REDMOND
˜
.com
REPORTER
NEWSLINE: 425.867.0353
OPINION | Is panhandling legal in Redmond? [4] CRIME ALERT | Redmond Police Blotter [3]
COMMUNITY | Poet helps FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013 bombing victims [5]
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Business | New La Isla Cuisine brings Puerto Rican fare to diners in downtown Redmond [7]
Former public works director retires for the third time Fuller retired and left the RFD when his wife became the CFO for the Tampa Bay The popular saying is that Lightning. the third time’s the charm. Fuller’s second retirement And for Tim Fuller, that’s lasted about 18 months. He looking to be the case. After and Martha moved back about four decades in public up to the Pacific Northwest service, the former City and when Redmond Mayor of Redmond public works John Marchione heard this, director has retired for the he asked the former fire third time. chief to step in as interim The first time was from public works director after the St. Paul Fire Departformer longtime director ment (SPFD) in 2003; the Bill Campbell retired. The second time was from the “interim” part of Fuller’s Redmond Fire title was removed in “I just turned summer 2012. Department (RFD) 65. It’s about in 2011; now he has “Tim possesses retired from being time (I retired). excellent leadership the City of RedI’ve been in skills,” Marchione mond’s public works public service said about bringing director. His last day since 1971.” Fuller back as public was Thursday. Tim Fuller works director, When asked if he despite him having could be lured out no background in of retirement again, the field. “He articulates the he laughed and said no. city vision clearly, knows “I just turned 65. It’s the interconnections of city about time (I retired),” he government and inspires said. “I’ve been in public the organization to flourservice since 1971.” ish.” Fuller began his career The mayor added that as a firefighter with SPFD “technical proficiency is and was the fire chief from much easier to find than 1991 to the time he retired firm, clear leadership.” from the department. He “I will miss Tim’s clear and his wife Martha moved thinking, straightforward to Seattle in July 2004 when talk and his love for improvshe became the CFO for the ing every organization he Seattle Seahawks. led,” Marchione said about After his neighbor — Fuller’s retirement. City of Redmond human Fuller said it was easy for resources director Kerry him to say yes to Marchione Sievers — suggested he because his time at the city apply for the job, Fuller has always been positive. He became the RFD fire chief said the mayor has created in February 2005. He spent an environment in which six years with the city, people can grow and proswhich included about a per and be successful, which year heading the Redmond is similar to Fuller’s leaderPolice Department (RPD) ship style. Fuller said he while the city conducted likes to get people to realize a search for a new police their potential and get them chief after former Chief [ more FULLER page 2 ] Steve Harris retired in 2009. BY SAMANTHA PAK
Chanchal Gandhi (left) speaks with Jillian Bakke at a vendor booth at the Ananda Mela festival last weekend. Courtesy of Alyse Young
Ananda Mela Joyful Festival lifts spirits BY JOSHUA CHIN Redmond Reporter Contributor
Last weekend, the annual Ananda Mela Joyful Festival of India — a free, community-oriented celebration — inspired thousands of participants with its color, taste and music. “Ananda means fun,
and mela means festival,” explained volunteer, Gauranga Candra Das. Every summer — when the sky is clearest and the sun is most generous — the Vedic Culture Center (VCC), a nonprofit organization in Sammamish striving to preserve Indian art and culture, teams up with hundreds of volun-
teers to showcase the best of India at Redmond City Hall. “The original misunderstanding about India is that India is a place about elephants and snake charmers,” Das said. “It is time to change some perceptions here.” Stemming from last year’s success, the vol-
unteers preserved many appeals of the festival and found new ways to improve. Booths and activities conveyed a culture entrenched in history from garments and traditional foods, to Bollywood dances. “The biggest difference this time is a magnificent display on the River [ more JOY page 8 ]
Two-alarm fire destroys Redmond condo REPORTER STAFF
One person sustained minor injuries in a twoalarm fire that occurred at a condominium in the 6700 block of 139th Avenue Northeast in Redmond Saturday evening.
A fire alarm alerted Redmond Fire Department (RFD) to the condominium fire a little after 7 p.m. Redmond police and fire arrived on scene to find a fully engulfed second-floor unit and [ more FIRE page 6 ]
Crews from Redmond, Kirkland and Bellevue fire departments responded to a fire at a condominium in Redmond. Courtesy Photo
! WARNING
Excessive exposure to the Redmond Reporter has been linked to increased community engagement & overall personal awesomeness. Sound Publishing, Inc.
744014
spak@redmond-reporter.com