City Hall to be transformed into Turkish Bazaar
October 31, 2011
New: Oct. 31, 2:53 p.m.
Sammamish City Hall will look, sound and smell like the other side of the world Nov. 5.
The Sammamish Arts Commission will temporarily convert the building into the equivalent of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Read more
2011 Parent Guide
October 31, 2011
Sammamish may add volunteer police into the mix
October 30, 2011
New: Oct. 30, 1:18 p.m.
Sammamish could get some extra cops on the street next year through a volunteer deputy program.
Sammamish, along with Maple Valley, may start using the same reserve deputy program the King County Sheriff’s Office uses in unincorporated areas of the county. City Manager Ben Yazici has proposed that the council earmark $30,000 out of next year’s budget for training and administrative costs for up to five reserve officer positions. Read more
Annual Toys for Tots drive underway
October 29, 2011
New: Oct. 29, 11:07 a.m.
Even if your children are grown and gone, Amy Jarboe says you should keep an eye on the toy advertisements this holiday season.
The annual Toys For Tots drive, which gathers toys for children whose families may not otherwise be able to afford them, is now open at City Hall. A collection box will sit in front of the Sammamish Police Department until 5 p.m. Dec. 12. New, unwrapped gifts for all ages – from toddler to teenager – are needed. Read more
KingCo 4A Championship Football – Woodinville 17, Eastlake 14
October 28, 2011
Glitch delays ballots for 11,000 Eastside voters, including Sammamish residents
October 28, 2011
NEW — 5:15 p.m. Oct. 28, 2011
King County Elections officials said ballots for 11,000 Eastside voters — including more than 800 people in Sammamish — did not go out last week as planned due to a glitch.
The elections office plans to mail ballots Saturday; voters should receive them early next week. The deadline to return ballots via mail, drop box or accessible voting center is Nov. 8.
Overall, the issue impacted 11,000 Eastside voters, including 54 in Issaquah, 141 in Newcastle and 875 in Sammamish. Some North Bend and Snoqualmie voters also face delays in receiving ballots.
King County Elections started mailing 1.1 million ballots to voters Oct. 19.
Ballot measure would force state to set aside funds in boom years
October 28, 2011
New: Oct. 28, 3:05 p.m.
With the sluggish economy continuing to drain state tax revenue and legislators making drastic cuts to state funding for education, public safety and health care, the prospect of Olympia suddenly finding itself awash in revenue seems far-fetched.
But in the event that happens, legislators want voters’ input on what to do with the extra money. Senate Joint Resolution 8206, on voters’ ballots for the Nov. 8 election, proposes that any “extraordinary revenue growth” be put into the state’s rainy day fund for use during budget crises similar to those seen in recent years. Read more
King County finishes work on stretch of East Lake Sammamish Trail
October 27, 2011
New: Oct. 27, 2:31 p.m.
A 1.2 mile-length of the East Lake Sammamish Trail just north of city limits will reopen in November.
The trail, which had been gravel, was widened and paved for $1.86 million – about $1.5 million less than originally expected, according to a King County Parks Department press release. The trail, as well as a 77-stall parking lot at Northeast 70th Street in Redmond will also be opening a month earlier than expected.
Doug Williams, media relations coordinator for the department, said a favorable bidding climate and efficient work by contractor Tri-State Construction was responsible for the cost savings. Read more
Spiders invade Samammish home in time for Halloween
October 26, 2011
New: Oct. 26, 10:18 a.m.
Cimarron trick-or-treaters shouldn’t be alarmed by the man-sized, smoke-blowing spider when making the rounds Halloween night.
It’s just a bit of holiday cheer from James and Amy Gagnon, who have decked out their home in webs, gravestones and giant homemade arachnids for the big evening.
“We really like the community, so we thought, ‘Let’s do something for the kids,’” James Gagnon said.
A homemade giant spider sits in front of the home of James and Amy Gagnon in the Cimarron neighborhood. James has been working since August to design and construct the spider in time for Halloween. Photo by Caleb Heeringa
Trick-or-treat for candy and coins this Halloween
October 25, 2011
Samuel Cuevas, of Sammamish, dresses as a pirate for Halloween.
Mariana Cuevas, a 13-year-old Sammamish girl who started a campaign to help famine victims in East Africa, is collecting change this week for Happy Tummies for East Africa.
The youth is currently rallying fellow teens to help her cause, but over the Halloween weekend, she and RandomKid, the Sammamish organization running her initiative, are holding “Trick-or-Treat for coins.” In a quest to raise $1 million for the cause, Cuevas will be selling “Happy Tummies” trick-or-treat bags from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 28 and 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 29-30 at Safeway in Sammamish.
Anyone who collects coins, in addition to candy while trick-or-treating Oct. 31 is encouraged to donate them Halloween night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
All proceeds will go to the United Nations World Food Program, through which $1 provides four individual meals. Visit www.randomkid.org/projects/happytummies for more information and to donate online.
