december 12_ip

Page 1

Issaquah man, 82, gets a chance to relive his passion for Clydesdales

Issaquah girls bolt out of the starting gate with 5-0 record 4Sports,

4Community,

Page B4

Page B1

www.issaquahpress.com

THE ISSAQUAHPRESS

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Locally owned since 1900 • 75 Cents

Plan proposes shift from suburban to urban in business district By Warren Kagarise wkagarise@isspress.com

SANTA LISTENS TO ALL REQUESTS

GET INVOLVED

The central business district is on the cusp of change, as city leaders plan for redevelopment on about 1,000 acres stretched along Interstate 90. Nowadays, suburban sprawl dominates the landscape — traffic-clogged streets unfurl next to strip malls. Residents live elsewhere and climb into cars to reach the area’s amenities. Underfoot, 75 percent of land in the area is encased under parking lots. Imagine, instead, buildings up to 125 feet tall, storefronts and residences arranged along treelined sidewalks, and perhaps decades in the future, a station on the regional rail network. The roadmap to the more urban future is the Central Issaquah Plan, a far-reaching

City Council regular meeting 4Agenda: Central Issaquah Plan 47:30 p.m. Dec. 17 4Council Chambers, City Hall South 4135 E. Sunset Way guide to development for the area stretched along the interstate from the Bellevue city line to Northeast Gilman Boulevard. If implemented, guidelines in the plan could reshape the community on a scale larger even than development in the Issaquah Highlands and Talus urban villages throughout the 1990s and 2000s. See PLAN, Page A6 BY GREG FARRAR

Shirleann and Jim Nold, former longtime South Cove residents now living in Renton, return to Issaquah to have their photo taken with Santa Claus at The Grange Supply Dec. 8 at the annual event for kids of all ages and their pets. They still believe in Santa Claus because ‘it’s the same as having faith in the person who made us,’ Jim Nold said.

City Council restores dollars for nonprofit Police to add patrol officer organizations By Warren Kagarise wkagarise@isspress.com Representatives from a spectrum of organizations — nonprofit human services groups offering affordable housing, safe havens for domestic violence victims, assistance to struggling students and more — successfully lobbied City Council members Dec. 3 to stave off a $48,750 drop in funding for such programs. The council agreed to allocate $280,750 in the $42 million general fund budget for human services grants, but only after a council committee pushed to increase the amount and local nonprofit organizations pleaded for the council not to eliminate $48,750 in funding.

Grants go to organizations such as Eastside Baby Corner, Friends of Youth and the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank to offer services to residents from Issaquah and the Issaquah School District. In a 4-3 decision, council members agreed to increase the amount budgeted for human services by $48,750 from the $233,250 the council recommended in earlier budget deliberations. The additional dollars for human services grants comes from the municipal rainy day fund. Councilwoman Eileen Barber initiated the process to restore the human services funding. See GRANTS, Page A3

By Warren Kagarise wkagarise@isspress.com

Expect to see more police patrolling city streets next summer, after the City Council agreed to include dollars in the 2013 municipal budget for the Issaquah Police Department to hire another officer. The council agreed in the $42 million general fund budget to hire another police officer and a part-time records staffer for the police department. The agency expects to fill both positions after July 1. The general fund encompasses the dollars used to fund police and fire services, community development and planning, parks and recreation, and municipal government. The police department is the largest expense in the general fund

Board is set to CELEBRATING HANUKKAH vote on Liberty schedule Dec. 12 Students, staff and parents of Liberty High School could know soon whether their daily schedule will change. The Issaquah School Board is expected to vote on the issue at its 7 p.m. Dec. 12 regular meeting. Since 1995, the school has used an eight-period block schedule where students take four 90-minute classes each day. However, in order to establish a common, districtwide high school schedule, and to give Liberty students more time to study core subjects, district officials are considering changing Liberty’s timetable. During the Nov. 28 school board meeting, Superintendent Steve Rasmussen recommended switching the school to a sixperiod schedule, which is what See SCHEDULE, Page A5

BY GREG FARRAR

Students in the Hebrew School of the Chabad of the Central Cascades perform their part as the Maccabees in a play that told the story of Hanukkah during the annual celebration of the Festival of Lights held Dec. 8 at Blakely Hall in Issaquah Highlands. The party featured a menorah made of 450 cans of food brought by families in attendance. The donation is being split between the Jewish Family Services Food Bank and the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.

INSIDE THE PRESS A&E ............... Classifieds ...... Community .... Let’s Go!.........

B8 B7 B1 B2

Obituaries ...... B3 Opinion .......... A4 Police & Fire .. B7 Sports ..........B4-5

— encompassing more than $8 million — followed by parks and recreation. But, due to the lean economy, police department officials’ annual requests for another patrol officer bumped into the difficult economy in past years. “We’ve been working on this since I’ve been here, but with the understanding that the whole nation just went through a financial situation, and Issaquah wasn’t safe from that,” Police Chief Paul Ayers said after the council passed the 2013 city budget. “We had to set it on the back burner until we were finally able to get into a position where there was some funding to support that.” The agency employs 32 officers, including 20 patrol officers. The department last added a patrol officer after Issaquah

annexed the Greenwood Point and South Cove neighborhoods in 2006. The planned addition is “going to help us continue to provide a high quality of service with the population growth that we’ve been experiencing over the last few years,” Ayers said. Issaquah is home to more than 31,000 residents, and as the population increased in recent years, police department officials attempted to maintain a decent ratio of officers to residents. Though no ideal measure exists, many agencies rely on the ratio of 1 officer per 1,000 residents, although in a low-crime community such as Issaquah, police respond to fewer major See BUDGET, Page A3

Merry Christmas Issaquah strengthens community ties By Warren Kagarise wkagarise@isspress.com Since the economy entered a nosedive in 2008, and throughout the fragile recovery since, volunteers at Issaquah Community Services keep hearing a familiar story. The breadwinner for a household, laid off during the recession, needs help to make ends meet. The volunteers listen and, in many cases, offer assistance to pay the rent or to keep the electricity on. Milicent Savage, Issaquah Community Services president, remembers the stories from two men recently at the organization’s office. The men, both fathers and husbands, needed assistance to

QUOTABLE “Sure, there are a lot of miserable people in the world, but there are a lot of nice ones, and I’ve met so many of them. I’m getting spoiled — I’ve been so fortunate.”

— Duncan Mulholland Issaquah resident who drives a six-horse hitch of Clydesdale draft horses (See story on Page B1.)

2012 GOAL: $75,000 TO DATE: $23,347 HOW TO HELP Help by making a tax-deductible donation to Issaquah Community Services. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Send donations to Merry Christmas Issaquah, c/o The Issaquah Press, P.O. Box 1328, Issaquah, WA 98027. The names of donors — but not amounts — are published in The Press unless anonymity is requested.

See FUND, Page A2

SOCIAL MEDIA Connect with The Issaquah Press on social media at www.twitter.com/issaquahpress and www.facebook.com/issaquahpress. Scan the QR code to go to www.issaquahpress.com.


A2 • Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Issaquah Press

Hallelujah! Sing & Play Along Messiah! returns Echo Glen teens

By Warren Kagarise wkagarise@isspress.com

Christmas revelers can create a joyful noise and benefit Issaquah Community Services as St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church hosts Sing & Play Along Messiah! — a concert to aid people in need throughout the community. Proceeds from the event go to Issaquah Community Services’ Merry Christmas Issaquah fund. “The real intent behind ‘Messiah’ was and still is to benefit the needs of the local community,” said Jason Anderson, associate for liturgical arts and youth formation at the downtown Issaquah church. George Frideric Handel composed “Messiah” in 1741 to illustrate scenes

Fund FROM PAGE A1

cover rent expenses for the month. Savage recalled how one man — a former Microsoft employee now working as a custodian — broke down. “He cried because he was there having to ask,” she said. Issaquah Community Services relies on a trained team to assist people in need — especially if the person requesting assistance is embarrassed or reluctant. Savage said the interaction between volunteers and clients strengthens the organization’s link to the community. “I don’t know any of our volunteers that aren’t caring or sympathetic,” she said. Issaquah Community Services is the all-volunteer nonprofit organization

from the life of Jesus Christ. “Messiah” ranks among the best-known musical works from the Baroque period, and the piece is especially popular around Christmas St. Michael’s conducts annual performances to benefit Issaquah Community Services. The event

last year raised $1,300 to support the organization. “Folks can come, sing, play or just listen if they prefer to do that,” Anderson said. The concert is scheduled for Dec. 16 and revelers plan to gather for a reception after the music. “It’s just a different way to approach the holidays,” Anderson said. “Rather than going to something and paying to hear it, but actually being a participant in it.” The event is open to musicians of all ages and skill levels. “Like I say every year before we start, ‘If you make a mistake, just pick up and keep on going,’” Anderson said. Issaquah Community Services is the all-volunteer nonprofit organization

responsible for dispersing the donations to families living inside Issaquah School District boundaries. Merry Christmas Issaquah is Issaquah Community Services’ most important fundraiser all year. The goal for 2012 is $75,000. The organization offers rent assistance if eviction is imminent, help with utility bills if a provider is threatening shutoff, or emergency transportation. The city provides office space and overhead for Issaquah Community Services, so 100 percent of donations go to people in need. Merry Christmas Issaquah — spearheaded by The Issaquah Press since 1981 — set a donation record last year, but the $77,362 raised could barely meet demand. The number of donors last year, 231, also set a record.

Issaquah Community Services faced increased demand for aid — so great the organization shut down for more than a week in June after exhausting funds for the month. The organization reopened to clients in July, but demand remains high, and leaders asked the public to consider donations in order for Issaquah Community Services to continue providing aid. The holiday fundraising drive accounts for about 65 percent of Issaquah Community Services’ annual budget. Recipients said donations from the organization come at a critical time, after other options dry up and disappear. The fund has received more than $785,000 in donations since starting. In 2011, Issaquah Community Services provided more than $88,000 in assistance to local families — in the form of rent

IF YOU GO Sing & Play Along Messiah! 42:30 p.m. Dec. 16 4St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church 4325 S.E. Darst St. 4Instrumentalists should bring music stands; the church plans to provide instrumental parts.

Santa’s at Gilman Village Saturday, Dec. 8th, 15th and 22nd 11 am to 3pm

Donors can avoid holiday charity scams

responsible for dispersing the donations to families living inside Issaquah School District boundaries. Merry Christmas Issaquah is the organization’s most important fundraiser all year. Issaquah Community Services’ goal for 2012 is $75,000. The organization offers rent assistance if eviction is imminent, help with utility bills if the provider is threatening shutoff, or emergency transportation. The city provides office space and overhead for Issaquah Community Services, so 100 percent of donations go to people in need. Merry Christmas Issaquah — spearheaded by The Issaquah Press since 1981 — has received more than $785,000 in donations since.

ON THE WEB Miller Family Dermatology, 450 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Suite 301A, is donating $1 for each Facebook like it receives to Merry Christmas Issaquah through December. Like Miller Family Dermatology at www.facebook.com/ MillerFamilyDerm.

and utility assistance, or in some cases for bus fare. Savage said the organization aims to strengthen the bonds among residents through philanthropy. Issaquah Community Services fills a vital role in the difficult economy, she added. “You become tied to the community,” she said. “You become tied to the needs that are out there and the wonderful people that need help.”

the 2010 report. Read the most recent report on the Office of the Secretary of State’s Secretary of State Sam website at http://1.usa.gov/ Reed and state Attorney TgnGu0. The report is updated on General Rob McKenna urged consumers to beware of a weekly basis. Consumers can also run reports in real holiday charity scams, and unveiled a report to help time and receive current residents donate wisely. registration information on Throughout 2012, charities commercial fundraisers. using commercial fundraisVictims of charity fraud should contact the Attorney ers in Washington received 46 percent of total donations General’s Consumer Reraised by the fundraisers — source Center between 10 lower than the 56 percent in a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays the 2011 report and a major at 1-800-551-4636 toll free drop from the 77 percent in or file a complaint at www. atg.wa.gov.

Plus Children’s Crafts

vie for grant

By Sebastian Moraga smoraga@snovalleystar.com A correctional center might seem like a strange place to feel unleashed. But that occurs at Echo Glen Children’s Center, a Snoqualmie-based correctional facility and school run by the Issaquah School District. A program there called Writers Unleashed allows its students to write essays and share with residents and school staff members their dreams and regrets. The program started in January. Although students can write about whatever they want, the writeups are most often deeply personal. “The students seem to focus on past misdeeds for the core of their written responses,” Echo Glen teacher Ken Sylvester wrote in an email. “Most seem to focus on analyzing their past and what steps are to be taken next.” For the program itself, the next step is a $50,000 grant application to Clorox. The money, according to a district press release, would help expand the program via: 4The purchase of laptops to include more students. 4A secure website to allow students to keep writing once released from Echo Glen. 4A scholarship for former students. 4Getting the essays published. People can vote once every 24 hours for Echo Glen to win the grant, between now and Dec. 19. They may text “2390pbf” to the number 95248 or they may vote online at https://powerabrightfuture.clorox.com, according to the release. On the

Community center, pool close for maintenance Prepare for closures at the Issaquah Community Center and the Julius Boehm Pool for maintenance and the holidays. The community center is due to close for maintenance from Dec. 19-22. Then, the center closes for Christmas from Dec.

Capco Beverage

Capco Beverage

$75 OFF $15 OFF

(425) 392-6802 www.GilmanVillage.com

any order of $500 or more before tax

It’s time for holiday meats!

any order of $100 or more before tax

Capco Beverage

$5 OFF any order of $50 or more before tax

Best selection of local liquors on the Eastide

425-313-1817

Over 2000 spirits to choose from One of the largest selections in the state

425.392.3131

24-25 and reopens to the public Dec. 26. Meanwhile, the pool is scheduled to close from Dec. 24-25 for Christmas and reopen at 6:30 a.m. Dec. 26. In addition to the community center and pool, officials plan to close City Hall and Issaquah Municipal Court from Dec. 24-25 for Christmas.

THE BEST KIND OF STUFFING

Bring your Camera!

r now! e d r Preo

homepage, enter “Echo Glen” in the search box. Win or lose, Sylvester said the program’s worth measures up in other ways. “We have had students write back to us after they leave — are released — and express the value of the program while they were here,” he wrote, “and that it has inspired them to keep writing on their own.” At first, the students in the program balk at sharing their thoughts. As they get more comfortable with the group, they open up. “They start to see a common thread between themselves and even the teachers and volunteers who run the program,” Sylvester wrote. “By sharing their individual experiences, they are able to open up a very personal side of themselves that we don’t normally see or hear in class.” Students must have a passion for writing, a clean behavior record, a good academic record within Echo Glen and the recommendation of a staff member to enter Writers Unleashed. Each session lasts one semester. More than 70 students at Echo Glen applied for the current session, which began in September. For security reasons, each session accommodates up to 12 students, Sylvester wrote. The writings are honest, brave and compassionate, he wrote. Besides improving the students’ writing, the program has helped in other, more therapeutic ways. “They all seem to have a strong desire to communicate to others,” Sylvester wrote. “Especially siblings and family members, that whatever they did was wrong and not to do as they did.”

Thanks for voting us Best of Issaquah’s #1 Meat Market!

fischermeatsnw.com 85 Front St. N. • Issaquah

2830 228th Ave SE #B Sammamish, WA 98075 425-313-0657 www.plateaujewelers.com heartsonfire.com

1175 NW Giman Blvd. B-18 Issaquah

Next to Sports Authority


The Issaquah Press

Grants FROM PAGE A1

Then, before the split decision, representatives from local human services organizations — including Catholic Community Services, Issaquah Community Services and LifeWire — beseeched the council to restore funds for grants. “At a time when I see the needs rising among our students, and I see the return on investment for cities in investing in students while they’re still in school, I think it’s a critical time for you to consider being able to support organizations, such as the schools foundation, in retaining our current funding,” Issaquah Schools Foundation Executive Director Robin Callahan said. Several referenced the Great Recession and the fragile economy recovery in pleas to the council. “I believe that our nonprofits are still recovering from the recession,” Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank Executive Director Cori Kauk said. “Many of our local nonprofits haven’t rebounded yet and they still need your support. Now is really not a good time for cuts.”

BY THE NUMBERS Data from the most recent year available, 2011, illustrates how Issaquah ranks against other King County cities in per capita funding for human services. Issaquah 4Human services budget: $222,000 4Funding formula: 1 percent of general fund 4Per capita human services funding: $8.22 Bellevue 4Human services budget: $2,792,312 4Funding formula: inflation plus population growth 4Per capita human services funding: $23.01 Bothell 4Human services budget: $234,500 4Funding formula: per capita 4Per capita human services funding: $7 Kenmore 4Human services budget: $289,000 4Funding formula: 3 percent of estimated revenues 4Per capita human services funding: $13.85

Council President Tola Marts said the city did not intend to undercut human services organizations through the budget reduction. “In a time when the state and the county are reducing funds — and I realize that puts even more strain on local budgets — I think the intent of the council when we did the budget was that we thought that was a strong position to take,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s been perceived as a Grinchian position.” The council acts on recommendations from the municipal Human Services Commission. Overall, commissioners received 60 grant applications totaling $366,283 in requests for 2013. Commission Chairwoman Maggie Baker, disappointed about the proposed reduction in funding, pored over data from the U.S. Census Bureau to better quantify the need in the community. “I realized that with $47,000 less, we weren’t going to be able to do the right thing for our 1,365 Issaquah neighbors 65 and over who live with at least one disability that keeps them from completing an activity of daily living, such as eating, dressing or bathing,” she said. Kirkland 4Human services budget: $571,880 4Funding formula: per capita 4Per capita human services funding: $11.52 Redmond 4Human services budget: $664,235 4Funding formula: per capita plus $74,500 per year in domestic violence funds 4Per capita human services funding: $11.35 Sammamish 4Human services budget: $176,000 4Funding formula: no formula 4Per capita human services funding: $4.29 Shoreline 4Human services budget: $340,307 4Funding formula: no formula 4Per capita human services funding: $6.23 Woodinville 4Human services budget: $66,501 4Funding formula: no formula 4Per capita human services funding: $5.86 Source: City of Issaquah

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 •

A3

Rush for same-sex weddings sets marriage license record By Warren Kagarise wkagarise@isspress.com In a milestone just after midnight Dec. 6, King County started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a month after Washington voters legalized same-sex marriage. The county issued a record 623 marriage licenses between midnight Dec. 6 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8. The initial day set a record at 489. King County Executive Dow Constantine issued the initial marriage license at 12:01 a.m. in a ceremony at the King County Recorder’s Office. “Tonight you are making history,” he said to the initial group of 11 couples. “Not only our legislators, but the people of this state have said every person is entitled to equal treatment. This advances our law in the state of Washington, and brings

Countryside Floral and Garden is sold Countryside Floral and Garden, a 28-year-old flower shop along Northwest Gilman Boulevard, changed hands recently after the founders sold the business to a longtime

Budget FROM PAGE A1

incidents. “When you look at trying to come up with the perfect staffing model, there isn’t one,” Ayers said. “There are some guidelines, and this 1 per 1,000 has been tossed around for years and years, but it’s also known that it is not the best way to measure officers, just because you have to look at your community.” Once the police department hires another patrol officer, he or she must undergo a 14-week field training program to learn the agency’s policies and procedures for firearms, first aid, pursuit driving and more. The officer must then spend at least a year on patrol before he or she can apply for specialized roles, such as the regional special operations team or as a school resource officer. If the police department hires a rookie, he or she must attend the 17-week state police academy

us one step closer to that first ‘self-evident’ truth announced by our nation’s founders: that all are created equal.” The couples issued licenses Dec. 6 waited until at least Dec. 9 to exchange vows, as state law requires a three-day waiting period for all marriage licenses. King County judges started the initial samesex weddings Dec. 9, although the county did not open the Issaquah Courthouse for the event. Issaquah Municipal Court Judge N. Scott Stewart said the city court does not have any same-sex weddings planned. Constantine signed the initial licenses with a pen used by Gov. Chris Gregoire to sign the same-sex marriage bill into law Feb. 13. Opponents to the same-sex marriage law later gathered enough voter signatures to put the measure before the elec-

torate as Referendum 74. The ballot measure passed among voters, 54 percent to 46 percent. Gregoire and the top elections official in Washington, Secretary of State Sam Reed, certified the Nov. 6 election results Dec. 5. The initial license Constantine signed went to longtime Seattle couple Jane Abbott Lighty, 77, and Pete-e Petersen, 85. The couple co-founded the Seattle Women’s Chorus and wed during a Seattle Men’s Chorus concert Dec. 9. Before the doors at the King County Administration Building opened at midnight Dec. 6, more than 200 couples lined up. “This is a terrific example of King County truly demonstrating its values and vision — of being a diverse and dynamic community, where all people have the opportunity to thrive,” Norm Alberg,

WANTED: LOCAL SAME-SEX COUPLES PREPARING TO WED Washington approved a landmark same-sex marriage law on the November ballot. The Issaquah Press is seeking local same-sex couples preparing to wed, especially residents in the Issaquah School District. Email your contact information to editor@ isspress.com, or contact the newspaper on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ issaquahpress, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/issaquahpress.

King County Records and Licensing Services Division director, said in a statement.

employee. Founders Marcia Gilbert and Patty Millage sold the business to Jon Throne, Gilbert and Millage announced in a Nov. 30 email to customers and community members. “Jon will be taking Countryside to new and

better horizons, and we know that he will take great care of you all,” they wrote. Gilbert and Millage established the shop and gained a reputation among customers for friendliness and quality. “We have always felt

so blessed to be a part of the sacramental moments in your lives,” they wrote “Births, deaths, love, marriage, illness, return to health, all sorts of celebrations. It is now your turn to witness a sacramental moment in our lives.”

before serving and undergoing the 14-week field training program. The department spends about $5,000 to equip each officer with a bulletproof vest, handgun and rifle, uniforms and other equipment. “There are dollars and cents attached to bullets and time and all of those things,” Ayers said. Officials characterized the decision to add a patrol officer as a way to maintain the quality of life for residents. Overall, city leaders refrained from dipping

deeply into the rainy day fund in the 2013 municipal budget. City Finance Director Diane credited past spending reductions for the stable finances. “We have been fortunate through previous austerity programs and a lot of efficiencies that the departments have undertaken in order to preserve financial resources for the future,” she said in a Dec. 3 presentation to the council. The budget does not reduce services or increase the property tax rate. The spending plan maintains existing water

and storm water rates for Issaquah customers, but the amount residents pay for sewer service is due to increase, after a King County decision to hike the rate. “This 2013 budget is a balanced budget, which is very important,” Marcotte said. “At the federal government level, we all know that there is some difficulty there, but at the local level, we’re very responsive to managing our fiscal resources and ensuring the long-term financial stability of our community.”


THE ISSAQUAHPRESS

A4 • Wednesday, December 12, 2012

OPINION

E DITORIAL

Our state park needs passionate ‘friends’

L

ake Sammamish State Park needs a group of passionate people to come together as Friends of Our State Park. Both leaders and roll-up-your-sleeves volunteers are wanted. The state park has had a plan in place for five years. That plan would add an esplanade between the picnic and beach areas for walkers to access a new bathhouse, a boathouse for kayaks and rowing shells, a lakefront café, improved group sites, environmental educational components throughout, an RV and tent park, a lodge to host youth or adult groups for overnights or meetings, and much cleaner beach and grassy areas. A citizen group met for three years to come up with the plan, and design work was completed for the esplanade and bathhouse. It was to have been done by 2013, in time for the 100th anniversary of Washington State Parks. Funds dried up and plans came to a screeching halt. Since then, the park has deteriorated further and attendance at this local treasure is low. Thanks to the Issaquah City Council, the rally to make progress at the park is again under way. It may be a state park, but it will take Sammamish and Issaquah leaders to embrace it. It’s time to rise to the occasion and create a friends group, primarily to help increase attendance. Events and festivals are needed — like music festivals, maybe July 4 fireworks, day camp youth programs, sporting events. Events like last year’s paddle board competition at the park need to be promoted so the public knows something special is going on. People bring admission fees, and those fees bring better maintenance and more interest in long-term development of the plan. Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery was founded in 1994 and literally saved the hatchery from becoming mothballed. The group lobbied the Legislature, changed the mission to include education, and found corporate donors for exhibits. It is a success model that should be duplicated for Lake Sammamish State Park. Friends of Our State Park has no one to call to join, but email your name and phone number to office@isspress. com and we’ll let you know what transpires.

O FF T HE P RESS

Elusive Christmas wish ignites holiday meltdown

C

hristmastime means basic cable is awash in the holiday staples I remember from childhood — animated Whos in “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” a stop-motion Santa Claus in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and, above all else, BB-gun-seeking Ralphie Parker in “A Christmas Story.” In 1990, at age 6, I followed Ralphie’s lead and trimmed my Christmas list down to a single wish. That November, I dutifully wrote Santa Claus a letter outlining my desire for a Patch Up Pet, nowadays a long-forgotten toy. I knew if I wanted to score such a hot item, I needed to bypass my parents and appeal directly to the big man. Santa wrote back. In hindsight, that should have been a big indicator of trouble. Despite much searching by the elves, he wrote, there were no Patch Up Pets to be had, not at the North Pole, and especially not in Lorain, Ohio, where my parents and I then lived. Though intrigued, I dismissed the Kris Kringle communiqué. Surely, Santa could craft a solution by the morning of Dec. 25. Patch Up Pets have since been swallowed by obscurity. Google and eBay searches turn up spotty results — when they generate results at all. To this day, my parents claim the toy was a product of my

overactive imagination, but interviews with my contemporaries have allowed me to put together a fuzzy picture. A Patch Up Pet Warren was essenKagarise tially a Pound Press reporter Puppy (another Christmas staple of my childhood), but this stuffed animal arrived with a medical bag filled with bandages, a thermometer and instructions to mend the ailing toy. Finally, Christmas morning arrived, and I tore open my gifts — Legos, a globe, all serviceable but uninspiring. My aunt hovered over the scene, 10 pounds of camcorder perched on her shoulder. What she recorded next was a meltdown embarrassing enough to make Honey Boo Boo blush. The last gift was low and oblong. I eyed it suspiciously, and then moved in to strip away the paper. It was Crossfire, The Rapid Fire Shoot Out Game, nowadays another long-forgotten toy. “This is Crossfire!” I fumed. “I didn’t want Crossfire! I wanted See WISH, Page A5

THE ISSAQUAHPRESS PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY SINCE 1900 45 FRONT ST. S. • P.O. BOX 1328 • ISSAQUAH, KING COUNTY, WA 98027

$30 PER YEAR / $55 TWO YEARS / $20 PER YEAR FOR SENIORS ADD $15 OUTSIDE KING COUNTY / $20 OUTSIDE STATE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR THE CITY OF ISSAQUAH

T O THE E DITOR Liberty schedule change

Change will equal lost opportunities I am a Liberty parent. I wish to relay my own story of my daughter’s experience with eight periods. As a sophomore, she is taking core classes of English, biology, algebra 2 and European studies, and also Japanese, physical education and two additional classes — choir and child development. She wants to be a teacher. She needs a world language to get into college, so her only true “electives” are choir and child development. In a six-period day, she wouldn’t be able to take either one. With choir, she had the opportunity to sing at The Landing a few weeks ago; the smile on her face while she was singing brought me to tears — she is passionate and joyful when she sings, and it’s a class she genuinely looks forward to. On Wednesdays, school starts late; this past Wednesday, she decided to get up early to work on an assignment for child development. Eventually, I had to remind her she needed to stop so she wouldn’t miss the bus, and she was upset — she wanted to keep working on a homework assignment rather than get ready for school. I don’t think I could say she would be that excited about doing homework for any other class. My heart sinks when I think about the loss of opportunity for our kids going to a six-period schedule. The district should postpone

piece their credits together using these options. Forcing Liberty to a six-period schedule, just because the other two high schools have one and are making it work, is not smart. Instead, the board should allow Liberty to pilot a seven-period schedule. If successful, as a district we can then start planning how to offer seven periods to all high school students. This would allow us to provide an optimal learning experience that combines enough seat time in core Joan Friel classes with access to elective opLiberty parent portunities that enrich our high school students.

changing the schedule for at least one more year. More time is needed so students can plan how reducing their number of classes affects their ability to graduate on time. This year’s juniors could have their graduation plans in jeopardy if they suddenly only had six classes instead of eight. I hope the board carefully considers the community’s feedback and votes against the district’s recommendation of a six-period schedule.

Not all requirement options are feasible

I’m the mother of five Liberty graduates and two future graduates. I have reviewed the district’s recommendation to move Liberty to a six-period schedule. I am concerned about the options presented for making the six-period schedule work for students. The district notes that taking high school requirements in middle school, or taking online classes or summer classes are ways for high school students to make a six-period schedule work. I believe that these options favor gifted students and more advantaged families in our district. Struggling students are not going to be successful taking high school classes in middle school. Online and summer classes cost money, which is not feasible for all families. With its current eight-period schedule or the seven-period schedule recommended by the committee, Liberty students can be successful without having to

Melanie Zimmerman Renton

Data is out of context, misleading I am concerned about the process that is being followed for the proposed Liberty High School schedule change. The district only showing selected data points that support its case of moving to a six-period schedule as a factual argument is wrong. During the Nov. 7 board meeting, the district showed the board the following selected data points: a single year single EOC score comparison between Liberty and Maywood, SAT and PSAT. This data was taken out of context of the larger view and is misleading (some might call it lying) at best. The key data points that the district and state uses to evaluate high school performance See LETTERS, Page A5

F ROM THE W EB

Liberty, and the depth and breadth of education that schedule provided far surpassed what Liberty High School schedule mendations (three sub-committees a six-period schedule could ever all recommending a seven-period offer. When the Issaquah School Dis- day) were deemed too expenThe grassroots pushback trict schedule committee met last sive to implement. Fine. But the against this change is no coincispring, I took the opportunity to dence. I urge the school board to district has yet to make any case speak with then-executive direc- at all that changing the 17-yearlook at the real data and make an tor of high schools and former old schedule will improve educainformed decision. principal of Maywood, Patrick tion at Liberty, that having a high Jayne Bell Murphy. school on a different schedule I asked him why the need to materially or adversely affects change the Liberty schedule. I got the district or that any of the a very vague and unsubstantiated other high schools have suffered answer. I told him that before because of Liberty’s schedule. Letters of 300 words or less anyone who supports the block In fact, the district has made should be emailed or mailed by schedule would support such a no logical case at all. The Liberty noon Friday. We will edit for space, change, the district would need to community (the vast majority of potential libel and/or political show clear, compelling evidence those who have weighed in on relevance. Letters addressing local that such a change was necessary, this) is passionate about keeping news receive priority. Letters must advantageous and required. While the schedule, because for a vast be signed and have a daytime he maintained that the superinmajority of students and families, phone number to verify authorship. tendent felt it was all those things, it works! And rather than looking he said the committee needed to at ways to preserve something do its work first and come up with that is imperfect, but “fixable,” Email: news@isspress.com a workable solution before the Steve Rasmussen has moved Mail: P.O. Box 1328, district would make its case. ahead with an agenda that is Issaquah, WA 98027 Well, we are six months down clearly his own. the road. The committee recomMy children graduated from

LETTERS WELCOME

Advertising: admanager@isspress.com Classifieds: classifieds@isspress.com

Accounting: ip-acct@isspress.com

Advertising Manager Nathan Laursen Ad Representative Cynthia Freese Ad Representative Brett Gronevelt Ad Representative Deanna Jess

Managing Editor Kathleen R. Merrill Reporter Christina Corrales-Toy Reporter David Hayes Reporter Warren Kagarise Sports Reporter John Leggett Reporter Lillian Tucker Photographer Greg Farrar

Circulation: ip-circulation@isspress.com Kelly Bezdzietny

Newsroom: isspress@isspress.com

Publisher Deborah Berto phone: 392-6434 Fax: 392-1695

WWW.ISSAQUAHPRESS.COM Postmaster: Send address changes to The Issaquah Press, P.O. Box 1328, Issaquah, WA 98027


The Issaquah Press

Issaquah Trader Joe’s halts liquor sales By Warren Kagarise wkagarise@isspress.com Trader Joe’s suddenly pulled spirits from store shelves not long after reopening at the Issaquah Commons last month. The store at the openair retail center meets the threshold — 10,000 square feet — to sell liquor under state law. Customers said

store employees referred to a problem with the lease as the reason liquor disappeared from store shelves. Trader Joe’s and the property owner offered few details about the change. “At this time, we don’t have plans to offer spirits at the Issaquah location,” Trader Joe’s spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki wrote in response to emailed questions.

The leasing representative for the Issaquah Commons did not respond to a request for comment. Madison Marquette, a national retail developer based in Washington, D.C., operates the Issaquah Commons. Trader Joe’s — based in Monrovia, Calif. — closed a Pickering Place location and reopened Nov. 14 at

the Issaquah Commons in a space large enough for the California-based grocer to offer spirits under the state’s revised liquor laws. The store still sells beer and wine. The grocer relocated to 975 N.W. Gilman Blvd. from a smaller space, and renovated 11,000 square feet at the Issaquah Commons for the store.

Whooping cough reported at Maywood Middle School Maywood Middle School reported a case of pertussis (whooping cough) Dec. 10. Whooping cough is a bacterial illness that may begin with symptoms similar to the common cold (runny nose or scratchy throat) or simply a dry cough. The cough usually becomes worse over one to two weeks. Fever is minimal or absent. Most

recover without any complications, but for infants, whooping cough can be life-threatening. Antibiotics can reduce the risk of infection if given within 21 days after contact with someone with whooping cough. If you are in any of the following groups and have had close contact with a person with whoop-

ing cough, consult your health care provider to discuss the need for antibiotic treatment to prevent whooping cough: 4Infants younger than one year of age 4Pregnant women near the time of delivery (who could spread it to their newborns) 4Health care workers (who could spread whoop-

ing cough to their high risk patients and other staff who care for high risk patients) 4People who have close contact with pregnant women, infants or health care workers. If you have any questions about vaccines or pertussis, call your health care provider or Public Health at 206-296-4774.

Students and athletes get $176,000 boost

tions gets $3,797.55. The Skyline High School Booster Club donated $87,963 to the school’s basketball and baseball programs. The majority of the money, $79,683, is to build a new batting cage facility at the high school. The other $8,280 is to help pay for the Skyline girls basketball team’s travel expenses to Palo Alto California for the Dec. 27-29 Eastside Prep Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Tournament.

but fire hazards from Christmas trees and other decorations can dampen the festive spirit. Experts at the State Fire Marshal’s Office remind residents to properly care for and decorate Christmas trees, and to practice fire safety in order to prevent yuletide emergencies. If a household holiday display includes a natural tree, keep the tree adequately watered. Improper care and decoration of live or artificial Christmas trees

can lead to catastrophic fires. Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by UL or another approved testing laboratory. All decorations should be nonflammable or flameretardant, and artificial or metallic trees should also be flame-retardant.

The Issaquah School District approved more than 176,000 worth of donations during its Nov. 28 meeting. The Issaquah Schools Foundation donated $88,597.55 to support various programs in the district. From that, $12,500 is for the Middle School After School Homework program while another $7,500 is for similar high school programs. As well, $35,600 is for Science Tech; $25,000 goes to Humanities Plus; $3,500 is earmarked for Financial Literacy and Targeted Academic Interven-

Schedule FROM PAGE A1

Issaquah and Skyline high schools both use. It is now up to the board to decide whether to approve Rasmussen’s recommendation or leave things the way they are.

Wish FROM PAGE A4

a Patch Up Pet!” “Get the letter!” my father demanded, and my mother rushed to retrieve Santa’s missive, which had been preserved just in case such a meltdown occurred. “Santa brought this to the wrong house!” I continued, in a display of avarice to rival Michael Douglas’ performance in “Wall Street.” “He brought it to the wrong house!” The recording stops shortly thereafter. I cannot remember how my parents defused the situation,

Follow safety tips to avoid tree catastrophes The holiday season is a time for celebration, The meeting is in the administrative building at 565 N.W. Holly St. More information, including the superintendent’s and the committee’s recommendations, can be found at www.issaquah.wednet. edu. Under the “What’s Happening” section on the homepage click on “High School Schedule Committee.”

though I imagine it involved a candy bribe. Remarkably, I did not stop believing in Santa until after I turned 9. Somebody so susceptible to the fickle supply and demand of holiday gifting, I reasoned, had to be real.

Call for a FREE Market Analysis

Chris W. Greytak

Designated Broker Your Key to Real Estate Success

425-270-3210

Email chris@yourkey.org Web www.yourkey.org

We won’t treat you like a number We’ll greet you like family! Now in our permanent state-of-theart office in suite 301A

When it comes to your skin, rely on an expert. Schedule your appointment online at www.MillerFamilyDerm.com 450 NW Gilman Blvd., Suite 301A Issaquah, WA 98027 425-654-3961 www.MillerFamilyDerm.com

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 •

A5

Letters

We need to create well-rounded children

FROM PAGE A4

Skyline High School 4Reading 96.0 percent 4Writing 98.4 percent Data was taken from the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (as referenced on the Issaquah school district website) http://bit.ly/11TVF2f. From this data that Washington state uses to evaluate high schools, it shows that Liberty high school is doing very well compared to the other two high schools in the district. I am disappointed that this data was left out of the presentation to the school board. The final conclusion that I come away with is there is no objective data that shows that Liberty students will be better off moving to a six-period schedule.

I am a future parent of a Liberty student and have been following the Liberty schedule process. I appreciate your coverage of this issue. I feel that as a school district we have gotten off track with what is important for our kids — we need to be creating well-rounded children that will be competitive for college placement and will do well in the workforce. We’ve heard from college admittance representatives that kids with diversity of subjects on their transcripts are more favored at many schools. I also know as an employer, I look for candidates that have creativity and passion beyond core subjects. While STEM learning is indeed important, it is not everything and should not be the district’s only focus. It was clear at the board meeting this week that the district is only placing value on core subjects. This is too limited and is not consistent with the mission and goals of the district. I ask that the board embrace a broader vision of what a successful student looks like and votes to reject the six-period recommendation put forth by Superintendent Steve Rasmussen.

Chris Marney

Janda Keenan

are the EOC and HSPE scores. Liberty does very well on these compared to Issaquah and Skyline, so this data was omitted to manipulate the viewers to come to the wrong conclusion. The actual data for 2012 HSPE tests for 10th grade is: Liberty High School 4Reading 94.0 percent 4Writing 96.1 percent Issaquah High School 4Reading 93.4 percent 4Writing 95.5 percent

Parent of Liberty High School student Graduate of Liberty High School ‘83

Newcastle


A6

• Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Plan FROM PAGE A1

The document is poised to reach the City Council for a crucial implantation decision Dec. 17, after planners hosted dozens of meetings, pored over reams of data and undertook countless revisions. The council could decide then to adopt the plan wholesale, or adopt pieces and leave other parts for later consideration and adoption. “Many times, people seem to view the future as just someplace we’re going to show up in one day,” Councilman Joshua Schaer said. “You have to do things to get to the future. You don’t just one day, all of the sudden, find yourself in 2030 and there will be all these buildings.” Shift from strip malls to pedestrians The plan re-envisions the business district as a blend between businesses and residences ringed by a “green necklace” of parks and trails. Change is not going to occur overnight, and even the most fervent Central Issaquah Plan proponents said noticeable changes could require years to come to fruition. The document could act as a guide to a future Issaquah or, as some critics suggest, invite more sprawl to the community, further clog already-congested roads and mar the mountain panorama. “If we don’t do the plan — if we hadn’t put in this tremendous effort, and we spent a lot of money on it also — if we didn’t do that, we would get more of the same,” Councilman Fred Butler said. “We would get suburban sprawl. We would get strip malls. We would get more impervious surface, just like we’ve had in the past.” The provision to increase

building height to 125 feet in the commercial core — up from 65 feet — attracted scrutiny from the outset. Central Issaquah Plan supporters contend the change in building height rules is not meant to make Issaquah resemble sky-high downtown Bellevue. “Once the council started moving along with this, they realized that maybe now was the time to turn from our suburban roots to be more small-scale urban — and not to go all the way to Bellevue, to be 18 stories and 20 stories, but to take that middle step, like maybe Mercer Island or Redmond or Kirkland,” said Trish Heinonen, city long-range planning manager and the Central Issaquah Plan point person. ‘It’s not going to happen all at once’ Though the actual public cost is undetermined, the city is expected to pick up the tab for at least some road and infrastructure improvements. Meanwhile, implementation hinges on interest from developers and, most importantly, a slowto-catch-fire economic recovery. “The thing that you have to remember is, it’s not going to happen all at once. This is a 30-year plan,” said Joe Forkner, a former councilman and Central Issaquah Plan Advisory Task Force chairman. “We’re still coming back from one of the worst economic problems that we’ve had in this area in a long time, and I don’t see people coming in in droves wanting to put up 10-story buildings.” Forkner and other leaders see parking lots transformed into pedestrian-minded neighborhoods as a Central Issaquah Plan hallmark. The metamorphosis could lead to more affordable housing options to attract residents across more ages and income levels than Issaquah does now.

The Issaquah Press “If they could afford to live in Issaquah, get on public transportation, go to work, come home, walk a block to a grocery store so they didn’t have to rely on their cars, it’d be ideal,” he said. Still, some decisions — such as extending a light rail line or bus routes to the business district — fall to planners at Sound Transit and King County Metro Transit, and remain beyond city and landowner control. Councilwoman Stacy Goodman, a leader in the Central Issaquah Plan effort as the Council Land & Shore Committee leader, said the city is responsible for shaping future growth, not developers. “Growth will occur and development will come and properties will redevelop, so we either guide it or we don’t,” she said. ‘Over time, Issaquah will just do fine’ Critics said implementing the Central Issaquah Plan and encouraging more urban development could undermine the community character and blot out Issaquah Alps vistas — a unique trait for the city. “There is nothing that is around here that is like that. You will lose that when you get 12-story buildings,” said Connie Marsh, Issaquah Environmental Council president, a business owner along Northwest Gilman Boulevard and a former council candidate. But city and business leaders said the plan is needed to attract future development to Issaquah, and creating uniform guidelines for developers could give the city a critical edge. “When a local or a regional property broker picks up the phone when somebody calls and says, ‘Hi, I’m from California or Oregon, and I’m interested in moving my business of 200 high-paying jobs to the Eastside,’ that prop-

erty broker, who has no allegiance to any particular city, needs to be able to say, ‘Issaquah is ready.’ This plan helps us with that offer,” Issaquah Chamber of Commerce CEO Matthew Bott said. David Kappler, Issaquah Alps Trails Club president and a former councilman, said the city must balance environmental and economic needs without altering longstanding development rules in the business district. “When people give that argument, I think they’re discounting how great a place Issaquah is in terms of how close it is to employment, how close it is to the mountains, how we have the creek and the green and all of those things,” he said. “Over time, Issaquah will just do fine, and going out and trying to subsidize developers and corporate welfare — those kinds of things I think are unnecessary.” Central Issaquah Plan culminates process The plan aims to change some rules and oversight for developers, but Central Issaquah Plan supporters contend the plan protects the environment, because growth is directed to the business district rather than undeveloped areas. “It doesn’t mean that people can come in and do anything they please,” Mayor Ava Frisinger said. “I’ve heard that tossed out as a fear that people will be able to do what they please. Well, no, no more than they’ve been able to do what they please in places which already have operated under a plannedaction ordinance, such as the Issaquah Highlands.” The effort to craft the Central Issaquah Plan represents a long effort to plan for the next phase of growth. In September 2009, Frisinger appointed a 12-member task force — developers, environmentalists,

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church 24850 S.E. Issaquah -Fall City Road Issaquah, WA 98029 Phone: (425) 391- 8431 www.shephillschurch.org

Come and join us on Christmas Eve Worship with us this holiday season

Candlelight Worship Service with Holy Communion 6:00 pm & 11:00 pm

All Are Welcome!

landowners and residents led by Forkner — to draft a proposal for future redevelopment in the business district. The task force alone spent more than 1,000 hours to produce a detailed plan built around the “green necklace” concept. Forkner’s group delivered a draft proposal in October 2010. “Before anything happens, before we start talking about density and height and bonuses, we have to have a ring of parks around, or it’s not going to be anyplace anyone is ever going to want to be or live or visit or work or anything,” Heinonen said. Envisioning life in future Issaquah Though planners and the municipal Planning Policy Commission set aside the more futuristic elements, tenets outlined in the initial draft remain in the plan before the council. Officials dismissed as too far-fetched a task force proposal for a network of pod-shaped people movers. The proposal from the task force unraveled in places amid the scrutiny. “I think the task force knew that there wasn’t the money and there wasn’t the real political will to do it the way the task force knew it had to be done,” Forkner said. “It’s frustrating because there’s a lot of things that could make the plan better if you put some of that stuff back in. But that doesn’t mean that the plan isn’t still a good plan.” The public process to reenvision Central Issaquah started in the late 2000s, as construction started to wane in the highlands and Talus. In November 2007, city planners asked citizens to use Legos to map density in a future Issaquah. Meeting participants, spread across a dozen tables at Pickering Barn, re-envisioned Issaquah

as a Legoland punctuated by green expanses and a dense business district. ‘Make the tough decisions’ Council President Tola Marts said the need to create the Central Issaquah Plan stemmed from past tradeoffs in developmentrelated decisions. “The character of the city has been evolving for the last 25 years,” he said. “I think that Issaquah has the fiscal stability that it has because we were willing to change what the valley was. We rightfully placed a high emphasis on open space, but we allowed a whole bunch of commercial development to occur in the valley that gives us a very high per capita commercial tax base.” The initial step to transform the area occurred in December 2011, as the council approved a 30-year agreement between the city and longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties to overhaul almost 80 acres and allow buildings up to 150 feet tall on Rowley Properties-owned land in the business district. Kristi Tripple, Rowley Properties community development executive, said residents should expect a gradual shift as the business district redevelops. “I think it’s going to change slowly over time and, because you’re moving from a suburban model to semi-urban mixed-use environment,” she said, “I think you’ll see pockets that start to move in the direction of being complete, compact and connected.” In the meantime, council members continue to scrutinize the Central Issaquah Plan as the Dec. 17 decision date approaches. “When I’ve talked to some of the council, they’ve said, ‘What’s it going to take?’ and I’ve said, ‘You know, what it’s going to take the most is political will,’” Forkner said. “You’re going to have to make the tough decisions.”

State regulators fine Puget Sound Energy $250,000 State regulators fined Puget Sound Energy $250,000 for violating a 2010 order to require the Bellevue-based utility to review and correct customer accounts, officials announced Nov. 9. The state Utilities and Transportation Commission approved a settlement on a complaint based on violations stemming from the 2010 order. Officials said PSE violated the order 515 times. The utility is not allowed to pass the penalty costs to customers through rate changes. Regulators originally penalized the company $104,300 in October 2010 for improperly handling accounts of customers, including many low-income customers disconnected for nonpayment. In addition to the penalty, regulators ordered the company to make corrections to 26 customer accounts identified by Utilities and Transportation

Commission staffers. In the 2010 order, regulators also penalized PSE for improperly applying energy assistance pledge funds made to low-income customers’ accounts. Pledge money is meant to help customers keep lights and heat on during winter months. Commission staffers cited PSE for improperly applying pledge funds to a prior balance, leading to threats of disconnection for customers. PSE has now provided refunds and credits to the mishandled customer accounts, and changed billing practices to ensure customer payment is applied correctly. The company also agreed to make a $75,000 contribution to its low-income assistance program. PSE serves more than 1 million electric customers and about 785,000 natural gas customers in Western Washington, including Issaquah.

Issaquah Community Services provides emergency aid when the going gets tough. Please help.

Merry Christmas Issaquah 2012 FUND DRIVE

Donations benefit ICS, a 501c3 non-profit

M A I L TO :

Merry Christmas Issaquah c/o The Issaquah Press, PO Box 1328 Issaquah WA 98027


The Issaquah Press

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 •

A7


A8

• Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Issaquah Press

Development pact could transform quarry site By Warren Kagarise wkagarise@isspress.com The gravel quarry on a hillside below the Issaquah Highlands, plus land adjacent to the highlands, could someday transform into businesses and homes, if city leaders approve a long-term agreement to redevelop the site. The landowner and quarry operator, Issaquahbased Lakeside Industries Inc., proposed a 30-year development agreement last year for about 120 acres on both sides of Highlands Drive Northeast. The proposed pact is scheduled to reach the City Council on Dec. 17, as officials consider a plan to remake the area. The land under consideration is zoned for mineral resources and single-family residences. The development agreement could change the designation on some areas to urban village, the same rules used for the highlands and Talus. The city blueprint for long-term growth, or Comprehensive Plan, calls for mineral resource land to undergo “adequate reclamation and enhancement of the site” once quarrying or mining activities conclude. Officials said the longterm agreement could ensure the land is developed in a manner beneficial to the community and Lakeside Industries.

GET INVOLVED City Council regular meeting 4Agenda: Lakeside Industries development agreement 47:30 p.m. Dec. 17 4Council Chambers, City Hall South 4135 E. Sunset Way

“Someday, we’re going to be done mining there, and we think it’s going to happen within the next 30 years,” Lakeside Industries CEO Tim said. “The last thing I wanted to do was work for the next 20 years and end up with something that the city didn’t like.” The area farthest from the Issaquah Highlands and closest to Interstate 90 is expected to continue as industrial land for the foreseeable future, but construction could start on land near the highlands as early as next year. “If there’s a gravel pit that can deliver us aggregate rather than us manufacture aggregate for less money than what we can mine for, we’ll stop mining sooner than later,” Lee said. “If it continues to be economically feasible to mine there, that’s what we’ll do.” Lakeside Industries outlined plans to transform the hillside into homes

once mining is done and restoration is complete. “The big scar is going to disappear,” city Economic Development Director Keith Niven said. “We’re aiming for Italian hillside, and we’ll see how far we can get. The idea is there will actually be cascading homes coming down the hillside.” Lakeside Industries agreed to pay the city $5 million to fund infrastructure, environmental projects, affordable housing and more. Neighbors raise height concerns Construction could start next year on homes at the Severed Pit site adjacent to the Issaquah Highlands. Severed Pit, so named because Highlands Drive Northeast split the property from other Lakeside Industries land, sits kittycorner from the Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride. The proposed pact allows buildings up to 84 feet tall on the site. Homeowners near Severed Pit said a change could alter the surrounding neighborhoods. “We have a lot of concerns about the height of the buildings. We look out into the green area and, for me, I’m not opposed to more development,” Jamie Fenderson, a 10th Avenue Northeast resident, told the Urban Village Development Commission on Nov. 7. “I just want to be sure

that, you know, the height considerations and how that affects our views is taken into account.” Melinda Person, a homeowner along Southeast 59th Street adjacent to the site, said the pit is a blemish on the landscape, but raised questions about possible noise and light pollution from the proposed development on the site. “It’s been a mosquitogrowing mess in the pit for a long time, and it’s nice to see it get developed,” she said. Moreover, she said the buildings proposed for the Lakeside Industries land could obstruct views of Cougar and Tiger mountains. “The development of this property was always a foregone conclusion. We knew at some point it would get filled and there would be some kind of a development there,” she told the Urban Village Development Commission. “However, we think it would be really irresponsible of the city to allow the most dense zoning adjacent to what has always been rural.” The proposed Lakeside Industries development agreement did not generate the same public outcry as the process to craft the Central Issaquah Plan — a guide redevelopment in the business district along the interstate. The council is scheduled to consider the plan the same night as the

Just in time for the Holidays!

Total: $23,347 from 78 donors

2012 Goal: $75,000 Thank You! to this week’s donors: Shirleann & Jim Nold Ken & Marian Hampton Steve & Karla Hoffman Mary & Norb Ziegler Rich & Marilyn Batura Wendy & George Fletcher Beverly Huntington Stan & Amy Owings Karen & Greg Thies Rosemarie & Fred Butler Tom & Sally Montgomery Katie & Chris Edwards Ljim & Ann Crabtree Kay & Bob Owen Peggy & John Baschen Bill & Chris Hemmenway Hans & Hazel Siebert Charles & Jean Cerar Lori & Doug Birrell J & S Schmidt Fred & Sylvia Melsom Dean & Judy Heunisch Walter & Ingrid Buehler Steven & Kristine McBride Evelyn & Albert Joens Janet Flanary Ivan & Diane Lee Tom & Nicola Walker In honor of Pat Stegner, former ICS volunteer Cathy Kail Gilbert & Barbara Brigham Peter & Gisela Smutny Richer & Gloria James The Rezendes Family Kiwanis Club of Providence Point In Memory of: Josephine Kraft, by Denise S. Kraft Mary Vierra, by Brandon, Millie and Andrea Vierra Roger Arndt, by Sue and Neal Jensen Bill Evans, former president of ICS, by Betty Evans Frank G. Engle and June Johanson, by JoAnne Engle Gloria Seiler, by Keith & Betsy Seiler Brenda Woodworth, by Carol Cooper Jim Fricke, by Mary Fricke 5 anonymous

Send contributions to:

Merry Christmas Issaquah c/o The Issaquah Press PO Box 1328, Issaquah, WA 98027 Name will be published unless anonymity is requested.

50% OFF All Seiko & Reactor® Watches All sales final

Holiday Hours M-F 9:30-6 • Sat. 10-3 • Dec. 23 12-4

Town & Country Square 1175 NW Gilman Blvd. Suite B-4, Issaquah

(425) 391-9270

PLANNING CONTINUES FOR ROWLEY PROPERTIES LAND The proposed development agreement between the city and Lakeside Industries is the latest long-term pact involving a major landowner. In a landmark decision late last year, City Council members approved a 30-year agreement between the city and longtime Issaquah developer Rowley Properties to overhaul almost 80 acres along Interstate 90 and state Route 900. The council agreed to allow buildings up to 150 feet tall and mixed-use development on up to 4.4 million square feet in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center. The landowner, in turn, is required to pay for transportation upgrades, affordable housing construction, Tibbetts Creek restoration efforts and storm-water system improvements. Kristi Tripple, Rowley Properties community development executive, said the development agreement. Former Councilman David Kappler, Issaquah Alps Trails Club president and a Central Issaquah Plan critic, said the Lakeside Industries development agreement could ultimately

company is at work on plans to redevelop the land but could not reveal details. “We are exploring the potential of a project right now and we’re conducting our due diligence on it,” she said. “We’re hoping that in the next couple of months that we can make a formal announcement. We’re really excited to get going on what we committed to doing for the community.” City leaders said the potential for change in Hyla Crossing and Rowley Center offered a rare opportunity to reshape Issaquah as the city prepares to implement the Central Issaquah Plan — a document to guide redevelopment from strip malls and low-rise office buildings to a taller neighborhood meant for businesses and residences. “The good news is, we planned the development agreement so that it could be successful even if, for some reason, the CIP was not successful moving forward,” Tripple said. improve the environment. “I’ve been supportive generally of the 30-year concept there, because I think they can reduce trucking and save energy if they know what they’re doing over the long term,” he said.


THE ISSAQUAHPRESS

Section

B

COMMUNITY

Wednesday December 12, 2012

Rotary seeks host families for youth exchange program By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com

CONTRIBUTED

Alan Manning (left) and Duncan Mulholland drive Manning’s six-horse hitch of Clydesdale draft horses this September during the Puyallup Fair.

KING OF CLYDESDALES Duncan Mulholland, 82, gets chance to relive his passion for horses

By Sabrina Squires At age 18, Duncan Mulholland drove a sixClydesdale hitch for the Wilson Meat Duncan Packing Mulholland Co. in Chicago. Over a half-century later, he continues that passion. “This horse business is what I first did when I came to this country,” Mulholland said in a recent interview at his Issaquah home. Born in Bishopton, Scotland, in 1930, Mulholland was raised on a farm. As a young adult, he stayed busy working an apprenticeship by day and attending engineering college in the evenings. An aunt visiting from the United States admired his work ethic; she thought he would be very successful in the States if he were working that hard in Scotland. So, she and her husband invited him to join them there. On Feb. 26, 1948, he arrived in Chicago, where he interviewed for his first job: grooming Clydesdales that made up the six-horse hitch team for the Wilson Co. Historically, the purpose of six-horse hitches was to pull goods, such as beer after Prohibition. In addition, they were also shown and ridden at fairs in driving competitions. “It felt right,” Mulholland said. “I felt if I did a good job, when I leave I could get a good reference. That was why I took a job with the horses — plus I was very fortunate.”

“Even though he had been away from horses for 60 years, he was quite comfortable. He also knows what he’s capable of doing, and for 82 years old, he can do a lot of things that people can’t.” — Alan Manning Horseshoer for Budweiser

When he was ready to leave the grooming job, his boss said he wanted to teach him how to drive the horses — and eventually, become the teamster. “They said in two years there is no reason why I could not be the boss driving,” Mulholland added. “So an ex-Budweiser driver taught me how to drive.” According to Mulholland, Budweiser bought the Clydesdales that made up the six-horse hitch team from Wilson Co. in 1932. When Budweiser started up with draft horses, they had two drivers, Art Zeer and Billy Wills. Mulholland had never met Wills, but Zeer became his teacher. Six months later, Mulholland was driving on his own, traveling all over the country. He said he even performed in front of Mrs. Truman, the president’s wife. At age 20, he had an impressive income. “Usually, a trip would last from 13 to 15 weeks,” Mulholland said. “All my expenses were paid. I would come home and put 13 checks in the bank. “Then Uncle Sam put a stop the that,” he added. “He took my uniform off and gave me another

CONTRIBUTED

Art Zeer (left), one of the two original Budweiser draft horse team drivers, working for Wilson & Co., teaches Duncan Mulholland (right) how to drive a six-horse hitch of Clydesdales sometime around 1950. one — Korea started up. I enlisted because I felt that this country had been good to me. I deserved to defend it just like anyone.” After serving for four years, Mulholland married his wife Martha, and decided to go back to school to finish his degree. He attended Aeronautical University in Chicago and graduated in 1958. He worked temporary jobs for The Boeing Co., and moved to the Northwest in 1968 for a permanent position. He stayed with the company until the mid-1990s. A highlight was assisting with the interior design of the Boeing 777, which would later be the first aircraft interior to win a design award. In 2008, Mulholland attended the Puyallup Fair for the first time in many years. “The place had changed. It was just gorgeous,” he said. Mulholland headed to the barn to check out the horses — and went straight to the Clydesdales.

A woman came up to him and asked about the cap he was wearing — it had an embroidered Clydesdale on it. “She asked me if I liked Clydesdales and I said yes I do, they are the No. 1 breed of draft horses,” Mulholland said, referring to driving competitions. “I told her I drove a six-horse hitch for the Wilson Meat Packing Co.” That conversation was the catalyst that brought him back to driving horses again. The woman’s husband, Alan Manning, owns horses in Blaine and is a horseshoer for Budweiser. Manning was impressed with Mulholland’s knowledge and history with Clydesdales; he invited him to drive his horses. “I’ve enjoyed it, I really have,” Mulholland said. “I never thought I would ever be doing it again. I cannot get over that he trusted me with his team.” See HORSES, Page B7

To travel around the world and experience different cultures, it takes hours upon hours of travel time, thousands of dollars and months of planning. While nothing may be able to replace the actual experience of visiting a foreign country, there is a more local alternative that allows residents to experience different cultures from the comfort of their own Issaquah home. The Rotary Club of Issaquah’s Youth Exchange gives local families a chance to host students from around the world, bringing diverse cultures into community homes and schools. Doug and Amanda Strombom, as well as their teenage daughter Emma, hosted a student from Switzerland in their Issaquah home last year. The three-month visit was a beneficial one for his family, Doug Strombom said. He particularly enjoyed discussing and understanding the differences between Swiss and American cultures. “I think it makes our life more interesting to have a visitor here, and especially one who has something to say and has been someplace different,” he said. “I think cultures are fascinating. They are infinitely deep. You just have to explore and take some conversation to understand someone else’s culture.” Through the program, the foreign exchange student is placed with three different local families throughout the year in an attempt to provide separate scenes of the American culture. “There is so much diversity in America, you could visit one family and get a totally different experience from visiting another family, depend-

GET INVOLVED The Rotary Club of Issaquah is seeking host families for its Youth Exchange program. Email Craig Nelsen at CraigN7777@hotmail. com or Debbie Moore at Debbie@theinitiative.ws.

ing on that family’s background,” Amanda Strombom said. During that time, the families are expected to provide room and board, and the student is required to attend high school. The Stromboms’ student, Perrine Moser, attended Issaquah High School for the year and even had the opportunity to walk in graduation. The Stromboms made sure Perrine had a firstclass tour of the area and learned what it was like to live in the Northwest. Their daughter Emma shuttled Moser around, taking her to Seattle, Canada and Forks, the setting of the infamous “Twilight” books. Through it all, Emma and Perrine became good friends, Amanda Strombom said. “She was a good companion for our daughter during the year,” she said. “It’s very rewarding for your kids to learn more about another country and to see America through somebody else’s eyes.” One unexpected benefit of hosting Perrine, Doug Strombom said, was a newfound appreciation for living in the Issaquah area. “Issaquah is a really nice town,” he said. “It’s fun to show off to other people all of the things we have here. And seeing See HOSTS, Page B7

CONTRIBUTED

Amanda Strombom, Doug Strombom, Perrine Moser and Emma Strombom (from left) pose for a picture at Seattle’s Volunteer Park. The Stromboms hosted Perrine, from Switzerland, through the Rotary Club of Issaquah’s Youth Exchange program last year.

Issaquah ministry is a new journey for Lutheran pastor By Anna Chatilo For many years, Debbie Boyce felt her spiritual life was giving her a nudge. After raising five children, she embarked upon a new journey — going back to school, starting out as an undergrad. Fast-forward nine years. Boyce, 53, graduated from seminary school last summer and became the new pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Issaquah. A Montana native, Boyce lives in Kent. She said church members have made her transition from student to pastor an easy one. Not only is she the first pastor to be ordained at the church, but she is the first female

warm hospitality, lots of eager energy to welcome me. The congregation “had a meet-and-greet for myself and my family at the end of July, and it was just a very positive experience … my family came with me and they were really overwhelmed with the genuine hospitality.” Church Council President Holly Nordal said that “everyone has very much embraced her. Everyone is very pleased with everyBY MIKE NORDAL thing she has done already, Pastor Debbie Boyce (middle) is ordained by Bishop William and some of the ideas she’s Chris Boerger of the Northwest Washington Synod and installed bringing on board. We’re as a new pastor at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. looking forward to just Beverly Piro (left), assisting minister for the ordination, looks on. having our future unfold and having Pastor Debbie to hold the role — and both “I’ve felt really welcomed, be a part of that.” traits are embraced by just a wide-open welcome Her family, including church members. door,” she said. “Lots of her children and husband,

were very encouraging throughout her schooling, which included a bachelor’s degree as well as a master of divinity. Boyce said her family has “given me their support every step of the way and they feel really positive and really excited for me in this call. I think that’s been a huge piece of my journey — to have my family with me and surrounding me and uplifting me.” Though her kids are grown and out of the house, she now sees less of her husband as well. While the job leaves her little spare time, her husband’s work with Boeing now involves commuting to Helena, Mont., every week. He comes home every Friday

afternoon and flies out after the weekend, but not before going to church for her service on Sundays. “That has been hard, just a big adjustment having him gone because he hasn’t traveled for his work for a long time,” she said. In addition, she added, “going through a new step in my own professional life” is yet another adjustment. She finds that the hardest part of her work brings with it the most gratifying aspects as well. “The challenge is the same as the joy, in a sense,” she said. “The challenge is getting to know people, and the joy is getting to know See PASTOR, Page B3


B2 • Wednesday, December 12, 2012

LET’S

The Issaquah Press

PLAN FOR THE WEEK OF

DEC. 13-19

GO! ONGOING EVENTS

Bartell Drugs and Salvation Army’s Toy ‘n’ Joy drive through Dec. 14, accepting new, unwrapped gifts for children up to age 14, or shoppers can chose a gift request tag item in the store and put it in the donation barrel in the store. The Issaquah Bartell is at 5700 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway S.E. Learn more at www.bartelldrugs.com. Toys for Troops seeks donations for Christmas presents for children of service members. Drop off donations through Dec. 15 at the Issaquah Police Station, 130 E. Sunset Way, or make financial donations at www. operationbaldeagle.org.

Donate new, unwrapped toys and gifts, such as musical instruments, gift cards, board games, sporting equipment, books and DVDs, to Sleep Country for area foster children through Dec. 16 at 730 N.W. Gilman Blvd. Small Works Holiday Exhibition, through Dec. 29, artEAST Art Center, 95 Front St. N., 392-3191, www.arteast.org Volunteer: Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank customer service or sorting inventory, Friday and Monday needed most, cori@issaquahfoodbank.org or 392-4123

Home for the Holidays concert

Pancake breakfast with Santa, for all ages, 9-11 a.m., University House Issaquah, 22975 S.E. Black Nugget Road, $5 per person suggested donation, $2 Santa photos, proceeds support Eastside Fire & Rescue, RSVP to 557-4200

THURSDAY

Eastside Baby Corner open house, 9 a.m. to noon, with a tour and refreshments, 1510 N.W. Maple St., www. babycorner.org Cougar Mountain hike, moderate, 9 a.m., meet at 175 Rainier Blvd. S., 269-3079 Metro Trip With Dave, for seniors, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., bring your ORCA card, senior center, 75 N.E. Creek Way, 392-2381 Issaquah Women’s Club holiday luncheon, catering by Tiger Mountain Culinary Arts Program, 11:30 a.m.,

DEC. 13

Cascade Mountain Men: club shoot noon, Issaquah Sportsman’s Club, 600 S.E. Evans St., www.cascademountainmen.com Sammamish Presbyterian MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers): mothers of

Issaquah Alps dog hike, easy, 10 a.m., meet at 175 Rainier Blvd. S., bring WA Discover Pass, 206909-1080

Thursday Night Dinner at the Elks, 6 p.m., $10, Lake Sammamish Elks Lodge No. 1843, 765 Rainier Blvd. N., 392-1400

Holiday party Winter Wonderland, featuring vintage holiday fashions trunk show by Seattle Goodwill, music performed by Kaitlin Nelson and Ed Werner, 1-4 p.m. senior center, 75 N.E. Creek Way, 392-2381

Nurit Asnash, 7-10 p.m., Vino Bella, 99 Front St. N., 391-1424 Eastside Chapter of Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG): 7-9 p.m. third Thursday, First United Methodist Church, 1934 108th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, 206-325-7724, www.bellevue-pflag.org

Cougar Mountain Academy free Nutcracker holiday program, 1:30 p.m., 5410 194th Ave. S.E., 6412800

Eastridge Church presents ‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ 5 p.m., 24205 S.E. Issaquah Fall City Road, free but must preregister at eastridgetoday.com/wonderful

DEC. 14 Newborn Preparation, including content of Newborn Care and Breastfeeding classes, 3 p.m., Swedish/Issaquah, 751 N.E. Blakely Drive, http://bit.ly/TI91s5 The British Beats, 7:30-11:30 p.m., Vino Bella, 99 Front St. N., 391-1424 Troy Kline and the Medicated Trio, 8 p.m., Pogacha, 120 N.W. Gilman Blvd., 392-5550, www.pogacha.com Wings N Things, 8-11 p.m., Amante, 131 Front St. N., 313-9600

WHAT THE ICONS MEAN

DEC. 15-16

Ridge Way N.W., optional buffet luncheon 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., $17, bring canned goods and cash donations for Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank, RSVP to 246-6688

391-1424 The Action Slacks, 8-11 p.m., Amante, 131 Front St. N., 313-9600

Sunday

OUTDOORS

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ movie release party, 11 a.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430

Undercover, 8 p.m., Pogacha, 120 N.W. Gilman Blvd., 392-5550, www. pogacha.com Seatown Rhythm and Blues, 7:3011:30 p.m., Vino Bella, 99 Front St. N.,

DEC. 17-18

children (birth to kindergarten) are welcome to join, 466-7345

p.m., Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E., 3923130

Social Justice Book Group: 10 a.m., Bellewood Retirement Home, 3710 Providence Point Drive S.E., Issaquah, invasivesout@hotmail.com

Computer Class: One-on-One Assistance, for adults, 7 and 8 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430

Tuesday Coffee with Karen, ask questions, explore ideas and greet members with artEAST executive director Karen Abel, 7-9 a.m., Art Center, 95 Front St. N., 392-3191 Teen Writers Group, 3:30

Sing & Play Along Messiah!, 2:30 p.m., St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 325 S.E. Darts St., instrumentalists should bring music stands, the church plans to provide instrumental parts, 392-3215

Front St. N., 313-9600 Elks Lodge No. 1843: 6:30 p.m., 765 Rainier Blvd. N., 392-1400 Optimist Club of Issaquah: 6-7 p.m., Shanghai Garden and 5-7 p.m. third Tuesday at Issaquah Food Bank, getinvolved@optimists.org Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3436: 7 p.m., Issaquah Valley Senior Center: 75 N.E. Creek Way, 837-9478

Tribute Tuesday: Petty Thief, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Amante, 131

Rotary Club of Issaquah: 12:15 p.m., Tibbetts Creek Manor, 750 Renton-Issaquah Road, www.issaquahrotary.org

senior discounts Open Mon. - Sat. 6am-3pm Sun. 7am-3pm (next to QFC)

425.391.9690

1580 N.W. Gilman Blvd.

Where It’s Never Too Late For Breakfast!

Serving you quality food since 1989

It’s never too late for breakfast All new comfort food specials Great Value Delicious Food Family Friendly

Voted Best of Issaquah Breakfast 2011

FREE

MUSIC

FAMILYFRIENDLY

PERFORMANCE

EDUCATION

ARTS

CAR SHOW

LIBRARY

VOLUNTEER

Coal Creek hike, moderate, 9:30 a.m., meet at 175 Rainier Blvd. S., 453-8997

MONDAY/ TUESDAY

Monday

FRIDAY

Tibbetts Creek Manor, 750 17th Ave. N.W., $15

Rattlesnake Mountain hike, easy, 9:30 a.m., bring WA Discover Pass, meet at 175 Rainier Blvd. S., 837-1535 The American Association of University Women, Issaquah branch, Women’s Voices series: Author and playwright Susan G. Butruille, 10-11:30 a.m., Evergreen Room, Timber Ridge at Talus, 100 Timber

DON’T MISS

7 p.m. Dec. 18 The Evergreen Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual ‘Home for the Holidays’ is at 7 p.m. Dec. 18, at the Issaquah High School performance theater, 700 Second Ave. S.E. The concert guest stars pianist Jennifer Thomas, timpanist Matt Drumm and flutist Jen Mahaffey, with performances by the Skyline High School vocal jazz ensemble and treble choir. Tickets are $12/adult, $7/student and senior and are available online at www.ihs.issaquah.wednet.edu.

SATURDAY/SUNDAY Saturday

Send items for Let’s Go! to newsclerk@isspress.com by noon Friday.

WEDNESDAY

DEC. 19

Leader’s choice hike, moderate, bring WA Discover Pass and National Forest Pass, for time and location, email allseasonhiking@hotmail.com

Women’s Club: 11:30 a.m., September through June, Sammamish Plateau Club, 25625 E. Plateau Drive, 861-7910

Citizenship Classes, for adults, 3:30 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 Sammamish Book Group, for adults, 7 p.m., Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E., 392-3130 Cascade Republican

Issaquah Emblem Club: 7 p.m., Elks Lodge, 765 Rainier Blvd. N., 392-1400 Issaquah Networkers: 7:30-8:30 a.m., IHOP restaurant, 1433 N.W. Sammamish Road, www. IssaquahNetworkers.com Jewish Juniors Club: 3:305:30 p.m., Chabad of Central Cascades, 24121 S.E. Black Nugget Road, 427-1654


The Issaquah Press

O BITUARIES Harry G. Behrens Passing away just short of their 60th anniversary, Dad left Mom on Dec. 2, 2012. Dad was Harry Behrens born in Malvern, Ark., in 1930, raised among pine trees, loving sisters and loving parents. Arriving in California via Route 66 as a young teenager, he was the Stockton Record’s paper boy extraordinaire, earning a college scholarship in the process. During his student days at UC Berkeley, he met Martha Hughes at a church function, and that was that. After courtship, kittens literally burst out of a bag to announce that “the cat was out of the bag” about their engagement. Achieving the level of second lieutenant in the Navy during the Korean War, their wedding took place in between sailings, in Stockton, in 1953. Dad loved his Navy service. After the war, he earned a master’s degree in water quality from Berkeley. Mom and Dad settled in Sacramento, where they raised us, Tom and Jan. The first three years of his career were spent with the California State Department of Water Quality. Dad then worked for the Sacramento City Water Department, eventually becoming manager. He was an employee of the city for 25 years be-

Darrell Francis Kirkpatrick Commander Darrell Francis Kirkpatrick, USN retired, born March 4, 1929, Darrell Kirkpatrick to John Robert Kirkpatrick and Elizabeth Belt Kirkpatrick in Stennett, Texas. Following a long battle with vascular Parkinson’s disease, he passed away peacefully Nov. 29, 2012, at the age of 83, at the Pine Lake Adult Family Home in Sammamish. His wife Lillian and loving family were at his side. Darrell gave 24 dedicated years as an officer and a gentleman to his country and the Navy. He entered the Navy Midshipman Program in June 1946 at the age of 17 and was enrolled at Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction, Colo., for two years prior to being

Pastor FROM PAGE B1

people, because I want to know them in a way that I know their story — that I’m their pastor, and can share their hopes, and hear their hopes, and hear their passions.” Don Benson was part of the call committee that selected Boyce for the position. He said her caring personality was just one of the qualities that made her a good fit for the church. “Her message is very

fore relocating to Tacoma, where he was employed for three years with Kennedy Jenks Engineering. Dad’s engineering mind loved solving problems. Tennis shoes could be retread with melted bicycle tire. Contact lenses down the drain could be retrieved with Vaseline on a chopstick. Our homes are filled with furniture he crafted from wood scraps and hand tools. He loved McDonald’s, old classic movies, cheap buffets and his Lord Jesus. Dad is reunited in heaven with his dear mother Ethel and his son Tom. He is survived by the love of his life Marti, his daughter Jan and her husband John, Tom’s wife Cara, and his grandchildren Joshua and Elizabeth, who were a great joy. He is also survived by his sisters Polly and Kay, and their children and grandchildren, all of whom kept his heart warm. Marti’s sister Margaret has been a joy accompanying us as a lifetime traveler. Shine on, Arkansas Boy. We’ll meet again in the land of Jesus and buttermilk cornbread. A memorial service will be held at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Issaquah, on Dec. 16 at 1:30 p.m. Private interment will be held at an earlier date. The family suggests a donation to the Salvation Army, Harry’s favorite charity, in lieu of flowers. Arrangements are by Flintoft’s Issaquah Funeral Home. Sign an online guestbook at www.flintofts.com.

Roger F. Johanson Roger F. Johanson, age 73, was a lifelong resident of Issaquah. He passed away Dec. 1, Roger Johanson 2012, at Issaquah Nursing and Rehab. Roger was born June 1, 1939, in Snoqualmie Falls, to John and Doris (Severson) Johanson. Roger was raised in Preston and attended Preston Elementary School and Issaquah High School. His first job out of high school was working for Weyerhauser. Roger joined the U.S. Army in 1961, was stationed in Germany and honorably discharged in 1964. Following the service, he enjoyed a variety of jobs including driving trucks for Union Oil and Sutter Paving. He has also worked as a fishing guide in Waterfall, Alaska, and he finished his career working for Eastside Construction. Roger married June Frances Peterson in Bellevue in May 1987. In his retirement, he had many hobbies, including fishing and gardening — especially tending to his roses — and he was a huge fan of any and all sports. Roger

Mary Louise LaMontagne

was also a member and officer with the Issaquah Eagles Aerie No. 3054. Of all his interests, Roger especially enjoyed spending time with his granddaughters Rylie, Karli and Kassi. He is survived by his sons Jon Johanson, of Sedro Wooley, and Jason Johanson, of Colorado; daughter Becky Dargitz, of Maple Valley; and son Tim Meier, of Snoqualmie. He is also survived by his sisters Laraine Kepner and Eleanor Rutledge; his brother Earl Soderman; and six grandchildren, including his grandsons Jarred, Jessie and Joryn; and a host of extended family. Roger was preceded in death by his beloved wife June on Aug. 20, 2010. He will be laid to rest with her at Preston Cemetery. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, at Flintoft’s Funeral Chapel, 540 E. Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA 98027. A reception and celebration of his life will follow at the Issaquah Eagles, 175 Front St. N., Issaquah, WA 98027. Memorial donations in Roger’s memory are preferred to the Issaquah Eagles. Friends are invited to view photos, share memories and sign the family’s online guest book at www.flintofts.com.

Mary Louise LaMontagne, of Issaquah, passed away Dec. 7, 2012. Funeral arrangements are by Flintoft’s Funeral

Home in Issaquah. Family and friends are invited to share memories, view photos and sign the family’s online guestbook at www.flintofts. com.

transferred to Pensacola, Fla., for flight training. He was commissioned ensign on July 28, 1950, and assigned to Attack Squadron VA35 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Leyte during the Korean conflict. In 1961, Cmdr. Kirkpatrick continued his education while on active duty at the U.S. Navy Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif., receiving a Bachelor of Science in naval science in 1963. In 1966, he graduated from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I., with distinction and simultaneously received his Master of Science in international affairs from George Washington University. He was then assigned to duty as executive officer, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One in Atsugi, Japan, for a two-year tour. That tour ended early when he was recalled to the States to commission and take command of Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Fourteen in February

1968. Cmdr. Kirkpatrick was relieved of that command in July 1968, when he assumed command of Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Eleven, known as the “Checkertails,” aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. Cmdr. Kirkpatrick’s last duty assignment, prior to retirement in 1970, was as the executive officer of the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. Following his naval career, he served for 16 years as an administrator for the Seminole County School Board in Florida before retiring permanently in 1990. Darrell was preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 49 years, Patricia Rosemary (McCormick) Kirkpatrick. He later met and married Lillian May (Bailey) Butters in 2002. Survivors include sons William Eugene Kirkpatrick and Francis Lee Kirkpatrick, of Florida, and Lawrence Kevin Kirkpatrick, wife Carolyn and family of Burlington, Ontario, Canada; stepsons David

Allen Butters, wife Judy and family of Seattle, and Terrence McKean Butters and daughters of Bothell; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Sibling survivors include brothers John Robert Kirkpatrick and wife Marge, Roy Douglas Kirkpatrick, of Kremlin, Okla., and Howard Delane Kirkpatrick and wife Jackie, of Redding, Calif.; and sister Betty Jo Tennant, of Enid, Okla. Memorial services and a celebration of life with full military honors will be held after the first of the New Year under the direction of Flintoft’s Funeral Home in Issaquah, with private interment. Remembrances in Darrell’s honor and memory may be made to one of the following: Providence Hospice of Seattle, 425 Pontius Ave. N., Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98109-5452; or NavyMarine Corps Relief Society, 875 N. Randolph St., Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203.

good, very to the point … very organized,” he said. “I think all churches today have challenges, some more than others, and our challenge really is to maintain and gain people to come to the church or that we can touch on the outside through our discipleship.” Only a few months into the new position, Boyce is still solidifying her role. With the average service attendance at about 75, she has quite a few faces to remember and names to learn. “We’re at the stage where we’re getting to know one another and to figure out what is our

mission and our calling for Shepherd of the Hills here in this community is, and looking at really putting our energy towards growth,” she said. Having undergone a few transitions the past few years, the new pastor said building trusting relationships, being present and supporting people are important goals. Nordal said she is looking forward to what lies ahead with Boyce. “We’re just so very pleased to have her,” she said. “She has already made a connection with us all, and a very positive impression. I

am really looking forward to a long future with her being our pastor.” Anna Chatilo is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 •

B3

P ETS OF THE W EEK Sorsha is a 4-yearold Italian greyhound/ Chihuahua mix with long, graceSorsha ful legs and a dainty physique. Her friendly and eager-to-please nature lends itself well to learning new tricks — or even an agility class. This poised young lady can’t wait to join you on all of life’s adventures!

Simba is a stunning 5-year-old Bengal mix with shiny spots and big eyes that Simba reveal his curious nature. This clever boy is always looking for fun; he would thrive in an active household with ample opportunity for play time. This month only, adoption fees are waived on all cats one year and older.

Interested in adopting these or other animals? Call the Humane Society for Seattle/King County at 641-0080, go to www.seattlehumane.org or email humane@seattlehumane.org. All animals are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, with 30 days of pet health insurance and a certificate for a vet examination.

Robert Dale Nissley August 11, 1941 — December 2, 2012 Bob was born in Raymond, the third Robert Nissley child of Harold and V. Frances Nissley. Bob and his siblings lived in the Pine Lake area for six years. Harold constructed the family home in downtown Issaquah, and the family moved there in 1951. Bob was an avid athlete on the football, track and gymnastics teams at Issaquah High School. On Dec. 19, 1958, Bob was seriously injured in a trampoline accident, which left him a quadriplegic. He received treatment and rehabilitation at Providence Hospital in Seattle, and Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. Bob always worked hard to be productive and helpful. In the era before home computers, he used an electric typewriter to compose formal communications. Using a rotary-dial phone from the family home, he filled an important role as an employment agent. Bob gained mobility independence with his electric-powered wheelchair, enabling him to move through the town at will. He recognized the need for sidewalk and curb modifications within our city. He lobbied for improvements, and then served as adviser for accessibility issues. Bob also served as adviser to founders of ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act. His recommendations resulted in public transit modifications to carry disabled persons in wheelchairs. Bob served Community Enterprises of Issaquah (and later AtWork!) from its inception. He performed many roles from accounting department to technology supervisor, and he was very proud of his many accomplishments and wonderful interpersonal relationships. He served on the board of directors for many years. In recognition, the new

AtWork! facility in Bellevue dedicated a conference room in his name. Bob was the recipient of many awards and honors over his years of service. They include Eastside Citizen of the Year by the Journal American, Issaquah Lions “Citizen of the Year” and Certificate of Appreciation for Volunteer Service on the Elderly and Handicapped Transit Advisory Committee. In October 2009, he was presented the “Governors Trophy,” a prestigious award from Gov. Chris Gregoire, in recognition of his cumulative achievements and community service. Bob is survived by brothers Jerry Nissley, of Redmond, and Raymond Nissley, of Issaquah; sisters Lois Darst, of Cle Elum, June Willard, of Issaquah, and Janet Stover, of Noxon, Mont.; and six nieces and nephews. Bob will be remembered fondly by all of those who knew him. He wanted all to know that he loved them very much, and he appreciated all of the kindnesses that he received through his lifetime. Join family for open house reception honoring Bob anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Community Hall, 180 Sunset Way, Issaquah. We invite you to view Bob’s full obituary at www.flintofts.com, and post a favorite memory.

To My Kitten (Susan O’Connor)

As Christmas grows near I see your smile widen – you love this time of year so much I know I sometimes forget things as I grow older but one thing I never forget is how much I love you You bring a presence in my life that few people know about – you are always there for me You keep the Holiday Season so special and even though the decoration seem to be getting heavier You Always have them out I love you My Kitten, Forever – Your Miko (Michael O’Connor)


THE ISSAQUAHPRESS

SPORTS

Page B4

Wednesday December 12, 2012

Issaquah girls bolt out to a 5-0 start By John Leggett ip-sports@isspress.com The Issaquah High School girls basketball squad has compiled a 5-0 overall record in its first five contests and is the frontrunner in the Crown Division of the KingCo 4A. In a sport that customarily requires possessing several inordinately tall girls on your roster, the Eagles don’t have a starter who is even 5 feet, 11 inches. So how have they accomplished the unblemished record so far? Those who are wise to what’s what on the KingCo 4A girls basketball scene suspect that it is because, for the 15th season in a row, veteran coach Kathy Gibson is the master architect of the girls basketball program at IHS, and she knows how to build winners. Last year’s version of the purple and gold girl hoopsters, despite the same dearth of any substantial height, missed the state tournament by one victory. “Oh, believe me, size matters in basketball,” Gibson said, “but over the years at Issaquah, we have developed a reputation for

Skyline wrestlers win plateau face-off

UP NEXT

By Lillian O’Rorke ltucker@ sammamishreview.com

4Skyline at Issaquah 46:30 p.m. Dec. 14

In a match Dec. 6 where there were just as many pins as decision wins and even more forfeits, the Skyline High School Spartans beat the Eastlake Wolves, 40-30.

compensating for our lack of the giants that schools like Inglemoor almost always have, with our athleticism, aggressiveness and hustle. Also, by making sure that we knock down our open looks when the potential uncontested shots present themselves.” Thus far, the Issaquah team has been steamrolling its competition. It beat Juanita in the season opener at the Eagles Nest, 63-56; topped EdmondsWoodway, 62-55, on the road; and blew away both Roosevelt and Garfield in the 2012-13 season’s two initial Crown Division meetings — 44-26 against the Roughriders and 54-31 against the Bulldogs. The Eagles flew deep behind enemy lines Dec. 7, when they took the long bus ride to Garfield High School, then emerged with their mission accomplished as they kept a short leash See EAGLES,

UP NEXT 4Skyline wrestling team v. Roosevelt and Woodinville 46 p.m. Dec. 13 4Redmond High School

PHOTOS BY GREG FARRAR

Above, Mackenzie Wieburg, Issaquah High School junior guard, is triple-teamed on an offensive rebound attempt by (from left) Mykesha Hall, Aiden Maloney-Bertelli and Cierra Levias, of Garfield, during the fourth quarter Dec. 7 game against the Bulldogs. Below left, Jozie Crisafulli, Issaquah junior forward, is double-fouled taking a shot during the first quarter by Garfield’s Aireonna Davis (right) and Cierra Levias. Below right, Aimee Brakken (12), Issaquah High School senior guard, tries to put up two of her 12 points against Garfield junior center Page B5 Aiden Aaloney-Bertelli during the first quarter.

“We brought some intensity. Eastlake stepped up,” Skyline coach Gus Kiss said. “Our kids still had to step up and we did.” The Spartans gave up 24 points in forfeits at 170, 180 and the top two heavyweights, but received one forfeit at 106. Skyline racked up three pins, all within the first period of the match. In the 113 weight class, Nathan Swanson won in 1 minute, 32 seconds. At 120, Kody Nguyen pinned his opponent in 31 seconds. As the night’s event started at the 132-pound weight class, Justin Manipis, at 126, was the final Spartan to grapple. Skyline was leading 34-30 but a major decision, technical fall or pin by Eastlake could change that. “I knew I needed to go out there and secure a win,” Manipis said. “So, I just went out there and wrestled. I didn’t really think about it. Everything flowed and everything fell into place.” Manipis pinned his opponent in 1:02. Skyline secured several other wins that night, including a major decision See WRESTLING, Page B5

Juanita too physical for Liberty By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com

BY GREG FARRAR

Skyline junior Matt Haynie wins the 500-yard freestyle race Dec. 4 at Redmond Pool with a time of 5 minutes, 35.54 seconds.

Skyline falls to Redmond, Eastlake in season opener By Lillian O’Rorke ltucker@ sammamishreview.com With more than a dozen of its 63 competitors missing, the Skyline High School boys swim team took to the pool Dec. 4 for its season opener dual meet, eventually losing 96-87 to Redmond and 101-84.5 to Eastlake. “The boys still did really, really well. We are really pleased with them,” Skyline coach Susan Simpkins said. Athletes must have at least 10 practices before they can compete. “I think when we get all our kids qualified to swim, after the 10-practice thing, we

will have a well-rounded team.” This year, she added, the team’s leadership in terms of experience comes from a strong group of juniors: Paul Jett, Matt Haynie and Nick D’Alo. Those three, along with several others, helped the Skyline Spartans grab several victories. After starting out headto-head with Redmond and Eastlake in the 100 free, Jett pulled ahead for the win. His time of 52.45 also bought him a ticket for districts. By the time freshman Nick Nava dove in the water for the second leg of See SWIMMING, Page B5

For the first time this season, the Liberty High School gymnasium was buzzing with excitement, filled with an energetic student section ready to cheer on its girls basketball team in the Dec. 7 home opener against the Juanita Rebels. But nerves, and the enthusiasm that comes with the first home game of the season, may have gotten the best of the Patriots, who fell to Juanita, 5237, Liberty coach Randy Leifer said. “I think part of it was nerves. You know we’re a pretty young team and it was our first home game, so they were excited,” he said. The Patriots put themselves in a hole early, with poor shooting to begin the first half, sending the team into halftime down 23-13 to the Rebels. But an energized Patriots team emerged for the second half, going on a run in which Liberty outscored Juanita, 14-10, in the third quarter. With six minutes left in the game, Liberty had cut the deficit to just four points, with the Rebels leading, 36-32. But the

short comeback was not enough to turn things around against the physical Juanita squad. “We couldn’t make a basket early in the game, and then we settled in and shot a little bit better, and we got back in it and it looked like we were going to have a shot, and then we just missed a couple of opportunities,” Leifer said. He gave a lot of credit to Juanita, a team that he said is probably among the best in the league. “I think they are one of the top one or two teams in the league,” he said. “They’re a tough matchup for us, because they are physically so strong inside and their guards are so good.” After witnessing the game, this week’s practice will be devoted to cleaning up shooting mistakes and playing a more physical brand of basketball, Leifer said. “I thought we played hard, but we didn’t shoot the ball very well, and we made too many mistakes, and they really hurt us on the boards,” he said. Liberty has a relatively young team this year, with only one senior, Delane Agnew, who led the team in scoring with 10 points during the Juanita game.

The Patriots return three all-league performers in Agnew, point guard Sierra Carlson and forward Ashlan Applegate, who all made honorable mention last year. While the season is still in its infancy, Leifer said he has already seen good things from Agnew, Applegate and Carlson, as well as post Rebekah Campbell and sophomore Cherelle Demps. “I think we’re a very deep team,” Leifer said. “We’re fairly athletic and we just need to shoot the ball better.” But he said the team will need to step it up, in order to be considered among the best in the conference. “I think we’ve got a lot of even players and we need to have a few people step up, but I’m not sure which one of those that’s going to be yet,” he said. “We’re going to have to play better if we want to be in that top group.” Boys fall to Juanita, too It was a Dec. 7 doubleheader at Liberty High School, as the boys also took on Juanita shortly after the girls’ game. But the result was the same, with the Patriots falling to the Rebels, 76-

BY CHRISTINA CORRALES-TOY

Delane Agnew, Liberty High School’s senior forward, is fouled from behind by Juanita’s Tayler Lloyd during their Dec. 7 game. Juanita beat Liberty, 52-37.

61, beginning conference play with a loss.


The Issaquah Press

S COREBOARD Boys basketball KingCo 4A standings Crown Division Conf. Garfield 2 0 Ballard 1 0 Issaquah 1 1 Roosevelt 1 1 Skyline 0 1 Newport 0 2

Mendezona 7, Shelby Kassuba 6, Taylor McKerlich 4, Stella Mazzaferro 3, Alyssa Hawkinson 2, Lusi Bainviala 1 Overall 2 1 2 1 3 1 1 2 0 2 2 2

Dec. 7 games Roosevelt 40, Skyline 39 Roosevelt 9 9 7 15—40 Skyline 9 10 15 5—39 Garfield 81, Issaquah 66 Issaquah 17 12 22 15—66 Garfield 22 18 19 22—81 Issaquah—Ryan Sexton 8, Ty Gibson 6, Grant Blair 4, Brian Watson 19, Cory Neven 17, Jake Henke 12, Gage Lenheim, Lucas Schultz Garfield—Jalen McGruder 8, Torrence Baker 7, Kai Greene 6, Vincenzo Reiser 5, Tucker Haywood 21, DeMario Hall 2, Aja Buchanan 16, Trevaunte Williams 16 Dec. 8 games Les Schwab Preview At Highline CC Issaquah 57, Columbia River 45 Columbia Riv. 11 8 10 16—45 Issaquah 17 16 12 12—57 Columbia Riv.—Isaiah Smith 19, Lance Voorhees 14, Torey Jones 7, Nathan Hawthorne 5 Issaquah—Ty Gibson 12, Ryan Sexton 12, Brian Watson 12, Cory Neven 8, Jake Henke 7, Gage Lenheim 4, Lucas Schultz 2

Girls basketball KingCo 4A Standings Crown Division Conf. W L Issaquah 2 0 Newport 2 0 Skyline 2 0 Ballard 0 2 Garfield 0 2 Roosevelt 0 2

Overall W L 4 0 3 0 3 0 1 3 2 4 1 3

Dec. 5 games Issaquah 44, Roosevelt 26 Roosevelt 6 4 6 10—26 Issaquah 8 13 20 3—44 Roosevelt—Claire Villiott 8, Brenna Christensen 6, Izzy Mason 4, Emma Seymour 4, Hannah Swanson 4, Sophia Litwin, Anna Lynch Issaquah—Mandie Hill 14, Mackenzie Wieberg 10, Quincey Gibson 7, Paige Montague 5, Jozie Crisfulli 3, Hope Dahlquist 3, Aimee Brakken 2, Lauren Longo, Sarah Hiegel Skyline 53, Ballard 43 Ballard 7 14 4 18—43 Skyline 11 15 9 18—53 Ballard—Beverly Verduin 21, Shelby Bailiss 11, Riley Soukup 5, Imani Bender 4, Nancy MacGeorge 2 Skyline—Haley Smith 18, Lacey Nicholson 11, Bryn deVita 9, Shelby Kassuba 8, Ali Mendezona 5, Cassidy Daugherty 2, Alex Daugherty, Stella Mazzaferro, Taylor McKerlich Dec. 7 games Issaquah 54, Garfield 31 Issaquah 9 11 22 12—54 Garfield 6 12 3 10—31 Issaquah—Mandie Hill 16, Aimee Brakken 12, Mackenzie Wieberg 10, Quincy Gibson 4, Sara Beatty 2, Katrina Clements 2, Jozie Crisafulli 2, Hope Dahlquist 2, Miranda Hansen 2, Lauren Longo 2 Skyline 73, Roosevelt 46 Roosevelt 13 12 5 16—46 Skyline 18 25 17 13—73 Roosevelt—Hannah Swanson 15, Claire Villiot 11, Izzy Mason 8, B. Christensen 5, Emma Seymour 5, Anna Lynch 2 Skyline—Haley Smith 20, Lacey Nicholson 12, Rachel Shim 11, Alex Daugherty 7, Ali

KingCo 3A/2A Standings Conf. W L Lake Washington 1 0 Mercer Island 1 0 Juanita 0 0 Liberty 0 0 Mount Si 0 0 Interlake 0 1 Sammamish 0 1 Bellevue 0 0

Overall W L 4 0 3 0 1 3 0 2 1 0 3 2 1 2 0 0

Dec. 7 games Juanita 52, Liberty 37 Juanita 11 12 10 19—52 Liberty 6 7 14 10—37 Juanita—Jaisa Nunn 13, Jade Finau 9, Kenzie Waltar 7, Breanna Carter 6, Mikayla Jones 6, Tayler Lloyd 6, Shannon Brink 3, Mary Carter 2 Liberty—Delanie Agnew 10, Ashlan Applegate 6, Sarah Bliesner 5, Sierra Carlson 5, Rebekah Campbell 4, Avery Granberg 3, Alicia Abraham 2, Devin Anderson 2

Wrestling Dec. 6 league matches Skyline 40, Eastlake 30 106 pounds—Henri Kunold, S, won by forfeit 113—Nathan Swanson, S, pinned Kush Jobanputra, 1:33 120—Kody Nguyen, S, pinned Konrad Peterson, 0:34 126—Justin Manipis, S, pinned John Monahanm, 1:04 132—Joseph DeMatteo, S, dec. William Galarpe, 7-2 138—Tristan Steciw, S, dec. Mark Smith, 10-8 145—Joseph Gurke, S, maj. dec. Ryan Martinez, 11-2 152—Teddy Hung, E, pinned Tyler Aguirre, 1:41 170—Eli Maesner, E, won by forfeit 182—Eric Harper, E, won by forfeit 195—Cyrus Sarkosh, S, dec. Jonnie Estrada, 7-4 220—Brandon Kaufman, E, won by forfeit 285—James Bradley, E, won by forfeit Skyline 54, Garfield 24 106—Nathan Swanson, S, won by forfeit 113—Kody Nguyen, S, won by forfeit 120—Justin Manipis, S, pinned Jake Green, G, 2:24 126—Jacob Gehrett, S, pinned Henry Dahlgren, G, 2:35 132—Fasil Alexander, G, pinned Joseph DeMatteo, S, 5:04 138—Tristan Steciuw, S, pinned Shehzeb Nasim, G, 1:10 145—Joseph Gurke, S, pinned Shane Eckert, G, 3:50 152—Tyler Aguirre, S, pinned Ryan Miller, G, 1:11 160—Michael Mecham, S, pinned Jacob Rosenthal, G, 5:12 170—Aaron Goff, G, won by forfeit 182—Cyrus Sarkosh, S, pinned Kevin Strong, G, 0:34 195—Cole Teller, S, won by forfeit 220—Brian Lam, G,won by forfeit 285—Double forfeit

Clash of the Classes At Skyline Dec. 8, Saturday Mercer Island (3A) 41, Issaquah (4A) 36 106 pounds—Steven Solusod, I, won by forfeit 113—Taylan Yuasa, MI, won by forfeit 120—Jordan Hamilton, I, won by forfeit 126—Luke Wilson, MI, dec. Louden Ivey, 4-3 132—Jacob Pruchno, MI, tech. fall Luis Ramirez, 19-4 138—Mike Ong, MI, pinned Richardo Martinez, 5:00 145—Colby Starren, I, pinned Kenji Walker, MI, 3:00 152—Jerdon Helgeson, I, pinned Nicholas Richards, 3:00 160—Jack Vassau, MI, dec. Parker Hamilton, 9-8 170—Christopher Richards, MI, pinned Chance Gunte, 1:00 182—Nicholas Chandler, MI, won by forfeit 195—Evan Condon, MI, pinned Ruben Orta, 1:00 220—Ahmed Ahmed, I, pinned Andrew Picton, 1:00 285—Jonathan Norris, I, won by forf. 106 — Julissa Norvell, N, won by forf.

113 — Taylan Yuasa, MI, maj. dec. Adam Little, 11-2 120 — David Yingling, N, won by forf. 126 — Luke Wilson, MI, pinned Diego Dwyer, 3:30 132 — Jacob Pruchno, MI, pinned Nick Lounsbury, 0:49 138 — Mike Ong, MI, pinned Alex Ono, 0:53 145 — Kenji Walker, MI, pinned Jesse Langley, 2:46 152 — Nicholas Richards, MI, pinned Anders Ophus, 1:30 160 — Jack Vassau, MI, pinned Zubair Talat, 2:22 170 — Christopher Richards, MI, won by forf. 182 — Nicholas Chandler, MI, pinned Gavin Strong, 1:05 195 — Evan Condon, MI, won by forf. 220 — Andrew Picton, MI, won by forf. 285 — Austin Curtis, N, pinned Benjamin O’Connell, 1:08 Mercer Island 45, Eastlake 21 106 — double forfeit 113 — Taylan Yuasa, MI, won by forf 120 — Konrad Peterson, E, won by forf. 126 — Luke Wilson, MI, pinned John Monahan, 0:46 132 — Jacob Pruchno, MI, dec. William Galarpe, 8-4 138 — Mike Ong, MI, won by forf. 145 — Kenji Walker, MI, dec. Mark Smith, 8-2 152 — Jacob Kaufman, E, pinned Nicholas Richards, 0:55 160 — Ryan Wasserman, E, dec. Jack Vassau, 3-0 170 — Eric Harper, E, pinned Christopher Richards, 1:46 182 — Nicholas Chandler, MI, pinned Kevin Mason, 0:30 195 — Evan Condon, MI, pinned Jonnie Estrada, 3:23 220 — Andrew Picton, MI, dec. Brandon Kaufman, 9-6 285 — Benjamin O’Connell, MI, pinned James Bradley, 2:13 Skyline 39, Mercer Island 35 106 — Henri Kunold, S, won by forfeit 113 — Taylan Yuasa, M, dec. Griffin Howlett, 6-4 120 — Justin Manipis, S, won by forfeit 126 — Luke Wilson, M, tech. fall Jacob Gehrett, 18-3. 132 — Jacob Pruchno, M, dec. Joseph DeMatteo, 7-1 138 — Tristan Steciw, S, pinned Mike Ong, 1:27 145 — Joseph Gurke, S, pinned Kenji Walker, 1:26 152 — Alex Smith, S, pinned Nicholas Richards, 1:47. 160 — Tyler Aguirre, S, pinned Jack Vassau, 4:01 170 — Michael Mecham, S, dec. Christopher Richards, 10-7 182 — Nicholas Chandler, M, won by forfeit.195 — Evan Condon, M won by forfeit. 220 — Andrew Picton, M won by forfeit. 285 — Benjamin O’Connell, M won by forfeit. Mount Si 48, Skyline 28 106 — Hunter Conway, M, won by forfeit. 113 — Griffin Howlett, S, pinned Griffin Armour 1:43 120 — Justin Manipis, S, dec. Eli Clure 6-2 126 — Wilkins Melgard, M, pinned Jacob Gehrett 1:00 132 — Joseph DeMatteo 138 — Tristan Steciw, S, pinned Ryley Absher 4:18 145 — Bruce Stuart, M, pinned Joseph Gurke :37 152 — Tye Rodne, M, pinned Alex Smith 3:39 160 — Tyler Aguirre, S, pinned Max Kenagy 4:56 170 — Michael Mecham, S, dec. Cole Palmer 8-3 182 — Timothy Corrie, M, won by forfeit 195 — Mitch Rorem, M, won by forfeit 220 — Kelly Klupar, M, won by forfeit. 285 — Nate Whited, M, won by forfeit. Mount Si 46, Issaquah 27 106 — Hunter Conway, M, maj. dec. Steven Solusod, 13-2 113 — Griffin Armour, M, won by forfeit 120 — Eli Clure, M, dec. Louden Ivey, 8-7 126 — Jordan Hamilton, I, dec. Wilkins Melgard, 14-8 132 — Gunnar Harrison, M, pinned Spencer Tickman, 1:13. 138 — Tanner Stahl, M, dec. Richardo Martinez, 6-0 145 — Bruce Stuart, M, pinned Colby Starren, 5:23 152 — Jerdon Helgeson, I, pinned Tye Rodne 160 — Max Kenagy, M, pinned Caleb Elam 170 — Cole Palmer, M, pinned Chance Gunte 182 — Timothy Corrie, M, won by forfeit 195 — Ruben Orta, I, pinned Mitch Rorem 220 — Ahmed Ahmed, I, pinned Kelly Klupar 285 — Matt Solusod, I, pinned Nate Whited

Swimming FROM PAGE B4

the 200 free relay, his Skyline team, also made up of D’Alo, Tucker Russell and Sam deMers, was already ahead of the pack. The boys held on to that lead all the way to the end, winning the race in 1:41.17, three seconds ahead of Redmond and four seconds ahead of Eastlake. Dec. 4 marked Nava’s first high school swim meet ever, and before the night was over he had already qualified for districts in two individual events: the 200 IM with a second-place swim of 2:17.20 and the 100 fly with a third-place swim of 1:03.35. “He was very excited about that. We were very excited about that,” said Simpkins, adding that the freshman earned the team’s “swimmer of the

Wrestling FROM PAGE B4

against Eastlake when Joseph Gurke won 11-2 in the 145 match. At 132, Joseph DeMatteo finished 7-2, and Cyrus Sarkosh beat his guy 7-4 in the 195 match. In the 138 contest, a three-point near fall secured the 10-8 win for Tristan Steciw.

Eagles FROM PAGE B4

on the Bulldogs, spanking them by 23 points. Issaquah’s offense was spearheaded by the scoring tandem of Mandie Hill and Aimee Brakken, who tabulated a combined total of 28 points, logging 16 and 12, respectively. The Eagles led from start to finish, breaking the contest wide open in the third period, and electrifying the sizable throng of Issaquah fans who made the trip to watch their unbeaten girls when they outscored the home squad, 22-3, in that third frame. Brakken pretty much set

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 •

B5

meet” award. Also putting in a solid effort for the Spartans was Haynie. When he started out, pulling through the water in the first lap of the 500 free, he was right in line with Eastlake’s Kuroshe Mahak and Redmond’s Ryan Haper. After seven lengths, he was ahead by two or three feet, doubling that after 11 trips across the pool. By the final stroke, Haynie had beat Harper by a second and a half and Mahak by 6.3 seconds, qualifying for districts with a time of 5:35.54. “You just have to pace yourself, really. I’ve had quite a bit of time with the 500 to figure out what speed I need to go to be able to make it the entire way,” Haynie said. He has been swimming the 500 in pretty much every high school meet for the past two years. “There has been a lot of times where I either went too fast or too

slow and had energy left over.” Haynie also qualified for districts in the 200 free, where he took third with a time of 2:05.46. But freestyle aside, he is actually eyeing the 100 fly. Hoping to swim the event at the state championships, Haynie said he is working a lot this year on his butterfly stroke. Skyline not only scored in races but diver Max Levy blew the competition away. His final score of 220.05 was more than 32 points higher than any other competitor. New to the team this year are 15 athletes who are also new to the sport. Those 15 helped Skyline pack the 50 free with 32 Spartans in 12 heats. “We let them experience what the 100 free is,” Simpkins said. “They’ve never done it and this was a good meet to do it in because we have a lot of time.”

During the 160 match, both Skyline’s Michael Mecham and Eastlake’s Ryan Wasserman fought to keep the other guy from scoring even one point. With a takedown each, the score was tied 2-2 at the end of the three periods. Ten seconds into overtime, Mecham won with a takedown. After the ref raised Mecham’s arm in victory, the two wrestlers hugged.

“He’s one of my close friends,” Mecham said. The two have known each other since middle school, and Mecham explained that he dropped down from 170 to 160 that week just to spar against his friend. “I just wanted to do that for us as a friendship, and I thought it was a lot of fun,” he said. “It would have been fun either way, if I lost or won. I just enjoyed the whole thing.”

the tone when six seconds in, she drained a 3-pointer to inspire the Eagles. “I wasn’t surprised that we were able to sink that handful of treys and have such a good shooting percentage from the floor,” Gibson said. “These girls can really shoot it, so whenever they are opened for the shot, they know they have the green light to fire away. “Our focus, intensity and ability to take care of the basketball was a lot better in the second half,” she added. “I will be much happier, though, when I see this group put together a full four quarters of basketball.” This year’s team is mostly 11th-graders, but

some of the tallest girls on the club are senior and freshman players. Senior post Miranda Hansen is the only genuine 6-footer on this season’s squad. When she sunk a bucket in the fourth quarter, the entire Issaquah bench jumped to its feet yelling. Hansen is joined by a pair of freshman who will most likely grow to be her size by their sophomore campaigns. While frosh forward Ellen MacNary is 5 feet 11, her freshman cohort, Hope Dahlquist, is 5 feet 10. There is also a twosome of juniors, Mackenzie Wieberg and Jozie Crisafulli, who are approaching the 6-foot range.

THOMAS R. QUICKSTAD, DDS FAMILY DENTISTRY ON THE PLATEAU SINCE 1989

Everyone Needs a Little Help Now and Then...

SERVICES AVAILABLE: Preventive Cleanings Digital X-ray (75% less radiation) Cosmetic Veneers Crowns Sealants Dentures Bridges Teeth Bleaching Extractions Implants Fillings

Stress Patty Groves, M.A., L.M.H.C. Depression Issaquah Creek Counseling Center Life Transitions 545 Rainier Blvd. N., Issaquah Loss and Grief www.issaquahcreekcounseling.com Relationship Problems (425) 898-1700

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME 425-391-1331• 3707 Providence Point. Dr. SE Issaquah, WA 98029

Get more out of your winter with Issaquah Ski & Snowboard School! Serving the Greater Eastside

Lessons begin January 5th for 8 weeks

Runner’s Wish List

Transportation Included

t shoes • The righ d r and win ight, wate • Lightwe othing cl resistant reflective ps, lights, m la d a e H s • and glove vests, hats

Register online or call www.issaquahskischool.com (425) 572-6786 Forms available at Issaquah Schools

Issy SKI SCHOOL

Issaquah Ski & Snowboard School non-profit since 1971

1 FREE BUY 3 gpeerftormance socks

r va Feetures! equal or lesse 31 Free sock of thru Dec.

lue

Free ASICS tech shirt with purchase of $75 gift card 22830 NE 8TH STREET 425.898.4173 MON-FRI: 10-7 • SAT: 10-6 • SUN: 11-5

BROOKS

NIKE

plateaurunner.com

ASICS SAUCONY MIZUNO NEW BALANCE


THE ISSAQUAHPRESS

SCHOOLS

B6

DEEP !MPACT

Popular after-school enrichment program debuts at Maywood By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com Most days of the week, it takes a bit of coaxing to get Maywood Middle School sixth-grader Alya Phillips out of bed. But on days when she gets to go to !MPACT, an after-school enrichment

program at the school, you don’t have to ask her twice to wake up. “Usually during the week I’m really tired, and I have nothing to do after school, and then I realize it’s an !MPACT day and it helps me get out of bed a little bit faster,” she said. !MPACT is a fun, engag-

Drew Fritz (left) and Will Dunlap play foosball at !MPACT.

ing program that gives middle school students a place to develop their interests and craft new relationships in a safe, monitored environment, said Karen Kirsch, the program’s site manager. The program is already in place at middle schools across the district, but this is !MPACT’s inaugural year at Maywood. “It’s definitely growing,” Kirsch said. “We’re projected to be the biggest program on the south end in a few years. We’re going to be busting at the seams probably, because there isn’t really a program like this in this area.” The district program combines tutoring, homework time, enrichment classes and recreation to provide a unique environment that not only benefits the children, but also

BY CHRISTINA CORRALES-TOY

MAYWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL 4Built in 1969 41997 remodel 4Grades 6-8 4900 students 4www.maywood. issaquah.wednet.edu

ON THE WEB Learn more about Maywood Middle School’s !MPACT program at http://bit.ly/Uc5BMV.

assists working parents looking for affordable after-school care. Maywood’s program has a plethora of activities to keep kids entertained, including a pool table, a foosball table, an Xbox and a Wii. But it’s not all fun, games and field trips, even though a lot of it is, Kirsch said. It’s also about doing homework and learning new things. For example, Kirsch plans technology lessons utilizing an iPad, hosts cooking classes and creates activities that force the kids to think critically about the world around them. “It’s really driven by student interest, and we kind of explore different things that they want to do,” Kirsch said. “It’s a place to hang out, essentially, right

Science Path II improves opportunities for students The Issaquah School District excels in providing opportunities for students who want to challenge themselves academically. Elementary school students can become involved in programs such as SAGE, MERLIN or Science-Tech; high school students have a variety of Honors and Advanced Placement classes to choose from; and middle schoolers can opt to take Humanities Plus or Math Path II. However, there is one piece missing in this web of academic opportunities: a chance for students to challenge themselves while taking middle school science. Science is the favorite subject of many young students — it inspires curiosity and wonder, and is often viewed as more interesting than math, history or language arts. Since many

students would willingly take an advanced science class if they had the opportunity, it is unfair to deny students a chance to learn more in-depth about a subject that they are already enthusiastic about. Science Path II, the brainchild of the district science department, was created to fix that problem. Science Path II finally fills the middle school science gap, creating an option for students who are interested and excel in science to study the subject more in depth and at a faster pace. Starting next year, sixth-graders who choose

Certified Residential Specialists Choose a CRS Certified Residential Specialist when you buy or sell a home. Some CRS Realtors in King County are shown here. Call 1-800540-3257 for Certified Residential Specialists serving other areas or counties in the state. For more information on the CRS designation or for the names of CRS out of state, call 1-888-462-8841. The Council of Residential Specialists of Realtors National Marketing Institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.

Barbara Andersen

Laurie Ashbaugh

(425) 392-1211

(425) 450-5287

John L Scott Greater Eastside

Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside

Debbie Kinson Windermere Greater Eastside

(206) 948-6581

Cindy Hamman

RE/MAX Integrity Greater Eastside & Seattle

(425) 442-4942

Kathy Lee

Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside

(206) 465-7062

Steve Honnen

Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside & Sammamish

(206) 819-6166

Bev Parsons

Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside & Seattle

(206) 972-0649

“Fewer than 4% of the Realtors in the nation have their CRS designation but they account for 24% of all the transactions. Do the math. Maybe it’s time to call CRS!”

Also try us at the CRS web site

www.crs.com

–Jerry Rippeteau, Associate Broker, CRS CRS Washington State Chapter

CRS Agents: Increase your visibility by participating in the special CRS page. Contact Jill at (425) 392-6434 ext. 229 or jgreen@isspress.com

to take Science Path II will take seventhgrade Rachel earth and space sciShaw ence their Liberty High School sixth-grade year, take eighthgrade physical science as seventh-graders and tackle high school biology in their eighth-grade year. Science Path II will not only create more options for middle school students interested in science, but it will also solve many other problems in our school district. Students who usually struggle in middle school science will be able to get more help in understanding the material, as teachers will no longer have to deal with finding a balance between

Hall Monitor

Wednesday December 12, 2012

moving at a slower pace for struggling students and moving at a faster pace so more advanced students don’t get bored. Furthermore, students who travel through Science Path II at Maywood and enter the ranks of Liberty High School will continue to challenge themselves in science by signing up for classes such as AP chemistry and AP physics — classes that Liberty currently doesn’t have because of the small student population. Ultimately, this would solve Liberty’s problem of having a lack of science opportunities as well. Science Path II is a crucial, well thought-out addition to the middle school science curriculum. Students of all ages, in schools across the Issaquah School District, will greatly benefit from this opportunity.

BY CHRISTINA CORRALES-TOY

Karen Kirsch (center), !MPACT site coordinator, works with students Mikayla Bridges (left) and Alya Phillips on scrapbooks during Maywood Middle School’s !MPACT after-school enrichment program. after school and do something productive. That’s really what it is.” Derrick Bridges enrolled his daughter Mikayla in the Maywood program and said he appreciates the fact that she is doing something educational and fun after school. “I work 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so I can’t get her until the evening, and the fact that she can sit and learn and interact with other kids is just great,” he said. “I mean, they went to GameWorks last week and that’s stuff that I can’t quite do for her during the day, so it’s awesome.” Mikayla’s favorite part about !MPACT is the opportunity to create new friendships with her fellow !MPACT participants. “I would really miss these people if we didn’t have !MPACT,” she said. For Alya, the prospect

of !MPACT is the main thing that keeps her going through a long, tiresome school day. “I always look forward to coming to !MPACT,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like you are at a daycare type thing. There’s pingpong, pool and a foosball table.” !MPACT is open weekdays after school, during school breaks and during the summer. For the school year, the fee is $225 per month, if a child goes to !MPACT every weekday. The cost decreases depending on how many days a week a child attends. Even with the fee, Bridges said he would recommend the program to any parent. “You know it’s the most inexpensive thing for parents around and the most beneficial to your kids,” he said.

Newcastle Elementary School crowns geography bee champ Palms were sweating and nerves were rattled when a group of 10 fourthand fifth-graders gathered to compete in Newcastle Elementary School’s 2012 geography bee Nov. 30. The 10 competitors stood in front of more than 50 of their classmates and answered questions taken directly from the National Geographic Society. Ultimately, it was fifthgrader Nathan Jackson who won the competition

after correctly identifying Australia as the country where Fremantle Prison is located. Nathan will now have an opportunity to take a written test, with a chance to qualify for the state championships. The other nine competitors were Grace Beal, Allison Constantini, Lauren Crutchfield, Dillon Gyotoku, Molly Keegan, Theo Koob, Matty Lilley, Abigail Peacock and Beau Pedersen.


The Issaquah Press

P OLICE & F IRE Gone A GPS unit was stolen from a vehicle parked in the 5000 block of Northwest Village Park Drive before 9:07 a.m. Nov. 20.

Unlocked Police responded to the 700 block of Northwest Gilman Boulevard at 1:03 p.m. Nov. 20 after a woman accidentally locked a child inside a vehicle. A towing company arrived and later unlocked the vehicle.

Popped Police responded to suspicious activity in the 200 block of Southwest Clark Street at 1:21 p.m. Nov. 20 after a landscaper reported finding a handgun on the ground. The weapon turned out to be an air gun.

Game over Police arrested a juvenile male in the 900 block of Greenwood Boulevard Southwest at 1:51 p.m. Nov. 20 for stealing a Playstation videogame console and 10 games.

Pain in the grass Police responded to a traffic hazard at the Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier Blvd. S., at 2:06 p.m. Nov. 20 after a vehicle became stuck in the grass. The driver said he was trying to get out of the parking lot, but was blocked in by buses and decided to back across the grass.

Hosts FROM PAGE B1

the world from another person’s point of view, seeing what things are exciting and different about your area, makes you feel good about your own neighborhood and your own city.” To be a host family is a true volunteer effort,

Horses FROM PAGE B1

Mulholland has performed with Manning’s horses in Monroe, Lynden and various parts of Canada. “One of the things that kind of amazed me about Duncan was even though he had been away from horses for 60 years, he was quite comfortable,” Manning said in a phone interview. “He also knows what he’s capable of doing, and for 82 years old, he can do a lot of things that people can’t.” Mulholland recently visited Las Vegas to attend an air show at Nellis Air Force Base. Manning notified them ahead of time that Mulholland would attend. When Mulholland arrived, they had the Budweiser wagon set up for him to drive.

ON THE MAP See the Issaquah Police Department’s reported activity from the previous 72 hours at a crime map created by the city at www. ci.issaquah.wa.us/crimemap. Addresses contained in the map have been rounded to the nearest hundred block. The address displayed reflects the location where the officer responded to the incident — not necessarily where the incident occurred.

EASTSIDE FIRE & RESCUE REPORTS FOR DEC. 1-6 4A motor vehicle accident with injuries occurred at 7:45 a.m. Dec. 1 in the 27100 block of eastbound Interstate 90, east of High Point Way, requiring the assistance of four engines. 4Two engines were dispatched at 10:44 a.m. Dec. 1 to a motor vehicle accident with injuries in the 16400 block of Renton-Issaquah Road Southeast. 4An engine assisted in an authorized, controlled burning at 3:02 p.m. Dec. 1 in the 25600 block of Southeast Issaquah-Fall City Road.

Amanda Strombom said. The students are given a monthly $100 stipend, but there is no financial assistance for the hosts. Still, the Stromboms said they would recommend hosting to all their friends and would even consider doing it again. “I think if you’ve got the capacity to handle it, you haven’t got too many issues going on, it’s a very fun thing,” Amanda Strombom said.

“How exciting, and I never ever thought, when stationed at Nellis, I would be driving Clydesdales on the base ramp,” he added. Reflecting on his life, Mulholland is very appreciative. “Things have been very good. I have been very fortunate,” he stated. “It’s always with people, people-helping. Sure, there are a lot of miserable people in the world, but there are a lot of nice ones, and I’ve met so many of them. I’m getting spoiled — I’ve been so fortunate.” “It’s an honor to know him,” Manning said about Mulholland. “He is a part of draft-horse history, especially Clydesdales. He is such a nice person. It is easy to have him around and fun.” Sabrina Squires is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.

Visit our Open Houses at Providence Point each Sunday between 1:00 & 4:00pm

We specialize in Providence Point, an award winning community for the active 55+! Providence Real Estate will always be the real estate company of choice for Providence Point residents and future residents!

Let us help you buy or sell your property!

1505 NW Gilman Blvd. Ste 2 Issaquah, WA 98027 (In the Rowley Center)

www.providencepoint.com 425-392-2300 • Toll free 1-800-648-1818

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 •

B7


THE ISSAQUAHPRESS

A&E

B8 • Wednesday, December 12, 2012

IF YOU GO

By David Hayes dhayes@isspress.com

BACK IN THE

HOBBIT By David Hayes

Issaquah Library celebrates the release of ‘The Hobbit’ with Second Breakfast Party, featuring games, prizes and lumbus bread

In 1999, a little known director from New Zealand undertook one of the greatest risks in cinematic history, committing $285 million to consecutively film J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Peter Jackson’s gamble paid off big — a $2.9 billion worldwide box office haul with 30 Academy Award nominations and 17 wins. Now, 13 years later, Jackson is hoping to capture lightning in a bottle again with the release on Dec. 14 of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first installment of a planned trilogy from Tolkien’s “The Hobbit or There and Back Again.” To celebrate the release, the Issaquah Library is hosting a Second Breakfast Party. The party will be the third the library has hosted recently for popular movie releases, including “Twilight” and “The Hunger Games.” Teen librarian Jessica Lopez said readers live, eat and breathe such books, which frequently have long hold lists in the library. “Naturally, those who love these books so much would jump at the opportunity to attend a party with activities, food, raffles and prizes centered around them,” she said. “‘The Hobbit’ is unique in that it is more of a beloved classic than a hot new teen book, but I think it definitely has a following of people who are excited about the party.” Long before Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin left the Shire to help destroy the One Ring and save Middle Earth from the machinations of the Dark Lord Sauron, as detailed in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Frodo’s uncle Bilbo had an adventure of his own. Written by Tolkien in 1937, “The Hobbit” details how Bilbo was recruited by the wizard Gandalf the Grey to be a burglar and lucky 14th member of a band of dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, looking to reclaim their heritage and ownership of the Lonely Mountain and the treasures that lie

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ Second Breakfast Party 411 a.m. Dec. 15 4Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way 4392-5430 4Open to all ages within. The biggest obstacle to their quest is the dragon Smaug, who pillaged the dwarven kingdom from Thorin’s grandfather and still sleeps upon the vast treasure. In their journey to Lonely Mountain and beyond, the unlikely group has run-ins with elves, trolls, giant spiders, goblins, wargs, men and a certain recluse by the name of Gollum. Lopez and children’s librarian Ann Crewdson have planned many activities for their party that pay homage to many of the key elements of “The Hobbit,” including: 4A ring toss 4Nerf bow and arrow skill exhibition 4Hobbit trivia 4A workshop on how to write your name in elvish 4A raffling off of prizes for movie tickets, an illustrated copy of “The Hobbit,” an elvish dictionary and a movie poster. There will also be a treasure chest with fun prizes. In keeping with the Second Breakfast theme (Hobbits have at least seven meal times, including breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner and supper), Lopez said the party will have Hobbit-like food, like elven lumbus bread, Hobbit cake, dried fruit and juice (sorry, no mead). She added party attendees are invited to dress as their favorite characters; she and Crewdson will dress as a Hobbit and elf themselves. “As librarians, we love to see enthusiasm related to any book, and these parties, I think, are our way of encouraging and celebrating the enthusiasm and love of reading in our communities,” Lopez said.

Free performances of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ come to Issaquah By Lillian O’Rorke ltucker@sammamishreview.com In 1947, The Lux Radio Theatre delivered “It’s a Wonderful Life” from the silver screen to living rooms across the country via the radio. Now, 65 years later, Eastridge Church is recreating the radio play for the Eastside community. With performances Dec. 14 and 15 at the church’s 72,000-square-foot Issaquah facility, the performance is not short on theatrics. “It’s got layers to it,” said director Steve Wright, of Sammamish. “It’s a radio show performing a movie, so we have a few things going on.” He explained that because he and the church first staged the show last year, this Christmas they wanted to change it around by doing things like restaging, adding three times as much lighting effects and providing

little surprises for the audience. Onstage, the radio’s transition chords of the past have been replaced with live musical numbers that relate to the scenes. Adding to the experience is an 18-piece orchestra. And, just as Lux advertised its soap to radio audiences, the performance includes bubbly commercial breaks. “It’s kind of cool because the bubbles fall on you, and I don’t know how, but they use this bubble machine,” Ellexa Gerdes said. The second-grade student at Samantha Smith Elementary School in Sammamish plays Zuzu Bailey, who famously says to her father, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” Also, just like the original Lux radio studio production, the audience is a part of the show with its real-time reactions. Just in case people forget, an “applause” sign hung above the stage lights up.

A show within a show, the stage is the radio station studio, meaning that all two dozen local actors taking part have to remain onstage, even when it’s not their turn to be broadcast across the radio waves. “You kind of have those two roles that you have to play: the person that’s relaxing and waiting for her next part and then the person that’s up at the microphone,” said Marianne Giberson, of Issaquah who plays several roles, including Violet Bick. “It’s taken a while to get that balance of what to do when you’re not at a microphone and kind of figure out how to interact with all the other actors onstage.” But figuring out how to stay in the character of a 1940’s radio actor isn’t the only challenge. Regional actor Justin Beal, of Kirkland, plays the lead role of George Bailey. He said the odd part is getting used to speaking fast for the radio and avoiding

“dead air.” “That’s something that I’m not used to as an actor. As an actor, you want to take your time, make sure the audience hears what you are saying,” Beal said. “But apparently radio plays aren’t like that, and I just learned that … you have to go fast and bull right over the audience.” While the show mirrors the movie, it is also a church production and includes a Christian message. “It’s not over the top. It doesn’t point a finger at anybody,” Wright said. “It just points out something that the movie does. Here’s a man that has done wonderful things and what happens when he is at the end of his rope? He prays to God. That’s in the show, that’s in the movie.” The director said he hopes everyone in the community will enjoy it as an entertaining event, however they celebrate the holiday season.

IF YOU GO ‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ 47 p.m. Dec. 14 -15 42 p.m. Dec. 15 4Eastridge Church 424205 S.E. IssaquahFall City Road 4Free, reserved tickets required 4www.eastridgetoday.com/ wonderful 4270-6300

“People who are non-Christians, or people who choose not to go in that direction, will still have a great time coming to see this. They will see a nice theatrical event,” he said. “I want people to enjoy this performance as much as they enjoy the movie, because I sure do.”

Watch Miracle Season on KOMO 4 BEST OF ISSAQUAH 15 CONSECUTIVE YEARS! 1996-2011

Town & Country Square 1175 NW Gilman Blvd. Suite B-4, Issaquah (425) 391-9270

Come party with us! Let us host your family or company party large or small Private banquet rooms available • Proudly serving quality Chinese cuisine for over 23 years! • Call for reservations

Cantonese & Szechwan Cuisine Christmas Day - Open 10-5 • New Years Day - Open 10-9 Mon-Fri 11:00AM - 9:00PM • Sat-Sun 9:30AM - 9:30PM

317 NW Gilman Blvd., Suite 43 (In Gilman Village)

Issaquah • 425.391.7200

CASCADE GARDEN

Chinese Restaurant & Lounge

1580 NW Gilman Blvd Issaquah Next to QFC 425.391.9597 www.cascadegarden.com

December 15th at 7 p.m. Join KOMO 4’s Steve Pool and Molly Shen to celebrate the inspiring lives of Seattle Children’s Hospital patients. Enjoy seasonal entertainment and heartwarming stories. Donations will benefit uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s. Call in and pledge your support! Thank you to our sponsors:

Ad space provided by:


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.