8 • December 2, 2009
Raise Continued from Page 7
The group bases its request on data collected by the national Living Wage campaign, which has estimated the cost of living in the Lake Washington School District at about $4,000 per month. And according to its calculations, a Lake Washington secretary or office assistant would need to make between $23.05 and $24.55 per hour to be a functioning member of the
“We want to be able to live in this community.” – Becky Whelchel, Office manager – community. “I just think I’m worth more money,” said Becky Whelchel, office manager at Inglewood Junior High School. “We want to be able to live in this community.” She said she’s one of the lucky ones. Her husband makes a good living and they are able to support their daughter. But many of her co-workers and counterparts at other district
SAMMAMISH REVIEW
schools, who are single with children, struggle on their current wages. Some hold down another job or two, she said. “The district says to us, ‘we’ll give you what we gave everybody else,’” Whelchel said. “I wish they felt we deserved more.” More may be tough to find. State funding, which makes up the lion’s share of the school budget is already down, and state officials recently predicted that next year’s state budget will be another $2 billion short. Some school officials say that even cost-of-living adjustments may not be in the cards. “We are concerned about the potential for another round of major budget cuts from the state after the Nov. 19 announcement on the state budget shortfall,” said Kathryn Reith, the district’s director of communications. Under the current contract in Lake Washington, union secretaries make from $13.53 per hour to $20.80 per hour. In the Issaquah School District, school secretaries and support staff start at $15.34 and earn as much as $19.95 per hour. In Bellevue, employees in those positions make between $13.13 and $19.63 per hour. Administrative secretaries and
Treat Yourself this Holiday
Indulge. In style. 22830 NE 8th St #105
Sammamish
salon074.com
425.868.6220
assistants make more in all three districts, but are not on the same contract, according to the districts. As talks stall and the parties try to find a middle ground, Lake Washington officials are comparing wages for similar positions in districts in the area and of similar size, Reith said. “As with any of the bargaining groups we work with, our approach to negotiations is to investigate what the wages are for similar positions in other
“We are concerned about the potential for another round of major budget cuts from the state.” – Kathryn Reith, District spokeswoman – area school districts and use that information to help us figure out what will be a competitive wage that will enable us to recruit and retain quality employees.” Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com Comment on this story at www.SammamishReview.com.
Library Continued from Page 6
tough times. It also featured an extensive online component, which linked people with such services, reference materials, books and databases. “It was mostly to help our patrons,” Iverson said. “We’re here and we work to provide the resources we’ve always had. “Our librarians recognized a need and they were profoundly determined to help,” she said. The library system’s public and community relations team recently won a national award for the outreach program. They were given the NonProfit PR award, sponsored by PR News, in Washington D.C. Nov. 2. The library system also recently received $50,000 in grant funding to develop and launch an online resource center to help struggling and small business owners and entrepreneurs, which will make the libraries’ resources even more accessible. The new site, InfoBiz, will offer streaming videos, tutorials and podcasts at the convenience of users. Those include detailing business strategies, resources and concepts presented by local busi-
ness experts, according to a press release. The project is a partnership between community agencies providing content and the library system. Librarians will organize ondemand videos that will be more convenient for users, allowing them to view subjects when and where they choose. Topics for the InfoBiz site will be selected in consultation with organizational partners and the reference librarians working on the project. Topics for consideration include: ◆ How to create a business plan. ◆ How to find and keep customers in hard times. ◆ Collection strategies for small business. ◆ How to fund a start-up. ◆ How to utilize library materials for market research. ◆ Marketing a small business through online social networking. ◆ Introductory pieces about how various partner agencies can assist small businesses. Librarians will also create online videos and tutorials to teach small business owners to use the library’s resources to help their businesses succeed. By making useful information easily accessible online at any time, InfoBiz will resolve a variety of obstacles and connect small business owners with the assistance they need. InfoBiz was created with funding from the Washington State Library as part of the Renew Washington Project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “As people find new needs, we’re able to find more ways to help them use the library,” Iverson said. “We want to take the search out of research.” Reporter Chantelle Lusebrink can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 241, or clusebrink@isspress.com.
16 •
calendar
January, 13, 2010
Events The Issaquah branch of the American Association of University Women will hear a presentation from Connie Fletcher, former member of the Issaquah School Board and now a member of the state Board of Education, about new high school graduation requirements. The presentation is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 16 at Gibson Hall, 105 Newport Way S.W. in Issaquah. The Evergreen Philharmonic, an honors orchestra made up of high school musicians from the Issaquah School District, will perform “Swinging in Vienna” at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Issaquah Community Center. The semiformal event will include dancing and a dessert bar. The cost is $25 for an individual or $40 for a couple. World Religion Day is set for 2-4 p.m. Jan. 17 at sammamish City Hall. The event will feature representatives from the Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Baha’i faiths coming together to share their religions. For more information, visit www.worldreligionday.org. Music for Children’s. The Mary Helen Hickman Guild is holding a fundraiser to benefit the Uncompensated Care Fund at Seattle Children’s. The show is from 6-10 p.m. Feb. 7 at Bake’s Place in Providence Point. The cost is $75. For tickets call Meribeth Holic at 557-3721. Bill Ptacek, director of the King County Library System, will speak about the proposed property tax levy that will be on the Feb. 9 ballot during the Sammamish Kiwanis meeting at 7 a.m. Jan. 20 at Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church. The state Department of Revenue is hosting a free workshop for new small business owners where participants will learn about the various taxes and reports required by the state. The seminar is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Jan. 21 at Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE, Room 1E-113 in
Bellevue. To register, visit www.dor.wa.gov or call 489-1723. Eastside Women of Vision is hosting a seminar to examine how extreme poverty and injustice impact the lives of women and girls from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 21 and 28 at Sammamish Presbyterian Church. RSVP to eastsidewov@hotmail.com. There will be a suggested donation for materials. The city of Sammamish is partnering with Faith in Action to help residents celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18, by helping local senior citizens in need. Volunteer jobs will last from two to six hours depending on the number who sign up. Volunteers should be 14 or older. To sign up e-mail dsanders@ci.sammamish.wa.us or call 295-0556. Potential Eagle Scouts who wish to do a project with the city of Sammamish should attend an informational meeting at 4 p.m. Jan. 19 at City Hall. The meeting is mandatory for anyone who wants to do a project with the city. For more information, contact Dawn Sanders at 295-0556 or dsanders@ci.sammamish.wa.us. Teen late night. The second Friday of each month is teen night at the Redmond/Sammamish Boys and Girls Clubs. The club has a DJ, dancing, games, Xbox and Wii, movies, food and more. An ASB or ID card is required for admittance. The fee is $6. E-mail ahise@positiveplace.org or call 250-4786 for more information. The Bellevue Arts Museum has announced a call for entries for the 2010 Artsfair. The juried show, limited to 325 exhibitors, accepts hand-made, skillful art across a variety of media. The application deadline is Jan. 29, 2010. The fee is $40. For more information, visit www.bellevuearts.org. The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is hosting their annual outreach and fundraising event for Jewish women, Dare to Dream at Connections 2010 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 31 at the
SAMMAMISH REVIEW
Book of the month
The Sammamish Book Group will discuss “The PostAmerican World” by Fareed Zakaria at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Sammamish Library. Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. The event costs $60 for the brunch, but higher levels of participation are available. For more information, visit www.JewishInSeattle.org/women. This is the year of road clean-ups, according to the city of Sammamish. The city is beginning to coordinate litter cleanups on major streets. Sign up with an organization, business, family or group of friends. Pick a date and the city will find a road. To sign up e-mail
dsanders@ci.sammamish.wa.us or call 295-0556.
Religious/spiritual Sufi meditation class will teach meditation, breathing practices and prayer in order to seek an inner spiritual message from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Jan. 21, Feb. 4 and 18, March 4 and 18 and April 1 and 5 at the Fern Life Center, 710 Fifth Ave. in Issaquah. Parenting adolescents class. Julie Metzger will offer parents
Afraid of the Dentist? It’s the New Year. Is it time for a New You?
At Dr. Kelley Fisher’s office - we understand! Dr. Kelley Fisher performs Oral Conscious Sedation for people with extreme dental anxiety. We’ll take care of your teeth - once we’ve made you comfortable.
Call for your appointment today! Gentle • Quality • Full Service Dentistry
425.392.1256 600 NW Gilman Blvd - Issaquah - Suite D Creekside Professional Center www.drkfisher.com
Indulge. In style. 22830 NE 8th St #105
Sammamish
salon074.com
425.868.6220
tips on the latest research on parenting adolescents, blended with Christian theology. The course is most relevant to the parents of fifth-12th graders. Session will be from 7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 19 (just for fathers), 7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 25 (just for mothers) and 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 1 for both parents at Sammamish Presbyterian Church. Cost is $10, payable at the first session. Faith United Methodist Church offers “Faith Cafe” for women of all ages. The café features drop-in coffee time, scrapbooking/stamping, mom & baby playgroup, quilting/knitting and walking group. There will also be one-off classes, studies and themed days. 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Call Jo Lucas 837-1948. Healing Prayer Service. If you have a physical, emotional or spiritual challenge or if you desire to make space for God in a peaceful setting, attend the Missio Lux Healing Prayer Service the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish. The Social Justice Book Group meets at 1 p.m. the third Monday of each month in Sammamish. E-mail shlcministries@yahoo.com for information on the current book being discussed and location. Celebrate Recovery, a Christcentered program offering support and a path to freedom, meets every Monday, 7-9 p.m. at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave. S.E. For more info, go to www.missiolux.org, or call 392-8636. Griefshare, a support group for those who have lost a loved one is from 7-9 p.m. Thursday nights at Sammamish Presbyterian Church. Moms In Touch is an interdenominational, prayer support group for moms to get together and pray for children and schools. For more information, call Jan Domek, Issaquah School District representative, at 6816770, or Kelly Wotherspoon, Lake See CALENDAR, Page 17
2 •
February 10, 2010
SAMMAMISH REVIEW
Klahanie residents want to stay in Issaquah’s plans Sammamish officials monitor Issaquah action, waiting on Klahanie Park takeover By Warren Kagarise
Klahanie residents asked the Issaquah City Council not to enable a Sammamish takeover of Klahanie Park. At its Feb. 2 meeting, Issaquah’s council heard from 13 Klahanie residents, who encouraged Issaquah officials not to cede the community to potential annexation by Sammamish. The residents also protested a proposal by Sammamish to take over Klahanie Park. Then-County Executive Kurt Triplett proposed closing Klahanie Park and 38 others in unincorporated areas last August to help the county close a budget gap. County Parks Director Kevin Brown has said the park will close this year unless the county can find a new owner. Sammamish has offered to take over the cost of operating
Chase Continued from Page 1
Sammamish Police Department, is asking for information regarding a few missing items from a residential burglary police have linked to the suspects. Police are looking for a blue iPod Nano, a Dell laptop computer, and a gray coin tray from a Toyota Sequoia. Residents on the 2600 block of 233rd Avenue Southeast reported
have this land that’s always been there with us and Sammamish can take it and do whatever they want,” she said. “We have no representation and we can’t vote them out of office if they do things we don’t like.” If Sammamish and King County reach a deal to transfer the park, then Issaquah and
Issaquah’s long-term growth plans. The Sammamish City Council is in a holding pattern while Issaquah works through its issues with Klahanie residents. Sammamish’s council is con-
cerned that if Klahanie Park closes, Sammamish’s parks will experience a sharp increase in use. Proposed amendments to Issaquah’s growth map related to the Klahanie Potential Annexation Area — about 1,200 acres spread across several subdivisions and home to about 11,000 residents — prompted Klahanie residents to address the council. Issaquah and Sammamish officials entered discussions in December about tweaking the map to include Klahanie in longterm growth plans for Sammamish instead of Issaquah. Concerned Citizens of Klahanie — a neighborhood group opposed to a Sammamish takeover of the park —addressed the Issaquah council. The organization claims almost 500 members. Gisela Bleiweiss, who lives near Klahanie Park, urged Issaquah officials to stop the park transfer from King County to Sammamish. “We don’t feel it’s fair for us to
several items missing from their garage. Police have recovered a gray iPod, a wallet with $35 in cash, a blue leather purse and a pink gym bag. Police linked the two cases when a checkbook found in the recovered purse showed the address of the burglarized home. Albright said he hoped residents who lived near Sunny Hills Elementary School, residents who live between Southeast 16th Street and Issaquah-Pine Lake Road, and residents who live
between Southeast 24th Street and Audubon Park Drive Southeast would keep an eye out for the missing items. Albright added that even though police are investigating the suspects for three charges (eluding police, burglary and auto theft), it appears that only two will be recommended to the King County Prosecutor’s Office. “The facts are indicating that it’s probably not a stolen vehicle,” he said. The car chase began when a Sammamish police officer saw a
car run a red light at the intersection of Southeast 24th Street and 228th Avenue Southeast. The officer said the car was going 70 mph in a 40 mph zone. The officer then pursued the car through two U-turns, and wove through 228th Avenue Southeast, Southeast 24th Street and Audubon Park Drive Southeast. At one point, the car was going more than 60 mph in a residential neighborhood with a 25 mph speed limit, according to the officer.
the park. Some Klahanie residents have opposed the move. The takeover is complicated since, although the park, and Klahanie, are in unincorporated King County, the areas are in
“We have no representation and we can’t vote them out of office if they do things we don’t like.” – Gisela Bleiweiss, Klahanie resident –
“We need to make sure we’re on the same page as Sammamish.” – Mark Hinthorne, Issaquah planning director – Sammamish could move to amend the cities’ comprehensive plans, or long-term growth blueprints. Only Issaquah can annex Klahanie until officials redraw the potential annexation area. A vote by Klahanie residents to annex faltered in 2005. “Personally, I don’t really care whether we are annexed ultimately by Sammamish or by
Issaquah, but I do think that Klahanie as a package needs to stay intact,” Klahanie resident Ken Stanfield said. “I think our park is an important part of that. I think that it may be the park today, but if we don’t solve this issue of not belonging to either Sammamish or Issaquah, it’s going to be Klahanie Boulevard some other day.” Issaquah Planning Director Mark Hinthorne said action by Issaquah hinges on whether council members decide to pursue the Klahanie switch. Then, officials will discuss the proposal further with neighboring Sammamish. “We need to make sure we’re on the same page as Sammamish,” Hinthorne said. Reporter Warren Kagarise can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com. Reporter J.B. Wogan contributed to this story. The suspects’ car ended up in a cul-de-sac where the officer managed to ram the passenger side door of the car. The maneuver is a pursuit immobilization technique, according to Baxter. It caused the suspects’ car to spin out and crash. Baxter said the collision bent the protective bars that wrap around the police car’s bumper, so much so that the bars curved into a wheel. Baxter added that the officer was not injured in the collision. Both the police car and the suspects’ car were towed away. If residents have any information about the suspects who are still at large or the missing items in the reported burglary, call the Sammamish Police Station at 425295-0770. Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com.
Want soft, radiant and smooth skin?
Pine Lake Perfect
Enjoy one of our facials leaving your skin refreshed and rejuvenated.
Buy 1 get 1
50% OFF thru March Call Now
1724 223rd Ave. SE, Sammamish Warm and spacious mid-’80s contemporary 3 BR, 2.5 BA home featuring 700+ sq. ft. bonus room/studio/home office space. Set on a halfacre wooded lot. Upper level master bedroom has generous bath suite w/extra flex space. $599,950
Craig Nelsen
Indulge. In style. 22830 NE 8th St #105
Sammamish
salon074.com
425.868.6220
Skyline Properties, Inc. 206-419-7777 www.CraigNWRE.com
2 •
March 3, 2010
Parks Continued from Page 1
“The key word is initial, this is just a start,” Parks Director Jessi Richardson cautioned. Richardson said the city decided to hold the listening tour as a way to connect with residents who typically don’t show up at public meetings in City Hall. She said the meetings would give the council and Parks Department some sense of how the city should steer its resources in the coming years. Questions about funding would come later, she said. Parks Commissioner Mary Doerrer, who oversaw one table at the Feb. 21 meeting, asked residents what they liked about the current parks system, what they felt it lacked and what they would put on a parks wish list. Mary Jo Kahler, who lives north of Pine Lake on Southeast 20th Street, said she was disappointed with the beach area renovations at Pine Lake Park. With the lack of benches, it isn’t accommodating to parents and grandparents bringing their small children to the beach, she said. Jody Louise, who lives between Pine and Beaver lakes on 240th Avenue Southeast, said she would like to see playgrounds suited for older children. “There are some towns that have big kid playgrounds and big kid toys,” Louise said.
SAMMAMISH REVIEW
Economy may limit scope of parks projects While residents weigh in on what they would like to have in the parks system in ideal circumstances, the financial reality may be grimmer. The Sammamish Parks Department’s budget forecasts a drop in revenue for 2010; the shrinking funding sources are taxes from real estate sales, investment interest and the city’s parks impact fees. Altogether, the parks department expects to receive $500,500 less funding than it did 2009. Meanwhile the city is going to get busy spending on capital projects in 2010, meaning that expenditures will be $9.75 million, while 2010 funding will be $3.17 million. The balance will come from existing funds. The city is slated to spend $1.75 million on Beaver Lake Park renovations, $1.68 million on school parks, $1.11 million on building a maintenance and operations facility, $825,000 on Beaver Lake Preserve, $350,000 on creating road access to a park, plus $350,000 on smaller annual programs. One figure that inflates the difference between spending and funding She clarified that she liked the playgrounds in Sammamish and would like those sort of amenities duplicated, but with swings, monkey bars and other features that were big enough for a slightly older demographic.
indoor aquatic center. Weaver said he takes his children to YMCA facilities in Newcastle and Bellevue, but would prefer a local one. Mary Pigott, a neighbor of the Kahlers, said the community needed an indoor pool, but it didn’t need to be too fancy. Louise added that an aquatic center could use a sauna and hot tub, too. The Kahlers weren’t thrilled about the idea of prioritizing an aquatic center, though. They told city staff that they were worried about the impracticalities of putting it on a work plan, without knowing the cost and without identifying a funding source first. A similar discussion revolved around the related concept of a community center, which might include an indoor pool. Pigott suggested that a lowbudget solution might be a city-
for 2010 is the recreation center. The department’s single biggest expense for 2010 was $2.15 million for purchasing the old King County library building to repurpose it as a recreation center; this came out of a general fund transfer, not parks-specific revenues. By the end of the year, the parks department will go from having $7.59 million in its capital fund to $1.01 million. That doesn’t include future transfers from the city’s general fund, but it does reflect that fewer resources will be available for big park projects in the next few years. The city tried to secure a boost in parks funding by proposing a bond and a levy in 2008, but voters only approved the levy. The 20-year, $19 million bond needed a 60 percent supermajority, but it received 56.5 percent approval. The levy, which was meant for maintaining and operating the new facilities created by the bond, would have allowed the city to increase the total amount it collected from the Sammamish taxpayer base by $310,000. Because the bond failed, the approved levy increase didn’t happen either.
C.J. Kahler, Mary Jo’s husband, suggested the city look into a for-profit driving range. Brian Weaver, who lives just south of the Sammamish Commons Park on 225th Place Southeast, said he would like an
owned barn. Joanna Puthoff, facility coordinator at the city, said she could see a need for some sort of larger gathering space. “Anybody who asks for a space with more than 150 people, I
“The key word is initial, this is just a start.” – Jessi Richardson, Parks Director –
have to send them off the plateau,” Puthoff said. While costly items were the hot topics at the meeting, Richardson said the city would like feedback about other aspects of the Parks Department’s work plan, too. Richardson pointed out that her department implements the city’s public art, it oversees events at parks like holiday celebrations and the weekly farmers markets and builds the trails system. The city has six more listening tour dates. The remaining locations are at Beaver Lake Lodge, four schools and City Hall. To see a complete list with times and dates, go to www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/News.a spx?ID=957. Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com.
Insurance planning is like putting together a puzzle... Trust it to your local professional
INSURANCE AGENCY
425.996.0770 www.accent4u.com
Happy Healthy Smiles are Our Business!
Come in today and get the lashes you’ve always dreamed about...
FREE
Sonic Care Tooth Brush
$25 OFF
Full Set of Lash Extensions
When you schedule a new patient visit including full exam, necessary X-rays and cleaning. One per family.
Call today for details!
Expires 4/31/10
Interest Free Financing Available Convenient hours available. New Patients Welcome!
Jonathan Levey, DDS Family & Cosmetic Dentistry and Preventative Care
Pine Lake Dental Medical Center 22725 S.E. 29th Street • Bldg. B Sammamish
www.jonathanlevey.com (425) 391-5511
Indulge. In style. 22830 NE 8th St #105
Sammamish
salon074.com
425.868.6220