sammamishreview071311

July 13, 2011 Locally owned Founded 1992 50 cents

Council race pits Whitten against Richardson

Photo by Christopher Huber

Hank Klein, Beaver Lake resident and Sammamish Parks Commission chairman, explains how his duck boxes work. The seven that line his and his neighbor’s waterfront provide a safe place for mother ducks to lay eggs and care for their offspring. Klein’s yard is a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Backyards become habitats

By Christopher Huber

Sammamish goes green

When Don Gerend and his wife bought their home on Pine Lake decades ago, they didn’t think much of the list of nearly 70 bird species the previous owner spotted around the property. The lakeside lot set in a wooded area naturally provided some of the basic elements that attract all sorts of wildlife, in particular, birds.

But in 2010, the Gerends decided to make their property more wildlife friendly by creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation.

They started taking seriously the idea that little changes or additions could make their yard safer or more appealing to critters, as well as lessen their impact on the larger ecosystem.

“We realized we have lot of

People in Sammamish have caught the bug.

Around the city, in ways large and small, they are latching on to the national trend and finding ways to “go green.” They are making changes to the way they live and the way they interact with the world to try and decrease the negative impacts they have on the environment, without hurting the quality of their lives. This story is the first in a series that will examine what people in the city are doing to become more ecologically friendly. birds around the house that we didn’t pay a lot of attention to,”

Gerend, who is mayor of Sammamish, said. “I thought, ‘well shoot, if I certify, I should take this seriously.’”

And although he doesn’t consider himself to be quite the avid birder that his home’s previous owner was, Gerend said he loves identifying the birds that eat from the feeders suctioned to the kitchen windows.

The Gerend property is among more than 160 homes in Sammamish that are Certified Wildlife Habitats, as of March 4, when the city was officially certified. Another See HABITAT, Page 6

Kathy Richardson wants to move up from Planning Commission

Nancy Whitten changes her seat but hopes to stay on the Council

By Caleb Heeringa

By Caleb Heeringa

After a year and a half of shaping the nitty gritty details of city policy, Kathy Richardson says she’s ready to have a greater say.

Richardson, a 43-year-old Lake Sammamish shoreline homeowner and current vicechairwoman of the Planning

In March, the Sammamish City Council had reached something of a consensus on a set of regulations for electric car chargers in the city – leave it up to commercial property owners to determine whether they wanted to install the new technology, where to put it and how much

See RICHARDSON, Page 2

See WHITTEN, Page 3

Metro plan could cut city bus routes

By Caleb Heeringa

Sammamish’s already meager bus service could be drastically cut as King County Metro grapples with an estimated $60 million annual defecit in the coming years.

A series of cuts proposed by County Executive Dow Constantine suggest eliminating the 927 route, which runs between Sammamish and Issaquah, as soon as February 2012.

Trip of a lifetime

Teed off at Sahalee

community page 10

sports page 16

Constantine’s proposal also suggests cutting back on the frequency of busses on the 269 route, which runs from the Overlake Park and Ride, through Redmond and Sammamish to Issaquah.

In total, Metro expects to have to cut up to 600,000 hours of bus service, or up to 17 percent of the entire system, in order to make the program break even. Metro gets about 60

Calendar...........14 Classifieds........19 Community.......10 Editorial.............4 Police................7 Sports..............16

See BUS, Page 3

2 •

July 13, 2011

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

Council determining how to sell development rights

By Caleb Heeringa

The Sammamish City Council began grappling with how best to make money from development rights it owns in Town Center without unfairly competing with private citizens or King County.

At their July 5 meeting, the council took a look at a proposal that would have allowed the city to sell up to 240 development rights into the densest portion of Town Center development, just off Southeast Fourth Street.

The plan would use a program called Transfer of Development Rights, where a landowner voluntarily gives up the right to develop their own land and sells those development rights to the owner of a different property. The receiving property owner could then to develop at a denser level than it would otherwise be allowed.

Richardson Continued from Page 1

Commission, is running for the City Council seat being vacated

by Michele Petitti, who is retiring from the council after three terms.

Richardson will face incumbent Councilwoman Nancy Whitten, who switched seats to run against Richardson just before the deadline to file for the election.

Richardson said her time on the commission, which helps craft the details of land use policy that goes before the council, has been rewarding and a good primer for a spot on the council, where she hopes to keep that keen eye for small details with potentially important consequences.

The city has development rights to sell because it is not developing the Sammamish Commons area near City Hall, even though zoning would allow it to do so.

The council has repeatedly discussed selling the rights to private developers around Town Center as a way to make money for the infrastructure – roads and storm water drainage, for example – that will be needed to accommodate the thousands more people and dozens of businesses expected to move into a fully developed Town Center.

But the council, particularly Councilman John James, also worried that by throwing around development rights the city might crowd private citizens and King County out of the development market in the area, which is limited by traffic and environmental considerations. The city

recently approved a transfer of development rights program with King County that would preserve agricultural land and open space just outside city limits, as well as an internal program for citizens around the city.

“We’re monetizing an asset we own,” James said. “I’m hoping we can come up with … a formula that doesn’t have too many entities competing.”

The July 5 proposal contained provisions preventing the county from selling development rights into the densest portion of Town Center, but City Manager Ben Yazici said the city would be taking that provision out after county officials made it clear that they felt that the plan “changed the spirit” of the city’s agreement with the county.

The county is putting forward $375,000 to buy up development rights in preparation for them to

go to Town Center developers in the coming years and is requiring that it get first dibs on the first 20 rights sold in order to make its money back.

Councilwoman Nancy Whitten also raised the question of whether there should be an expiration date on the city’s development rights to prevent a private entity from speculating on their value, potentially robbing the city of potential profit.

The council also debated whether the rights should be a one-to-one swap or if the city should incentivize the program by making every right worth two dwelling units to a prospective developer. With so much fear of overbuilding in Town Center, several on the council voiced support for making it a one-to-one transfer.

During public comment, City Council candidate and Town

Center landowner John Galvin questioned the legality of a program in which the city is gifting itself development rights on property such as Lower Commons Park, where it has no plans to ever develop, and then making a profit by selling those rights.

He pointed out that historically most TDR programs are designed to preserve open space or agricultural land, not act as a municipal money-maker.

“You’re creating a new animal here,” he said. “In time maybe all (development rights) in Sammamish will be kept by the city and if you want to develop your land you come to the city …

This is an unusual digression from what a TDR program should be.”

The council is scheduled to consider the plan again at their July 18 meeting.

“I find those details fascinating,” Richardson said. “Maybe that is a little bit strange to most people.”

Richardson, who got involved in city politics during the yearslong Shoreline Master Plan process, said she wants to engage the public in decision-making in a more substantial way than the normal three-minute public comment period during council meetings.

She said she was impressed by the productivity of the roundtable discussions she and other shoreline homeowners had with city staff and councilmembers during that process; it’s a model she has encouraged while on the commission and something she would like to see the council do more of if she were elected.

She said the council’s recent decision to have “office hours,” where citizens can come in and

chat with council members has been productive and she would continue to push for that sort of lessformal engagement Kathy with the Richardson public.

Richardson, who works for a technology consulting firm that makes custom software for various companies, said she sees herself as “goal-oriented and execution-oriented.”

Though she said she values careful consideration of decisions, she said government tends to talk some things to death instead of moving forward and adjusting policy as necessary.

“When you make a decision, you know pretty soon afterwards whether it was the right decision or not,” she said. “Not making a decision is, in itself, making a decision, and I think people forget that.”

Richardson said she fears the city’s feasibility study for the community center has been too divorced from cost and begat a “Taj Mahal” that the city can’t afford. In particular Richardson said she doesn’t support the idea of including a competitive swimming pool, which is projected to have a $100,000 annual operating deficit alone.

“I’m not convinced that there is enough of a need to put that kind of burden on the taxpayer,” she said.

Though she said she supports building some sort of facility that meets an unmet need in the community, Richardson also questions whether a community

or aquatic center that competes with nearby private businesses is counter-productive to another of the city’s priorities – diversifying the tax base by promoting the growth of local businesses.

“We’re building a community center that will be competing with a pretty significant local business … a long-standing business that creates a lot of revenue and employment for our community,” she said. “Are we robbing Peter to pay Paul? I haven’t heard anyone talking about it in that way – someone needs to ask the question.”

On Town Center, Richardson said she isn’t convinced that the city needs to employ a “Field of Dreams” strategy by investing in infrastructure to entice developers to build anytime soon.

“Let’s wait and see a little bit,” she said. “The economy is a lot different than it was four years ago … In 10 years it might be different – I don’t think it’s something we have to pursue in the short-term.”

Richardson said earlier councils deserve credit for improving the city’s road grid since incorporation in 1999.

And though she’s a regular user of the newly redone portion of East Lake Sammamish Parkway, she said she’s glad that the city has put off the rest of the project.

“It’s way too expensive,” she said. “It’s a picturesque area and it’s a sensitive area – I don’t think it makes sense to turn it into a highway alternative.”

Richardson said she was surprised by Whitten’s decision to switch seats and run against her, but that she “welcomes the challenge” of running against an incumbent.

“I hope people will find me a refreshing alternative,” she said.

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SAMMAMISH REVIEW

Council approves work on Southeast 32nd Street The Sammamish City Council officially approved a series of road improvements designed to slow down traffic on Southeast 32nd Street after the road’s barricade comes down.

The council unanimously approved spending up to $343,000 on a series of

Whitten Continued from Page 1

to charge for it.

Councilwoman Nancy Whitten was not convinced, saying the city should be taking a more proactive role by offering “carrots” to encourage shopping centers and other commercial-type properties to install the budding technology.

She found herself in a somewhat familiar position during that meeting – the lone dissenting vote. Over the last year and a half, Whitten has been by herself on a vote no fewer than six times, on topics as varied as Town Center development standards, the transfer of housing density from the county into the city and against loosening city standards for developing parks facilities next to private property.

Whitten, who is 65 and lives near Pine Lake, is hoping to continue the independent streak for a third term. She is running against shoreline homeowner and Planning Commission vice-

Correction A July 6 article titled “Government helicopters to buzz Eastside” incorrectly described the area being monitored by U.S. Department of Energy helicopters. Most of the radiation monitoring will occur over the Seattle and Bellevue areas.

Although the helicopters may appear over Sammamish, nothing east of Lake Sammamish will be actively monitored.

Clarification The June 29 article about NamesEtc.org should have stated that only some families in some regions of India follow the custom of waiting a few years to name their children. Others name their children at birth.

July 13, 2011 • sidewalks, traffic circles, curb extensions and other pedestrian safety and traffic-slowing measures on Southeast 32nd Street and portions of 220th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 33rd Place just west of the road.

In March the council approved taking down the barricade that had stopped traffic on the road for decades.

The city’s contract with Westwater Construction Company calls for

chairwoman Kathy Richardson in November’s election.

In recent years, Whitten has been a tireless advocate Nancy Whitten for limiting the traffic impacts of Town Center development. She says she is concerned that if developers build to the maximum they are allowed under the Town Center plan, the city will be maxing out the road capacity in the area, potentially bringing the city back to where it was prior to incorporation, when development around the city was put in moratorium and water rights were given out by lottery.

“I’ve been there and seen the faces of people who want to develop the property they’ve owned for years and you have to say, ‘I’m sorry, but you can’t,’” she said.

Even if that Armageddon scenario doesn’t play out, Whitten said she’s concerned the city has set up so many incentives through open space and affordable housing and recently approved transfer of development rights programs that the final product is going to be such a traffic mess that Sammamish residents who don’t live there won’t be able to enjoy it.

$298,000 to be spent, with $45,000 set aside to absorb any potential cost overruns.

City Engineer Jeff Brauns said the contractor hopes to have the road improvements done by the end of August and have the road open to traffic shortly afterwards.

To see a map of the planned road improvements, visit: http://www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/projects/32nd.aspx

“We’re taking cars from 244th (Avenue), which has capacity, and putting them on 228th (Avenue), which doesn’t,” she said. “It’s great to have a heart to the city, but if it’s choked with traffic no one is going to want to go there.”

Whitten currently lives off of 228th Avenue.

Whitten said she is also concerned about Town Center’s requirement that 10 percent of a development’s housing units be “affordable,” in that they can be rented by a family with an annual income of about $54,000.

Having grown up in Chicago, she points to the infamous CabriniGreen public housing project as an example of the downfalls of clustering affordable housing together.

“I question, socially, if we want to pack that much affordable housing in that small of an area,” she said.

On the community center, Whitten said she felt that the current feasibility study has created “false expectations” for a facility that the community cannot afford. She said she was hopeful that the project could be trimmed down and that the city could partner with a non-profit like the YMCA to handle the operation of the facility and hopefully keep operating costs down.

“We’ve been completely divorced from the cost aspect of things,” she said.

Whitten said the community center process reflects the city’s desire to “master plan” every-

thing. Though those projects can be done in phases, she said it creates a perverse incentive to spend money in the future that the city may not have. She said she has set up meetings with city staff in September to try to trim down some previously approved parks master plans, including Sammamish Landing and Beaver Lake Park.

“You’re selling the project on a false basis if you’re including parts that you can never afford,” she said.

Though she has been vocally opposed to spending city money on the project in the past, Whitten said she is glad to hear that supporters of the Reard House may have found a home for the 115-year-old farm house on the soon-to-becity-owned Pigott property.

But she said she still wants to see the project driven by private donations rather than city funds.

“I want to see the pledges in the bank,” she said.

3

Bus Continued from Page 1

percent of its operating budget from sales taxes, which has meant sluggish revenues during the recent recession.

The County Council is currently considering a $20 “congestion reduction charge” to be levied on car tab renewals in the county over the next two years.

The council can approve the fee with a supermajority vote or put it to voters in November with a simple majority.

If approved, that fee is expected to net about $50 million over two years, softening the financial blow.

Metro expects to make service cuts either way, county spokesman Frank Abe said.

The public is invited to weigh in on the proposed cuts at a public hearing in King County Council chambers, on the Tenth floor at 516 Third Avenue in Seattle, at 6 p.m. July 12.

Another public hearing is scheduled for the Burien City Council chambers, 400 S.W. 152nd Street, at 6 p.m. July 21.

Riders can also submit written comments and find more information on the proposed cuts at http://metro.kingcounty.gov/am/f uture/index.html.

Reporter Caleb Heeringa can be reached at 392-6434. ext. 247, or cheeringa@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com.

4 •

July 13, 2011

OPINION

Review editorial

Sammamish Forum

State tourism budget cut

No community center

hurts local economy The state’s elimination of tourism dollars, also known as economic development, flies in the face of wisdom. Each city is left to its own devices, and surely won’t have the impact that comes from sharing an umbrella with the state’s push for tourism.

Washington had already cut its tourism budget, from $7 million to $2 million annually. Further reduction when economic development is the goal makes little sense.

Tourism is our state’s fourth largest industry.

Visitors spent about $15.2 billion here last year, according to state figures. Yet Washington is now the only state in the nation with no money to spend on self-promotion.

A few states that had made similar cuts are upping their marketing budgets again, but have expressed concerns they have already lost market share.

About half the states are reportedly stepping up their marketing budgets to lure tourists and their vacation-happy wallets, knowing that state and local sales tax revenues get pumped up by all that spending. Isn’t that Washington’s aim, too?

Luckily for Washington, tourist-related trade associations have come together to support continuation of the state’s tourism website, but that’s it so far. And Congress has allocated funds to encourage overseas visitors to visit the U.S. Capturing our share of tourism dollars for the state and city helps secure our schools, roads, human service agencies and more. As a state dependant largely on sales taxes, we can’t get enough of folks who come here and fill our coffers, but don’t put children in the schools. When the economy wins, we all win.

Sammamish is not a strong tourist destination, but the Eastside certainly is. The Issaquah Chamber of Commerce has hired a new staffer to direct a tourism effort that will focus on both marketing and improved amenities. The city of North Bend has adopted a new slogan and marketing plan.

Eastside tourists often return and buy homes.

Discovering the beauty of the mountains, the lake, the spawning salmon and our pioneer history leads to new families who want to be part of our future.

Now, that is economic development.

Poll of the week Would cuts to bus service bother you?

A) Yes. I ride it frequently.

B) Yes. On principle I want I pay for.

C) Not enough to cough up a new $20 tax.

D) No. I don’t ride the bus. Ever.

To vote, visit www.SammamishReview.com.

Finally, a brilliant and eloquent warning to the taxpayers of Sammamish by H. Cyrus Oskoui, founder of the Columbia Athletic Clubs. His “Open Letter to Council Members & City of Sammamish” clearly stated what we all know and that is that no government expenditure is ever on budget and revenues never achieve projections.

That is why America has begun its long slide to the pitiful pile of bankrupt countries. In case it has escaped the Councilmembers attention, we are still in the deepest recession ever, despite what the government spins.

Did you read about Bellevue now facing a $6 million hole in its budget? Layoffs are now imminent for city workers.

We moved from Woodinville two years ago and initially were proud of the fiscal conservancy of the Sammamish City Council. Coming from a community run by a dysfunctional council controlled by family members from descendants of founders of Woodinville, we watched them spend $20 million on a “community center” with a pool and a $4 million soccer field.

We heard how revenues from the users would cover the expenses of building the facilities and operating them. None of this ever materialized and now the community center has been turned over to the Y and Woodinville taxpayers still have to support it.

The soccer field may be turned over to the organization that provided the original “pie in the sky” revenues projections, all at a loss of millions.

The result, the dysfunctional group controlled four seats and the citizens replaced all four in November 2008. Now the smart Councilmembers are working to clean up the 20-year mess.

Why is it that when a council sees money in the bank, they always look for ways to spend it on the dumbest ideas? Why doesn’t the council give us all a tax holiday instead of throwing our money down a hole, lost forever? Please stop wasting our time and yours, since we pay you and look for ways

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

to improve traffic, clean up the city and keeping parks clean and safe.

Richard Block Sammamish

Only show helmets The city of Sammamish is doing a great job in providing activities for the youth of Sammamish. The Teen Fest is a wonderful example of this. However, your front page photo of the event in the June 22 edition is an example of irresponsible reporting and shows a poor role model for aspiring young scooter riders.

What is missing from this picture? The helmet required of all participants in the competition.

All of your interior photographs show riders in helmets, why not the cover shot? I know the city has wrestled with making helmets mandatory for all skate park users, but common sense is hard to legislate. Good role models and appropriate media coverage are much more effective at convincing young people to do the right thing.

If the cool older kid doing the flip-twist is wearing a helmet, it becomes cool for the younger kids to wear helmets too. Please ensure that future photos of events like this only show participants in helmets so that our youth see good role models in action.

Glen Beyer Sammamish

Enough with the illegal fireworks Even though fireworks are illegal in Sammamish, many inconsiderate people still shoot them off.

Fireworks are dangerous explosive devices that can easily be mishandled.

Each year, there are always multiple accounts of various injuries, including loss of fingers or hands, or severe burns. People even die when a large firecracker misfires while standing too close to it. Many fires are started, often

Published every Wednesday by

Issaquah Press Inc. All departments can be reached at 392-6434 fax: 391-1541 / email: samrev@isspress.com www.sammamishreview.com 45 Front St. S. / P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, King County, WA 98027 Annual subscription is $30 or $55 for two years Add $15 outside King County / $20 outside state

burning down land and even homes.

Is it really worth all of this risk?

Fireworks can be very disturbing.

People often shoot them off during every night of the entire weekend, well into early morning. People are trying to sleep, and the fireworks make it sound like living in a warzone.

Dogs and other pets get really bothered. My dog gets annoyed or scared, and always barks into the night. Other dogs really freak out.

One dog even got scared, got loose somehow, got hit by a car, and was killed.

The police need to step it up and enforce this law more, especially later in the night when people are trying to sleep in peace. The entire department doesn’t need to be at the city hall fireworks.

Police officers don’t seem to be too busy around here other than occasional domestic violence, vandalism, theft, etc. I am sure they can take a bit of extra time to drive around and search for people illegally shooting off fireworks.

Fireworks are hazardous and annoying, and should not be allowed in any city. If you want to shoot them off, go out of city limits, like into a large field or valley, where there are less people to disturb.

Chris Pribbernow Sammamish

Letters Sammamish Review welcomes letters to the editor on any subject, although priority will be given to letters that address local issues. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or inappropriate content.

Letters should be typed and no more than 350 words.

Include your phone number (for verification purposes only).

Deadline for letters is noon Friday prior to the next issue.

Address letters to: Sammamish Review Letters Box 1328, Issaquah, WA 98027 fax: 391-1541 email: samrev@isspress.com

STAFF Deborah Berto ............Publisher Ari Cetron........................Editor Christopher Huber.......Reporter Caleb Heeringa............Reporter Greg Farrar... .......Photographer Jill Green.........Advertising Mgr. Vickie Singsaas.........Advertising Neil Buchsbaum.......Advertising Terry Sager...............Advertising

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

July 13, 2011 •

Voters will make the decision on building a community center

By Ben Yazici

As expected, the city’s feasibility study on a potential community center has stirred up a lively discussion across Sammamish.

Some residents are enthused about the possibility of swimming, splashing, running, exercising, meeting and perhaps even eating in a centrally located facility the community could call its own. Others say tax dollars shouldn’t be used, especially during an economic downturn, to build a community/aquatics center that would compete with private providers.

This is the debate we wanted, and it’s exactly what we’re getting. Thank you for offering your thoughts and concerns at public meetings, in focus groups, and on the pages of the Sammamish Review.

Ultimately, the “build/no build” decision will be left up to the voters. If the current study shows that a facility is, indeed,

EstatesAtPineLake.com $800,000 - $1,190,000

feasible, the City Council believes the choice should be made by those who would foot the bill.

To promote the flinty-eyed Ben Yazici realism that makes for good community decisions, the city will continue its vigorous distribution of facts. In our city newsletters, and in all our public presentations, we will shun advocacy, concentrate on those facts, and provide good-faith estimates when facts are unavailable.

To that end, here are some important truths: ◆ No price tag has been determined. If the scope of the facility is narrowed as part of the public and City Council process, the cost will be lower than many of the published figures.

ClassicLoreeEstates.com Pending

BuildOnPineLakeToday.com $574,900

ToltHillViews.com $559,000

SpiritridgeInBellevue.com $465,000

SpiritridgeTownhomes.com Pending

◆ Nobody on the City Council or city staff would consider a $500,000 annual subsidy for operation of the facility. That figure, featured in a recent headline, would kill the deal before it ever got to the ballot. ◆ A recent “open letter to the city” published in the Sammamish Review contained a math error. It divided the cost of a community center by 10,000, the assumed number of households in the city. There are actually 15,000 households in Sammamish.

The City Council will likely See YAZICI, Page 8

5

6 •

July 13, 2011

City will study stormwater problems The Sammamish City Council approved a study of how to alleviate regular flooding issues in the Inglewood and Tamarack neighborhoods.

The council unanimously approved spending up to $90,000 on “pre-design” work on a comprehensive storm water system in the neighborhoods.

The city hopes to have the work done by the end of the year, at which time the council will decide whether to go ahead with an updated system, which has been projected to cost several million dollars.

Habitat Continued from Page 1

four farms, one church, eight schools, eight city parks and four buildings or well sites at the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District are also certified.

While having that many properties officially recognized as wildlife friendly seems just a drop in the bucket compared to the roughly 15,000 homes in Sammamish, city leaders and national conservationists agree it represents a shifting mindset among residents.

To many leaders, “going green,” planting native plants or creating habitat for animals isn’t just a trend or fad that will wear off. While its popularity has ebbed and flowed in past decades, the idea that people can live more in harmony with nature is beginning to stick, even in a rapidly urbanizing place like Sammamish.

“I think we’re better off. One, it brings awareness to citizens,” Gerend said. “Getting people to look at nature and think about the impact you have in everything you do makes for a better society.”

In addition to awareness, he said it creates an overall sense of pride in the community.

“This is one more step in environmental awareness and sensitivity,” Gerend said.

Elaine McEnery, the driving force behind the Sammamish Community Wildlife Habitat Project, echoed that sentiment early on in the process of certification.

The most important aspect of this is “being aware of what we have at risk in our own back yard,” McEnery said in late 2009, when only 72 families had certified their properties. “The more you learn, the more you want to protect. The more I have learned about it, the more passionate I’ve become about it.”

In your own yard Raising awareness and pro-

SAMMAMISH REVIEW For decades, both areas subsisted on a patchy network of ditches installed by developers with little thought for where the water was going, senior stormwater engineer Eric LaFrance said.

This led to numerous instances of ditches and culverts draining into vacant lots and, during large rain storms, into neighbors’ basements and garages.

It has also created erosion issues in the neighborhoods, which are on steep slopes above Lake Sammamish.

City Manager Ben Yazici said it will be up to the council on whether a potential stormwater system would be paid for entirely by neighborhood residents,

through tax dollars from around the city or some combination of the two.

Sheriff’s Office move to City Hall approved by county The King County Council approved a lease agreement July 5 that will move up to 35 sheriff’s deputies and administrative staff to the second floor of Sammamish City Hall.

Administrative Services Director Mike Sauerwein said the city is still coordinating the move-in schedule, but predicts that deputies will be working out

of the building sometime this fall.

To save money and adjust to recent annexations of their patrol areas, the King County Sheriff’s Office is consolidating its Kenmore and Maple Valley precinct command centers into a centrally located single office in Sammamish City Hall.

In March King County Sheriff Sue Rahr assured the City Council that the office would mostly be used for administrative tasks and that it would be rare for sheriff’s deputies to be coming or going with their sirens blazing.

As part of the restructuring, the sheriffs will spend more time in their coverage areas rather than doing daily commutes back

2 Easy How-To projects for your yard MALLARD DUCK NEST Materials: pond, lake or wetland, wire fencing, wire cutters, pliers, hose clamps, 10-foot-long plastic/fiberglass pipe 1.5- inch diameter, hay/pine mulch, 3-foot by 3-foot hardware cloth, spool soft wire.

Instructions: ◆ Cut a piece of wire fence and make a funnel with a diameter of 26 inches at the top. ◆ Secure the bottom of the wire funnel to the pole using the hose clamps. ◆ Place the wire cloth in the wire frame. Fold the edges over and secure using the soft wire. ◆ Line the basket with hay. ◆ Sink the structure in the sediment. The basket should sit about three to 5 feet above the water.

SQUIRREL-PROOF BIRD FEEDER Materials: rope, 2-inch diameter pieces of PVC pipe about 8 feet long, handsaw and a birdfeeder.

Instructions: ◆ Using the handsaw, cut the PVC pipe into 1-foot-long pieces (you should have eight when finished). ◆ Tie one end of the rope to a pole or tree about six-feet off the ground. ◆ String on four pieces of the PVC pipe, then hang the bird feeder and string the remaining four pieces of PVC on the rope. ◆ Tie the loose end to another tree or pole. The individual pieces of pipe should spin freely, thus preventing squirrels from reaching the bird feeder.

Source: Animal Planet: Backyard Habitat show page moting sense of community are key drivers in the never-ending quest to balance needs of human development and environmental sensitivity.

But David Mizejewski, a National Wildlife Federation naturalist and host of Animal Planet’s Backyard Habitat show, highlighted the core issues addressed when someone chooses to create a backyard habitat.

“What better place to connect with nature than in your backyard,” Mizejewski said. “It’s a richer, more alive place for the people that live there.”

Even if they don’t pay the $20 and go through the hassle of officially certifying their yard, residents who cultivate wildlife friendly gardens and yards inevitably use fewer lawn chemicals or pesticides, which would otherwise trickle into streams or lakes. What people do with their yards has a ripple effect on the surrounding ecosystem, he said.

“It feeds into a greater conservation consciousness. It gets them thinking about local wildlife,” Mizejewski said. “I think a lot of people are getting

it.”

Something as simple as planting native flora can help the local animals to thrive.

Mizejewski said a gardener can plant a perennial bed and butterflies and birds will immediately take interest, and likely become regular visitors.

“Their lifecycles are in sync with each other,” he said.

More and more people are aware of this, so the garden industry, through the American Beauties program — has begun to play an integral role in helping people create more natural, native gardens that help surrounding wildlife.

“It starts with plants,” Mizejewski said. “It doesn’t take long for you to see an impact.

When people see the direct impact and direct result of their actions, it’s huge. It really is that first step to conservation.”

In Sammamish, that action led to being the 12th city named a Certified Wildlife Habitat in Washington. In a large part, that was the result of the efforts of individuals.

“National Wildlife Federation

certifies, but the local organization is the immediate impetus that encourages people. That gets the ball rolling and keeps the ball rolling,” said Hank Klein, Beaver Lake resident and Parks Commission chairman.

Klein, Mizejewski and Gerend acknowledged there’s a long way to go for the trendy movement to turn into an established element of the national psyche.

Historically, the “go green” movement has involved short-lived fads, the most recent of which peaked around 2008.

But those enduring qualities, such as reducing yard chemical use, planting native plants, hanging bird feeders and nesting boxes have continued since the early 1970s, Mizejewski said.

“We’ve really ingrained that this is an important part of what it means to be an American gardener,” he said. “There’s still a long way to go. But we’re moving in the right direction and making this a permanent concept in the idea of gardening.”

One doesn’t necessarily have to overhaul their garden, though.

It’s as simple as installing a cou-

and forth from precincts.

Most of the office space will be use by detectives and other administrative staff working a roughly 9 to 5 type of shift.

In March, the council unanimously approved a 30-year lease for the space.

The city has agreed to pay nearly $780,000 to build a fenced 36-stall parking lot behind the building and finish interior construction on the 5,200 square feet of second-floor office space, which has sat unused since the building opened in 2006.

The lease calls for the county to pay around $104,000 a year in rent, putting the city on schedule to recoup their costs in about eight years.

Ecological footprint How many earths would it take if everyone lived like the average Sammamish resident?

If everyone in the world lived like the average Sammamish resident, it would take the resources of about 6.25 Earths to sustain, according to the Center for Sustainable Economy’s www.MyFootprint.org.

These results assume the average member of a fourperson household lives in a 3,000-square-foot home on a quarter-acre lot, earns about $120,000 per year, uses electricity and natural gas to heat the home, drives their SUV 12,000 miles and flies up to 5,000 miles, eats an assortment of meat, grains and veggies throughout the week, shops almost exclusively at stores like Safeway and QFC or eats out regularly, eats two large meals and two or three light or medium snacks per day and recycles most of their recyclable materials.

The results also consider the average resident uses some energy-efficient appliances and lights and owns non-second-hand furniture made mostly of non-recycled or organic materials. ple of nesting box for ducks or a birdfeeder.

The point is to help preserve an area that belonged to the native wildlife long before people built houses in Sammamish, Klein said.

“I think we’re better off that way because we’re making sure we’re as much in community with nature as we can be,” he said. “Wouldn’t it be nice if we had more like three to five thousand households certified? It’s a start. It’s a young movement, but I think it’s one that’s growing.”

Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

POlice Blotter Where’s the party?

A 19-year-old Bellevue man was arrested on suspicion of minor in possession of alcohol after pounding on the door of a Sammamish resident at 5 a.m.

June 29.

The resident was awakened by the man’s insistent knocking and called police. Police found the highly intoxicated man nearby, who told police he came to the home, located on the 22300 block of Southeast 32nd Street, because he heard there was a party going on. It’s unclear if he was late for the party or mistaken about the location. The man refused to submit to a breath test and was arrested and booked into Issaquah Jail.

Beer, pills and pot A 19-year-old Issaquah woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and then transported to Harborview Medical Center after apparently having a seizure on the way to jail June 30.

A Sammamish officer pulled the woman over near the corner of Southeast 33rd Street and 228th Avenue Southeast at around 3:20 a.m. after witnessing the woman’s car hit the curb in a roundabout. The woman smelled of alcohol and performed poorly on field sobriety tests. She was arrested and admitted to drinking several beers before driving. The officer searched her purse and found an amphetamine pill that had been prescribed to someone else and a small baggie of marijuana.

The woman became highly agitated in the back of the officer’s patrol car and began having what appeared to be a seizure.

Eastside Fire and Rescue crews were called and said the woman appeared to be fine, but officers elected to have her transported to the hospital as a precaution. She was given a blood draw at the hospital to determine whether she was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

July 13, 2011 •

mission.

The landlord told police he did not wish to have the man charged with a crime, but wanted the incidents documented because he is planning to evict the tenant.

Driving high A 21-year-old Issaquah man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana after being pulled over for driving close to 60 mph on Issaquah-Pine Lake Road at around 10:40 p.m. June 30.

The officer smelled marijuana on the man’s breath and the man performed poorly on field sobriety tests. He admitted to having had “one hit” of marijuana about an hour beforehand. He was taken to the hospital for a blood test and then booked into Issaquah Jail.

Poltergeist A resident on the 1400 block of 205th Avenue Southeast called police after finding the back window of his vehicle broken out June 26. An officer arrived and noticed that most of the broken glass was outside of the car and some of the window’s safety glass was protruding out of the break in the window, leading the officer to believe that the window had been broken from the inside due to a manufacturer’s defect on the 2011 vehicle. Nothing was taken from the vehicle.

Bank fraud A Sammamish woman reported that someone had charged $340 worth of REI merchandise to her credit card June 27. The victim is unsure how someone could have obtained her credit information.

Death investigation Police were called to the 800 block of 238th Avenue Northeast after a 99-year-old woman was

Domestic violence A Sammamish woman in her 40s was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly attempting to stab her son, in his 20s, with a steak knife during an argument June 28.

The son and a tenant in the home called police after the highly intoxicated woman became angry at the son for “occupying her space.” The two got into a wrestling match, during which the woman allegedly intentionally burned her son with a lit cigarette. The son also reported that his mother threw a steak knife across the table at him.

The mother was found asleep outside reading a book and denied the attack. Based on witness testimony, the son’s visible injuries and the woman’s history of violence while intoxicated, police arrested her and booked her into jail on assault charges.

Vandalism A water tank on the 3400 block of East Beaver Lake Drive Southeast was painted with graffiti June 24. Police documented the graffiti, which was written in black spray paint and juvenile in nature.

was inside the backpack. No one witnessed the theft.

Textual assault

A Sammamish resident had a purse stolen out of their vehicle as it was parked at East Sammamish Park between 2:15 and 5:30 p.m. June 21. Two check books and several credit and debit cards were among the items stolen.

Witnesses reported seeing a man in his 30s driving a yellow or green motorcycle weaving through the parking lot during that same time and suspect the man may have been involved in the theft.

A Sammamish woman called police after receiving harassing text messages from an unknown number June 24. The woman told police she suspects that the messages were coming from her ex-fiance, with whom she has a no-contact order. The case remains under investigation.

DUI A 26-year-old Tukwila man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving without his required ignition interlock device June 25 after being pulled over for driving nearly 60 mph in a 45 mph zone.

An officer pulled the man over just before 3 a.m. June 25 on the 2500 block of 228th Avenue Northeast. The man smelled of alcohol and struggled to locate his driver’s license in his wallet, once spilling its contents on his lap. The man’s license had been suspended and he was required to have an ignition interlock device due to an earlier DUI incident, but there was not one in the car.

The man performed poorly on field sobriety tests and gave a portable breath test of .14, over the .08 legal limit for driving.

According to the police report, the man, who is black, was argumentative during the arrest, accusing the white officer of targeting him and calling him “Officer Racist.” The man was booked into King County Jail.

Smash and grab

An officer on patrol found a spray-painted diagram of a naked, urinating man in the middle of the road near the corner of Southeast 32nd Way and 238th Avenue Southeast June 24.

The picture was drawn in sil-

A Kirkland man had his truck window broken as he was parked near the Beaver Lake Park sports fields June 25. Someone broke the window and took a black backpack sometime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Little of value

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Not your home A resident on the 22600 block of Southeast 4th Street called police June 26 to report that one of his tenants had taken a quart of oil from his vehicle without asking.

The landlord told police that he had found the tenant, who rents a room in his home, smoking marijuana in his garage, though he is not supposed to have access to that area of the home. The landlord later confronted the tenant about a quart of oil he had taken without per-

found dead of apparent natural causes June 25.

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Road rage Police were called to the Safeway parking lot at around 3 p.m. June 22 after an apparent road rage incident. Witnesses reported that a 26-year-old Sammamish woman became angry when she had to stop for a 27-year-old Sammamish man who was backing out of a parking spot.

The woman then proceeded to follow the man around the parking lot, yelling at him. The woman also allegedly bumped the man with her car during the argument. Both parties simultaneously called police.

The woman told officers that she feared for her life because of the man and his passenger’s aggressive behavior, but then added that ‘they are scrawny teenage meth users and I could kick their asses,’ according to the report. She showed officers a scratch on her car that she said the men had made, though police noted that the scratch was covered in dust and pollen and appeared to be old.

The men told police they did not wish to pursue vehicular assault charges and officers advised the woman that in the future calling police may be See BLOTTER, Page 9

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SAMMAMISH REVIEW

Happy Fourth of July

Photo by Talee Whitehorn

Elliot Moulton carries an American flag while community members enjoy food and festivities at the annual July 4 pancake breakfast at the Second Ward Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.

President Nixon’s brother coming to Sammamish Edward Nixon, the last surviving brother of former President Richard Nixon, will visit Sammamish July 14.

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King County executive plans upgrade to online services King County Executive Dow Constantine intends to increase accessibility to county services online.

The proposal outlines priorities to automate the property tax appeals process, enhance the county website to provide better access to services, expand public alert capabilities, create a location-based service directory and improve accessibility of public criminal case statuses.

Constantine sent the legislation to the County Council on June 29.

“In a tech-savvy region like the Pacific Northwest, we are always pursuing ways to allow government to communicate with people using digital formats,” he said in a news release.

“We can offer exceptional customer service by making our online services more accessible.”

Staffers from Constantine’s office briefed the council’s

talking about his book, The Nixons, a memoir published in 2009 about the Nixon family. It focuses on what Edward Nixon describes as an ordinary family striving to make a positive difference in the world.

He currently serves as chairman of the Pyron Solar Advisory Board in San Diego, Calif. He is president of Nixon World Enterprises, Inc. Bellewood Apartments is located at 3710 Providence Point Drive S.E., in Issaquah.

Government Accountability and Oversight Committee on June 29. Issaquah’s representative, Councilwoman Kathy Lambert, leads the committee.

“It’s imperative for local government to use efficient twoway, online communication,” Bill Kehoe, county chief information officer, said in a news release. “The county is always searching for opportunities to ensure our services are accessible and easy to use.”

Officers to crack down on speeders Prepare to slow down — or else — on local roadways soon as law enforcement officers throughout King County participate in a statewide speeding crackdown.

The countywide Target Zero Task Force is coordinating the extra speed patrols for the July 15 to Aug. 7 effort.

Driving faster than posted speed limits may not seem like a big deal, but more than 40 percent of fatal crashes in Washington involve a speeding driver. The average speeding ticket in Washington is $156, but

Yazici Continued from Page 5

receive the final feasibility study report in September.

Councilmembers will then decide whether to shelve the idea or put it up for a public vote. If a proposed community center does reach the ballot, I hope the hard facts, blended with your personal values, will lead you to a clear decision.

as speed increases, so does the fine.

“Speeding is a major contributing factor in fatal and serious injury crashes in Washington, and therefore, is a priority of Target Zero,” Lowell Porter, Washington Traffic Safety Commission director, said in a statement. “Well-publicized and highly visible speed enforcement is a proven combination that reduces fatal crashes.

Obeying speed limits is something everyone can do to support highway safety in Washington.”

The commission is also encouraging motorists to take a quiz at www.considerthisyourwarning.com to learn more about traffic safety and speeding dangers.

Write us Sammamish Review welcomes letters to the editor on any subject, although we give priority to local issues. Letters should be no more than 350 words. The deadline for letters is noon on the Friday before the publication.

Send letters to: SamRev@isspress.com.

Please call City Hall (425-2950500) or go to the city website (www.ci.sammamish.wa.us) if you have questions. In the meantime, thank you again for participating in this broad community conversation.

With accurate information at everyone’s fingertips, I’m confident Sammamish residents will make a wise and realistic decision.

The writer is the Sammamish City Manager.

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

Blotter Continued from Page 7

more productive than confronting someone over their driving faux pas.

Death investigation Police were called after an 80-year-old Sammamish woman died in her sleep June 23. The woman’s husband found her unresponsive and called 911. Aid crews were unable to revive her.

The woman’s husband said the death was not expected. The woman had been on blood pressure medication but had no other outward signs of medical problems. The case was turned over to the King County Medical Examiner.

Early Fourth of July Police on patrol found an intoxicated, underage man asleep in his vehicle on the corner of Northeast 10th Street and 232nd Place Northeast at around 1 a.m.

July 3. The 20-year-old Sammamish man was wearing only boxers and a white t-shirt and did not wake up when the officer pounded on the window of the car.

Aid crews were called and were finally able to wake the man up. For about five minutes the man was unable to tell officers his name, where he was or what he had drank earlier that night. He later admitted to drinking “8 or 9 beers and a bunch of vodka” at a friend’s house, though he declined to say where the friend lived.

Officers continued to question whether the man was under the influence of other drugs, but the man denied that he was. Police decided that the man was unable to care for himself and should be sent to Overlake Hospital for detox. The man became combative and had to be physically moved to a gurney to be transported. He then advised police and aid crews to “lawyer up” and that they would be sued for the way they were treating him. He was driven to the hospital and told to expect a court date in the mail for minor in possession of alcohol.

Secret admirer A Sammamish woman reported June 30 that someone had

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been leaving flowers on her doorstep over the last two weeks.

She told police that she had no idea who could have left the flowers and that she was concerned that she was being stalked.

Euthanasia Police were called to put down a deer that had been injured in a traffic collision near Sammamish City Hall June 30.

An officer found the deer with multiple broken limbs and shot the deer once in the head. Public Works was called to dispose of the carcass.

Shouldn’t be driving Police cited a 33-year-old Issaquah man for driving with a suspended license at around 2 a.m. June 30.

An officer pulled the man over near the Madison Apartments for driving 47 mph in a 35 mph zone and discovered that his license had been suspended for previous traffic incidents. He was cited and released.

Burglary A Sammamish man reported that someone had broken into a vacant home he was in the process of selling and taken a subwoofer for a surround sound system June 28.

The man got a call from his realtor who said that he found the front door open and the subwoofer missing from the home, located on the 2900 block of 266th Avenue Southeast. While the man was waiting for a locksmith to arrive to re-key the home, a large black truck pulled into the driveway.

A woman the homeowner did not recognize got out and asked him if he was there to look at the

July 13, 2011 • home and said she was a realtor.

When the man related that he was the homeowner, the woman promptly got back into her truck and left. The homeowner believes the woman stole the subwoofer and was returning for the appliances in the home.

9

ISSAQUAH - SAMMAMISH

Love hurts Police were called after a messy break-up led to allegations of theft July 2.

The male told police that he and his girlfriend had broken up recently and that in the process of the girlfriend moving out, $1,100 and a gold necklace had gone missing.

The girlfriend denied stealing the money or jewelry and accused the boyfriend of ransacking her belongings looking for the items. Police documented the incident.

Old ammo An Arizona man came to the Sammamish Police Department July 1 to turn in old ammunition that belonged to his recently deceased father.

The ammo boxes were for a Remington Kleanbore 30-30 Winchester. The man wanted to dispose of the ammo safely.

Off-roading Staff at Eastlake High School reported that someone had ripped a small oak tree out of the ground during the early morning hours July 1.

Tire marks seemed to indicated that someone drove over the tree, tearing it out of the ground.

The case remains under investigation.

Items in the Police Blotter come from Sammamish Police reports.

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PEOPLE • SCENIC • ANIMALS Judging criteria: Originality, composition, lighting & strength of Issaquah/Sammamish identity.

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10 •

July 13, 2011

COMMUNITY

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

Tree disposal funds scouts’ trip to Yellowstone

By Christopher Huber

closer together, separate them from the daily distractions of On the second day of their computers and games and test annual High Adventure trip, the their outdoors skills, said Lance boys of Scout Troop 500 floated Olson, the Venture Scout leader past a moose as it crossed the who led the trip.

Henry’s Fork River.

“It’s the highlight of their year.

The Sammamish Scouts This is what the younger scouts recently returned from five days look forward to,” he said. “We in Yellowstone National Park. look for things that will get them Thanks to the funds earned durout of their comfort zone. Some ing Boy Scouts’ annual Christmas of those boys had never really tree collection event in January, done that.” the dozen or so 14- to 18-yearAfter a 12-hour drive, the boys olds and a few set up camp in parents spent “We look for things that Yellowstone. their days fishThey had to will get them out of their keep food ing, camping and trekking away from comfort zone.” the backcountheir tents (to – Lance Olson, try to places keep the bears Scout leader – like Lake away) and had Shoshone, conto entertain sidered the themselves country’s largest backcountry with simple conversation and lake not reached by road. tasks like fire building, Lance “I thought it was really fun,” Olson said. said Caleb Olson, 15. “It was nice “I’ve noticed that it’s challengto kind of get away from ing for them,” he said. “They Washington and see some of the have to deal with boredom in a wildlife.” productive way.”

While meant to be a fun While hiking the backcountry, adventure, the annual trip — the Scouts had to be prepared for they pick a new destination each an encounter with a bear, bison time — seeks to bring the boys or moose, Lance Olson said.

Photo by: Lance Olson

The Sammamish Scouts hike into the Grebe Lake backcountry, roughly 25 miles away from the location of a July 6 bear attack.

They carried pepper spray.

Hikers often attach bells to shoelaces or a walking stick or

make noise or yell when approaching blind spots on a trail.

“That had them on their toes,” See SCOUT, Page 11

Symphony volunteers receive Golden Baton award

By Monisha Gulabani

They also went door-to-door collecting donations and recruited Sammamish Symphony volun- new volunteers. Venter also creteers Colleen Venter and Stephen ated posters, brochures and proSteck are the youngest recipients grams, while Steck publicized the of the annual Golden Baton auction on the Sammamish award for service to the symphoSymphony’s website. ny. Recognized because of their “They are the hardest working commitment to event planning volunteers the symphony has and publicity, Steck and Venter ever had,” said Myrl Venter. organized the symphony’s annual Longtime Sammamish resifundraising dents, Steck “They are the hardest auction this and Venter season. have known working volunteers the Encouraged each other symphony has ever had.” since they by her mother, Myrl attended – Myrl Venter, Venter, who is Beaver Lake Symphony member – the vice presiMiddle School dent of the and Skyline symphony’s board, Colleen High School together. For them, Venter began volunteering along volunteering with the symphony with Steck in 2003. was “a permanent after school Although they initially worked commitment,” stated Myrl as greeters for concerts, Steck Venter. Steck and Venter will get and Venter volunteered at their married this August. Steck has first auction in 2007. just been named webmaster, and “I designed the invitation for hopes to design a new website for that auction as a teenager,” said the symphony in the coming year.

Colleen Venter.

“We plan to continue working This past year, as part of the on the auction committee and auction committee, Steck and hope to increase the number of Venter chose the auction’s volunteers involved in next year’s theme, “an evening in Paris.” event,” said Venter.

Contributed

Stephen Steck (left) and Colleen Venter (right) were presented with the Golden Baton by R. Joseph Scott of the Sammamish Symphony for their volunteer work for the group.

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

Gonzaga University announces dean’s list Thirteen Sammamish residents made the dean’s list at Gonzaga University this spring by maintaining GPA’s between 3.5 and 3.69.

The students were Allyson Archer, Mercedes Bass, Graeme Erickson, Kathleen Kading, Natalia Persegani, Megan Suter, Greggory Busch, Matthew Cristallo, Jessica Daniels, Luke Koch, Kara Moller, Craig Sadowski and Annie Worman.

Gonzaga University announces president’s list Twenty Sammamish residents made the president’s list at Gonzaga University this spring by maintaining GPA’s of at least 3.7.

The students were Rebecca Carlson, Kellie Shreve, Matthew Neighbors, Chadwick Gray, Andrew Pollom, Keagan Strong, Jeffrey Kettman, Jordan Brunner, Nigel McClung, Reece Allawatt, Evan Anderson, Emily Wilson, Samantha Ross, Kylie Neale, Greg Postlewaite, Evan Bull, Lauren Burns, Mikkel Kurian, Kayla Galbraith and Julie Daniels.

Pepperdine announces dean’s list Emily Chu and Kathryn Malone, of Sammamish, made the dean’s list at Pepperdine University, in Malibu, Calif. To qualify, students must be in the top 10 percent of their class and maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

July 13, 2011 •

11

Scout Continued from Page 10

he said.

In fact, the troop hiked backcountry trails about 25 miles from where a mother grizzly bear mauled a California man to death July 6.

Caleb remembered catching a trout in the river after a moose crossed just 20 feet from the group along the shore. Not only did they get the thrill of a close encounter with wildlife, but the boys enjoyed the first fish he caught, cleaned and cooked on the spot.

“It was actually a pretty big fish,” said Caleb, an incoming sophomore at Eastlake. “No one thought we would catch anything.”

In another instance, an osprey dove into the water for a fish within feet of Scout Dillon Jones while he fished, said his father, Jeff Jones.

Although Caleb and many of the teen Scouts had been on similar trips before — they did a weeklong, 50-mile backcountry Cascades hike in 2010 — Caleb said he learned to be more prepared for things like adverse weather.

On one of the days, a sudden

Photo by: Lance Olson

Caleb Olson, 15, goes fishing on Yellowstone Lake during the Boy Scout Troop 500 High Adventure trip to Yellowstone National Park June 27-July 2. storm dumped rain and wind that caused many burnt, dead trees to break and fall on the trail. Caleb had to use a plastic bag to stay dry, he said.

“To watch them have to dig deep and work through being

tired, it’s good to see they can do that. And it’s good for them to learn they can do that,” said Paul Lovell, a parent who went on the trip. “I’ve known many of these kids most of their lives. It’s fun to watch them go from being

squirrelly kids to start to see a glimmer of adulthood in them.

As a father, it gives you hope.”

Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext.

242, or chuber@isspress.com.

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July 13, 2011

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

Barbara Martin is state PTA secretary

Firefighters honor local students

By Christopher Huber

Contributed

The International Association of Firefighters Local 2878 — the union representing Eastside Fire & Rescue Firefighters and support staff — granted scholarships to local students. The union has been presenting scholarships to students who attend public high schools inside the EFR coverage area since 1999. This year’s recipients from Sammamish schools were Gretchen Kayser of Eastlake High School and Theodora Staikos of Skyline High School. Each girl received a $500 scholarship.

UW graduation The following students from Sammamish graduated from the University of Washington this June. This is a partial list. Some student’s names were printed in previous weeks.

Eric Michael Braun, B.S. in aeronautical and astronautical engineering; Ashley Alexa Brown, B.A. in business administration; Mary Elizabeth Bucy, B.A. in English; Theresa Susan Bucy, B.A. in business administration; John Devachariam Bushey, B.S. in chemical engineering; Arianna Michelle

Caldwell, B.A. in economics; Daniel Charles Castro, B.S. in psychology; Zachary Jeffrey Charat, B.A. in business administration; Alexander Wiley Chauhan, B.A. interdisciplinary visual arts; Joseph Robert Chemis, B.S. applied and computational mathematical sciences, mathematics and statistics; Gene Hun Choi, B.A. in economics; Jamie Long Sang Chu, B.S. in environmental health; Marissa Yu-Ting Chu, B.A. in society, ethics and human behavior; Travis Benjamin Coster, B.A. in political science; Geoffrey David

Coyner, B.S. in economics; Sarah Ann Dove, B.S. in psychology; Kristin Leigh Eide, B.A. in communication and law, societies and justice; Jared Michael Fagan, B.A. in business administration; Michael Dale Fisher, B.S. in neurobiology; Gregory Stinson Geiger, B.A. in communication; Henry Hee Giang, B.A. in psychology; Cody James Habben, B.A. in history; Lauren Ashleigh Hallas, B.A. in landscape architecture; Christina Jean Hanke, B.A. in communication and politSee UW, Page 13

After 10 years of volunteering with PTAs in the Lake Washington School District, Barbara Martin decided she needed a new challenge.

So the Sammamish resident aimed to get involved in higher-level leadership in the parent-teacher relationship arena. While simply being nominated to serve on the state-level PTA was a sufficient honor, she said, earning a spot among executive leadership that affects state and, sometimes, federal education policy was a thrill.

Martin, who led PTAs at Redmond Junior High, Redmond High School, Rockwell Elementary and Sammamish’s Carson Elementary, was recently elected secretary of the Washington State PTA organization. She’s been on the job since June 1 and so far loves it, she said.

“The opportunity to serve at the state level thus far has been exciting and humbling at the same time,” she said in an email to the Review. “To actually be elected by your peers, a very savvy group of men and women, is an experience like no other.

Now, after a month in office, the work has truly begun and there is an enormous amount to be done by the board in its entirety.”

As secretary of the board of directors — a volunteer position — Martin will serve the remaining Barbara Martin year of a twoyear term once held by now-board president Novella Fraser. Martin was unopposed (voted in unanimously) and will be eligible for nomination for another term, if board members so choose, she said.

Bill Williams, the state PTA’s executive director, noted Martin’s personable attitude and superb organizational skills.

“She’s a delight to work with; very well organized, thoughtful,” he said. She’s got a great sense of humor and works well with people.”

And while Martin will help tackle dozens of pressing issues schools and governments face, she is particularly passionate about teacher pay. She said teachers don’t get paid enough.

“I just keep going back to where would we all be if not for our teachers, at any level?”

Martin said. “They do more with less, year after year.”

Working with the state to fund basic education is another issue about which Martin advocates especially hard. She would like to see local levies actually funding the supplemental programs they were intended for, not paying for math curriculum or teacher salaries.

“Our state gets away with a lot See MARTIN, Page 13

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SAMMAMISH REVIEW

UW Continued from Page 12

ical science; Thomas Grant Hardy, B.A. in business administration; Kristin Joyce Harper, B.A. in economics and anthropology; Ryan Kenneth Hebert, B.A. in history; Daniel Aamon Heckeroth, B.A. in social sciences

Martin Continued from Page 12

on the backs of local levies (i.e. tax payers like you and me) and all of the PTAs across our state, both of which were originally meant for enrichment,” Martin said.

But, with one year to prove

July 13, 2011 •

and communication; Erik Robert Henricksen, B.S. in psychology; Jacob Michael Hines, B.S. in construction management; Kirk Ryan Hovenkotter, B.A. in community, environment and planning; Gibran Hyder, B.S. in biology; Alexander Benjamin Johnson, B.A. in business administration; Tanor Jeffrey Johnson, B.A. in business administration; Sydney Marie Johnston, B.A. in commu-

nication; Kimberly Marie Judge, B.A. in society, ethics and human behavior; Laura Marie Julich, B.S. in chemical engineering; Samantha Marisa Kandler, B.A. in Scandinavian area studies and anthropology; Todd Russell Keithly, B.A. in philosophy; Kelsey Jean Keizur, B.A. in history; Tyler Lawrence Kennedy, B.S. in chemistry; Alexandra Lynn Kenyon, B.A. in English.

her worth at the state level, Martin was clear that she ultimately wants to focus on facilitating strong communication between the board and the state PTA’s 143,000 members.

“As a secretary in this association at any level, I believe it is key to keep a constant and effective flow of communication,” Martin said.

In the meantime, Martin will

help the organization work with state legislators to reform the education funding system and will continue training local PTA leaders.

“She’s a great advocate for kids and that’s what we’re all about,” Williams said.

Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.

13

14 •

calendar

July 13, 2011

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

July

Events

Dance at the park

13

Creepin’ Critters Performance, an educational and interactive performance that uses puppets, stories and songs to teach children and adults how common arthropods, such as spiders and ladybugs, help the garden, for children and families, at 5:30 p.m. July 13 at the Sammamish Library.

3 10 17 24 31

4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 28

2011 1 2 8 9 15 16 22 23 29 30

At the library

16

Shakespeare in the Park. The Wooden O Shakespeare Company will present “Macbeth” at 7 p.m. July 16 at Pine Lake Park.

Musik Nest, for toddlers, 7 p.m. July 14.

The Magnificent Magic and Mystery Tour, come aboard the mighty airship Parnassus, marvel at mysterious feats of magic and relive the adventures of Commodore Payne as he attempts to traverse the globe in under 80 days, for children 5 and older with an adult, 1 p.m. July 16 at the Sammamish Library.

Pajama Story Time, for ages 2-6 with an adult, 7 p.m. July 18 and 25.

Spanish Story Time, for children 3 and older with an adult, 6 p.m. July 19 and 26.

The Mother Daughter Book Club, for girls ages 10-13 and their mothers, will discuss “Home of the Brave” by Katherine Applegate, 3 p.m. July 16.

19

The Zambini Brothers Wonderland Tea Party Puppet show is from noon1 p.m. July 19 at the Beaver Lake Lodge.

The Washington Department of Revenue is hosting a free tax workshop for small business owners. Participants will learn about various taxes, reporting and record-keeping requirements and will receive a workbook and reference guide. The workshop is from 1-4 p.m. July 21 at Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE, room 1E-113 in Bellevue. Space is limited and registration is required. Visit www.dor.wa.gov.

21

Concert in the Park summer concert series will feature the About Face Band, from 6:30-8 p.m. July 21 in Pine Lake Park.

23

Shakespeare in the Park. The Wooden O Shakespeare Company will present “The Comedy of Errors” at 7 p.m. July 23 at Pine Lake Park.

Public meetings July 13 Issaquah School Board. 7 p.m.

565 N.W. Holly St., Issaquah.

July 14 Eastside Fire and Rescue. 4 p.m.

175 Newport Way N.W., Issaquah.

July 18 ◆ Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District. 3 p.m. 1510 228th Avenue S.E. ◆ City Council Finance Committee. 5:30 p.m. City Hall. ◆ Sammamish Arts Commission.

6:30 p.m. City Hall. ◆ City Council. 6:30 p.m. City

Hall.

July 19 ◆ City Council Office Hour.

5:30-6:30 p.m. City Hall.

July 21 ◆ Northeast Sammamish Water and Sewer District. 3 p.m.

3600 Sahalee Way N.E.

‘@five is set to play this week’s summer concert series.

Swaddler Story Time, for children birth-9 months with an adult, 11 a.m. July 14, 21 and 28.

Concert in the Park summer concert series will feature @five, playing dance music from the soul, from 6:30-8 p.m.

July 14 in Pine Lake Park.

Waddler Story Time, for children 9-24 months with an adult, 10 and 11 a.m. July 15, 22 and 29.

Contributed

Join the club Sammamish Heritage Society will hold a special meeting to bid farewell to founder Virginia Kuhn 7:30 p.m. July 13 at the Pine Lake Community Center.

Visit www.sammamishheritage.org.

Rotaract, a community service for young adults ages 18-30 sponsored by the Sammamish Rotary, meets twice a month. Email scott.brewer@sammamishrotary.org.

◆ Sammamish Planning Commission. 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The La Leche League is committed to helping mothers breastfeed. They plan to meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m.-noon at Fire Station 83. Visit www.lllusa.org /web/SammamishWA.

August 8 Lake Washington School Board.

Worksession, 5 p.m. 16250 N.E. 74th St., Redmond Town Center.

Board meeting, 7 p.m.

Block Party Quilters meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at Mary, Queen of Peace Church. Visit

www.bpquilters.org.

The Social Justice Book Group meets at 10 a.m. the third Monday of each month in Sammamish. Email hineswa@live.com.

Teen late night. The second Friday of each month is teen night at the Redmond/Sammamish Boys and Girls Clubs. Music, dancing, games, Xbox and Wii, movies, food and more. An ASB or ID card is required for admittance. The fee is $6.

Email ahise@positiveplace.org or call 250-4786.

A support group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s. Caregivers gain emotional support, learn and share their experiences 6:30-8 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Faith United Methodist Church. Call 617-1936.

See CLUBS, Page 15

Hindi Story Time, for children 3 and older with an adult, 4 p.m. July 14, 21 and 28.

Toddler Story Time, for children 2-3 with an adult, 10 and 11 a.m. July 13, 20 and 27.

Preschool Story Time, for children 3-6 with an adult, 10 a.m. July 14, 21 and 28 and 1 p.m. July 15, 22 and 29.

The teen writers’ group, 3:30 p.m. July 19.

Sammamish Book Group, will read “Special Topics in Calamity Physics” by Marisha Pessl at 7 p.m. July 20.

Masks of the Rain Forest, go deep into the rain forest of West Africa with dances, stories and music to discover the three types of ceremonial masks worn in typical Liberian villages for children 4 and older with an adult, 11 a.m.

July 23.

Tales from a Small Planet, search under stones and rummage through suitcases with songs, dances and books to discover hundreds of stories from Planet Earth for children 2 and older with an adult, 3 p.m. July 29.

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

July 13, 2011 •

Volunteer Opportunities Sammamish Medical Reserve Corps is seeking retired medical and non-medical workers. Meetings are 6:30-8 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month at Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 82. Email MRC@sammamishcitizencorps.oeg.

Visit residents in nursing homes. Friend to Friend matches volunteers with residents in Sammamish nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Volunteers are asked to visit residents a couple times a month for a year. Orientation will be provided. Background check required.

Call 1-888-383-7818.

Evergreen Healthcare is seeking volunteers to help serve patients throughout King County.

Volunteers, who will be assigned to help people in their own neighborhoods, provide companionship, run errands, do light household work, or give a break to primary caregivers. Volunteers will be supported by hospital staff. Call 899-1040 or visit www.evergreenhealthcare.org/hospice.

The King County LongTerm Care Ombudsman Program needs certified longterm care ombudsman volunteers. After completing a four-day training program, visit with residents, take and resolve complaints and advocate for residents. Volunteers are asked to donate four hours a week and attend selected monthly meetings. Contact Cheryl Kakalia at 206-694-6827.

Focus on Faith

that strives to provide opportunities for retirees to help others in need and to assist charitable and nonprofit organizations. 10 a.m.noon, the third Wednesday of the month at the Bellevue Regional Library. Call 235-3847.

LINKS, Looking Into the Needs of Kids in Schools, places community volunteers in the schools of the Lake Washington School District.

Opportunities include tutoring, classroom assistance and lunch buddy.

Email links@lwsd.org or visit www.linksvolunteer.org.

Eastside Baby Corner needs volunteers to sort incoming donations of clothing and toys and prepare items for distribution.

Visit www.babycorner.org.

Volunteers are needed to visit homebound patrons with the King County Library System’s Traveling Library Center program. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have reliable transportation. Call Susan LaFantasie at 369-3235.

Sammamish Citizen Corps Council needs volunteers to help support the Community Emergency Response Team and other groups. Email info@sammamishcitizencorps.org, visit www.sammamishcitizencorps.org or attend the meeting from 7-8 p.m. first Wednesday of every month at Fire Station 82.

Mary, Queen of Peace youth groups are for children in sixth-eighth grade and ninth12th grades. Meetings are at 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Call the church at 391-1178, ext. 129.

Faith United Methodist Church offers “Faith Cafe” for women of all ages. Drop-in coffee time, scrapbooking/stamping, mom and baby playgroup, quilting/knitting and walking group, classes, studies and themed days. 9:30 a.m.

Wednesdays. Call Jo Lucas at 837-1948.

Healing Prayer Service. If you desire to make space for God in a peaceful setting. The fourth Tuesday of every month, 7 p.m., at Pine Lake Covenant Church. Email tamara@missiolux.org or call 890-3913.

Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered program offering support. Mondays, 7-9 p.m.,

Clubs Continued from Page 14

The Rotary Club of Sammamish meets every Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at the Bellewood Retirement Apartments. Visit www.sammamishrotary.org.

Cascade Republican Women’s Club meets at 11:30 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the Plateau Club.

Eastside Bluebills is a Boeing retiree volunteer organization

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Pine Lake Covenant Church.

Visit 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. Thursdays at Sammamish Presbyterian Church.

Moms In Touch an interdenominational prayer support group for moms to pray for children and schools. Call Jan Domek, (Issaquah School District) 681-6770, or Kelly Wotherspoon, (Lake Washington School District) 392-2291, or visit www.MomsInTouch.org.

Pine Lake Covenant Church offers a ministry for children with special needs at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Call 3928636.

“Caffeine for the Soul,” a Judaic and Torah class for women, is from 1-1:45 p.m.

Tuesdays at Caffé Ladro in Issaquah Highlands Shopping Center. Call Chabad of the Central Cascades 427-1654.

Free Hebrew classes are offered through Chabad of the Central Cascades. Call 427-1654.

Kabalat Shabbat 7 p.m., Fridays, the Chabad House at the Issaquah Highlands. Call 427-1654.

Learn to read and speak Samskritam at the Vedic Cultural Center. Visit www.vedicculturalcenter.org.

Community Bible Study, open to all women, meets Thursday mornings. Visit www.redmondcbs.org.

Bhajan Bliss. Musicians and singers teach the traditional devotional bhajan. Vegetarian food is served. 7:30 p.m. Fridays at the Vedic Cultural Center.

Call 861-7910.

sclubsammamish.org or call 836-5015.

Redmond Toddler Group, a parent-child program with art, music, play and parent education has openings in pre-toddler, toddler and family classes. Call 8695605 or visit www.redmondtoddler.org.

Foster Parent Support Group meets the last Thursday of each month from 6-8 p.m. at Mary, Queen of Peace. Earn your training/foster parent hours.

Refreshments and child care are provided. Call 206-719-8764.

Moms Club of the Sammamish Plateau has activities including weekly, age specific playgroups and monthly meetings, coffee mornings, mom’s nights out, craft club and local area outings. Visit www.mom-

The Eastside Welcome Club, for people new to the area, meets at 10 a.m. the first Wednesday of the month and at other times for activities and outings. Call Barbara at 868-2851.

16 •

sports

July 13, 2011

Lacrosse tourney draws 60 teams

Locals finish 2nd and 4th at Sahalee tournament

By Christopher Huber

Kevin Penner watched as his final approach shot of the day sailed right at the 18th pin. He shot eagle on hole 6 earlier that day and was trying to finish the Sahalee Players Championship with a couple of good holes July 8.

“When I hit it, I looked up and it was headed right at the flag,” Penner said. “I was just trying to put up a birdie and get off the course with a good round.”

His second eagle of the final round gave him the extra 2-under he needed to go from an eighth-place finish to tie for fourth overall. Penner shot a plus-1 289 through four rounds and was one of three Sammamish residents who competed in the 18th annual tournament that brings some of the best amateur golfers in the world to Sammamish.

Chris Williams, of Moscow, Idaho, won the Players Championship with a 1-under 287.

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

By Christopher Huber

More than 60 lacrosse teams from around the Pacific Northwest converged on the Pine Lake Middle School Fields July 2 to compete in the largest Sammamish Shootout ever, according to organizers.

“Saturday’s tournament was a smashing success,” said tournament organizer Eric Bean. “Biggest ever, and in every way, the best yet.”

Participants in the sixth annual summer tournament competed in chumash-style lacrosse games, where threeplayer teams try to shoot the ball into a narrow 6-foot-by-1foot goal. They play on a smaller field and may not enter a designated zone, or “crease,” around the net.

The Sammamish Shootout champs are: Girls Lightning 3/4 — Issaquah Blue (Allison Schnebele, Jenna Wisler, Holly Streamer, Saskia Slater, Riley Flynn); Girls Juniors 5/6 — Wild Things: (Stephanie Larson, Kate Wiper, Sarah Woo, Keira McDonnell, Melissa Funes); Girls Seniors 7/8 — Island Studs (Sally Carroll, Katie Harris, Hannah Paborsky, Sonia Olson, Paige Brigham); Girls High School Underclasswomen 9/10 — Triple Shot (Megan Davis, Hanna Dalrymple, Kayla Petz, Hailey Nyquist, Holly Ruiz); Girls High school Upperclasswomen 11/12 — Ballard (Kelsey Barta, Haley Jackson, Maddie Soukup); Boys Lightning 3/4 — 98040 Boys (Rutger Marks, Cole Crosetto, Hunter Johnson, Glenn Mahoney); Boys Juniors 5/6 — Flow Broz (Brennan Moloney, Paul Johnson, Matt Marino, Connor Quigley, Carson Lombardi); Boys Seniors 7/8 — Hot Lax Moms (Jason McLean, Charlie Kurtenbach, Jordan Greenhall, Sasha Oelsner, Alex Earll); Boys High School Underclassmen 9/10 — X-Lax (Joe Finnell, Barrett Genness, Frank Medlicott, Erik Risa, Curtis Yokoyama); Boys High School Upperclassmen 11/12 — Bananas (Ben Director, Jack Pruitt, Austin Richert, Matt O’Neill, Duncan Hamilton).

Cheng-Tsung Pan, who lives in Sammamish and is ranked 10th in the world by AmateurGolf.com, tied for second in the tournament and shot an even 288.

Sammamish resident Thomas Gocke finished tied for 38th place with a 303-stroke performance.

“Friday was really good,” Penner said. “It was kind of nice, I just wanted to put up a good round. I did exactly what I wanted to do.”

Pan, who qualified for the 2011 U.S. Open, was among the leaders most of the way.

He shot a 1-under first round after shooting four birdies. He had a rough day-two, shooting See GOLF, Page 17 Photo by Christopher Huber

Sammamish’s Cheng-Tsung Pan assesses the eighth-hole green as he prepares to putt July 8 at the Sahalee Players Championship. He tied for second with an even 288.

Little Si hike offers a view from the top

By Christopher Huber

be the only wildlife you encounter during a trip up the As hikers approached the final rocky mountain face, the 4.4-mile uphill stretch of the Little Si trail, Little Si trail will make you want the downy woodto return — probapecker curiously bly soon. peered around a Beth and Duane of the tree and scooted Carlson, of up the side, peckBellevue, have ing lightly at the returned a dozen bark. People contimes, they said tinued up the while basking in minor switchback the mid-day sun and the black-andJuly 6. white bird with a The couple red crest spread its were planning to wings and catch up on some swooped over to yard work that another tree near the trail. It morning, but the limited seemed accustomed to the reguprospect of having another 80lar foot traffic as it alertly spied degree day like this turned their on passers by from just a few feet thoughts toward the mountains. off the trail.

See HIKE, Page 17 While the woodpecker might

Hike

Photo by Christopher Huber

Bob Dubose and Kyoko Maruyama, both of Bellevue, enjoy the view from the top of Little Si after their July 6 hike.

Week

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

July 13, 2011 •

Key Features: Roundtrip: 4.4 miles Highest point: 1,576 feet Elevation gain: 1,200 feet Maps and guidebooks: Green Trails Mount Si No. 174 and Bandera No. 206; Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Pass (Nelson and Bauer – Mountaineers Books).

Source: Washington Trails Association It’s self-explanatory at the top.

If it’s clear, you will have 180degree views of the Upper Snoqualmie Valley and North Bend. Dragon flies flit about and chipmunks may clamor for the crumbs of your sandwich.

Sit. Eat. Gaze. Explore.

The rock face of Little Si provides ample space for dozens of visitors to find their own quiet spot.

Getting there:

Photo by Christopher Huber

A downy woodpecker takes a break from looking for bugs.

Hike

From Sammamish, take I-90 east to exit 32 (436th Avenue Southeast). Turn left and drive over the freeway. After a halfmile, turn left onto North Bend Way. In a quarter-mile, turn right onto Mount Si Road. Cross the bridge and the first parking lot will be on your left. Another parking lot (closer to the main trailhead) is located about 1,000 feet down the road.

Allow three to five hours for the driveway-to-driveway roundtrip, depending on your desired pace on the trail and if you have children or pets with you. Dogs are allowed on-leash, and to park you need a day or season-long Washington State Discover Pass, www.discoverpass.wa.gov.

climbers scramble up the left side to reach their rope-up points.

The final mile is rock- and Continued from Page 16 root-laden and steep, so make sure to hydrate and tighten your “I was like, ‘you know what, shoes before the ascent. When let’s go hiknot looking ing,’” said down to watch On the Web Beth, an avid your step, take outdoorCheck out a video of the hike in the glimpses swoman at at www.SammamishReview.com. of Mount Si to 60. the east and And although he wanted to get the valley to the south. Stop and work done in the yard, Duane listen to the gentle breeze whisk said it didn’t take much convincthrough the trees. ing to change his mind.

“It took her two sentences to talk me out of doing yard work,” said Duane, 71, a retired doctor.

The Little Si trail, one of the will be holding open tryouts for 14U and 13U teams more popular hikes in King for the 2011-2012 season.

County, along with the famed The dates/times for tryouts will be: Mount Si trail, starts out steep, levels out a bit and tests hikers of Wed, July 20, 6-8pm Sat, Aug 6, 1-3pm Sat, Aug 13, 9-11am. all ages with a steep and rough The season will begin with Fall Ball in September 2011. The tryouts will be held finish. at Rijo Athletics, 22620 State Route 9 SE, Woodinville, WA 98072.

At 2.2 miles each way, hikers Contact us by email to register or request additional information, can do the trail in a couple of BellevueWarriorsBaseball@hotmail.com or visit our website hours at a brisk pace. But the at www.warriors12ubaseball.com. views of Upper Snoqualmie Valley all along the route slow many down, as apparent on a mid-day Wednesday.

From the trailhead, you head straight up into the forest on a rocky path. Within 10 minutes, you’ll get a glance of Rattlesnake Ledge across the valley. The thick second-growth forest provides needed shade on a hot day and levels out after about 0.3 miles. Stay left at the junction with the Boulder Loop Trail.

At about 1.5 miles you’ll pass the rock-climbing section to the left. You might hear unidentified 2192 228th Ave SE voices echoing through the forest, Sammamish but the ropes dangling from clips 425.313.9680 in the rock face give them away. www.TrueMartialArts.com Stay right at the “Y” in the trail —

Photo by Christopher Huber

Kevin Penner, of Sammamish, tees off on the par-3 ninth hole July 8 during the fourth round of the Sahalee Players Championship.

Golf Continued from Page 16

a 76 to go plus-3. Trying to dig himself out of a hole, Pan sunk five birdies in the third round to go 3-under for the day and get back to even. In the final round, Pan went plus-2 through nine holes, but shot three birdies on the back nine (he bogeyed hole 17) to bring his score back to even. It wasn’t quite enough to claim the title.

The Players Championship

17

returned to Sahalee after being held in 2010 at The Home Course — Sahalee was preparing to host the 2010 U.S. Senior Open. And the conditions, although typically unpredictable throughout the year, were sunny and mild, making for fast greens.

“It gets better every year,” said Mike Johnson, tournament director.

He noted the high level of competition Sahalee tries to promote through this event.

Organizers invite what they consider to be the top 150 amateur golfers in the world to Sahalee.

“This field is very deep,” Johnson.

The course challenged golfers with narrow, tree-lined fairways and deceiving, hilly greens. But the pin placement added extra frustration, as seen on golfers’ faces when they missed what looked like an easy putt.

For Penner, having grown up playing Sahalee provided quite the advantage, he said. He knew how to approach every hole, which saved him plenty of grief.

“You have to play what the course gives you. You can’t try to attack the course,” said Penner, who hopes to make the cut again at the U.S. Amateur Qualifier July 26 in Lawrence, Kansas. “I was able to put together a great game plan. I just hit the ball a little bit better and ended up scoring really well.”

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July 13, 2011

SAMMAMISH REVIEW

Eastlake Yankees win District 9 invite

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Sunny Cle Elum 4 Scenic Acres 2-4BD/3BA Beautiful Panoramic Views ADA-inspired construction inside & out.

Considerable up-dating.

Well done.

Decks with Ramps.

NO STAIRS ANYWHERE. Space galore. Main house plus separate Guest house /Office. Plus detached garage for storage or workshop.

This place is just the most!

206-919-3015 (cell) Email:

The Eastlake Yankees pose after winning the District 9 Coast Invitational Baseball Tournament in Snoqualmie, June 29. Top row from left: Manager Rob Chandler, Coach Marcus Monteiro, Coach Matt Fitzgibbons, Coach Greg Kirchoff. Standing: Reed Branson, Josh Young, Vini Monteiro, Ryan Taylor, Barret Albright, Calvin Kirchoff, Raafay Ahmed, Dalton Chandler, Gavin Gaule. Sitting: Jack Rud, Nathan Fitzgibbons, Taige Thornton.

The Eastlake Little League Yankees team is 2011 District 9 champions.

The team won the Coast Invitational Baseball Tournament June 29 in Snoqualmie by beating the Redmond North Dodgers 9-4 in the championship game.

The Yankees had defeated Redmond North earlier in the

tournament 14-2, also.

The Yankees relied on clutch hitting and commanding work from the pitcher’s mound throughout the tournament, said parent Kelly Chandler.

Reed Branson, Ryan Taylor and Nathan Fitzgibbons each provided strong pitching down the stretch in the final three

games. But centerfielder Jack Rud, catcher Dalton Chandler and left fielder Josh Young each made key defensive plays defensively for the team.

At the plate in the title game, Fitzgibbons went 2-for-3, Taylor went 2-for-2 with a triple, Calvin Krichoff was 2-for-3 and Gavin Gaule finished 3-for-3.

Certified Residential Specialists Choose a CRS Certified Residential Specialist when you buy or sell a home. Some CRS Realtors in King County are shown here. Call 1-800-540-3257 for Certified Residential Specialists serving other areas or counties in the state. For more information on the CRS designation or for the names of CRS out of state, call 1-888-462-8841.

The Council of Residential Specialists of Realtors National Marketing Institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.

INVACARE HIGH-END MANUAL folding wheelchair. Reclining/tilting feature, whoopee cushion headrest, armrest and footrest. $250, 206-600-0425 MANY 13” AUTO tires priced from $3 - $30, 425-747-3798 NEW BRAND X, men’s tan hiraches, size 11, sells $72, want $30.425-392-8415

acei@comcast.net

Contributed

GAZELLE EDGE WALKING treadmill. Low joint impact.

Great for indoors (quiet), $50 /OBO. 425-392-1139

20 ACRE RANCH foreclosures Near Booming El Paso, Texas. Was $16,900 Now $12,900 $0 down, take over payment, $99/mo. Beautiful views, owner financing. Free Map/Pictures 800-343-9444 <w>

SAWMILLS - BAND/CHAINSAW - Spring Sale - Cut lumber any dimension, anytime.

Make Money and Save Money. In stock ready to ship.

Starting at $995.00 www.NorwoodSawmills.com/300N 1800-578-1363, Ext. 300N <w>

41-Money & Finance LOCAL PRIVATE INVESTOR loans money on real estate equity. I loan on houses, raw land, commercial property and property development. Call Eric at (800) 563-3005. www.fossmortgage.com <w>

SCOTT LIGHTWEIGHT PUSH lawn mower, $25. 425-3928415 THERMOS OUTDOOR GRILL. New, in box, complete, never used! $200/OBO. 425747-3798

44-Business Opportunity MAKE $20,000-$40,000. JOIN our breeding program. Easy.

Fun. All equipment FREE. Work 3 hrs per week. 4 ft work space needed. Live anywhere.

Call 1-309-720-4389 <w>

ADVERTISING? Call 425-392-6434 Ext. 222

134-Help Wanted INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE Representative: Earn supplemental income placing and supervising high school exchange students.

Volunteer host families also needed. Promote world peace!

1-866-GO-AFICE or www. afice.org <w>

The Issaquah Press seeks a motivated, outgoing person in advertising sales for our award-winning community newspaper group. Work with the friendly merchants of Newcastle and nearby. Take over a developed territory with room to grow. If you have the motivation to sell and a passion for great customer service, we want to meet you!

Training provided.

You will help clients develop advertising campaigns and annual plans, and communicate with our graphics department to develop the ads. You must have the ability to juggle many deadlines and details, have basic computer experience, good grammar skills, and thrive on your own success.

Reliable transportation needed, mileage allowance provided. Average 20 hours week/very flexible. Join our fun team!

Email cover letter, resume and references to: jgreen@isspress.com

146-Health & Fitness FREE FIRST NIA CLASS! Exhilarating, high energy fusion movement class combining dance, martial arts, healing arts to soul-stirring music. Blue Heron Ranch Studio, Sammamish.

Tues, Thurs, Sat 9:30AM; every other Wed 6:30PM.

More info: 425-868-3475 www.randeefox.com http://www.nianow.com/ dancin-cowgirl

ADVERTISING? Call 425-392-6434 Ext. 222

Garage Sales this week!

2 212th Ave

Gretchen Allen

Barbara Andersen

Laurie Ashbaugh

Asset Realty Group, LLC Broker, Residential Greater Eastside & Sammamish

John L Scott Greater Eastside

Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside

(425) 392-1211

(425) 450-5287

(206) 427-5553

Cindy Hamman

Steve Honnen

RE/MAX Integrity Greater Eastside & Seattle

Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside & Sammamish

(425) 442-4942

(206) 819-6166

1 Debbie Kinson

Kathy Lee

Marisa Ormando

Bev Parsons

Windermere Greater Eastside

Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside

Sammamish Realty Greater Eastside

Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside & Seattle

(206) 948-6581

(206) 465-7062

(425) 445-9616

(206) 972-0649

Also try us at the CRS web site

www.crs.com CRS Agents: Increase your visibility by participating in the special CRS page.

Contact Jill at (425) 392-6434 ext. 229 or jgreen@isspress.com

“Fewer than 4% of the Realtors in the nation have their CRS designation but they account for 24% of all the transactions.

Do the math. Maybe it’s time to call CRS!” –Jerry Rippeteau, Associate Broker, CRS CRS Washington State Chapter

(1) RIVERBEND COMMUNTY GARAGE SALE, July 16/17, 9am-5pm. Over 500 houses!!

Take I-90, Exit 32, right to 436th Ave SE, turn left at Riverbend reader board

(2) HUGE, MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE Sale, July 16/17, 9am-3pm, SE 14th Street and 248th Avenue SE in Sammamish. Furniture, tools, garden, electronics, camping, bicycles, clothes, kitchen, books, artwork, DVD’s, sports, and more! Follow signs!!

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July 13, 2011

SAMMAMISH REVIEW