The Issaquah Press Section
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COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2010
Learn about Northwest noir at the library
A new parents’ nightmare
Mother remains in the hospital while father cares for the baby
BY GREG FARRAR
Nate Bower looks down at his daughter, Sage, in their home near May Valley, as they wait for wife and mother Sarah Bower to return home from the hospital.
By Laura Geggel Issaquah Press reporter By the time Sage Bower was born in the early hours of Aug. 24, her mother, Sarah Bower, was already in a coma after experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke. “It was the scariest thing I had ever been through,” said Sarah’s husband, Nate Bower. “I thought I was losing her right there. I was yelling at her to try to get her to talk. Words can’t explain it.” Sarah and Nate Bower were ecstatic about being new parents. The two had met through friends at church and married in 2001, living in Issaquah before they moved to Maple Valley and then next to May Valley. Nate worked in construction, but recently lost his job because of the Great Recession. Sarah worked as a hairstylist at Issaquah’s Salon Jade, which she owned with her mother for four years, participating in ArtWalk and Salmon Days, until she sold it in June. Sage was due Aug. 19, and the family’s physician was planning to induce labor. But Sage was HELP THE born an entirely difBOWER FAMILY ferent way. Sarah, 34, awoke at 3 a.m. Donate to The Sarah Aug. 24, complainBower Donation Fund ing of stomach at any Wells Fargo. Call pains and a poundthe Issaquah branch ing headache. Nate drove her to at 557-0551 for the the emergency account number. room at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle and watched as they plugged his wife into an IV dripping with painkillers. Her blood pressure had skyrocketed. He held her hand and held a rag over her throbbing head. Then, her left side went limp. Doctors realized she had just had a stroke. Doctors delivered Sage via C-section so that Sarah’s blood pressure would drop. Neurosurgeon Gregory Foltz happened to be on site and he managed her case. Shortly after her stroke, Sarah’s physicians learned she had HELLP — hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels and a low platelet count. HELLP is rare, and more likely to affect white, pregnant women older than 25. HELLP patients often feel tired and experience pain in the upper part of their abdomen, as well as headaches or nausea. Because many healthy pregnant women experience such symptoms, HELLP is hard to catch, but women with high blood pressure can ask their doctors to test them, according to FamilyDoctor.org. The high blood pressure caused by HELLP likely led to her stroke, her husband said.
By Laura Geggel Issaquah Press reporter
After the delivery, Sage was safe, but Sarah was sedated and not responding with normal reflexes. Doctors rushed her to a CAT scan. Sarah’s medical diagnosis was going from bad to worse; the CAT scan showed she had bleeding in her brain. When blood enters the brain, it causes swelling. As a Jehovah’s Witnesses, Sarah would not accept a blood transfusion. Foltz inserted a ventricular drain into her brain to help drain the blood from the hemorrhage, but Sarah’s blood started clotting. Nate had called some close family friends, and Foltz explained Sarah’s options to them. Foltz said could use a drug, called tissue plasminogen activator, that would help unclot the blood in her brain, but the FDA had not yet approved the drug for the procedure. With Nate’s permission, Foltz used the drug. It worked perfectly. “Really, within a few minutes of inserting this tube, her brain was under tremendous pressure and the drain stopped working,” Foltz said. “She would have died had we not
The wild Pacific Northwest can pull at any artist’s imagination, whether that artist is a painter, writer, photographer or unsuspecting hiker. The region’s gloomy winters, dense forests, rugged mountains and deep Puget Sound act as an ideal backdrop for Susan Olds mysteries, thrillers, UFO sightings and legends. Ask any “Twin Peaks” fan who has visited the Snoqualmie Valley, or any “Twilight” reader who has journeyed to Forks to see the setting of the novels detailing the lives of vampires and werewolves. North Bend art historian Susan Olds will present “Northwest Noir: Mysteries, Legends and Landscapes” at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 at Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way. Her talk will delve into American Indian legends and art, Sasquatch sightings and stories, and unexplained mysteries, as well as contemporary art and novels set in the Northwest. Sasquatch, in particular, intrigued Olds. “What I found interesting is how many sightings have been recorded,” she said. “Loggers and Caucasians have their myths, but it actually goes back to the Native Americans.” Skamania County, in Southwest Washington, has an ordinance banning Bigfoot hunting.
See NIGHTMARE, Page B2
See NOIR, Page B3
CONTRIBUTED
Sarah (left) and Nate Bower pose for a photograph Aug. 22.
“It was the scariest thing I had ever been through. I thought I was losing her right there. I was yelling at her to try to get her to talk. Words can’t explain it.” — Nate Bower Sarah Bower’s husband
Congregation marks 9/11 anniversary with service project By Kirsten Johnson Issaquah Press intern
O
BY MATT MOLEN
Andrew Larsen (standing, right) works with other members of Boy Scout Troop 697 and members of his Issaquah LDS church Sept. 11 on the Tradition Lake Reclamation Project toward his Eagle Scout award.
n the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, members of a local church were hard at work in the community to help give the somber day a new image. More than 80 volunteers from the Issaquah congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints ventured up to Tradition Plateau on a sunny morning to take part in the Tradition Lake Reclamation Project. Andrew Larsen, a local teen working toward his Eagle Scout award, created the event for his Eagle Scout service project. As a member of the Issaquah LDS congregation, Larsen received many willing hands from his Scout Troop 697 and church. The project asked for help to remove scotch broom, a plant growing invasively on the plateau. The weeds could then decompose and allow for new, natural plants to grow in, essentially restoring areas of the plateau. By 10 a.m., volunteers of all ages had arrived ready to help. Krispy Kreme doughnuts were stacked nearby as a snack break for the hard workers. The LDS church designated Sept. 11 as the Northwest Day of Service — 11,000 volunteers in Western Washington alone took part in 157 service projects similar to Larsen’s. As bishop of the Issaquah congregation, Steve Balkman explained that the church wanted to selflessly give back to the community on the tragic day in history. Along with Larsen’s Eagle Scout project, the church offered three other local opportunities for members to help, including a care package project for military per-
sonnel, a back-to-school drive for underprivileged kids and a House of Hope Amphitheater repainting project. “We wanted to find projects that could impact the community,” Balkman said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for young people.” Larsen is a 16-year-old sophomore at Issaquah High School. As a requirement for earning his Eagle Scout, he organized the project entirely himself to demonstrate his leadership skills and commitment to service. For any teen attempting
to earn an Eagle Scout, all requirements must be completed before his 18th birthday. “This is an Eagle Scout requirement, but the service is a lot of fun,” Larsen said. One of Larsen’s Scout leaders, Matthew Balkman, explained how rare it is for a Scout to earn the Eagle Scout rank. He said that less than 2 percent of Scouts ever do. “A big part of Boy Scouts is See PROJECT, Page B3
BY MATT MOLEN
Deanna Bartholomew, with daughter Alaina, members of the Issaquah Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, join other members and Boy Scouts at Tradition Lake.
SERVICE COMMEMORATES FALLEN AMERICANS By Sarah Gerdes When President Obama asked for Americans to spend a day of service in commemoration fallen countrymen, Issaquah residents responded to the call. On Sept. 11, hundreds of men and woman from three congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered almost 6,000 pounds of food from local grocery stores. Many went door to door, picking up cans that had been left out for pickup. “We printed 32,000 flyers that were hung on doorknobs by our young men and women,” said President Robert Johnson, who oversees 10 LDS congregations on the Eastside, stretching from Mercer Island to North Bend. “Every community responded in an incredibly gracious way.” Officially named the Day of Service Northwest, 8,000 LDS members participated in the region, conducting approximately 150 service projects for nonprofit organizations, individuals or community programs. The food drive raised 22,000 pounds of food given to local food banks and another 5,000 pounds for Northwest Harvest. Cash donations are nearing $9,000. “Members of the congregation provide service already,” Johnson said. “The goal with this effort was to reach beyond our own, people we don’t know or don’t see. We wanted to take this to a larger scale.” He said he expects the day may become an annual event. “Serving one another brings us together as neighbors and as a community,” he said. “We’ll no doubt be providing service to the community next year.”
B2 • Wednesday, September 22, 2010
C OMMUNITY CALENDAR
DEADLINE
grange has ‘Spare Parts’ Sweet Adelines’ The Spare Parts, sponsored by the Issaquah Valley Grange, will sing at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Masonic Hall, 57 W. Sunset Way. Call 206-232-5233.
A writer’s open house is from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Hailstone Feed Store, 232 Front St. N. Registration is not required, but appreciated. See a complete fall schedule at www.writetotheedge.com. The Issaquah branch of the American Association of University Women’s first general membership meeting is its fall potluck at 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at the King County Library Service Center, 960 Newport Way N.W. The AAUW’s mission is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. E-mail issaquah@aauw-wa.org. Habitat for Humanity’s 11th annual Garage Sale is from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sept. 24-25 at Faith United Methodist Church 3924 Issaquah-Pine Lake Road. All proceeds go toward new home-building projects. It’s Family Day at the Issaquah Farmers Market, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sept. 25 at Pickering Farm, 1730 10th Ave. N.W. Little Sprouts will be selling handmade items in the courtyard. Quarter Past 8 will perform family rock, blues, country, folk and pop from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the courtyard. The Swedish Mobile Mammography truck will be at Providence Marianwood from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at 3725 Providence Point Drive S.E. Make an appointment by calling 206320-2500. Bring your insurance card and photo ID to appointment. Get directions at www.providencemarianwood.org. Rogue Ales hosts Pints for Prostates, from noon – 6 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Issaquah Brewhouse, 35 W. Sunset Way. Pints for Prostates is a campaign developed to reach men with information about PSA testing and prostate health screening. There will be hourly bathroom tours and latex glove contests, a toast to Pints for Prostates, bleu ball specials, and group members will be on site with prostate cancer prevention information and apparel. Go to www.pintsforprostates.org. A special Front Porch Theatre Reading of excerpts from “The Scarlet Letter,” presented by Intiman Theatre and the Sammamish Arts Commission, is at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E. This public event is free. Volunteer to be a reader by e-mailing frontporch@intiman.org. The fourth annual Sammamish Art Fair, sponsored by the Sammamish Arts Commission, the city of Sammamish and 4Culture, is from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Oct. 9-10 at City Hall, 801 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish. The fair features some of the best jury selected local artists on the Eastside. Meet the artists and learn about their creative process. There will be entertainment and
light refreshments at this free event. Go to www.sammamishartfair.wordpress.com. The Issaquah Elks Lodge No. 1843 hosts several activities for Salmon Days Oct. 2-3. A pancake breakfast is from 7-11 a.m. and a fish fry takes over at 11 a.m. both days in the main hall. The public is invited to join in a charity poker tournament at 4 p.m. Oct. 2, with part of the proceeds going toward Compassion House. Buy-in for this no-limit, Texas hold ’em bounty tournament is $35, with rebuys the first three rounds. To learn more about the events, call 392-1400.
Fundraisers The Liberty High School girls basketball team hosts its second annual Poker Tournament and Silent Auction fundraiser Sept. 25 at 5 Star Hall, 15612 S.E. 128th St., Renton. Doors open to the silent auction at 4:30 p.m. Dinner is from 5-6 p.m. Tournament starts at 6 p.m. A poker ticket donation is $65. A social ticket is $25. Call 466-1211. The Chris Elliot Fund for Glioblastoma Brain Cancer Research ninth annual Gray Ribbon Gala and Benefit Auction is Sept. 25 at the Bellevue Hyatt Grand Ballroom, 900 Bellevue Way N.E., hosted by John Curley and Jim Dever. VIP check-in is at 5:15 p.m. Regular check-in and silent auction viewing starts at 5:30 p.m. Buy tickets at www.chriselliottfund.org/events/gala.html. Hope on the Hill Guild hosts Tea for Hope, a women’s tea and silent auction to raise money for Seattle Children’s, at 1 p.m. Oct. 3 at Willow’s Lodge 14580 N.E. 145th St., Woodinville. The tea will feature a local harpist, a guest speaker from the hospital and door prizes. Tickets are $75 per person. Proceeds from the event will go directly to the hospital’s uncompensated care program, which allows all children access to quality healthcare, regardless of their families’ ability to pay. Go to www.willowslodge.com. 2010 Tasting Room, a Special Olympics Washington benefit auction, is from 6:30-10 p.m. Oct. 8 at Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. N.W. Admission is $175. Go to www.sowa.org.
Religious/spiritual ‘Award-Winning Youth Groups with Service Focus,’ for grades six through eight and nine through 12, is at 6:30 p.m. Sundays staring Oct. 3 at Mary, Queen of Peace, 1121 228th Ave. S.E. Join in a fun environment with plenty of opportunity to put faith into action. Go to www.mqp.org.
Classes A free Watershed Training Project in Issaquah, presented by the city Resource Conservation Office and Seattle Tilth, is from 7-
Catch the Fun at Red Red Oak
at Living r o i n e S est! it’s f in
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Customized Assisted Living Care Community at the foot of Mt. Si Voted Best Senior Care in Valley 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009! 425.888.7108 650 E. North Bend Way & North Bend
9 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way. Register at http://seattletilth.org/about/issaquah-watershed-project. “Certainty in Uncertain Times,” an educational fair and seminar about real estate, credit scores, financial services, insurance, home security, organization services and estate planning, is from 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the community center. Fee is $10 per person or $15 per couple. Register at www.boulevardbg.com. The Issaquah Garden at Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave N.W., will undergo renovation later this fall. Learn from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Sept. 29 how to transplant and pot the ornamental plants the city will be reusing in the garden. Call 837-3417. ArtEAST offers the following workshops at its Up Front [art] location, 48 Front St. N. Go to www.arteast.org. “Salmon Days Spawning Salmon Sculpture in Leather” — 6-9 p.m. Sept. 28 at Hailstone Feed Store, 232 Front St. N., $160 “Art Marketing in the Digital Age: A Weekend Workshop for Artists” — Get Your website up and running, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sept. 25 “Online Marketing: The Future is Here!” 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sept. 26, $85 per class or $150 for both “Introduction to Assemblage” — 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sept. 24, $60 “Acrylic Painting for the fun of it! With Ricco” — 6-8:30 p.m. Sept. 22, $50 “Acrylic Painting: Color and Feeling” — 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, $50 per class “Bookmaking and Bookbinding: Japanese Stab Bound Book” — 6-9 p.m. Sept. 29, $75 “Travel Photos” — 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 29, $30 Free adult English as a second language conversation classes are Mondays from 6:308:30 p.m. starting Oct. 4 at Issaquah Valley Elementary School, 555 N.W. Holly Street. Call 250-3009. A food allergy parent education seminar, presented by Hilary Stephens, with the Seattle Children’s Food Allergy Community Health Education Program, is at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 in the Grand Ridge Elementary School library, 1739 N.E. Park Drive. E-mail grptsavpprograms@gmail.com.
Library The following events take place at the Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way. Call 392-5430. Game On!, for teens, 3 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 23, and 30 Preschool Story Times, for ages 3-6 with an adult, 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, and Tuesday, Sept. 28 Spanish Story Times, for all ages, 7 p.m., Monday Sept. 27 Toddler Story Times, for ages 2-3 with an adult, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28 and 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 22 and 29 Waddler Story Times, for ages 12 to 24 months with an adult, 10 and 11 a.m. Thursdays, Sept. 23 and 30 Citizen classes, for adults, 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 22 and 29 Library Book Discussion Group — “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie,” by Alan Bradley, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 “Northwest Noir: Mysteries, Legends and Landscapes,” for adults, 7 p.m. Sept. 28 Growing flowering bulbs, with master gardener Larry Davis, 7 p.m. Sept. 30
Youth The Cannons Baseball Club is hosting tryouts for the final
Tom Hearne EFR honors longtime county medical services director The board of directors for Eastside Fire & Rescue recognized Tom Hearne, retired King County Emergency Medical Services Director, for his accomplishments and contributions during the regularly scheduled meeting Sept. 9. Hearne has served in the Emergency Medical Services Division of King County since 1978, and in the role of director from 19962009. “No one has done more to advance pre-hospital care over the last 10 years in King County,” said EFR Chief Lee Soptich.
P ETS OF THE WEEK
Meet Roper! He’s a 3month-old Pembroke Welsh corgi mix with big puppy ears and a playful personality. His adoption includes a six-week obedience course that’s fun for the whole family.
These pets may already have been adopted by the time you see these photos. If you’re interested in adopting these or other animals, contact the Humane Society for Seattle/King County at 6410080, go to www.seattlehumane.org or e-mail humane@seattlehumane.org. All adopted animals go home spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, with 30 days of free pet health insurance and a certificate for an examination by a King County veterinarian. The Seattle Humane Society is now open from noon - 6 p.m. seven days a week.
C OLLEGE NEWS
Local students graduate from University of Idaho
The following local students recently graduated from the University of Idaho, in Moscow, Idaho. Issaquah: Katie Kofmehl, Juris Doctor; Timothy Ganahl, Bachelor of Science, business; and Benjamin Cote, Bachelor of Science, mathematics Renton: David Alford, Bachelor of Science, computer engineering Sammamish: Michael Johnson, Bachelor of Science, mechanical engineering; Elizabeth Last, bachelor’s degree, general studies; and Caroline Hartcorn, bachelor’s degree, general studies
Local students graduate from WSU Callie and Sydney Weber Rabbit owners win awards Two Eastside Rabbits and Cavies 4-H Club members’ rabbits won Best in Show and Reserve in Show at the recent city of Enumclaw’s King County Fair. Callie Weber (left) poses with her Best in Show rabbit, Aluminum, and Sydney Weber is with her Reserve in Show rabbit, Pop.
roster spots for 15U Mantle Olympic team and 18U Connie Mack team. Call 206-227-2920. A districtwide middle school dance, for grades six through eight, is from 7-10 p.m. Sept. 24 at the community center. Fee is $5 with photo ID. Dress code will be strictly enforced. Concessions will be available. Parent volunteers are needed. Call 837-3317. Lacrosse Skill Development Clinic For Girls, grades one through four, is 4:30-6 p.m. Fridays Oct. 1-29 at Pine Lake Middle School field. Fee is $50 for five classes. Go to www.issaquahyouthlacrosse.com.
Seniors Issaquah Valley Senior Center hours are from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 75 N.E. Creek Way. The following activities are open to people 55 and older. Call 392-2381. The following day trips are offered throughout September: Cle Elum/Roslyn Antiques — 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sept. 22, $10 Greek Festival at St. Demetrios Hall & Cultural Center in Seattle — 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sept. 25, $8 Lucky Eagle Casino — 8:30 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. Sept. 29, free AARP Driver Safety two-day course is from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sept. 22 and 29. Cost is $14 or $12 for AARP members.
Meet Ria! She’s a 2-monthold black-and-orange tortoiseshell kitten who loves balls of yarn and bird-watching. She’s ready to meet her new best friend! Come visit Ria today.
The following students recently graduated from Washington State University. Issaquah: Lindsay Agnew,
Nightmare FROM PAGE B1
been able to get the tube working.” “All of the stars were aligned for Sarah,” he said. “The nurse is like, ‘I can’t believe it’s working. It’s a miracle,’” Nate said. “I started crying a little bit. As Christians, we rely on God a lot. It was interesting seeing this all happening.” Healthcare workers transported Sarah to Swedish’s Neuroscience Institute on Cherry Hill. Sarah remained in a coma for two weeks, staying at the hospital’s ICU instead of with her baby daughter. Sarah’s parents and sisters have been helping Nate care for Sage, watching her during the day so he can be with Sarah and staying with Sarah at night so he can be with Sage. “We talked a long time ago and decided that if something happened, I would take care of the baby,” Nate said. During the second week of September, Nate took Sage with him to see Sarah. He laid his daughter on his wife’s chest and put Sarah’s hand on her child. Sage had been slightly fussy before the visit, but once she heard her mother’s heartbeat, she fell fast asleep on Sarah. “All of the nurses were crying,” Nate said. “She knows who mommy is.” Sage knows who her daddy is, too. The father dotes on his sleeping daughter, his “little hobby for the next 18 years,” he said.
Bachelor of Arts, business administration; Kymberli Babb Bushon, Bachelor of Arts, social sciences (general studies), cum laude; Kevin Clark, Bachelor of Arts, communication; Megan Cook, Bachelor of Science, biology; David Lennon, Bachelor of Arts, hospitality business management; Kyle Lynch, Bachelor of Arts, business administration; Andrew North, Bachelor of Science, mechanical engineering; Tim Nygaard, Bachelor of Arts, business administration, cum laude; Alexander Reich, Bachelor of Arts, communication; Garth Rich, Bachelor of Arts, criminal justice; and Haily Schlemlein, Bachelor of Science, geology Renton: Timothy Monda, Bachelor of Science, mechanical engineering; and Jessica Simons, Bachelor of Arts, social sciences Sammamish: Jeffrey Gugliotto, Bachelor of Arts, sociology; Alexander Moore, Bachelor of Arts, communication; and Paul Treadway, Bachelor of Arts, business administration
ON THE WEB Follow Sarah Bower’s story online at www.caringbridge.org/visit/ sarahbower.
Family and friends from Issaquah’s Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses have stepped forward, cooking Nate’s family dinner and offering them support. Tammy Siegert and Jill Young, who both know the family through church, spend time with Sarah. “She’s kind of responding to talking, but not a whole lot and with her hands,” Siegert said. “She can wave. She gets real tired real easy, so we just talk to her when she’s awake.” Windermere real estate agent David Eastern is selling the family’s house for free so they can move back to Issaquah. Sarah is still recovering from her stroke, but she has started physical therapy sessions. “She’s had the greatest recovery,” Foltz said. “It’s just incredibly gratifying to see someone who has so much to live for do so well. I fully expect she will be able to return to a fully functional life in raising her new baby.” Her husband said he and Sage would be there for her. “This might be long term for Sarah,” he said, but “she’s definitely on the road to recovery.” Laura Geggel: 392-6434, ext. 241, or lgeggel@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
100 Years Young! Neoma Farrington is celebrating her 100th birthday! Sunday, September 26th from 2-5pm. at Windsong Apartments Cabana! Friends & Family welcome!
A2 • Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Issaquah Press
Community honors ‘a great person, a great teammate, a great friend’ By Laura Geggel Issaquah Press reporter Friends and family gathered at Issaquah High School on Feb. 2 to honor and celebrate the life of Tyler Lucas, an 18-year-old lacrosse player who died in a car accident on Interstate 405 on Feb. 1. More than 100 of his peers and lacrosse coaches attended, holding candles that lit up the dark, clear night as they remembered a teammate who inspired them to play with a passionate verve. Students stood silently in circles, praying, wiping away tears and hugging friends. Issaquah High School Lacrosse Junior Varsity Coach Mark Greenhall broke the silence, reading a letter his son wrote to Tyler’s parents, Patty and Jim Lucas. “He was a great person, a great teammate, a great friend,” Greenhall said, reading from the letter that described Tyler as a confident athlete whose magnetic personality always attracted a crowd of friends wherever he went. As more people stepped up to share their memories of Tyler, his mother Patty Lucas thanked the crowd and told her son’s friends that her house would always be open to them. “I don’t ever want it to be quiet,” she said. Her husband Jim said he would continue attending lacrosse games so he could watch his son’s friends play. Tyler went to Issaquah High School until his junior year, when he transferred to Chrysalis School in Woodinville. At Chrysalis, he raised his grades, but continued playing varsity lacrosse for the Issaquah High School lacrosse team. Dominican University of California, a Division II school,
Death FROM PAGE A1
ON THE WEB See a slideshow from the candlelight vigil at www.issaquahpress.com.
accepted him and two of his close friends, Kevin Powers and Jake Fritz. All three planned to play lacrosse together, just as they had at Issaquah High. “My son, he died, but he died working towards his dream,” Jim Lucas said. “We should all be so lucky to die chasing our dreams.” Picking up his son’s helmet, he encouraged Issaquah High to start a tradition, giving Tyler’s helmet to the player with the most spirit. “I want the team to think about who’s going to take the helmet next year,” he said. “I think that would be a great tradition to pass on.” Lacrosse players from Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Sammamish and Skyline high schools spoke, thanking Jim, Patty, and Tyler’s older brother Ryan Dean, for raising such a caring and charismatic young man. “For as long as I’ve known him, he’s always had the ability never to burn bridges with the people he knew,” Bellevue High School student Sam Leggett said. “There’s not many kids that can do that. He had a knack for making more smiles in a room than when he went in.” Issaquah High senior A.J. Hoffman remembered how some classmates picked on him in middle school, “but never Tyler,” he said. “He always had nice words to say to me and changed my middle school experience and my life even.” Tyler’s friends also created a
BY LAURA GEGGEL
Patty and Jim Lucas thank Tyler Lucas’ friends and family for their support during the vigil at Issaquah High School Feb. 2, a day after Tyler died in a car accident on Interstate 405. Facebook memorial page that attracted almost 2,000 likes in the days after the accident. Other students recounted how seeing Tyler play lacrosse inspired them to take up the sport. “I just looked up to him so much, more than anybody really knows,” Issaquah High junior Cole Lindor said. “We’re all going to really miss him.” Skyline junior Jack Pruitt remembered a lacrosse tournament he played in with Tyler in San Diego. Pruitt had a rough game, but Tyler supported him throughout.
“Tyler looked at me from the sideline and said, ‘Pruitt, I know you’ve got one more in you,’” he said. “I could have sworn that I didn’t. Tyler was the epitome of sportsmanship.” Former Skyline student Brennan West said Tyler was the only student who could pull off a pink sweatshirt, and Travis Wright, an Issaquah High alum, recalled Tyler’s rainbow shoes. Tyler continued to play lacrosse even after doctors diagnosed him with juvenile diabetes in middle school. Even with his health challenges related to diabetes, his for-
mer girlfriend Alex Nelson said she learned three important lessons from him — how to roll with the punches, find something to love passionately — like lacrosse — and not let other people’s opinions interrupt life. After nearly three hours, Jim Lucas ended the vigil, saying Tyler had never been much of a sentimental person. “If Tyler were here, he’d be itching to go,” he said. Laura Geggel: 392-6434, ext. 241, or lgeggel@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
At a vigil Feb. 2, friends and family remembered Lucas as a teenager who was laid back off the field and showed intense talent during games. “He was straight forward with you,” Sammamish High School senior Jose Esquivel said. “He always had your back.” The weekend before the accident, Esquivel and a group of lacrosse players had gathered at Lucas’ house to play video games, “as we usually do,” he said. “He always shared everything — his food, his clothes, his lacrosse gear.” Lucas formerly attended Issaquah High School, but withdrew at the end of his junior year in 2010, Issaquah School District spokeswoman Sara Niegowski said. Issaquah Youth Lacrosse copresident Charles Mauzy, who knew Lucas, called him an “amazing, promising young man.” Mauzy’s son played lacrosse with the youth, an athlete who had a talent for the sport. “He was just an absolutely wonderful young man,” Mauzy said. “Full of life.” Lucas also played lacrosse for Issaquah High School and played for Coach Brandon Fortier. He made varsity his freshman year and played starting defender his sophomore and junior years. During Lucas’ junior year, he began taking classes at Chrysalis School in Woodinville, but he continued playing lacrosse at Issaquah High. The accident happened when he was driving to Chrysalis, Fortier said. Fortier said the lacrosse team was mourning the loss of their teammate. “I’m sure those guys will have something to play for and have something to rally for and use this as motivation as best we can,” he said. Laura Geggel: 392-6434, ext. 241, or lgeggel@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
Applicants: Reluctant to offer specifics FROM PAGE A1
Gehrig’s disease. The interview process is certain, like the application, to include questions about service and professional experience. In the days before the Feb. 4 application deadline, candidates remained reluctant to offer specifics, so as not to lose the edge to other contenders. The process is a competition, after all. The council could also endeavor for a geographic balance among neighborhoods or gender among members. Eileen Barber is the only woman on the current council. Squak Mountain claims more council members — Barber, Fred Butler, Marts and John Traeger — as residents than other neighborhoods. Councilman Mark Mullet is the only highlands representative on the council. The process offers real potential to create more highlands representation on the board. Goodman, Milligan and Perea reside in the hillside neighborhood. Though council members serve at large — representing the entire city — and do not represent defined geographic areas, members often advocate for projects in specific neighborhoods. The appointee to the vacant seat will serve until the next council election in November. The victor in the council race serves until Dec. 31, 2013. The appointment process sets up a busy campaign season for council members. In addition to the Position 5 seat, councilmen Butler, Joshua Schaer and Traeger face re-election in the fall. Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
PAGE 4 N O V E M B E R 2010
By Greg Farrar
Xinyang Liu (right), a teacher at the Sponge language school in Issaquah, speaks in Mandarin to two youngsters in a class with their mothers. From left, Michelle Robertson, daughter Grace, Kai Marcelais and his mother Lin, hear dozens of vocabulary words for colors, toys and objects.
Bringing up bilingual baby By Laura Geggel
Infants and toddlers learn foreign language best through early play
our-year-old Paul Kerdel speaks English with his father and French with his mother and au pair. The Issaquah boy did not always have such fluency, but developed it as French permeated his household. The Kerdels knew they wanted their children to speak French. Karinne Kerdel grew up in France, and she lived there with her American husband for three months before they moved to New York and then Issaquah. They tried speaking French in front of Paul, but at the end of the day, it was easier speak-
F
“You don’t need fancy toys, you just need to interact.” Gina Lebedeva University of Washington
ing in English, Kerdel said. She spoke to him in French before bed, but “even though I was trying to speak French to him at night, he was speaking English 10 hours a day,” at home and at preschool, she said. Shortly after the birth of her daughter, Anne-Sophie, in 2009, they hired French au pair Emilie Uteza, a childcare worker who knew Kerdel’s family in France. The family also started sending Paul to the French
American School of Puget Sound on Mercer Island, so “he’s speaking French all day,” Kerdel said. Even Anne-Sophie, still in her babbling stage, has benefited from the family’s French movement. Her first word, cou cou, means hi and peekaboo in French. If Paul and Anne-Sophie master French, they will be able to speak with their grandparents and cousins and, once they are old enough, decide which country they would like to live in. “When they’re little, it’s amazing how they catch on,” Kerdel said. Learning through play Many children can learn a
PAGE 5 N O V E M B E R 2010
foreign language, and they learn best through play early in life. Since 2003, the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences has researched the fundamental principles of human learning, especially children between infancy and age 5. “We think that the brain is more plastic, or more open to experience learning — the earlier the better,” Gina Lebedeva, translation outreach and education director with the institute, said. By 10 months of age, the babbling of infants reflects their mother language, and researchers have found this is when they start to lose the ability to distinguish sounds not needed in their language. For instance, the sounds of L and R are the same in Japanese, but English-speakers must learn to distinguish the difference between the two letters for rake and lake. While windows for learning different aspects of language are not rigid, research has shown that infants learn most about sounds, called phonetics, in their first year of life, and learn more about syntax between 18 months and 36 months, according to a research paper from the institute by Patricia Kuhl. Vocabulary development skyrockets at 18 months of age, but can continue throughout life, she wrote. “At 6 months, babies are universal citizens of the world,” Jackie Friedman Mighdoll, founder of Sponge language school, said. “They can distinguish any sound about the same. By 12 months, the neurons in their brains have been pruned, so they recognize their native language and they are less able to distinguish other sounds from other languages.” How babies learn language is pivotal to their success in its fluency. Social interaction is a must, meaning children watching DVDs or listening to CDs will not get the same results as children interacting with a person speaking the language to them. “You don’t need fancy toys. You just need to interact,” Lebedeva said.
In a recent study published by the institute, a group of 9to 11-month-old infants was brought to the institute, where they interacted with a native Mandarin speaker for 12 30minute sessions. A control set of infants was exposed to Mandarin DVDs, a second control group listened to CDs and a third control group interacted with English speakers. The group that played with the English speakers showed
no sign of learning Mandarin, and neither did the group exposed to the DVD or CD, even though the children had shown rapt attention to both. The relationship between the speaker and child makes all of the difference, Lebedeva said. The child can follow the adult’s gaze, imitate their speech and movements, and receive feedback. “If a child laughs, an adult laughs. There is an engagement,” Lebedeva said. “That
doesn’t happen in a TV interaction and that doesn’t happen in a CD interaction.” Learning a foreign language happens best during bath or meal time, she said, adding, “It’s counter-productive to use things like flash cards and drills. Instead you want to build things into play.” Affects of a second language Children learning two lan-
Continued on Page 6
By Greg Farrar
Paul Kerdel, 4 (right), works on an art activity with his French au pair, Emilie Uteza, at the Kerdel family’s Issaquah Highlands home.
PAGE 6 N O V E M B E R 2010
From Page 5 guages may have smaller vocabularies in one or both languages, compared to children learning only one language, Lebedeva said. Yet, when words from both languages are counted, bilingual children have either about the same or more words compared to monolingual children, she said. Sometimes, bilingual children will mix their languages together, and Lebedeva said this is a normal stage bilingual children go through that helps them develop language skills. Playing in Issaquah Parents can find a variety of language-friendly play areas in the city. The King County Library System hosts free, 30minute story times in 10 languages at its various branches. The Issaquah Library has Spanish story time at 7 p.m. every Monday. Go to the website at www.kcls.org for more details. Cecilia McGowan, KCLS coordinator for children’s services, said the program targets children whose families speak a foreign language, and children who are learning a foreign language. Several language schools in Issaquah teach children about different languages and cultures. One of them, Sponge, teaches children through play, song and dance. At a recent Mandarin lesson, teacher Xinyang Liu played with 9-month-old Grace Robertson and 2-year-old Kai Marcelais, showing them toy farm animals and talking to them in her native tongue. Their mothers played, too, surrounding their children with Mandarin words. Friedman Mighdoll said she and the instructors live for moments when children spontaneously speak in a foreign language. Art projects with their toddler students are speckled with foreign phrases about the most ordinary things, like saying, “Can you pass the glue?” in Spanish. Parents are given handouts so they can review vocabulary and songs their children learned in class, she said. Other parents join neighbor-
By Greg Farrar
Paul Kerdel, 4 (left), au pair Emilie Uteza, Anne-Sophie Kerdel, 14 months, and the youngsters’ mother, Karinne Kerdel, look on as Anne-Sophie has a snack. hood language groups, or spend time with friends who speak a foreign language. The Issaquah Highlands Playgroup meets every Thursday from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Eastside Fire & Rescue fire station, 1280 N.E. Park Drive. E-mail Natalia Santi at natalia@santilive.com to learn more. A fine balance Andrea Noon, a Spanish teacher at Issaquah High School, studied Spanish in college and traveled across Chile and Spain as a young adult. When she and her Mexican husband had their daughter, Leila Ramirez, they decided to teach her both Spanish and English, so she could communicate with both sides of the family. When a Spanish-speaking friend of hers babysat Leila for the first two and a half years of her life, Leila’s Spanish blossomed so much that her parents began to worry about her English. Now age 4, Leila’s English is by far better than her Spanish, though she improves every time she spends time with native Spanish speakers, like friends of the family. “I’m excited when Leila goes to play with them, because her Spanish improves in 15 to 20 minutes,” Noon said.
By Greg Farrar
Lin Marcelais and her son Kai, 2, look in a pig puppet’s mouth while dropping toy vegetables inside, as teacher Xinyang Liu uses Mandarin vocabulary words.
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As a Spanish teacher, Noon said she recognizes two types of students with a previous knowledge of the language. There are students who grew up speaking Spanish, “and their parents have done a really good job educating them in reading and writing,” Noon said. The other type includes students who speak Spanish at home, “but there is not really an emphasis on the educational side. They might have never seen it written,” she said. While this last group may speak the language conversationally, “usually their level of Spanish is weak grammatically and they have a lot of misconceptions about it,” Noon said. Noon said she hopes Leila will speak and read Spanish fluently, though she knows she and her husband will have to use the language regularly at home if they want their daughter to follow suit. Kerdel, the French mother, acknowledged the challenge of sticking with a foreign language. “I think children tend to go with what’s easier, and English is everywhere,” she said. The benefits of a polyglot The most obvious benefit of speaking a foreign language is obvious to most. Speaking French, Spanish or Mandarin can help children communicate with others and could expand their circle of friends, as well as career opportunities. Friedman Mighdoll said she feels a thrill when her two children say hello to people in Seattle’s International District. Other benefits are not as readily observed. A recent study published by the institute at the University of Washington showed that bilingual children tend to think more flexibly. “It doesn’t mean that bilingual people are smarter, that they have a bigger memory, that they have bigger IQ,” Lebedeva said. “What it does mean is that there are certain skills that bilinguals are better at.” Bilingual children playing a game were able to adjust to a change in rules faster than nonbilingual children, accord-
Continued on Page 8
Paul Kerdel tries out his Darth Vader costume for Halloween as the Kerdel family’s French au pair, Emilie Uteza, looks on. By Greg Farrar
5 GREATEST DANGERS FACING OUR CHILDREN TODAY 1. LACK OF EXERCISE Obesity and physical inactivity are two main risk factors of Type 2 diabetes in children.
2. POOR DIET HABITS Unhealthy eating habits are predisposing children to serious illness, including heart disease.
3. PEER PRESSURE Children are encouraged to engage in unacceptable or unsafe behavior to ‘fit in.’
4. BULLYING Children that experience peer harassment are more likely to suffer from decreased self-worth and depression.
5. LACK OF MOTIVATION Many children’s lives lack direction because they haven’t been taught how to set worthy goals. At Karate West, we understand these concerns and have solutions for parents. For over 20 years we have been helping children build strong minds and bodies. “Enrolling our children at Karate West was one of the best things we could have done to positively affect their future.” – Karate West parent To learn more about Karate West’s award winning programs and the beginner classes starting now, call Sammamish 425.391.4444 or Mercer Island 206.232.4477. Visit us at karatewest.com.
LEADERS IN PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT
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Is your baby getting enough vitamin D? You take her to regular checkups, monitor her nutrition, provide plenty of cuddle time and stimulation, and keep her out of the sun. But is your newborn really getting everything she needs to thrive? More likely than not, she is not getting enough vitamin D, according to studies published by a leading group of doctors. Also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D supports the growth of healthy bones in infants and assists with maintaining functions of their brain, heart and various muscle tissues. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets, a disorder that weakens the bones and becomes apparent during infancy or childhood. “Vitamin D is not only important in bone health, but emerging data support its role in maintaining our immunity and preventing diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Unfortunately, many infants are not receiving adequate levels of vitamin D
from breast milk, formula or synthesis from sunlight,” said Dr. Scott Cohen, a pediatrician and author of the book “Eat, Sleep, Poop: A Common Sense Guide to Your Child’s First Year.” For many people, exposure to sunlight is the body’s way of producing vitamin D. But many others, including children being protected from the sun or those with darker skin, need supplemental vitamin D. In 2008 the American Academy of Pediatricians revised its recommendations regarding vitamin D, saying that all children, including newborns, should receive 400 IU a day of vitamin D — double the previously recommended level. Follow-up studies published this year in the organization’s scientific journal, “Pediatrics,” showed that most children are not receiving vitamin D levels that meet the 2008 recommendations. According to data reported in the two studies published in “Pediatrics,” less than 13 percent of
infants exclusively breastfed were meeting the daily recommendation of vitamin D. Yet less than 16 percent of infants who were exclusively or predominantly breastfed were receiving supplemental vitamin D. Ensuring your baby gets enough vitamin D can seem challenging, regardless of whether you feed your child breast milk, infant formula or a combination. So what should you do? Here are a few simple ways to help ensure your baby gets enough vitamin D: ❑ If you breast feed, talk with your pediatrician to determine whether you should add a vitamin D supplement. While it is the gold standard for infant nutrition, breast milk by itself generally will not supply your baby with enough vitamin D to meet the AAP recommended levels. ❑ If you formula feed or partially formula feed your baby, you also should talk with your doctor. Standard infant formulas include 400 IU of vitamin D in 34 fluid ounces, but most babies consume an average of approximately 27 fluid ounces of formula a day over the course of their first three months of life. Look for a formula that supplies 400 IU in fewer fluid ounces, or talk with your doctor about supplements. ❑ Remember that your child’s need for vitamin D does not stop when he or she transitions to solid foods. Continue the conversation with your doctor and choose foods and drinks that contain vitamin D, including milk and milk-based beverages designed for toddlers. Source: ARA Content
From Page 7 ing to the study. In one game, children were asked to sort objects by color. Then, the rules changed and children had to sort them by shape, though some children got confused since some of the shapes were red and others were blue. “In order to do that, you have to ignore the first set of rules and use the second set of rules,” Lebedeva said. “Bilingual kids don’t get as confused.” The answer to why may lie within the child’s prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that allows him or her to switch back and forth between two languages with variations in words, pronunciation and grammatical structure. To get to that point of fluency, Lebedeva prescribed children a healthy dose of foreign language playtime. She instructed parents to follow the child’s lead, meaning, “if the child is interested in the ball, let’s talk about the ball and play with the ball,” she said. When children reach middle school, learning a second language is harder to master. “By the time seventh grade rolls around, it’s just too late for your brain to learn a second language as well as a native speaker would,” Lebedeva said. “You can learn vocabulary, but you’re never going to learn it as functionally and efficiently as a young child.”
• 8 years providing fun learning programs for children • Multicultural bilingual program • Academics emphasized in a warm and nurturing environment • Hands on learning • Lessons reinforced through art, dance and songs www.sammamishspanishpreschool.com • 425.898.7831 • 425.836.0212
“We love to teach and we teach with love”
The Issaquah Press
B12 • Wednesday, NOVEMBER 3, 2010
CALENDAR
By Laura Geggel Issaquah Press reporter or years, Michelle Ryan could not bear to go outside. She had stationed herself on her living room couch, doing crossword puzzles, watching TV and recovering from a series of medical problems. Then, a light came into her life in the forms of a paintbrush and the welcoming crew at artEAST, an Issaquah art cooperative. Ryan’s life has taken her across the country, but she moved to Issaquah in 1990, working as an echo cardiographer, taking ultrasounds of peoples’ hearts. In 1998, her health left her on disability, and she ended up staying indoors for the next four years. “I was sort of not all there,” Ryan said. “I was in recovery and trying not to do much.” She took a big step from her living room couch to a chair her mother gave her, and soon she emerged from her haze, picking up crafts, including crocheting and logo design. Soon, her art grew into different media. She painted with acrylics, ink and watercolor, and molded polymer clay. The only problem was she had no feedback or inspiration from other artists. “It was in a vacuum and nobody saw it,” Ryan said. Her parents and son, Nicholas Ryan Longtin, encouraged her talent, but she faced setbacks, too. Her parents, who had been living with her, moved out of the house and two of her dogs died. But it allowed her to grow, becoming closer to her boyfriend, Michael Russell. The two of them began training seeing eye dogs, and Ryan got a service dog, a golden retriever named Horton, for herself in 2006. Horton reminds her to take her medications, reminds her to stay calm and helps her reach objects, since she is limited by a bad back and hip, she said. With the help of Russell and Horton, Ryan was able to go more places, though, as an agoraphobic, she still feared the outdoors.
Michelle Ryan smiles while standing beside two of her polymer clay collage shadow boxes recently at the original UP Front Art gallery. The second artEAST location at the former Lewis Hardware opens Nov 6.
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NOVEMBER Evergreen Philharmonic season premiere concert, 7:30 p.m., Skyline High School, 1122 228th Ave. S.E. Fridays in the Living Room with the Greta Matassa Trio, 7:45-10 p.m., Bake’s Place, $20
Half Pack Live, 7-10 p.m., Amante Pizza and Pasta, 131 Front St. N. Darren Motamedy, 8-11 p.m., Pogacha, $5 cover The Halyards, 7:45-10 p.m., Bake’s Place,
$20
“Barns, Boats and Bridges,” curated by Charlotte Beall, opens with a reception from 2-4 p.m., University House Issaquah, 22975 S.E. Black Nugget Road, through March 6, 557-4200 Ricky Venture Review, 7:30-11:30 p.m., Vino Bella
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Agoraphobic painter finds friends at artEAST
ARTS
4 5 6
A&E
TO SUBMIT AN ARTS CALENDAR ITEM: Call 392-6434, ext. 237, or newsclerk@isspress.com. Submit A&E story ideas to isspress@isspress.com.
Sunday Breakfasts with Michael Gotz, 10 a.m. – noon, Bake’s Place
Michael Powers, 7-9:30 p.m., Amante Pizza and Pasta
BY GREG FARRAR
ARTEAST ART CENTER Grand opening open house Noon - 5 p.m. Nov. 6 Former Lewis Hardware building 95 Front St. N. The newest addition to artEAST and UP Front invites the public on a free tour of art exhibits, a guided figure drawing session, art demonstrations, and artist meet and greets. Find her on Facebook Search for “Michelle Sidnie Ryan Artist”
Contact Michelle Ryan sidyrus@gmail.com www.arteast.org/msidnie_ryan.htm
Her art propelled her forward when a friend introduced her to artEAST cofounder and board member June Sekiguchi. Ryan talked so passionately about her work, Sekiguchi didn’t even know she
had problems venturing behind her front door, probably because, “When art’s your passion, everything else falls away,” Sekiguchi said. At Sekiguchi’s suggestion, Ryan joined artEAST and pushed herself artistically. When artEAST members invited her to participate in the Collective Memory project, she agreed, and found herself paired with Cougar Mountain Zoo General Curator Robyn Barfoot. The two instantly connected, and Ryan made Barfoot a collage, incorporating elements such as leaves, tiger whiskers and crushed ostrich eggs into the piece. “I wound up totally crying when I saw it,” Barfoot said. “It was really moving because she was able to capture a lot of me that is not really seen in the public eye. My love of dogs, the strong bond my mom and I had.” Barfoot liked it so much, she commissioned Ryan to do a pet portrait of Chen, her wrinkly Chinese shar pei. “She completely captured my dog,” Barfoot said. “She works with her heart in all of her art, which is why she is so successful.” Ryan started submitting her work to shows. Although an artEAST jury did not
initially approve her work for Up Front Art, another jury did a year later. Once an artEAST member, her career skyrocketed. Ryan now has five shows around the area, including at Providence Marinwood, Yoga Barn, Up Front Art, C Art Gallery in Seattle, and the Creative Activities and the International Organization on Arts and Disability traveling show, “Metamorphosis.” She also knits for Hats for Happiness, a program that gives hats for people undergoing chemotherapy, makes clay animal necklaces she calls cuddle buddies and paints pet portraits. Ryan has two new art studios close to home — one in her home that she is building now, and the other in the new artEAST space on Front Street North, in downtown Issaquah, which has its grand opening Nov. 6. “It feels good to be part of the new space,” she said. “I feel part of artEAST. To those who have been afraid to take the leap, becoming a member of artEAST has been one of the best things I have ever done.” Laura Geggel: 392-6434, ext. 241, or lgeggel@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
Village Theatre preps precocious ‘Anne of Green Gables’ for debut By Warren Kagarise Issaquah Press reporter
IF YOU GO
T
he latest offering from Village Theatre — the coming-of-age tale “Anne of Green Gables” — is adapted from a century-old novel, but rest assured, the stage rendition does not require CliffsNotes for the uninitiated. The original musical is pulled from the pages of the classic Lucy Maud Montgomery series — the story of a carrothaired orphan set in bucolic Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. Scribes Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman last presented the piece to Village Theatre audiences as a barebones reading at the 2009 Festival of New Musicals. The fullfledged show — fine-tuned since the festival — opens Nov. 11 at the downtown Issaquah theater. “The material, in many ways, works beautifully,” co-director Vanessa Miller said. “It’s a classic story, and we all really relate to the central character of Anne.” Miller directs the piece alongside longtime Artistic Director Steve Tomkins. The musical starts as headstrong Anne
‘Anne of Green Gables’ Village Theatre — Francis J. Gaudette Theatre 303 Front St. N. Nov. 11 – Jan. 2 Show times vary $20 – $60 392-2202 or www.villagetheatre.org
Shirley lands in Avonlea after Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a brother-and-sister duo, decide to adopt a boy to handle farm chores. Instead, due to a mix-up, the orphanage sends a 12-year-old girl. “There’s this precocious, verbal, imaginative, red-headed Anne,” Miller said. The exuberant girl has some trouble in the children-should-be-seen-and-notheard ethos in the Cuthbert household. “Because her surroundings continue to change, and because her sense of family hasn’t been formed, she has an extremely
vivid imagination and is creating imaginary worlds all around her,” Miller said. The search for friends in unfamiliar Avonlea also causes Anne to stumble from time to time. The musical, like the book, plays up the setbacks for laughs. “She desperately wants to win people over, and in doing so, in her enthusiasm to find friends and find a sense of herself in the community, she’s just making social mistakes right, left and center,” Miller said. The creative team turned to Seattle actress Kasey Nusbickel for the title character, or, as the actress describes her, “the coolest little girl.” In the role, the 30-yearold actress depicts Anne from adolescence to adulthood. The production relies on a series of costumes, plus changes in fashion and hairstyles, to suggest different ages. Nusbickel is a brunette, so the creative team uses a series of wigs to provide the red tresses needed for the production. Before Nusbickel portrayed Anne in the 2009 festival reading, the actress read the original novel. “It makes you cry. It makes you laugh. It makes you think about yourself in the
BY JON PAI/VILLAGE THEATRE
Suzy Hunt as Marilla Cuthbert (left), Kasey Nusbickel as Anne Shirley and Dennis Bateman as Matthew Cuthbert perform in the production of ‘Anne of Green Gables’ at Village Theatre. context of a community,” she said. For Nusbickel, the product of a small town in Georgia, the depiction of life in tight-knit Avonlea resonated. “The older I get the more I realize that that is the kind of setting where I would
like to raise my family as well,” she said. “Avonlea really taps into that part of me.” Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
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The Issaquah Press
A8 • Wednesday, March 30, 2011
ARTS
CALENDAR MARCH
30
Wings & Things, the music of Paul McCartney, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Field of Champions Sports Bar & Grill, 385 N.W. Gilman Blvd., 392-7111
Village Theatre presents ‘Iron Curtain’ through April 24, Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St. N., $20 to $60, 392-2202 or www.villagetheatre.org
31 1 2
Jessica Houghton CD release party, 7-10 p.m., Vino Bella
APRIL
April Fool’s Day Party with 3 Trick Pony, 8-11 p.m., Pogacha
Uncle Bonsai, 7:45 p.m., Bake’s Place Bake St. Blues Revue, 8-11 p.m., Pogacha Little Bill & the Bluenotes, 7:30 p.m., Bake’s Place
Breakfast at Bake’s with Michael Gotz, 10 a.m. Sundays, Bake’s Place Burgers & Benz car show, noon, XXX Rootbeer Drive-in
3 9 10
Vintage Travel Trailer & Motor Home Camp Out, 8 a.m., XXX Rootbeer Drive-in
Darren Motamedy, 8-11 p.m., Pogacha Trish, Hans & Phil, 7:45 p.m., Bake’s Place
Breakfast at Bake’s with Michael Gotz, 10 a.m., Bake’s Place All Emergency & Military Vehicle Show, 8 a.m., XXX Rootbeer Drive-in
Fans can meet young adult author Dori Jones Yang, the author of a novel for young adults about the Mongol Empire, is scheduled to sign books for fans April 2 in Issaquah. Yang’s debut novel — “Daughter of Xanadu” — introduces readers to 16-yearold Princess Emmajin, the granddaughter of Kublai Khan. The princess is determined to serve as a warrior in the Mongol army — something no woman has done before. Fans can meet the author at 1 p.m. at Costco, 1801 10th Ave. N.W. Yang, a former China correspondent for Business Magazine, teamed up with Starbucks chief Howard Schultz to write the bestselling “Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time” in the late 1990s.
Starbucks CEO to sign books at Costco Starbucks chief Howard Schultz is due at Costco early next month to sign copies of a book about navigating the coffee titan
A&E
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Issaquah sports shrink talks a good game By Laura Geggel Issaquah Press reporter Mike Margolies always tells his audience that he was a very good, unsuccessful athlete. “I had the physical tools, but I didn’t understand the mental side of the game,” he said. “I didn’t understand that my thoughts contributed to how I performed on the field. I didn’t understand there were things I could do to help me focus better.” No matter at what level an athlete is playing — from Little League baseball to the Olympics — the field of sports psychology can help players channel the pressure of their sport into a positive force. “I’ve worked with athletes who have won world championships, gone on to play professional sports,” Margolies said. “The difference between them and someone who has an equal level of tools is how they deal with adversity, how they deal with the stress of the game, how they plan and prepare for the game.” ‘More focused, ready to play’ Haliey Richmond, a sophomore at Ballard High School, plays for a soccer team coached by Margolies. She recently began taking sports psychology sessions with him, and its effects are already helping her game, she said. The two review how she felt and acted during previous games. Then, they’ll visualize the next game and give Richmond scenarios for what might happen on the turf. “I feel a lot more focused and ready to play when the games come,” she said. Using his sports psychology background, Margolies, of Issaquah, primarily works with high school athletes, but he has a wider audience — one he can’t even see and who listens to his every word on Toginet radio. Margolies started broadcasting his radio show, “The Athlete Within You,” Feb. 7. Every Monday, he talks to athletes from a range of sports, including baseball, soccer, track and roller-skating derbies. Instead of asking athletes to wax on about their careers, Margolies focuses on the steps they took to achieve success. Bobby Howe, a soccer coach who has helped coach teams, such as the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders, volunteered as Margolies’ first guest on the show. “I thought it was terrific,” Howe said. “For me, he looked at my background, he looked at my views on player development, especially the younger players, and also looked at my view on coach education.” Howe called Margolies’ interview style thoughtful and well rounded. “I like the way he tries to look at your past to determine what makes you tick,”
through a successful turnaround. Shultz, Starbucks’ president and CEO, is scheduled to appear at the Issaquah warehouse at 1 p.m. April 8. The book is “Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul” — a frank account of how the Seattle-based company reached out to customers and battened down to weather the recession. Schultz joined Starbucks as director of marketing in 1982. In 2000, Schultz stepped down from daily oversight of the company, but returned as CEO eight years later as the company foundered. The experience is the basis for Schultz’s account. Publishers Weekly praised “Onward” as “a must-read for anyone interested in leadership, management or the quest to connect a brand with the consumer.”
‘Million Dollar Quartet’ tours to Seattle “Million Dollar Quartet” — the Tony Award-winning musical about a famous jam session — reaches Seattle next spring after originating at Village Theatre in Is-
BY GREG FARRAR
Issaquah radio show host Mike Margolies gets ready for his program, ‘The Athlete Within You’ from his home office on Squak Mountain.
ON THE WEB Listen to Mike Margolies’ radio show ‘The Athlete Within You’ from 6-7 p.m. every Monday at www.themental-game.com.
“I had the physical tools, but I didn’t understand the mental side of the game.” — Mike Margolies Sports radio psychologist
he said. A history of sports Margolies relationship with sports is one that has lasted his whole life. He started playing baseball at age 5. Between then and college, he played basketball and football, and made his football debut as a freshman at California State University in Los Angeles. He had played football casually with friends, but not for his school team. Even so, he went to tryouts and played as the No. 2 wide receiver. He could play physically, but didn’t have the mental tools or confidence to take it to the next level, he said, adding his coach spent more time yelling instead of giving advice for how to succeed. He transferred to Humboldt State University his sophomore year. When he approached the football coach about playing, the coach asked if he had played in high school. Margolies said no, and tried to say he had played for a Division I university, but the coach cut him off. “He never let me get the next words out,” Margolies said. Now, he suspects his appearance — it was the 1970s and Margolies had long hair and a beard — might have turned off the coach. “Instead of saying, ‘This is what I really want to do — I’ll cut my hair, my beard — and that I really want to play,’ I said a few words and left,” he said. The rejection was a mixed blessing. Margolies took up soccer and played un-
saquah and achieving success on Broadway. The national tour of the musical is scheduled for a run at the Paramount Theatre from May 15-20, 2012. Find ticket information at the Seattle Theatre Group website, www.stgpresents.org. “Million Dollar Quartet” tells the true story of a chance meeting in December 1956 of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. The legendary entertainers jammed together at the Sun Records studio in Memphis. The rockabilly musical debuted at Village Theatre in September 2007 and then on Broadway in April 2010. Actor Levi Kreis originated the Lewis role in Issaquah and continues to perform in the Broadway production. “Million Dollar Quartet” garnered multiple Tony nods and a statuette for Kreis.
‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ tickets on sale Village Theatre is preparing a rock opera of biblical proportions to conclude the ongoing season: “Jesus Christ Super-
til he graduated. Sports were his passion, so he went to the University of Denver to earn his master’s degree in sports science. In Denver, he worked with his professors, coaching worldclass athletes for the Tour de France, The National Football League and the Olympics. CONTRIBUTED
From good to elite As a sport psychologist and founder of Sports Psychology Consultants, he teaches athletes how to play their best. Visualization is a main component, he said. One athlete he worked with was training for the discus event in the 1980 Olympics — an event the U.S. ended up boycotting because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The athlete could throw the discus 140 feet when Margolies met him. He improved a few feet, but then one day he called Margolies to say he had thrown it 177 feet. “That morning when he went through his imagery rehearsal, he noticed his hand was at the wrong angle,” Margolies said. “That afternoon when he went to practice, he made the adjustment. “That really put him into that elite world class,” he said. Margolies fills the airwaves with stories like that one, showing how athletes can improve their craft through sports psychology. “I didn’t get the chance because I gave up on myself,” he said. “So if I can
star.” The downtown Issaquah theater presents the blockbuster show about the last weeks of Jesus’ life from May 11 to July 3. Purchase tickets at the theater website, www.villagetheatre.org. Or call the box office at 392-2202. Tickets can also be purchased at the box office, 303 Front St. N., from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets range from $20 to $60. Students and military members can pick up halfprice tickets 30 minutes prior to curtain for any available seat. The theater also offers group discounts for parties of 10 people or more. Issaquah native Brian Yorkey — a Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winner for the musical “Next to Normal” — is set to direct “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The show opened on Broadway in October 1971 to controversy, because some religious groups considered some elements as blasphemous. The original run ended in June 1973 after 711 performances.
Issaquah sports psychologist Mike Margolies works with three girls on a challenge course for a team-bonding exercise. By working together, the athletes learn how to cooperate and depend on one another. help kids in any sport get closer to what their real potential is by them using their mind, then I think I’ve done something.” Laura Geggel: 392-6434, ext. 241, or lgeggel@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
S CAVENGER HUNT
In honor of Village Theatre’s new musical comedy “Iron Curtain,” Village Theatre presents a scavenger hunt. Village Theatre is posting a photo of a potato in seven iconic Issaquah locations for the seven Tuesdays on its Facebook page. Figure out where that location is, take your own photo with a potato of your choice (receive extra points for style) and post it to www.facebook.com/villagetheatre. Clues to the potato’s location will be posted every Wednesday through Friday. Those who post their photo in the correct location first will win a pair of free tickets to see “Iron Curtain.” Everyone who posts will be entered to win a pair of season tickets. Get more info at www.villagetheatre.org/iron_curtain_scavengerhunt.php.
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