Seastside Newsletter #20

June 3rd, 2024

We’re right at the 5 month anniversary of Seastside! Thank you all for reading our newsletter. We hope you are enjoying the weekly updates. We have some new ideas and improvements we’re going to introduce in the summertime. Stay tuned!

Also, we wanted to add that our only goal is to improve the quality of the newsletter and we’re working on many ways to do so. If you want to support the newsletter beyond reading it, please consider donating at this link here. Each donation will be put right back into the newsletter to help grow it as well as provide you guys with more exclusive deals and discounts. We are not personally taking any money and will also be donating 10% to local charities!

Today’s Seastside includes:

• Street and traffic updates for Sammamish

• An award for Redmond

• New store in Renton

Enjoy and if you have any questions please reply to this email!! - Mac and Preju

Seastside Exclusive Deals:

• 10% off your first painting job from Liike Home Painting. Mention the newsletter!

• 20% off any gym membership at Hustle Fit in Redmond. Mention Seastside or use code HUSTLE when signing up!

• 10% off at Anchovies & Salt in Renton - mention code ‘Beehiiv’

• In need of a handyman, real estate repairs, damage restoration or home remodeling? We Honey Do has offered all you readers an exclusive 5% off their services. Mention the Seastside newsletter to Eric! (info)

Bellevue:

News:

• The King County Executive announced a $37 million public-private partnership to transform the 120-year-old Wilburton Trestle into a trail bridge that will be part of the 42-mile East Rail regional trail, with funding from the state's Climate Commitment Act, Amazon, the City of Bellevue, Kaiser Permanente, and the King County Parks Levy. The trestle will offer skyline views of Bellevue and connect to other regional trails and transit. (info)

• The Bellevue City Council approved two lot-line adjustments on Main Street, one to allow developer Jeff Swanson to potentially build an eight-unit development near Broadford Road, and another for Karl Malone Ford to create two parcels for its new auto complex and future development on the northern lot. (info)

• Lakemont Boulevard in South Bellevue is set to reopen the week of June 10 after the completion of a new bridge, with a Community Walk/Bike event planned for June 10 to celebrate the reopening and discuss future restoration plans. (info)

• Two juveniles were arrested in Bellevue after making credible and imminent threats to fatally shoot multiple girls at their high schools, with police recovering several guns and ammunition from their homes. (info)

Events:

• Bellevue Beats: Pearl Django. Enjoy a jazz performance from Pearl Django on June 4th from 12-1pm. (info)

• Bellevue Beats: Jaeden Luke. Watch Washington-based singer-songwriter Jaeden Luke perform. He was a contestant on season 22 of “The Voice”. June 7th from 12-1pm. (info)

• Love you to pieces event at Bellevue Collection. Celebrate Father’s Day with a one of a kind brick building event for kids and families. June 8th from 10am-5:30pm. (info)

Redmond:

News:

• Redmond High School counselor was arrested this past week for having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student. Derik Detweiler has been arrested in Wyoming following the incident. (info)

• Redmond Downtown Park received the Award of Excellence for Small-Scale Public Landscapes from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, recognizing its innovative design by PFS Studio. (info)

• Former King County jail guard Mosses Ramos pleaded guilty to bribery and drug distribution charges on May 30, 2024, admitting to accepting $5,000 in bribes to smuggle methamphetamine and fentanyl pills into the jail for inmates. Ramos, who was fired in September 2023, faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced in September. (info)

Events:

• Lunch & Learn: Effective Customer Segmentation event on June 6th at 12 pm. (info)

• Women’s Day of Wellness at Hilton Garden Inn on June 8th at 10 am. (info)

Issaquah:

News:

• A fatal three-car crash on state Route 18 near Issaquah on May 29 resulted in the death of Scott Eric Salmi, 42, after an eastbound driver crossed the center line and collided with two vehicles. (info)

• The Issaquah Sammamish Food Project (ISFP) will surpass $1 million in food and personal care donations to the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank this June, marking its five-year anniversary. The "green bag project" allows residents to donate from their front doors, significantly aiding local families, with each collection providing up to 100 meals per 10 donors. (info)

• The Issaquah Film Festival aims to become the Sundance of the Pacific Northwest by fostering a hub for independent filmmaking and promoting Issaquah's charm. Scheduled for August 3-4 at Regal Highlands, this year's expanded event will feature a minimum of 50 films, additional categories including one for local residents, and aims to inspire and support new filmmakers with a focus on original, heartfelt stories. (info)

Events:

• Art Walk and Music Strolls on June 8th from 5 pm to 8 pm. (info)

• Pride Celebration on June 15th from 1 pm to 6 pm. (info)

Kirkland:

News:

• The Kirkland City Council will discuss speed limit changes and homelessness action plans in a hybrid meeting on June 4, 2024, which includes a resolution to lower the speed limit to 20mph on segments of the Stores to Shores Greenway route and a resolution declaring the City’s commitment to addressing homelessness by authorizing the development of a continuum of care action plan. (info)

• The biennial Community Survey has been extended to June 3, inviting all Kirkland residents to provide feedback on the quality of life, satisfaction with City government services, and priorities for the future, ensuring the community's voice is heard in shaping the city's development. (info)

• Juanita High School celebrates the inauguration of the new Raven Way sign, a project coordinated by the school's Associated Student Body Vice President Lizzie Orswell, symbolizing the start of a new era for the school with participation from council members and the high school principal. (info)

• Kirkland Wednesday Market and Juanita Friday Market open next week, offering a variety of fresh local produce, flowers, baked goods, handcrafted confections, and beverages, providing an opportunity for the community to support local businesses and enjoy the vibrant market atmosphere from 3 to 7 p.m. rain or shine. (info)

• The city provides tips for mitigating urban wildfire risks due to expected dry conditions and low snowpack, advising residents to clear leaves and dead limbs, trim tree limbs away from structures, use non-flammable materials around homes, and regularly clean roofs and gutters to prevent potential fire hazards. (info)

Events:

• Kirkland Wednesday Market. Enjoy fresh produce and local goods on June 5th from 3-7pm. (info)

• Stop by the Kirkland Repair Event. At this free community event at the Kirkland Library, skilled volunteers will try to repair any item you bring in. June 8th from 1:30-4:30pm. (info)

• Summer evening concert on July 4th from 7-8:30pm. (info)

Sammamish:

News:

• A woman is recovering in the hospital after being hit by a bicyclist on the East Lake Sammamish Trail, highlighting concerns over cyclist speed and safety enforcement on the popular trail. (info)

• Local landscaping work: June 3-June 4, single-lane closure on southbound 228th Avenue Southeast for median pruning, moving from Southeast 8th Street to Issaquah Pine Lake Road, with traffic control present. (info)

• Local paving work: June 5-June 6, milling and asphalt paving by a Puget Sound Energy subcontractor on Northeast 4th Street and 219th Avenue Northeast (paving 219th only) and 217th Avenue Northeast, 218th Avenue Southeast, and Northeast 1st Street (paving Northeast 1st Street only), with traffic control and resident notifications. (info)

• PSE work on Louis Thompson Road: Starting June 14, Puget Sound Energy will replace and raise light poles, remove vegetation, and trim tree canopies to clear power lines, with work expected to complete by the end of July. (info)

• Women's PGA Championship: Sahalee Country Club will host the 2024 Women's PGA Championship from June 20-23, potentially causing heavier-than-normal traffic in the area. (info)

Events:

• City Council Meeting on June 4th at 6:30pm. (info)

• Celebrate Pride Month at the Farmers Market. June 5th from 4-5:30pm. (info)

Renton:

News:

• The Lind Avenue overpass over I-405 in Renton has reopened after being closed for two years due to damage from an accident involving a backhoe. The reconstruction, which began in October 2023, involved replacing the damaged girders and bridge deck, significantly improving local traffic flow and emergency response times. (info)

• Peter Pappas, a 52-year-old Seattle man with multiple warrants totaling over $150,000, was arrested in Renton after a foot chase with police. Pappas, deemed "armed and dangerous," was seen in a stolen car, fled on foot, and discarded a loaded gun before being captured and booked on multiple charges with a $320,000 bond. (info)

• The New Knittery, formerly known as "The Knittery," is a popular Renton shop offering yarn, knitting, and crocheting supplies, as well as workshops and weekly "Fiber Friends Meet Up" gatherings. Owned by Marcy New since 2019, the shop has become a community hub for crafters and is a runner-up for the Best of Renton 2024. (info)

Events:

• Renton Farmers Market Opening Day at Piazza Park on June 4th from 3 pm to 7 pm. (info)

• Renton Community Celebrations: Teen Takeover at Renton Community Center on June 8th from 11 am to 2 pm. (info)

Mercer Island:

News:

• Mercer Island City Council has approved a $40,000 hiring bonus for an experienced police officer to join the Mercer Island Police Department, which offers one of the highest lateral bonuses in the region to quickly attract experienced officers as two veteran officers retire. (info)

• King County will pave and restore the Mercer Island Boat Launch parking lot at 3600 East Mercer Way, fully reopening it in June, with ongoing construction near Frontage Road. Residents should follow signs, flaggers, and traffic signals. Boat-launch information and permits are available online. (info)

Events:

• Sip ‘n’ Socialize at the Mercer Island Community & Event Center. June 4th from 9:30-11:30am. 

• Celebrate Junteenth: June 19th at Mercerdale Park from 12-4pm. (info)

Fall City/Snoqualmie:

News:

• Construction has started on The Rails, a mixed-use development in Snoqualmie, featuring office and retail space on the first floor and 11 market-rate apartments on the upper floors. Despite facing multiple appeals and a lawsuit, the project was approved and is expected to diversify housing options in the city's historic district. (info)

• Fall City's Aroma Coffee Co. will launch a weekly farmers market starting June 21, running every Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., featuring 16 rotating vendors and food trucks. The market, supported by a beer and wine garden benefiting the Fall City Community Association, aims to bolster local farmers and businesses. (info)

• North Bend's Parks Commission is seeking a youth member aged 16-18 to join as a voting commissioner, with applications due by June 14. The one-year term, starting in September 2024, involves attending monthly meetings and contributing to discussions on park and trail projects, providing valuable insights from the youth perspective. (info)

• The Teamsters union has called for the resignation of Carnation City Manager Ana Cortez after an arbitrator ordered the city to reinstate and provide back pay to four wrongfully terminated employees, potentially costing the city $500,000. (info)

Events:

• Fall City Day Festival on June 8th at 9 am. (info)

• Art Off the Rails Festival on June 15th. (info)

Bothell/Kenmore:

News:

• The City of Bothell invites all community members to participate in a Human Services Community Survey by June 18 to help identify and address local human services needs and challenges. (info)

Events:

• Summer Wine, Beer & Spirits Walk is here! June 22nd from 5-8:30pm. (info)

Woodinville:

News:

• A woman in Woodinville is wanted for using a fake passport to withdraw $8,000 from another woman’s bank account, with suspicions of identity theft linked to a mailbox break-in. (info)

• The upcoming meeting will discuss installing speed-ticket cameras and review a list of 6-year+ transportation projects, which will define projects eligible for state funding without committing to them. The full agenda and staff reports are available online. (info)

Events:

• Watercolor Painting with Pam Carraway on June 3rd from 6:30-8:30pm. (info)

• Candlelight concert: A tribute to Dua Lipa. June 5th from 6-9pm. (info)

Volunteering Opportunities:

• Restoration event at Pioneer Park. June 6th from 4-6pm. (info)

• Restore Wetland Habitat at Lower Commons Park. June 8th from 11 am-2pm. (info)

• Restoration at Sammamish Landing on June 13th from 10am to 12pm. (info)

What we are currently loving!

• Barking Frog in Woodinville offers a luxurious dining experience with a focus on Pacific Northwest cuisine. Nestled in the heart of wine country, this restaurant is known for its creative dishes and exceptional service. The Grand Marnier Prawns, a house specialty, are a must-try, featuring perfectly cooked prawns in a tangy and sweet sauce. Ideal for a romantic evening or a special celebration, Barking Frog promises an unforgettable culinary journey.

• The Mediterranean Kitchen in Bellevue is a hidden gem offering an authentic taste of the Mediterranean right in the heart of the city. Known for its vibrant flavors and generous portions, this restaurant's standout dish is the Lamb Shawarma, featuring tender, marinated lamb served with fluffy rice, fresh vegetables, and creamy tahini sauce.

Vibes:

• We are looking to partner with local businesses to help grow our little community! If you run one or know of someone who runs please let us know and we would love to talk with them and learn more. 

• The start of the week is going to be rainy and then we will have some summer sunshine for the rest of the week!

  

  Bellevue via @Zac Gudakov

Final Thoughts!

Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter! Please let us know if you have any suggestions, feedback or comments.

Mac & Preju