS.) Completion is expected by 2023.  Once the link extension is complete it will be 10 minutes to Bellevue and 30 minutes to Seattle from RTCS. It's my understanding the three cranes in the distance are in Overlake Village.  The light rail will continue from the RTCS to the SE Redmond Station and on to the Downtown Station located across from Redmond Town Center. Completion is targeted by 2024. It's anticipated the East King County Regional Aquatics Pool and recreation center will be located near the SE Redmond Station. B. Yoder

Redmond, WA  �   The community is invited to celebrate bicycling at the annual Redmond Bike Bash. The party takes place on Bike to Work Day, Friday May 18 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the Redmond Central Connector trail between Leary Way and 161st Ave NE. Whether you are an avid Redmond bicycle commuter, a weekend rider or simply someone interested in learning more about biking, you�re invited to come to the party and enjoy: Music by local band �Superhit� Food trucks Redmond Bar & Grill�s Beer and Wine Garden Information from local bike shops Bike skills clinics $10 bike helmets from the Redmond Police Department Bike Rodeo to help practice kid�s biking skills with prizes It is free to join us so pedal over and help us celebrate cycling. Attendees over 18 years old who log a bike commute trip on GoRedmond.com before  May 18 , or who bike to the event, will earn a free bike t-shirt to pick up at the Bike Bash. For more information about the Redmond Bike Bash, vi...

Mustang Boys Lacrosse Club on Senior Night Lacrosse  is probably the fastest growing sport in Redmond.  Rob Leavitt led the Mustang Boys Lacrosse Club program to what it is today. The program now teaches and coaches youth K - 12.  Coach Rob Edison is the High School Coach and Program Director though the team isn't officially a LWSD Varsity sport.  They are working on it.  Kate Roper is the current President. According to their website, 9 parents coach high school and 15 coach the entire program so there's a groundswell of family support.    Having played the game for 16 years I was dying to watch the high school boys play.  Last night was Senior Night!  While walking to Redmond high with my wife we saw a rainbow!  Watching the game, many fond memories were sparked from when I started playing 49 years.years ago.  Back then we had no high school program.  I enjoyed sharing my memories and knowledge of the game with my wife and wa...

 View of "Redmond 148" from the southwest.  According to Senior Planner David Lee it includes two stories of underground parking. The only access is from the north OPINION  Completion of this  "Redmond 148"  structure is targeted for late 2018.  It's located on 3040 NE 148th and will be a significant hub for bicycle commuters. If you look under the 3rd traffic light you might see a trail head.  The trail travels counter-clockwise around the building to Redmond with access to the Microsoft campus along the way. The 520 Bicycle Trail from Seattle to Bellevue and Kirkland is behind me so you have to take the crosswalk to get to the Redmond 148 trail head. A bicycle connection to 520 Bicycle Trail is planned nearby which will provide residents with an easy connection to the Microsoft campus and Redmond via the pedestrian-bicycle bridge to be built over SR 520. Road bikes, ebikes, and bike shares will be a wave of the future in Overlake.  I have a...