Snow in forecast for tomorrow morning
February 22, 2011
New: Feb. 22, 3:02 p.m.
Don’t be fooled – spring’s still a month away.
Sammamish has been seeing scattered hail and snow off and on Tuesday and as much as six inches could fall overnight Tuesday night through Thursday.
National Weather Service meteorologist Carl Cerniglia said a cold air mass moving south will be colliding with scattered showers around the Seattle area, potentially meaning headaches for commuters and snow days for students.
“(Wednesday) morning’s commute could definitely be messy,” Cerniglia said.
The best chance for snow accumulation is Wednesday morning starting at around 4 a.m. Temperatures could remain cold enough for the snow to keep sticking through Wednesday and Thursday.
After Thursday, Cerniglia said to expect clear and cold conditions, with mostly sunny skies but chilly temperatures. Friday’s high is expected to be 34 degrees, with temperatures dipping into the low-20s at night.
Issaquah and Sammamish Health fair returns Saturday
February 22, 2011
New: Feb. 22, 1:25 p.m.
Unsure about your blood pressure? Wondering about your bone density?
These tests and more health screenings are available free at the seventh annual Issaquah and Sammamish Health & Safety Fair on Feb. 26. There is no admission fee and all ages are welcome. Read more
Sammamish students seek work in slightly shrinking pool of opportunity
February 21, 2011
New: Feb. 21, 2:05 p.m.
It took Eastside Catholic senior Matt Wenzinger about a month to land his part-time job at Ristorante Simone in Sammamish. Many of his friends had also been applying for work, to take financial pressure off their parents, some of whom had been negatively affected by the down economy. He looked around, applying to other restaurants, but finally found the right fit at the new Italian restaurant in August.
“It didn’t come that easy for me, but when found that spot I got the job,” Wenzinger said. Read more
Cell tower hearing moved to March 1
February 20, 2011
New: Feb. 20, 11:18 a.m.
Citizens can soon have their say on where they’d like to see cell phone towers in Sammamish.
A public hearing that had been scheduled for March 15 has been moved up to March 1 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
For much the past year the City Council has been debating whether to strengthen limits on the location and size of cell phone towers in the city. Recent council discussions, informed by staff recommendations and testimony by wireless network representatives, has led to suggestions that the city put a height limit on the towers and encourage that they be camouflaged and located in city parks rather than near major arterials.
Lake Washington teachers extend contract
February 19, 2011
New: Feb. 19, 3:14 p.m.
With school budgets across the state in a state of flux, the Lake Washington School District’s teachers union elected to extend their current labor contract for another year rather than negotiate a new one.
Legislators in Olympia are grappling with a $5 billion deficit in the upcoming budget that covers the middle of 2011 to the middle of 2013 and state funding to school districts has been on the chopping block during early negotiations. Read more
Sammamish’s Egyptians feel hopeful and nervous
February 18, 2011
New: Feb. 18, 1:19 p.m.
The day Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak addressed the world, Sammamish resident Mohamed Fathalla stayed up until 3:30 a.m. — disappointed and waiting. He anticipated, like many around the world, that the embattled leader would bow to the demands of protesters and announce his resignation after 30 years in office.
Mubarak didn’t fold.
“You gotta be kidding,” Fathalla said about his reaction to the speech. “I thought it was a Berlin Wall-moment and I wanted to see it live.”
Sammamish resident Ashraf Saad, Dalia Amin and Howaida Shahin, from left, protest with others during a demonstration of solidarity with Egyptian protestors at Seattle’s Westlake Center. Contributed
Mayor explains his financing plan for Sammamish aquatic center
February 17, 2011
New: Feb. 17, 2:50 p.m.
Mayor Don Gerend believes Sammamish can build itself a community aquatic center at no net cost to its residents in exchange for opening it up to citizens around King County.
Gerend explained his “thought experiment” to a table containing several skeptics at the council’s Feb. 4 retreat in Cle Elum.
“If a realtor could say, ‘we’ve got a Puget Sound-class community aquatic center here,’ what do you think (a potential home buyer) would say?” Gerend asked. “Schools enhance the value of real estate and recreation facilities do, too.” Read more
State moves to close adult care facility in Sammamish
February 16, 2011
New: February 16, 1:18 p.m.
A Sammamish home used as a care facility for aging and vulnerable adults may be shut down by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
The Home at Sahalee adult family home, located at 2317 Sahalee Drive East, received a letter from DSHS in November 2010 notifying them that they could not place any more residents in the facility and that their license was being revoked.
Johanna Oldenburger, the registered care provider at the facility, said many of the allegations in the agency’s investigation involve a single disgruntled resident who is no longer at the facility. Oldenburger is appealing the findings and has a hearing scheduled for May. Read more
Council plans to shift density to Town Center
February 15, 2011
Sammamish may be able to preserve forests and open space in the city in exchange for increased development in the Town Center area through a program approved by the Sammamish City Council Feb. 8.
The program may also end up as a consolation prize for some citizens who have been unable to develop their property around shorelines and wetlands due to the city’s environmental regulations.
“It’s the trees that help make Sammamish what it is,” Councilman Mark Cross said. “This helps protect the forest land that gives us that great backdrop.” Read more
Annual pass for parks not unreasonable
February 15, 2011
We are not a proponent of willy-nilly user fees to line the coffers of government agencies, but with voters repeatedly saying no to taxes, user fees will become more prevalent.
For state parks, we support the implementation of a $30 annual Discover Pass as a solution to keep state parks open.
Washington state parks are in trouble, just as many other state agencies and services are — all part of the proposed budget cuts needed to keep the state out of bankruptcy. State parks are expected to need $64 million in the upcoming biennium. Read more
