Sammamish woman to ride from this Washington to that one
May 31, 2011
Daria Kurkjy participates in the 2010 Seattle-to-Portland bike race, her 10th time. Photo courtesy of Daria Kurkjy
Cycling more than 200 miles from Seattle to Portland each year isn’t enough anymore for Sammamish resident Daria Kurkjy. The 50-year-old mother of three had once considered that ride to be her ultimate goal as a cyclist. Now it looks like a training exercise.
Kurkjy is gearing up to ride her bicycle 3,300 miles across the country in the Big Ride Across America, for the American Lung Association June 20-Aug. 6. She and dozens of other riders will ride from Seattle to Washington, D.C. Read more
Hoops of Hope helps Sudanese
May 24, 2011
Zach Butz, a sixth-grader at Pine Lake Middle School, does lay-ups during the Hoops of Hope event May 20. Photo by Christopher Huber
As a child, Arok Garang lost his family to rebel attacks in Sudan. He survived war in Sudan and Ethiopia and got a second chance at life when the United States provided refuge as one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan.”
In return, he’s used that sense of blessing and responsibility to benefit fellow Sudanese students. Read more
Sammamish Farmers Market opens with food, crafts and fun
May 24, 2011
Katherine and Alex Krueger, 6 and 4, respectively, dig in to their desserts from Diane Skwiercz’s mobile stand, Street Treats, at the May 18 farmers market. Photo by Anna Marum
A rousing performance by the Eastlake High School Drumline Wednesday afternoon kicked off the first Sammamish Farmers Market of the year.
Following the performance, the melodies of the folksy Essie Blue Band and the savory smells of fresh tacos, wood-fired pizza and sambusa wraps filled the air as families enjoyed the first of 20 weekly farmers markets this summer. Read more
James Lim learns about China on teaching trip
August 26, 2010
NEW: 11:10 a.m. Aug. 26
James Lim, of Sammamish, got to realize a life-long dream this summer. The 19-year-old, originally from Indonesia and of Chinese descent, returned to China for the first time since moving to the United States 11 years ago, he said.
“Throughout my life, I wanted to go back to China and Indonesia,” said Lim, a 2009 Eastlake High School graduate. “I’ve always wanted go to China to serve the people there.”
Lim was among approximately 50 Seattle Pacific University students who traveled to nine different countries this summer to teach English to youth. While he spent five weeks in Hong Kong, other students went to Guatemala, Cambodia, Russia and Laos, among others.
Neighborhood carnival raises money for neighbor
September 1, 2009
Matt Sundsten, 13, left, and Colby Stirrat, 12, right, explain the Coke vs. Pepsi Challenge to Reid Pierzchalski, 10, during the Montrachet neighborhood benefit carnival Aug. 25. Photo by Christopher Huber
Montrachet neighborhood carnival organizer Keren Pruitt knew from the start the annual charity benefit event would bring in record donations.
She could tell by the long lines of neighborhood children and parents waiting to purchase tickets and bracelets. She also knew people connected more closely with the cause because this year’s beneficiary, Rachel Carson Elementary second grader Maddy Callahan, lives nearby in the Chambord neighborhood. Maddy has been fighting leukemia since last November, organizers said.
Many participants and their families know the Callahans, she said.
“It’s just really close to people’s heart,” Pruitt said as she took a break from buzzing around the cul-de-sac during the carnival.
In just two hours on Aug. 25, the event raised approximately $1,500 for the cause. The money will help the Callahan family pay medical bills and benefit the Child Life program at Seattle Children’s Hospital, Pruitt said.
The event had a block-party look, with parents and children loitering in driveways and meandering about the street, but the cotton candy and rolls of tickets gave it away as a real carnival.
For $10, local children got access to make the rounds to driveway stations where they could buy (with tickets) cotton candy, popcorn and smoothies and play games like the tennis ball toss, putt putt golf, a dunk tank and basketball. An extra $2 garnered the participants a bracelet, as well.
“It really has just grown and grown over the years,” said volunteer Lora Baier as she whipped up some cotton candy. She said the outpouring of support “was exceedingly, abundantly above” expectations.
Pruitt started the neighborhood carnival in 2006 to benefit local charitable organizations. The idea was to get her children and family involved in a good cause.
“I wanted to show my kids what it’s like to give back to the community,” Pruitt said. “It’s really become a community event. It’s been a great, positive event.”
Prizes, which families donated, included hand-made pet rocks and bouncy balls, among other things. Dylan Pruitt and friends manned the “Groovy Smoothy” stand and dolled out the fruity drinks all afternoon. The children also put on a talent show near the end of the carnival Aug. 25. Pruitt said the 2009 event saw much more involvement, including more refreshment stands and the addition of the dunk tank.
“It’s fun and makes a lot of money for a good cause,” he said as operated the blenders. “Now there’s a lot more people involved.”
The 2006 carnival raised $113 and had a handful of booths and food stands, Keren Pruitt said. The next year they raised $630 for Ronald McDonald House and in 2008 the event brought in about $400 for Child Haven.
Get Involved
To donate to the Maddy Callahan fund, visit a branch of the Bank of America.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Group connects families in need with safer cribs
September 1, 2009
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome can devastate a family, but those working in the King County Sheriff’s Office said they realize many SIDS crises can be averted with a few simple steps.
The King County Sheriff’s Office, which provides police services for the city of Sammamish, will provide referrals for families in need with infants in unsafe sleeping environments.
If deputies notice an infant in a sleeping environment that could lead to a SIDS death or an accidental suffocation, they will connect that family with the Northwest Infant Survival Alliance and a free crib.
“Normally, we go out on infant death,” said Scott Dungan, a community service officer in the Sheriff’s Office Special Assault Unit. “We wanted to be able to catch it at the other end and help prevent infant death.”
Seven cribs have been donated since the partnership between the sheriff’s office and the alliance began in April.
King County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert helped at the partnership’s April 24 launch, presenting a King County Council proclamation in honor of SIDS Awareness Day.
“We had a neighbor whose baby died of SIDS,” Lambert said. “I’ve been involved with it ever since.”
People wishing to refer friends or family, or who wish to see if they qualify for a free crib, should call the Northwest Infant Survival Alliance.
“There are families out there who don’t have money to buy a crib and they might not realize the importance of considering that option,” Dungan said. “I’m not saying that every baby needs to have a crib, but we are really seeing some infant deaths in King County, and they’re SIDS or accidental suffocation deaths.”
In 2008, about 80 infants died of SIDS in Washington state. Of those deaths, about 30 were in King County.
“In the last couple of years, we’ve seen that number go up,” said Inga Paige, the executive director of the Northwest Infant Survival Alliance.
Researchers are still studying the causes of SIDS. In 1994, the U.S. Public Health Service partnered with several organizations for the Back to Sleep campaign, encouraging parents to lay infants on their backs for naptime.
As of 2002, SIDS deaths in America have decreased almost 50 percent, according to the National Institutes of Health Web site.
Still, SIDS is the No. 1 cause of death for infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. Infants of black and American Indian descent appear to be at two to three times greater risk for SIDS than Caucasian babies.
Factors decreasing SIDS include laying a baby on its back on a firm mattress when it goes to sleep.
Caregivers should be sure to clear the baby’s sleeping area of pillows or stuffed animals that could fall on or suffocate the infant.
“It doesn’t take a lot for a baby to stop breathing, nor does it take long,” Paige said.
Overheating also appears to lead to SIDS, as more babies die of SIDS in the winter when parents bundle them up.
Caregivers should refrain from sharing a bed with babies, as the baby could overheat, fall off the bed or get unintentionally smothered.
“One option is to have a crib right next to the parent’s bed, where mom or dad can easily reach out and touch the infant,” Dungan said.
A smoke-free home also reduces the risk of SIDS, according to the Stanford Medical School Department of Pediatrics.
The Northwest Infant Survival Alliance relies on grants and monetary donations.
Information for how to donate is on the organization’s Web page.
Donations are used to buy cribs, which offers the alliance a discount, Paige said.
Get help
Northwest Infant Survival Alliance
www.nisa-sids.org
206-548-9290
Laura Geggel: 392-6434, ext. 221, or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com. Comment at www.sammamishreview.com.
Sammamish Town Photo 2009 — citizens of today and tomorrow
September 1, 2009
Sammamish residents and city birthday event-goers gather at the Sammamish Commons Aug. 29 to celebrate the city’s first ten years. Children in the Kids’ Parade dressed in costumes on the theme, “What I want to be when I grow up.” Photo by Christopher Huber
College news
September 1, 2009
Linfield College dean’s list Read more
Weddings
September 1, 2009
Elisabeth Gundelfinger, of Sammamish and Clinton McCrery, of Sammamish, are set to be married Sept. 5 at the Plateau Club. The bride is a 2006 graduate of Eastlake, the groom, a 2005 graduate, also of Eastlake. Read more
Engagements
September 1, 2009
Meagan St. Laurent and Chris Ducharme
St. Laurent, Ducharme engaged
Meagan St. Laurent and Chris Ducharme, both of Sammamish, have become engaged. St. Laurent is a 2002 graduate of Skyline and a 2006 graduate of the University of Washington. Ducharme is a 2001 graduate of Skyline. Read more
