Seastside Newsletter #89

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Bellevue:

News:

• Bellevue launches therapeutic community court at public library to address root causes of crime: Bellevue is opening a new Community Court on October 7 at the Bellevue Library, offering an alternative path for people charged with non-violent misdemeanors by connecting them with mental health services, job assistance, and other resources instead of traditional prosecution. The court meets Tuesdays from 2-4 PM and includes a co-located resource center where participants can access multiple services in one place, aiming to reduce repeat offenses by addressing underlying issues like substance use and unemployment. Judge Lisa O'Toole will preside over the court, which follows similar models already operating in Auburn, Redmond, and Shoreline-Kenmore, and community members interested in volunteering can contact court coordinator Andrew Lorenzen. (info)

• Bellevue Council approves mandatory jail time for repeat shoplifters and theft offenders: Bellevue's City Council voted 6-1 on Tuesday to draft an ordinance requiring a minimum 30-day jail sentence for people convicted of third-degree theft (including shoplifting) who have two or more prior theft convictions in Washington within the past two years. The proposal includes exceptions for offenders who participate in diversion programs, community court, or mental health treatment, and the council plans to revisit the policy after a year to assess its impact. Councilmember Dave Hamilton was the sole vote against the measure, which still needs final approval at a future meeting. (info)

• Bellevue's Housing Accord Program resolves hundreds of landlord-tenant disputes to prevent evictions: The Conflict Resolution Center's Housing Accord Program has handled 454 landlord-tenant cases and supported over 100 property managers since launching in 2023, working to reduce evictions and homelessness in Bellevue through mediation and relationship-building. The program helps negotiate repayment plans and resolve disputes over maintenance and other issues between tenants and landlords before conflicts escalate to eviction. City Council received an update on the program's progress during their Tuesday meeting. (info)

• Bridle Trails resident seeks tax break for conserving property as open space: A Bridle Trails homeowner has applied to reclassify about 1.10 acres of their 1.33-acre property as open space through King County's Public Benefit Rating System, which offers property tax reductions in exchange for conserving natural resources and wildlife habitat. Both the city and county must approve the application independently, and Bellevue will hold a public hearing on October 14 to review the request and provide recommendations. The program allows private landowners to protect wetlands, forests, and other natural areas while receiving tax relief. (info)

Events:

• BDA Urban Forum on October 1st. (info)

• Bellevue Farmers Market on October 2nd. (info)

• Northwest Chocolate Festival October 4th - 5th. (info)

• Bellevue Fiesta Latina on October 4th. (info)

• Made in Bellevue on October 8th. (info)

Bothell & Kenmore:

News:

• Police investigate homicide after remains of missing Bothell woman found in Mason County woods: Authorities are seeking help solving the murder of 27-year-old Mallory Barbour, who disappeared from her Bothell home on June 24 and whose remains were discovered by a hunter on September 15 in wooded timber land near Shelton, about eight miles northeast of the town. Barbour was reported missing on July 1 when loved ones grew concerned after she hadn't contacted anyone for an unusually long time, and detectives say evidence indicates she was killed and her remains had been there for months. Friends remember Barbour as someone who could "light up a room," and investigators are urging anyone with information to contact Mason County Detective Ledford, though no suspects have been identified so far. (info)

Events:

• Green Jobs & Networking Fair on October 1st. (info)

• Kenmore Business Alliance on October 2nd. (info)

• Arbor Day Celebration on October 4th. (info)

• City Council Meeting on October 7th. (info)

Fall City & Snoqualmie:

News:

• SR 18 on-ramps to I-90 near Snoqualmie closing for construction this week: The SR 18/Snoqualmie Parkway on-ramp to eastbound I-90 will close nightly from 9 PM to 5 AM on Wednesday, October 1, and Thursday, October 2, with a detour looping drivers onto westbound I-90 at Preston/Fall City, while the westbound on-ramp will be shut down around the clock from Friday night, October 3, through Monday morning, October 6. WSDOT crews will use the closures to install guardrails, landscaping, permanent ramp metering, and complete other work as part of the larger I-90/SR 18 interchange improvement project, which includes building a new diverging diamond interchange and widening SR 18 to two lanes in each direction. Drivers should expect delays during both closures, and freight traffic is advised to avoid Issaquah-Hobart Road and city streets not designed for semi-trucks. (info)

Events:

• Green Snoqualmie Day on October 4th. (info)

• North Bend Blues Walk on October 4th. (info)

• Valley Memorial Park Clean-Up on October 4th. (info)

• Town Hall with 12th District Lawmakers on October 11th. (info)

Issaquah:

News:

• Issaquah's Salmon Days Festival celebrates strong return of chinook and coho to local creek: Issaquah's annual Salmon Days Festival kicks off this weekend as chinook and coho salmon make their way upstream into Issaquah Creek and the local hatchery, drawing crowds of visitors to watch the fall spawning runs. This year has seen particularly strong salmon returns across Puget Sound, including over 7 million pink salmon in rivers like the Green and Duwamish, and improving coho runs in waterways such as the Snohomish River thanks to favorable La Niña weather conditions and habitat restoration efforts. Coho salmon will continue returning to area streams through the new year, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to witness the migration beyond the festival weekend. (info)

Events:

• Salmon Days Festival on October 4th and 5th. (info)

• Pumpkin Patch at Fletcher Farm on October 5th. (info)

• Volunteer Opportunity: Miyawaki Forest on October 9th. (info)

Kirkland:

News:

• Kirkland launches Rep'd video platform to answer community questions faster: Kirkland is piloting Rep'd, a new video platform that lets residents submit questions and receive short, plain-language video answers from city staff all within the same interface, making it easier for the city to respond quickly to urgent or frequently asked topics. The platform is the latest addition to Kirkland's expanding communications toolkit, which recently added "The Kirklander" printed newsletter mailed citywide twice a year, an AI-powered "Ask Kirkland" website chatbot, dedicated social media accounts for Fire and Police departments, and the weekly "This Week in Kirkland" podcast. (info)

• Cross Kirkland Corridor closing for two weeks starting September 29 for emergency sewer repairs: The Cross Kirkland Corridor will be fully closed from NE 52nd Street to 108th Ave NE starting September 29 for about two weeks while King County's Wastewater Treatment Division makes emergency repairs to a leaking Eastside Interceptor sewer pipeline. The closure follows elevated bacteria levels detected in Houghton B1 Stream in 2024, which led King County engineers to discover both a leak and a dangerous sag in the pipe that could cause structural failure and release untreated wastewater into Lake Washington if not fixed. After the initial closure, the trail will reopen at a narrowed five-foot width with intermittent closures for another 6-8 weeks during construction, and detour maps are available for trail users. (info)

Events:

• Umbrella Fringe Festival through October 3rd to 5th. (info)

• Green Kirkland on October 4th. (info)

• Harvest Festival on October 4th. (info)

• City Council Meeting on October 7th. (info)

• Costume Swap on October 11th. (info)

• Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods (KAN) City Council Candidate Forum on October 14th. (info)

• Lake Washington Half Marathon on Oct. 18 from 8-11:30am. (info)

Mercer Island:

News:

• Bridge repairs cause major backups on eastbound I-90 between Seattle and Bellevue through early October: Eastbound I-90 traffic between Seattle and Bellevue has been reduced to three lanes with lower speed limits from September 18 through October 5 while crews repair bridge joints, creating massive backups that stretch from the Bellevue East Bridge halfway across the I-90 Floating Bridge. Two key Mercer Island on-ramps—the 80th Street HOV ramp and E Mercer Way ramp—are also closed, adding to the congestion and causing some commuters to report drives as long as two hours from West Seattle to Bellevue. The lane and speed reductions will stay in place until 7 AM on Sunday, October 5, though work on the Mercer Way on-ramp is expected to finish by Friday. (info)

Events:

• Community Coffee on October 1st. (info)

• Restoration Event at Pioneer Park on October 4th. (info)

• Mid-Autumn Festival on October 5th. (info)

Redmond:

News:

• Redmond unveils "Redmond is Ready for the World" campaign ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup:Redmond launched a comprehensive campaign on September 30 to prepare the city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to bring roughly 750,000 visitors to the Puget Sound region, with Redmond positioned as a key destination as the first stop on Sound Transit's new 2 Line light rail opening in spring 2026. The campaign includes a wide range of free community programs such as a "Soccer Stories" storytelling project, a speaker series kicking off October 27 with former Seattle Sounder James Riley, a World Cup draw watch party on December 5 at the Archer Hotel, and grants ranging from $500-$6,000 for community groups and businesses to host their own watch parties. The city will also install permanent oversized "REDMOND" letters in Downtown Park as a legacy project and host a free World Cup Final watch party at Marymoor Park on July 19, 2026, just before Derby Days on July 24-26. (info)

Events:

• Feed the Need Food Drive on October 4th. (info)

• Redmond Saturday Market on October 4th. (info)

• Oktoberfest at Big Block Brewery on October 4th. (info)

Renton:

News:

• Salmon SEEson in Renton: Celebrate the return of salmon with self-guided viewing spots, naturalist-led Cedar River Salmon Journey events at Renton parks throughout October, and family-friendly festivities like the Cedar River Salmon Festival (Oct. 11 at Liberty Park) and Fish or Treat (Oct. 25), offering fun and learning opportunities for all ages. (info)

• Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone proclaimed Sept. 15–Oct. 15, 2025 as Hispanic Heritage Month, with Councilmember Ruth Pérez reading the proclamation in Spanish and Consejo Counseling & Referral Service—serving the local Latinx community for 45+ years—accepting, honoring the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. (info)

Events:

• Scout Night on Oct. 7th from 6-8pm. (info)

• Cedar River Salmon Festival on Oct. 8 from 10am-12pm. (info)

• Truck or Treat: Sensory Friendly Stroll on Oct. 24 from 5-5:45pm. (info)

Sammamish:

News:

• Sammamish’s Own Joins NASA’s Astronaut Class: Dr. Lauren Edgar, a Skyline High School graduate and geologist with 17+ years on Mars missions, has been selected for NASA’s 2025 astronaut candidate class, bringing her Sammamish roots to the Johnson Space Center as she prepares for future Moon and Mars exploration. (info)

• Teens Launch Super Sammamish: Three Skyline High School students created Super Sammamish to share research and counter concerns about the planned Town Center, highlighting affordable housing requirements, environmental benefits of density, and parallels to Totem Lake’s successful development, while stressing their goal is education—not persuasion—for the community debate. (info)

• Sammamish Road & Utility Projects: This fall, crews will conduct stormwater pipe inspections (Oct. 6–10) with minimal lane closures, continue Louis Thompson Road improvements through Oct. 30 with one-way traffic and final paving, and install a new watermain on Sahalee Drive East through December, with traffic control and minor delays expected. (info)

Events:

• Karwachauth and Diwali Bazaar on Oct. 4. (info)

• Volunteer at Big Rock Park South on Oct. 4 (info)

Woodinville:

News:

• No news this week!

Events:

• Live Music with Local Musicians at Patterson Cellars on Oct. 3 (info)

• Ladies Night at Barnard Griffin on Oct. 3 (info)

• Harvest Immersion 2025 at Rocky Pond Estate Winery on Oct. 4 (info)

What we are currently loving!

• The Radiant Table (Bellevue)
  Bellevue’s splashiest pop-up turns dinner into a mini film festival: a four-course tasting from a rotating guest chef while 3D projections ripple across your table like waves, forests, and starfields. It’s a one-night-only production inside Bellevue Square—more culinary theater than casual meal—and tickets run in special-occasion territory.

Weather this Week:

• October brings a gentle shift into fall’s rhythm—expect crisp mornings, growing cloudiness, and a steady bump in rain chances as the days go by. It’s the kind of week where a warm sweater and an umbrella become loyal companions, and every brief burst of sun feels like a quiet gift.