Your locally-owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington
Wildcat soccer team wins Page 7
April 3, 2014
SnoValley crowns its idol By Sam Kenyon When 12-year-old Catalina Jarocki grows up she wants to be an actor. She took her first step toward that goal by winning the 2014 SnoValley Idol Jr. competition March 28 in the Mount Si High School auditorium. Eleven girls performed for the audience and three judges. Jarocki’s performance of “Let it Go” from the movie “Frozen” won. It was her first singing competition. The field of singers, ranging from 10-14 years old, was selected during an open audition Feb. 8 at Boxley’s in North Bend. The three judges, Annmarie Farris, Susanna Fuller, and Danny Kolke, chose the finalists based on natural ability, quality of performance, and showmanship, the same criteria they used again at the SnoValley Idol Jr. show, to select the overall winner. Jarocki says she was nervous at first, but once she began her
song she fell into her performance groove. “I started to feel like I was actually in the movie and that I was the actor actually singing the song,” she said. The judges responded positively to her commitment to the song. “She just had wonderful pitch, wonderful expression, good dynamics,” Fuller said. “There was a lot there that she really put into it. It was a very wonderful, pleasant performance.” Jarocki signed up for the competition originally because she thought the stage experience would be good for her, especially considering her future chosen profession. After winning, Jarocki was asked to give an encore performance of her song. She said the second time around was even better than the first, because she had already won so See IDOL, Page 2
By Sam Kenyon
Catalina Jarocki won the SnoValley Idol Jr. competition. The 12-year-old sang ‘Let It Go’ from the movie ‘Frozen.’
Valley robotics: It’s more than child’s play By Sam Kenyon
SECAST Team assists Oso mudslide rescue operations
Valley of the ‘bots A series exploring the growth of robotics for youth in the Snoqualmie Valley.
Paul Sprouse, of North Bend, was a stay at home dad five years ago when his son, Calvin, said he wanted to build robots for NASA when he grows up. So Sprouse and his son looked for an organization or club that would let them dabble in robotics. But they were all too expensive. Then, Sprouse received a grant from the Nehemiah Foundation for $900 to buy robotic parts and teach some after school classes
to Calvin and other kids at Opstad Elementary in North Bend. He quickly discovered $900 wasn’t enough. “I immediately realized ‘Oh we need more stuff’ because a ton of kids signed up for the class,” Sprouse said. “I didn’t have near See ROBOT, Page 2
By Sam Kenyon
Calvin Sprouse’s interest in robotics inspired his father Paul Sprouse to get involved, helping with camps and workshops.
The Snoqualmie Emergency Communications and Support Team is assisting in the rescue and recovery operations at the Oso mudslide disaster near Darrington. Volunteer team members are providing on-site communications support using the Snoqualmie Department of Emergency Management communications van. SECAST is part of the large multi-jurisdictional rescue and recovering operation in Snohomish County. “The city of Snoqualmie will provide support to respond to this disaster in whatever way possible,” said Mayor Matt Larson. “On
behalf of the Snoqualmie City Council and staff, our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this tragedy, those residents in Oso who have lost their homes, and the first responders who tirelessly continue rescue efforts.” SECAST is a volunteer unit of the Snoqualmie Department of Emergency Management. It is part of a non-profit group originated to provide volunteer emergency workers to the city of Snoqualmie and the surrounding region. The team has a wide range of skilled volunteers; incident communications is the primary focus. For more information about SECAST services and opportunities to volunteer on SECAST, please visit www.secast.org or call 888-3333.
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