Local athletes commit to D1 schools
November 19, 2009
New: Nov. 19, 1:21 p.m.
Two Skyline High School athletes will commit to their respective schools at a national letter of intent signing Nov. 25, according to school administrators. Read more
EFR approves offering buyouts to firefighters
November 18, 2009
By J.B. Wogan
Eastside Fire & Rescue might try to entice highly-paid, longtime employees to take a buyout option if layoffs become a real possibility for the 2010 budget.
The EFR board approved using buyouts to reduce labor costs, though Finance Chief Dave Gray cautioned against reading too much into its implications.
“Because they approved it doesn’t mean that it’s in play,” Gray said. “Officially, it’s just a tool.”
Members of EFR’s administration cannot take advantage of the buyout — it only applies to employees represented in the firefighter and battalion chief labor agreements.
Also, the bill passed by the board would only allow three employees to take advantage of the buyout option.
Those employees would be able to leave EFR and receive up to $12,000 from the agency.
Gray said a buyout option could result in cost savings if the agency replaced employees who have high salaries and large amounts of vacation time.
The bill appears to have come up in anticipation of budget discussions in December regarding EFR’s expenses.
The board will have to address a $548,557 shortfall, and the buyouts might be part of the solution.
To ease the financial pressure on its partner cities, the EFR administration proposed asking for a zero percent increase in partner contributions.
In the case of Sammamish, that would mean the city setting aside about $5.3 million for fire protection, roughly the same amount as last year.
While contributions would be flat, the cost of labor is rising in 2010. Firefighters are asking for a 1.5 percent raise.
In addition, their medical and dental insurance benefits are going to increase at 13 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
To balance the budget, EFR staff proposed dipping into reserve funds and equipment replacement funds.
Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Griffin said the staff is also working with the local firefighters union to see if there are ways to cut costs through the firefighters’ labor agreement.
If those options don’t cover the shortfall, EFR could explore layoffs.
The buyout option passed Nov. 10 would probably become a tool if layoffs were on the table, Gray said.
The EFR board approved the buyout option 6-1, with Sammamish representative Nancy Whitten dissenting. Whitten said she was afraid the buyout option would amount to handouts to employees who would be retiring soon anyway.
The board will not pass the expenditure side until Dec. 8.
Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com.
New: Nov. 18, 11:36 a.m.
Eastside Fire & Rescue might try to entice highly-paid, longtime employees to take a buyout option if layoffs become a real possibility for the 2010 budget.
The EFR board approved using buyouts to reduce labor costs, though Finance Chief Dave Gray cautioned against reading too much into its implications. Read more
Sammamish Forum November 18
November 17, 2009
New council should reconsider Town Center
Kudos to John Galvin, Dick Birgh, and the southeast quadrant group for taking the bull by the horns and getting what appears to be a fine master plan for their portion of the Town Center development. Risking $85,000 of their own money to help get this project off the ground is a bold step in the right direction.
Much of the required infrastructure is there – improved road, water and sewer and fiber optic cable. The city council needs to revisit the council’s regulations for the Town Center development. Since the City Council will soon have three new members, may I suggest that the plan and regulations be reviewed by the incoming City Council?
Jeff Matson
Sammamish
Thanks, Jack
For the past 10 years since Sammamish was incorporated, Jack Barry has dedicated himself to being an integral force in shaping our city as a member of its City Council. It’s not an easy task to seek elected office when much of the infrastructure is already in place. It is even more of a challenge to be willing to step up and share the responsibility for creating from nothing a city that is now named the 12th best small city in the United States.
Thank you, Jack, for having given selflessly to help make us who we are. You have always been an example of political and personal integrity for this community and a great role model for our youth. The city of Sammamish has been fortunate to have had you as one of its leaders.
C.J. and Mary Jo Kahler
Sammamish
Nightmare was
successful
It was a dark and stormy night could have been the theme of Rotary’s annual nine-night fundraiser, The Nightmare at Beaver Lake. Not only did the rains and winds come, one night was cancelled due to lightning and thunder to ensure the safety of participants and actors.
Overall, the fundraiser was a great success with its trebuchet, rotating tunnel of clowns, Wizard of Oz sets, the village, Salem witch trials, abandoned chemical factory, and a whole lot more spread throughout the path from Beaver Lake’s ball fields through the pavilion next to the lake.
Hundreds of actors and behind-the-scenes volunteers staffed the nine-night extravaganza, and thousands of area residents braved the family hour and full scare to raise thousands of dollars for Rotary’s community and international causes, which include college scholarships for Sammamish’s three high schools.
More than $40,000 was raised for direct services.
Thousands of canned goods were donated during the nine nights to benefit the Eastside Domestic Violence Program, and the Renaissance School raised funds with its concession booths each evening.
We especially wish to publicly thank our nonprofit partner, Scare Productions, for its expertise in set design, makeup, casting, actor training, security functions and so much more to bring such realism to the haunt.
We are also most grateful to the Sammamish Parks Department and the Sammamish Youth Board for their annual partnerships, and to the King County Explorer Scouts for their major security roles.
Sammamish resident Dana Young is to be commended for her thousands of hours of set design, makeup, and overall production of so much of the annual haunt.
Norm Bottenberg
President, Sammamish Rotary Club
Let barricade
talks go on
From the Nov. 4 Sammamish Review barricade articles, it appears that some folks are still trying to short circuit the barricade decision process currently under development before it works its independent course. The city comprehensive plan does not state or imply that road connections be established through residential neighborhoods regardless of safety.
City staff is correct that the comprehensive plan also requires the city to maintain neighborhood character. There are many reasons for this, such as the city’s and taxpayers’ liabilities if unwise or reckless actions are taken.
The city’s recent two “connectivity” working public meetings asked neighbors to identify concerns to be included in a connectivity decision process. Each meeting was broken up into tables of about eight to 12 folks with mediators encouraging dialogue on all sides at each table.
Tables had to be added at each meeting given the citywide attendance filling the room. Each table was instructed to identify and prioritize the top five concerns associated with connectivity and present their findings to the entire meeting. If memory serves me right, for all the tables at both public meetings, the top issue was safety and then residential quality of the neighborhoods (a quick check of each table’s presentation sheet retained by the city should easily verify this observation). It is seriously incorrect to characterize that safety was only pedestrian safety as this was clearly not the only safety concerns identified, discussed, and presented by the majority, if not all, of the tables.
The city’s continuing efforts to develop an open, independent connectivity decision process should be supported given Sammamish’s unique challenges. Many residential neighborhoods and roadways were never intended nor designed for connection, and it would be inappropriate to connect them now.
It is important that all connectivity decision processes be open, factual, transparent, involve the neighborhoods and pass independent scrutiny by the public.
I have visited all the barricades in person, and I believe that open decision processes would result in some barricades remaining for insurmountable safety reasons, some could be removed, and the rest would need thorough road mitigation before removal.
Richard B. Kuprewicz
Sammamish
New council should reconsider Town Center
Kudos to John Galvin, Dick Birgh, and the southeast quadrant group for taking the bull by the horns and getting what appears to be a fine master plan for their portion of the Town Center development. Risking $85,000 of their own money to help get this project off the ground is a bold step in the right direction.
Much of the required infrastructure is there – improved road, water and sewer and fiber optic cable. The city council needs to revisit the council’s regulations for the Town Center development. Since the City Council will soon have three new members, may I suggest that the plan and regulations be reviewed by the incoming City Council?
Jeff Matson
Sammamish
Thanks, Jack
For the past 10 years since Sammamish was incorporated, Jack Barry has dedicated himself to being an integral force in shaping our city as a member of its City Council. It’s not an easy task to seek elected office when much of the infrastructure is already in place. It is even more of a challenge to be willing to step up and share the responsibility for creating from nothing a city that is now named the 12th best small city in the United States.
Thank you, Jack, for having given selflessly to help make us who we are. You have always been an example of political and personal integrity for this community and a great role model for our youth. The city of Sammamish has been fortunate to have had you as one of its leaders.
C.J. and Mary Jo Kahler
Sammamish
Nightmare was successful
It was a dark and stormy night could have been the theme of Rotary’s annual nine-night fundraiser, The Nightmare at Beaver Lake. Not only did the rains and winds come, one night was cancelled due to lightning and thunder to ensure the safety of participants and actors.
Overall, the fundraiser was a great success with its trebuchet, rotating tunnel of clowns, Wizard of Oz sets, the village, Salem witch trials, abandoned chemical factory, and a whole lot more spread throughout the path from Beaver Lake’s ball fields through the pavilion next to the lake.
Hundreds of actors and behind-the-scenes volunteers staffed the nine-night extravaganza, and thousands of area residents braved the family hour and full scare to raise thousands of dollars for Rotary’s community and international causes, which include college scholarships for Sammamish’s three high schools.
More than $40,000 was raised for direct services.
Thousands of canned goods were donated during the nine nights to benefit the Eastside Domestic Violence Program, and the Renaissance School raised funds with its concession booths each evening.
We especially wish to publicly thank our nonprofit partner, Scare Productions, for its expertise in set design, makeup, casting, actor training, security functions and so much more to bring such realism to the haunt.
We are also most grateful to the Sammamish Parks Department and the Sammamish Youth Board for their annual partnerships, and to the King County Explorer Scouts for their major security roles.
Sammamish resident Dana Young is to be commended for her thousands of hours of set design, makeup, and overall production of so much of the annual haunt.
Norm Bottenberg
President, Sammamish Rotary Club
Let barricade talks go on
From the Nov. 4 Sammamish Review barricade articles, it appears that some folks are still trying to short circuit the barricade decision process currently under development before it works its independent course. The city comprehensive plan does not state or imply that road connections be established through residential neighborhoods regardless of safety.
City staff is correct that the comprehensive plan also requires the city to maintain neighborhood character. There are many reasons for this, such as the city’s and taxpayers’ liabilities if unwise or reckless actions are taken.
The city’s recent two “connectivity” working public meetings asked neighbors to identify concerns to be included in a connectivity decision process. Each meeting was broken up into tables of about eight to 12 folks with mediators encouraging dialogue on all sides at each table.
Tables had to be added at each meeting given the citywide attendance filling the room. Each table was instructed to identify and prioritize the top five concerns associated with connectivity and present their findings to the entire meeting. If memory serves me right, for all the tables at both public meetings, the top issue was safety and then residential quality of the neighborhoods (a quick check of each table’s presentation sheet retained by the city should easily verify this observation). It is seriously incorrect to characterize that safety was only pedestrian safety as this was clearly not the only safety concerns identified, discussed, and presented by the majority, if not all, of the tables.
The city’s continuing efforts to develop an open, independent connectivity decision process should be supported given Sammamish’s unique challenges. Many residential neighborhoods and roadways were never intended nor designed for connection, and it would be inappropriate to connect them now.
It is important that all connectivity decision processes be open, factual, transparent, involve the neighborhoods and pass independent scrutiny by the public.
I have visited all the barricades in person, and I believe that open decision processes would result in some barricades remaining for insurmountable safety reasons, some could be removed, and the rest would need thorough road mitigation before removal.
Richard B. Kuprewicz
Sammamish
City well served by citizens and council
November 17, 2009
Once again, we find ourselves commending both the citizens of Sammamish and the City Council. In both cases, we are impressed by their actions on advisory committees.
Citizens have applied in droves to be members of both the Planning and Arts commissions. It is a testament to the community spirit in this 10-year-old city that so many are willing to volunteer.
Planning Commissioners work long, unpaid hours delving into minutia of land-use policy that would leave most people confused and, probably, sleepy. They take the first look at the regulations and ordinances that will define the way Sammamish looks in the years and decades to come.
They then have the privilege of seeing that work fairly consistently overturned by the City Council. In return, they get to sit in long meetings and be berated by members of the public for not listening.
Arts Commissioners tends to operate out of the spotlight. Yet, the commissioners brought us the sculpture in the Sammamish Commons, and without the hours they put in, the city would go without its beautiful and interesting exhibits at City Hall.
Dozens have applied to sit on these two commissions. It is not unusual, in other places, to have such commissions languish with empty seats. Sammamish’s civic spirit and energized citizenry will serve it well.
The City Council is also to be commended for delaying in making the appointments to these commissions. Often in government, when one group is leaving power, they make a rush of appointments in an attempt to maintain a ghostly influence even after they’ve been ushered out.
It would be easy for the current lame duck council to appoint new members to the commissions and hope to see their policies and priorities subtly continued over the next few years.
But in Sammamish, that kind of partisan rancor is foreign and takes a backseat to good governance. The council realizes that new councilmen will bring a fresh set of ideas that reflect the current feelings of the populace.
The City Council’s collegial attitude has done a service for the citizens. Sometimes, as now, the best government policies are to delay.
Once again, we find ourselves commending both the citizens of Sammamish and the City Council. In both cases, we are impressed by their actions on advisory committees.
Citizens have applied in droves to be members of both the Planning and Arts commissions. It is a testament to the community spirit in this 10-year-old city that so many are willing to volunteer. Read more
EFR overtime money runs low
November 17, 2009
By J.B. Wogan
Overtime for firefighters is likely to go over budget.
The news isn’t nearly as bad as it sounds, as Eastside Fire & Rescue has additional funds set aside that can cover overtime.
But this year’s high amount of overtime foils an administrative plan within Eastside Fire & Rescue to curb costs wherever possible. The EFR Board of Directors approved $600,000 for overtime in 2009, but when firefighters’ salaries and benefits ended up being higher than anticipated the agency pulled $120,000 out of the overtime funds to pay the difference.
The agency has a requirement for a minimum number of firefighters to be working at any given time. As a result, when someone is out for an extended period, due to injury, sickness or family leave, another qualified person must take up the extra hours.
Earlier in the year, EFR promoted a lieutenant to floating captain, creating a versatile position that could fill a number of different kinds of vacancies without using overtime. For the first three months after the change came into effect, EFR spent $191,939 less on overtime than the year before.
The trend didn’t last. Jeff Griffin, deputy fire chief for EFR, submitted a report Nov. 10 indicating the overtime funds had whittled away to $18,859. Overtime costs for October were $69,616, compared to $50,756 in October 2008. In September, overtime was $50,803, compared to $38,237 in 2008.
In a Nov. 10 report, Fire Chief Lee Soptich pointed to a higher than normal number of unscheduled leave demands related to the flu, disabilities and expanding families.
Soptich said the agency would probably have to find an additional $60,000 to cover overtime in November and December.
“We are concerned that there are no other places in the budget where we can adjust to meet this need,” Soptich wrote.
In his report, Soptich discussed the possibility of not using overtime to fill firefighter positions but he added that “staffing reductions very quickly equate to service level reductions.”
In an interview after the Nov. 10 meeting, Griffin said that the overtime situation was looking better since he and Soptich wrote up their reports to the EFR board. In doing a line-by-line analysis of the budget, he said EFR staff thinks it can find a way to squeeze out enough saved money to cover the additional overtime needs.
“We’re not going back to the partners for more money this year, I don’t believe,” he said.
Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com.
Overtime for firefighters is likely to go over budget.
The news isn’t nearly as bad as it sounds, as Eastside Fire & Rescue has additional funds set aside that can cover overtime.
But this year’s high amount of overtime foils an administrative plan within Eastside Fire & Rescue to curb costs wherever possible. The EFR Board of Directors approved $600,000 for overtime in 2009, but when firefighters’ salaries and benefits ended up being higher than anticipated the agency pulled $120,000 out of the overtime funds to pay the difference. Read more
Police begin annual toy drive
November 17, 2009
By J.B. Wogan
Give Amy Jarboe your toys.
The Sammamish police detective is conducting her fourth 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.
Jarboe will keep a bin outside the police station in City Hall through Dec. 11. Residents can drop off gifts at their leisure. Jarboe asks that the toys be new and unwrapped.
So far, residents have donated more toys each successive year.
“I’m hoping we get even more this year because we have even more needy families this year. More people are out of work,” Jarboe said. “I’d like to see the whole Sammamish Commons turn into toy land. That’s my goal.”
Last year, there were enough toys to fill the main office of the Sammamish Police Department, with stacks lining the windows.
For more information on the drive, contact Jarboe at amy.jarboe@kingcounty.gov, or 425-295-0786.
Reporter J.B. Wogan can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com.
Give Amy Jarboe your toys.
The Sammamish police detective is conducting her fourth 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. Read more
Shipbuilder creates his masterpieces at 1/24th scale
November 17, 2009
By Christopher Huber
If you ask Niels Wilhelm to show you his model collection, you will learn more than just what it took to build each hand-painted, custom-modified ship, plane or armored tank. You’ll get a pretty good history lesson, too.
“He’s proud of his model collection,” said Karl Wilhelm, his brother from San Diego.
The 54-year-old Sammamish resident has been constructing plastic and wooden models since he was about 8 years old. He continues to build his collection today, currently displaying about two-dozen tanks, 18 sailing ships and a few custom vessels in a small workroom at his home — a fraction of the 111 in his collection. The award-winners sit in clear plastic cases, while the tanks sit in rows on a shelf, as if part of a military parade.
“I think he has so much passion for what he’s doing,” said acquaintance Linda O’Connell, of Sammamish. O’Connell has coffee periodically with Wilhelm at the Northeast 4th Street Starbucks. “When you look at his boats you can tell that so much of himself goes into the final product.”
Niels Wilhelm produces seamless, polished models. His favorites are ones that took him more than a year to complete and demand the closest attention to detail. He hand-carves fixtures on the wooden ships and drills pinhole-sized holes into railings to fasten a mooring rope rung. You can tell he’s ready to work when he pulls the desk lamp down close to his face and leans in toward the model.
“It’s a lot of work, but once you get it done, it’s all correct,” Niels Wilhelm said. “I like to understand what it is I’m working on.”
His workroom has had a lot of use. The carpetless floor allows for quick cleanup and, when Wilhelm works, the smell of hot plastic wafts through the air as a drill bit pierces a model part. He said he’s spent much of his life since 1991 sitting at the workbench, meticulously painting, carving, drilling and snapping pieces into place. It’s cluttered, but mostly with tools, scrap plastic and wood strips and all his finished products. Partly completed models rest on the tabletop, next to an ever-present 1-liter Pepsi bottle.
“It’s always been my primary hobby, replacing video games and sports,” Wilhelm said as he reminisced about the days of building models and flying balsawood airplanes with his three brothers in San Diego.
“I probably got into it because Niels was into it first,” his brother Charles Wilhelm said from San Diego.
In 2008, Niels Wilhelm swept the non-engined ships category at the International Plastic Modelers Society competition in Seattle.
“Sailing ships were my first love when I was young,” he said.
It’s not just something Niels Wilhelm likes to do, however. Throughout his career as a carpenter, he has built models as a serious hobby on the side. But since being laid off last December, he’s devoted more time — up to four hours per day — to his work. It’s an outlet for his creativity, he said.
While working on a current project, a nearly three-foot replica of the 1850s ship Napoleon, Wilhelm said building models is therapeutic.
“This was a way to stave off depression,” he said. “It’s something to focus the mind on.”
Wilhelm draws similarities — other than working with one’s hands — between carpentry and creating modified model ships and tanks. As a “pick-up” carpenter, he would fix a foreman’s mistakes, he said. As a model builder, he researches the real-life ship, for example, and adds the features lacking in the plastic model out of the box.
“It’s just a very nice, exacting hobby,” Charles Wilhelm said. “He does a lot of research into his models, which brings him detail.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
If you ask Niels Wilhelm to show you his model collection, you will learn more than just what it took to build each hand-painted, custom-modified ship, plane or armored tank. You’ll get a pretty good history lesson, too.
“He’s proud of his model collection,” said Karl Wilhelm, his brother from San Diego.
Niels Wilhelm concentrates as he works on a model of the Napoleon. Photo by Christopher Huber
Schools celebrate Veterans Day
November 17, 2009
By Christopher Huber
The Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary gym was packed Nov. 9 as parents, students, teachers and community members squished in to commemorate Veterans Day early.
It had special meaning in 2009, due to the recent shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, principal Stephen Bryant said after the event. Those present observed a moment of silence to honor all the country’s vets, as well as those involved in the Fort Hood tragedy.
“With what happened at Fort Hood, it really hits home,” Bryant said.
Like every year, Blackwell — as many schools do — held a festive, stars-and-stripes-themed program. It was full of singing first-graders, a patriotic choir and a heartfelt slideshow showing pictures of students’ relatives who served in the military.
But this year U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert came to Blackwell to talk with the students about service.
It wasn’t just about serving in the military, but about all the ways people can serve each other. Reichert also visited classrooms to meet students as they studied U.S. government.
“He did a really nice job of connecting with kids,” Bryant said.
Reichert visited because Blackwell was selected as the only school in Washington to participate in Operation Caring Classroom, a program that links one civilian school per state with a military-base school.
Operation Caring Classroom organizes elementary students around the country to reach out to and support their peers in military families, according to a Lake Washington School District press release.
The Blackwell students will connect as pen pals to children of active duty soldiers and officers.
Reichert’s message to the students and parents was one of appreciating what others have sacrificed in war and that serving is easier than they think.
“You’re never too young to start serving,” Bryant said. “You’re never too young to learn that there’s honor in serving your community.”
Across town at Endeavour Elementary, 12 veterans who are related to students shared their stories while the children asked questions, said principal Kathy Connelly.
Each year, the school honors the veterans with flag presentations from Cub Scouts, songs from the kindergarten classes and a reception with refreshments, Connelly said.
“It’s a really heartwarming show of patriotism,” she said.
Fifth-grader Emily Kargl said she and her friends liked seeing some veterans in person and hearing their stories.
“It’s important because (students) learn what it’s like to be a big part in the U.S,” she said. “To hear their stories about being in the military, and it’s important to give back.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
The Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary gym was packed Nov. 9 as parents, students, teachers and community members squished in to commemorate Veterans Day early.
It had special meaning in 2009, due to the recent shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, principal Stephen Bryant said after the event. Those present observed a moment of silence to honor all the country’s vets, as well as those involved in the Fort Hood tragedy.
Blackwell Elementary first-graders sing ‘We’d like to Thank Our Veterans’ during the school’s Veterans Day assembly Nov. 9. Photo by Christopher Huber
29 musicians chosen for select groups
November 17, 2009
By Christopher Huber
Ever since she was little, Erin Pazaski wanted to play the trumpet. She didn’t know why, but she just knew it was something she wanted to do. The Skyline junior trumpet player eventually performed in the Washington Junior All-State band in middle school and has proceeded to play for the high school All-State band and orchestra.
It was the fulfillment of a dream, she said.
“Turned out to be a good choice,” Pazaski said.
But she seems most proud of earning one of just four spots in the 2010 Washington All-State Orchestra.
“I’m glad to make it into the orchestra because there’s fewer spots for trumpet,” Pazaski said. “It’s cool to be with a lot of people that are just as good or better than you.”
Pazaski is one of 29 student-musicians from plateau schools to be accepted into All-State choirs, instrumental groups and other regional honor bands.
Skyline is sending five from its band and orchestra: Pazaski, senior James Nielsen (euphonium), sophomore P.J. Lagow (trumpet), junior Elaine Pazaski (clarinet) and junior Erin Hoffman (flute). Alto singers Nicole Chambers, and Michelle Bretl each made the All-State Treble Choir, according to Skyline Choir director Nancy Ziebart.
Bass singer Kamalu Santos made the Symphonic Choir and soprano Prithvi Addepalli made the Vocal Jazz Choir.
This year, all the instrumentalists who auditioned, made it, said Skyline band director Dave Pitt.
“We got lucky,” he said. “Usually it isn’t a uniform response like that.”
Eastlake High School is also sending five students to state in February, including Erik Wictor and Monica Seeley, to the All-State Concert Band, and senior violinist Josh Park to the orchestra, according to Eastlake band director Judi Rogers.
Senior Katharine Precup and junior exchange student Katrine Haraldseid will perform in the symphonic choir.
Eastside Catholic is sending five musicians to the 2010 Western International Band Clinic honor bands Nov. 20-23 in Seattle, said Eastside Catholic band director Philip Dungey.
Among the musicians honored are: Sammamish residents Connor Pomeroy (alto sax) and Addison Klinke (trumpet) along with seniors Jemin Shim (percussion), Dasol “Winni” Jeong (clarinet) and freshman Lucas Heflin (alto sax).
“I think it’s a pretty cool opportunity to work with all the professional musician people and the directors,” Klinke said.
The upcoming event brings selected young musicians from around the United States and Canada, Dungey said.
“It definitely shows they have achieved a certain level of musicianship,” Dungey said. “They’ve spent years developing their skills.”
Nine freshmen at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus were accepted to All-State groups, as well — seven choral and two instrumental. Madison Bennett, Courtney Brauff, Emma Kurtenbach and Jack Wheeler all made the symphonic choir and Catie Raissipour, Kaydee Walter and Charlotte Zhao made the treble choir. Freshman Sarah Elderkin will play in the concert band and Andy Abel will perform with the chamber orchestra.
To be selected for any of the honor groups, students submit audition recordings under the supervision of their music teacher. Judges from the Washington Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Educators Northwest Division listen to and critique each audition and select the top students.
Ziebart and Rogers said the number of students from their schools who are accepted varies each year.
It depends on how many apply and who the judges are. In 2009, 2,446 Washington students auditioned for the high school All-State groups, according to WMEA. More than 1,000 auditioned for junior All-State.
“You have to have the skill to do it and then you have to have the commitment to make it a decent audition,” Ziebart said.
All-State is divided into the concert band, symphony orchestra, the symphonic choir and the youth honor chorus. Approximately 600 students from Washington participated in the All-State groups in 2009, according the WMEA. The 2010 event will feature eight honor groups.
Upon arriving in Yakima, the musicians will gather in their respective musical groups to rehearse for one to three days, depending on the group. Organizers bring in acclaimed conductors from around the country to lead each musical group.
After long days of practice, the groups, some 120 members strong, perform in a combined concert.
“The concerts are a wonder to listen to,” Pitt said.
The All-State gala concert event will be held Feb. 12-15 in Yakima and will end with a day of concerts for parents and all who are interested in attending.
Tickets are $15 and available at www.ticketswest.com.
For more information on All-State and All-Northwest honor groups, visit http://www.wmea.org/StudentEvents/HSHonorGroups/.
Learn more about the Western International Band Clinic honor bands at www.bandworld.org.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. To comment on this story, visit www.SammamishReview.com.
Ever since she was little, Erin Pazaski wanted to play the trumpet. She didn’t know why, but she just knew it was something she wanted to do. The Skyline junior trumpet player eventually performed in the Washington Junior All-State band in middle school and has proceeded to play for the high school All-State band and orchestra.
It was the fulfillment of a dream, she said. Read more
Plateau swimmers clean up
November 17, 2009
Skyline girls take state title
By Christopher Huber
First-year girls swim and dive head coach Susan Simpkins said she was still smiling more than a day later as she talked about her team’s remarkable performance at the state 4A meet Nov. 14.
Skyline won its first ever state swim and dive team championship after beating Garfield 234-176 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
“Everybody, they were just so excited,” Simpkins said in a phone interview Nov. 15. “It was just the perfect ending to a fabulous season.”
The win came thanks to record-breaking swims from senior Andie Taylor in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events, Skyline’s winning times in the 200- and 400-yard relays and freshman Maria Volodkevich’s 100-yard breaststroke win.
Taylor is state champ in the 200-yard freestyle after breaking her own state record with a time of 1 minute, 46.55 seconds.
“I had done an OK time at districts, but thought I could go a little bit faster,” she said about preparing for the race. “I thought it was a good race. I needed to get out fast and got out faster than I’m used to.”
She also won the 500 freestyle in 4:45.47, automatically earning All-American status in the event.
Taylor set another record. For the third time in four years, she earned “Swimmer of the Meet” from the Washington Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association.
“It’s definitely quite an honor and something I’ll definitely remember,” Taylor said over the phone after the meet.
Volodkevich is state champion in the 100-yard breaststroke after beating Redmond’s Heather Harper by .02 seconds in 1:04.25, an All-American time.
“Everybody was just fast,” Simpkins said. “They keep getting faster.”
Simpkins said she was simply amazed with the girls’ focus and determination at state. The Lady Spartans had never won a relay at state, but managed to win the 200 freestyle relay (Nina Zook, Meghan O’Keefe, Volodkevich and Taylor) in 1:38.71 and the 400 freestyle relay (Zook, O’Keefe, Volodkevich and Taylor) in 3:33.85.
The key was “the depth. We had somebody in all the team events,” Simpkins said. “Everybody just stepped up and just swam really, really well.”
Diver Kelsey Kosenkranius placed 12th with 309.5 points. Volodkevich also took fifth (2:07.76) and Nina Zook took eighth (2:11.50) in the 200-yard individual medley. O’Keefe finished fourth in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 57.95 seconds.
Skyline went 8-0 in the regular season and won the Sea-King District 2 title.
Kinnear an All-American
Eastlake’s Katie Kinnear also came out victorious at the state meet. The standout sophomore is state champ in the 100-yard butterfly after swimming in state-record time — 53.10 seconds. That’s a whopping two seconds faster than her preliminary time and good enough for an All-American time.
“I wasn’t really going for it in the first place. I was just going for a best time,” Kinnear said over the phone Nov. 15.
In addition, Kinnear won the 200 individual medley in 2:02.53, good enough for All-American status.
“She is the rarest of all talents,” said head coach Andy Hay. “Our team’s blessed to have her.”
Hay said Kinnear’s key to winning the individual medley and butterfly has been a quick start and getting ahead in the first 25 yards.
“She kills people in that first 25 (yards). She takes it to another level,” Hay said. “If she’s ahead of you, she’s gonna stay ahead of you.”
Eastlake, as a team, tied with Ballard for 11th with 90 points. Despite being disqualified and losing an opportunity for points in the 200-yard medley relay, Hay was thrilled with his team’s performance, as well as the outlook for next season.
“I’m a happy, happy guy,” Hay said after the meet. “I couldn’t be more proud the way we swam at this meet.”
The Lady Wolves (Kinnear, Laurel Schy, Becca Fabian and Kara Beauchamp) took second place to Skyline in the 200 freestyle relay, finishing just over a second behind in 1:39.98.
The time was a nearly two-second drop from its preliminary time.
“They all stepped up and swam ridiculous splits,” Hay said. “We gave (Skyline) a good race.”
Beauchamp helped Eastlake’s cause with an 11th place finish in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:08.89.
Mackenzie Rands placed 14th in the diving competition with a score of 278.2.
“The new talent that stepped up this year made all the difference,” Hay said. “We’re going to be top five next year and top three the next year.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
First-year girls swim and dive head coach Susan Simpkins said she was still smiling more than a day later as she talked about her team’s remarkable performance at the state 4A meet Nov. 14.
Skyline won its first ever state swim and dive team championship after beating Garfield 234-176 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
Eastlake’s Katie Kinnear won a state title in the 100-yard butterfly and set a state record in the process. Photo by Greg Farrar
