Issaquahpress122916

Issaquah’s only locally owned newspaper

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS

117th Year, No. 52

Thursday, December 29, 2016

issaquahpress.com

Developer seeks 100-unit increase in Highlands’ Westridge density

Lizz Giordano / lgiordano@isspress.com

Volunteers pack boxes for Lunch for the Break, a free-lunch program which in just two years has expanded from serving one school to all 24 schools in the Issaquah School District.

Project near Swedish would grow from 265 to 365 homes

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com

Bellevue-based developer Polygon Northwest wants to build 100 additional housing units within the Westridge development in the Issaquah Highlands, increasing the total units to 365.

Lunch for the Break keeps hungry kids fed during holidays

A request by Polygon to transfer development rights it has purchased to its Highlands property is returning to the City Council’s Land and Shore Committee in early 2017.

The Westridge development is located near Swedish Hospital — one parcel is north of Northeast

Discovery Drive and the other is south of that street. The transfer of development rights requires a major modification to the Issaquah Highlands development agreement, which must be

See WESTRIDGE, Page 12

LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com There were tears in her eyes as the woman profusely thanked Cindy Silverstein, a social worker by passion, not profession. Along with a giant box of food and gift cards to local grocery stores, Silverstein’s Lunch for the Break program had provided presents, including books and pizza dinners, to the woman’s two grandchildren.

After learning that not every student looks forward to school breaks, Silverstein founded Lunch for the Break. For her daughter, school breaks were occasions to go see “The Nutcracker” and spend time with her mother, but for other students at Issaquah Valley Elementary, no school meant no lunch.

That lunch could also be the only meal some children eat all day, Silverstein said.

The two-year-old program now serves all 24 schools in the Issaquah School District. This December, more than 400 boxes were donated, each containing roughly 10 meals, plus snacks.

The day before school let out for 2016’s holiday break, Silverstein was busy organizing donations as parents began lining up 15 minutes before the

Rabbi Shalom Zajac (above) lights the menorah and Hanna Sherer (left) watches her candle during the “Chanukah On Fire’ event in the Issaquah Highlands on Dec. 25. Blakely Hall and the Village Green were the site of the Hanukkah celebration hosted by Chabad of the Central Cascades. The event featured fire artist Matt Sol and included games for children, food, dancing and the lighting of two candles on the menorah. Another Hanukkah event is planned for 6 p.m. Dec. 29 in downtown Issaquah at the menorah that has been erected along Front Street North near its intersection with Northwest Dogwood Street.

See LUNCH, Page 11

MERRY CHRISTMAS ISSAQUAH

194 donors generously give, but fund still short of goal

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

Photos by Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com

Almost 200 donors will help keep a roof over the heads of Issaquah families in the coming year.

As the holiday season comes to end, 194 donors have pledged a total of $60,345 to the Merry Christmas Issaquah fund benefitting Issaquah Community Services, a nonprofit that offers emergency financial aid to residents living in the Issaquah School District.

This season we introduced you to people like Cora, a local schoolteacher who was served with an eviction notice on her apartment after a roommate moved out.

She got emotional when describing how ICS paid off her debt and helped her find a more manageable See DONORS, Page 5

Senior center leaders agree to settlement

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com A last-minute agreement will keep the Issaquah Valley Senior Center’s board of directors out of court.

A settlement was reached in the wake of a Dec. 21 special membership meeting that failed to create a plan of distribution of

items at the center.

Under the agreement, the Issaquah Valley Seniors board will sell the center’s 14-passenger Ford van to the city for $1, but a second van will be donated to Providence Marianwood, an Issaquah nursing facility.

Other property, including furniture kitchen supplies and computers, will remain at the center

to be used next year, when the city takes control of the facility.

A pool table and a computer will also remain, as well as the piano that was donated to the Issaquah Singers and is kept at the center.

Any items already sold will remain sold, with any proceeds See CENTER, Page 2

IF YOU GO The city is hosting a community event at the Issaquah senior center at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 3 when it reopens under new leadership. Mayor Fred Butler is expected to speak. The center is located at 75 NE Creek Way.

PFOS testing expands to include soil at fire stations

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com In an effort to determine if there are multiple sources of perfluorooctane sulfonate tainting the valley’s aquifer, the City of Issaquah began testing soil samples taken from the grounds of several fire stations in the city.

During its Dec. 19 meeting, the

City Council received an update from Geosyntec Consultants, a Seattle-based company contracted by the city. The agency pointed to Eastside Fire and Rescue’s headquarters at 175 Newport Way Northwest as a source of the PFOS contamination in the Lower Issaquah Valley Aquifer.

“The only logical conclusion at this point is that the source of the PFOS is at

the EFR property,” said Bob Anderson, a representative from Geosyntec. “This is a significant source of PFOS to the aquifer.”

In October, soil samples taken from Eastside Fire and Rescue’s headquarters were found to contain trace See PFOS, Page 12

Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com

Soil taken from the Eastside Fire and Rescue station on East Sunset Way is being tested for PFOS. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

facebook.com/issaquahpress twitter.com/issaquahpress instagram.com/issaquahpress

50.15854.IP.R

One Dollar

2 • Thursday, December 29, 2016

Center from page

1

from those sales used to pay debts. Remaining funds will be donated to a nonprofit cause or charity chosen by the board, according to the agreement.

During a tense membership meeting, board members told seniors that according to the nonprofit’s articles of incorporation, the board has a legal right to give away items, and the items must go to a nonprofit.

Many members disagreed, pointing to a state law that requires the membership to approve any plan of distribution.

Originally the board planned to donate both remaining vans — one to Providence Marianwood and the other to the Sno-Valley Senior Center.

“We want to help other nonprofits,” Craig Hansen, the presi-

The Issaquah Press

dent of the board, said during the meeting. “Once the city takes over, the city will provide.” “(The city) will be able to afford to buy vehicles,” said Carmen Llewellyn, the board’s vice president.

A majority of the members present were outraged by the announcement, saying it was not in the best interest of the Issaquah senior community.

“As a city taxpayer, I really object to that,” said David Kappler, a member of the center.

Kappler asserted only two of the board’s nine members pay taxes in Issaquah.

He said the center’s van is handicap-accessible and easy for seniors to get on and off, whereas the van the city owns is not easily accessible for seniors.

It was suggested the board let the city buy the vans for a minimal cost, which prompted Mayor Fred Butler, who was in attendance, to jokingly offer cash from his wallet. The board eventually

did agree to this.

Members had petitioned the board to hold the Dec. 21 meeting. Along with discussing the fate of items at the center, members also wanted the board to release financial records and a resignation letter from the former executive director, Courtney Jaren.

The board said Jaren’s resignation letter was confidential and it plans on honoring her request.

In regards to the center’s finances, Llewellyn said any member may request to make an appointment to see financial records, but the bookkeeper and the executive director must be present. She said the center is currently without an executive director and the bookkeeper works off site.

Inez Petersen told the board this puts obstacles in the way of the average member who wants to inform themself.

The board did release a December 2014 balance sheet

which showed the center had almost $90,000 in a bank account in the form of cash and certificates of deposit.

Llewellyn said the center had a “net loss of $50,000.” She later clarified that was not an overall deficit, but an operating loss.

“This is a vindictive group,” said Carole Scherman, who attended the meeting. “There is no reason for this.”

King County Superior Court issued a temporary restraining order against the board Dec. 9 which was later dropped. The order, which was requested by Kappler, prohibits Issaquah Valley Seniors from selling or gifting any of the center’s property unless it is authorized by a “Plan of Distribution” that has been approved by members.

The restraining order would have expired Dec. 23, the day IVS board members were required to appear before a judge before the lawsuit was dropped.

“They fight for themselves,”

Gerri Anderson said. “There is no reason to disperse items anywhere but to us.”

Anderson said she has stayed away from the center over the last year.

“We are the center, not the board,” Anderson said.

The settlement didn’t address Jaren’s resignation letter or the center’s finances.

“There’s disgust about them not being open about their finances,” Kappler said.

But retaining the van was most important to the seniors and requesting the letter and other financial information would have drawn out the process, he said.

“I’m delighted it’s coming to a resolution,” Butler said. “It’s our seniors that have suffered.”

The city is hosting a community event at the Issaquah senior center at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 3 when it reopens under new leadership.

Butler is expected to speak. The center is located at 75 NE Creek Way.

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.

Terri Black Lisa Blauvelt Roma Bowen David Bradley Adam Britton Kris Colliander John M. Cook

Greg Davenport Daryl Deutsch Laverne Dickson Harry A. Dingwall Robert Eiene Thomas Endres Trudy Gage

Jeremy Gibson Nancy Hughes Gayll Morrison Celia Goldsberry Jane Isenberg Ned Nelson Glenn Hall Issaquah Mini Storage Mike Paulson Kurt Hamke Raymond V. Lazor Daniel & Carol Powers Susan Harter Lynn Mack R.D. Priestly Judy & Dean Heunisch Thomas Masters Patricia Randall Nan Hover Lisa McLaughlin Mary Robertson William & Ann Huffman David L. Mitchell1215 LAM Patricia Sayed NEIL.FINAL.IP.CMYK.PDF 53.18310.THU.1229.6X13.45.LAM

53.18310.IP.R

Anne Shakib Charlene Snow Sharon Solie Stephanie Sparling Jean Srour Lisa Stix Gordon Strom

Connie Stromberg Amanda Strombom Mark Ursino Mark Uomoto Tim Williams Karen L. Wilson Bob & Fran Wlezien

The Issaquah Press

Thursday, December 29, 2016 •

Expenditures exceed projected revenue in 2017 budget passed by council

By Lizz Giordano lgiordano@isspress.com

to decrease about 3 percent to $129.7 million in 2017 from the 2016 budgeted The City Council had three expenditures of $133.65 priorities in mind when it million. approved the 2017 budget Included in the new Dec. 19: overall financial budget was the creation of sustainability, a moratorium a special fund for revenue work plan and traffic. generated by Issaquah’s The preliminary budget speed camera system on put forth by Mayor Fred Second Avenue Southeast.

Butler in October projected According to Council Presigeneral fund expenditures dent Stacy Goodman, the would exceed revenues fund’s ending reserve balby $2.73 million. Over the ance will be used for future course of several work transportation, mobility and sessions, councilmembers traffic safety projects apwhittled the shortfall to proved by the City Council. $651,433.

The council also approved Adjustments made by the $195,100 in grants proposed council that cut the deficit by by the Arts Commission. over $2 million included not Thirty-four applications funding several new posiwere submitted and 33 tions, not allocating money groups received grants. to study long-term water Cougar Mountain Zoo was treatment options or to dethe only organization that sign a water treatment plant, was not approved for an arts and eliminating funding grant. for finalizing the design of According to city docuimprovements on Northwest ments, an arts funding Holly Street. To increase balance of $23,100 remains 2017 projected revenues, and will be used for prothe council approved raising grams such as the Chalk Art the business and occupation Festival and the Issaquah tax and the increasing the International Film Festival. property tax levy.

With the passage of the The council did fund sev2017 budget, a scalederal new positions, includdown version of the Central ing a senior engineer and a Park improvement project construction inspector. planned for the Highlands Overall, the 2017 budget was also approved. estimates revenue is exThe $3.7 million plan pected to decrease less than — which includes two 1 percent to $125.49 million turf fields, lighting and an from the 2016 budgeted interim parking lot — is $1 revenue of $126.51 million. million less than what City Expenditures are expected Administrator Bob Harrison

previously said the full project would cost.

Councilmembers debated during their Dec. 12 work session about adding $315,000 to the project to install LED lighting instead of standard lighting, build a picnic shelter and fund additional amenities. They also considered dedicating money for a road-widening project for Central Park Lane. The additions were ultimately rejected but could be reconsidered as the project goes to bid.

The city is planning updates to several plans next year, including the Park, Recreation, Open Space Trails plan, the Mobility Master Plan, the water system plan and the housing strategy.

Councilmembers also unanimously re-elected Council President Goodman and Deputy Council President Mary Lou Pauly to their respective roles for 2017.

Goodman ended the last meeting of the year directing the administration to bring forth agenda bills next year regarding three road projects — improvements to the Maple Street Northwest intersection that includes entrances to parking lots for Trader Joe’s and Target, safety improvements on Northwest Gilman Boulevard and enhancements to the Providence Point entrances on Southeast 43rd Way.

Downtown Issaquah Association names new executive The Downtown Issaquah Association didn’t look far to appoint a replacement for outgoing Executive Director Karen Donovan.

Brenda DeVore, the DIA’s current cultural Brenda DeVore events director, will step into the role beginning Jan. 1. She has served on the DIA board since 2013.

DeVore has built up a

H O G S K A T E A L T A

G E T I T

A L O N E

A R P E E A XC C D E AP I T S S

ANSWER TO#5370 #1058 ANSWER TO S S L AM T AC P R I L H A L E A S T A A L A E AN D TO N I C S R E O T R E S S A R OM S WA T A T B E A T L A T P L A C E AT R L E S T C R E E AS E I S E A C A O A D OR AD V AN C E M E E L AM AH E S L I N E L E N E E S S E A T S T

K E T T

38.15140.IP.R

clients include Recology CleanScapes and The Shops at Swedish.

Donovan announced in October she would step down to concentrate on other projects.

NEIL.PROOF.IP.CMYK.PDF 1220 LAM 53.18351.THU.1229.2x2.LAM

Great Holiday Gifts

Y S E R

A S V A O P WS E N T R Y

career around retail development consulting, event planning, waste reduction, sales, marketing, community engagement and customer service, according to the DIA website. Her past

including jewelry, glass and wood, ornaments, paintings, sculptures and more!

The visual arts destination for locals and visitors alike.

95 Front St. N Issaquah 98027 425-392-3191

S T A D 53.18351.IP.R

www.arteast.org

49.18013.IP.R

53.18206.IP.R

3

OPINION

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS

Thursday, December 29, 2016 • 4

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH Developers are pushing to add homes in the Highlands. The City Council must tell them no.

I

t’s time to draw a line in the sand.

As the City Council prepares to meet with state lawmakers Jan. 4, one of the “top priority issues” raised on the city’s legislative agenda reads: “Issaquah is being confronted by significant — and mounting — congestion, much of it coming from regional pass-through traffic on corridors such as Issaquah-Hobart Road that ties up the local system for several hours, morning and night.”

OK, so that’s no surprise to anyone who lives here. Because the volume of vehicles overwhelms our local road capacity, traffic stinks.

Yet here comes Bellevue developer Polygon Northwest, wanting to morph

a 265-home development in the Issaquah Highlands called Westridge into one that would contain 365 residences.

More homes equals more traffic.

Stop this madness.

Please.

Scott The City Council’s Stoddard Land and Shore Press editor Committee will take up the request Jan. 5. The full council is expected to vote on the question later next year.

Remember all of the talk about

“taking our city back” on the night the council sent the transportation bond to voters? It’s time to put up or shut up.

Tell Polygon that a deal is a deal.

Tell them, City Council, that we will not bend the rules. We will not kowtow.

Polygon can build 265 homes or it can build zero. Take it or leave it.

This is just a prelude to what’s coming later next year. Everyone in this city should be following future maneuvers

by Shelter Holdings, a Polygon subsidiary, which owns 21½ acres west of Ninth Avenue Northeast. Under the Issaquah Highlands Development Agreement, that tract has entitlement for 1.2 million square feet of commercial space and three residences.

But the Highlands development agreement expires in 2017, and Shelter Holdings has designs on building 1,800 homes — that’s the equivalent of 5.2 Atlas Apartment complexes — and 316,000 square feet of commercial space on the land.

Sorry, Shelter Holdings. Three residences, not 1,800. If you can’t abide by the rules, sell the land.

See, City Council? It’s that simple.

Draw that line in the sand. The future of our traffic-strangled city depends on it.

From The Editor’s Desk is Scott Stoddard’s column.

Email him at sstoddard@isspress.com.

Site preparation for the Westridge development is underway near Swedish Hospital in the Issaquah Highlands.

Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com

OFF THE PRESS

Respect the officials and keep your focus on the athletes

T

he original intent of this week’s column was to recognize our coverage area’s top high-school athletes of the past year. I’ll get to that.

First, let’s talk a little about sportsmanship and the kind of example some adults are setting at high-school sporting events.

It’s not the first time in my 14 years as a prep sports reporter that I’ve had to type out a public reprimand due to behavior I’ve witnessed at a game. And, unfortunately, it probably won’t be the last time.

If you’ve flipped to the sports section in this week’s Issaquah Press or Sammamish Review, you’ll notice coverage of two girls basketball games on the same day: Eastside Catholic vs.

Mark Morris and Skyline vs.

Redmond.

The same remarkable behavior occurred at – and detracted from – both games. Fans, some of them presumably parents of the players, decided the officiat-

ing wasn’t up to snuff.

They began voicing that displeasure.

Loudly.

Nothing profane, but it made me shake my head in Neil disbelief.

Pierson HighPress reporter school officials aren’t professionals. They love sports and want to be around them any way possible, so they give up a few nights a week when they’re done with their real jobs.

And yet they take a lot of abuse. For what? Because Jenny’s dad can’t stand that his daughter might not win a highschool basketball game?

Look, this isn’t Little League.

Playing to win has been and See PRESS, Page 12

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER

PUBLISHED EACH WEEK SINCE JAN. 18, 1900

TO THE EDITOR Government

Taxes — which pay for roads — are part of social contract I guess it is not unusual to complain about “them” (the state Legislature) trying to raise revenue — taxes (Off The Press, Dec. 15). No one enjoys paying taxes. The legislators do, however, have the responsibility to create and adopt a state budget, raising the money for education, public safety, health, parks and transportation. I and my wife do drive, as David Hayes also does. We like roads with no holes, stoplights that work, signs in the right places. We have seen a lot of work on roads in the last few years, not to speak over the last 50 years. On our family budget, mostly based on our Social Security checks, we know that we have to pay our share for all this. It is doable.

Our legislators do really work, sometimes into overtime, to meet the needs at the lowest possible cost (taxes). They are not really trying to keep your car off the roads.

Carl Schwartz Sammamish

Government

City’s takeover of senior center is an acrimonious power grab The mayor is misrepresenting the brutal seizure of the senior center as a “seamless transition.”

This power grab by the city is marked by bitterness, acrimony

General manager CHARLES HORTON

JOIN THE CONVERSATION: WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR Something on your mind about your city? Tell us about it. The Issaquah Press welcomes letters to the editor about local issues — 300 words at most, please.

Please note: We do not publish letters that have been printed in other publications. We may edit your letter for length, clarity or inappropriate content. Include your phone number (it will not be published). Send letters via email to editor@isspress.com, and please write “Letter to the Editor” in the subject line of your email.

and a court appearance. If you have been following senior center news, you know that the city’s withdrawal of 40 percent of the center’s budget is forcing the Issaquah Valley Seniors nonprofit to dissolve at the end of this year.

The latest skirmish in this battle has the supporters of the city takeover demanding that the nonprofit give the contents of the center (the nonprofit assets) to the city. This unreasonable demand is rather like the bank foreclosing on your house, then expecting you to leave them your furniture! I’ve heard this position defended by saying some of the contents were given by the city. Yes, but these items no longer belong to the city.

Who are these people? Do they

give friends gifts, then show up years later with receipts insisting the gifts belong to them?

Of course, these events are all fallout from the city’s unsuccessful attempt to take over the IVS board at its last election. The city could not find enough existing members of the senior center who would support the city’s encroachment and could not pack the center with new members eligible to run for office. At that juncture, the city abruptly withdrew its funds.

It is sad to see the city extend its bureaucracy at the expense of senior citizens.

Wilma Taylor

Issaquah

Community

It’s doubtful Sportsmen’s Club would be allowed today

Regarding the gun range situation, we absolutely need to promote a cost/benefit conversation with the City Council. I imagine the benefits are miniscule (entertainment); the costs, well, let’s talk. Actually, one only needs to ask Issaquah residents a single question in assessing their attitude regarding the firing range: “If the gun range didn’t exist and the City Council was about to enact legislation that approved the construction of the range, would you vote for or against it?” The result would be worth examining. Let’s get the subject on the table.

Editor

SCOTT STODDARD

Gary Shinkoskey

Issaquah

ALL CONTENTS © 2016 THE ISSAQUAH PRESS phone:

425-392-6434 425-392-1695

Advertising: admanager@isspress.com

Newsroom: news@isspress.com

Fax:

LAURA FEENSTRA... SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE NEIL BUCHSBAUM................. ACCOUNT MANAGER SCOTT ZERDA........................ ACCOUNT MANAGER CLAIRE COOK.................... EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

CHRISTINA CORRALES-TOY...........DIGITAL EDITOR LIZZ GIORDANO.................................... REPORTER DAVID HAYES....................................... REPORTER STUART MILLER................................... REPORTER NEIL PIERSON..........................SPORTS REPORTER GREG FARRAR..............................PHOTOGRAPHER

POSTMASTER:

1085 12TH AVE. N.W., SUITE D1 • ISSAQUAH, KING COUNTY, WA 98027

Classifieds: classifieds@isspress.com

$52 PER YEAR / $96 TWO YEARS / $48 PER YEAR FOR SENIORS ADD $15 OUTSIDE KING COUNTY / $20 OUTSIDE THE STATE

Accounting: ip-acct@isspress.com

LAURA LEE DILL............................... CLASSIFIEDS

Circulation: circulation@isspress.com JOSE GONZALEZ................OPERATIONS MANAGER

Send address changes to The Issaquah Press, P.O. Box 1328, Issaquah, WA 98027 CORRECTIONS

We are committed to accuracy at The Issaquah Press and take care in our reporting and editing, but errors do occur.

If you think something we’ve published is in error, please email us at news@isspress.com.

SCOTT Z.ePROOF.IP.CMYK.PDF 1223 LAM Thursday, December 53.18362.THU.1229.3X20.2.LAM

The Issaquah Press

29, 2016 •

5

BRIEFLY

Knights of Columbus chapter donates coats

residents starting at 8 a.m.

The suggested donation is $15 to $25 per tree. Attach The Issaquah chapter of donations on the tree inside Boy Scouts to recycle Knights of Columbus doa plastic sandwich bag. nated more than 200 winter Highlands Christmas trees Last year about 3,500 coats to local organizations.

Sammamish Boy Scout Christmas trees were recyThe Issaquah Food & troops will collect Christmas cled. The annual tree drive, Clothing Bank received 60 trees for recycling on Jan. 7. now in its 32nd year, is the coats, Eastside Baby Corner Trees will be picked up primary fundraiser for six was the recipient of 158 curbside for Sammamish troops on the Sammamish and the St. Joseph Church and Issaquah Highlands Plateau.

Harriet is an inconceivably adorable 3-yearold Pit Bull Terrier mix. She’s cute and athletic with Harriet enchanting wrinkles. Harriet will walk by your side around town or on trips to the park. She’s a sweet, sensitive gal who will thrive in a home with a patient and loving family. As with all of our dogs, Harriet has been spayed, microchipped, vaccinated and behavior-tested. Introduce to children 8 years and older. Resident dogs are required to visit Harriet prior to adoption to a cat-free home.

Meet Colors, a 9-year-old fluffy calico girl who›s a fine feline.

Colors lives up to her name with beautiful black, Colors orange and white markings. This sweetie can›t wait to meet her new best friends and family today at PetSmart in Overlake, a Seattle Humane satellite adoption location where she is currently cozied up. Come find her there today and make her day, you›ll be glad you did! As with all of our cats, Colors is spayed, microchipped, vaccinated and tested for Feline Leukemia/FIV. 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.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ISSAQUAH ICS offers emergency aid to residents of the Issaquah School District in the form of utility payments, rent assistance, bus tickets and other miscellaneous expenses depending on specific need and the emergency. Last year, ICS assisted 353 households, helping 194 avoid eviction and keeping the lights and/or water on for another 104. The organization currently has an annual budget of about $130,000 and every penny goes to a person who needs it, thanks to an all-volunteer staff. Most of the organization’s money comes from the Merry Christmas Issaquah fund, an annual holiday campaign spearheaded by The Issaquah Press since 1981. Organizers set a $100,000 goal for 2016.

Issaquah Press readers have contributed more than $1 million to the fund since its inception.

HOW TO HELP

Make a tax-deductible donation to Issaquah Community Services. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Send donations to Issaquah Community Services, P.O. Box 669, Issaquah, WA 98027. You can also donate to the cause using PayPal on the ICS website: issaquahcommunityservices.org.

The names of donors — but not amounts — are published in The Issaquah Press unless anonymity is requested. Call ICS at 8373125 for more information.

DONORS

Goal: $100,000. As of Dec. 25: $60,345 Amanda and Douglas Strombom, Wanda Dickson, David and Penny Short, Clare Hayes, Susan and Bernard Wright, Conrad Ball and Ulrike Quensel, Elaine and Ted Davis, James Dunkin, Deborah Berto, Jack and Barbara Allen, Cori Walters, Jane Stephenson, Luanne and James Caylor, Benjamine Wilson, Diane and David Schirmer, Richard and Linda Mortensen, Einar Kringlen, Bjorn and Gail Sorensen, Lee McCollough, Linda Abendroth, Christian Manley, Denise Kraft, Jan Torell, Mary McMullin, Sandra & Michael Nygaard, Milicent Savage, Diane Wood, Trish Rafa, Maureen E. Ahern, The Frederick Family in honor of Larry and Erma Frederick, Praise for Today Foundation, Rebecca and Dick Powell, Lori and Doug Birrell, Cristine Wilkinson, Suzanne and Joseph Duncan, Tom Anderson, Alexander Silverman, Janice Olson and Jann Longman, Tom and Sally Montgomery, Tom and Nicola Walker, Susan Bell, Peggy and Mile Kanaga

Donors

of a family’s income making it very difficult to pay other bills such as utilities, insurance or food.” from page 1 Requests for aid increase every year, Birrell said. location to call home.

In 2015, ICS distributed “They really understood $123,480, covering emerwhere I was coming from gency financial costs to 353 and they had compassion households consisting of 983 individuals.

Inspections were performed Dec. 12-18 and they had told me we see that you’re in this bad ICS is on pace to exceed

by Public Health, Seattle and King County. A food establishment inspection position right now, but we last year’s numbers after is only a snapshot of the operation believe in you,” she said. distributing $122,571 to during a limited time. Readers should You met Ivis, a single community members in look at more than one inspection mother of four who fell need through October 2016. (view inspection reports online at behind on her rent after she Birrell said the comtheeastside.news/inspections) to get a missed work to care for her munity, including city better idea of the overall operation. sick children. ICS kept the officials, business leaders Red violations: High-risk factors are family in the home with an and developers, need to improper practices or procedures offer of rent assistance. come together to develop a identified as the most prevalent “It was definitely a relief longterm housing plan that contributing factors of foodborne illness or injury. One red critical violation because they were literally addresses affordable housequals an unsatisfactory inspection. my last hope,” Ivis said. “I ing issues.

County environmental health specialists didn’t have any other opThe organization currentwork with operators to make sure these tions.” ly has an annual budget of violations are corrected before they ICS’ emergency aid comes about $130,000 and every leave the establishment. in the form of utility paypenny goes to a person who Blue violations: Low-risk factors are ments, rent assistance, bus needs it, thanks to an allpreventive measures to control the tickets and other miscellavolunteer staff. addition of pathogens, chemicals, and neous expenses depending Most of the organizaphysical objects into foods.

435 or more red violation points on specific need. tion’s money comes from require a reinspection within 14 days.

Rent assistance is by far the Merry Christmas 490 or more red violation points the organization’s mostIssaquah fund, an annual or 120 total violation points (red requested form of aid, holiday campaign spearand blue) require closure of the ICS board member Lori headed by The Issaquah establishment.

Birrell said, and that’s not Press since 1981. Though The Boarding House a surprise given the lack of the drive runs through 317 NW Gilman Blvd. affordable housing in the December, donors can give Dec. 12: Routine inspection, community. to ICS anytime throughout satisfactory, 0 red, 5 blue “We are seeing rents rise the year.

Fatburger Issaquah Press readers 6220 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway SE above the recommended 30 percent of the family have contributed more than Dec. 14: Routine inspection, income,” she said. “Some $1 million to the fund since 60 red, 0 blue rents are 50 to 60 percent its inception.

KFC

RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS

555 NW Gilman Blvd.

Dec. 12: Routine inspection, satisfactory, 0 red, 0 blue Madras Dosa Corner 1175 NW Gilman Blvd.

Dec. 14: Routine inspection, 30 red, 3 blue Ohana Japanese-Hawaiian Sushi Bar and Grill 240 NW Gilman Blvd.

Dec. 12: Routine inspection, satisfactory, 0 red, 0 blue Taqueria La Venadita 730 NW Gilman Blvd.

Dec. 15: Return inspection, satisfactory, 0 red, 0 blue Timber Ridge at Talus 100 Timber Ridge Way NW Dec. 14: Routine inspection, satisfactory, 0 red, 10 blue Timber Ridge at Talus 100 Timber Ridge Way NW Dec. 14: Routine inspection, 35 red, 0 blue

240 NW Gilman Blvd. • Issaquah 425.369.4554 • ohanaeastside.com OHANACATERS@GMAIL.COM • 425-369-4707

OHANA BELLTOWN

SUSHI & GRINDZ 2207 1 ST Ave. • Belltown 206.956.9329 • ohanabelltown.com

Happy holidayz!

Ohana means family style!

OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER

Everyday at 11:30am HAPPY HOUR: 3-6 MON-FRI (Plus Late Night 9pm - close Fri/Sat)

FULL TROPICAL BAR! ROCKIN TIKI SUSHI! KARAOKE THURSDAYS

with with

LATE NIGHT HAPPY HOUR

starts January 5th, 9pm-12pm $2 Spam Musubi Mondays • $2 Fish/Kalua Pork Taco Tuesdays Teriyaki, Bentos, Pupus, Spam Musubi, Ribs, Sushi Specials, Loco Moco, Poke Bowl, Plate lunch & Kids Menu!

LIVE ISLAND MUSIC WEDNESDAYS!

WE REPORT. THEY REPEAT. Subscribe today: 425-392-6434

EASTSIDE ISSAQUAH

540 East Sunset Way, Issaquah 425-392-6444 • www.flintofts.com

49.18005.IP.R

Follow us on Facebook OHANA EASTSIDE & OHANA BELLTOWN

53.18362.IP.R

PETS OF THE WEEK

Jessie Tree project took in a dozen.

6 • Thursday, December 29, 2016

The Issaquah Press

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Emma McIntosh, 11, of Issaquah is a winner in her age division for her sunburst at the Chalk Art Festival in July.

Thursday, December 29, 2016 •

7

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Jenn Daley (left) the director of nursing at Issaquah Nursing & Rehabilitation, voluntarily gets a whipped-cream pie in the face from resident Nancy Seil during an August country fair for residents and staff.

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Fall colors went into overdrive around the Issaquah area in late October.

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Officer John Lindner opens the door to the main office during a drill as members of the Issaquah Police Department used the empty Clark Elementary School campus Feb. 16 for training.

2016 THE OUTTAKES

A selection of our favorite images that never made it into our newspaper over the past 12 months

Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com

Skyline wide receiver C.J. Moore has his eyes on the ball but unfortunately couldn’t get his hands on it for a reception during the Spartans’ 4A state playoff game against Camas in November.

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Zoey Lillivet Sandoval enjoys a scoop of cotton-candy ice cream at the Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors store on Northwest Gilman Boulevard during a record-setting third consecutive day of temperatures over 80 degrees in April.

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Almost four dozen Nordstrom shoe department corporate employees helped Eastside Baby Corner with their huge semiannual inventory changeover April 13 at the Northwest Maple Street warehouse.

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Lt. Scott DePuy of Eastside Fire and Rescue’s Station 73 gathers six schoolchildren on the sidewalk as they come out the emergency exit of their bus while responders work at Northeast Park Drive and 15th Avenue Northeast in the Issaquah Highlands after a collision between an Issaquah School District bus and a black Toyota Previa minivan.

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? ALL OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE PUBLISHED ONLINE AT ISSAQUAHPRESS.COM. BE SURE TO VISIT OUR SITE TO SEE THE PHOTO GALLERIES WE CREATE AS WE COVER LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS.

Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com

A great blue heron keeps watch over the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, using the roof of downtown’s Masonic Lodge building on West Sunset Way as a perch earlier this month.

LIVING

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS

Thursday, December 29, 2016 • 8

Local trio helps give precious gift of water

By David Hayes dhayes@isspress.com During the holiday season known for the giving spirit, a trio of friends from the Issaquah Highlands and Sammamish couldn’t help but be inspired by the path taken by a bartender from Raleigh, N.C. The three returned Dec. 12 from a two-week excursion volunteering to help install water wells in three Nepalese villages as part of the Wine to Water program established by Doc Hendley.

“In 2009, he was a CNN hero,” said Sammamish resident Robin White.

“My husband and I caught sight of the program and were drawn to the fact that one guy, a bartender, heard about the worldwide water crisis and wanted to do something to help out.

We were both fascinated by what he was doing.”

In 2004, Hendley found himself in Darfur, Sudan, in the midst of a war, working to provide clean water to those who were in desperate need in desperate times. After Hendley’s return to the states, Wine To Water became an official 501(c)(3) organization in 2007.

He has since expanded to a staff of seven, but has volunteers working on projects in the Amazon, Cambodia, Haiti, East Africa, Nepal and the Dominican Republic. The latter is where White took the leap of faith and joined the cause toward the end of 2014.

Wine to Water works with a ceramic filter factory in the Dominican Republic. White said the thing about Wine to Water is they focus on the community aspect, building a relationship with the locals and keeping a relationship going.

“A gal down there makes ceramic filters so the people can provide clean water for themselves. Prior to that, kids were going to the river, gathering dirty water, giving it to their families and getting sick. So there was a lack of education.”

White volunteered in the filter factory, learning how they were made and helping with distribution. She also assisted with the kids’ WASH program, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, teaching about bacteria and clean water, and giving out a bag with a toothbrush at the end.

“I think one of biggest things volunteers do is not only go there and help out a little bit. It’s more about the people there and about coming back home and creating awareness — this is what I’ve seen, this is the need,” White said.

Her friends Lee Ann KinkadeHerman and Dana Cannon, both Issaquah Highlands residents, learned of Wine to Water’s efforts through White and decided to join her on the next mission overseas, this time to Nepal.

“She’d been talking about her experience for quite a while. It sounded interesting and exciting, so she convinced us of this worthwhile endeavor,” Cannon said. “First and foremost, I was ignorant about the global water crisis. Learning more about that was something intriguing to me. But to tangibly help people in a meaningful way was important to me as well.”

Cannon learned, according to World Health Organization figures,

LET’S GO! FRIDAY, DEC. 30 The World of Beatrix Potter, all ages, featuring story times at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., coloring sheets, crafts and snacks, animated films of Peter Rabbit and Friends, photos with Peter Rabbit, Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. SE, 392-3130 “Singin’ in the Rain” presented

by Village Theatre, 8 p.m., $35-$78, Francis Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St. N., villagetheatre.org, 392-2202 The Daily Flash, ages 21 and older, $5 cover charge, 8-11 p.m., Pogacha, 120 NW Gilman Blvd., pogacha.com

ON THE WEB To learn more about Wine to Water, go to winetowater.org or instagram.com/ winetowaterseattle. To learn more about the Seattle Chapter, go to facebook. com/wtwseattlechapter.

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

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 4

City Council Legislative Breakfast with lawmakers from the 5th and 41st districts, 7:30-9 a.m., Tibbetts Creek Manor, 750 17th Ave. NW Story Times: young toddlers (1224 months), 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Cougar Mountain hike, 9:30 663 million people worldwide do infants (newborn to 12 months), a.m., moderate, 5-6 miles, 500to not have access to clean water and noon to 1 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 another 1.2 billion people lack access 600-foot gain, meet at 175 Rainier W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 Blvd.

S., 902-6255 to improved sanitation.

“Singin’ in the Rain” presented Youth Painting, ages 8-12, “I wanted to continue getting out

by Village Theatre, 1 p.m., $35-$78, 4-5:30 p.m., $110/member, $120/ there to see what’s being done,” Francis Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front nonmember, artEAST Art Center, 95 White said. “You might feel like St. N., villagetheatre.org, 392-2202 Front St. N., arteast.org you’re doing only a little bit, but if Vino Bella’s New Year’s Eve Citizenship Classes, for adults, everybody does a little bit, eventually Party, starts at 9 p.m., $40 per 4:30-6 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. you fill a bucket.” person includes party favors, dancing Sunset Way, 392-5430 The trio set out Dec. 1, meeting up music and champagne toast at Eastside Catholic Middle School with a group of 14 other volunteers, midnight, 99 Front St. N., register at and High School Open House, splitting into two groups helping three 391-1424 6:30-8 p.m., 232 228th Ave. SE, villages.

Pogacha’s annual New Year’s Sammamish, eastsidecatholic.org Eve Party, 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., The villages where they worked featuring music by The Every Leaf Development Commission were not cut off from civilization — Band, $25 cover charge includes meeting, 7 p.m., City Council they were only a 25-minute drive champagne toast at midnight and chambers, City Hall South, 135 E. from where they were staying in dessert, to register call 392-5550 Sunset Way a larger city. But White described

SATURDAY, DEC. 31

Contributed

From top: Volunteers (standing from left) Lee Ann Kinkade-Herman, Robin White and Dana Cannon pound a water pipe into a well for a village in Nepal last month; a Nepalese child uses a newly installed well to wash clothes; Cannon puts the finishing touches on a new well she and other volunteers from Wine for Water installed.

the villages as dirt-packed with cedar-block homes. The villages had electricity, but not necessarily in the homes themselves. Some adults and children had cell phones, but they were used more as cameras, as the villages had no internet or Wi-Fi, as well as no plumbing.

Cannon said she was surprised to discover how low-tech, yet easy, the installation of wells were. A group of four volunteers pounded a pipe by hand into the ground, usually 30 to 60 feet until they struck water. The water was then siphoned up by slapping the top of the pipe with an open palm, then the hand pump attached once it was ready to flow.

In all, they installed nine wells in three communities, assisting 20 to 90 households and more than 600 beneficiaries. White said their workdays were packed, leaving little time for sightseeing until the end of the trip.

“We’d have breakfast, work all day, break for lunch or tea, and then at night go back to the hotel. We’d debrief with the trip leader, then drop into bed exhausted shortly after that.”

But that’s not to say it wasn’t a learning experience for both sides of the project. They were able to work past the language barrier through an interpreter and got to learn more about their hosts.

“They were intrigued by us not just being outsiders, but also being of a different origin,” Cannon said. “They were exceptionally welcoming. They brought us in. I felt they absorbed us into their family. They asked why are you here? Why are you helping us?

But not in a defensive way. They just couldn’t comprehend in their way of thinking why a group of people would want to come in and help them.”

She said every day they were in the village, they were surrounded by neighbors who would prepare afternoon cookies and tea for them and sometimes provide a chair, blanket or mat to sit atop on the ground.

“They took care of us. They were very welcoming, very gracious, very thankful,” Cannon said.

SUNDAY, JAN. 1

THURSDAY, JAN. 5

May Creek hike, 10 a.m., easy, 4-5 miles, 700-foot gain, meet at 175 Rainier Blvd. S., 516-5200

Spanish Story Time, ages 3 and older, 10-11 a.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 Colored Pencil for Adults, noon to 1:30 p.m., $120/member, $130/ nonmember, artEAST Art Center, 95 All Issaquah city offices, Front St. N., arteast.org Community Center and Julius Teen Open House, homework Boehm Pool are closed in and tutoring help for teens, 3-5 p.m., observance of the New Year’s Day Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, holiday 392-5430 Colored Pencil for Teens, 4:306 p.m., $100/member, $110/ nonmember, artEAST Art Center, 95 Issaquah Valley Senior Center reopening celebration, 11:30 a.m. Front St. N., arteast.org One-on-One Computer Help, for to noon, 75 NE Creek Way, free, learn adults, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Issaquah more at issaquahwa.gov/seniors Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 Teen Open House, homework and tutoring help for teens, 3-5 p.m., Study Zone, homework and Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, tutoring help for grades K-12, 6-8 392-5430 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset One-on-One Computer Help, for Way, 392-5430 adults, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Issaquah Council Land & Shore Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 Committee meeting, City Council Open Mic Night, signups start at chambers, City Hall South, 135 E. 6:15 p.m., performances 6:30-8:30 Sunset Way p.m., Issaquah Depot Museum, 78 Adult Oil Painting, 6:30-8:30 First Ave. NE, issaquahopenmic.com p.m., $200/member, $210/ City Council regular meeting, nonmember, artEAST Art Center, 95 7 p.m., City Council chambers, City Front St. N., arteast.org Hall South, 135 E. Sunset Way Cemetery Board meeting, 6:30 Rovin’ Fiddlers, 7-9 p.m., Issaquah Valley Senior Center, 75 NE p.m., Issaquah Trails House, 110 SE Bush St. Creek Way, rovinfiddlers.com Talk Time, English-speaking The River & Streams Board practice class for adults, 6:30-8 and Urban Village Development p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Commission meetings have been Way, 392-5430 canceled

MONDAY, JAN. 2

TUESDAY, JAN. 3

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will include Newcastle’s White Newcastle resident Alan White is an official member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017.

Yes will be one of seven inductees that will be enshrined in Cleveland. White is the band’s drummer and is known to frequent Salmon Days as part of the fesitval’s all-star band.

The other inductees, which were announced

Dec. 20, are Electric Light Orchestra, Joan Baez, Journey, Nile Rodgers, Pearl Jam and Tupac Shakur.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website describes Yes as “the most enduring, ambitious and virtuosic progressive band in rock history.”

The 32nd Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is April 7 in New York.

425.443.5737

Gunn Law Offices – PLLc –

27.16361.IP.R

15101 SE 272nd • Kent, WA 98042 253) 630-7496 • www.weatherlyinn.com

Retirement Assisted Living Memory Care

Dance with Miss Sue

Tuition or Drop In 28 years experience Mbr. of Dance Educators of America

Family Law Criminal Law Probate and Estate Planning Landlord-Tenant Law General Litigation

Call 425-606-9410 22525 Southeast 64th Pl, Buillding H • Issaquah, WA 98027 www.gunnlawoffices.com

49.17957.IP.R

52.18285.SR.R

• Ages 3-7 • School year & Summer programs • Pre-ballet, basic tumbling, tap • 2 days a week on the Plateau

The Issaquah Press

Thursday, December 29, 2016 •

Your trusted source for local news since 1900

This front page is from our second-ever edition: Jan. 25, 1900.

There is no known copy of our first edition still in existence.

At The Issaquah Press, we’ll be celebrating our 117th birthday this weekend.

Founded as The Issaquah Independent on Jan. 1, 1900, we became the Press in 1916 because, legend has it, our new owner at the time preferred shorter newspaper names.

Year after year, this independent newspaper has embraced its mission to honestly inform the citizens of Issaquah with impartial reporting of what’s happening in our city — truth on which our readers can base intelligent and educated opinions.

In this era of fake news and clickbait, newspapers have never been more important.

You can support The Issaquah Press and the vital community journalism we practice.

A voluntary subscription payment is $52 per year — the equivalent of about one latte per month. Simply call us at 425-392-6434 or visit us online at issaquahpress.com.

9

SPORTS

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS

Thursday, December 29, 2016 • 10

PREP SPORTS YEAR IN REVIEW

PATRIOTS POWERED Liberty’s run to the 2A football state final is 2016’s No. 1 moment

By Neil Pierson npierson@isspress.com

Sophomore Sarah DiMeco won a pair of individual titles in the 200 and 500 freestyle races.

Christina Bradley, Danika Himes, Catherine McRae and Stephanie Young were also key point scorers in Skyline’s victory.

Issaquah School District teams had lots to celebrate in 2016 as their athletes continued to produce top-quality performances in everything from track and field to football, swimming and soccer.

Listed below are the top 10 moments of the past year involving Issaquah, Liberty and Skyline athletics.

5. Liberty claims three-peat in 2A girls swimming

10. Issaquah’s Derek Chao wins KingCo tennis title

Chao played in the Class 4A doubles tournament as a freshman, experience that seemed to translate this fall as he focused on singles.

He piggybacked on an undefeated regular season by winning four straight matches at October’s KingCo Conference tournament.

In the final, he dismantled Newport’s Payton Namba (6-1, 6-2) and wrapped up a 4A state berth come May. “He’s amazingly consistent and he stays in calm in key moments,” Issaquah coach Mark Bewsey said of Chao.

Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com

Liberty’s Khalil Manning (left) returns an Ellensburg fumble for a touchdown in the 2A football state semifinals.

4. Issaquah girls circle the wagons at Star Track

Across-the-board talent carried the Issaquah Eagles to their second straight 4A title at May’s 4A track and field championships in Tacoma.

Issaquah’s sprinters provided a huge chunk of the team’s 74 points.

The 4x200 and 4x400 squads won titles, while junior Nikki Stephens was the runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles and 400 dash.

Sami Corman made it two titles in two years. The 1,600-meter champ as a freshman, she won the 800 (2 minutes, 14.67 seconds) as a sophomore.

9. Issaquah swim teams capture state trophies

It was a banner year for Eagles swim coach Laura Halter, who saw her boys win a third-place trophy in February and her girls repeat the feat in November.

At the boys’ meet, Kyle Millis, Brandon Leu, Will Crewe and Jason Klein won the 200-yard freestyle relay. Klein also had runnerup finishes in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke.

Two freshmen – Belle Battistoni and Isabelle Hunyh – propelled the Issaquah girls to their first state trophy since 2009. Battistoni won medals in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. Hunyh did likewise in the 50 and 100 freestyles.

3. Distance runners take Eagles to cross-country pinnacle Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com

Issaquah’s Kenna Clawson (right) and Sami Corman (249) lead the Eagles at the start of the KingCo cross-country meet.

8. Skyline girls soccer goes back to final four

Skyline once again made itself known as a nationally-ranked contender, rolling into November’s 4A semifinals with a rock-solid defense that produced 15 shutouts in 21 matches.

The Spartans fell short of their fifth state crown as eventual champion Camas beat them, 1-0, in Puyallup. It was the only loss for coach Don Braman’s squad as it rebounded the following day with a 2-0 win over Hanford to clinch the third-place trophy.

Anna Smith, Ava Giovanola, Marissa Carpenter and Julia Mitchell each earned All-KingCo first-team nods.

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Skyline senior shortstop Connor Knutson (3) fields a throw during an April 11 game against Mount Si.

New coach Brandon Hemphill wasted no time in making history with his alma mater.

The Spartans reached the 4A quarterfinals a year earlier and were hungry to repeat their success. Every player seemed to contribute as Hemphill, a 2004 Skyline graduated, pushed the right buttons at the right times during a 21-7 season.

Dax Kringle, Riley Gill, Danny Sinatro, Connor Knutson and Jack Rooney had the starring roles as Skyline edged Kentwood, 2-1, in the May 28 title game, giving the school its first state championship in the sport.

1. Liberty wows its way to 2A football championship berth

6. Skyline swimmers defend state crown

The Spartans knew things weren’t going to be handed to them as they tried to repeat as 4A champions at November’s state meet in Federal Way. They earned everything they got as a first-place finish in the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, gave them the needed points to hold off Wenatchee, 243-232.

Issaquah’s girls cross country team reached the podium at the state meet in 2014 and ’15, but the program hadn’t won state since 1987.

Behind a highly competitive lineup and no true superstars, the Eagles ended that drought with a 90-108 margin over runner-up Camas.

Kenna Clawson, Sami Corman, Katie Riley, Andie Kolasinski and Lauren Haas each placed among the top 66. All of them are eligible to return in 2017.

2. Skyline wins first baseball title in school history

7. Patriots soccer team nearly takes 2A title

It was a heartbreaking ending to the girls soccer season for Liberty, which returned to the state final for the first time since 2013 only to lose on penalty kicks to Columbia River following a 2-2 tie.

Liberty had outstanding performances on both ends of the field during its 16-5-3 campaign.

Freshman forward Nikayla Copenhaver was a key offensive figure, scoring a hat trick in a 6-2 semifinal win over Archbishop Murphy.

Defensively, the Patriots got plenty of help from freshman Taylor Elfstrom, senior Callen Mackey and the two-headed goalkeeping monster of Sophie Mendoza and Taylor Thatcher.

The Patriots keep finding ways to get it done in the pool. This year, it was Abby Russell and Belle Wong who pushed coach Kris Daughters’ program to a third straight 2A championship.

Wong, a senior, overcame a sizable deficit entering the 1-meter diving finals and captured the title with 338.80 points.

Russell, a junior, pulled the upset of a lifetime in the 200 IM when she beat Pullman’s Taylor McCoy. McCoy was a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier who would’ve finished her prep career with the maximum eight individual titles, except for the second-place finish against Russell.

Greg Farrar / gfarrar@isspress.com

Liberty’s Abby Russell swims the butterfly leg of her 200-yard individual medley race to a first-place upset win at the state meet.

The Liberty Patriots proved that mastery of fundamentals can carry a football team a long way.

The Patriots used the fly sweep – the polar opposite of many teams’ spread passing attacks – with devastating effect. After an 8-0 regular season, four toothand-nail playoff wins followed against Blaine (27-24), Steilacoom (20-13), River Ridge (21-14) and Ellensburg (35-26).

A 56-14 defeat to Archbishop Murphy in the Dec. 3 title game didn’t seem to take the wind out of coach Steve Valach’s sails. The Patriots broke in a first-year quarterback, Austin Regis, and simply wore down other teams in the trenches for a 12-1 finish.

The Issaquah Press

DECEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH Pauline Andrews

from page

Issaquah High School

Issaquah High School

Art department. Girls in STEM award, Yale Law award, student recognition award. Helped create a community of artists in her ceramics peer group. Produces work that is evidence of her creative thinking skills, attention to detail and tenacity for seeing a project to completion.

Foreign Language department. AP Scholar.

Highly motivated in world languages, as a senior began French 1 while continuing in fifth year AP Spanish. Sets an example with great effort, enthusiasm and ability to work with fellow students. A role model of being a citizen of the world.

Wyatt Waters

Sophie Wartena Liberty High School

Foreign Language department. AP Scholar in French 4&5 and seven other AP classes.

Maintains a 3.988 GPA. Honor Society, Model UN, Orchestra (violin, bass guitar and guitar). Passionate about languages and makes tremendous contributions in class and as a French tutor.

Art department. ScholarAthlete all four years in Gymnastics and Track, Orchestra (violin), plans to attend Brigham Young University. Demonstrates dedication and hard work in the visual arts department, always finding new ways to take her ideas to a more advanced level.

The Rotary Club of Issaquah names local students of the month. Students are nominated for the honor by department heads at their respective schools.

1

doors opened.

“This is the best part of the holiday for me,” Silverstein said about pick-up day.

The all-volunteer effort aims to end child hunger over the holidays. It began with Silverstein recruiting friends for a food drive and then loading groceries into backpacks as kids departed school before the holiday break.

“Everyone just pitched in,” she said about that first year. Family and neighbors contributed, and even a longtime friend living across the country shipped big boxes of cereal, soup and peanut butter.

The next school break, the program grew to Clark Elementary, where about 25 percent of students get free or reduced lunch.

After that, Silverstein said she couldn’t do it on her own and needed a place to expand. Lunch for the Break partnered with the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank, and several area churches offered their support.

“With high rents, food is the thing that gets cut,” Silverstein said. “It’s wonderful when people can reach a hand to a neighbor who needs help.”

Each participating student receives a box filled with food for lunch and breakfast all week, taking the stress off of families during the break from school. Lunch for the Break provides a shopping list to donors, who then shop and

Sometime before 7:46 p.m. on Dec. 20 someone left a smashed Hillary Clinton figurine on a doorstep of a house in the 2400 block Northeast Harrison Street.

activity at Southeast 52nd Street and 229th Avenue Southeast. After arriving, the officers spoke to a vehicle driver who said he was part of a carpet cleaning company.

Burglaries

4A wallet and its contents were reported stolen at 6:39 p.m. Dec. 17 At 8:16 a.m. on Dec. 18 an from the 600 block of Front officer checked on a woman Street North. sitting on a park bench near 4On Dec. 21 at 10:14 Northwest Maple Street and a.m. an iPhone was reportNewport Way Northwest. ed stolen from the 100 block The woman told the officer of East Sunset Way. she was fine and was just 4A package was reported enjoying the view of the stolen at 12:14 p.m. on Dec. wetland.

21 from the 2500 block of Northwest Alpine Crest Way. 4On Dec. 21 at 2:22 Car prowl p.m., $473.96 worth of Sometime before 4:59 stolen merchandise was p.m. Dec. 20, $50 in cash recovered from the 700 was stolen from a vehicle block of Northwest Gilman in the 5800 block of 221st Boulevard. A 28-year old Place Southeast.

North Bend woman was arrested for shoplifting.

Enjoying the view

Carpet cleaning

At 1:58 p.m. on Dec. 17 officers responded to a report of suspicious

Pink bag On Dec. 18 at 4:40 a.m. in the 17000 block of 16th

Lizz Giordano / lgiordano@isspress.com

Cindy Silverstein is the founder of Lunch for the Break, a free-lunch program which in just two years has expanded from serving one school to all 24 schools in the Issaquah School District. pack boxes. Fresh produce is added after boxes are collected, a few days before the break begins.

This year, Silverstein amassed enough donations to provide families with gift cards to Safeway and QFC, passes to the swimming pool and the zoo, plus a pizza dinner, compliments of MOD Pizza. King County librarians were also on hand to pass out free books.

“This time was really exciting because we were able to give more than just a box of food,” Silverstein said.

Lane Northeast an officer responded to a woman who said just three minutes before someone had knocked on her door. The officer checked the area and didn’t find anything except a pink bag on the doorstep, which the woman said belonged to her daughter.

Reckless driving An officer responded to a report of reckless driving near the East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast and Southeast 43rd Street at 10:45 a.m. on Dec. 18. Upon arrival to the area the officer was unable to locate the vehicle.

“Many of the people had tears in their eyes when I told them you can take your kids out for pizza.”

Silverstein is still expanding. “Issaquah Power Packs” now serves kids on the weekends, but currently is only available at two schools.

Lunch for the Break, aimed at school-aged children, encourages people to sign up on their website, but it also accepts walk-ins.

“We’re open to anyone who says they need food for their child,” Silverstein said.

HOW TO HELP Donations are always needed for the Lunch for the Break program, and the February school break will arrive in just a few weeks.

More information can be found at lunchforthebreak. com or call the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank at 392-4123 ext. 11.

WE LOVE CHECK-INS!

Se

POLICE & FIRE Presidential candidate was left in pieces

11

Lunch

Alyssa Quinn

Liberty High School

Thursday, December 29, 2016 •

LIQUOR SPECIALS

. il s eF acebo for deta ok

Visit our website for great deals on top brands.

37500 SE North Bend Way. Snoqualmie, WA 98065. (425) 888-3071

OPEN 7am–10pm, 7 DAYS A WEEK SMOKELESS TOBACCO

MAJOR BRANDS American Spirit Marlboro Newport Camel Native

$7.76 $7.00 $7.25 $6.70 $4.70

Copenhagen Wint or Mint $4.29 Skoal X-tra $4.25 Grizzly $4.19 Kodiak $6.39 Camel SNUS $5.49

SKOOKUM CREEK A LOCALLY CRAFTED TRIBAL BRAND COMPLETE Pack $4.45

TRADITIONS Pack $4.99

PREMIS

ISLAND BLENDZ Pack $1.95

Pack $4.35

WARNING: Smoking causes lung cancer.

WARNING: Cigarettes are addictive.

WARNING: This product can cause gum disease and tooth loss.

YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS – UNBEATABLE PRICES Home of Elusive Bourbon

Found bumper and license plate

In the 5700 block of East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast on Dec. 21 at 12:34 p.m. an officer recovered a license plate and bumper. The owner was contacted and was told she could come to the Issaquah Police Department to retrieve her items.

Bulleit Bourbon or Rye

Eagle Rare

Old Forester Bourbon .750 - $18.99

It’s time to love your smile again!

Stagg Jr.

.750 - $32.99

.750 - $23.99

.750 - $53.99

Johnny Drum .750 - $32.99

Be sure to check out our great selection of small batch whiskies and scotches

FEATURED SPECIALS

Sammamish Plateau Dentistry has been established to serve the Sammamish and Issaquah communities for nearly 25 years. We welcome both kids and adults of all ages.

Michters Unblended American Whiskey

Partagas Cigars Starting at $6.99

.750 - $40.99

GREAT PRICES ON WINE AND BEER

Many people have dental insurance through their employer, but let their benefits go unused.

If you have questions about your insurance call us today for an insurance review.

We are a preferred provider (PPO) with most major dental insurance plans.

Kestrel Lady in Red

Tamarack Cellars Merlot

Novelty Hill Royal Slope

Hedges CMS

$8.99

$19.99

$13.99

$9.99

14 Hands Hot to Trot

Pike 6 pks

Red Hook 6 pks

Space Dust 6 pks

$9.99

$9.79

$8.89

$13.19

Everyone Has A Habit, Make Yours Saving Money

.........................................................

Come Visit Us Next To The Snoqualmie Casino

DIRECTIONS:

(425)391-5511

I-90 Westbound take Exit 31 (North Bend and follow the signs to the reservation.

I-90 Eastbound take Exit 27 turn left (North). Follow North Bend Way around curve.

22725 SE 29th Street • Pine Lake Medical Plaza Sammamish www.SammamishPlateauDentistry.com offer different financial/payment options.

Insurance reviews are an estimate only and do not guarantee coverage. (Review your member handbook for the most comprehensive benefit information.)

47.15331.IP.R

Offer valid for new patients only - 1 per family. Must present ad at inital appointment, free takeNohome insurance? canX-rays workand with you toOffer prioritize your dental whiteningNo kitproblem, after inital we exam, cleaning. valid through March needs, 31, 2015.and

{

snotobacco.com

{

Convenient Hours available Monday through Saturday

* All prices do not include sales tax. *All prices subject to change * Tobacco & Liquor company promotes the responsible use of Tobacco products. If you are interested in quitting smoking please visit www.smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT NOW to learn more about the resources available to you.

48.18157.IP.R

12 • Thursday, December 29, 2016

The Issaquah Press

PFOS from page

1

amounts of PFOS. PFOS is frequently associated with firefighting foam, specifically the Class B “aqueous film-forming foam” first developed by 3M and the U.S. Navy in the 1960s. EFR officials told The Issaquah Press that firefighting foam containing PFOS had been the standard in the industry until 2000. 3M stopped all production of its Class B firefighting foam in 2002.

According to the water report, Geosyntec identified Scott Stoddard / sstoddard@isspress.com EFR as a source of the PFOS, but not necessarily the only Polygon Northwest’s Westridge development straddles Northeast Discovery Drive near Swedish Hospital in the Issaquah Highlands. source.

The city expects results site Polygon wants to use is Issaquah’s economic and chairperson, said it doesn’t from samples taken at located near the intersecdevelopment services direc- make sense to move afEastside Fire and Rescue’s tion of College Drive and tor, using city-owned land fordable housing away Station 71, located at 190 E. Northeast Falls Drive, about allows for certain advantag- from transit. The Westridge Sunset Way, and City Hall from page 1 a mile east of the Westridge es when it comes to afford- development is located South, the former home of development able housing. in close proximity to the a fire station, to come back approved by the City City Council President “We haven’t even started Highlands’ park-and-ride, early next year.

Council.

Stacy Goodman, Deputy talking about the value of whereas the city-owned “We just don’t want to foThe proposal from President Mary Lou Pauly for-sale affordable units,” land is farther away from cus on one site,” said Mayor Polygon also includes 30 and Councilmember Mariah Niven said during the the transit station.

Fred Butler. additional units of affordBettise discussed the meeting. “And because it’s Pauly countered Polygon’s During the meeting, Anable housing that would proposal during the Dec. 1 city property, we can put a proposal with an idea to derson told councilmembers be paid for by the develLand and Shore Committee perpetual covenant on it so swap land with the develsamples taken from newly oper but built on a parcel meeting. it can’t go away.” oper to allow for the afford- drilled Monitoring Well No. 6, of city-owned land. The According to Keith Niven, Pauly, the committee’s able housing to be closer to which is near the junction of mass transit.

Newport Way Northwest and Goodman said it wasn’t Northwest Dogwood, detected the worst spot for affordable PFOS at a level of 2,200 part housing, but she appeared per trillion. This is 31 times DEANNA.noPROOF. less than enthusiastic that higher than the EnvironHOME SERVICES.CMYK Polygon’s proposal would mental Protection Agency’s PDF 0907 LAM separate affordable housing lifetime advisory level.

38.13066.THUR.0915.1X2.LAM To place your ad call: 425-392-6434, ext. 229 from the Westridge develop“That’s a pretty high hit,” Deadline: Monday 11am ment.

Anderson said. “2.2 (2,200 “It allows them (Polygon) parts per trillion) is a pretty to segregate the affordable strong detection of PFOS.” 001-Real Estate for Sale 209-NOTICES housing,” said Goodman.

Monitoring Well No. 6 is Niven said the Urban located approximately 600 210-Public Notices Village Development Comfeet north of EFR’s headPUBLIC NOTICE 16‑9121 mission is recommending quarters. the council approve the According to the Noproposal from Polygon. vember water report from NOTICE OF SALE & He said at the end of Geosyntec, perfluorooctanoic PUBLIC HEARING the day the commission acid, also known as PFOA, SINGLE FAMILY HOME embraced the proposal was detected in Monitoring The Issaquah School District No. because it would put only Well No. 6 at 80 parts per BEAVER LAKE $1,548,000 411 Board of Directors hereby pro‑

BY APPT: NW Contemporary 30 units on the city-owned trillion. vides notice of the proposed sale of new construction. 4350 sf, 4 bdrms, parcel instead of the allowThe EPA’s lifetime advisory surplus School District property and Washington State 3.5 bths, bns room, den, rec rm & able 50 units. level for PFOS and PFOA a public hearing regarding the flex rm. 1 acre #1040548. same. The property consists of 0.89 “It’s going to be a hard combined is 70 parts per Construction K. Gervasoni 425-503-3053/425-392-6600 acres and is located at 8400 136th decision for the council to trillion. PFOS was originally Contractor law requires that all Ave SE, Newcastle, Washington make,” Niven said. detected in Gilman Well No. advertisers for construction related 98059 (Tax Parcel Identification No. The proposal will return 4 at 600 parts per trillion in BEAVER LAKE $1,398,000 services include the contractor 342405‑9118). The Board will hold

BY APPT: Boitano Homes New a public hearing to discuss the pro‑ to the Land and Shore Com- 2013. Since June 2016, waregistration number. posed sale of the property on the Construction. 2 story w/ basement. mittee on Jan. 5 before goter from that well has been 11th of January, 2017, at 7:00 p.m.

4 bdrm/3.5 bth. Den & bns room ing before the entire council run through a treatment sysat the Issaquah School District Ad‑ plus flex rm. 1 acre #977049.

To advertise in later next year. A public tem and currently shows no K. Gervasoni 425-503-3053/425-392-6600 ministration Building, 565 NW Holly hearing held by City Council detectable level of PFOS. Street, Issaquah, Washington, Home Services 98027. The public is invited to the is scheduled for Jan. 17 at According to Geosyntec, hearing to provide comment and of‑ call 425-392-6434 7 p.m. groundwater in Issaquah fer evidence for or against the propri‑ flows north, meaning Montiand get results! ety and advisability of the proposed oring Well No. 6 is “downsale. For additional information, please contact Jacob Kuper at stream” of EFR headquarters.

425‑837‑7016.

5370 Anderson also told councilmembers the high PUBLISHED IN THE ISSAQUAH CROSSWORD PUZZLE #5370 concentration of PFOS found PRESS on December 29th, 2016 DOWN ACROSS and January 5th, 2017 in Monitoring Well No. 6 1. Tutor’s question 1. Motorist’s need suggests PFOS will likely PUBLIC NOTICE 16‑9122 CALL 2. ”All __”; Irving 4. __ into; increase at Gilman Well No. Berlin hit collide with NOTICE OF WAIT LIST CLOSING 4 before it decreases.

3. Cavalry weapon 8. In poor taste EFFECTIVE 01/16/17 The city plans on continu4. Dark image 13. Desperate cry 062-MERCHANDISE

Westridge

HOME

Classifieds

SERVICES

38.13066.IP.R

53.18373.IP.R

ADVERTISE IN OUR CLASSIFIED SECTION 392-6434 079-Items Wanted

CASH PAID!!!

Record LP’s, 45s, Reel‑to‑Reel Tapes, CD’s, Old Magazines\‑ Movies\VHS Tapes. Call TODAY! 206‑499‑5307

WANTED RECORD LPs

CASH PAID!!!

Record LP’s, 45’s, Reel‑to‑Reel Tapes, CD’s, Old Magazines\Movies Call TODAY!

206‑499‑5307 090-Vehicles 091-Vehicles

$$$$$$$

We buy junk vehicles!

HALL’S

AUTO WRECKING

Serving Issaquah since 1950

Foreign & Domestic Parts Used Autos Tuesday‑Friday, 10‑6pm Sat, 10‑4pm

425.392.3287

follow us on twitter and visit our facebook page!

Recycle your newspaper.

53.HomeServices.IP.R

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

22.

23.

The Mine Hill Apartments will no longer accept applications for hous‑ ing until further notice. The closure of the wait list is due to the determi‑ nation that the existing waiting list contains an adequate pool of appli‑ cants for use and the estimated wait‑ ing period exceeds 12 months. This property is an equal housing oppor‑ tunity and provider. We offer one, two and three bedroom apartments.

Phone 425‑392‑2580 245 SW Clark St Issaquah WA 98027

24.

26.

29.

32.

36.

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

47.

49.

51.

56.

Published in The Issaquah Press December 29th, 2016 and January 5th, 2017

PUBLIC NOTICE 16‑9123 WSDOT, Claton Belmont, 1551 N Wenatchee Ave Wenatchee, WA 98801, is seeking coverage under the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Construction Stormwater NPDES and State Waste Discharge General Permit.

The proposed project, I90 ‑ NF Issaquah Creek Fish Passage, is located at I90 ‑ milepost 17.0 in Issaquah in King county.

This project involves 4.6 acres of soil disturbance for Highway or Road construction activities.

The receiving waterbodies are N. Fork Issaquah creek tributary, N. Fork Issaquah creek.

Any persons desiring to present their views to the Washington State De‑ partment of Ecology regarding this application, or interested in Ecology’‑ s action on this application, may no‑ tify Ecology in writing no later than 30 days of the last date of publica‑ tion of this notice. Ecology reviews public comments and considers whether discharges from this project would cause a measurable change in receiving water quality, and, if so, whether the project is necessary and in the overriding public interest according to Tier II antidegradation requirements under WAC 173‑201A‑320.

Comments can be submitted to: Department of Ecology Attn: Water Quality Program, Con‑ struction Stormwater P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504‑7696

58.

61.

63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

1

2

3

4

5

20.

21.

25.

27.

28.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

37.

40.

44.

46.

48.

50.

52.

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

59.

60.

62.

6

7

Continue Quartet member Intended Outline drawer Feel horrible Kid in the next desk Comical Etta North Sea feeder Takes the lion’s share Aerie Incensed __ system Skilled Taunt Admit frankly Fools Mulgrew or Winslet Summit Agrees to take back Heart chambers Legal proceedings Entreat Give up Weighing devices Drawer refresher Skating rinks and eggs Auguries Readjust Door South African village Canadian prov.

Speaker’s spot École friend Grandma’s nickname Slimy creature: Mid. Eng. 8

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

33

34

27

35

39

40

42

43

45

29

30

31

54

55

38

44 47

58 62

12

25

37

48

50

57

11

41

46 49

56

28

36

10

22

24 26

32

9

21

23

61

Published in The Issaquah Press on December 29th, 2016 and January 5th 2017

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Sound in body Nettles American Indian Movie dog Like a bird Cocktail Ocean liner: abbr.

Nonstandard car accessory Lock of hair Hit Perfumes Gold measure Recipe direction Melted rock In __; huffy Site Surmounting Duct secretion In case Work details Type of tax Let up Chocolate source Idolizes Word with lime or lemon Progress Place for a carnation Oriental nursemaid This: Sp. Name Row Weirdo Long-eared animals Chair Filthy quarters

51 59

52

60

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

53

Press from page

4

should be part of the teenage mindset. But highschool sports aren’t college sports or pro sports. Officials need to be treated with more respect than you’d give Gene Steratore during the Seahawks game.

Hold your tongue and save the critique for your next trip to CenturyLink Field.

On to the good stuff. My last Off the Press column of 2016 is also about the area’s best athletes of 2016.

Listed below are my top five and I welcome second opinions.

To make the list, athletes had to attend one of the six high schools I cover: Eastlake, Eastside Catholic, Issaquah, Liberty, Mount Si or Skyline.

And these aren’t necessarily the most talented athletes — some won’t play Division I sports — but the ones who had the greatest impact on their teams.

ing to monitor production and monitoring wells. City Administrator Bob Harrison said the water treatment system is working better than expected.

Trace amounts of PFOS have also been detected in three Sammamish Water Plateau production wells.

The city, EFR and Sammamish Plateau Water are in talks to form a partnership to coordinate efforts in finding the source of the contamination in the aquifer.

Butler anticipates the group will meet in late January when more test results and information will be available.

“We are going to work together because we all have a shared interest,” Butler said.

Lloyd Warren, Sammamish Plateau Water’s board president, told the City Council that the water district wants to find a longterm solution for the entire community.

“This groundwater resource is really a treasure to the community,” Warren said. “This aquifer is going to be around a lot longer than I am, and I feel a responsibility.”

Warren said Sammamish Plateau Water is committed to working with Issaquah and EFR. Anderson said questions remain, and it has not been not completely determined if EFR is also the source of the PFOS found in Gilman Well No. 5 and in three Sammamish Plateau Water production wells.

Geosyntec’s recommendations include: • Conduct further soil and groundwater investigations at EFR. • Consider adjusting the wells’ pumping schedule • Continue testing the newly installed monitoring wells • Consider further groundwater transport modeling.

According to Emily Moon, the deputy city administrator, groundwater modeling and and an evaluation of the pumping schedule will be discussed when all three agencies reconvene next year.

The EPA classifies PFOS as an emerging contaminant, which the agency defines as “a chemical or material characterized by a perceived, potential, or real threat to human health or the environment or by a lack of published health standards.”

Because the EPA doesn’t formally regulate the chemical, there are no established recommendations or guidelines for source removal or cleanup.

PFOS is known to cause liver damage and birth defects in lab animals.

Research on its effects on humans is still evolving.

Wildcats’ march to the state playoffs. He struck 54 hitters in 41²⁄³ innings and had a 1.18 ERA. He’s playing for Edmonds Community College now and don’t be surprised if he shows up on the international stage for his native New Zealand.

3. Ben Howard, Eastlake football. The senior quarterback

and KingCo 4A Offensive MVP helped the Wolves back to the state playoffs for third time in four seasons.

Howard threw 30 touchdown passes in 11 games and was stellar in a 49-0 playoff win over Kentwood (18 of 30, 277 yards, three TDs).

4. Gina Marxen, Eastlake girls basketball. As a sophomore

point guard, Marxen played like a senior. She averaged 17.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game as the Lady Wolves reached the regional round of 16.

5. Abby Russell, Liberty swimming. Russell contributed

heavily to the Patriots’ 2A title wins in 2014 and ’15 and she was the star as Liberty three-peated this fall. She was second in the 100-yard 1. Caroline Bowman, Skyline breaststroke and upset U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier Tayfastpitch. Bowman was an invaluable piece for a Spar- lor McCoy of Pullman to win tans squad that qualified for the 200 individual medley. the state tournament. She was the Class 4A KingCo Email reporter Neil Pierson Conference MVP, pitchat npierson@isspress.com. ing nearly every inning for Twitter : @eastside_neil her team and hitting in the cleanup spot. She plans to Off The Press is a weekly play at San Jose State. column by members of The 2. Jimmy Boyce, Mount Si Issaquah Press news staff. baseball. An all-state pitcher The viewpoint expressed and KingCo 4A Player of does not necessarily the Year, Boyce dominated represent the editorial the opposition during the views of the newspaper.