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Your locally owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington
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July 31, 2015
Snoqualmie police host National Night Out Aug. 4
Photos by Greg Farrar
Above, Keelen Mitcham (left), 12, of Newport, and Jordan Bernstine, 12, of Auburn, sit in the Airlift Northwest helicopter while getting a tour of medical gear from pediatric nurse Lisa Davidson, during the week of Camp Eyabsut activities held for young burn patients and survivors at Camp Waskowitz in North Bend. Below, the Airlift Northwest helicopter four-person crew of (from left) pediatric nurse Lisa Davidson, Harborview resident ER physician Ryan Mason, pilot Neil Jacobs and adult nurse Gill deBruyn are introduced by Matt Ricks to the young campers, staff and volunteers at this year’s Camp Eyabsut.
Young burn survivors bond at Camp Eyabsut By Dylan Chaffin dchaffin@snovalleystar.com Amber Newton was only a child when her brother Brian saved her life. It was a cold January morning in Rathdrum, Idaho, she recalled, when she turned up the gas heater in the family home. Her nightgown caught on fire, causing severe burns to the right side of her body. She was airlifted from Rathdrum to the burn unit of Harborview Medical Center, in Seattle, for treatment. The medical center is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the “WWAMI” region — a group of the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. She stayed in the hospital for several months, she said. Half, if not most of the campers that come to Camp Eyabsut share the same experiences with trauma. Newton’s friend, Laura Hawkins, for one, was burned as a toddler in a Lakewood house
fire started by a candle. The camp’s mission is to support, enhance and positively impact the quality of life for young burn survivors through games, team-building exercises, challenging activities and friendships while in a safe camp environment. Activities take place at Camp Waskowitz, in the woods of North Bend. Eyabsut was the name given to the group by Skagit tribal elders in 1997, translating into the phrase “to rise above anything.” For the burn-injured youths, ages 7-17, the camp provides one week out of the year where they can interact without fear of being teased, stared at or shunned for how they look, Camp Director Jeannette Day said. When they’re not at camp, the campers, their families, and past and present counselors keep in contact through a closed Facebook group where they See CAMP, Page 10
The Snoqualmie Police Department hosts its third annual National Night Out Against Crime from 4-8 p.m. Aug. at North Bend’s View Park, 400 S.E. Orchard Drive. This national, family-friendly event brings communities together for crime prevention, awareness and neighborhood camaraderie. All communities in Snoqualmie and North Bend are invited. Police officers will be barbecuing free hotdogs and hamburgers and serving chips and beverages. This is a great opportunities to get to know the officers who serve you. Event activities include: q Meet the police department that services Snoqualmie and North Bend. q See exhibits from the Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad and K-9 Units, 911 Dispatch, Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Peacekeeper. q Share information and get to know your neighbors. q Bouncy houses, airbrush tattoos and prizes for the kids.
Volunteer for the Festival at Mount Si Are you interested in having fun, volunteering and building your community? Organizers for the Festival at Mount Si are still looking for volunteers to help with everything from festival set-up to the silent auction, chili cook-off, vendors and hospitality for the Aug. 7-9 event. “The festival is an opporSee VOLUNTEER, Page 5 Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 POSTAL CUSTOMER