Seven Swans are actually swimming
December 29, 2008
It seems the timing is a bit off for these swans on Pine Lake, who should be swimming on the seventh day of Christmas. Photo by Don Gerend
Toys for Tots gets last-minute pickup
December 29, 2008
-
Amy Jarboe poses around a roomful of toys she helped collect Dec. 23. The Toys for Tots drive completed its third consecutive year, amassing an even bigger supply of gifts than last year. Photo by J.B. Wogan.
Just in the nick of time, a 5-ton truck from the U.S. Marine Corp. came to City Hall to pick up its toys.
The truck was supposed to come five days earlier, but snow delayed its arrival time until 3 p.m. Dec. 23.
Police Chief Brad Thompson said there were so many toys packed into the truck that the four bikes had to be lashed in to stay on.
This was Sammamish’s third annual collection drive for Toys for Tots, a U.S. Marine Corps program that puts toys in the hands of disadvantaged children during the winter holidays.
Early reports indicated that icy road conditions would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the trucks to pick up the toys.
“Our fingers are crossed that it made a difference in some kids’ lives,” Thompson said.
There were enough toys to fill the main office of the Sammamish Police Department, with stacks lining the windows. Thompson estimated that there were a third more toys than last year.
“We’ll have to have a new, bigger police department for all the new toys next year,” he said.
Detective Amy Jarboe helped organize the drive, though she was on vacation after Christmas and unavailable for comment.
“Our fingers are crossed that it made a difference in some kids’ lives.”
– Brad Thompson,
Chief of Police –
Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com.
15 local musicians headed to honor groups
December 29, 2008
Students will perform in all-state concert in Spokane in February
Leon Zhang is the youngest Sammamish resident to be selected to one of the honor bands.Fifteen Sammamish students from three schools will soon participate in the musical version of a sports all-star game.
Eleven students from Skyline High School, three from Eastlake High School and one from International Community School, in Redmond, recently made it through the audition process and were selected to the All-State and All-Northwest high school vocal and instrumental honor groups.
Seven choir students made the cut from Skyline. Sophomore Michelle Bretl and junior Nicole Chambers made the All-Northwest Treble Choir and sophomore Kamalu Santos made the All-Northwest Mixed Choir as a bass.
“Some of these kids are multiple overachievers in many areas,” Skyline choir, guitar and IB music teacher Nancy Ziebart said of the characteristics of an All-State musician. “They just love to excel. They just really delve in and do as much as they can with the opportunity provided to them. They really seize the opportunities.”
Prithvi Addepalli (soprano), Andrew Garrett (bass), William Doerrfeld (bass) and Hansen Millett (tenor) made the All-State Symphonic Choir.
2009 is the first year Chambers will participate in the honor choir.
“I am really excited to get to work with other talented singers and musicians,” she said in an e-mail. “For me, the audition wasn’t all that hard. ”
She auditioned for All-State last year, but did not make it in. Read more
Sammamish soprano starring in ‘The Marriage of Figaro’
December 29, 2008
Raluca Marinescu will play the Contessa in Lyric Opera Northwest’s production of “The Marriage of Figaro.”
Raluca Marinescu is one of two area women in the production
Two local musicians play starring roles in Lyric Opera Northwest’s first production of the new year, one of the most beloved operas of all time — “Le nozze di Figaro, Ossia la Folle Giornata” (“The Marriage of Figaro,” or “The Day of Madness”).
“The Marriage of Figaro” is a comic opera in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte and based on a play by Pierre Beaumarchais.
Sopranos Dohee Kim, of Issaquah, and Raluca Marinescu, of Sammamish, share the role of Contessa.
Born in Korea, Kim started music at 6, participating in young artist singing contests and winning several prizes. She studied singing and entered summa cum laude at Kyunghee University School of Music. As an undergraduate, she performed Susanna in “Le Nozze de Figaro” and went to Italy for summer school diplomas.
In graduate school, she performed Mimi in “La Bohème” and started teaching opera performance at Anyang High School of Art.
Kim took several years off to raise her two children when she and her husband came to the United States. Kim joined the Northwest Korean-American Musician Club and performed in annual opera aria concerts.
She has continually honed her vocal skills in lessons with various singers, Mary Curtis-Verna of the University of Washington being the most influential.
Kim sang the role of Cio-Cio-San in Lyric Opera Northwest’s “Madama Butterfly” and Violetta in “La Traviata.”
Born in Romania, Marinescu started her musical career playing the piano at the age of 5. As she grew, so did her love for opera.
She continued to study piano and voice, performing in national and international competitions with noted success. Read more
Book of the month
December 29, 2008
The Sammamish book discussion group will discuss “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie at 7 p.m. Jan. 21.
Calendar
December 29, 2008
Events
Habitat for Humanity holds monthly work days. Go to Patterson Park in Redmond and meet with other volunteers the third Saturday of each month. E-mail habitat@spconline.org.
Sammamish Connects, sponsored by the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce. This month’s speaker is Melissa Rooth-Cormier of Topline Fitness. 7:30-9 a.m. Jan. 13 at Matts’ Rotisserie & Oyster bar in the Redmond Town Center. Visit www.sammamishchamber.org to register
Let’s get real with drugs and alcohol. Learn from experts about how to address community problems with drugs and alcohol. 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Sammamish Library. Read more
Eastlake hoops rally not enough
December 29, 2008
Eastlake forward Michael Russo drives against Enumclaw. Photo by Christopher Huber
The Eastlake boys’ basketball team got off to an unfortunate start to the 2008 BCC Christmas Classic tournament Dec. 27 at Bellevue Community College.
With the warmer temperatures and receding snow pack came the first basketball most teams in the area had played in approximately two weeks.
Although neither team had practiced much recently because of the restrictive weather, the Enumclaw Hornets prevailed over the Wolves 63-51 in the second game of the tournament. Read more
Eastlake girls head to finals
December 29, 2008
The Eastlake girls basketball team won its second-round contest Dec. 29 at the Surf ‘N Slam Hoop Classic in San Diego, Calif., which gave them the chance to play for the tournament championship Dec. 30. Read more
Two plateau soccer teams win state title
December 29, 2008
-
The Doom Patrol celebrates its win Dec. 13. Contributed
Two Sammamish-area youth soccer teams recently won the Dairy Farmers of Washington Presidents Cup Championships for their age group.
The boys’ U-13 Doom Patrol and U-18 Ambush each beat their respective opponents in the state’s recreational league title game to become champions Dec. 13 and 14 at the Starfire Stadium in Tukwila.
The Presidents Cup is the highest accolade a recreational team in Washington can achieve, said Doom Patrol head coach Mark Fussell. Approximately 500 teams in nine age groups participate in the state competition.
The Doom Patrol beat the District 5 champion Thunder, of Vancouver 1-0 Dec. 13. The lone scorer was forward Omar Luqman, who, in the 33rd minute, beat two defenders and tapped the ball in just under the approaching goalkeeper. Midfielder Levi Fussell made the assist. Read more
Protection available to Sammamish landmarks
December 28, 2008
The City Council took steps to protect Sammamish’s history Dec. 16. In a unanimous vote, the council approved a change in the city code that would allow for the restoration and upkeep of historic landmarks.
Any number of properties could become historic landmarks, depending on whether the land or the structures on it represent religious, artistic or architectural significance to the city’s history. Properties that are important due to their part in the city’s history can also be nominated. Read more
