October 12, 2011 Locally owned Founded 1992 50 cents
Review wins awards
Walk on the wild side
By Caleb Heeringa
By Ari Cetron
Sammamish Review was named one of the top non-daily newspapers in the state for the third consecutive year by the Washington Newspaper Publisher’s Association at its annual banquet Oct. 7. The Review was named the No. 3 paper in the state among non-daily newspapers with a large circulation. Top honors went to the Review’s sister paper, The Issaquah Press. The judging period ran from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011. The Review also won second place for special sections for its special issue in advance of the U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee Country Club. Review staff took home individual honors as well. Editor Ari Cetron won first place for Health or Medical Stories for his story about a Sammamish woman’s day spent in a hospital waiting for a liver that never came. He also won first prize for environmental reporting for his story about a Sammamish man whose invention was used to mop up oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Cetron also took third place for editorial writing. Reporter and photographer Christopher Huber was named a finalist for Photographer of the Year. He finished third in the competition, which runs across all papers regardless of circulation. Huber won a second place award for his story about local Egyptians reacting to their homeland’s revolution. See AWARDS, Page 2
Valderrama faces Wasnick for council
Photo by Christopher Huber
After years in development, Sammamish’s newest park, Evan’s Creek Preserve, is set to open Oct. 22. For details, go to page 14. See more photos at www.SammamishReview.com.
What’s a voter to do when faced with a choice between two City Council candidates with remarkably similar opinions on major city policy questions? For 48-year-old information technology executive Jim Wasnick, the issue comes down to “approachability.” He points to the Southeast 32nd Street barricade issue as an example of his ability to roll up his sleeves and work with neighbors to get their input on city policy. “Who is someone that will sit down and get coffee with you and talk about the issue?” Wasnick asks rhetorically. “I think if you meet me the decision is pretty clear.” His opponent, 52-year-old international development consultant Ramiro Valderrama, says one need only look at the record to see who would be better at engaging the public. He points to his work heading Citizens For Sammamish, the local advocacy group that he credits for guiding the city’s deci-
sion to scale back spending on projects like East Lake Sammamish Parkway and formalize the process for taking down street barricades. “I’m able to bring people from different sides of the issue together to talk,” Valderrama said. “I’ve been able to get support from across a broad spectrum of the city.” In interviews, the two share similar views when it comes to some of the hot button issues in Sammamish. ◆ Both generally support the idea of a some sort of community and aquatic center but believe the $64 million facility envisioned in the recent feasibility study is too expensive. Both suggest partnering with a non-profit like the YMCA or some sort of private entity to build or run a potential facility. ◆ While Wasnick and Valderrama both like the idea of jumpstarting development in Town Center, both are non-committal about whether they’d preSee ELECTION, Page 6
Feds won’t say kokanee salmon endangered By Warren Kagarise
Federal officials decided dwindling Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon do not qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act, prompting a chorus of disapproval from local officials. The species’ decline concerned U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service officials, but did not merit the fish being listed under the act. The agency announced the decision Oct. 3. The once-abundant kokanee declined in recent decades, perhaps due to construction near creeks, increased predators, disease or changes in water quality. In recent years, the number
of salmon in the late-fall and early-winter run has dwindled to fewer than 1,000 in some seasons. Kokanee return to only a handful of creeks — Ebright, Laughing Jacobs and Lewis — to spawn. Scientists estimated the total 2010 run at 58 fish, including the 40 kokanee spawned at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery in a
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last-ditch effort to save the species. The decision came after the agency spent four years to review the Lake Sammamish stock’s health. “I am surprised and disappointed by this decision,” County Executive Dow
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See SALMON, Page 3