Redmond mayor, John Marchione, announced the formation of the Centennial Blue Ribbon Committee, whose task is to help identify key areas of interest for the city’s Centennial celebrations.

Redmond incorporated as a city on December 31, 1912 when the birth of Ernest Alexander Adams brought the city’s population to 300, the number required by State law. The driving force behind incorporation was the ability to tax liquor sales – the funds of which were needed to finance a waterworks system.

“Redmond was founded by true pioneers, men and women who came up the Sammamish River to a beautiful, yet untamed wilderness,” commented Mayor Marchione. “We have been pioneering ever since – first logging and farming, now microchips and bio-engineering, while in the future we look towards a diverse economy with businesses thriving in both the downtown and Overlake.”

The Blue Ribbon Committee is made up of community leaders from business, community organizations and government. The committee includes Jason Van Nort, Government & Community Relations Manager for Puget Sound Energy and Chair of Governance for Realize Redmond; Dan Angellar, General Manager for the Marriott Redmond Town Center and Chair of Realize Redmond; Kamal Siegel, owner of Digital Double and former Art Commissioner; Chris Himes, President of Redmond Historical Society; Miguel Llanos, Sr. Vice President of Redmond Historical Society; Carla Johnson, Director of Communications, Media & Events for the Redmond Chamber of Commerce; Sue Jarvis, co-owner of Redmond Cable; Pat Pattabhiraman, Redmond Arts Commissioner; Richard Cole, President of Redmond City Council; and Hank Margeson, Redmond City Councilmember.

Redmond’s Centennial will kick off at Redmond Lights 2011 and culminate in a special celebration at the end of 2012. Throughout the year, special new events will augment Centennial celebrations incorporated into existing community events – the manner of which to be determined by the committee.

Meetings of the Blue Ribbon Committee begin in mid-April. For additional information on the Centennial Celebration or the committee, contact Lisa Rhodes, Event Marketing Administrator at 425-556-2360 or larhodes@redmond.gov.