THE ISSAQUAHPRESS
Section
B
COMMUNITY
Wednesday July 24, 2013
BY GREG FARRAR
Audry Sammons (right) and her dad Bill show off their chalkcolored hands after working together on a work of sidewalk beauty during the 2012 Chalk Art Festival. PHOTOS BY GREG FARRAR
Leo Finnegan (left) and his wife Rose, founders of the annual Challenge Series Race and of Life Enrichment Options, enjoy their first time ever in a one-on-one soapbox derby heat, as their son Tim waves the starting flag July 20 on Second Avenue Southeast. All the volunteers, drivers, co-drivers and their families at the 16th annual edition of the event provided a heartfelt cheer. Rose won and Leo was happy enough not to request a rematch.
STARTING LINE JITTERS A nervous buzz fills the air at start of annual Gravity Car races SLIDESHOW See more photos from the Challenge Series Race at www.issaquahpress.com.
Below, Tim Finnegan grins and gives a thumbs up as he and Marie Harris signal they are ready for their race in the soapbox car sponsored by Fred Meyer.
Jain Garuit (left) and Alex Villa smile for spectators and family members as they get ready to roll in the soapbox car sponsored by i9 Sports.
Alex Furey (left) and Carson Crist anticipate their starting flag in the soapbox car sponsored by the Rotary Club of Issaquah’s sister club from North Whidbey Island.
Megan Boss (left) gives a hearty two-thumbs up as she and Zachary Hochman wait at the starting line for the course to clear for their race.
Kelly Thompson (left) has the time of her life as she and Eli Dever drive a soapbox car sponsored by the Oak Harbor Fire Department. The Issaquah Police Department and Eastside Fire & Rescue also sponsor cars and recruit other public safety jurisdictions.
My Wonderful Journey helps retrace family memories Families are encouraged to retrace the cherished memories of their parents and their ancestors during the presentation of My Wonderful Journey on July 25 at the Spiritwood Retirement Community near Pine Lake. Every participant at the event will be given sample chapters at no charge to
begin their own exploration of family history. Pastoral Rabbi Paul Zohav is scheduled to lead the interactive presentation at the independent living facility, 3607 228th Ave. S.E., beginning at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Military veterans are encouraged to participate.
“There are people in our community who have experienced events that will never be repeated in our history,” Zohav said. “Those are the treasured memories we want to explore so families can pass them on to future generations.” My Wonderful Journey was designed with
memory triggers from past decades to re-create cherished stories and memories that are often forgotten. Journalist and storyteller Dan Aznoff will assist Zohav during the presentation. Learn more by calling Sherrie Reed at 313-9100 or go to www.livinglegacylifebook.com.
Let your creative energy flow at Chalk Art Festival By Erin Hoffman news@isspress.com Issaquah is about to get a bit more colorful, thanks to the annual Chalk Art Festival. This year, the festival, sponsored by the Issaquah Arts Commission, will hit the sidewalks around the Issaquah Community Center on July 30. From noon to 5 p.m., anyone can show up and create some art. According to Amy Dukes, the arts coordinator for the commission, most of the participants are elementary school age, although kids and adults of all skill levels come out to draw. Many are there just to doodle, while some come with a fully formed idea in mind, complete with sketches and outlines. “I think everyone likes it because it can be whatever you want it to be,” Dukes said. The Chalk Art Festival is a summer tradition among Issaquah residents. At the end of the day, there is judging, where outstanding participants from each age group are awarded. Judging begins at 5 p.m., and winners are announced at 6 p.m. However, Dukes said that winning is not the primary focus of the festival. “Our mission is to promote arts and culture in
our community,” she said. “We like to do free events for the community that are really accessible to everyone.” Dukes said that chalk art is the perfect medium, because it’s easy, doesn’t require much artistic ability and most importantly, it’s fun. In addition to providing chalk, the Arts Commission will also provide water and snacks for everyone at no charge. In conjunction with the Chalk Art Festival is artEAST’s “The Art of Silliness: Imaginary Creature Drawing” event, taught by Carla Sonheim at the Issaquah Train Depot, just a few streets away from the festival. At the event, which is also free, participants will use pre-existing sidewalk cracks, peeling paint and other found objects as inspiration for their own imaginary creatures. Dukes said that the Arts Commission pushed back the date of the Chalk Art Festival intentionally so that it would coincide with artEAST’s event, giving families a full day of artistic expression. The festival will precede that night’s Concert on the Green event at the Issaquah Community Center, featuring Steve Kelley’s Little Big Band at 7 p.m.
Lefse Fest provides a taste of Scandinavia Lefse Fest, named for the Scandinavian flatbread served at the festival, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 27 on Veterans’ Memorial Field. Admission to the event is free, along with free parking at Issaquah High School. The event includes a senior shuttle that runs every halfhour throughout the event. Along with Lefse samples, sales and competitions, the festival will have music, dance performanc-
es, craft vendors, cultural demonstrations and other activities. Children can also dress up as Vikings for a costume parade at the 2 p.m. Maypole rising, though swords are not permitted. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Issaquah Valley Senior Center and support lodges for future festivals and cultural activities. Learn more at www. scandinavianfestivals.com or call 313-0193.
Pine Lake ensemble performs at Disneyland
tional audience of theme park guests. They follow in the footsteps of millions of performers who have participated in the program in the 25 years since its inception. The Disney Performing Arts Program gives arts programs from around the world the opportunity to learn, perform and compete at the Disneyland Resort under Disney professionals. Learn more about the program at www.DisneyPerformingArts.com or call 1-800-603-0552 toll free.
Pine Lake Middle School’s Wind Ensemble travelled to the Disneyland Resort in California in June to take part in the Disney Performing Arts Program. Dance groups, choirs, marching bands and ensembles from around the world applied for the honor, according to a press release from the theme park. The middle school students became stars June 9 in a show for an interna-
THE ISSAQUAHPRESS
SPORTS
B4
Wednesday July 24, 2013
Lakeside Recovery relies on pitching depth for close victories By Neil Pierson npierson@sammamishreview.com Its 2013 record is a gaudy one, but don’t be fooled: The Lakeside Recovery Senior American Legion baseball team has had to win several close contests this season. Lakeside Recovery stretched its record to 6-2 in one-run games, defeating Chaffey, 2-1, in a nonleague outing at Is-
saquah High School on July 17. But the team’s biggest win of the campaign might have come a day earlier, when it rallied for a 7-4 triumph in nine innings at Bellingham to capture the Northwest League title. The July 16 win at Bellingham was important because it kept Lakeside Recovery (31-11 overall, 10-2 league) at home for the first round of the Legion playoffs.
Bradley Hoss, of Lakeside Recovery, digs in at the plate. Hoss, a Skyline High School product, had an RBI double as Lakeside Recovery defeated Chaffey, 2-1, on July 17.
“If we lost, we had to go to Spokane,” Lakeside head coach Rob Reese said. “So, it saved us about 10 hours” in travel time. Lakeside is looking to repeat its 2012 performance, when it finished third at the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C. The players indicate there aren’t many weaknesses on this
BY NEIL PIERSON
See LAKESIDE, PageB5
BY GREG FARRAR
Russell Smith (left), 10, of Maple Valley, fences against Martin Hausenfluck-Poli, 11, of Covington at Washington Fencing Academy.
EN GARDE Washington Fencing Academy carries on the tradition of centuries-old sport By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com The sport of fencing is often associated with a certain aristocratic air, possibly perpetuated by film depictions and the sheer history of the pastime. To those unfamiliar with the sport, fencing is simply the means by which storied characters such as Zorro, or The Three Musketeers, vanquish their enemies. Those who are close to the sport understand that it is much more than that. It is a sport of respect, chivalry and craft. Issaquah is home to one of the state’s most prominent fencing schools, the Washington Fencing BY GREG FARRAR Academy. The school is A fencer is backed up to the end of the strip by the offensive attacks of his opponent during committed to teaching and épée class at Washington Fencing Academy on Northwest Mall Street in Issaquah. developing competitive and
recreational athletes. “There is a certain romance about fencing because of its history and how it’s been portrayed in film,” Washington Fencing Academy co-founder Serge Timacheff said. As one of the oldest sports in existence, fencing has an allure to those who are seeking a nontraditional form of exercise, Timacheff said. “There are plenty of people who fence and they’re jocks, but there are also plenty of people who fence who probably wouldn’t do another sport,” he said. The main skill needed to excel at fencing is superb footwork, something that the academy works diligently to instill in its students, co-founder Kevin Mar said.
ON THE WEB Learn more about the Washington Fencing Academy at www.washingtonfencing.com. “Fifty percent of the fencing game, and that’s including all of the blade work, endurance and things like that, is really about footwork,” he said. “If you think about it, the distance that you can extend your arm, unless you’re growing, is not going to change. So, you have to move your feet to get in and out of that distance.” The academy offers fencing classes for all ages and skill levels, and draws most of its students from Issaquah, Bellevue, Mercer Island and Sammamish. See FENCING, Page B5
First Tee connects golf to life lessons By Kristine Kim news@isspress.com When the physical education teachers working with the greater Seattle chapter of First Tee interact with kids, they are not just handing off golf clubs and sports advice. They dole out life lessons, too, on par with situations that youths encounter in life. The nationwide First Tee School Golf Program meshes golf and character lessons in the classroom. Since its introduction to the Issaquah School District this past year, it has become a hit in local schools. Fifteen of the district’s physical education teachers participate in the school program, teaching students the First Tee curriculum in a monthlong rotation. The pioneer behind the program coming to Issaquah schools was Kris Coleman, the physical education specialist at Creekside Elementary School.
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Above, Megan Miller, physical education specialist teaches Creekside Elementary School students to proper form during their courtesy unit. At right, Kira Yoshimura, a first-grader at Creekside Elementary School, lines up her putt during her physical education class in fall 2012. He first heard about it at a P.E. conference a couple of years ago, and introduced the idea of writing a grant request in one of his monthly meetings with other P.E. teachers in the
district. The main reason he brought in the idea, Coleman said, was character education. “These are core values we try to instill in our cur-
riculum,” he said. First Tee packaged character traits with the skill of golf so well that he said he thought it would be a great addition to what educators already teach.
Shelby Lanting, a First Tee employee who helps Issaquah teachers coordinate the curriculum, said golf is a lifelong sport. While many elementary schools teach activities
like basketball or lacrosse regularly, First Tee thought that adding golf to kids’ education would be See GOLF, Page B5
B6 • Wednesday, July 24, 2013
The Issaquah Press