summer living 2009

Living Issaquah

Summer 2009

Times are Tough...

We’re all in this together

I know you want the best dental care for you and your family and that quality and guarantee is something that should not have to change. So I’ve come up with a way to work with you when everything seems to be working against us. I’ve been serving Issaquah families and their friends for 15 years, and I’m not about to let you down now. Here’s what I can do: •

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Dr. Ronald Sherman

Table of contents 6 12 18 27 30 34 40 46 52 52 Publisher Debbie Berto

Editor Kathleen R. Merrill

Advertising manager Jill Green

Production Breann Getty Dona Mokin

Advertising staff Vickie Singsaas Jody Turner Ann Landry Table of contents page photo Greg Farrar

Page design David Hayes

Writers Chantelle Lusebrink David Hayes Warren Kagarise Ari Cetron J.B. Wogan Bob Taylor Laura Geggel Christopher Huber

Cover photo Adam Eschbach

Cover design Dona Mokin

Social meetups All aboard!

Animal kingdom Summer calendar Wet ‘n’ wild Day tripping Marathon moms Music scene Survivor Issaquah Retirement city

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THE ISSAQUAH PRESS 45 Front St. S. P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, WA 98027 392-6434 Fax: 391-1541 www.issaquahpress.com

Hobby holiday Meet up with like-minded enthusiasts this summer

BY WARREN KAGARISE Call it a hobby. Or maybe just an interest. A pastime, perhaps.

Chances are, you have one of these.

Finding fellow enthusiasts who share your passion for, say, dachshunds or Chinese checkers can be tough. But handy tools exist for tracking down people like you in the same ZIP code, or at least nearby. You likely have neighbors with similar tastes, whether those preferences run toward hiking Tiger Mountain or sipping California chardonnay.

How do you find them? Easy.

Organizers harness the power of the Web to promote their groups and boost their ranks. Sites like craigslist, Facebook and Meetup allow members to organize online and gather offline. Members often use the Web as a starting point, a virtual smorgasbord of group options that users can pare down to the a la carte item of their choice.

Other group leaders draw new recruits by cozying up to old media — ink-and-paper community newsletters and bulletin board postings.

These groups range in size from just a handful of members to dozens of enthusiasts.

Dog owners gather by breed.

Car enthusiasts congregate according to make, model and year.

Foodies break bread over a specific cuisine.

The pursuits encompass more

By Kathleen R. Merrill

Cam, the 1991 Camaro RS of a Camaro Firebird Club Northwest member, is on display at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds.

than pastimes.

Groups based on political leanings and religious beliefs exist, too.

Others are set up for businesspeople looking for a place to unwind and maybe talk a little shop.

A trio of Issaquah groups began by tapping into the Web and an underserved niche. Since germinating online, these groups have expanded in their membership numbers and the breadth of their activities. Despite the ease of recruiting and marshaling members online, organizers said tending to a healthy, growing group requires determination and no small amount of grit. They said their role comes with another welcome chore: Planning activities with no small dose of creativity in order to keep their members engaged — and attending events.

Revved up The first time Brian Turney hosted a get-together for owners of third- and fourth-generation Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds, the group attracted one member — himself. That was in February, after Turney planted the seeds for a group with ads on craigslist, Meetup and www.thirdgen.org, a Web site for third-generation Camaro and Firebird

Above, the Camaros of five members of Camaro Firebird Club Northwest are on display.

Brian Turney’s car is on the far left.

Below, members of the club take up a block for parking in Snohomish and pose for a photo after a cruise.

CONTRIBUTED

enthusiasts.

“I wanted to meet with other people who had similar interests and who like the car as much as I do,” said Turney, who drives a black 1987 IROC-Z 350 V8.

Today, Camaro Firebird Club Northwest claims 19 members, the result of perseverance by Turney, who sat through two lonely meetups before the group began to attract other members. The first successful gathering came this spring at Lake Sammamish State Park.

Members gather to talk about modifications and troubleshoot repairs. Turney calls it a “car community think tank.” Of course, they also take plenty of time to admire one another’s vehicles and simply hang out.

Turney said he chose to grow the group through Meetup because the site is set up to encourage users to get out from behind their 7

computer screens. The group — the first for Camaro and Firebird enthusiasts in the area — grew quickly. He had one rule: no attitude.

Members began turning up a few times a month to meet and cruise. The club usually meets in Issaquah and then members set off for scenic drives. There are also plans in the works for members to participate in car shows, including the popular Fenders on Front Street Car Show & Cruise. The group has exceeded his expectations, Turney said.

Turney, of Preston, had other ideas for the club as well. In addition to providing an outlet for Camaro and Firebird enthusiasts, he sought to add a community service component to the group as well.

He recalled growing up in the

Continued on Page 8

From Page 7 South under tough conditions and said he wanted to give back to local children.

“I know how tough that can be as a little kid,” he said.

Turney and his fellow group members have plans to collect school supplies for disadvantaged children at car shows this summer.

In other words, a happy ending for a club that started with one guy and his Camaro.

Learn more about Camaro Firebird Club Northwest at http://cfcnw.com/.

In the raw About once a month or so, members of the Eastside Raw Food Meetup Group gather to talk and swap recipes over a meal — with a twist. As raw foodists, they eschew processed foods and items above 112 degrees. Instead, they focus on fresh items, often vegan or vegetarian. The most popular raw food diets are vegan diets.

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The Eastside Raw Food Meetup Group prepares a variety of recipes using a mostly vegetarian cuisine.

Organizer Heather Clark became a vegetarian about 18 years ago and a vegan five years ago. She described a typical gathering: Members discuss their

approach to food and the challenges and rewards associated with veganism and raw foodism.

Continued on Page 10

Award-winning hometown news for 109 years!

Train Depot Museum 50 Rainier Boulevard N Friday-Sunday 11-3 During summer Thursday 4-8

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From Page 9 Not all of them are entirely raw foodists. Some, like Clark, round out their diets with foods raw and otherwise.

Befitting a group based on food, there is plenty of eating at these gatherings. The usual dinner draws a few more than a dozen raw food diners from a large pool of group members. During a Valentine’s Day gathering at her Issaquah apartment, Clark hosted 45 people for a raw food meal.

Most of the members hail from the Eastside.

Members hold game nights and potlucks where they eat dishes such as jicama salad and hummus made with cold-pressed olive oil.

Many of the members are vegan, so the dishes reflect their sensibilities. Potlucks include bountiful fruits and vegetables. Dessert often consists of fresh strawberries, melon or other fruits, Clark said as she picked up lunch from House of the Sun Raw Bar at Nature’s Pantry in Bellevue,

By Greg Farrar

Jenny Dibble (right), founder of Young, Female & Entrepreneurial in Seattle, and member Danielle, owner of National College Funding Strategies, discuss the benefits that all members receive in the sharing of advice and support with othe area businesswomen. where she stops for raw food goodies.

She touted raw food as loaded with nutrients. Since incorporating the raw food element into her diet,

Clark said she has lost weight. But one benefit trumped the others: “I feel like my taste buds are more alive,” she said.

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Social network When Jenny Dibble moved to Issaquah in February 2008, the 20-something entrepreneur wanted to connect with other young small business owners.

“When I moved here from St. Louis, it was very difficult to meet other people who were entrepreneurs without that pushy, networky feeling,” she said.

Her solution: Dibble founded Young, Female, & Entrepreneurial in Seattle, which meets at her Issaquah home. The group, which Dibble organized through Meetup, has about 140 members. About 15 to 20 businesswomen attend a typical meeting. Dibble said some members attend regularly, while others drop in when time permits.

Dibble described the group as eclectic. Members include accountants, architects, a baker — selfmade entrepreneurs who happen to be female, young or young at

How to get started ❑ Finding your niche is easier than you think. Several Web sites exist for helping people find others with whom they share interests. Some of the most popular — and free — are www.craigslist.org, www.facebook.com and www.meetup.com. ❑ Users must register and create profiles to use Facebook and Meetup, while craigslist functions much in the same way as newspaper classified ads. ❑ Facebook and Meetup allow users to search based on interest and geographic location; craigslist is divided based on location, and users can browse in Seattle, the Eastside or both.

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“I wanted to meet other women who have the same drive and ambition that I do,” Dibble said, explaining her rationale for

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launching the group.

She runs SearchMarketMe, a marketing company set up to help small businesses channel the power of the Web. The women who gather at Dibble’s home hold frank discussions about plans for their businesses, drawing on one another for advice and support. To keep the meetings casual and open, the group has a strict no-solicitation policy.

Though the group has a serious intent, Dibble said the strong social component is another draw for members. When the group members gathered for the first time, they met at Panera. But Dibble said they moved to her home in order to be more forthright.

Members from the Eastside and Seattle arrive with questions for one another about how to start a business or how to navigate the tough economy.

“We open up and share struggles,” Dibble said.

Learn more about Young, Female, & Entrepreneurial at www.meetup.com/yfeseattle.

1892

1905

1913

Track the depot’s path through history

1958

By Ari Cetron

For decades, trains running along this track were Issaquah’s lifeblood. Now, they await the trolley, which may start again next year.

BY ARI CETRON Issaquah would likely have developed very differently if not for coal mines, and the train depot needing to haul loads of ore to waiting steam ships in Seattle.

“The railroad really caused Issaquah to become a boom town,” said Erica Maniez, museum coordinator for the Issaquah History Museums. “It was really a big part of the town’s story.”

In the 1860s, the area that would become Issaquah was settled by a handful of farmers, Maniez said. They lived in the area quietly doing their business for years.

By the 1880s, Seattle was little more than a lumber town trying to land a major railroad terminal.

Coal mines in what is now the Eastside could give Seattle a competitive advantage, if residents could cheaply and efficiently exploit the resource.

Enter the railroads. In 1888, the rail line came through Issaquah and began hauling loads of coal to ports on Elliot Bay. “Without the coal, it probably would have remained a farming town,” Maniez said.

In 1889, the Issaquah Train Depot opened.

Suddenly, a trip to Seattle was 12

1980s

1992

Depot timeline March 19, 1888 Train service begins to Gilman, what is now Issaquah.

1889 The Gilman station is constructed.

1894 Passenger train service from Gilman to Seattle takes two hours.

By Ari Cetron

Volunteer Joan Newman demonstrates how a ticket agent would stamp a passenger’s ticket. viable, not only for coal, but also for passenger service. People and goods started moving back and forth along the rails, contributing to the growth of Issaquah.

For three decades, rail was the best way to get around the region, and the depot was Issaquah’s link to the rest of the world.

But times changed and technology got ahead of railroads. By the 1920s, passenger vehicles were on the scene. They were still prohibi-

If you go ❑ The Issaquah Train Depot is open extended hours in summer. ❑ The depot is open from 4-8 p.m. Thursdays and from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. ❑ Admission is free on Thursdays and to members of the Issaquah History Museums. Otherwise, admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children. ❑ The depot is also available for rental for special events. ❑ For more information, go to www.issaquahhistory.org/depot.

tively expensive for the average family, but there were enough around to act as buses and other forms of mass transit, Maniez said.

People could ride to the Newport Ferry landing, near what is now Factoria, and take the Mosquito Fleet ferries across Lake Washington.

“It was a little bit quicker and a little bit cheaper,” Maniez said.

By 1922, passenger rail stopped in Issaquah.

But freight still moved through the town and through the depot.

Trains, called butter trains, because they stopped at the dairy, kept rolling through town for years.

The depot’s days were done, though. In 1958, it closed for good.

The depot sat fallow for decades. Maniez said the building was used to store ceiling tiles.

But the town’s historical society saw an opportunity to create an anchor for its overall goals – to remake Issaquah.

“It was part of the revitalization of downtown,” said Greg Spranger, now executive director of the Issaquah DownTown Association.

Then, he was active in the historical society’s efforts to rehabilitate

Continued on Page 14 13

1899 Gilman is renamed Issaquah.

1902 The Issaquah Trestle is rebuilt for $8,792.

Oct. 22, 1909 A round-trip fare from Issaquah to Seattle has increased to $2.

1922 The Northern Pacific Railroad ends scheduled passenger service between Seattle-RentonWoodinville-IssaquahNorth Bend.

1923 Pacific Coast Coal Co. closes a major coal mine in the Issaquah area.

1939 U.S. Highway 10 is widened to four lanes.

Depot events

Photos by Ari Cetron

To track the railroad’s history of moving coal, the depot has a display of mining tools (left). The museum has more than 500 artifacts on display, some of which were found during the renovation of the depot, including railroad spikes (right).

From Page 13 the depot.

“History played a huge part in revitalization,” he said. “If we weren’t going to save those things, we were going to be in trouble. We wouldn’t have the town we have now.”

After brokering a deal between the city and the building’s owner, the historical society’s plans for revitalization began an uphill fight.

“The whole area around the

depot was just a blighted parking lot,” Spranger said.

Society members were able to convince downtown businesses to join a local improvement district to help finance the project, along with going after grant funding.

A small army of volunteers spent Saturday after Saturday renovating the building.

“The joke always was it was a five-year restoration that took 10 years to do,” Spranger said.

Continued on Page 16

In the Center of it all

Town & Country Square Alpine Licensing

H&R Block

American General Finance

Hallmark

Army Recruiting

Issaquah Eyeworks

Aslan’s Thrift Store

Malarky’s

Bank of America

Margarita Tailor

Bonafide Lock & Safe

Nault Jewelers

Captain’s Cleaners

Parker Paint

Cartridge World

Pho Hoa

Check Masters

Rare Coin Galleries

Doubletake

Rite Aid

Emerald City Sun

Roy Spain Salon

Eunhee Kim, D.D.S.

Whole Health Chiropractic Center Shoe Repair

Friends and Company Gilman Nails Gold’s Gym Gymboree

❑ Issaquah Heritage Day 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. July 4 Churn butter, wash and wring out clothes the old-fashioned way, operate the historic pump car and other activities. Free. ❑ Summer History program 11 a.m. - noon July 11 ❑ Issaquah Train Show 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. July 25 Model trains will be on display.

See the trains, blow the air horn, watch a speeder go along the tracks, build your own Lego train.

Free with museum admission. ❑ Old Junk Sale 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Aug. 8 (at the Restoration Shop, at the corner of Bush Street and First Avenue) Items that are not part of the museum’s permanent collection are up for sale. Proceeds will benefit the museums.

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Depot timeline May 23, 1958 The flatbed portion of this car is called a ‘yarder,’ which was commonly used to move logs.

The top portion is a coal car retrieved from a coal mine on Tiger Mountain.

The mine itself was a scam, with a short tunnel built to dupe investors.

Northern Pacific Railroad closes the Issaquah Station Agency.

January 1975 The Issaquah trestle is dismantled.

June 1981 The Burlington Northern railroad announces that the Redmond-Issaquah track is under study for abandonment.

By Ari Cetron

1983 The Issaquah Historical Society commits to restoring the Train Depot.

Trolley Time By this time next year, people could be stepping onto a newly refurbished trolley car at the Issaquah Train Depot, said Jean Cerar, trolley chair at the Issaquah History Museums.

“It’s just a fun, old-time experience,” she said. “People smile when they think about riding a trolley.”

There had been a trolley, which ran between the depot and Gilman Boulevard from April 2001 through spring 2002. That trolley, leased from the city of Yakima, demonstrated that people would use it, Cerar said. More than 5,000 people rode the trolley in the approximately 18 months it was in operation.

After that, the group kicked into gear. They were able to acquire trolleys from Aspen, Colo., and San Francisco, but they were in need of some work.

To fund it, the museums worked to get grants, some directly from the federal government and two others from the Puget Sound Regional Council. The grants togeth-

er totaled about $500,000. The group will need to provide about $46,000 in matching funds, and has already raised some, Cerar said.

“We’re just looking to close the loop,” she said.

Now that the funding is in place, and city officials have agreed to manage the grant funding, work on the trolley can begin in earnest. The money will be used to refurbish the car, adding modern safety features to the old trolley, and to do some work to the tracks and bridge it crosses.

If it all goes as planned, the trolley could be up and running by next spring or summer, Cerar said.

When it’s functioning, it will likely accommodate 25-30 passengers.

Cerar said group members hope to run it on weekends and holidays, and possibly incorporate it into events, like ArtWalk.

The group will likely ask for a fare, or donation, to help cover operating expenses.

Learn more at www.issaquahhistory.org/trolley.

15

Sept. 13, 1990 The station is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

June 1994 The historical society dedicates the remodeled depot as a museum.

May 2001 Car No. 1976, leased from Yakima, runs weekend service from the depot to Gilman Boulevard.

Nov. 25, 2002 Car No. 519 is delivered from Aspen, Colo.

May 22, 2003 Car No. 96 is delivered from San Francisco.

From Page 14

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The volunteers spent years researching what the depot had looked like, and tracking down items, like light fixtures and wainscoting, that would match the original. Architects donated drawings and volunteers cut deals with Weyerhaeuser for discounted lumber.

Finally, in June 1994, the historical society was able to dedicate the depot as a museum.

Until about 1999, the group was made up of all volunteers. The museum used antique retail display cases to show off items in its collection Maniez said.

Since then, things have changed. The museum now has professional display cases.

Organizers were able to hire professional display consultants to help design exhibits which better tell the story of Issaquah and the depot, Maniez said.

The museum has close to

Continued on Page 17

Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce 155 NW Gilman Blvd. Exit #17 off I-90 www.issaquahchamber.com 425-392-7024 Issaquah—A great place to live, work, shop and play!

Cultural & Business Districts Award Winning Theatre Great Shopping Restaurants & Catering European Chocolate Factory Art Galleries Salmon Hatchery Interpretive Center Historic Train Depot & Town Hall Hotels & Motels Meeting & Event Facilities Visitor Center—maps & travel info

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By Ari Cetron

One of the rail cars has a model of Issaquah, complete with train tracks.

10,000 artifacts in its collection, she said, and it easily has 500 on display at any given time.

Next up for the museum are festivities involving the Alaska-YukonPacific exhibit, commemorating the 1909 World’s Fair in Seattle.

The museum will showcase artifacts from that time, emblazoned with the fair’s logo, such as sugarcube dispensers, plates, patches and handkerchiefs, Maniez said.

“Anything you can imagine wanting,” she said.

More exciting to some people is the idea that at this time next year, the depot, and using rail to move

By Ari Cetron

The museum offers a mock-up of the station manager’s desk. people, may come full circle. The history museums has now secured enough funding to refurbish a trolley car and start running it between the depot and Gilman as it did in 2001-2002, said Jean Cerar, trolley chairwoman.

17

While the trolley can help tie together two of Issaquah’s main business districts, it can have another purpose, Cerar said.

“We see it as modeling rail transit,” she said. “We can get people thinking about it.”

Walk on the wild side Come take a look at the behind-the-scenes operations at the Cougar Mountain Zoo

By Adam Eschbach

Taj and Almos, Bengal tiger cubs brought to Cougar Mountain Zoo in 2007, snuggle inside their enclosure. Zoo officials plan a larger habitat for the cubs, which weigh nearly 400 pounds each.

BY WARREN KAGARISE Cheetahs

The mercury labors toward 90 and the city slows to a standstill in the noon heat. Inhabitants seek shade beneath branches and overhangs. The landscape goes quiet except for the rhythmic thwackthwack-thwack of a sprinkler.

The animal city is unlike any other, a place populated by creatures fantastic and commonplace, a place where beasts rule and humans cater to their every need and whim, respond to their every squeak and growl.

Cougar Mountain Zoo is a city tucked within a city, sealed off from surrounding suburbia to protect both animals and humans.

Inside the zoo’s walls, zookeepers tend to a few of the most vulnerable species on the planet.

Keepers realize the role carries a certain kind of nobility, despite low pay, long hours and indifferent

Otters

Contributed

A map of Cougar Mountain Zoo shows the location of planned cheetah, lemur and otter exhibits.

How to ‘work’ at Cougar Mountain Zoo Volunteer at Cougar Mountain Zoo to help care for more than 100 animals and more than a dozen endangered species.

Volunteers must be at least 18 and able to make a regular time commitment. Prospective volunteers must first schedule an introductory meeting with zoo administrators.

Schedule a meeting by contacting the Cougar Mountain Zoo Education Department at 392-6278.

Volunteers can help with zoo education, fundraising, gardening, maintenance or administration. Some volunteers 21 and older may be selected to assist with animal care as a keeper aide.

Education docents serve as tour guides and do tasks such as help out in the zoo gift shop. Other volunteers help the zoo raise money by promoting zoo programs and fundraising efforts. Zoo administrators also need handy volunteers to help maintain zoo buildings and grounds.

Learn more about zoo programs at www.cougarmountainzoo.org.

By Adam Eschbach

Cougar Mountain Zoo has a small herd of alpaca to teach guests about the vicuña, an alpaca relative threatened by poaching and habitat loss. reactions from zoo inhabitants.

Humans responsible for the 28 species kept at the zoo also wrestle with the paradox of captivity: Animals must be plucked from the wild in order to be protected.

“It would be great if we didn’t have animals in captivity,” General Curator Robyn Barfoot said. “But because of man, we have animals that are endangered, and we have to.”

At Cougar Mountain Zoo and other facilities, the relationship between man and beast is turned upside down. Keepers make sure the zoo runs smoothly, but make no mistake: Animals set the agenda.

Take Taj and Almos, for instance. The pair of Bengal tiger cubs arrived at the zoo from a Florida wildlife preserve in June 2007. Back then, when they were just a few weeks old, the cubs were not much larger than housecats. Today, the tigers weigh nearly 400 pounds each. Ironically, Taj

By Adam Eschbach

Emus, wallabies and other animals reside in the Magic Forest section of Cougar Mountain Zoo. and Almos are still considered cubs.

The big cats fill an important niche at the zoo. Fewer than 3,000 Bengal tigers remain in the wild, and Cougar Mountain Zoo made a savvy acquisition in order to help preserve the endangered sub19

species. Keepers dote on the cubs with rewards, like the elaborate second birthday celebrations they held for Taj and Almos in April and May. Each cub received decorated cardboard boxes laden with gifts

Continued on Page 20

From Page 19 and ready to be torn apart by nightmarish claws and fangs.

Top of the food chain But Taj and Almos are also a main attraction — “charismatic megafauna” in conservation parlance. Cougar Mountain Zoo is a nonprofit organization, and the tigers draw paying visitors beyond the stylized bronze cougar sculptures at the zoo gate. About 80,000 visitors pass through the zoo each year. Zoo administrators know how powerful new exhibits and rare species can be.

“People want that,” Barfoot explained. “Then, you get them in here and tell them about all the other stuff we have.”

Visitors who turn out to see marquee exhibits inevitably cross paths with other members of the animal kingdom. The arrangement enables keepers to teach zoo goers about less alluring species, like Madagascar hissing cockroaches or

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steps through compact Cougar Mountain Zoo from the entrance to the Magic Forest section, where emus and wallabies hold court.

Like every city, the zoo is partitioned into neighborhoods.

Zoo Development Director Peter Rittler uses the city analogy to describe zoo life. By design and necessity, Cougar Mountain Zoo has to attend to the needs of its inhabitants. Keepers handle the same functions of a municipal government — security and education, for instance — and provide necessities like food and medical care.

Nashi, a venerable cougar, occupies the choicest ZIP code. Visitors spot his enclosure — outfitted with rock outcroppings and trees — as soon as they file through the metal entrance gate. Nashi arrived at the zoo 15 years ago from Minnesota.

He was sick, abandoned and only a few months old. Keepers thought he would die.

Instead, he flourished. At 15, Nashi is healthy but old for a captive cougar. He eats a special

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From Page 21 senior diet. He no longer moves as quickly as he once did. Forget about the 20-foot vertical leap cougars are known for in the wild.

Still, Barfoot described Nashi as a “rock star.”

“We do spoil him an awful lot,” she said.

OUTRUNNING EXTINCTION Barfoot and her team are mindful of mortality. Another cougar, Merlin, once shared the enclosure with Nashi. Merlin succumbed to old age last year at 16. His death hit Barfoot and her team hard.

Barfoot is quick to point out how death is part of zoo life, too.

Merlin, she said, lived a good life.

For years, he served as a feline ambassador to the thousands of visitors who tromped past his cage.

Barfoot and her team are focused on the next step. New denizens will arrive. The city will grow.

A map near the zoo entrance teases visitors to coming attractions. Animal silhouettes show the location of planned lemur and otter exhibits, and a habitat for a species that would set Cougar Mountain apart from larger counterparts in the region: cheetahs.

Administrators have long wanted to include cheetahs in the collection. Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on Earth, but extinction is gaining ground on the endangered species. The zoo showcases threatened species, and more than half of the 28 species at the zoo are endangered.

Now, Barfoot hopes to turn the planned cheetah acquisition into reality.

Every zoo has a similar plan. A document outlines the animals the zoo would like to acquire based on key factors, like conservation value and appeal to visitors. Zoo administrators call the blueprint a collection plan.

Cheetahs would be a good fit for Cougar Mountain Zoo. The facility has gained fame over the years for its feline collection. Barfoot has been a keeper for more than a dozen years; she spent most of her

By Adam Eschbach

Cougar Mountain Zoo features military macaws and several other bird species. time working with big cats.

Zoo administrators face a nearly $2 million hurdle before they can open a cheetah exhibit. Crews would have to ready the habitat. Barfoot would have to travel to South Africa to pick up a captive-born cheetah cub from a breeding facility.

Administrators set an ambitious goal for acquiring a cheetah. They hope to bring one of the sleek animals to the zoo within a year.

“Send me now,” Barfoot said. “I want to bring them to the zoo.”

INTER-SPECIES COMMUNICATIONS In the meantime, zoo administrators are preparing a larger habitat for Taj and Almos.

Planners designed their existing enclosure with unobstructed sight 22

lines and open spaces to accommodate growing cubs settling into their surroundings. A new exhibit will give the tigers more room to roam.

Zoo administrators rely on donations and volunteers to turn plans into brick-and-mortar reality.

Barfoot is quick to say zoos are not a moneymaking venture.

“We need all the help from the public we can get,” she said.

Like the animals she oversees, Barfoot also serves as an ambassador. Outreach is a key part of her mission. From her perch above the main entrance, Barfoot fills a role akin to a city administrator and, depending on the crowds, a school superintendent. Education is a key part of the keeper job at Cougar Mountain Zoo. Barfoot and her four keepers interact with zoo

visitors and lead tours. At most zoos, keepers tend to their charges behind the scenes, unseen by guests.

“You don’t only just pick up poop,” Barfoot said.

Throughout the day, Barfoot and her colleagues hold short talks at zoo exhibits. Keepers called them mini-lectures. A weekend bird show with the zoo’s resident tropical birds is part education, part entertainment.

Animals and their keepers also venture outside zoo walls into Eastside and Seattle schools.

Alpacas, reindeer, macaws and other furry or scaly zoo denizens venture into classrooms. Students are allowed to examine the animals up close, but the zoo has a no-touching policy.

Though some of the exotic species remain at the zoo during these encounters, Barfoot said unlikely species make good ambassadors for conservation. Alpacas, after all, are domesticated. But the alpaca is a close relative of the vicuña, a species threatened by poaching and habitat loss along its

encounter,” Barfoot said.

HUMAN ELEMENT

By Adam Eschbach

Almos yawns on a warm spring afternoon.

South American range. Keepers mention the fact during the alpaca talk.

“As long as you’re having fun and educating, it’s a priceless

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Barfoot double majored in anthropology and theater at Arizona State University — until she visited the tiger exhibit at Kansas City Zoo when she was 21.

The big cats captivated her. Not long after, she changed her major to biology with an emphasis on wildlife conservation.

Nowadays, she roams the grounds of Cougar Mountain Zoo with a walkie-talkie crackling from one side of her khakis and a heavy key ring jangling from the other.

Mornings start early for Barfoot and the other keepers. First, they go on rounds — “just like a doctor would, just like a nurse would,” Barfoot said — to check the welfare of the animals and give the habitats a quick inspection.

Keepers make sure the animals exercise every morning; zoo dwellers run at least twice per day.

For Barfoot, the process is hard-

Continued on Page 24

From Page 23 wired into her memory. She has fun with her role, too. During a walk around the zoo in early June, she paused and offered asides at each exhibit. Her bright blue eyes flash when she talks about the species under her care.

“Summer is my favorite reindeer coat,” she said as shaggy reindeer nibbled hay nearby. Or, while explaining the nutrient-rich beef supplement fed to the tigers, “I always say that the cats eat better than my staff.”

Barfoot turns serious when she talks about the specialized carnivore training she underwent to handle big cats. Though Taj and Almos approach the bars and chuff — a puffing sound used to denote familiarity — whenever Barfoot approaches their cage, keepers treat the tigers with deference and respect.

Barfoot, after all, has a spotless safety record to uphold. Cougar Mountain Zoo has had no accidents or escapes since the park was established 37 years ago.

Barfoot mentioned the safety record and rapped her knuckles against a redwood bench.

“Knock on wood,” she added.

LAW OF THE JUNGLE Class also divides the animal hierarchy at Cougar Mountain Zoo. Taj, Almos and Nashi may form the top tier, but more than 100 animals inhabit the zoo. Motley characters give the city its diversity.

Residents include Charlie Brown, an alpaca with a coat the color of chocolate. Keepers trimmed his coat close for summer and left shaggy layers framing his face. The result resembled a Prince Valiant haircut. A mule deer named Leeloo pricked her ears skyward and hustled toward Barfoot when she stopped by the Magic Forest pen.

Milo, a rainbow lorikeet, looks like he fell onto a painter’s palette. His feathers include the colors of the rainbow and then some.

When Barfoot talks about bringing visitors to the zoo to educate them, she wants them to watch the tigers play in their pool, or look on

as Nashi hunts for salmon treats hidden in his habitat. But she also wants zoo goers to interact with the less sensational inhabitants — deer, emus, cockroaches. Barfoot talks about related species threatened by habitat loss and how Cougar Mountain Zoo exhibits similar animals to educate visitors.

Every detail is deliberate. She wants zoo goers to consider the finality of extinction.

Not far from the custom floor plans and the groomed lawns of a burgeoning species — upper middle class suburbanite — the inhabitants of Cougar Mountain Zoo make a final stand against extinction. Most of them are endangered. A handful, like star attractions Taj and Almos, are some of the last members of a dwindling species. They all live together in a city like no other, a place where beast rules man. The arrangement defies routine, but the animals and human handlers seem to get along just fine.

“I’ve been doing this over 12 years, and I’ve never had the same day,” Barfoot said. “One day in 1,000 goes according to plan.”

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Water sports

Miniature hydroplanes, jet skis and sea kayaks share Lake Sammamish in the summer

Photos by Adam Eschbach

Avove, local youths spend a hot summer day floating on Lake Sammamish. Below, Bob Burnett, sea kayak instructor for the Kayak Academy, demonstrates how to use a stand-up paddleboard on Lake Sammamish.

BY J.B. WOGAN The radio-controlled hydroplane, fire engine red and manned by a plastic driver, skipped like a sleek rock from one steep wave to another, nearly flying over Lake Sammamish’s surface.

About 20 feet away, Bothell resident Brent Hall was steering, one hand turning a wheel about the size of a tennis ball. The remote itself looked like a black, plastic handgun, and Hall’s finger was gently revving the trigger. The result was a 3-foot-long carbon fiber hydroplane accelerating to 25 mph.

“I don’t want to roll this thing,” he said apologetically, noting that his hydroplane, The Squire Shop, can make it to 35 mph on smooth water.

But it was almost 6 p.m., the breeze had picked up and choppy 30

water was making tough terrain for the little vessel. Moments after Hall said he didn’t want the boat to roll, it did. It hit a wave from the wrong angle and capsized.

Hall is a part of the Classic Thunder club, a group of radio-controlled hydroplane racers, which use Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah to test out equipment before racing them in nearby lakes.

Last year, Hall drove the AT&T Presents full-sized hydroplane at the Tastin’ n Racin’ event.

Radio-controlled hydroplanes represent just a sliver of the water sports popular at the state park, especially in summer.

Clint Merriman, vice president of the Lake Sammamish Water Ski Club, said waterskiing and wakeboarding are the two most prevalent sports, followed by rowing.

Merriman, a 12-year Issaquah resident who lives a half-mile from the park’s boat launch, said he hardly ever sees windsurfers or sailors on the lake.

“I moved up here for a job and didn’t realize that this is a Mecca for water skiing,” he said, adding that he water skis five times per week throughout the year.

The lake’s water ski club has about 120 active members and holds monthly social meetings at businesses that sponsor the club, Merriman said.

Darren Lamonte, general manager of Mastercraft Northwest in Issaquah, agreed that wakeboarding, water skiing’s younger stepsibling, is one of the lake’s most popular sports.

Lamonte said the majority of his company’s clients hail from the Eastside, buying wakeboarding equipment and lessons.

Wakeboarding, like water skiing, involves a person being pulled

along by a motorboat.

The season runs from May to the end of September.

What’s nice about wakeboarding is that anyone can do it, Lamonte said. His customers tend to be men, but women also wakeboard, and there isn’t an age requirement — children as young as 6 and adults older than 50 have bought wakeboards from his store, he said.

The workout is comprehensive, too.

“You get sore in spots that you’ve never been sore before,” he said.

Jet skiing Christine Courtright sees her personal watercraft in two ways — as a way to get around while running the Tastin’ n Racin’ event at Lake Sammamish each year and for recreational use.

Courtright rarely uses her threeperson Sea-doo on Lake Sammamish, though she rolls it out

each summer around the time of Tastin’ n Racin’. Rescue crews use the watercraft as an emergency vehicle and Courtright uses it to be mobile on the lake when she needs to set up for the event.

Otherwise, she keeps her Seadoo at a house in Lake Chelan, where she and her husband Jon use it about every other weekend, she said.

“If we just want to go out and tour around the lake or go up to the next town and get some ice cream or something, it’s really easy to put a jet ski in the water,” Courtright said. “For a personal watercraft, we just have a lot of flexibility.”

Local residents can purchase a variety of watercraft at I-90 Motorsports in Issaquah on Northeast Gilman Boulevard. I-90 Motorsports, which helps sponsor the Tastin’ n Racin’ event each year, sells Sea-doos and Yamaha

Continued on Page 32

Lake Sammamish State Park

By Adam Eschbach

The model hydroplanes (left) are equipped with their own personal toy drivers, lifejacket included. At right, Brent Hall takes his remote-controlled hydroplane, The Squire Shop, for a test ride on Lake Sammamish. Below, The Squire Shop skips across the waves.

❑ Lake Sammamish State Park is open from 6:30 a.m. to dusk in summer. It has nine boat ramps and a 40-foot dock. To use one of the boat launch ramps, users must purchase either a $7 daily permit at the park or an annual permit at the state Parks Department office in Olympia. ❑ People can launch canoes, kayaks and paddleboats off Tibbett’s Beach, also known as Swim Beach, without a permit. ❑ To learn more about the park and its offerings, go to http://www.parks.wa.gov.

On the Web These local clubs have Web sites with more information about water sports on Lake Sammamish. ❑ Lake Sammamish Water Ski Club: http://lswsc.org ❑ Lake Sammamish Yacht Club: www.sammamishyacht.com ❑ Sammamish Rowing Association: www.srarowing.com

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From Page 31 Waverunners, and has sold personal watercrafts for more than 20 years.

Anyone 16 or older can ride a personal watercraft, though the price range for a new one is steep: $6,900-$16,000.

Used personal watercrafts range from $1,500-$10,000, according to General Manager Kurt Opel.

Opel said the typical Lake Sammamish personal watercraft user is a homeowner and usually someone who already has a boat, but wants a secondary vessel.

Opel sometimes takes out watercrafts from his store and tests them on Lake Sammamish.

“I use it for cruising. Just getting out, doing some tight turns,” he said, adding that he’s nothing like the stand-up users, though his store supplies some stand-up super jets.

“They submarine them and they do different tricks, like spin around,” Opel said. “I don’t know what the names of them are — they stand up on their heads.”

Even the standard sit-down per-

By Adam Eschbach

Mike and Carol Ladd enjoy recreational kayaking on Lake Sammamish. sonal watercrafts — which are more popular, according to Opel — have some impressive capabilities.

He said some of the watercrafts can go from 0-60 mph in less than three seconds.

Paddle sports Barbara Sherrill, office manager at Issaquah Paddle Sports, said paddleboats get the most use at

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Lake Sammamish State Park.

“Most of the people who come down are families and they have picnics. They want to have an activity that everybody can participate in,” Sherrill said, explaining that the boats have four seats and four sets of peddles. “The paddleboats work really well for people of all ages.”

Issaquah Paddle Sports rents a smattering of water sports options including paddleboats, sea kayaks, nucanoes and paddleboards.

Nucanoes are wide canoes that are virtually capsize-proof.

Paddleboards, wide surfboards with kayak or canoe paddles, are the company’s newest addition.

“Even if you swamp it with water, it will stay upright,” Sherrill said.

She said the appropriate attire for all water sports on the lake is roughly the same: a bathing suit and a life jacket. In winter, people wear dry suits or full wet suits.

In terms of training, Sherrill said people renting from her company receive a 10-minute tutorial, although all she really expects of people is that they wear a life jacket and know how to swim.

et and know how to swim.

Marie Blackwood, a Klahanie resident, said she got involved with sea kayaking on the lake after taking some lessons with her son Miles two years ago. Her son is 15 and tends not to kayak with her now, so she visits the lake alone, usually after 11 a.m. when the water is warmer. She goes 15-20 times per year from March through September, she said.

Her advice for people new to the sport?

“Watch out for the motorboats and the jet skiers” and “cross over the wake, don’t ride with it.”

Blackwood added that some jet skiers aren’t polite.

But sharing the lake isn’t a problem for Terry Fox, an Issaquah resident who lives on Squak Mountain, who said he prefers to kayak in the early morning.

“You get to see all the animals,” he said. “You pretty much have the lake to yourself.”

Fox kayaks about once a week, year-round. He has an 18-foot, fiberglass, single-person sea

By Christopher Huber

A contestant competes in the PWC freestyle event at Tastin’ n Racin’ at Lake Sammamish State Park. kayak.

He said he now ventures out beyond Lake Sammamish sometimes, using Lake Washington, Lake Union, the Puget Sound, Deception Pass and even the Pacific Ocean.

Informal yacht club Jim Mackey, a Bellevue resident, said Lake Sammamish Yacht Club

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isn’t like other yacht clubs.

“It’s more an informal group of folks,” he said.

The group of sailing enthusiasts has no formal meeting place, no membership fees and no requirements to join. About 30 people are on the club’s e-mail list.

On Saturdays, if the weather is nice, the club will organize a little regatta, Mackey said.

Most of the boats are between 10 feet and 14 feet, including catamarans, lito 14s and lasers, he said.

The biggest problem with Lake Sammamish, from a sailing perspective, is the lack of a definite destination, but the club resolves that, he said.

“It gives you a reason to get out on the lake,” he said.

The club organizes July 4th celebrations, weekly barbecues, regattas and group viewings of the Tastin’ n Racin’ event at Lake Sammamish State Park.

Mackey said that anyone interested in joining should check out the club’s Yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lsyc.

When you hit the road this summer, there’s no need to pack the bags for these

Day Trips

File

A young couple heads out on the open road for a day trip, needing nothing but a map and a sense for a good time.

BY CHANTELLE LUSEBRINK Vacations to sunny beaches or amusement parks may not cost as much or be as far away as you think.

There’s plenty to do within 50 miles of Issaquah, so now is the perfect time to become a tourist in your own backyard — besides, you’ve been waiting months for the cloud cover to lift, so why miss our region’s best months?

In your backyard Lake Sammamish State Park Heron Rookery — Issaquah

With nature trails winding throughout the park, there are plenty of places for animals to make their home. One of the great finds is the blue heron rookery.

There is also the outlet of Issaquah Creek, which during the summer and fall months is teeming with salmon. The park features 6,585 feet of waterfront and, at the eastern entrance off East Lake Sammamish Parkway, a public boat launch. Summer park hours are from 6:30 a.m. - dusk. Go to www.parks.wa.gov and select “Lake Sammamish” from the drop down menu.

nine-hole golf course. Go to www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/crossroads_park.htm.

Crossroads Park — Bellevue

Rusty Putter — Newcastle

This park is the perfect place to cool down and have a picnic lunch.

It has a 25,000-square-foot spray park for children, which includes spouting orcas, a hissing and spitting dragon and squirting clams.

The spray park was added in 2008 and is open daily from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. There is also a skate bowl, tennis and basketball courts and a

If it’s been a while since you’ve broken out that set of clubs, The Golf Club at Newcastle has the perfect solution — The Rusty Putter 18-hole putting course. What makes this course special is its real grass — no Astroturf in sight.

Holes range in length from 15

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Continued on Page 36

From Page 35 yards to 50 yards and have subtle topographical changes. Head to the course in late afternoon and treat yourself to spectacular sunset views of Seattle, Lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains. It’s hard to go wrong when the fee is just $10 per player for 18 holes.

And performing at sunset every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from the end of April through midOctober is Scottish bagpiper Neil Hubbard. Go to www.newcastlegolf.com and click on “Golf.”

movies during summer. Go to www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/PineLake Park.aspx.

Exploring nearby cities

Kelsey Creek Farm — Bellevue Kelsey Creek Farm offers a unique experience for children of all ages to get up close and personal with some furry friends. The farm offers tours; hands-on experiences with a variety of animals; sessions on wool carding, caring for animals and planting; historic buildings; and even examples of pioneer life. Tours, about an hour long, cost $5 for children and $2.50 for adults; they are also available for groups. Barnyard animals are available for viewing from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. daily. Go to www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/kelsey_creek _park.htm.

Pike Place Market and the Seattle Waterfront Farm-fresh produce, flying fish, curious collectibles and a giant octopus can be found here. Park your car and you can walk to the area’s main attractions the rest of the day. Visit the Seattle Aquarium from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Admission is $10.50 for children under 13 and $16 for adults.

Wander around the market and try to catch a flying fish or two. See the wonders of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. Don’t forget to visit the Olympic Sculpture Park, just two blocks north of the market. Go to www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/water.htm or www.pikeplacemarket.org.

Tradition Lake — Issaquah Tradition Lake, on the western side of Tiger Mountain, boasts a plethora of family friendly and day hiker trails. Swamp Trail features a family interpretive story, “Zoe and the Swamp Monster.”

On Big Tree Trail, you’ll find one of the largest Douglas fir trees on the mountain. The Around the Lake Trail is built to Americans with Disabilities Standards and features viewing platforms from above Tradition Lake, so everyone can enjoy a great view. Go to www.ci.issaquah.wa.us and type in parks in the search box.

Pine Lake Park — Sammamish This hidden treasure among Eastside lakes has several ball fields, a boat launch, fishing pier and two new play areas with new playground equipment over 16 acres of land. The waterfront beach also features a roped-off swimming area that is supervised by lifeguards from noon - 7 p.m. from June 20 through Labor Day weekend. The park is also the location for several concerts, plays and 36

Marymoor Park — Redmond Whether you want to test out your remote-controlled aircraft, try your hand at rock climbing or just want to relax, Marymoor Park has it all. In fact, more than 3 million

people visit the 640-acre park each year. But some of its hidden gems are the 400-meter Velodrome cycling track, the reflexology path and the off-leash area for your four-legged friends. Marymoor picks up after dark, too. Check out the park’s summer concert series.

Go to www.kingcounty.gov and then click on parks.

“Swimming” and “Henry Moses Aquatic Center.”

winding near the river. To shave time, bring your bike for the first four miles. Then, hike the last three miles to the glacier and suspension bridge. Go to www.nps.gov/mora to plan your trip.

Snoqualmie Valley Railroad

Woodinville wine & beer Long summer days makes Woodinville a perfect escape for those who want to learn about wine and beer. Woodinville’s 40 wineries have perfected the art of providing educational tours and tasting sessions for patrons. After your tour, grab a loaf of bread, some cheese and salami and sit by Chateau Ste. Michelle’s pond for a picnic. Not into wine? Try a brewery tour. Redhook Ales provides a brewery tour for $1, which lets you in on its inner workings and some great samples. If you have children, that’s not a problem. Most wineries and the brewery have soda or juice alternatives for children. Go to www.ci.woodinville.wa.us/play.asp.

Ever wonder what life was like when railways ruled? Check out the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad and you’ll not only get a once-in-alifetime ride, but you’ll be able to experience what travel in the Victorian era was like. Meet depot workers and conductors while chugging to North Bend and back.

Along the way you’ll see the Snoqualmie Valley and Snoqualmie Falls. Round trip fares for summer are $7 for children, 2-12 years; $10 for adults; and $9 for seniors, age 62 and older. Go to www.trainmuseum.org for a schedule.

Full day of adventures

Cedar River Park and Henry Moses Aquatic Center — Renton With temperatures going up this summer, it’s a good time to cool off at the Cedar River Park and the Henry Moses Aquatic Center. There’s lush grass and shelters for picnics.

And, of course, the aquatic center, has water slides, swimming pools and a lazy river. Admission to the park is free. Admission to the aquatic center ranges from free to $9 for children and from $7 to $14 for adults, depending on time of day and age. Go to www.rentonwa.gov/living, click on “Recreation”, then

Museum of Glass and Tacoma Waterfront Bustling with new activity, Tacoma’s waterfront features the Museum of Glass, which opened in 2002. The museum is open to the public and admission is $4 for children 6-12 and $10 for adults. The third Thursday of every month is free from 5 - 8 p.m. The museum is open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday through Saturday and from noon - 5 p.m. Sunday. Watch artists blow and form glass inside the cone. Or take a short walk across the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, featuring Dale Chihuly’s glass artwork. At the end of the bridge are the U.S. Courthouse and Union Station. Have a picnic at Marine Park on Commencement Bay. Go to www.museumofglass.org or www.traveltacoma.com.

Mount Rainier National Forest’s Carbon Glacier There aren’t too many places you can get up close and personal with a glacier without having to put on the crampons, but Carbon Glacier is one. In fact, it comes to the lowest elevation of any glacier in the continental U.S. Get an early start because it is about seven miles to the glacier and you’ll need time to hike out. The trail is mostly flat, 37

Continued on Page 38

From Page 37

reservations and up-to-date information. While it’s a trek, the 104degree water is worth it. Go to www.goldmyer.org.

Goldmyer Hot Springs Venture to nature’s spa at Goldmyer Hot Springs. Even though nature has made it a little difficult to get to — flooding earlier this year caused damage to the Taylor River Bridge — vehicles can get up to the bridge. From there, you will need to walk the rest of the way to the springs, until repairs are made later this summer. There is an entry fee of $15 per adult. Reservations to use the springs should be made, as there is a limit of 20 people per day at the site. Call 206-789-5631 well in advance of your trip for

Future of Flight, Paine Field Airport Antique Hunting in Snohomish Hunting for antiques in Snohomish can be just as fun as exploring a museum. Hunting at the Remember When Antique Mall could lead you to a newfound treasure or something to enjoy with friends on a lazy weekend.

Snohomish is home to nearly a dozen antique shops, so wear comfortable shoes, because once you start, it may be hard to stop. Go to www.visitsnohomish.com.

The Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour is where you’ll want to be if you have skybound dreams. At the center, you and your family can create your own jet, take a ride in the XJ5 flight simulator, try out the next generation of in-flight entertainment systems, touch the high-tech skin of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner and see Boeing workers assembling commercial jets. Go to www.futureofflight.org for directions and tour information.

Come see our new

look!

Abundant choices for your lifestyle For seniors on the GO Stop by for a visit. Open daily.

425.391.2880 3710 Providence Point Dr. SE, Issaquah, WA www.bellewood.com 38

BY LAURA GEGGEL

Contributed

Issaquah resident Christy Cowan runs with her 2-year-old son Asher as she prepares for her next marathon.

Marathon moms Issaquah runner Jen Benthin gives a great big smile with her daughter Isabella after finishing the Covey Run 5K.

These runners share more than just the distances they cover Contributed 40

On any given day, they’re lacing up their running sneakers and loading their bright-eyed babies into strollers — unless dad or a babysitter is around to watch the children.

Issaquah’s marathon moms can be found just about anywhere, running along the East Lake Sammamish Trail or doing hill repeats on Squak Mountain.

Issaquah resident Katie Currier started her active streak when the Subaru U.S. Women’s Triathlon Series came to Federal Way in 2006, but she wavered when it came to the running portion of the race.

“I never thought I would be able to run a whole triathlon,” she said.

Triathlons include swimming, biking and running a variety of distances. Currier didn’t mind the first two activities, but she disliked running on her treadmill at home and found herself shrinking from it on the course.

“I thought, ‘This running thing is always going to hang me up,’” she said.

Rather than avoid running, she decided to face her demons head on and enrolled in the 2008 Portland Marathon. The race took her about six hours, but Currier persevered, even turning it into a family affair; her sister, mother, brother, two aunts and uncle all run and are constantly trading running stories. Even Issaquah Middle School student Libby, Currier’s 11year-old daughter, runs with her mother on Newport Way. “It’s really just affected our family,” Currier said.

Marathon mothers like Currier try their best to hit the running trails, but find they must first balance their busy lives as caregivers.

Through a supportive network of friends, family and childcare options, Issaquah’s mothers are running around the city in droves as they prepare to tackle the 26.2-mile marathons on their list of goals.

Why do mothers run?

Many of the women were planning to run in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon and Half Marathon June 27 in Tukwila.

Currier remembered after finishing the 2008 Portland Marathon, she felt exhausted and cramped, but she didn’t let that rain on her running parade.

“We felt really good afterward,” she said. “I tell my friends, ‘You can run. It’s not as hard as you think.’ You do feel, after awhile, like you can do anything.”

Issaquah resident Jenn Aldassy said running requires a large time commitment, adding she would find it hard to run without the help of her supportive husband.

“At the same time, it definitely helps me work out some energy, both positive and negative, and helps me be a better mom,” she said, remembering times when she told her husband, “You take the kid. I’m going to go run.”

Issaquah resident Kim Staninger, who recently started a new business, describes running as therapeutic.

“At the end of the day, you kind of need some help transitioning from being a corporate individual to being a mommy and a wife. It

Issaquah’s Stroller Strides group smiles for its first 5K at the August 2008 Covey Run in Woodinville. From left, Athena Frederick, Jen Benthin, Tracy King, Beth Miller, Jaime Menold, Christine Stevens and Katrina Kippen line up before the race.

Contributed

gives you the opportunity to sweat some stuff out and clear your head,” she said. “When you’re done, you’re relaxed. You’ve expended some energy, you feel good about yourself and you’ve burned some calories at the same time. It’s a great in between.”

For stay-at-home mothers, running outside can help make up for a day of running around inside the

house.

“It does keep me in shape,” Issaquah resident Heather Mar said. “It really keeps you in good mental and emotional shape, too, because you’re taking time for yourself. I think it makes you a better mom. When you’re parenting, you’re there, more present.”

Continued on Page 42

Contributed

Issaquah resident, marathon runner and mother Katie Currier nears the finish line at the September 2008 U.S. Women’s Triathlon Series in Federal Way. 41

From Page 41

Running schedules Currier said she runs when it will have the least impact on her family time. For instance, she runs in the evening when her husband is home from work.

Mar also enjoys runs at dusk, but said she would wake up in the early hours of the morning if needed.

Mar started running in college so she could “get the freshman 15 off,” but “as I kept running, I found that I liked it so much more than just losing weight. It became a really important time for me, mentally. It was time to think, time for myself.”

She ran three marathons before the birth of her son and started running again with other mothers she found through Meetup.com.

“With my mom’s schedule, I just have to make it work when I can,” Mar said. “I get up early on Saturday mornings. It’s very help-

By Monte Mar

Issaquah mom Heather Mar, at the Salmon Days Rotary Run, holds hands with her then-2-year-old son, Merrick. ful to have a supportive husband.”

Sometimes, her night runs coincide with her family dinners, but Mar has an easy remedy.

“When I get home from my run, we all sit down for a snack,” Mar said.

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Running resources ❑ www.meetup.com to find a local running group ❑ www.runnersworld.com and selected “Races & Places” to find local events. ❑ http://johnbingham.com or www.halhigdon.com for running tips. ❑ www.mapmyrun.com to map local running routes.

said she runs whenever it is convenient.

“If I said I can only run when my husband’s home, I would never get out the door,” she said.

Sometimes, she will pack her 2year-old son into his stroller and run with him. The toddler clearly gets a kick out of running with his mother.

“He started running and moving his arms back and forth and saying ‘Mommy’s running, mommy’s running,’” Cowan said.

She views her dedication to exercise as a positive influence for her son. In an age of video game couch potatoes, her running could propel her son to the track when he is ready.

“He’s so young, but as he gets older, it’s important to be an example of fitness,” she said.

Group running versus running alone Tracy King, a Covington resident who leads a Stroller Strides class in Issaquah, said about a dozen mothers join her group on a weekly basis to run with each other. Group running is just as important as running by yourself, she said.

“In running with a group, there is more accountability with you being there,” she said.

Group running can also drive an inner competitiveness and propel people to run faster than they normally would.

“If I’m running with other people, I cherish the adult conversa-

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tions,” Mar said. “I have actually found it’s nice to run with other moms. We’re all willing to get up at 7 in the morning and run together, because we know it’s better for our families.”

Group running allows participants to trade running tips and learn about races.

“I kind of had to do some tooth pulling to get them to do this (Rock ‘n’ Roll) marathon,” King joked. “I think they needed someone to push them.”

In contrast, running alone can give space for busy parents to listen to their thoughts.

“Quiet reflection time is good for moms with little kids,” King said.

“I always looked forward to my 15 miles.”

Aldassy said she normally runs by herself, but uses the Meetup group once a week when she feels she needs a motivation booster.

“It’s really helpful, to go out with people who have the same goal,” she said. “You talk and you don’t realize that eight miles went by.”

Cowan agreed.

“It’s motivational to be with other people,” Cowan said. “We’re all moms and we’re all sort of new to running. It’s neat to see these other women who are in the same place you are.”

Where to train Aldassy suggested busy mothers find a workout facility with available childcare. She started training for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in January, the height of the Seattle-area cold spell, and an indoor gym answered her problems.

“When it was cold, I trained at the treadmill at the gym,” she said.

She found that Gold’s Gym in Issaquah has a Kid’s Klub, which her son enjoys.

With the summer sun shining down on Issaquah, many runners turn to the trails.

“I love running Tiger Mountain,” Mar said. “I don’t get to do it as often, because I don’t like running it alone.”

Other mothers run in local events, like the Issaquah Salmon Days Rotary Run. Mar’s 2-year-old son runs, too, but not with her.

“He can’t do a 5K, he can do a 1K,” Mar said, of her son’s debut at the Issaquah Salmon Days kids run.

With enough motivation, more mothers may be lacing up their running shoes and training for more marathons.

“Running is one of those things I have found that almost anybody can do,” Staninger said.

“You just get out there and enjoy yourself.”

By Adam Eschbach

Catfish Duo, Fred Hopkins (left) and Glenn Lestz, plays at Grimaldi’s Coffee House on a Friday afternoon.

Hole in the wall gang Entertainers are helping grow Issaquah’s music scene, from any corner they can fit into

BY DAVID HAYES Time used to be in Issaquah that to enjoy a night out of dinner and live music, you had to travel elsewhere on the Eastside or go all the way to the Emerald City.

But in recent years, there’s been a growing movement to make Issaquah more of an arts destination, including music. Thanks to the concerted efforts of a few enterprising citizens, there are now several options for the discerning and casual music fan — the meal with background music, the music as main attraction and the outdoor street performers.

Eric Fridrich performs his take on acoustic rock/roots music for an appreciative audience at Vino Bella’s Wine and Espresso Bar.

By Greg Farrar

Ambience music Option one features musicians armed with little more than a single instrument, literally willing to play in any available corner of an establishment.

New on the scene is Grimaldi’s Coffee House in Gilman Village. On one recent night, the Catfish Duo presented their particular brand of “folksy cool thing.” With Fred Hopkins on acoustic guitar and Glenn Lestz on the electric guitar, the two have been entertaining audiences on the Eastside for more than 10 years, offering their take on classics from Elvis to the Grateful Dead, with a blend of New Orleans flavor for good measure.

“We’re celebrating signing a new contract this week with Sony/Columbia Records,” Hopkins told his audience of eight. “The way this contract works is each week we get a new album. If we

Spacious outdoor venues For those looking for an outdoor stage with a little more room to kick up the heels, try these summer venues:

❑ Aug. 18 — Dusty 45’s (rockabilly) ❑ Aug. 25 — Shelley and the Curves (danceable pop)

Concerts in the Park 6:30-8 p.m. Pine Lake Park

Concerts on the Green 7-8:30 p.m. Community Center ❑ July 7 — Beanbarry Delights (‘50s rock ‘n’ roll) ❑ July 14 — Portage Bay Big Band ❑ July 21 — Black Velvet 4 (classic rock) ❑ July 28 — Nearly Dan (Steely Dan tribute) ❑ Aug. 4 — Magic Bus (‘60s revisited) ❑ Aug. 11 — Soul Purpose (soul)

like it, we keep it. If not, back it goes.”

His deadpan jokes aside, the

❑ July 9 — Route 66 (big band) ❑ July 16 — Hettel Street Blues ❑ July 23 — Jimmy Free’s Friends (reggae) ❑ July 30 — Soul Purpose (funk, soul) ❑ Aug. 6 — Black Velvet ❑ Aug. 13 — City Knightz (classic rock) ❑ Aug. 20 — Sammamish Symphony ❑ Aug. 27 — Back Burner (bluegrass)

Catfish Duo did offer up some toe-

Continued on Page 48

“Our primary focus is music.

Everything else is secondary.”

Craig Baker Owner, Bake’s Place

By Tasha Owen

Jazz vocalist Kelley Johnson, accompanied by John Hamar on the upright bass, performs at Bake’s Place.

From Page 47 tapping tunes perfect for sipping an order of espresso. Hopkins said he especially likes performing at Grimaldi’s, because it comes with its own sound system. He and Lestz need only plug in and they’re ready to go.

From the back of the coffee house, the duo doesn’t need much space for their performance — Lestz provides the low-key solos and leaves the hopping and bouncing around to Hopkins.

“But it’s big enough for my other band, Ramshackle,” Hopkins said regarding his five-piece group.

Other locations in town offer up their own corners for musicians to serenade evening diners.

Saxophonist Darren Motamedy regularly serenades diners at Pogacha restaurant, where his trio plays smooth jazz.

“Pogacha is a little more of a place people come to sit and listen to the music, not just eat with music playing in the background,” he said.

By Adam Eschbach

Acoustic rock band Train Wreck, Joe Iudice (left) and Hank Beach, perform in tight quarters at Stan’s Bar-B-Q. With 40 years in the music industry, Motamedy said he enjoys keeping Issaquah on his steady rotation.

“Issaquah is a kind of young community. All the venues are super clean and new, that have a really great mix of people, too,” he

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said.

Another “hole in the wall” setting is Stan’s Bar-B-Q. Owner Stan Phillips tried offering live music year-round when he first opened six years ago. But he quickly found out the realities of the burgeoning music scene in Issaquah.

“On Saturdays and during the winter, it was dead,” he said.

So, he shortened his season to just summers and Friday nights. It proved to be a perfect combination.

“I’m glad I changed to the summer, because the two months leading up to it, the anticipation grows.

People are always asking, ‘When ya gonna start?’” Phillips said.

However, he admits that the way his restaurant is configured, he has little more room than for two guys with guitars.

For a couple of Microsoftees who regularly moonlight as the duo Train Wreck, that’s all they need.

Joe Iudice, of Sammamish, and Hank Beach, of Seattle, have been playing their brand of acoustic rock for 10 years, offering up about 60 percent original material.

“We love Stan’s for what it is,” Iudice said. “Our first set is more background music for the diners.

And by the third set, we get more jammier and the crowd by then is more there to hear us.”

Phillips plans to begin expansion

By Kathleen R. Merrill

Troy Kline belts out a number while Chris Morton plays piano, Devan Stovall plays drums and Rachael Contorer plays bass at Vino Bella. on his restaurant in August, offering more dining space. That, in turn, will open up room to add a stage and an actual dance floor.

Someone who has had some

49

success with a year-round music schedule is Claude Blumenzweig, owner of Vino Bella. His wine and

Continued on Page 50

From Page 49 espresso bar has proven to be an ideal setting to clear a corner near the front window from which to offer a variety of live music, from jazz and flamenco to blues and soft rock.

Even though Vino Bella doesn’t have a dance floor, Blumenzweig said customers don’t let the tight space stop them if the mood grabs hold.

“They just push back the tables and create their own dance floor,” he said.

Don Baragiano on guitar and Scott Tenhulzen on congas and djembe, play ‘Hejira’ at Vino Bella during the summer’s first Music on the Streets event.

Supper club The only place in town that currently has its own stage is Bake’s Place in Providence Point. Owners Craig and Laura Baker are proud to have one of the top 100 jazz destinations in the country, a distinction given to them by Downbeat magazine.

“First of all, our primary focus is music. Everything else is secondary,” Craig Baker said. “We’re

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an authentic jazz supper club, not a restaurant/bar with music in the background.”

In addition to booking some of the region’s top or rising jazz talent, Craig’s reputation in the business has allowed him to sign internationally recognized singers and match them up with local musicians, cutting travel costs of booking entire bands.

“The Visiting Songbird series features vocalists at the top of their game, such as Greta Mattasa and Rebecca Paris,” Craig said.

Before each act performs, Craig likes to address the audience, welcoming them to his “living room.”

The intimate setting with just 72 seats has that homey vibe. After finishing their meal, the audience turns its full attention to the performer.

Outside entertainment Then, there’s the man who took on the project of transforming Issaquah into an arts destination, Michael Johnson. ArtWalk drew the crowds to downtown Issaquah

On the Web For a complete schedule of performers, go to each establishment’s Web site: ❑ Bake’s Place: www.bakesplace.org ❑ Vino Bella: www.vinobella.com ❑ Stan’s Bar-B-Q: www.stansbarbq.com ❑ Grimaldi’s Coffee House: www.grimaldiscoffee.com ❑ Music on the Street: www.downtownissaquah.com

once a month. Live music at strategic locations along the route kept them refreshed on their journey.

So, Johnson expanded the street performances to Music on the Streets. The primary location is Pedestrian Park, the grassy knoll at the corner of Front Street and Sunset Way. A second location, conveniently named Stage 195, is in front of the artbyfire

gallery, naturally located at 195 Front St. Johnson books small acts that perform everything from pop, country, blues and folk music.

“The way the park looks now, we’re getting a really nice following and it’s gaining momentum,” he said.

He’s noticed that not only does pedestrian traffic pause to listen to the street performers, so, too, do drivers stopped at the traffic light.

“It’s funny to see them drive up with a curious look on their face, then they smile,” Johnson said. “They roll down their window to listen and have a good time. It’s one of the few times I’ve seen when drivers don’t mind waiting for or even missing a light.”

Dancing in public on the streets of Issaquah remains optional. So, while Issaquah doesn’t quite yet have a venue dedicated to cutting the rug with your favorite dance move, there are still plenty of spots to tap the toes and enjoy live music.

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Members of the Bushwhacker Climbing Club participate in a rescue scenario on Mount Si.

BY CHRISTOPHER HUBER

omnivores — they eat plants and animals, according to the The deer are already foraging Department of Fish and Wildlife. and so are the bears.

But in the spring, they mainly eat Bears were being sighted as plants. They also like birdseed. early as mid-April, and as recently If you don’t want black bears as June on Tiger Mountain. strolling onto your deck anytime That means Issaquah residents soon, now is the time to put away need to be aware of how to avoid the bird feeders, Richards said, as encounters with such animals, well as anything that omits a including mountain lions yummy smell.

WILDLIFE and even bobcats, “A bear is looking RE E according to Bruce for food. It’s either O A L T P Richards, smelling or seeEX enforcement ing someofficer for the thing,” he Washington said. “The Department of only reason Fish and a bear is Wildlife. walking Wildlife around is to attacks on eat.”

Y T humans around And a heightI RE EC ’S the Issaquah Plateau ened sense of H T WH and in the valley are smell, combined with AT Y IDE S T U OU NE O extremely rare. an innate curiosity, make E ED TO KNOW TO LIV “The chance of them attackbears skilled scavengers. Hiding ing in the wild is almost not worth garbage is another key way to talking about,” Richards said. avoid unwelcome encounters in the AVOIDING BEARS AT HOME However, there are a few things driveway or on the back porch.

Black bears, the most common Put your garbage in the garage, residents can do to prevent certain species of bear in the area, are not a tool shed, Richards said. If a animals from wandering into their yard or attacking in the wilderness.

People who misunderstand wildlife are the greatest threat to residents, Richards said. Feeding wild animals is the biggest reason they stick around or eventually attack, he said.

SURVIVOR

HE

ISSAQUAH

52

bear learns to open a small door, it won’t hesitate to try and open a larger door next time it smells an appealing aroma.

Once animals are used to a steady source of food from your house, they expect it and may become aggressive. The solution to avoiding bears and other wildlife?

“Don’t feed them,” he said.

“Period.”

CAMPING AND HIKING IN BEAR COUNTRY The Department of Fish and Wildlife offers numerous tips for the rare, but possible, encounter with a black bear in the wilderness in our area.

With warm weather, campers and

hikers have taken to the trails again.

The key to avoiding bears while out in nature is keeping a clean camp.

The department’s Web site has a few more recommendations: ❑ Put garbage in wildlife-resistant trash containers, store food in double plastic bags and, when possible, put them in a food locker or your car’s trunk. ❑ Keep children close and on the trail. ❑ Hike in small groups, singing or talking to make your presence known.

Richards’ advice: Do not take food into your tent. Hang your food up on a tree branch, out of a bear’s reach. Keep your pets on a leash.

If you do encounter a bear in the wilderness, Richards said, stay calm

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Bushwhacker Climbing Club members run through a training program each year in various wilderness settings, including Mount Baker.

53

and don’t look it directly in the eye.

As with other wildlife, make yourself look as large as possible and wave your arms above your head.

Give the animal, whether it’s a mountain lion, bear, coyote or bobcat, plenty of room.

Try and scare it away by clapping your hands and yelling.

“If you see a bear, don’t go crazy. Just let ‘em know you’re there,” he said.

BASIC SURVIVAL SKILLS Along with knowing what to do when you encounter wildlife, knowing a little about outdoor survival is also important for those who spend a lot of time on the trails surrounding Issaquah.

Area survival expert Charles Thuot, who has taught basic- to advanced- level survival courses since the late 1970s, offers six fundamental survival priorities to use in an emergency.

These basic guidelines can help a stranded hiker who is lost or injured, Thuot said.

The top priority is to stay focused and mentally prepared to deal with an emergency situation, he said.

If you are in a medical emergency, CPR is the next priority.

Otherwise, find shelter, which will buy you time by getting you dry and out of rain and wind.

“The bottom line in terms of these is the ability to help yourself,” Thuot said.

A shelter can be a lean-to or a sleeping bag, but it allows you to gain or preserve energy, he said.

“The human body is a finite operating machine and there’s a time at which you need rest and recovery,” he said. “You need to conserve the resources you have available to you. You can’t assume that your gas tank, your fuel tank, is unlimited.”

He said not allowing your body to rest or conserve energy could lead to hyperthermia (overheating), hypothermia, sickness or injury.

The final two priorities are fluids and/or food.

“We’re not unlike internal combustion machines. Instead of gasoline, for us, it’s calories. We have

Continued on Page 54

From Page 43

species in Western Washington. Its short needles are rich in vitamin C and make a tasty tea when broken and steeped in hot water for a few minutes. Steeping them, rather than boiling them, preserves the vitamin C and keeps the bitter resin from releasing into the water.

to have coolant, so we’re really just another machine,” Thuot said.

“Interrupting any of those and/or not allowing for conserving and or restoring or recovery of any of those, the engine quits.”

WILD EDIBLES Depending on your experience hiking in these parts, it may be easy to identify many of the wildgrowing edible plants in the area.

Knowing how to discern an edible from the plethora of vegetation on the trails could provide important nutrition for emergency situations.

It’s also good for the sake of sampling some of nature’s bounty.

It is, however, important to own or carry a plant identification guide for those who are serious about benefiting nutritionally from the natural salad bowl that is the Cascade foothills.

Here is some basic information about local natural edibles from Karen Sherwood, Issaquah-based ethno-botany instructor:

SALAL (gaultheria shallon, ericaceae)

It’s an easy-to-identify, evergreen shrub native to the Northwest. It produces edible dark blue, almost black, berries with sticky hairs on them. Native translation for salal literally means “plentiful.”

STINGING NETTLE (urtica diocioa, urticacea)

DOUGLAS FIR (pseudotsuga menziesii, pinacea) This tree is the most common

54

This is easily identifiable, especially if it ever stings you on the ankle as you walk along the trail.

It has soft green leaves and yellow, widely spreading roots. It makes a good tea or edible snack.

To consume it, you must boil it first, to destroy the stinging agent.

and grows knee high. It has bright yellow flowers in spring and they mature into grapelike fruits that are tart until ripe.

“If unripe, it’s almost shockingly sour,” Sherwood said.

other minerals,” Sherwood said.

RED HUCKLEBERRY (vaccinium parvifolium, ericaceae) In springtime, it’s often found in decaying stumps or in logged areas.

It has deciduous oval leaves and will have bright-red round berries in late spring and early summer.

SALMON BERRY (rubus spectabilis, rosaceae) SIBERIAN MINER’S LETTUCE (claytonia sibirica, portulacaceae)

OREGON GRAPE (mahonia nervosa, berberidaceae) This grows as a low shrub and has hollylike leaves on it. It’s fairly stout, has sharp, pointed leaves

This makes a nice trailside nibble. Its first leaves are spatulashaped. It has a long-leaf stem to an oval leaf — almost succulent in nature. In spring, it’s the one that gets five-petaled flowers, which are white with pink candy stripes in it. It grows mostly in shaded areas and along stream banks.

“It makes a nutritious salad green, rich in calcium and iron and

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In springtime, it’s the first shrub to get bright, almost magenta-colored flowers on it. It’s not high in calories, but you can cut and peel the new, tender, red shoots and eat them like a tart stalk of celery.

When it comes to preparing for hiking trips, Sherwood offered some simple advice: If faced with an emergency situation in the wilderness, don’t panic.

“Go in with some knowledge,” she said. “Get together with your hiking buddies and do some foraging ahead of time.”

By Greg Farrar

Residents at Bellewood Retirement Living enjoy socializing with their neighbors and a view of the outdoors in any weather, while staying fit at an exercise facility.

Welcome to

Retirement City A growing number of seniors are finding Issaquah the perfect place to call home during their twilight years.

BY BOB TAYLOR erhaps X did not mark the spot on the map for all of them, but Issaquah has become the destination for many retirees these days. Some have moved to the local area from out-of-state; others came just a

P

few miles down Interstate 90; or there are many seniors, who after living in Issaquah for years, concluded why even move?

Issaquah, home for about 26,000 people, has become an attractive area for seniors. In fact, late last year, in an article by U.S. News and World Report, Issaquah was proclaimed as one of the top 56

retirement destinations in the entire nation and depicted as a “gem of a city.“ For some people, like Larry Ishmael, former chairman of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, that’s no surprise.

“Issaquah has it all,” Ishmael said.

He can point out such things as Issaquah’s “Big E’s” - environment,

entertainment and economy.

In terms of environment, few communities in the country match the scenic Issaquah Alps. Looking out a living room at Squak Mountain every day was a selling point for former Seattle SuperSonics sportscaster Bob Blackburn. He and his wife Patricia, who lived in Bellevue’s Woodridge neighborhood for 41 years, moved to Timber Ridge at Talus last year.

“I love looking out, seeing the woods and the mountains,” he said. “I’ve always been a mountain guy.”

By Greg Farrar

Activities, physicians abound Many active seniors enjoy hiking Cougar, Squak and Tiger mountains. The three mountains all have hiking trails, ranging in degrees of difficulty and length.

For an alternative, seniors can go on ArtWalks in the downtown area or hike around at Lake Sammamish State Park.

In terms of entertainment, many seniors are attracted to the onstage theatrical scene in downtown Issaquah. There are also movie theaters in the area for cinema fans.

As for the economy, yes, there are some benefits for retirees, because Washington has no state income tax, which attracts people from other states.

Ishmael points out the medical

Timber Ridge at Talus (above) opened last year to favorable reviews. Many of these east-facing windows give residents a great view of Squak Mountain’s natural beauty. Among the visually strong elements of Timber Ridge (left) is the main entry sign on Talus Drive. The ornamental steel design was built by JPL Habitability, of Bremerton. care advantages Issaquah has over other areas.

“We also have a great number of practicing physicians that can tend to the needs of seniors, and who still take Medicare and Medicaid patients,” Ishmael said.

“A lot of places in the country may have a lower cost of living than we do here, but many have a dearth of physicians who will still take Medicare and Medicaid.

Fortunately, that’s not a problem for Issaquah residents.”

A lot of living options

By Greg Farrar

University House, Bellewood and Timber Ridge have become reasons why seniors seek retirement housing here.

Retirement living facilities range from separate condominiums to assisted living. Providence Point, for example, is an area for people 55 and older. The area was annexed into the city about eight years ago, according to Mayor Ava Frisinger. She points out that Providence Point is filled with many people who still are successful in their professional lives.

Bellewood, near Providence Point, is for independent retirees, but includes services. There are about 140 people living there, ranging in age from 67-99. The average age of people living there is 83. Manager Keenon Kennedy said he wants Bellewood to provide residents with plenty of options.

“You want to have fun in your retirement years, and to have a purpose,” he said.

University House at Issaquah is famous for its gallery exhibitions, with new shows three times a year.

Continued on Page 58

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From Page 57 Bellewood provides a variety of planned activities like movie nights, cultural events, lectures and classes, and even yoga.

Mary Ellen Moylan-Hanks, 83, is a Bellewood resident. She moved from San Jose, Calif., to Issaquah to be closer to her family. MoylanHanks said she has been pleased with the options here. Since she doesn’t drive any more, she makes regular use of the bus that goes downtown for shopping and doctor appointments.

Martin and Reva McDonald, also Bellewood residents, didn’t move quite as far as Moylan-Hanks. The McDonalds lived in Issaquah for more than 50 years before they retired to Bellewood. They decided to stay put after looking at other cities.

“Everything is here. We have Costco and just about every other store,” Reva McDonald said.

“There isn’t much you couldn’t get in Issaquah.”

Timber Ridge is the newest

By Greg Farrar

Providence Point Town Hall, established in 1984, is located at 4135 Providence Point Drive S.E. The facility has a community center, Bake’s Place restaurant and jazz venue, and a real estate sales office.

deluxe retirement facility for seniors. One of its biggest selling points is the Briarwood Health Center. The center provides skilled nursing, rehabilitation, respite care and hospice care. It has an “R & R” program that helps residents recover and return home after a

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surgery or illness. Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy are also available.

Patricia Blackburn said she didn’t realize how important the health center would be when she

Continued on Page 60

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From Page 58 and her husband Bob moved into Timber Ridge. Then, last December, Bob suffered a head injury in a fall. He underwent surgery, and has been in recovery since then. However, because of health issues, Bob still hasn’t been able to move back into his regular home. He has been staying in the care facility.

Patricia said she is glad the Blackburns chose Timber Ridge.

“I’m so glad we moved in here,” she said. “If we had still been living in Bellevue at our old home, I would have to get transportation every day to visit Bob. With the care facility here, I’m just an elevator ride away to seeing him.”

Choose your place wisely Patricia advises seniors not to waste time in finding the appropriate retirement complex.

“You don’t want to wait until the last minute. You never know what’s going to happen,” she said. “You

By Greg Farrar

The Briarwood Health Center facility is an added amenity for residents at the 10story Timber Ridge retirement complex in Talus, on Cougar Mountain off of state Route 900. choose a spot, one that has a quality of life and has many activities.”

Patricia said she feels spoiled by all the advantages at Timber Ridge.

“But don’t we deserve to be spoiled after working so hard all our lives?” she asked.

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Matt Bott, chief executive officer of the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, isn’t ready for retirement, but admits he’s been very impressed by the Issaquah community.

“I’m new to the area and I was just blown away when I came here.

I discovered there are so many things that make this area special,” Bott said. “We have a unique mix of amenities, the beautiful scenery, easy access to the mountains, a great history, and for people who like the largest cities, we’re just a few minutes away from Seattle.”

Bott said he enjoys the trails and walks along Issaquah Creek, where, he said, “you can smell the freshness of the creek.” He notes the importance of festivals and other events that take place during the year as things that attract seniors.

“We have the senior center that has many activities, too. There’s a lot for seniors to do in this city,” he said.

Another selling point is the interaction between seniors and the area’s younger citizens.

“Issaquah is one of the communities where people of different generations can learn from each other,” he said.

Bott adds, “Issaquah is just a special place. Hopefully, I’m 40 years away from retirement, but this is a great place to retire.

Issaquah is just a treasure.

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Advertisers Index Activities

Amateur Photo Contest

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Apartments Bellewood Retirement Living . . . . 38 Hutchison House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Red Oak Senior Housing . . . . . . . . 59 ERA Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Automotive First Place

Alpine Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Eastside Mobile Auto Glass . . . . . . 11 Integrity Automotive . . . . . . . . . . 55 I-90 Motor Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

in 3 categories: PEOPLE • SCENIC ANIMALS

Judging criteria: Originality, composition, lighting, strength of Issaquah/Sammamish identity.

All submissions come with permission to be reproduced, with photo credit, in any publication of The Issaquah Press or Sammamish Review Judging by Issaquah Press staff and invited professionals.

Submit JPEG by email: contest@isspress.com or deliver 8x10 print to: Amateur Photo Contest, 45 Front Street South, Issaquah, WA 98027 Include name, address, phone, email, and the photo’s story.

Limit 3 entries per photographer.

Deadline: August 15, 2009 Winners announced: Sept. 2 in The Issaquah Press & Sammamish Review

Food & beverage Boehm’s Candies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Fischer Meats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Flying Pie Pizzeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Issaquah Cafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Health care Apex Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Athena Urology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Barry Feder & Mark Germack . . . . 20 Sarah McMillan, M.D. . . . . . . . . . . 50 Eastside Pediatric Dental . . . . . . . . 42 Evergreen Medical Group . . . . . . . 60 First Impressions Dentistry . . . . . . . 3 Issaquah Family Dental . . . . . . . . . 26 Issaquah Women’s Clinic . . . . . . . 26 Kevin Lee, DDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Lake Sammamish Physical Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Manley Orthodontics . . . . . . . . . . .23 Overlake Medical Center Issaquah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Solid Rock/Rebecca Turner, LPC . . 50 Spiritwood at Pine Lake . . . . . . . . 59 Washington Imaging . . . . . . . . . . 43

Home & garden American Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Bellevue Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 BMC West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Century Roofing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Grange Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Greenbaum Home Furnishings . . 63 Issaquah Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 MM Comfort Systems . . . . . . . . . . 17 Mike’s Hauling & Tractor Work . . 55 Taylor Creek Quilt Studio . . . . . . . 24

Professional Services Downtown Issaquah Association 32 Edward Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Issaquah Chamber of Commerce 16 Sammamish Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 State Farm/Kathy Johnson . . . . . . 49 The Issaquah Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Real estate Alicia Reid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Coldwell Banker Bain . . . . . . . . . . 23 Issaquah Highlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Windermere/Susan Gerend . . . . . 10

Schools Dyslexia Mastery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Huntington Learning Center . . . . 51 Kumon-Pine Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Our Savior Lutheran Preschool . . 44 St. Joseph School . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Specialty shopping Nault Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Town & Country Square . . . . . . . . 14