snovalleystar011812 by The Issaquah Press

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

January 12, 2012 VOL. 4, NO. 2

Plan the parks State seeks help in planning area parks. Page 2

Victim was a cop Man shot in North Bend faced drug charges. Page 2

Election season Candidates announce for state-level offices. Page 6

Police Blotter Page 7

Life skills School offers new kinds of help to students. Page 10

Valley nurse is tops Page 10

North Bend honors 3 known for gift of giving By Dan Catchpole North Bend honored three of its residents for their contributions to the community at the Jan. 3 City Council meeting. Mayor Ken Hearing presented awards for Citizen of the Year and two new awards — Youth Citizen of the Year and Community Spirit. The Community Spirit award will not be given annually, unlike the other two, and instead will be reserved for special recognition of individuals and groups, Hearing said. The three recipients shared one trait. “One common denominator among all of them was the gift of giving to others,” he said. Nels Melgaard received the city’s Citizen of the Year award. The city recognized him for his work with youth organizations, service groups, Sallal Grange and as a local businessman. Two years ago, Melgaard, who owns the Nursery at Mount Si, helped re-charter the Grange, and he has been an active member since. He also has helped build the Snoqualmie Valley’s

Contributed

Heidi DeHart, North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing, Nels Melgaard and David Olson (from left) pose after Hearing presented the three North Bend residents for awards honoring their community contributions. youth wrestling organization. Today, it has more than 100 participants. “He garnered many nomina-

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and resources,” Hearing said. “I’m really blown away,” See CITIZEN, Page 3

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital makes Y is off to big decisions with little public notice fast start By Dan Catchpole

Exchange students flip for Mount Si, literally. Page 12

tions from community members who reported he is always there to lend a happy, helping hand and share generously of his time

In 2011, the elected board of commissioners overseeing Snoqualmie Valley Hospital held 14 special meetings — meetings requiring only 24 hours of notice to the commissioners and media outlets with a standing request for notice. The commissioners made big decisions during at least five of the meetings — decisions ranging from approving a $15 million bond sale to approving agreements for construction of the district’s planned $37 million new facility. Hospital officials say the special meetings were necessary and legal, and that the district operates in a transparent manner. The district never violated the state’s open meetings law in holding the meetings. But open government advocates caution that even if there

On the Web ❑ Snoqualmie Valley Hospital: www.snoqualmiehospital.org ❑ Washington Coalition for Open Government: www.washingtoncog.org ❑ Open Government Ombudsman Tim Ford: www.atg.wa.gov/Open Government/Ombudsman.aspx is no intended malice, relying on special meetings can raise barriers to public involvement and accountability. “Maybe it’s legal notice, but the public doesn’t have adequate time to attend or be informed,” said Toby Nixon, president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government and a Kirkland City Councilman.

The 24-hour notification required by law is often not enough time to allow for substantive public participation, Nixon said. The Washington Coalition for Open Government has advocated for revising the state’s special meetings statute, but it is not a high priority, according to Nixon. The danger of special meetings is that “really significant decisions are being made with limited notice to the public,” he said. The hospital district does post notices of special meetings at post offices in its territory, which it is not required to do. “From our standpoint, we’re conducting the business of the district in a way that complies with the public open meetings act, but we have to conduct the

The Snoqualmie Valley YMCA is open and ready for business. The new community center opened Jan. 1, and a grand opening celebration is scheduled for Jan. 21. The Y’s mix of familyfriendly programming has already drawn more than 1,500 members, mostly from Snoqualmie. The new facility is located on Snoqualmie Ridge. The facility combines several multipurpose rooms and is designed to allow for flexibility in the branch’s programming. The branch’s most popular room is its family gym, said Dave Mayer, the branch’s executive director.

See HOSPITAL, Page 3

See YMCA, Page 3

By Dan Catchpole

SnoValley Star

PAGE 2

JANUARY 12, 2012

Police identify Seattle officer in drug case as Issaquah resident Officer was found with a gunshot wound near North Bend By Warren Kagarise Officials said a Seattle police officer arrested in a drug investigation early Jan. 5 died at a Seattle hospital hours later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Seattle police said Richard F. Nelson, 50, of Issaquah, was suspected of using crack cocaine, possibly drugs stolen from case evidence. Nelson died at Harborview Medical Center late

the afternoon of Jan. 5. Police booked Nelson into the King County Jail just after 4 a.m. that day and released on him on personal recognizance about 30 minutes later — a normal procedure for first-time drug offenders in King County. At about 11 a.m., as Seattle Police Chief John Diaz prepared to address journalists about the case, Eastside Fire & Rescue crews responded to a report of a man with a gunshot wound near a North Bend-area trailhead. Crews responded to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail and rushed the man to Seattle for treatment.

Seattle police officials said Nelson left behind a wife and two teenage children. He joined the force in September 1990 and spent his entire career serving as a patrol officer in South Seattle. In July 2011, South Precinct patrol officers alerted supervisors to concerns about Nelson’s handling of drug evidence. The report, in turn, triggered a department-led internal criminal investigation. In addition, a community member expressed nonspecific concerns regarding Nelson and implied he had been involved in misconduct. The day before the shooting,

State invites area residents to help plan recreation in Eastside forests By Warren Kagarise

State Parks Commission announces 2012 ‘free days’ for visitors

Get involved

Eastside residents and outdoor recreation enthusiasts can offer input Jan. 18 as the state Department of Natural Resources starts collecting feedback for the forested lands stretching from Tiger Mountain to Mount Si. The state agency is readying for future recreation opportunities on 53,000 acres in natural areas along the so-called Snoqualmie corridor in East King County. The open house is meant to continue the public planning process. The corridor — a quick jaunt from Seattle and fast-growing Eastside cities — is a popular destination for hikers, mountain bikers and more. Combined, the lands in the corridor form the largest network of natural areas in Washington. In the past 20 years, the Department of Natural Resources added the amount of land managed in the area. The more recent acquisitions include the Raging River State Forest and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resources Conservation

State Department of Natural Resources Snoqualmie corridor recreation plan open house from 7-9 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Commons Room, Snoqualmie Middle School. Learn more about the Snoqualmie corridor at www.dnr.wa.gov/RecreationEducation/Topics/RecreationPlanning/ Pages/amp_rec_snoqualmie_corridor_recre.aspx. Or contact Doug McClelland, South Puget Sound Region assistant manager, at 206-920-5907 or douglas.mcclelland@dnr.wa.gov. Area. The land under state management includes working forests. The state purchased the Raging River land in 2009 to replace state trust lands transferred out of trust status. The commissioner of public lands designated the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resources Conservation Area as such in 2009. Though the public planning effort is focused for the most part on developing recreation management plans for the Raging River and Middle Fork Snoqualmie sites, the complex process is enmeshed in other management plans for Tiger Mountain State Forest, West Tiger Mountain Natural Resources Conservation Area, Mount Si Natural Resources

Seattle police enlisted an undercover officer from another law enforcement agency to determine whether Nelson handled evidence properly. Police said Nelson took custody of drugs during the course of his shift. Typically, taking custody should result in a found narcotics report and placing the drugs into evidence. Investigators waited for Nelson to complete his shift and then checked to see if the drugs had been properly submitted. Police realized they had not. Police stopped Nelson as he

Conservation Area and Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area. Land in the corridor is also managed under a patchwork of federal, state and local entities. Though the Department of Natural Resources can only plan for agency-managed land, the process is meant to increase coordination between the agency and other landowners. Moreover, the recreation management plans must balance public safety, environmental protection and access to outdoor recreation opportunities. Officials plan for the meeting to include a brief presentation from agency staffers and then opportunities for participants to share ideas.

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday three-day weekend Jan. 14-16 will be the first of 10 “free days” this year when the Discover Pass will not be required of visitors venturing out to enjoy their state parks. Most of the free days are in alignment with 2012 free days offered by the National Park Service, according to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. The “free days” are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on state-managed recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources. The Discover Pass legislation provided that Washington State Parks could designate up to 12 “free days” when the pass would not be required to visit state parks. The free days only apply at state parks. A Discover Pass will still be required to access Department of Fish and Wildlife and

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drove home and arrested him. During a search, officers discovered that he had concealed drugs on his body. Police arrested him, relieved him of duty, and seized his gun and badge. Commanders spoke to Nelson in person and offered a number of referral options for counseling. The agency said he did not receive more lenient or severe treatment due to his status as a police officer. Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

Department of Natural Resources lands. The following are the 2012 State Parks “free days:” ❑ Jan 14-16 — Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend ❑ March 18-19 — In honor of Washington State Parks’ 99th birthday March 19 ❑ June 9 — National Get Outdoors Day ❑ Sept. 29 — National Public Lands Day ❑ Nov. 10-12 — Veterans Day weekend The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs statewide. Visitors can enjoy a variety of recreation opportunities on a diverse array of park landscapes, from Pacific Ocean beaches to forest and mountain trails and the sweeping river gorge vistas of Eastern Washington. State Parks also offer historic areas and interpretive facilities. Learn more at www.parks.wa.gov. Learn more about the Discover Pass at www.discoverpass.wa.gov.

Department of Revenue offers information to taxpayers The state Department of Revenue created a listserv to better inform taxpayers. The listserv alerts subscribers to changes in legislation, revisions to tax law, rate changes and any Department of Revenue programs. Join the listserv at www.dor.wa.gov/listserv. Enter your name and email address, select the button for join the “General Information” line, and then click submit. Under state law, taxpayers must know their reporting obligations. The agency assisted taxpayers in the past by sending information to them as changes occur. However, due to recent budget cuts, the Department of Revenue is unable to send many of the informational mailings.

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 12, 2012

Fall City Masons invite public to see installation of 2012 officers The brothers of Fall City Masonic Lodge No. 66 are opening their doors to the community to see the group install its newly elected officers for 2012. The ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Fall City Masonic Hall, 4304 337th Place S.E., Fall City. RSVP by emailing FCMH-fjsiv@trashmail.net. The slate of 2012 officers for Fall City is: ❑ Worshipful Master: Frank J Schumacher IV ❑ Senior Warden: Henry Fletcher III ❑ Junior Warden: Corey Birch See MASONS, Page 14

Hospital

PAGE 3

YMCA

“The kids were able to run around,” he said. Of course, to use most of the facilities, people need to From Page 1 buy a membership. A Zumba class was working The community center does up a sweat have two in the meeting Join the Y gym on a rooms that Friday People can sign up for indiall residents morning vidual memberships or as a and commujust five family, and can get membernity groups days after ship to all 13 branches run by can use. the the YMCA of Greater Seattle or The Y also branch to only the Snoqualmie Valley features opened. branch. workout After There are discounted memequipment school, bership rates for Snoqualmie and a Youth children residents, and financial assisDevelopment By Dan Catchpole have been tance is available. Center that Members of the new Snoqualmie Valley YMCA branch work out just a dropping Call 256-3115 or go to offers profew days after the building opened. in to www.seattleymca.org/Locations/ grams for chilshoot Snoqualmie. dren and No additional amenities are more programs for whole famihoops, teenagers. currently planned, he said. But lies and children ages 8 to 10. and the day before, some So far, the membership num- the Y does have some goals for Mayer also wants to expand women came in from the rain bers are what had been expectits growth. the geographic base of the with their young children and ed, with a heavy emphasis on The branch is considering branch’s membership, which is had an impromptu play session, family memberships, Mayer adding a program for children currently at nearly two-thirds of Mayer said. said. in half-day kindergarten, and its goal, he said.

From Page 1 business of the district in a dynamic period here where we’re building a new hospital,” district CEO Rodger McCollum said. Some special meetings concerned with financial issues are required to take advantage of favorable interest rates, according to district attorney Jay Rodne, who is also a state representative for the 5th Legislative District. “A delay of a day, of 24 hours, could mean the difference of several, several — you know … several basis points. That translates into dollars and higher cost,” Rodne said. Since the board of commissioners meets only once a month, it has to hold additional meetings, he said. How often and for what purpose public agencies use special meetings varies greatly, according to Tim Ford, the open government ombudsman for State Attorney General Rob McKenna. But special meetings aren’t meant to replace regularly scheduled meetings, Ford said. Should the commissioners meet more often? “We’ll look at it,” Commissioner Dick Jones, the board’s president, said. “I’m not opposed to it.” Jones said he would welcome more public involvement, but the commissioners’ meetings rarely draw any citizens. “I’ve been here eight years, and in all that time we’ve had maybe two or three” different members of the public, McCollum said. The district would welcome more public involvement, he said. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

Citizen From Page 1 Melgaard said. Despite the accolades, he thanked the community for giving him opportunities to contribute. He credited Chris Garcia with inspiring him to be a business owner who gave back to community. “I am so blessed to be a part of this community,” he said. The feeling is mutual, based on the tone of a news release

from the Sallal Grange. the Year award. She balances a busy academic schedule and “The Sallal Grange is humbled and honored to count Nels extracurricular activities, includMelgaard ing athletics among its “One common denominator and many sermembers, vice projects. and is proud among all of them was the She “leads by example,” that such a gift of giving to others.” fantastic role Hearing said. As vice presimodel and — Ken Hearing kind human North Bend Mayor dent of Mount Si’s Key Club, being is Dehart has associated with our helped raise thousands of Grange,” the dollars for the Snoqualmie release stated. Heidi Dehart, a senior at Valley Relay for Life. Mount Si High School, received Dave Olson is the inaugural the inaugural Youth Citizen of recipient of the city’s

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Community Spirit Award. “Those who know him realize that he has one of the biggest hearts in the entire Snoqualmie Valley,” Hearing said. Olson has dedicated countless hours to groups and service projects including Kiwanis, the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank and North Bend Community Church. “You are a great example of being a true servant to others,” the Rev. Pete Battjes, of the Community Church, wrote in a letter read by Hearing. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.

Opinion

PAGE 4

Editorial

Letters

Governor’s bold move is good for all of us

Re: The rapping bus driver

We applaud Gov. Chris Gregoire’s move to pass state legislation that would allow same-sex marriage in Washington state. It has been nearly 20 years since the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the restriction of marriage to opposite-sex couples would be presumed unconstitutional. In 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court held that same-sex couples must receive the same benefits as married couples. Subsequent court decisions have held that “civil union” laws would not suffice, calling instead for marriage equality. Many countries — including all of the Canadian provinces — now allow gay marriage. In the United States, six states and the District of Columbia now accept gay marriages. In 2009, the Washington Legislature approved a bill granting domestic partners the same rights as married couples, so long as those rights did not conflict with federal law. Voters approved the measure in a referendum later in the year. The time is right to put the gay marriage law on the table. It will already be at the forefront as a topic of the presidential race. Washington will further the discussion as Gregoire’s bill is debated in the Legislature. While there is no guarantee the bill will pass, we believe it is a natural next step — from equality in benefits to a legitimate view in the eyes of the law. While many citizens do believe the sanctity of marriage should be limited by law to the union of a man and woman, we also believe the populous has become more accepting of same-sex partnerships. What real difference does it make to anyone outside of the marriage partners whether or not the marriage is legitimized through state law? We understand that there will be churches that will not accept a same-sex marriage, no matter what the law says. Religion comes with the freedom of belief. Church leaders should be able to choose whether or not to perform a same-sex marriage. That is their right. Even if the governor’s bill is passed, we expect it will be challenged. It’s healthy discussion that will eventually get us where we want to be — an accepting community that welcomes diversity.

WEEKLY POLL What’s the worst part about the two weeks immediately following the holidays? A. It won’t be Christmas again for a full year. B. I’m in holiday debt up to my ears. C. I stink at keeping my New Year’s resolutions. D. Stores are already pitching their Valentine’s Day stuff. Vote online at www.snovalleystar.com. Deborah Berto Kathleen R. Merrill Jill Green

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many old photos. This story just happened along at the right time. I just want to say thank you so much. Born and raised in the Snoqualmie Valley, it is nice to see family recognized in its history! Sincerely, Christy Charbonneau-Wright

Re: Memory of police officer’s killing still lingers in Snoqualmie Re: Last Valley stop for a Valley after more than 60 ‘Wonderful’ ride years I am Leah Fitzgerald’s greatniece and I would like to thank you for the article in your paper. My aunt is 95 years old and one heck of a lady. We have been going through her old photos and have so

Of course I loved this article. My daughter got to share her grief with Zuzu. We always watched this movie every Christmas and love it to this day. Thank you, Zuzu, for giving

love to my daughter. Her brother was her best friend. Love, Pat Hanner (Matt’s mom)

Share your views Citizens can make a difference by contacting their elected representatives. King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Chinook Building 206-296-4040; or kcexec@kingcounty.gov King County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert, District 3. 206-296-1003; 800-325-6165; kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov

Home Country

The world is smaller when you are small By Slim Randles There were two little boys down at the Doughnut Hole Café the other day, standing outside, just waiting. They didn’t have long to wait. The Greyhound bus pulls up just about 1 each afternoon, give or take a little. When the bus pulled up and parked and the brakes went whoosh, those two little boys had eyes like saucers. They took in everything, from the mud on the tires to the snow clinging to the mud flaps. The driver stepped down and helped her passengers out, proudly wearing the Greyhound uniform. She had pride in her eyes, too, as we all know how that mountain can get when it’s snowing. It’s always been that way. There have always been little guys watching and wondering as the people get off for their lunch stop. Where are these people from? What was it like up on the mountain? I wonder if I could drive the bus someday when I’m grown. When we’re small, our world and our view of it tends to be smaller as well. The exotic places of the world — to an 8-year-old — aren’t Singapore or Nairobi or Calcutta. The exotic places tend more toward Smithfield and Riverbank and Oakdale and Cottage Grove. At 8 years old, the world’s horizon is Thompson Ridge, rather than the Pacific Ocean. But that doesn’t make the world any less fascinating. Those little boys knew that,

after lunch, those people would get back on that bus (they even have a restroom on the bus, you know) and Slim Randles they would Columnist go out of town in a diesel rush and cross the bridge on Lewis Creek and then disappear. But they know that bus will be going right past their grandparents’ house in about

two hours. They asked and they know. The people on that bus might be able to look out and see Grandpa’s dog, Sadie, as the bus goes by. I wonder what Sadie’s doing right now? If I were on that bus right now, I could get off there and see. And someday I will. Someday, I’ll get on and ride and I’ll know what’s out there. I’ll know… Brought to you by Slim’s award-winning book “A Cowboy’s Guide to Growing Up Right.” Learn more at www.nmsantos.com/Slim/Slim.html.

Way to go! Newspaper columnist Slim Randles, who writes the weekly Home Country column, took home two New Mexico Book Awards for 2011. His advice book for young people, “A Cowboy’s Guide to Growing Up Right,” took first place in the self-help category, and “Sweetgrass Mornings” won in the biography/memoirs category. Randles lives and works in Albuquerque. Home Country reaches 1.8 million hometown newspaper readers each week.

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 ❑ Issaquah, WA 98027 Fax: 391-1541 ❑ Email: editor@snovalleystar.com

JANUARY 12, 2012

SnoValley Star

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SnoValley Star

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JANUARY 12, 2012

Local candidates announce runs for state government offices Chad Magendanz in race for House

Snoqualmie businessman mounts primary challenge to State Sen. Cheryl Pflug Snoqualmie businessman Brad Toft is challenging State Sen. Cheryl Pflug, a Republican who has represented the 5th District since 2004. She served as a state representative from 1999 to 2004. She has said she plans to run for re-election. Toft is a Republican. His campaign is focused on improving the economy and employment levels, increasing state government’s efficiency and improving education. Getting unemployed people back to work is critical for the economy, Toft said in a statement on his campaign website. “The key to ending uncertainty in the economy and stopping the real estate value slide is employment,” he said. The state should regularly review regulations for effectiveness, and make Washington

more attractive to businesses by lowering operat- Brad Toft ing costs and increasing the quality of its workforce, he said in the statement. Toft also wants to reduce school dropout rates, better prepare high school graduates for college and work, and promote a performance-based work environment at state agencies. Toft is a managing partner at Clearwater Mortgage Bankers in Bellevue. He has been active in Habitat for Humanity of East King County, Rotary of Snoqualmie Valley and the Snoqualmie Ridge Residential Owners Association.

Glenn Anderson is running for lieutenant governor, won’t seek re-election to Legislature By Dan Catchpole Rep. Glenn Anderson is running for Washington state’s lieutenant governor office in 2012. He said Dec. 28 that he would make a formal announcement in early January. He also said that he will not run for re-election to a seventh consecutive term as a state representative. Since 2000, he has represented the 5th Legislative District, which includes the

Snoqualmie Valley. At least four candidates will vie for the lieutenant governor seat — Anderson, incumbent Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, former state Sen. Bill Finkbeiner and an independent candidate, Mark Greene. All have filed with the state’s Public Disclosure Commission. So far, only Owen has raised money — $41,000. Anderson has Owen’s record in his sights.

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In a campaign announcement focused on dollars for education, Chad Magendanz, a Republican and the Issaquah School Board president, entered the race Jan. 5 to represent Issaquah and rural East King County in the Legislature. Magendanz, a Tiger Mountain resident in Issaquah, launched the local campaign season days after state leaders offered a recontoured legislative district for the Issaquah area and a little more than a week after the longtime incumbent, GOP state Rep. Glenn Anderson, opted against running for the seat in 2012. “Much of the policy that affects our kids is not made in the district, it’s made down in Olympia. That’s where the funding for the most part is, and that’s where the major decisions are made as far as the future of education,” Magendanz said to business and education leaders

gathered at the King County Library System headquarters in Issaquah. “If we’re going to enact meaningful education Chad reform, we Magendanz need to have a voice down there in Olympia,” he added. The kickoff reflected on Magendanz’s experience on the school board, and state and national education organizations. The former United States Navy nuclear submarine officer highlighted the Issaquah School District’s accomplishments in the campaign announcement. “We’re putting the limited resources we have into the classroom where it does the most good — and that’s an approach that I think can work very well

in Olympia,” he said in front of a campaign banner reading, “For our children!” In addition to leading the school board, Magendanz, 44, is a freelance software design consultant. Issaquah board members appointed him to the panel in 2008, and he ran unopposed for the seat in 2009. No other candidate, Democrat or Republican, is yet in the race for the seat Anderson has held for almost a dozen years. The other local lawmaker in the state House of Representatives — Republican Jay Rodne — is also up for re-election in 2012. Anderson, meanwhile, is in the race for lieutenant governor. “Welcome to the election cycle of 2012,” 5th Legislative District Republican Chairman Bob Brunjes said before introducing Magendanz. Washington State Redistricting Commission members crafted a more rural district 5th Legislative District friendlier

“He’s been in office for 16 years and so far, there’s not a lot to show for it,” Anderson said. Owen could not be reached for comment. The office carries few significant responsibilities. Official duties include taking over for the governor if she is incapacitated, presiding over the state Senate when in session, and serving on a handful of committees and commissions, such as the state Finance Committee. Owen has focused on championing substance abuse and prevention issues, and has chaired the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations. Spain’s King Juan Carlos I knighted Owen in 2008 in

recognition of more than 15 years of working with the country’s government on projects related to Washington. Anderson acknowledged that the office holds little actual power, and said he would use the office to advocate for creating jobs, and funding and reforming education. The situation in Washington is “a mess, and it’s not getting any better. So, I’m going to give it a go,” he said. “Doing what we’re doing now is a sure death train.” Anderson has long advocated for fully funding education and reforming state education guidelines. He also has gained a reputation as a fiscal conservative dur-

ing his time in Olympia. “No matter how good the cause for government spending, if you don’t have the money, you just can’t spend it and then try to terrorize, mislead or emotionally extort taxpayers to get more money. That’s just plain dishonest,” he said in a statement. Anderson also served on each of the Legislature’s major budget committees and was a key advocate for getting performance audits of state agencies enacted into law. For the time being, he is focusing on serving out his turn, he said. After the session ends next spring, he will put his efforts into the campaign. “Then we’ll hit that switch,” he said.

See HOUSE, Page 14

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 12, 2012

Police Blotter North Bend police Safety check At 11:45 a.m. Dec. 19, police responded to a call from a woman at a Chevron gas station, 745 S.W. Mount Si Blvd. The woman said she was going through a divorce and she had noticed a car followed her that day. She drove home and noticed a white car, similar to a Ford Crown Victoria, followed her and had followed her in the past. She said her husband had people follow her at a mall in Tukwila in early December. Police followed the woman home to make sure she was safe and advised her to contact Tukwila police about the incident at the mall. She already had protection orders against her husband in Kittitas and King counties.

Internet hijacking At 2:51 p.m. Dec. 14, a man reported to police that someone had hacked into his Facebook and Yahoo accounts and changed his passwords and the security questions. He told police the two Internet companies had told him they could do nothing for him. He will assist in prosecution.

Shoplifting At 11:20 a.m. Dec. 16, police responded to a theft at QFC, 460 E. North Bend Way. The store manager saw a woman stick a DVD in her purse and then walk away without paying for it. The manager confronted the woman and she gave him the DVD. She was banned from the store and will face third-degree theft charges.

Man banned from center At 10:50 a.m. Dec. 17, police

arrived at the Mount Si Transitional Center, 219 Cedar Ave. S., where a woman told authorities that a man keeps entering the center to visit his grandmother. Center staff members have warned the man several times to stay off the property. Police officers said they would serve the man with a trespass warning letter. When contacted, the man was intoxicated. Police gave him a verbal warning.

Stolen snowmobiles At 5:52 p.m. Dec. 18, police received a call about a vehicle theft in the 13000 block of 432nd Avenue Southeast. Police contacted the owner, who said one of his tenants had asked him if he had retrieved his snowmobiles from a trailer in front of the house, because they were gone. The victim said he wished to have the two snowmobiles and the trailer impounded upon recovery. He also said he does not suspect his tenant.

Shoplifting At 3 p.m. Dec. 19, police arrived at the Zumiez store, 461 South Fork Ave., regarding a theft. An 18-year-old woman entered the store, picked up a baseball cap and walked behind a rack. When she walked back, she had no hat. As she exited the store, management saw the hat sticking out of her purse. Staff members confronted the woman, who returned the hat while an employee called the police. The woman was banned from the store and taken to the Issaquah jail. She faces third-degree theft charges. The hat was valued at $32.57.

Vandalism At 2:02 p.m. Dec. 12, police responded to a vandalism call in the 900 block of East North Bend Way. A man said that

PAGE 7

when his live-in girlfriend left the house the day before, their front doorknob was fine. However, the morning of Dec. 12, he discovered someone had smeared feces on his back patio. That same day, he found feces on his doorknob. He had no suspects.

Snoqualmie police Reckless endangerment At 9 p.m. Dec. 31, police southbound on Snoqualmie Parkway just north of Orchard Street saw a red Toyota truck in front of the patrol car. A status check showed the registered owner, 30-year-old Jordan L. Nash, had a suspended license. Police stopped the car and arrested Nash for driving with a suspended license. Nash smelled of alcohol and police told him he was being investigated for driving under the influence. While searching his car, police found an open can of Coors. Police told him he was being charged with reckless endangerment, given that his 5-year-old son was in the car at the time of his arrest. Once at the police station, Nash failed the breath test and was charged with a DUI.

DUI At 1:03 a.m. Jan. 1, police were advised of a possible drunken driver westbound on Railroad Avenue near the intersection of Snoqualmie Parkway. An off-duty officer saw the driver travel outside the lines, almost hit another vehicle and travel over the centerline. Police stopped the vehicle near the intersection of state Route 202 and 356th Drive Southeast. The driver, 33-year-old Marcos Paizes, struggled to hand police his license and smelled of alcohol. After failing field sobri-

ety tests, he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was taken to the Snoqualmie Police Department and was later released to his mother.

DUI 2 At 4:28 a.m. Jan. 1, police saw a 2008 Ford speeding along southbound Meadowbrook Way. The police radar clocked the driver at 57 miles per hour. Police stopped the driver near the roundabout to the Snoqualmie Casino. The driver, 42-year-old Mark Butcher, struggled to hand police his license and smelled of alcohol. After failing field sobriety tests, he was arrested for driving under the influence. He was booked into the Issaquah City Jail.

Reckless driving At 10:32 p.m. Jan. 4, police received a report of a reckless driver headed north on Snoqualmie Parkway. The reporting party told police the car was swerving all over the place, speeding and had almost hit a deer. Police stopped the vehicle near the intersection of Snoqualmie Parkway and state Route 202, right after it had crossed the centerline and swerved right, almost hitting the guardrail. The driver of the vehicle, an 84-year-old man, told police he was swerving because the police carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headlights were blinding him. Police let the man drive on, but followed him until he was almost home. The man was still crossing the fog line and struggled with turning corners. Police mailed him a license re-examination form. The Star publishes names of those arrested for DUI and those charged with felony crimes. Information comes directly from local police reports.

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community

JANUARY 12, 2012

Local 95-year-old, Nova Reed depicts life one rock at a time By Sebastian Moraga Dangling from two thin chains, the rock looked like a real find. “Wanna feel it?” 95-year-old Nova Reed, of North Bend, asked. “It’s granite.” The visitor reached out a hand, tentative, as if he doubted his arm could be match for the impressive formation that hung from a wall. Then he lifted, and heard the chuckle. The “rock” was made of plastic and foam, no more granite than a hot dog or Dolly Parton’s legs. And Reed should know — she’s got rocks shaped like both. A rock hound for almost 30 years, Reed acquiesced to age and gave up her hobby five years ago. Still, one look around her home and one can tell that this lady still rocks. Not only can she trick visitors with fake rocks, but she can wow them with real ones. Flowers, children, pets, flying saucers, even Fred Flintstone powering his car, Reed has depicted them, one rock at a time. Even more impressive, she never carved rock one, she said. She just looked for rocks of a certain shape, stuck them in a tumbler with sand and then began gluing them together. “Every year, we would go up to the river and we would find more and more and more,” she

By Sebastian Moraga

One of the most unusual rocks in Nova Reed’s collection is shaped like a hot dog she received as a gift.

By Sebastian Moraga

Nova Reed, who once had an owl on her property, stands next to her motionless friends serve as a reminder of her erstwhile pet. said. “It got to the point that we had all we needed.” Her son Joe agreed.

“You would not believe how many rocks she has,” he said. Five years ago, Reed had to

By Sebastian Moraga

This velocipede goes nowhere anymore, but it still stands tall on Nova Reed’s wall.

By Sebastian Moraga

A wall in Nova Reed’s North Bend home is filled with rock creations she glued together over a 25-year career as an artist.

stop working the rocks. Her dexterity around the glue was not what it once had been. She also had to stop attending gem-and-rock shows, the first of which she attended in 1981. “I enjoyed the people,” she said. “Nothing more friendly than the rock lover.” Along with rocks, Reed collects figurines of owls, as an homage to a feathered friend her late husband, Ed once brought home years ago. “It was a little bald something-or-other,” she said. “Turned out to be an owl.” The family raised it in a coffee can for a while. And when time came for the owl to fly away, he decided he liked it better on 71st Street than in the wild. “He stayed with us for a year.” Eventually, the Reeds had to put a “beware of owl” sign on their yard. The owl is gone, sort of. One of the trees has a huge owl on it, but much like the rock hanging from the wall, it’s not quite the real thing.

For Reed, surrounded by years and years of her art, it’s not quite the real thing either, the intelligent give-and-take between her and the rock lovers admiring her creations. “I miss it,” she said. “It seems like people enjoyed them.”

By Sebastian Moraga

Decades of attending gem and rock shows earned Nova Reed several awards. She can’t attend them anymore, and she said she misses them.

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 12, 2012

Obituary Cynthia Ann Lear Cynthia Ann Lear, of North Bend, loving wife to Johnny, proud mother of Brad and Brent, and abiding daughter of Art and Dorothy Body, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, in Kirkland. She was 53.

Halloween event wants the community to design new logo The October event “Night on a Dark Trail” is holding a logo design contest for its 2012 edition. Entries must be submitted by March 31. Themes of suspense and mystery should come into play in the design. The 2011 logo featured a crescent moon, a leafless tree, a raven and a jack-o-lantern. The event featured things like a haunted trail, a hay maze and a dance performance. The winning designer will receive $15 from the SnoFalls Credit Union, which co-sponsors the event. All entries will become property of “Night on a Dark Trail,” for use and promotion. Contestants must email entries to info@ridgeroa.com. Entries must be transferable to websites, Facebook pages, banners, posters, T-shirts, newspa-

A celebration of her life will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at The Snoqualmie Valley Eagles Club. Friends are invited to view photos, get directions and share memories in the family online guest book at www.flintofts.com. Flintoft’s Funeral Home and Crematory, 392-6444.

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Schools

PAGE 10

JANUARY 12, 2012

March of Dimes honors Valley nurse By Sebastian Moraga The teenager walked into the nurse’s station at Mount Si High School with a cut on his finger. He bellowed for a particular nurse to tend to him. Alas, she was not there. Still, the award was the nurse’s to keep, no matter how much the boy complained. The Washington March of Dimes named Snoqualmie Valley School District nurse Cathi Woolley the 2011 Western Washington School Nurse of the Year, much to the amusement of her teenage child. Woolley graduated in 1980 from the University of Puget Sound, moved to the Valley in 1995 and took her first job as a school nurse in 2007, the same job she has now. “This is very amenable to family life,” she said. “We have the same calendar, the same schedule, sometimes even the same school.” Not that autumn day, when her teenager got hurt on a kiln in ceramics class. “The nurse of the year,” the boy joked. “And she’s not here to take care of her son.” Motherly absence aside, Snoqualmie Middle School Principal Vernie Newell and SMS

“I enjoy the kids. They are fun, they are awesome, they are uplifting to be around, even when they are not well.” — Cathi Woolley Nurse of the Year

counselor Heather Kern nominated Woolley for the award. They called her a true asset to the school and an ideal candidate for the prize. “In collaborating with Mrs. Woolley, our school has witnessed a very positive change for the ‘image of nursing,’” their nomination letter stated. This is Woolley’s first award in her school nursing career. “I feel deeply honored to have received it,” she said. A mother of two children, Woolley said her job entails very little first aid. Being a school nurse deals with how health impacts a child’s access to education. “It’s about implementing a system,” she said, “so children who have health needs can attend school.” A school nurse in the 21st

century has to be ready to be flexible in all areas, she said. “You have to be able to give and accommodate very different things,” she said. That rings true particularly when dealing with middleschoolers. “The issues are different, they have different health needs,” said Woolley, who splits her time between Snoqualmie Middle School and the high school. “These are pre-adults, though others are still children.” When she was a child, Woolley said, she wanted to be a large-animal veterinarian. It wasn’t until she was a freshman in college, a little younger than her 21-year-old daughter is, that she decided to go into nursing. Woolley’s son may kid her about the award, but her daughter gives her nothing but props. “She said, ‘Way to go, Mom,” Woolley said. If given the chance to start over, Woolley would shelve the dream of tending to cows and horses for good, she said. “I would stay here,” she said. “I enjoy the kids. They are fun, they are awesome, they are uplifting to be around, even when they are not well.”

By Sebastian Moraga

Cathi Woolley, nurse at Snoqualmie Middle School, received the Western Washington March of Dimes’ School Nurse of the Year award for 2011.

Life skills students at Chief Kanim transcend disabilities By Sebastian Moraga

By Sebastian Moraga

Camden Quinn (left) finishes a jigsaw puzzle under the gaze of teacher Erin Townsend.

Success has many looks. For Erin Townsend, Renae Tawney and Marisa Carlson, success looks like a meal, like a trip to the grocery store, like a safe mosey down the hallways of a serpentine building. Townsend teaches life skills to students with disabilities and Chief Kanim Middle School. Tawney and Carlson are the class’ instruction assistants. “We do some academics,” Townsend said. “But we teach them to be as independent as they can be.” The road to independence includes learning how to read a schedule; how to make a grocery list; how to follow a recipe; and how to get in, around and out of buildings safely. Children’s conditions include things like autism, Asperger’s disease, cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome. “We have children with conditions ranging from severe to moderate,” Townsend said. “It’s challenging because no kid is the same, so you have to tailor it to their needs.” Students’ ages range from 11

to 14 years old. Their classroom sits alongside other classrooms in the main Chief Kanim building. “For us, it’s about a lot of inclusion,” Townsend said, “being around their peers as much as they can.” She later added, “We try to get them involved with the general-education children as much as possible.” This includes bringing ablebodied children to serve as peer tutors, or getting the children in the Associated Student Body to come read to the students. Principal Kirk Dunckel said Life Skills students have access to the same technological advances the rest of the student body does. “They are really doing some great technological stuff with their kids,” he said, mentioning the use of ActivBoards as an example. “All of our kids are getting that, but the Life Skills kids are there, too,” he added. Townsend, a teacher of the Life Skills class for two years, preaches patience and passion See SKILLS, Page 11

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 12, 2012

PAGE 11

Program to offer hybrid option for the Valley’s home-schooled children By Sebastian Moraga Why not us? Seeing the success of places like Monroe, Bellevue, Lake Washington and Edmonds led Snoqualmie Valley School District officials to consider the idea of an Alternative Learning Experience, which would mix home-schooled elementary education with some classroom time. The Parent Partner Program is the result of those considerations, and Tom Athanases, alternative programs planning coordinator for the district, said that once the program was unveiled it would be anything but news to some families in the Valley. “People in our area are somewhat familiar with these programs,” he said. “Some families take their children to them. The main idea was to start our own.” Under the Parent Partner Program, families remain the primary educator, but the district takes on an active support role in some areas, according to a press release from the district. Those areas, Athanases said, will initially include science and the arts. “A certified teacher can help guide them,” he said, adding that certification will be required. Another goal of the program, Athanases said, is to form a network of families with homeschooled children. “We want to have a community-building network of families, enriching the experience by coming together,” he said. Athanases said the program has proven very popular in other places. About 400 children participate in the Edmonds program. In the Riverview School District, more than 100 children split their time 80-20 between home and school, Athanases said. The one day at school changes by grade each day. The Snoqualmie Valley program is expected to start in September. It’s unknown how many children will participate, Athanases said, but he remains optimistic that it will catch on

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“We want to have a community-building network of families, enriching the experience by coming together.” — Tom Athanases Snoqualmie Valley School District

in the community. Parents have already shown interest, he added. An informational meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 1 at the district office. “It’s like that saying goes, ‘If you build it, they will come,’” he said. “That’s difficult in tight economic times, but the interest is there.” At-hanases, formerly principal at Two Rivers School for almost a quarter-century, said he likes having another way to reach children in the district. “Twenty-five years ago we started Two Rivers, two to three years ago we started the Virtual Academy,” he said referring to the online classes service. “This is a different way to offer support to our families and communities.” Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com.

By Sebastian Moraga

Silas Palmisano (left) seeks to answer a question about the human body from teacher Paula Young-Keefe as iunstructional assistant Marisa Carlson (center) watches the exchange.

Skills From Page 10 when teaching students with disabilities. “Sometimes it’s not going to be easy, sometimes it’s not going to go your way,” she said. Parents are supportive for the most part, she said, although difficult circumstances always arise. “Parents may have a different idea,” she said. “Or may wish their kid learned something faster.” The special-education students’ attitude is unparalleled, Townsend said — they are

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always eager to learn. She also lauded the behavior of generaleducation students toward the special-education students. “You never see any of the kids picking on our kids,” she said. “The school is great like that.”

The biggest payoff for her, she said, comes when she sees students take strides forward. “I love to see them make progress on whatever it is they are doing,” she said. “They are always so happy to learn new things.”

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Sports

PAGE 12

JANUARY 12, 2012

Wildcats escape Saints By Sebastian Moraga Mount Si High School Wildcats’ assistant coach Brad Rorem had called it prior to the match: It was going to be a close one. So, imagine his surprise and the crowd’s when the Wildcats’ wrestling team jumped to a 24-0 lead over Interlake, winning its first three matches by pins and the next two on points. Still, Rorem’s prediction proved right. The Wildcats had to sweat to earn the victory against the Saints on Jan. 5 at home. Interlake won six of the next nine matches and only surrendered after defending state champion Josh Mitchell pinned the Saints’ Fine Nagauamo on the last match of the night. The Wildcats and Saints entered Mitchell’s match apart by one point, with the hosts leading 36-35. “I thought after we jumped to that big lead we were going to be OK,” Rorem said, “but they battled back.” To the Wildcats’ credit, all through the night, so did they. Freshman Justin Edens overcame a 5-0 deficit to beat the

Saints’ Nate Jochum, 10-5, at 132 pounds. Senior AJ Brevick had perhaps the biggest win of the night, as he overcame 2010 2A state runner-up Jacob Marks at 160 pounds. With eight seconds left in the last round, and trailing 12-8, Brevick pinned Marks, drawing the crowd to its feet. “The kid was second in state, I knew it was going to be a good match,” Brevick said. “He’s too good of a wrestler to let him do what he wants to do.” The match, Brevick said, came down to who had the most heart. “He was a good technical wrestler, but in the third round, they blew the whistle and I went out there and gave it 110 percent,” Brevick said. Besides the top lineage of his opponent, Brevick said he had extra incentive to put on a good show: His entire family was in the stands. Head coach Tony Schlotfeldt praised Brevick’s performance. “It was a total gut-check on his part,” he said. “Lots of conditioning, lots of heart.” Interlake proved that its loss to powerhouse Mercer Island by

By Sebastian Moraga

Mount Si’s AJ Brevick wrestles 2011 state runner-up Jacob Marks Jan. 5. Brevick trailed 12-8 in the third round before pinning Marks with eight seconds left. three points was no fluke, Schlotfeldt said, but his boys stepped up. Not easy to do after the team

has struggled to overcome several cases of ringworm. “We are coming out of it,” said Brevick, who only received

clearance to wrestle the day of the match. “We still got three or four wrestlers down and we are trying to be extra careful.”

Exchange students reach for new heights in gymnastics team By Sebastian Moraga From Denmark and Italy, exchange students Tatjana Bertram and Caterina Zita landed in Snoqualmie. And they stuck the landing. Bertram and Zita joined the Mount Si High School gymnastics team after never having tried gymnastics before. Bertram, from Denmark, was a boxer, a swimmer and a handball player in her native country. Zita practiced ballet, sailing and skiing in Italy. Both said they wanted to try something new. Both said this “something new” was harder than they thought it would be. “You need a lot of muscle and you need to be in pretty good shape,” said Bertram, a senior who arrived in Snoqualmie Aug. 17. Although new to the sport, both Bertram and Zita said they liked how the rest of the team welcomed them. “We have a good atmosphere here,” Zita said. “People are good to help us if we need it.” Bertram and Zita are two of the four exchange students on the team. Head Coach Jessica Easthope said her team had

By Sebastian Moraga

Tatjana Bertram (left) and Caterina Zita are two of four exchange students in this year’s Mount Si High School gymnastics squad. never had exchange students before. Isabella Kotulska, of Poland,

and Carla Torrisi, of Italy, are the other two. Of the four gymnastic events,

Zita said she struggled with the beam and liked the floor exercise. Bertram said she struggled

with the floor and beam and liked the bar. Easthope said both girls, members of the junior varsity squad, have performed well. “They are doing really great,” Easthope said. “They participate fully, they engage with everyone and their English is good.” Foreign exchange students have brought a different viewpoint to the team, she added, saying the students tend to ask different questions and have different concerns. “Being part of an athletic team can be kind of expensive,” Easthope said. The school paid for, and later loaned, the four girls team jackets, Easthope said. Normally, a student’s family pays for a jacket and gets to keep it. Easthope said the rest of the team has enjoyed having four teammates from overseas. Zita said they have taken turns teaching one another. The locals help the visitors with gymnastics, and the visitors teach the locals words in Danish and Italian. “Sometimes bad words,” Zita said with a smile. “But only because it’s important.” See GYMNASTS, Page 13

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 12, 2012

School notes Prep boys basketball KingCo Conference 3A Standings: Sammamish 6-0 (L), 9-2 (S); Lake Washington 51, 8-3; Bellevue 4-1, 9-2; Mercer Island 4-1, 9-3; Liberty 2-4, 7-5; Mount Si 2-4, 3-9; Interlake 0-6, 3-8; Juanita 0-6, 3-9. Jan. 6 Game SAMMAMISH 58, MOUNT SI 54 Mount Si 11 22 10 11 – 54 Sammamish 5 22 18 13 – 58 Mount Si – Miles Zupan 14, Levi Botten 13, Jason Smith 13, Griffin McLain 8, Ryan Atkinson 2, Anthony McLaughlin 2, Beau Shain 2, Tyler Button 0, Hunter Malberg 0. Sammamish – Dakota Olsen 19, George Valle 17, Jacob West 9, John Steinberg 7, Robert Ambartsumyan 6, Riley Brooks 0, Sami Jarjour 0, James Moy 0. Jan. 3 Game BELLEVUE 54, MOUNT SI 37 Bellevue 6 17 18 13 – 54 Mount Si 4 11 16 6 – 37 Bellevue – Tyler Hasty 21, Cole Walton 10, Jack Walton 8, Timmy Haehl 6, Kyle Foreman 4, Michael Carlson 3, Jackson Rezab 3, Zach Adamonis 0, Scott Whiting 0. Mount Si – Jason Smith 11, Miles Zupan 11, Anthony McLaughlin 8, Levi Botten 7, Ryan Atkinson 0, Griffin McLain 0, Jack Nelson 0, Beau Shain 0.

Prep girls basketball KingCo Conference 3A Standings: Juanita 5-1 (L), 102 (S); Liberty 5-1, 9-3; Mount Si 4-2, 7-5; Lake Washington 4-2, 7-5; Bellevue 3-3, 5-6; Interlake 2-4, 6-6; Mercer Island 1-5, 1-10; Sammamish 0-6, 3-9. Jan. 6 Game MOUNT SI 54, SAMMAMISH 25 Mount Si 18 13 8 14 – 54 Sammamish 12 3 6 4 – 25 Mount Si – Molly Sellers 17, Jordan Riley 15, Shelby Peerboom 12, Katy Lindor 5, Elizabeth Prewitt 2, Ally Pusich 2, Katie Swain 1, Grace Currie 0, Kelsey Lindor 0, Sally Nelson 0, Alex Welsh 0. Sammamish – Natsumi Naito 8, Kelsey Brooks 7, Min Yang 4, Montana Hagstrom 3, Helen Yang 3, Ariel Labow 0, Morgan Mincey 0, Erin Smith 0, Marissa Therriault 0. Jan. 4 Game MOUNT SI 47, BELLEVUE 44 Mount Si 13 12 17 5 – 47 Bellevue 6 14 11 13 – 44 Mount Si – Shelby Peerboom 14, Katy Lindor 11, Molly Sellers 11, Katie Swain 6, Jordan Riley 3, Alex Welsh 2, Grace Currie 0, Kelsey Lindor 0, Elizabeth Prewitt 0. Bellevue – Carly Best 11, Holly Warendorf 9, Kate Holmes 8, Katie Seward 7, Victoria Anderson 5, Shelby Fanning 4, Taylor Cooke 0, Erin McGowan 0.

Prep wrestling KingCo Conference 3A/2A

Jan. 5 Match MOUNT SI 42, INTERLAKE 35 106: Eli Clure (MS) p. Marcus Kopp, 4:52. 113: Gunnar Harrison (MS) p. Douglass Mui, 2:53. 120: Ryley Absher (MS) p. Grant Cole, 0:35. 126: Tanner Stahl (MS) d. John Harmon, 7-0. 132: Justin Edens (MS) d. Nathan Jochum, 10-6. 138: Daniel Montoya (Int) p. Adam Taylor, 1:47. 145: Aaron Peterson (MS) p. Joseph Button, 3:29. 152: Jacob Wilson (Int) p. Tye Todne, 1:37. 160: AJ Brevick (MS) p. Jacob Marks, 5:51. 170: Haines Giseburt (Int) tech. fall Cole Palmer, 16-1. 182: Tedore Stamoliev (Int) p. Douglas Knox, 2:47. 195: Ernest Cancilla (Int) p. Mitch Rorem, 4:34. 220: Chad Peterson (Int) p. Christopher Schlicting, 1:53. 285: Joshua

PAGE 13 Mitchell (MS) p. Fine Ngauamo, 1:41.

Prep gymnastics

Gymnasts From Page 12

KingCo Conference 3A/2A Jan. 5 Meet MOUNT SI 157.35, INTERLAKE 115.15 All-around: 1, Jenn Rogers (MS) 33.7; 2, Jessica Trotto (MS) 31.5; 3, Elizabeth Holmes (MS) 30.75. Vault: 1 (tie), Carissa Castagno (MS) 8.35, Makenzie Brown (MS) 8.35; 3, Rogers (MS) 8.3. Uneven parallel bars: 1, Rogers (MS) 6.9; 2, Castagno (MS) 6.6; 3, Brown (MS) 6.3. Balance beam: 1, Rogers (MS) 9.1; 2, Trotto (MS) 8.9; 3, Holmes (MS) 8.6. Floor exercise: 1, Rogers (MS) 9.4; 2, Trotto (MS) 8.6; 3, Hailey Johnson (MS) 8.5.

Zita’s last day is June 24. Bertram’s last day is unknown. She has known her host family for 10 years and has not yet bought a return ticket. The weather in Denmark does not differ much from Snoqualmie, so the change in seasons won’t be as big a deal, Bertram said. Zita, a resident of Florence, begs to differ. “Here, it looks like it rains in summer, it rains in spring, it rains in autumn,” she said. “The weather is not my favorite.”

Valley residents won’t let their neighbors go hungry! Fund for the Valley contributions began arriving almost as soon as the SnoValley Star began publicizing its call on residents to help support the Mt. Si Food Bank. The contributions kept coming and checks have now been passed along to the food bank so it can use its purchasing power to supplement food donations where needed. Fund for the Valley will reopen in November for the 2012 drive. Until then, donations directly to the food bank are encouraged.

2011 contributors: Amanda & Eric Conley Thomas & Rebecca Sydnor Deborah Gardner Marie Williams C.J. Kusiak Rebecca Inzerella and Michael Heidy Ron Shoff Hansen Therapeutic Services Inc. Jane and Edwin Benson Marc and Rosalie Aikin Wendy and Keith Hennig Elsie Graves Mary and John Knepper Michelle and Jerome La Rocca Willie, Peggy and Austin Wiseman Paula and Dave Wright 2 anonymous

2011 Fund Drive: $3,995

Fund for the Valley, A community service project of

SnoValley Star

Washington’s forests are deteriorating. That is what Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark warned in November when he announced a Tier Two Forest Health Hazard Warning. At the same time, he called for the formation of a technical committee to advise him on which areas face the greatest threats and preventive measures to take. The committee will consist of foresters, scientists and other experts. “The trends are alarming and the environmental and economic threats of deteriorating forest health are substantial,” Goldmark said in a public statement. “I am therefore taking action under the state’s Forest Health Law to address these threats.” Goldmark’s declaration

marks the first use of a 2007 amendment to the law enabling him to form a committee to recommend corrective actions. Forests in Eastern Washington “are suffering high stress due to an unnatural overcrowding as a result of past management,” especially limiting natural forest fire, Kevin Zobrist, a faculty member with Washington State University’s Extension Puget Sound Forest Stewardship Program, wrote in an email to the Star. During the next 15 years, projections show trees will die at a higher rate across 2.8 million acres in Eastern Washington, according to a news release from the state Department of Natural Resources. That is about onethird of the state’s forests. The Evergreen state’s forests have already suffered heavily in the past 30 years. Between 1988 and 2004, Western

Washington lost 17 percent of its nonfederal forest land to other uses, according to a 2007 study by the Department of Natural Resources. Since the 1980s, insects and diseases have been taking a heavier toll as well, according to the news release. Damage from insects and diseases in the past decade was 150 percent greater than it was during the 1990s, and 200 percent greater than during the 1980s. Public meetings will be held in affected areas to gather input. The group will release its recommendations this spring. What happens with the recommendations remains to be seen, though. “When it comes to forest health issues, what actions get taken in the PNW aren’t determined by science so much as political will, economic constraints, judicial activity,” and so on, Zobrist said.

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From Page 3

to Republicans. The redrawn political map shifts neighborhoods in northern and western Issaquah into the suburban 41st Legislative District. Magendanz plans to embark on a “listening tour” of district communities to collect input from voters. Besides Issaquah, the reshaped 5th District includes the East Renton Highlands — another Issaquah School District community — Black Diamond, Carnation, Maple Valley, North Bend and Snoqualmie. “My focus is going to be on fiscal responsibility, education and the environment, but the details and specifics of those talking points and the priorities of those talking points are still very much in flux, because I want to hear from you first,” he said.

❑ Senior Deacon: Mathew Meyers ❑ Junior Deacon: Ken Dods ❑ Senior Steward: Russel George ❑ Junior Steward: Chad Petrakis ❑ Tyler: Virgil Scott ❑ Marshal: Warren Oltmann ❑ Secretary: David Harris ❑ Assistant Secretary: Nick Michaud ❑ Treasurer: Dick Meredith With the sponsorship of two Seattle lodges, Freemasons founded the Fall City lodge in 1890. At the time, the lodge had to borrow $50 from one of the Seattle lodges to cover the registration fee. As its membership grew, the Fall City lodge sponsored a lodge in Issaquah and in North Bend. Learn more about the lodge at www.fallcitylodge.com.

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PAGE 15

Public meetings ❑ Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee, 5 p.m. Jan. 12 and 26, 37600 S.E. Snoqualmie Parkway ❑ Snoqualmie Public Works Committee, 5 p.m. Jan. 17, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Planning and Parks Committee, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Parks Plan Public Hearing, 7 p.m. Jan 17, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Parks Board, 7 p.m. Jan. 17, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Jan. 17, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Economic Development Commission, 8 a.m. Jan. 18, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Finance and Administration Committee, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 18, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie City Council, 7 p.m. Jan. 23, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Community and Economic Affairs Committee, 5 p.m. Jan. 24, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Shoreline Hearings Board, 5 p.m. Jan. 25, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ North Bend Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Jan. 12 and 26, 211 Main Ave. N. ❑ North Bend Community and Economic Development Committee, 1:15 p.m. Jan. 17,126 E. Fourth St. ❑ North Bend City Council, 7 p.m. Jan. 17, Mount Si Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S. ❑ North Bend Transportation and Public Works Committee, 3:45 p.m. Jan. 18, 1155 E. North Bend Way ❑ North Bend Economic Development Commission, 8 a.m. Jan. 19, 126 E. Fourth St. ❑ North Bend City Council Work Study, 7 p.m. Jan. 24, 211 Main Ave. N. ❑ North Bend Parks Commission, 6 p.m. Jan. 25, 126 E. Fourth St.

Music/entertainment ❑ Dave Peterson Duo, 7 p.m. Jan. 13, Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way ❑ Milo Petersen Trio, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13, Boxley’s ❑ Greasy Spoon, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13, The Black Dog, 8062 Railroad Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie ❑ Jean Mann Band, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14, The Black Dog ❑ Kelly Eisenhour Quartet, 7 p.m. Jan. 14, Boxley’s ❑ Danny Kolke Trio, 6 p.m. Jan. 15 and 22, Boxley’s ❑ Mount Si High School Jazz, 7 p.m. Jan. 17, Boxley’s ❑ Open Mic Night, 7 p.m. Jan. 18, 25, The Black Dog

with computer questions.

Story time

January 1 2 8 9 15 16 22 23 29 30

File

Bring your small ones to Toddler Story Time at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 17 at the North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St. The event is free for ages 2-3 accompanied by an adult.

❑ Emerald City Little Big Band, 7 p.m. Jan. 18, Boxley’s ❑ Chris Morton Duo, 7 p.m. Jan. 19, Boxley’s ❑ Joe Black, magician, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20, $10 donation per family, Si View Community Center, 400 S.E. Orchard Drive ❑ Drunken Promises, 8 p.m. Jan. 20, The Black Dog ❑ Bryant Urban’s Blue Oasis, 7 p.m. Jan. 20, 27, Boxley’s ❑ Charlie Loesel, 8 p.m. Jan. 21, The Black Dog ❑ Greg Williamson Quartet, 7 p.m. Jan. 21, Boxley’s

Events ❑ SnoValley Indoor Playground, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays when school is in session. Si View Community Center, 400 S.E. Orchard Drive. Donation of $1 per child per visit is appreciated. ❑ “Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Tots,” 9:45-10:30 a.m., Jan. 10-Feb. 14 at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, membership not required. Email trinayoga@gmail.com or call 4436228 for more information. Sixweek session is $80 plus $20 fee for nonTPC members. Four-week session is $55 plus registration fee. ❑ “Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Tykes,” 10:45-11:30 a.m. Jan. 10 to Feb. 14 at TPC Snoqualmie ❑ “Continuing the Conversation: Getting to Know Your Senior Center,” noon Jan. 12, Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E. Bring a brownbag lunch and come to the library to learn how local senior centers are evolving and changing continually. ❑ Snoqualmie Ridge Indoor Playground, 9-11 a.m. Jan. 13 and 20, Church on the Ridge, 35131 S.E. Ridge St. Check church website, www.churchontheridge.org, to confirm it’s open.

Click on “Ministries” and then click on “Children.” ❑ Game On! 3 p.m. Jan. 13, 20 and 27, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St. Free. For teenagers. Come by and play video games. ❑ Town of Snoqualmie Falls video and discussion, 10 a.m. Jan. 14, Meadowbrook Farm, 1711 Boalch Ave., North Bend. Free. ❑ Art lecture: “Paul Gauguin and the Search for Paradise,” 1:30 p.m. Jan. 15, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St. Presented by Susan Olds. ❑ No School Day Camp, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16, Si View Community Center, 400 S.E. Orchard Drive, North Bend. Cost: $55. For children in kindergarten to fifth grade. Register online at www.siviewpark.org or call 831-1900. ❑ Snoqualmie Book Group/Virtually There Online Book Club, 1:30 p.m. Jan. 17, Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E. Come for an afternoon of book talks and choose the titles we’ll read and discuss, both virtually and in person, during the year. ❑ Friends of the Snoqualmie Library Meeting, 6 p.m. Jan. 18, Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E. ❑ Preschool Story Times, 10:30 a.m. Jan. 18, Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E. Ages 3-6 with adult. ❑ Young Toddler Story Times, 9:30 a.m. Jan. 18, Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E. Ages 6 to 24 months with adult. ❑ Preschool Story Times, 10:30 a.m. Jan. 18, Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E. Ages 3-6 with adult. ❑ Pajamarama Story Times, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth Street.

2012

3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 27 28 31

❑ Pajama Story Times, 7 p.m. Jan. 12, 19, Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E. All young children welcome with adult. ❑ “Seals, Whales and Otters,” 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 20, Encompass Main Campus, 1407 Boalch Ave. N.W., North Bend. For ages 4-5. Call 888-2777. Cost: $25. ❑ Snoqualmie Community Center Dedication, 10:30 a.m. Jan 21, 35018 S.E. Ridge St. ❑ Snoqualmie Valley YMCA Open House, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan 21, 35018 S.E. Ridge St. ❑ Read the Book, Watch the Movie, 3:30-6 p.m. Jan. 23, Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E. Read “The Iron Giant: a Story in Five Nights,” by Ted Hughes, and then watch the movie. Popcorn will be provided. Free. For grades five through eight with an adult. ❑ Merry Monday Story Times, 11 a.m. Jan. 23, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St. Free for newborns to 3-year-olds with an adult. ❑ Meet a Forest Service ranger, 7 p.m. various dates and locations. Learn about the outdoors and discover recreation opportunities from Forest Service rangers at local libraries. North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St.: Jan 24 and Feb. 16; Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E.: Jan 25 and Feb. 15; Fall City Library, 33415 S.E. 42nd Place: Jan 26 and Feb. 28.

Classes ❑ Study Zone, 4 p.m. Jan. 12, 17, 7 p.m. Jan. 18, 4 p.m. Jan. 19, free tutoring for grades K-12 at North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St. ❑ SnoValley Writers work group, 3 p.m. Jan. 22, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St. ❑ S.A.I.L. (Stay Active and Independent for Life) exercise class meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Mount Si Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend. Call 888-3434. ❑ English as a second language, 6:30 p.m. Mondays, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St. A formal class to learn English grammar, reading, writing and conversational skills. ❑ One-on-One Computer Assistance, 1 p.m. Wednesdays, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St. A KCLS volunteer can give you one-on-one assistance

Volunteer opportunities ❑ Encompass is currently seeking volunteers to help with our landscape and maintenance at both the downtown North Bend and Boalch Avenue locations along with office help. This can be a weekly or monthly commitment. Email michelle.mccormick@encompassnw.org or call 888-2777. ❑ Snoqualmie Sister Cities Association invites community members to join a newly formed group to support Snoqualmie’s new sister city, Chaclacayo, Peru. The association already has developed a close relationship with sister city Gangjin, South Korea, which more than 30 residents have visited in the past four years. Email maryrcorcoran@gmail.com or call 503-1813. ❑ The Mount Si Food Bank is looking for volunteers to help unload food at noon Mondays, sort food at 9 a.m. Tuesdays or pass out food on Wednesdays. Call the food bank at 888-0096. ❑ The Elk Management Group invites the community to participate in elk collaring, telemetry and habitat improvement projects in the Upper Snoqualmie Valley. Project orientation meetings are at 6 p.m. the third Monday of the month at the U.S. Forest Service Conference Room, behind the Forest Service office, 130 Thrasher Ave. Email research@snoqualmievalleyelk.org. ❑ Snoqualmie Valley Hospital is accepting applications for ages 16 or older to volunteer in various departments of the hospital. Email carolw@snoqualmiehospital.org to arrange an interview. ❑ Senior Services Transportation Program needs volunteers to drive seniors around North Bend and Snoqualmie. Choose the times and areas in which you’d like to drive. Car required. Mileage reimbursement and supplemental liability insurance are offered. Call 206-748-7588 or 800-2825815 toll free, or email melissat@seniorservices.org. Apply online at www.seniorservices.org. Click on “Giving Back” and then on “Volunteer Opportunities.” ❑ Mount Si Senior Center needs volunteers for sorting and sales in the thrift store, reception and class instruction. The center is at 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend. Call 888-3434. ❑ Hopelink in Snoqualmie Valley seeks volunteers for a variety of tasks. Volunteers must be at least 16. Go to www.hopelink.org/takeaction/volunteer.com or call 869-6000. ❑ AdoptAPark is a program for Snoqualmie residents to improve public parks and trails. An application and one-year commitment are required. Call

PAGE 16

SnoValley Star

JANUARY 12, 2012

Washington’s recycling rate increased in 2010 The Evergreen state’s recycling rate grew to its highest level ever — 49 percent — in 2010, according to data released Dec. 14 by the state Department of Ecology. In 1989, the Legislature set a statewide recycling goal of 50 percent. The national average was 34 percent in 2010. Washington residents are recycling more and throwing away less. The total amount of municipal waste recycled by state residents increased by more than 540,000 tons in 2010. Meanwhile, the amount of waste disposed from households and businesses has been dropping in the wake of the recent recession. That trend continued in 2010, decreasing by about 65,000 tons — or 1 percent — from the previous year. At the same time, the amount of waste diverted from landfills declined slightly from 54.8 percent in 2009 to 54.3 percent in 2010. “Our program has increasingly focused on keeping these

materials out of landfills by following the statewide solid and hazardous waste plan that’s called Beyond Waste. However, we continue to struggle with declining staff resources to carry out our state plan,” Laurie Davies, Ecology’s Waste 2 Resources Program manager, said in a news release. Ecology’s data showed that recycling rates increased for organic materials, plastics and electronics. Organic materials, such as wood waste, yard debris and food scraps, accounted for half of the increase in recycling. Less aluminum and paper were collected for recycling in 2010 than in previous years. Recycling in Washington continues to result in important environmental gains, according to the news release. Sending materials to be recycled rather than put in landfills prevented the emission of 3.1 million tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere last year. It also saved the equivalent of 1.3 billion gallons of gasoline, according to Ecology.

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