Monthly Archives: September 2011

Are You Aware of the WA State Foreclosure Fairness Act Mediation Program?

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Over at the Neighborly News Blog, there is a guest post written by Leanne Finlay regarding the new Washington State Foreclosure Fairness Act Mediation Program. This legislation went into effect July 22, 2011; it sets forth that lenders must come to the table with homeowners, face to face, to try to work out a mutually acceptable resolution before moving forward with foreclosure proceedings.

Finlay also shares several important links within the blog posts, ranging from information on foreclosure “rescue” scams to informational youtube videos to mortgage modification help resources. If you have any questions about this new Washington State legislation, or what help is potentially available to homeowners in financial distress, I encourage you to read her post in its entirety and check out all the links she includes. As it is noted at the top of her blog post, the information contained within the post pertains to Washington State residents: As a homeowner it is important to know your rights. This article is specific to Washington State; please be aware of the foreclosure laws in your area.

Update: I-405 Closure in Downtown Bellevue Cancelled

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Here is an article discussing the cancellation of scheduled construction on I-405 through down town Bellevue.

Stay tuned for more information from the WSDOT regarding the rescheduling of this closure.

I-405 Closure NE Eighth Street to SR 520: Friday, Sept. 23rd to Monday, Sept. 26th, 2011

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 The traffic jam depicted in the photos to the left is a familiar scenario to I-405 drivers who drive through Bellevue and get onto 520. According to the WSDOT Blog, 60,000 vehicles drive that stretch and vie for positioning to get onto 520. Relief is on the way, and 9 months early to boot. This weekend, I-405 will be closed from NE Eighth Street to SR 520 starting at 11pm Friday, Sept. 23rd, and is scheduled to reopen at 4am, Monday, Sept. 26th. During this scheduled closure, the DOT will be completing the connection of new ramps from downtown Bellevue to I-405 and SR 520, which is part of the Bellevue Braids Project.

“Bottom line: You’re going to have to pay attention! Don’t think about that sock drawer. We’ll have more than 200 signs in and around Bellevue showing the way to go, but it may take you a few days to adjust to the change. If you slip up and follow old habits, you may end up in Kirkland when you wanted to go to Redmond. Once you’re used to it, we hope you’ll appreciate the improvements.” ~WSDOT Blog

When I-405 reopens bright and early on the 26th, it will be imperative to pay attention to the new signage (200+ !) directing the changes to 520 and 405 access in Bellevue. Drivers wanting to access SR 520 from downtown Bellevue will need to go to the new ramp at NE 10th Street which will take them directly to 520. Drivers wanting to access I-405 from downtown Bellevue will use the new, longer ramp at NE Eighth Street. Are you a mainline driver who accesses 520 from 405? Be prepared to exit onto 520 about one half mile earlier than the previous exit.

What are your thoughts about these road updates to Bellevue area? Are you excited to see how the traffic improves Monday morning?

KaBoom! Celebrates Play on Mercer Island and Helps Develop a Playground in Seattle

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Yes, we really like to get out and play here on the island! For the 4th year in a row, the city of Mercer Island has been included in the “Playful City USA” list put out by KaBoom!. Playful City USA is a national recognition program which honors cities that make outdoor play for local children a priority. Only 151 cities, in 38 states and 1 territory, earned the designation of being Playful City in 2011.

What were some of the city attributes which helped Mercer Island be chosen as a Playful City 4 times? Besides being home to 475 acres of parks and open space, 50+ miles of marked hiking trails, 30 developed and semi-developed parks, and 11 playgrounds, Mercer Island’s unique play programs Adventure Park and the traveling Fun Mobile helped KaBoom! decide to include the island on the Playful City USA 2011 list. Having multiple spaces to play, along with planned recreation programs centered around play, encourages children on the island to get outside and have fun.

From the KaBoom! mission statement:

Our mission is to create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities. Ultimately, we envision a place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that play is vital a child’s healthy brain development. Play helps children develop cognitive areas like their imagination and emotions, along with physical attributes like dexterity and strength. Unfortunately, today’s children do not get enough to spend time playing, especially outside. This deficit of playtime is partially contributed to the lack of outdoor play spaces within walking distance. Besides recognizing cities which provide ample places and opportunities for children to get outside and play, KaBoom! helps community organizations design and build play structures for local children. This helps communities provide more outdoor play spaces within walking distance.

Windermere Foundation is proud to be working with KaBoom! to design a playground in Seattle’s Bataan Park. On Friday, September 23rd, volunteers from 40 Windermere offices, the High Point Neighborhood and Neighborhood House, will come together to install a beautiful new play structure, park benches and game tables. What an honor to be a part of helping bring play places within walking distance to children in the Puget Sound area, which gives real-time meaning to Windermere Foundation’s mission of Building Better Communities, One Home Sale at a Time.

Making a House a Home Doesn’t Need to Cost a Dime

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Take a moment to read 5 Completely Free Ways to Make Your House a Home. Go ahead, I’ll wait for you…

Taking the time to enjoy your home, and all of its uniqueness, brings it from the category of “storage space” to “living quarters.” That’s because the activities which make life rich begin to occur within your house, bringing its status up from hotel and storage facility to the warm moniker of Home.

I’m interested in your thoughts about what it takes to make a house a home. Please take a moment to share which of the five points outlined in the Apartment Therapy article you find most relevant to your lifestyle. You’ll earn extra gold stars for examples!