Your locally-owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington
February 17, 2011 VOL. 3, NO. 7
Young team struggles in playoffs Page 17
Fire bond passing, school bond teetering By Sebastian Moraga and Dan Catchpole
Railroad restoration Museum hosts benefit for Chapel Car No. 5. Page 3
The bond proposal to build a middle school on Snoqualmie Ridge stood on the verge of a comeback win when new results were released Feb. 14 by King County Elections. As of Valentine’s Day, the bond measure had 59.7 percent of the vote, just shy of the 60 percent needed to pass.
The other item on the Feb. 8 ballot — a bond measure for a new fire station in North Bend — was passing. Katie Gilliam, with the King County Elections office, said she expected a 38 percent countywide voter turnout, but offered no “hard-and-fast” figures for voter turnout in the Valley. So far, elections officials have counted votes from nearly 50 percent of all registered voters in
the Snoqualmie Valley School District. School bond Joel Aune, superintendent of Snoqualmie Valley schools, said Feb. 14 he was moderately optimistic the bond would break the 60-percent mark. “Later ballots tend to trend upward,” he said. Aune said he was grateful for the work of pro-bond volun-
ON THE WEB
> >www.snovalleystar.com Keep up with daily vote totals.
teers, and for the strong voter turnout, nearing 10,000 votes as of Valentine’s Day. With the economy struggling, a vote this close is no surprise, he said. See ELECTIONS, Page 7
Election time again Conservation District unveils online voting. Page 6
Police and fire Page 8
Honoring Eric Ward Community remembers local Marine. Page 10
Learning with laughter Motivator uses humor to get message to teens. Page 14
Drug defense Program teaches parents to go beyond just say no. Page 15
Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER
Putting the snow in Snoqualmie
Snoqualmie marijuana case shows holes in state law
Downtown Snoqualmie is covered by a blanket of snow by one of two snowstorms this winter. This season’s wet weather has caused headaches for some and thrills for others, especially children equipped with sleds. Commuters have at times had to put up with traffic backups and mostly minor accidents. Like other jurisdictions around Puget Sound, Snoqualmie has been proactive in preparing for bad winter weather. Despite the extra effort, the city is well within its budget for snow removal, according to Public Works Director Dan Marcinko.
By Dan Catchpole
being the closest mountain valley to Seattle. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts worked with the state and the King County Sheriff’s Office to help clean up the area, for which then Sen. Slade Gorton, a Republican, got federal money. Today, the Middle Fork is a popular recreation area. Environmental advocates say the bill’s broad local support, which includes the mayors and other elected officials from North Bend and Snoqualmie, will help get it through
Former Snoqualmie resident Bryan Gabriel’s trial for alleged distribution of marijuana began Feb. 14 at the King County Superior Courthouse. King County prosecutors say Gabriel sold two pounds of marijuana to a Snoqualmie resident in Auburn on April 14, 2009. It is the second time King County prosecutors have charged Gabriel with distributing marijuana. In 2010, he was charged with intent to distribute four ounces of marijuana following his arrest by Snoqualmie police in November 2009. Those earlier charges fell into the muddy waters of Washington’s medical marijuana law. Ultimately, they were dismissed after the prosecution’s main witness, Snoqualmie Ridge resident Jeff Roetter died. The experience of Gabriel, Roetter, Snoqualmie police and King County prosecutors is one of many examples of problems with the state’s medical marijuana law. The law’s vague wording frustrates both law enforcement and medical marijuana advocates. Among the law’s most glaring shortcomings are the lack
See ALPINE, Page 2
See TRIAL, Page 9
By Jeremy Fursman
Bill is reintroduced to expand local federal wilderness areas Advocates optimistic while some members remain skeptical By Dan Catchpole A bill to protect the Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie rivers has been reintroduced into Congress after an identical bill was held up last year in the Senate. The previous bill’s leading co-sponsors —Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and Republican
Rep. Dave Reichert — are again leading bipartisan support for the legislation. But the bill faces a Congress with more members skeptical of environmental protection. Nonetheless, the bill’s advocates are optimistic it will pass — eventually. The legislation protects the Middle Fork under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and adds about 22,000 acres around the Pratt River to the existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. The area had become a refuge for criminals and illegal dumping in the 1990s, despite
SnoValley Star
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FEBRUARY 17, 2011
State proposes paving a stretch of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road By Brian Fink
Contributed
About 22,000 acres of the Pratt River Valley could become part of federally protected wilderness if a bill with bipartisan support passes Congress.
Alpine From Page 1 Congress. “The odds are as good as they could be under the circumstances,” said Jim DiPeso, communications director of Republicans for Environmental Protection. The group recognized Reichert in 2008 for his environmental advocacy. The toughest fight is expected from the House Committee on Natural Resources. Its new chairman, Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Pasco, led the opposition in 2009 to the Omnibus American Wilderness Act, which created the Wild Sky Wilderness Area. But Hastings did not oppose the Middle Fork-Pratt bill last year. In fact, no fight was put up in committee. The Republican leadership knows that the bill is politically important to Reichert, whose district includes a large amount of liberal and independent voters. “Hastings wouldn’t want to undercut Dave Reichert by blocking a bill that will help him,” DiPeso said. The bill also could give Republicans an opportunity to polish their environmental credentials, he said.
“The odds are as good as they could be under the circumstances.” — Jim DiPeso Republicans for Environmental Protection DiPeso said he doesn’t think the bill will have problems in the Senate, where Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., blocked it in December. It was the second time the clock ran out on the bill. Coburn helped lead Senate opposition to the Wild Sky Wilderness Area and is nicknamed “Dr. No” for his use of procedural rules to block legislation. New rules adopted by the Senate in January will make it more difficult for individual Senators to block legislation, DiPeso said. “Coburn always comes into the picture,” he said. “He has his projects. But he’s not 10 feet tall.” Wilderness bills usually take time to get passed by Congress, said Tom Uniack, Washington Wilderness Coalition’s Conservation Director. “It’s frustrating,” he added. Nonetheless, he said he is confident local support will carry it through. Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
This part of the river has come a long way since the days of meth labs and illegal dumpers. Now, the big concern seems to be the muddy potholes. But even those may soon disappear. Put on hold because of financial uncertainty, the plan to pave a 9.7-mile stretch of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road is back on track, bringing with it a better sense of identity and $20 million in federal funds to express it. The funding is available from the Forest Highway Program, managed by the Federal Highway Administration’s Western Federal Lands division office, according to Doug Hecox, of the administration’s Public Affairs Office. Together with the King County Department of Transportation and U.S. Forest Service, the Federal Highway Administration announced in its latest project newsletter that the current plan is the best yet, satisfying the needs of the environment, the public and the road. Concerns about the quality of Forest Road 56, the only public one with motorized access to the Middle Fork Valley, are not new. Wade Holden, president and founder of Friends of the Trail, a nonprofit organization created to remove litter from public lands leftover by illegal dumping, started cleaning up Middle Fork in March 1996. “We were out there for two and a half years straight, five days a week,” he said in a phone interview. Including taking out kitchen appliances and cars requiring a helicopter to lift them out, Holden’s efforts in the Middle Fork have been aimed at preventing future dumping. “It doesn’t matter where you are. It’s that broken-window effect,” he said. Jonathan Guzzo, advocacy director of the Washington Trails Association, an organization ded-
icated to protecting hiking trails, knows about the dumping. “Middle Fork was used as a dump for the Green River killer. He dumped bodies there,” he said in a recent phone interview. He, too, has looked through the broken window: “People have begun using it for recreation. There’s a campground there. Because of that, the bad actors in the area have been chased away.” Guzzo has been hiking the Middle Fork for 10 years. Of the beauty that draws him to the area, he said, “If it were outside of Cleveland, it would be a national park.” Although not designated a national park, the area has had its share of protection-related politics. In 2009, U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) sponsored HR 1769, which sought to include the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Pratt rivers in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, thus considering it a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Passed by the House on March 18, 2010, the bill was never voted on in the Senate, ending the area’s chance at federal protection status. Whether Middle Fork receives such recognition is perhaps irrelevant to many. Twenty years ago, Mark Boyar came out to this “wild backyard of King County” to act as a volunteer guard against vandals, illegal dumpers and drug outfits. Since then, he’s been active in ensuring that the area gets the attention it deserves. “I’ve been bird-dogging it since it was first proposed in 1997, supporting the plan to rebuild the road while encouraging a project that fits the character of the Valley,” the Seattle resident and software consultant wrote in a recent e-mail. “I’ve worked to gain consensus on what sort of road makes sense,” he added. “We want a road that respects the sensitive nature of the Valley, fixes some
PSE natural gas rates could increase April 1 Puget Sound Energy, state Utilities and Transportation Commission staff members and others have reached a tentative agreement to allow PSE to increase natural gas rates. The average residential natural gas customer using 68 therms a month should experience a 2 percent increase, or $1.68, for a revised bill of $84.65. The settlement agreement proposes no
change to the $10-per-month basic service charge for residential natural gas customers. PSE had originally asked to increase the fee to $10.62 per month. The agreement calls for the rates to go into effect April 1, if commissioners approve the proposed pact. The tentative settlement heads to the three-member regulatory commission. The commission is
not bound by the staff recommendation to accept the agreement. PSE customers can comment to state regulators on the proposed settlement agreement at a public meeting scheduled for 1:30 p.m. March 1 in Olympia. Customers can also submit comments via mail, e-mail or phone. The commission has received 200 public comments to date on the PSE natural gas rate increase
proposal — 193 opposed and seven undecided. Under the proposal, PSE natural gas revenues should increase by $19 million a year, down from the $24 million the company asked for in the initial request last fall. Bellevue-based PSE serves more than 1 million electric customers and almost 750,000 natural gas customers in Western Washington, including Issaquah.
vexing problems and handles increased recreation use.” One of the vexing problems to which Boyar refers is access. As Guzzo put it, the road is a “potholed, rutted, washoutprone mess.” It was closed for much of 2009 due to flooding. But even when the road is open, its potholes can deter most motorists from driving on it. One could access it, according to Guzzo, “if you persevere with reasonably high clearance.” Expanding access to the road, from milepost 2.7 to about milepost 12.4, at the Middle Fork Campground, would allow those in surrounding areas, including Seattle, to visit. While doing so may be good for North Bend businesses, the access isn’t entirely welcome. In a letter to the SnoValley Star on Dec. 15, 2010, about a week after the highway administration held a public meeting about the project, North Bend resident David Willson wrote: “Pavement would also enable more people to use the Middle Fork Canyon as a dumping ground. … That’s hardly a win for the environment.” Holden, who considers himself a trash collector rather than an advocate, disagreed. Because of the rise of recreation, he said, “a lot of those trash dumpers and troublemakers and target shooters have left.” In the presence of hikers, hunters and kayakers, they feel uncomfortable, he added. For now, the highway administration is preparing an environmental assessment, required by King County, in which each potential environmental impact will be analyzed. It will host another public meeting in November. “I’m like everyone else,” Holden said. “I really hate to see it paved, but it’s a necessary evil.” Brian Fink is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
What to know State regulators seek public comments about a proposed Puget Sound Energy natural gas rate change. Mail comments to P.O. Box 47250 Olympia, WA 98504 or e-mail them to comment@utc.wa.gov. Call 888333-9882 toll free. The commission is accepting public comments until March 3
SnoValley Star
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
PAGE 3
Railway Museum hosts benefit to restore Chapel Car 5 By Dan Catchpole As the song goes, “I’ve been working on the railroad, all the live-long day.” The Northwest Railway Museum is hoping Snoqualmie Valley residents will lend a hand for one night — no heavy lifting involved. The museum’s annual benefit dinner and silent auction is scheduled for March 4 at the Salish Lodge & Spa. Proceeds from the benefit will support restoration work on the museum’s Chapel Car 5, Messenger of Peace. The car dates back to the 19th century. The museum is working on restoring it to its condition in 1917, when it visited North Bend for one week. The Messenger of Peace visited 11 states, including Washington, during its 50 years spreading the message of the American Baptist Church. “It wasn’t just a train car, it was a church on wheels,” said
Department of Health aims to create flu-free ‘WashYourHandsingTon’ The state Department of Health urges residents to journey to “WashYourHandsingTon” as the traditional flu season settles in. In “WashYourHandsingTon,” everyone remembers to cover coughs, wash hands and receive a flu vaccine. The campaign is part of a statewide effort to remind res-
Sue van Gerpen, the museum’s director of communications. The American Baptist Church and several other denominations built chapel cars to reach far-flung communities. The Messenger of Peace served the longest of seven cars built by Baptists. The car arrived in Washington in 1915, stopping in several communities with flagging congregations. In 1916, the minister on board noted in Spokane, “Hard proposition, church nearly dead.” The pastors, who were often accompanied by their wives, had less than 200 square feet of living space onboard the car. A dining room table, roll-top desk, bathroom, kitchen, closet and sleeping berths were squeezed into the tiny space. “There was an upper and lower berth, so the pastor and his wife couldn’t even sleep together,” said Richard Anderson, the museum’s director. Restoring the car could take as long as two years, he said. idents to prevent the spread of flu. “We use a fun approach to get people’s attention, and then remind them that flu is serious and getting vaccinated will keep you well,” state Secretary of Health Mary Selecky said in a statement. “We want Washington to be the state where people ‘give high-fivers, not high fevers!’” The campaign includes a YouTube video, radio ads, bus cards and billboards. Learn more
By Dan Catchpole
The Northwest Railway Museum’s Sue van Gerpen (left) and Richard Anderson inspect the museum’s Chapel Car 5, Messenger of Peace. Restoration work has already begun on the all-wood car. Proceeds from the museum’s annual benefit will go to pay for the work. The work list is long. Pews will have to be reconstructed, the original flooring restored, windows rebuilt and so on. The car is currently at the museum’s restoration project center and is on schedule. Three experts are working full-time on the project. The project is estimated to cost about $500,000. The muse-
um has raised about $450,000, according to van Gerpen. That includes $50,000 from Partners in Preservation, a grant program sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Express Foundation. The benefit’s feature presentation will be “A Twentieth Century Missionary Method.”
Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
at the campaign website, www.doh.wa.gov/FluNews/handsington.htm. The current flu vaccine protects against three strains of influenza: H3N2, influenza B and H1N1, or swine flu. The vaccine is recommended for
everyone 6 months and older. The vaccine arrived in the Evergreen State in October — the earliest arrival ever. In addition, more vaccine is expected to be available for the current season than in the past. Influenza, a respiratory ill-
ness, causes fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, fatigue and sometimes vomiting. Most people recover within several days, but sometimes the disease leads to pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections.
Spaghetti Feed Dessert Auction
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Where: The Eagles Club Snoqualmie Date: Saturday, February 26th Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm Fundraiser for North Bend Knuckleballers Eagles Club - 8200 Railroad Ave MEMBERS AND GUESTS WELCOME $10 per person $5 for kids 10 years & under • Spaghetti • French Bread • Beverage Proceeds will help benefit the 12yr old Knuckleballer Baseball Team competing in the Cooperstown National Tournament Home of the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournaments.
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Performers from Valley Center Stage will recreate stories of life lived on the rails. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at www.trainmuseum.org and at the Snoqualmie Depot.
Opinion
PAGE 4
Editorial
Letter
Annual pass for parks is not unreasonable We are not a proponent of willy-nilly user fees to line the coffers of government agencies, but with voters repeatedly saying no to taxes, user fees will become more prevalent. For state parks, we support a $30 annual Discover Pass to keep state parks open. Washington state parks are in trouble, just as many other state agencies and services are — all part of proposed budget cuts to keep the state out of bankruptcy. State parks are expected to need $64 million in the upcoming biennium. The state Legislature threatened last year to close the Valley’s two most popular destinations, Mount Si and Little Si. Both avoided the budget axe. But with no stable funding for recreation services, both will continue to be in danger of being closed or deteriorating due to lack of maintenance. Drawing about 500,000 visitors a year, Mount Si and Little Si are important to the local economy and property values. Instituting the pass might restrict access. But not instituting it could mean no access. Senate Bill 5622 would reimpose a parking fee, but the pass would also give access to state properties maintained by the Department of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife. We believe the annual pass would be acceptable to those who use state lands for recreation. The bill allows for a $10 day-use permit as well. Those who walk or bicycle into the parks would not be charged. Best of all, 85 percent of the funds generated by the state Discover Pass would support state parks, with the remainder going to the other two agencies. We’re not ready to support state parks at any cost, but a $30 annual user fee seems reasonable, given the circumstances.
WEEKLY POLL Presidents’ Day is Feb. 21. Who was the worst? A. James Buchanan B. Woodrow Wilson C. Richard Nixon D. George W. Bush E. Barack Obama F. Other Vote online at www.snovalleystar.com.
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Animal clinic helped cat owner in grieving process I wanted to bring attention and praise for the North Bend Animal Clinic and Dr. Howard, and also my childhood friend Terry White (Botulinski), and the rest of the staff who helped me understand what was happening to my buddy and friend, Woo. He was healthy and the most handsome black cat in the world but he met up with a car. He
Share your views Citizens can make a difference by contacting their elected representatives.
North Bend ❑ Mayor Ken Hearing, mayor@northbendwa.gov ❑ Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Dee Williamson, dwilliamson@northbendwa.gov ❑ Councilman Jonathan Rosen, jrosen@northbendwa.gov ❑ Councilman Chris Garcia, cgarcia@northbendwa.gov ❑ Councilman Alan Gothelf, agothelf@northbendwa.gov ❑ Councilman Ross
FEBRUARY 17, 2011 then managed to get himself into the house and drop at my feet with a crushed shoulder and a leg that didn’t work, a hole in his lung, severe trauma to his insides and more, but I can’t bare to even think of the suffering he endured. He was so strong and loving that he gave his last effort to get to me, because I believe he loved me and all the times we had before and he figured I’d make it all better. I had to say good-bye to my friend who gave me such comfort through two cases of cancer and many years of being alone. I cannot express my gratefulness
to everyone at the clinic who through my hysteria and grief explained and did their job quickly and with grace and compassion. Thank you, Terry, for your calm, loving presence and going beyond what your job required. And thank you, Dr. Howard, for letting me grieve and for moving so quickly and so gently to send Woo on to heaven. You all are wonderful at your jobs and I feel blessed to know you are close by if I need you again. Sally Busby Hill Snoqualmie
Loudenback, rloudenback@northbendwa.gov ❑ Councilman David Cook, dcook@northbendwa.gov ❑ Councilwoman Jeanne Pettersen, jpettersen@northbendwa.gov Write to the mayor and City Council at City of North Bend, P.O. Box 896, North Bend, WA 98045. Call 888-1211.
MacNichols, 396-4597; macnichols@sbmhlaw.com ❑ Councilman Bryan Holloway, 396-5216; bholloway@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us ❑ Councilman Kingston Wall, 206-890-9125; kwall@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us ❑ Councilwoman Maria Henriksen, 396-5270; mhenriksen@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us ❑ Councilman Charles Peterson, 888-0773; cpeterson@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us ❑ Councilwoman Kathi Prewitt, 888-3019; kprewitt@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us Write to the mayor and City Council at City of Snoqualmie, P.O. Box 987, Snoqualmie, WA 98065. Call 888-1555.
Snoqualmie ❑ Mayor Matt Larson, 8885307; mayor@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us ❑ Councilman Robert Jeans, 396-4427; bjeans@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us ❑ Councilman Jeff
Home Country
When working out, you gotta have a plan By Slim Randles There’s nothing like kitchentable guilt. From my kitchen table, I can look out on the path along the creek and see my ambitious neighbors wearing themselves out each morning. There they go, jouncing their flab along in sweatsuits and sneakers, huffing and coughing and turning red while I have a second cup of coffee. I know. I know. I should do that. I guess I probably will, too. I’ve been thinking of getting one of those little radios with the ear thingies to listen to, anyway. Everyone knows that hound of mine needs her exercise, as I don’t set her loose down along the river on a night ‘coon hunt as often as I should. I might even look good in a sweatsuit. There’s a certain amount of pride a guy can take in exercise, of course. You get out in the cold morning air and suffer along in your quest to postpone The Big One as long as possible. Lots of brownie points with the neighbors, of course, to be thought of as a with-it, “now” kinda guy. The ones who moved
here from the city will begin to smile and wave more often. The only problem with this exercise stuff is how Slim Randles tiring it can Columnist be. But I think I have this figured out. Yes, a plan. I believe I’ll listen to the classical station on that little radio. I think something slow by Ravel or Brahms would be just
right for setting my pace. And I’ll be sure to walk slowly past the neighbors’ houses. You know, encourage the pity factor. “He’s been exercising so hard he’s exhausted,” they’ll say, watching me trudge back toward the warmth of my home. Eventually, they’ll wonder why my dog hasn’t lost any weight, of course. But then, no plan is perfect. Sponsored by: www.pearsonranch.com. Farm direct, delicious, California navel & Valencia oranges.
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. E-mail 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 ❑ E-mail: editor@snovalleystar.com
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
SnoValley Star
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FEBRUARY 17, 2011
King Conservation District unveils online voting for board election By Warren Kagarise The little-noticed election for a King Conservation District board seat kicked off Feb. 15 and, for the first time, district voters in Snoqualmie Valley and elsewhere can cast ballots online. The monthlong election is for a supervisor seat on the board of the conservation district — the agency responsible for promoting sustainable use of natural resources, and providing information and technical assistance to landowners. The electorate must choose among Kent farmer Bruce Elliott, Redmond real estate agent Teri Herrera, Duvall farmer Eric Nelson and Sammamish retiree Preston Prudente for the open seat. “We are pleased to have a full slate of candidates for our inaugural online election,” board Chairman Bill Knutsen said in a statement. Members handle a $6.5 million budget and offer guidance to staff members and for district
Issaquah
programs. Supervisors also help to identify critical conservation needs in the district and seek feedback about conservation programs from district residents. The all-volunteer board includes three elected members and a pair of supervisors appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. Both elected and appointed supervisors serve three-year terms. One resident of the upper Snoqualmie Valley is a member of the board of supervisors. Jeanette Samek-McKague, of North Bend, was appointed to the board by the commission in December. Landowners fund the district through a $10-per-parcel assessment fee. Though the district receives some funding from the state conservation commission — plus King County, state and federal grants — state legislators do not allocate dollars to the agency. The board administers conservation projects and other programs throughout the 62-yearold district.
Sammamish
HEALTH SAFETY
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Last year, North Bend received more than $50,000 in two grants from the district to remove invasive plants and plant native species around Tollgate Farm. Crews are currently working on the project, which is scheduled to be finished in March. In addition to Snoqualmie Valley, the district includes all of King County except for Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish. Voters inside the district started to cast e-ballots in the supervisor race Feb. 15. The voting period runs through March 15. King County Elections does not administer district elections. Rather, the district has retained Bellevue-based Election Trust to coordinate the balloting. The company has managed past district elections at traditional polling places. The district has introduced online voting to replace the scattered polling places used in past supervisor elections. Voters can cast e-ballots from computers using a PIN authentication provided by the district. In the ongoing election, officials also plan to offer in-person
“We are pleased to have a full slate of candidates for our inaugural online election.” — Bill Knutsen King Conservation District board chairman voting at the district’s Renton office March 15. Leaders shifted from the traditional Election Day to a 30-day voting period in a bid to boost voter turnout. The district provided a mere seven polling places across King County during the 2010 supervisor election due to budget constraints. Though the district encompasses most of the 1.1 million registered voters in the county, anemic turnout has defined recent conservation district elections. The most recent election in March 2010 attracted 4,232 voters — a sharp increase from the 2,757 voters in the 2009 contest. Only 198 voters cast ballots in the 2008 supervisor race. Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Dan Catchpole contributed to this report. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
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How to vote King Conservation District voters must select a board member from a slate of five candidates. The monthlong election period ends at 9 p.m. March 15. Voters can also cast ballots in person at the district office — 1107 S.W. Grady Way, Suite 130, Renton — from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 15. The election is open to registered voters in Snoqualmie Valley and elsewhere in King County, except for Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific and Skykomish — cities outside the district. Voters must confirm eligibility by submitting a signed affidavit through e-mail, fax or postal mail. The eligibility form is available at the district website, www.kingcd.org. Then, after eligibility is confirmed, voters receive a personal identification number via e-mail. Voters receive complete votingaccess information in the same email delivery. If a voter has not received a PIN by 5 p.m. March 14, he or she must cast a ballot in person at the Renton office. Voters without e-mail addresses can instead use addresses provided by a family member or friend. Voter eligibility is not based on a personal e-mail address. Voters without e-mail addresses or computer access can cast ballots in person. The district has retained Election Trust and a secure voting platform to conduct the election. The system, Scytl Pnyx eVoting, has been successfully deployed for United States overseas and military voters since 2008.
Take a peek... I-90 traffic cameras
SnoValley Star
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Most liquor stores remain open for Presidents Day Evergreen State residents can raise a glass to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, because all state-run liquor stores remain open Feb. 21, the federal holiday to observe Presidents Day. The stores open at 10 or 11 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m. Some contract liquor stores could be open Monday as well. Contact the stores for holiday operating schedules. Find a complete list of staterun liquor stores at the Washington State Liquor Control Board website, www.liq.wa.gov. The state operates a store in North Bend at 320 S.W. Mount Si Boulevard.
The process includes meetings with stakeholders to gather information about the burdens and costs of complying with the tax system. The survey is intended to supplement the process and gather input from as broad a segment of the small business community as possible. The department plans to present findings and recommendations to Gregoire by June 30. “Simplifying the tax code and reducing administrative burdens will save small businesses time and money and let owners and employees focus less on paperwork and more on their core business in this tough economy,” Revenue Director Suzan DelBene said. “This will help small businesses in all of our communities to thrive and improve our entire state’s competitiveness.
Leaders seek input to simplify state tax system
Lake Dorothy Road reopens near North Bend
The state Department of Revenue is in gathering ideas to simplify the tax system — and officials want input from residents. The agency seeks ideas about how the state can simplify the tax system for small businesses. Officials have launched a survey to collect input. Residents can complete the survey at the agency website, http://dor.wa.gov/taxsimplification. The department is soliciting tax-simplification ideas in response to a directive from Gov. Chris Gregoire.
More than a year after it was closed, Lake Dorothy Road near North Bend has reopened. The King County Department of Transportation finished repairs Feb. 10 on the road, which had been severely damaged during a major winter rainstorm in January 2009. The road, which connects to Middle Fork Road, had been hit by two landslides. The county’s Road Services Division built a bridge over the slide areas. Crews also constructed a retaining wall and guardrail as part of the road repairs.
Elections From Page 1 “We had a feeling it was going to be close and sure enough,” he said, “it’s going to go right down to the wire.” On Election Night, Jim Reitz, of the pro-bond group Valley Voters for Education, said bond votes are usually close in the Valley. “In 2003, our last successful election that built a school, we were at almost the exact same point on election night,” he said. “We came back to win by 34 votes. If it wasn’t for those votes we might not have Twin Falls Middle School today.” Since then, three school bond measures for new school construction have failed. Reitz said he was optimistic the ballots still in the mail would push the election past the 60-percent threshold. David Spring, a two-time Legislature candidate who opposes the bond, said the results are still too close to call. Nevertheless, he said the support for the bond is substantially less than that for the 2009 bond proposal. “It appears that close to 1,000 voters may have switched from a yes vote in 2009 to a no vote in 2011,” he said. According to the King County website, the March 10, 2009, vote on a $27 million
PAGE 7 bond proposal triumphed 67 percent to 32.9 percent, with more than 6,000 people voting yes and 3,046 people voting no. Spring said an announcement at the school board meeting of Feb. 3 stating the high school enrollment at the district had dropped by 50 students in the last year had sent shockwaves through the district voters. “If the bond goes down to defeat, that announcement will have played a crucial role,” Spring said. Four school bonds were on ballots in King County. All stood close to 60 percent of the vote, but only the Highline School District bond had crossed the threshold. “On Election Day, four of 18 bonds were passing,” Aune said. “Not a good day for schools statewide.” With the number of votes dwindling, Aune said the district had not given up. “We’re in a tight spot,” he said. “But we will have to see.” Fire Station bond For the $5 million fire station bond to pass, North Bend voters and Fire District 38 votes must each approve a separate bond measure. If the bond measures pass, the two entities will jointly build, own and operate the new station. They jointly operate the existing fire station. As of Feb. 14, more than 73 percent of North Bend voters
and nearly 62 percent of District 38 voters had backed the fire station bond. The bond is the product of nearly seven years of negotiations between the city and fire district. The two sides reached an agreement in July. Major issues that were stumbling blocks were splitting the cost of construction and the location. The new station will be on Maloney Grove Avenue Southeast south of East North Bend Way. It is a central location for serving the two jurisdictions, according to North Bend and Fire District 38 officials. Ownership of the station will be split evenly, while the fire district will pay for 57 percent of construction-related costs. The city owns the land to be used as the new station’s site and will be reimbursed by the district. The current station is more than 60 years old and lacks a fire sprinkler system. The King County Elections office received more votes than expected. Six districts in the county had issues on the Feb. 8 ballot, and the county received more than 55,000 votes. Election results are scheduled to be certified Feb. 23. Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com. Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
SnoValley Star
PAGE 8
Police & Fire Snoqualmie police He staggered home At 10:39 p.m. Feb. 5, police responded to a report of a drunken man on foot. The caller said he was concerned the man could hurt himself. Police showed up at the intersection of Southeast Kinsey Street and Center Boulevard but were unable to find the man.
HVAC alert At 10:42 p.m. Feb. 6 police responded alongside the fire department to a call from the 7000 block of Cascade Avenue Southeast. Residents reported a burning smell coming from their home. It turned out to be a malfunctioning furnace.
Interchangeable plates At 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7, police stopped a vehicle near the intersection of Snoqualmie Parkway and BPA Road. A status check of the license returned it as belonging to a red Oldsmobile sedan, and yet the vehicle was a Ford van. The driver said he had switched the plates because he had no money to transfer the van into his name or pay the licensing fees. The driver had no proof of insurance or a registration. He was cited for driving with a suspended license and told not to drive again until the van had been properly licensed.
Snoqualmie fire ❑ At 8:16 p.m. Feb. 5, firefighters were dispatched to the
Ridge Supermarket for a smell of smoke. After investigation, it was determined the smell came from a light ballast that overheated. ❑ At 3:21 a.m. Feb. 6, Snoqualmie EMTs and Bellevue paramedics responded to the Snoqualmie Casino for a medical call. A patient was evaluated and then transported to a hospital by Bellevue paramedics. ❑ At 5:50 p.m. Feb. 6, EMTs were dispatched to the casino for a medical call. Patients were treated and then left at the scene. ❑ At 10:32 p.m. Feb. 6, firefighters responded to the Snoqualmie Ridge area for the smell of smoke in a residence. After investigation, it was determined that the smoke was coming from an overheated furnace motor. ❑ At 9:37 a.m. Feb. 7, firefighters responded to Mount Si High School for an automatic fire alarm. The alarm was set off by a malicious pull-station activation. The alarm was reset. ❑ At 6:58 p.m. Feb. 7, EMTs responded to Pickering Court for a 27-year-old female with a broken hand. The patient was transported to a hospital by Snoqualmie’s aid car. ❑ At 9:36 a.m. Feb. 8, EMTs were dispatched to Mount Si High School for a medical call. A patient was evaluated and then left in care of the school nurse. ❑ At 7:35 p.m. Feb. 9, firefighters responded to Sorenson Street for a woman with a fever. The Star publishes names of those arrested for DUI and those charged with felony crimes. Information comes directly from local police reports. Information regarding North Bend police and fire calls were unavailable.
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
King County Council appoints citizens to redraw districts King County Council members appointed a team of community leaders Jan. 18 to update the map for representation in county government. The council appointed four members to the King County Districting Committee, the citizen committee responsible for redrawing council districts based on 2010 Census data. “Redistricting is a challenging, time-consuming process that is vital to ensuring our residents are fairly represented,” Councilman Reagan Dunn said in a statement. Snoqualmie Valley is inside District 3. Councilwoman Kathy Lambert represents District 3. The northeastern King County district is the largest in the county. The citizen committee members include: ❑ Rod Dembowski is a partner at the Seattle-based law firm Foster Pepper, a former policy analyst for then-County Executive Gary Locke and a staff assistant for the U.S. Senate. Dembowski has also been a member of the Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council. ❑ John Jensen is president of Jensen Roofing Co. and a past member of the King County Charter Review Commission. Jensen, a Newcastle resident, has also served the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce as a longtime board member and past president. ❑ Sally Nelson is a longtime civic leader in South King County. Nelson helped spearhead the effort to incorporate Burien, and later served on the
Burien City Council and as mayor. ❑ Sally Poliak leads The Poliak Group, a strategic communications and public affairs advocacy firm, as CEO and president. Poliak previously served as the chief operating officer at Nyhus Communications and spent 10 years at Microsoft in marketing and public affairs positions. Poliak served on the 1991 county districting committee. “I am pleased that we have such a strong group of citizens engaged in many diverse civic activities who have volunteered for this duty,” Lambert said in the statement. “I appreciate the commitment they have made, and I look forward to working with this bipartisan panel to update our district boundaries based on the new census data.” The county charter grants the authority for adopting a final districting map to the citizen Districting Committee, not the County Council. Under the charter, the appointed Districting Committee members must select a fifth person to serve as a chairperson. The committee then chooses a technical expert to serve as “districting master” and holds public meetings to gather community input. The committee must complete the process and file the final districting plan by Jan. 15, 2012. State law and the King County Charter require council district boundaries to be reset by using the most recent census data. The statutes require the edges of each district to meet the
“I am pleased that we have such a strong group of citizens engaged in many diverse civic activities who have volunteered for this duty.” — Kathy Lambert County councilwoman boundaries of existing municipalities, election precincts, census tracts, recognized natural boundaries, and communities of related and mutual interest as closely as possible. Districts must also be drawn as contiguous areas and to be as nearly equal in population as possible. The population data may not be used to favor or disadvantage any racial group or political party. “The council worked together to find committee members who have a deep knowledge of our local communities, an understanding of government and the political process, and an ability to work together on challenging issues,” council Chairman Larry Gossett said in the statement.
Clarification Regarding the Feb. 10 article, “North Bend mother, son hope to help heal the Middle East,” their trip to the Middle East for Compassionate Listening will not be the last trip, but it is unknown when the next one will be.
SnoValley Star
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Trial From Page 1 of protection from arrest for authorized users and providers, and the lack of a system for regulating how users get the drug. “The medical marijuana statute only tells us two things: Some people are allowed to possess it and they can have only the prescriptive amount. It says nothing about how they’re supposed to get it,” said Ian Goodhew, a spokesman for King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg. Reforms have happened in a piecemeal way. The state Senate is currently considering a large overhaul of the law that would clarify many of its vague sections. Gray line The medical marijuana law allows users and providers to possess it and grow it but does almost nothing to regulate how it is dispensed. It is a very different situation from oxycontin and other schedule II narcotics available at pharmacies, which are regulated by the federal government. Writing a prescription for marijuana can cost a doctor his federal license, but in Washington a doctor can give a patient a recommendation that using marijuana would have medicinal benefit. Users can get medical marijuana three ways: they can grow their own, they can join a grow cooperative or they can identify a provider who grows it for them. A provider is defined in the law as “the designated provider to only one patient at any one time.” What that means depends on who you ask.
Medical marijuana advocates — and some law enforcement officials — argue that the law is talking about the transaction, meaning a provider can only sell marijuana to one patient at a time, and it must be a direct sale. That patient must be the user, and can’t give away or sell any of the marijuana. Dispensaries operate using this interpretation. Others — including many law enforcement officials — argue that the law is talking about the relationship, meaning that all the marijuana that a provider produces can only be for one patient. “I think it’s fair to say that the law is written in such a way that you can argue both sides,” Goodhew said. Either way, he said, the law should be clarified. In the Roetter case, Gabriel claimed he was Roetter’s designated provider. Snoqualmie police said he wasn’t and claim that Roetter was going to record a statement to that effect the day he was found dead. Gabriel said he produced paperwork identifying himself as Roetter’s provider when he was arrested. But police said he didn’t have any paperwork. Several months later, Gabriel
produced a notarized statement from Roetter saying he was his designated provider. Providers and users are supposed to always have the necessary documents on them when they have medical marijuana. Unlike prescriptions, doctor recommendations are not standardized and are susceptible to forgery. It is usually written on form or letterhead from the doctor’s practice, said Snoqualmie Police Chief Jim Schaffer. The large amount of gray area in the law frustrates police and advocates. “All that we ask is that it makes sense, that we can enforce it,” Schaffer said. Enforcing the current law can mean arresting legitimate users and providers. Police have no way to verify the validity of a person’s paperwork. Sometimes, people use medical marijuana as a cover for illegally selling and using it, which is what Snoqualmie police suspected Gabriel was doing. Other times, people are selling it legally to some patients and illegally to nonpatients. Police “have to investigate, but in doing that they can frustrate the purpose of medical
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PAGE 9 marijuana,” Goodhew said. Arrests and investigations can bring stress for people suffering from debilitating diseases. The law allows them to enter an affirmative defense, meaning they have to show their authorizations to a judge. But that can bring heavy costs, such as the embarrassment of being arrested or hiring a lawyer. These investigations also eat up police resources. To protect patients and avoid unnecessary arrests, Satterberg has set the bar higher for when King County will prosecute cases involving potential medical marijuana users or providers. He outlined the conditions in a memo to law enforcement agencies in King County. A bright line A bill in the Washington State Senate is meant to clear up the muddy medical marijuana law. The bill, submitted by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, DSeattle, was approved by committee. It already has a slew of proposed amendments, some of which undercut the bill’s intentions. The final shape of the bill and whether it will pass the Legislature are up in the air. Marijuana still has a significant
stigma attached to it, which keeps legislators wary of appearing to vote for relaxing restrictions on it. The Legislature didn’t legalize medical marijuana in Washington. It was voters who approved Initiative 692 in 1998. Kohl-Welles’ bill is meant to clarify the law and give more protection to patients and providers, which is her key goal, she said. She helped pass legislation in 2007 and 2010 that meant to improve the law by expanding who can prescribe medical marijuana, and how much marijuana a patient or provider can have. “We need a safe way to provide the cannabis to qualifying patients,” she said. “We want to ensure there is a bright line for law enforcement so they know who is authorized.” While the current line separating legal marijuana and illegal marijuana is a wide, gray stripe, the prosecutor’s office is confident that Gabriel is on the wrong side of it. Gabriel claims Snoqualmie police are simply out to get him. Dan Catchpole: 392-6434, ext. 246, or editor@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
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PAGE 10
Community
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Community theater remains a hidden gem By Dan Catchpole
Contributed
Members of the U.S. Marine Corps fold the U.S. flag that draped the coffin of Lance Cpl. Eric Ward. The graduate of Mount Si High School died in Afghanistan in February 2010.
There is a gem hidden in the heart of North Bend. It’s easy to walk right past its front door, inscribed with a Masonic symbol, on East North Bend Way. Tucked back from the street, only a poster display identifies the Valley Center Stage, a community theater in the city’s Mason’s Building. Behind the door is a flight of utilitarian stairs. The lobby at the top is filled with Masonic literature. But stepping into the theater during a rehearsal is a revelation for a visitor. Onstage, several Snoqualmie Valley residents rehearse lines for the theater’s production of “The Emperor’s Clothes.” A volunteer adjusts the lighting system. The theater is the child of Gary Schwartz, whose life as a
performer goes back to his youth in Schenectady, N.Y. The Valley Center Stage allows Schwartz to pursue his two loves: performing and teaching acting. As a teacher, he spreads the gospel of Viola Spolin. Many theater historians credit Spolin with creating modern improvisational theater. The lineage of “Saturday Night Live” and similar comedy shows run to Spolin’s teachings. A life turned around Like many actors, Schwartz was drawn to the stage at an early age. His career as a professional performer began as a mime. As a teenager, he was part of a mime troupe, which toured with Pete Seeger. A few years later, Schwartz moved to Los Angeles, where he See THEATER, Page 11
Of dogs, tattoos and shots of J.D. Community remembers local Marine Eric Ward By Sebastian Moraga Mike Martinez is 20. For another year at most. His buddy Eric is 19. Forever. “When it’s your time,” Martinez said from Washington, D.C.’s, Walter Reed Hospital, “It doesn’t matter what you are going to do.” Eric is Eric Ward, the loqua-
cious Valley kid with the mischievous streak who became a Marine and died in Afghanistan a year ago this month. “He was a great guy. Dedicated, always wanted to do good,” Martinez said. “When we went out, you definitely wanted him next to you.” Martinez, a native of Prescott, Ariz., became friends with the Mount Si High grad through days in and out of uniform. “I remember being Marines with him and enjoying time with our families and being able to relax and hang out,” he said. “A few of the weekends, we
went to his uncle’s house. We also hung out in barracks.” Ward liked to play with Martinez’s dog. Then came the winter of Eric Ward 2010. Two weeks after Ward’s death, Martinez stepped on an improvised explosive device and lost both legs. See WARD, Page 11
By Dan Catchpole
Actors Robin Walbeck-Forest (left) and Craig Ewing get input from director Gary Schwartz during a rehearsal of ‘The Emperor’s Clothes’ at Valley Center Stage in North Bend. Schwartz opened the theater in 2003.
Brakeman training returns to museum By Sebastian Moraga
By Dan Catchpole
Woodinville residents Henry Pond (left) and Jason Pond, volunteer brakemen, make sure that wheel bearings are adequately oiled on a rail car operated by the Northwest Railway Museum.
It’s time to train for the train. The Northwest Railway Museum train opens its season April 2, but the museum itself won’t wait that long to train volunteer. Volunteers hold many posts — such as brakeman, switchman and attendant — and training for the positions starts 10 a.m. March 19 at the Snoqualmie depot. The training begins with a rules class and test, followed by an afternoon of learning about coupling and uncoupling trains, handling switches, hooking air brakes, etc.
And that’s just for starters, said Jessie Cunningham, the train museum’s volunteer manager. “They are just beginning the qualification process,” she said. “It takes practice and experience on a running train.” The training continues in the weeks after and it’s a good chance for active volunteers wanting to freshen up their skills and for new people wanting to lend the museum a hand, she said. The training requires paying a $5 fee for study materials, she said. A background in the railroad industry is not required. Being 18 is, sort of.
Minors may participate with parental consent and they can only be car attendants, she said. A person needs to be 18 years old to be a switchman or a brakeman. A brakeman’s duties include stopping the train during an emergency and oiling wheel bearings. The switchman’s duties include switching cars around, hooking up cars and operating the train. An attendant helps people on or off the train and answers the public questions. Interested people may apply at www.trainmuseum.org. The See TRAINING, Page 11
SnoValley Star
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Theater From Page 10 formed a mime comedy team. “I got a lot of opportunities to perform,” he said. But pantomime was not feeding his creative desires. “It’s not very genuine. You have to overexaggerate,” he said. Schwartz’s life soon changed while doing a favor for a friend, who was writing a term paper about an acting teacher — Viola Spolin. Schwartz’s friend needed some background information about Spolin, so Schwartz agreed to go to her school in L.A. to get some info. While there, he said, he was talked into taking a class. He was soon directly studying with Spolin. “She completely turned my life around,” he said. Schwartz studied under Spolin and became one of her school’s teachers. In addition, he continued his professional acting career, which included voice work for “Twin Peaks,” a television series filmed partially
Training From Page 10 application process requires a background check, Cunningham said. The museum offers the train-
in North Bend. Fate then stepped in when his wife won a trip to the Salish Lodge & Spa through her work. The two were struck by the Snoqualmie Valley’s beauty. “I thought, ‘What a great place,’” Schwartz said. Just a few years later, they moved to North Bend. Following a dream Schwartz had always wanted to have his own theater and acting school. After a few years in North Bend, he was able to get enough money together to open a community theater. In 2001, he started work on the Valley Center Stage. The theater put on its first production, a variety show, in January 2003. Local musician Harley Brumbaugh was among the performers. At the time, the theater wasn’t much to look at. The stage was only nine inches tall. The audience had to sit in folding, metal chairs that were decades old, Schwartz said. Nonetheless, “we had a great time.” Ambitious future Since then, he and others have improved the theater, and ing every March and most of the time, men show up. Other times, it’s more varied. “We get all sorts of people,” Cunningham said. “Retired people, people working full time.” Experienced volunteers will be on hand to teach the classes, alongside Richard R. Anderson, the museum’s exec-
PAGE 11
assembled a core group of volunteers and performers. They built a full stage, installed theatrical lighting and replaced the metal chairs with much more comfortable ones. The improvements came despite the problems typical of a community theater — almost no money, relying exclusively on volunteers (albeit dedicated ones) and a location with little visibility. “We’ve found some amazing talent in our own backyard,” he said. That talent includes a cadre of aspiring actresses who have landed parts in Seattle’s premier theaters. Going forward, Schwartz has high ambitions for the Valley Center Stage. He wants to continue expanding the type of shows the theater produces. His vision is for the Valley Center Stage to be for North Bend what Village Theatre is for Issaquah. Ultimately, he said he hopes to expand to a larger venue, which he thinks would be good for the city. “A community theater is a great anchor for the arts in North Bend,” he said.
Friends and fellow soldiers have honored the late Eric Ward with elaborate tattoos on their bodies. Photos contributed
Ward From Page 10
utive director. People interested in training need to like working around heavy equipment, working with the public and they need to be safety-conscious. “Even if you are unable to make the training, you can still volunteer,” Cunningham said.
“It happens,” he said. With his buddy buried a few miles from Walter Reed, Martinez can’t help but reminisce. Although he sounds sad, he holds on to his emotions. “That was just Erik’s time and there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said. “You can only sit there and remember the times you had with him.” Several friends of Ward’s have paid homage to their fallen comrade by inking his name on their bodies. A Facebook page in remembrance of Ward shows some of the more elaborate tattoos, most of them with a military theme. Martinez said Ward would want his buddies to go to
Arlington and break out the Jack Daniels. “He would want us to take a shot of J.D. for him,” he said. “That’s how I know him." In the Valley, Monica McNeal said the best way to remember her son is by making a contribution to the Wounded Warriors Project, which helps injured service members like Martinez reinsert themselves into civilian life. She suggested donations of $19 be made, to commemorate Ward’s age at the time of his death. Another way is to donate 19 hours of community service. Martinez said still another good way to remember Ward is to help his comrades who are still fighting for the nation. “Candy, socks, baby powder, baby wipes even,” he said. “Or even just cards that say, ‘We’re thinking about you, we support you.’” That’s always a good thing to get.”
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SnoValley Star
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FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Businesswoman promotes healthy living on her radio show By Laura Geggel What started as a friendship has evolved into a radio show for two women promoting healthier living. Since January, Karri Bruntz and her friend Sharon Hockenbury have co-hosted the radio show, “Life with Less Stress,” from 8-9 a.m. on KKNW 1150 AM every other Tuesday. Listeners can catch the next show March 1, or download archived shows online at www.chatwithwomen.com. For Bruntz, an Issaquah businesswoman living in Snoqualmie, landing a radio show meant being at the right place at the right time. “Chat with Women” co-owners and co-hosts Pam Gray and Rochelle Alhadeff met Bruntz through a colleague, and they invited her to speak on their show. “She started to join us on the radio as a guest,” Gray said. “We saw she had a very powerful message for women about balance in life and less stress, so we invited her to have her own show on the network.” The offer so thrilled Bruntz, she decided to share her good fortune with Hockenbury, of North Bend. The two had connected through their 12-year-old sons. When Bruntz met Hockenbury, who has nine children of her own, the two became fast friends. Hockenbury’s natural living
On the Web Learn about the Beautifully Balanced Life Women’s Event at www.bbltoday.com.
“We’re about having women find out what works for them,” Hockenbury said. “We’re not here to sell a program that’s all hype.”
By Laura Geggel
Karri Bruntz (left) and Sharon Hockenbury co-host the bi-monthly radio show, ‘Life with Less Stress.’ impressed the Bruntz family. When Hockenbury married and had children, she started researching healthy living as a way to help prevent some health concerns affecting her family. She became a certified herbalist, began teaching cooking classes
at Whole Foods Market and now works as an emergency technician for Snoqualmie Valley Hospital. Meanwhile, Bruntz, a mother and former college athlete, experienced a health scare in 2003 and began looking into healthi-
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er, holistic ways to balance her life and stress. “She’s been living a natural and healthy lifestyle for 20 years and I’ve been doing it for eight,” Bruntz said. Their show is about choice, giving women knowledge and ways to manage their lives, including how to handle relationships with less stress, and what services and tips are available for healthy living. “I think that most of us women tend to take on more than we can do because we have families and jobs. We feel responsible,” Gray said. “When you have somebody you’re listening to at 8 a.m. about what are some tools I can use to be less stressed, it helps.” To ask the women about an issue, e-mail them at Sharon@bbltoday.com, or Karri@bbltoday.com.
Organizing an expo Bruntz and Hockenbury don’t limit their time to work or radio shows. This spring, they and Issaquah resident Lynn Hoyos will host the second annual Beautifully Balanced Life Women’s Event, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 9 at Bellevue Embassy Suites, 3225 158th Ave. S.E., Bellevue. The $10, hands-on event features speakers touching on healthy living topics, such as nutrition, parenting, exercise and fashion. Participants will also receive a medley of free samples and can watch or try demo fitness classes, including yoga, Pilates or Zumba. Bruntz organized the first Beautifully Balanced Life Women’s Event when she was seven months pregnant with her second son as her last public hurrah before caring for her newborn. The event was such a success, she decided to do it again this year. “I don’t want it to be a typical expo,” she said, adding she would focus on education. Instead of featuring brand-name makeup, she will inform women about the ingredients of makeup, and connect them with companies promoting natural products. “I love it because its not just skinny models walking down the stage,” Bruntz said. Laura Geggel: 392-6434, ext. 241, or lgeggel@isspress.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
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SnoValley Star
PAGE 13
Schools
PAGE 14
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Motivator uses humor to get through to Valley teenagers ceremonies to encourage students. His last name is On graduation day, teenagers Scharenbroich. Mount Si stutend to hug everyone after they dents will probably remember toss caps in the air. These are him as the Booma-Hey guy. their last seconds as high school Mark Scharenbroich, a motistudents. vational speaker from “Don’t wait for the last 30 Minnetonka, Minn., led a seconds to reach out and make a packed Wildcat gym in a cheer connection,” he said. using those two Students “Stop looking over your words on who compare Valentine’s Day. shoulder to define yourthemselves end He got so up feeling like self.” into it, he they are not knocked over a good enough. — Mark Scharenbroich Once they feel stand, looking Motivational speaker they are not slightly guilty. The slapstick good enough was a tiny part they will make of an “Assembly of Unity and fun of other people to even the Respect” the school’s Associated score, he added. Student Body had organized and “Share instead of compare Scharenbroich headlined. and I promise you the most As keynote speaker, he told amazing high school experistudents to avoid comparing ence,” he said. themselves with others. Scharenbroich spoke about “Stop looking over your crayons and how some children shoulder to define yourself,” he have a little box of them and said. “Look inside yourself.” others come to school with “sixHe asked students to share teen shades of orange. instead of compare. He used a See UNITY, Page 15 scene from many graduation By Sebastian Moraga
By Sebastian Moraga
Mark Scharenbroich speaks to a packed Mount Si High School crowd during an assembly. The event meant to foster unity and respect among students.
By Sebastian Moraga
Daniel Terrett (right) and his mother check out his art and that of fellow Opstad Elementary School students. An event titled An Evening of Fine Arts took place Feb. 11 in the North Bend school.
Opstad Elementary School artists are otter-ly talented By Sebastian Moraga Susan Baysinger could be excused for sounding a little sad. She stood in the Opstad Elementary School gym, surrounded by six grades worth of creativity and color during the annual Evening of Fine Arts at the North Bend school.
The talent in the children’s work stood out as well. Lego boats here, pencil sketchings there, works with fabric over there. Still, Baysinger, an art teacher at Opstad, wondered whether she was witnessing the last works of some of her students. “I see the fifth-grade students
By Sebastian Moraga
Carla Gutenberg stands next to her artwork at Opstad Elementary School while her mother takes a picture. leaving,” she said. “And I hope they continue, because they really have something there.” More than 100 students participated in the exhibit. Proud moms and pops took pictures of their children’s work. “This is my undersea snail,” Carla Gutenberg said, pointing at a pink snail with hearts and
flowers on its shell, surrounded by coral and algae. “The shell is green because it’s my favorite color.” The snail covered most of the page. Real-life snails are tiny, Gutenberg said, but her drawing was “a close-up.” Jackson Reece’s work, “Thankful,” was no close-up, but
a faraway shot of a man standing on a mountain. Though he said he did not know the song “America, The Beautiful,” he had painted his mountains purple. “We had to say in a piece of paper what we were thankful for,” the second-grader said. “I See ARTIST, Page 15
SnoValley Star
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
PAGE 15
UW program teaches parents to take a step beyond saying no By Sebastian Moraga A program that lasts five weeks wants to help parents cope for five years. Guiding Good Choices, a course created by University of Washington doctors J. David Hawkins and Richard Catalano, comes to the Valley at the end of this month. The course teaches parents and children ages 9-14 how to resist the lure of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and risky sexual behavior. Although these classes target middle school students, they will occur at Opstad Elementary School, starting Feb. 28 for five
consecutive Mondays from 6:308:30 p.m. The program may be geared for parents and children, but having children is not required. The program’s success has been documented in places like the website for the National Mental Health Services Administration, which stated that the program reduced current alcohol use by 40.6 percent and increased the likelihood that drug nonusers will remain drug-free by 26 percent. It also showed that families who participated in the program reported better parenting and child management skills even years after they attended classes.
The administration gave Guiding Good Choices its highest possible rating, calling it a “model program” according to the website for Channing-Bete, a South Deerfield, Mass.-based company that publishes and distributes educational material. The program’s goals are manyfold but a big one is to strengthen the parent-child bond through the child’s “tween” years and beyond. “As they get older and pull away, they’ll have the value system that their parents have taught them,” said Laura Baker, a school-based case manager at Twin Falls Middle School. The program stresses the
By Sebastian Moraga
and encouragement. The school planner will carry the acronym starting next school year, he said. “It’s going to be expected of all our students,” he added. Some students privately grumbled about the cost of bringing Scharenbroich, saying it could have gone to fixing things like the water fountains. While some spoke of Scharenbroich costing $10,000, Assistant Principal Beth Castle said the school paid $7,000 for two talks and is splitting the cost of airfare, car rental and hotel with the Edmonds School District.
Unity From Page 14 “If you compare, if you play that game, Bill Gates will always have more,” he said. “And if he doesn’t, Oprah will.” Senior Shayne Allen, who helped emcee the assembly, pointed to the death of a student in 2010 as the reason for the assembly. “We want to continue the unity that we saw after the suicide,” Allen said. Mount Si has no dire need for unity and respect, he said, but it never hurts. Allen wore a gray shirt with the word “pride” in capital letters on it. The word is an acronym for perseverance, respect, integrity, responsibility
Motivational speaker Mark Scharenbroich told Mount Si High School students that reaching out and sharing with people is key to an unforgettable four years in high school.
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importance of parents praising, teaching and coaching their children. At the same time the course recommends what Baker termed “protecting factors,” such as monitoring their activities, getting them involved in wholesome groups such as a church group, holding family meetings and clearly stating from the start what the parents’ standards are. “Parents sometimes assume kids know,” Baker said, when in reality things need to be talked about and children need to know what the rules are. Parents sometimes seem surprised to learn what their children know, Baker said.
Artist From Page 14 am thankful for the mountains, because they have lots of snow and animals and trees.”î Daniel Terrett’s mom Sally was thrilled. Her boy had drawn a vase of flowers because she likes flowers. “It’s a gift for my mom,” he said. The exhibit has occurred for at least the past 10 years, Baysinger said. Some students bring works they make in class; some bring stuff they make in classes out-
“Kids seem too innocent and the thought that they have been at school with someone who has talked about drugs or whose brother or sister has tried it” is foreign to parents, she added. “So, yeah, that shocks them a little bit. They say, ‘Not my kid,’ but sometimes you don’t know.” The program is free although a $30 donation for the workbook cost is recommended. Nevertheless, Baker said, the program won’t turn anyone away at the door. Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
side of school. Others, like Terrett, have their own teachers at home. “He copied the technique from his 12-year-old sister,” Sally Terrett said. The only thing more ubiquitous than the art itself was the pride in the faces of the students and parents. OK, mostly the parents. “She loves to draw,” Gutenberg’s mom Laurie said. Stacie Reece had high praise for Jackson’s talent. “He’s my little artist,” she said. Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
Remember Dental Check Ups during the Back to School Season
Sports
PAGE 16
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Mount Si girls basketball takes home the KingCo 3A title By Tim Pfarr The Mount Si Wildcats defeated the Liberty Patriots, 39-32, at Bellevue College Feb. 10 to take home the KingCo 3A Tournament championship. With the win, the Wildcats became the No. 1 seed in the 3A Sea-King District Tournament. Mount Si had a bye in the first round of the tournament, and faced off against Seattle Prep High School in the second round Feb. 15, after the Star’s deadline. With a win against Seattle Prep, Mount Si would clinch a berth in the state tournament and advance to district semifinals Feb. 17 at Bellevue College. With a loss, the team would move to the consolation bracket, where it would need to win two consecutive games to secure a berth in the state tournament. It would next play Feb. 18 at Bellevue College. In either game, the Wildcats would face off against Cleveland High School or division rival Mercer Island High School. Against the Patriots, the Wildcats pounced to an early lead and used their crushing defense to keep the Patriots from mounting a successful
By Tim Pfarr
The Mount Si High School girls basketball team poses with its plaque Feb. 10 after defeating the Liberty Patriots, 39-32, to become KingCo 3A division champions. comeback. Senior guard Jori Braun led the Wildcats in scoring in the game, racking up a
season-high 18 points. She said the close game was scary.
“They definitely showed up to play. We did, too,” Braun said. “We had to play four quar-
ters of basketball. In any quarter, if we had given up, they would have won.” Senior forward Kassidy Maddux said the win was simply a matter of keeping a fast pace. “We just kept going, kept the intensity up,” Maddux said. “That’s how we won.” After the game, Maddux was named the conference defensive player of the year. She credited the award to her coaches and teammates who helped her along the way. Other top scorers in the game were junior post Shelby Peerboom, who came away with 9 points, and senior forward Hailey Eddings, who scored 5. After the game, senior forward Hailey Eddings was named to the all-conference team. Head coach Megan Botulinski said the game was nerve-wracking, but that she trusted her team’s abilities. “Even though it was tight, I had a good feeling that those girls were going to pull it off,” she said. “Especially when you have five seniors like I have, who have a lot of guts, heart and experience altogether, you See CHAMPS, Page 17
Wildcats’ gymnastics earn state spot By Sebastian Moraga For the third consecutive year, the Mount Si High School Wildcats gymnastics team earned a spot at state. This time, the Wildcats missed earning a district crown by a half-point, but still returned from Sammamish High School satisfied with their performance. “I thought we did really well,” said head coach Jessica Easthope. “I’m really happy with the result. Mount Si finished second behind district champ Mercer Island. Senior Kennedy Richmond took first place on floor and third on vault. Freshman Carissa Castagno finished fourth on beam, earning her best beam score for the season. Richmond also finished third in all-around scoring and Castagno came in ninth. “All the girls had great floor,” Easthope said. The team finished first on floor. The weaker link was bars, where the team knew its stuff but lacked fluidity, she added.
By Christy Trotto
Wildcat gymnast Carissa Castagno performs during the district tournament at Sammamish High. “We fell a lot,” Castagno said. Despite their share of aching elbows and shins, the team is in good spirits. To peak at state, the team will have light practices this week, Easthope said. The Wildcats have finished fourth in state the past two years. A repeat won’t be easy. “We got some pretty fantastic teams coming from all
over the state,” Easthope said. Nevertheless, Castagno bets on her squad to floor everybody and vault to the top. “I’m super excited,” Castagno said. “We’re so ready for this.” Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
Contributed
Josh Mitchell has a good reason to smile after being crowned regional champion wrestler in the 285-pound category. The Mount Si High wrestler will participate in the Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome Feb. 18-19.
Three ’cats head to Mat Classic By Sebastian Moraga What a difference a year makes. Last year, Josh Mitchell earned the equivalent of a stand-
by spot at the Mat Classic, qualifying as an alternate. This year, Mitchell earned the equivalent of a first-class ticket, See WRESTLE, Page 17
SnoValley Star
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
PAGE 17
Boys basketball falls in tournament The season ended for Mount Si High School’s boys basketball team after a first-round loss to Seattle Prep in the SeaKing District tournament. The Wildcats made it to the tournament despite a team with almost no varsity experience and a new coach, Steve Helm. The team was learning a new program introduced by Helm this season. Its record improved as it became more comfortable with the system. The Wildcats were 2-2 in league play in December, and 6-4 in January and February. In the playoffs, the young team showed its potential, but struggled at critical times. Mount Si started the postseason with a win against Liberty, which it had beat twice in the regular season. Against Mercer Island, the Wildcats couldn’t overcome a devastating first quarter. The game seemed like it was over before the quarter ended. The Wildcats came out cold and could not connect on anything in the first quarter, which ended with the Islanders ahead 17-0. Anyone would be forgiven for counting Mount Si out. The
Wildcats’ defense appeared too thin. Their offense was a step off and a second late. Their shots banged off the rim and into the hands of Mercer Island players. But the Wildcats didn’t count themselves out. They rallied and refocused, outscoring Mercer Island for three quarters. In the end, though, Mount Si’s efforts were not enough to climb out of the hole they were in, and the Islanders won, 5546. Mercer Island did not come into the game underestimating Mount Si, which it beat twice during the season. “They’re a very talented team,” Islanders coach Gavin Cree said. “We’ve got to play well to beat them.” With two minutes remaining in the game, the Wildcats had pulled to within six points. They used a couple of quick transition buckets and created a couple of opportunities to narrow Mercer Island’s lead. But they couldn’t close that gap. The Wildcats offense wasn’t able to capitalize on several opportunities. “It’s not like we weren’t getting open shots,” Helm said. The team made 10 of 23 attempts from the free throw
line and 15 of 40 field goal attempts. Dallas Smith led Mount Si’s offense with 22 points. The Wildcats couldn’t establish their perimeter shot, which allowed Mercer Island’s defense to focus on shutting down the post area. For many Mount Si players, it was their first varsity playoff game. “It’s a learning thing,” Helm said. “I thought our guys competed great.” The loss pitted them against Lake Washington. Mount Si took the lead in the first quarter, but couldn’t hold off a secondhalf rally by the Kangaroos. The loss meant the Wildcats had to open the SeaKing tournament on the road against perennial powerhouse Seattle Prep, which won 77-45. Seattle Prep’s defense and personal fouls limited the contributions from the team’s leading scorers — Smith and Trent Riley. Smith, who has averaged 16.6 points per game this season, had only eight points. Riley, who fouled out of the game, collected only two points, far short of his season average of 13.6 points per game. Levi Botten led the Wildcats’ offense with 13 points.
Mitchell is one of two Wildcat wrestlers who will wrestle at least once at the Tacoma Dome Feb. 18 and 19. A.J. Brevick finished fourth at 160 pounds. A third wrestler, 103pounder Ryley Absher, finished fifth and will travel as an alternate. Brian Copeland and Aaron Peterson finished sixth. John Farmer and Tye Rodne did not place. “Our region has realigned with the Northwest and WesCo 9 leagues, loading it with talented tough wrestlers,” head coach Tony Schlotfeldt wrote in an e-mail, “making it an actionpacked, intense day.” Mitchell agreed.
“We went up against the toughest region in the state, probably,” he said. Mount Si finished 12th in team scores with 52 points. Mercer Island won regionals with 130 points. With the big dance a week away, Schlotfeldt said his boys have a shot. Mitchell’s first round match is against Decatur’s Kyle Gleed. Brevick’s first-round match is against O’Dea’s Mitch Englehart. “Josh has a realistic chance at the podium this year,” Schlotfeldt wrote. “With the way he is wrestling, I think he could take himself to the championship round. State is a different kind of beast, however, and
wrestlers respond to it in different ways.” Mental focus and confidence will be important if Mitchell is to return to the Valley with a medal around his neck. Brevick will have a tough road, but that’s nothing new to him, Schlotfeldt wrote. “I really don’t think many people give him the credit he deserves,” he added. “I think his tenacity and never-quit attitude could get him a top-eight finish. “We’ll have to see how it plays out.”
By Dan Catchpole
By Dan Catchpole
Mount Si forward Anthony McLaughlin fights off a Mercer Island defender on his way to the basket during the KingCo Tournament. The Wildcats couldn’t overcome an early deficit and lost to the Islanders.
Wrestle From Page 16 winning first place in the 285pound division of the 3A
Regionals at Glacier Peak. Mitchell defeated Shorecrest’s Ian Bolstad, 8-5. “I finally get to wrestle,” he said. Alternates at State only wrestle if someone who qualifies outright can’t perform.
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have a lot of faith in what they can do.” Mount Si took down Mercer Island High School, 61-49, Feb. 8 to reach the championship game. Against the Islanders, the Wildcats also took an early lead, building up a 21-10 lead by the
end of the first quarter. Eddings led Mount Si in scoring with 21 points, followed by Peerboom and Braun, who came away with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Braun said the team needs to continue working hard in the district tournament against Metro teams to make it to state. “We’ve got to just keep doing what we’re doing,” Braun said. “We’ve practiced our butts off every day, and we’ve got to keep working on it. We can’t let up at
Sebastian Moraga: 392-6434, ext. 221, or smoraga@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
all.” Botulinski said no game will be easy at the district level. “With those Metro teams, it’s a different style of ball. They’re very aggressive, and they’re really good,” she said. “We’re really going to have to make sure we bring our A-game every single game.” Tim Pfarr: 392-6434, ext. 239, or newcas@isspress.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
SnoValley Star
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Chairman of 5th Legislative District Republicans re-elected
Customers toast state-run liquor stores in survey Customers offered a thumbsup for state-run liquor stores, but suggested liquor store gift cards and online ordering as possible additions to the system. The information comes from a Washington State Liquor Control Board survey commissioned after voters rejected ballot measures last fall to privatize the state-run liquor system. Customers offered high marks for customer service, liquor store employee courtesy, product selection and store locations. The state released the survey results Feb. 8. “We are pleased that our performance ranked high with
On the Web Read the complete Washington State Liquor Control Board store performance survey at the board’s website, www.liq.wa.gov.
customers,” board Chairwoman Sharon Foster said in a statement. “The results help validate the board’s work to modernize stores, improve the customer shopping experience and increase convenience with simple changes, like opening stores on Sundays and holidays.” Gov. Chris Gregoire directed
the liquor board to sponsor a survey to better understand customers’ attitudes about additional stores, updated store models, hours and more after a pair of liquor privatization initiatives — including Costcobacked Initiative 1100 — failed on the November ballot. Seattle pollster Stuart Elway conducted a telephone survey of 1,210 adult citizens — 599 liquor store customers and 611 noncustomers — in December 2010. The state spent $31,000 to complete the survey. The survey showed 89 percent of respondents graded store employees with A or B for courtesy, 81 percent graded product selection with A or B, 87 percent graded convenience of a store’s location with A or B,
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The 5th Legislative District GOP chairman, Bob Brunjes, has been elected to a third term. Brunjes, a Snoqualmie resident, was elected Feb. 1 to lead the Republican stronghold in a mostly blue Western Washington. The veteran activist and organizer oversees 182 precinct committee officers from Snoqualmie Pass to Sammamish to Maple Valley and part of Renton. In recent years Democrats have made gains in traditionally conservative districts, but the 5th District has remained a firm bastion for the GOP. Across the state, Republicans regained some of those losses in last fall’s election. “We still have plenty of work to do,” Brunjes said in a news release. “We need to get Washington back on track with a sensible budget and no new taxes.”
and two-thirds of respondents said the state has the “right number” of liquor stores. Gregoire also directed the liquor board to pursue ideas to improve customer convenience and generate $4.5 million in additional revenue through 2013. The ideas include adding up to 15 stores — including eight standard stores and up to five pilot projects inside grocery stores and specialty stores in urban markets — creating liquor store gift cards, adding online ordering and offering liquor-related products, such as ice and barware, at state-run stores. Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com. Comment at www.snovalleystar.com.
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FEBRUARY 17, 2011
PAGE 19
Public meetings ❑ City and school district offices will be closed Feb. 21 for Presidents’ Day. ❑ North Bend Economic Development Commission, 8 a.m. Feb. 17, 126 E. Fourth St. ❑ Snoqualmie Valley School Board, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 8001 Silva Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie ❑ Snoqualmie Public Works Committee, 5 p.m. Feb. 22, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Finance and Administration Committee, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Planning Commission, 6 p.m. Feb. 22, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Planning and Parks Committee, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ Snoqualmie Parks Board, 7 p.m. Feb. 22, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ North Bend City Council workstudy, 7 p.m. Feb. 22, 211 Main Ave. N. ❑ North Bend Parks Commission, 6 p.m. Feb. 23, 126 E. Fourth St. ❑ Snoqualmie Economic Development Commission, noon Feb. 24, 38624 S.E. River St. ❑ North Bend Economic Planning Commission, 7 p.m. Feb. 24, 211 Main Ave. N.
Events ❑ Danny Kolke Trio, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and 27, Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, North Bend — blues, gospel and straight-ahead jazz ❑ “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” 7 p.m. Feb. 18, 2 p.m. Feb. 19, Valley Center Stage, 119 North Bend Way, North Bend. Join the Ivanova family as it presents their version of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic. This interactive telling of the tale involves the audience becoming part of the production. Tickets are available for $7.50 at the door or online at www.valleycenterstage.org. ❑ Snoqualmie firefighters stair climb training, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 19, outside Snoqualmie Ridge IGA, 7730 Center Blvd. S.E., Snoqualmie. Stop by to check out Snoqualmie firefighters training for the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb at Columbia Center in Seattle. All donations benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. ❑ Adult CPR/AED instruction, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 19, Si View Community Center, 400 S.E. Orchard Drive, North Bend. Participants will learn to recognize and respond to emergencies in adults including breathing and cardiac emergencies. Fee includes participant book and American Red Cross certification, valid for 1 year. Cost: $49. Must be at least 14 years old.
February
Guitar maker to the stars
6 13 20 27
Contributed
Renowned guitar-maker Wayne Henderson will be plucking the strings at 7 p.m. Feb. 27, at the Sallal Grange, 12912 432nd Ave. S.E., North Bend. Henderson has made guitars for Eric Clapton, Gillian Welch and Doc Watson. He will perform with Orville Johnson and Chuck Egner. The show is open to the public. Tickets are $15 at the door; $10 for grange members. People are also encouraged to bring nonperishable donations for the food bank.
❑ Meadowbrook 101, from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 19, 1711 Boalch Ave., North Bend. This presentation covers the colorful history, boundaries and possible future options for this unique 460 acres of open space of the Snoqualmie Valley floor between North Bend and Snoqualmie. Historical photos are provided by the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Society. ❑ Reilly and Maloney, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25, Valley Center Stage, 119 North Bend Way, North Bend. After a 10-year hiatus, one of the best duos of the West Coast folk scene is back together. Tickets are $15 ($12.50 for seniors and students), and are available at the door or online at www.valleycenterstage.org. ❑ Belly dance workshops, 6 p.m. Feb. 28, and March 7, 14 and 21, Chief Kanim Middle School, 32627 S.E. Redmond-Fall City Road, Fall City. Register by filling out the form available at www.fallcityarts.org. Cost is $75. Call 222-0070. ❑ Future Jazz Heads, 7 p.m. Feb. 22, Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, North Bend ❑ Wilderness First Aid, 5:30-9 p.m. Feb. 25 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 27, location TBD. The course consists of practical exercises in an outdoor setting utilizing typical hiking supplies as tools for the most realistic experience. A two-year WFA certification is included. Participants must be at least 14 years of age and have current CPR/AED certification. Cost: $169. E-mail info@siviewpark.org. ❑ Northwest Railway Museum’s annual dinner and silent auction, 6 p.m. March 4,
Salish Lodge & Spa, 6501 Railroad Ave., Snoqualmie. The ticket-only event includes a nohost bar, dinner, silent auction and a progress update on the rail car Messenger of Peace. Performers from Valley Center Stage will share stories of life on the rails. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at www.trainmuseum.org and at the Snoqualmie Depot in downtown Snoqualmie. Go to www.trainmuseum.org or call 888-3030. ❑ Snoqualmie Valley Elk: Research update, 7 p.m. March 4, Meadowbrook Farm, 1711 Boalch Ave., North Bend. Find out about the Snoqualmie valley’s own elk herd and the Upper Snoqualmie Valley Elk Management Group. Biologist and research study leader Harold Erland will give a update on the herd. ❑ SnoValley Idol Junior Finals are from 6-8 p.m. April 1. The winner of the contest receives a $50 gift card donated by North Bend Premium Outlets and invitations to perform at the North Bend Block Party and Si View Holiday Bazaar.
Volunteer opportunities ❑ Mount Si Senior Center’s Elder and Adult Day Services needs volunteers for its new program on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 206859-5705 for position description and application forms. ❑ Elk Management Group invites the community to participate in elk collaring, telemetry and habitat improvement projects in the Upper Snoqualmie
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Valley. Project orientation meetings are at 6 p.m. the third Monday of the month at the North Bend City Hall, 211 Main St. E-mail 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. ❑ Spanish Academy invites volunteers fluent in Spanish to participate in summer camps on its three-acre farm-style school. Must love children and nature. Call 888-4999. ❑ 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 800-282-5815 toll free, or e-mail melissat@seniorservices.org. Apply 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 St., 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. ❑ Adopt-A-Park is a program for Snoqualmie residents to improve public parks and trails. An application and one-year commitment are required. Call 831-5784. ❑ Study Zone tutors are needed for all grade levels to give students the homework help they need. Two-hour weekly commitment or substitutes wanted. Study Zone is a free service of the King County Library System. Call 369-3312.
Classes ❑ 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. Led by certified exercise instructor Carla Orellana. Call 888-3434.
Clubs ❑ Mount Si Artist Guild meeting, 9:15-11 a.m. third Saturday of each month, Mount Si Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend, www.mtsiartistguild.org ❑ Sno-Valley Beekeepers meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Meadowbrook ❑ Interpretive Center, Meadowbrook Farm, 1711 Boalch Ave., North Bend. Go to www.snoqualmievalleybeekeepers.org. ❑ Trellis gardening club meets at 10 a.m. the third Saturday of each month, at Valley Christian Assembly, 32725 S.E. 42nd St., Fall City. Trellis is an informal support group for the Snoqualmie Valley’s vegetable gardeners. New and experienced gardeners are welcome. ❑ Elk Management Group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at the U.S. Forest Service conference room at 130 Thrasher Ave., behind the visitors’ center on North Bend Way. Interagency committee meetings are at 1:30 p.m. the first Monday of the month at the North Bend City Hall annex, 126 Fourth St. Both meetings are open to the public. Go to snoqualmievalleyelk.org. ❑ Mount Si Fish and Game Club meets at 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of the month, October through May, at the Snoqualmie Police Department. ❑ Sallal Grange, 12912 432nd Ave. S.E., North Bend, meets the first Friday of each month for a potluck and open mic with local musicians. The potluck starts at 6 p.m. with the music from 7 p.m. to midnight. Open to all people/ages. Go to www.sallalgrange.org. ❑ Snoqualmie Valley Chess Club, 7 p.m. Thursdays, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St. Learn to play chess or get a game going. All ages and skill levels are welcome. ❑ The North Bend Chess Club meets every Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at the North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St. All ages and skill levels are invited. ❑ Snoqualmie Valley Rotary Club meets at 7 a.m. every Thursday at the TPC Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club Restaurant. All are welcome. Go to www.snoqualmievalleyrotary.org. ❑ American Legion Post 79 and the American Legion Auxiliary meet at 6 p.m. the second Thursday at 38625 S.E. River St., Snoqualmie. Call 8881206. ❑ Snoqualmie Valley Garden Club meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday at the Mount Si Senior Center, North Bend. Call 453-8630. Submit an item for the community calendar by e-mailing editor@snovalleystar.com or go to www.snovalleystar.com.
SnoValley Star
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FEBRUARY 17, 2011
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