Seastside Newsletter #93

Wellness That Works for You

We’ve partnered with ReflexMD to bring you a science-backed weight loss program featuring GLP-1 medications, proven to help manage appetite and improve metabolic health.

ReflexMD combines effective treatment with personalized, remote healthcare, so you can get expert guidance and tailored support from the comfort of your home.

Their program is designed for busy people looking for sustainable results, without the guesswork.

Take a quick 2-minute quiz to see your personalized treatment options today. [click here]

Bellevue:

News:

• City of Bellevue adopts Newport and Crossroads neighborhood plans: Bellevue City Council approved updated neighborhood plans for Newport and Crossroads last week after 15 months of community input, part of the city's "Great Neighborhoods" program that refreshes two neighborhood plans annually to address local growth and priorities. The council also amended the downtown plan to help secure downtown Bellevue's redesignation as a Metropolitan Regional Center by the Puget Sound Regional Council, a status that strengthens the city's ability to compete for federal transportation funding. Next up for updates are the Eastgate and Factoria neighborhood plans in 2026, followed by Lake Hills and West Lake Sammamish in 2027. (info)

• Bellevue Parks & Community Services earns perfect reaccreditation score: Bellevue's Parks & Community Services Department scored a flawless 154 out of 154 points from the national Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies during its recent reaccreditation review, with evaluators praising the department's commitment to listening to residents and adapting services based on community feedback. The department, which has been accredited since 2005, is now the only parks agency in Washington state to be reaccredited four times and joins just 222 accredited agencies nationwide. Reviewers who visited last spring evaluated everything from equity and public engagement to the maintenance of Bellevue's 2,700 acres of parks, trails and natural areas, including popular spots like Downtown Park, the Botanical Garden and Mercer Slough. (info)

• Bellevue City Council gets updates on affordable housing strategy and tax exemption program: The City Council heard updates Tuesday on Bellevue's 2025 Affordable Housing Strategy, which aims to build or preserve 5,700 affordable units over the next decade through expanded acquisition and preservation efforts, with a draft strategy coming to council in January 2026 after a year of community engagement that reached over 450 people. Council also reviewed proposed changes to the Multifamily Tax Exemption program, which has created 472 affordable rental units across 11 projects since 2015 by offering property tax breaks to developers who set aside 20% of units for lower-income households—the updates would expand options to include 8-year and 20-year homeownership programs, particularly focused on the Wilburton transit area. Staff will return in December with further program updates based on council feedback. (info)

Events:

• Forum Social House: Angels and Demons on October 31. (info)

• BDA Urban Forum on November 5th. (info)

Bothell & Kenmore:

News:

• Kenmore City Council backs NPRSA senior center levy: Kenmore's City Council voted unanimously on October 20 to support Northshore Park and Recreation Service Area Proposition No. 1, a replacement levy on the November ballot that funds repairs, maintenance, and operations at the Northshore Senior Center and Health & Wellness facilities in Bothell serving seniors and adults with disabilities across the Northshore area. The council held a required public hearing before the vote to allow residents to voice support or opposition to the measure. The levy would continue funding facility improvements that benefit Kenmore residents along with others in the Northshore communities. (info)

Events:

• Trick-or-Treat on Main Street on October 31st. (info)

• Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Community Celebration on November 1st. (info)

• Artist Meet and Mingle on November 5th. (info)

Fall City & Snoqualmie:

News:

• Snoqualmie Valley Trail bridge near Duvall closes for repairs: A bridge along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail near Duvall Park closed after a routine inspection uncovered significant structural rot, with King County Parks beginning repairs on October 28 that are expected to take about three weeks. The affected section of trail will remain closed during the work with no detour available for users who normally pass through that area. Trail users can check King County's FunFinder website for updates or contact King County Parks at [email protected] or (206) 477-4527 with questions about the closure. (info)

Events:

• Halloween Wine Train on October 31st. (info)

• Happiest Halloween 2025 on October 31st. (info)

• Snoqualmie Valley Connect Business Networking on November 6th. (info)

Issaquah:

News:

• No new news this week!

Events:

• Halloween Party at Rollin’ Log on Oct. 31 from 9pm-11:30pm. (info)

• Blood Drive at Blakely Hall on October 31st. (info)

• Trick or Treat at Gilman Village on October 31st. (info)

• Farm Fresh Market and Food Drive on November 1st. (info)

• Lucky Home Holiday Open House on November 4th. (info)

Kirkland:

News:

• Kirkland company converts motels into affordable workforce housing: Sage Investment Group, based in Kirkland, is buying underutilized motels and hotels across the Seattle area and converting them into "missing middle" housing for workers who earn too much to qualify for low-income assistance but can't afford typical market-rate apartments. The company's latest project, Bellevue Ridge Studios (formerly a Quality Inn), opened its first phase this past weekend with units ranging from 160-200 square feet renting for $1,575-$1,675 per month—each includes a full bed, kitchenette, closet, and bathroom. In just 16 months, the group has created 1,400 housing units and has additional conversions underway at properties in Kirkland, Everett, and Mountlake Terrace to help address the estimated 11 million unit housing shortage nationwide. (info)

• Kirkland City Council races could shift city's direction on housing and growth: Four Kirkland City Council races have become a referendum on the city's housing policies, pitting pro-growth candidates who support maintaining Kirkland's trajectory of housing reforms against opponents backed by the group Cherish Kirkland who want to "protect" single-family neighborhoods from additional density. The election on November 4 could flip the council's majority, with stark implications for the city's approach to addressing the region's housing crisis—Kirkland was the first major Puget Sound city to legalize middle housing in 2020, but a backlash has been brewing over the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan that focuses growth in downtown, Totem Lake, and near the future RapidRide station. Key races include Shilpa Prem vs. Catie Malik to replace retiring Councilmember Penny Sweet, Neal Black vs. Ken MacKenzie, Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold vs. Ken Oberman, and Jon Pascal (the only incumbent who voted against the Comprehensive Plan) vs. urbanist Kurt Dresner. (info)

• Kirkland Police launch cold case webpage, seek tips on 2006 homicide: The Kirkland Police Department has created a new Cold Case webpage to spotlight unsolved investigations and gather community tips, starting with the 2006 homicide of 23-year-old John Austin Schuoler, who was found dead in his Kirkland apartment on September 15, 2006, from blunt force trauma. Despite an extensive investigation at the time, no suspect was charged and the case remains open nearly two decades later. Police Chief St. Jean is asking anyone with information to visit www.kirklandwa.gov/KPDColdCases or submit an online tip, and the department plans to add more unsolved cases to the page as they work to bring closure to families still waiting for answers. (info)

Events:

• Carillon Woods Park Forest Restoration Day on November 1st. (info)

• Live Cooking Demo and Tasting Event at Cogir of Kirkland on November 4th. (info)

• Comedy Night & Juanita Cantina on November 8th. (info)

• Winterfest Tree Lighting on Nov. 29. (info)

Mercer Island:

News:

• Reckless Driving Arrest on Mercer Island:An 18-year-old was arrested for reckless driving after crashing into a wall and sculptures at 77th Avenue Southeast and Sunset Way early Oct. 24. Washington State Patrol and Mercer Island Police responded to the scene around 12:15 a.m. after the driver exited I-90 at high speed; the driver was cleared by fire personnel and booked into King County Jail. (info)

• Five-Car Crash Blocked Eastbound I-90 on Mercer Island: A five-car collision blocked two lanes of eastbound Interstate 90 near the Island Crest Way offramp on the morning of Oct. 29. Seattle Fire reported the crash around 6:15 a.m.; one person was trapped but later extricated and taken to a hospital in stable condition. The HOV lane was opened to all drivers, and authorities advised motorists to expect delays. (info)

• Sexual Misconduct Allegations Emerge at Mercer Island High School: Two former Mercer Island High School teachers, Chris Twombley and Curtis Johnston, faced sexual misconduct allegations, while a current teacher was placed on paid leave for allegedly failing to report one case. Twombley’s 2015–2016 conduct with a student was described by Superintendent Fred Rundle as “appalling”; he was removed in 2023 and quietly separated in 2024. The district filed new police and child-protective reports regarding Johnston this week and launched its own investigation. (info)

Events:

• Town Center Trick-or-Treat on Oct. 31 from 3:30-5:30pm. (info)

Redmond:

News:

• Meta Layoffs Hit Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond: Facebook parent company Meta announced 101 layoffs across the Seattle area as part of a restructuring of its artificial intelligence divisions. According to a Washington state WARN notice, 23 employees were cut from Seattle’s Dexter Avenue office, 48 from Bellevue’s 121st Avenue location, four from Redmond, and 23 remote workers across Washington. The layoffs, effective by Dec. 22, 2025, coincide with Meta’s downsizing of AI groups—including Meta AI, AI Assistant, and AI Studio—and the same day Amazon announced 14,000 corporate job cuts. (info)

• Redmond to Buy Community Center Property for $18.5M: The City of Redmond approved a deal to purchase the Lake Washington Institute of Technology property at 6505 176th Avenue NE — a 3.25-acre site with the 20,491 sq. ft. Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village — for $18.5 million, with closing set on or before Oct. 31, 2025. The city said owning the site will keep programs running without interruption, save an estimated $2.9 million over the life of the building compared to leasing, and give more flexibility for future use, while LWTech plans to use proceeds to fund campus improvements in Kirkland and long-term capital needs. (info)

Events:

• Redmond Town Center Trick-or-Treat fun on Oct. 31st from 4-6pm. (info)

• The Redmond Orchestra Presents: Tchaik Night on Nov. 1st from 4-6pm. (info)

• Trivia at Postdoc Brewing on Nov. 5 from 8-9:45pm. (info)

Renton:

News:

• Renton Prepares for 2026 FIFA World Cup: Renton said it was upgrading emergency coordination across police, fire, parks, and city departments; building out Legacy Square downtown (including a new futsal court with the Sounders’ RAVE Foundation, utilities and hardscape work, lighting, benches, and a planned stage funded in part by a state grant); and positioning the space to host live World Cup match viewings and year-round events. The city said the World Cup Final Draw on Dec. 5 would determine whether a national team will base in Renton, and urged local businesses to use Visit Renton’s resources to capitalize on visitor traffic. (info)

• Renton Honors Filipino American History Month: Mayor Armondo Pavone proclaimed October as Filipino American History Month, recognizing the community’s resilience and contributions during a City Council meeting attended by Josephine Bayan of the Planning Commission and AFEW. The observance, first established in 1992 and nationally recognized in 2009, commemorates the arrival of the first Filipinos to California in 1587 and celebrates Filipino Americans’ lasting impact in the U.S. (info)

Events:

• Holiday Baazar on Nov. 21 from 11am-7pm. (info)

• K9 Candy Cane 5K Fun Run & Walk on Dec. 7th from 9:15-10:30am. (info)

Sammamish:

News:

• George Davis Creek Fish Passage Project Update: Sammamish resumed design work on the George Davis Creek Fish Passage Project, aiming for construction in summer 2026 to restore salmon habitat along the creek’s lower 1,000 feet. The project will replace old culverts and a high-flow bypass with a new 17-foot box culvert and short-span bridge under East Lake Sammamish Parkway, reducing flooding and sediment buildup while improving fish passage, with funding from state and county grants and collaboration with Tribal partners. (info)

• Sammamish Traffic Updates: The city announced several infrastructure projects impacting local traffic through late 2025. Beginning Oct. 30, the one-way detour on Louis Thompson Road was shortened to between 208th Ave NE and East Main St to allow safe construction of retaining Walls 7 and 8, with local access maintained through Nov. 21. A new water main installation near NE 36th and 37th off Sahalee Way will run from August to December 2025, causing minor traffic delays. PSE is also replacing gas mains across multiple corridors through Dec. 31, 2025, with lane closures and asphalt work expected on select weekends. (info)

Events:

• Trunk-R-Treat today at 4pm. (info)

Woodinville:

News:

• Woodinville Launches Business Dumpster Survey: The City of Woodinville invited local businesses to take part in its 2025 Dumpster Outreach Campaign, part of the Surface & Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program. The short survey targets employees who handle workplace trash, aiming to gather feedback on dumpster use, challenges, and improvements to reduce stormwater pollution. Participants can complete the survey in under five minutes and will be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card. The city’s Public Works Department is leading the initiative to enhance waste management practices across local businesses. (info)

Events:

• Sip & Stroll Art Event on October 31st. (info)

• Seattle Restaurant Week at Barking Frog on Nov. 5th. (info)

• Wine and Whimsy Series: Wine Barrel Wreaths at Patterson Cellars on Nov. 7th. (info)

What we are currently loving!

• Jiang Nan (Downtown Bellevue)

  Jiang Nan’s first West Coast location opened in March 2025 at The Shops at The Bravern, bringing the luxe Chinese-fusion experience (from the East Coast) to the Eastside. Expect lacquered Peking duck carved tableside, sizzling grilled fish drenched in chiles and aromatics, and a dining room where the service and ambiance feel as upscale as the menu. If you’re craving something bold, elegant, and just opened, this is your “new-night-out” move.

Weather this Week:

• This week in Bellevue is all about cozy transitions: we start off Thursday under mostly cloudy skies with a touch of sunshine peeking in later on. By Friday — and right through the weekend — showers make an appearance, so an umbrella could be your best costume accessory for Halloween. As we move into early next week, clouds linger and rain becomes a reliable companion, nudging us fully into the rhythm of fall.