Three candidates compete in primary
July 26, 2011
Ramiro Valderrama
Jim Wasnick
John Galvin
Whether it’s Town Center, the expansion of East Lake Sammamish Parkway or the Southeast 32nd Street barricade, each of the three candidates running for the City Council seat being vacated by veteran Councilwoman Nancy Whitten were spurred to action by city policy right outside their front doors.
John Galvin, a Town Center property owner and private-practice psychologist, has been a fixture at the council’s public comment period over the years, more often than not assailing a Town Center development plan that he says has been purposefully designed to fail.
Jim Wasnick, an information technology executive, decided to run after watching the city’s decision process on the removal of the Southeast 32nd Street barricade, near his home. He met with city leaders and convinced them to add more pedestrian safety measures in his neighborhood.
Ramiro Valderrama, who has worked in business consulting and international development and lives in the Sammamish Glen neighborhood, was catalyzed by his opposition to the expansion of East Lake Sammamish Parkway, which he called wasteful. Valderrama runs local advocacy group Citizens for Sammamish, which often weighs in on a variety of city issues.
Ballots for the primary election were to have been mailed out July 27. They must be returned by Aug. 16. The top two vote-getters will move on to the Nov. 8 general election.
Here is where the three stand on some of the largest issues facing Sammamish. Read more
Sammamish residents trek from mountains to sound
July 24, 2011
New: July 24, 3:09 p.m.
Matt Haynie isn’t a morning person.
But he had to rise bright and early for nine days while trekking from Ellensburg to Seattle with a group of about 60 Seattle area hikers.
“I just thought it would be something really neat to do,” said Matt, 15, of Sammamish. “I had never been on a camping trip where we were moving the entire time.”
Greenway Intern and Trek EMT David Dunphy, front, Grace Hung, and Greenway Trust staffer Sonja Hanson hike along Rattlesnake Mountain July 6. Contributed
Eastisde Fire & Rescue headquarters remodel gets lukewarm reception
July 23, 2011
New: July 23, 1:18 p.m.
Within minutes of resolving to work out their differences so that Eastside Fire & Rescue could exist past its current 2014 expiration date, the fire service’s board of directors grappled with a thorny issue as old as the agency itself.
Fire officials are pushing the agency’s partners to chip in for a remodel and expansion of the headquarters building, located on Newport Way in Issaquah. In March, Deputy Chief Wes Collins proposed reconfiguring the inside of the building to add seven offices, a conference room, copy room and an upstairs women’s bathroom, as well as a storage building for EFR equipment that currently sits outside. Read more
Sammamish bans marijuana gardens pending more clarity
July 22, 2011
New: July 22, 3:04 p.m.
Sammamish has temporarily banned collective medical marijuana gardens in the city while they wait for lawyers or legislators hammer out conflicting law on the subject.
At their July 18 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved an emergency moratorium on collective marijuana gardens, which the state legislature recently approved for those prescribed the drug for medicinal purposes. Read more
Sammamish council hammers out shoreline deal with state
July 21, 2011
New: July 21, 2:36 p.m.
By all accounts, Sammamish has somewhat grudgingly closed the book on its years-long Shoreline Master Plan process.
The council voted 4 to 0 at its July 18 meeting to pass a series of compromises that city staff had hammered out with the Washington State Department of Ecology over the last two months. Councilmembers Mark Cross and Michele Petitti were absent and Councilwoman Nancy Whitten did not vote.
Community Development Director Kamuron Gurol said Ecology was still reviewing a few of the last minute tweaks the council made to the plan, but that prior to the council meeting agency representatives had endorsed the plan. Read more
‘Unofficial’ trail is a hidden treasure
July 19, 2011
Hikers can take a rest on the log bench at the Cedar Butte summit. From there one can see Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe and Mailbox Peak in the distance. Photo by Christopher Huber
A sign directs hikers to hang a right and trek up the hill from the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. Photo by Christopher Huber
If it weren’t for a few persistent hikers or devoted volunteer stewards, the Cedar Butte trail might not get any traffic.
Considered an unofficial trail by the Washington Trails Association, the relatively well-worn path gets just enough use and has just enough signage to provide hikers a clear way to the top. But it’s not nearly as popular as hikes across the valley, like Little Si, Rattlesnake Ledge and others, so someone walking the trail in the middle of a weekday might have the place all to themselves.
One seeking to traverse the Cedar River Watershed via the Cedar Butte trail will have to first walk about a mile up the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, a well-kept, recently re-opened walking and biking trail that connects Olallie and Iron Horse state parks with the recently re-opened Snoqualmie Train Tunnel 21 miles east at Hyak.
This trail is family friendly and makes for a quiet half-day family outing for anyone visiting Rattlesnake Lake.
The Cedar Butte Trail itself stems from the larger, gravel John Wayne trail. From the parking lot, walk past the bathrooms, hang a right, following signage to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. Hang a left up the gravel access path and at the main trail, take another left at the Iron Horse State Park sign that lists mileage to other destinations.
You’ll pass the Cedar Falls sign on your left and stroll down the trail for about 3/4 mile past foxglove, ferns and tall salmonberry bushes. After crossing the bridge over Boxley Creek, the Cedar Butte Trail comes up on the right. About 400 feet past the bridge, look right for the small sign on the tree.
The narrow trail starts moderately steep and pushes through intensely thick underbrush and dense, lush second-growth forest. Although wildlife encounters are relatively rare, hikers should tie bells to their shoes or pack a whistle or pepper spray, just in case. Read more
Calendar July 20
July 19, 2011
Concert in the Park summer concert series features “The About Face Band” from 5:30-8 p.m. July 21 at Pine Lake Park.
The Washington Department of Revenue is hosting a free tax workshop for small business owners. Participants will learn about various taxes, reporting and record-keeping requirements and will receive a workbook and reference guide. The workshop is from 1-4 p.m. July 21 at Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE, room 1E-113 in Bellevue. Space is limited and registration is required visit www.dor.wa.gov. Read more
2 Skyline seniors earn Girl Scouts Gold Awards
July 19, 2011
Supriya Dublish stands at the 2010 Sammamish Days celebration, an event she helped the city organize. Photo courtesy Supriya Dublish
Incoming Skyline High School seniors Supriya Dublish and Nicole Atherly received Girl Scouts Gold Awards for their leadership and service to the Sammamish community. In recognition of their work, Dublish and Atherly were invited to Gov. Chris Gregoire’s home and received letters of congratulations from President Barack Obama.
Winning the award “was really cool, especially when I got the letter,” said Dublish.
The highest honor a Girl Scout can receive, the Gold Award is a culmination of 40 hours of summer camp leadership, 40 hours of career related activities and 65 hours of individual project work. Dublish and Atherly attended job shadows and career fairs, worked at the Sammamish Days children’s booth and volunteered in Girl Scouts day camps over the past few years. They then proposed plans to organize their own events in conjunction with the city.
“It’s quite a lot of work and they learn a lot of new skills,” said Elaine Atherly, the Girl Scouts troop leader and Nicole Atherly’s mom. “It’s an exciting process for them to go through.” Read more
City will thank volunteers
July 19, 2011
Sammamish residents who have volunteered with the city are invited for cake at the city’s summer concert at Pine Lake Park July 21.
The concert features The About Face Band playing classic rock and starts at 6:30 p.m.
Volunteers can find the city of Sammamish booth for “cake and a thank you,” volunteer coordinator Dawn Sanders said in an email.
County advises keeping your pet’s shots up to date
July 19, 2011
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is a saying that applies to the health of your pets as much as it applies to you, according to the Regional Animal Services of King County.
Routine immunizations are important to the life and health of your furry friends. Read more
