Summerlv13

Issaquah

LIVING

SALMON-CENTRIC THEME PERMEATES ISSAQUAH HIGHS AND LOWS OF HIKING IN THE ISSAQUAH ALPS LAKE SAMMAMISH STATE PARK READIES FOR A FACELIFT SPECIAL SECTION OF THE ISSAQUAH PRESS

VISITORS GUIDE 2013

Issaquah

LIVING INSIDE

STAFF

SWIMMING

PAGE 28

The water is fine in local lakes.

HIKING PAGE 6 Discover adventures, exercise, solitude in the Issaquah Alps.

PAGE 12

Pack some goodies in your basket and head to a city park.

BICYCLING

PAGE 30

COUGAR MOUNTAIN ZOO PAGE 32 Get close to exotic animals right in your back yard.

ARTS & MUSIC PAGE 14 Should I choose arts or music? Why not both?

PARAGLIDING

PAGE 34

Be a part of the “Issaquah Air Force.”

VISITOR’S CENTER

PAGE 16

Got questions? Get answers and tourist tips, too.

FARMERS MARKET PAGE 36 Fresh food and family fun await you all summer.

LODGING

PAGE 17

Hotels, B&Bs and treehouses, oh my!

LAKE SAMMAMISH STATE PARK

PAGE 18

FISHING

PAGE 24 PAGE 26

Get out on the water, whatever your craft.

PAGE 38

VILLAGE THEATRE PAGE 41 SALMON-CENTRIC ISSAQUAH PAGE 42 There’s something fishy about “salmon city.”

Find the best places to put your line in the water.

BOATING

SUMMER CALENDAR Come see a high-end hometown production.

Park prepares for its centennial and a facelift.

PUBLISHER Deborah Berto

Find fun on two wheels any time of year.

PICNICKING

VISITORS GUIDE 2013

MUSEUMS PAGE 46 Step back in time at town hall, depot and jail.

MANAGING EDITOR Kathleen R. Merrill

WRITERS Dan Aznoff Eunbi Cho Peter Clark Christina Corrales-Toy Joe Grove David Hayes Megg Joosten Kevin Lee Katherine Loh Michele Mihalovich

PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Farrar

PAGE DESIGN David Hayes

COVER DESIGN Dona Mokin

COVER PHOTO Drew McNabb

ADVERTISING MANAGER Nathan Laursen

ADVERTISING STAFF Michelle Comeau Deanna Jess Carolyn Trujillo Syrianah Vance

PRODUCTION Breann Getty Dona Mokin

PRINTING Rotary Offset Press A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF

By Greg Farrar

Traffic stops at North Front Street North as the restored Issaquah Valley Trolley makes its way to the Train Depot barn. It is hoped the trolley will return the summer of 2013.

P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, WA 98027 Phone: 392-6434 Fax: 392-1695 www.issaquahpress.com

6 HIKING

The path to discovery leads up an Issaquah Alps woodland trail

By Peter Clark

Cassidy Follins makes her way up a fallen log amid trails on the top of Cougar Mountain. Many different terrains and attractions can be found while hiking in the backwoods.

What to know

By Peter Clark

Signage at Radar Park on Cougar Mountain gives a history of the anti-air armaments that were installed on the site during the Cold War.

BY PETER CLARK More than anything else, Issaquah is known for picturesque surroundings that not only provide beautiful landscapes, but also an escape into a lush wilderness.

This is made easier by the multitude of well-kept trails that wind around the three “Alps” of Tiger, Squak and Cougar mountains. Hiking is extensively available from a variety

of locations that highlight many gorgeous attractions and vistas. There are opportunities for all ages and skill levels to experience the sights that envelope Issaquah.

Issaquah’s Open Space Steward Matt Mechler helped break down the myriad trails into suggestions for different skill levels. This way, you should easily recognize what would be appropriate for personal adventures on the mountains.

Learn more about the Issaquah Alps Trails Club, and local hikes and other trails events, at http:// iatc.riminisoftware.com. q Cougar Mountain visitors can park off of Lakemont Boulevard Southeast, Clay Pit Road, Renton Issaquah Road Southeast and at the end of Southeast Cougar Mountain Drive, which takes you to the Anti-Aircraft peak trailhead and Radar Park. q Squak Mountain visitors can park off Issaquah Hobart Road Southeast at the beginning of the Chirico Trail or off Southeast May Valley Road. q Tiger Mountain visitors mostly park at the High Point parking lot. Take the High Point exit 20 on Interstate 90 east and heading west on Southeast 79th Street to the parking lot.

Tradition Lake is within easy reach. Additionally, visitors can park off Issaquah Hobart Road where the many paraglider pilots head up to Poo Poo Point. q A Discovery Pass is needed to park within park boundaries and can be purchased at regional offices or at discoverpasswa.gov.

Taking it easy For those wanting an easy, laidback stroll through the beautiful regions or beginning hikers looking to develop their skills, Mechler recommends the trail around Tradition Lake on Tiger Mountain. A scenic route winds its way around the serene lake on a flat, easily navigable stretch of forest. Along the pathways, a boardwalk takes you around the thick trees, occasionally jutting out to give a clear view across the stretch of the mountain’s lake. There are benches and convenient points along the way for rest that allows for a relaxing hike.

“It’s a good starting point for basically any hike,” Mechler said.

“Another really good trail for families is the Swamp Trail.”

The Swamp Trail, adjacent to Tradition Lake, curves around a wetter and mossier part of the mountain with periodical signs that tell a story of a raccoon’s adventures on the same path. Along the green, flat guided wetland way, Mechler said kids enjoy reading the story.

The Swamp Trail is also near a

By Christopher Huber

Issaquah resident Joann Reider and Ranger, a Rocky Mountain horse, lead the way down a path on Squak Mountain on an equestrian-approved trail. number of other easily treaded hikes like the Bus Trail, which features an old rusted school bus. Close by is the Big Tree Trail as well, where you can glimpse some lovely vistas underneath towering Douglas firs. It curves along toward a large slope of the mountain and offers impressive views

of nature.

Mechler said that these connected trails around Tradition Lake make for an easy and enjoyable day of exploration on Tiger Mountain.

“These are all flat and easy to do,” he said, suggesting that hikers get maps from the city’s Parks &

a wide field to take animals into the sunshine.

Increased elevation, solitude

By Greg Farrar

Morning sunshine peeks through the forest canopy to paint one of the tree trunks along a Squak Mountain trail, near Squak Mountain Loop Southwest.

Recreation Department. “When you get the maps, you can do a whole bunch of loops on the mountain.”

Kiosks and trail maps are also stationed on various paths.

Cougar Mountain also offers beginner trails along the Coyote Creek Trail or along Radar Park. It is

an intriguing historical site as well as a beautiful hike.

Radar Park was the site of interceptive missile silos during the Cold War. While few signs of the defensive base remain, signs and descriptive maps tell a neat tale of the peak’s history.

Parking adjacent to the park offers

For those looking for a more medium hiking experience that involves increases in elevation and less flattened trails that take you deeper into the wilderness, Mechler recommends many of the trails on Squak Mountain.

Although Squak Mountain is not as populated as the other two alps, Mechler said that is a benefit.

“Squak doesn’t have as many good views, but it’s less crowded,” he said. “There are some neat areas up there.”

Because of that, he said that the region works well for hikers seeking a little more of a challenge. The Squak Mountain access trail begins at the end of Sunrise Place Southeast and provides an excellent entry onto other mountain paths.

Along state Route 900, there are also many entrances into Squak Mountain State Park. With multiple trailheads along all sides, it is possible to explore miles of trails at ease on

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uncrowded paths. Further trips near the top also offer spectacular views of the south Rainier Valley.

Mechler also said that the talus rocks on Tiger Mountain provide another great medium-difficulty hike.

It is also accessible from Tradition Lake Trail. A well-known attraction by many guides and journals, the talus rocks of Tiger Mountain are a unique natural attraction jutting out from the ground, which has become a natural habitat all its own.

Cougar Mountain also offers a number of sights for a more challenging hike. The Coal Creek Falls Trail snakes around and links up with a number of other attractions. Striking green canopies line the paths along the way, providing delicious shade against the summer heat.

By Christopher Huber

Rougher terrain, adventures

Sturdy foot bridges are maintained and replaced to keep trails such as this on Tiger Mountain accessible throughout the Issaquah Alps.

There are a number of options for the more advanced hikers on the three mountains. Long stretches of heightened escalation on rough terrain afford skillful adventurers great exercise and amazing views for miles around.

Mechler recommends hiking to

the peak of Tiger Mountain from the Tiger Mountain Trail. He notes that the Seattle Seahawks use it for training. Making the long hike to the top affords numerous chances to glimpse the animals that live in the Issaquah Alps. With bridges over waterfalls and winding around

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dynamic growth, the 16-mile round trip is difficult and extremely rewarding.

Mechler also suggests trekking up to Poo Poo Point on Tiger Mountain from the high school trail. There is a small parking lot off Second Avenue Southeast right before it merges with

trail running courses. The Adventure Trail, also on Tiger Mountain, provides an excellent path through rough terrain, offering a truly exciting journey along root-strewn, uneven forest floor.

Safety first

By Christopher Huber

Douglas fir trees mature and grow along a Tiger Mountain trail, after the timber industry clearcut most of the ancient forests at the turn of the last century.

Front Street South that puts you at the start of the path. The trail follows around Issaquah High School and heads up the side of Tiger Mountain.

Poo Poo Point is the launching area for the many hang glider enthusiasts in the area and gives amazing views of the land below.

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Additionally, each of the three mountains have trails that lead to their peaks or near them, giving an extended challenge from many points on the mountains.

For those looking for the most strenuous exercise in the Issaquah Alps, all of the paths make fantastic

Mechler cautions safety on any hike that you might take. The Issaquah Alps offer fantastic experiences in nature, but they can also be treacherous and are full of wildlife. He said hikers should always have access to the 10 essentials: navigation (map and compass), sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen), insulation (extra clothing), illumination (headlamp/flashlight), first-aid supplies, fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles), repair kit and tools, nutrition (extra food), hydration (extra water) and emergency shelter.

Perhaps most important is the need to communicate with someone else about your hike.

“It’s important to let people know where you are going,” Mechler said.

“So if something does happen, you can let someone know.”

Find your park

12 PICNICKING

By Greg Farrar

Lake Sammamish State Park is one of many perfect picnic spots throughout the greater Issaquah area.

Pack a picnic!

Nearby parks are the perfect spot

BY MEGG JOOSTEN

Going on a picnic is a great way to enjoy any lazy afternoon. Issaquah offers more than a dozen parks with perks for everyone.

“It’s a great place to visit because we have great mountain views and lots of activities with the creek and Lake Sammamish,” said Matt Mechler, open space steward for the city. “They can watch the paragliders on a good day, and we have a great trail system, both urban trails and regular hiking trails.”

Visitors who are looking for a picnic shelter for those rainy picnicking days can visit Gibson Park, Central Park, Tibbetts Valley Park and the new Confluence Park, which is opening in early July. Picnic shelters are available to rent, and are otherwise available on a first-come,

first-served basis. The parks with shelters are also ideal for families with young children.

“These shelters are in wonderful parks with wonderful opportunities,” said Ross Hoover, recreation supervisor. “There are baseball fields and playgrounds so you can go to one spot and have a picnic, and it’s a great spot to have your kids play, too.”

Veterans Memorial Field, Depot Park, Squak Valley Park and Grand View Park not only have picnic tables but also mountain views, Mechler said.

None of the Issaquah parks have community grills, but Mechler said visitors can bring their own. The dumping of charcoal and grease is not allowed, but a gas grill is fine to use.

“If you’re at a facility that doesn’t have trash cans, it’s pack it in, pack it out,” said Mechler, adding that most

q Beaver Lake Park, Southeast 24th Street at 244th Avenue Southeast q Berntsen Park, 810 Fourth Ave. N.W. q Centennial Park, Front Street North and Rainier Boulevard Central Park, 1907 Park Drive N.E. q Depot Park, 2 E. Sunset Way Gibson Park, 105 Newport Way S.W. q Grand View Park, 2306 N.E. Natalie Way q Pine Lake Park, 228th Ave. S.E. at Southeast 24th Street q Squak Valley Park, 10319 Issaquah-Hobart Road S.E. q Tibbetts Valley Park, 965 12th Ave. N.W. q Timberlake Park, 4500 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway S.E. q Veteran’s Memorial Field, 140 E. Sunset Way q Rent a picnic shelter area at www.issaquahwa.gov/picnic- shelters. parks do have trash cans.

The parks that don’t have picnic tables do have other amenities, Mechler said. Timberlake Park has beach access to Lake Sammamish, and Berntsen Park is along the creek.

“Lake Tradition is more of a hiking trail area, if you’re looking to get out in the woods and have lunch,” Mechler said. “There are some family friendly hikes, if you have kids and want to take a short family walk.”

On the plateau, Pine Lake Park and Beaver Lake Park both have picnic shelters, and Pine Lake Park also has a roped-off swimming area. Pine Lake has a boat launch (for smaller crafts), baseball field and a basketball court as well.

In summer, you can park downtown and have access to a lot of trails, as well as the local salmon hatchery.

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14 ARTS & MUSIC

Shelley and the Curves performs for a packed audience at the Issaquah Community Center, during a Concert on the Green show.

By Greg Farrar

Issaquah is equal parts music town, arts destination

BY DAVID HAYES Issaquah has developed a reputation throughout the region. However, it depends upon who you ask which is it more renowned as — a music town or an arts destination.

Ask David Harris and it’s definitely a music town. Just check his Facebook page where he regularly makes the boast. As owner of Hts Audio & Concert Production, Harris has been cultivating the music scene in Issaquah for 30 years.

“For such a small town, the music we get here has a number of bands that are certainly not rubbish,” Harris said.

Through his contacts in the music industry, Harris has been luring regional acts to perform at Salmon Days for 30 years. In addition, he’s convinced quite a few recognizable names to perform in Issaquah, including Peter Tork,

of The Monkees, and Ray Dorset, front man for Mungo Jerry.

Not content with just setting the music lineups for Issaquah’s annual festival, Harris saw an opportunity 17 years ago that is now commonplace throughout the region.

When the community center was built, Harris was friends with its event organizers.

“I suggested why not put on concerts out front,” he said.

The idea — Concerts on the Green — was green-lighted as long as Harris also took charge of funding costs.

Over the years, he’s tried to bring in the best bands he can find, not just bar bands. Issaquah becomes a music destination on Tuesday nights.

“We became a leader in evening concerts. There were no other concerts around, but now they’ve popped up all over,” he said. “It’s really helped bring a lot to the community.”

While many music venues and schools have also popped up in downtown Issaquah, Karen Donovan, of the Downtown Issaquah Association, points out that so have the arts venues and schools. The event created in 2002 to link them all together was ArtWalk.

Held the first Friday of each month June through September, ArtWalk features artists displaying their creations while demonstrating their techniques, spread out among many venues in downtown Issaquah. In between the venues, visitors enjoy live music, shopping and dining options. Last year, Donovan estimates more than 10,000 people took part in ArtWalk last year.

“The community loves it,” she said. “Between the volunteers and participants and attendees, it brings everybody together as a community.”

Then, to attract the crowd missing out on ArtWalk, the associa-

tion recently introduced WineWalk.

By combining Issaquah’s already huge art element and music scene, Donovan said, with the introduction of local wineries, the association has succeeded in bringing in a different audience than ArtWalk.

“It’s been great,” she added.

So, whether you’re looking for sounds to tap your toes to or sights to let your eyes wander over, there’s something in the downtown Issaquah arts and music scene for you. Here’s a look at the year’s highlights offered to entice residents and visitors alike.

ArtWalk

The annual downtown ArtWalk is now in its 12th season and runs the first Friday of each month through Sept. 6. The event invites the community to experience in one big package the opportunity to meet local business owners, enjoy live music, watch artists in action, and shop and dine downtown.

Farmers market

By Greg Farrar

Pedestrians pause to look at art displayed in at the Up Front art gallery sidewalk on Front Street North during an ArtWalk, held each first Friday of the month May through September.

Every year, the Issaquah Farmers Market season runs from April to October, rain or shine, on Saturdays at Pickering Barn. While shopping for the latest in freshest produce, baked goods and cut flowers, be sure to stop by the weekly entertainment, indoors and outside.

Chocolate, Wine & All That Jazz

Combine three of the best things in life with the annual Chocolate, Wine & All That Jazz on July 25.

While sampling a variety of foods and wines from local restaurants and wineries, listen to the sounds of live jazz musicians at Boehm’s Candies. Purchase tickets at www. issaquahchamber.com/schedule/event/ chocolate-wine-and-all-that-jazz.

Concerts on the Green

Tuesday evenings in July and August features the best of regional acts outside the community center, performing musical genres for everyone, from big band to 80s hair rock and Latin fusion to industrialized country.

Salmon Days

The summer music scene wraps up during the year’s biggest event

By Greg Farrar

Chuck Jensen, an instructor at artbyfire and a glass blower for more than 10 years, rolls out a new piece in the gallery’s studio on Front Street, giving the crowd at ArtWalk a show. in Issaquah — Salmon Days. On the first weekend in October, after getting your fill of food and perusing the wares of arts and crafts vendors, pull up a chair to one of the four stages featuring local talent, regional headliners and everything in between.

Live music

Throughout the year, be sure to check The Issaquah Press calendar to schedule a night out on the town, and discover music at several venues. Don’t miss Tribute Tuesdays at Amante, the rotating regulars at Vino Bella and performers at Pogacha.

16 VISITORS CENTER

Visitor’s center offers tourist tips

BY MICHELE MIHALOVICH

The Issaquah Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor’s Information Center is tucked among trees on Gilman Boulevard, surrounded by pink roses and rhododendrons.

Mary Ann Rupe, coordinator for the center, said visitors have been dropping by for all things Issaquah since the center opened in the historic Alexander House in October 1989.

The two-story yellow Victorian home, trimmed in white, makes the stop worthwhile, even if you’re not focusing on what to do and where to go in Issaquah.

Caroline and Thomas Alexander built the house on the shore of Lake Sammamish in 1902. Thomas, a

“walking boss” for the Seattle Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad, had a heart attack and died in 1910. That same year, Caroline opened the home as a hunting lodge for folks coming by to fish, enjoy the beach and her “home-cooked meals.” Caroline died in 1932, and for decades various relatives lived in the home.

Beginning in the 1980s, the home was owned by many different entities, and was moved to Issaquah, to its current resting place at 155 N.W. Gilman Blvd.

Rupe said the visitor center averages about 10,000 contacts a year, in person or through emails and phone calls.

“We provide hiking information on the local area hikes, information on things to see and do in Issaquah, local area maps, things to see and do in the surrounding

By Greg Farrar

Alexander House, at 155 N.W. Gilman Blvd, is home to the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, its Visitor’s Information Center and the Salmon Days Festival office. area — including wineries, Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, local accommodations, local area restaurant information, state maps and Issaquah area postcards for purchase and Salmon Days wear for purchase,” she said. “We also have transportation schedules — both bus and ferry. If we don’t have the answer our visitors need, we find the answer for them.”

The visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday. Call 425-3927024 or email tourism@issaquahchamber.com for information.

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17 LODGING

Stay the night Hotels, B&Bs and treehouses offer beds

BY JOE GROVE

Visitors to Issaquah have access to a variety of lodging styles, with one of the most unique being Treehouse Point, a bed and breakfast at 6922 Preston-Fall City Road, Preston.

The website www.treehousepoint. com describes it as “an intimate Issaquah alternative for individuals and groups who seek comfort and style in friendly and natural surroundings.”

To fully appreciate the uniqueness of tree house lodging and the woodsy setting of Treehouse Point, click on “galleries” on the website menu.

If you can’t picture yourself eating breakfast with the birds, there is Issaquah Bed and Breakfast in historic downtown Issaquah, where you can spend the night in a cottage next to

a remodeled coal miner’s shack from 1914. The home is at 140 Sixth Ave. S.E.; call 246-8382.

You will be a few steps away from miles of scenic Tiger Mountain hiking trails or the historic walking tour of Issaquah and a visit to the salmon hatchery, the Issaquah Depot Museum and the Gilman Town Hall Museum. You will also be in a good place to enjoy the night life in the historic downtown.

If you prefer a water environment, try Lake House Bed and Breakfast, 415 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway S.E., on the shores of Lake Sammamish.

Birders to bikers will find tranquility in this lakeside lodge with its holistic approach. The hosts promote a healthful environment, serving local organic meals and using nonallergenic bedding and all-natural, chemical-

free cleaning aids in a nonsmoking atmosphere.

If you are towing your lodging behind you, you can set up in one of two RV parks with entirely different settings.

The Issaquah Village RV Park, 650 First Ave. N.E., offers 56 sites with full hookups and daily, weekly and monthly rates. It doesn’t have an intown feeling, as it is on a quiet side street, but it does have a short bike or walking path to the historic downtown. Take a virtual tour of the park at www.ivrvpark.com.

If you want to get out of town a little ways, try Blue Sky RV Park, 302nd Ave. S.E., just off the PrestonFall City Road exit from Interstate 90.

Blue Sky is in a quiet, woodsy setting and all of its spaces feature paved parking pads and full hookups. It also features daily, weekly and monthly rates.

If you are a more orthodox traveler, you can find refined accommodations at Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 N.W. Gilman Blvd.; Holiday Inn, 1801 12th Ave. N.W.; and of course Motel 6, 1885 15th Place N.W., will leave the light on for you.

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18 STATE PARK

State park centennial Lake Sammamish park readies for a facelift

BY CHRISTINA CORRALES-TOY After a Pacific Northwest fall, winter and spring that seemingly blend together, muddied by a persistent rain, summer can never come soon enough.

When it does, however, it’s a thing of beauty, filled with blue sky, sunshine and a temperate climate that just beckons locals to come outside.

There is no better place to soak up those all-too infrequent rays than at Lake Sammamish State Park.

The 512-acre day-use park includes 6,858 feet of waterfront on scenic Lake Sammamish, miles of hiking trails and comfortable grass lawns, perfect for a family picnic. Washington State Parks celebrate its centennial this year.

Lake Sammamish State Park is also an ideal location to bird watch thanks to the diverse natural wetlands and a large great blue heron rookery.

Visitors can take to the water with one of the park’s nine boat ramps, or even rent a canoe, kayak or paddleboard right on the beach from Issaquah Paddle Sports.

“What’s great about Lake Sammamish is that it’s right in the population center of the state and not many of our state parks are,” said Nikki Fields, a parks planner with Washington State Parks. “It’s one of our gems.”

There is no doubt, though, that this gem could use some polishing.

“I would call the park tired, and clearly a tired park needs some energy,” said Connie Marsh, a member of the newly formed Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park, a group of volunteers dedicated to supporting the park.

A needed facelift

By Greg Farrar

Peaches, the giant Schnauzer, looks on with curiosity as her owner Connie Marsh (left) and David Kappler, board members of the recently formed Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park, chat at the park’s rotunda shelter built in 1975, when Dan Evans was governor.

In 2007, state parks commissioners approved a bold plan to remake and restore the park, including the construction of a new bathhouse,

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Architectual plans and sketches for the improvements at the park show the planned boardwalk and new bathhouse on Sunset Beach with green roof, solar panels, restrooms, concessions, covered outdoor picnic bench seating area, new sand on the beach and floating docks. A drawing by Patano + Hafermann Architects shows features such as the green roof, timber construction and native grasses.

Amenities q 1.5 miles of biking and hiking trails q 2 beaches — Sunset Beach and Tibbetts Beach q 2 horseshoe pits q 2 softball fields q 5 volleyball fields q 2 bathhouses q 2 children’s play areas q 475 unsheltered picnic tables q 80 barbecue grills q 9 boat launches Watercraft owners can launch their boat at the park, provided they secure a $7 launching permit. Annual and one-day permits are available online at 1.usa. gov/190XEEy, at regional offices and at the park when staff is available.

The park also has a campsite.

The Hans Jensen youth group camping area accommodates up to 200 people and 40 cars. There are 36 picnic tables, 12 stoves, a covered picnic shelter and four vault toilets.

Call 888-CAMPOUT (2267688) to reserve any day-use facilities, including covered picnic shelters and the camping site.

Learn more about Lake Sammamish State Park at www.parks.wa.gov.

Source: Washington State Parks website

beach improvements, a lakeshore walkway and other amenities.

Funding was hard to come by for the projects, though, as the state struggled financially.

In 2013, however, construction will begin on at least one park improvement, and potentially more if the state Legislature includes funding in its final budget.

Beginning in July, the state will start building a 500-foot boardwalk that travels from the park’s Sunset Beach out to the mouth of Issaquah Creek, Fields said.

The boardwalk will replace what is currently just a muddy trail surrounded by wooden fencing on either side.

“It’s right by the creek and it’s right by the lake, and a lot of the park is wetland, so it’s not an easy place to walk,” Fields said.

So many visitors do travel along the trail in part because of the beautiful view looking back at Sunset Beach from the mouth of Issaquah Creek.

The project will make that trek much easier, with the installation of a boardwalk that will generally be less than 30 inches off the ground.

“The boardwalk’s intention is to allow people to get out to the end of the spit to look at the lake from there, but it will also make sure they walk on the boardwalk versus walking through the restoration work right along the shoreline that we’ve completed,” Fields said.

Interpretive signage will also be placed on the boardwalk, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about the park, creek and lake.

The boardwalk will take three months to construct but it should be ready by fall, Fields said.

Bathhouse, beach improvements coming If funding comes through, the state could also begin the muchneeded construction of a new bathhouse on Sunset Beach in 2013.

Designs for a new structure are already complete and the necessary permits are in hand.

The current bathhouse appears worn and outdated and is an eyesore on what is an otherwise majestic view of the Lake Sammamish shoreline.

The new project would involve removing the current bathhouse to build an entirely new structure, complete with bathrooms and a concession area, Fields said. The building would also have unique environmental features.

“It is a green design,” Fields said.

“It will have a planted roof and another part of the roof will have solar panels. We’re very excited about it and hopeful we get funding.”

Fields expects the bathhouse to be completed by June 2014.

The state also has plans to improve the beach itself, adding new sand and filling small sinkholes in the swimming area.

If you go Lake Sammamish State Park is conveniently located just off Interstate 90 at 2000 N.W. Sammamish Road in Issaquah.

A Discover Pass is required for motor-vehicle access to state parks. An annual pass costs $30, while a one-day pass costs $10.

The Discover Pass allows users access to nearly 3 million acres of state recreation lands.

Purchase passes online at www. discoverpass.wa.gov. There is a $99 fine for failing to display the pass while visiting a state park. Revenue from the Discover Pass supports recreation on state lands.

Anyone can visit a state park without charge, though, on a handful of selected “free days” — Aug. 4, Sept. 28 and Nov. 9-11.

The park is open from 6:30 a.m. to dusk during the summer.

The other state park Lake Sammamish is not the only state park in the area.

Squak Mountain State Park is a 1,545-acre, day-use park just outside Issaquah. The forested park features miles of trails in wilderness solitude for equestrians and hikers alike.

The park offers six unsheltered picnic tables, a horse-loading ramp and 13 miles of hiking trails on the mountain that juts 2,024 feet into the air.

The same state park admission standards apply to Squak Mountain.

Squak Mountain State Park is at 21430 S.E. May Valley Road, Issaquah.

Become a friend The newly formed Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park is a group of volunteers and community leaders committed to supporting, preserving and strengthening the local park.

Learn more about the Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park on the group’s Facebook page, on.fb.me/YR6mSg. Get involved by emailing friendsoflakesammstatepark@hotmail.com.

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By Greg Farrar

Employees of a Bellevue firm enjoy barbecue, chitchat and volleyball during a company picnic in a reserved party area at Lake Sammamish State Park.

“The beach currently is not a very inviting place,” Fields said. “It was last improved in the 1970s. In the intervening years, a lot of the sand that was added back then has been washed away or covered over with silt.”

Repairing the sinkholes is one of the state’s priorities with its beach improvements, Fields said.

“There are also a number of sinkholes out in the water, so you could be walking in knee-deep water, and then take a step and suddenly you are in waist-deep water,” she said.

“We’ve been concerned about it for awhile.”

The aim is to do the project in two phases. The first phase will include about 200 linear feet of beach improvements and the construction of a ramp that will allow people with disabilities to access the water. The state is seeking grant funding for the second phase, which would add another 200 to 250 feet of improvements.

The state is in the initial design phase of the project and still needs to acquire permits, which can take several months. It is likely that construction of phase one will not begin until summer 2014 at the earliest.

“That one is kind of a complicated

project to lay the sand down the way we want it,” Fields said. “I don’t know exactly how long that construction will take, but I expect that it’s more complicated than the boardwalk project.”

Making an inviting park Lake Sammamish State Park is in a prime location, deep in the heart of the highly populated Puget Sound area. The hope is that the improvements will make the park more inviting to locals and people across the state.

Along with the proposed upgrades, the state has plans to improve the lawn area, create new meeting spaces and add an RV/tent campground. When these things will happen, however, is anyone’s best guess.

Local volunteers recently mobilized to offer its support with the formation of the Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park.

With volunteers and fundraising, the group expects to help ensure the 2007 conceptual park plan is implemented. The group will also make recommendations on other park upgrades that the community desires.

“There are other friends groups in

the state and they’ve proven to be a valuable asset to the park in terms of helping get funding,” said David Kappler, one of the group’s board members.

Kappler used the Bridle Trails Park Foundation as an example of what a friends group can do. In 2002, when the state park in Kirkland was in jeopardy of closing, the Bridle Trails group agreed to act in partnership with the state in funding the cost of operations and maintaining the trails, with assurance the park would remain open.

While Lake Sammamish State Park is in no danger of closing, it does yearn for some community support, Marsh said.

“In cooperation with state parks and the city of Issaquah, there was sort of a push to see what the interest was and to potentially begin a friends group to help try and provide the sort of community support and improvements the park deserves,” she said.

Locals can support the park in a variety of ways, but any little bit helps, Marsh said.

“Community support or improvements could be going out for grant funding, actual physical labor on the ground or just a little bit of beautification,” she said.

The group is still in its infancy, but both Marsh and Kappler said they hope that it can one day have as large an impact on its park as the Bridle Trails organization did.

Kappler has dreams of lifeguards returning to the park one day with the Friends group’s support.

“I think lifeguards are just a critical thing for safety of the swimmers,” he said. “I think the park would get a lot more use, a lot more family and kid use if lifeguards were there.”

Marsh, on the other hand, just wants to see the vision of the park as a multi-use recreation area truly come to fruition.

“One of the main efforts is to try and make the park multi-user, so people don’t go and only visit their section of the park,” she said. “We want them to know that there are other things to do at the park.

“I want a great park that people want to go to,” she added. “That means that it’s beautiful, it’s maintained and there are things to do.”

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24 FISHING

Trout vs. bass Discover the best place to drop your bait into the water this summer

BY DAN AZNOFF

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife made a fishy Father’s Day for thousands of families this year with the announcement they would release 10,000 triploid rainbow trout into local lakes.

The release included hungry young fish into Lake Sammamish and Pine Lake to boost the number of native trout and small mouth bass in local waterways. The state released more than 42,000 young trout earlier in the year.

“This is the second straight year we’ve stocked trout before Father’s Day. This year, we’ve doubled the number of fish and added six more lakes to the list,” said Chris Donley, department Inland Fish Program manager. “A fishing license is a great Father’s Day gift and catching these big fish will make for some wonderful memories.”

May and June are traditionally the best months of the year for local anglers, according to Annette Hoffmann, the regional manager of the state’s fish program. She said the number, and size of fish that have been caught in lakes in the Issaquah region have met or exceeded the numbers recorded in past years.

“Father’s Day is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for fishing, second only to Opening Day in the spring,” Hoffmann said.

Records kept by the state indicate that May, June and July are the best opportunity to catch both largemouth and small mouth bass on the south end of Lake Sammamish. The same months have also been the best times to fish for coastal cutthroat and yellow perch.

You have to have patience

By Greg Farrar

Will Benson (seated) has a duck eating bread crumbs out of his hand, as he and his dad Bill Benson fish at Beaver Lake on a first day of fishing season.

The most popular places to fish on the lake are near South Cove and across the highway from the 7-11 convenience store on East Lake Sammamish Parkway, according to Rich Benson, manager of Lake Sammamish State Park. Benson admitts he has not fished in nearly 40 years, but said he knows the best catches have traditionally come from the Sunken Forest at the southwest corner of the lake. Jensen’s Cove has also proven to be a reliable spot to hook some good-sized keepers.

He did warn amateurs to not bother vesting their lines into the water anywhere in the vicinity of the

boat launch. He recommends the use of a bait-caster or spinning rods and reels to cast soft baits, plugs, buzz baits or spinner baits.

“I’m not a fisherman, but the stories I hear are often impressive from the people who have the patience to wait for just the right time of day,” Benson said. That time, he said, is normally at sunrise or sundown.

There are no public fishing docks on Lake Sammamish, but Benson said angling is available year round from the shoreline or from tie-ups for boats available at the park. Fishing for bass at the state park traditionally picks up from November until March.

District biologist Aaron Bosworth said trout are plentiful on the lake from January until April.

Many bass clubs stage annual tournaments in Lake Sammamish, according to Bosworth. The best results, he said, are divided between trolling and using jigs to attract the fish from shaded areas along the shoreline.

State records indicate that bass catches usually outnumber the number of trout taken from the lake by almost 3-to-1, but Bosworth said those numbers may reflect the fact that many bass fishermen practice

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Get your line in Licenses for fishing are required for all anglers 16 or older. Individuals are limited to only one active pole in the water at any time.

Purchase fishing licenses online at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, by telephone at 1-866-2469453 toll free or at hundreds of license dealers across the state.

Get details on license vendor locations at www.wdfw. wa.gov/licensing/vendors. catch and release. The same statistics showed significant catches of other types of fish depending on the time of year. The other species included coho, sockeye and chinook salmon, kokanee, bullhead bass, suckers and varieties of the three-spine stickleback.

Pine Lake fishing Families who have their hearts (and dinner menu) set on trout will probably have a better oppor-

tunity for success at Pine Lake in Sammamish. The release of young trout is expected to boost catches on the plateau lake from fair to good to excellent. April and May are traditionally the best months to fish at Pine Lake for largemouth bass, rainbow trout and yellow perch. Carry-over trout (from last year’s release) can range from 12-14 inches.

Shore-bound anglers can fish from a wraparound-style pier or from the public access points of the lakeshore.

Outboard motors are prohibited, but a boat ramp allows access to smaller boats and float tubes.

Anglers at Pine Lake have also reported significant catches of brown bullheads and pumpkinseed, more commonly known as sun fish.

Dedicated anglers have also landed potential dinner at the popular fishing sites at Hope Creek, along the East Fork of Issaquah Creek, on Tibbetts Creek, Yellow Lake, Beaver Lake, Long Lake and Round Lake.

Portions of Issaquah Creek are limited to only young anglers.

Bosworth noted that Beaver Lake always draws a crowd in November when select 3-pound trout are released into the lake.

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26

Area lakes offer ideal boating

BOATING

The Nelson family, of Bothell, prepare their boat at the Lake Sammamish boat launch for innertubing in 90-degree heat.

BY KEVIN LEE Enjoy getting out on the water?

Lake Sammamish, Pine Lake and Beaver Lake are all perfect local boating locations.

Lake Sammamish State Park offers 6,858 feet of waterfront, surrounded by a 512 acres that include a multilane boat launch. Pine Lake and Beaver Lake are community parks that have relatively small bodies of water. During summer, the parks are typically open from dawn until dusk.

State law requires boat operators to carry a Washington State Boater Education card when operating motorboats with 15 or greater horsepower. This card can be attained by taking an approved boater education course (online or at home), which teaches boating safety and skills. The

By Greg Farrar

“Adventures in Boating Washington Handbook” is also a great resource for new boaters to learn about rules and regulations.

All vessels must have a Washington title and be officially registered, except smaller vessels not propelled by a motor or sail, such as canoes and kayaks. If a vessel is properly registered by a resident of another state or country, it is cleared to be used

on Washington waters for 60 days or fewer. There are also numerous boat rentals near Issaquah.

A sunny and breezy day marks the perfect opportunity for boating. Be sure to check out these amazing waters and have a refreshing experience!

Kevin Lee is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.

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28 SWIMMING

The water is fine in local swimming holes

BY CHRISTINA CORRALES-TOY

By Christina Corrales-Toy

A loaner life jacket station is offered on Tibbetts Beach at Lake Sammamish State Park, where a float boundary keeps boats out and children in for added summer swimming safety.

It’s a known fact that water and summer go together better than peanut butter and jelly, and Issaquah is filled with spots to quench that need for a nice, refreshing swim.

Whether you want to revel in the natural setting of a local lake, or play in the secure confines of an indoor community pool, a dip into the water is the perfect complement to a warm Issaquah day.

The city-operated Julius Boehm Pool offers a safe place for swimmers of any age to take to the water under the watchful supervision of a lifeguard.

“We’re very busy,” said Jen Newton, a city recreation supervisor.

“We offer everything from drop-in swimming, to swim lessons, to adult exercise classes.”

The indoor facility gets a lot of use. It serves as the home pool for local high school swim teams, and is a fun and unique tool that visitors use to get into shape.

Julius Boehm Pool is also that special place where many local young-

If you go Julius Boehm Pool 50 S.E. Clark St. www.issaquahwa.gov/pool Lake Sammamish State Park 2000 N.W. Sammamish Road www.parks.wa.gov Beaver Lake 25101 S.E. 24th St. www.ci.sammamish.wa.us Pine Lake 2401 228th Ave. S.E. www.ci.sammamish.wa.us sters first get their feet wet. Children as young as 6 months, accompanied by a parent, can begin to understand the basics of swimming, thanks to the facility’s course offerings.

The whole family is invited to a night of aquatic fun on special Fridays during the summer. On July

5 and Aug. 2, from 6:30-9 p.m., parents and kids alike can drop in for water games appropriate for all ages and swimming abilities.

“We reach every age range and we do a lot of fun stuff here,” Newton said.

If the open, natural air is more to your liking, head over to Lake Sammamish State Park, where you can choose from two beaches and immerse yourself in the serene waters of Lake Sammamish.

Tibbetts and Sunset beaches are open to swimmers, but the area lacks lifeguards due to state budget cuts.

Visitors can borrow a life jacket from a beach kiosk, though.

If you are looking for something a little smaller than Lake Sammamish, travel to the Sammamish Plateau, where Beaver Lake and Pine Lake await.

Beaver Lake does not have an official swimming area, but that does not keep locals from testing the waters. It also does not have lifeguards.

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30

Finding fun on two wheels

BICYCLING

BY JOE GROVE If you are a visitor and have been here for more than 24 hours, you might have noticed that Issaquah is bicycle friendly.

Bicycling is the way some people do their part to keep up Washington’s reputation as the Evergreen State. For others, it is the way they get out and enjoy the sylvan setting.

If you wish to join the bicycle crowd, there are several ways to go about it. As you drive along East Lake Sammamish Parkway, you will see a newly finished, paved bike trail. This 11-mile trail starts at Second Avenue in Issaquah and ends at Marymoor Park in Redmond.

It follows an old railroad bed, and the newly paved portion has gone from a crushed rock surface to a 12-foot-wide paved trail with a 2-foot soft surface shoulder on each side, making it more accessible to bicyclist, skaters, walkers and joggers of all ages and abilities.

The 2.2-mile stretch from Gilman Boulevard to Southeast 43rd Way is part of a 44-mile bicycling corridor that will eventually connect Seattle’s Ballard and Issaquah. For a little adventure, borrow a bicycle if you didn’t bring one along, and take a ride on this feature of the King County Parks system.

If you are the more rugged type and like the mountain bike approach to two-wheeling, make your way to the 130-acre Duthie Hill Park, 27101 S.E. Duthie Hill Road, where you will find something for every rider, including 6 miles of cross country bike trail and 2 miles of free-ride trail with jumps and built features, a central clearing with a shelter, kids’ biking area and opportunities for skill building.

Duthie Hill Park opened for mountain biking in 2010, the first phase

By Greg Farrar

Mikey Inman (left) and brother Marshall, of Issaquah, are much safer bicycle users after completing obstacle courses and having bicycle safety checks performed at Issaquah Valley Elementary School in the annual Bike Safety Fair. of construction, and the park was completed in 2012. The park now gets more than 75,000 rider visits per year. Riders of all ages and skill levels can find the perfect trail for them at the park.

What, no bike?

So, you’ve discovered Issaquah is bicycling paradise.

Unfortunately, your bike is sitting at home because you don’t have one of those racks on the back of your car

to transport a bike, nor do you have one of those Bike Fridays that you can fold up and put in your luggage.

You’ve watched all the daytime television you can handle, and you and your guests are starting to tell each other the same story for the third time, so you need to get out of the house.

Bicycle Adventures, at 29700 S.E. High Point Way in Preston, is your answer. While they can arrange a bicycle tour for you in New

Zealand, Hawaii or dozens of places in the world, the United States or Washington, they also have daylong rides in places like the East Lake Sammamish Parkway Bike Trail or the Iron Horse State Park for mountain bikers.

The good news is, they provide everything; you just have to show up.

If you can latch on to a bicycle on your own, download the free State Park app “Pocket Ranger,” click on the “by activity” icon and then the “Mountain Biking” icon and feast your eyes on the banquet of opportunities to get out of the house and exercise your legs.

By Greg Farrar

Dan Veitch, of Klahanie, takes a jump at one of the BMX trails at Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park.

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32 ZOO

Talk to the animals New programs let visitors get close to wildlife at Cougar Mountain Zoo

By Greg Farrar

Lisa Land (right), Cougar Mountain Zoo lead bird keeper, shows Kiwi the scarlet macaw to visitors David Jacobson and his daughter Elina, 2, of Bellevue, during a preview of the new bird habitat.

BY DAVID HAYES Bellevue residents David and Kuniko Jacobson picked a great time during June’s warm stretch to take their children, Elina, 2 ½, and Roman, 6 months, on their first visit to Cougar Mountain Zoo. “It’s great. It’s a perfect size for here on the Eastside,” David said. “It lets you get so close to the tigers.

Plus, you get to go and feed all the animals.”

In fact, they so enjoyed their visit, they decided to become members,

If you go Cougar Mountain Zoo q 19525 S.E. 54th St. q 391-5508 q www.cougarmountainzoo.org

so they could return anytime they wanted, and it allows the Jacobsons to bring their kids for an hour at a time and go home.

“Elina was very upset it was closed Monday and Tuesday,” David said.

“The white alpaca was her favorite.

Elina was screaming and crying when she wasn’t able to say goodbye.”

For zoo manager Robyn Barfoot, the Jacobsons are the perfect firsttime visitors to Cougar Mountain Zoo. She likes to promote the zoo’s ability to get visitors closer to the animals in a safer environment.

“It allows you to see and hear them all the better and have unforgettable interactions,” Barfoot said.

Cougar Mountain Zoo was established in 1972 to primarily focus on endangered species and education.

The collection of animals has since

EAST AFRICAN CROWNED CRANE grown to include birds (macaws, emus and cranes), cats (cougars, tigers and, coming soon, cheetahs) and other animals such as wallabies, lemurs and reindeer.

“Zoos all over the world each have a different collection that you can travel to, to get a special experience,” Barfoot said. “Our collection was chosen for its educational value and their ability to be comfortable in our weather system.”

However, while focusing on animals other zoos may not feature, Barfoot said the trick to attract visitors who’ve been to zoos is to offer unique experiences.

For example, Cougar Mountain Zoo boasts the largest bronze animal zoo art collection of any zoo in the world. Its wildlife museum features “a very unique and priceless collection of wildlife and paraphernalia.”

The pieces, donated both by private individuals and public agencies, are used in its broad array of educational programs.

And not many zoos can lay claim to hosting annual visits by Santa Claus during the annual Reindeer Festival, while providing a year-round respite before they hit the skies Dec. 24.

The zoo is a grassroots organization that does not receive state or federal funds, Barfoot said, so entrance fees and membership costs go to fund operations and expan-

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Membership Society Member and Friend of the Zoo benefits include: q Free admission q One guest ticket per member q Two half-price admission coupons per member q 15 percent off gift shop items q 15 percent off zoo products q Free copy of Zoo Journal q 20 percent discount to Close q Encounters Program Membership categories q Single person — $52

sions.

Several of the more popular programs the zoo features are its Close Encounters tours. Zoo regulars can get closer than ever to their favorites, from the tigers to the reindeer. Making bigger donations, such as a minimum of $250, gets visitors a behind-the-scenes tiger tour. Book a Close Encounter by calling the zoo’s education department at 392-6278.

The zoo is in the midst of expanding its World of Macaws, already one of the top such exhibits in the country, Barfoot said. Come August, it will feature covered flights, a larger, enclosed area with covered ceil-

EJEA, A BLUE AND GOLD MACAW q Dual — $72 q Family or group of three — $85 ($25 for each additional person) q Business (four admission cards) — $845 q Lifetime (4 persons) — $1,580 $300 for each additional person To join q Download a membership appli- cation at http://bit.ly/126gIRE. q Write to: Cougar Mountain Zoo, 19525 S.E. 45th St., Issaquah, WA 98027 q Call 392-6278. q Email info@cougarmountainzoo. org. ings, and expanded showbird and grotto areas for the birds to literally hang out in and be admired by the masses.

In addition, the zoo is expanding to include a cheetah exhibit and a new, world-class lemur exhibit.

Although the only other zoo David Jacobson has taken his family to is Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, he said Cougar Mountain Zoo has everything they need, all in one package.

“Woodland may be bigger, but Cougar’s convenience to the Eastside and mix of animals make it much more fun,” he said. “Here, you’re guaranteed to always see something.”

34 PARAGLIDING

By Greg Farrar

An instructor and student fly tandem during a lesson above Tiger Mountain, as a passenger jet flies several miles overhead.

The

sky’s the limit Paragliders are as much a part of the community as salmon in the creek

By Greg Farrar

Seattle Paragliding owner Marc Chirico prepares a glider for takeoff from Poo Poo Point on Tiger Mountain, with downtown Issaquah and Lake Sammamish in the background.

BY DAN AZNOFF After years of launching himself off the sheer cliffs of Tiger Mountain, there is very little that surprises Marc Chirico anymore.

“I’ve heard them all, from the

screams of pure joy to the most outrageous expletives that cannot be printed in the newspaper,” the owner and operator of Seattle Paragliding said with a wide smile.

Chirico takes special pride in his role as instructor for first-time flyers during tandem flights from the

launch area perched above IssaquahHobart Road.

“The nervousness usually disappears the moment our feet leave the ground and the student can feel the wind provide the lift that we promised during our Ground School instruction,” he said.

The launch area is almost always filled with curious onlookers.

“The students did not seem nervous or scared,” said Jason Hallgren, of Bothell, who hiked up the steep

trail with his dog Jake. “Most of the people at the top were in awe. Just watching the experience is inspirational.”

First-timers have the security of a qualified instructor strapped into the harness behind them and the calming sound of advice through their headset from Chirico’s wife Lan, who serves as manager of the landing field on the ground below.

Seattle Paragliding offers flights every day of the year, depending on

By Greg Farrar

An experienced paraglider brings his wing in for a soft touchdown in the landing zone, — called the LZ for short — a cleared meadow below Poo Poo Point along Issaquah Hobart Road.

the weather, beginning at noon and until 8 p.m. during the long days of summer. The Paragliding Center located north of the landing area features 12 harness simulators, a grassy beginner training hill with stadium lighting, an emergency reserve zip line trainer as well as a full classroom with maps and a widescreen television for instruction.

“Our exceptional instruction facility, combined with our passionate team of instructors, allows us to deliver an unparalleled program,” Chirico explained. “We take our instruction and our attention to safety very seriously. But we also have a lot of fun here every day.”

The founder’s only regret is the name of his facility.

“We consider ourselves to be a true community treasure of Issaquah, proudly based right here on Tiger Mountain,” he said. “We refer to ourselves as the Issaquah Air Force.”

Chirico takes the business-side of paragliding seriously. Seattle Paragliding was the first authorized school in the Seattle area. Chirico proudly pointed out an eagle’s nest located in the trees near the hilltop launch area. His personal YouTube channel features the release of injured hawks during mid-flight.

Videos of TeamChirico in action are available on its own channel of the Internet search engine.

Chirico has been a certified instructor since 1982. His personal memory book includes the 83-yearold novice he took soaring over the Memorial Day weekend and introducing his 8-year-old granddaughter Kaela to the joy of paragliding (which you can see at http://youtu.be/ W_e2QkEnkJo).

“My family had no fear of me taking Kaela on a tandem flight,” he said. “We have taken up first-timers as young as 4 or 5. They all know me as the wild and crazy grandpa. But I would never take chances with the safety of any of our students, regardless of how old they are.

“Or how much they scream.”

The owners of Seattle Paragliding live less than 100 yards away from their school. Each night, as they walk toward their home, Chirico takes the time to be grateful to each student with his parting words, “Thank you for not hurting yourself today.”

36 FARMERS MARKET

Farmers markets

Bringing families together with food, fun

By Peter Clark

Open rain or shine, the Issaquah Farmers Market never fails to bring out a crowd. People of all ages find some entertainment, whether it is listening to live music, eating hot food or jumping in the inflatable castles.

BY PETER CLARK

By Peter Clark

Green thumbs find plenty of reasons to attend the weekly farmers market. Many local gardeners enjoy shopping for seasonal plants to add to their gardens.

Every Saturday brings a swarm of hungry, smiling people to Pickering Barn for the weekly Farmers Market.

It’s easy to see why.

The largest farmers market on the Eastside is put on by the city of Issaquah and has a great amount to offer all ages. With more than 100 booths weekly and multiple activities, anyone could likely find a reason to attend.

The variety of food items available is nothing short of impressive. Many local farmers come from surrounding areas to offer up their produce.

With most advertising organic goods, mountains of fruit and crisp vegetables are readily available for purchase.

But it does not stop there.

There are extended varieties of plants for sale. From bouquets of flowers to potted plants, the new growth of the season blossoms into the lot next to the barn. Nursery

If you go Issaquah Farmers Market q 1730 10th Ave. N.W. q Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 12 plants, seedlings and seasonal horticulture are on display.

Besides the produce, food choices are extensive. Baked bread, homemade pasta, cooking oils and much more can be found regularly. Many options of prepared food await those who cannot wait to cook their market-bought fare. Sausage sandwiches, homemade doughnuts and pastries add their smells to the air.

The market is also home to a unique assortment of crafts. Jewelers, weavers and sewers bring their talent and impressive work weekly. A local alpaca farm sells socks and garments made from harvested wool. They even go out of the way to bring the friendly animals to the market.

Though the goods are an excellent reason to attend the farmers market, there are many activities as well.

Not every child is passionate about

Pony rides are a kid favorite.

The gazebo features live music.

supporting local merchants, so the market always offers something more on their level. Pony rides and inflatable bouncy houses are among the attractions that serve to keep children entertained.

Activities aren’t just for the young, and the city chooses a weekly theme.

Whether they are master gardener displays or cooking demonstrations, the activities pair up to make the most out of the ingredients and spirit cultivated at the market. Seattle Tilth, the sustainable gardening organization, also provides regular informational tours of the garden that grows on the side of the barn.

Music at the gazebo can take many forms. Ukulele groups could be teach-

ing a hula dance or a ventriloquist could be launching a music show.

Space is not wasted inside the barn. There, craftspeople spread out in the musty, comfortable air.

Wooden pieces are sold next to woven items while antique dealers offer old treasures. By the large open door, face painters take a seat to decorate children.

Though there has been some consternation over parking changes that will take place through the 2013 season as Costco builds a new parking structure, it does not seem to slow down people attending the event.

The market is open rain or shine.

Find more information at issaquahwa. gov/market or call 837-3311.

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JULY 7

All Chevy Show, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

1 A Magical Musical Adventure into the Earth Concert, 1 and 2 p.m., Issaquah Library

8

Rock-it Science Concert, 1-2 p.m., Issaquah Library

2

Family Volunteer Event, 10 a.m. to noon, Sammamish Commons

Teen Book Club, 3-4 p.m., Issaquah Library

9

Kidsfirst!

Performance Series: Eric Herman and the Thunder Puppies noon to 1 p.m., Beaver Lake Lodge Concerts on the Green: Big Dog Revue, 7-8:30 p.m., community center

14 Bare Buns Fun Run, 11 a.m., Fraternity Snoqualmie Burgers, Bikes and Babes McRally, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

21 Classy Chassis Car Show, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

28 Cascade Cougar Cub Prowl, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

15 Treasure Island Puppet Show, 1-2 p.m., Issaquah Library

16

Dig into Magic Show, 1 and 2 p.m., Issaquah Library Read and discuss ‘The Paris Wife,’ 6:30-8 p.m., Issaquah Library

29 Funny Folktales Unearthed, 1 and 2 p.m., Issaquah Library

Sammamish Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

10

Sammamish Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

Opera Preview: ‘Die Walkure,’ 7 p.m., Issaquah Library

17

Family Volunteer Event, 10 a.m. to noon, Sammamish Commons

Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

Eric Herman and the Thunder Puppies, noon to 1 p.m., Sammamish Commons

Opera preview: ‘Siegfried,’ 7 p.m., Issaquah Library

Concerts on the Green: Sly Mr. Y, 7-8:30 p.m., community center

22

3

23 Concerts on the Green: Chance McKinney, 7-8:30 p.m., community center

30

Brian Waite Band, noon to 1 p.m., Sammamish Commons Chalk Art Fest, noon to 5 p.m., Community Center

Concerts on the Green: Steve Kelley’s Little Big Band, 7-8:30 p.m., community center

4

Heritage Day, 11 a.m., Train Depot, Issaquah Down Home Fourth of July, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., downtown Fourth on the Plateau, 6-10 p.m., Sammamish Commons

Fifth of July cleanup, 9 a.m. to noon, Sammamish Commons

5

Game Night, 6:30-9 p.m., Julius Boehm Pool

Issaquah Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn

ArtWalk, 6-9 p.m., downtown Issaquah

11

13

Wooden O Shakespeare: ‘Henry V,’ 7 p.m., community center

Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn

The Staxx Brothers, 7 p.m., The Treehouse Point, Preston

Summer History Program: Bad Ben Legg, 11 a.m., Train Depot

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

‘Kiss Me, Kate,’ through July 21, Village Theatre

18

19

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

20

Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn

Sammamish Walks, 10-11:30 a.m., Big Rock Park

Trunk & Treasure, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., community center

24

6

Wooden O Shakespeare: ‘Henry V,’ 7 p.m., Pine Lake Park

25

26

27

Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

Concert: Chance McKinney, 6:30-8 p.m., Pine Lake Park

Opera preview: ‘Götterdämmerung,’ 7 p.m., Issaquah Library

Chocolate, Wine and All That Jazz, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Boehms Candies

Wooden O Shakespeare: ‘The Tempest,’ 7 p.m., Pine Lake Park

Eclectic Approach, 7 p.m., The Treehouse Point, Preston

Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn

31 Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons In the Kitchen with Pike Place Fish Guys, 5 p.m., Sammamish Library

History Hike, 11 a.m., Train Depot, Issaquah

AUG. National Night Out, 5-7 p.m., Issaquah City Hall

Old Rides Car Show, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

6

Safe and Sound Sammamish fair, 2-5 p.m., Sammamish Commons Concerts on the Green: Kalimba, 7-8:30 p.m., community center

11

13

N.W. Muscle Car Meet, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

Concerts on the Green: Randy Linder Band, 7-8:30 p.m., community center

19

14th annual NWCCC ’55-’56-’57, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

All Corvette Car Show, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

20

Eric Ode, noon to 1 p.m., Ebright Creek Park

Concerts on the Green: Manigua, 7-8:30 p.m., community center

Muddy Buddy Adventure, 7-11 a.m., Lake Sammamish State Park

25

2

Wooden O Shakespeare: ‘The Tempest,’ 7 p.m., community center

ArtWalk, 6-9 p.m., downtown Issaquah

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

4

18

1

26 Vintage Chevy Club of America, 5 p.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

27 Kidsfirst!

Performance Series, noon to 1 p.m., Sammamish Commons Concerts on the Green: Hairstorm, 7-8:30 p.m., community center

7 Beat the Heat Splash Day, 1-3 p.m., community center Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

14 Sammamish Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

21 Sammamish Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

28 Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons In the Kitchen with Pike Place Fish Guys, 5 p.m., Sammamish Library

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

Game Night, 6:30-9 p.m., Julius Boehm Pool

3

5K Foam Fest, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lake Sammamish State Park

Grand Ridge Trail Run, 8:30 a.m., Grand Ridge trailhead Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn

9 13th annual Festival of New Musicals, Village Theatre Aug. 9-11

Film Series, ‘Lassie Come Home,’ 7 p.m., City Hall

Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn

10

Sammamish Days, 10 a.m. to noon, Sammamish Commons Sammamish Nights, 6:30-10 p.m., Sammamish Commons

15

17

Beaver Lake Triathlon, 7:45 a.m., Beaver Lake Park

Moonshiner, The Treehouse Point, Preston

Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn

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

Trunk ‘n’ Treasure, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., community center

22

24

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

Issaquah Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn Lake Sammamish Triathlon, 7 a.m., Lake Sammamish State Park

29 Concerts in the Park: North Country, 6:30-8 p.m., Pine Lake Park

30

31 Issaquah Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pickering Barn

4

Sixth annual Rat Bastards Rat Rod Show, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

XXX Car Show/Shop N’ Swap Meet, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

11

19

20

Sammamish Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

24

23

30

Oct.

5

Salmon Days, Issaquah (also Oct. 6)

Oct.

12

Arts Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sammamish Commons (also Oct. 13)

21 Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn Sammamish Walks, 10 a.m. to noon, Beaver Lake Preserve

25 Sammamish Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

Fifth annual Mini Cooper Show, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

14 Issaquah Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn

18

Mega Cruise, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

Lake Sammamish Cyclocross, 9:30 a.m., Lake Sammamish State Park

13

Village Theatre: ‘Xanadu,’ times vary, through Oct. 20

Cycle the Wave, 6:30 a.m., Issaquah High School

Draggin’ into winter with no regrets, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

12

Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

15

7

Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn

Movie on the Green: ‘Sandlot,’ 8-11 p.m., community center

First day for Issaquah schools

Eighth annual All Ford Show, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

29

6

ArtWalk, 6-9 p.m., downtown Issaquah

Farmers Market, 3-8 p.m., Sammamish Commons

8

22

5

26

27

Swil Kanim Storytelling, 6-9 p.m., Beaver Lake Lodge

Oct.

13

Magnums, Chargers, 300s, and Challengers, 8 a.m., Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In

28 Issaquah Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pickering Barn

Oct.

19

Sammamish Walks, 10 a.m. to noon, Soaring Eagle Park

SEPT

1

41 VILLAGE THEATRE

Staged right Village Theatre offers a community, high-end experience

BY KATHERINE LOH

Known for being one of the only theaters in the Pacific Northwest that builds its own stage sets, Village Theatre has created a unique, intimate haven for its productions.

“We design all the scenery ourselves and build everything in Issaquah,” said Robb Hunt, theater managing director.

The theater has a “construction house” on an adjoining property where the work takes place.

“Our sets give us a unique production in the end because we are working with a set that was designed in collaboration with the director,” Hunt said. “It is more the director’s vision as opposed to some set that is featured on Broadway.”

Jamie Lily, director of marketing communications, agreed and said that the custom-made sets allow the director of the show to really create something new and fresh.

“The director can then stage the whole show around this set that they have created to create a really unique and cohesive final product,” Lily said.

By Jay Koh/Village Theatre

Village Theatre’s ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ went on to Broadway and earned three Tony Award nominations in 2010.

Levi Kreis (second from left), who originated the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in the Issaquah production, won the Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical.

Catch a show 2013-14 season ‘Xanadu,’ Sept. 12 to Oct. 20 ‘Les Miserables,’ Nov. 7 to Jan. 5 ‘The Foreigner,’ Jan. 23 to March 2 ‘The Tutor,’ March 20 to April 27 ‘Funny Girl,’ May 15 to July 6 www.villagetheatre.org/issaquah Village Theatre opened in 1979 and has been the source for a number of popular musicals including “Chicago” and “Million Dollar Quartet.” The latter has helped the theater gain national attention. According to Hunt, the 1956 musical went to Chicago and then to Broadway for over a year, where the actor who played Jerry Lee Lewis won a Tony Award.

Locally, Village Theatre supports some of Issaquah’s most wonderful talent.

“What makes it a great attraction is that it is really an enjoyable evening out on the town to see some great theater in a local community with really amazing professional work that the theater is able to put together within

the Seattle community,” Lily said. “The shows we do are just extraordinary.”

She said that the work she and the marketing promotions team does in support of the production’s path to greatness is something that makes the theater unique in the world.

Youth education is also an important aspect of helping students build self-confidence through involvement in KIDSTAGE, the Village Theatre Institute, and its Teen Apprenticeship Program. KIDSTAGE classes and rehearsals encourage youths to be creative, collaborate and develop public speaking skills and strong work ethic. The sessions take place once a week for eight to 10 weeks.

Aside from its developmental programs, the theater produces one new musical per season. That includes special set design, original music and actors creating characters from the ground up.

The theater offers five shows a season, including four musicals. The season runs from September through May each year.

Katherine Loh is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.

42 SALMONCENTRIC

Something’s fishy around here Salmon capture the passion, humor of Issaquah

By Greg Farrar

An adult chinook salmon returning to spawn tries to surmount the weir at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery.

BY DAN AZNOFF

By Greg Farrar

Brenda Johnson, of Battle Ground, wears her best regalia with the Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery group during a Salmon Days Grande Parade.

Like the fish that inspired the annual citywide street party, visitors quickly learn that Issaquah is salmoncentric. The fishy theme permeates the city — from art to festival fun.

The 44th annual Salmon Days Festival will be held, as always, the first weekend of October. This year, those dates are Oct. 5-6.

The theme for this year’s event will be “Streaming Live” to reflect both the high-tech changes in the community and the fish-centric mindset of the community. The name is also another example of how much fun the organizers have putting the celebration together every year.

“We love puns. The salmon and the fish theme give us an opportunity to be extremely creative every year,” said Robin Kelley, the director of festivals at the Issaquah Chamber of

Commerce. “Everybody in this office is encouraged to be punny.”

Her office is filled with salmon and fish-related souvenirs that friends and co-workers have given her over the years. Kelley wears fish earrings and has “several” pieces of salmon-themed jewelry that she rotates as part of her regular wardrobe.

The calendar that promotes Salmon Days is filled with “Ohfishal Events.” Business owners who lend financial support to the annual event are considered “Spawnsors” and the “schools of fin-atic” volunteers who want to become a “big fish in a small pond” are known as “Salmbassadors.“

Badges of honor

Brian Twiggs serves as the spawnsorship development manager. He said his duties include presenting the salmon-themed plaque to each business to thank them for their support.

Many established backers display the plaques on their wall where they can easily be seen by customers.

“The plaques are like a badge of honor,” Twiggs said. “Each one is different and each one proves just how crazy this community goes for salmon every year.”

The walls of the chamber office are covered with posters from each year of Salmon Days. Each one was designed by a local artist and chosen in an open competition that is held every spring.

“I am amazed at the talent in this city every year,” Kelley said. “We do not provide the artists with a theme, other than the salmon. Each year, we are overwhelmed with submissions that capture the essence of Salmon Days and the love affair this city has with a fish.”

A salmon-centric sense of humor is not limited to the chamber office on Gilman Boulevard. Businesses are encouraged to use the theme for their own marketing purposes. Kelley admits that most business owners are not as “punny” as the staff in her office, but that the salmon has become the “unofficial mascot that represents the city and the people who live in Issaquah.”

She went on to say that books are filled with stories about people who have died in the name of love. The lifecycle of the salmon from strug-

By Greg Farrar

Issaquah’s new Highmark Medical Building includes a sculpture on the lobby floor of salmon swimming in a riverbed. gling young fry darting downstream to avoid predators to their battle upstream three years later to mate and produce offspring is a classic tale worthy of great literature.

“There is nothing fishy about that story,” she said.

Celina Steiger, the education coordinator at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery on Sunset Way, said salmon are as synonymous with Issaquah as Squak Mountain and Boehm’s Chocolate.

Starting when they’re young

The salmon hatchery is not immune to jokes. The scavenger hunt held during the festival at the state facility is named Gill-iver’s Travels.

The activity requires young participants to visit various nature-themed exhibits.

Kelley pleads: “Don’t call it an educational activity.”

Steiger described Salmon Days as “craziness” at her facility. She enjoys watching parents guide their children

Enter your fish

By Greg Farrar

Ryker Welke, 3, of Issaquah, with his grandmother Carolyn Whiting, holds his finished fish print at the Watershed Science Center as families enjoy educational displays during the hatchery’s 75th anniversary open house. around the pools and the children, in turn, teaching their parents what they learned about salmon in their classroom.

The lifecycle of the salmon is part of the curriculum at many schools in Western Washington. But students in Issaquah are taught the importance of salmon from an early age, according to Steiger. Tours at the hatchery are not limited to field trips from local schools. Many parents bring their youngsters to the hatchery when they are young so they can begin to appreciate the importance of nature.

She laughed at how many fathers have walked away from the tanks of young fish with the warning, “We’ll see you at the end of my fishing line in a few years.”

The hatchery maintains a close relationship with local schools. In addition to the annual field trip for youngsters, the hatchery provides salmon eggs to elementary school classrooms throughout the district for the Salmon in the Classroom project.

The unit on salmon is a three-step process, according to Steiger. First, a member of the hatchery staff visits each class to discuss the lifecycle of the salmon and then the students are given the eggs to watch until they hatch in the spring. The unit concludes with a release of the salmon into local streams.

This year, students raised and released chinook and coho salmon

as well as kokanee. The land-locked salmon were released back into the lakes where the eggs were laid.

A salmon education

A unit about salmon is part of the third-grade curriculum for students across Western Washington. But the unit is more personal for the youngsters in Issaquah, who are witness to the return of the native fish every fall.

Elementary school students in Issaquah are not only taught about the journey of the salmon from the creek to Puget Sound and back again, explained Sara Niegowski, executive director of communication for the Issaquah School District. The unit also gives students the opportunity to understand the relationship between the fish and the environment and introduces them to the delicate economic balance with the need to generate electricity.

“The Issaquah art docents love salmon projects, and every elementary school now incorporates a salmon project,” Niegowski said.

“Some do clay salmon. Others do a Native American mask of our favorite salmon.

“Overall, you could say we love salmon.”

The scholastic unit concludes with a comparison of species that rely on clean water to predict how the differences might help one survive better than the other.

The Issaquah Festivals Office is accepting submissions of fine art, illustrations and/or graphic designs for potential “Salmon Days, salmon or Issaquahoriented” print, promotions and/ or festival gear consideration.

Submissions should be representative of Northwest salmon, Issaquah, local/regional scenery, Salmon Days and/or this year’s festival theme, “Streaming live.”

All styles and mediums of art suitable for high-quality reproduction are welcome.

Submissions must be original/ completed artwork not previously used in other commercial reproduction. Artwork/artist selected compensated based upon usage/agreement.

Submit art for consideration to vendorinfo@SalmonDays.org no later than 5 p.m. July 1.

“The kids understand how the system works,” Steiger said. “Salmon are a keystone species in the food chain. Everybody knows that eagles and bears feed on salmon, but students in the Issaquah schools learn that raccoons, ducks and great blue herons feed on the eggs that are laid along the rocky shore. They also know that resident Orca whales in Puget Sound are dependent on a diet of the chinook salmon that make their way from stream beds like the ones we have here in Issaquah.”

Community benefits

Steiger tries to be more serious when talking about the relationship between the city and the fish that are raised at her facility. She understands the importance of tourism and tries to return the favor by supporting local merchants.

She credits science and engineering for overcoming the damage done

by the winter floods that scour the bottom of the river and eliminate the normal breeding grounds for the returning salmon. The floods, she said, are a result of the massive amount of pavement that covers over ground that would normally absorb rainwater.

The abundance of salmon benefits the community by purifying the water and eliminating many of the insects that normally swarm around bodies of water. She described the salmon as partners for the environment.

Her job is not without its own laughs. Steiger smiled when she remembered the faces of the parents during her question-and-answer session with one classroom. One student asked why the fish have to die.

Another asked innocently why the “Daddy fish need to add fertilizer to the eggs.”

“Sex and death,” Steiger said while cringing. “The two topics that make every parent squirm.”

Plans are under way

The 2012 celebration of Salmon Days attracted more than 180,000 visitors to the streets of Issaquah.

Plans for this year’s event include the annual parade on Gilman Boulevard, displays from an estimated 300 artists, 70 food booths and another 70 stands sponsored by nonprofit organizations.

Kelley said returning vendors often request the same location year after year to better serve customers who do repeat business with them every October. More than two-thirds of the vendors from last fall have already applied to return. The wait list for commercial craft vendors gets longer every year.

“The answer to the question is yes: Vendors in the food court do serve salmon,” Kelley said.

According to Twiggs, Salmon Days attracts an average 150,000 people every year. The actual number each year is totally dependent on the unpredictable weather the first weekend of October.

The annual community celebration dates back to the 1920s and ‘30s when Issaquah was the site for an authorized rodeo, according to Kelley. The party evolved along with the demographics of the city when the event was changed to commemorate Labor Day. The large

number of visitors from surrounding communities that came to Issaquah to watch the return of the chinook every October inspired the chamber to “offishally” rename the celebration as Salmon Days in the late 1960s.

Like the namesake salmon, visitors to the community festival are often forced to swim upstream against traffic to find long-term parking. Wellmarked park-and-shuttle lots will be established at the Issaquah Transit Center, downtown and from the parking lots of sponsoring businesses outside downtown.

With a wide smile, Kelley explained that Salmon Days has become synonymous with Issaquah.

The lifecycle of the salmon and classroom visits to the salmon hatchery are part of the curriculum at every school in the area and the festival has connections with virtually every group in the city.

“Everybody knows at least one kid who marches in the parade. If you’re not participating through work or at school, then there is probably a signup sheet at your church,” Kelley said.

“Salmon Days gets into your gills and under your scales.”

46 HISTORY MUSEUMS

Revel in the city’s days of old at the history museums

BY EUNBI CHO

Step into one of Issaquah’s two history museums and take a break from the hustle and bustle of today’s modern world. Even before you enter, you get a sense of the town’s history from the buildings’ well-preserved architectural styles.

The Gilman Town Hall Museum focuses on the general history of Issaquah, while the Issaquah Depot Museum specializes in the role the railroad played in the town, according to Erica Maniez, the director of the Issaquah History Museums. The museums are open to everyone, including families with children.

The Issaquah History Museums not only exhibit the artifacts and photographs of the town over the course of time, but also offers several free or inexpensive programs to the general public, such as a guided tour, a lecture series and other community events. Upcoming events this summer include the Downtown History Hike, Heritage Day and a presentation about the life of Ben Legg.

Issaquah History Museums also presents the life of Ben Legg. He was Issaquah’s early resident who was titled as “Bad Ben Legg” by a newspaper after firing shots at his neighbors. The background stories about Ben Legg and his family represent various aspects of the early days of Issaquah, including a labor organization, mining and logging industries at the time. Taking a closer look at the life of Ben Legg provides a greater scope of the history of the town.

“This is a way to talk about how some of those events and trends affected actual people,” Maniez said.

“It is taking a historic microscope and looking closely at one person, and seeing all the different historic factors that went into shaping his life and

The History Museum’s two-cell jail is located behind the Gilman Town Hall Museum. figuring out what that tells us about Issaquah.”

The two museums in downtown Issaquah are about five minutes apart in walking distance. They attract about 7,000 visitors every year and have a collection of 8,000 artifacts and more than 10,000 photographs.

The Gilman Town Hall Museum (the city was once known as Gilman) served as town hall from 1898 until 1930. It housed offices for the mayor and city councilmen and also included a courtroom, library, polling place, fire department, schoolhouse and jail.

The two-cell jail is located at the back of the museum. It was actually Issaquah’s second jail. Issaquah’s first jail — made of wood — posed a security threat when a group of loggers locked in the jail wearing hobnail boots were able to kick the jail down. The second one is made of concrete, with 8-inch walls and an iron lock bar that weighs about 80 pounds. The concrete jail was used from 1914 until 1930.

The Gilman Town Hall Museum also has a historic kitchen and antique utensils that visitors can touch. The museum also houses the David J. Horrocks Research Center for the public to use historical books, documents and photographs.

The Issaquah Depot Museum is another historical must-see in downtown Issaquah.

Where to go The Gilman Town Hall Museum q 165 S.E. Andrews St. q Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Issaquah Depot Museum q 150 First Ave. N.E. q Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. q Additional summer hours (June 1 to Aug. 31), are from 4-8 p.m.

Thursdays for free admission.

Admission q $2 for adults/q $1 for children q $5 per family of three and more q $10 for a family pass that gives all-day access to both museums. q Members of the Issaquah History Museums visit for free. q Learn more at www.issaquah history.org or call 392-3500.

“The biggest thing to see in the depot is the depot itself, because it is restored to look the way it did in 1920s. The building itself is an exhibit,” Maniez said.

The Issaquah Depot Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and exhibits photographs, artwork and artifacts related to its history. On the grounds outside are three historic trolleys. One of them may be in service soon.

Issaquah Depot, the former railway station, was built in 1889 as a passenger station and freight warehouse. The railroad and the depot hold significance to the Issaquah community since they contributed greatly to the development of the town in the late 1800s.

The Issaquah Depot Museum also offers a Family Activity Guide to make the most of the museum experience. This is kid-friendly and designed to stimulate activities and conversation while touring the Depot. The guide is available for a suggested donation of $1.

Each museum takes about an hour to complete the tour.

“History belongs to the community,” Maniez said.

Eunbi Cho is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.