Seastside Newsletter #100

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Bellevue:

News:

• Bellevue Council considers emergency rules to limit development in Old Bellevue: Bellevue's City Council discussed a proposed emergency ordinance Tuesday that would temporarily freeze new redevelopment along a stretch of Main Street in Old Bellevue, between 100th Avenue NE and Bellevue Way. The move comes after a developer filed plans for an eight-story, 176-unit apartment building with ground-floor retail at Main Street and 103rd Avenue—a project that's already approved and wouldn't be affected by the freeze, but has raised concerns about the neighborhood's future character. Council members didn't vote on the interim control, instead asking city staff to prepare more analysis before making a decision at a future meeting. (info)

• Bellevue police officer and suspect injured in shooting at transit center: A Bellevue police officer and a suspect were both injured in a shooting Friday afternoon at the Bellevue Transit Center on NE 6th Street, with both transported to the hospital following the incident around 12:24 p.m. The shooting happened while the officer was responding to a call for service at the transit center, though specific details about what led to the shooting haven't been released. Under state law, the King County Independent Force Investigation Team has taken over the case and will handle the investigation and any future updates. (info)

Events:

• Solarium Kitchen presents Christmas Brunch on December 25th. (info)

• Curated Wine Tasting: French, Spanish, and Italian Wines on December 26th. (info)

• QFC Bellevue Village Blood Drive on December 29th. (info)

Bothell & Kenmore:

News:

• No new news this week!

Events:

• Kenmore Food Pantry: Holiday Hours on December 21st at 1pm. (info)

• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Dec. 24 from 3-5pm. (info)

• Wine Wednesday at The Cottage on December 24th at 5pm. (info)

• Kenmore Food Pantry: Holiday Hours on December 24th at 12:30pm. (info)

• Blood Drive at Bothell Police on December 31st at 9am. (info)

Fall City & Snoqualmie:

News:

• Snoqualmie Valley Scouts hold annual Christmas tree pickup on January 3: Local Scout troops are holding their one-day-only Christmas tree pickup on Saturday, January 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving specific neighborhoods in Fall City, North Bend, and Snoqualmie. Residents in the pickup zone should leave their tree—completely stripped of ornaments, lights, and tinsel—at the end of their driveway by 8 a.m., while those outside the zone can drop trees at North Bend City Hall or Gateway Park in Snoqualmie. The service is a fundraiser for valley scouting programs with a suggested $20 donation via PayPal, Venmo, or check, and residents can also sign up to receive free wood chip deliveries from the recycled trees. (info)

• Fire blotter: Tree collision, brush fire, and major flooding rescue in Snoqualmie Valley: Eastside Fire & Rescue responded to multiple incidents across the Snoqualmie Valley in early December, including a vehicle-versus-tree crash on North Bend Way that sent one person to the hospital with facial injuries, a roadside brush fire on Mount Si Road sparked by a downed power line, and a structure fire in Fall City's Lake Alice area caused by a generator. The most dramatic calls came during the December 10 flooding, when crews evacuated people from a downtown Snoqualmie daycare and apartment complex using kayaks, then spent nearly three hours rescuing two people whose vehicles were swept away in Fall City—one person was found on top of their car, the other in a tree 100 feet away. (info)

• Snoqualmie mobilizes over 80 volunteers for flood recovery cleanup: More than 80 volunteers coordinated by Love Snoqualmie Valley worked alongside city parks and public works staff over the weekend to help residents clear flood-damaged materials following the December 10 flooding that activated the city's Emergency Operations Center. Snoqualmie residents in the 98065 zip code with flood debris can call the EOC at 425-888-5911 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to schedule pickup—drop-offs are not permitted. The city reports that businesses in Historic Downtown Snoqualmie didn't sustain flood damage and are open, with officials encouraging residents to shop local this holiday season to support small businesses in both downtown and on Snoqualmie Ridge. (info)

Events:

• Sunday Group Trail Run on December 21st. (info)

• Ornament Treasure Hunt through December 26th. (info)

• SnoValley Innovation Center Meet-up on December 26th. (info)

• Christmas Tree Pickup on January 3rd. (info)

Issaquah:

News:

• Issaquah offers scholarship nomination for civically-engaged high school seniors: The City of Issaquah is seeking applications from high school seniors to nominate one student for a $3,000 scholarship through the Association of Washington Cities' Center for Quality Communities, which will award four scholarships statewide to students active in local government, community leadership, or school service. Applicants must be Washington residents (Issaquah residency preferred), be in good academic standing, and be eligible to graduate in spring or summer 2025, with applications and a letter of recommendation due by January 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Issaquah's nominee will be contacted by February 1, and scholarship winners will be announced in spring 2026. (info)

• Recology adjusts collection schedule for holidays and offers flood debris pickup in Issaquah: Recology is running modified garbage collection during the holidays, with pickups delayed one day for any service that falls on or after Christmas or New Year's Day, while continuing to provide service during the flood event with accommodations for inaccessible areas. Residents affected by flooding can use curbside collection for certain types of debris, and all single-family customers are entitled to one free cubic yard of garbage annually plus two bulky items like furniture through their standard service. The Recology Store has moved to a new location at 355 NW Gilman Blvd in Issaquah and will accept holiday items including up to 32 gallons of clean Styrofoam and 3 gallons of used cooking oil for free, with holiday light strands accepted for $1.50 each (info)

• Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery donates over 200 pounds of salmon to food banks: Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) donated an estimated 276 pounds of coho salmon fillets to local food banks this fall, including the Issaquah Food Bank and Renewal Food Bank in Bellevue, after harvesting 60 healthy early-returning coho from the creek. The program, launched in 2024 by volunteer Daniel Yang, targets about 1.5 percent of the 5,000 returning coho salmon—selecting fish that completed their 42-mile journey from the Pacific Ocean in good condition rather than the immune-compromised salmon that typically arrive later. FISH volunteers processed the fish at the Issaquah Eagles kitchen using most parts including heads for soup, and the organization plans to continue the program next year with a possible increase to 100 fish. (info)

• KB Home buys former Costco office building in Issaquah for $26 million townhome project: KB Home purchased the former Costco office building at 22011 Southeast 51st Street in Issaquah for $25.6 million and plans to demolish it early next year to build Park Place Townhomes, a 74-unit residential community with townhouses ranging from 1,100 to 1,900 square feet. The Los Angeles-based developer filed a permit application in August and expects to complete construction by spring 2027 on the 4.7-acre site, which Costco leased as "Building 7" from 2014 until the lease expired in July. The sale reflects a growing post-Covid trend of converting suburban office buildings with high vacancy rates into housing that offers first-time buyers new construction at competitive prices. (info)

Events:

• Issaquah Reindeer Festival on December 20th. (info)

• Yuletide on Front on December 21st. (info)

• Holiday Shop at Historic Shell Station on December 21st. (info)

• Quick Handle Basketball – Winter Break Clinic on December 23rd. (info)

• Christmas Eve Services in Issaquah on December 24th. (info)

• Winter Ice Cream Social for Seniors on December 31st. (info)

Kirkland:

News:

• No new news this week!

Events:

• Family Fun: Holiday Cookie Decorating on December 21st. (info)

• Community Bonfires at the Park on December 22nd. (info)

• Google Lights now till Jan 9 from 4-9pm. (info)

• Kirkland Ice Rink form now till Jan 11th. (info)

Mercer Island:

News:

• Hazardous debris removal underway on Lake Washington Mercer Island Marine Patrol has begun removing hundreds of large logs and trees flushed into Lake Washington by recent flooding, prioritizing free floating debris that poses navigation hazards. The cleanup is expected to take weeks to months, with boaters urged to use caution and report dangerous debris to the non emergency line. (info)

• MIHS marching band headed to New Year’s Day London Parade Mercer Island High School’s marching band will perform in the Jan. 1 London Parade alongside U.S. and international groups, marching past major landmarks and performing for a global audience. The trip follows the band’s appearance in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and includes concerts around London, with students traveling Dec. 27–Jan. 3. (info)

Events:

• Restoration Event at Gallagher Hill Open Space on Dec. 27 at 10am. (info)

• YFS Food Card Distribution on Dec. 29 at 1pm. (info)

• Stay Active & Independent for Life (SAIL) Fitness Class on Jan. 5 at 12pm. (info)

Redmond:

News:

• Redmond Senior & Community Center earns LEED Platinum: Redmond says its Senior & Community Center, opened May 2024, received LEED Platinum after scoring 83 points, making it the city’s first Platinum building and, per the city, the first LEED Platinum senior and community center under LEED v4. The facility includes rooftop solar designed to supply up to 50% of its electricity, plus energy and water efficiency features, and serves as a major community hub with senior spaces, a fitness zone, indoor track, courts, Kids Zone, and flexible event rooms. (info)

Events:

• Redmond Lights on Dec. 21 from 5-11pm. (info)

• Happy Hour at Brown’s Stockyard Exchange on Dec. 22 from 4-6pm. (info)

• Redmond Eastside Chess Club at Black Raven Brewing on Dec. 30 6-9pm. (info)

Renton:

News:

• Green River levee breach prompts flood warning affecting Renton: A small failure in the Desimone levee along the Green River led King County to issue evacuation orders covering parts of Renton, though city officials said flooding was limited to small industrial areas and no residents were ultimately evacuated. Crews stabilized the breach with sandbags, but officials warned conditions could change with continued rain. (info)

Events:

• Sewing Clinic on Dec. 21 at 11am. (info)

• Charity Workout at Vigor Ground Fitness on Dec. 24 from 9-10am. (info)

• Free Christmas Dinner on Dec. 28 at Luther’s Table from 4-7pm. (info)

Sammamish:

News:

• No News this Week!

Events:

• Arbor Montessori Preview Event - Open House on Jan. 17 at 10am. (info)

• Lunar New Year Celebration 2026 on Jan. 31 at 1pm. (info)

Woodinville:

News:

• No News this Week!

Events:

• Yoga at the Carol Edwards Center on Dec. 22 from 7:15-8:30pm. (info)

• Live Entertainment at Fireside Lounge on Dec. 23 from 6-8:30pm. (info)

• Paired Dinner Experience on Dec. 26 from 6-8pm. (info)

What we are currently loving!

• Noii Sushi (Kirkland, WA): Noii Sushi just landed downtown on Lake Street and is already turning heads with contemporary Japanese flavors and artfully composed rolls that feel a little elevated, a little playful, and a lot delicious. The vibe marries minimalist sushi-bar cool with a welcoming lounge, perfect for sashimi, nigiri, and inventive small plates that make you want to linger over a second sake flight. (Opening announced as coming soon in mid-2025; menu promises fresh, quality ingredients and creative takes on sushi classics)

Weather this Week:

• Bellevue heads into the week of December 19 wrapped in classic winter calm, with mostly cloudy skies and periods of light rain drifting through. Temperatures stay cool and steady, making it perfect weather for cozy nights in, holiday prep, and quiet walks between showers.