neighborhood villages

In the City Council's committee meeting on 10/23 Melisa Files, Director of Finance reported: 1)  Revenues were up by 5% of target and 2)  Expenditures were 4% below target So "we are in a nice place to be" says Ms. Files. Yes we are, many thanks to the "surge in permitting fees" from development and a "one-time construction tax," according to Files.  Historically, the City has assessed  property owners the State's maximum allowable 1% property tax.  But times have changed and the City is swimming in revenue like never before from the massive development of our Downtown and Overlake urban centers. Owing to this unprecedented growth the City of Redmond should change their practices and forgo the 1% property tax this year.  Residents are already burdened by looming school district taxes and in April, an EvergreenHealth $300M bond initiative, among other taxes. It's time the City tightens their belt. -- Bob Yoder, Opinion Sources:  City Council Co...

The Redmond Historical Society Saturday Speaker Series is pleased to announce its November program:  Saturday, November 10, 2018 Washington at War: The Evergreen State in World War I Redmond Historical Society Saturday Speaker Series Redmond Senior Center 8703 160 th  Ave NE, Redmond WA 98052 $5 suggested donation for non-members Speakers are subject to change. For details:  www.redmondhistoricalsociety. org                      One-hundred years ago in 1917, the US entered The Great War to fight alongside our European allies. But Washington�s homefront experience began long before the country entered the war, and continued afterward. Led by historian Lorraine McConaghy, the program begins with an illustrated introduction to the war�s themes before offering a �Readers� Theater�: a script that is read aloud together, allowing participants to speak the history they are discovering...

Residents can enroll in PSE's Green Power program   and with an additional  $10 payment on their electrical  bill can reduce 12,420 pounds of CO-2 emissions annually to 231 pounds per year.    Redmond, WA  � The City of Redmond is partnering with Puget Sound Energy to purchase 100 percent of its electricity for government operations from dedicated, local, renewable energy resources.  Green Direct , PSE�s innovative renewable energy product for governments and commercial entities, consists of a combination of wind and solar. Redmond is joining Green Direct in its second phase. Phase one included a new wind project in Western Washington and was fully subscribed in 2017. Phase two will include a new solar project in south-central Washington, which is expected to be completed in 2021. By subscribing to Green Direct, the City of Redmond is taking an essential step in reducing its carbon footprint and meeting the goals of its  Climate Action Plan ...

If all students in LWSD who were eligible for school bus transportation were provided bus service and rode the bus to school, the traffic jams around our schools would not exist. The trouble is that our students are not provided with buses so their pa rents must drive them to school.  Note that in Washington State, students who must walk more than a mile to school are eligible for bus transportation as part of basic education. (See the section on the 1-mile walk-area in 28A-160-160 in the R C W) The Lake Washington School District Transportation website says "The district provides transportation only to those students living outside a one-mile radius." The one-mile radius rule was replaced by the 1-mile walk route in 2011. (SEVEN YEARS AGO!!) Why hasn't the district updated this policy on its website? LWSD is unfairly using this outdated statute to deny bus transportation to thousands of students. Horace Mann students who live at Lookout Ridge/Perrigo Heights and the peri...

I'm so happy our schools are taking this innovative hands-on approach to learning, What do you think?

2018-19 brings a 10th year of significant growth to the District Redmond, Wash. � Lake Washington School District�s (LWSD) official October 1 student enrollment was 29,987 students. This represents 417 more students than last year�s October 1 count. For the last 10 years, from 2008 to 2018, the district�s enrollment grew by approximately 620 students each year. That is the size of a large elementary school. A total of 6,218 more students are in LWSD schools today than 10 years ago, representing 26 percent growth. �Our enrollment growth is reflective of our thriving communities,� said Dr. Jane Stavem, Superintendent. �We are grateful for the support of our community as we strive to find solutions to support our rapidly growing student population.� Enrollment growth is forecasted to continue. The district anticipates growing an additional 2,000 students in the next four years. These forecasts take into account the number of births in our area, current enrollment patterns and planned deve...

EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners Representative, Jeanette Greenfield, Steps Down Early from Board I am hopeful the Board will appoint a resident who will move Mental Health care forward.  BY Kirkland, Wash.  �  Jeanette Greenfield has announced her plans to resign her position as EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners, At-Large effective December 18, 2018. Greenfield will be traveling extensively over the next year and unable to fulfill her board obligations. While Greenfield�s term ends on December 31, 2019, she has opted to end her term this year in order to allow the board to appoint her replacement. The Board will select a representative later this year for the at-large position to fill Greenfield�s post. �Jeanette has dedicated 34 years of service to the residents of the Eastside, first as an EvergreenHealth community advisor, followed by her service as a long-time board member,� said Al DeYoung, chair, EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners. �Her deep commitme...

Redmond Reporter published this  thorough and interesting report  on the Redmond Historical Society -- an organization embedded into the fabric and culture of City of Redmond and our neighborhoods. Katie Metzgar , the author, graduated from Redmond High School the same year as my daughter Lexie.  Last week she wrote an excellent article about  Hopelink's    "Reaching Out event."    - Bob Yoder 10/23

Water Tender President Susan Wilkins at  Issaquah fish hatchery  Every year from September - October during the "Salmon Seeson" you will find the Water Tenders at North Bear Creek educating children, families and adults about the life cycle of salmon.  This Fall was the 4-year cycle for sockeye so we were expecting a good run.  The Water Tenders put up sandwich board signs along Avondale Road to direct viewers to the creek. We usually see a lot of  returning salmon but this year owing to a prolonged drought there were none to be seen so the exhibit was shut down. Usually over 100 viewers walk up the trail to see coho, sockeye and chinook salmon. Every year the Water Tenders pick up 1-2 Chinook salmon from the Issaquah fish hatchery for their Bear Creel exhibit.  Susan Wilkins, Water Tenders President says,"this is an excellent way for viewers to see and touch the gills, scaling, and fins for show and tell."  Here's a picture of Susan at ...

"yours truly" Save the date to plant trees with the Green Redmond Partnership!  Join us at Juel Park on Saturday, October 27th, 9 am - Noon to help keep our forests healthy and green. Everyone can help! All ages welcome, no experience necessary. Green Redmond will have all gloves and tools for you to use, as well as coffee and snacks to get the morning started. Planting events will be held at two other park sites this year.  Advanced registration is strongly encouraged as some sites will fill up.   Find your favorite park and sign up via the link below! We only have a few more spots open to volunteer with us on Oct 27th, so please email us below if you would like to sign up.  Sign up at  www.greenredmond.org . -- Bob Yoder Source:  redmond.gov

Internet photo At 4:30 pm last week we saw five Redmond fire trucks, a medic truck and battalion SUV adjacent Value Village and  Anderson Park on Cleveland and Redmond Way.   Firefighters were walking in full gear with their axes and other tools without a sense of  urgency. A bundant lights were flashing on all trucks but no fire,  smoke or fire-hose water was seen.  They appeared to be in some kind of "logistical training."  -- Bob Yoder