Some on City Council want to end sunset clause in environmental regulations
November 23, 2011
A seemingly routine extension of the expiration date on the city’s critical areas ordinance drew debate at a Nov. 14 City Council meeting.
The council is set to vote Dec. 6 on the extension of the so-called “sunset clause” to the regulations. The council, led by Mayor Don Gerend, tacked the clause onto the city’s ordinance when the council last updated it in 2005 in hopes that it would motivate a future council to readdress some facets of the law he and others questioned. Read more
Initiative process needs reform
November 23, 2011
The state’s initiative process has turned Washington special interest groups into children making up a Christmas list. Initiative creators come up with one pricey item after another that they want — or fees and taxes they want to go away — with little concern of the financial impacts.
In recent years, voters have decided that the legislature needs a supermajority to raise taxes — essentially taking that option off the table.
If the initiative process is here to stay, one vital change should be made. All ballot language must include the financial impact. Read more
Sammamish Forum Nov. 23
November 23, 2011
Money buys votes
Initiative 1183 to allow private businesses to sell hard liquor has passed by a wide margin of votes. I opposed its passage based upon the grounds that it would increase access for teens and lead to greater traffic fatalities as has been shown to be the case in other states.
When I look at the voting percentages, however, I am led to one conclusion – money buys votes. A similar measure on the ballot in 2010 was overwhelmingly rejected by voters in a 65-35 split. This time the attempt to open liquor sales to Costco and other retailers passed with about 60 percent. Read more
Leaders urge continued fight against childhood obesity
November 23, 2011
By Kathy Lambert and David Fleming
We have much to celebrate and be thankful for this Thanksgiving. In King County we are fortunate to live in a community committed to helping people access healthy food.
Yet much work remains to be done, especially in supporting our children’s health.
By the time our children in King County reach middle and high school, they will have a better than one in five chance of being obese or overweight.
By the time they are adults, more than half will be obese or overweight – causing debilitating health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes and adding hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs locally.
If we want a healthier King County, we need to address obesity. As the King County Board of Health, we have worked on many steps to increase access to healthier foods for families and children.
We know families are busy, and they increasingly eat out, so the Board of Health passed landmark legislation that requires chain restaurants to display nutrition information, such as calories, sodium and carbohydrates.
These are basic nutritional facts so families can make informed choices.
The Board of Health recently developed guidelines that organizations and businesses can use to offer healthier options in vending machines.
We know sugary drinks – such as soda and energy drinks – are a major contributor to childhood obesity because they consist of large amounts of extra calories with little to no nutritional value.
We also have encouraged school districts to schedule recess before lunch. Research shows that students eat better and are more ready to learn when they are physically active before lunch.
But there is still more to do.
First, everybody in our community – parents, schools, religious groups, elected leaders – should continue working to make sure healthy options are available so our children can eat healthy and be active in schools, child care and other places where they spend time away from home.
At home, families can do their part by helping their children stay active and eat well. Children need at least an hour a day of physical activity, and sugary foods and drinks should be limited – children younger than 6 years should not have sugary drinks at all.
Finally, let’s continue programs that are working. Many important programs are facing reduction due to the state budget crisis – such as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) farmers market program that allows families most in need to purchase nutritious, locally-grown food and Maternity Support Services that helps connect at-risk pregnant women to prenatal care, nutrition, housing and more. These two programs focus on prevention and giving infants and children the best opportunity for a healthy start – saving money and improving health in the long run.
Poor diet, lack of physical activity and smoking are the leading causes of illness and death. To turn this around, let’s focus on children and support their healthy choices now for a lifetime of good health.
Kathy Lambert is a member of the King County Council and King County Board of Health. Dr. David Fleming is director and health officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County.
Sammamish food donations are tops on the Eastside
November 23, 2011
Sammamish cleaned house in a good-natured Eastside food drive competition.
Volunteers posted at Sammamish grocery stores throughout the month of October collected 31,912 pounds of non-perishable food and $4,993 in cash donations that will go to needy families in the Puget Sound area.
Mayor Don Gerend and Eastlake High School students Haley Bates (left) and Jennifer McGinty stand outside QFC collecting food for the annual Mayor’s Month of Concern food drive. Volunteers collected 31,912 pounds of food for the needy throughout the month of October. Contributed
Police Blotter Nov. 23
November 23, 2011
Late-night gaming
Police responded to the Game Stop on Northeast 8th Street after a burglary alarm went off at around 3 a.m. Nov. 12. Police arrived to find the store secure, but managers reviewed surveillance footage that showed two men dressed in black wearing masks in the store.
The men stole four boxes of unidentified merchandise and left out of the back door, which had been locked with padlocks. The manager told police that only he and two other managers should have access to the padlock keys. The case remains under investigation.
Free money
A Sammamish resident reported that he had received a fake check in the mail Nov. 12. The man received a $3,700 cashier’s check in the mail though he had not sold anything. Police verified that it was a fake. The case remains under investigation.
Television stolen
Someone stole a 42-inch plasma-screen television from the fitness center at The Knolls Apartments between 1 p.m. Nov. 7 and 9 a.m. Nov. 8. A surveillance camera captured footage of someone ripping a security chain and lock from the wall and removing the TV. The footage has been turned over to detectives, who continue to investigate.
No more Mickey-D’s
Three Sammamish teenagers were trespassed from McDonalds the evening of Nov. 7. An officer on patrol witnessed the three teens sprint across 228th outside of a crosswalk. As the officer stopped the teens he was approached by a manager from McDonalds who said the teens were part of a group that included a teen that stole items from the store.
He wanted the teens trespassed from the property. Police obliged and the teens were given a warning letter telling them they could be arrested if they returned to the restaurant.
Bought a lemon
A Sammamish resident called police Nov. 8 to report that he had bought a vehicle from a dealership in Bellevue that had allegedly had its odometer rolled back. The man told police he had traded a vehicle in for the 2002 Ford Explorer.
Afterwards he found a CARFAX report that showed that the car had been sold by the first owner with more miles than its odometer currently showed. The case remains under investigation.
Domestic violence
A 40-year-old Sammamish woman was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after allegedly smashing a wine glass on her boyfriend’s face Nov. 10. Police responded to the couple’s apartment just before 9:30 p.m. after reports that a man was bleeding from the face.
They arrived to find the man with several large lacerations. The man refused treatment from an aid crew. Police contacted the man’s girlfriend inside, who admitted that she had hit the man with the wine glass. The woman told officers that the two had been drinking wine and smoking pot and had gotten into an argument. The woman was booked into King County Jail on investigation of assault.
Fake sweepstakes
A Sammamish resident was bilked out of more than $5,000 by a fake sweepstakes scam. The woman, who is in her 70s, received a phone call Nov. 3 from a male informing her that she had won $450,000, but that she needed to first send $2,250 to cover insurance fees.
The woman complied, wiring the money to an address in New York. The woman then received another phone call saying that a mistake had been made and that she needed to wire $3,300 more to an address in New Jersey. The woman complied again but was then told that it was too late in the day and that she would hear back about the money the next day
The next day she received another call saying the sweepstake amount had been bumped up to $4,500,000 but that she needed to send $20,000 to cover insurance costs. The woman became suspicious and reported the incident to police. The case remains under investigation.
Mail theft
A resident on the 2200 block of 201st Avenue Southeast reported Nov. 7 that someone had stolen a week’s worth of mail while her family was out of town.
The missing items included prescription drugs that had been delivered to the residence. The family was also notified by their bank that someone had unsuccessfully tried to access their account. The case remains under investigation.
Items in the Police Blotter come from Sammamish Police reports.
City Hall to upgrade security system
November 23, 2011
Sammamish will spend up to $40,000 on a new security system at City Hall.
At their Nov. 14 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved the new system, which will replace the current system of keys and numerical key pads with a card-based system that city officials say will improve security and make it easier to allow people to access the building after-hours or on the weekends.
Administrative Services Director Mike Sauerwein said the upgraded system will allow the city to issue key cards that give someone access to only specific parts of the building and only for a limited amount of time. Read more
Inglewood film screening addresses ‘mean-girl’ issues
November 23, 2011
Girls can be mean to each other. So some people in Sammamish are doing something to help the situation.
Parents and educators at Inglewood Junior High School invite the community to a special screening of “Finding Kind,” a film that offers solutions to the mean-girl phenomenon in school, at home and everywhere in between.
The school will hold a special assembly Nov. 28 during regular school hours. Community members may attend the screening at 7 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Eastlake High School theater, according to event organizers. Read more
Local artisans offer holiday shopping options at Happy Valley Grange, Skyline High
November 23, 2011
Local artists are gathering to sell their wares for holiday shoppers and arts and crafts enthusiasts. Beth Newfield, of Sammamish Tree Socks acclaim, and Kim Suver, of Sammamish, teamed up again to hold the third annual Happy Valley Arts & Crafts Fair.
The event runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 3 at the Happy Valley Grange, on the Sammamish border with Redmond.
The fair will feature 32 vendors from Sammamish, Issaquah and other nearby cities. Shoppers and art lovers will be able to peruse pottery, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, sewing and fiber arts works on display and for sale among the rows of booths.
Ten local youth artisans will also have booths, offering their handmade goods.
The event stemmed from Newfield’s desire to expand her annual art and craft show out from her home and into the community.
The Happy Valley Grange is located at 19720 N.E. 50th St., in Redmond — the left turn just before the Gray Barn Nursery coming down Sahalee Way Northeast from Sammamish.
Other artists and craft-makers will be offering their handcrafted items the same day at Skyline High School. The school’s eighth annual holiday bazaar runs 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 3 and will feature music, food and artsy items.
Bazaar patrons can peruse artisan booths with glass art, photography, holiday decorations, quilts, wraps, scarves, soaps, candies, purses and wood items, etc. The bazaar proceeds benefit the Skyline Booster Club, which supports all sports and clubs at the school.
Skyline student makes shoes decorative
November 23, 2011
Who knew Wiz Khalifa could look good on a shoe?
Someone liked the rapper so much they had Karan Sunil, of Sammamish, stick him on a pair of Converse high-tops. And since then, others have come to the Skyline High School junior to tap his shoe-designing skills.
Whether or not Sunil is starting a fad among Sammamish youth is yet to be seen. Read more
