Snovalleystar010214

Your locally-owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington

January 2, 2014 VOL. 6, NO. 1

Police blotter Page 3

Old year, new problems The year 2013 in review

By Sherry Grindeland

What to do with that old tree Scouts, other groups take Christmas trees.

Page 3

Goals for the year What should the Valley accomplish in 2014.

Page 4

Snoqualmie Valley residents faced some urban problems in 2013, such as a home invasion incident, squabbles on the hospital board of commissioners, homeless issues. Growing pains continue to challenge local schools.

A bit on the wilderness side in the Valley, there was a forest fire on the flanks of Mount Si and Little Si, and area elk herds suffered from hoof rot.

In the good news category, a landmark theater was saved and the community celebrated two musical events in downtown North Bend and a charming haunted trail in Snoqualmie.

Growth will continue to bring big city problems, but with lessons learned in recent years, 2014 can be a good year for all local citizens.

Here is a recap of the best, most-interesting and, in a couple cases, worst stories of 2013: Homeless shelter opens for second season

Silver medals Local team finishes second in state.

Page 7

Quick take Turn in your 10-minute (film) masterpiece.

Page 7

Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER

Homeless people in the Snoqualmie Valley were able to come in out of the cold again

beginning Nov. 15 when the Valley Renewal Center’s Winter Shelter opened for its second season.

The shelter serves men, women and families with children from 8:30 p.m. to 7:15 a.m. daily at North Bend Community Church, 146 E. Third St. Providing for the homeless became a community initiative last year. It was fueled in part by an awareness of the need that grew after North Bend outlawed camping in its parks, public spaces and on trails inside city limits.

More than 30 volunteers, people from the faith community and police met Nov. 6, 2012, to discuss the need of providing for fragile people living outdoors, in vehicles and in substandard housing with no utilities or water. Additional people joined the conversation in the following days and the first shelter opened Dec. 23, 2012.

Meals are provided by volunteers and community groups.

The shelter itself is managed by Congregations for the Homeless and the Valley Renewal Center advisory committee.

Bellevue-based Congregations operates a men’s shelter on the Eastside and provides case-management services to help men find employment and permaSee REVIEW, Page 2

File

A helicopter dumps water on the 444th Fire in July.

Jan. 2 hospital board meeting could get interesting

By Sherry Grindeland If you’re planning to attend the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital board of commissioners meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 2, get to the Snoqualmie City Hall Council Chambers early to get a seat.

Controversy has been escalating between various factions since the Dec. 5 board meeting.

The December meeting was the final one for outgoing commissioners Dick Jones and Kevin Hauglie. Joan Young was elected president of the board to replace Jones, who had resigned as president a few days earlier.

Then, according to the unofficial minutes (they have yet to be approved), the board, over objections by Commissioner Gene Pollard, passed a resolu-

tion to approve a new contract for CEO/Superintendent Rodger McCollum. Before it was passed, Pollard made a motion to table the resolution until the new board is seated. There was no second and McCollum’s contract was approved.

Pollard also objected to the outgoing commissioners setting board meeting dates for 2014, saying he felt the new board should have input.

Because the meeting schedule is set forth in the Hospital District Bylaws, legal counsel Jay Rodne advised the board needed to establish its meeting schedule so the public can be informed in advance.

During a routine resolution to approve warrants, payroll and payroll taxes for October, Pollard

again objected because, he said, the board had not done a performance review on the superintendent or the attorney. He also said the salaries of certain executive personnel are too high and therefore he would vote against the resolution.

“I have had annual performance reviews,” McCollum said a week after the meeting. “I have a drawer full of them.”

Rodne advised the board that when there is a vote against payroll warrants under the Washington Wage and Hour statute, those commissioners who vote against approval could potentially be subjecting themselves to personal liability for which there is no liability coverage.

Pollard asked that a copy of

the state law be provided to him and stated that in the meantime, he would take the risk and would still be voting no.

Pollard then asked how a commissioner, who objects to the fact that performance reviews are not being conducted on key personnel, would express dissatisfaction with that. Rodne recommended he confer with his colleagues and implement a performance evaluation system.

Young stated that as commissioners they are only responsible for evaluation of the superintendent/CEO. Pollard then again raised the issue that there is a conflict of interest in regards to the employment of Jay Rodne as See HOSPITAL, Page 3

SnoValley Star

PAGE 2

JANUARY 2, 2014

File

Teachers and the school district narrowly averted a strike at the beginning of the school year.

Review From Page 1 nent housing.

When it closed March 29, it had served 122 people — first at North Bend Community Church, and then later at Mount Si Lutheran Church. Of those 122 people, 87 were male, 35 were female and 37 were children. Seven families stayed at the shelter, 41 of the patrons were 18- to 25-year-olds, eight were veterans and 30 were disabled. In the first season, the shelter served 2,243 meals – all cooked by community volunteers.

Valley Renewal Center has since strived to raise funds and keep the homeless and the concept of a winter shelter in the public eye.

Many shelter residents must spend long hours using public transportation while they seek

jobs and social services.

Because they’re outdoors so much, items such as warm socks, umbrellas, waterproof gloves and rain ponchos are needed.

The shelter will provide laundry facilities but the group needs laundry soap and bleach to clean clothes. Volunteers are needed to help prepare meals and be mentors.

Learn how to help, volunteer or donate at www. valleyrenewalcenter.com.

Singin’ the blues is a success The Boxley Music Fund kicked off the first Blues Walk in April. Paul Green, a longtime blues musician, helped Audrey Paisley organize the one-of-a-kind party in North Bend. Like the successful Jazz Walk that started in 2012, blues musicians performed at various venues in downtown.

Many of the venues were unusual, such as a hamburger stand, a bakery and a car dealer.

“I know of a number of jazz walks and even many blues festivals, but a blues walk is kinda unique,” Green said.

The evening was successful and so was the Second Annual Jazz Walk held Sept. 13. Mark your calendars now for the Second Annual Blues Walk

File

Cindy Walker, owner of the North Bend Theatre, threads film on an old-style projector. Walker drew on community support to purchase a new, modern projector. on April 26.

Construction begins on new hospital Despite disagreements and contention on the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Board, the majority of the commissioners voted to go ahead with plans for a new hospital.

Ground was broken at a ceremony Sept. 25 for a modern Snoqualmie Valley Hospital near Interstate 90 and Highway 18.

The new 70,000-squarefoot hospital will be nearly three times the size of the current facility. It will feature 25 private rooms, expanded emergency department, larger rehab and lab departments, expanded imaging and diagnostic services, larger primary and specialty care clinics, and an education facility. It is expected to open in late 2014.

The new Snoqualmie Valley Hospital will cost approximately $38 million. Funding will come

from operating revenue, not taxes. The hospital district will lease the facility from the developer, the Benaroya Companies, in a build-to-suit, lease-to-own contract. Any cost overruns will be the responsibility of the developer and not the hospital district.

The existing hospital will remain open during construction.

North Bend man pleads guilty to vehicular homicide Cody J. Eads, 19, pleaded guilty Dec. 6 to vehicular homicide (disregard for the safety of others) in connection with the death of Lucinda Pieczatkowski, 57, of North Bend. Eads faces a sentence range of 15 to 20 months in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 17.

Pieczatkowski was walking along Stone Quarry Road at about 2 a.m.

New Year’s morning in 2013 when she was hit by a truck and killed.

The driver left the scene.

Parts found at the scene

Everyone Needs a Little Help Now and Then...

Patty Groves, M.A., L.M.H.C. Stress Issaquah Creek Counseling Center Depression 545 Rainier Blvd. N., Issaquah Life Transitions www.issaquahcreekcounseling.com Loss and Grief (425) 898-1700 Relationship Problems Now accepting most major Credit/Debit Cards

indicated the vehicle that struck her was either a Ford F-150 pickup or a Ford Bronco.

The Eads’ family attorney contacted the King County Sheriff’s Office the next day and informed them that the pickup involved in the crash, an F-150, was at the Eads’ residence. Detectives impounded the pickup, which had damage consistent with striking a pedestrian, the sheriff’s office said.

It took detectives several months to collect enough evidence to determine who was behind the wheel. Eads was charged in August.

He admits he was texting and speeding when he hit the woman with his pickup near North Bend on Jan. 1 and then fled, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

One elk, two elk, three …

Michael Walker, a volunteer for the Snoqualmie Valley Elk Management Group, counted 48 elk at Mountain Meadows early April 12. He was one of a dozen or so folks out at dawn in early April, tracking and tallying the elk in the Valley. The majestic creatures that roam the meadows and farmlands around and in Snoqualmie

and North Bend are one of 10 groups considered part of the North Rainier herd by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department.

Harold Erland, a wildlife research biologist and vice president of the elk group, said 2013 was the third year the management group has counted elk in the Snoqualmie Valley.

During the dawn counting session, Walker offered tidbits of information he’d learned over the years about elk — their mating and breeding habits, propensity to eat expensive plants homeowners try to grow, antlers growing and falling off, how transient elk are a bit more skittish than the local herd population, the herd’s relatively small grazing areas, and about how the management group traps elk in order to study them and put on collars.

“We use apples,” he said. “An elk will do anything for apples.”

After 12 days of counting elk, Erland estimated the Snoqualmie Valley may have about 500 of them.

On the other hoof, not all is well Besides irate homeowners hoping to protect their shrubbery and having to See REVIEW, Page 5

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 2, 2014

Police blotter North Bend

subject until the police arrived.

You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch

Almost professionals Police responded on at 1:58 p.m. on Dec. 21 to the Cigarland at 468 E. North Bend Way. Unknown suspects had attempted to break in using tools to bypass the front door lock. Two tools were left behind. There were no prints recovered from the scene and no witnesses.

Convenient location Police responded on at 2 p.m. Dec. 21 to the Ace Hardware on 330th Avenue South. A man became involved in an altercation and was threatening another person by shouting and raising a hammer.

You’re more careless with borrowed property Police responded at 3:25 p.m. Dec. 23 to Bendigo Boulevard North to a vehicle collision. A stolen car had been involved in the accident and was later recovered in a ditch covered in vegetation.

Holiday stress Police Responded at 2:25 p.m. Dec. 24 to the QFC at 460 East North Bend Way. A man came into the store, lost his temper, and began to ram his shopping cart into various things inside the store, causing minimal damage. Store employees were able to corral the

Police responded at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 24 to the 1500 block of West Ribary Way. A car was broken into during the night and the victim’s wallet and some Christmas packages were stolen.

Naughty List Police made a traffic stop at 6:13 p.m. at the intersection of East 3rd Street and Bendigo Boulevard. The passenger was found to have three misdemeanor warrants.

The subject attempted to flee the police but was apprehended after a 15 second pursuit on foot.

North Bend fire reports

Structure fire Three engines were dispatched at 6:54 a.m. to the 34900 block of Southeast Douglas Street for a building fire.

Rescue Nine engines were dispatched at 12:43 p.m.

Dec. 24 to the 18000 block of Cedar Falls Road Southeast for an extrication and rescue.

Teamwork Four engines were dispatched Dec. 26 to the 400 block of Healy Avenue South to a medical assist call where they provided help to the Emergency Medical Service Medics.

Seniors should enjoy creative activities, old fashioned meals, a maintenance free apartment and a supportive environment. Personal Care Assistance available.

Not all retirement communities are created equal and that’s just the way we like it!

~ Live with Old Friends ~ Make New Friends ~ Be Treated Like Family

Red Oak Senior Housing Voted Best in Snoqualmie Valley 2005-2013!

425.888.7108

650 E. North Bend Way & North Bend

PAGE 3

Boy Scouts will recycle Christmas trees Boys Scout troops will pick up and recycle Christmas trees for Snoqualmie residents Jan. 4. Trees need to be curbside no later than 8 a.m.

A suggested donation of $10 per tree should be enclosed in an envelope and attached to the base of the tree.

Checks should be payable to BSA Troop 114.

This annual fundraiser benefits local Boy Scout Troops 115, 425, and 466.

If you miss putting the tree out or don’t live in Snoqualmie, there are

Hospital From Page 1 legal counsel because he is also a state legislator.

Rodne reminded Pollard that he obtained an opinion by the state House Ethics Committee at the time of his employment with the district.

The committee determined there was no conflict of interest for him to work for the district.

Afterward, one observer, Doug McClelland, wrote an email to Pollard and incoming hospital commissioner Dariel Norris outlining a plan of action that includes asking the Washington State Auditor to investigate Rodne and McCollum for the contract renewal timing and lack of public comment on it, asking for financial information on Rodne,

other options to recycling that tree instead of throwing them in the garbage.

Trees – minus the tinsel and other decorations – can be chipped into landscaping material or ground into compost.

Diverting trees from the landfill saves space for trash that can’t be recycled.

Here are some options: Curbside pickup: If you have curbside yard waste collection service, you can place your tree at the curb with your regular yard waste.

McCollum and the new parliamentarian, former judge Terry Lukens, and to begin a recall campaign against the two remaining commissioners, Young and David Speikers.

Copies of the email were circulated throughout the Valley, apparently in hopes of generating public awareness and turnout at the Jan. 2 meeting.

McCollum was one of the many who received a copy of the email.

A few days later, at the Dec. 13 all-staff hospital meeting, the CEO shared it with district personnel and later e-mailed it to everyone.

“Even though the content is provocative, it is important to maintain our professionalism, concern for our patients, and to respect the office of commissioner,” he wrote. “Our main concern is the more than

Restrictions vary, so be sure to check with your garbage hauler for the details.

King County Transfer Station: The King County Transfer Station at Cedar Falls accepts Christmas trees as yard waste for recycling. The Cedar Falls Drop Box is located at 16925 Cedar Falls Rd., North Bend. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

(Closed Tuesday and Thursday.)

Note: Maximum load

10,000 unique patients we serve every year and to continue providing the excellent quality of care.”

He reminded staff that as residents and employees they have the right

size is one ton or three cubic yards.

Fees: $12 minimum fee for yard waste; $22 minimum fee for garbage.

Minimum fee covers up to 320 pounds.

Private companies: Several companies in King County collect Christmas trees for recycling – at rates that are lower than the transfer station.

These include: q Rainier Wood Recyclers - Fall City 33216 Redmond-Fall See TREE, Page 8

to attend hospital board meetings.

Sherry Grindeland can be reached at editor@snovalleystar.com or 425-3926434 ext. 246.

Opinion

PAGE 4

JANUARY 2, 2014

Editorial

Letters

Goals for a new year

Where are Snoqualmie Police reports?

New Year’s resolutions aren’t exclusive to individuals.

Sometimes, it’s a good thing for a community to have its own goals. These top our list: Quality education: State funding may be increasing but it will never be enough. Citizens need to help give to the schools foundation, join the PTA/PTSA and volunteer in the schools.

Schools and education: A pair of school levies will be on the February ballot. They are replacement measures. One funds technology – something Washington State does not do. The other pays for some Educational Programs and Operations – you may remember this as the Maintenance and Operations Levy. Snoqualmie Valley School District Superintendent Joe Aune said, “Levies are for learning, bonds are for buildings.” To ensure the election has enough participation to be certified, vote when your ballot arrives in the mail.

Government transparency: State law has not kept up with technology when it comes to keeping meetings accessible to the public. While they certainly conform to the law, government agencies in the Valley should consider going above and beyond the minimum. Meetings could be made available online, by podcast or video streaming either live or soon after the meeting – even before minutes have been approved.

Hospital woes and wars: While the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital building is on track to be completed and open late in 2014, the internal struggle on the hospital board threatens to derail the entire operation. Gene Pollard, who already was on the board, ran against and defeated incumbent Kevin Hauglie. The board has 90 days to appoint a new commissioner to fill Pollard’s old seat. Do so with someone willing to listen to all sides of an argument and who understands the chess game of board politics.

Humanity: The Valley Renewal Center Winter Shelter reopened in November. A North Bend survey indicates residents dislike, fear and distrust the transient and homeless population. They should seek first to understand.

Volunteer. Take a hot meal to the shelters, sit down with the guests, get to know them and find out first-hand if their fears are valid.

Transportation: Keep the tolls off the Interstate 90 bridge and maintain funding for Metro bus routes to and through the Valley, even if it means higher gas taxes.

Future leaders: Snoqualmie has had a leadership academy in place since 2005. It has graduated more than 119 citizens who learned about their government, police department, public works, school funding and volunteer opportunities. Informed citizens are tomorrow’s leaders and the program has been successful in helping create them. Snoqualmie should continue this program, and North Bend should look into creating one of its own.

Deborah Berto Joe Heslet

Publisher General manager

Sherry Grindeland

Editor

Sam Kenyon Ari Cetron

Published by

ISSAQUAH PRESS, INC. P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, WA 98027 Phone: 392-6434 Fax: 392-1695

Reporter Page designer

Michelle Comeau

Advertising rep.

MAIL SUBSCRIPTION

$30 per year Call 392-6434

I’ve noticed that the police blotter no longer includes reports from Snoqualmie, only North Bend. I can’t imagine it’s because no crimes have been reported in our area, so I’m curious as to the reason behind the omission.

Are you (SnoValley Star) choosing not to include them or are you not receiving reports from Snoqualmie police?

I feel the reports are beneficial since they keep us informed on what types of crimes are being committed in the area. We can use that information to better protect ourselves and our property.

Jung-Ah Johnson Snoqualmie We have not seen any items in the police blotter from the Snoqualmie department for some

time. Are they providing the paper with that information? Also, has the paper ever investigated the number of arrests of students at Mount Si High School, for incidents that occurred on school property? Given the schools-to-prison pipeline that’s evident in other states, I’m curious if we are experiencing anything like that here.

Christopher Ashton Snoqualmie Editor’s note: In spite of the fact that state law requires the department to provide the information, Snoqualmie Police Chief Steve McCulley told the SnoValley Star early this fall that the person who used to prepare the information for media reports was no longer available. Our most recent attempts to get them have been unsuccessful. We hope to begin running them again later this month.

Home Country

Morning musings can make Steve smile Day started slowly, after Steve and Snort were already through two big pastures and into the birth of the hills. Sure was pretty, too, he noticed. Kinda pink and made everything glow.

“Pretty as a pocketful of baby mouses,” he thought, smiling.

The strangeness didn’t take place until they’d started up the mountain toward Steve’s cabin … the one with the turret overlooking the world.

He noticed it wasn’t winter any more. He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, but not a jacket, and it wasn’t cold. No snow on the ground. But there was snow last night. This was strange, so he reached up to scratch his chin and think about it.

It was a skin-scratcher, no doubt about it. But that just made things more mysterious because Steve didn’t touch his gray beard when he scratched.

He had mysteriously become clean shaven.

And something was different about Snort. Any cowboy can tell his own horse in the pitch dark, just by the way he feels when he walks or trots. And this wasn’t Snort.

He reined the horse into the early morning light to look at his head. Why … it’s Jimmy!

But that can’t be. Jimmy was his horse in the early days of roping in rodeos. He’d buried Jimmy forty years ago.

But there he was. Steve reached forward to pat Jimmy on the neck and he realized he didn’t have the pains in his back or shoulders any more, either.

Well, he reined Jimmy to a stop and looked around. They were going up the mountain,

but it wasn’t the same mountain with the cabin. It was the mountain behind the home place back in Slim Randles Montana.

And the Columnist light came up gradually, and Steve sat and smiled and didn’t

know what was happening, and didn’t care. This might be …

No. Of course not.

Then he woke up, groaned, and pulled on his boots. Time for breakfast. But somehow he had to smile, too. You know, that wasn’t a bad deal. Not a bad deal at all.

Tired of repeating everything? Get Dad a free hearing test. It’s a gift that keeps giving every day. Beltone. 1-866-867-8700.

WEEKLY POLL Historians say making New Year’s resolutions dates back at least to Babylonian times. (There are no records of whether the Babylonians were any more successful than keeping them than we are.) If you made any resolutions what were they?

A. Start exercising regularly B. Lose weight C. Get out of debt D. Call my mother more often E. Why bother to make a resolution, I won’t keep it.

Vote online at www.snovalleystar.com.

Write to us Snovalley Star welcomes letters to the editor about any subject, although we reserve the right to edit for space, length, potential libel, clarity or political relevance. Letters addressing local news will receive priority. Please limit letters to 350 words or less and type them, if possible. Email is preferred. Letters must be signed and have a daytime phone number to verify authorship. Send them by Friday of each week to:

snovalley star

P.O. Box 1328 q Issaquah, WA 98027 Fax: 391-1541 q Email: editor@snovalleystar.com

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 2, 2014

PAGE 5

Review

area smoldered for several more days before it was declared out.

Mount Si, Little Si and the Garden Loop trails were closed for several weeks due to the fire. No evacuations were necessary; only one abandoned structure was near the burning area.

Community saves North Bend Theatre

From Page 2 navigate across roads that carry speeding cars, the elk have a third problem.

Elk hoof rot has found its way to the Snoqualmie Valley herds.

Erland said in February that three dead elk were found to have the disease.

One elk died in a North Bend yard, another was found near the Encompass parking lot and a third, struck by a vehicle in Snoqualmie, all showed signs of hoof rot.

Erland said the disease literally causes an elk’s hoof, or hooves, to rot. He said an infected elk stumbles and limps around, but at a certain point, is unable to forage and starves to death.

Elk with the disease were first observed in southwest Washington in the mid-1990s, and some elk in Oregon were also exhibiting the disease, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources website.

But this is the first time the disease has presented itself in the Valley, Erland said.

“Because we don’t know how it got here, we’re not sure how to contain it,”

File

North Bend’s first Blues Walk in April was wildly popular. he said. “Cattle and sheep can be inoculated for the disease, but that really can’t be done with elk.”

Erland, who performed the necropsies on the three dead elk, said all three showed selenium and copper deficiencies, and he will ask the Department of Fish and Wildlife if he can put salt blocks fortified with selenium and copper out for the elk to see if it helps.

“Right now, the problem isn’t that bad for our elk, but I don’t want to wait for it to get bad,” Erland said. “For right

home services

Your Home Services Ad

HERE! Call 425-392-6434 for more information.

FREE ESTIMATES

TRACTOR WORK - Post Holes, Excavating/grading, Rototilling, Mowing, Brush Cutting, Cleaning, Demolition, Drainage Solutions DELIVERY - Play Chips, Gravel, Rock, Topsoil, Bark, Compost

REMOVAL - Railroad Ties, Stumps, Concrete, Asphalt, Yard Waste

EXCAVATOR SERVICES Call anytime before 8:00 PM

Mike’s

Hauling & Tractor Work 425.392.6990 www.mikeshaulandtractor.com CCBWEXMIKESHT010DK

now, we’ll be keeping our eyes out for limping elk, because that is a good indication of hoof rot.”

Helicopters, ground crew battle forest fire Eighty firefighters from Eastside Fire & Rescue, Snoqualmie, the U.S. Forest Service, the Seattle Watershed, Duvall and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources battled what they called the 444th Fire, named for the nearest road, at the end of July.

Eighteen acres of timber

and brush in steep terrain between Mount Si and Little Si burned in the wildfire that began about midday July 26.

Helicopters filled 240-gallon canvas buckets with water from the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River to dump on the blaze when it was at its hottest.

Within the first 24 hours, firefighters managed to construct a trail around the burning area to prevent the fire from spreading. As of July 30, the fire was 85 percent contained. The burned

Owner Cindy Walker had no idea people would be willing to help so much if you just ask them.

Walker and her husband bought the historic North Bend Theatre in 2006 and had been screening the latest run movies in 35-millimeter film.

But large movie studios, like Warner Brothers and Universal, announced they no longer would be distributing their films in 35mm. These studios produce many of the family

movies that are a staple of the theater’s business.

Converting the 1941 theatre’s projections system to a digital format would cost $100,000.

The community rallied when the fundraising effort began May 1. People donated and donated and donated — and the goal was reached in September.

People were willing to help because the Walkers have made the theater an integral part of the community. The theater hosts festivals, parties and shows a free matinee for kids during their breaks from school. Residents feel a sense of personal ownership of the theater.

“I think it’s a privilege to be able to support this theater,” said Bev Jorgensen, a family friend and strong supporter of the fundraising effort, who added she is highly confiSee REVIEW, Page 8

SnoValley Star

PAGE 6

YOUR WEEK

JANUARY 2, 2014

SCHEDULE THIS: The YMCA Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce invites you to the 2014 Eastside Chambers Coalition Legislative Breakfast from 7:30-9 a.m. Jan. 7 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, Regency Ballroom, 900 Bellevue Way N.E. Hear from many of the Eastside’s legislators at this critical annual event, moderated by Robert Mak, who will lead a discussion on the issues that matter most to you and other business leaders.

Admission is $35 per person or $350 for a corporate table of 10. Register at http://bit.ly/1dRXD7y.

Send your news Send items for Your Week to newsclerk@ isspress.com by noon Friday.

THE CALENDAR FOR JANUARY 3-9 FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUES

WED

THUR

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

q No School Day Camp, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Si View Community Center, 1711 Boalch Ave., grades K-5, $60/day, register online at www. siviewpark.org or call 831-1900 q Teen Winter Camp: Paintball at ForestFire, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Snoqualmie Valley YMCA, 35018 S.E. Ridge St., ages 11-14, $60, registration required, jlockie@ seattleymca.org q Family Movie Night: ‘Despicable Me 2,’ 6:30-8 p.m., Snoqualmie Valley YMCA, 35108 S.E. Ridge St., $10, register online at www.seattleymca.org q Jay Thomas Trio, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, 292-9307 q Prof. Fred’s Monster Movie Show: ‘The Giant Gila Monster,’ 7:30 p.m., The Black Dog, 8062 Railroad Ave. S.E., 831-3647 q Queensryche, 8 p.m., The Ballroom at Snoqualmie Casino, 37500 S.E. North Bend Way, ages 21 and older, $20, tickets available through Ticketmaster

q Cedar River Watershed Education Center, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cedar River Watershed Education Center, 19901 Cedar Falls Road S.E., visit the education center to learn about the watershed which provides drinking water to 70 percent of Seattle area residents, free, 206-7339421 q Winter Adventure Hike, 1:30 p.m., meet at Cedar River Watershed Education Center, 19901 Cedar Falls Road S.E., easy 2-mile hike around Rattlesnake Lake, all ages, free

q Northwest Railway Museum Train Rides, leave from Snoqualmie station, 38625 S.E. King St., at 12:01, 1:31, 3:01 and 3:46 p.m., North Bend station, 205 McClellan St., at 12:31, 2:01 and 3:31 p.m.

q Infant and Young Toddler Story Time, 11 a.m. to noon, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554

q Nature Journaling and Discoveries, 1:30 p.m., Cedar River Watershed Education Center, 19901 Cedar Falls Road S.E., introduction to nature journaling, all ages, free

q Planning & Parks Committee, 6:30-7 p.m., Snoqualmie City Hall, 38624 S.E. River St.

q Preschool Story Time, 10:45-11:45 a.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., ages 3-6 w/adult, 888-0554

q MSHS Vocal Jazz Clinic, 5 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, 292-9307

q Christian Henriksen Project, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, 292-9307

q Bring Your Own Computer event, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Snoqualmie Falls Brewery and Taproom, 8032 Falls Ave. S.E., hang out and play a few rounds of your favorite game while having dinner and drinks, 831-2357

q Monkstone Theocracy with Brent Jensen, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, 292-9307

q Left Coast Gypsies, 8 p.m., The Black Dog, 8062 Railroad Ave. S.E., 831-3647

q Danny Kolke Trio, 6 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, 292-9307

q Planning Commission, 7-8 p.m. Snoqualmie City Hall, 38624 S.E. River St. q Movie night, 9 p.m., Finaghty’s, 7726 Center Blvd.

S.E., Snoqualmie

q Town of Snoqualmie Falls Video and Discussion, 10 a.m. to noon, Meadowbrook Farm, 1711 Boalch Ave., learn the history of the Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Company Mill, presented by the Historical Society, free, all ages, 831-1900 q Toddler Story Time, 10-10:45 a.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E., 888-1223 q Future Jazz Heads, 5 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, 292-9307

q First Tuesday Book Club: ‘The Wednesday Wars’

by Gary Schmidt, 7-8 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 q Vox at the Box: Vocal Jazz Jam, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, 292-9307

q Wii Wednesdays, 6 p.m., Finaghty’s, 7726 Center Blvd.

S.E., Snoqualmie.

Come play your favorite Wii games all night long! q Family Story Time, 6:30-7:30 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 q Jazz Heads, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, 292-9307

q Public Safety Committee, 5-6 p.m., Snoqualmie Fire Station, 37600 S.E. Snoqualmie Parkway q Snoqualmie Valley School District Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Snoqualmie City Hall, 38624 S.E. River St. q Family Story Time, 7-8 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E., 888-1223

q Woody Herman Centennial Big Band, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, 292-9307

Sports

JANUARY 2, 2014

PAGE 7

Intensive wrestling camp anything but recreational fun

By Sam Kenyon Last summer, six boys sacrificed some weeks out of their break to attend a mind and body pounding camp, all in the name of wrestling.

The J. Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp is known for being a huge challenge. For 35 years, Robinson, the head wrestling coach at the University of Minnesota, has invited wrestlers from all over the country to his infamously intense wrestling camps. In preparation for this wrestling season, a handful of young wrestlers from the valley took on the challenge.

Seniors Ryley Absher, Tanner Stahl and Eli Clure, all attended the camp along with junior Justin Edens and the Harrison brothers: junior Gunnar and eighth grader Duncan.

Absher participated in the 28-day version of the camp in Minnesota. The others completed the 14-day version in Ashland, Ore. The program is known for its militant intensity.

“I was not expecting what I walked into,” said Duncan. “It hit me like a freight train.”

They woke at 6:30 a.m. for hard conditioning every day.

Then, after breakfast, they focused on improving their wrestling technique. Another

break for lunch, then more training - this time hard, live wrestling. Dinner followed, and then each day ended with a final conditioning session.

“Then you got to go to sleep, which is probably the highlight of everyone’s day,” Duncan said.

Mount Si’s Head Coach, Tony Schlotfeldt, knew exactly what the boys were in for when he sold them on this camp. He attended the same one when he was in school. He knows first-hand the difficulty of the program, and the rewards that come with it.

“I kind of felt it did a lot for me in regards to mental toughness,” he said.

He has seen the results of this summer’s work this season. His wrestlers are in better condition, and the team is more focused than ever.

“The intensity of our practices has drastically improved this year over the last few years,” he said.

The team as a whole benefits from the wrestler’s camp experience. The increased intensity from the five who went forces and inspires the rest of their teammates to keep up by going harder.

Wrestling is a sport where toughness goes a long way.

The contest is bare, with only

two opponents and basically no equipment. Matches are extremely physical, but to win a wrestler has to be as strong in their mind as they are in their body.

“A lot of stuff in wrestling is more mental and emotional than physical,” said Gunnar.

“Wrestling really pushes you unlike any other sport.”

The J. Robinson camp teaches participants about wrestling technique, but they learn more than that. The camp imposes a physical toil, but it teaches a mental lesson.

“Their purpose was to make you realize that even though you have nothing left and you’re exhausted, you can keep going,” said Gunnar. “It seemed ridiculously hard at the time, but it made you a lot tougher as a person.”

This sense of self motivation and discipline was worked into the boys at this camp, and they said they brought those feelings back with them when they returned.

Now they push harder on the wrestling mat, but they also work harder in other areas, like their school work. The lessons about work and perseverance from the camp apply to more than just the sport.

“They wanted to train you

to realize that everything that you’re faced with in life you can overcome,” Gunnar said.

And the lessons were well earned, not given freely. The camp culminates in a coveted prize: a T-shirt, with the words “I did it” on the front.

The camp imposes a point system, where wrestlers are awarded or deducted points based on their cumulative performance at the camp. If a participant lost too many points, they don’t get the shirt.

Just completing this extremely intense camp is not enough.

They have to earn the shirt.

“It really got them to buy in, they want to earn that shirt,” said Schlotfeldt. “They want to come home and show people that they did it.”

Getting that shirt was a validation for the intense, physical work of the camp.

“It made everything worth it,” Gunnar said.

The wrestlers came back with a shirt proving their worth, a greater fire for their sport, and some strong values for their lives.

Their coach knew that was the real value of the camp, the actual wrestling was secondary.

When Schlotfeldt sent them it was “just to give the guys a mental edge. They all have pret-

Rovers take second in the state Contributed

The U-17 Fall City Rovers finished second in state at the Washington Cup Soccer Tournament. The Rovers were the District 2 champions. Most of the boys attend Mount Si High School. Front Row, left to right, Cameron Dixon, Patrick Pecora, Bjorn Stai, Will Raymond, Nate Swanson, Blake Picchena, Sam Yoshikawa, Gunnar Crittenden, Joe Kinner Back Row, left to right, Coach Brian Yotz, Kelly Klupar, Jack Clemens, Reed Pattenaude, Nicholas Yotz, Ben Cosgrove, Kyle Grate, Nick Huft, Garin Swanson, Sam Egan, Coach Evan Ellington.

Professor Fred returns Professor Fred and his Movie Marvels life show returns to The Black Dog in Snoqualmie for a raucous evening of entertainment beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 3. Professor Fred and his all-monster band, Ramshackle, open the show with rock and rockabilly music.

The “B” grade film “The Giant

Gila Monster” starts at 8 p.m. and features low-budget special effects with unknown actors mumbling most of their lines.

There is no charge for admission but donations are appreciated.

The Black Dog, a combination saloon, restaurant and live performance venue, is located in old-town Snoqualmie at 8062 Railroad Ave.

Movie-makers wanted for Black Dog Arts Coalition Flash Film Fest So you wanna make movies?

Get some credit for your efforts at the Black Dog Arts Coalition 2014 Flash Film Fest.

Youth and adults are invited to submit any genre by Feb. 28 including documentary, moc-

kumentary and animation, but the films must be less than 10 minutes long including title and credits. Categories include Best Teen, Best Adult and Best Overall films.

The Flash Film Fest producers prefer movies be “G” rated because the showings attract an all-ages crowd. A limited number of “R” or “MA” rated films will be accepted but the viewing

ty darn good technique.”

Duncan was one of only two eighth graders at the camp, and he initially was not completely sold on the idea of going.

“I got a lot more out of it than I thought I would,” he said. “It makes you want to do things and do things well.”

Duncan is looking forward to wrestling at the high school level next year with his brother.

They, along with the rest of the wrestlers who attended the camp, now have a distinct advantage in the mental game of wrestling because of what they went through over the summer.

“They make you go as far as you think you can go, then they show you you can actually go a lot farther than you thought,” Duncan said.

That mentality from the camp fits the sport of wrestling, where you have to be mentally and physically fit to handle the rigors of a match. It also fits one of Duncan’s favored quotes, by the famous wrestler Dan Gable, who said, “Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.”

Sam Kenyon can be reached at skenyon@ snovalleystar.com.

Register now for the Wildcat Class Annual Basketball Tournament The Wildcat Classic 2014 Annual Basketball Tournament will be held Jan. 17-19.

The Mount Si High School girls basketball team hosts the event for fourth- through eighth-grade teams.

Games will be played at Chief Kanim Middle School, Mount Si High School, the Freshman Campus and Twin Falls Middle School.

Divisions include both boys and girls Cascade League and girls PSTL teams. One team costs $275; discounts for multiple teams from the same group.

Register or learn more at www.mshsgirlsbasketball.com.

time for these ratings is minimal.

The films selected by the Flash Film Fest organizers will be viewed live March 13-15 at The Black Dog Café in downtown Snoqualmie. Tickets to the screenings are $10 per person per night.

All proceeds go to support the See FILM, Page 8

SnoValley Star

PAGE 8

Film

Tree

From Page 7

From Page 2

Black Dog Arts Coalition, a nonprofit group which strives to nurture, encourage and support artistic expression and education in order to create a rich arts culture in the Snoqualmie Valley.

Only Washington state residents may submit films. Although it isn’t required, the authors, cre-

ators and filmmakers are encouraged to attend the public viewing.

They will be admitted free to the show and will be contacted as to which nights their films will be shown.

Get complete details about how to submit films at www.blackdogartscoalition.org.

Review

teachers.

School had already started for the district’s more than 6,000 students when the situation grew so tense that teachers removed their personal belongings from classrooms on Sept. 6.

The vote came after a weekend of intense negotiations between the teachers union and the district.

Negotiations had been under way since April. The contract expired Aug. 31.

The biggest stumbling block for an agreement was limiting class size in the district’s five elementary schools.

Teachers have repeatedly said they cannot do a quality job when they try to teach too many children at once. Instead of limiting class sizes, the district offered options of extra pay or extra planning time.

Dale Folkerts, SVEA spokesman, said the teachers repeatedly emphasized that class size was more important than money.

The new contract gives teachers extra money when/if classes reach a certain size.

From Page 5 dent of the North Bend community’s ability to help the theater.

“This is a community that bonds together,” she said. “It’s a community that makes things happen.”

Walker was especially impressed and touched with the power of individual donations of less than $100. Nearly 45 percent of the total funds raised were from small donations.

“To see it really come to fruition is an affirmation,” she said.

Teachers and district settle contract dispute Snoqualmie Valley Education Association members approved a three-year contract agreement Sept. 8, averting a possible strike against the Snoqualmie Valley School District. Teachers voted 174-121, a 59 percent to 41 percent decision, to accept the contract. The union represents 363

City Road S.E. (state Route 202) 222-0008 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday Cost: $1 per tree q Pacific Topsoils – Issaquah 9830 Renton-Issaquah Road S.

Home invasion suspect killed A home invasion suspect was stabbed and killed by a resident early May 13 after he broke into a home near North Bend.

King County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call at the home in the 10100 block of 420th Avenue Southeast at about 1:40 a.m. When police arrived, they learned that a man and his wife were asleep when their dogs started barking and woke them up. The husband got up to let the dogs out and was confronted by an intruder inside the house.

The husband and the intruder started fighting, and the wife jumped in to help her husband and stabbed the intruder, according to Sgt. Cindi West, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office. The suspect, described as a man in his 30s or 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies said when they searched the house, they discovered a number of screens had been removed from the windows, but it was unclear

JANUARY 2, 2014

800-884-7645 toll free or 337-2700 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday Cost: $3 per tree q Pacific Topsoils Redmond 20871 N.E. RedmondFall City Road Phone: 800-884-7645 toll free or 337-2700 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3

how the intruder got into the house.

DNA tests later confirmed that Ken Boonstra was the same man who had broken into the house the day before when the wife, who was home with her infant daughter and mother, called 911 after an intruder came into the house through an unlocked rear door and assaulted and robbed her.

Boonstra’s car — a 2006 Dodge Magnum — was found the next day in the 42900 block of Southeast 92nd Street, about midway between the couple’s house and the nearly 7-acre property on Moon Valley Road Southeast where records say Boonstra had been living in a 23-foot travel trailer.

p.m. Sunday Cost: $3 per tree.

Call the King County Solid Waste Division, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 206477-4466 or go to the website at http://your. kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/index.asp.

Want your local news updates daily?

Find SnoValley Star on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @SnovalleyStar

Collin Crose

Everytime I had an appointment we ended up laughing at one point or another. Thanks for the - Collin Crose good times!

Call for Your Free Consultation Voted Top Orthodontist 2011, 2012, 2013 www.kirbynelsonorthodontics.com North Bend Office 425-888-1896

Maple Valley Office 425-413-2121

Snoqualmie Ridge Office 425-831-0386

Every child should be treated the way we’d like our own children treated.

It’s our goal to implement the highest standard of care at every patient encounter whether it’s a child’s first visit, a teenager who’s headed off to college, or a special-needs adult we’ve been treating for decades.

2 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU Now preferred provider for Premera

(425) 296-6323

(425) 296-6296

WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!