The dusting of snow on the ground in Sammamish could become more plentiful in the next 48 hours.

Sammamish is under a winter weather advisory and a winter storm warning as forecasters predict a major snow event to hit the region.

A few inches of snow fell Jan. 15, and into Jan. 16, but the worst is yet to come. The National Weather Service warns snowfall could be between five to ten inches by Wednesday night, when the snow is expected to turn to rain.

Issaquah School District cancelled class today, while Lake Washington School District was on a two-hour delay with after-school activities cancelled in anticipation of the added snowfall expected tonight. Both districts advise parents to keep an eye out for school closures Wednesday morning.

The weather service had predicted 6 to 14 inches Wednesday but has revised that total down to 5 to 10. Either way, the weather service warns drivers to expect hazardous driving conditions Wednesday.

For the most recent forecast, visit the National Weather Service. To view an interactive map of precipitation in the area, visit The Weather Underground.

A wet, cold, day might not seem to be a good choice to go to the Cougar Mountain Zoo, but I went to get a big-cat fix. The mountain lion was in his shelter out of the rain, relaxing, enjoying a day without visitors. The tigers, however, were willing to give me a show.

Their show included stalking, roaring, chuffing, wrestling each other, wide-mouth yawns which give a great view of a tiger’s teeth.

One of the tigers also thought to re-mark some territory without including me.

The layout of the cats’ enclosures at the zoo lets the cats and visitors eye each other across a distance of several feet, where a visitor can clearly see these magnificent cats up close.

It should trouble each of us that most, if not all of the animals at the zoo represent endangered species.

Our own cougar (Puma concolor) suffers from loss of habitat and weak hunting protection in many states, and we have extirpated it in the majority of its former range.

What a shame if we in the Americas continue to facilitate the extinction of our mountain lions while wondering how the peoples of other countries allow the extinction of beautiful animals such as tigers, lemurs, some wallabies, other species of small and large cats, colorful birds, and on and on ad nauseam.

While the zoo may lack the scope and grandeur of zoos such as Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo, it provides an intimate setting to meet some truly magnificent animals.

The staff is accessible, professional, and friendly; the animals happy and well-treated.

Take some time to see this gem of ours. The animals will benefit from your support.

Bob McCoy

Sammamish

Better lighting, please

I would like to offer some well deserved praise to the city of Sammamish.

During the recent snowstorm, I thought they were well on top of keeping the streets plowed, sanded, and cleared.

The major problem really seems to lie in the lack of lighting along the side of the road on Sahalee way.

For years, when it begins to get dark and the snow is falling, there have been no streetlights to indicate where the side of the road is located, thereby leaving people to guess what dangers, ditches, curbs are lurking in the dark.

Not to mention that when they have to abandon their cars, they are in serious danger of getting hit by another driver as they trudge up the hill in despair.

Maybe streetlights along this road could be next on the list of improvements.

Shelley Whitlow

Sammamish

Another no

In a recent forum, I read and applauded the article entitled “Why I voted no”.

I would like to say that my husband and I were also amongst the minority who voted no.

I think Alex Wilsen’s letter echoes how we feel towards the issue.

We are retirees and do not have children.

Already, we have paid more than our fair share towards the Lake Washington School District.

Now, when everything is costing more but our income from bank interest is dwindling, we feel the pinch of the rising living cost.

Now with the passing of this levy, we have been thrown from the frying pan into the fire.

I am so glad that we have people like Alex Wilsen who has restored our faith in the human race — at least he understands the issue and is justly airing our grievances.

Thank you, Mr. Alex Wilsen!

Cynthia Wong

Sammamish

Here’s a yes

The letter to the editor, “Another no vote” prompts me to respond. I am 72 years old. My wife and I live on a fixed income.

Irrespective of the nation’s financial plight, (the cause of which is the subject of another letter) we have supported school bond referenda. The reason is quite simply: Good schools produce good citizens able to function productively in society.

This is an investment in the future development of our children. I read in the March 3 Seattle Times that 200,000 jobs were created in February with more to come.

I would like to think that our young citizens will be capable of filling these positions, as opposed to importing talent from countries with greater vision.

Their ability to do so is largely dependent upon an education system that keeps pace with technological developments and provides opportunities for cultural growth.

Ted Leland

Sammamish

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.

At about 1:30 a.m. Dec. 15, Angela Gillis and her children abruptly awoke to the cacophony of a tree crashing through their kitchen in north Sammamish.

The windstorm that night caused an immense tree to literally split their single-story rambler in two. The rain poured in, soaking the furniture, insulation and everything else exposed by the hole in the roof, said Angela and her son, Sam Gillis, an Eastlake High School senior.

“It was a mess,” she said.

Longtime Sammamish resident Angela Gillis reacts to receiving a check for $2,700 from the community Dec. 22. The Gillis family lost their home after a tree crashed through it Dec. 15. Photo by Christopher Huber

Sam and his brother, Daniel, 12, and sister McKenna, 8, packed as much as they could while Angela figured out where they could stay. Although he was up until 5:30 a.m. trying to help his family, Sam went to school that day. Angela made calls and looked into renting an apartment or getting hotel vouchers from the Red Cross. They were homeless for a couple of days, they said.

While Angela made calls, Sam had quietly mentioned the predicament to a teacher and his Eastlake football teammates, who quickly rallied around him.

“Sam did everything, pretty much,” Angela said. “He’s just been our guy.”

Once the community found out what had happened, the Gillis family didn’t have to worry too much. Within four days of the disaster, they moved into a house near 212^th Avenue, rent-free until they are able to return home.

Well, not entirely rent-free. The owners of the house have had to move to California temporarily so their son can have a heart transplant. An anonymous donor will pay that family rent on the Gillis’ behalf. The Gillis’ family will get a place to live, and the homeowners will have help to defray the cost of maintaining two households.

“They’re fortunate that it was just meant to be,” said Kathie Cook the mother of one of Sam’s football teammates.

Turns out a football team is handy to have around when it comes time to change houses — they moved a houseful of stuff in three hours. Sam and Angela Gillis were overwhelmed by how quickly the team reacted.

“Part of it is, it’s the holidays … but we’ve been a family since we were sophomores,” said fellow football player Jonathan Cook. “It’s kind of a habit to pick each other up when we’re down.”

Not only did Sam’s friends spring to action to help them move Dec. 18, but family friends brought the community together to provide Christmas gifts and donate approximately $2,700 for the Gillis family. Football players and team mothers greeted Angela and her children at the new home Dec. 22 bearing gifts and the donation check.

“People are so generous and loving and selfless,” a teary-eyed Angela said, overwhelmed by the community support. “Thank you isn’t even appropriate to use.”

G2 Sports, the Wolves Football Association and Antioch Bible Church provided much of the cash donation, but various families also pitched in. Others bought early Christmas gifts for the family of four, as well as gift cards to stores like Target and Safeway.

Although the past two weeks have been challenging, Angela said, “the good has far outweighed the negative.”

Thanks to all the community giving, the Gillis’ can re-establish some sense of routine while they wait for their house to be repaired.

“It’s made my Christmas this year,” said Kathy Gray, a team mother who helped orchestrate the Gillis’ move to her friend’s empty house.

Sam, a standout running back at Eastlake, seemed humble about the whole ordeal.

“It’s pretty crazy,” he said after his friends surprised him at the new house Dec. 22. “We were pretty much homeless and, pretty much in a day they had everything made for us.”

Kathie Cook attributed such swift and strong community response to Sam’s humble attitude and close bonds with his teammates and fellow students.

“I think it says a lot about Sam Gillis,” said Kathie Cook. “It takes a lot of humility to accept the help.”

Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.

A wet weekend followed by a blustery Monday evening has led to some power outages and flooded roads in Sammamish.

Approximately 300 homes are without power Dec. 14, most of which are west of Beaver Lake, Puget Sound Energy spokeswoman Meghan Fitzpatrick said. There are also scattered outages off East Lake Sammamish Parkway and Inglewood Hill Road.

Crews work to repair power lines along Southeast 24th Street after wind blew trees onto them. Photo by Christopher Huber

Southeast 24^th Street is closed near 245^th Avenue as crews work to repair several power poles that were broken by falling trees early Tuesday morning.  Public Works Director John Cunningham said about three of the poles snapped in half due to the weight of fallen trees at around 6 a.m.  Puget Sound Energy crews have spent most of the day putting up new poles and expect the road to be reopened by 3 p.m.

The road had previously been closed due to water spilling over the roadway from a nearby wetland overnight Monday. Cunningham said he was not aware of any houses being in danger of flooding, but said several driveways are covered in 2 to 3 feet of water.

Though rain is forecast off and on over the next several days, Cunningham said the flood waters seem to be slowly dissipating.

“It seems to be receding,” he said. “But I’m sure that from the perspective of someone with a blocked driveway it’s not going fast enough.”

Wetlands near Allen Lake, just east of city limits, have also flooded, leaving dozens of residents on the east end of Northeast 8^th Street landlocked. King County road crews have put up signs saying the road is closed, though Cunningham said some residents with SUVs have successfully forded the water.

The city is also keeping an eye on Snake Hill Road, which has long been a landslide hazard. Cunningham said crews are monitoring the area but don’t believe the road is in imminent danger of collapsing.

The National Weather Service predicts showers and with chance of thunderstorms for the rest of today and into Wednesday.

Reporter Caleb Heeringa can be reached at 392-6434. ext. 247, or cheeringa@isspress.com.

A reason to appreciate old age

Sammamish is getting its first taste of the wet, cold La Nina winter today.

Between three and five inches of snow is expected to fall today, with an additional inch or two possible overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

The dark of the evening commute made trips on and off the plateau even worse as snowy roads turned to ice. In a scene that’s grown familiar in Sammamish, drivers abandoned cars by the side of the road on hills leading up the plateau.

As of Monday afternoon snow was accumulating but most of Sammamish’s major roadways were clear and drivers were not reporting any major problems, City Communications Manager Tim Larson said.

“It hasn’t been too bad,” Larson said. “We had plenty of advanced notice, so we weren’t caught flatfooted on this.”

The city has had all six of its snowplows clearing and sanding the roads all day and will continue to monitor the roads as the temperature drops this evening. A seventh plow from the Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District is also helping.

The snow has created headaches for the local school districts, however. Issaquah School District is dismissing students in its secondary schools early so that bus drivers have extra time to safely transport elementary students this afternoon. P.M. kindergarten, early childhood education, Headstart and all after-school activities have been cancelled.

Lake Washington School District has also cancelled after-school activities, as well as a school board meeting that had been scheduled for this evening.

Larson said the city expects that roads may become more treacherous overnight.  In the event of a heavier dose of snow, the city will be concentrating on keeping the following major arterials clear: East Lake Sammamish Parkway, 228^th Avenue, Sahalee Way, Inglewood Hill Road, 244^th Avenue and Southeast 43^rd Street.

For a map showing which routes are being plowed, sanded or de-iced, visit: http://www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/files/document/4180.pdf.

Reporter Caleb Heeringa can be reached at 392-6434. ext. 247, or cheeringa@isspress.com.

Parkway is unnecessary

Obama is at fault