Locally owned 50 cents
October 8, 2014
Review
Eighth annual Sammamish Arts Fair opens this weekend
The eighth annual Sammamish Arts Fair is Oct. 11-12 at Sammamish City Hall. The arts fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; admission is free. It will feature some of the best juried artists from around the Puget Sound area, and visitors are invited to learn about their creative processes and purchase original works. The Sammamish Arts Fair provides a unique platform for local artists to interact with the community and gain exposure and promotion of their artwork. There will be paintings, jewelry, mixed media, encaustic art, glass arts, ceramics, printmaking, woodcarving, photography and textile art on display. This year’s artists include Karen Abel, Dan Cautrell, Xiang Zhang, Pamela Wickard, Rebecca Wachtman, Ken Kisch, Becky Jeanes, Al Zold, Katya Zlotina, Mireille Kools, Paula Wickersham, Sweney Kuo, Anne Randall, Javier Nino, Linda Gisbrecht, Leslie Nan Moon, Shankar Pal, Ericka Laureano, Bob Hodges, Donna Gelinas, June Casper and Jerome Steffen.
Sammamish hosts two Klahanie annexation open houses In preparing for next year’s annexation vote, the city of Sammamish is hosting an open house for Klahanie-area residents to inform them about services they will receive from the city. “Councilmembers, department heads and other city staff will be happy to answer your questions, respond to your concerns and present pertinent information,” the city said in a news release. The next open house is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Sammamish City Hall, 801 228th Ave. S.E. The city has also begun sending residents the city’s newsletter to help inform them about city issues. No date has yet been set for the election. Learn more about the annexation at www.sammamish.us. Click on “Klahanie Annexation” on the left side of the page. To get Klahanie Annexation email alerts, go to www.sammamish.us, click on the “email alert” icon at the upper right corner and follow the prompts.
sammamish
Blessings bestowed
Skyline parade shuts down street Oct. 10 Skyline High School’s annual Homecoming parade will affect traffic in the city’s central area on the evening of Oct. 10. The northbound lanes of 228th Avenue will close from 4-6:30 p.m. between Discovery Elementary School and Skyline. The parade starts at 5 p.m. Two-way traffic will be maintained on what are normally the southbound lanes of 228th. City officials encourage motorists to take alternate routes.
Schools get donations for programs, materials
By Neil Pierson
Fr. William Heric, Eastside Catholic School’s chaplain, sprinkles holy water on Jock, a West Highland white terrier, during the school’s Oct. 1 Blessing of the Animals event. About two dozen middle-school families and their animals — including dogs, cats, hamsters and guinea pigs — showed up for the annual event.
Trail construction causes frustration for residents By Peter Clark pclark@isspress.com
The Sammamish City Council received an update, and more concerns, regarding King County’s construction on the East Lake Sammamish Trail. The 18-foot-wide trail, under construction in the north of the city, has caused quite a stir from homeowners. Director of Public Works Laura Philpot updated the council during its Sept. 16 meeting regarding the most recent county developments. “It is on schedule, and it is anticipated to open in the spring of 2015,” she said. The trail’s plan calls for a 12-foot-wide paved trail with 2-foot shoulders and another foot of cleared land on each side. When complete, it will form part of a regional trail network
that stretches from Ballard to Preston. King County Parks expects that 2.6-mile stretch to cost $6.1 million and be finished next year. Residents brought the issue to the forefront at a June 17 meeting; numerous people spoke about their issues with the trail, citing privacy concerns and frustration at feeling powerless when dealing with the county. At the Sept. 16 meeting, homeowner George Tosky said construction of the trail cut a private drive, which led up to his and neighboring homes, in half and blocked the passage for larger vehicles. He said fire, UPS and FedEx trucks cannot enter the drive due to its width. “With respect to the trail, the county has a history of being less than truthful,” Tosky said. “What is maddening are the
statements from the county that something will be done with absolutely no follow up. I continue to hope that the city will resolve the issue.” He said he had proposed solutions to the county and had not received an answer. “Here we are, almost a month later, with no further response from the county,” Tosky said. “Frankly, I don’t know where else to go. It is not fair that an expanded trail puts myself, my wife and my neighbors in jeopardy in the case of a medical and fire emergency.” Philpot said she didn’t know where the county stood with regards to Tosky’s complaints, but added city staff is working with the county to find solutions. She offered the county’s public outreach hotline as an See TRAIL, Page 2
The Issaquah School Board approved several gifts and donations at its Sept. 24 meeting that will fund various educational materials and programs at four elementary schools. The Creekside Elementary School PTSA donated $15,000 to provide additional support for its Learning Assistance Program. Endeavour Elementary School’s PTSA gave a total of $29,125 — $12,000 of it for the salary of an additional educational assistant to support its Learning Assistance Program, and the rest to purchase 24 laptops and a technology cart for its computer lab. Educational assistant salaries were the targets of PTSA donations at Sunny Hills and Sunset elementary schools. Sunny Hills raised $12,000 and Sunset took in $16,000. Board policy dictates the board must vote to accept any gift of $5,000 or more in value.
Sammamish Symphony features renowned pianist Mark Salman, a worldrenowned pianist, will perform with the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra at two upcoming concerts. “Wild Wild West” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the See PIANIST, Page 3 Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER
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