- Seastside
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- Seastside Newsletter #84
August 27th, 2025
Hi Everyone! We hope you’re having a great week so far!
Today’s Seastside includes:
Upcoming Kirkland City Council Election
Kenmore Oktoberfest returns September 13-21
Mercer Island School District under fire for handling of teacher sexual misconduct case
Enjoy, and if you have any questions, please reply to this email!! - Mac and Preju
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Bellevue:
News:
Bellevue swim club may close by October without urgent financial help: The beloved Samena Swim and Recreation Club, serving the Bellevue community since 1958, faces closure by October 2025 due to a $1-2 million funding gap caused by rising maintenance, utilities, and wage costs that have jumped up to 30% since 2020. The historic facility, which serves over 23,000 members and teaches swimming to 150+ children annually, has launched the "Save Samena" campaign seeking community donations and support to prevent losing what King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci calls "one of Bellevue's last affordable, inclusive gathering spaces." While the board is considering raising membership prices, they say it likely won't be enough to secure the club's long-term survival. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Bellevue launches Safe Routes to School program as classes resume: The City of Bellevue has launched a new Safe Routes to School program to make walking, biking, and rolling to school safer and easier for students, with dedicated funding in the 2025-26 budget for street improvements near schools, expanded traffic safety education, and community events. The program launches just as area schools resume classes this week, with Bellevue and Lake Washington School Districts starting September 2, Renton starting August 27, and Issaquah beginning August 28. The initiative aims to improve daily school commutes for all students through better infrastructure, community collaboration, and promoting safe active transportation habits as part of the city's broader environmental sustainability goals. (City of Bellevue)
Bellevue tests LIDAR technology to make crosswalks safer for slow walkers: The City of Bellevue is piloting new "Safer Signals" technology that uses LIDAR (similar to video game motion tracking) at select intersections to automatically extend walk signal times in real-time when it detects someone walking slowly across the street. The pilot program, featured in this month's Lake to Lake news show alongside coverage of the second annual Bellevue International Festival at Crossroads Park, is part of Bellevue's broader Safe Speeds project that's exploring lowering speed limits on many city streets. The computer-powered system can track both cars and pedestrians or cyclists to make intersections more responsive to actual crossing needs rather than relying on fixed timing. (City of Bellevue)
Events:
Bothell & Kenmore:
News:
Pfizer cuts 100 jobs at former Seagen campus in Bothell citing efficiency efforts: Pfizer permanently laid off 100 employees at its Bothell facility (formerly the Seagen campus) on Monday as part of what the company calls productivity improvements through "digital enablement and automation" in research and development. The layoffs continue a pattern of cuts since Pfizer's $43 billion acquisition of the cancer treatment biotech company in December 2023, including shutting down Seagen's Everett manufacturing plant construction and laying off 119 workers there in 2024. Pfizer, which still employs around 1,500 people in the Seattle area, reported $63.6 billion in revenues for 2024 and expects its cost-cutting initiatives to save $4.5 billion by year's end. (Seattle Times)
Bothell unveils new community murals and announces upcoming art projects: Two new murals created through Bothell's Creative Arts Grant program are now on display, including Rohini Mathur's pollinator-themed "Blooms and Winged Wonders" at The Park at Bothell Landing and Rachael Kutz's orca conservation mural at the Former Wayne Golf Course. Coming up this fall, William Schlough will debut a life-sized interactive sculpture at Bothell Landing, and Deepti Argawal will host "The Art Courtyard: Traditional Visual Art Festival" on September 13 from 1-4 PM at the Bothell Library, featuring Indian folk art demonstrations and hands-on Madhubani painting activities. All projects are funded through the city's Creative Arts Grant Program using federal COVID-19 stimulus funds to bring community-created art to public spaces. (City of Bothell)
Kenmore Oktoberfest returns September 13-21 with expanded festivities and new ticketing: Kenmore's second annual Oktoberfest celebration runs for nine days this year, featuring the Bavarian Beer Garden Band, beer gardens with local and German brews, stein-holding competitions, hammerschlagen, and family-friendly events including a 5K/10K kickoff run, wiener dog races at The Lodge at St. Edward Park, and a vendor market at the Kenmore Community Club. The festival, organized by the Bothell Kenmore Chamber, local businesses, and the City of Kenmore, kicks off Saturday September 13 with ceremonial firkin tapping and includes new ticketing requirements for beer garden entry that can be purchased online or at the gate. Jason Parker from Copperworks Distilling, a founding steering committee member, emphasizes the festival as "a celebration of community and connection" designed to bring neighbors together across all ages and interests. (City of Kenmore)
Events:
Fall City & Snoqualmie:
News:
King County schedules bridge and trail closures in Snoqualmie Valley area: The Stossel Bridge on NE Carnation Farm Road will close temporarily on Thursday, August 28, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM for routine maintenance, with drivers needing to detour via NE 124th Street, West Snoqualmie Valley Road, and SR 203. A longer closure affects the popular Snoqualmie Valley Trail north of Mt. Si Golf Course near Three Forks Natural Area from September 2 through October 10, as King County Parks repairs two trestle bridges with no detour available for trail users during the six-week period. Both closures are part of essential infrastructure maintenance to extend the lifespan of these community transportation resources, with officials asking residents to plan for extra travel time and check MyCommute for updates. (Living Snoqualmie)
Events:
Issaquah:
News:
Issaquah reopens enhanced Pedestrian Park and Senior Center Plaza: The City of Issaquah has reopened its redesigned Pedestrian Park and Senior Center Plaza, creating new multigenerational gathering spaces that connect Veterans Memorial Field with the Senior Center in the heart of Olde Town's Depot area. The Senior Center plaza was designed as a hub where children, families, and seniors can play and connect together, while Pedestrian Park features a new water feature inspired by Issaquah Creek that serves as both a symbolic reflection of the city's natural environment and an interactive element for visitors. The project, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Department of Commerce, creates seamless and accessible connections that help knit downtown Issaquah together with enhanced flow between the two plaza spaces. (City of Issaquah)
Events:
Kirkland:
News:
Upcoming Kirkland City Council Election: This November, Kirkland voters will be choosing members for 4 of the 7 seats on the City Council. These elected officials play a key role in shaping city and neighborhoods, and here is your chance to hear directly from all eight candidates. The Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods (KAN) City Council Candidate Forum is happening on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7pm at Lake Washington United Methodist Church. Got a question for the candidates? Send it to [email protected] by Sep. 15. They will do their best to include the topics you care about the most. Planning to attend? Register here and learn more here.
Lifeguard pulls invasive alligator snapping turtle from Lake Washington dock: A lifeguard discovered an alligator snapping turtle under a dock at Juanita Beach Park in Kirkland last week, marking an unusual find of the aggressive, non-native species in Pacific Northwest waters. Kirkland Parks officials are warning residents to keep their distance from any snapping turtles due to their powerful jaws that can cause serious injury, though the species likely arrived as an abandoned pet since alligator snapping turtles are native to the southeastern U.S. and often released when they grow too large and aggressive for home care. Officials haven't yet announced what will happen to the captured turtle, which belongs to a species the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing as threatened in 2021 due to population concerns in its natural habitat. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Kirkland Fire Department welcomes new Deputy Chief with deep local ties: The Kirkland Fire Department has hired Pat LeDoux as its new Deputy Chief of Support Services, bringing over 30 years of fire service experience including 25 years with King County Fire District 27 in Fall City where he served as Deputy Chief of Operations. LeDoux has extensive leadership experience in regional emergency coordination, including managing more than 60 Washington fire engines during this year's Palisades wildfire deployment to California and serving as King County Zone 1 Coordinator for major Eastside emergencies. The new deputy chief has personal connections to Kirkland, having grown up spending summers at the waterfront, playing baseball at Peter Kirk Park, and even proposing to his wife at the Kirkland Marina. (Kirkland Fire Department)
Kirkland announces multiple road closures and construction updates as school starts: Several major Kirkland road projects are causing traffic impacts this week, including the closure of the NE 85th Street on-ramp to southbound I-405 through Monday morning, single-direction closures on Market Street at 9th Avenue for the Stores to Shores Greenway project, and continued work on NE 85th Street reducing it to one lane each direction from I-405 to 6th Street. Additional construction is underway on Central Way from Market to 6th Street, 100th Avenue NE south of Simonds Road (with a temporary signal outage expected Wednesday at NE 145th Street), and the Goat Hill area where paving begins September 2nd. The city reminds drivers to use extra caution around schools as Lake Washington School District classes resume Tuesday, September 2nd, and Northshore School District starts Wednesday, September 3rd. (City of Kirkland)
Events:
Kirkland Wednesday Market on August 27th. (info)
Blood Drive on August 27th and 28th. (info)
Evening Summer Concerts on August 28th. (info)
Juanita Friday Market on August 29th. (info)
Heritage Park Beautification on September 2nd. (info)
See Spot Splash on September 6th. (info)
Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods (KAN) City Council Candidate Forum on October 14th. (info)
Mercer Island:
News:
Mercer Island School District under fire for handling of teacher sexual misconduct case: Mercer Island School District leaders are reviewing their policies for reporting and investigating sexual misconduct allegations after facing harsh criticism from parents and students over their handling of longtime teacher Gary "Chris" Twombley, who was quietly placed on paid leave in 2023 and resigned in February 2025 following accusations of sexually abusing or inappropriately pursuing at least two teenage students dating back to 2016. The community only learned of the misconduct on August 8—a year and a half after Twombley was placed on leave—when the district disclosed it ahead of a planned news story, with King County prosecutors confirming sexual misconduct occurred "beyond a reasonable doubt" but declining to file charges due to statute of limitations. Parents and former board members are demanding transparency, with critics calling the district's silence a "cover-up" that prioritized protecting the accused over student safety, while Superintendent Fred Rundle defended the decision as necessary to protect the victim's identity and announced mandatory staff training on handling misconduct reports scheduled for August 26. (Mercer Island Reporter)
Events:
Redmond:
News:
Seven arrested after protesters occupy Microsoft executive building over Gaza ties: Seven protesters were arrested Tuesday after occupying Building 34 on Microsoft's Redmond campus, temporarily renaming it the "Mai Ubeid Building" after a Palestinian software engineer killed in Gaza and delivering a "crimes against humanity" summons to President Brad Smith's office. The demonstration by the "No Azure for Apartheid" group included deploying noisemakers in the building's atrium, unfurling banners with demands to cut ties with Israel, and staging an outdoor rally where organizers displayed an 18-foot scroll with signatures from over 2,000 Microsoft workers collected over 15 months. The protest stems from allegations that the Israeli Defense Forces have used Microsoft's Azure cloud platform for mass surveillance of Palestinians, part of ongoing demonstrations against what the group calls Microsoft's role in supporting Israeli military operations. (FOX 13 Seattle)
Events:
Connect Cafe on August 27th. (info)
Boots and Brews Line Dancing on August 28th. (info)
Summer Concerts at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery: The Beach Boys on August 28th. (info)
Music on the Court on August 29th. (info)
Redmond Saturday Market on August 30th. (info)
Redmond Harvest Half Marathon on September 1st. (info)
Renton:
News:
Pedestrian critically injured in Renton train crash, roads temporarily closed: A pedestrian was struck by a train near North 3rd Street and Houser Way in Renton on Tuesday evening around 5:40 PM and remains in critical condition after receiving emergency treatment at the scene. Multiple emergency units responded including Renton Regional Fire Authority crews and King County Medic One, with the victim classified as a "red patient" indicating severe injuries. Both directions of North 3rd Street were temporarily closed at Houser Way while Renton police assisted with traffic control and the investigation into the incident. (KOMO News)
Events:
Sammamish:
News:
Sammamish announces multiple construction projects and traffic impacts through December: The City of Sammamish has several ongoing construction projects causing traffic delays, including King County sewer line inspections on Issaquah Pine Lake Road and SE 42nd Street/SE 230th Way from August 24-28 (11 PM to 7 AM), and PSE asphalt patching work from August 25 through September 5 on multiple NE 14th Drive locations. A fiber optic construction project is underway at several intersections along 228th Ave NE through August 26 with temporary lane closures during daytime hours, while traffic signal and street light pole inspections will occur early morning August 26 near the South Sammamish Park & Ride. The longest project is a new water main installation on Sahalee Drive East by Northwest Sammamish Water & Sewer that will continue through December 2025 with ongoing traffic control and minor delays expected. (City of Sammamish)
Events:
Woodinville:
News:
Woodinville launches community survey to gauge resident satisfaction with city services: The City of Woodinville has launched its fourth biennial Community Survey using the National Community Survey framework to assess resident satisfaction with city services, programs, and quality of life, with results helping guide future priorities and strategic planning. Survey invitations will be mailed to 4,000 randomly selected households starting August 29, followed by an open online survey for all residents in late September that will be announced on the city's website and social media. The survey is conducted through contractor Polco and allows Woodinville to benchmark results against other cities nationwide, with final findings to be presented to City Council and the community at a public meeting later this year highlighting strengths, improvement opportunities, and community priorities. (City of Woodinville)
Events:
What we are currently loving!
Woodin Creek Kitchen & Tap (Woodinville)
A buzzy, all-purpose crowd-pleaser in Woodin Creek Village, this spot swings from seared-ahi salads to big-night burgers and runs an easygoing weekend brunch play. Thirty drafts, a full bar, and multiple TVs make it the move for mixed groups when you want decent eats, a game on, and zero planning stress.The Well & Table (Issaquah)
Issaquah’s cozy farmhouse restaurant leans hard into local—seasonal salads, risottos, chops, and seafood that change with the market. Gluten-free fish-and-chips and clearly marked dietary notes make it allergy-friendly, and happy hour in the bar keeps the vibe relaxed.
Vibes:
This week brings a dynamic mix of late-summer sunshine and comfortable transitions: expect a blazing start with bright skies making Tuesday feel like a mini heatwave, perfect for beach days or poolside lounging. As the week unfolds, the temps mellow into a more gentle, sunlit rhythm with occasional clouds flirting through midweek. By the weekend, a light sprinkle on Saturday adds a refreshing twist, followed by a pleasantly predictable stretch of sunshine to close out the week.