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Happy New Year

THE ISSAQUAHPRESS

Issaquah’s only locally owned newspaper

www.issaquahpress.com

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 remembered for what went away

By Kathleen R. Merrill editor@isspress.com Annexations, retirements, plastic bags, development, a looming school closure, retail marijuana, bank robberies, the Concerts on the Green series, and business and occupation taxes made the list of the top 10 news stories of the year in Issaquah.

Here are those stories, in no particular order: Klahanie-area annexation issue moves to Sammamish Issaquah residents voted no, for the second time, on the city of Issaquah annexing the Klahanie area. The King County Growth Management Planning Council then unanimously approved the idea to move the Klahanie area from Issaquah’s Potential Annexation Area to Sammamish’s.

The city of Sammamish has held three open houses for residents to learn about the issue, and filed a Notice of Intent on Dec. 8 with the King County Boundary Review Board.

What’s next: While officials

1Â FOR

2014

TOP NEWS STORIES OF THE YEAR

expect to hold an election in April, no vote can take place until the review board approves the notice. The board has 45 days from Dec. 8 to do so.

Longtime Mayor Ava Frisinger retires Mayor Ava Frisinger retired from public service after 16 years as the head of Issaquah’s administration. Before her last See TOP

10, Page 3

Merry Christmas fund stuck at half-way point

By Christina Corrales-Toy newcastle@isspress.com This holiday season, we introduced you to several Issaquah families that needed a little help.

You met Marty Wright, a disabled veteran who struggled to keep the heat on in his Issaquah home. You read Cynthia Jackson’s story about strife and loss, as the single mother was forced to pick up the pieces after losing everything.

New Issaquah resident Shannon Winkler told you how an illness kept her from working, making it difficult to support her family. And finally, you saw the strength exuding from domestic violence survivor Michelle Curtis’ words as she described the path she and her four children took to settle down in Issaquah.

Each of these stories included notes of pain and struggle, but thanks to the generosity of Issaquah Community Services, all of them had a happy ending.

The nonprofit organization helped these Issaquah residents stay on their feet with the gift of emergency financial aid in the form of utility payments, rent assistance and other miscellaneous contributions, depending on a specific need.

“It’s just been a struggle,” Winkler said, “so it was really nice to move to a city where people are so nice, kind, caring, generous and so willing to help a stranger.”

Issaquah Community Services comes into a family’s life when they need it most.

The people that the nonprofit supports are not residents looking for a handout, they are men and women who are simply looking to survive amidst a harrowing set of circumstances.

“We are getting families coming that are so desperate, they have completely exhausted everything,” said Lori Birrell, ICS board president.

Each year the need grows greater, as more clients filter in and out of the ICS offices.

Last year, the nonprofit organization helped 199 families avoid

MERRY CHRISTMAS ISSAQUAH

CONTRIBUTED

Adelaide Hilton and her friends celebrated her 100th birthday with lunch at the Space Needle in Seattle. Before getting into the limo, she paused for a photo with Patrick Mazzuca, general manager at Aegis of Issaquah.

CENTENARIAN CELEBRATES Aegis resident Adelaide Hilton shares 100 years of memories

By John Yeager Aegis Living

A

Adelaide Hilton, at Aegis Living of Issaquah, celebrated her 100th birthday just before Christmas.

Hilton was born Dec. 22, 1914. A native of Los Angeles, the centenarian has outlived all her family including one son. Hilton became a flight attendant in the 1930s, when a career like that was unheard of for a woman.

Back then you had to be, “a registered nurse and good looking in order to be a flight attendant,” she said in a recent interview.

She also answered a few questions about her life, and her matter-of-fact way of looking at life might surprise you.

How’d you make it to 100?

“I haven’t any idea.”

2014 FUND DRIVE

2014 GOAL: $100,000 TO DATE: $53,653.50 HOW TO HELP Help by making a taxdeductible donation to Issaquah Community Services. The organization is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit. Send donations to Merry Christmas Issaquah, P.O. Box 669, Issaquah, WA 98027.

The names of donors — but not amounts — are published in The Press unless anonymity is requested. Call ICS at 837-3125 for more information.

ON THE WEB Learn more about Issaquah Community Services at www. issaquahcommunityservices. org. You can also donate through PayPal on the website.

eviction and kept the lights and/ or water on for an additional 187 families. They also referred countless others to a network of agencies and nonprofits that could offer more assistance.

Merry Christmas Issaquah — spearheaded by The Issaquah Press since 1981 — is the organization’s most important fundraiser all year. Organizers set a $100,000 goal for 2014.

With just a week left, however, See FUND, Page 3

Biggest regret?

“That I’ve hurt someone’s feelings.”

What are you most proud of?

“I was a flight attendant. Otherwise, life’s just the way it is, take it or leave it.

I didn’t care to leave it.”

What’s more important, love or money?

“Basically, love. Never had money.

Didn’t starve to death.”

If you could change anything?

“I don’t think I’d change anything.”

What’s the craziest thing you ever did?

“I don’t think about as being crazy but I think at the time everybody thought I was crazy when I became a flight attendant, when I started flying.

At that time (in the 1930s), if you were a professional and a woman you had to be an RN (registered nurse).”

What’s the secret to long life?

“Well, be open-minded. Take things

CONTRIBUTED

Another celebration for Adelaide Hilton’s 100th birthday included balloons, flowers and cake. as they come even if it’s not the way you want it.”

If you could, would you want to live forever?

“No, enough is enough.”

Are you surprised you lived this long?

“Yes.” Best advice for growing old?

“Too many people think about age.

I never did. In fact, I’ve never thought about it. I did when I was about to be 21, but that’s about it.”

Dreams into 2015?

“The only thing I can think of over the years is I wish I had more money and time to do things like travel.”

Any new years resolutions?

“No, I never think of things like that.”

Advice as we look forward to 2015?

“Don’t be a worry wart. If you don’t like something, well change whatever you want.”

Do you think you’ll make it to 105?

“I don’t think about it. I got a roof over my head and food in my stomach.

As long as I got that … I don’t care.

Don’t cry over spilled milk.”

Cities jointly fund new director for Lake Sammamish State Park

By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com Lake Sammamish State Park, considered by many to have been long neglected financially by the state, will be annexed to the city of Issaquah as of Feb. 1.

The park may or may not be in line for some state funding for a new boat dock. But in any case, the park soon will have an executive director to aid with future rebuilding of the facility, said Chris Kovac, president of the community group the

Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park.

The Friends will hire a director to help guide the organization and the park.

Jim Mackey, a member of the board of directors for the Friends group, said the organization hopes to have someone on board by mid-January. Kovac confirmed that is the goal, but said the search could go on longer to find the right person for the job.

That job, a part-time position, is being funded through grants from the cities of Issaquah and

Sammamish. Issaquah provided $25,000 in grant money, while Sammamish pitched in an additional $20,000, Kovac said.

At least in the case of Issaquah, the funds came from the same nonprofit organization grants that aid various community groups working in and around the city, according to Kovac.

The Friends group is a certified, nonprofit charity.

Kovac said he sees the direcSee DIRECTOR, Page 3

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The Issaquah Press

Heroin use is on the rise in Issaquah and King County

By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com

community activists, representatives from various organizations and others dealing with drug use and related issues.

According to numbers obtained by the Issaquah School Foundation, statistics coming from King County point to a noticeable rise of heroin use. In 2012, there were more than 1,100 calls concerning heroin made to the King County Recovery Helpline.

The second largest number of calls was for help with prescription pain pills, but only reached about 800.

At the same time, county officials reported a steep increase in the number of first-time admissions to treatment for heroin abuse. In 2003, the num-

Over a year ago, in June 2013, then-Issaquah Police Chief Paul Ayers said the use of heroin locally was on the rise.

“It appears the use of heroin has risen over the meth usage,” Ayers said.

The situation has not improved.

At least partly in response, the Drug Free Community Coalition, part of the Issaquah Schools Foundation, in partnership with the city, recently held the second of a series of “community conversations” about drug abuse and other related issues.

The events were a gathering of elected leaders,

ber was 594. It jumped to more than 1,300 less than 10 years later, in 2012.

Drops in the availability of methamphetamine may be adding to the increased use of heroin, Pat Castillo, project coordinator for the Drug Free Community Coalition said in an interview with The Issaquah Press. As meth has become harder to obtain, heroin use has increased, she said.

Speaking at the community meeting, Mayor Fred Butler referred to the interrelated problems of what he called “DHM,” which stands for drugs, homelessness and mental illness.

He added he probably has spent more time on those issues than any others.

“It touches on every-

thing,” Butler said. “We are committed to trying to make a difference.”

During that same meeting, Issaquah Police Chief Scott Behrbaum said residents still live in a safe city.

“I’ll just come right out and say, our community is a safe community,” he said.

In 2013, there were 18 major crimes in the city, “major crime” being defined as robbery, rape and assaults. Behrbaum said “stranger crimes” — committed by persons not known to the victim, such as muggings — are rare and happen at a low rate compared to surrounding communities. While the meeting included much discussion of a perceived homeless problem in Is-

saquah, Behrbaum noted that being homeless is not a crime and the presence of homeless people does not indicate the presence of criminal behavior.

To address concerns of downtown business owners in particular, Behrbaum talked about increasing police visibility with additional foot and bike patrols.

“Wish me luck,” was the joking comment made to the meeting audience by Cori Walters, executive director of the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank after stating she’d been given five minutes to dispel the myths surrounding homelessness.

The stereotypical local homeless person is a single male, drug user and criminal with mental problems

who came to Issaquah from elsewhere. After having worked with homeless persons, Walters said she personally guarantees that is not the case.

Walters talked about one homeless couple who live in their van, are welleducated and give back to the community in various ways. Their attachment to their pets has proven a barrier to housing.

The next step for the groups behind the community discussion will be a report on the comments made during the session that featured small group discussions on various topics. Similar efforts are now underway in Sammamish, where an initial meeting was held Dec. 10.

New blog hopes to reach teens with mental health, drug issues

By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com

fulness is closely aligned, but not quite the same at meditation. Still, she talks about it helping reduce anxiety, aiding in physical healing and helping recovery from addiction.

Started about two months ago by the Healthy Youth Initiative, the Mission Mental blog doesn’t have a huge number of entries so far. But de Michele said the entries that have been posted each have received more than 200 hits in a fairly short amount of time.

“I had my first panic attack in seventh grade, while taking a science test. One minute, I was scribbling an answer to

With topics ranging from managing panic attacks to managing eating disorders, a new blog site for Issaquah- and Sammamisharea students already is covering a lot of ground. “‘Mindfulness’” should have been the 2014 Word of the Year, because I’m seeing it everywhere.

There’s even a new magazine called ‘Mindful,’ available on newsstands…”

In that blog entry for Mission Mental, Barbara de Michele, director of the Issaquah Schools Foundation Healthy Youth Initiative, goes on to say mind-

an essay question. The next minute, my heart was pounding, my skin was clammy, and I felt dizzy and numb.”

The author, identified only as “Kim K.,” is a professional writer with a background in mental health communications.

She is described as having recovered from depression and an eating disorder as a teen.

In that blog entry, Kim K. goes on to talk about how to control, or at least ease, feelings of anxiety. She also has a long blog entry about the many myths regarding eating disorders.

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opiates, had become very popular among abusers, but they are becoming harder to obtain, he said.

Also, Blackburn said, as you take more of a drug, you naturally become more immune to its effects. Heroin is a powerful, cheap, relatively easy to obtain alternative to prescription opiates, he said.

As he talks, Blackburn emphasizes addicts aren’t necessarily criminals.

“You’re dealing with people who are ill,” he said, adding that is something he hopes will come across in his blog. His approach decidedly emphasizes treatment over jail time.

As the blog moves forward, de Michele wants to get more writers, especially teens, involved.

Comments are, of course,

welcome and encouraged.

“It’s a way for us to have extended conversations,” she said.

As for student participation, de Michelle credited Liberty High School senior Jenna Purkis with designing and helping launch the Web page, which began as a blog run by a suicide prevention group.

So far, Mission Mental has three or four writers, plus a few who haven’t posted as yet. Still, de Michele seems more than confident the blog can fill a need.

“We’d been brainstorming on ideas,” she said, adding all involved agreed the blog should be able to help some people get the help they need.

Check out Mission Mental at www.missionmental.org.

Community center closes for New Year’s

Parks and Recreation Commission recently released its schedule of days in 2015 when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass to visit a state park.

The “free days” are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass — a $30 annual or $10 oneday permit required on state recreation lands managed

by Washington State Parks,

the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Natural Resources.

The free days apply only at state parks, like Lake Sammamish State Park or the Tiger Mountain State Forest; the Discover Pass is still required to access WDFW and DNR lands.

Get a complete list of free days at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.

The Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier Blvd. S., will be closed for New Year’s Day Wednesday, Jan. 1, and will reopen Jan. 2 with normal hours.

State Parks offers 12 ‘free days’ in 2015

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Issaquah and Sammamish are in the midst of a healthcare crisis. In the last month or so, we have witnessed several fatal overdoses involving young adults, and even as a healthcare provider, I cannot begin to estimate how many overdoses have gone without response.”

A member of the chemical dependency faculty at Bellevue College, blogger Jerry Blackburn said the idea of Mission Mental is to provide accurate information about mental health and various related issues.

There has been much in the media recently about increases in heroin use all around Seattle and the Eastside. Blackburn agrees the hard drug is making a comeback. Why? Prescription drugs, particularly

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Top 10 FROM PAGE 1

council meeting, the council and city officials held a reception in her honor.

The first 30 minutes were spent praising her and her accomplishments. A Jan. 9 public celebration was held at the Hilton Garden Inn to honor her and her career. Fred Butler beat Joe Forkner in an election to determine who would take Frisinger’s place.

Longtime Issaquah Press Publisher Debbie Berto retires After 41 years with The Issaquah Press, Debbie Berto retired. It was the only job she had ever had.

During her time with the paper, she worked her way up from advertising representative to publisher.

A community open house was held Feb. 6 at Tibbetts Creek Manor to honor her and her career.

What’s next: Joe Heslet was named general manager of the 115-year-old newspaper. Berto continues to serve the community through the Kiwanis Club of Issaquah and her work with the Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park.

Plastic bags banned in Issaquah, again Although the Issaquah City Council banned plastic bags in June 2012, and the ban took effect in March 2013, that policy was challenged and went to voters in February 2014. With 39.32 percent of registered voters submitting a ballot, only 47.58 percent, or 3,595 people, voted to get rid of the ban, while 52.32 percent, or 3,945, approved of keeping it.

Fund FROM PAGE 1

the fund is well short of its final goal, with only a little more than half collected.

It’s far below last year’s record collection of nearly $86,000.

Merry Christmas Issaquah is the organization’s most important fundraiser all year, accounting for more than 60 percent of its annual budget.

As the year winds down, organizations are often

Atlas development gets approval, construction begins The first project under the Central Issaquah Plan, the Atlas development, was approved and began construction. Three, five-story buildings with 343 housing units are being built on the site at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Northwest Gilman Boulevard. The development also will have 320 belowbuilding parking spaces and 103 surface parking spots.

What’s next: Construction continues and is expected to be completed in summer 2016.

regulations for the use of recreational marijuana July 7. It also approved an open container law for marijuana, meaning any package in a vehicle must remain sealed.

And though the city can have only one retail location, based on population, 21 prospective business owners applied for a license. The state Liquor Control Board winnowed that list down to 10. Nine out of the 10 applicants on the lottery list cite a location address in the 200 block of Northeast Juniper Street. The other lists 1410 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Suite A, as its possible address.

Planners said that it could take six months or more for a business to meet all requirements, and the earliest one would open in Issaquah would be in October.

What’s next: No business has yet opened in the city.

Plan set to close Tiger Mountain Community High School Plans by Issaquah School District officials to close Tiger Mountain Community High School drew months of sharp criticism from parents and students, and even former students of the alternative high school that was created in 1991.

Superintendent Ron Thiele had originally recommended the closure of Tiger Mountain at the end of the current year, but the Issaquah School Board voted 5-0 in October to delay the closure by a year and remove a gap in alternative education for district students.

District officials said most of the fewer than 100 students enrolled there are on track to graduate by 2016, and the ones remaining at that time would be able to use personalized learning plans to help them graduate.

What’s next: District officials are working to develop a framework for a new alternative school.

String of bank robberies occurs Four banks in Issaquah being robbed within a sixmonth period did not alarm police, who called it more of a cycle than a crime wave.

KeyBank on Northwest Gilman Boulevard was robbed three times this year and Chase Bank, also on Northeast Gilman Boulevard, was robbed once.

Police believe the same man, who they’ve dubbed the “Summertime Heat Robber,” might be behind the Feb. 22, June 25 and July 11 KeyBank robberies. And they believe the Chase Bank robbery was one of three committed by the “Rent Money Bandit.”

So far, officials have not arrested any suspects.

Marijuana changes are made, businesses approved The Issaquah City Council voted on marijuana retail regulations June 2, and unanimously approved new

Concerts on the Green hits 150 The BrickHouse Show Band played the 150th concert in the Concerts on the Green series Aug. 26.

The concerts were cre-

seeking public donations for the upcoming season.

Giving to ICS through the Merry Christmas Issaquah fund ensures that your donations go directly back into the Issaquah community and nearly every penny goes straight to the clients, since it is an allvolunteer organization.

Your donation keeps a roof over the heads of the family down the street struggling to make ends meet; it keeps the heat on for a wounded veteran during a cold winter; and it provides some relief to a single mom doing every-

thing in her power to stay afloat.

“With today’s economy and with the income continuously being in jeopardy,” Jackson said, “Issaquah Community Services are life savers.”

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Agriculture commission seeks members

ated after organizers of the Issaquah Community Center grand-opening gala searched for their next project. Then-Issaquah Parks Manager Anne McGill came up with the Concerts on the Green name. With nothing in the city budget for concerts, longtime organizer David Harris contacted local businesses for assistance and received help from the Issaquah Arts Commission.

Guitar Slim kicked off the annual summer tradition July 15, 1997, surrounded by a crowd of only 40 or so attendees. The concerts are attended by as many as 500 people these days.

What’s next: The 2015 schedule has not yet been released.

King County seeks experts in farming, food production and distribution to apply for a position on the Agriculture Commission.

Created in 1994, the commission advises county managers and elected officials on policies and programs affecting agriculture, including land-use

Director FROM PAGE 1

tor’s job lasting at least two years and said fundraising for both the park and the Friends will be a key part of the director’s duties. Kovac said he hopes there will come a day when the Friends can be self-supporting.

Mackey talked about the new director increasing visibility of the park through public relations efforts and working on increasing membership in the Friends group.

Project management, development of education programs, administrative and organizational tasks are listed as additional duties in a job description.

That description mentions heavy utilization of social media. Further, the director will be the public voice for the Friends, handle speaking engagements, and respond to media requests and organizing events.

Kovac said one major

B&O tax brouhaha brings decrease in increase In a 5-2 vote, the Issaquah City Council approved a 50 percent hike in the city’s business and occupation taxes in November.

The increase was a major part of the overall $168.6 million 2015 budget.

Initially, Mayor Fred Butler proposed a 150 percent increase in the B&O taxes over a two-year period. At a public hearing Nov. 3, representatives from the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and some of Issaquah’s biggest businesses, such as Darigold and Costco, said that was too much. The B&O taxes hadn’t been raised since the tax was created in 2004.

Reporters Tom Corrigan, Christina Corrales-Toy and Neil Pierson contributed to this compilation.

Information from The Press archives was also used.

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event possibly coming to the park this summer could be a water sports expo. The history of some wakeboard and water ski companies are tied to the lake, a history Kovac said he was unaware of until recently.

The most recent budget proposal made by the Issaquah administration did not include monies for the Friends, Issaquah City Council President Paul Winterstein said. However, as the council did its budget deliberations, the group formally earned its nonprofit status. At that point, the council elected to fund the group’s request.

“The council felt very strongly about the park in general,” Winterstein added.

Once Issaquah’s annexation of the park becomes final, the park will remain a state park and the state park system will retain responsibility for most dayto-day operations. Issaquah will, however, take over permitting for renovations along with similar duties, a change Kovac and others have said should greatly speed those processes.

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LETTERS WELCOME

OPINION

Letters of 300 words or less should be emailed or mailed by noon Friday.

We will edit for space, potential libel and/or political relevance. Letters addressing local news receive priority.

4•Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Letters must be signed and have a daytime phone number to verify authorship.

Email: news@isspress.com Mail: P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, WA 98027

E DITORIAL

Time to set goals, resolutions for 2015

I

t’s the time of year when people make resolutions, to decide to do better, be better.

We at The Issaquah Press have decided to make some resolutions on behalf of the city and its residents. We hope you will adopt them and keep them.

4Trees — People need to understand that sometimes the scenery has to change for the city to grow. But developers and city officials should consider more than projects. Think about what this city will look like in and around those projects.

While planting “replacement” trees is an admirable goal, once you’ve torn up a place, you can’t really restore it.

And while city ordinance requires replacing trees in certain instances, replacing them with mere “twigs” is no replacement at all. Sure, you can’t go to a store and buy a 50-year-old tree, but please replace it with something larger than a stick or what resembles a tiny branch.

It won’t matter how many years we’ve been a Tree City in a row if there are no real trees left.

4Traffic — People are frustrated with traffic and the fact that there seem to be no really viable solutions on the table after millions of dollars being spent and plans being made that don’t go anywhere. While there is now a master plan under consideration, please make sure that it really addresses the number of cars and the flow of them.

People in traffic could help by driving better. Get off the phone, stop texting, leave a good following distance and use your turn signals. Yellow flashing turn lights mean you can turn whenever it is clear; it doesn’t seem that many people know that. The lights seemed like a good idea at various intersections, but they don’t seem to be working so well.

Eliminate no-turn-on-red areas. People sit for no reason, because someone has decided these work. They don’t. If nothing is coming and people can turn and go, they should be able to do so.

4Shop local — If you want to help officials help you, spend as much of your money as you can right here at home.

4Trash — Don’t throw yours on the ground. And if you see trash, pick it up and put it in the nearest can.

4Homelessness — It’s not a crime. Homeless people need help. Let’s continue to talk about the issue and find solutions. Real affordable housing would help.

4Affordable housing — People keep saying that they want the city to be a place where people can live AND work. But if people don’t get paid enough to live here, something is wrong with that picture.

Rents of $1,500 to $2,000 aren’t affordable to a lot of people. We’re not talking about charity here and slum-like areas, but rather clean, comfortable places where people can afford to live.

4Drugs — Conversations have started. Now, keep them going. Don’t rely on rumor, but rather get the facts and do something to help people get clean and stay that way.

4For our local lobbyist — Get some traffic money for Issaquah, and then get some state park money while you’re at it.

4Lake Sammamish State Park — A good start has been made on projects at this once destination for families. But much more needs to be done. Let’s not only keep the park up, but also build it up so it can be a destination once again.

4Development — Businesses that have been around forever are leaving, and city and chamber officials need to find out why and do what they can to stop that. Also, fill empty business slots before adding more.

And speaking of development, everyone involved in new projects needs to not just use models and statistics, but also use common sense. Even if numbers say that a 100-space parking lot is good enough for hundreds of people, it’s not. Even if a study says or someone claims that hundreds of cars will add only a second of traffic to an area, no matter what math you do, you can see that isn’t true.

If you want the city to grow and more people to live here, make sure it remains a place where people want to be. Give them good places for recreation, nice places to get some fresh air and just be, roads to drive on that are safe and don’t take hours to get somewhere, businesses to shop at and restaurants to eat at that make them want to come back, places for their children to play, and a place to take their dogs where they can be happy and run.

Residents, get involved in your city government.

No matter your time and talents, there is likely a job you can do to better the place in which you live.

4Wildlife — Please do your part in protecting our wildlife. While you might think that bear or deer is in your yard, technically, since they were here first, you’re in theirs.

4Letters to the editor — Get involved in the conversation about your community. Write a letter to The Issaquah Press and start talking about issues that matter. Every opinion counts.

Finally, any resolutions for us? Things that we can do better? Email editor@ isspress.com.

THE ISSAQUAHPRESS PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY SINCE 1900 1085 12TH AVE. N.W., SUITE D1 • ISSAQUAH, KING COUNTY, WA 98027

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T O THE E DITOR Special thanks to our many letter writers We’d like to take a moment to salute those people who took the time to write a letter to the editor in 2014. Their written voice provokes, challenges, encourages and thereby builds a stronger community for us all. We aren’t able to publish every letter we receive, but here’s a list of the 116 authors, in alphabetical order, who did get ink this year.

Vyto Babrauskas David Bangs Jack Barry Matthew Barry David Baty Heather Berry Lori Birrell Jerry Blackburn Matthew Bott Don and Judy Brewer Ed Bronsdon Scott Burkhalter Tina Butt Robin Callahan Margo Campbell Geoff Carson Mike Chamberlain C.A. Christensen Dave Christian Lisa Christison Tory Cole Joan Crecca Joe Crecca Sarah Crow Denise Steele Darnell Paula DeLucia Butch DeVun Claudia Donnelly Jennifer Bloxom Eckles

Barbara Extract Darrell Face Blake Flood Michael Foss Eva Gantala Sibella Giorello Becky Gordon Dino Guzzetti Mary Hall Mike Harrington Jim Harris Lee Helser Cletes Hicks Kimiko Hihara Rowan Hinds Candice Hoffman Diane Holt Paul Hutton Glenda Jackson David Johnson David Kappler Barnabas Kendall Ken Konigsmark Lissa Kramer Jay Krauss Jane Kuechle Terry J. LaBrue Greg Larson Diane Hughes Laucius Richard A. L’Heureux Rick Lofgren Neva Luke John MacDuff Donna Manion Steve Marquis Connie Marsh Elizabeth Maupin Jean McMullan Peggy McNees Bob McWhirter Gretchen Melton Marc Messina Mitch Millar Alan G. Mindrebo Jody Mull

H OME C OUNTRY Choose your words carefully

hobby,” he continued, “he could stop being intransigent and enjoy things more.”

Even Herb was staring at him now.

“I usually,” Herb said, “enjoy “I can’t stand winter,” said a proclivity in that direction, but Herb Collins, who had dropped winter is pretty boring, so maybe in at the Mule Barn’s philosophy I really should be intransigent on counter for a quick cup. “There’s this point.” nothing to do.”

“Well Herb,” Dud said, “even “Get out and enjoy it,” Doc sug- though you might have a proclivgested. “Go skiing. Go ice fishing. ity this season for being intranBuild a snowman. Do something. sigent on your attitude about Then you’ll feel better.” winter, you could kinda ease up “I don’t think your advice will and consider a hobby. That way take,” Dud said. “Herb seems to you’d be showing a proclivity for be intransigent on this one.” transigence.”

We all looked at Dud. “Transigence?” Doc asked. “I “You see, he said he couldn’t thought those were people who stand winter,” Dud continued, lived under bridges. You might “which shows he has a proclivity want to look that one up, Dud.” for intransigence on that particuDud blushed as we laughed. lar subject.”

“Say Dud?” said Steve, the We looked at him some more. cowboy. “Wasn’t proclivity last “If he were to take up a winter month’s word?”

F ROM THE W EB Editorial: Traffic plan is needed, but will it bring results?

Having once served on the city’s Planning Policy Commission, I know that there are

Advertising: admanager@isspress.com Classifieds: classifieds@isspress.com Ad Representative Deanna Jess Ad Representative Neil Buchsbaum Ad Representative Sandy Tirado

Accounting: ip-acct@isspress.com

three obstacles to overcome when it comes to “traffic” in Issaquah: 1 — there are no good north-south routes that can be created or improved; 2 — there seems to be no way to stop Is-

Newsroom: isspress@isspress.com Managing Editor Kathleen R. Merrill Reporter Christina Corrales-Toy Reporter Tom Corrigan Reporter David Hayes Reporter Neil Pierson Photographer Greg Farrar

Circulation: circcoord@isspress.com Heidi Jacobs

Mark Mullet Ken Musch Kathleen Olsen Ronald Olson Kirsten O’Malley Julie Pai Kirk Painter Cydne Papworth Lily Pearse Lindsay Pollard-Post Joan Probala Jack Rowley Eileen Rubenstein Joshua Schaier Roland Segers Ken Sessler Amy Sehayek Sid Sherbon Kaisa Sherwood George Short Deb Sogge Gavin Soleibe Gianni Soriano Eric Sperline Bridget Spencer Stacy Strickland Amanda Strombom Kathy Swoyer Augustine Tangas Hank Thomas Liz Tidyman Trail Youth Team Susan Trent Jane Ulrich Margaret Veit Millie Vierra David Waggoner Janet Wall Marnie Webb Chris Weber Bryan Weinstein Diane Weinstein Max Wilbert Renee Zimmerman

“Yes,” said Dud, “and I believe I’ve used it a couple of dozen times already.”

“And now this month’s Slim word is intransiRandles gence, right?”

Dud nodded.

“Well then,” Doc said, “it looks like you are going to have a proclivity for saying intransigence this month. That’s a veritable plethora of proclivity my friend.”

Dud pulled out a pencil and grabbed a napkin.

“How do you spell it, Doc?” “Spell what?”

“Plethora.”

We just groaned. Sometimes education can be ugly.

Brought to you by ‘Saddle Up! A Cowboy Guide to Writing.’ No more rejection slips! www.lpdpress.com.

saquah from increasing in size where populations need more north-south routes; 3 — the perception that we can do anything to “fix” traffic. That was in 2003 and in 10-plus years, can anybody show me what’s changed?

Bryan Weinstein

General Manager/Advertising: Joe Heslet

WWW.ISSAQUAHPRESS.COM phone: 392-6434/Fax: 392-1695 Postmaster: Send address changes to The Issaquah Press, P.O. Box 1328, Issaquah, WA 98027

Corrections The Issaquah Press is committed to accuracy.

Email us at news@isspress.com. Tell us whether you are talking about content in the newspaper or online, and give us the date of the paper or the posting.

THE ISSAQUAHPRESS

COMMUNITY 5 • Wednesday, December 31, 2014

SEATTLE KingCounty REALTORS honors David Irons David Irons, of Coldwell Banker Bain in Issaquah, was recently named Government Affairs Volunteer of the Year. Irons was one of 10 members of SEATTLE KingCounty REALTORS honored for their special achievements at an industry event Dec. 17 in Bellevue. Banquet attendees participated in a 50/50 raffle and dessert auction to raise funds for the Seattle First Citizen Scholarship Foundation. Nearly $5,000 was raised for scholarships, awarded in part for good citizenship and community involvement. The SEATTLE KingCounty REALTORS, with more 5,700 members, is a local board of the National Association of Realtors.

BEHIND LENS the

1Â FOR

Photos by Greg Farrar Kennan Schrag, Issaquah High School junior, finishes in a time of 16 minutes, 14 seconds in the boys 5-kilometer cross-country race Sept. 24 at St. Edward State Park in Kenmore.

2014

BEST (UNSEEN) PHOTOS OF THE YEAR

At left, Esha Jeyaram, 4, an Issaquah Highlands resident, enjoys the Halloween in the Highlands festival Oct. 18 dressed as Ariel from ‘The Little Mermaid.’

Above center, Ava Frisinger, at her tribute celebration Jan. 9 at the Hilton Garden Inn, laughs at a comment during a videotaped segment from her longtime hairdresser about her willingness to undergo his styling experiments.

Above right, Dane Sisko (left) and Jack Green, both 13, with Boy Scout Troop 571 from Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, pull three used Christmas trees to recycle behind a pickup truck in the Issaquah Highlands during their annual fundraiser Jan. 4.

Above, Keith Watts’ western attire includes a Ben Franklin silver half-dollar bolo tie during the Kiwanis Club of Issaquah’s Boots, Brats & Brews fundraising soiree April 24 at Pickering Barn.

At left, the former Gilman Square Shopping Center strip mall, where Lombardi’s Italian Restaurant and Gilman Galleries were located, are demolished Sept. 10 to make way for three five-story apartment buildings now being built on the site.

Issaquah High School students (from left) Julia White, Abby Irwin, Tommy Medawa, Maddy Tasker and Rachel Wheeler share a moment in the spotlight showing off prom attire on the runway during the IFashion Show and Auction on March 28.

Above, Mike Mudd, founder of the Stand on Liquid paddleboard company in Bend, Oregon, and Sierra, his 9-year-old Vizsla, go out on Lake Sammamish on May 10 during the fourth annual Northwest Paddling Festival.

At right, Marissa Yamane, Issaquah High School senior, enjoys performing her floor routine Jan. 16 during a gymnastics meet against Ballard, Woodinville and Bothell. Her 8.9 was the best score among her teammates.

Boy Scouts raise an American flag at Blakely Hall on Veterans Day Nov. 11.

The flag, on loan from local resident Jerry Kaufman, was ceremonially flown for several weeks from the mast of the battleship U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor.

THE ISSAQUAHPRESS

LET’S GO!

6•Wednesday, December 31, 2014 UPCOMING EVENTS

THURSDAY, JAN. 1

Coalition Legislative Breakfast for 2015, discuss legislative issues with Eastside representatives, 7-9 a.m., Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way N.E., $40, register at www.issaquahchamber.com

Libraries and government buildings are closed for New Year’s Day.

Issaquah Preview Luncheon, featuring Mayor Fred Butler, Issaquah School District Superintendent Ron Thiele and Issaquah Chamber of Commerce CEO Matthew Bott, 11:30 a.m., Holiday Inn, 1801 12th Ave. N.W., $30/ members, $40/nonmembers, register at www.issaquahchamber.com

Tennis and Friends, 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, Tibbetts Valley Park, 965 12th Ave. N.W., ages 50 and older; registration not required

Issaquah’s architecture, discussion with Charlie Sundberg, from the King County Preservation Program, about architecture in Issaquah, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Jan. 10, Train Depot Museum, 78 First Ave. N.E., free, register online at www.issaquahhistory.org Second Saturday Film Series: ‘Wait Until Dark,’ 7 p.m. Jan. 10, Eagle Room, City Hall, 130 E. Sunset Way, free ‘Blast from the Past’ Trail Run, wear your ‘70’s or ‘80’s running gear for a 6.5-mile or half-marathon run, 10 a.m.

Jan. 18,Taylor Mountain Park, 18808 276th Place N.E., $36 to $46, www.evergreentrailruns.com Wine Walk, live music and wine tastings at downtown shops, 6-9 p.m. Feb. 6, downtown, $25/advance, $30/day of, www.downtownissaquah.com

Squak Mountain Partners Trail Work Party, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., sign up and location details at issaquahalps.org

Issaquah Alps Dog Hike, easy, 3-5 miles, up to 900foot elevation gain, 10 a.m., meet at 175 Rainier Blvd. S., issaquahalps.org

FRIDAY, JAN. 2 Squak Mountain Partners Trail Work Party, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., sign up and location details at issaquahalps.org Train Depot Museum, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday, visit the vintage caboose and railroad cars, tours available by appointment, 78 First Ave. N.E., $2/adults, $1/children, www.issaquahhistory.org/ issaquah-depot Winter Wonders, ages 3 and older, learn what trees and animals do in winter and make a craft to take home, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Lewis Creek Visitor Center, 5808 Lakemont Blvd. S.E., $2/resident, $3/nonresident, register by calling 452-6885 ‘Mary Poppins,’ 2 and 8 p.m., Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St. N., $47

WANTED to BUY Old Gold, Diamonds, Gemstones, Watches, Pocket Watches, Dental Gold, Gold Coins & Sterling Silver

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Name: 9436/House Width: 41p10.001 Depth: 9.5 in On Page: 6 Request012-RENTALS Page: 0 Type: Display 024-Commercial Space-Rent Color: Black PINE COMMUNITY Center ‑ FileLAKE Name: wedding receptions, meetings, aero‑ bics classes, 425‑392‑2313

RENT GIBSON HALL: parties, recep‑ tions, rummage sales, kitchen facili‑ ties, $50/hour, 425‑392‑4016 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 209-NOTICES 210-Public Notices Public Notice 14‑1296

CITY OF ISSAQUAH REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT The City of Issaquah is soliciting Statements of Qualifications for Con‑ struction Management Services re‑ lated to major road and bridge projects currently under design and nearing the construction phase.

These projects are: East Lake Sammamish Parkway Im‑ provements: The project is approxi‑ mately 0.5 miles long and will widen East Lake Sammamish Parkway to the west by adding a south bound travel lane, bicycle lane, curb, gut‑ ter, sidewalk, and landscaping. It also includes the relocation of over‑ head power, under‑grounding of power, other utility work, traffic sig‑ nal modifications at the intersections of Black Nugget Rd and at SE 62nd Street, street illumination, and off site stormwater and wetland mitiga‑ tion work. This project currently has Federal, State, and local funds in‑ volved and the City is in the process of acquiring the necessary right‑of‑ way in anticipation of construction beginning in the summer of 2015.

SE 62nd Street Widening and Ex‑ tension: The project has four major sections that have specific chal‑ lenges. These are:

to $62, villagetheatre.org Social Hour with music by Emmy Purainer, 3-4 p.m., Spiritwood at Pine Lake, 3607 228th Ave. S.E., 313-9100 Live music, 9 p.m., no cover, Rolling Log Tavern, 50 E. Sunset Way, 392-2964

SATURDAY, JAN. 3 Squak Mountain Partners Trail Work Party, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., sign up and location details at issaquahalps.org Christmas tree curbside pickup and recycling, place your tree curbside by 9 a.m. and the Boy Scouts of America will recycle your tree, $15 to $30 suggested donation per tree, www.scouttreedrive.org Tradition Plateau Hike, very easy, 4 miles, up to 600-foot elevation gain, 9 a.m., meet at 175 Rainier Blvd. S., issaquahalps.org Public speaking class for youths and adults, ages 8 and older, drop-ins and guests always welcome, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday mornings, YWCA Family Village, 930 N.E. High St., 270-6800 Mary Poppins, 2 and 8 p.m., Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St. N., $47 to $62, villagetheatre.org Shaggy Sweet, 7:30 p.m., Vino Bella, 99 Front St. N., 391-1424 Darren Motamedy, 8 p.m., Pogacha, 120 N/.W. Gilman Blvd., 392-5550 Karaoke, 9 p.m., Rolling Log Tavern, 50 E. Sunset Way, 3922964

SUNDAY, JAN. 4 Poo Poo Point and Section Line Trails Work Party, 8:30 ANSWER TO #5267

M O A B

A L G A

S E E R

A R I A S

B R A N D O

L I N G O S

C O R N H U S K E R

M M E R I A L O N P AWE

C A S S T U E R R E C A E R L O A L T E D

A L T O

D I O R

E T A L

D I G U P

S T R O P

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S C T H A A M E R P I G D E D E E R M U I O N S I E A T N G O E S S

H A R T UM O R G O N Y S B R A M E A N A RM S S AM E T T E R E E R R M E N T I S E E N A R D D U O S

a.m. to 3:30 p.m., sign up and location details at issaquahalps.org

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

Giacomo Puccini, 7 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430

‘Life: Mammals,’ movie for ages 12 and older, 2 p.m., Lewis Creek Visitor Center, 5808 Lakemont Blvd. S.E., free, 452-4195

Bridge Club, grab a partner or come solo, everyone welcome, 7-10 p.m., Blakely Hall, 2550 N.E. Park Drive, 507-1107

The Rovin’ Fiddlers, 7-9 p.m., Issaquah Senior Center, 75 N.E. Creek Way, www.rovinfiddlers.com

‘Mary Poppins,’ 2 p.m., Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St. N., $47 to $62, villagetheatre.org

MONDAY, JAN. 5 Recology CleanScapes accepts trees for recycling during the first two weeks of January. Trees must be cut into 4-foot sections; call 837-1234 for collections in your area.

Spanish Story Times: Hola!, 10 a.m., Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E., 392-3130 Hello English! Intermediate ESL Class, 11:30 a.m., Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E., 392-3130 ‘Knit for Life,’ providing support for cancer patients and beyond, supplies provided, 1-4 p.m., Swedish/Issaquah, 751 N.E. Blakely Drive, open to the public ‘A Cut Above,’ artist reception, contemporary works in a variety of media, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 5, City Hall at Sammamish Commons, 801 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish, 295-0584 Open gym volleyball, 6-9 p.m., Mondays, community center, 301 Rainier Blvd. S. For men and women ages 16 and older, $4 for adults, $3 for youths.

Study Zone, grades K-12, free drop in homework help, 6-8

ISSAQUAH BREWHOUSE

TUESDAY, JAN. 6 Squak Mountain Partners Trail Work Party, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., sign up and location details at issaquahalps.org Play and Learn Chinese, ages 2-5, 10:30 a.m., Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E., 392-3130

Sammamish Youth Writing Club, 7 p.m., Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E., 392-3130 Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Gaslamp Bar & Grill, 1315 N.W. Mall St., 392-4547

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7

Toddler and Preschool Story Times, ages 2-3 at 10:30 a.m. and ages 3-5 at 11:30 a.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430

Squak Mountain Partners Trail Work Party, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., sign up and location details at issaquahalps.org

‘Using Your Gifts: Learn to Love your eReader,’ 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E., 392-3130

Toddler and Infant Lapsit Story Times, ages 2 and older at 10 a.m. and ages 0-1 at 11 a.m., Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E., 392-3130

Study Zone, grades K-12, free drop in homework help, 4-8 p.m., Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E., 392-3130

Young Toddler and Infant Story Times, ages 1-2 at 10:30 and ages 0-1 at 11:30 a.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430

Open gym basketball, 6-9 p.m., community center, 301 Rainier Blvd. S. For men and women ages 16 and older, $4 for adults, $3 for youths.

Open Mic Night, Train Depot museum, player sign-ups at 6:15 p.m., performances from 6:308:30 p.m., 78 First Ave. N.E., issaquahopenmic@gmail.com Opera preview: ‘Tosca,’ by

Citizenship Class, 3:30 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 Study Zone, grades K-12, 4-6 p.m., Issaquah Library, 10 W. Sunset Way, 392-5430 ‘New Year New You Through Meditation,’ 7 p.m., Sammamish Library, 825 228th Ave. S.E., 392-3130

GIVE THE GIFT OF THEATRE Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s

New Year’s Garage Sale

Wed. Dec. 24th thru Jan. 1st Opening 11:00 am Daily Open at 5:00pm on Christmas Day

Rogue Merchandise Rogue Case Items

ISSAQUAH BREWHOUSE

35 Sunset Way Issaquah (425) 557-1911

Share The Joy Of Live Theatre With Your Loved Ones This Holiday Season The re‑alignment and widening of the existing SE 62nd Street from East Lake Sammamish Parkway to its intersection with 4th Ave NW and 221st Ave SE where a roundabout intersection is planned. This section of the project involves a grade sepa‑ rated crossing of the King County East Lake Sammamish Trail. oSE 62nd Street will be extended westward from the roundabout west; there will be a bridge approximately 1000 feet long spanning the North Fork and Main Stem of Issaquah Creek, the flood plain, and wetlands and their buffers. The bridge is planned as a two‑lane facility with a sidewalk on the north side and is an‑ ticipated to be supported by driven piles. Other than the bridge on the east side of Issaquah Creek, the ex‑ isting Pickering multi‑purpose trail will be widened from its current width (8 ‑ 10 feet) to 12 feet. oFrom the west end of the bridge to the intersection of Lake Drive the roadway is planned as a three lane facility with curb, gutter, sidewalk, and landscaping. A roundabout is planned at the intersection of the ex‑ tension of SE 62nd Street and Lake Drive.

Lake Drive will be improved be‑ tween the intersection of SE 62nd and 10th Avenue NW. This section will be widened to include bicycle lanes along both sides and have continuous sidewalk and landscap‑ ing in accordance with City stan‑ dards for this roadway.

Elements of the project also include wetland mitigation, street illumina‑ tion, wet and dry utilities, and stormwater mitigation. In total the project is approximately 1 mile long.

The project has State TIB and De‑ partment of Commerce funding as well as City and private funding. The design and construction of the SE 62nd and its extension, and Lake Drive is required to be closely coordi‑ nated with Costco Corporation. The design and environmental permitting is expected to continue from its cur‑ rent state in 1st quarter 2015 and take 18 – 24 months to complete with construction beginning in 2017.

For this project the City is looking for a firm to perform construction man‑ agement services including but not limited to design oversight, inspec‑ tions, pay estimates, record keeping, managing the construction contract while reporting and coordinating with City staff to ensure quality control and compliance with all contract doc‑ uments and the funding sources.

NW Dogwood Bridge Replacement: This project involves the replace‑ ment of the existing NW Dogwood Bridge. The bridge is designed with a span of approximately 95 feet with two travel lanes, 5 feet shoulders, and sidewalks on both sides with a drilled pile foundation. Construction is scheduled for 2015. Funding for this project is Federal and City funds.

For this project, the City is looking for a firm to perform construction management services including but not limited to inspections, pay esti‑ mates, record keeping, managing the construction contract while re‑ porting and coordinating with City staff to ensure quality control and compliance with all contract docu‑ ments and the funding sources.

Submittal Requirements: Submittals shall be provided sepa‑ rately for each project if a company wants to be considered for that project. Submittals shall be no longer than 15 pages and shall pro‑ vide the City with information regard‑ ing the firm or team qualifications, demonstrating the ability to perform the required work, at least 5 refer‑ ences, and resumes of key staff that will work on the project(s).

Submittals Due: Submittals are due to the City of Issaquah Public Works Engineering Department, 1775 12th Avenue NW, Issaquah, WA 98027 no later than 5:00 pm on January 15, 2015.

City Staff Contact: Sheldon Lynne (425) 837 ‑ 3426 Published in the Issaquah Press on December 24th and Decem‑ ber 31 2014.

PUBLIC NOTICE 14‑1297 PUBLIC NOTICE SEPA DETERMINATION Pursuant to the provisions of Is‑ saquah Ordinance No. 1633 and the State Environmental Policy Act, Chapters 43.21[c] RCW and WAC 197‑11‑510, notice is hereby given that the City of Issaquah issued a Mitigated Determination of Nonsignif‑ icance (MDNS) on December 31, 2014 for a proposal to subdivide a 6.4 acre site into 10 single family res‑ idential lots and a separate 3.5 acre steep slope/tree retention tract. Res‑ idential lot sizes range between 8,312 SF and 14,140 SF. The site includes 1.8 acres of steep slope crit‑ ical areas (greater than 40% slopes) and the applicant has provided sup‑ porting geotechnical information to reduce the steep slope buffer from 50 feet to 10 feet, plus a 15‑foot building setback. The steep slopes are protected in a separate tract; the tract also includes a tree retention area outside the steep slope buffer.

Stormwater would be piped downs‑ lope through the steep slope/tree re‑ tention tract to a stormwater deten‑ tion vault located along Newport Way NW. The residential lots would be accessed from a public street off NW Inneswood Pl. The plat also in‑ cludes a street connection north to the Pickering Hills plat, providing a secondary access to Newport Way NW. The site is located between NW Inneswood Pl on the west and Newport Way NW on the east.

Permit number: PP13‑00003 After review of a completed environ‑ mental checklist and other informa‑ tion on file with the agency, the City of Issaquah has determined this pro‑ posal would not have a probable sig‑ nificant adverse impact on the envi‑ ronment.

This MDNS is issued under WAC 197‑11‑340(2) and 197‑11‑680(3)(a)‑ vii. There is a 21‑day combined comment/appeal period between De‑ cember 31, 2014 and January 21, 2015. Anyone wishing to comment may submit written comments to the Responsible Official. The Responsi‑ ble Official will reconsider the deter‑ mination based on timely com‑ ments. Any person aggrieved by this determination may appeal by fil‑ ing a Notice of Appeal with the City of Issaquah Permit Center. Appel‑ lants should prepare specific factual objections. Copies of the environ‑ mental determination and other project application materials are available from the Issaquah Develop‑ ment Services Department, 1775 12th Avenue NW. Peter Rosen, SEPA Responsible Of‑ ficial (425) 837‑3094 Published in the Issaquah Press on December 31, 2014.

TO ADVERTISE IN OUR CLASSIFIED SECTION CALL 392-6434

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Box Office: (425) 392-2202 • VillageTheatre.org

Let there be hope.

2014 FUND DRIVE

Total: $53,653.50 from 234 donors

2014 Goal: $100,000

Thank You! to this week’s donors: Frances Nelson • Anonymous in memory of Fred Melsom Dorothy Kittleson • John & Marie MacDuff • Jane & Larry Crum Floyd & Judy Rogers • Elizabeth Ryan • Elaine & Ted Davis Shirleann Gulliford • Paul & Mari Haugland • Dale and Irene Zook Patricia A. & Joseph Stegner on behalf of Patricia A. Stegner James & Charlene Gorringe • Mary Mae & Roger Colvin Gail & Bjorn Sorensen in memory of Flo Schaefer • Jenny & John Yeeles Chip & Kris Colliander • Cletes Hicks in memory of her husband Sandra & Michael Nygaard • Becky & Bill Wilder Mary Scott & Ron Rogers in memory of Kateri Brow John & Joyce Arnold • Catherine Swadley • Maureen Ahern Matt & Barb LePage • Lynda & Stephen Wimbush •Ruben Nieto Karen Luecking in memory of Sally, Dan, Bob, and many more Ann C. Moore • Lee McCollough • Jane Stephenson Carol & Jeffery Heinen • Carol Backhus • Marv & Kathy Williams Madge Winter • Cristine Wilkinson • Nancy Viney Dick & Margo Campbell • Shari Gehrke • Donna & Larry Raaen Claudia Stockdale • Bruce & Jacqueline Garden • Tara & Wayne Michaels Keith & Marsha Kringlen • Joyce Johnson • Val Borman Milicent Savage • Spirit of Peace UCC • Tony Simmons St. Joseph Catholic Church Jesse Tree • • Susan Spinella D. Graves & C.J. Coleman-Graves • Robert W. Wilkinson Marilyn Mechelsen • Sandra Schmidt • Carla Schneider Eric Davison & Christina Agustin • Diane & David Schirmer Essay Mentors, Social Purpose Corporation • Cathy and Ramon Priestley Tom Anderson • Pat & Sherrill McCullough • John M. Ulrich & Casey William D. & Yoko Smiley • Tina Butt • Karen & William Erwin St. Michael Episcopal Church Sing-A-Long Messiah Anonymous in memory of Ken and Fay Morrison • 10 Anonymous Send contributions to: Merry Christmas Issaquah c/o Issaquah Community Services PO Box 669, Issaquah, WA 98027

Name will be published unless anonymity is requested.

The Issaquah Press

Wednesday, December 31, 2014 •

Christine Kelley graduates from OBU

Issaquah resident Christine Kelley received a bachelor’s degree in psychology pre-counseling with a minor in family and community service during Oklahoma Baptist University’s 2014 Winter Commencement Dec. 12.

See video of the Winter Commencement at www.okbu.edu.

Jeffrey Burge performs in Wheaton festival

CONTRIBUTED

Samantha Smith Elementary School fifth-graders (from left) Dylan Denq, Aditi Goyal, Maeve Toland, Parker Kirkwood, Jaskaran Dhilon and Sada Hitzemann helped lead the school’s gift drive for the Issaquah Holiday Gift Barn.

Samantha Smith Elementary helps food bank program The Samantha Smith Elementary School’s Student Leadership Council collected gifts from Dec. 1-5 for the Issaquah Holiday Gift Barn, a program of the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.

Teacher Brianna Woodworth, librarian Barb Regan and several fifthgrade students on the leadership council led the gift drive. It was the first

time the school supported the gift barn after several years of collecting gift card donations and supporting the Pantry Pack program, which gives food on the weekends to needy Lake Washington School District students.

The Smith students met regularly during recesses to develop plans for soliciting donations, construct signs for the promo-

tion and write scripts to read over the school’s intercom, and also did a lunchtime skit to raise awareness.

On Dec. 8, the students gathered hundreds of presents from each classroom and brought them to Pickering Barn in Issaquah, where they helped stock shelves in preparation for the Holiday Gift Barn opening.

Wheaton College (Illinois) student Jeffrey Burge recently performed in “Love’s Pure Light,� the 2014 Christmas Festival presented by the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music.

Burge, a senior from Sammamish, performed with the Men’s Glee Club. Burge sang bass I. View the 2014 Wheaton College Christmas Festival, along with Christmas Festivals from previous years, at bit.ly/wcchristmasfest.

Tufts announces spring dean’s list Qxhna Titcomb, of Sammamish, was recently named to the Tufts University (Massachusetts) dean’s list for the spring 2014 semester.

The honor requires a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater.

P ETS OF THE W EEK Barnaby is a sweet miniature poodle who has much love to share. Being a 1-year-old, Barnaby Barnaby has a lot of energy, but with limited mobility, he’ll need an adopter who can provide a mellower home. He’s a great snuggle bug once he has some help up onto the couch.

Meet Kona, a 2-year-old orange-andwhite tabby domestic shorthair.

Kona Kona loves people and other laid-back cats. His favorite toys are catnip mice and wand toys, a great way to give him exercise! Kona tested positive for FIV. If kept indoors, he can live a long, happy life.

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

O BITUARIES Timothy Glennon Dr. Timothy Glennon, of Issaquah, passed suddenly at his residence, Sunday, Dec. 14.

Dr. Glennon is survived by his wife Nancy; daughter Autumn; mother Peggy; brother Sean (Michelle); and sisters Karan (Ed) and Tara (Don).

Friends and family are invited to share memories and view photos at www.flintofts.com.

Timothy Glennon

Verna Gene Sessler, of Issaquah Aug. 18, 1925 – Dec. 18, 2014

Survived by husband Ken Sessler and their children: Kenna Dubois, Kathy Schnepf, Vicki Duzak and Dean Sessler. She is also survived by her sister Mildred Werth, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Arrangements by Flintoft’s Funeral Home, 392-6444.

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THE ISSAQUAHPRESS

SPORTS

8 • Wednesday, December 31, 2014

We couldn’t fit everything into our top 10 sports stories of the year, but these 2014 prep sports accomplishments deserve some recognition, too. Tennis — Issaquah tennis player Jack Suh took second place at the singles 4A state tournament in May, while Liberty’s Jenny Adams ended her high-school tennis career with a fourth-place medal in the 3A singles state competition. The Skyline High School doubles team of Jasmine Ye and Julia Lioubarski also finished eighth in the 4A tournament. Golf — The Skyline boys golf team captured third place at the 4A state tournament in May. Kelley Sullivan (seventh, 148 strokes) was the team’s low scorer. Issaquah’s Zack Overtreet also shined on the links (10th, 149 strokes).

Patriots’ swim title tops year’s best sports stories

By Christina Corrales-Toy and Neil Pierson It was another successful year for Issaquah community sports.

Athletes at the three district high schools took home conference titles, state championships and, in Liberty’s case, made history in 2014.

Here is a recap of the year’s top sports stories, in no particular order:

Patriots win first swim title The 2014 Liberty High School girls swim team won the program’s first state championship in a devastatingly dominant fashion Nov. 15. The Patriots won seven of the meet’s 12 events and left the King County Aquatic Center with a 2A record final score of 348 points.

To put that score in perspective, second-place finisher Sehome, coincidentally Liberty coach Kris Daughters’ alma mater, had 188 points.

“That was one of the most fun nights of my existence,” a beaming Daughters said at the end of the meet.

Senior Mackenna Briggs led Liberty swimmers with two individual wins, capturing the 100yard butterfly with a 2A meet record time of 55.65 seconds, and cruising to victory in the 50yard freestyle in 23.78. Briggs, a University of San Diego commit, also won the Swimmer of the Meet Award.

Issaquah lacrosse teams make noise at state As the sport of lacrosse continues to gain traction in the Puget Sound region, Issaquah continues to show it’s a force to be reckoned with.

The Issaquah girls lacrosse team won its first state title May 16, defeating Lake Washington, 11-10, in a thriller.

Katie Bucy, a Skyline student now playing at Missouri’s Lindenwood University, delivered the game winner on a free-position shot after a goal just seconds earlier was disallowed on a shooting-space violation.

1Â FOR

2014

TOP SPORTS STORIES OF THE YEAR

“That’s the biggest goal ever,” Bucy said while celebrating with teammates from Skyline, Issaquah and Liberty high schools.

“It was hit or miss, and this one was a hit.”

The boys team made it to the state championship, too, but fell short to Bellevue on May 31.

The game represented Issaquah’s first state championship appearance since the squad won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009.

Local cross-country teams run to success Issaquah, Liberty and Skyline high school cross-country teams found a lot of success at the 2014 state championships Nov. 8.

The Issaquah girls squad finished a magical season with second place in the 4A state cross-country championship at Pasco’s Sun Willows Golf Course.

Senior Cayla Seligman was Issaquah’s top finisher, bouncing back from a stress fracture that wiped out her 2013 season, to place 12th overall, crossing the finish line in 18:24.28.

With most of its runners returning from a 10th-place team finish in 2013, the Skyline team knew 2014 had the potential to be a special season.

The Spartans lived up to those high expectations by winning the fourth-place trophy at November’s 4A state meet. Junior Maizy Brewer won her second straight individual medal, placing sixth in 18:16.72.

Finally, both Liberty boys and girls teams picked up their first state trophies in program history,

PHOTOS BY GREG FARRAR

Above, the trophy looks awesome up close for the Liberty High School swim team as it celebrates the school’s first-ever state swim team championship Nov. 15 at the King County Aquatic Center, earned in style with a 2A-record 348-point total. Below, Tristan Steciw (left), Skyline High School senior, battles Tahoma senior Todd Link to win his first-round, 132-pound wrestling bout Feb. 21 during the Mat Classic XXVI state championships. Steciw earned the eighth-place medal in Class 4A. each finishing third at the 2A level.

Junior Tyra Christopherson led the girls, finishing the 3.1mile course in a lifetime best, 19:33.46, good for 16th overall.

Andrew Cooper led the Liberty boys, finishing 13th overall in 16:14.62.

Issaquah boys swim team takes second The Issaquah High School boys swim team took a page out of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s playbook, and asked, “Why not us?” when it came to winning the state’s 4A 200 medley relay in record time Feb. 22.

They did do it, capturing the meet record and swimming the race in an All-America consideration time of 1:35.91.

The race, the first one of the day, was quite the way to kick off the state meet, but only got better from there. The Eagles rode that momentum for the rest of the tournament, finishing with a final spot as the state’s second-place team.

With much of the team returning, the Eagles have a good chance to compete for the state’s top spot in 2015.

Skyline girls soccer team settles for third place For the first 70 minutes of their state semifinal girls soccer game in November, the Skyline Spartans were superior to the Jackson Timberwolves.

Skyline built a 2-0 lead in the first half, but saw Jackson score three late goals for a 3-2 victory that sent the T-Wolves to their first state title game.

The Spartans (15-3-2) rebounded the next day with a 3-1 victory over Gig Harbor, getting goals from Amanda Johnston, Kelli Sullivan and Lindsey Fujiwara to earn the third-place trophy.

BY GREG FARRAR

Issaquah High School swimmers (from left) Jason Klein, Henry Pratt, Gabe Florsheim, coach Laura Halter and Ben Nussbaum jump, hug and cry the moment after seeing their time posted for a new state meet record in the 200-yard medley relay finals during the 4A swim championships Feb. 22 in Federal Way.

Issaquah boys basketball team shines on the hardwood The 2014 4A state champion Garfield boys basketball team had just one blemish on its

nearly perfect record — a loss to the Eagles.

The KingCo foes met on the court four times in 2014, the last one being in the 4A state semifinals March 7.

Unfortunately, Issaquah couldn’t match Garfield, and the Bulldogs escaped, 61-59, to advance and eventually win the state title.

Despite the disappointment of the semifinal loss, Issaquah regrouped early the next day and defeated the Beamer Titans, 6049, for the third-place trophy.

This year’s Issaquah squad is off to a fast start and looks to be a serious contender for the 2015 4A state title.

ship Nov. 7-8.

Skyline girls finish exceptionally at Star Track meet At May’s Star Track XXXII state championships in Tacoma, the Skyline girls got to feel the thrill of reaching the podium.

Skyline scored 35 points for fourth in the 4A girls meet. The Spartans won a state title in the 1,600-meter relay as Mckenzie Deutsch, Alex Daugherty, Brandi Hughes and Dorie Dalzell set a new school record in 3:53.24.

Issaquah and Liberty athletes also picked up individual medals, but neither made it to the podium as a team.

Liberty volleyball team takes home first trophy

Local wrestlers medal at Mat Classic

In a fall sports season filled with firsts for the Liberty High School Athletic Department, the Patriots’ volleyball team made sure it got in on the action, too.

Liberty made its first state volleyball appearance in school history Nov. 14-15 and proceeded to pick up the program’s first state trophy, with an eighth-place finish.

The Patriots, led by KingCo Most Valuable Player Shea O’Brien, punched their ticket to state with a second-place finish at the District 2/3 2A champion-

For Issaquah High School senior Torre Eaton, his final trip to the Mat Classic state wrestling championships was a historic one.

Eaton had made two previous trips to the state tournament, but had yet to earn a medal as a topeight finisher.

He flipped that script in February, earning the third-place medal at 113 pounds in Class 4A, and he wound up being the only medalist among Issaquah’s four qualifiers to Mat Classic XXVI at the Tacoma Dome.

Six Skyline wrestlers competed at state, but only two left the Tacoma Dome with medals hanging from their necks.

Senior Tristan Steciw earned the eighth-place medal at 132, and freshman Addie Mejia took eighth in the girls’ 118-pound division.

On the Liberty side, three Patriots reached the medal podium.

Conner Small took third at 160 pounds, Romney Noel was sixth at 170 and Joanna Moreira took sixth in the 137-pound girls division.

Liberty goes from 3A to 2A

BY GREG FARRAR

Dorie Dalzell (left), Skyline High School senior and 4x400-meter relay anchor, is mobbed by teammates Alex Daugherty, Brandi Hughes and Mckenzie Deutsch the moment after they won the state 4A championship in a time of 3 minutes, 53.24 seconds.

Liberty High School sports teams went from 3A to 2A beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association released enrollment numbers showing Liberty, at 891.8, is the size of a 2A school. Schools with less than 990.8 students, but more than 472, are considered 2A. In the recent past, the Patriots had opted up to the 3A level, despite its stature as one of the state’s smallest 3A schools, but this time around, administrators decided to test the 2A waters.

The move has already paid off, as several Liberty sports teams shined in the 2A fall sports postseason.