Snovalleystar022417 by The Issaquah Press

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SNO★VALLEY

STAR

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

GOING OUT ON TOP

Mount Si seniors shine at Mat Classic with top-eight finishes Page 7

Snoqualmie’s Winter Magic tops $25,000 in 2016 losses BY STUART MILLER smiller@snovalleystar.com

STEVE RINGMAN | The Seattle Times

Austin Taylor was commuting to Kirkland when he hit a mudslide covering westbound Interstate 90 in Issaquah at highway speeds on Thursday morning. “I saw some taillights blink but that was it; too late to slow down.”

Mudslide traps 13 vehicles on I-90 east of Issaquah BY LYNDA V. MAPES AND MIKE LINDBLOM The Seattle Times

After Weyerhaeuser granted John Grade free rein to explore all its timberland properties, the sculptor searched Washington’s forested coastal regions and traditional logging areas like Aberdeen and Forks. He ultimately found inspiration just outside North Bend near Snoqualmie River’s Middle Fork. The Smithsonian Museum

had tasked Grade with creating a piece for one its galleries — something people needed to see in person to experience. Grade delivered a life-sized sculpture of a 140-year-old western hemlock tree, made from nearly one million small blocks of western red cedar. It was displayed at The Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., in 2015-2016 and did a stint at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2017. As of Feb. 10, the sculpture —

called “Middle Fork” — is currently suspended from the ceiling of the Seattle Art Museum’s lobby. “I think this is the first time I’ve seen my work displayed and felt 100 percent good about it,” Grade said. “I’ve never had this kind of high. I think part of it is I’m affected by it being at home … with people who understand the context.” The western hemlock is Washington’s state tree. Grade said he considered other types

of trees but decided he wanted a hemlock, which used to be considered a junk tree for its relatively soft wood. “It had been spared from logging because no one wanted it 100 years ago,” Grade said. “It has a humble quality.” Based in Seattle, Grade said the tree’s location felt personal to him. He’s been visiting the area for 30 years. “It feels really reflective of a change in our region,” Grade said. SEE MUDSLIDE, PAGE 5

The artificial ice rink program operated by the City of Snoqualmie has net losses of nearly $80,000 since it began in 2014, according to city data. The rink, made of a synthetic material that can be skated on like ice, is the centerpiece of the Winter Magic celebration during the month of December and early January. Originally a city-sponsored program of the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce, the rink was first installed for Winter Magic in December 2014. The city spent $10,200 sponsoring the chamber’s ice rink event and netted no revenue. Bob Larson, Snoqualmie’s city administrator, said that city officials never expected the rink to pay for itself. The city is looking into opportunities to use the rink in the summer for things like broomball and shuffleboard, and to give other groups in the city opportunities to use the rink. After the city hired an events consultant in 2015 and took over many duties of hosting community events, a decision was made to buy the rink. SEE ICE RINK, PAGE 5

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FRIDAY, February 24, 2017

SNOVALLEY STAR

City’s events consultant position under scrutiny smiller@snovalleystar.com

Snoqualmie is one of the most desirable places to live in the country. Money magazine ranked it the fifth-best place to call home in 2015 for reasons that included the town’s beauty and its sense of community. Adding to the quality of life is a recent proliferation of community events, like the Art & Wine walks, Movies and Music in the Park and the Holiday Tree Lighting festival. Snoqualmie is also gaining notoriety for its high cost of living and property taxes. Some residents say they felt blitzed after the recent school construction levy was followed by a city levy for three new public safety employees. After a recent post on a Facebook group for Snoqualmie residents highlighted the city’s contract for hiring an events consultant, there was expressed concern by some group members over a perceived irresponsible use of tax dollars. The consulting job pays $118,560 for a oneyear period to help plan and coordinate com-

munity and city events for the city of roughly 13,000 people. Lizzy Lizzy Billington, Billington the events consultant, had a contract for the same amount in 2016 and half of 2015 after she left the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce to work with the city. While the scope of her work with Snoqualmie is expected to be comparable to a full-time employee, Billington’s contract does not bar her from doing work for other cities or organizations. Within the last few weeks, Billington took another position as a part-time community coordinator for the City of Duvall, according to that city’s staff. The terms of her contract are unknown. Bob Larson, Snoqualmie’s city administrator, said that he is aware that Billington was considering a position with Duvall but does not know the nature of that engagement. “We were emphatic

GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@snovalleystar.com

The rockets’ red glare lights the night sky over the Snoqualmie Community Park for the Fourth of July as more than 1,500 local valley residents came out in 2016 to enjoy the first ‘Red, White and Boom’ aerial display on Snoqualmie Ridge, an event sponsored in part by the City of Snoqualmie.

that her contract with the city (of Snoqualmie) can’t be compromised,” Larson said. “I made it very clear that

Snoqualmie’s contract comes first.” Matthew Morton, city administrator for Duvall, said that as long

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as Billington meets her performance objectives, she is free to manage her schedule how she wants. He said the city will check in monthly to ensure the terms of her contract are met. Billington’s contract with Snoqualmie states that as an independent contractor, “Consultants shall not acquire any rights or status regarding the City.” Though not mentioned in her contract, Billington has a desk and workspace in Snoqualmie City Hall. While the City Council approved Billington’s contract unanimously SCOTT Z.noPROOF.SR.CMYK. in January for LAM the year PDF 0127 05.18327.THU.0202.1X2.LAM

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BY STUART MILLER

2017, there was discussion about how to measure her job performance. There have been no measures in place since she started working with the city in May 2015, and some councilmembers were unaware of how Billington’s pay stacked up to comparable positions outside Snoqualmie. “I don’t know how to measure her effectiveness,” Councilmember Bryan Holloway said at a City Council meeting. “I don’t know the going rate. Am I getting a good rate? Am I getting a bad rate?” Two Snoqualmie residents publicly commented on the contract at the council meeting, both skeptical of its price tag. Larson said he determined her rate was appropriate for her position. “City staff carefully reviewed other cities’ recreation and events SEE POSITION, PAGE 3

SNOVALLEY STAR

POSITION From Page 2

positions to determine a proper scope of services for our events consultant, to understand the complexity of such a position and to gain an understanding of the costs associated with coordinating and managing events,” Larson said in an email. “Based on these factors we believe the compensation for the events consultant is fair and reasonable.” Billington did not return a request for comment. Though Larson said the city’s staff looked at other cities’ recreation and events positions to guide Snoqualmie’s contract with Billington, many cities do not have a dedicated events planner staff position or consultant. Woodinville, a city with roughly the same population as Snoqualmie, does not have an events plannercoordinator on staff or on contract, said Blaine Frittis, finance director for the City of Woodinville. Instead, Woodinville collects a 1 percent lodging tax — which last year amounted to about $62,000 —for city events. “What we try to do is encourage people in the community to come up with events and apply for grants,” Frittis said. The Woodinville Chamber of Commerce gets the bulk of the grant money to help pay for the Celebrate Woodinville event every summer. The event includes four Wednesday evening concerts leading up to a large one-day event. Other organizations like the YMCA have received grant funding as well. The Woodinville City Council in the past has allocated $5,000 for community members to apply for grant funding to host events, which are often planned and executed using volunteer work. The council recently bumped that figure up to $15,000.

FRIDAY, February 24, 2017 The City of Woodinville hosts very few city-funded events compared to Snoqualmie. Frittis said that Woodinville’s Arbor Day event is planned by city staff members. The city also partners with the Rotary Club of Woodinville to host an annual skate competition. Other than that, Woodinville’s recreational community events are mostly planned by private organizations and citizens financially independent of the city, like the Chamber of Commerce, the Woodinville Wine Country organization and private businesses. Likewise, the City of Lake Forest Park hosts few community events each year. The city of about 13,000 sits on the north shore of Lake Washington. Friends of Third Place Commons, a nonprofit group operating out of the Town Center of Lake Forest Park, hosts the bulk of the city’s events. The group is sponsored by the city and businesses like local restaurants and professionals, as well as organizations including the Lake Forest Rotary Club and the Dale Turner Family YMCA. Lake Forest Park’s two-year budget for 2017-18 allocated a total of $423,485 for its Community Services Department, which provides a variety of programs and services that support the quality of life in Lake Forest Park. This includes human services, parks and recreation, conservation and recycling, volunteer organizations and management, youth leadership training, and public outreach and education. The figure includes the city’s sponsorship of Friends of Third Place Commons. In those two years, the city will spend $121,972 — about the amount of Billington’s one-year payment — on the salary for the Community Service Department’s one employee, Cory Roche. She works as a Community Volunteer Coordinator and

Domestic Violence Advocate for the city. In the city budget, she is considered 95 percent of a full-time employee. The City of North Bend, about half the population of Snoqualmie, recently hired on an events coordinator that works two days per week. Billington’s contract requires that she support all of Snoqualmie’s many city and community events. This includes planning and implementing events, organizing sponsorships for events, recruiting and providing guidance to volunteers for events, seeking and reviewing grant opportunities for events, preparing a variety of advertising communications for events and several other duties related to community and city events. Her 2017 contract lists 12 one-day events, a combined 16 Music and Movies in the Park and Friday Art & Wine Walks, a monthly square dance at the community center and the monthlong Winter Magic festival. Money for those events comes out of the city’s General Fund and through sponsorships, Larson said, which is funded by property tax, retail tax and other sources. “The city offers events, recreation activities and other leisure opportunities to and for its residents,” Larson wrote in an email. “Also, as part of our economic development program, these events as well as others are attractive to and popular with many of the visitors to our community.” There are also 23 other community events — not considered city-funded, but often city-supported — which Billington is responsible for supporting. Billington’s contract also requires she handle merchant coordination, working with merchant associations downtown and on the Ridge, among other things. “We’re trying to use this events position to drum up some

Auditions open for ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ The Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater and Family Park is hosting auditions for its next production “Once Upon A Mattress” from 7-10 p.m. March 5 and 6. Actors ages 16 and older are asked to prepare a monologue and 32 measures from a Broadway-style show, not to exceed three minutes total. Also, bring a headshot, resume and your sheet music in the correct key. The audition is at

spinoff” tourism from larger local draws like Snoqualmie Falls and the railroad museum, Larson said. “Dovetail those and have folks stay around for longer.” Though the City Council asked the city to create a criteria to measure Billington’s performance, nothing has been completed yet. “Some of them would like to see what’s the return on investment,” Larson said.

Theatre Puget Sound, 36800 David Powell Road, Fall City. To schedule an audition, email dlbzinger@yahoo.com with “Audition Slot” in the subject. Include the three audition times that would be best for you in order of preference. To learn more, go to foresttheater.org.

Police offer women’s self defense course The Snoqualmie and North Bend Police Departments are offering a Women’s Self Defense

Progress could be measured through financial returns and event attendance numbers, but there’s also a component of how happy people are with the many city events and the benefits connected with them, Larson said. “It’s hard to measure that type of thing,” Larson said. Billington was hired at the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2013 as the director

Course. The four-day course, for ages 16 and older, is from 6-9 p.m. March 22-23 and 29-30 at the Cascade Covenant Church, 13225 436th Ave. SE in North Bend. The course, taught using the nationally recognized Rape Aggression Defense System (RAD) is $30, payable cash or check on the first day of class. Athletic attire is recommended. Space is limited to firstcome, first-serve basis. To sign up, contact Officer Nigel Draveling at ndraveling@ci.snoqualmie. wa.us.

of membership development. She took over as CEO of the chamber in September 2014, and left that job in May 2015 to become a consultant for the city. City of Duvall staff members say she’s been working with that city for several weeks. Snoqualmie did not advertise for the events consultant position or accept any other applications for the job, Larson said.

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FRIDAY, February 24, 2017

Valley View

OPINION

SNOVALLEY STAR

Thank you for making me a part of your community

ere it is, dearest readers, my last column for the SnoValley Star. Sitting here today, it’s hard to imagine that just nine months ago I was completely oblivious to what the upper Snoqualmie Valley was all about — who the people are, the character of the cities of North Bend and Snoqualmie, the good stuff and the not-sogood stuff happening in the cities and surrounding areas of the valley. The Star’s editor, Scott Stoddard, wrote an introductory column about me in one of the first papers I was involved with writing. He quoted me saying: “I’m looking forward to getting to know the Snoqualmie and North Bend areas as intimately as I know my hometown. There are certain things, places, quirks that only longtime locals know about a town. I’m looking forward to understanding the communities on that deeper level.” Mission accomplished on that front. I’ve learned an incredible amount about our city governments, community organizations, society, politics, crime, natural ecology of the area (never thought I’d write a 3-part special report about steelhead) and, especially, the people that make this valley the unique and amazing place it is. I literally could have filled this final newspaper with shoutouts to all the people who have helped me along the way in my nine months here. People have welcomed me into their homes, shared their deeply personal experiences with me, pointed me in the right direction when I needed it and encouraged me to keep

writing — and, sometimes, to keep digging. What I’ll remember most from this experience is Stuart Miller all the special people I’ve met, and the relationships we’ve formed. I consider many of these people my friends now, even if we usually only meet in a professional-ish capacity. I’d like to thank some of those people now. First off, I’ll start with the mayors — Matt and Ken. I greatly appreciate the degree of accessibility you two have granted me. I was shocked when I first started working for the Star, and the mayor of Snoqualmie was picking up my calls — on the first try. Since we first met, Matt Larson has been first-class and friendly. I’ll never forget when Ken Hearing took a phone call from an annoying reporter (me) when he was in the ER with his thumb sliced open — and gave me an informative interview. Coming into this job, I had some doubts that the Snoqualmie Police Department would be an easy source to work with. You always see movies and shows where the police and journalists are at odds with each other. That couldn’t have been less true. Jim Schaffer was the police chief for nearly my entire time with the Star. The first time we met in person at a City Council meeting, I nervously asked if I could ask him “a few quick questions real fast,” to which he replied, “Sure, you can even ask them slowly if you’d like.” We had a great relationship from then on. Capt. Nick Almquist also

SNO★VALLEY

STAR Published every Friday by The Issaquah Press Group 1085 12th Ave. NW, Suite D1 | P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, King County, WA 98027

helped me immensely in my reporting and was extremely accessible and friendly. I’m glad to know the man even after my reporting here comes to a close. I could not have written some of my most important stories without the help of Jodi Warren at Snoqualmie City Hall. Thank you very much, Jodi. Snoqualmie Valley historian Dave Battey opened my eyes to a Snoqualmie Valley of the past and gave me the opportunity to write one of my favorite articles, about picking historical Meadowbrook Farm hops. Another Dave — Mr. Eiffert of Snoqualmie Brewery — let me follow along on the journey of those hops as they became Fresh Hop Ale. Even if I had never spoken to Dave, I would still be thanking him for making that tasty brew —

legitimately one of the best I’ve ever had. The folks at the Valley Winter Shelter — Jennifer Kirk, Trissa Dexheimer and Charles McCarthy — inspired me to begin a series of stories that I otherwise might have ignored. One of the things that has made me happiest in my time here is when I’m told that my stories have helped bring awareness to and possibly helped in combating the homelessness situation around town. Big thanks to Kelly Coughlin for her efforts to help the community as well. Volunteers and helpers at the Sallal Grange, especially Leah and Larry, were a pleasure to meet and see at homelessness forums and other events like GrangeStock. A special thank you to Robert Wotton at Umpqua Bank

STAFF Charles Horton.......................................General manager Scott Stoddard...............................................................Editor Stuart Miller............................................................. Reporter Neil Pierson.............................................................. Reporter Greg Farrar.....................................................Photographer

CORRECTIONS We are committed to accuracy at the SnoValley Star and take care in our reporting and editing, but errors do occur. If you think something we’ve published is in error, please email us at editor@snovalleystar.com.

for defying the Wall Street stereotype of bankers. Rather than foreclosing on houses, Robert has been leading a series of forums to get people back into them. His work on advocating for affordable housing has been constructive, informative and humanizing. And of course, I would never have become an expert on steelhead without Tokul Hatchery specialist Debi Sanchez’s help. To all the people I’ve met, talked with and gotten to know, and everybody who I haven’t but still welcomed me — thank you. It has been a sincere pleasure being part of the community. Valley View is a weekly column by SnoValley Star reporter Stuart Miller. It does not necessarily represent the editorial views of the newspaper.

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SNOVALLEY STAR

FRIDAY, February 24, 2017

ICE RINK From Page 1

Snoqualmie spent: $38,900 buying the 60-by-60 square foot synthetic ice rink $3,573 on sales tax $2,650 for freight shipping $1,273 on ice skate rentals $273 in recorded staff costs $239 for lunches during setup and relocation of the rink During Winter Magic, the rink moves from storage to its first location downtown, then to a second location on the Ridge, then back to storage. The total expenditures in 2015 amounted to $46,909, while expected ticket sales revenue amounted to $2,952. Net cash flow associated with Winter Magic in 2015 amounted to a loss of $43,957. In 2016, the city spent: $6,513 on tent and costume rentals

MUDSLIDE From Page 1

“The history of logging and recovery of it becoming this wilderness area.” A few years ago, Grade and his team began climbing the hemlock and fixing a layer of protective thick tin foil to the tree. They then applied a plaster cast to the foil to make a mold of the tree’s features. The casts enveloped the trunk from

GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@snovalleystar.com

Young people with special skates strapped on for the artificial ice rink surface enjoy the feeling of skating — enhanced by several inches of real snow — at Railroad Park during last December’s Winter Magic event in downtown Snoqualmie.

$7,784 buying tents for Winter Magic $425 on pop-up tent rentals. $1329 for unspecified sup-

the ground up — about 140 feet in all. Branches were plastered a little way out, but the final branch casts came from fallen limbs collected around the woods. Once the plaster casts were removed from the tree, work began in the MadArt Studio in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. Hundreds of thousands of small cedar blocks — many about the size of a domino or Lego brick — were glued

plies associated with Winter Magic $321 for a street use permit $1,644 sharpening and clean-

together into a framework around the casts. Grade put a sign outside the studio and opened it up to any passerby who wanted to volunteer. Some spent a few hours helping out, others came back regularly to work on the project. “It was a little scary,” Grade said of letting complete strangers build the sculpture. “What if someone starts coming in and doing a terrible job?” Grade put a branch in

ing skates $7,206 in recorded staff costs $1,479 advertising Winter Magic (in the Living Snoqualmie online blog and with Sound Publishing Inc., which owns the Snoqualmie Valley Record) On top of those expenses, a sound mixing panel, MiFi wireless router and iPhone were stolen from the Winter Magic grounds, an estimated loss of $969. Expected ticket sales revenues from Winter Magic in 2016 amounted to $2,435, resulting in a net loss of $25,238. All recorded revenue came from expected ticket sales, and no sponsor funds are listed in the Winter Magic financial history data provided by the city. After three seasons of Winter Magic, city data shows a negative cash flow of $79,353. Winter Magic financial his-

the corner just in case that scenario played out. “I didn’t tell anyone this, but I called it my branch of failure,” Grade said. Hundreds of volunteers helped glue the sculpture together, and the branch of failure was never employed, Grade said. Opening up the project to the public brought many unique techniques and stylistic differences to the sculpture. “It would look a lot more homogenous if it

tory data provided by the city notes that the data does not include: Any provision for IT staff time setting up and administering Square credit card processing account, audio equipment, etc. Any provision for finance and accounting time recording credit card deposits, reconciling, reporting, etc. Any provision for parkspublic works crew time setting up, moving, tearing down and storing the rink between uses. Any allocation of contracted events-recreation manager’s contract charges. It is unclear what work the $7,480 of staff costs recorded in city data entailed. The rink has a life expectancy of 10 years.

was just us (the studio team),” Grade said. “If I did it myself it would be so uniform and just perfect, it would be kind of dead.” While the bulk of the sculpture hangs in Seattle Art Museum’s lobby, it is still growing in the studio. People are still working on the remaining portion of the 140-foot-long sculpture. It gets longer each time it’s displayed. “It’s kind of like a wonderful procrastination plan,” Grade said. “You

get enough done for each time you show it.” “Middle Fork” will be in Seattle for at least two years, and probably five, Grade said. When it’s moved to London it will be displayed in its complete 140-foot length. Eventually, maybe in a decade or so, Grade guessed, the sculpture will be laid down at the foot of the tree it was born from — its final display in Mother Nature’s art gallery.

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FRIDAY, February 24, 2017

SNOVALLEY STAR

Calendar of events Saturday, Feb. 25 Snoqualmie Pass: Snowshoe Program 90-minute Trek, 10-11:30 a.m., $15 for adults/$10 ages 16 and younger, meet at Snoqualmie Pass Visitors Station, purchase tickets at bit.ly/1T6plWo Change Your Water, Change Your Life demo, 2 p.m., Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647 Leah Stillwell Quartet, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Piccola Cellars, 112 E. Second St., North Bend, jazzclubsnw.org/northbend

Sunday, Feb. 26

PHOTOS BY STUART MILLER | smiller@snovalleystar.com

BEST OF THE BEES

Cascade View Elementary fourth graders (from left) Saachit Durga and Santoshi Kakani and fifth grader Marshall Smith anticipate the last round of words in the school spelling bee competition Feb. 15. Smith won the bee and will head to the regional competition in Seattle for the second year in a row. At left, second graders Sebastien Peterson (left) and twin brother Leif are the last two on stage as they compete in a spell-off to become the second grade spelling champ. After a competitive spelling exchange, Leif was crowned the second grade champ.

Snoqualmie Pass: Snowshoe Program 90-minute Trek, 10-11:30 a.m., $15 for adults/$10 ages 16 and younger, meet at Snoqualmie Pass Visitors Station, purchase tickets at bit.ly/1T6plWo Brunch with David Johnson, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647 Danny Kolke Trio, 6 p.m.; Jam Session, 7:30 p.m., Piccola Cellars, 112 E. Second St., North Bend, jazzclubsnw.org/ northbend The Righteous Brothers, ages 21 and older, 7 p.m., Snoqualmie Casino Ballroom, tickets are $30-$65 and can be purchased at bit.ly/2lAa7Ov

Monday, Feb. 27

Blotter Snoqualmie police reports

Bobcat on the prowl

on Southeast North Bend Way and shoved an employee who tried to break up the argument. The maintenance shop had the suspect trespassed for one year.

At 11:26 a.m. Feb. 8, a bobcat was seen near a Snoqualmie fire reports pea patch at Steller Way Southeast and Southeast Persistent Osprey Court before running back into the woods. false alarm At 2:13 a.m. Feb. 10, Snoqualmie firefightFender bender ers to an automatic fire leads to assault alarm at the PSE mainAt 7:24 p.m. Feb. 6, a tenance shop. The crew male suspect involved in found nothing in its a non-reportable colliinvestigation and the syssion was in an argument tem would not reset out with the other driver at of trouble mode. PSE was the maintenance shop called and told to have it

looked at by a technician. in her garage to decrease damage.

Washer-dryer installation breaks water line

At 11:39 a.m. Feb. 13, Snoqualmie firefighters responded to a water problem reported on Olmstead Place Southeast. Upon arrival, the homeowner informed the crew a washer and dryer were being installed in the home when the coldwater line broke. The crew helped the homeowner removed the water and move boxes

Legal burn in progress

At 1:19 p.m. Feb. 14, Snoqualmie firefighters were dispatched to a burn complaint on Southeast Fish Hatchery Road. The crew found a construction company with a legal burn and permit. In addition to the above calls, Snoqualmie EMTs responded to 9 medical aid incidents bringing the total number of calls to date to 143 There were 1,102 calls in 2016.

Sno-Valley Indoor Playground, for ages newborn to 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Si View Gymnasium, 400 SE Orchard Dr., North Bend, $1 donation per child Merry Monday Story Time, 11-11:45 a.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., North Bend, 888-0554 Study Zone, homework and tutoring help for grades K-12, 3-5 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, Snoqualmie, 888-1223 Snoqualmie City Council meeting, 7-9 p.m., City Hall, 38624 SE River St., Snoqualmie

Tuesday, Feb. 28 Mt Si Senior Center Trip: Muckleshoot Casino, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., $10 for members/$20 for non members, meet at 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend, 888-3434 Mardi Gras Parade & Jam, 5 and 7 p.m., Piccola Cellars, 112 E. Second St., North Bend, jazzclubsnw.org/northbend North Bend City Council workstudy session, 7-9 p.m., City Hall, 211 Main Ave. N., North Bend

Wednesday, March 1 Spring Student Art Show, all day, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., North Bend, 888-0554 Sno-Valley Indoor Playground, for ages newborn to 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m.,

Si View Gymnasium, 400 SE Orchard Dr., North Bend, $1 donation per child AARP Tax Assistance, for adults, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., North Bend, 8880554 Story Times: toddlers ages newborn to 3, 10-10:30 a.m.; preschoolers ages 3-6, 11-11:45 a.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, Snoqualmie, 888-1223 One-on-One Computer Help, for adults, 1-3 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., North Bend, 8880554 Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647

Thursday, March 2 Story Times: toddlers ages newborn to 3, 10-10:45 a.m.; preschool ages 3 and older, 11-11:45 a.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 8880554 A Seuss-ical Sing-Along!, all ages, 10:30 a.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, 6-9 p.m., Sigillo Cellars, 8086 Railroad Ave., Snoqualmie, $65 per person, purchase tickets at murdermysterysigillocellars.eventbrite. com, for more information contact Lizzy Billington at billington.lizzy@gmail.com or 761-4961 Study Zone, homework and tutoring help for grades K-12, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, Snoqualmie, 888-1223 Art Closing Party for Robin Alex, 6-8 p.m., Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 8313647 Family Story Time, all young children, 7-7:45 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, Snoqualmie, 888-1223 Karaoke Nights, 9 p.m., Finaghty’s Irish Pub, 7726 Center Blvd. SE, Snoqualmie, 888-8833

Friday, March 3 Sno-Valley Indoor Playground, for ages newborn to 5, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Si View Gymnasium, 400 SE Orchard Dr., North Bend, $1 donation per child Teen STEM Club: Eggbot Experiments, for ages 10 and older, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. SE, Snoqualmie, 888-1223 Block Party, all ages (7 and younger with an adult), 2:303:30 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554 Open Mic Night at the Sallal Grange, all ages, 7-10 p.m., Sallal Grange, 12912 432nd Ave. SE, North Bend, 831-1900 Abe & Mike Antone, 8 p.m., Black Dog Arts Café, 8062 Railroad Ave. SE, Snoqualmie, 831-3647

FRIDAY, February 24, 2017

SPORTS

SNOVALLEY STAR

KingCo basketball coaches announce all-conference teams KingCo Conference boys and girls basketball coaches selected allconference teams this week. Listed below are the choices for the Class 4A and Class 3A/2A squads.

4A boys

GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@snovalleystar.com

Mount Si senior Brennan Dalgleish (left) wrestles Enumclaw junior Austin Rewoldt in their 220-pound first-round bout at the state 4A wrestling championships Feb. 17 during Mat Classic XXIX in the Tacoma Dome. Dalgleish won, 9-7, and reached the podium with a fourth-place finish.

Dalgleish, Marenco star for Mount Si at Mat Classic XXIX BY NEIL PIERSON

npierson@snovalleystar.com

Mason Marenco and Brennan Dalgleish had their sights set on going all the way at Mat Classic XXIX. The Mount Si senior wrestlers weren’t standing on top of the podium when the Class 4A state championships concluded Feb. 18 at the Tacoma Dome. But Marenco and Dalgleish had plenty to celebrate as their highschool careers wrapped up with top-eight medals. Marenco won his second Mat Classic medal with a fifth-place finish at 170 pounds, and Dalgleish reached the podium for the first time with a fourth-place performance at 220. Dalgleish, as usual, wore his emotions on his sleeve during the state tournament. That was particularly evident after his quarterfinal victory, a 9-6 decision over Graham-Kapowsin’s Chris Sparks, which solidified a spot in the medal round.

GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@snovalleystar.com

Mount Si senior Mason Marenco (right) grapples for a takedown with Sunnyside junior Moises Morales in their 170-pound first-round bout at the state 4A wrestling championships Feb. 17 during Mat Classic XXIX in the Tacoma Dome. Marenco won 11-3 on the way to a fifth-place medal.

“That kid was tough,” Dalgleish said of Sparks. “These kids are generally bigger than me – I only weight 211 at weigh-ins – so when they push into me, I tend to back up sometimes.” In each of his first two matches, Dalgleish was penalized for stalling. He said he struggled on his feet, trying to keep his

opponents’ arms away so he could shoot for their legs. In the first round, Dalgleish battled Enumclaw’s Austin Rewoldt. Dalgleish took control thanks to takedowns in the final five seconds of the first and second periods. But Rewoldt didn’t go quietly, rallying within

7-6 as Dalgleish gave up two points for stalling. Dalgleish earned a late takedown to secure the win, 9-7. In the semifinals, he ran up against a roadblock, losing 12-0 to Camas senior Dylan Ingram, who went on to beat Tahoma’s Dagen Kramer for the 220SEE CLASSIC, PAGE 8

MVP: Tanner Davis, Issaquah Coach of the Year: Greg Lowell, Inglemoor Team Sportsmanship Award: Newport Knights First team: Jake Medjo, Bothell; Kellan Przybylski, Skyline; Michael Roth, Woodinville; Ethan Tarbet, Woodinville; Cameron Tyson, Bothell. Second team: Yousef Elkugia, Eastlake; Gavin Gorrell, Mount Si; Grant Henderson, Eastlake; Josh Kollman, Bothell; Jabe Mullins, Mount Si; Jaxon Peay, Inglemoor; Elliot Thompson, Newport. Honorable mention: Bothell – Izaiah Clark, JR Plourd. Eastlake – Peter Chang, Reid Pierzchalski. Inglemoor – Ryan Hamilton, Jalen Woodley. Issaquah – Bijon Sidhu, Jackson Suh. Mount Si – LJ Linton, Tyler Patterson. Newport – Ben Golan, Matt McCord. Skyline – Ryan D’Arcy, Ben Smith.

Woodinville – Cade Beresford, Jaden Sheffey.

4A girls Co-MVPs: Taya Corosdale, Bothell; Gina Marxen, Eastlake Coach of the Year: Kent Schaefer, Bothell Team Sportsmanship Award: Eastlake Wolves First team: Keeli Burton, Eastlake; Keyonna Jones, Bothell; Jade Loville, Skyline; Amanda Luckett, Inglemoor; Lucy Stewart, Issaquah. Second team: Madison Dubois, Woodinville; Cameron Edward, Eastlake; Kailey Kassuba, Skyline; Madison Lundquist, Woodinville; Regan Schenck, Woodinville; Anateya Sommerville, Newport; Gabby Whalen, Woodinville. Honorable mention: Bothell – Sydney Cowan, Kelsey Hudson. Eastlake – Elizabeth Chen, Stacie Keck. Inglemoor – Jenna Troy, Emily Massad. Issaquah – Mariah Van Halm, Maya Witherspoon. Mount Si – Nitika Kumar, Emma Smith. Newport – Nicole Chan, Vanessa SEE TEAMS, PAGE 8

Holmes places 20th at state finals meet BY NEIL PIERSON

npierson@snovalleystar.com

The Mount Si gymnastics team sent six athletes to the Class 4A state championships, Feb. 17-18 at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall. Senior Samantha Holmes qualified for the all-around competition. She placed 20th, scoring 34.6 points. Woodinville’s Alli McManus was the 4A all-around champion with 38 points.

Holmes was 15th on vault with 9.25 points, tied for 26th on uneven bars (8.15), tied for 36th on beam (8.35) and shared 51st on floor exercise (8.85). Holmes helped guide the Wildcats to a fourthplace finish at the previous weekend’s district meet. Only two KingCo Conference opponents moved on to state, and both did well as Bothell SEE HOLMES, PAGE 8

FRIDAY, February 24, 2017

CLASSIC From Page 7

GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@snovalleystar.com

Mount Si senior Samantha Holmes performs her Tsukahara vault in December while taking the all-around title in a gymnastics competition against Eastlake.

HOLMES From Page 7

placed third and Woodinville secured its fourth straight 4A title with 180.225 points. Mount Si’s Anna Steenvorde, Tylor Zweiflhofer, Morgan Lowell, Shelby Johnson and Sarah Christopherson also

competed at state. Johnson was the Wildcats’ top finisher as she placed 14th on vault (9.275). Christopher shared 41st on floor (9.0). The rest of Mount Si’s contingency competed on bars. Steenvorde tied for 30th (8.075), Lowell tied for 50th (7.45), Zweiflhofer was 56th (7.3) and Christopherson tied for 61st (7.15).

CLASSIFIEDS

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pound title. Dalgleish was hoping to secure a rematch with Kramer, who “pancaked” him for a victory in the regional final the previous weekend. “That was the worst mistake of my wrestling career, by far,” he said of being pinned by Kramer. Dalgleish dropped to the consolation bracket, where he picked up a 5-3 decision over Moses Lake’s Payton Castro. He could’ve finished third but was pinned by Mead’s Collin Grosse in 2 minutes, 43 seconds. His work with Marenco in the Mount Si mat room helped Dalgleish’s speed and stamina. And assistant coach David Moses also helped mold Dalgleish into a state medalist. “Mason’s the opposite of David,” Dalgleish explained. “David doesn’t do anything besides tie me up and try to just throw me around, which he does. But it helps me with the bigger guys, so I’m getting the best of both worlds right now.” Marenco reached the semis for the first time in

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his career. He was coming off a stunning, 31-second loss to Kentwood’s Blake Capperauld in the Region 2 final, but had a good bounce-back performance against Moises Morales of Sunnyside. Marenco earned two takedowns and a near fall in the first period to take a 7-1 lead, then rode through the third period on the bottom position, closing things out with a late reversal, 11-3. Marenco, who placed sixth as a junior, secured his spot in the final four with a 9-4 decision over University’s Hunter Greggerson. “Drive – I want to compete for a state championship and to do that, you’ve got to work hard, wrestle hard until the end,” he said after beating Greggerson. “At the end, I was pretty tired, so I was just using some techniques, just shooting at the legs and hanging on.” In the semis, Marenco faced Lake Stevens junior Malachi Lawrence, who wore down his opponent for a 13-5 victory. Lawrence went on to win the 170-pound title. In consolations,

TEAMS

Island; Griffen Barker, Lake Washington; Jake Elfstrom, Liberty; Ravi From Page 7 Regan Hughes, Juanita; Hsia. Skyline – Alexa Aleks Bober, Redmond. Kirton, Julia Mitchell. Second team: Shain Woodinville – Alena Scott, Mercer Island; Coomar. Nick Chung, Liberty; Sam Linsky, Lake Washington; Devon La Pierre, 3A/2A boys Redmond; Bo Moawad, MVP: Andrew Kenny, Liberty. Bellevue Honorable mention: Defensive Player of the Bellevue – Jalen Love, Colin Year: Griffen Emanuels, Suter, Spencer Berkland, Mercer Island Hunter Hansen. Interlake Coach of the Year: – Zack Thomas, Gavin Gavin Cree, Mercer Island Dayment, Kole Utzinger. Team Sportsmanship Lake Washington – Beau Award: Interlake Saints Heimdahl, Jordan Richter. First team: Griffin Liberty – Blake McAllister. Emanuels, Mercer Island – Jack Delay, LAURAMercer D.noPROOF.SV.CMYK.PDF-JAN 1205 LAM 01.17964.FRI.0105.2x2.LAM

GREG FARRAR | gfarrar@snovalleystar.com

Mount Si junior Kinsey Steskal (left) grapples to start her 115-pound first-round bout against Davis junior Cameron Guerin at the state 4A wrestling championships Feb. 17 during Mat Classic XXIX in the Tacoma Dome.

Marenco lost to Decatur’s Jacob Cassaday, 3-2, and rebounded to pin Lake Stevens’ Angelo Loera. His season was full of challenges against opponents who also wound up at Mat Classic. “I’ve wrestled a couple of them, but I’ve wrestled a lot of good guys over the year – different weights and different divisions,” Marenco said. Mount Si had two firsttime state qualifiers in juniors Duncan Harrison and Kinsey Steskal. Harrison, a twotime state alternate, started well with a pin of Enumclaw’s CJ Eckblad in 2:53. He dominated, piling

Milloy, Redmond; Annika Prins, Bellevue. Second team: Courtney Wehner, Interlake; Kailee Yan, Mercer Island; Sydney Argosino, Liberty; 3A/2A girls Brittany White, Juanita; MVP: Anna Luce, Teagyn Ohrt, Redmond. Mercer Island Honorable mention: Defensive Player of Bellevue – Kara Choi, the Year: Promise Taylor, Kate Parrish, Kathryn Sammamish Roberts. Interlake – Coach of the Year: Amanda Mehlhoff. Gillian d’Hondt, Mercer Lake Washington – Island Sydney Olson. Liberty Team Sportsmanship – Samantha Kelderman. Award: Liberty Patriots Mercer Island – Jessie First team: Tea Adams, Stenberg, Claire Juanita; Promise Taylor, Mansfield. Redmond Sammamish; Ann-Marie – Andrea Dang, Katie Jacobs,LAURA Bellevue; Kiki Hartman. F.noPROOF.SR.CMYK. PDF 0203 LAM 06.18077.THUR.0209.2X2.LAM

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up a 7-0 lead prior to his clinching move. Union’s JJ Talavera, the division’s top-ranked wrestler, pinned Harrison in 4:46 in the quarterfinals. And Harrison fell short of the medal round with a 7-3 loss to Devin Neal of Curtis. In the girls’ division, Steskal made her state debut at 115 pounds. Cameron Guerin of Davis, the eventual champion, pinned Steskal in 24 seconds. Steskal stayed alive with an 8-6 decision over Kelso’s Ciyree Sams, but was eliminated by Othello’s Iyalhye Barraza, 6-1.

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