Wildcats beat Vikings in critical KingCo game Page 10
Your locally owned newspaper serving North Bend and Snoqualmie Friday, January 29, 2016
Move over Howard Stern
Muslim group hosts open house
Meet the new King of All Media
By Dylan Chaffin dchaffin@snovalleystar.com
By David Hayes dhayes@isspress.com North Bend resident Gary Schwartz, founder of the Valley Center Stage, has a resume from more than three decades in the entertainment industry that itself reads like a novel. He’s been a mime, actor, director, voice-over artist and improv coach. Now, he’s ready to add another chapter to his storied career — author. Although Schwartz’s children’s novel, “The Meet the author King of Average,” debuted Oct. 6 — Gary Schwartz will signs he’ll be signing copies of his new children’s copies and reading book, ‘The King of Average,’ selections Jan. 21 from 2-3 p.m. Jan. 31 at the at the Issaquah Issaquah Barnes & Noble, 1530 Barnes & Noble 11th Ave., Pickering Place — it’s been in the works for some time. “Someone asked me at a party how long it took to write the book,” Schwartz said. “I told him 52 years.” The idea came to him when he was 11 years old. It was based upon the children’s classic, “The Phantom Tollbooth,” where the very bored Milo is transported to curious encounters via a tollbooth that appears in his bedroom. Schwartz’s “The King of Average” essentially is a message of self-esteem. “It’s a result of my therapy, picking up my life as an abused kid, although very hidden in book, based on that search for authentic self,” he said. See KING, Page 9
By David Hayes
North Bend resident Gary Schwartz proudly displays his latest venture in the entertainment industry, his first children’s novel, ‘The King of Average.’
State experts eye westward Wolf migration By Dylan Chaffin dchaffin@snovalleystar.com For the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the local ecosystem is a fragile balance of prey and predator. A single factor could
change all of that in the next few years, an expert says. Wolf management has long since been a contentious topic for farmers, hunters and environmentalists, and while most wolves reside in the states of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, Washington’s
eastern population of the carnivores is growing, and spreading, to the western part of the state. Wolves are federally protected, but the state is currently working towards the conservation goals that could get them de-listed in the near
future. About 100 wolves are currently registered or collared with the department, but Carnivore Manager Donny Martorello knows that isn’t all of them. See WOLVES, Page 12
Join in meeting your neighbors, sharing conversation and learning about the faith of Islam at an open house hosted by the Muslim Association of Snoqualmie Ridge at Snoqualmie City Hall from 9:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 30. All are invited, said association President Mujeed Mohammed, who has lived in Snoqualmie for the past decade. The aim of the open house is to build a stronger sense of community and provide community members with information about Islam and the Muslim people, he said. “We want to bring awareness to others that we are peaceful,” he added. Islam is a religion that focuses on the fundamental virtues of kindness, moderation, patriotism, patience, brotherhood and self-discipline, according to the association’s website. While he recognizes that recent events have caused negative public reactions, Mohammed said that whoever crosses those lines cannot call themselves Muslims. About 30 families from Egypt, India, Morocco, Bangladesh and Pakistan comprise the association. “My kids go to school here and we live here, so this is our home,” he said. Several local groups have reached out to show support, he said, including several that will attend the event from local hospitals and schools. Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER