snovalleystar011713

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

January 17, 2013 VOL. 5, NO. 3

Mount Si wrestlers come out on top Page 8

Suspected burglars charged, resident honored

By Michele Mihalovich

Buy don’t lease Hospital board commits to buying new hospital.

Page 3

North Bend might pay Change to fire services could cost North Bend.

Page 3

Bring out your guns County teams to offer gun buy back.

Page 4

Bowled over Fundraiser becomes an annual tradition.

Page 6

Police blotter Page 10

Sing it out Wildcat Idol celebrates 10 years.

Page 11

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

When Snoqualmie resident Tia Borgioli heard about neighbors having $100,000 worth of jewelry stolen from their house during a daytime burglary, she’d had enough.

That was one of two Snoqualmie Ridge neighbors whose homes had been broken into and robbed on Jan. 2, and Borgioli said the situation compelled her to try to make sure the criminals responsible somehow got caught.

On Jan. 8, she got her chance, and a bit more than she bargained for — a gun in her face.

At about 2:20 p.m., she jumped into her vehicle to head to work when she saw a U-Haul truck in a neighbor’s driveway on Norman Avenue Southeast.

Borgioli knew witnesses had seen a U-Haul truck in the neighborhood when the Jan. 2 robberies occurred, and she knew the truck didn’t have any

business in her handgun, point“A lot of people say I’m neighborhood, ed it and told crazy, and ask if I was so she used her her to, “Get vehicle to block terrified. But I was more out of here,” the truck from according to terrified that these people Almquist. leaving.

“Initially, I SPD Chief wouldn’t get caught and wasn’t going Steve McCulley to confront would continue to terror- said Borgioli anybody,” the somehow had mother of three ize others.” the wherewithal said. “I was just to dial 911 and — Tia Borgioli honk her horn going to park Snoqualmie resident to alert other my car and call the police. But, neighbors while the woman who she sped off to was in the driver’s seat stuck her get away. head out the window and start“The police got there so ed conversing with me.” quickly,” she said. “It was amazSnoqualmie Police Capt. Nick ing and I’m so thankful. A lot of Almquist said the woman’s male people say I’m crazy, and ask if I accomplice, who had pried open was terrified. But I was more terthe sliding glass door in the back rified that these people wouldn’t of the home, came around to the get caught and would continue front of the house to see what all to terrorize others.” the commotion was about.

The SPD and the city of The man was about 10 feet Snoqualmie honored Borgioli at away from Borgioli when he the Jan. 14 City Council meetpulled out a Ruger .40-caliber ing, giving her a plaque and a

shiny new set of toy handcuffs.

Some of her neighbors also turned out to express how grateful they were for her actions.

“They hit my house, so thank you very much,” one man said to Borgioli before the meeting started. “You’re a great citizen.”

Borgioli’s husband Anthony said he wasn’t shocked by his wife’s actions that day.

“She’s always been a fighter and stands up against injustice,” he said.

Her 8-year-old son Lucas did, however, think what his mom did was kind of crazy. But, he didn’t mind when his teacher asked him to stand up at the front of the class and tell the students how his mom “helped catch the bad guys.”

The suspected burglars — Sean Paul St. Clair, 32, of Renton, and Katie Ruth Glore, also known as Katie Anderson, 30, of North Bend — were arrestSee CHARGED, Page 3

Roundabout Gone but not forgotten raises many questions

By Michele Mihalovich A new roundabout near the Snoqualmie Falls could mean more development opportunities for the area and much safer driving conditions, but not everyone is thrilled with the project.

Dan Marcinko, Snoqualmie’s public works director, said the city applied for a Transportation Improvement Board Grant from the state in August, and learned in November that it had been approved for the $3 million grant.

Along with $2.177 million from the Muckleshoot Tribe and a $500,000 match from the city, Marcinko said his department could finalize the design and advertise the project for bids this spring, and possibly see construction begin this summer.

The Muckleshoots figure into the Tokul Roundabout equaSee CIRCLE, Page 2

By Danny Raphael

While driving on 394th Place Southeast in North Bend Jan. 11, Danny Raphael, of North Bend, happened to see this memorial to Lucy Fisher Pieczkowski, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident early New Year’s Day. Sgt. Cindi West, of the King County Sheriff’s Office, said Jan. 14 that no arrest has been made. Anyone who witnessed a person driving the white Ford pickup that police suspect was involved in the hit and run should call West at 206-255-0778.

SnoValley Star

PAGE 2

Circle From Page 1 tion because they own the Salish Lodge & Spa, along with 49 acres of undeveloped land across from it on Highway 202, said Rachel Nathanson, a Seattle land-use consultant working with the tribe on the Salish expansion project.

She said the tribe bought the lodge and land in 2007, and has an entitlement that would allow a hotel and some residential properties on the 49-acre site.

Expansion plans were put on hold for several reasons: Because of the downturn in the economy, the city hadn’t secured funding for the roundabout, and without transportation improvements to that area, the project really couldn’t move forward, Nathanson said.

Anyone who has ever tried to pull in or out of the parking lots on Highway 202 at the Snoqualmie Falls Park know the strange angles are a safety concern, and Puget Sound Energy, which owns the power plant at the falls, estimates that about 1.9 million people visit the falls annu-

ally.

The Tokul Roundabout would realign the highway, as well as Mill Pond and Tokul roads, said Kamal Mahmoud, a Snoqualmie project engineer. One of the entrances to the falls parking lot would be closed and rerouted to the concrete roundabout through Tokul Road. The roundabout area will include a 10-foot-wide shared-use path that could eventually hook up with future trails, Marcinko said.

He said the city is holding storage capacity for sewage and water for when the development happens on the Muckleshoot land, which is why the tribe agreed to help pay for the roundabout project.

Nathanson said what specific development will occur at the site hasn’t yet been determined by the tribe.

She said they haven’t done any work on the hotel concept or design yet, because until the transportation improvement details were in place, it would have been too premature.

Nathanson will now go into researching the market needs of the area.

“We want a successful hotel, much like the Salish is successful,” she said.

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“We’ll have to do quite a bit of market analysis to see what the market can bear before we go to the city.”

The Snoqualmie Tribe is not thrilled with a roundabout and development possibilities by Snoqualmie Falls.

“It’s really a world view issue,” said Matt Mattson, Snoqualmie tribal administrator. “There is only one Snoqualmie Falls. It’s a unique place and a part of the Snoqualmie’s history and creation place. They feel that any development in or near the falls is inappropriate. It’s not the right place or the best way to balance cultural resource stewardship and growth.”

The Snoqualmie also tried to purchase the Salish Lodge and land when it was on the market, but the Muckleshoots had a higher offer.

Mattson said if the Snoqualmie had been successful in its bid for the property, the plan was to restore the area to its natural state, and no development would have taken place.

The tribe would have respected that the lodge itself is considered a historic place, and would have maintained it, but maybe not continue to promote the building as a lodge and spa, he said.

However, after a story broke in The Seattle Times about the Snoqualmie expanding its casino and possibly building a hotel/convention center, many wondered if the

JANUARY 17, 2013

Contributed

The proposed roundabout could spur development in the area near Snoqualmie Falls.

Snoqualmie opposition to the roundabout and Salish expansion had to do with competition for hotel market share.

Mattson said the Times story was unfortunate, because it made it sound like the Snoqualmie were going forward with a hotel, which has not been determined.

He said a full tribal membership meeting is

scheduled for Feb. 9, when the tribe will discuss the possibility.

“Until they meet and make a decision, it’s premature to discuss a hotel,” Mattson said.

But as far as competition, he said anyone who has ever visited Las Vegas knows that hotels have a direct benefit to the gaming industry.

“So, any hotel expan-

sion in the Valley, whether it’s the Snoqualmie, the Muckleshoots, or both, it is going to be a net benefit to the casino … We’re comfortable having to compete with any hotel in the Valley,” Mattson said.

“It’s not even a concern.”

Michele Mihalovich: 392-6434, ext.

246, or editor@snovalleystar.com.

Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 17, 2013

Hospital board commits to purchasing the new hospital

By Michele Mihalovich In order to secure funding for the construction of the new hospital, the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital board reaffirmed its intention to purchase the new facility, rather than lease the building for 30 years.

In a special meeting of the hospital board Jan. 10, hospital CEO Rodger McCollum explained to the board that Moreland Pacific, the company that is building the new hospital and will hold the lease to the property, is ready to secure financing for the construction of the building through Dougherty Funding LLC, of Minneapolis.

He said Dougherty is requesting a “reaffirmation” that the hospital district will purchased the new hospital no earlier than two years after construction is completed, but no more than five years after taking possession of the building.

“It has always been our intention to own the new hospital building,” he told the board.

One option would be for the district to pay $281,400 per month for

Charged From Page 1

ed and taken to the King County Jail.

Almquist said police executed a search warrant on the cab of the U-Haul, which the couple had rented, and found $30,000 worth of jewelry and a police scanner.

St. Clair, who is being held in lieu of $300,000 bail, has been charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and

30 years to Moreland, which is the current plan, he said.

The other option would be to try and obtain HUD 242 financing. McCollum said that type of financing has a very low interest rate and would be the ideal situation.

He said right now HUD 242 financing has a 2 percent to 2.5 percent interest rate.

“Now, that doesn’t mean it will have the same interest rate in the future, but it would be lower than anything else on the market,” McCollum told the board.

One of the requirements of HUD financing is that a hospital must show three years of profitability, he said.

McCollum said after the meeting that the timeline would work well for the district: three years to show profitability, and one year to go through the approval process of HUD financing.

If the district isn’t able to get the desired HUD financing, then the other option would be secure tax-exempt bonds with a guaranteed rate to not exceed 8 percent interest, he said.

Commissioner Gene Pollard took issue with several factors. One, he didn’t know how the hospital was going to be able to turn a profit with a nearly $300,000 monthly lease payment.

Hospital attorney Jay Rodne explained that during the process of securing a Certificate of Need from the state, the analysts “really scrutinized our financials and they approved this.”

Pollard also didn’t like the fact that a special meeting was called. He said the resolution could have been brought up at the regular Jan. 3 meeting, or it could have waited until the regular meeting scheduled for Feb. 7.

Pollard asked that the matter be tabled until the next regular meeting, but no other commissioners seconded the motion, so it died.

Commissioners Kevin Hauglie, Dick Jones and Joan Young voted to reaffirm the hospital’s decision to purchase the new hospital, with Pollard voting no. Commissioner David Speikers was excused from the meeting.

second-degree assault, according to charging documents from King County Superior Court.

Glore, who is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, was charged with

first-degree burglary.

Their arraignment has been set for Jan. 24, according to Dan Donohoe, of the King County Prosecutor’s Office.

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EFR change could cost North Bend

By Caleb Heeringa Sammamish could trim its fire service costs by between $156,000 and $314,000 a year if Eastside Fire & Rescue partners agree to a new funding model that reflects the amount of calls each jurisdiction produces.

But it remains to be seen whether other partners that make up the fire consortium — namely the cities of Issaquah and North Bend — would sign on to a new funding method that would substantially increase their fire bills in the name of maintaining the current incarnation of EFR past 2014.

A committee of elected officials and city staff from each partner met Dec. 20 to discuss the implications of using call

load as a factor in determining how much to charge.

EFR currently bases the yearly bill on the assessed value of property covered by each station.

Sammamish officials have long complained that this unfairly charges its residents for stations that spend more of their time responding to the city of Issaquah and to Klahanie in District 10.

Committee members discussed using a hybrid model – either 75 percent assessed value and 25 percent based on the amount of calls produced or a 50/50 split.

Representatives for Issaquah and North Bend both pushed for the 75/25 split, while Sammamish leaders continue to advocate for a 50/50 split – something they’ve demanded since

last year. Sammamish has threatened to pull out of EFR if its demands are not met.

Making fire bills reflect the use of specific stations would raise Issaquah’s yearly contribution to the agency by approximately $246,000 under the 75/25 model and as much as $492,000 under the 50/50 split.

North Bend would also see a rise in its fire bill – approximately $76,000 under the 75/25 model and $151,000 under the 50/50 split.

If EFR were to change its model, attendees discussed phasing in 5 percent increments per year to help Issaquah and North Bend adjust to the change.

The city councils and commissioners of See FIRE, Page 5

How much money?

Sammamish and King County Fire Districts 10 and 38 would save money if EFR were to begin charging partners based on the amount of calls that originate in their territory, although Issaquah and North Bend would see more expensive fire bills. Below, the percentage change in payments for each partner based on different funding models. (AV means assessed value)

75 percent AV/ 50 percent AV/ 25 calls 50 calls Sammamish (-2.8 percent) (-5.5 percent) Issaquah 4.8 percent 9.7 percent North Bend 9.7 percent 19.5 percent District 10 (-1.1 percent) (-2.2 percent) District 38 (-6.85 percent) (-13.7 percent)

100 percent calls (-11.65 percent) 23.1 percent 47.6 percent (-7.3 percent) (-29.8 percent)

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Opinion

PAGE 4

Editorial

Letters

Gun buy back is a worthwhile plan

No to Tokul Roundabout

Seattle and King County leaders last week introduced a plan for a gun buy-back program. If you don’t want a gun you have, turn it in and you will receive a $100 gift card ($200 if the weapon is an assault rifle), no questions asked.

Officials have collected about $100,000, largely in donations, to fund the effort.

Groups on both sides of the gun control debate slammed the plan, saying it would not result in a substantial amount of guns being taken off the street.

It will not lower the crime rate, and the bad guys are not going to turn in their weapons for a fraction of their cost.

They’re right, as far as they go. Getting $200 to spend at Amazon won’t be what entices a psychopath to turn in his arms.

In all likelihood, this gun buyback won’t prevent another tragedy like Sandy Hook or Aurora or Columbine.

What it might do, however, is stop an everyday tragedy that doesn’t make national headlines.

It can mean one less potentially unsecured gun that a child could find at home or a friend’s house.

It could mean one gun that’s not readily available when someone is considering a crime of passion or suicide.

It could mean one gun that’s not stolen in a burglary and resold to a criminal on a dark street corner.

Everybody wants to do something after Sandy Hook.

Local leaders don’t have a lot of room to maneuver when it comes to placing restrictions on weapons, nor should they attempt to abridge our constitutional rights. But this voluntary program means no ones rights are being violated.

We read about the killings and the loss of life. We’ll never know how many people are protected through this program, but even if it’s just one, the time and money is worth the effort.

The gun buy-back program is far from perfect, but our leaders can do something, or they can do nothing. It’s good to see them try.

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D. No. Hasselbeck took the team to a Super Bowl. Beat that, Russ.

Vote online at www.snovalleystar.com.

Deborah Berto

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Managing editor

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Editor

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JANUARY 17, 2013

My mother was a spiritual leader in our Snoqualmie Tribe. I come from many who have worked before me to carry teachings from our culture.

Respect is foremost. Living your culture and teachings is another. I have, in my lifetime, dedicated my time and energy and spirit to preserving, protecting and celebrating the great gift of the creator, Snoqualmie Falls, “For All People, For All Time.”

Last evening, I addressed the Snoqualmie City Council, asking them to delay a vote that would initiate the process toward the construction of the Tokul Roundabout. This expensive and poorly planned “improvement” will greatly impact the area that is Snoqualmie Falls. It will open the door for further development.

Backdoor deals and insincere, too late apologies by city officials belie the bridge building that is still needed for this valley to prosper in a coordinated and respectful manner that will benefit us all. Our futures are intertwined in ways that demand that we find a better way to create the

future, building relationships and partnerships honoring the history of Snoqualmie Falls.

I am asking those with ears to hear, to really pay attention to what the city government is doing in the name of its citizens.

Snoqualmie Falls is like no other. It is recognized nationally and globally as a sacred place and deserves consideration and respect by the city of Snoqualmie – not misuse as a pawn in a revenue ploy. There are some things that have nothing to do with money. They are the most important in our lives.

Lois Sweet Dorman Snoqualmie Tribe

Slow down The word “hurry” means to move or cause to move with speed or haste, rush.

How many times have you used or heard someone else use the word “hurry” in a sentence?

See LETTERS, Page 5

Home Country

Fiction can happen without the truth Dud Campbell had been quiet for almost an hour, which brought concern to his wife, Anita. Dud isn’t the strong, silent type. He’s more like a quick, noisy type. After an hour had gone by in silence, he picked up a sheet of paper and began taking notes.

“Dinner’s pretty soon, Hon,” Anita said.

“Can’t eat now. Uh, can I have something later, maybe?”

“Sure. Hey, you OK?” He nodded, then went for the coffee pot. He gave Anita a hug on his way back to the table.

“Been thinking. It’s the book again.”

We’re all aware of The Book.

Dud’s murder mystery, which has been transformed over several years from eight murders in the first chapter (rejected by a publisher) to three murders in the entire book, to a murder/love story based on the unorthodox courtship of Randall Jones and Katie Burchell.

It has been a literary thorn in Dud’s side since he first got the idea. The titles haven’t changed, however. Dud still calls it “Murder in the Soggy Bottoms” and everyone else still calls it “The Duchess and the Truck Driver.” Because the two main characters are … well, you know.

“Anita, Hon, it’s this whole Dewey business…”

I thought he was doing just fine with Emily.”

“He is … I think. Anyway, I was thinking that I could put

some of their courtship story into the book. Maybe have the truck driver hide his profession from Slim Randles the duchess, and maybe Columnist the duchess could turn out to have a diesel fetish or something. So they have things they’re hiding from each other.

It’s just … well, I don’t know where to put it in the book, you know?”

“Dud, just because Dewey and this Emily are in an unusual situation where she thinks he has a manure fetish, well, that’s interesting all right, but the book should be your story, not theirs.”

He sat and sipped and scratched with the pencil and looked at her and smiled.

“You know, at times like this, I’m almost sorry I started writing this book. With fiction, you can’t check to see what people did. You have to make it up as you go, and sometimes I think, well, how in the world should I know what these people are going to do?”

“May I make a suggestion?”

“Sure.”

“Why don’t you just start writing and let the characters figure out what they want to do?

You know, leave it up to them?”

“Anita Campbell, you’re a genius!”

He immediately got on the computer, didn’t eat any dinner at all, and didn’t come to bed until about 4 a.m. Artists sometimes have hard lives.

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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:

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

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 17, 2013

Community meeting is set regarding Snoqualmie Ridge

Imagine Housing, a Kirkland organization that is proposing an affordable, rental housing project in Snoqualmie Ridge, is inviting the public to a community outreach meeting.

The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Jan. 23 at the Snoqualmie Ridge Community Center, 35018 S.E. Ridge St. Imagine Housing and the design team will review the next generation of its design concepts for Parcel S-20 and welcome input and feedback, according to a press release.

Attendees can meet the development team and Imagine Housing personnel; join neighbors to see

Letters From Page 4 Probably too many times to count.

Here are a couple of my favorites: Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?

Take your time going, hurry back.

what is being proposed; see changes they’ve already made based on community input thus far; provide additional input and have questions answered. Refreshments will be provided.

RSVP to 576-5190 ext.

14 or marchellem@imaginehousing.org.

Fund for the Valley supports food bank

Holiday donations to Fund for the Valley came to $575.

The funds will support the work of the Mt. Si Helping Hands Food Bank in its quest to feed more than 600 people every week.

Special thanks to contributors Thomas and Recebba Syndor, Catherine Huitt, C.J. Kusiak, Walter Rector and Susannah St. Clair.

Can’t talk now, in a hurry.

I hurried over as fast as I could.

Here’s a list of what I need. Don’t rush. No hurry.

If you weren’t in such a hurry in the first place, we wouldn’t have to go back.

Now we’ll be late.

Burning daylight. Better hurry before it gets dark.

Hurry up slowpoke.

Other donors chose to give anonymously.

Agencies launch gun buy back program King County and Seattle leaders launched a gun buyback program Jan. 8 in a bid to curb gun violence.

The countywide initiative offers a monetary incentive for people to turn in firearms. The initial gun-buyback event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 26 in the downtown Seattle parking lot underneath Interstate 5 between Cherry and James streets.

In exchange for dropping off a weapon, people receive a gift card valued at up to $100 for handguns, shotguns and rifles, and up to $200 for assault weapons.

If you are one of those people who are always hurrying, why not do what I do.

Set your clocks and watches 10 minutes later than the real time. It really works!

Hurrying only leads to worrying. So don’t worry, be happy!

Tammy Rowland North Bend

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.

PAGE 5

Fire From Page 3 each partner would have to approve any changes to the funding model before re-entering the interlocal agreement that underpins EFR. Sammamish Mayor Tom Odell said the calculations confirm what he and others have suspected for years – that charging partners based on the value of their property doesn’t accurately reflect the amount each partner uses the fire service.

“I think it shows everybody, not just (Sammamish representatives), that there’s a problem out there that has not been addressed,” Odell said.

North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing said he had “mixed feelings” about the proposed changes to the

funding model. Hearing said it’s in the best interest of his city to keep the EFR partnership together, since the city and other partners realize significant cost savings by spreading administrative costs across five partners.

But a 9.7 percent increase in the annual fire bill would be hard to stomach, regardless of whether it is phased in or not, he said.

“We pay about half of what we would if we were running our own fire department — we get a screaming hot deal” with EFR, Hearing said.

“But having to pass along increases like that at a time when money is tight in the city budget would be difficult.”

Hospital

Reporter Caleb Heeringa can be reached at 392-6434. ext. 247. To comment online, visit SnoValleyStar. com.

Michele Mihalovich: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar. com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

From Page 3 McCollum said after the meeting that it was necessary for the board to meet Jan. 10 because it was important that Moreland get going on the financing, and Dougherty had asked for the reaffirmation from the hospital on Jan. 7.

Grading and utilities have been installed at the new hospital site, and McCollum said Absher Construction “has been fronting some of the early costs until the financing is in place.”

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community

PAGE 6

JANUARY 17, 2013

Empty Bowls is a tradition of solidarity growing in the Valley

By Sebastian Moraga The meal is simple; the cause is not.

With bowls of soup and pieces of bread, community members will unite Feb. 10 to help eradicate hunger in the Snoqualmie Valley, during the second annual Empty Bowls fundraiser.

The event, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Mount Si High School Commons, will attempt to raise money for the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank.

“The whole idea is to bring the community together in a way that recognizes and addresses a need in our community,” said Heidi Dukich, executive director of the food bank, who described the fundraiser as a “grassroots effort to fight hunger.”

Tickets for the meal are $20.

People attending the fundraiser will share a meal of soup and bread, eating from bowls made from middle and high school students from the Valley. Students will make more than 250 bowls for the event.

The meal, Dukich said, will mimic a soup line, in which people will get soup from a

Contributed

Empty Bowls, a fundraiser for the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank, returns to the Snoqualmie Valley next month. The food bank, which serves 400 families a week, will invite the community to eat a frugal meal of soup and bread in bowls made by Valley students. The proceeds from tickets and a silent auction that will follow the meal will help raise funds for the food bank. ladle, and sit and share with neighbors.

After the meal, a silent auction of donated items will try to raise more money for the food bank.

Last year, the first time the Valley hosted an Empty Bowls fundraiser, the event raised more than $7,000.

“It was very good for our first year,” Dukich said.

Empty Bowls fundraisers

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January alone, Empty Bowls fundraisers will occur in Ohio, Massachusetts and, on Jan. 18, in Wenatchee, according to www.emptybowls.net.

“By holding events, we are bringing attention to the fact that we have hungry neighbors in our community,” Dukich said. “People can lose sight of the fact that we serve people every week. It’s not seasonal. It’s every week of the

Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

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SnoValley Star

PAGE 7

Batik and realism inform the art of Lee Zinkan more like a finely tuned painting than a dyed wax piece.

Lee Zinkan, 76, has lived in “I like her art because it’s difat least a dozen different states ferent,” Mount Si Artist Guild throughout her life. Despite the president Audrey Zeder said scenery changes, the one thing of Zinkan. “She does her own that remained consistent was her thing.” art.

While Zinkan does stray from Before Zinkan settled in the norm, she still prefers realistic Snoqualmie about six years ago, paintings and semimodern work. she was jet-setting across the “I don’t like ultra-modern country with her husband, who art,” she confessed. “I just have a was in the Air Force. Each new hard time looking at something destination meant a new art class and having it titled ‘The People,’ or workshop. and you look at it, and it’s just a “It was something to pass the bunch of dots and stripes. I just time,” Zinkan admitted. “And don’t get it.” then, I realized I was pretty For Zinkan, it is far more decent at it.” rewarding to plan out an intricate After 40 years of workpainting and execute it. shops, now the “Sometimes Snoqualmie Artist “It was something to it’s is nice to Guild is her only look at, but I just pass the time, and then, art sanctuary. don’t like the She is a selffeeling that peoI realized I was pretty proclaimed ple are looking at decent at it.” “dabbler artist,” it and saying, ‘I specializing in could do that,’” — Lee Zinkan she said of modwatercolor, oil Artist ern art. and collage. For Zinkan, art is a She lives for hobby, but her the feeling that passion for it has grown such comes when the final product turns that if she could redo her time at out as spectacular as her vision.

South Auburn University, she said Of course, that isn’t always the she would have majored in art case. There are works she despises, instead of general studies. ones that you can only find sitWhile always interested in ting in the corner of her living doodling, she didn’t realize her room gathering dust. artistic inclinations would lead to “I think the ‘eye of the beholda talent for painting — until she er’ is such a great statement,” began taking classes.

Zinkan said. “What’s gorgeous to Zinkan’s most prized piece is one person doesn’t turn another a portrait of a geisha girl, creone on. It’s very individualistic.” ated using batik. It earned a firstDespite her array of artistic place award at an Ohio art show. creations, Zinkan insists she is not While most of her art has been the best at self-expression. exchanged or sold, she refuses to “I just look at a picture and I sell the piece. think it’s pretty and something Rather than typical batik tools, I’d like to look at for a long time,” she uses paintbrushes for thin she said. lines so the final product looks That’s exactly what happened

SNOQUALMIE VALLEY

By Alysa Hullett

Contributed

Two of Lee Zinkan’s works are a teapot (above) and a teddy bear (below).

with her geisha woman painting — she saw the image in a magazine, loved it and the portrait resonated.

Zinkan is committed to the guild due to the relationships she has built and the positive impact it has had on her artwork.

“Any time you’re around another artist, it inspires you,” she said.

After so many years of creating artwork, she finds hauling around on-site painting equip-

ment increasingly challenging. As a result, she also experiments with less physically demanding forms of art, such as collage.

No matter what adjustments she has to make along the way, Zinkan said she would “just like to keep painting forever.”

Alysa Hullett is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

Amateur Photo Contest to be awarded in each category: • Life in the Valley (people) • Animals/pets • NW nature (scenics)

Obituary Joann Elizabeth Barto Ernst Joann Ernst, of Issaquah, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2012, in Bellevue. She was 91.

A celebration of life was held at Flintoft’s Funeral Home, 3926444. Private inurnment was held at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent.

Friends are invited to view photos and share memories in the family’s online guest book at www.flintofts.com.

WINNERS! Send your best high-resolution digital photo to PhotoContest@SnoValleyStar.com.

Include name, address and phone number of the photographer, plus the story behind the photo. Limit three entries per person.

Photos may not be dramatically altered from the original. All entries become the property of SnoValley Star and its parent company for use in any of its publications.

Deadline: February 8, 2013 Winners will be announced in the SnoValley Star on Feb. 21

Sports

PAGE 8

JANUARY 17, 2013

Senior night turns into a romp for Mount Si wrestlers

By Sebastian Moraga The match had been declared a forfeit, with Mount Si High School wrestler Mitch Rorem walking to the center of the mat alone and having his arm raised without having to break a sweat.

Still, the song arose from the bleachers, five or six voices, insistent in their desire to have a little fun with their buddy, by chanting his name like he had just won state.

“I have weird friends,” Rorem said with a smile. “That’s the best way to explain it.”

Jokes aside, the chant for Rorem was one of the few unbusinesslike aspects of the thorough beating Mount Si laid on Bellevue on Senior Night Jan. 10 in Snoqualmie.

Adding one more chapter to a strong season of upperclassman leadership, few injuries and outstanding conditioning, the Wildcats defeated the Wolverines, 58-21.

Gunnar Harrison defeated Garrett Williams, 16-7, at 126 pounds; Ryley Absher pinned Bellevue’s Cole Bouwman in the third round at 132 pounds. Tye Rodne pinned Bellevue’s John Manusco in the first round at 152, and Max Kenagy pinned Bellevue’s Cutter Podoll in the

first round at 160, in a match that so upset Podoll he walked off the mat and had to be reminded to shake hands with everybody.

“He thought his shoulders were off the mat,” Kenagy said.

“But they weren’t.”

Kenagy said it being Senior Night made the match special for him.

“Last home meet for me, I really want to perform,” he said.

At 106 pounds, Hunter Conway pinned Bellevue’s Nathan Smith. At 120, Eli Clure pinned Bellevue’s Nick Luera.

Nate Whited, Rorem, Kelly Klupar and Justin Edens won their matches by forfeit for the Wildcats.

One of the most entertaining matches of the night, oddly enough, was one that did not go the Wildcats’ way, with senior Cole Palmer yielding to Bellevue’s Jamey Mange, 6-4, at 170 pounds.

Mange is one of Bellevue’s captains, Palmer said.

“We were definitely even,” Palmer said. “The guy was tough, he was strong, he had a lot of endurance, he was fast.

Keeping up with somebody like that is enough to do, let alone try to lead him in pace.”

Palmer and Kenagy praised

Wildcat girls basketball first Holiday Classic tournament is a success

By Michele Mihalovich The Mount Si High School girls basketball team came away with a second place finish in the Surf ‘N Slam Holiday Classic tournament in San Diego in December.

Coach Megan Botulinski said the girls went 2-1 in the tournament, “losing in the championship game by three points to Philomath, a team from Oregon.”

“The girls really played relaxed and loose in San Diego.

I don’t think they were as nervous for the games, as these were all non-league,” she said.

“We also viewed the games as opportunities to improve individually and as a team — so, I don’t think the girls put added pressure on themselves. It was a fantastic trip for us, as we were able to bond even more

and see a lot of the San Diego area.”

This was the first time the Wildcat girls have participated in a Holiday Classic tournament, Botulinski said.

“The past few years, we have played in Northwest tourneys, as our booster club had yet to build up the funds necessary to participate in a ‘far away’ tourney,” she said. “It has taken several years to do so, but we were finally able to cover airfare, room, breakfasts and tourney entry fees.

“I chose Surf ‘N Slam because it is a well-known, popular and well-run tournament.”

Contributed

The Mount Si girls basketball team took a break from playing to visit Sea World.

By Calder Productions

Gunnar Harrison, a 126-pounder for Mount Si High School battles Garret Williams of Bellevue. Harrison won by majority decision 16-7, and the Wildcats went on to defeat Bellevue 58-21. their team for another strong KingCo showing, two months after their last home match.

“No one was weak, no one was sluggish,” Kenagy said.

“Everyone came out and wrestled hard.”

Par for the course for the year and beyond, Palmer said.

“Every team in our league

so far we’ve really torn up,” he said. “We have a lot of seniors, and we have a really strong junior team. Next year, we’ll be on par with this year.”

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 17, 2013

PAGE 9

Wildcats beaten by kangaroos referee blew her whistle and charged the coach with a technical foul.

The Mount Si girls basketball team The call meant Kang guard/forhad hoped to redeem itself Jan. 11 ward Sydney Shepard had an entire against Lake Washington after the half court to herself to attempt three Kangs beat them 60-49 in December, free throws, but she failed to sink but it was not to be. The Kangs bestany. ed the Wildcats 49-35.

Lindor said after The Wildcats didn’t the game that Lake take the lead once Washington is a really Up next in the four periods, good team, but she but the last frame thought emotions q Mount Si vs. Liberty did include a bit of were high on both q 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18 drama. sides. q At Liberty High School With six minutes The Kangs and left, a referee called a Wildcats have the technical foul against same skill sets and of Wildcat Katy Lindor, course, both want to who had accidentally popped a Lake win, she said.

Washington player on the side of her But because Lake Washington beat face with an elbow — a call that was Mount Si earlier this season, maybe highly disputed by Lindor. the Wildcats wanted it a bit more, The game went on, but Wildcats she said. coach Megan Botulinski wasn’t The Wildcats overall record now is quite ready to accept the call, and 5-19. tried explaining to the ref that she thought the call was in error.

In Botulinski’s attempt to convince Michele Mihalovich: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@ snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com. the ref about her inaccurate call, the

By Michele Mihalovich

Contributed

Brian Perkins, of North Bend, finished fourth in the World Championships of hydroplane racing in Doha, Qatar. He also finished fourth at Seafair in August.

North Bend racer is fourth in world championship North Bend hydroplane racer Brian Perkins finished fourth in the world championships of his sport in Doha, Qatar, on Jan. 12, a day after his birthday.

The strong showing in the race represents a new peak for Perkins, who had finished fourth at Seafair’s iconic hydro race in August.

The fourth-place finish at Seafair had come after a rough start in 2012, when tight finances had limited his season to two races.

Now, he’s among the best in the world.

Perkins arrived in Qatar

on Jan. 8. On Jan. 10, he won one heat and finished second in another.

Brian Perkins “What an awesome day,” Perkins posted on his Facebook page afterward. “We will see what tomorrow brings.

The Sno-Casino boat is ready to take it on.”

Snoqualmie Casino is a Perkins sponsor.

Two days later, in the final heat, he finished fourth.

“Fourth place in the UIM world championship!” he posted on his

Contributed

Brian Perkins’ hydroplane kicks up a wall of water as the boat makes a turn.

Facebook page from Qatar.

“Thanks to an amazing team! One I could not be more proud to be a part of.”

SnoValley Star

PAGE 10

Police blotter North Bend Honey, is there something you’d like to tell me?

A Redmond man reported to police Jan. 4 that someone transferred $475 out of his bank account to Western Union, and he suspected his North Bend girlfriend.

Truck taken A California man who’s been living in North Bend for work reported at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 5 that someone stole his pickup.

The man was loading the vehicle and ran upstairs at his Main Avenue North apartment to grab some stuff. When he returned, the truck was gone.

A witness said he saw two “scrappy-looking” teens hanging around at the time of the theft.

The truck has not been located.

Picky thieves A woman reported to police Jan. 6 that her backpack was stolen from the North Bend Library, and that it was later found behind the North Bend Theatre.

Her credit cards and driver’s license were recovered, but someone did take a $20 bill out of her wallet.

Fuel suckers A woman reported at 8 p.m. Jan. 9 that someone siphoned gas out of her vehicle earlier in the day while her car was parked at the North Bend Outlet Mall.

Snoqualmie Park closed Police found subjects in a park at 3:06 a.m. Dec. 28. The park was closed and police drove the subjects to the police station for a ride home.

Loud music Police were called to a Southeast Newton Street address at 3:27 a.m. Dec. 28 for a noise complaint.

The tenants were advised to turn down the music.

Shots fired Police received a report of possible gunshots at 10:51 p.m. Dec. 31 on Silent Creek Avenue Southeast.

Officers heard fireworks but were unable to locate where they came from.

They got another call about fireworks a couple of hours later in the Southeast Forest Street and Southeast Woody Creek Lane area but were also unable to locate their exact location.

Drunken driving Police pulled over a station wagon at 1:38 a.m.

Jan. 1 after noticing the license plate had expired.

Police saw a male lying down in the backseat, and noted that he was “clearly intoxicated.”

The driver had slurred speech, and smelled of alcohol and marijuana.

After failing field sobriety tests, the driver was arrested for driving while under the influence and transported to the Issaquah Jail.

Vomit-covered vehicle

Police found an intoxicated person asleep in a vehicle at 2:28 a.m. Jan. 1 on the corner of Center Boulevard Southeast and Southeast Ridge Street.

The vehicle was “covered in vomit” and police gave the person a ride home.

Burglary A Down to Earth employee reported at 8:37 a.m. Jan. 2 that someone forced their way into the business through a back door and stole coins from the cash register.

Credit card fraud A woman called police Jan. 2 to report someone had charged more than $4,000 to her Macy’s

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credit card, which she had opened in November and had paid off.

North Bend fire calls

Two fire engines assisted the Snoqualmie Fire Department at a structure fire at 7:36 a.m. Jan. 7 in the 39000 block of Southeast Spruce Street.

Snoqualmie fire calls

Firefighters responded Jan. 4 to a medical aid call at the Snoqualmie Casino.

Firefighters responded Jan. 6 to a fire alarm on Hoff Avenue, but the alarm company canceled it before they arrived.

Snoqualmie firefighters on Jan. 7, with assistance from Fall City Fire and Eastside Fire & Rescue, responded to a structure fire on Southeast Spruce Street. Firefighters found an elderly woman outside the house, saying her living room was on fire. She was escorted to

a medic unit for evaluation. Firefighters extinguished the fire within 10 minutes. The homeowner was transported to Snoqualmie Valley Hospital for minor smoke inhalation. The fire was determined to be accidental, when the homeowner attempted to start a fire in the fireplace. It was estimated that the total fire damage was $20,000.

Firefighters responded Jan. 7 to a fire alarm on Bracken Place. Workers on site set off the alarm.

Firefighters responded Jan. 7 to a fire alarm at the Northwest Railway Museum. The alarm was malfunctioning and was reset.

Firefighters responded Jan. 8 to a fire alarm on Bracken Place. A worker on site set off the alarm.

Firefighters responded Jan. 8 to a medical aid call at the Snoqualmie Casino.

JANUARY 17, 2013

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schools

JANUARY 17, 2013

PAGE 11

Wildcat Idol hits 10-year mark

By Sebastian Moraga

By Sebastian Moraga

Taylor Pearlstein and her trusty ukulele returned to Wildcat Idol on Jan. 11. Twenty students performed at the 10th annual event, with Pearlstein and nine others qualifying for the semifinals.

With laughter and joyful beats, Wildcat Idol opened its 10th edition with 20 performers battling for 10 semifinal spots Jan. 11.

The contestants delivered a variety of songs, with girls outnumbering boys and upbeat tunes outnumbering sad songs.

The semifinals will take place 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at Mount Si High School.

That night, the 10 contestants will sing another song, and after the field shrinks to three, the finalists will sing yet again before the 2013 Wildcat Idol is chosen.

The 10 semifinalists are Morgan Myers, Mckenna Esteb, Liam Wright, Taylor Pearlstein, Kennedy Stinson, JC Mattson, Emilia Glaser, Anastasia Bruckner, Ethan Waud and Esteb’s sister Madelynn.

“We have both been performing together and separately for years,” Madelynn wrote in an email about her sibling. “I guess we both knew that we would be competing against each other in high school.”

Mckenna performed first, with her sister waiting behind

the curtains.

“I was standing backstage, listening to her,” Madelynn wrote, “just thinking of how amazing her voice is.”

She wasn’t the only one thinking that.

After Madelynn sang, contest judge and Mount Si science teacher Jean-Jacques Tetu jokingly offered the Esteb sisters’ parents some options, like adopting him or having him adopt the parents.

If music reigned on this night, laughter came a close second, with performers joking with the judges and the emcee joking with the crowd.

“I would like to welcome you to Liam Idol 2013,” emcee and Mount Si music teacher Ryan Harris, referring to contestant Wright, who sang his song and accompanied three other participants on guitar.

“The best part about my performance was how well Liam Wright and I worked together,” Mattson wrote in an email. “That was only the third time we’d done the song together.”

Four judges combined their votes with the crowd’s to come up with the 10 finalists.

On top of that, the contest

allowed a separate vote, where fans donated money to the music program in the name of their favorite performer.

The performer who received the most money won the “People’s Choice Award.” This year, the honor went to Maria Erickson.

In the meantime, the show raised hundreds of dollars.

All in all, it was a great night for music at Mount Si High School. And nobody might have had a greater night than Bruckner, the curly-haired songstress who earned the loudest ovation of the night.

“It was incredible,” she wrote. “I honestly did not expect that type of applause whatsoever, so when it happened, I jumped a little bit. It was weird.”

After Bruckner’s song, “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” Tetu quizzed Bruckner about her musical training.

Tetu told him she had had none.

“Oh, shut up!” Tetu replied, smiling.

Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

Enrichment fair is coming to the aid of preschoolers’ parents

By Sebastian Moraga Go ahead, act like a preschooler: Explore, ask a million questions, have a snack and dance to the music.

At least that’s what the organizers of the Preschool Enrichment Fair are expecting of parents attending the 9 a.m.

Jan. 26 fair at the Mount Si High School Commons.

By assembling most of the preschools in the Snoqualmie Valley in one place, the fair is a great opportunity to get to know them and learn more about them, said Linda Grez, board member of Sno-Valley Indoor Playground, a volunteer-based nonprofit organizing the fair.

“If you have a preschooler, you are probably figuring out what age is appropriate to send him to preschool,” Grez said, adding that at the fair, parents can get to know people from different schools instead of setting up tours for each one.

“That would take a lot of time,” she said.

The event is open not just to parents but to children themselves, she added.

“It’s a great chance to bring your child along and introduce

Contributed

The annual Preschool Education and Enrichment Fair returns to Mount Si High School Jan. 26. Organizers said the fair gives parents of preschoolers an opportunity to learn about most of the preschools in the Valley. him to people from a particular school,” she said. “You can talk about what your child is like with the provider and get good feedback from them.”

Furthermore, the fair will welcome all children. Organizations

that specialize in working with children with special needs can also be found at the fair.

To make sure children are entertained while Mom and Dad talk business, the day will include two free concerts

by children’s entertainer Eric Herman.

“What’s really cool is that all of these schools bring things for the kids to play with and explore, while the parents are talking,” Grez said.

Katy Moon agreed.

Moon, owner of Mountain Valley Montessori School, has found herself at the fair for eight of the fair’s 11 years. She called the fair a great opportunity to answer the basic questions parents have.

“The first question any mom wants to know is, ‘Who are you?’” she said. “The fair is a face-to-face meeting and parents can decide from that face-to-face meeting.”

Since not everyone has the time to tour a lot of schools, Moon said, the fair helps narrow options.

“It’s a great opportunity to weed things out,” she said, offering an example: “Maybe that school doesn’t have the right schedule.”

Moon encouraged parents to attend the fair, but also to make it the first step of many.

“There’s no way any of us can fully present what we do and what the school is like at the fair,” she said. “I would encourage families to tour and see the inside of the school.”

Nevertheless, she said she relished the opportunity to return to the fair.

“I go back every year feeling good about it,” she said.

calendar

PAGE 12

Music/ entertainment q Sundaes on Monday with guest Ariana Herrera, 8 p.m. Jan. 18, The Black Dog, 8062 Railroad Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie, 831-3647 q Valley Center Stage presents “The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes,” a one-woman musical about beating cancer “and living to sing about it,” written and performed by Eva Moon at 8 p.m. Jan. 18 and 19 at 119 W. North Bend Way, 8315667. Tickets are $12.50 and $10 for seniors. q The Sallal Grange will host a Contra Dance, 7 p.m. Jan. 18, featuring the band Busted Cup with Amy Carroll as the caller; 12912 432nd Ave. S.E., North Bend, 888-0825. Admission is a suggested donation of between $5 and $10. q Janette West Band, 7 p.m. Jan. 26, Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, 292-9307

Events q Mountains-to-Sound Greenway will host A Day in the Snow, with three 90-minute, one-mile loop snowshoeing trips on Snoqualmie Pass, 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. Jan. 19, with a suggested donation of $15. Greenway staff will share history and stories about the region and give you and your family ideas for your next Greenway adventure. q Twin Falls Middle School Music Boosters and the North Bend Theatre invite you to put on a poodle skirt, bobby socks, saddle shoes and help raise money for the school’s music programs with a Grease Sing-Along, 7 p.m.

Jan. 20, 125 Bendigo Blvd., in North Bend. A $10 ticket gets you a small popcorn and drink and a ticket for a showing of the movie.

Everyone is invited. Come in costume and get free popcorn and drink.

North Bend Library Unless otherwise noted, all events occur at 115 E. Fourth St. North Bend, 888-0554. Libraries will be closed Jan. 21 for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. q Study Zone, 2 p.m.

Jan. 20, 27. Drop in during scheduled hours for free homework help in all subjects. For teens. q Toddler Story Time, 10 a.m. Jan. 22, 29. Share the world of books with your child and come for

A pair of idols

By Sebastian Moraga

JC Mattson, right, and Liam Wright perform during the first round of the 2013 Wildcat Idol at Mount Si High School. Mattson qualified for the semifinals. Wright, who accompanied Mattson and two other performers, also qualified with a song of his own. stories, songs and surprises. Ages 2-3 with adult.

Younger children and siblings welcome. q Preschool Story Time, 10:45 a.m. Jan. 22, 29. Ages 3-6 with adult.

Siblings welcome. q SnoValley Writers Group, 6 p.m. Jan. 22.

Join other local writers for writing exercises, critique and lessons on voice, plot and point of view.

For adults. Email snovalleywrites@gmail.com for assignment prior to coming to class. q One-on-one computer assistance, 1 p.m. Jan. 23, 30. Get extra help on the computer or with any special projects you have. q Family Story Time, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23, 30. All young children welcome with adult. Wear your pajamas if you like. q Infant and Family Story Time, 11 a.m. Jan. 28, newborn to age 3 with adult, siblings and older children welcome. q Talk time, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 28, improve your speaking and listening skills in this English conversation group. Learn more about American culture and meet people from around the world.

Snoqualmie Library Unless otherwise noted, all events occur at 7824 Center Blvd. S.E., Snoqualmie, 888-1223.

Libraries will be closed Jan. 21 for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. q Drop-in eReader assistance, 11 a.m. Jan. 17, 24. Learn how to download eBooks to your

eReader or computer during this digital download demonstration. q Family Story Times, 7 p.m. Jan. 17 and 24, all young children welcome with adults. Wear your pajamas if you like. q Snoqualmie Valley Genealogy Group, 10 a.m.

Jan. 18. Join this group to research your family history using library resources.

For adults. q Aging Well With Consciousness Book Club and Conversation, 10:15 a.m. Jan. 19, come discuss the book “The Eldercare Handbook: Difficult Choices, Compassionate Solutions,” by Stella Mora Henry. Prior reading of the book not required. q Study Zone, 3 p.m.

Jan. 22 and 29. Drop in during scheduled study hours for free homework in all subjects from volunteer tutors. q Anime and Manga Club, 3 p.m. Jan. 23, 30.

Watch anime movies, eat popcorn and practice your manga drawing. All skills levels welcome. q Preschool Story Times: 10:45 a.m. Jan. 23, 1:30 p.m. Jan. 28 ages 3-6 with adult. Share the world of books with your child and come for stories, songs and surprises. q Young Toddler Story Times, 10 a.m. Jan. 23, ages 6-24 months, with adults, younger children and siblings welcome.

Enjoy bouncy rhymes, familiar songs and stories with your little one.

Email calendar items to smoraga@snovalleystar.com.

JANUARY 17, 2013