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Happy New Year to all REDMOND
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2011
SPORTS | Sibling rivalry taken to a whole new level at The Bear Creek School [10]
BUSINESS | New Redmond gym offering youth sports training, free boot camp classes for January and more [13]
Cavalia to provide major boost to the Redmond economy Equestrian performing arts show will attract more people to city’s hotels, restaurants and retailers SAMANTHA PAK spak@redmond-reporter.com
Traffic flows westbound across the State Route 520 floating bridge on the first day of active tolling in this view from Medina Thursday morning. The east high rise has 12 cameras and photographs every license plate. CHAD COLEMAN, Reporter Newspapers
520 tolls now a fact of life Expect more traffic on other regional roadways NAT LEVY nlvey@bellevuereporter.com
It’s been years and millions of dollars in the making, but tolls on State Route 520 began Thursday morning. The first day with the new equipment in place was going smoothly during the early-morning commute, according to the Washington State
Department of Transportation. Traffic on the bridge the first hour of tolling was 45 percent less than a normal day, according to WSDOT. However, the real traffic test for commuters is expected to begin Tuesday morning, when people return from their holiday vacation. WSDOT Tolls Director Craig Stone has said there will be some diversion away from 520 because of the tolls. These drivers are likely to go to Interstate 90, State Route 522 and Interstate 405.
“Drivers from Issaquah to Seattle and Tukwila to Shoreline will see changes to their commute,” Stone said. “Drivers who use these routes should prepare for potential traffic delays and adjust their schedule accordingly. We expect traffic patterns will change daily, and it will take several months before traffic settles into a predictable new pattern.” Tolls vary by time of day, with the peak rate $3.50 for those with a Good To Go transponder during [ more TOLLS page 6 ]
The City of Redmond stands to receive a big economic boost as Cavalia, a world-class equestrian and performing arts show, will be at King County’s Marymoor Park from Jan. 18 to Feb. 5, 2012. Cavalia has been on tour throughout North America and Europe since 2003 and this will be the show’s second time in the Pacific Northwest. The show was previously in Renton in 2004. Ann Delarosbil, market development manager for Cavalia, said, “We evaluate the economic impact (of the show) of about $10 million.” Of this $10 million, which she said is an average amount for the cities they visit, about $5 million is spent on preparing for the show, promotion through local advertising companies and hiring about 200 local employees for customer service, tech support, site preparation and other jobs.
She said the preparations for the show usually begin about four weeks before opening night and there is about a week after the run for teardown, which brings the Montreal-based Cavalia to town for 11 to 12 weeks. “So that has significant impacts economically,” Delarosbil said. Karen Nolz, tourism program administrator for the City of Redmond, said when big shows or events such as Cavalia come to town, they can apply for a city grant to help cover expenses. In the case of Cavalia, she said City Council has approved a $10,000 grant for the event. However, they would only receive the money if they meet a specific set of criteria and this would happen after the show’s run at Marymoor is finished. Nolz said the money for these grants come from a 1 percent tourism tax local hotels charge, which goes to the city. [ more CAVALIA page 5 ]
School district superintendent candidate to meet public Jan. 10 The Lake Washington School will say a few words at 6:45 p.m. District (LWSD) and City of RedLight refreshments will be served. mond will host an opportunity for The LWSD board conducted an the public to meet and talk with Dr. internal search for its new superTraci Pierce, the LWSD board of intendent in October and Novemdirectors’ preferred candidate for its ber and announced Pierce as their next district superintendent. preferred candidate at the Dec. 5 Dr. Traci Pierce The community is invited to this board meeting. Pierce will replace informal open house on Jan. 10, Dr. Chip Kimball, who is leaving 2012 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the to take a school superintendent Bytes Café, located on the first floor of Red- position in Singapore. The board decided mond City Hall at 15670 NE 85th St. Pierce to look for a qualified internal candidate
because continuity and a smooth transition will be necessary due to the many major district initiatives culminating next year. Pierce is currently the deputy superintendent of instructional services for LWSD and has not yet been hired as superintendent. The series of gatherings throughout the district to meet her will introduce her to the community and give them the opportunity to provide input for the school board.
“Education has always been a passion for me,” Pierce said. “My 17 years at LWSD has provided me the opportunity to work in many different positions, giving me a true understanding of our vision and what tools we must use to reach it.” For more information on the open house, contact Talley Hudson at (425) 5562101 or thudson@redmond.gov. To learn more about the potential superintendent or the search process, contact Kathryn Reith at (425) 936-1342 or kreith@lwsd.org.