Redmond Reporter, January 17, 2014

Page 1

REDMOND

˜

.com

REPORTER

NEWSLINE: 425.867.0353

COMMUNITY | Redmond business helps deter mail theft [5] CRIME ALERT | Redmond Police Blotter [3]

SPORTS | Bear Creek senior Engelstone is tearing it up FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2014 on the basketball court [10]

A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

Two school levies, one bond measure are on the ballot

Stage is set for ‘Picasso at the Lapin Agile’

SAMANTHA PAK spak@redmond-reporter.com

Matt Fulbright, left, stars as Picasso in SecondStory Repertory’s production of the Steve Martin-written comedy “Picasso at the Lapin Agile, “ which opens at 8 p.m. tonight at the company’s theater in Redmond Town Center. Also pictured during Tuesday’s dress rehearsal are, from back left, Dan Davidson (Freddy), Jalyn Green (Sagot) and Dennis McCabe (Gaston). See page 4 for more information. ANDY NYSTROM, Redmond Reporter

MORE PHOTOS ONLINE…

www.redmond-reporter.com

Residents review Overlake park designs SAMANTHA PAK spak@redmond-reporter.com

Planning for a new urban park in Overlake continues as the City of Redmond held a public meeting Wednesday night to present two potential park designs for the community to review. The 2.7-acre, triangular park will be part of a 28-acre, mixed-use development at the old Group Health Cooperative site at 2464 152nd Ave. N.E. in Redmond. Capstone Partners, a Seattle-based development firm, has been tasked with developing the site and they ng Session! brought in landscape architecture firm Brumbaugh & Associates to act as consultants on the park portion of

the project. Kristen Lundquist, a partner and principal at Brumbaugh, gave a short presentation on the two park options before a breakout session that allowed attendees to look at plans up close and ask questions. Lundquist said the designs were based on comments and feedback they received from the public at a previous meeting held last month. “That feedback was instrumental,” she said. Lundquist said community members were clear on the things they wanted and didn’t want to see in the new park. Some of the things they wanted included a simple, natural park with opportunities for imaginative play such as outdoor chess and

bocce ball, a water feature, amphitheater for movie nights, concerts and other entertainment, picnic and gathering areas and wooded trails. Some of the things the community did not want included a dog park, big open concrete spaces, shadows and an obstructed view. The first option Lundquist presented was a park divided into angular “rooms” that would contrast with the park’s lush greenery. The second option was a more open plan with the park lawn framed by a looped path. Both options offered various entryways into the park, gathering terrace space and an accessible path or ramp. [ more PARK page 6 ]

King County special elections are coming up next month and residents living within the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) will be asked to approve two levies and one bond measure. The three measures will go toward the district’s everyday operations, technology needs and building upgrades as well as toward replacing aging schools and building new schools to accommodate the district’s growing enrollment. The two levies are renewals and require a simple majority of 50 percent, plus one to pass. Kathryn Reith, communications director for LWSD, said each of the levies are four-year measures and it has been a long time since they have not passed. “It’s been many, many years,” she said. The district surveyed the community in March 2013 and LWSD Superintendent Dr. Traci Pierce said 81 percent of residents who have moved to the district in the last 10 years said the quality of local schools influenced their decision where to live. “We are very proud of the excellent educational experiences we can provide for our students, with the support from our communities,” she said. “We rely on local dollars to fund our schools and we know that quality schools contribute

to the overall viability, stability and economic health of our communities.” Officials at King County Elections said ballots will be mailed out Wednesday and residents should expect to receive them by the end of next week. The vote-bymail ballots are due Feb. 11.

FILLING THE GAP

The first levy, the Education Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy, is the second largest portion of the district’s general fund, covering about 22.5 percent. According to an LWSD brochure highlighting the three measures, the EP&O Levy “fills the gap between state basic education funding and the current educational program.” It helps pay for things such as 30 percent of all teaching and 36 percent of all non-teaching staff costs, teacher planning and preparation time, programs such as special education, English Language Learners and Safety Net, safety and security, facility maintenance and extracurricular activities and athletics. Jackie Pendergrass, LWSD school board president, said the EP&O Levy is critical for the district to “continue to provide the education to our students that our community expects and deserves.” If passed, the EP&O Levy would cost $263.6 million over the course of four [ more SCHOOLS page 7 ]

Call or visit today to

TRY KOKO

FREE!

Some restrictions may apply. See club for details.

Convenient locations in Redmond & Woodinville • (425) 398-5656

948957

The most affordable personal training on the planet!


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.