Washington State Senate GOP announces committee assignments
December 31, 2010
New: Dec. 31, 2:16 p.m.
Republicans in the state senate have announced their committee assignments for the coming session.
Most of Sammamish falls in the 5th District, whose senator, Cheryl Pflug was named ranking member (lead member of the minority party) on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Pflug was also assigned to the powerful Rules Committee and the budget and tax writing Ways and Means Committee. She will also serve on the Health and Long-Term Care Committee. Read more
Drivers will soon face stiffer penalties in Washington’s emergency zones
December 30, 2010
King County selected for pioneering sustainability program
December 29, 2010
The Review’s review: a look back at 2010
December 28, 2010
Sammamish hunkered down in 2010. National and local economies were battered by the lingering effects of the worst recession in decades, and although still relatively well off, Sammamish was not immune. In response, governments tightened belts, laid off workers and delayed major projects. Some other projects, in the works long before the financial mess, finished up this year, likely marking the end of a boom in large city projects for the foreseeable future. Read more
Police Blotter Dec. 29, 2010
December 28, 2010
Too good to be true
A Sammamish man called police Dec. 17 to report that he had been duped into buying fake plane tickets by a 46-year-old Issaquah man who was acting as a travel agent.
The victim was trying to fly a family member from Kenya to Seattle and could only find tickets online for upwards of $2100.
Friends suggested he talk to the suspect, who allegedly promised to find a ticket for around $1100. Read more
Local singer, Brennan Baglio, grooves on ‘The Sing Off’
December 28, 2010
Not many singers get to perform on primetime national television for three famous judges and millions of viewers.
But Brennan Baglio, 23, a church worship director in Sammamish, fulfilled a dream of taking his music to the next level when he and a Seattle-based a cappella group Groove For Thought appeared as one of 10 singing groups on NBC’s ‘The Sing-Off.’
On night two, after the group performed “Cooler Than Me” by Mike Posner, judge Shawn Stockman (of Boyz II Men) singled Baglio out for his skills as baritone singer.
“It was really great and just very encouraging,” said Baglio.
Brennan Baglio, center, in vest, performs with Seattle-based Groove for Thought on the NBC show ‘The Sing-Off.’ Baglio is the interim director of worship at Sammamish Presbyterian Church. Photo by Chris Haston, Sony Pictures Television
Eastlake students visit African children
December 28, 2010
When the group of 10 women and teenagers from Sammamish arrived to the World Vision Swaziland national field office in early November, the local staff there spoke of the challenges they faced in combating one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in Africa. And like in many African nations, the people of Swaziland suffer from other diseases caused by unclean drinking water, as well.
Despite the sadness and struggle all around them, the field staff and residents received the group from Sammamish Presbyterian Church with joyous celebration, said four members of the group.
Eastlake juniors Lizzie Anderson, left, and Kelsey Maki sit with residents in Mahlalini, Swaziland in early November while on a trip with World Vision. Photo by Susan Maki
Another mosaic at Good Samaritan
December 28, 2010
Youth in grades six through 12 recently completed an art project that will be used during services at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, in Sammamish, said Cheryl Smith, the church’s artist in residence. The youth, with some help from church leaders and parents, created a mosaic cross, made from found and donated items, such as beads, jewelry, gems and watch pieces. It even has inlaid medals from the national cathedral in Washington, D.C., the local Episcopal diocese in Seattle, as well and treasures from generations of family members at Good Samaritan, Smith said. The project is one of a handful of mosaic art pieces the church, completed in the past year. Smith said members of Good Samaritan will start work to transform the reredos — the wall behind the church’s altar. Photo by Cheryl Smith
Betty Logan
December 28, 2010
Betty Logan
Scrooge can teach everyone
December 28, 2010
Christmas is now behind us, but the holiday cheer still lingers in the air. On the last day of school before Christmas break, we watched the 1954 version of “A Christmas Carol” during Language Arts and Social Studies class. The key message of the movie is that we shouldn’t only be thinking about ourselves, but everyone around us. Ebenezer Scrooge, the main character in the movie, has some close encounters with three ghosts and finally realizes what Christmas is all about. Read more
