High expectations for Skyline
August 27, 2008
Can state champs repeat?
Senior Brian Schwartz lines up a kick during an Aug. 21 practice. He will vie for the starting position this fall. Schwartz was also a first team 3A all-KingCo goalkeeper for Skyline’s soccer team last spring. Photo by J.B. Wogan
For three of the last four years, Skyline High School has toppled all-comers to take the KingCo crown. Two of those years, 2004 and 2005, Skyline won the league title in 4A.
So why would 2008 be any different?
Skyline will move up to 4A KingCo this fall, fresh from an undefeated 14-0 season and a state championship in 3A.
“It’s not written down anywhere or anything like that. But it’s on everyone’s minds: We want to go back and we want to dominate state again,” said senior Grant Engel, a team captain and Skyline’s right tackle and nose tackle.
“That’s the ultimate goal,” head coach Mat Taylor said. But Taylor said he has cautioned his players to be humble. “One thing that’s a trademark of Skyline football is, all we can control is ourselves. Just worry about Skyline. That’s what we tell our kids. Just worry about the game on that given Friday.”
The Spartans return their ace quarterback, junior Jake Heaps and all four of their Read more
Wolves expect stiff league competition
August 27, 2008
Eastlake’s new starting quarterback, senior Drake Furcini, practiced passing routes with his receivers during a morning practice Aug. 22. Photo by J.B. Wogan
Eastlake football coach Gene Dales will tell you the truth about 4A KingCo this year: no one knows what’s going to happen.
“I expect to make a run at the league title,” he said at an Aug. 22 practice. “(But) we realize there might be some growing pains along the way.”
The NFL axiom “any given Sunday” might as well apply to Eastside high school football this fall. Skyline, the 2007 3A state champion, and Bothell, the 2007 4A state runner-up, will clash with Eastlake, who made it to the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament in 2007.
Dales added that Issaquah High School and Redmond High School are due to have Read more
Calendar
August 27, 2008
Events
Sammamishs’ birthday party. Celebrate Sammamish’s ninth birthday with cake, children’s activities and a concert by the Sammamish Symphony from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 28 at City Hall.
Open House. Come meet the new neighbor, Eastside Catholic. The school is offering an open house to the Sammamish Community from 1-3 p.m. Sept. 14 at Eastside Catholic, 232 228th Ave. SE.
The Eastlake High School Community Service Fair is looking for organizations that need high school student volunteers. This is an opportunity for your organization to reach 1100 potential student volunteers.
Organizers provide a table, chairs and a sign-up sheet for your representative to share information about your group and ways the students can work with your organization to fulfill their required community service commitments. The fair is scheduled for the mornings of Sept. 29 and 30 at Eastlake. For more information contact mkkayser@hotmail.com
Youth
Eastside Precision Drill Team is seeking new members. The non-dance drill team practices weekly on Tuesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of Redmond Junior High.
They’re now forming their 2008 team and will be training for 2008 parade performances. School-age girls are invited - no experience needed. Call 647-4831.
Library activities
Talk Time is at 7 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Sept. 23. Join other adults to improve your English conversation skills. Call Literacy AmeriCorps at 369-3452.
The Mother Daughter Book Group is for girls ages 9-12 and their mothers. This month’s book is “Feathers” by Jacqueline Woodson, 7 p.m. Sept. 24.
Author and career consultant Allan Hay will help people understand how to make an impact at their next job interview. Hay, the author of “Memory Mining, Digging for Gems From Your Past Good Work,” will discuss strategies to help people take a fresh look at job interviews. The discussion is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 10.
Spanish Story times for children 3 and older with an adult. 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 20 and 27.
Pajama Story Times for children ages 2-6 with an adult. Families are welcome. 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15, 22 and 29.
Toddle On Over - Toddler Story Times for children ages 2-3. Siblings are welcome, but space is limited. 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sept. 17 and 24.
Preschool Story Times for children ages 3-6 with an adult. Siblings are welcome, but space is limited. 10 a.m. Sept 18 and 25 or 1 p.m. Sept. 19 and 26.
Tiny Tales Story Times for children ages 6-12 months with an adult. Space is limited. 11 a.m. Sept. 18 and 25.
Young Toddler Story Times for children 12-24 months with an adult. 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Sept. 19 and 26.
Volunteers needed
The Sammamish Farmers Market needs volunteers. The market is from 4-8 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 1 at the Sammamish City Hall Plaza. Volunteers are needed to plan special events, work on the newsletter, help with logistics, organize children’s events and more. Go to www.sammamishfarmersmarket.org for a description of volunteer opportunities.
The King County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs certified long-term care ombudsman volunteers. After completing a four-day training program, visit with residents, take and resolve complaints and advocate for residents. Volunteers are asked to donate four hours a week and attend selected monthly meetings. Contact John Stilz at 206-697-6747 or johns@solid-ground.org.
Eastside Bluebills is a Boeing retiree volunteer organization that strives to provide opportunities for retirees to help others in need and to assist charitable and nonprofit organizations. Eastside Bluebills meet every third Wednesday of the month at the Bellevue Regional Library from 10 a.m.-noon. Call 235-3847.
LINKS, Looking Into the Needs of Kids in Schools, places community volunteers in the schools of the Lake Washington School District. Opportunities include tutoring, classroom assistance and lunch buddy. Just one hour a week can make a difference in a child’s life. Call Clair at 867-1677 or Nanci at 885-9158.
Eastside Baby Corner needs volunteers to sort incoming donations of clothing and toys and prepare items for distribution. Go to www.babycorner.org.
Volunteers are needed to visit homebound patrons with the King County Library System’s Traveling Library Center program. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have reliable transportation. Call Susan LaFantasie at 369-3235.
Volunteer drivers are needed for the Senior Services Volunteer Transportation Program. Flexible hours, mileage, parking reimbursement and supplemental liability insurance are offered. Call 206-448-5740.
Guide Dogs for the Blind Eager Eye Guide Pups Club needs volunteers to raise puppies for use as guide dogs for the blind. For information, call Sandy at 644-7421.
Volunteer Chore Services links volunteers with seniors or individuals who are disabled and are living on a limited income. Call 284-2240.
Obituary
August 27, 2008
Diana Fay Guo
Sammamish resident Diana Fay Guo died Aug. 6 at the age of 14. She was a student at Inglewood Junior High School, where she played cello and varsity tennis. Diana is survived by parents Di and Fuxiu Guo and two younger siblings
She was known to make all those around her smile.
Friends and family held a memorial walk to Eastlake High School, where they celebrated her life with speeches, prayers and by writing messages in chalk on the school’s tennis courts.
Diana was born Aug. 16, 1993.
Grownup reinvents childhood baseball game
August 27, 2008
Doug Strohm’s game will be sold by a prominent toy retailer
Doug Strohm prepares to pitch. Strohm’s game Ballpark Classics, is designed to mimic actual baseball in a more detailed way than its competitors. Photo by J.B. Wogan
It’s difficult not to see a little of Tom Hanks in Doug Strohm.
The lanky Sammamish man, originally from Wapakoneta, Ohio, is an adult with an adult job - chief strategist for an interactive marketing company - but here he is, hunched over, knees on the company carpet, expounding on a childhood dream to build a classic game, straight out of Hanks’ 1988 comedy “Big.”
The game, fittingly, is called Ballpark Classics, a tabletop baseball game in the tradition of foosball.
“Our goal is to have a game that lasts for years and years,” Strohm said.
It’s Strohm’s version of his favorite arcade pinball game from a county fair that used to pass by his hometown in mid-August. Strohm built prototypes of the game starting at age 15. Ballpark Classics is an attempt to recreate and improve Read more
Sammamish teens take up the challenge
August 27, 2008
Day-long event strives to break down barriers, empower youth
Teens are cheered as they enter for Challenge Day. Photo by Ari Cetron
The teens seemed bewildered as they came in; a throng of adults was cheered and high-fived as each entered the auditorium at Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Within an hour, they understood what was going on. It was Challenge Day, and it was about the teens understanding more about themselves and others.
“Challenge Day is about what you’re like on the inside,” said Bernice Meza, one of a pair of instructors assisting about 90 adults and teens through an assortment of exercises.
Challenge Day began in 1987, with a husband-and-wife team, Yvonne and Read more
Vedic Center throws a party
August 27, 2008
Cultural center holds grand opening
Festival goers peruse the various tents and religious displays Saturday at the Vedic Cultural Center grand opening festival in Sammamish. Nearly 8,000 people attended the event Saturday, with another 1,000-2,000 on Sunday, according to Cultural Center executive director Naresh Bhatt. Photo by Chris Huber
They began to arrive at 5:30 a.m. Saturday. At first it was a slow trickle through the main entrance, as people took off their shoes and greeted each other with, “Hare Krishna.”
Eventually, the parking lot was buzzing with thousands of area Hare Krishna followers who poured into the brand-new Vedic Cultural Center in Sammamish.
The distinct aroma of vegetarian Indian cuisine wafted through the entire first floor and out onto the patio as families, most sitting cross-legged on the floor, mingled while enjoying their free meal.
The event drew well-known Bollywood musician, Chandana Dixit, as well as spiritual leader His Holiness Radhanath Swami, who Read more
Photo contest winners 2008
August 27, 2008
Click on Image to enlarge
Sammamish to go on a walkabout
August 27, 2008
City begins to study ways to make Town Center more pedestrian-friendly
One of Sammamish’s road design experiments was the roundabout at Issaquah-Pine Lake Road and Southeast 32nd Way. With vegetation in the island, motorists can see the upcoming intersection from far away. Photo by J.B. Wogan
Dan Burden, an expert on bicycle and pedestrian facilities as well as roadway design, addressed Read more
This is only a drill
August 27, 2008
Sammamish police prepare for the worst
Deputy William Kennamer (left) a member of the King County Sherrif’s Office SWAT team and Sgt. Pete Horvath of the Sammamish Police practice guiding people through the halls in a mock emergency. Photo by J.B. Wogan
In some ways, Sammamish Police Sgt. Robert Baxter hopes he was wasting his time. Baxter and a group of other regional police officers took part in a training exercise designed to help the officers learn how to deal with a Columbine-style shooting at local schools.
“If I never have to see this, I will be very happy,” Baxter said.
The Aug. 15 training at Eastlake High School involved officers from cities in King County, including Shoreline, Kenmore, Woodinville and Sammamish.
A group of volunteers acted as hostages, while others acted as shooters, terrorizing Read more
