Issaquah High School gym demolition / April 27, 2009
April 27, 2009
Witness the demolition of the Issaquah High School gymnasium as the district makes way for the new-school construction.
Issaquah honored for sustainability efforts
April 27, 2009
NEW — 3 p.m. April 27, 2009
Less than a week after city officials pocketed a King County award for environmental leadership, Issaquah received a national honor for its sustainability efforts. City officials announced the award today.
The city was one of four small communities honored in the 2009 Siemens Sustainable Community Program. The award comes from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center and the Siemens Corp. The Sustainable Community Program, now in its second year, recognizes public-private sustainability initiatives.
Spartans wallop Wolves
April 26, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. April 26, 2009
William Chandler had three hits and drove in a run as he led Skyline High School’s baseball team to a 11-3 victory against rival Eastlake Thursday.
Ryan Gilchrist had two hits and drove in two runs for the Spartans, who boosted their 4A KingCo Conference record to 10-2. Winning pitcher Blake Fulghum had seven strikeouts.
Skyline remained tied with Redmond for first place in the Crest Division.
Issaquah downed Garfield 8-2 as Devin O’Donnell and Spencer Rogers each drove in two runs. Gavin Shumaker added two hits for the Eagles, 6-6 in league play.
Track and field
Ryan Tiernan, of Issaquah, won the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles Thursday as the Eagles sprinted past Ballard 97-47 in a KingCo Conference boys track and field meet.
Check out our sports updates throughout the week in sports news.
Property taxes due April 30
April 25, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. April 25, 2009
The deadline is approaching for King County property tax payments.
Property owners face an April 30 deadline to pay first-half property taxes. If owners miss the deadline, state-mandated interest charges and penalties will be added to their tax bills.
County officials are touting ways for property owners to pay the bills more quickly and conveniently.
Spartans wallop Wolves
April 24, 2009
NEW — 11:45 a.m. April 24, 2009
William Chandler had three hits and drove in a run as he led Skyline High School’s baseball team to a 11-3 victory against rival Eastlake Thursday.
Ryan Gilchrist had two hits and drove in two runs for the Spartans, who boosted their 4A KingCo Conference record to 10-2. Winning pitcher Blake Fulghum had seven strikeouts.
Skyline remained tied with Redmond for first place in the Crest Division.
Issaquah downed Garfield 8-2 as Devin O’Donnell and Spencer Rogers each drove in two runs. Gavin Shumaker added two hits for the Eagles, 6-6 in league play.
Track and field
Ryan Tiernan, of Issaquah, won the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles Thursday as the Eagles sprinted past Ballard 97-47 in a KingCo Conference boys track and field meet.
Join Pet Walk for Autism tomorrow
April 24, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. April 24, 2009
The Pet Walk for Autism, a fundraising event for the national organization Today’s Hope, is from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. April 25 in the Snoqualmie Historic District.
Several people and their pets from Issaquah have already signed up.
Register and download your sponsorship form here.
Issaquah routs Roosevelt 11-1
April 23, 2009
NEW — 11 a.m. April 23, 2009
Issaquah High School’s Bray sisters, Brianna and Brielle, combined on a three-hitter Wednesday as the Eagles’ fastpitch softball team routed Roosevelt 11-1 in a 4A KingCo Conference game at Seattle’s Lower Woodland Park.
Brianna, the starting pitcher, worked five innings and struck out nine. Brielle pitched the final two innings and had four strikeouts.
Mikenzie Voves and Kenna Olsen each had three hits and drove in two runs for Issaquah, which leads the KingCo Crest Division with a 5-1 record.
Issaquah, which topped Eastlake 1-0 April 21, hosts Woodinville at 4 p.m. Friday. Woodinville is tied with Bothell for first place in the Crown Division.
In 3A/2A KingCo action, Liberty edged host Bellevue 3-2 Wednesday. Aris Califano had two hits and Alexis Court drove in two runs for Liberty, 3-3 in league play.
Baseball
Juanita shocked Liberty, the 3A/2A KingCo leader, 7-5 Wednesday at Liberty.
Eric Peterson and John McLeod each had two hits and drove in a run for the Patriots. Juanita scored four times in the top of the seventh inning to overcome the Patriots.
District to give layoff notices to 158 teachers
April 23, 2009
UPDATED – 10:30 a.m. April 23, 2009
Issaquah School Board members voted unanimously to lay off 158 of its 1,097 teachers Wednesday night, after district officials presented their reduction in force plan.
Teachers can expect to receive layoff notices by May 1.
Their contract stipulates that layoffs are based on seniority. Teachers who fall from No.1 to No. 902 on the seniority list are guaranteed positions next year. Teachers who are at or below No. 903 will receive layoff notices.
The positions of up to 195 – 17.8 percent - of the district’s teachers are likely to be eliminated. Thirty-seven teachers have already resigned or weren’t provided continuing contracts for next year.
Highlands, Issaquah real estate agent on HGTV tonight
April 23, 2009
NEW — 9 a.m. April 23, 2009
On the heels of Earth Day, a local real estate agent will be featured on HGTV’s “House Hunters” tonight, helping a couple search for a $1 million eco-friendly home in the Issaquah Highlands.
Broker Scott Gibbons, of Plateau Real Estate, will appear in an episode of the HGTV series set to air 9 p.m. The show will be rebroadcast at 1 a.m. Friday.
The episode features Bill Pedersen and Patricia Hovda, a couple planning to move in together. They have a $1 million budget, and three criteria for their dream home: it must be “green,” it must have a view and it must be about 4,000 square feet, according to the HGTV episode synopsis.
Music: the best medicine
April 22, 2009
The monthly handbell class in the Alzheimer’s Unit at Providence Marianwood performs the Stephen Foster song, ‘Oh! Susanna,’ under the direction of music therapist Rebecca Wu. By Greg Farrar
As “Oh! Susanna” floated its way through the speakers and into the room, Marie Dalessandro’s expression softened.
“I like this song,” she said, smiling and waiting for her cue.
Sitting in a half-circle, the women in Providence Marianwood’s Alzheimer’s Unit waited their turn, each ringing in as music therapist Rebecca Wu pointed to them.
Together, their sounds created a harmonious melody.
“Their attention is amazing,” said Diane Bixler, therapeutic recreation and volunteer coordinator at Marianwood. “Their recall is amazing, even though their reflexes may not be that fast.” Read more
