Seastside Newsletter #101

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Bellevue:

News:

• E. coli outbreak tied to Bellevue teriyaki restaurant sickens at least five people: King County Public Health is investigating a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli outbreak linked to Tokyo Stop Teriyaki in Bellevue, with at least five confirmed cases among people who ate there in November and December. Health inspectors temporarily shut down the restaurant on December 12 after finding food safety violations like improperly placed sinks and unsanitized equipment used for raw meat, but allowed it to reopen three days later once the issues were corrected. A sixth person's illness matches the outbreak strain through DNA testing but they didn't report eating at the restaurant, suggesting the contamination may have come from a shared food supplier, and officials are asking anyone who ate there and got sick to fill out a survey. (info)

• 12-story office tower proposed for Bellevue's Washington Square superblock: A new office building called Bevel is moving through design review in downtown Bellevue, with plans for a 304,590-square-foot, 180-foot-tall tower at 870 106th Avenue NE that would include ground-floor retail and 246 parking stalls. The project would replace a surface parking lot and part of an existing two-story building on the Washington Square block, with construction slated to start in late 2026 and wrap up by the end of 2028. Once the office tower is complete, a second phase will kick off to build a residential tower on the remaining part of the site, with the Fana Group of Companies leading that development. (info)

• Bellevue Chamber reaffirms opposition to payroll tax that would exempt Seattle: The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce is pushing back against a proposed statewide payroll tax that would exempt employers already paying Seattle's JumpStart tax, arguing it would force Bellevue and other cities to subsidize Seattle's budget while Seattle keeps its local revenue. Chamber CEO Joe Fain said the exemption—intended to keep Seattle businesses competitive—actually acknowledges that Seattle's tax policies are driving jobs away, and the solution shouldn't be exporting that problem statewide. The proposal, introduced by Rep. Shaun Scott to raise over $2 billion annually for education and health care, comes as lawmakers grapple with a projected state budget shortfall and Washington ranks 45th nationally for tax competitiveness. (info)

• Federal prosecutors trace Washington investor money to Bellevue real estate scheme: U.S. attorneys say a former Eastside real estate "power couple," Paul Waln and Tamara King, defrauded 22 Washington investors out of millions by soliciting funds for a luxury condo project called "Halcyon," then secretly funneling the money into personal accounts to buy luxury items including a $120,000 custom Tesla, a $50,000 diamond ring, and a five-bedroom Bellevue home. When investors asked for their money back, prosecutors say Waln falsely claimed the project fell through after their contractor got cancer—a diagnosis that was fabricated. King was found guilty of wire fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud and could face decades in prison, though her defense argued she was also a victim of Waln's schemes and didn't know the full extent of his activities. (info)

Events:

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

• Holiday Hesit on December 26th to January 5th. (info)

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

• Overlake Medical Center Blood Drive on December 30th. (info)

• Family Friendly NYE Celebration on December 31st. (info)

Bothell & Kenmore:

News:

• Kenmore City Council election results certified; Marshall re-elected to Position No. 2: King County Elections has certified the November election results for Kenmore City Council, confirming that Joe Marshall won re-election to Position No. 2 after a close race that triggered a machine recount. Eric Adman will also join the council in Position No. 6 when both take office in 2026. The city thanked all candidates who participated in the election and contributed to Kenmore's civic process. (info)

Events:

• Live Music at the Cottage on December 26th. (info)

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

• Coffee with Council on January 12th. (info)

• City Council on January 12th. (info)

Fall City & Snoqualmie:

News:

• King County opens additional flood debris drop-off sites: King County has added two temporary drop-off locations in Ravensdale and Issaquah-Fall City where residents can dispose of storm-related garbage and yard waste this weekend only (December 20-21) from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., following recent atmospheric rivers that caused widespread flooding. The sites won't accept major appliances, electronics, hazardous materials, or construction debris due to limited capacity and regulations, and commercial businesses need city approval to use them. Three permanent transfer stations in Bow Lake, Shoreline, and Enumclaw will continue accepting flood debris through January 11, with extended weekend hours. (info)

• North Bend receives grant to reduce traffic-related deaths: The city of North Bend has been awarded a $200,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan aimed at improving safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The plan will use 28 proven safety measures defined by the Federal Highway Administration and will include a safety analysis, project list, and implementation timeline to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. North Bend had 60 crashes in 2025 with two serious injuries, and over the past five years recorded eight pedestrian-involved crashes including one fatality, part of a broader statewide trend of rising pedestrian deaths. (info)

• Snoqualmie Community Center expansion project update: The city's long-planned Community Center expansion has completed design and permitting and is ready for construction once full funding is secured, with the project currently needing an additional $6 million on top of the $24 million already available. The expansion would add recreation and lap pools capable of hosting local competitions, multipurpose programming space, locker rooms, and offices to the existing 13,000-square-foot facility, potentially enabling 9,600 annual swim lessons and supporting 460 additional daily visits to address the upper Snoqualmie Valley's shortage of aquatics space. City officials presented cost-reduction options at the December 8 council meeting that could allow the project to move forward sooner while still meeting community needs, and an economic impact analysis projects the expansion will create over 40 new jobs and generate more than $5 million in business revenue. (info)

• Passport services come to Carnation City Hall, offering a local option for valley residents: Carnation City Hall has opened a U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility where valley residents can apply for passports on a drop-in basis without appointments, filling a high-demand gap in King County and offering on-site photo services to save applicants an extra trip. The facility processes first-time adult applications, children's passports, and certain special renewals (DS-11 forms) during weekday hours, with revenue supporting city operations including the Carnation Cares Grant Program that funds meals for schoolchildren and seniors. Mayor Jim Ribail says the service also boosts economic development by bringing visitors to downtown Carnation businesses, with local coffee shops and restaurants already seeing increased patronage from passport customers during the pilot phase. (info)

Events:

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

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

• Winter Solstice Dance in Duvall on December 27th. (info)

• New Year’s Eve at Remlinger Farms on December 31st. (info)

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

Issaquah:

News:

• Floodwaters recede, but concerns grow for Washington salmon runs: Washington's recent flooding may have caused serious damage to salmon eggs and habitat, with sediment potentially burying eggs and rocks crushing them in riverbeds where fish spawned in the fall, according to state wildlife officials. Rivers like the Snohomish and Stillaguamish are raising particular concern for Chinook and pink salmon, echoing damage seen after 2021 floods on the Stillaguamish that significantly impacted those species. The full extent of the damage won't be known until spring surveys count how many salmon fry successfully hatched and migrated, but biologists warn the losses could affect salmon returns and fishing seasons starting in 2027 and continuing for years afterward. (info)

Events:

• Issaquah Reindeer Festival on December 26th. (info)

• Historic Shell Holiday Shop on December 28th. (info)

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

• Family Friendly New Years Eve on December 31st. (info)

• 2026 Polar Plunge at Lake Sammamish State Park on January 1st. (info)

Kirkland:

News:

• Kirkland traffic alerts for Northeast 85th Street construction: Westbound traffic on Northeast 85th Street east of I-405 will see a lane closure on the north side between 120th and 122nd Avenue Northeast during daytime hours, with eastbound traffic potentially reduced to one lane between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Meanwhile, Northeast 85th Street between I-405 and Sixth Street remains reduced to a single lane in each direction while a contractor builds a shared-use pathway alongside the road. Project updates for both construction zones are posted on Thursdays at the city's public works website. (info)

• Kirkland woman donates RV to family who lost home in Washington flooding: A Kirkland woman named Sarah donated her RV to volunteer firefighter Patrick Calpito and his family just minutes after seeing their story on FOX 13, providing them with a new home right before Christmas after they lost everything when the Cowlitz River swept away their RV. Sarah, who chose to stay off camera, also surprised Calpito's daughters with Christmas blankets and wrapped presents, telling the station she wasn't using the RV and wanted to give the family a foundation for a new beginning. The fully equipped RV comes with a fridge, microwave, and TVs, leaving Calpito emotional and calling Sarah an angel who shows what community and being a Washingtonian is all about. (info)

Events:

• Juanita Habitat Stewardship Day on January 2nd. (info)

• City Council Meeting on January 6th. (info)

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

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

Mercer Island:

News:

• No new news this week!

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 police seek tips in 2017 cold case murder on New Year's: Redmond police are asking for fresh tips in the unsolved murder of 20-year-old Adrian Anguiano, who was shot in the neck and robbed of his Louis Vuitton backpack at a New Year's Eve party in 2017 that grew to over 200 people after word spread on social media. Most partygoers had fled by the time police arrived, and detectives say many attendees either didn't know the victim or weren't present when the shooting happened, but they believe someone who was there can still identify the killer nearly nine years later. Lieutenant Jesse Bollerud says a decade is enough time for people to have a change of heart or remember details they didn't piece together at the time, and anyone with information can submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers. (info)

Events:

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

• Pagliacci Redmond Grand Opening Party on January 10th. (info)

Renton:

News:

• Cedar River flooding leaves massive debris field in south Lake Washington: Recent storms pushed thousands of feet of logs and silt into Lake Washington near Renton Airport, creating a major boating hazard as volunteers begin cleanup, while the Army Corps of Engineers warns full removal will take time and remains a lower priority until rivers recede. (info)

• Renton councilmember Ruth Pérez elected to RFFA Governance Board: Renton City Councilmember Ruth Pérez was elected to a new three-year term on the Renton Regional Fire Authority Governance Board starting January 2026, continuing her long-standing leadership role overseeing regional fire services and budget approval. (info)

• Renton police seek dashcam footage after apparent road rage crash: Renton Police Department is asking the public for video or information related to a Dec. 13 collision between a car and a motorcycle on Southeast Carr Road, where investigators believe a road rage confrontation occurred before the crash. (info)

Events:

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

• 2025 Clam Lights Final Night - Sponsored by Ivar’s on Jan. 3 from 5-9pm. (info)

• Branding Your Startup Workshop on Jan. 8 from 1-4pm. (info)

Sammamish:

News:

• Sammamish releases 2025 Year in Review highlighting community events and preparedness: The City of Sammamish published Part 1 of its 2025 Year in Review, spotlighting major moments including the Fourth on the Plateau celebration, the restart of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, and adoption of the city’s first Arts Strategic Plan. (info)

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:

• Woodinville pauses 133rd Avenue roundabout construction for winter: The City of Woodinville announced construction on the 133rd Avenue NE roundabout is paused through winter, with roads reopened and work set to resume in late February 2026 ahead of a planned Summer 2026 completion. (info)

• Woodinville launches monthly small business advising office hours: The City of Woodinville will begin hosting free monthly Small Business Advising Office Hours in January 2026, offering one-on-one support for local entrepreneurs through partnerships with OneEastside and the Woodinville Chamber of Commerce. (info)

Events:

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

• Live Music: Ian Skavdahl performing at chelan Ridge Winery on Dec. 27 from 5-8pm. (info)

• Yoga + Wine at Prohibition Cellers on Dec. 28 from 10:30am-12pm. (info)

What we are currently loving!

• La Mar Cocina Peruana (Bellevue): La Mar brings the vibrant flavors of Peruvian coastal cuisine to downtown Bellevue with a stunning cebiche bar, perfectly balanced tiraditos, and seafood that makes you rethink West Coast surf and turf. The space is polished and lively, ideal for sharing pisco cocktails and large plates with friends—each dish feels like a mini trip to Lima without the airfare.

Weather this Week:

• Bellevue closes out the year with moody winter skies, featuring plenty of clouds and occasional rain to keep things feeling calm and reflective. It’s the kind of in-between week made for slow mornings, cozy layers, and easing into the new year without rushing.