Issaquahpress090116

Issaquah’s only locally owned newspaper

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS

117th Year, No. 35

issaquahpress.com

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Hotel proposed for slope behind Fred Meyer 11-story development on Black Nugget Road would be dual-branded Marriott The proposed 243-room hotel, which would include two restaurants, would face Southeast Black Nugget Road.

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com

Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com

A Bellevue company wants to wedge an 11-story hotel into a hillside parcel of land behind Issaquah’s Fred Meyer shopping complex.

More wells to be drilled to determine size of PFOS plume

The sloped land facing Southeast Black Nugget Road behind the Fred Meyer shopping complex might become the new home of an 11-story, 243-room hotel.

NBK LLC is proposing to construct a dual-branded Marriott Courtyard and Marriott Residence Inn hotel on the site.

The hotel would be divided into wings, with two different facades reflecting the style of each brand facing the road.

According to records on file with the secretary of state, NBK LLC’s registered agent is Chang Law Group in Bellevue. The company’s governing persons are

Jensen-Fey Architecture / City of Issaquah

Bellevue hotel developers David Pong and Paul Pong.

Documents on file with the City of Issaquah say, “A hotel is likely the highest and best use for the parcel based on the site driven parking ratios, building configuration, as well as the unique

market.”

According to the documents, the project will include a restaurant, lobby and meeting rooms on the ground floor. Above that, four See HOTEL, Page 3

Patrons now experience a welcoming environment that emulates a grocery store

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com and Scott Stoddard sstoddard@isspress.com City of Issaquah Utilities Engineering Manager Bob York says drilling of additional monitoring wells — part of an effort to establish the extent of the perfluorooctane sulfonate contamination in the Lower Issaquah Valley Aquifer — is tentatively scheduled to begin the week of Sept. 26.

PFOS has been detected in Issaquah’s Gilman Wells No. 4 and No. 5 and in monitoring wells to the west and south of the Gilman wells’ pumphouse.

Water from Gilman Well No. 4 is run through a treatment system and is tested regularly. Untreated, it would be considered a health risk, but tests of treated water show no detectable level of PFOS. Only 119 test results out of

Lizz Giordano / lgiordano@isspress.com

See PFOS, Page 12

School district says it’s ready for first day of 2016-17 classes

By David Hayes dhayes@isspress.com Issaquah Superintendent Ron Thiele informed the school board Aug. 24 that the newest additions to the school district will open on time and fully staffed for the first day of school Sept. 1.

The district’s busy summer of construction included three projects funded by the 2012 bond, including a $64 million new campus for Issaquah Middle School, a $32.4 million new building for Sunny Hills Elementary, and a $3.925 reconfiguration of the old Issaquah Middle School into Gibson Ek, a new non-comprehensive high school.

See CLASSES, Page 2

The newly redesigned Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank allows volunteer Barbara Hinds to stock the shelves with more fresh produce, giving the 400 families that pass through each week more choices.

Designing a more user-friendly food bank

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com Carts jostle for space, families select from fresh produce and canned goods lining the shelves, natural light streams in — a trip to the newly redesigned Issaquah

Kristina Healey and her daughter Alyssa want the city to improve pedestrian safety in Olde Town by making crosswalks more visible to drivers. Alyssa was hit by a car in this crosswalk at West Sunset and First Avenue Northwest.

Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress. com

Food and Clothing Bank is no different from a visit to the local Fred Meyer.

In the remodeled space, the food bank’s executive director, Cori Walters, wanted to create a more welcoming and accommodating environment filled with dignity.

“So people who are struggling and maybe who wouldn’t see themselves as a candidate to use a food bank would come in and feel that it’s just kind of a different type of grocery store,” Walters said. “We are really trying to remodel our space so it breaks

down some of those barriers.”

The facility originally was designed to serve 100 families a month, but the need has quadrupled in the last 15 years. Now 400 See FOOD

BANK, Page 7

Heavy traffic creates safety issues for Olde Town pedestrians

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com Last spring, Olde Town resident Kristina Healey got a call no mom ever wants to receive.

“Don’t freak out, but I was hit by a car,” were the words her daughter relayed over the phone.

Of course, Healey freaked out. According to Alyssa,14, she

was walking home with a friend when a driver rushing to turn onto West Sunset Way from First Avenue Northwest struck Alyssa, barely missing her friend.

Alyssa said the driver didn’t even look in her direction before pulling out into the street. She See SAFETY, Page 12 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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One Dollar

2 • Thursday, September 1, 2016

The Issaquah Press

FRONT AND SUNSET

We all benefit from his giving spirit. Let’s give back.

A

few weeks ago, your favorite weekly cage-liner published a front-page story about a chap named Art Wight.

If you recall the write-up, Art is an 86-year-old retired landscaper who lives downtown. Many days, he’s out tidying up the area along the Rainier Trail between the railroad depot and Dogwood, pulling weeds, raking leaves and performing other manual labor we keyboard-tappers aren’t too familiar with.

In other words, Art is selfless.

And humble.

He’s not raking for attention, no “look what I did” posts on Instagram, Facebook or anywhere else. Which these days seems awfully rare.

Our busybody editor here at Issaquah Press world headquarters tells us (and tells us) he has spoken with Art a few times and confirms he’s quite a guy.

Here are a few things our boss learned about Art: 4He believes women should have been given the right to vote in 1820 instead of 1920.

4He can recite his favorite poems from memory.

4He doesn’t smoke, drink or gamble.

4He’s an admirer of Thomas Jefferson.

4He heads for the Grange Supply when he needs his square-point shovel sharpened.

Art is also a Mariners fan. His favorite player is Robinson Canó, although Art occasionally ques-

tions Robbie’s decision-making on the basepaths.

Here’s the kicker: The last time Art attended an M’s game, they were playing in that charmless chunk of concrete called the Kingdome.

Anyway, once our editor stopped babbling about Art, we got to thinking: Wouldn’t it be great to give a little something to someone who gives our fair city so much while asking nothing in return?

So we turn to you, loyal readers. Do you know someone who knows someone who might be willing to donate a couple of prime Mariners tickets we could pass along to Art? We don’t believe Art is a luxury suite or club level kind of guy, but if you or one of your pals can provide field level seats for an upcoming game, we’ll thank you in print right here at Front and Sunset. Not only will you perform a selfless act in the spirit of Art, you’ll see your name in bold type in the

Classes

man and her team to get the schools fully staffed, he remains concerned by forces beyond his control. from page 1 “I am becoming increasingly concerned what the With 19,541 total stucost of living and cost of dents, one of the fears going housing in our area are into the school year was doing to us,” Thiele said. staffing all those new and “We’re doing OK getting old classrooms with enough new staff, but it’s when teachers in the wake of a they hit year four or five statewide teacher shortage. and they start thinking they “We will have a teacher want to buy something or in front of every student in get married, that’s when it’s every classroom to start the hard to hang on to them.” first of school,” said Lisa To fill some of those posiHechtman, the district’s tions, the district has hired executive director of human people who are not certified resources. but who do have a bachBut Thiele admitted some elor’s degree. strings had to be stretched They have also had to and pulled to meet those collapse some sections of staffing needs. classes, predominantly at While he praised Hechtthe high school level, Hechtman said.

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newspaper. What’s not to like?

• • •

Color us impressed!

Our contest to name the fingernails-on-a-chalkboard blue blob on the Atlas apartments complex inspired our devoted fans to overwhelm our inbox last week.

Once the entry window closed, we removed our BluBlocker sunglasses and went to work.

To prevent any funny business, our panel of highly respected independent judges received the entries with no contestant names attached.

And the winner is: Atlas Blue It, submitted by Van and Christina Vanosdoll. We appreciate their entry’s play on words and the beauty of its simplicity. It also does a fine job of dissing the complex’s exterior designer, who should have their credentials revoked.

We salute the wit of Van and Christina and will be sending them a $50 gift card to Issaquah Brewhouse in honor of their cleverness.

A most hearty thank you to our fun-loving entrants: Ann Winegarden, Dale Crane, Jeanne Strickland, Renee Prendergast, Heidi Sudall, Sharon Walters, Cynthia Freese, Jordan Lee, Gary Wieland, Susan Trent, Linda Sabee, the mysterious first-names-only Liz and Michelle, Georgia Johnson, Eric Greene, Donna Kenney, Sarah Crow, Sue Wood, Kathy Swoyer, Risa Fukuda, Angelle Partlow, Anna Butler, Joseph Heilgeist, John MacDuff, Nicole Lee, Dale Matteson, Peter Freese, Karna Rymarz, Garth Anton, Leslie MacInnes

and Ann Dewit.

• • •

Ah, summer. It’s a time when we’re not exactly sure if that pop-pop-pop-pop-pop we hear in the distance is someone firing their favorite Glock at the Sportsmen’s Club or a roofer shingling the latest slap-dash box of builder-grade urban density.

• • •

Strike up a fanfare for Natalie Dungey, a 17-year-old Issaquah

trumpeter who attends Eastside Catholic. Natalie performed as a soloist with world-famous crooner Josh Groban during his concerts at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodin-

“I am becoming increasingly concerned what the cost of living and cost of housing in our area are doing to us. We’re doing OK getting new staff, but it’s when they hit year four or five and they start thinking they want to buy something or get married, that’s when it’s hard to hang on to them.”

-Ron Thiele Issaquah School District superintendent

going to get larger in order to meet those needs,” she added.

To ensure all the classrooms had a certified teacher in them, the administration had to offer extended contracts to some to cover gaps. The result is no prep periods for those teachers during the school day.

“Extended contracts, while great, I do worry

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Issaquah trumpeter Natalie Dungey lit up the stage with singer Josh Groban at Chateau Ste. Michelle and McMenamins Edgefield.

about that long term,” Thiele said. “I did that as a teacher in my 20s. I could do that all day, but it takes its toll on folks.”

Meanwhile, not all needs have been met. Hechtman said the district is still short a behavior specialist, they’re still working to beef up its pool of substitute teachers and they will not be fully staffed with education assistants when school starts.

The administration projected a growth of 450 new students and an aggregate of 1,150 with all the new full-time kindergarten students district wide.

“This kindergarten class is the second-largest we’ve ever had, and when all is said and done, it will probably be the biggest,” said

ville and McMenamins Edgefield east of Portland last week.

You may have heard Natalie’s name before. In her younger days, she was frequently described as a trumpet prodigy, and she’s performed as a featured soloist with bands and orchestras across the country.

Natalie’s mom, Winnie Chen Dungey, plays violin with the orchestra that accompanied Groban. The group’s conductor was familiar with Natalie’s work.

“He said, ‘Do you want to play for Josh Groban?’ and I was like, ‘OK, that sounds pretty fun,’ ” Natalie said.

Natalie soloed during Groban’s rendition of Old Devil Moon and reportedly brought down the house.

• • •

The city is asking voters whether they are down with ponying up a cool $50 million for four road projects around town.

Based on what we’ve heard from readers, commenters, letterwriters and random passers-by, we feel safe saying the bond is in big, big trouble.

But if that $50 million instead funded a lawsuit against the state seeking to extract Issaquah from the suffocating requirements of the Growth Management Act? It would win in a landslide. (Sorry, Talus.

Not your favorite word, we know.)

Thank you to tipster Mary Hogan this week. You, too, can bring us up to speed by dropping an email to frontandsunset@isspress.com.

Twitter: @frontandsunset.

Jake Kuper, district chief of finance and operations.

He broke down some preliminary numbers: 4The average elementary school has an erollment of 620 students.

4The average middle school has 960 students.

4The high school average is skewed by Liberty’s smaller enrollment than the other two — Issaquah will have a 2,350 head count, Skyline 2,250 and Liberty 1,187.

4Maywood Middle School remains overcrowded at 1,130 full-time equivalent, the largest middle school Issaquah’s ever had, Kuper said.

“Those average school sizes Jake gave are not what we want, obviously,” Thiele said. “That’s why we have plans to build another high school. We don’t want to run our middle schools at nearly a thousand per building.”

Causing concerns among elementary schools are the numbers at Grand Ridge (775) and Clark (746).

Kuper promised a complete building-by-building breakdown for the board at its next meeting in September.

THANK YOU, SUBSCRIBERS Each week, we thank those who renew their voluntary subscriptions to Issaquah Press Group newspapers or subscribe for the first time. We are extremely grateful for your support of independent community journalism.

Christy Anderson Thomas Armstrong Janet Benson Melinda Clemmer Kathryn Cutler Debra Davis Doubletake Vintage Clothes Sharon Garrison Bob Gray Paula Harper-Christensen Linda L. Harris Nancy Hilbebrant Duane Johnson Denise Kraft Linda Lawson Kathy Shreve Robert Wenzl Wilder Agricultural Research Station Anonymous

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The Issaquah Press

Thursday, September 1, 2016 •

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Photos by Lizz Giordano / lgiordano@isspress.com

Tristen Parker (left), and Alexa Von Trotha (right) listen to naturalist Wanda Peters explain how birds build nests during a mini-ranger program for the Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership.

Bringing nature to the people at Lake Sammamish

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com Peering through a magnifying glass, 5-year old Tristen Parker was thrilled to get a closer look at a feather she found on the ground.

In great detail, she carefully examined the different sections.

On Aug. 25, only three families participated in a local free weekly mini-ranger program hosted by Washington State Parks.

“I’m competing with a beach,” Lake Sammamish State Park naturalist Wanda Peters said with a laugh.

Traditionally, Lake Sammamish State Park has been thought of as a recreational area, but the Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership, along with naturalists like Peters, are trying to change that notion.

With 80 percent of the nation’s population living in urban areas, many don’t have any connection to nature, said Brad Thompson, a manager for the Washington Fish and Wildlife Office.

One of eight national partnerships designated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership’s goal is to engage residents and visitors in the conservation of watershed ecosystems and native species, including the beloved kokanee salmon.

Instead of traveling to a remote national park to experience nature and

Mini-ranger Tristen Parker gets a closer look at a pine cone while learning about wildlife and nature found at Lake Sammamish State Park. wildlife, the partnerships connect people with the flora and fauna right in their backyard.

“Nature exists where we are. We don’t have to go to nature,” Peters said. “We are part of nature just as much as the wildlife and plants.”

The partnership, announced in the spring of 2014, is still in its early stages, experimenting with ways to attract the diverse audience that visits the park.

Peters said for many, her programs could be the first time people experience nature. She wants to provide a safe place to touch and explore nature.

“Time for all of us to become engaged with nature,” Peters said. “Not just kids.”

The program has evolved into one that’s less formal, using images and hands-on activities to teach lessons.

Peters offers a drop-in exhibit for people passing through on a weekend with a few minutes to spare.

At the Nature Nook, tucked into the Sunset Beach Bathhouse, one can take an up-close view of a bird’s nest, compare plant specimens or use the spotting scope to study a bald eagle perched in a tree nearby.

Or meet Tony, a nonnative turtle and a regular guest at the nook, reminding participants of the importance of not releasing pets into the wild.

Peters frequently rotates the exhibit, trying to react to interests of both children and adults.

With today’s group, Peters compares the needs of animals with the needs of the mini-rangers.

“Just like us, animals need food, water, shelter and space,” Peters said.

Site of proposed hotel

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Sources: City of Issaquah, Esri, DeLorme, IPC, NAVTEQ, NRCan

Hotel 1

parking levels are planned, containing a total of 243 vehicle stalls.

Hotel rooms start on the sixth floor atop the parking levels and will continue to the top floor. Each floor above the parking levels will have 45 rooms except the 11th, which will have 18 rooms plus an additional restaurant and meeting rooms.

The undeveloped site proposed for the new hotel currently contains a retaining wall. According to city documents, the proposed structure will replace this aging wall along a substantial portion of the roadway.

Plans for the hotel include a green-colored roof that will be built to mitigate the impact on views from the townhomes on the hillside above. Guests staying in west-facing rooms will have views of Lake Sammamish.

The current taxpayer of record is a limited liabil-

ity company called New Sky, which purchased the 6.5-acre parcel in 2015 for $400,000, according to King County records. New Sky’s registered agent is Chang Law Group and the governing person is Paul Pong.

Pong was described by the Puget Sound Business Journal as a “prolific Bellevue hotel developer.”

According to the Journal, Pong has multiple active

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from page

Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com

A massive retaining wall is part of the land behind the Fred Meyer complex where a Bellevue developer wants to build an 11-story hotel. hotel projects in Bellevue and Seattle. He is the son of Oscar Pong, the patriarch of a family that has been building hotels for 38 years.

In November, the Journal reported Paul Pong received approval from the City of Bellevue to build a 279-room dual-branded hotel on 118th Avenue Southeast. The site is about a mile southeast of downtwon Bellevue on the west side of Interstate 405.

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OPINION

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS

Thursday, September 1, 2016 • 4

TO THE EDITOR

EDITORIAL CHARLES HORTON GENERAL MANAGER SCOTT STODDARD EDITOR l

l

Whatever it takes, school district must preserve Providence chapel

T

he Issaquah School District has enjoyed great success recently when it has needed local voters to accept an increase in property taxes so the district can fund the construction of new schools and the makeovers of others.

To put it more simply, when the district has asked us to step up, we’ve been there for it. Repeatedly.

Now, the citizens are asking something of the district.

And it’s time for the district to step up and respond appropriately.

The pending acquisition of the Providence Heights College campus presents the school district with a decision: Does it repurpose any of the 220,000 square feet of existing campus buildings or does it tear apart the 55-year-old structures and truck the rubble away to a landfill?

Some historic preservationists advocate for keeping the entire campus. While that is an admirable and worthy goal to champion, the reality of the school district wanting to put both an elementary school and a high school on the site makes that scenario seem unlikely.

That doesn’t mean the district should demolish the entire campus, however.

At the center of the complex is a stunning example of modernist religious architecture, a barn-shaped chapel that serves as a venue for 14 massive triangular stainedglass windows by a French master artist named Gabriel Loire.

Issaquah should feel fortunate to have such a treasure.

The Sisters of Providence, who funded construction of the campus, spared no expense when it came to the chapel. Their preferred Seattle architect, John W. Maloney, designed the building, and the sisters commissioned Loire to craft the windows in France and ship them to Issaquah.

Loire’s specialty was a technique called dalle de verre, which results in windows that are thicker and stronger than traditional stained glass. Loire faceted the glass pieces, and today the windows are often described as sculptured stained glass.

It is imperative the school district save this building, which is not only historically important and blessed with stunning artwork, but is also one of the few examples of midcentury architecture left in the city. Make it a performance hall, a community gathering place or a gallery.

A chorus of citizen voices has risen up recently, pleading with the district to preserve the chapel.

Will it be a challenge? Yes. Will it take creativity?

Absolutely. Is it impossible? Hardly.

The obvious roadblock is the religious iconography at what would be a public school building. The district should join forces early with the American Civil Liberties Union and find an acceptable solution in the name of culture, art and history.

If the district hasn’t been in touch with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, it should be. There are a multitude of smarter-than-smart people at the district, the ACLU and the Trust. Superintendent Ron Thiele should gather representatives from all three groups and have a serious discussion about how the chapel can be saved.

Issaquah’s cultural sites are dwindling in number. The wanton destruction of another is senseless.

Save the chapel.

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Traffic

Transportation bond will do little to help congestion For many years, I have been watching how the City of Issaquah has handled its traffic situation.

When construction of a traffic bypass east of town was dropped, the question of how to drive through or around Issaquah did not go away. Unfortunately, no one seemed to be concerned about this situation, and we are now confronted with major traffic congestion on arterials leading to the south.

The city will send a $50 million transportation bond to the Nov. 8 general election ballot to fund four projects that will supposedly help alleviate traffic congestion.

I have reviewed the summary reports of these projects and have concluded they will do little, if anything, to reduce congestion. I recommend a “no” vote for this transportation bond.

Any extra transportation money we have should be applied to Issaquah-Hobart Road or whatever route is selected to reduce or eliminate gridlock.

We are in this situation because we have not paid attention to the policies and actions of the top management of the city. The mayor or his designee should create a task force that will address this problem. It should set goals and timetables, report progress and status, and allow for comments and discussion with the taxpaying public.

Jim Brady Issaquah

Traffic

Keep those gravel trucks off Issaquah-Hobart Road, too

I was excited to read in the Press that the city is “considering” eliminating its truck routes south of Interstate 90. Would the city also please “consider” eliminating the access to the huge gravel trucks which roar down Issaquah-Hobart Road all day?

We who have to use this roadway have enough traffic challenges without having our road turned into a construction route.

Cydne Papworth Issaquah

Civic groups

Challenge Series races bring smiles to everyone’s faces I just wanted to let you know how pleased I was to see you published the letter from Zac Hochman as a guest columnist.

We are so proud of his letter describing his experiences with the Challenge Series gravity car races. Over the years, we have seen these experiences happen at every race. The typical kids get to know and feel comfortable with those who happen to have a disability, and vice versa.

These races are really all about those with challenges, mental or physical, having a fun time. Their smiles make it all worth the effort, and we all get to know those with challenges a little bit better.

I want to give a big thank you to the Rotary Clubs of Issaquah, Sammamish and Snoqualmie for their sponsorship of these races.

It couldn’t happen without their support. Life Enrichment Options supplies the cars, equipment and expertise for these races and the Rotary Clubs provide the planning, permits, trophies and free lunches.

Rose Finnegan Issaquah

Editor’s note: The writer is a Life Enrichment Options board member

General manager CHARLES HORTON

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR Send letters to the editor via email to editor@isspress.com.

The Issaquah Press welcomes comments to the editor about local issues — 300 words at most, please. We may edit your letter for length, clarity or inappropriate content. Include your phone number (for verification purposes only; it will not be published).

Email is preferred, but you can also mail your comments to:Editor, The Issaquah Press, P.O. Box 1328, Issaquah, WA 98027

Preservation

Wake up and see the history tied to Providence Heights I am rather new to this area, only having lived here for a year, but I have visited and toured for the last 30 years. Before I moved here, I lived in the middle of the country, and while I was born in New Orleans, I have also visited Boston, Charleston, Savannah, and Washington, D.C. I have been drawn to these and other cities by their history and architecture, no doubt a result of having grown up in a historic city.

On one of our visits here, we went to Vancouver, Wash., and my daughter took me to the school established by the Providence nuns and pointed out that Mother Joseph, leader of the group of sisters who came to the Pacific Northwest in the mid-1800s, was immortalized by the state’s statue of her in the National Statuary Hall located in the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Mother Joseph is considered one of the first architects in the Pacific Northwest. It is from this group of sisters, who established a presence of the Sisters of Providence in the Northwest, that the property at Providence Heights eventually developed. It is also the group of sisters who established hospitals in the area that eventually became the Providence healthcare system.

Perhaps having grown up with an emphasis on both history and architecture made me appreciate it more, but how can our children come to appreciate it if we level it and cover it with pavement or concrete, glass and steel? Such buildings as the Providence Heights property are teaching tools as much as the Old North Church in Boston, the market in Charleston, a covered bridge in Indiana or Ohio, and the room in the Cabildo in New Orleans where the Louisiana Purchase was signed.

Madeline G. Korff Sammamish

Government

Talus cleanup shouldn’t cost city’s taxpayers a penny Ridiculous! Rubbish! Hogwash!

Who should pay the bill? The developers and Keith Niven, who else? Certainly not the city using the tax dollars of the residents.

Talus is not a city facility, city project or the city’s responsibility during the development. Talus was forced on us by developers over a long number of years.

No residents wanted our forested hillsides and mountaintops stripped and developed. If the Talus developers (and others) had their way, all the hills would be stripped of greenery and replaced with housing. Developers and builders should be made to have a large contingency fund set aside to cover their mistakes during development and for 10 years out to protect people from problems that result from not using common sense. Maybe development would move at a slower pace.

Why are the powers-that-be even considering using my tax dollars to pay for the cleanup on the landslide in Talus which is private property? Supposedly, these selfish and money-hungry developers had tests done to support their development project. Any one with common sense knows that gravity is at work when there are steep sloping hills. However, those same developers kept pushing for more and more sloped land to be developed. Is anyone on the valley floor surprised that the hillside moved? How did they get away with removing so much of the stabilizing force: trees and shrubs?

Stop pushing for residents outside of Talus to pay for conditions that were created by individuals connected to development of private property. We residents should not be held financially responsible for the lack of common sense by the developers and city officials. If anyone connected with the city has to pay, I have a name to give you: Keith Niven. He is the one in the city that is behind all the “urban development” on the hills above the city: Talus and the Highlands of Issaquah.

If I developed a piece of my property and there was a geological event, I sure would expect the city to tell me, “It’s your property, your project and your responsibility to do the repairs.” Samesame for Talus. It’s called taking personal responsibility. Few developers have this trait. It would be good for the residents of Issaquah if the developers of Talus have it and not foist the cleanup costs on the city and its residents.

If somehow Talus and the city agree to make the citizens of Issaquah financially responsible, then the residents of Issaquah should have the final word: Clean it up, plant it and leave it green, and no more mass development added to the hillside on the east side of Cougar Mountain.

Geraldine Carey

Issaquah

Schools

Restricting off-hours parking at Sunset makes little sense Re: Sunset Elementary School off-hours parking Sunset is a public school, which means tax dollars pay for this facility. As a person who has used this public parking location on occasion for carpooling, exchanges and an activity meeting location for years on weekends, holidays and summer vacation from school, I can see no reason the school system has chosen to have this asset left vacant when there are no school activities. In a society as ours, multi-use of facilities should be the goal. Carpooling should also be encouraged. Maybe the school system would prefer adding additional cars on Sunset Way, Newport Way, and State Route 900 towards Interstate 90.

Over time, I have never seen an abuse of this parking facility.

Do school administrators and employees think they are some special group that they cannot see the public advantage of having active people find an off-hours use of this parking lot instead of leaving it empty? I see no problem asking the public to not use this lot when fully needed for school activities, but completely off-limits when empty is just not being public-minded.

In this politically correct world we live in, where some people think no one can make a decision without the government telling them what is proper behavior or not, this is a an overreach where no problem exists. Any normal person understands this is not a normal park-and-ride to be used for work or overnight parking, but only used for shorter periods when not in use by the school.

Editor

SCOTT STODDARD

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HISTORY SNAPSHOT

Issaquah History Museums

The city’s 1959 Labor Day Grand Parade included this float, “Flowers Ahoy,” sponsored by Issaquah Floral, a Front Street fixture for many years.

Judy Garner is riding aboard the float, which was awarded first place in the local commercial category. The Issaquah Press reported a steady rain fell throughout the hourlong parade but failed to dampen the spirits of an estimated crowd of 10,000.

History Snapshot is a partnership between The Issaquah Press and the Issaquah History Museums.

Learn more about upcoming events at the museum at issaquahhistory.org

BRIEFLY

Issaquah School District kindergarten starts Sept. 7 While the first day for most Issaquah School District students is Sept. 1, for kindergartners it’s Sept. 7.

Kindergarten teachers will be hosting individual Family Connection meetings on Sept. 1, 2 and 6. Neighborhood schools will contact parents to schedule a time for them and their children to attend a Family Connection meeting. This meeting will be an opportunity for the teacher to create a partnership with the parent and is a chance for teachers to learn more about their children before school starts.

To learn more about the district’s kindergarten programs, go to bit.ly/2bqJ6nY.

Stay informed with school district’s new app

The Issaquah School District has a new tool to help families and students stay informed.

The district’s mobile app allows users to view grades, attendance, lunch balances, news and more. The app is available for Apple and Android devices. Search for the Issaquah School District in the Apple or Google Play app stores.

Learn more about the features and watch a video tutorial of the app at bit.ly/2bg7sp2.

IN MEMORIAM

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS AROUND THE WORLD

The Issaquah Press traveled with Rich and Karen Johnson recently on a trip to Europe, including this stop in front of the Grand Palace Hotel in Riga, Latvia. Residents of Issaquah since 1993, the Johnsons were in Riga to see the childhood home of Karen’s father.

Where have you taken your hometown newspaper? Email your photo and information to editor@isspress.com.

RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS Public Health, Seattle and King County did not perform any inspections of Issaquah restaurants Aug. 15-21. View past inspection reports for any Issaquah or King County restaurant online at theeastside.news/inspections.

PETS OF THE WEEK Chief Tater Tot is a dog as cool and goofy as his name. Tot is a 3-year-old Staffordshire Bull Chief Tater Tot Terrier mix, a big, gentle lug who delights in giving and receiving attention and affection. His outstanding good looks are an attention-getter. He would be happiest in an adult-only and cat free home. Resident dogs are required to visit Chief Tater Tot prior to adoption.

Meet Coltrane, a 1-year-old brown and white tabby mix boy. Coltrane is a little shy and mellow guy, but Coltrane once you get him out of his shell, he becomes a giant purring machine. Coltrane is just waiting to meet his new family today at PetSmart in North Seattle, a Seattle Humane satellite location.

Come find him there today and welcome him into your heart and home — you’ll be glad you did!

To adopt these or other animals, call the Humane Society for Seattle/King County at 641-0080 or go to seattlehumane.org.

All animals are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, and come with 30 days of pet health insurance and a certificate for a vet exam.

Rolf T. G. Westerlund In Loving Memory February 5, 1934 September 8, 1996 He Loved Faithfully, He Loved Forever and Only — Margot Dad, I Love You; You Are Forever In My Heart — Gina You Will Be Forever Missed — Kenneth, Adrienne, Ariane, Marissa Your Memory Makes Us a Family — Madison, Dylan, Max SUPPORT INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. Call 425-392-6434 or visit us online at issaquahpress.com

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The Issaquah Press

Liberty pianist perfects her skills at prestigious camp

By Christina Corrales-Toy ccorrales-toy@isspress.com Musician McKenzie Fysh found her purpose in a Kent retirement home about two years ago.

The Liberty High School student traveled to the Aegis Living facility to infuse a little holiday cheer among its residents. As she sat to play the piano, she noticed that her audience was largely quiet and withdrawn.

The sullen mood changed when she began playing familiar Christmas carols.

“I saw some of their eyes light up and they looked really excited,” she said. “They were engaged. It soothed and helped them.”

That marriage of music and memory to heal and inspire influenced Fysh to pursue a career in music therapy.

“It’s learning a neurological and psychological approach to how music responds to people that otherwise can’t be reached,” said Fysh, now a senior at Liberty. “It’s not as much teaching music to them, but it’s showing them how music can help them.”

With the future in mind, Fysh perfected her skill at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan this summer. The camp is known as the world’s premier summer arts program for aspiring artists.

Students come from all over

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Liberty High School student McKenzie Fysh attended the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan this summer. the world to study at the northern Michigan campus and learn from world-class instructors in a picturesque wooded setting.

The camp’s list of distinguished alumni includes singers Josh Groban and Norah Jones.

Former Interlochen students have gone on to win more than 120 Grammy Awards and collect

more than 25 Tony Awards.

“It seems like everyone gets their start there, which is really cool,” Fysh said.

The summer program is a strict regiment of practices, courses and performances. Students are required to wear uniforms, live in cabins and follow a schedule that allows for little down time.

Fysh focused on perfecting her technical playing skills to better equip herself for a future in music therapy.

“Musically, it was just a great experience because the teachers are really there to take you where you’re at,” she said.

“They’re able to look at your strengths and then work on your

weaknesses for the summer and send you back with insights you wouldn’t get at home.”

The camp is also known for bringing in world-renowned artists to teach master classes. During Fysh’s session, she learned from famed pianist/composer Conrad Tao. At just 22 years old, Tao is widely considered a prodigious talent. He’s already performed with symphonies across the world and was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts in 2011.

“He taught us how to express passion in different parts of music,” Fysh said.

You can often find Fysh performing at area nursing homes.

She also plays the piano at Swedish Hospital in Issaquah for about an hour every week.

“I like interacting with the patients and families,” she said. “They share their stories and appreciate the soothing background music.”

At school, she’s a member of the Liberty Singers and enjoys participating in the theater program’s shows and musicals.

She is also in a band, The Truman Doctrine, with a few fellow Liberty students.

Fysh will perform solo on the Washington State Fair Education Stage from 5-6 p.m. on Sept.

25. The Truman Doctrine takes the stage on the same day from 7-7:30 p.m.

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Thursday, September 1, 2016 •

7

“We legitimately care about each individual and how we can meet their needs.”

-Cori Walters Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank executive director

Photos by Lizz Giordano / lgiordano@isspress.com

Cori Walters, executive director of the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank, wants the redesigned space to feel more like a regular grocery store.

Food bank 1

families pass through the food bank every week. The old space just wasn’t meeting the growing demand.

The overhaul expanded the shopping space, making it easier to maneuver carts.

An enlarged lobby allows more families to escape the rain or heat while they wait.

Increased office space for the staff added a private room for the case manager to work.

“Our old model was designed around people for asking for what they wanted and a volunteer getting what they wanted and then giving it to them,” Walters explained.

With the redesign, Walters’ goal was to give personal choice back to the customer, allowing clients to select every product themselves. Now empowered clients can browse the shelves lingering to read labels.

“I think the old system did prevent a lot of people from maybe coming in and accessing services,” Walters said.

She also points to the stigma of using a food bank, which inhibits people from coming through the door.

“People associated it with the one homeless person they see on the street begging with a drug problem,” Walters said. “It’s way bigger than that and we can be much more empathetic.”

Families who shop at the food bank must live within the Issaquah School District’s boundaries. Walters knows of households with dual or even triple incomes that still need a little extra help. She pointed to low wages, fast-rising housing costs and how expensive it is to feed kids.

She said food insecurity or having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food is a much bigger problem than many people realize.

According to Northwest Harvest, a statewide nonprofit food bank distributor, one in five kids in Washington lives in a household that struggles to put food on the table.

Walters shared a story of a grandmother who, after a phone scam robbed her of her savings and house, was forced to live in her car. She called these people, unnoticed by society because

Above: In the summer residents donate fresh produce picked from their gardens.

Left: The food bank uses crates to store and restock the shelves with canned and dry goods.

Food insecurity

Walters doesn’t turn anyone away. Knock on the door at a time when the food bank isn’t open and her first question is, “Do you have enough food?”

Roughly 60 percent of people served at the food bank in Issaquah are children or senior citizens.

Walters is most worried about the families the food bank is not reaching.

“We are shooting in the dark,” Walters said of they are not usually associ- but limits herself to what of the future and a day she people not accessing the ated with homelessness, she can eat in the next day. can once again give back to food bank. “We don’t know “walking ghosts.”

Pausing by a frozen pizza a her community. why they aren’t coming.” volunteer just stocked, with “Everyone is going to face In an effort to break down no place to cook or store challenges,” Jessica said. barriers on both sides, the The walking ghosts food and with a heat wave “Even the Queen of Engfood bank recently started Passing Issaquah resident predicted for the weekend, land.” a lunch program. During Jessica (not her real name) Jessica moved on.

“People don’t want to ask school breaks they engage on the street, one would She leaves with little: a for help,” said Erica Murillo, donors to shop directly for never know she spent the few bottles of water, some a young mother of two, as a student by providing a previous night in her car. bread, cheese and a preshe loads her daughters into bag of food that contains a Her clothes are spotless and pared salad. She must eat it their van after shopping at week’s worth of breakfasts unwrinkled, her dark hair is all today before the food can the food bank. “It’s hard.” and lunches. shiny and straight. Jessica, spoil in the heat. To make it Despite working a fullThese bags are then handwho asked that her name between weekly trips to the time job as a teacher at a ed out in a small park across not be used, is a walking food bank, Jessica someday care, combined with the street from food bank, ghost. times visits the senior cenher partner’s income, her with the hope of making it In her late 50s, she ter for coffee and pastries, describes herself as a savvy but she likes to change it up shopper and is all business to go unnoticed.

Name: 13575/ once she begins her grocery “It’s important to keep Thomas R. trip at the food bank. your anonymity,” Jessica Jessica normally would said. “People gossip.”

Quickstad first scan the soups for She optimistically speaks DDS P organic brands, but she has an added challenge: Living Width: 31p6 in her car, she has no access Name: 14743/Pine Depth: 3 in to a refrigerator or water to Lake Community On Page: 7 wash produce.

She must choose from Club Request Page: 0 the pre-prepared items

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Located On Page: 7 • WWW.CARRIGCONSTRUCTION.COM 425.628.8162

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family still made twicemonthly trips to the food bank — often at the beginning of the month after paying rent.

Now Murillo stays home due to her youngest’s severe gluten allergy, which has turned her household into a gluten-free zone and caused the grocery bill to grow.

The family moved into a cheaper apartment after losing her income, but it still depends on the food bank to fill in the gaps.

Murillo approves of the redesign of the food bank, saying she now has a chance to read labels to make sure her entire family can eat the product.

“Ask for help, then say no thanks?” Murillo said of the old system of a volunteer behind a counter handing out items. Often times Murillo would just take the item — even though her family couldn’t eat it — rather than hold up the line or make it seem she was refusing help.

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a little easier for families to get the help they need but for some reason or another don’t want to visit the food bank, breaking down one barrier. Perhaps next time, they won’t hesitate to step inside the food bank.

Program Assistant Pam Saito warmly greets every client as they walk in. She said the redesign gives the choice back to the clients.

“It’s all self-select,” Saito said. “Clients can take their time. They select what they need.”

Walters said the support of the community has driven the success of the food bank.

Over 70,000 pounds are donated to the food bank each month and over 1,500 volunteer hours are needed to organize, package and stock all the food. Some donors even picked from their gardens, providing homegrown fresh veggies.

Volunteer Barbara Hinds said the redesign allows for a smoother process.

“Especially in the summer when more produce is available,” Hinds said.

“Makes it more like a grocery store.”

Just this past Saturday, more than 1,400 pounds of food from the farmers market was donated by residents and farmers.

Nothing gets wasted: What isn’t used goes to the Preston Food Bank and after that passed onto a church food bank.

For Walters and the staff at the food bank, it isn’t about food in and food out.

“We legitimately care about each individual and how we can meet their needs,” Walters said.

The food bank offers more than just fruits and vegetables. Attached to the food bank is a clothing bank and an onsite case manager can help connect clients with other services and financial aid.

“My hope is that everyone leaves here feeling they got what the needed to get through the next week,” Walters said.

LIVING FACEBOOK LIKE OF THE WEEK CHARLES McCRONE, ISSAQUAH

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS

Thursday, September 1, 2016 • 8 Join more than 3,300 Facebook users who like The Issaquah Press on Facebook. Search “Issaquah Press” or visit facebook.com/issaquahpress.

“I enjoy seeing the back and forth opinions as local residents and neighbors discuss Issaquah news. Hearing the wide spectrum of diverse opinions is great.”

LET’S GO!

RECIPE BOX

FRIDAY, SEPT. 2 Pizza & Picasso, for ages 6-9 and 10 and older, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Museo Art Academy, 300 NE Gilman Blvd., $29, museoart.com Nautical Voyage Family Fun Night, featuring canoe races, inflatable boats and other vessels, 7-9 p.m., $5/adults, $4/ youth, $12/families, Julius Boehm Pool, 50 SE Clark St. CT Classic Soul, 7:30-11:30 p.m., Vino Bella, 99 Front St. N., 391-1424

SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring music by Brian Ernst Music (10:30 a.m. to noon) and Cherie Blues (12:30-2 p.m.), Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. NW Issaquah Alps area hike, easy, 4-6 miles, 800- to 1,200-foot gain, 9 a.m., meet at 175 Rainier Blvd. S., 369-1725, issaquahalps.org Children’s Storytime: “If Your Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t!” by Elise Parsley, all ages welcome, 11 a.m.

Barnes & Noble, 1530 11th Ave. NW, free, 557-8808 Ride the Issaquah Valley Trolley, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., $5, Issaquah Depot Museum, 78 First Ave. NE, issaquahhistory.org Nature Nook at Sunset Beach Bathhouse, 1-4 p.m., free, Lake Sammamish State Park, 2000 NW Sammamish Road, 360-902-8844, lakesammamishfriends.org Junior Ranger Programs, for ages 6-10, 3-4 p.m., Sunset Beach Bathhouse, Lake Sammamish State Park, 2000 NW Sammamish Road, lakesammamishfriends. org Shaggy Sweet, 7:30-11:30 p.m., Vino Bella, 99 Front St. N., 391-1424

SUNDAY, SEPT. 4 Oldsmobile Club of America Car Show (Buicks/Pontiacs), 9 a.m., Triple XXX Root Beer Drive-In, 98 NE Gilman Blvd., triplexrootbeer.com Big Tree Ridge hike, moderate, 5-6 miles, 1,400- to 1,500-foot gain, 9:30 a.m., meet at 175 Rainier Blvd. S., 9026255, issaquahalps.org Ride the Issaquah Valley Trolley, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., $5, Issaquah Depot Museum, 78 First Ave. NE, issaquahhistory.org Guided Family Walk, all ages, 2-3 p.m., free, Sunset Beach Bathhouse, Lake Sammamish State Park, 2000 NW Sammamish Road, lakesammamishfriends.org

Maria Nelson

Blackberries, peaches join flavor forces in this tasty cobbler

D

epending on which side of the fence you’re on, blackberries are either a heinous overbearing foe or a delicious, mouthwatering friend. It’s awfully difficult to find fault with blackberries when you find yourself on a warm, sunny summer’s day popping a sweet, fat, warmed by-the-sun berry into your mouth. The fault, of course, lies in their prickly passive-aggressive nature.

As if the pain inflicted on approach is somehow the requisite pound of flesh nature requires to enjoy such a delicious treat.

MARIA One of my favorite things NELSON about living in the Pacific Northwest is the overabundance of wild blackberry bushes. They quite literally can be found just about anywhere.

Their tenacious, stubborn growth definitely renders them the bane of many a homeowners’ existence, but that tenacity is the thing I think I love about them the most. That and their delicious gift of fruit each summer.

Right now is a great time to get out and find some berries to pick. Don’t be deterred by the inevitable pricks and pokes, just plan on longsleeved shirts and pants and a stout pair of thick work gloves. Then rush home and make this cobbler. Any pain inflicted at the beginning will be quickly forgotten once the allure of warmed, bubbling, lemony fruit and biscuits is realized.

Fresh peaches are a great addition to this recipe and compliment the lemon and nutmeg flavors exceptionally well. Of course, feel free to substitute plums or nectarines or any other stone fruit that suits your fancy.

Maria Nelson is an Issaquah food writer, photographer and recipe developer. She shares her love of all things sweet and savory at pinkpatisserie.net.

Peach and Blackberry Cobbler with Lemon Biscuits Serves 6

42 cups blackberries, rinsed 42 cups peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced ¼-inch thick 41 tablespoon lemon zest 41 teaspoon lemon juice 4½ cup sugar 4¼ teaspoon nutmeg 42 tablespoons instant tapioca Biscuit topping 41 cup flour 41½ teaspoons baking powder 41 tablespoon lemon zest 43 tablespoons sugar 4¼ teaspoon salt 44 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces 4¼ cup milk 41 egg, beaten 42 tablespoons Turbinado (raw) sugar Combine the fruit, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, nutmeg and the tapioca together in a large bowl and toss lightly. Set aside while making the biscuit dough.

Combine the dry biscuit ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk, breaking up any lumps. Work the butter into the flour mixture, using your fingers or the back of a fork. When done the mixture should resemble coarse meal. Combine the egg and milk in a small dish, then with a fork, lightly stir the wet ingredients into the dry.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Pour the fruit mixture into a 9-inch-by-9-inch greased baking pan.

Evenly portion the biscuit dough in dollops around the top of the fruit. Sprinkle the dough with the sugar. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until the dough is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling.

Serve warm with ice cream if desired.

MONDAY, SEPT. 5 All city offices are closed for the Labor Day holiday Issaquah Alps area dog hike, easy, 3-5 miles, up to 1,000-foot gain, 10 a.m., meet at 175 Rainier Blvd. S., 322-0990, issaquahalps.org

TUESDAY, SEPT. 6 Teen Open House: Homework help and tutoring, 3-5 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W, Sunset Way, 392-5430 Open Mic Night, music only (no read-

ONLINE CALENDAR Submit details for your event to our online calendar at theeastside.news/calendar.

ings or other narrative performances), signup begins at 6 p.m., performances begin at 6:30 p.m., Issaquah Depot Museum, 78 First Ave. NE, issaquahopenmic.com Don’t Keep Putting it Off: end-of-life planning for ages 50 and older, 7-8:30 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 The Urban Village Development Commission meeting has been canceled The River and Streams Board meeting has been canceled City Council regular meeting, 7 p.m.

Council Chambers, City Hall South, 135 E. Sunset Way

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7 Study Zone with Spanish speakers, for grades K-12, 4-6 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 Mixed Media for Teens, ages 11-17, 4-6 p.m., artEAST Art Center, 95 Front St. N., $150/members, $160/nonmembers, bit.ly/2bGzSbn Sammamish Farmers Market, 4-8 p.m., featuring music by Larry Murante from 4-6 p.m., and children’s activity of paper plate crowns, Sammamish Commons Plaza at City Hall, 801 228th Ave. SE, sammamishfarmersmarket.org Citizenship Classes, for adults, 4:30-6 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 Study Zone, for grades K-12, 6-8 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 3925430 Development Commission meeting, 7 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall South, 135 E. Sunset Way

THURSDAY, SEPT. 8 Chamber of Commerce luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., meet presidential candidate Sammy the Salmon, $25/members, $40/nonmembers, University House Issaquah, 22975 SE Black Nugget Road, register at bit.ly/2bQ6mOL Colored Pencil Drawing Class: ages 18 and older, four sessions from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays, $78/members, $83/ nonmembers, bit.ly/2bFJB0w; ages 11-17 four sessions 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursdays, $60/members, $65/nonmembers, bit. ly/2bOnraI; artEAST Art Center, 95 Front St. N. Teen Open House: Homework help and tutoring, 3-5 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 One-On-One Computer Help, for adults, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 Council Land and Shore Committee special meeting, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall South, 135 E. Sunset Way The Planning Policy Commission meeting has been canceled

Honor swim pays tribute to beloved mother, tutor

By David Hayes dhayes@isspress.com When Don and Barb Johnson moved in to a small cottage home on the shores of Lake Sammamish in 1972, there was not one school on the Plateau.

With their kids attending elementary school in Redmond, Don said Barb devised a plan combining staying at home with them and putting her master’s degree in special education to use tutoring.

A cottage industry, Sammamish Tutoring, literally grew out of their home, providing a need to help students fill in the gaps where they were struggling.

As the population grew, so did the demand. The Johnsons eventually built a pair of second-floor classrooms in their home to meet the demand — elementary students to the left as they came up the stairs, high school students to the right.

After Barb and her fellow Sammamish Tutoring instructors touched the lives of easily more than 500 kids over the years, early onset Alzheimer’s robbed her of her ability to continue in 2012.

As the disease whittled away at her body and soul, one memory stuck with her — family swims in Lake Sammamish.

Contributed

The family swim honors Barb Johnson, shown here with Peanut.

“For the year leading up to when my mom got very sick,” her daughter Kristine Meyer said, “she would ask anyone (and everyone) who came over to swim across Lake Sammamish with her.”

Meyer said her family knew Barb would never make that swim, but she didn’t know it. In her mind, the dates were set, See SWIM, Page 9

The Issaquah Press

POLICE & FIRE Pestered by the media At 11:01 a.m. Aug. 17, a resident in the 100 block of Cougar Ridge Road Northwest reported to a responding officer that the media was trying to get an interview with her and she has already declined multiple times.

Suspicious plum protector At 10:54 p.m. Aug. 16, an office responded to a report of suspicious activity in the 300 block of Rainier Boulevard North. The officer contacted a subject at Northeast Dogwood who said he was the homeowner and was chasing raccoons out of his backyard because they were trying to eat his plums.

Swim

her favorite place, at home along the shores of Lake Sammamish.

For the past four years, from page 8 Meyer has kept her mother’s last wish alive, organizthe details planned and the ing an honor swim across swim would happen. the lake.

“That’s what mattered. It Each year, a handful of made her happy when we their closest family and all accepted the invitation friends gather, usually and we saw the beautiful between 9 and 19, Meyer smile on her face,” Meyer said, the first Sunday after said.

Labor Day to participate in Meyer then had an the honor swim. epiphany. He mother, ever “We get a flotilla of boats, the great planner, was orga- kayaks and paddleboards,” nizing an event, consciously Don said. “We then go or not, to get her favorite across the lake to a dock people together to enjoy with a T-shape that we line

up on. They probably have no idea who we are.”

Then they jump in and swim the 1¼ mile back to the Johnsons’ cottage.

“What’s really cool is all these people are not all swimming,” Meyer said.

“Some ride in boats, paddleboarding, kayaking, or part of the group waiting for us to come back in.”

Not all the participants are trained swimmers. Meyer’s husband has competed in Ironman races, so he finishes in just over 30 minutes.

“He’s in and out quickly,” she said. “But it’s not a race.

My brother also has a friend

Thursday, September 1, 2016 • who’s a professional swimming coach. Then there’s the few of us who bring up the back.”

Meyer added the honor swim is not a fundraiser.

She saves those efforts for the annual Alzheimer’s Walk, which is the week after the swim.

“I do a pretty good fundraising campaign for the Alzheimer’s Association because its something close to our heart and something we had to deal with,” Meyer said. “It’s just a terrible, terrible disease.

It’s important for people to realize Alzheimer’s is

9

affecting a lot of people.

Statistics show it’s growing instrumentally every year.”

Barb died in 2013, never having the opportunity to witness her favorite people make the swim. Meyer said they told her they were going to go for it the summer before.

“She knew we were going to do it,” Meyer said. “So for the past three years, we gather, we remember Mom, we spend time together in her honor and we swim across the lake. She invited us to swim, and without a doubt, she is with us as we do it.”

ALL SMILES AT HIGHLANDS DAY

Purse recovered, discarded At 8:51 p.m. Aug. 12, a citizen flagged down an officer at East Sunset Way and First Avenue Northeast.

The citizen had just found the purse on the sidewalk.

It was filled with cigarettemaking materials and nothing else. Unable to locate an owner, the officer disposed of the purse.

Woman in danger ... of nodding off

At 6:08 p.m. Aug. 17, an officer responded to a complaint for a suspicious female nodding off in front of Safeway in the 700 block of Northwest Gilman Boulevard. The officer found the female, now standing up, near a bench. She admitted to falling asleep but was awake now and needed no help.

Last one out act suspicious At 6:08 p.m. Aug. 17, an officer responded to a report of two males trying to open the door at Sports Authority in the 1100 block of Northwest Gilman Boulevard. The officer discovered the two men worked for the company which is tearing down the interior of the building and they were just locking up.

Too early to chain saw At 7:12 a.m. Aug. 20, an officer contacted a subject in the 400 block of Mount Jupiter Drive Southwest who had just finished using a chainsaw. He stated he understood that it was unreasonable due to the time and stated he would not do it again.

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Costumed characters young and old enjoyed the attractions, entertainment, food trucks and music Aug. 27 during Highlands Day on Northeast Park Drive at Village Green Park and Blakely Hall. Issaquah Highlands’ own musician Sam Foster opened the festival at noon, many local youth volunteered to help the crowd during the day, Roving Super Heroes from Animate Objects Physical Theater roamed among the crowd and put on a stage show, and several dozen corporate vendors sponsored activities, handed out free gifts to kids and offered information to their parents.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS ONLINE AT ISSAQUAHPRESS.COM

Skyline All-American runner logs miles for clean-water charity

By Christina Corrales-Toy ccorrales-toy@isspress.com

After a long run through the Issaquah Alps, Skyline High School junior Geneva Schlepp reaches for a cold bottle of water.

She takes a sip to quench her thirst. The water is clean, refreshing and easy to obtain, luxuries that Shoplifting aren’t available in all parts of the world.

4At 12:26 a.m. Aug. 13, More than 1.8 billion someone stole a bottle of people worldwide do not Crown Royal from a busihave access to clean water ness in the 1400 block of Highlands Drive Northeast. and 2.4-billion lack access to adequate sanitation, Video surveillance is being according to the nonprofit checked.

Water For People.

4At 2:26 p.m. Aug. 21, Those numbers struck someone stole $715.20 worth of products from the a chord with Schlepp this summer, inspiring the elite 100 block of Northeast Gilathlete to use her running man Boulevard. talents for a greater purpose. She traded miles for Hit and run money, promising to run 60 At 5:55 p.m. Aug. 16, the miles over a two-week peowner of a 2016 Chevroriod in exchange for donalet Colorado reported that tions to support Water For someone sideswiped the People’s mission of bringing driver’s side of the vehicle, safe water to communities causing $500 in damage. in need.

“As runners, we’re always drinking water Shoplifting, then theft and we take it for granted At 8:47 p.m. Aug. 17, a because it’s always there,” 40-year-old Bellevue man Schlepp said. “We don’t was arrested in the 1400 even think about it, how block of Highlands Drive easily and readily available Northeast for two counts water is for us and that it’s of third-degree theft and clean, too.” was served with a notice Schlepp cited statistics of trespass. Then man was that show women and chilthen charged in a residendren spend more than four tial burglary that took place hours a day walking to their in the 1000 block of 10th water source in some develAvenue Northeast.LAURA D.PROOF.IP.CMYK. oping countries. She added

People.

She spent the majority of her 60 miles on the trails of Tiger, Cougar and Squak mountains. Schlepp’s mother Susan even got in on the act, pledging to hike a challenging 50 miles in 10 days.

“It was quite the adventure and I really enjoyed it because at the end of every hike, the first thing that was on our minds was water, honestly,” Geneva Schlepp said. “It just really Contributed hit home that the fundraiser Skyline High School junior Geneva Schlepp (second from left) spear- was built in a way that you would actually gain an apheaded an effort among local athletes to raise money for Water for preciation for water.”

People. Skyline students (from left) Jaron Jin, Schlepp, Chris Fink, As she inched toward 60 Clara Brewer and Drew Holt all contributed to the fundraising. miles, the Skyline crossthat hundreds of thousands fellow KingCo Conference country and track athlete die each year from drinking runners to set mileage goals notched the longest run of contaminated water. and collect pledges. So far, her career: 12 miles. It was She sprung into action the group has raised more just the most recent accomthis August, recruiting than $6,000 for Water For plishment in what’s been a

busy summer.

She was one of a few local athletes that qualified for the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics in Sacramento, Calif., where she earned a personal record time of 4 minutes, 49.16 seconds in the 1,500-meter race. That was good enough for eighth place and earned her All-American honors.

She also attended a Stanford University crosscountry and track camp.

“This has been the best summer training that I’ve had in my last two years,” she said. “I feel more prepared than I’ve ever felt for a sports season.”

Schlepp, who wants to study environmental engineering in college, is still collecting money for Water For People. Donate online at bit.ly/2bDGZzu.

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SPORTS

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS

Thursday, September 1, 2016 • 10

PREP GIRLS SOCCER PREVIEW

Liberty faces adversity before season opener

By Neil Pierson npierson@isspress.com

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Longtime Issaquah assistant volleyball coach Barry LeMond instructs his varsity players Aug. 25 at the start of a team practice while head coach Amanda Sewell continues on maternity leave.

PREP VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW

Eagles might be a dark horse in KingCo 4A race

By Neil Pierson npierson@isspress.com Longtime assistant coach Barry LeMond doesn’t want to put pressure on the Issaquah Eagles volleyball team, so their focus heading into the 2016 season is the minutiae of day-today improvement.

“I think any team wants to get to the state tournament,” said LeMond, who is in charge of the program while head coach Amanda Sewell is on maternity leave.

“It’s a goal, for sure. But it’s something we don’t talk about just yet.”

Issaquah hasn’t been back to the Class 4A state tournament since it lost the championship game in 2010. It’ll be an uphill battle to end the drought as the squad is largely constructed of juniors and sophomores.

But opponents would be wise to not sleep on the Eagles, who had a strong offseason.

They brought in coaches from the elite Gold Medal Squared program to run an in-house summer camp and sent players to USA Volleyball High Performance sessions.

“A lot of our girls train on the beach,” LeMond added, “which we encourage, because it’s really a terrific opportunity to get a lot of ball-handling done. On the beach, you have to do it all.”

Junior libero Claire Siefkes embodies Issaquah’s blue-collar work ethic. She was an All-KingCo Conference second-team choice as a sophomore and willingly puts in the time to become an elite defensive player.

“It’s a lot of long hours in the gym and it’s a lot of grind,” Siefkes said. “You just have to have a goal in mind and keep working, striving toward that. And it takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but it pays off in the end.”

The Eagles will look to have a longer postseason run than 2015, when they went twoand-out at the KingCo tournament, winning only set against Skyline and Newport.

To make it happen, they’ll need strong play from two returning outside hitters, sophomore Liz Gorski and senior Annika Melgard.

They could have chances for double-digit kills each night through senior setter Sarah Baker.

In the middle, Issaquah will look to sophomore Zoe Sevart and junior Claire Kaill to disrupt the opponents’ attack. Junior Lauryn Weisberg should solidify the back row alongside Siefkes.

LeMond has a galvanizing presence that should help the Eagles even if they’re short a coach at the start of the season.

“He is a great figure to have around our team,” Siefkes said. “He is always really calm and collected.”

Issaquah Eagles 2015 record: 8-8, advanced to conference tournament Key graduation losses: MB Hope Dahlquist, MB Sarah Ratcliffe Key returning players: S Sarah Baker, sr.; OH Liz Gorski, soph.; RS Ally Latham, sr.; OH Annika Melgard, sr.; L Claire Siefkes, jr.

Key newcomers: RS Charlotte Emerson, soph.; MB Zoe Sevart, soph.

SKYLINE: Youngsters trying to banish unpleasant memories

LIBERTY: Patriots aiming for a third straight 2A tournament trip

Callie Wesson’s teams had never missed the state tournament during her first four seasons at Skyline. And after winning the regularseason KingCo title, the Spartans seemed to be sailing toward a fifth straight trip.

It didn’t happen, though, as underdog Eastlake upended them in five sets during the KingCo tournament and a powerful Battle Ground team knocked them off, 3-0, in a winner-to-state, loser-out crossover match.

The long bus ride to the Vancouver area, combined with a short warmup period, weren’t kind to the Spartans in their season-ending loss. But Wesson thinks an exceptionally young group that featured 10 sophomores will be better because of the disappointment.

“It definitely was a learning experience and kind of an eye-opener that came with youth,” she said, “and I think that’s going to be beneficial, that they know they were that close last year.”

Skyline’s squad is again filled with underclassmen. There are no seniors on the 2016 roster. But there are seasoned players at every position who’ve been playing together on select programs for many years.

Junior outside hitter Grace Stephens should be the Spartans’ top offensive threat, though she’ll have help in front of the net in the form of Emmelynn Walters, a 6-foot-2 sophomore transfer from Great Oak High in Temecula, Calif.

Walters will start at middle blocker and gives Skyline a new type of threat.

“We’re going to do a lot of tutoring to get us on her page a little bit,” Wesson said.

“They run a little bit of a faster ball (in California), so we’ve got to do a lot of work to catch up, but I think she’s going to be a huge asset to us.”

Two familiar faces quarterback the attack in junior Sydney Dinsmore, a returning setter, and junior Jacalyn Pell, who switches from outside hitter.

“She definitely can adapt to any role, take it on, buy into what we’re trying to do and excel at it,” Wesson said of Pell.

Along the back line, look for junior Becca Owen and sophomore Isabelle Garrido, a callup for last year’s postseason, to lead the defensive effort.

Wesson believes the Spartans will return to state and their practice sessions are indicative of the type of team they’re trying to be.

“Definitely, we’re always competing, always trying to get the one-up on each other, and it’s all about getting the best kids out there all the time,” she said.

Liberty coach Trina Christensen has high hopes that her team will contend for a Class 2A/3A KingCo Conference championship and find itself at Saint Martin’s University for November’s 2A state tournament.

“This team is unique from others I have coached due to their overall level of drive and overall teamwork,” Christensen said.

“When you watch these girls, you can tell that they really want to play well as a team.”

The Patriots qualified for the 2014 and ’15 state tournaments and think they can make it three in a row thanks to their trio of thirdyear varsity players.

Setter Katherine Hatfield, right-side hitter Alena Rozewski and libero Presley Sweeney are the team’s most experienced players and should help Liberty offset the loss of seven graduated seniors.

Hatfield will replace Emily Skinner, while Sweeney takes over for Hayley Ho. The team’s biggest issue to solve might be replacing the production of Kenna Hanses, a former star outside hitter.

Christensen has some new pieces to work with as freshman Sydney Hopewell joins the program and looks to contribute at setter and right-side hitter.

Sydney Baity, a sophomore, moved up from the junior-varsity squad and Megan Miller, a junior middle blocker, transferred in from Issaquah High.

The coach doesn’t doubt her players have the talent to reach state, but they’ll need to prove they can be a cohesive unit. And the Patriots should have several challenging matches to test that theory, including homeand-away meetings with Lake Washington and Mercer Island.

“They are a great program and we always play well against them,” Christensen said of the Islanders.

Skyline Spartans 2015 record: 12-7, advanced to Class 4A crossover playoff Key graduation loss: OH Kate Richardson Key returning players: S Sydney Dinsmore, jr.; L Becca Owen, jr.; S Jacalyn Pell, jr.; OH Grace Stephens, jr.

Key newcomer: MB Emmelynn Walters, soph.

Liberty Patriots

2015 record: 9-13, advanced to Class 2A tournament Key graduation losses: OH Kenna Hanses, L Hayley Ho, S Emily Skinner Key returning players: S Katherine Hatfield, jr.; RS Alena Rozewski, jr.; L Presley Sweeney, jr.

Key newcomers: MB Sydney Baity, soph.; S/RS Sydney Hopewell, fr.; MB Megan Miller, jr.

After graduating 10 senior players, the Liberty Patriots were going to have some question marks coming into the 2016 girls soccer season.

Things got even tougher for coach Tami Nguyen in the past month when two likely starters – junior defender Marissa Mills and junior midfielder Sydney Willoughby – were lost to seasonending knee injuries.

But the Patriots aren’t about to make excuses or lower their expectations, not after reaching the state semifinals in four of the past five seasons, including last year’s third-place finish in Class 2A. “We’re a lot younger than we have been, but I like it,” Nguyen said. “I feel like people that haven’t got a ton of minutes on varsity in the past, they’re eager to kind of prove themselves.”

Liberty will need to find new personnel to join the proven players who return. Much of the offensive onus falls on junior Makena Carr, a captain and third-year starter.

“She’s obviously going to play a huge role for us this season,” Nguyen said. “I don’t really know where that’s going to be quite yet. It’s either going to be in the midfield or up top.”

Carr is embracing the leadership role she has earned, as well as the challenge of helping Liberty to a top-four finish in the 3A/2A KingCo Conference, her coach’s stated goal.

“We have a bunch of freshmen coming in, so I’m really excited for that because I like something new,” Carr said.

Although Mills will be missed, the Patriots have two capable defenders in senior Callen Mackey and sophomore Cameron Nelson, as well as freshman Taylor Elfstrom, a speedy and athletic addition.

They’ll aid the team’s transition to a new goalkeeper as junior Taylor Thatcher and sophomore Sophia Mendoza are likely to battle for minutes early in the season.

“It’s probably a dead-even race right now,” Nguyen said of the starting ‘keeper role. “I’m wanting one of them to really step up and take the ownership of being the starter.”

Liberty Patriots 2015 record: 15-4-2, finished third at Class 2A tournament Key graduation losses: F Sydney Abel, MF Kierra Costello, GK Jasmine Curl, MF Jordan Hemmen, D Maddy Mak Key returning players: F Makena Carr, jr.; D Callen Mackey, sr.; D Cameron Nelson, soph.

Key newcomers: D Taylor Elfstrom, fr.; GK Sophia Mendoza, soph.; GK Taylor Thatcher, jr.

ISSAQUAH: 4A championship repeat is in Eagles’ sights The phrase “embarrassment of riches” is appropriate when describing the Issaquah girls soccer team, which adds plenty of new talent to a large group of returning players who’ve already won a state title.

The Eagles will be among the favorites to hoist the Class 4A championship trophy in November, just as they did last fall for the program’s first 4A crown and fourth overall.

But coach Tom Bunnell’s higher priority heading into their lone preseason game, Sept. 6 at Arlington, is to navigate the KingCo Conference, which he calls “easily the best in the state,” and its expanded 14-game schedule.

“Everybody in the league can beat anybody,” Bunnell said, “and if you don’t realize that, you’re See SOCCER, Page 11

The Issaquah Press

Thursday, September 1, 2016 •

Classifieds

Greg Farrar gfarrar@isspress. com

Soccer

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To place your ad call: 425-392-6434, ext. 232 Deadline: Monday 11am

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Skyline senior defender Cameron Tingey (left) and senior forward Alexa Kirton vie for the ball during an Aug. 26 preseason team scrimmage.

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31.17009.FRI.0729.2x1.5.LAM plenty of chances to dent the net. Opponents can’t 044-Business Opportunity 2015 record: 12-3-2, advanced to Seeking Full Time & Part Time focus solely on the big tarClass 4A quarterfinals individuals for multiple Gas Station get forward because of the This newspaper participates Key graduation losses: F Gabby Attendant positions. from page 10 weapons around her. in a statewide classified ad program Hart, MF Lindsey Fujiwara, F AlesSenior Cameron Tingey, sponsored by the Washington News• Must have reliable transportation.

GAS & GROCERY sandra Zonta paper Publishers Association, a going to get bit somewhere junior Emma Rohleder • Able to lift 50lbs on consistent basis.

Key returning players: D Mariah statewide association of weekly along the way.” and junior Julia Mitchell Alexander, jr.; D Marissa Carpenter, Please apply in person, ask for Joe newspapers. The program allows At every position, all played key roles last jr.; F Alexa Kirton, sr.; MF Emma Mon–Thur 10am to 6pm classified advertisers to submit ads Issaquah has the talent season. And the return TH 14420 468 AVE SE Rohleder, jr.; GK Anna Smith, jr. for publication in participating weekand depth to compete for of Candace Hunter, who Competitive Salary DOE NORTH BEND, WA 98045 Key newcomers: MF Candace lies throughout the state in complileague and state titles. That missed all of her junior sea- Hunter, sr. ance with the following rules. You Issaquah real estate branch office is looking for a full time starts at goalkeeper, where son with an injury, should HELP WANTED: Our Transaction Coordinator who will be responsible for providing may submit an ad for the statewide junior Narea Arrazola only make them more TRANSACTION administrative, accounting, and customer service support to the program through this newspaper or takes over for Anna Miller. dangerous. agents and staff.

COORDINATOR in person to the WNPA office. The “Outside of the “Her quickness is going Daily tasks include: real estate transaction processing & back up rate is $275 for up to 25 words, plus to listings, administrative & technology support work within a fastleadership element, she to be really helpful to us in $10 per word over 25 words. WNPA paced environment for our Issaquah branch office. might even be better than the midfield and it’s going The job is Full Time & benefits eligible. Salary DOE. reserves the right to edit all ad copy Anna,” Bunnell said of to be a really good setup Apply at https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=15365891 submitted and to refuse to accept Arrazola. point,” Rohleder said of any ad submitted for the statewide Three members of Hunter.

090-Vehicles 200-ANNOUNCEMENTS program. WNPA, therefore, does not the back line – Kaylene Rohleder had a solid first guarantee that every ad will be run Pang, Sean Eaton and varsity season and can hurt ANY KIND OF LANDSCAPING in every newspaper. WNPA will, on 091-Vehicles 201-Great & Fun things Kirstie Johnson – return. opponents with her speed, request, for a fee of $40, provide inSteve’s Landscaping Newcomers Kate dribbling and crossing formation on which newspapers run EVENTS-FESTIVALS • Weed • Trim • Prune • Bark $$$$$$$ Wilkinson, Katie Sanders skills.

PROMOTE YOUR REGIONAL a particular ad within a 30 day pe• Retaining Wall • Rockery We buy junk vehicles!

EVENT for only pennies. Reach 2.7 and Kennie Beighle are “Watching Emma durriod. Substantive typographical error • New Sod • Paver Patio million readers in newspapers among those expected ing tryouts, I’ve seen her HALL’S (wrong address, telephone number, Steve: 425-214-3391 statewide for $275 classified or to compete for a starting improve so much from last name or price) will result in a “make AUTO WRECKING LIC# STEVEGL953KZ $1,350 display ad. Call this newspaassignment. year,” Kirton remarked.

Serving Issaquah since 1950 good”, in which a corrected ad will per or (360) 515-0974 for details Star midfielder Claudia If the Spartans can take be run the following week Foreign & Domestic Parts KJP General Contractors, LLC 209-NOTICES Longo, one of the best the lead in matches, it’ll be Used Autos KJPgeneralcontractors@gmail.com WNPA incurs no other liability for dead-ball specialists in the tough for opponents to find Tuesday-Friday, 10-6pm 253-882-9000 errors in publication Sat, 10-4pm state, is injured and will a way back. The starting 210-Public Notices LIC# KJPGEC841KL miss the first month of back five of goalkeeper We Specialize in 425.392.3287 Remodels | Decks | Sheds | Barns 051-Garage Sales Nearby PUBLIC NOTICE 16‑9109 the season, Bunnell said.

Anna Smith, outside backs Special Projects 140-SERVICES Catey Nelson will shift Ava Giovanola and Claire Free estimates from forward to midfield Wate, and central defendSURPLUS SALE and join Zoe Burnes, ers Mariah Alexander and 142-Services Washington State On Tuesday, September 27, 2016, whom the coach called a Marissa Carpenter return Construction the Issaquah School District will hold “phenomenal” freshman. intact. They allowed only a sale of surplus computer systems, Contractor law requires that all Four players will likely 13 goals in 17 matches last furniture, equipment and books. advertisers for construction related see regular minutes at the season.

From 3:00-3:30, books will be for LABOR DAY services include the contractor head of the 4-3-3 attack.

Alexander and Carpenter sale for students only. From 3:30-5:registration number.

Garage Sale 00 computers, furniture, equipment Siarfo Abekah, Mariah Van have done well to anchor and books will be for sale to the genHalm and Alina Ruzicka the group, Rohleder said. eral public. The sale will be held at were responsible for a “They are really strong To advertise in Ann’s Cleaning Service the May Valley Service Center, Thur., Sept. 1st to Mon., Sept. 5th large portion of the team’s back there and it’s reResidental Cleaning 16430 SE May Valley Road, Renton, Opening 11:00am Daily Home Services goals last season. They’ll ally awesome to have two WA 98059. Questions can be rewith Excellence! ferred to the Purchasing Office at get help from sophomore dependable defenders who call 425-392-6434 Rogue Merchandise 425-837-7071.

Green products offered Victoria Wheeler, the you can rely on just in case Small areas of carpet cleaned Rogue Case items and get results! sister of former Issaquah you make a mistake,” she PUBLISHED IN THE ISSAQUAH standout Rachel Wheeler. said.

PRESS on September 2 and Call Ann at (425) 652‑2336 Bunnell’s lone concern?

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Issaquah Eagles

2015 record: 16-2-1, won Class 4A championship Key graduation losses: F Morgan Hubbard, MF Tori Lawless, GK Anna Miller, D Madison Phan Key returning players: F Siarfo Abekah, jr.; D Kirstie Johnson, jr.; MF Claudia Longo, jr.; D Kaylene Pang, sr.; F Mariah Van Halm, jr.

Key newcomers: MF Zoe Burnes, fr.; MF Lauren Rosen, jr.; F Victoria Wheeler, soph.

SKYLINE: Spartans looking to reach final four Veteran Skyline squad looks to reach final four Senior forward Alexa Kirton didn’t mince any words when asked if the Skyline Spartans – bounced out in last year’s 4A quarterfinals – had any unfinished business.

“That was pretty disappointing because we beat Issaquah twice and they ended up winning state,” Kirton said, “so it just shows that we were capable of doing it also.”

Like they’ve been for most of the past decade, Skyline and Issaquah figure to be the teams to beat in the KingCo Conference race. And the Spartans have every reason to be confident as 15 of their 18 players have prior varsity experience.

Kirton, one of the team’s top goal scorers in 2015, returns and figures to have

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The Issaquah Press

PFOS from page

1

36,149 nationwide from 2013 to 2015 showed dangerous levels of PFOS, and results from Gilman Well No. 4 were among the 119.

The tests were performed for an Environmental Protection Agency program that required municipal water systems to determine whether perfluorinated chemicals like PFOS were present.

The chemical has also been found in trace amounts in two Sammamish Plateau Water wells along the North Fork of Issaquah Creek just north of Interstate 90.

The pumphouses are located near the intersection of East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast and 229th Avenue Southeast.

In reaction to an Issaquah Press story about the detection of PFOS in a second Sammamish Water Plateau production well, the district posted a tweet and a

Sammamish Plateau Water posted this comparison on Twitter and Facebook after The Issaqauh Press and Sammamish Review published stories about the discovery of PFOS in a second Sammamish Plateau production well. Water quality experts called the posts misleading.

Facebook post saying “1 part per billion is like ½ tsp of water in an Olympic sized swimming pool.”

Water quality experts called that comparison misleading.

Dr. David Andrews, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group, did the math and said it would only take two cups of PFOS to contaminate the entire

1.9 billion gallons of drinking water the district delivered to residents last year.

“Incredibly small amounts can contaminate water supplies for years or decades,” Andrews said.

“It’s the potency of the chemical that matters.”

“I wholeheartily agree that the tweet should not have gone out,” said Jay Krauss, general manager of Sammamish Plateau Water. “But the real story is, why isn’t anyone finding the source?”

Krauss said the problem is outside the water district and he wants the state Department of Health or Department of Ecology to take ownership of the problem.

According to Randi AbramsCaras, senior campaign director for Washington Toxics Coalition, PFOS does not belong in drinking water at any amount.

“PFOS is a highly persistent chemical that can cause cancer,” she said. “Babies are born today with this chemical already contaminating their fragile developing bodies because it builds up

and is persistent in people and it is passed onto them in the womb and through breast milk.”

Water from Sammamish Plateau’s Well No. 8 was found to contain 0.029 parts per billion of PFOS in a July test. The district’s Well No. 7 showed the presence of PFOS at 0.015 parts per billion in July.

The detection is at a level significantly below what the EPA considers unsafe. In May, the EPA set a new, more stringent advisory level of 0.07 parts per billion for PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid combined.

A press release from the Environmental Working Group after the change said EPA’s lower advisory level still falls far short of what is needed to fully protect public health, and it is not a legally enforceable limit.

There are no national primary drinking water regulations in place for PFOS. “Eliminating sources of these chemicals and exposures is the responsible approach,” AbramsCaras said.

Safety from page

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was almost across the intersection when she was hit from behind, rolling off the hood and onto the ground.

Left with scratches on her face and bruises along her leg, Alyssa tried to brush off the accident, but the pain in her left foot intensified. She left the emergency room in a protective boot for her broken foot.

“There is no indication there is a crosswalk,” Alyssa said, describing the intersection where she was hit.

In 2015, the city spent months evaluating pedestrian and bicyclist crossings in Issaquah.

Assistant to the City Administrator Autumn Monahan wrote in an email that in 2016 at the intersection of West Sunset Way and First Avenue Northwest the city removed an old Metro sign and added additional pedestrian crosswalk signs to raise visibility for drivers.

According to city documents, pedestrian volumes at the intersection meet the threshold supporting a marked crosswalk, and improvements beyond that are not typically necessary unless the street is widened or a crash problem is identified.

“It’s important to note that no matter what infrastructure improvements are made, the only way to ensure safety is to have drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians who are alert, mindful and lawful,” Monahan wrote an email.

For 2016, the city has planned several pedestrian projects along Front Street and Sunset Way, including the addition of rectangular rapid-flash beacons to a handful of intersections.

Today, Alyssa refuses to use the West Sunset Way and First Avenue Northwest crosswalk unless a parent is present. She prefers the newer crosswalks along Front Street with the flashing beacon warning cars of pedestrians waiting to cross the street.

When Alyssa starts her freshman year of high school this week, she will have two options for getting to school: Hitch a ride with her mother or walk.

The Issaquah School District does not provide bus service for students living a mile or less from their school.

But the eight-tenths-of-a-mile trip from the Healeys’ house to Issaquah High can take up to 30 minutes during morning school traffic.

If the $50 million transportation bond on the November ballot passes, the East Sunset Way redesign will end blocks from their house, leaving many crosswalks further west unimproved.

“I would like to see, at the very least, in the middle of the intersection a “stop for pedestrian sign,” said Kristina Healey, describing the yellow signs found in the middle of the East Sunset crosswalk near City Hall. “Too many cars aren’t looking.”

Photos by Lizz Giordano / lgiordano@isspress.com

For the last year, Marcy O’Neil has been collecting data on cars passing through her Olde Town neighborhood in an effort to highlight what she believes is an increase in pass-through traffic trying to avoid congestion along East Sunset Way.

Marcy O’Neil’s data includes time and direction of travel of cars passing along Alder Street during the evening commute.

Tracking traffic Frustrated after two close encounters with cars speeding up and down residential streets in the Olde Town neighborhood, Marcy O’Neil began collecting data.

Once a month since last August, O’Neil camps out in front of her house, counting cars as they pass by — noting the time and direction they come from. If the cars seem to be speeding, she will also remind them to slow down.

“It got to be a real safety issue

A “sidewalk to nowhere” near the intersection of Third Avenue Northeast and Northeast Alder Street forces pedestrians to walk in the roadway instead.

and I felt like I should be doing something productive,” O’Neil said about her ongoing project.

She thinks much of the problems stems from pass-through traffic, drivers trying to rush around the traffic congestion on Sunset. With no afternoon turn restrictions for drivers turning north from Sunset into the neighborhood, it can be often be faster to detour a few blocks rather than continue on Sunset.

“There needs to be a better solution to traffic on Sunset Way,” O’Neil said.

She said with the combination of crumbling infrastructure and sidewalks that end abruptly, which she has nicknamed sidewalks to nowhere, many residents are forced to walk in the street.

With increasing afternoon passthrough traffic, O’Neil worries an accident is inevitable. O’Neil challenged councilmembers and members of the city’s staff to get out and walk around rather than relying on traffic models.

“So you can see why people are concerned about the crosswalks,” O’Neil said. “Why I am concerned about the sidewalks.”

Monahan said the city will be soliciting opinions from residents as they update the Olde Town Subarea Plan and developing a Streetscape Plan.

“These plans will inform future enhancements to the neighborhood as it evolves, and we will seek community input on future sidewalk functionality, safety and looks,” Monahan wrote in an email. “If sidewalks are a priority to community members – we want to hear about it!”

No date was given but Monahan estimated the update process will begin later this year or early next.

O’Neil said at this time she doesn’t have enough information to vote yes for the $50 million transportation bond. She questions if the projects do enough to address safety issues. “(Olde Town residents) are anti-pass-through traffic,” O’Neil said. “Growth is inevitable. We just want it done in a safe way, to be worth the money and be solution-oriented.”