Calendar
June 25, 2008
Events
The fifth annual Green Festival Celebrating the Mountains to Sound Greenway is June 28-29. The greenway is a 1.4 million-acre scenic and recreation corridor from Puget Sound in Seattle to central Washington, featuring 750,000 acres of public land, 1,600 miles of multipurpose trails and hundreds of lakes, campgrounds, museums and farms.
The two-day festival has more than 25 events in 10 communities along 100 miles of Interstate 90.
Greenway Days offers group hikes, bike rides and community Read more
Arts calendar
June 25, 2008
June 27 The Greta Matassa Quartet performs from 8-10:15 p.m. at Bake’s Place, 4135 Providence Point Drive S.E. Tickets, including a three-course dinner, are $49.50. Call 391-3335.
June 28 The Jeni Fleming Ensemble performs as part of the Visiting Songbird Series from 8-10:15 p.m. at Bake’s Place, 4135 Providence Point Drive S.E. Tickets, including a three-course dinner, are $49.50. Call 391-3335.
July 10 The Concert in the Park series begins at Pine Lake Park. Portage Bay Big Band, a swing band, is set to play from 6:30-8:30.
July 17 AboutFace, a classic rock band play a Concert in the Park, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Pine Lake Park.
July 19 Wooden O performs Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 7-8:45 p.m.
Auditions
and opportunities
Public Art 4Culture compiles a list of current public art opportunities available through it and other agencies across the country.
The Public Art Calls List provides brief project descriptions, deadlines, and how to receive more information about each opportunity – bimonthly, free of charge.
Access the list at www.4culture.org/publicart.
The Home Instead Senior Care office serving East King hosts Caring Today magazine’s third annual “Give a
Caregiver a Break” essay contest to honor family caregivers.
The contest will award $16,000 in free caregiving services to the winning essay writers.
Entry deadline is July 16. Submit typed entries at www.caringtoday.com/hicontest or by mail to Caring Today, 34 Sherman Court, Fairfield, CT 06824.
Complete rules can be found in the May/June issue of Caring Today or online at www.caringtoday.com.
The Sammamish Symphony Orchestra is seeking musicians who play the following instruments: trumpet, trombone, French horns, percussion. Section players are needed in all of the string sections, including cello and string bass.
Other instruments may also be needed for the extras and sub lists.
For additional information or to arrange an audition, please call 206-517-7777 or e-mail Auditions@SammamishSymphony.org.
Master Chorus Eastside is holding auditions for all sections for its winter and spring concerts. Interested singers must have choral experience and basic music reading ability. Call 392-8530.
The Issaquah Chamber Orchestra seeks players for first violin, trumpet, trombone and bassoon. Rehearsals are held at Providence Point on Monday evenings. Call 392-1866.
The Issaquah Singers invite others to join them Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Community Church of Issaquah. No auditions. Call 392-6678.
The Bellevue Philharmonic seeks Eastside and Snohomish youths to perform as soloists with the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra. Music students of all instruments are invited to apply. Call 455-4171.
Fourth on the Plateau
June 25, 2008
Its that time again. Come and enjoy the Fourth of July with 20,000 of your closest friends.
The Sammamish Commons opens at noon July 4 and the festivities kick off at 6 p.m. with fireworks set for 10:15 p.m.
Activities include kid-friendly areas and live music. Admission is free. Visit www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/4thjuly.aspx for more information.
Review editorial: Excitement mounts for Fourth on Plateau
June 24, 2008
Last year’s Fourth on the Plateau was a huge success, even though it was the first such event.
Fast forward to this year and the excitement is mounting! There will be live music from two bands, lots more concession stands, twice the portable toilets, a children’s play area, clowns, balloons, 20,000 of your favorite Sammamish neighbors – and fireworks lighting the sky for miles around!
You’ll want to be there, and the Review will help you make it easier by providing maps with parking locations and festival tips, all in a special pull-out section in next week’s paper. Bring your family, your friends, a blanket to spread on the lawn, a picnic basket with your best red, white and blue cupcakes, and come early for the music. Don’t forget to pack some patience as you walk/drive with the crowds.
Creating a party for 20,000 is no easy feat. Just ask Dawn Sanders, the city’s volunteer coordinator, who could still use more help (call 295-0556.) And it takes a lot of money- about $80,000 – to rent those toilets and sound equipment, make directional signs, buy balloons and hire the clowns and to pay for the grand fireworks show, the capper of any true Independence Day celebration.
Take note of the corporate sponsors who pay to have their name associated with this community event, and offset the taxpayer’s contributions. Microsoft has quietly contributed 25 grand, most likely as a tribute to its many employees who make their home in Sammamish. Other sponsors do what they can, and deserve your appreciation, too.
Be safe, be sane, but party Sammamish style. It’s year two, so now we can call it another great American tradition.
Fireworks have rules, too
Guidelines for fireworks in Sammamish are quite simple: You can’t.
It is illegal to possess or discharge fireworks in the city.
Officals said they take an “informational” approach rather than fining violators, but city law does provide for fines of $500 for possession and $1,000 for discharging fireworks.
Just another reason to go to Fourth on the Plateau.
Sammamish Forum
June 24, 2008
Not the city’s money
In the Sammamish City Newsletter, Issue 72, Mayor Lee Fellinge talked about the city’s 2009-2010 budget saying ”This is not the city’s money; it is your money… I invite you to keep track of these discussions and let us know what you think.”
You want to know what we think? Really, Lee?
Since you are listening, here is my number one recommendation. Scrap the East Lake Sammamish Parkway project.
But then, taxpayers have Read more
Time to hang up and drive
June 24, 2008
Ban on driving while talking on a hand held cell phone starts July 1
Jamie Cook can’t help but feel nervous on the road when other drivers fall victim to distractions within their vehicles. That’s just one of the reasons that the Sammamish resident Read more
State Official: tolls coming on 520 Bridge
June 24, 2008
At night, Paula Hammond has visions of the ailing 520 Bridge snapping off its moorings and drifting away into Lake Washington.
“That’s what I lay awake worrying about,” the Washington Transportation Secretary told the Sammamish City Council. Read more
Everything’s going up
June 24, 2008
Water, sewer rates both set to rise
Sammamish residents may have to pay more for water and sewer service by 2009.
The Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer Authority, which provides sewer and water service to more than 50,000 people in parts of Sammamish, Issaquah and Read more
Survey says
June 24, 2008
City polls 400 Sammamish residents
Residents of Sammamish continue to love the city for its small-town feel, quiet, schools, safety and lakes, and they still wish the city had less traffic congestion.
But the percentage of residents who approve of the city’s general direction Read more
Minimal impact from Sheriff’s budget cuts
June 24, 2008
If King County officials respond to the county’s budget crisis by reducing criminal justice funding, some of the impacts could trickle down to Sammamish.
Facing a $68 million shortfall in the 2009 budget, King County Executive Ron Read more
