Prom or bust
April 28, 2009
Issaquah High School senior Camille Hopp has an answer for classmate Brennan Miller, who painted ‘Camille, Will You Go To Prom?’ overnight on the school gym building before its demolition party April 23. See a video of the event at www.issaquahpress.com. By Greg Farrar
Off The Press
April 28, 2009
Healthy Youth Survey asks questions, leaves out sex
Issaquah School District students choose, on average, to live healthier lifestyles, according to the 2008 Healthy Youth Survey.
Every other year, teens throughout the state and in the district can take the voluntary and anonymous survey.
The survey, sponsored by the state Department of Health, asks students questions about a variety of healthy and unhealthy activities, and the decisions they make for themselves.
The survey netted 3,988 respondents — 1,198 sixth-grade, 1,105 eighth-grade, 993 sophomore and 692 senior survey takers in October.
The survey began in 1988; this is the third time the district has participated.
The survey routinely shows that Issaquah students engage in healthier behaviors than their counterparts across the state.
For instance, the number of students who said they had ever smoked a whole cigarette in their lifetime was about 10 percent less than the state average across all grades. The amount of Issaquah seniors who smoked cigarettes habitually was 4 percent less than the state average of 20 percent.
Alcohol use by Issaquah students in sixth through 10th grades was between 2 percent and 8 percent below the state average. Read more
Cellar-dwellers Juanita upsets top-ranked Liberty 7-5
April 28, 2009
Matt Weik, Liberty senior, courtesy runner for John McLeod, crosses home plate on a hit by junior Troy Askins in the bottom of the sixth inning, for a short-lived 5-3 lead in a 5-7 loss to Juanita. By Greg Farrar
Robbie Ryan blasted a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to lead Juanita to a 7-5 victory against host Liberty High School on April 22.
The Rebels trailed the Patriots 5-3 coming into the final inning. Juanita’s first batter in the seventh, Cole Graves, struck out.
The next two batters reached on errors, bringing Ryan, the Rebels’ first basemen to the plate. His home run wrapped around the right field foul pole to put the Rebels up by one run. Read more
Heaven on a Harley
April 28, 2009
Ray Eiler waves to fellow Providence Marianwood residents while riding with motorcyclist Duggan Harman. By Greg Farrar
Ray Eiler waves to fellow Providence Marianwood residents while riding with motorcyclist Duggan Harman. By Greg Farrar
Providence Marianwood residents get ride of a lifetime with motorcycle club
Transportation priorities include roundabout, I-90 Undercrossing
April 28, 2009
City officials are reviewing a plan to overhaul and update roads in the next decade. The wide-ranging Transportation Improvement Program outlines funding for big-ticket projects, like the Interstate 90 Undercrossing, and includes proposed overhauls for bridges and intersections. Read more
ArtWalk returns with expanded stops
April 28, 2009
Mae McMullin admires artwork near a glass piece by artist Lenoard Whitfield inside Art By Fire, one of the many stops along the DownTown Issaquah Association’s ArtWalk. By David Hayes
The eighth annual ArtWalk returns May 1 and the event that started with seven locations for people to view art and artists has grown to at least 25, with possibly more additions to come.
There’s also the award. Read more
Issaquah Schools Foundation awards more than $64,000
April 28, 2009
Twenty-three teachers have been presented with more than $64,000 in grant money to help fulfill educational goals in classrooms throughout the Issaquah School District.
The teachers applied through the Issaquah Schools Foundation for Kateri Brow Big Idea/Biggest Need Grants or Classroom Enrichment Grants. Read more
At 90, school employee Elvira Lindsay still calls the school playground home
April 28, 2009
Elvira Lindsay (left) enjoys her surprise 90th birthday party with the staff of Issaquah Valley Elementary School on April 15, as her staff friend of 30 years, Educational Assistant Saundra Hirt, stands behind her. By Greg Farrar
When Elvira Lindsay stepped in from recess at Issaquah Valley Elementary School on April 15, she wasn’t expecting a room full of partygoers.
“I was surely surprised,” she said, laughing. “I couldn’t believe it when I opened the door.”
The Issaquah Valley community helped her celebrate her 90th birthday by bringing together some of the people she’s known the longest — her students and colleagues. Read more
To The Editor
April 28, 2009
Mirrormont garden
Facts need to be clarified about previous, misleading letter
In response to Brian Laughlin’s letter to the editor, I need to clarify information that was misleading.
The Mirrormont Community Association Board is a small elected group of volunteers, giving back to their neighborhood with the objective of making it more livable and supportive for all residents. We were delighted when Brian stepped forward, accepting the vacant president position. He served for just less than three months.
The pea patch project began with a group of motivated people who found funding through a King County program for community projects. Presented to the MCA Board for consideration as another way to build community, and having been discussed at several open board meetings, it was voted on and overwhelmingly endorsed by all but a single member. We are hopeful that our grant application, now under King County review, will be approved.
The site of the pea patch measures 105-by-65 (not 10-by-20 as claimed). We do expect that many more than the initial 14 families will be actively involved. Under the supervision of MCA and its partnership with King County, it will become a public asset in Mirrormont.
MCA and King County already have a terrific relationship as a result of the development of Mirrormont Park. This 11-acre park (not “small”), serving recreational needs of 600 families in the community, was only made possible by the King County Parks Community Partnership Grant program, and hundreds of volunteer hours, enabled park development not affordable through traditional means. This contractual agreement with King County allows MCA stewardship responsibilities for the development and maintenance of the park.
While disappointing that Brian felt unable to work within our common priorities, we continue moving towards the best interests of Mirrormont. Agreed, taxpayer money should be used for its intended purposes — that is our objective.
Coincidentally, the three related articles in Section C the week before last, espousing the value of vegetable gardens in these times, further validate our support for the pea patch!
Steve Clark
17-year MCA board member and vice president Parks Committee
Teacher layoffs
Help your child’s school get or stay ahead by getting involved
I was dismayed to see that the Issaquah School District is giving layoff notices to almost 15 percent of the teaching staff.
There are many things wrong with this — and I’m sure it will be hotly debated on this letters page and elsewhere — but there are two areas I am most concerned about.
First, is the impact to the education of our children. Fewer staff members and the reduction in discretionary spending inevitably mean larger class sizes, less teacher contact time and a reduction in additional programs that benefit the range of needs of pupils.
The second impact is to those newly qualified teachers who are just starting out on their career. They have most likely missed out on the seniority cutoff; many will be given notice these next few weeks. Come summer, some of them may be rehired — but in different districts, schools or disciplines. This is no way to treat the fresh educators who nurture our children; there will be a distinct lack of continuity and churn — no Issaquah school will be the same next fall.
I understand that everyone in the community is concerned about this. I urge every parent to help mitigate these cut backs by getting involved at school — volunteer, spend time in class, give your time generously — and join your school PTA!
Martin Buckley
Issaquah
Volunteers to remove plants to help lake
April 28, 2009
Volunteers will remove English ivy and other invasive plant species at Timberlake Park during a May 2 event sponsored by Save Lake Sammamish, Mountains to Sound Greenway and the city.
