Community Calendar
December 29, 2008
Events
Sponge and Cookalicious Club, two groups with a mission to bring fun and learning into children’s lives, present New Year Nibbles, an afternoon of cooking, classes and crafts, from 10 a.m. – noon Jan. 18, at Sponge’s Eastside location, 375 N.W. Gilman Blvd. Mini language classes in Spanish, Mandarin, French and Japanese are from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The event is free and geared toward children up to age 7 and their families. RSVP by calling 274-5188 or e-mailing events@spongeschool.com. Be sure and specify which language you are interested in for the class. Learn more at www.spongeschool.com. Read more
Clubs
December 29, 2008
ArtEAST: 6:30 p.m., first Monday, Up Front Art Gallery, 48 Front St. N., www.arteast.org or 392-3191
Camp Fire Family Group: 7 p.m., every other Tuesday, Clark Elementary School, 500 Second Ave. S.E., 313-1600
Eastside Camera Club: 7 p.m., first Thursday, St. Madeleine Catholic Church, 4400 130th Pl. S.E., Bellevue, www.eastsidecameraclub.com Read more
Jeffrey William Cope
December 29, 2008
(1953 – 2008)
Jeff Cope, of Duvall, died Dec. 23, 2008, from cancer. He was 55. Read more
Rowley Properties employees dig deep to help others
December 29, 2008
Every holiday season, the employees of Rowley Properties pool their funds to support one needy family. This year was no different, with the group raising more than $1,000 to help a family of five that sought shelter through the Eastside Domestic Violence Program.
“They wanted to support this organization, as it helps demonstrate that people care, the family is worthy and despite what they’ve been through, life will get getter,” said Rowley community development representative Kristi Tripple.
Rowley Properties develops and manages commercial real estate in central Issaquah, with owners Skip Rowley and his daughter, Kari Magill, having a long history of civic involvement.
This is the second year Rowley employees have worked with the Eastside Domestic Violence Program, but in previous years, they have chosen Seattle Children’s (formerly Children’s Hospital), the Issaquah Food Bank and the YWCA. The selection is by a vote of the employees in October. Read more
Arts Calendar
December 29, 2008
DECEMBER
31st
Village Theatre production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” runs through Jan. 4 at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St. N. Tickets are $22-$58 and are available by calling 392-2202 or going to www.villagetheatre.org. Read more
Teens shine in ‘Into the Woods’
December 29, 2008
Keaton Whittaker (left) stars as Little Red Riding Hood and Ryan Hotes is Jack in Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE production of ‘Into the Woods.’ Photo by Jean Johnson
Village Theatre KIDSTAGE TeenSelect presents “Into The Woods,” running Jan. 9–18 at First Stage Theatre, 120 Front St. N.
“Into The Woods,” based on the book by James Lapine, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, tells a story that brings to life several favorite fairy tale characters in a brand new way.
Featuring the talents of local youths from seventh to 12th grades, KIDSTAGE reinvents the story of the baker and his wife as they learn they’ve been cursed by the witch next door and are sent on an adventure to gather the special objects to break the spell that will allow them to have a child.
Although many wishes are granted, these characters begin to understand that the consequences of their actions and desires may return to haunt them later, with disastrous results. What begins as a lively fantasy becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children.
Originally conceived for 17 actors, the KIDSTAGE TeenSelect production boasts a cast of 29. Read more
Two local sopranos star in opera ‘Figaro’
December 29, 2008
Two local musicians play starring roles in Lyric Opera Northwest’s first production of the new year, one of the most beloved operas of all time — “Le nozze di Figaro, Ossia la Folle Giornata” (“The Marriage of Figaro,” or “The Day of Madness”). Read more
2008: What a year in sports it was
December 29, 2008
By Brian Hamilton/HamiltonPix.com
The year 2008 was a memorable 12 months for the city’s sports scene. Many of the top events revolved around state titles (three team and one individual). And the journey to the top often earned some recognition, even if the ultimate goal fell short.
The highs of the year in sports contained astounding tales of achievement (participation in Olympic swim trials and even a Cy Young winner). Unfortunately, even the sports pages were not immune to tragic lows, as the community lost a beloved former coach.
So, here are the Top 10 sports stories of 2008, in no particular order: Read more
Former Sonics announcer suffers head injury in fall
December 29, 2008
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Bob ‘Voice’ Blackburn, who announced Sonics games solo for 20 years and with KJR’s Kevin Calabro from 1987 to the early 1990s, is seen here at his new home at Timber Ridge at Talus. Blackburn suffered a head injury Dec. 7 in his home. By Greg Farrar
Long-time Seattle SuperSonics announcer Bob “Voice” Blackburn is recovering well at Overlake Hospital Medical Center after suffering a head injury in a Dec. 7 fall at his home at Timber Ridge at Talus, in Issaquah.
Surgeons operated on Blackburn Dec. 10, and since then, he has been up and acting like his normal self, said his wife Pat Blackburn. Doctors plan to release him within the next week, she said. Once back home, he will likely work with nurses for further recovery.
“It’s going to be a little while,” Pat Blackburn said. “He’ll go back to skilled nursing at Timber Ridge. I think he’ll just have a few weeks of therapy and he’ll be right back and doing things.”
She said at first she and paramedics thought he had a heart attack, but found out later, after a CAT scan at Overlake, the injury had caused internal bleeding on the right side of his brain.
“He’s regained the use of everything,” Pat Blackburn said Dec. 26 from the hospital. “He’s definitely talking to us. He was cracking jokes last night. We know it’s going to be more improvement every day.” Read more
Rams flatten Eagles 80-62 in Christmas tourney
December 29, 2008
Mount Rainier runs circles around rusty Issaquah
Mount Rainier’s Art Cage stuffs Issaquah forward Robby Primrose (above) in the first half of the first-round game of the Les Schwab BCC Christmas Classic at Bellevue Community College.By Christopher Huber
The fact that the Issaquah boys basketball team had only played two games since Nov. 17, with no legitimate practice time in two weeks, may have been a factor in the Eagles’ loss Dec. 27 to Mount Rainier.
Most likely, though, it was because the Rams spent most of the game running the court with relative ease.
Issaquah (1-2) lost 80-62 in the opening round of the Les Schwab BCC Christmas Classic Tournament at Bellevue Community College.
“We didn’t handle their pressure very well,” Issaquah head coach Jeff Altchech said after the game. “We talked about it in practice and we just didn’t do a good job of handling their trap. We just weren’t being aggressive enough.” Read more
