Locally owned 50 cents
march 4, 2015
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EC boys survive thriller, on to state
Despite outcry, Klahanie Fitness closes its doors By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com
Contributed
Klahanie residents Steve and Jane Schwartz stand in front of the imposing figure of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa at 19,341 feet.
Klahanie couple climbs to Africa’s highest point By Neil Pierson npierson@sammamishreview.com The first post-retirement vacation for many couples might include lounging on a sunny Hawaiian beach, enjoying a moonlight stroll through the streets of Paris or driving across the country to visit their grandchildren. Jane and Steve Schwartz chose something slightly different — hike to the top of a 19,341-foot mountain. The Schwartzes, who have lived in Klahanie since 2005, made their way to Africa’s highest point, Mount Kilimanjaro, last month to celebrate the start of their shared retirement. Jane, 46, is a former New York City book publisher, and Steve, 51, ended his 18-year career as a Microsoft research manager in January. They’re not serious mountain climbers, but a few years ago, they were able to do a threeday trek to Machu Picchu, Peru.
Kilimanjaro is at a much higher elevation, but it doesn’t require any technical climbing skills. “As long as you’re persistent, you can make it up with good health and decent training,” Steve said. The Schwartzes have completed a handful of marathons and the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride, and they trained for Kilimanjaro on the 15.2-mile Tiger Mountain Trail. Yoga also helped, as did plenty of herbal supplements and ibuprofen. “I’m used to getting us on a training plan and following it really religiously,” Jane said. They flew for 20 hours, from Seattle to Amsterdam to northern Tanzania. It’s not uncommon to fly into Kenya to reach the mountain, but it takes longer that way because Tanzanian guides can’t cross the border to pick up tourists. No one is permitted to climb Kilimanjaro without a registered guide, and the Schwartzes’ six-
member group was accompanied by 20 baggage-carrying porters, three cooks and three guides. The journey was an eight-day round trip, with the group slowly ascending to their final camp at about 15,300 feet. Summit day started at midnight, and gradually crescendoed until sunrise at about 6 a.m. at the 18,600-foot Stella Point. The night-time journey was a surreal experience. At one point, Jane turned off her headlamp to view the stars. “There’s very little light pollution, obviously, and you’re miles closer to the sky,” Steve noted. At about 7 a.m., they reached Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro’s true summit, where they snapped photos and reveled in their accomplishment. Climate change has negatively impacted the glaciers on Kilimanjaro, though they sparkled brightly on this day. “There’s such a dispute about See CLIMB, Page 2
Gym member Trevor Griffith said he had gone through different levels of depression after hearing of the impending closure of Klahanie Fitness. “This really was a community gym,” Griffith said. A Facebook page dedicated to saving the gym had attracted 750 supporters as of late last week. John Waters, managing principal of the Gerrity Group, said he and numerous others in his California office had received phone calls from gym supporters. The Gerrity Group owns and operates the Klahanie Shopping Center on Klahanie Drive Southeast, where Klahanie Fitness had helped keep locals in shape for 15 years, according to Klahanie Fitness Manager Mike Knick. The gym lost its lease and, despite obvious support from the community and its 3,000
members, closed its doors for good Feb. 26. “It was awful,” Knick said of the last day the gym was open. “It was terrible. I had members crying… people just staying around and hanging out until midnight.” Klahanie Fitness was a true family business, owned by Knick’s stepfather, Ben Beale. Knick met his wife, Flavia, at the gym when she came in to work out. She eventually became a gym employee. Klahanie Fitness was on a month-to-month lease when the Gerrity Group bought the Klahanie Shopping Center about three years ago. Both sides said they tried to work out a year-toyear lease for the gym. Knick said he thought talks were ongoing when he got a letter from center owners telling him he had 30 days to vacate. Knick said he and his family would have signed any lease to keep the gym See GYM, Page 2
Residents file suit over lake trail construction By Tom Corrigan tcorrigan@isspress.com Even as city and county officials claimed progress on issues related to the East Lake Sammamish Trail, a resident group calling itself Sammamish Home Owners Inc. announced it had filed suit Feb. 25 against King County in federal district court in Seattle. The suit asks the court to clarify King County’s property rights with respect to the former railroad line being converted to the East Lake Sammamish Trail. Among other things, the homeowners group wants to know the exact location and width of the easement controlled by King County. “This case is to establish
the rights of the property owners and King County in the corridor along the East Lake Sammamish shoreline,” Liz McCulley, one of several plaintiff attorneys, said in a press release. “We believe this suit will help prevent King County from continuing to ignore the trailside property owners’ rights and result in a great trail that everyone can enjoy,” Tom Hornish, presiSee TRAIL, Page 3 Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER
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