Welcome to the ‘Festival of Unity’
October 2, 2008
Tailgate party unites Beaver Lake Middle School community
Eighth-grader Devon Davenport buys a Skyline shirt at the booster club booth. Photo by Christopher Huber
For two hours, PTA volunteers turned Beaver Lake Middle School into a green-and-white funhouse Sept. 19. As parents mingled, eager to meet their children’s teachers, students flocked with their friends to the disco tent and danced near the blaring speakers. Read more
Couple hopes for one monster of a Mali fundraiser
October 1, 2008
A Newcastle couple hopes their Monster Mash raises oodles of cash to build another school in Mali. Andrew and Jennifer Ting are sponsoring the Oct. 11 Building with Books Monster Mash
Jennifer and Andrew Ting at the January groundbreaking ceremony of a school in Mali. The Tings are hosting a fundraising party Oct. 11 for construction of another school in the West African nation. Contributed
Seminar teaches parents about the media
October 1, 2008
How many parents are in your house? According to Gloria DeGaetano, author and founder of the Parent Coaching Institute, there may be more than you think.
Oral history project shares the rarely told tales
October 1, 2008
Imagine if renowned film maker Ken Burns sat with select members of the Issaquah community, listened to tales rarely heard by those who didn’t live through those times and produced a documentary about the history of Issaquah.
Well, imagine no more. Thanks to the Issaquah History Museums, the public can see these stories come to life with its Oral History Video Project. Read more
Tribute bands take center stage at festival
October 1, 2008
Liberty High School drama students entertain parade spectators in costumes from their production of ‘Seussical the Musical’ in the 2006 Grande Parade.
The Issaquah Salmon Days Festival is renowned for four things — the salmon, the arts and crafts, the food and the entertainment.
Pool meeting draws a crowd
October 1, 2008
New facility in the Highlands is an option
Judging from the people who showed up at Tibbetts Manor Sept. 24, the future of aquatics in Issaquah is a hot topic. Read more
Preston playfield gets financial boost for expansion project
October 1, 2008
Preston Fields and Community Park, a growing hub of athletic activity in east King County, received a boost for its expansion plans Sept. 29, when the Metropolitan King County Council agreed to an amendment on the use agreement between the county and the Eastside Football Club.
“This is a win for all — the county, the Eastside Football Club and, most importantly, the youth that this valuable recreational organization serves,” said Councilwoman Jane Hague, the primary sponsor of the legislation.
In 2002, officials redefined the county’s role regarding regional parks, adopting a business plan for parks that cultivates strong relationships with nonprofit, corporate and community partners in order to enhance park amenities while reducing costs. A program that grew out of the entrepreneurial blueprint is the Community Partnership Grant, which leverages county resources without requiring additional public funds for operations and maintenance costs. The Preston Fields and Community Park was one of the grant program’s first projects.
Aquifer petition proves slippery for council
October 1, 2008
The City Council Sept. 30 held a special meeting to discuss a petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, filed by resident and former councilman Hank Thomas, calling for designation of the Lower Issaquah Valley Aquifer as a “sole source” of drinking water for the city. Read more
Issaquah commuters get more bus routes to Microsoft, Seattle
October 1, 2008
With ridership nearly 7 percent higher than this time last year, Metro Transit added service and made several changes for the Issaquah and Preston areas. Read more
City wary of county budget woes
October 1, 2008
King County’s 2009 budget has a $90 million hole in it, and officials in cities like Issaquah are concerned that they may be asked to patch it up.
The problem is in the general fund, a $662 million portion of the county’s $4.9 billion budget. Estimates of the size of the shortfall increased steadily over the summer, with the King County Council declaring Aug. 4 that its first funding priorities would be public safety, health and quality of life.
