The fog hung heavy over the water this week, a soft gray curtain that seemed to insulate Medina from the rest of the world, even as the temperatures flirted with a surprisingly mild fifty degrees. It was the kind of week where the rhythm of the city felt distinct—a quiet hum of administrative machinery turning at City Hall, the frantic energy of families preparing for mid-winter break, and the collective holding of breath as the region braces for a Super Bowl rematch that feels like it has been a decade in the making.
Walking down Evergreen Point Road or stopping by the post office these past seven days, the conversations shifted seamlessly from the macro to the micro. Residents discussed federal anxieties in one breath and tennis court fencing in the next. It's the peculiar privilege of living here: the ability to be deeply concerned with global citizenship while simultaneously obsessing over the preservation of our specific, manicured square mileage.
The Heartbeat of the Tiger: Inside Medina Elementary
If you want to understand the future of Medina, you don't look at the real estate listings; you look at the elementary school. This week, the school continued to be not just a place of learning, but the cultural anchor of the community. With the district preparing for upcoming levy renewals, the student body was on full display.
Medina Elementary is currently operating as a microcosm of the globe. Data released this week shows that over 27 home languages are spoken within those hallways. It's a statistic that school officials and parents alike wore as a badge of honor. The "Tiger Tales" newsletter and recent updates made clear that this diversity isn't incidental—it is the curriculum. The school's "Changemakers Committee," a student-driven club, has been active, pushing a narrative that these children are not merely residents of a zip code, but "creators of their future world."
The human element of this was palpable in the testimonials circulating through the community. Parents like Salim Hemdani and Stephanie Hsu spoke publicly about the school feeling less like an institution and more like a "beloved community." Hsu specifically noted the extraordinary level of parent volunteerism—a defining trait of the week as the PTSA coordinated in-class support and after-school activities. In a town often defined by its net worth, the most valuable currency remains the time parents are willing to invest in the classroom.
But the week wasn't all soft focus and sentiment. There is hard business at hand. The Bellevue School District has been pushing information about the two levy renewals appearing on the February 10 ballot. The district released overview videos and FAQs this week, attempting to explain the complex funding mechanisms to families. With mid-winter break looming on February 17, there was a palpable sense of urgency to make sure the community understands that the high-quality instruction—including the robust Advanced Learning services offered as early as second grade—relies on these votes.
Reported by Medina Elementary School
City Hall: Managing Anxiety and Infrastructure
Over at 501 Evergreen Point Road, the mood was one of responsive governance. In a week where national headlines have generated unease, the City of Medina took the step of addressing the community directly about federal law enforcement activities.
The City administration released a statement acknowledging the "growing anxieties nationally" about federal agencies. While Medina often feels removed from the fray of national politics, the statement was a reminder that no community is an island. The administration sought to provide a local perspective, attempting to lower the temperature and reassure residents that local policing remains focused on community safety and stability.
Speaking of the police department, the city is actively looking to bolster its ranks. An anticipated opening for a lateral police officer was posted, signaling a desire to bring in experienced law enforcement professionals who understand the nuances of policing a community like Medina. It's a subtle but significant move, prioritizing experience over raw recruitment.
On a more practical, municipal level, the machinery of city maintenance ground on. The city announced plans for several capital projects that will affect daily life in the coming months. The 2025 project list includes fencing for the Medina Tennis Court—a small detail, perhaps, but important in a town that takes its recreation seriously. There are also plans for interior painting at City Hall and exterior painting for both City Hall and the Post Office. The city is preparing to spruce itself up for spring, making sure that the civic buildings reflect the pristine nature of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Residents were also reminded to mark their calendars for April 25, when the Spring Shredder Day will return to Medina Park. It's these small, logistical services—secure document destruction, tennis court repairs—that often constitute the bulk of local governance, providing a quiet counterweight to the louder, more anxious news of the world.
Reported by Medina, Washington Home Page
The Market: A Study in Scarcity and Aspiration
To look at the real estate activity in Medina this week is to study the economics of scarcity. The market remains tight, aggressive, and exclusively high-end. As of this week, the median listing price for a home in Medina sat at a staggering $6.78 million.
The inventory is so low that individual listings become news events in themselves. A new construction opportunity appeared at 8024 NE 8th Street, listing for nearly $9.9 million. It's less a house and more a compound, with a guest house and a "pivot door" entrance—details that speak to the architectural ambitions of the current market. Meanwhile, for those looking to build their own legacy, a lot on Evergreen Point Road hit the market for $3.3 million, offering little more than dirt, plans, and a permit, yet likely to be snapped up by someone with a vision and the capital to execute it.
The rental market is equally eye-watering. Data released this week shows the average rent in Medina has climbed to $8,100 per month—a figure that is more than 300% higher than the national average. This creates a fascinating demographic dynamic, making sure that even temporary residents of the city are among the highest earners in the region.
For sellers, the news is excellent; homes are staying on the market for an average of 113 days, but the prices are holding firm. For buyers, the message from this week's data is clear: bring cash, move fast, and be prepared to pay a premium for the zip code.
Reported by Redfin, Zillow, Compass, Zillow, IDEAL Real Estate, Zillow
The Region: Blue Fridays and the 12th Man
While Medina tends to its own gardens, the roar from across the lake was impossible to ignore this week. The entire Puget Sound region has been swept up in the fervor of the Seattle Seahawks returning to the Super Bowl to face the New England Patriots—a rematch of Super Bowl 49 that has reopened old wounds and ignited new hopes.
The excitement was tempered slightly by news from the practice field, where rookie safety Nick Emmanwori injured an ankle mid-week, casting a shadow of doubt over the defensive lineup. But the mood remains electric. In neighboring communities, grocery store workers in SeaTac went viral for their celebratory dances, and "Blue Friday" energy has permeated offices and schools throughout the Eastside.
Law enforcement across the region, including the King County Sheriff's Office, announced the "Night of 1,000 Stars" campaign. This initiative will see increased patrols targeting driving under the influence throughout the Super Bowl weekend. For Medina residents hosting watch parties or traveling to gatherings in Seattle or Bellevue, the message was clear: celebrate the moment, but plan for a safe ride home.
The weather, for its part, seems poised to cooperate with the festivities. Forecasts for the end of the week predicted mild temperatures in the high 50s, with clouds giving way to moments of sun—a perfect backdrop for a weekend of football, community, and the quiet, steady life in Medina.
Reported by KOMO News, FOX 13 Seattle, Redmond Reporter