Last week at its fundraiser, “Run for the Roses”, Assistance League of the Eastside honored  one of its long-time local donors who has consistently supported the Operation School Bell program on the Eastside.

Operation School Bell Committee chairman Mavis Goetsch presented the National Operation School Bell Award to Eastside Community Aid Thrift Shop President, Jody Orbits. Since 1993, Eastside Community Aid Thrift Shop has donated over $83,000 to the chapter in 29 separate gifts.

The National Operation School Bell Award is given to honor those in the community, who through significant financial, in-kind or service support, have had a direct, powerful and positive effect on Operation School Bell, thus warranting recognition from National Assistance League.

Assistance League of the Eastside® is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that puts caring and commitment into action through community-based philanthropic programs to make a positive difference in the lives of children and adults touched by hardship or violence.

The special election for Jay Inslee's former seat in Congress finally has its first candidates.

Carin Chase announced on Tuesday that she will be running for the seat in the "old" 1st Congressional District that Inslee vacated to run for governor. The daughter of State Sen. Maralyn Chase, she is currently the chair of the 32nd District Democrats.

A Bainbridge Island man, J. Byron Holcomb, has also filed to run for the seat. He is a lawyer on the island, which will no longer be a part of the district after January. He will also run as a Democrat. Another Democrat, former Lynnwood City Council member Lisa Utter, is collecting signatures so she can be put on the ballot, as well.

She is running to finish Inslee's term in Congress. Whomever wins the special election for Inslee's seat will only serve for a month, as redistricting has created a new 1st Congressional District. Many of the cities that will vote in the special election for Inslee's seat, including Lynnwood, Edmonds, Shoreline, Poulsbo and Mukilteo, will be in new congressional districts for 2013.

In a statement, Chase said that the important thing was that Inslee's seat stay in his party.

Just a reminder - whether you ride, walk, skateboard or horrors, drive, don’t miss Redmond’s Bike to Work Day and 100th Birthday Bike Bash behind city hall on Friday from 4-6:30 p.m.

The city has quite a party planned with food and drink from Zeek’s Pizza, Whole Foods Market and the Root Beer Store. Look for live music, free chair massages and random prizes for 100 lucky people.