Smart Car a smart investment for local businessman
March 30, 2009
Roland Fink uses his Smart Car to get around the plateau and for advertising. Photo by Christopher Huber
Shortly after Roland Fink purchased his Smart Car in early 2008, he attended a realtors’ gathering at a luxury home in Bellevue.
Fink, a Sammamish resident, parked his tiny car among Ferraris and other fancy vehicles. But, when he went to leave, his miniature, futuristic-looking car garnered an ecstatic reaction from some of the children at the event.
“The owner’s kids and their friends came out and went crazy and completely ignored the Ferraris and took pictures of the Smart Car,” Fink said. “When I was that age, it was, ‘you need to have a big engine,’” Fink said. “That’s so different now.” Read more
Author to discuss fighting homelessness
March 30, 2009
Seattle-area author and mental health chaplain Craig Rennebohm has worked with the homeless in the region since 1997. He began working with gangs in Chicago in 1968, and has since cared for people in their darkest moments of isolation and desperation. The former pastor has helped countless families and individuals, primarily those with mental illness, find a path to recovery, healing and employment. He has also worked to train and equip local churches to do the same. Read more
McAuliffe Elementary students rally around their principal
March 30, 2009
When Principal Tracey Miller was diagnosed with MS, the school used it as a chance to learn about, and fight, the disease. Photo by Christopher Huber
Christa McAuliffe Elementary principal Tracey Miller was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis more than two years ago. She had just started her new job at the school and, suddenly, was forced to challenge her approach to balancing work and personal life.
“When something big happens to you, you try to be proactive and lead a healthy lifestyle,” Miller said. “You try to be as positive as you can and use this to inspire others.”
Her diagnosis has motivated her to try to inspire others by being a voice for disability awareness in the Sammamish school’s community. Read more
Discovery Elementary students imagine successes
March 30, 2009
Christopher Heitkamp, Ruby Outwater and Courtney Crocker (from left) performed a skit about a grave robber for their part of Destination Imagination. Photo by Christopher Huber
Six months of hard work after school has finally paid off for five Discovery Elementary School fifth graders. The students spent hours each week rehearsing roles and tweaking mechanical problems to ready themselves for the state Destination Imagination competition in Wenatchee. They had qualified for the statewide event after winning the regional contest earlier this month.
The “Phive Phantastic Pharoahs,” consisting of Christopher Heitkamp, Vikram Ghangurde, Courtney Crocker, Ruby Outwater and Andrew Blessington, placed third in state after executing a strong skit performance and machine-task challenge March 28, said team manager Robert Heitkamp. Read more
Look it up
March 30, 2009
Members of the Sammamish Rotary donated 30 dictionaries to Discovery Elementary School. Each of the school’s third grade classes received dictionaries.
The contributions were made possible by using a portion of the funds raised during Nightmare at Beaver Lake.
From left, Tera Coyle, Discovery Elementary principal, Smrithi Sudip from Ms. Stead’s class, Bernie Lucking Sammamish Rotary past-president, Sebastian Blackheart from Mrs. Stevens’ class, Annie Tang from Mrs. Dubois’ class, Abby Strand from Mrs. Imes’ class, Emma Rohleder from Mrs. Jacobs’ class, Norm Bottenberg Sammamish Rotary president-elect, and Evan Alexander from Mrs. Bushey’s class show off some of the new dictionaries. Contributed
Calendar
March 30, 2009
Events
Invisible Children, a group which strives to provide aid for Ugandan children affected by war, will screen the movie “Roadies” at 7 p.m. April 2 at the Old Fire House teen center in Redmond. Read more
Clubs
March 30, 2009
A support group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s meets in Issaquah. the group is designed to let caregivers gain emotional support, learn and share their experiences. The free group meets from 6-7:30 p.m, the second Thursday of each month at Aegis of Issaquah, 780 N Juniper Street. Call 313-7364.
Volunteers needed
March 30, 2009
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.
Eastlake baseball tops Issaquah 8-5
March 30, 2009
Eastlake senior Michael Russo hits an RBI single in the first inning Photo by Christohper Huber
Eastlake junior left fielder Matt Dusche only went 1-for-4 March 26 against the Issaquah Eagles. But that one hit came when the Wolves needed it most.
Issaquah had sent the game into extra innings after tying the game at five in the bottom of the seventh inning.
But with one out and runners on first and second, Dusche lined a Spencer Rogers pitch past Issaquah third baseman Marcus Gaan into left field.
The single scored Andrew Mitchell and broke it open. The hit led to a three-run eighth-inning rally for Eastlake. Read more
Skyline’s Vanessa Berther hopes for spot on U.S. Ski Team
March 30, 2009
Vanessa Berther Skis in the Northwest Cup races in 2008. Contributed
For much of the 2008-2009 race season, Vanessa Berther has had trouble stringing together two solid, complete runs in the slalom. Her strongest event is the giant slalom — she won it at the U.S. National Junior Championships in Aspen, Colo. earlier in March —but she also competes with the best skiers in the world in the super G and the downhill.
But her slalom experience was different at the U.S. Alpine Championships at Alyeska, Alaska March 27-30. Read more
