Summer 2026

REDMOND MOMENTS

Edition #3

News, community and more from Redmond, Washington

Summer 2026

Drone Deliveries in Redmond?

Plus...

The Redmond Summer Events Guide Farewell to the Old Fire House Redmond Helps Send Artemis II Crew to Space

Table of Contents

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City Officials Prepare for a New Age of Commercial Drone Presence in Redmond Artemis II Crew Completes Mission Around the Moon With Tech Made in Redmond

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Thank you!

City Council Cleared to End Contract With Flock Safety

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Letter From the Editor

At A Glance

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The Redmond Summer Events Guide

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Community Community Bids Farewell to the Old Fire House Teen Center Disconnected to Reconnect: A month away from screens

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Meet Redmond High School’s Green Team

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Community Resources

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Crossword Puzzle

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@RedmondMoments

@RedmondMoments

Hello, Redmond!

Welcome to the third issue of the Redmond Moments Newspaper!

The days get long during Summer in Redmond. Late evening sunsets pair well with good weather, which means there’s plenty to do this season.

As we prep for each issue, Jason and I go to different local events to try to learn what is on people’s minds. This past quarter included observing city council meetings, community services, businesses, bars and even the Redmond subreddit.

Here’s what we learned about Redmond right now.

Our Ethics I. Community first, always

Our purpse is to provide meaningful information to those living and working in Redmond. We will approach each project with the benefit of the community in mind, and make sure we never add to division.

II. Report on facts, encourage learning

People in Redmond deserve a source of objective truth.

Reliable sources will be the foundation of our reporeting.

Where possible, we’ll provide information for further learning.

III. No AI

We’ll never use AI in anything we produce. This newspaper is purposeful and “handmade”- meaning everything here is crafted by people. When we get the chance to expand our staff, we will pay local writers, artists, and photographers for their contributions.

IV. Keep It Free

No paywalls, no charge for the newspaper. We believe information should be available to everyone, and we will work intentionall to serve those who are typically excluded from accessing paid media.

Many in our community are concerned about: • Increasing food costs and financial strain as costs rise sharply • The growing presence of surveillance technology in public places Many are excited about: • Accessible and reliable public transit options, like the 2 Line light rail and Eastrail path • Renewed enthusiasm for space exploration as the Artemis II crew returned safely from their mission around the moon There’s always light to be found, even in times of great apprehension. My hope for this issue is that readers feel a little more connected to Redmond, and find something in the community that piques their interest.

Also, exciting news! This issue features our first student contributors who chose their topics, did their own research, participated in local activities and wrote great articles on their experiences.

Special thanks to Friend of the Newspaper Nick Wolfram who helped proofread some of the articles in this edition.

And, the Crossword is back!

See you out there, Madeline Virginia Founder and Editor

Founder and Editor, Madeline Virginia Lead Designer and Photographer, Jason Miller © Copyright Moments Media LLC 2026

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Redmond Moments - Summer 2026

Promotional image of a Platform 2 Zipline commercial drone making a delivery. Image Credit: Zipline Inc.

City officials prepare for a new age of commercial drone presence in Redmond Drone deliveries may be in our future

By Madeline Virginia City leadership and members of the community gathered at City Hall on June 2 for a public hearing to learn more about a big industry that is at Redmond’s doorstep.

Redmond City Council had previously issued a temporary ordinance in April that limited drone landing port development to parts of the manufacturing and industrial zones of Redmond.

The public hearing provided some context to the ordinance, and gave the Redmond community their first chance to voice opinions on commercial drone operation in the city.

A High-Stakes Public Hearing The public hearing and informational session on June 2 opened a much-needed discussion within the community to understand the topic further, and what commercial drones in Redmond would mean for daily life.

As the City of Redmond explained in a statement, “Commercial drone ports are facilities where drones (also referred to as “unmanned aerial vehicles” or UAVs) load up, launch, and return after making deliveries of things like restaurant food or consumer goods.”

Mayor Angela Birney and representatives from the city Planning Committee started the meeting with some context: The city of

Promotional image of a delivery pod being lowered from a commercial drone to the front of a house. Image Credit: Zipline Inc.

Redmond cannot ban or limit drones from entering Redmond airspace. Most everything relating to drone flight and operations are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Members of the public were welcome to make a statement, and six people spoke to the council.

Interestingly, the first three spots were taken by executives from a California-based company called Zipline, including vice president Chris Kenney. Zipline is a commercial drone company who has

Redmond Moments -Summer 2026

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expressed interest in operating in Redmond.

The three executives used their time to introduce Zipline’s previous overseas projects, and to request that the Redmond City Council rework their temporary ordinance to loosen limitations around residential areas.

After the executives, Redmond residents got a chance to speak.

They brought up worthwhile questions, and requested further information about drone purposes, noise levels, surveillance, data, privacy and safety risks.

The clear shared sentiment among the residents was that the allowance of drones in the city is moving too fast, and there are too many questions left unanswered.

Why drones? Why now?

The arrival of drones (and industry executives) in Redmond is no coincidence. The commercial drone industry has gotten a big boost over the last year, which has led to a nation-wide expansion. Here is a little more about Zipline, and how they got to Redmond.

City Council’s Conclusion City council members then engaged in a discussion with two representatives from Redmond’s Planning Committee. During the back and forth, new information was presented to council including the idea that the Redmond Police Department may be able to establish flight paths within the city (Under the soon to be established “Office of Air Management”).

As it stands, the line between the city’s jurisdiction and the FAA’s is unclear.

Redmond could be in a unique position to explore the limitations of a community’s control over their commercial airspace, therefore setting a precedent for this quickly developing industry.

Council president Melissa Stewart stated, “Sometimes the city of Redmond has to be groundbreaking… If we go first, we will start a regional conversation. That feels pretty sacred, and like a responsibility we should get right.”

Council members were in agreement that proceeding will require caution and careful deliberation. There was also an emphasis that slowing the process down did not equate to being anti-technology.

Councilmember Sayna Parci explained, “There are no doubts about the promise of this technology, but we shouldn’t sacrifice privacy at the altar of convenience.”

Councilmember Parci voiced her concerns about the potential for drones to collect data on Redmond residents. She said, “Drones do not just transport goods, they collect data as part of their operation… It is important to note that new technology rarely distributes their benefits and burdens equally.”

City Council concluded the night’s business by unanimously passing an amendment to the temporary ordinance issued earlier: Until city regulation can be established, NO drone ports can be developed anywhere in Redmond, including the manufacturing and industrial zones.

The city has outlined a one-year timeline, during which the city will seek significant community engagement, and establish permanent regulation for commercial drone port land uses.

The next public hearing will be held at City Hall on July 21. Community members are encouraged to visit the information page on Redmond.gov to submit public comments, provide feedback, read FAQs and learn more.

June 6 2025 President Donald Trump issues Executive Order “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” Includes “streamlining approvals and certification processes, including for consumer goods delivery and environmental reviews” Zipline CEO Keller Cliffton credits ability to get operational clearance for their autonomous drones in all 50 states as a direct result of this Executive Order

November 2025 State Department Awards Zipline $150 Million Government Contract This program replaces some traditional aid programs that were previously cut (83% of USAID programs were cut in March 2025) Government contract establishes significant industry trust

January 2026 Zipline receives $600 million in massive round of private funding $7.6 billion valuation New funding includes a plan to expand into four states, including Washington

June 2 2026 Zipline executives advocate for commercial drone operation in Redmond at city council public hearing

Want More?

Follow us online!

Redmond Moments will be providing continuous coverage of this topic as it develops over the next year.

City Information Webpage: www.redmond.gov/2538/Drone-Port-Land-Uses

www.RedmondMoments.com @redmondmoments

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Redmond Moments - Summer 2026

NASA’s Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft with NASA astronauts onboard launches on the Artemis II mission, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Artemis II Crew Completes Mission Around the Moon With Tech Made in Redmond The local site built dozens of parts for NASA’s recent record-breaking trip to space

By Madeline Virginia A little piece of Redmond traveled a long way from home.

On April 10, NASA’s Artemis II mission crew successfully landed back on Earth after completing the first crewed lunar flyby in 50 years.

The capsule splash-landed in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California, and used specialized thrusters made here in Redmond to assure a safe reentry into the atmosphere. Crew members Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch (mission specialist) and Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist) all returned to Earth safely.

According to L3Harris, the Orion space shuttle was supported by “eight auxiliary engines on the service module, each generating 110 pounds of thrust, and 12 reaction control system thrusters on the crew module, each generating 160 pounds of thrust. These systems, built in Redmond, Washington, steer the spacecraft throughout the mission and orient Orion during atmospheric reentry, ensuring the crew safely returns to Earth.”

NASA’s Orion spacecraft with Artemis II crewmembers as it lands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, Friday, April 10, 2026. Image Credit: NASA/ Bill Ingalls

The Redmond worksite, located near Willows Road NE, is already familiar with sending their work to space. They have contributed to many iconic milestones since NASA’s creation in 1958, including the Apollo missions, Voyager Probes and Mars Rover.

Acquired by L3Harris in 2023, the long history of the Redmond-based factory is a little hard to follow, as GeekWire explains: “The facility traces its lineage back to Rocket Research Co., which was founded by former Boeing engineers in 1960 in Seattle. Rocket Research relocated to the 80-acre Redmond campus in 1968 and has gone through a string of name changes and acquisitions since then.

According to a 2022 presentation for the Redmond Historical Society by Jack DeBoer, a program manager at the site, the Redmond facility has been managed through the years

by Rockor, Olin Aerospace, Primex Technologies, General

NASA’s Orion spacecraft is seen in the foreground, lit up by the Sun. A first quarter Moon is visible behind it, with sunlight coming from the right. Image Credit: NASA

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Dynamics, Aerojet, GenCorp and Aerojet Rocketdyne.”

GeekWire, “Rocketdyne redux: Seattle area’s oldest rocket factory to get new ownership under old name,” Alan Boyle, 2026.

In 2023, the company, then called Aerojet Rocketdyne, won a $67 million dollar contract to provide more work for Artemis missions 6-8. “Artemis” is NASA’s multi-mission plan with the ultimate goal of laying the foundation for human exploration of planet Mars.

Mayor Angela Birney proclaimed an official Redmond Space District in 2025, and aerospace development is a large part of the city’s future economic development plan. Many of these space companies, like SpaceX/Starlink, actually base their worksites in Redmond Ridge, which is technically outside of Redmond City limits, a part of unincorporated King County.

Explore the Artemis II mission!

NASA is a publicly-funded program, which means that mission photos, video, audio and deep-dive information are all available via NASA’s website. www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii

More context: Parent company L3Harris has appeared often in national news recently, providing tech for another industry here on our home planet that requires a huge amount of thrusters: War. L3Harris works closely with the United States Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense) and was tapped to help create President Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system for America, a project that will cost the country an estimated $1.2 trillion over 20 years. (As far as we are aware, parts for the Golden Dome will not be made in Redmond. They will largely be made at L3Harris sites in Arkansas, Virginia, Massachusetts, Indiana, Florida and Alabama.)

RS-25 engines for NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. Image Credit: NASA/ ERIC BORDELON

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Redmond Moments - Summer 2026

City Council Cleared to End Contract With Flock Safety The decision comes after a vote last year to deactivate the city’s automatic license plate readers

By Madeline Virginia Members of the city council engaged in a discussion after Mueller’s findings.

Councilmember Vivek Prakriya suggested a possible option to cancel the Flock contract and pursue a new contract with another vendor.

He added, “I would also be interested in exploring some sort of addition to our contract … by adding some sort of ‘poison pill’ in regards to data sharing … where any instance of data sharing would result in a financial bonus for us.”

Public Safety Building in Redmond, Washington. Image Credit: Jason Miller/ Redmond Moments

After months of research and deliberation, the City of Redmond is now cleared to end their contract with Flock Safety and will remove all 24 automatic license plate readers in the city.

This reversal of city policy on ALPRs is considered a huge win for community members concerned with surveillance and privacy rights.

The motion voted on by Redmond City Council on May 26 was preceded by a presentation by City Attorney Rebecca Mueller, who was charged with finding out if and how the city could end their contract since the cameras were purchased largely with grant funding.

Councilmember Forsythe responded straightforwardly, “I am interested in moving forward with the cancellation of the contract with Flock. I am not interested in moving forward with a conversation considering a different vendor.

I’m not interested in putting the majority of our citizens at risk for those sorts of data breaches … Even if there were something like a poison pill and the City were to get money, that money should go back into our community who has been harmed. And that would just be a logistical and legal nightmare.”

Other members of the council cited the overwhelming community feedback voicing deep concerns about data security, the right to privacy and opposition to ALPR technology.

The council then made an official vote on the motion to cancel the Flock contract. All were in unanimous agreement.

The next steps will be for the city to prepare a final close-out package to present to city council, after which the contract with Flock will be officially cancelled and the deactivated ALPR cameras removed.

The ALPRs were part of a police technology package passed by City Council but were deactivated months after installation when Flock Safety came under national scrutiny for sharing citizen data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ALPR technology used by Flock utilizes 24-hour surveillance, capturing images of every license plate that crosses a camera’s path and storing that data in a national database.

Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe and Mayor Angela Birney have noted publicly on multiple occasions that Redmond was not part of any data sharing with the federal government agency, and information was never shared without the police department’s knowledge.

Unringing the bell The law enforcement cameras were funded largely by two grants, and city staff have been figuring out the logistics of undoing it all since November. In the May 26 council meeting, City Attorney Rebecca Mueller presented her findings: The vendors confirmed that funds were used for their intended purpose, and stopping the program would not mean the city has to pay the funds back.

“That’s very good news for the city,” she explained, confirming that the council was clear to cancel the Flock contract, should they vote to do so.

Grant information screenshot from Redmond City Council supplementary material. Source: Redmond.gov

Further Reading: Redmond Moments previous reporting: “The Rise and Fall of Flock Cameras in Redmond” www.RedmondMoments.com, December 2025 “Leaving the Door Wide Open: Flock Surveillance Systems Expose Washington Data to Immigration Enforcement” University of Washington Center for Human Rights, October 2025 Watch Redmond City Council Meetings: www.redmond.gov/1165/OnDemand-Meetings www.youtube.com/cityofredmond

Redmond Moments -Summer 2026

At A Glance

School Speed Safety Camera Pilot Program Now In Effect On June 12, the Redmond Police launched a new enforcement program designed to lower speeding violations in school zones, aiming to protect students and pedestrians during school hours.

As part of a police technology package passed by Redmond City Council, this speed-enforcement system places cameras at Redmond High School, Redmond Middle School and Rose Hill Middle School.

According to the program FAQs, the cameras will only take a photo when a violation is detected and will specifically not include faces in the capture. The image, license plate number and the speed of the vehicle in violation will be sent to the Redmond Police Department, who will then review the information. Fines will range from $110 to $290, depending on the speed.

From the program’s information page at Redmond.Gov, “The cameras will only be active in the designated school zones, during designated hours, when the school zone beacons are flashing. Designated hours typically include 30 minutes before the start of school and after school until 5 p.m. on school days. The cameras will be deactivated from June 18 - Aug. 31 while Lake Washington School District is not in session. No citations will be issued during this time.”

Read more about this program: www.redmond.gov/2339/ Speed-Safety-Camera-Pilot-Program

MAPS Redmond’s First Eid Celebration A Success On May 30, over 10,000 community members attended the inaugural Eid al-Adha Celebration in Downtown Bellevue Park, hosted by the Muslim Association of Puget Sound, which is based in Redmond.

The Eid Celebration marked the end of the month-long fast Ramadan and included performances, local food vendors, businesses and arts and crafts.

According to MAPS Redmond, 12 elected officials joined the community in the celebration, including Redmond City Councilmembers Vanessa Kritzer and Jessica Forsythe, as well as State Representative and former Redmond City Councilmember Osman Salahuddin.

In a post on Instagram, MAPS Redmond wrote, “After the attacks in San Diego, it means so much to have the support of our leaders. Your presence meant everything. To our community - thank you for showing up in full force and showing our community what unity looks like. Eid Mubarak!”

City Raises Flag to Celebrate Pride Month Redmond Mayor Angela Birney, city staff, community members and local organizations gathered on June 13 to celebrate the raising of the Pride Flag at City Hall to commemorate Pride Month in June.

Raising the Pride Flag at City Hall each year was included in the proclamation made by Mayor Birney in June 2025, which recognizes ongoing efforts to formalize support and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community in Redmond.

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Local Election News King County election season is upon us!

The Primary Election will take place on August 4, with the General Election on November 3. Washington is a vote-by-mail state, and residents should expect their ballot and election guide to arrive around three weeks before each election. Voters can return their completed ballot by dropping them in an outgoing mailbox or at an official ballot box.

Redmond Councilmembers Jessica Forsythe and Vanessa Kritzer will be present on the primary ballot as they both run for State Representative positions. Forsythe is running for the 48th District, Position 2, which represents Redmond. Kritzer is running for the 45th District, Position 2, which represents parts of unincorporated King County, like Redmond Ridge.

Register to vote, learn more about the process, volunteer to assist with elections, and more at: www.kingcounty.gov → Elections

Firefighters Left With No Working Fire Hydrant While Fighting Two Alarm Redmond Fire A two-alarm fire in the early hours of June 3 required the work of four fire departments on Redmond-Fall City Road to put out.

Redmond Fire, along with Eastside Fire and Rescue, Fall City Fire and Snoqualmie Fire, responded to the scene, but quickly found that the only nearby fire hydrant was not functioning properly.

The teams employed tender trucks, which carry tanks of water, and a relay system to put out the blaze.

The Redmond Fire Department issued a statement that day, saying, “Two buildings and about 15 company vehicles—all owned by a commercial landscape business—caught fire and required a large response, with Redmond Fire sending 10 units in total to the scene. No injuries to anyone involved have been reported.”

KOMO News reported, “The King County Sheriff’s Office fire investigation unit is investigating the cause of the fire, including the reported hydrant issue and any related inspection records.

Officials said it could take weeks to complete the investigation.”

Redmond Pride Moves to Kirkland, Now Called Pride Across the Bridge Festival The late-summer outdoor festival celebrating the LGBTQ+ community has moved from Downtown Redmond Park to Marina Park in Kirkland. Redmond Pride was founded

by Pride Across the Bridge, a local non-profit that has run the free festival for four years. Starting this year, the event will be known as “Pride Across the Bridge Festival” and will cater to the broader Eastside community.

In their announcement, the organization wrote, “We have some exciting news to share with everyone!

Over the past 4 years Redmond Pride has blossomed from a small community-needed gathering into one of the Eastside’s most joyful and highly anticipated community-driven celebrations. In 2025, we welcomed applications from 115 vendors, 40 performers, and saw over 1,000 attendees! As our large-scale event and our leadership have grown, we have run into a bittersweet issue, we’ve outgrown our space.”

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Redmond Moments - Summer 2026

The Redmond Summer Events Guide Concerts, clubs, shows, festivals and more! Try something different, make new friends, or meet your neighbors. We’ve included a lot of ideas here, but keep exploring! There’s always more to find.

Note: Make sure to double check the event websites for the most updated information on dates, times, any costs, tickets, registration, etc.

July All the World’s a Song 16 +18 Performance by Redmond Tech Orchestra and Technically Thespians

World Cup Watch Party

Redmond Performing Arts Center

Marymoor Park

RedmondTechOrchestra.org

MarymoorLive.com

24 + 25

Hopelink 24 Neighborhood Fair

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Meet Me at Marymoor

Hopelink Redmond Hopelink.org

31 - Aug 2

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Annual Redmond Festival

Head for the Cure 5K

Redmond Arts Festival

City Hall Park

Marymoor Park

Redmond Town Center

Redmond.gov

HeadForTheCure.org

Derby Days

VALAEastside.org

August Obliteride Ride/Run

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Open Streets Festival

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CHOMP! Festival

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28

Dog Days of Summer Party

Marymoor Park

Downtown Redmond Park

Marymoor Park

J.B.M. Velodrome at Marymoor Park

Obliteride.org

MoveRedmond.org

ChompLocal.org

Velodrome.org

September Pride Across the Bridge Festival

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(Previously known as Redmond Pride)

Marina Park, Kirkland PrideAcross TheBridge.org

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18-20

Redmond Harvest Half Marathon

Downtown Redmond Art Walk

Washington Ganesh Festival

Marymoor Park

Downtown Redmond Park

Marymoor Park

Redmond HarvestHalf.com

Redmond.gov

Washington GaneshFestival.org

Clubs and Meetups Ongoing Events

Redmond Moments -Summer 2026 11

Redmond Moments -Summer 2026

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Community Bids Farewell to the Old Fire House Teen Center The historic Redmond building with a lasting legacy to be demolished and rebuilt

By Madeline Virginia On April 4, the City of Redmond invited the community to a final party at the Old Fire House Teen Center to say goodbye to the historic building.

The event featured performances from bands who played at the OFH across the decades and was attended by local teens, alumni and alumnae, city employees and community members.

The center leaves a profound legacy among teens and alums in the region. The OFH served as a home to grunge/punk youth, as a safe hangout space and as a distinct music performance space.

Redmond City Council voted to demolish and rebuild the center in the same location after a year-long analysis following an abrupt closure. The building had failed a safety inspection that determined it contained hazardous materials like lead paint and asbestos.

Among the crowd at the farewell party was a group not satisfied with the ending of the era.

The clear sentiment from these local teens is that current services don’t come close to replacing the OFH. The city nurtured something special in the Old Fire House, and it is apparent that the community longs for a continuation of the legacy, rather than the end.

Redmond is expanding fast, and part of the expansion includes the replacement of older buildings that serve a facet of the city’s cultural identity. A large part of Redmond has the same, modern “corporate” look: square, tall buildings with clean and symmetrical faces. Part of the fear of losing a building like the OFH with

so much character is the notion that the replacement will lose the flaws, the charm and the distinction of the old.

A standalone building with a dedicated performance space fostered creativity and confidence in art. Features like a working kitchen (left over from when firefighters lived in the building while on call) gave teenagers a sense of home. All this magic combined to allow those who may have felt different to instead feel at peace, feel belonging, feel friendship, feel a chance to pursue a life that is their own.

The first month of the Old Fire House demolition, now completed, involved careful removal of hazardous materials. Demolition of the building will continue through July, and the City has applied for an expedited construction process with the state of Washington to replace the center.

Local filmmaker Starlyn Stout is creating a documentary archiving the legacy and impact of the Old Firehouse Teen Center. Follow the project’s journey and support it here: OFHdoc.com Explore the Redmond Historical Society’s Digital Exhibit: old-fire-house.redmondhistoricalsociety.org Stay involved with development of the new teen center: www.redmond.gov/2494/Teen-Center-Project

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Redmond Moments - Summer 2026

Student contributor feature

Disconnected to Reconnect A month away from screens

By Neha Veerepalli, Lake Washington High School King University shows that people tap their phones thousands of times a day. The phone fills every empty space. Waiting in line, sitting in a car, eating lunch, even while doing other tasks. Social media is built so that it never ends; there is always one more post, one more video, one more scroll. Attention gets split until you can’t focus on just one thing.

Forbes reports that the average teenager spends seven hours a day on screens. That is an entire sleep cycle spent inside a box.

That statistic made me think about my own screen time. Seven hours is a lot of time. It is enough time to read a book, go somewhere with friends, learn a hobby, or simply sleep. Instead, many people spend it watching videos they forget about five minutes later.

That idea made me try a digital detox.

mediately. If a video buffers for five seconds, people complain.

If someone leaves a message unopened, we wonder what happened. Waiting used to be normal. Now it feels like a problem.

Technology has made life easier in many ways, but easier does not always mean better.

Living in the Moment

I talked to two history teachers from Rose Hill Middle School.

Mr. Hollister said, “We no longer see value in entertaining topics, or perspectives that might initially bore us or be different than our own.”

Mr. Wolski questioned, “With the advances in techDigital Detox nology, why do many of us feel as if we have less time if tech A digital detox is refraining is supposed to make our lives from technology to experience reeasier and save time?” al-life interactions. For one month, Their words made me I deleted every app on my phone think about how often we except for necessities. I made my avoid being bored. We tend to friends set up a password on my deskip songs after ten seconds, or vices that would limit screen time stop movies halfway through.

Taking a moment to relax in nature.

Image Credit: Neha Veerepalli to thirty minutes a day.

We scroll past things that do not At first, I reached for my interest us immediately. We try fewer new things and just stick to phone out of habit. I unlocked it without thinking. I checked for the “normal,” whatever that is. notifications even though I already knew there would not be any.

I learned that one object should not be able to define our Sometimes I would finish doing something and immediately think, lives.

Life feels different when it is not constantly interrupted.

What now? Usually, the answer would have been my electronics.

However, technology is not the enemy here. It’s just easy to forget After a while, I stopped checking my devices and started that it is a tool, not the experience. noticing what was happening near me. I spent time at libraries, Real life doesn’t need to be split into posts. Not every meal teen lounges, and nature. Redmond alone has 47 parks. I went needs a picture. Not every sunset needs a caption. Some memories outside more. I paid attention to conversations instead of half-lisare better when they stay memories. tening with an earbud in. I noticed little things, like how many The most important choice is not doing more, but staying dogs people walk in the afternoon or how many birds you can hear with one thing long enough to feel it. when you are not wearing headphones.

Boredom is not really empty, it’s just space we fill too quickly.

Without my phone, time felt slower. But slower was not always bad. I had more time to think. More time to wonder about Preschool – High School random things. More time to actually finish what I started instead Math and Reading Program of jumping between five different tabs. Being bored made me look for something interesting instead of immediately going on the internet.

Before Smartphones

To understand how different things were in the 1960s, I talked to Pam from the Redmond Historical Society who is an Operational Volunteer.

Pam explained that school was built around paper, books, and handwriting. If students wanted to see friends, they had to call a house phone or show up at someone’s home. Music came from record players, movies aired at specific times, and writing happened on paper. Today, one device does it all.

People could not instantly look up answers or send messages. If they wanted information, they asked someone, went to a library, or just accepted not knowing. If plans changed, there was no quick text. People were simply expected to wait.

That seems strange now because we expect everything im-

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Redmond Moments -Summer 2026

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Student contributor feature

Meet Redmond High School’s Green Team

By Jennifer Zhu, Redmond High School A group of Redmond High School students choose to put down their phones for about an hour each week to participate in an alternative activity: gardening.

Known as “The Green Team,” these students do many different projects in the school garden like native plant propagation, collecting seeds and growing crops such as tomatoes, strawberries, and squash.

According to Kenna, a 12th grade Green Team member, “In all the seasons there’s always something to do in the garden.”

This club gives students an opportunity to share their fascination with plants, and learn from each other.

“I joined Green Team because I’m really interested in the environment, and I love being outdoors. One of the benefits is teaching that same passion to the younger kids at the school,” explained Sophie, who is in 11th grade.

Members of the Green Team feel the joy of creating a positive impact on their community, as many of the crops grown in the school garden are donated to different organizations in Redmond.

“With the gardening that we’re doing, we’re hoping to give back to the community,” said Sophie.

Not only is spending time outdoors with others great for both mental and physical health, it helps build lasting connections and create bonds.

10th grade Green Team member Katie shared, “It’s really

Green Team members Katie and Anna prune rosemary bushes in the Redmond High School garden. Image Credit: Jennifer Zhu

fun to be in a club where people have the same interests as you.”

There are many benefits to joining a club, or even starting your own club by gathering some friends, planning activities, and spreading the word. By participating in in-person clubs, you may become really close with someone through shared interests who you might never have met. Doing an in-person activity will make you feel like you spent your time on something meaningful.

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Redmond Moments - Summer 2026

Community Resources Here is our list of some local organizations and information that may be helpful to you! Be sure to double check the “Learn More” resource to ensure you are getting the most up-to-date information about these programs.

Hopelink Free Market • Hopelink’s foodbank operates as a market where members of the community can shop for free.

• Location: 8990 154th Ave NE • Learn More: www.Hopelink.org

Together Center • Many non-profit organizations all in one place. Get assistance from over 25 human service agencies with resources related to housing, disability services, fostering community and more.

• Location: 16305 NE 87th St, Suite 110 • Learn More: www.TogetherCenter.org

The Hopelink building in Redmond, Washington. Image Credit: Jason Miller

Essentials First

Redmond Food Not Bombs

• Pick up a month’s supply of full-sized hygiene items, like soap, laundry detergent, deodorant and more.

• Location: At the Together Center: 16305 NE 87th St, Suite 121A • Learn more: www.EssentialsFirst.org

• Mutual aid group that meets in Redmond every Tuesday evening to share hot meals, supplies and community connection.

• Location: Redmond Transit Center • Learn More: www.eastsidefnb.org

Redmond Library:

Public Art Map Launched

• Our local library branch offers resources like Community Court, $5 free printing each week, small business classes and so much more.

• Location: 15990 NE 85th St • Learn More: • www.kcls.org/locations/redmond • Or stop by and ask a librarian!

The City of Redmond recently launched an interactive map of the city’s public art. The online catalog includes locations, artists, and information about each piece.

Learn More: www.redmond.gov/185/Arts-Culture

Check bacteria levels before swimming in Lake Sammamish!

When humans and animals gather at shores during summer, it’s a common occurrence for bacteria levels to get above a safe limit.

King County Parks tests water at beaches often, and will send out alerts when bacteria levels are too high to swim. (They’ll also typically include physical signs at beaches with a warning.)

Before you enjoy a beautiful day at Idyllwood Park, do a quick search to ensure you’re in the clear.

Learn More: www.kingcounty.gov → Natural Resources and Parks → King County Parks → Water Recreation

Sunrise on Lake Sammamish in Idyllwood Park in Redmond, Washington.

Image Credit: Madeline Virginia.

Public Transit Reduced Fares: Learn More: • www.kingcounty.gov • In person sign-up events: • Redmond Senior & Community Center, 8703 160th Ave NE • July 14 and 28, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• August 11 and 25, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• September 8 and 22, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• • • •

ORCA Lift - for income-qualified applicants Regional Reduced Fare Permit Subsidized Annual Pass Taxi Scrip Program

New City Alert System: The City of Redmond recently launched AlertRedmond, a system for emergency notifications.

AlertRedmond requires you to create an account with an app called Everbridge to register for notifications.

Sign up at: redmond.gov/AlertRedmondSignUp More information from the Redmond.Gov Emergency Alert page: “AlertRedmond is the City of Redmond’s official emergency notification system. It is designed to enhance emergency communications by alerting, warning, and notifying residents, visitors, and businesses of Redmond to emergency situations or critical events. The system is capable of sending electronic messages via text, the Everbridge application, email, and phone call. The information you enter is protected and will not be used for any purpose other than to notify you in an emergency.”

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Redmond Moments - Summer 2026

Crossword answers at www.RedmondMoments.com/Crossword-Answers

W

INE ALK

Purchase tickets at bit.ly/rww26-rm

Join in community and cultural celebration for the final game of the World Cup! Game on the Big Screen • Food • Soccer Live Entertainment • Beer Garden • Giveaways Kids Activities • Community Booths redmond.gov/MeetMeAtMarymoor

Celebrate community, culture, and soccer in Redmond, WA!

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Whether you’re buying your first home, planning for retirement, or looking for smarter ways to save, our team is ready to help. We offer real conversations, practical guidance, and solutions built around your unique financial goals.

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