Seastside Newsletter #95

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Bellevue:

News:

• Ashwood Park redesign plan clears environmental review, heads to City Council: Bellevue's proposed redesign of Ashwood Park in downtown has cleared its environmental review with a determination of no significant impacts and now awaits final approval from the City Council. The master plan for the 3.82-acre park at 10875 NE 12th Street calls for adding a quarter- to half-acre off-leash dog area, a children's play area up to 8,000 square feet, two picnic shelters, 1.25 acres of open lawn and plaza space, expanded pathways, and improved landscaping. The park currently has a large field, paved plazas, and shares parking with the Bellevue Library and KidsQuest Children's Museum, and the updates are aimed at making it a more versatile gathering spot for families and downtown residents. (info)

Events:

• Hybrid Town Hall with the Code & Policy team on November 17th. (info)

• 2025 Bellevue Essentials Graduation on November 19th. (info)

• Holiday Market at Samena on November 22nd. (info)

• Annual Gingerbread Workshops KidsQuest Museum on November 28th-29th. (info)

• Snowflake Lane Returns on November 28th. (info)

Bothell & Kenmore:

News:

• Bothell voters approve Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy renewal: Bothell residents voted to renew the Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy in the 2025 general election, continuing funding for transportation maintenance, operations, and safety improvements for the next nine years. The renewed levy rate stays at $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value (about $499.50 annually for a median home valued at $999,000), the same as the original 2016 levy's first-year rate, with eligible low-income seniors, disabled veterans, and people with disabilities potentially qualifying for exemptions. Since 2016, the levy has funded repairs to over 130,000 square feet of roadway, filled more than 15,000 potholes, replaced 15,000 feet of sidewalks near schools, and installed crosswalk improvements like flashing lights and pedestrian flags, with future projects including multimodal connections along Bothell Way and various pedestrian and bike improvements citywide. (info)

• Kenmore begins issuing speeding tickets in Inglemoor High School zone: Kenmore's photo enforcement cameras in the Inglemoor High School zone started issuing tickets on November 8 after a 60-day warning period, enforcing a 20 mph limit when school flashers are on and 30 mph at other times. The expansion follows successful speed reductions at Arrowhead Elementary and Kenmore Elementary school zones through the city's KAPE (Kenmore photo enforcement) program. Speeding drivers caught by the cameras will now receive infraction notices in the mail, with more information available at kenmorewa.gov/kape. (info)

Events:

• Startup 425 - Startup & Small Business CoWorking on November 19th. (info)

• Furniture Repair Bank Collection Event on November 23rd. (info)

• Artist Reception on November 24th. (info)

• Argosy Christmas Ship Festival on November 30th. (info)

Fall City & Snoqualmie:

News:

• North Bend announces new closure dates for railway crossing upgrades: North Bend is closing two more roads around the clock for railway crossing improvements, with NW 8th Street near Alm Way shut down from 7 p.m. Sunday, November 9 through 5 a.m. Thursday, November 13, followed by North Bend Way near Tollgate Park closing from 7 p.m. Friday, November 14 through 5 a.m. Tuesday, November 18. The work is part of a $4.8 million federal grant project upgrading four railway crossings in partnership with the Northwest Railway Museum, with two crossings at SR 202/Bendigo Boulevard and Main Avenue S already completed in October and November. The upgrades will add new concrete panels, tracks, crossing gates, signals, and flashing lights at all four locations, while tracks between two crossings have been shifted 14 feet south to make room for future parking improvements. (info)

Events:

• Unleash Your Inner Beader on November 13th. (info)

• SnoValley Innovation Center Meet-up on November 14th. (info)

• Carnation Farms Barn Dance on November 15th. (info)

• Holiday Bazaar on November 22nd. (info)

• Snoqualmie Winter Lights - Tree Lighting on December 6th. (info)

Issaquah:

News:

• Issaquah police arrest two after stolen vehicle chase ends in crash: Issaquah police arrested two people on the evening of November 11 after a stolen Honda with a stolen license plate fled from officers at high speed through heavy traffic, weaving into oncoming lanes before losing control and crashing near the roundabout at East Lake Sammamish Parkway SE and SE 43rd Way. Officers had located the vehicle near SE Black Nugget Road using a private license plate reader and terminated their pursuit to protect public safety before the suspects crashed and fled on foot, with the driver booked on felony charges for possession of a stolen vehicle and attempting to elude police while the passenger was arrested on a $50,000 felony warrant. No serious injuries were reported in the incident, and the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Seattle. (info)

• Issaquah High School student wins ESPY for youth sports sustainability project: Issaquah High School junior Rishin Tandon received the 2025 Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award at the ESPY ceremony in Los Angeles this past July for creating the Youth Eco-Sport Scorecard (YESS), an online survey that helps youth sports teams assess and improve their environmental practices. Tandon developed the survey after noticing the environmental impact of youth sports—from air travel to tournaments to single-use plastics—through fellowships with Stanford's Deliberative Democracy Lab and the Aspen Institute, plus a King County Play Equity Coalition microgrant, with the tool tracking six categories including transportation, waste, energy, and climate readiness while offering specific improvement suggestions like carpooling and gear donation. The survey includes equity considerations for areas lacking shade or indoor facilities during climate extremes, and Tandon is now working to create a global dataset comparing sustainability practices across youth teams worldwide, recently presenting his work at the Play the Game Conference in Finland. (info)

Events:

• Art Gallery Reception at Blakely Hall on November 13th. (info)

• Fall Farm Fresh Market on November 15th. (info)

• Fall Restoration at Sammamish State Park on November 15th. (info)

• 9 to 5: The Musical Opens at Village Theatre on November 18th. (info)

• Thanksgiving Luncheon for Senior on November 20th. (info)

Kirkland:

News:

• Kirkland City Council to hold public hearing on Houghton Village development plan Nov. 18: The Kirkland City Council will hold a public hearing on November 18 about the draft Houghton Village Development Plan, with a final vote on adoption expected at the December 9 meeting. The plan, which doesn't authorize any specific development proposals yet but would guide future redevelopment of the site, would allow buildings up to five stories if certain public benefits are met—compared to the current three-story zoning limit—and comes as the City Council expressed interest at its November 5 meeting in possibly selling the property. Community members can provide feedback through multiple channels including emailing [email protected], submitting comments through the Our Kirkland portal, attending the public hearing or December 9 meeting in person or virtually, or contacting individual councilmembers directly, with the full ordinance and administrative sections to be published November 14 on the city's website. (info)

• Kirkland to celebrate opening of Fisk Family Park on Nov. 20: Kirkland is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration for its new Fisk Family Park on Thursday, November 20 at 11 a.m., inviting residents to join city leaders and community members at the 0.42-acre neighborhood park located at 212 6th Street South next to the Cross Kirkland Corridor. The city purchased the property in September 2023 with help from donations from the Kirkland Community Foundation, and the park—which features a stream and natural open space—is named to honor James G. Fisk and his family's contribution to the community. The celebration will include a brief ceremony and light refreshments, with city officials calling the park a reflection of community values around preserving natural spaces and Kirkland's history while creating connections between neighborhoods, trails, and parks. (info)

Events:

• Josten Park Forest Stewardship Event on November 15th. (info)

• Kirkland Turkey Trot on November 16th. (info)

• Fundraising Week at The Coffee Stand on November 17th. (info)

• Winterfest Tree Lighting on November 29. (info)

Mercer Island:

News:

• Mercer Island Receives $30K for Food Security: MIYFS Foundation donated $30,000 to help over 200 local households impacted by federal SNAP reductions, enabling the City to distribute bi-weekly grocery cards for up to four months. (info)

Events:

• Restoration Event | Native Plant Nursery today. (info)

• Stay Active & Independent for Life (SAIL) Fitness Class on Nov. 17th at 10:30am & 12pm. (info)

• Community Coffee on Nov. 21 at 9am. (info)

Redmond:

News:

• Redmond Avondale Way Sidewalk Repairs (As of Nov 10): Redmond is repairing ~1,600 feet of sidewalks along Avondale Way to improve ADA accessibility, replace damaged infrastructure, and enhance pedestrian safety, with construction running from Fall 2025 to Spring 2026.

• Redmond Turns Off Flock Cameras After ICE Arrests: Redmond disabled its automated license plate readers following seven ICE arrests near camera locations, citing fears over future data release obligations after a court ruled Flock images are public records; officials stressed no federal agency accessed Redmond’s data but suspended the system to protect residents’ privacy and safety. (info)

Events:

• Fork and Spoke Trivia on November 14th. (info)

• Family Day Out on November 22nd. (info)

• Redmond Eastside Chess Club at Black Raven Brewing from 6-9pm on Nov. 25. (info)

Renton:

News:

• No News This Week!

Events:

• Cops & Barbers Event on Nov. 20. (info)

• 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:

• Sammamish Traffic & Infrastructure Updates: The Nov. 12 City Council meeting was canceled and budget hearings moved to Nov. 18, with several project updates rescheduled for year-end. Catch basin replacement on 247th Ave SE continues through Nov. 24 with lane shifts and one tree removal for infrastructure protection. Louis Thompson Road construction is ongoing, with a shortened one-way detour between 208th Ave NE and East Main Street through Nov. 21 to build retaining walls. Watermain installation near Sahalee Way runs August–December 2025 with minor delays expected. PSE’s gas main replacement continues through Dec. 31, including weekday work and some Saturdays, with asphalt patching and utility adjustments causing intermittent traffic delays. (info)

Events:

• Kingdom Home For The Love of Freedom Fundraiser on Nov. 15 at 6:30pm. (info)

• Jim Lamb Holiday Painting Show & Sale on Nov. 19 from 2-9pm. (info)

Woodinville:

News:

• Woodinville Community Food Drive (Nov 12–19): Woodinville is hosting a citywide food drive to support residents facing food insecurity, with donations accepted at City Hall from Nov. 12–19 across extended daytime hours. The city highlighted a wide list of most-needed nonperishables and emphasized that even small contributions can make a meaningful impact. (info)

Events:

• Sushi Rolling & Wine Tasting at Barnard Griffin Winery on Nov. 15 from 6-8pm. (info)

• Yoga at the Carol Edwards Center on Nov. 17 from 7:15-8:30pm. (info)

• Bingo Night at Chelan Ridge Winery on Nov. 19 from 6-8pm. (info) 

What we are currently loving!

• Mendocino Farms (Redmond): This bright, fast-casual newcomer at the Eastline development in Downtown Redmond serves artisan sandwiches and salads that feel elevated without being pretentious, rotisserie-chicken club, Korean-steak rice bowls, and daily soups, all go down in a space with modern accents and a brisk lunch crowd. It’s the kind of reliable drop-in when you’re working nearby or want something lighter but not boring—grab a table by the window, order the seasonal root-veg panzanella, and watch the trains roll past.

Weather this Week:

• This week in Bellevue brings the fully cozy, late-fall vibe: expect cloudy skies with a passing shower or two Wednesday, followed by rain and breezy conditions across Thursday and Friday. The weekend continues misty and damp, then early next week dips into cooler, overcast territory. Perfect weather to layer up, grab a warm drink, and embrace slower strolls.