Off the press by The Issaquah Press

The Issaquah Press

A4 • Wednesday, July 15, 2009

OPINION

County executive election is critical PRESS E DITORIAL

welve years ago, as King County voters prepared to elect a new executive, a big issue was all about the need for more ball fields. And rural residents were threatening to form their own county in protest of land regulations imposed on property rights. Ron Sims promised a lot of ball fields and a little of everything else. He won the election. My, how times have changed. The county has encouraged cities to take over many of the parks and ball fields it built but couldn’t afford to maintain. A court ruling rescinded much of the county’s critical areas ordinance, putting rural land use issues in limbo. The economy has tanked, leaving local governments scrambling and King County in a world of financial hurt. Audit reports show the county’s accounting system to be untrustworthy. Heck, the county can barely operate decent animal shelters. This year, voters will be looking for a county CEO that understands fiscal management — and how to get the county to a balanced budget. We also need a new executive that has a vision, not just more of the same. He or she will need to know how to bring different viewpoints together to create goals for transportation, natural resources, solid waste, human services and more — and then outline the steps needed to get us there. As the summer primary election among the eight candidates (six considered serious) heats up, voters should listen carefully. Which one best understands how to create a business environment that will help create more jobs? Who will be best at creating dialogue that leads to solutions and compromise? Will we continue to have an executive who accepts the multiple complex layers of a bus/rail/ferry system or will he/she have the know-how to get us to one transportation agency? The King County executive election gives us a chance for change. Ballots will be arriving in the mail the first few days of August, narrowing the field to two candidates while most voters are still layering on the sunscreen. Let this year be the exception. Voters, start paying attention now. Look beyond the sound bites to be sure your favored candidates know what they are talking about, not just “connecting” with you to get a knee jerk vote. Then, be decisive, and tell your neighbors and family of your choice. The first step to a better county government starts on Election Day.

O FF T HE P RESS

Things I learned at the record skinny-dip attempt

uestion: What do you wear when you go to officially count naked people who are trying to set a world record? Answer: It really doesn’t matter what you wear when everyone else is naked. That’s one thing I discovered last weekend when organizer Dawnzella Gearhart invited me to Fraternity Snoqualmie to be an official witness to the group trying to set a Guinness Book of Records record for the number of people skinny-dipping. (There were 186 there and many of them were thrilled to bare all for the certificate they got at the end of the dip.) Among the other things I learned were: It might be embarrassing for you to encounter someone you already know from a professional setting in the buff on the weekend. (I worried about this before going there.) It is far more embarrassing for the other person than it is for you, as I learned while he looked at me with huge, astonished eyes and I did my best to look away while saying hello.

Food bank lunch

See DIPPING, Page A5

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kind, tolerant and hesitant to condemn others. Reality is in fact in direct opposition to Wilder’s assessment.

Join us in feeding the hungry — a fulfilling, joyful experience Thank you for the story a few weeks ago about the lunch we provide for folks outside the Issaquah Food Bank on Thursdays. We’re glad you shared it with readers. Our hope, though, isn’t that people know what we’re doing for its own sake, but that some other groups of friends and neighbors might join in the joy of serving a lunch on other days of the week. We cannot fully express the gratitude and sense of community we experience each week in our hour with those who come for lunch. We’ve gotten to know most folks by name, and now can greet each other happily as we see each other around town. It is no longer “us” who have food and “them” who don’t, but simply folks sharing some abundance with one another. We cannot encourage strongly enough folks to form their own groups to offer a lunch on one of the other days of the week. It’s mostly a matter of tossing something extra into the cart while at the store, spending a few minutes making sandwiches or a pot of chili, and a few folks bringing it down and sharing it around. The reward is so much greater than the cost. If you want to see for yourself, just come down any Thursday between 11.45 a.m. and 1 p.m. and join in the fun!

People get

really comfortable in this environment quickly. So much so that they will scratch and do all manner of things (that you wouldn’t Kathleen do while R. Merrill clothed) while Press Editor looking you in the eye and talking to you. You can’t tell who drives a new Mercedes or a rusted out Ford. You can’t tell the doctors from the homeless. People at Fraternity Snoqualmie are really friendly. Entire families were there, with every member in the buff. You’d make a lot of money if you could set up a sunscreen booth out there. Seriously, everyone seemed to be happy and having fun. There was music and dancing, swim-

T O T HE E DITOR

Wes Howard-Brook Issaquah

Freedom of religion

There are many facets and opinions regarding religion I feel compelled to respond to the letter by Becky Wilder in the July 1 issue. My first reaction to Wilder’s disjointed rant was disappointment that it was published at all. The Press should apply at least a semblance of its dedication to accuracy to its editorial page. My thought immediately following was resentment of the apparent misappropriation of the term “Christian” to describe evangelistic (read “megachurch”) groups to the exclusion of the multitude of religions devoted primarily to worship of Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah of the New Testament (and sharing the Old Testament with Judaism). Wilder needs to be reminded that most adverse reaction to the so-called “Christian” conservative evangelist movement stems from the intolerance displayed on its behalf by groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church, sponsor of www.godhatesfags.com. The abominations of such self-righteous splinter groups could be discussed ad nauseum. Instead, we need to bear in mind that most residents of the U.S. are religious,

Steve Scott Issaquah

Boy Scouts

Youth organization discriminates, so city shouldn’t commend it In a recent City Council meeting, Mayor Ava Frisinger announced that she had sent a letter of commendation to a boy for reaching the rank of Eagle Scout. It is offensive that our city government is officially recognizing the activities of a discriminatory group, such as the Boy Scouts of America. The BSA prohibits homosexuals and atheists (both boys and parent volunteers) from participating. For example, a few years ago, the BSA expelled an Eagle Scout in Port Orchard, because he was an atheist. Thus, many Issaquah residents “need not apply” for BSA membership and can never receive a letter of commendation from the mayor for being an Eagle Scout. In 2002, the City Council passed a resolution that proclaimed Issaquah a hate-free zone. The resolution stated, “We unequivocally condemn all discrimination.” And yet, city officials applaud when a resident reaches the highest rank of a discriminatory group? Yes, the BSA is a private group and is therefore legally allowed to discriminate. But that doesn’t mean our government officials should praise success in a group that ostracizes certain Issaquah residents. And someone will be tempted to respond that failing to acknowledge such accomplishments will punish youth. However, many entities — including dozens of United Way chapters, many corporations, the state of California and cities such as Chicago — have stopped supporting the BSA. It’s not because they don’t like kids. It’s because they don’t want to aid and abet discrimination. The city of Issaquah should abide by its own anti-discrimination resolution and condemn discrimination, not commend it.

Matthew J. Barry Issaquah

Issaquah Alps

Thank you to volunteers who improved hiking the trails on Squak Mountain I recently hiked up Squak Mountain to break in a new pair of boots, and was pleasantly surprised at what I found. The Mountains to Sound Greenway has done some major trail renovations. No more squishy mud holes, no more creeks running

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down the trail, fewer ankle twisting rocks and, best of all, better signage — no more getting lost. Many thanks to the greenway and its volunteers for their great work. And while I’m at it, thanks to all who maintain trails in our area, including the Issaquah Alps Trails Club, the Washington Trails Association, and especially to the individuals who donate their time and money. I’ve always thought of Squak Mountain as one of Issaquah’s crown jewels. The improved trails have added to her luster, and now she truly shines. Go take a hike!

Sandy Nygaard Issaquah

LETTERS WELCOME The Issaquah Press welcomes letters to the editor on any subject, although we reserve the right to edit for space, potential libel and/or political relevance. Letters addressing local news will receive priority. Please limit letters to 350 words and type them, if possible. E-mail is preferred. Letters must be signed and have a daytime phone number to verify authorship. Deadline for letters is noon Friday for the following week’s paper. Address: Fax:

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The Issaquah Press School officials discuss 2009 session with state legislators Issaquah School District officials met with state legislators to discuss the 2009 session at a meeting June 17. Sen. Fred Jarrett and Reps. Ross Hunter and Marcie Maxwell met with school board members to recap information about basic edu-

P UBLIC M EETINGS July 16 Council Services & Operations Committee 5 p.m. Eagle Room, City Hall 130 E. Sunset Way

cation reform and competition for state funding with other initiatives, like health insurance. They also talked about the special legislative session in fall, which is aimed to secure a vote for increasing levy capacity for school districts across the state. If the bill passes, district officials could ask voters to approve 4 percent more for their Maintenance

and Operations Levy. Hunter warned district officials to not vote on the ballot measure language before the Legislature meets and there is resolution about levy increases. Legislators also spoke briefly about state funding and the economy, which they said would continue to struggle through at least the end of the year.

July 20

1775 12th Ave. N.W.

City Council regular meeting Agenda: U.S. Postal Service right-of-way agreement 7:30 p.m. Council Chambers, City Hall South 135 E. Sunset Way

River & Streams Board 7-9 p.m. Pickering Room, City Hall Northwest 1775 12th Ave. N.W.

Human Services Commission 7-9 p.m. Coho Room, City Hall 130 E. Sunset Way

Council Sustainability Committee 5:30 p.m. Baxter Room, City Hall Northwest

Dipping: A way of life for nudists FROM PAGE A4

July 22

July 21

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 •

ming and hot tubbing, cooking out, and reading and lounging in the sun. For many people there, being naked is a way of life that makes them feel better about themselves and other human beings. I was the one being shy and awkward. And as anyone who knows me can tell you, I am never either of those things. Other interesting anecdotes

that I’m allowed to put in a family newspaper: “I’d be more likely to get bad looks on a regular beach than a nudist beach,” a full-figured Karen Lahey told me. “It’s so comfortable, being nude. People are so open. It’s an equalizer. You’re just a person.” She also mentioned that being a nudist made packing for a vacation really easy. I bet you don’t get charged for an extra carry on. A photographer from another newspaper was approached by a tall man wearing only a bandanna on his head and a pair of mirrored sunglasses. “You ever photograph a naked man on a Harley before?” he asked. The photographer replied that if the man ever “laid his bike down,” he’d have a heck of a road rash. The man replied, “I don’t plan to lay my bike down. You want the photo or not?” Off they

went. I did not get to see the results. If you’re just dying to try this way of life, Nudestock is coming up at Fraternity Snoqualmie on Saturday, Aug. 29. Live music is the order of the day. Massage and craft vendors will be available, too. First-time visitors always receive a complimentary one-day membership. I kind of doubt that Fraternity Snoqualmie folks set the Guinness record that day, since clubs across the country were vying for it. But they get an A+ in my book for bravery. And no, Dawnzella, I am still not ready to join. Learn more about the camp at www.fraternitysnoqualmie.com or call 392-NUDE. Reach Editor Kathleen R. Merrill at 3926434, ext. 227, or editor@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.issaquahpress.com.

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The Issaquah Press

A4 • Wednesday, August 19, 2009

OPINION

This is a great place to spend your summer PRESS E DITORIAL

Don’t let last week’s rain and cooler weather — or the Back to School section in today’s paper —take your thoughts to fall. There is still plenty of fun to come this summer! If you haven’t been to Saturday’s Issaquah Farmers Market yet this year, check it out. The best of local produce is just peaking now, and the flowers, breads and pastries, and specialty food items are worth taste-testing and buying to share with summer guests. The market is also just fun. There is live music every Saturday, and a special event theme. Customer appreciation day is coming up, followed by Kids Day (kids can sell their handmade items, pony rides, etc.) Aug. 29. The market continues from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. every Saturday at Pickering Farm through Oct. 10. There is still one Concerts on the Green left, at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 on the lawn in front of the Community Center. If you could only attend one this summer, this is the one, featuring the fun of Shelley and the Curves. Come sing along and dance to all your favorite rock ‘n’ roll songs. Of course, a summer visit to the Cougar Mountain Zoo (with four tigers now!), a hike in the Issaquah Alps or a tour of Boehm’s Candy Kitchen is always worth the trip. If you’re looking for something different, check out the calendar on Page B2 each week. Here, you’ll find the date and time for a weekly community campfire, an ice cream social for pets, a Cajun cooking demonstration and a family cultural celebration of the stars — and that’s just this week! Looking for something a little less structured? Bring your Frisbee, your fishing pole, your swimsuit or just your walking shoes to a nearby city park or Lake Sammamish State Park. Enjoy the summer while you can!

O FF T HE P RESS

‘Quality’ applicants can make hiring fun

hh, the joys of hiring. Sure, jobs are hard to come by, but if you’ve seen some of the résumés I get here when a position is open, you might not be surprised why some people are out of work. I have laughed hard and sometimes just shaken my head when reading a cover letter or résumé I’ve received. I often share these stories with my co-workers. After all, who doesn’t like a good laugh? So, in the spirit of passing that on to you, dear reader, I am writing about a few of my favorite applicants, in a manner of speaking, from the past few years. Names have been left out to protect the guilty. However, the bad grammar and spellings actually belong to those who applied. One of my all-time best laughs might be this one: “I have never written for a newspaper befour, but I think it would be neat.” Yeah? Well, I’ve never performed brain surgery before, but I think it’s really cool. Still, I won’t ever send my résumé to any of the local hospitals telling them other “neat” reasons they should hire me as a brain surgeon anyway. Although everyone thinks he or she can write, it takes skill and training to be a newspaper reporter. Really. I love the people who read the ad, which always says what experience is necessary and often what is preferred, who then decide they’ll apply anyway, even though they have nothing the ad asked for. A perfect example was a young man who applied for the position of city reporter. Experience in covering city government was required, with the preference being

two years’ worth. Yet he had worked at the Brown Bear car wash, Red Robin restaurant, Rite Aid and Home Depot. Employees at those busiKathleen nesses cover Merrill city governPress Editor ment? I had no idea. Salutations just do me in. We put whom to contact in any ad we run, yet I often get things such as, “Dear editor,” “To whom it may concern” and “Dear sir.” First, you can’t cut and paste my name or retype it? Or look it up if it’s not in the ad? And in what language is Kathleen a guy’s name? How about this guy? The ad said a reporter was needed immediately, and that he or she needed two years’ newspaper experience. “I won’t finish college until June.” (This was in January.) “But I am worth waiting for, so will you please?” Um, no. Or this gal? “I don’t have any righting experience, but I am really looking forwards to broadening my horizons.” Yeah, OK. Just don’t think you’re going to do it here. Then, there was the guy who I sent two reply e-mails to, asking him for more information. After several days of not hearing from him, he sent me this reply: “I appreciate you taking the time to offer me a chance to apply for the city reporter job. However, I See WRITING, Page A5

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T O T HE E DITOR Highlands gas station

Other letters in favor of proposal are full of falsehoods, misrepresentations Sandy Rock described the best argument against the proposed Issaquah Highlands gas station as follows: “Most importantly [sic], the presence of four stations readily and easily available within just two or three minutes of the proposed location.” This is a blatant (and absurd) falsehood. First, there are no gas stations within a twominute drive of the proposed station. Second, you might be able to get to one station within three minutes, if you speed and experience no traffic and no red lights. But under no stretch of the imagination are there four stations within three minutes. Regardless, the hundreds of Issaquah Highlands’ residents who go to and return from work on Interstate 90 must detour into downtown Issaquah to get gas, increasing congestion on roads that are already clogged. It would make much more sense for them to get gas directly on the way along Highlands Drive. That would be the greener and more efficient option. By the way, why did The Issaquah Press put Dr. in front of Rock’s name? How is that relevant? Do you do that for everyone with a license? For example, if a massage practitioner sends a letter to the editor, does The Press add LMP after the name? The clear implication is that Rock’s opinion is more valuable than others, because of an advanced degree. As we can see, that pretentious assumption is not valid in this particular case.

Gene Zhang Issaquah Highlands

I-90 undercrossing

Environmentalists argue against plan without having seen area in question The “Environmental Religion Group” has again come to the forefront to delay another Issaquah road project. It was successful with the Southeast Bypass and now it is continuing its organized tactics on the Interstate 90 Undercrossing project. I watched some of the anti-road people addressing the City Council on Channel 21. One lady said she had not seen the area in question, but believed the plan presented to the council for a vote was not environmentally helpful for the area. If one has not walked the area in question, then how can his or her comments carry any weight? It appears that the well-organized group’s plan is to just get in front of the council and promote its anti-road agenda. Maybe the saddest thing is the council gave it its requested delay. Try getting down Front Street during the morning/evening rush hours. Traffic is delayed and people are wasting gas while sitting in the

slow traffic. In addition, the anti-bypass people indicated that if the bypass were completed, there would be a lot of empty properties on Front Street. If you notice, the bypass was scrapped by the council and there have been a number of vacant properties created without the bypass.

Ken Sessler Issaquah

Timberlake Park

Dog owners can blame themselves At first, I was upset about the dog ban from Timberlake Park. But then, I realized that it’s the dog owners who frequent the park who are to blame. I believe part of the problem is that people thought this was an off-leash dog park, when in fact it has always been a park that allowed dogs — on a leash. It’s just that King County, and now the city of Issaquah, have chosen not to enforce this rule unless problems presented themselves. Those problems evidently have manifested in the form of oblivious and discourteous dog owners. I have taken my dog there to go swimming numerous times this summer and I was appalled at what some dog owners let their dogs do while off leash. In one instance, when I was walking up to the beach with my dog, I was approached by a handful of dogs. I asked the owners to call their dogs off, but the owners did not seem to care what their dogs were doing. This is classic off-leash dog park behavior of owners and it infuriates me all the time. By choosing to let your dog off leash, it is your responsibility to know where your dog is, what it is doing and have voice control of your dog at all times. If dog owners want dogs allowed in Timberlake Park again, please, do your part and control your dog! Don’t let your dog or yourself be the reason dogs are permanently banned!

Deborah Mohn Issaquah

No-dog rule is just another law enacted without any input from citizens Do not prohibit dogs in Timberlake Park. I live here and have for years. No one that I know of will enforce the current “dog-restriction law” the city of Issaquah has legislated without any input from local voters or property owners. These kinds of enactments are bringing a feeling of a police state to this community. How See LETTERS, Page A5

Brad Robertson Issaquah

Humans have caused more damage to park’s reputation than dogs have Concerning the closing of Timberlake Park to dogs: I am a homeowner who has lived next to the park for more than 20 years. In that time, I have seen probably five dogs run through my yard who were eventually corralled by their owners. This has not bothered anyone. During that time, I have also seen homeless men asleep in the park; drug dealers in the parking lot; vandalism caused by drunken, marauding, young people; and beer cans strewn around the beach. I have seen the evidence of arson, heard bombs go off and have been told about people openly having sex on the beach and in the grass. My neighbor was robbed there at knifepoint.

A L L D E PA RT M E N T S C A N B E R E A C H E D AT 3 9 2 - 6 4 3 4 fax: 391-1541

In recent years, as more dog owners have brought their dogs, I have felt safer whenever I am in and near the park. I request that the Issaquah City Council amend its ordinance in the following manner as a compromise: Prohibit dogs only in the beach area during daylight hours (from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) from June through August. This is the only time small children are likely to swim at the beach, and I do not want them to get hurt by dogs. However, during the rest of the year, dogs should be allowed free access to the park. I believe this will continue to keep the park free from the kind of street crime that used to be so common, but has diminished as the park became more popular with dog owners. Final thought: Families that don’t have dogs have dozens of parks to choose from. Families with small children and dogs don’t have those choices. Here, they can use the park together. Marymoor Park is not an option for that. A petition is available to sign at ipetition.com. People who are interested should definitely redress the grievances imposed upon us by lawmakers who have no consent from the governed.

e-mail: isspress@isspress.com

P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, WA 98027 391-1541

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web site: www.issaquahpress.com

KATHLEEN R. MERRILL . . . . . . EDITOR CHANTELLE LUSEBRINK . . . REPORTER DAVID HAYES . . . . . . . . . . . REPORTER WARREN KAGARISE . . . . . . . REPORTER TIM PFARR . . . . . . . . . . . . . REPORTER GREG FARRAR . . . . . . PHOTOGRAPHER

DONA MOKIN . . . . . . ART DESIGN DIR. BREANN GETTY . PROD. COORDINATOR SCOTT SPUNG . . . . . . . . . ACCOUNTING KELLY BEZDZIETNY . . . . . . . CIRC MGR.

Postmaster: Send address changes to: Issaquah Press, PO Box 1328 Issaquah, WA 98027

The Issaquah Press

G UEST C OLUMN Is flushable convenience ‘wiping out’ the sewer system? BY KATHY LAMBERT AND CHRISTIE TRUE Most people are busy and need to fit their housework into crowded schedules. It’s no surprise that cleaning products are increasingly marketed to consumers eager to get the job done as quickly as possible. A new product has become wildly popular in the past few years — disposable cleaning wipes. According to a recent report, North American consumers bought nearly 83,000 tons of disposable wipes in 2004, enough to fill about 9,000 semi trailers. MarketResearch.com reports that 60 percent of adults have used household cleaning wipes, and sales are expected to reach the $2 billion mark by 2010. However, convenience has its price. While some products boast the added convenience of being flushable and safe for sewers and sep-

tic systems, the people who maintain and operate our local and regional wastewater utilities disagree. King County operates a regional sewer utility that provides wastewater treatment services for 34 local sewer agencies. The local agencies collect wastewater from homes and businesses, and send it to the county’s regional system for treatment. Sewer utility crews for the local and regional agencies are increasingly being called out to do battle with great balls of “flushable” cleaning wipes, pads, facial tissues, baby wipes and feminine hygiene products that have become tangled in pumping equipment. In a worst-case scenario, jammed up pumps can lead to raw sewage overflows into homes, businesses and waterways, which threatens public health and the environment. At best, these problems are making the treatment

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 •

process more expensive for ratepayers. In 2008, King County spent well over $100,000 just to haul and dispose of sewer system trash in a landfill. It’s important to clarify that King County has not conducted tests on any particular brand or type of disposable or flushable product. Neither does the county discourage people from buying and using cleaning wipes. King County does urge consumers who choose these products to dispose of them in the trash instead of flushing them down the toilet. In fact, like most sewer utilities, King County and its customer agencies recommend flushing only bodily waste and toilet paper — that’s it. So, in the quest to reduce costs and keep things tidy — from bathroom to baby — please don’t flush items that may cause trouble. Please help protect public health, the environment and water quality and put used cleaning wipes, pads, swabs and anything else besides human waste and toilet paper in the trash, not in the toilet. King County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert represents District 3, which includes Issaquah, and is a member of the Regional Water Quality Committee and the King County Board of Health. Christie True is the division director of King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division.

BY ADAM ESCHBACH

A sign has been posted at 607 Front St. N. for two years while the property remains undeveloped.

Empty lots FROM PAGE A1

Parks FROM PAGE A1

county voters two years ago cannot be used for the parks on the closure list. Issaquah city spokeswoman Autumn Monahan said the potential closures presented an opportunity for community groups and homeowners associations to work with the county to secure the

Writing FROM PAGE A4

have to respectfully decline as I have accepted an offer from another paper.” OK. Good luck with that. Then, there are people like this

Letters FROM PAGE A4

does the City Council come up with concluding that it has this kind of power? We who live along the east border of Timberlake Park find joggers, runners, folks in oblivion listening to iPods, pedestrians, dogwalkers and so on, trespassing on our privately owned road, 184th Avenue Southeast, before this

parks. She said city officials would work to facilitate bridge building between county officials and those interested in parks. Triplett said county officials are willing to work with others to keep the parks open. “Taxpayers have paid for these parks, and I am open to any proposal from the cities or others to transfer ownership for free,” he said. “As part of the effort to encourage annexations, the state has given these cities tax options the county does not have.”

Reach Reporter Warren Kagarise at 3926434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.issaquahpress.com.

guy with skills I just can’t understand. “I have exstensive photography knowledge.” If you can’t proofread your own cover letter, what makes you think I’m going to hire you? I loved the cover letter, printed and mailed, no less, that started with, “Good mourning.” Yeah, some days in this job I do despair a little bit, but do you have to point it out?

Or how about people who are too lazy to actually apply when they’re applying? I loved this guy. “You can Google me and find my clips on the Internet.” Yeah, I could, but I have work to do. Would I have to write your stories for you after you got here, too? I guess it takes all types of people. Thank goodness I don’t have to take them here.

“law” was passed. We have kindly allowed folks to use our road, even though some of these folks have, at times, been unimaginably rude to us. We never have trouble with dogs, as they seem to pay better attention than people and they let us drive by, no problem, no barking. There is no sidewalk, path or the like for people to use on this narrow, private exclusive easement road. Now that the city of Issaquah has banned dogs from Timberlake Park, guess what? Now, droves of trespassers are now traipsing up

and down 184th Avenue Southeast and obstructing our only access to our private property; numerous folks with dogs who can no longer use the park are overwhelming our private lane because of the city’s new “dog restriction” law. We ask the city to come to our aid and extinguish this law. Otherwise, we may be forced to restrict 184th Avenue Southeast to everyone except dogs. Thank you.

Issaquah officials have no plans to close city parks as a cost-saving measure, Monahan said. Issaquah faces a $3.6 million budget deficit and deeper cuts are likely in 2010. City officials will use reserve dollars to close the gap. Employee layoffs, furloughs and program cuts could be enacted to prevent another shortfall next year.

Skippers site — and ARCO efforts were in the hands of developers. Permits for both sites have been issued, though work has been slow. “It’s no secret that we’re in an economic downturn,” said Front Street Crossing developer Mark Sandler, president of Benchmark Development Corp., of Bellevue. “Due to circumstances, we have an unavoidable delay,” he added. City Senior Planner Jerry Lind, who worked on the Front Street Crossing effort, offered a similar assessment. “I think the recession has

Middle-, high-school parents asked to take survey Issaquah School District officials are asking parents of middle and high school students to take a survey about their child’s school experiences before Aug. 29. The annual parent survey is online and asks them to evaluate

Cancer ride Above, Climb for a Cure cyclists line up Aug. 2 for their time-trial starts up Zoo Hill, behind Cougar Mountain Zoo. Cyclists for the two-mile course were encouraged to make a donation to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance or any other organization of their choice. Below, cyclists reach the finish line where their times were recorded to determine the order of finish.

their oldest child’s experiences, including how information is related about the school to parents and students, grading their school and the district as well as giving suggestions for improvement. District officials will use the comments to continue efforts and programs that reinforce positive

student experiences and improve in others. The survey is confidential and is open until 4 p.m. Aug. 28. Take the survey at www.issaquah.wednet.edu; click on “Annual middle and high school parent survey” under the August links on the right of your screen.

Reach Reporter Warren Kagarise at 3926434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.issaquahpress.com.

I know you want the best dental care for you and your family and that quality and guarantee is something that should not have to change. So I’ve come up with a way to work with you when everything seems to be working against us. I’ve been serving Issaquah families and their friends for 15 years, and I’m not about to let you down now. Here’s what I can do:

Issaquah

PUBLIC MEETINGS

when work would begin in earnest at the gas station site. Plans call for construction of a convenience store inside the station and a refurbished canopy above the gas pumps. Sandler said the recession made it difficult to find takers for the ground-floor retail and upstairs office space he plans to build at Front Street Crossing. He described the location, near the Interstate 90 interchange and the busy Northwest Gilman Boulevard intersection, as the “gateway to Issaquah.” “We could start just about anytime,” Sandler said.

We’re all in this together

Jeff Mohn

City crews will restripe Southeast Issaquah-Fall City Road from East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast to Southeast 58th Street. Work will last from 9 p.m. - 5 a.m. through Aug. 20, weather permitting. During the restriping, traffic will be limited to a single lane in each direction.

slowed down construction on that building,” Lind said. Sandler has time to launch his development: Building permits remain active for three years. In the meantime, however, city officials worry about the aesthetics of a defunct gas station and empty lot along a main street that people use when they come into town. City Code Compliance Officer Michele Forkner asked owners of the ARCO property to sweep debris from around the building and remove the old sign that advertised gas prices. Forkner said she has not received any complaints related to the old Skippers property. City Senior Planner Mark Pywell, who worked on the ARCO project, said he was unsure about

Times are Tough...

Traffic will be limited to a single lane during road restriping

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The Issaquah Press

A4 • Wednesday, November 18, 2009

OPINION

Early signs from county exec are encouraging PRESS E DITORIAL

n the weeks since King County voters picked Dow Constantine as next county executive, the leader-in-waiting has taken several steps to include Issaquah and Eastside voices in the transition. We applaud these efforts. With little time to prepare for the daunting executive post, Constantine wasted no time as he assembled a 30-member transition team during the 21-day sprint from Election Day to Nov. 24, when the next executive will take office. Constantine will become the third county leader since May, and the challenges before him are daunting. In addition to crippling county and Metro Transit budget shortfalls, Constantine must reassure anxious taxpayers as county leaders weigh service cuts and other painful, albeit money-saving, measures. As Constantine prepares to take the reins, we were heartened by his decision to include longtime Issaquah Councilman Fred Butler and state Sen. Fred Jarrett as members of the transition team. Jarrett will stick around after the transition is complete; Constantine appointed the lawmaker to the No. 2 spot in county government. Republican-turned-Democrat Jarrett served in the state House until he was elected to the Senate last year. The experience he gained at the state level, as well as the skills he gained as a Boeing executive and Mercer Island mayor, will make him a steady presence as Constantine and the County Council are forced to grapple with tough decisions. He represents a slice of Issaquah in the Senate. Butler is a seasoned hand and the City Council’s resident expert on regional transportation issues. As a member of the Sound Transit board, Butler could provide valuable insight about critical transit issues as Constantine readies for the task ahead. And, as a voice for Issaquah, Butler will ensure the concerns of Issaquah residents reach the highest tier of county government. Constantine, meanwhile, should make the effort to seek input from Issaquah and Eastside residents after the transition is complete. The next executive should also mend fences with rural residents hurt by the way the county handled the Critical Areas Ordinance. We endorsed Constantine because he committed to keeping urban county parks — like Klahanie Park — open until new owners could be found, as well as the plan he floated for a staff person assigned to work with the small cities and rural areas. We remain encouraged by the actions Constantine has taken thus far.

O FF T HE P RESS

Come see the tigers and their new home Last week, I decided to drop by Cougar Mountain Zoo to check on Taj and Almos, the elder of our local, rare Bengal tigers. I’ve seen them grow up, like many of you have done. I knew they were moving into their new, larger, adult habitat at some point. (Taj had been in there for nearly three weeks. Almos, a little shyer about the move, maybe because he heard people talk about the horrors of packing and moving, had entered the enclosure only three days before.) The over an acre setting is gorgeous, well-designed and yet primitive at the same time. It’s all natural, rock, rain-fed waterfalls and grasses, and includes toys, like a 50-pound ball that Almos pounced on and slammed into the fence creating a terrific crashing sound. “If you’re a tiger, it’s ideal,” said Robyn Barfoot, general curator of the zoo. There’s a public part where people can watch these guys from several excellent vantage points, either behind glass or special fencing. But there’s also a private part, where Taj kept wandering, ap-

pearing to be stalking something that kept catching his eye. It’s important for the big cats to have some privacy. And these are big cats Kathleen now. Almos, R. Merrill one of about Press editor 400 royal white Bengal tigers in the world, weighed in at 374 last week, while Taj, one of only 102 golden Bengal tigers in the world, weighed in at 394. There’s a pump house, locked to the public, that runs big and small waterfalls and the pond. The rushing of the water almost makes you feel you’re in the wild and if you close your eyes for a moment when Taj is “talking,” you almost feel like you’re in the jungle with the big cats. The water feature was important to the cats and zoo officials. The boys have loved to be in waSee TIGERS, Page A5

Bicycling

Road improvement projects forgot to factor in safety for two wheelers When I moved to Issaquah from Virginia in July 2003, one of the main attractions was the bike-friendly roads. I have been a road cyclist (“roadie”) for almost 30 years, and have ridden all kinds of roads in California, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, Washington (D.C.), Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, British Columbia and Washington state. Both East Lake Sammamish Parkway and Newport Way were once very bike-friendly roads with wide, smooth shoulders. However, in recent months, “road improvements” have been done that have actually made both roads more hazardous for bikes. In particular, the east-bound lane of Newport Way between Lakemont and state Route 900 has become very tricky for bikes. The shoulder has been greatly narrowed and grates have been placed in the middle of the shoulder, which bikes must ride over. These are very bumpy and can cause unattentive cyclists to possibly lose control. In addition, the lanes at the entrance to the Montreaux development have been redesigned and bikes have a very narrow lane to ride. Riders also now have to deal with a concrete traffic island that has been installed at the entrance and are forced to almost ride in the road. Also, changes are being done just to the east of Cougar Mountain, near the new condo development, the final effects of which have yet to be determined. The last half-mile to state Route 900 has also become a very fast and narrow strip of shoulder for bikes to ride, leaving very little room for maneuvering. I feel quite competent on my bike, but the “new” Newport Way makes me a bit trepidatious. I work in Seattle and commute home during summer. I used to really enjoy the ride, but now, the last few miles are a real bear. Bicycles are vehicles under Washington law and are entitled to ride as far right as is safe, which includes riding in a lane of traffic. The newly designed roads may move bikes off the shoulder and into the lane. I don’t think the city or the Department of Transportation consulted cyclists or gave cyclists much consideration in the new designs. Let’s keep Issaquah bike friendly for everyone, riders and drivers alike.

Tyler Tabor Issaquah

Flooding

Contingency plans should include builder of homes for the displaced How are state and county authorities responding and preparing for possible flooding from the Howard Hanson Dam? What is planned for housing for a year or

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T O T HE E DITOR more until government and insurance claims allow permanent housing? A ready-made solution is available with Response Ability Builders — a nonprofit education organization located on Tiger Mountain. The director, the Rev. Eddy Fowler-Linder, responded to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 in Homestead, Fla., by training personnel to build small houses of two sizes. The buildings can be transported by small trucks. Fowler has experience and can train noncarpenters to build their own houses. (He and his family live in a house he built.) Reach him at 765-2269 or danafl@comcast.net. He has contacted United Way for funds for building materials, but he has no funding available presently. Please explore this possible problem solver.

Catherine Swadley Issaquah

Veterans

Too many returning from action are not receiving counseling they need Nov. 11 was a day for honoring our veterans, and paying them our due respect for their sacrifice, patriotism and willing defense of our nation. Yet, the veterans of the most recent conflicts need more than our appreciation; they need our support and our commitment to uphold their rights to dignified lives as civilians, and to the provision of whatever support is necessary to achieve this goal. It is a national disgrace to allow these brave Americans to be ill treated by the very system they swore to protect. Few returning servicemen and women receive adequate counseling they deserve; thus, more and more find themselves divorced, bankrupted by court costs and denied access to their children. There is also an alarming trend to confuse PTSD (or post traumatic stress disorder) with domestic violence offenses, as returning veterans often experience feelings of alienation, guilt, frustration and anger; and with so few resources available to assist reintegration, they become victims of our overzealous criminal justice system. It is all too easy to confuse the systems described above as criminal under current legal guidelines, when the real crime is the treatment they receive from those who should be providing sympathy and support. Locally, a recent case involving an ex-Marine resulted in a conviction for felony domestic violence harassment, after being accused by his own parents, who claimed they found his PTSD too difficult and embarrassing, and that they made the accusation to get help for him. Unfortunately, in Washington state, five out of six mentally ill convicts are in prison, not hospital, and receive no psychiatric counseling or treatment whatsoever. Furthermore, once released, those convicted of domestic violence find themselves prohibited from working with the public, denied rented housing, banned for life from owning a firearm, unable to vote and

Newsroom: isspress@isspress.com

with no guaranteed restoration of these rights. There are no statistics available as to how many veterans are currently incarcerated, nor of those, how many suffer from PTSD, but surely we all agree that each one of them deserves a chance to lead a dignified civilian life. It is the moral responsibility of each of us to ensure that they get that chance.

Jane Morgan Issaquah

Express your gratitude for the military Dear veteran, You are in my thoughts and I’m sure many Americans join with me to say thank you for your service. This Veterans Day was colored with the sadness for our fallen comrades at Fort Hood and Fort Lewis. At those places, the pain of loss is at its greatest. Gen. George Casey Jr. told us, “Mourn with us ... not for us.” But I’m sure you share my great sadness at the taking of our soldiers’ lives and are keeping their survivors in your thoughts and prayers. Many thousands continue to serve worldwide and they, too, are to be honored. Veterans Day is the day set aside to honor the accomplishments of this country’s military veterans. It is fitting we do so. Dating back to the 18th century, members of America’s military have answered the call and risked the greatest of selfless sacrifices. For those of you who faced combat, I offer my deepest appreciation and respect. For those like me, who never experienced the challenges of war, I offer my gratitude and respect. Through all of your service, you likely felt the pain of losing a comrade. You undoubtedly served with those who will remain in your lifelong memories. Through it all, you continued to serve your nation with a willingness to preserve our freedoms and privileges. Take the opportunity to say thanks to a fellow veteran.

Mark Bowers, Issaquah CWO-4, USN (retired)

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The Issaquah Press

Next steps in school district’s long-term project are under way By Chantelle Lusebrink Issaquah Press reporter Issaquah School District officials and high school principals are investigating a flexible high school schedule option this year as part of their Optimal High School Experience project. “It is a very broad topic, but something we believe may help our students,” said Patrick Murphy, the district’s executive director of secondary education. “It has to do with looking at our class offerings in schools and online, the time of day they’re offered, like zero-hour or after school, having educational experiences on and off campus, the flexibility to share staff across the district and in different buildings. Basically, things that will help students balance their schedules.” Flexible scheduling options will give students greater access and control of their academic career, according to the group made up of Murphy and the district’s high school principals — Dana Bailey, Mike Deletis, Lisa Hechtman, Ed Marcoe and Paula Phelps. The group was formed in summer 2008 to discover what types of experiences students are having in the high schools, what is missing and what can be added to make their experiences better. Our mission talks about “how students live in a dynamic global community,” Murphy said of the project’s importance. “Our principals believe they have the ethical responsibility to prepare students for that dynamic global world they will be going into.” The project grew out of a suggestion in spring 2008 to create a uniform high school scheduling system, since Liberty High School had a different schedule than both Issaquah and Skyline high schools. However, the move to a uniform schedule was delayed after community concerns surfaced. It also grew from changes

Jarrett FROM PAGE A1

Executive Ron Sims, the next leader will take office Nov. 24, after the election results are certified, instead of the traditional Jan. 1. Sims stepped down in May for the No. 2 job in the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Constantine, a Democrat and former state lawmaker, serves as chairman of the King County

P UBLIC M EETINGS

ON THE WEB Go to www.issaquah.wednet.edu and click on “Optimal High School Experience.”

to the minimum number of credits high school students need to graduate, from 19 credits to 24. The group evaluates the high school experience using five guiding beliefs: Access: Students must have maximum academic access to courses, programs and instruction that best meet the needs of those students. Connectivity: Students must feel connected to their school through relationships with faculty and peers. Citizenship: Students must have learning opportunities for service that allows them to think beyond themselves and builds compassion and respect for others. Resiliency: Students need a safe environment that allows them to move out of their comfort zones and take informed risks that allow them to grow while experiencing success and failure. Expression: Students must have multiple opportunities for self-expression in the classroom and during extracurricular activities. Last year, the group gathered community, student and employee information about the experiences offered at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus; Issaquah, Liberty and Skyline high schools; and the district’s alternative high school, Tiger Mountain Community High School. Nearly 200 parents, students and school employees commented, offered suggestions and their experiences from which the idea of investigating flexible scheduling came from. Council. He will resign from the council to succeed interim Executive Kurt Triplett. When Jarrett resigns from the Senate, the County Council will pick a successor from a list of candidates submitted by local Democratic Party leaders. The next senator will serve until next fall, when 41st District voters will elect a replacement to fill the seat until 2012, when the term ends. Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.

Nov. 23

Council Land Use Committee 5-8 p.m. Baxter Room, City Hall Northwest 1775 12th Ave. N.W.

Park Board Agenda: parks projects update, King County Animal Care and Control update, Heritage Trees 7-9 p.m. Issaquah Trails House 110 Bush St.

Nov. 19

Nov. 24

Council Services & Operations Committee Agenda: 2010 human services grants, 2009 budget adjustments 5 p.m. Eagle Room, City Hall 130 E. Sunset Way

Human Services Commission 7-9 p.m. Cougar Room, City Hall 130 E. Sunset Way

Nov. 18

City Council 2010 budget deliberations 6-9:30 p.m. Cougar Room, City Hall 130 E. Sunset Way

“We plan to use this school year to do our investigative work,” Murphy said, adding the group will study other creative options used throughout the state and nation. After the investigation and review, “We’ll look to see how we can adapt what we find out and create something that will help our students reach the goals set out in our guiding beliefs. “Our one fear, though, is that people hear the word flexible schedule and they think we’re just talking about bell schedule,” he added. “This is not solely about bell schedules.” “Flexible scheduling touches on so many aspects of the educational experience. This could involve, as an example — daily schedules, online learning, seat time, use of facilities,” Phelps, Issaquah High School principal, wrote in an e-mail. “In the past, we would have viewed each of these issues individually. Now, we will look at them as a whole through the lens of the Optimal Experience. The work this year around flexible scheduling will be exciting and, ultimately, has the potential to be very rewarding for our students.” During the coming year, Murphy and the principals will look more closely to develop working solutions for students, which could include before and after school courses and online course work similar to the district’s new online health course. Something else they are looking at is offering districtwide high school courses. For example, Liberty has a culinary program, unlike the other two schools; principals may look into offering those classes so students across the district may be able to take them. During their investigation, they’ll design a model for how it may be done in Issaquah and how to appropriately fund it. Chantelle Lusebrink: 392-6434, ext. 241 or clusebrink@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.

New tool helps track county government effectiveness King County Superior Court resolved 91 percent of criminal cases within the state-recommended guideline of nine months, Metro buses were on time 76 percent last year — better than in 2007, but below the 80 percent target — and 85 percent of county roads have pavement in satisfactory condition. County leaders learned the stats from new tools now available to residents. The programs enable taxpayers to track county proposals and see whether the efforts meet performance targets. The county unveiled a pair of Web-based tools: the County Growth Report and King County Benchmark Program. The reports examine housing, economic, demographic, land-use and transportation trends to help the public and decision-makers better understand the growth management efforts in the region. Find the tools at www.kingcounty.gov/accountable. Besides the Web sites, the county Office of Strategic Planning and Performance Management has produced the second annual King County AIMs High Performance Scorecard, a downloadable, fourpage document with highlights from AIMs High: Annual Indicators and Measures, a Webbased report on the state of the county and county government performance. The tools are designed to make it

Tigers FROM PAGE A4

ter since their days in small- and mid-sized kiddie pools. “They love the water, they love to swim, and this way, the public can view them safely while they’re lounging and swimming,” Barfoot said. The hilltop home gives them a great view of the Cascades, the highlands, the plateau and Lake Sammamish. You can sense that they think all that land is theirs as they stalk around the enclosure. “This makes them feel more like they’re in the wild,” Barfoot said. Zoo officials wanted to keep the enclosure predator friendly, part of the reason for that view, which

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 • easier for residents and policymakers to measure progress on being efficient, effective and accountable by comparing year-to-year benchmarks for several programs. The scorecard uses a red-yellowgreen results format to help readers answer the question: How effective are county services? The system compares performance for 19 programs with targets set by county leaders. The measures were included based on feedback from a group of county residents.

School board approves group’s legislative platform Issaquah School Board members unanimously voted to approve the Olympian Coalition’s 2009-10 legislative platform at their Nov. 10 meeting. The Olympian Coalition is a lobbying group made up of Issaquah School District officials and board members; union members; Parents, Teachers and Students Association representatives; and Stand for Children representatives. “Our goal is to make sure that all students in our district — high performing, struggling and those in between — are getting an educational system that provides them with the academic rigor, the support, the opportunity for personal expression and the resources they need to be successful in our 21st century global economy,” a document from the group said. This year, coalition members

also helps the cats not really seem to notice the fences much when they’re stalking around. Because of this set-up, no running is allowed, and a docent is present at all times to enforce good behavior, so children won’t antagonize the cats, and answer questions from the public. And there are tons of them. “How much does he eat?” “What does he weigh?” “What kind of tigers are they?” “Where do they sleep?” Barfoot has been trying to thank all of the donors and members of the zoo. “We couldn’t expand or build habitats, or acquire animals, without donations,” she said. The zoo could always use more donations. Landscaping still needs to be done, including adding tall grasses for the big cats to stalk through.

adopted these goals: Support efforts to achieve equity

in levy lids.

Support efforts to protect fully

funded voter Initiatives 728 and 732 as part of the levy base. Adopt prototype school funding model in this legislative session. Review and examine current mandates in the Revised Code of Washington to see what could be eliminated or made less proscriptive. Provide for regional labor market differences when setting compensation for all employees. Invest in early learning as an essential requirement to prepare students for a successful school experience. In the current financial crisis, do no harm.

Local student wants your vote for national contest Jordan Lederman, a 13-year-old eighth grader at Pine Lake Middle School, has been selected as a top 10 finalist in the federal Department of Education’s I Am What I Learn contest. Jordan’s self-made video explains what she likes most about chickens, what she’s learned and why she wants to rule the coop as queen of the chickens later. To help her win, go to www.ed.gov/iamwhatilearn/index.h tml. There, you can watch her video and cast your vote until Dec. 4. If Jordan lands in the top 3, she’ll win a $1,000 prize.

You can donate any amount, even putting change in boxes around the zoo. But a really sweet deal in donating is the $98 brick. (I’m getting ready to order mine.) Donate that amount and ask for a brick. You get one on the walkway to the habitat with the engraving (up to 30 letters) of your choice. (You can pay more and get more letters.) Make your brick a memorial to a friend or loved one and do something good for these big guys while you’re at it. (Go to www.cougarmountainzoo.org, and then click on “Join Us,” and then click on “Engraved Paving Stone.”) Then, come and sit with them for a while and watch how the regal animals live their lives. I guarantee you’ll come away from the experience filled with joy, awe and peace. And you just might get in touch with your inner tiger.