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BACK TO SCHOOL | New head of school takes the reigns at Overlake [2] CRIME WATCH | Redmond Police Blotter [8]
FRIDAY, August 17, 2012
DOWNTOWN PARK UPDATE
Master plan process to begin early next year
ARTS | Mice will be on the loose in downtown Redmond this weekend [10]
A BACK-TO-SCHOOL SPENDING SPREE AT TARGET Monica Pumel (left) of the Redmond Fire Department and Redmond resident Jada Pritchett check out the dress selection at the Target in Redmond as part of the Target School Spree program. This is a partnership with the Salvation Army that gives kids from low-income families the opportunity to shop for new clothes for the upcoming school year with an $80 gift card from Target. Employees from the Redmond fire and police departments were also on hand to help the children pick out their new clothes. Sierra Dwelle (not pictured), a lieutenant for The Salvation Army Eastside Corps, said 25 kids in grades K-12 are chosen each year for each participating Target location. The Salvation Army Eastside Corps is located at 911 164th Ave. N.E. in Bellevue and serves the cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville and Bothell. Samantha Pak, Redmond Reporter
BILL CHRISTIANSON bchristianson@redmond-reporter.com
It’s just an open patch of green space right now, but that will change in the coming years as the City of Redmond plans to transform a two-acre parcel of land downtown into a “signature” gathering space. City park planners presented shortterm and long-term plans for the Downtown Park at Tuesday night’s Redmond City Council study session at City Hall. “It’s not much right now, but we want this to be a signature space in the city,” City of Redmond senior planner B. Sanders told council members during the presentation. The city plans to start the master planning process for the park early next year, which will involve gathering input from community members, according to Sanders. The park, at 16101 Redmond Way, is located between Redmond Way and Cleveland Street and bounded to the east by 161st Avenue Northeast extension, which was completed last August, and bounded to the west by the historical Stone House. The park has already taken some shape with the creation of a large open, green space on about half of the planned park site as part of the 161st Avenue Northeast extension project. City officials are encouraging residents to use the current space and get involved in the planning process. “I think we’re still very early in the process and we have not yet started the master planning process for the park,” Council Vice President Hank Margeson said after Tuesday’s meeting. [ more DOWNTOWN PARK page 9 ]
SPORTS | Redmond native’s basketball programs teach skills and much more [11]
Redmond’s new chief — for a day 11-year-old boy serves as city’s top cop as part of state criminal justice program 27 children from all over Washington who were transported by a police motorcade from CenturyLink here’s a new police chief in Field in Seattle to the WSCJTC town — at least for a day. headquarters in Burien. In addition, On Thursday, Redmond each child received a hand-tailored Police Chief Ron Gibson stepped uniform from their sponsoring aside to make way for 11-yearJason Richards agency and was sworn in as chief or old Jason Richards as part of the sheriff for the day. The day’s event Washington State Criminal Justice featured a pony carousel, police K-9 Training Commission’s (WSCJTC) “Chief teams, bounce houses, taser demonstrafor a Day” program. tions, a U.S. Coast Guard Dolphin helicopThe program honors children who have ter and other police vehicles. been diagnosed with a chronic illness by “(The kids) can crawl all over the police giving them the opportunity to be chief or cars, ” Gibson said. sheriff — usually of their local police agency He added that Chief for a Day is what — for an entire day. “being a cop is all about” — giving back to Jason, whose family lives in Redmond’s others, making them smile and feel better Education Hill neighborhood, was among Samantha Pak
spak@redmond-reporter.com
T
and in this case, giving kids something to think about other than their illness.
A TROUBLED HEART
Jason was born with a number of heart defects as a result of Holt-Oram syndrome, a disorder that affects bones in the arms and hands and may cause heart problems. He had his first heart surgery when he was seven days old, according to his mother Janet Richards, and underwent three more procedures before he turned 4. Janet said these procedures rerouted his blood vessels so oxygen could be delivered throughout his body and were meant to last 20 to 25 years. At that point, they knew Jason would probably need a new heart, she said. [ more JASON page 3 ]
You are invited to an OPEN HOUSE Meet Dr. Ostler and her staff. Join us for appetizers and a tour of the new office
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August 24th 2pm to 8pm & August 25th 12pm to 6pm 16640 NE 83rd St., Redmond, WA 98052 Families Welcome!
425/298-0701 • www.drostler.com