Calendar September 1
August 31, 2010
Events
- Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is seeking docents for the 2010 salmon season. The docents lead educational tours of the hatchery during the salmon spawning season. The hatchery has scheduled a training session for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 11 at the hatchery. To enroll or for more information, call 427-0259 or e-mail fishvolunteer@msn.com.
- Exhibitors invited to Sustainable Sammamish at the Market. Event will run on September 15, 2010. Participation is open to companies, agencies, and utilities that focus on sustainability. To participate visit www.sammamishchamber.org to download the application form. For questions contact Judy Petersen at jpetersen47@comcast.net
- Girl Scout information nights are scheduled by elementary school and are held at the school unless otherwise noted. Cascade Ridge and Grand Ridge, 7-8 p.m. Sept. 20; Challenger, Creekside, and Discovery 7-8 p.m. Sept. 22; Endeavour and Sunny Hills 7-8 p.m. Sept. 27; McAuliffe, Blackwell, Alcott, Mead, Carson and Smith elementaries will be from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Sammamish Library.
- The Sammamish Symphony is seeking musicians. In particular, they need string players, percussionists and bassoonists. Visit www.SammamishSymphony.org for more information.
- ArtEAST will display a gallery featuring the work of Anne Anderson, Susan Olds, and Sharlet Driggs. The gallery will be on display at the Providence Marianwood Gallery until September 30.
- Sammamish Art Fair. The annual art fair, featuring the work of dozens of artists across a broad spectrum of media is scheduled for 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10 at Sammamish City Hall. Visit www.sammamishartfair.worpress.com.
Health
- The Healthy Living Series featuring Dr. Michael Rizen on related eye disorders at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 3 at Bellewood Retirement Community, 3170 Providence Point Drive in Issaquah. Call 391-2880 for reservations.
- Stroke screening is scheduled for Sept. 13 at Bellewood Retirement Community, 3170 Providence Point Drive in Issaquah. Call 800-324-1851 for an appointment.
Library events
- Master gardener Joan Heibacka will present a class on culinary herbs at 7 p.m. Oct. 13.
- Susan Olds will present “The Life and Times of Picasso” at 7 p.m. Nov. 10.
- How to Start a Business, a class for budding entrepreneurs, is at 2 p.m. Sept. 14.
- Talk Time, conversation practice in English, is at 7 p.m. Sept. 14, 21 and 28.
- A class on sustainable landscaping — harvesting the rain, is at 6 p.m. Sept. 15.
- Toddler Story Time for children 2-3 with an adult is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 16, 23 and 30 and 11 a.m. Sept. 15, 22 and 29.
- Waddler Story Time, for children aged 9-24 months with an adult is scheduled for 10 and 11 a.m. Sept. 17 and 24.
- Swaddler Story Time for children younger than 9 months with an adult is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 16, 23 and 30.
- Spanish Story Time, for children 3 and older with an adult is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 18 and 5.
- Musik Nest, for toddlers, is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 1.
- Pajama Story Times, for ages 2-6 with an adult, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 13, 20 and 27.
- Preschool Story Times, for ages 3-6 with an adult, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 15, 22 and 29 and 1 p.m. Sept. 17 and 24.
- The Mother Daughter Book Club, for girls ages 10-13 and their mothers, will discuss “11 Birthdays” by Wendy Moss at noon Sept. 18.
- The teen writers’ group is scheduled to meet at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 21.
- The Sammamish Book Group will discuss “The Lemon Tree” by Sandy Tolan at 7 p.m. Sept. 15.
Watch for early warning signs of atrial fibrillation
August 31, 2010
Jessica Sullivan is new Sammamish Police sergeant
August 30, 2010
James Lim learns about China on teaching trip
August 26, 2010
NEW: 11:10 a.m. Aug. 26
James Lim, of Sammamish, got to realize a life-long dream this summer. The 19-year-old, originally from Indonesia and of Chinese descent, returned to China for the first time since moving to the United States 11 years ago, he said.
“Throughout my life, I wanted to go back to China and Indonesia,” said Lim, a 2009 Eastlake High School graduate. “I’ve always wanted go to China to serve the people there.”
Lim was among approximately 50 Seattle Pacific University students who traveled to nine different countries this summer to teach English to youth. While he spent five weeks in Hong Kong, other students went to Guatemala, Cambodia, Russia and Laos, among others.
City celebrates Sammamish Days and Nights
August 25, 2010
Eastside Catholic names new AD
August 25, 2010
Scott Garvis to take over
Eastside Catholic School will have a new athletic director when athletes gear up for the fall sports season, according to a press release from the school.
Scott Garvis was recently selected as the school’s senior athletic director.
He replaces Lance Gatter, who announced in March he would leave at the end of the 2009-2010 school year, the release said.
Jason Houck wins 17th Beaver Lake Triathlon
August 25, 2010
Sammamish residents among top finishers
Jason Houck took his night shift with the King County Sheriff’s Department off Aug. 20 to rest up for the early-morning start of the Beaver Lake triathlon the next day. He needed to save his energy to perform at his peak. Plus, he had to work the night after the race, too.
The 32-year-old Issaquah resident said he is well-conditioned to run a sprint triathlon like the Beaver Lake event, but with its relatively short length — quarter-mile swim, 13.8-mile bike and 4.3-mile run — the triathlon posed some challenges.
“For a shorter race, it’s got a good set of hills,” Houck said as he caught his breath at the finish line.
Unions agree to give up raises
August 25, 2010
County employees put hold on annual cost-of-living increase
Unions representing about 500 county employees agreed to forgo cost-of-living increases for next year, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced last week.Constantine and Washington State Council of County and City Employees President Chris Dugovich said the county and the union had reached a tentative agreement. The union represents almost 500 District Court clerks, hazardous-waste workers, custodians and juvenile detention supervisors, among other employees.“Our interest is in saving services for the public and preserving jobs for our members,” Dugovich said in a statement. “When a job goes away it is not likely to come back anytime soon. That hurts not only our members but the residents who depend upon the public services our members provide.”The union representing the 12 jail captains agreed to waive cost-of-living increases for next year as well.“We reached out to our employees to be part of the solution in our effort to maintain services to the public despite the loss of revenues, and the Washington State Council of County and City Employees is the first to step up to partner with us,” Constantine said in a statement. “I appreciate the talks we’ve had and their willingness to face our financial realities together.”Constantine and other leaders must tackle a $60 million budget deficit next year, and the gap could force deep cuts to spending. Holding off on the cost-of-living increases could save the county $9.4 million next year. The executive froze his salary and the salaries of other top managers in July.Union members must approve the proposed pact. Ballots must be returned by late August. The measure is due to take effect Jan. 1 if members support the proposal.The jail captains represented by the Uniformed Command Association voted to forgo their cost-of-living increases. The provision takes effect Jan. 1.The union represents 12 jail corrections captains — shift commanders for round-the-clock operations at the King County Jail and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, plus commanding the internal investigations unit and other units in the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention.“This is one way that our members can be part of the solution and help with the budgetary crisis within King County,” Capt. Michael Woodbury, Uniformed Command Association president, said in a statement. “Helping the county return to financial stability means job stability for our members and service stability for the public.”
Sammamish Forum
August 25, 2010
More bike plan opposition
I would like to invite city employees to be the first to help slow down traffic with their bikes.
I cannot believe that the city intends to use cyclists as a means to control automobile traffic. Bicyclists are not tools in a planning department. In my opinion, motor vehicles and bicycles do not mix. Intentionally mixing them to “help slow down traffic speeds and conform better with the city’s vision of a dense, pedestrian friendly Town Center” is a joke.
That kind of thinking is putting the health and safety of Sammamish citizens at risk.
City staff members’ other reason, regarding the Town Center vision, is also absurd. I would like to know whose vision has become Sammamish’s vision.
Since when did bicycling become something that is not worth accommodating? It’s healthy, it creates very little exhaust (I confess, it does create some for some people like me), it is on the upswing, and with encouragement it will continue to grow. Apparently, not here in Sammamish though, where our planners know better. Force them in with traffic because we want only foot traffic.
Mike Rees
Sammamish
LEO thanks Rotary
The Life Enrichment Options organization would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to both the Issaquah and Sammamish Rotary clubs for their superb efforts in partnering with us to provide two highly successful gravity car races this past month.
We received a number of e-mails from parents whose child either overcame a fear to get in a car, or were bubbling over with excitement in racing down a hill to the finish line. Every rider with special needs was a winner, getting his or her trophy and certificate with a picture in a car.
None of this could happen without the wonderful volunteers of the Rotary clubs, Athletes for Kids, Issaquah High School wrestlers, Skyline High School cheerleaders, and football and basketball athletes.
Leo Finnegan and LEO board of directors
Love and hate is not so simple
I, too, would like to see the type of society that Mr. Michael J. O’Connell dreams of, in his reference to John Lennon’s song, where there is peace on earth. However, “Imagine” hypothesizes the idea of no heaven or hell. Without a hell there would be no temptation for man to wage war or to persecute others, and without heaven we would not exist as there would be no God to have created us. Therefore, in practical terms, we should be spending our time trying to make the world, as it exists, a better place for all.
I further agree with O’Connell that Sammamish is an enjoyable place to live — we do have a diverse culture and people are friendly and respectful of each other on the whole. This respect, I have noticed, extends to the diversity of faiths on the plateau. I am a Christian and have friends who are Christian, Muslim, Hindu and non-believers. I have worked and socialized with people who are gay and there has always been a mutual respect among us. That said, I do believe that if God does not accept homosexuality then I must follow his law. The youth at their Sunday school lesson were right to say to “love the sinner,” to be kind and respectful to them, though. Who are we to judge? We are all sinners. Jesus socialized with sinners. Was he not showing us the way?
The debate about this is a difficult one as people have different beliefs. It is unfortunate, though, that a group of teenage Christians cannot meet to discuss how best to behave in our society in their own church without being berated for it. Fifty years ago prayer was banned from all public schools. Church is the only place left to us. People throughout the U.S. (not to mention throughout the rest of the world) are being persecuted for their religious beliefs. I don’t think John Lennon had this in mind either when he was writing his famous song.
Lorna Richardson
Sammamish
Civil rights and religion
Jim Wilke’s response to my letter entitled ‘Love and Hate in Sammamish’ missed the mark — this is about human rights, not about me. To be clear, I am advocating a society in which LGBT persons are viewed simply as people without religious filters. In that society the question of how to treat gays never arises. In that society civil rights are based upon the rule of law and religion is a path to greater spirituality rather than a theocratic weapon to suppress human beings.
I strongly opposed the recent Sunday school lesson because by putting gays into a bucket called ‘sinners’ it instilled values that undermine basic human rights and trivializes the real discrimination faced by gay couples and their children. Jim, your opinion that a gay person is living a ‘sinful lifestyle’ is completely irrelevant to the civil rights question and detrimental to secular society. You make my point in spades.
I understand that religion affects civil view. The Bible was used to both justify and condemn slavery and women’s rights. Some believe Jesus’ message of love includes gay equality. Some believe that gays are ‘sinning’ and use religion as a weapon against them. But thankfully, growing numbers of people and lawmakers are coming to understand that religious interpretation should not trump human rights. As our society progresses, this notion of basic fairness becomes increasingly important.
Five states and the District of Columbia have granted marriage rights to gays. Washington state is among those with civil unions. The sky hasn’t fallen and traditional marriage hasn’t disintegrated. Instead, our society has gained valuable and positive lessons — that civil rights should never be trumped by religious or ‘conservative’ opinion and that thankfully we live under the rule of civil and not religious law.
Gays are simply people born with same gender attraction. It is inevitable that we will justifiably grant them marriage equality so they too may enjoy the full measure of their lives. I simply invite those who oppose this to come to terms with the measurable harm these families face and join our march toward equality.
Michael J. O’Connell
Sammamish
Ambulance fees worth considering
August 25, 2010
Yes, the economy has not turned around, but sometimes government cannot simply slice and dice its way to a balanced budget. All ideas are on the table for increasing revenue — including an Eastside Fire & Rescue fee for ambulance rides.
The city of Sammamish has asked EFR to present a budget with no increase in spending from last year. While unrealistic, it’s an interesting exercise, and has produced some interesting ideas. Charging for ambulance rides is one worth examining.
This practice exists in other parts of the country, and indeed, in other parts of King County. No critically-injured person has yet to be denied a ride to the hospital because they had a maxed-out credit card.
Most agencies, when pressed, admit they don’t invest much time and energy trying to extract payments from residents who can’t afford to pay. Most insurance providers cover the cost of the ambulance ride, and they do pay their claims. It doesn’t seem to matter if the ride is provided by a private ambulance company or a public fire agency.
But it may not be that simple. It is possible that costs would end up being passed on to residents and businesses through higher insurance premiums. EFR should study that possible impact during its discussions.
There is also some concern about the idea of double charging. After all, residents already pay for the ambulance, the salary of the emergency medical technicians, the gas in the vehicle and everything else through their taxes. Should they have to pay a second time, whether it be through a direct payment or via higher insurance?
In a fair and perfect world, no.
But today’s reality is neither of those things, and full of examples of government double-dipping. Taxpayers already pay tolls to drive on roads they paid to build, and fees to use park facilities that they already own. Taxpayers have put up with it, recognizing the fee model as a more equitable way of distributing costs.
Unfortunately, the charge for EFR to give medical transport to a hospital or to another waiting ambulance is probably necessary.
