Another Great Reason to Call Bellevue Home
The City of Bellevue was one of 10 cities nationwide honored with this year’s All-American City Award. This year’s theme focused on building equitable and resilient communities. The award celebration was held virtually in June.
“We are honored to receive this award on behalf of a city that addresses community needs together with resilience and equity, even in the midst of new and unprecedented challenges.”
Mayor Lynne Robinson
Joining Bellevue as a 2021 All-American City award recipient were Carlisle, PA, El Paso, TX, Evanston, IL, Fort Wayne, IN, Kansas City, MO, Livermore, CA, Miramar, FL, Morrisville, NC and Wheat Ridge, CO.
First presented in 1949, the award recognizes communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local issues and create stronger connections among residents, businesses, nonprofit and government leaders.
Read the full story here:
https://nwreporter.nwmls.com/Issues/July-2021/page/Bellevue-AllAmerica-City
LOCAL SUMMER DAY TRIPS
I haven’t been to Bainbridge Island in years. I recently spent the day in Winslow with a friend who is an artist to see her work on display in a local gallery. After coffee at the waterfront park overlooking Eagle Harbor we explored the Bainbridge Arts & Crafts gallery, viewing her work along with the work of other artists and learned about the history of BA&C and future exhibitions. After cruising the options downtown we settled on an outdoor table at a local winery for lunch.
There’s something about a ferry ride that is so relaxing, making you feel like you’ve really gotten away, even if just for the day. Traveling as a walk-on passenger is even more relaxing, eliminating the car line and worrying about whether you’ll make the next sailing. It’s a short but beautiful ferry ride from Seattle to Bainbridge Island and an easy walk from the ferry dock to downtown Winslow’s museum, shops, galleries, restaurants and parks.
Bainbridge is a great last minute “what should we do today” activity on a sunny day. There’s plenty to do for an afternoon or linger a bit longer and make it a dinner date.
Snowflake Lane 2020
The trees lining Bellevue Way have been decorated in sparkling holiday lights and the toy drums have arrived and line the sidewalks. Soon toy soldiers will take their places on top of the drums. The holidays are almost here.
The Bellevue Collection’s Snowflake Lane will have a different look this year. The holiday season kicks off November 27th with a nightly celebration of lights, music and the occasional “snow” shower along Bellevue Way between NE 8th and NE 4th Streets. Keeping everyone’s safety in mind, there will be no parade or performers this year, but every night between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM through December 24th you can still take a walk or drive down Bellevue Way and enjoy the sights, sounds and spirit of the season.
Changes Planned for the Marketplace at Factoria
Its been rumored for years that Factoria Mall would be redeveloped to make better use of the large parcel. The mall and several free standing buildings currently occupy the 43 acre site. An application for design review has been submitted to the City of Bellevue for redevelopment of the Marketplace at Factoria. Eight phases are planned which will include expanding current retail space, adding a multi-family residential building, 150 room hotel, office buildings and renovation of the existing mall to increase the size and create an open-air shopping mall. Current retail tenants may need to be relocated throughout the redevelopment process that will add 151,000 square feet of retail to the mall’s current 525,948 square feet. The project will be completed in 8 phases.
Improvements include pedestrian improvements to create a safer walking environment, enhanced landscaping, an extension of the bike/pedestrian path and a new crosswalk across SE 38th Street.
Later phases of the project will add a large gathering plaza to connect to two new office buildings to be constructed on the current Walmart site, which will be moved to a new location within the project.
Downtown Bellevue Fall Color
Every year I watch for this maple tree in McCormick Park to change color. Each year the color is a bit different but it never disappoints. The fall colors around downtown Bellevue this season have been exceptionally vibrant – maybe the hot weather the end of summer, the smoke in September or exceptionally cold temperatures earlier this month had something to do with the abundance of fall color this year. Downtown Bellevue has so many parks and tree lined streets offering an amazing variety of color. Take the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the fall colors before the rain and wind predicted for later this week end the beautiful fall display.
This Year’s Best Places to Live List
Every year Livability.com ranks the best 100 small to midsize cities to live in the country based on affordability, safety, economic stability, outdoor recreation, accessibility and community engagement. This year the survey added an “opportunity score” which reflects the city’s job offerings, economic resilience and growth.
Fort Collins, CO was ranked the best place to live in 2020 followed by:
- Fort Collins, CO
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Madison, WI
- Portland, ME
- Rochester, NY
- Asheville, NC
- Overland Park, KS
- Fargo, ND
- Durham, NC
- Sioux Falls, SD
The Pacific Northwest was well represented with nine cities making the list:
Corvalis, OR #19
Bellingham, WA #33
Bend, OR #45
Eugene, OR #46
Spokane, WA #49
Vancouver, WA #59
Olympia, WA #66
Beaverton, OR #67
Tacoma, WA #75
To view the entire list of this year’s best places to live visit Livability.com.
Halloween Family Fun
Social distancing restrictions are going to limit traditional Halloween activities this year. If you’re looking for a fun family event, check out Bellevue’s Vasa Park Resort Drive-In Theatre. Classic Halloween movies will be shown this weekend and again the weekend of October 23rd/24th.
Some dates are already sold out . . . visit Vasa Park’s website (https://www.vasaparkresorteventcenter.com) for the movie schedule, tickets and concessions menu.
Friday, October 9th Hocus Pocus sold out
Saturday, October 10th Coco: Day of the Dead sold out
Friday, October 23rd Addams Family
Fall Weather and Rain are the New Normal
It looks like fall weather and rain are the new normal. I can’t remember the last time our morning walk required rain gear for both me and the dog. Fall arrived this week leaving no doubt there has been a change in seasons. Fortunately Duffy loves wearing his rain and winter coats. He’s built pretty low to the ground, so the rain coat only keeps the upper half of his body dry. Love that wet dog fragrance.
Include Your Pet in Your Family’s Emergency Plan
Brush and forest fires aren’t often a concern in the city. This week suburban, farm and agricultural communities in Bonney Lake and Sumner were caught off guard by a fast spreading fire that has caused evacuations, property damage and danger to people, farm animals and wildlife. If you live in a suburban community or a high rise city condo, you need a pet emergency evacuation plan.
You may already have an earthquake kit or an emergency “go-bag” with flashlights, water, food, etc. Maybe you’ve practiced a family evacuation plan. Whether you live in a high rise condo, a suburban single family community or rural farm . . . have you included your pets in your family’s emergency plan?
Your pet needs it’s own emergency “go-bag” with supplies (and medications) for 3-5 days. It should include food, bowls, treats, extra harness, collar and leash, plenty of water, doggy poop bags or kitty litter, vet contact and Rx information, a towel or blanket to warm or comfort a pet or provide a resting spot. If you evacuate by car, a crate is great to have to keep your pet safe, calm and confined while traveling. If you have no choice but to leave a pet behind, put pet alert signage in a window with the number/type of pet and your contact information so emergency personnel know to search for your pet and how to contact you.
We always think the worst won’t happen, but so far 2020 has shown us that a lot can happen that we haven’t planned for. For more information, human and pet emergency safety tips visit www.redcross.org.