Town Center regulations taking shape
December 29, 2009
By J.B. Wogan
Regulations that could define the look and feel of Town Center are on their way to the City Council.
The Planning Commission has wrestled with the development and zoning regulations for more than a year. The commission approved their rough draft of the regulations Dec. 10.
“It’s a pretty tremendous accomplishment, to take basically a 120-page document and to flesh that out,” said Tom Vance, Planning Commission chairman.
The scope of the Town Center area will be from 222nd Street to the west to 233rd Avenue to the east, from East Main Street on the north to Southeast 8th Street to the south. It encompasses about 240 acres, though much of it is unbuildable wetlands.
Once its completely built, which could take decades, Town Center would add between 1,300 and 2,000 residential units and up to 600,000 square feet of commercial space.
The commission’s recommendations are not the final word. The council will begin reviewing the regulations in January 2010.
Residents will have opportunities in 2010 to attend council meetings and give their input on what does and doesn’t work about the commission’s recommendations.
They can also e-mail the council with their thoughts at citycouncil@ci.sammamish.wa.us.
Here are some highlights of what the commission has recommended:
u Developers must use low-impact development techniques wherever possible. The commission outlined preferable options such as reusing rainwater, planting roof gardens and installing permeable pavement for roads and sidewalks.
While the regulations are strong in encouraging low-impact development, it falls short of an outright requirement. If developers say it isn’t possible from a financial standpoint, they don’t have to do it.
u Developers are required to provide affordable housing using a sliding scale mechanism. At least 10 percent of their housing units must be affordable to a household making up to 80 percent of the median income for King County. In 2009, the median income for a family of four was $84,300.
Developers have an option to provide fewer units, if they make them affordable to lower-income families.
If units are affordable to a household making between 50 percent and 70 percent of the county’s median income, developers don’t have to build as many.
The regulations also try to entice developers to build even more affordable housing. If developers build affordable units beyond the mandate (up to 10 percent more), they are allowed to build extra regular price, or market-rate, units.
For every affordable unit built, developers get two additional market-rate units. The ratio gets slightly higher if the units are more affordable ( about 2.3 new market rate units for one affordable unit).
u Unlike the citywide parking requirements, which have only a minimum parking requirement, Town Center has a maximum number of parking spaces for most areas. Single-family homes are an exception — they just have a minimum requirement of at least two parking spaces, the same as citywide.
Religious institutions have the same minimum requirements as elsewhere in the city, but the regulations put maximums on the number of spaces.
u The regulations also encourage parking garages. For residential uses — with the exception of cottages — at least 80 percent of all required off-street parking must be in garages, such as an underground lot. For commercial uses and any development needing more than 90 spaces, the parking must be in garages.
u On the east side of 228th Avenue, 55 percent of the commercial space allowed must be office. This aligns with direction from the council’s Town Center master plan, which said the east side should be more oriented around office than retail.
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.
Regulations that could define the look and feel of Town Center are on their way to the City Council.
The Planning Commission has wrestled with the development and zoning regulations for more than a year. The commission approved their rough draft of the regulations Dec. 10.
Thank you letter writers
December 29, 2009
Sammamish Review thanks everyone who wrote us a letter in the past year.
We enjoy having a vibrant and diverse opinion page.
Your written voice provokes, challenges, encourages and thereby builds a stronger community for us all.
While we weren’t always able to publish every letter we received, here’s a list of the writers whose letters were printed. Thank you all, and keep them coming.
The Conroy Family in Timberline
Darlene Polando
John and Marge Qualls
Michael J. O’Connell
Marjorie Pacholec
Lori Barnett
Michael G. Montgomery
Mark Hartman
Piper Strand
John Gibbons
Steve Repanich
Acar Z. Bill
George E. Toskey
Judi McLaughlin
Dave Paul
Michael Rees
Radia Perlman
Heinz W. Maine
Laura Sadowski
Tony Emmanuel
Jim Creevey
Anne Steindorf
Urban Masset
Lou Ho
Cecil Lammers
Cynthia Freese
Catherine Rollosson Halbhuber
Anna Wilke
David Whitney
Alex Wilson
Janis Seil
January Holmes
Bob Hinckley
Lisa Jones
Brian Slish
Michael T. Barr
Scott Hamilton
Brian Regan
Naarah N Hastings
Betty L. Miller
Sherie Valderrama
Claudia Haunreiter
Helen Hedman
Glenn Lew
Renate and Frank Perry
John Galvin
Virginia Kuhn
Mark L. Bowers
Marianne Brunner
Darcie Kardong
Don Stahl
Arvid Nilssen
Ken Kilroy
Frank Rogan
Anthony Riani
Carla Dimitriou
Ramiro Valderrama
Ed Steenman
Robert Brady
Barbara Benson
Steve Dorsey
Phyllis Runyon
Richard A. Sano
James Jordan
Peggy Schmidt
Kristi Calvert Lee
John Burg
Julie James
Kylie Boyd
Penny J. Short
Pam Ellsworth
Doug Smith
Huizhu Lu
Larry Davison
Kris Ball
June Tarsha
Michael Mattes
Norm Bottenburg
Lee A. Soptich
Carol Schweitzer
Kathleen Huckabay
Richard B. Kuprewicz
Stephanie Daniels
Janet Barry
Peter Ogden
Glenda Jackson
Harry and Claradell Shedd
Mark Buick
Fred Caponigro
Ed Steenman
Katja May
Dee Dee Rixe
Jim Creevey
Marjorie Pacholec
Carolyn Sterling
Marianne Wilkins
Lynn McArthur
Nicholas Tiliacos
Claudia Burke
Janet Sailer
Mary Doerrer
Jim DeNike
John Stilz
Rick Gaines
Mark Cross
Lori McIntosh
Linda Yee
John Knie
Lee Fellinge
Pam Thorsen
Nikolai Faaland
Rick Creson
Elaine Morse
Ken Smith
Jeff Matson
C.J. and Mary Jo Kahler
Greg Allan
Steven Baker
Sarah Jakle
Donna Martin
Joyce Kormanyos
The Lake Washington Educational Support Personnel
Sammamish Review thanks everyone who wrote us a letter in the past year.
We enjoy having a vibrant and diverse opinion page.
Your written voice provokes, challenges, encourages and thereby builds a stronger community for us all.
While we weren’t always able to publish every letter we received, here’s a list of the writers whose letters were printed. Thank you all, and keep them coming.
The Conroy Family in Timberline
Darlene Polando
John and Marge Qualls
Michael J. O’Connell
Marjorie Pacholec
Lori Barnett
Michael G. Montgomery
Mark Hartman
Piper Strand
John Gibbons
Steve Repanich
Acar Z. Bill
George E. Toskey
Judi McLaughlin
Dave Paul
Michael Rees
Radia Perlman
Heinz W. Maine
Laura Sadowski
Tony Emmanuel
Jim Creevey
Anne Steindorf
Urban Masset
Lou Ho
Cecil Lammers
Cynthia Freese
Catherine Rollosson Halbhuber
Anna Wilke
David Whitney
Alex Wilson
Janis Seil
January Holmes
Bob Hinckley
Lisa Jones
Brian Slish
Michael T. Barr
Scott Hamilton
Brian Regan
Naarah N Hastings
Betty L. Miller
Sherie Valderrama
Claudia Haunreiter
Helen Hedman
Glenn Lew
Renate and Frank Perry
John Galvin
Virginia Kuhn
Mark L. Bowers
Marianne Brunner
Darcie Kardong
Don Stahl
Arvid Nilssen
Ken Kilroy
Frank Rogan
Anthony Riani
Carla Dimitriou
Ramiro Valderrama
Ed Steenman
Robert Brady
Barbara Benson
Steve Dorsey
Phyllis Runyon
Richard A. Sano
James Jordan
Peggy Schmidt
Kristi Calvert Lee
John Burg
Julie James
Kylie Boyd
Penny J. Short
Pam Ellsworth
Doug Smith
Huizhu Lu
Larry Davison
Kris Ball
June Tarsha
Michael Mattes
Norm Bottenburg
Lee A. Soptich
Carol Schweitzer
Kathleen Huckabay
Richard B. Kuprewicz
Stephanie Daniels
Janet Barry
Peter Ogden
Glenda Jackson
Harry and Claradell Shedd
Mark Buick
Fred Caponigro
Ed Steenman
Katja May
Dee Dee Rixe
Jim Creevey
Marjorie Pacholec
Carolyn Sterling
Marianne Wilkins
Lynn McArthur
Nicholas Tiliacos
Claudia Burke
Janet Sailer
Mary Doerrer
Jim DeNike
John Stilz
Rick Gaines
Mark Cross
Lori McIntosh
Linda Yee
John Knie
Lee Fellinge
Pam Thorsen
Nikolai Faaland
Rick Creson
Elaine Morse
Ken Smith
Jeff Matson
C.J. and Mary Jo Kahler
Greg Allan
Steven Baker
Sarah Jakle
Donna Martin
Joyce Kormanyos
The Lake Washington Educational Support Personnel
Sammamish Forum December 30
December 29, 2009
The council
works well
I just read the letter from Nancy Sinclair “New council is a new chance.”
Sinclair speaks out against the “old” City Council for “ill-thought out projects causing checks to be written that citizens can’t afford.”
And that statement is fine, though I doubt that Sinclair realizes that this very fiscally responsible council has actually (unlike many cities across the country) kept the city in the black with a budget surplus.
Then she goes on to write that perhaps it is time to “replace the city manager with someone who doesn’t have a personal agenda.”
This would be fine if she backed it up with a fact or two but to blatantly insinuate a lack of integrity on the part of anyone, much less a government official in a public forum, is just not acceptable.
This is a very sad commentary, and we wonder why people hesitate to run for office?
John Sanders
Sammamish
Firefighters earn
their pay
Greg Hollister evidently has never needed to call upon the Fire Department for rescue or other needs.
The EMT’s and paramedics at Fire Station 81 saved my life on Sept. 24, 2007, using extraordinary measures to assure that I had every chance to live.
But even before that I appreciated how difficult and dangerous their jobs are.
With all the money that government at all levels wastes on programs that have comparatively minor benefit, there should be no issue taken over the Fire and Police Departments in our city.
Hollister says the personnel at Eastside Fire & Rescue should be thankful to have jobs.
Hollister should be thankful that they have jobs.
These servants of the people risk life and limb with no complaint.
We don’t need ingrates to suggest that they are overpaid.
The politicians who rule as if they own us are the ones who are overpaid.
Government’s first responsibility is to protect its citizens in every possible way. Beyond that, it’s all gravy (and much of it is spilt).
Everyone is just trying to get through life with as little hassle as possible.
Government bureaucrats seem to feel as if it’s their duty to make life as tough as possible for us.
Their pockets are black holes that suck the life out of the average working person while they personally enjoy as many perks as they can amass to themselves.
There are a few dedicated public servants among them, but the most dedicated among all public servants are the police and firemen who stand guard over us.
They don’t need the likes of Hollister and his ilk to denigrate them.
All I can really say to you, Greg, is wait until it’s your turn to need them.
Al Dager
Sammamish
Recognize the
council’s hard work
I wanted to express my public appreciation for Jack Berry and Kathy Huckabay’s service on the Sammamish City Council.
Like them, I was one of the original seven councilmembers.
I know firsthand how much time and effort they put into getting our city set up and on sure footing.
They were tireless workers on behalf of the city.
They put in hundreds and hundreds of hours for the benefit of Sammamish, generally without recognition or expressions of gratitude.
All of us are richly blessed for their service and sacrifice.
So, regardless of whether you agreed or disagreed with some of their votes, please make sure you give them your thanks when you see them around town.
I know I, for one, will be forever grateful for their service and friendship.
Troy Romero
The writer was a member of Sammamish’s City Counc
The council works well
I just read the letter from Nancy Sinclair “New council is a new chance.”
Sinclair speaks out against the “old” City Council for “ill-thought out projects causing checks to be written that citizens can’t afford.”
And that statement is fine, though I doubt that Sinclair realizes that this very fiscally responsible council has actually (unlike many cities across the country) kept the city in the black with a budget surplus.
Then she goes on to write that perhaps it is time to “replace the city manager with someone who doesn’t have a personal agenda.”
This would be fine if she backed it up with a fact or two but to blatantly insinuate a lack of integrity on the part of anyone, much less a government official in a public forum, is just not acceptable.
This is a very sad commentary, and we wonder why people hesitate to run for office?
John Sanders
Sammamish
Firefighters earn their pay
Greg Hollister evidently has never needed to call upon the Fire Department for rescue or other needs.
The EMT’s and paramedics at Fire Station 81 saved my life on Sept. 24, 2007, using extraordinary measures to assure that I had every chance to live.
But even before that I appreciated how difficult and dangerous their jobs are.
With all the money that government at all levels wastes on programs that have comparatively minor benefit, there should be no issue taken over the Fire and Police Departments in our city.
Hollister says the personnel at Eastside Fire & Rescue should be thankful to have jobs.
Hollister should be thankful that they have jobs.
These servants of the people risk life and limb with no complaint.
We don’t need ingrates to suggest that they are overpaid.
The politicians who rule as if they own us are the ones who are overpaid.
Government’s first responsibility is to protect its citizens in every possible way. Beyond that, it’s all gravy (and much of it is spilt).
Everyone is just trying to get through life with as little hassle as possible.
Government bureaucrats seem to feel as if it’s their duty to make life as tough as possible for us.
Their pockets are black holes that suck the life out of the average working person while they personally enjoy as many perks as they can amass to themselves.
There are a few dedicated public servants among them, but the most dedicated among all public servants are the police and firemen who stand guard over us.
They don’t need the likes of Hollister and his ilk to denigrate them.
All I can really say to you, Greg, is wait until it’s your turn to need them.
Al Dager
Sammamish
Recognize the council’s hard work
I wanted to express my public appreciation for Jack Berry and Kathy Huckabay’s service on the Sammamish City Council.
Like them, I was one of the original seven councilmembers.
I know firsthand how much time and effort they put into getting our city set up and on sure footing.
They were tireless workers on behalf of the city.
They put in hundreds and hundreds of hours for the benefit of Sammamish, generally without recognition or expressions of gratitude.
All of us are richly blessed for their service and sacrifice.
So, regardless of whether you agreed or disagreed with some of their votes, please make sure you give them your thanks when you see them around town.
I know I, for one, will be forever grateful for their service and friendship.
Troy Romero
The writer was a member of Sammamish’s City Council
Dean Willard to challenge Glenn Anderson in 5th District
December 29, 2009
By Warren Kagarise and Laura Geggel
The race to represent Sammamish in Olympia kicked off this month.
Dean Willard, a Sammamish resident, former T-Mobile executive and Democrat, entered the 2010 race for the state House seat held by Glenn Anderson.
Anderson, a Fall City Republican, was first elected to represent the 5th District in 2000, and re-elected subsequently. Most of Sammamish is in the 5th District. Areas north of Northeast 16th Street are in the 45th District.
Willard said the district has changed since Anderson was elected almost a decade ago. The first-time candidate said he would work to convince voters to send “a more moderate representative” to Olympia.
Willard cited population growth in the district, and said new residents helped shift the character from rural to suburban.
Voters “are looking for a pragmatic Democrat who is interested in solving problems,” he said.
Anderson filed paperwork in June with the state Public Disclosure Commission in order to raise money for a 2010 re-election bid. The incumbent had raised about $19,000 by late December, records show.
Anderson plans to step up campaign activities after the legislative session wraps in the spring.
Willard, a former vice president at Bellevue-based T-Mobile, works as an information technology and security consultant. The local state Democratic committeeman volunteered for Joe Mallahan, the T-Mobile executive who lost a bid last month to become Seattle mayor. He also volunteered for Democrats in past 5th District races.
Willard said as a Democrat he could be a more effective representative than Anderson. Democrats control both houses in the Legislature. Gov. Chris Gregoire is also a Democrat.
Anderson was re-elected last year. He garnered about 52 percent of the vote over challenger David Spring.
The race to represent Sammamish in Olympia kicked off this month.
Dean Willard, a Sammamish resident, former T-Mobile executive and Democrat, entered the 2010 race for the state House seat held by Glenn Anderson.
Anderson, a Fall City Republican, was first elected to represent the 5th District in 2000, and re-elected subsequently. Most of Sammamish is in the 5th District. Areas north of Northeast 16th Street are in the 45th District.
Willard said the district has changed since Anderson was elected almost a decade ago. The first-time candidate said he would work to convince voters to send “a more moderate representative” to Olympia.
Willard cited population growth in the district, and said new residents helped shift the character from rural to suburban.
Voters “are looking for a pragmatic Democrat who is interested in solving problems,” he said.
Anderson filed paperwork in June with the state Public Disclosure Commission in order to raise money for a 2010 re-election bid. The incumbent had raised about $19,000 by late December, records show.
Anderson plans to step up campaign activities after the legislative session wraps in the spring.
Willard, a former vice president at Bellevue-based T-Mobile, works as an information technology and security consultant. The local state Democratic committeeman volunteered for Joe Mallahan, the T-Mobile executive who lost a bid last month to become Seattle mayor. He also volunteered for Democrats in past 5th District races.
Willard said as a Democrat he could be a more effective representative than Anderson. Democrats control both houses in the Legislature. Gov. Chris Gregoire is also a Democrat.
Anderson was re-elected last year. He garnered about 52 percent of the vote over challenger David Spring.
Reporter Laura Geggel contributed to this story.
Greg Hoover runs against Jay Rodne in 5th District
December 29, 2009
By J.B. Wogan
Greg Hoover, a Sammamish resident, announced Dec. 22 that he would seek a position in the state House of Representatives.
Hoover, a Realtor and real estate attorney, will run in 2010 against Republican Jay Rodne for one of the two 5th Legislative District seats.
Most of Sammamish is in the 5th District. Areas north of Northeast 16th Street are in the 45th District.
Hoover is casting himself as a tough business professional with an optimistic streak.
The state is facing a predicted $2.6 billion budget deficit that will surely dominate the 2010 legislative session.
What does Hoover propose to do about these tough times? His early positions are based around things he won’t do, like raising taxes.
He said he is against introducing an income tax, too.
“It’s going to cost a lot of money just to get it started,” Hoover said, adding that it was a less convenient revenue source than the sales tax. “It’s a tax that’s hard to collect on.”
Hoover has a master’s degree in tax law, in addition to his general law degree.
Hoover also said he wouldn’t vote for deeper cuts in state education funding and was against teacher-to-student ratios ballooning beyond what they currently are.
Hoover also wouldn’t be in favor of tolling Interstate 90.
“I think that would ask way too much of people on the Eastside, specifically in the 5th District,” he explained.
He said he was less sure of whether the state should toll state Route 520.
Hoover described himself as a moderate Democrat, with the emphasis on moderate. While he was glad Referen-dum 71 passed in November, he would not vote in favor of a gay marriage bill, he said.
He said he was pro-choice, but felt conflicted about the position, given that he is also Catholic.
Hoover’s opponent, Rep. Jay Rodne, declared his candidacy in early December and has raised $9,400 so far, according to the Public Disclosure Commission.
Rodne was appointed to a seat in the Legislature in 2004 when then-5th District representative Cheryl Pflug became a state senator.
Rodne won an uncontested election campaign in 2006 and defeated Democrat Jon Viebrock in 2008 by more than 19 points.
Greg Hoover, a Sammamish resident, announced Dec. 22 that he would seek a position in the state House of Representatives.
Hoover, a Realtor and real estate attorney, will run in 2010 against Republican Jay Rodne for one of the two 5th Legislative District seats.
Most of Sammamish is in the 5th District. Areas north of Northeast 16th Street are in the 45th District. Read more
Calendar December 30
December 29, 2009
Events
Tree recycling. The boy scouts will collect and recycle Christmas trees, for the 25th year. The drive is a fundraiser for the scouts and they suggest a donation of $15-25 per tree. This year’s pick up is scheduled for Jan. 9 starting at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.scouttreedrive.org.
The Sammamish Kiwanis will host Elaine McEnery to speak about creating a citywide wildlife habitat during their regular meeting at 7 a.m. Jan. 6 at Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church.
Eastside Women of Vision is hosting a seminar to examine how extreme poverty and injustice impact the lives of women and girls from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28 at Sammamish Presbyterian Church. RSVP to eastsidewov@hotmail.com. There will be a suggested donation for materials.
Potential Eagle Scouts who wish to do a project with the city of Sammamish should attend an informational meeting at 4 p.m. Jan. 19 at City Hall. The meeting is mandatory for anyone who wants to do a project with the city. For more information, contact Dawn Sanders at 295-0556 or dsanders@ci.sammamish.wa.us.
Teen late night. The second Friday of each month is teen night at the Redmond/Sammamish Boys and Girls Clubs. The club has a DJ, dancing, games, Xbox and Wii, movies, food and more. An ASB or ID card is required for admittance. The fee is $6. E-mail ahise@positiveplace.org or call 250-4786 for more information.
The Bellevue Arts Museum has announced a call for entries for the 2010 Artsfair. The juried show, limited to 325 exhibitors, accepts hand-made, skillful art across a variety of media. The application deadline is Jan. 29, 2010. The fee is $40. For more information, visit www.bellevuearts.org.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is hosting their annual outreach and fundraising event for Jewish women, Dare to Dream at Connections 2010 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. The event costs $60 for the brunch, but higher levels of participation are available. For more information, visit www.JewishInSeattle.org/women.
Religious/spiritual
Sammamish Presbyterian Church is recruiting members for an orchestra. People who play and would like to be involved in worship at the church should bring their instrument to an informational meeting at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at the church. Players should be at the high school level, or higher, of expertise. For information, e-mail dondilley@spconline.org.
Faith United Methodist Church offers “Faith Cafe” for women of all ages. The café features drop-in coffee time, scrapbooking/stamping, mom & baby playgroup, quilting/knitting and walking group. There will also be one-off classes, studies and themed days. 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Call Jo Lucas 837-1948.
Healing Prayer Service. If you have a physical, emotional or spiritual challenge or if you desire to make space for God in a peaceful setting, attend the Missio Lux Healing Prayer Service the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish.
The Social Justice Book Group meets at 1 p.m. the third Monday of each month in Sammamish. E-mail shlcministries@yahoo.com for information on the current book being discussed and location.
Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered program offering support and a path to freedom, meets every Monday, 7-9 p.m. at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave. S.E. For more info, go to www.missiolux.org, or call 392-8636.
Griefshare, a support group for those who have lost a loved one is from 7-9 p.m. Thursday nights at Sammamish Presbyterian Church.
Moms In Touch is an inter-denominational, prayer support group for moms to get together and pray for children and schools. For more information, call Jan Domek, Issaquah School District representative, at 681-6770, or Kelly Wotherspoon, Lake Washington School District representative, at 392-2291, or visit www.MomsInTouch.org.
Pine Lake Covenant Church offers a ministry for children with special needs at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Call 392-8636.
“Caffeine for the Soul,” a free Judaic and Torah class for women, is from 1-1:45 p.m. every Tuesday at Caffé Ladro in Issaquah Highlands Shopping Center. Contact Chabad of the Central Cascades at 427-1654.
Free Hebrew classes are offered through Chabad of the Central Cascades. Call 427-1654.
Kabalat Shabbat is offered in the Chabad house at the Issaquah Highlands at 7 p.m. Fridays. New members and guests are welcome. Call 427-1654.
Learn to read and speak Samskritam from 4-6 p.m. at the Vedic Cultural Center. To register, visit vedicculturalcenter.org.
Community Bible Study, open to all women, meets Thursday mornings. To register for the current class, or for more information, call Nancy Carr at 868-1630.
Bhajan Bliss. Join musicians and singers to learn traditional devotional bhajan, and how to make vegetarian pizzas and samosas from 7:30-9 p.m. Fridays at the Vedic Cultural Center.
Classes
Sammamish Presbyterian Church is hosting a series of different fitness classes, Wednesdays and Fridays 6:30-7:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-9:30 a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays 2-3 p.m. For more information, contact Billie Donahue at 785-2880. Classes are free and no registration is required.
The Issaquah Sammamish Interfaith Coalition is hosting English Language Classes at 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Library activities
Guided tours of the new library are available at 2 and 3 p.m. Jan. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 at and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. from Jan 11-15.
Tales and tours for children, a welcome to the new library for children ages 2-6, are scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 11 and 25 and at 10 and 11 a.m. Jan. 13, 20 and 27.
The Brian Waite Band will bring their family-friendly act to the library at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 16. Free tickets will be available at the new library beginning Jan. 11.
Create a comic book. David Lasky shows you how to design characters for a mini-comic book in a 90 minute workshop at 2 p.m. Jan. 23
Spend the Winter with a good book with librarian Nancy Pearl who will offer suggestions across various literary and nonfiction genres at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 31.
Talk time provides conversation practice for adults who want to improve their language skills. Talk time starts at 7 p.m. Jan. 12, 19 and 26.
ESL classes to help learn English in a structured environment during a nine-week course which starts at 10 a.m. Jan. 12. Registration is required.
The Sammamish Book Group will discuss “The Post-American World” by Fareed Zakariah at 7 p.m. Jan. 20.
Mother daughter book club will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 27. This month they will be reading, “Savvy” by Ingrid Law.
Events
Tree recycling. The boy scouts will collect and recycle Christmas trees, for the 25th year. The drive is a fundraiser for the scouts and they suggest a donation of $15-25 per tree. This year’s pick up is scheduled for Jan. 9 starting at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.scouttreedrive.org.
The Sammamish Kiwanis will host Elaine McEnery to speak about creating a citywide wildlife habitat during their regular meeting at 7 a.m. Jan. 6 at Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church.
Eastside Women of Vision is hosting a seminar to examine how extreme poverty and injustice impact the lives of women and girls from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28 at Sammamish Presbyterian Church. RSVP to eastsidewov@hotmail.com. There will be a suggested donation for materials.
Potential Eagle Scouts who wish to do a project with the city of Sammamish should attend an informational meeting at 4 p.m. Jan. 19 at City Hall. The meeting is mandatory for anyone who wants to do a project with the city. For more information, contact Dawn Sanders at 295-0556 or dsanders@ci.sammamish.wa.us.
Teen late night. The second Friday of each month is teen night at the Redmond/Sammamish Boys and Girls Clubs. The club has a DJ, dancing, games, Xbox and Wii, movies, food and more. An ASB or ID card is required for admittance. The fee is $6. E-mail ahise@positiveplace.org or call 250-4786 for more information.
The Bellevue Arts Museum has announced a call for entries for the 2010 Artsfair. The juried show, limited to 325 exhibitors, accepts hand-made, skillful art across a variety of media. The application deadline is Jan. 29, 2010. The fee is $40. For more information, visit www.bellevuearts.org.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is hosting their annual outreach and fundraising event for Jewish women, Dare to Dream at Connections 2010 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue. The event costs $60 for the brunch, but higher levels of participation are available. For more information, visit www.JewishInSeattle.org/women.
Religious/spiritual
Sammamish Presbyterian Church is recruiting members for an orchestra. People who play and would like to be involved in worship at the church should bring their instrument to an informational meeting at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at the church. Players should be at the high school level, or higher, of expertise. For information, e-mail dondilley@spconline.org.
Faith United Methodist Church offers “Faith Cafe” for women of all ages. The café features drop-in coffee time, scrapbooking/stamping, mom & baby playgroup, quilting/knitting and walking group. There will also be one-off classes, studies and themed days. 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Call Jo Lucas 837-1948.
Healing Prayer Service. If you have a physical, emotional or spiritual challenge or if you desire to make space for God in a peaceful setting, attend the Missio Lux Healing Prayer Service the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish.
The Social Justice Book Group meets at 1 p.m. the third Monday of each month in Sammamish. E-mail shlcministries@yahoo.com for information on the current book being discussed and location.
Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered program offering support and a path to freedom, meets every Monday, 7-9 p.m. at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave. S.E. For more info, go to www.missiolux.org, or call 392-8636.
Griefshare, a support group for those who have lost a loved one is from 7-9 p.m. Thursday nights at Sammamish Presbyterian Church.
Moms In Touch is an inter-denominational, prayer support group for moms to get together and pray for children and schools. For more information, call Jan Domek, Issaquah School District representative, at 681-6770, or Kelly Wotherspoon, Lake Washington School District representative, at 392-2291, or visit www.MomsInTouch.org.
Pine Lake Covenant Church offers a ministry for children with special needs at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Call 392-8636.
“Caffeine for the Soul,” a free Judaic and Torah class for women, is from 1-1:45 p.m. every Tuesday at Caffé Ladro in Issaquah Highlands Shopping Center. Contact Chabad of the Central Cascades at 427-1654.
Free Hebrew classes are offered through Chabad of the Central Cascades. Call 427-1654.
Kabalat Shabbat is offered in the Chabad house at the Issaquah Highlands at 7 p.m. Fridays. New members and guests are welcome. Call 427-1654.
Learn to read and speak Samskritam from 4-6 p.m. at the Vedic Cultural Center. To register, visit vedicculturalcenter.org.
Community Bible Study, open to all women, meets Thursday mornings. To register for the current class, or for more information, call Nancy Carr at 868-1630.
Bhajan Bliss. Join musicians and singers to learn traditional devotional bhajan, and how to make vegetarian pizzas and samosas from 7:30-9 p.m. Fridays at the Vedic Cultural Center.
Classes
Sammamish Presbyterian Church is hosting a series of different fitness classes, Wednesdays and Fridays 6:30-7:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-9:30 a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays 2-3 p.m. For more information, contact Billie Donahue at 785-2880. Classes are free and no registration is required.
The Issaquah Sammamish Interfaith Coalition is hosting English Language Classes at 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Pine Lake Covenant Church.
Library activities
Guided tours of the new library are available at 2 and 3 p.m. Jan. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 at and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. from Jan 11-15.
Tales and tours for children, a welcome to the new library for children ages 2-6, are scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 11 and 25 and at 10 and 11 a.m. Jan. 13, 20 and 27.
The Brian Waite Band will bring their family-friendly act to the library at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 16. Free tickets will be available at the new library beginning Jan. 11.
Create a comic book. David Lasky shows you how to design characters for a mini-comic book in a 90 minute workshop at 2 p.m. Jan. 23
Spend the Winter with a good book with librarian Nancy Pearl who will offer suggestions across various literary and nonfiction genres at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 31.
Talk time provides conversation practice for adults who want to improve their language skills. Talk time starts at 7 p.m. Jan. 12, 19 and 26.
ESL classes to help learn English in a structured environment during a nine-week course which starts at 10 a.m. Jan. 12. Registration is required.
The Sammamish Book Group will discuss “The Post-American World” by Fareed Zakariah at 7 p.m. Jan. 20.
Mother daughter book club will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 27. This month they will be reading, “Savvy” by Ingrid Law.
Lacrosse league’s founders ready to move on
December 29, 2009
By Christopher Huber
When Matthew Balkman and Scott Wiley founded the Issaquah Youth Lacrosse league on the plateau in the spring of 2004, they were expecting to have two teams. To their surprise, about 80 athletes signed up — enough to form four teams. The league’s popularity has continued skyrocketing from there.
As lacrosse has grown in various pockets around the state, they noticed a growing hunger for the mostly unknown sport among athletes and their parents around Sammamish and Issaquah. Having played lacrosse in high school in New England, Wiley knew the sport better than most in the area. Balkman got into it when his kids became interested after watching a tournament on vacation in Florida.
Five years later, as they finish up registration for the 2010 spring season, the league has 40 boys and girls teams. That’s about 600 athletes from first grade to high school. And that doesn’t count the leagues spun off from IYL in the past few years — Eastlake Lacrosse and Eastside Crusaders Youth Lacrosse.
“It’s taken on a life of its own,” said Wiley, thinking back on the immense and growing popularity. “And it’s partly taken over our lives. We’re really lucky we had a lot of great parents.”
Balkman, of Issaquah, and Wiley, of Sammamish, recently announced they will step down as IYL co-presidents this winter. Charles Mauzy and Eric Bean, both heavily involved in coaching or administrative aspects of the league, will take on the co-president role for the next two seasons, according to a letter to players and parents.
“Scott and Matthew add such a passion for the sport and just a passion for working with the kids,” Bean said.
That passion translated into one of the most successful and fastest-growing youth lacrosse leagues on the West Coast, Mauzy said.
“Our vision was to have every youth in the community have a lacrosse experience, which means to try it out for a season,” Balkman said.
Growth since 2004:
Since U.S. Lacrosse, the sport’s national governing body, began compiling statistics in 2001, lacrosse participation more than doubled to 524,100 nationwide, according to its 2008 Participation Survey. In one year, girls youth lacrosse participation increased from about 85,000 to more than 96,000.
“A lot of these kids, once they see it, they get hooked,” said U.S. Lacrosse Public Relations Manager Colleen Sperry Aungst. “It’s still in (regional) pockets a little bit, but it is growing like wildfire. It’s not just on the East Coast anymore.”
In the spring of 2004, Washington had 26 teams, Balkman said. IYL’s growth spurt has added 40 and the state now has more than 100.
“We’ve pretty much added teams every single year,” Balkman said.
The key seems to have been the league’s desire to include all who are interested in playing. When a team gets past 20 players, they try to make a new one, so as to give the youth plenty of playing time.
One could also attribute the league’s success to Balkman and Wiley’s backgrounds in sales and marketing. Balkman’s business card sums it up. It says “You would make a great lacrosse player!” He said when he passes them out, he tells prospective players to read it aloud once, then take it home and read it to their parents.
The duo’s stress on sportsmanship has played an important role in the success of the league, Bean said. It’s popular with youth because they get to run around with pads, wielding a stick, Bean said, but they also learn the value of playing for the sake of playing.
“It really infuses that whole spirit within the whole organization,” Bean said. “There’s just more positive energy that goes around in this sport than any other.”
The league has a 95 percent retention rate, Balkman and Wiley said. That’s partly because youth can play football, soccer or other sports in the fall and come out for lacrosse in the spring. It’s also because the athletes learn skills that are useful in other sports, Balkman and Wiley said.
“What they build in lacrosse is quickness and agility, and that is transferable,” Balkman said. “We’re huge fans of multi-sport athletes.”
The meaning of service:
When you get them going, Balkman and Wiley can talk a lot about lacrosse; you name it, they know it. They scheme about how to better reach new players and families, how to get more fields available and how to continue to win.
“They’re really the two that popularized it. They really fired the kids up and popularized it,” Mauzy said.
IYL teams consistently win select tournaments, the Issaquah High club team has been to the state playoffs seven of its nine years, including two championships, and Skyline’s club team had gone to the playoffs in all of its five seasons.
But in the end, it’s all about serving the community, they say.
“They’re not doing it for glory,” Bean said.
They tend to have the whole community in mind when running around like crazy to take care of league operations and such.
“It’s not about your kid,” Balkman said. “It’s about the community, about the sport.”
If it were about their kids, they wouldn’t still be involved. Balkman’s last son graduated the league in 2007; Wiley’s first son in 2005.
“We could’ve just bagged it after our kids graduated,” Wiley said.
Although Balkman and Wiley stepped down as presidents, they said they will still assist in various capacities around the league. Mauzy and Bean said they look forward to taking Balkman and Wiley’s foundation and building it even stronger.
Bean said he looks forward to “helping to build an organization that allows people to plug in and do something they feel great about.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.SammamishReview.com.
When Matthew Balkman and Scott Wiley founded the Issaquah Youth Lacrosse league on the plateau in the spring of 2004, they were expecting to have two teams. To their surprise, about 80 athletes signed up — enough to form four teams. The league’s popularity has continued skyrocketing from there.
Scott Wiley’s passion for lacrosse stemmed from his experience playing the sport as a youth in New England. Contributed
High school teams try to stay sharp over long break
December 29, 2009
By Christopher Huber
As schools close and many families take time off from work to be together during the holidays, there’s still a lot going on in the world of prep sports.
One look at the winter sports schedule, and you’d think the youth have some time off to sleep in, lounge around, visit grandma and grandpa and enjoy two weeks of no homework.
Gymnastics, for example, has a three-week break between meets. Boys’ swimming doesn’t have a dual meet for 25 days.
“It’s important that athletes get a mental break as well as a physical break,” said Eastlake boys basketball coach Pat Bangasser. “We want them fresh when they’re coming to practice.”
But many athletes at Eastlake, Eastside Catholic and Skyline high schools still come to practice almost every day.
Once vacation is over, league competition starts right back up again.
And for basketball players, they have to be in tip-top shape for various tournaments between Christmas and New Year’s.
Eastlake swim and dive coach Andy Hay seems excited about having the winter break to work with his team.
While they practice each weekday for just over an hour after school, the break gives the team more practice time for a whole variety of work.
He doubles Eastlake’s practice time.
“It allows us to do things that we don’t normally do,” he said. “Having more time, we can focus more on technique.”
He said attendance tends to be down during the holidays — athletes travel with their families to see relatives or take vacation — but those who are around commit to the longer, sometimes two-a-day practices.
“I’ve never met a program that doesn’t have a very intense winter training program,” Hay said.
Senior Cory Hutsen, Skyline basketball’s starting forward, said it’s actually more difficult to stay in the right mindset when there’s no school.
“It’s harder to focus when you’re not focused on school,” Hutsen said at practice Dec. 22. “It takes a lot more focus to keep yourself prepared.”
They don’t get much extra practice time, said coach J. Jay Davis.
And with only one tournament between Dec. 18 and Jan. 5 the Spartans have to stay fresh by attending the optional weight-lifting session on Saturdays and making the most of their typical two-hour practices.
“(You need to) not get too anxious,” Hutsen said. “You just practice like you’re playing a game.”
In his 21 years of coaching in the area, Bangasser and his teams have never had a full winter break, he said.
“There’s not a lot of down time,” he said. “It’s the one season where you basically practice through Thanksgiving, winter and mid-winter break.”
Other than taking a day off here and there, the guys practice as if school were in session: Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday and sleep in Saturday, Bangasser said. The advantage to winter practices is providing the optional pre-practice shoot-around time.
Although most teams in the area keep at it throughout the winter break, Davis said they still get to enjoy the time off a bit.
“I’d like to have a game this week,” he said Dec. 22 … but I kind of see the break as a blessing.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.SammamishReview.com.
As schools close and many families take time off from work to be together during the holidays, there’s still a lot going on in the world of prep sports.
One look at the winter sports schedule, and you’d think the youth have some time off to sleep in, lounge around, visit grandma and grandpa and enjoy two weeks of no homework.
Gymnastics, for example, has a three-week break between meets. Boys’ swimming doesn’t have a dual meet for 25 days.
Skyline sophomore Lucas Shannon does warm-up drills during practice Dec. 22. Photo by Christopher Huber
