Christmas fund opens for 2009 contributions
November 24, 2009
Merry Christmas Issaquah has become known as “the fund that helps people help themselves.”
Merry Christmas Issaquah, the emergency-aid fund for families in the Issaquah School District, is now open for 2009 contributions. It is expected that it will take at least $50,000 to meet the requested needs in the coming year. Read more
Emmy Tanska/ Emily Wofford-Kyrilov
November 24, 2009
Emmy Tanska
Emmy Tanska died Oct. 20, 2009 in Marysville, with her family by her side. She was 74. Read more
No. 1 in state
November 24, 2009
Spartans celebrate soccer title Skyline High School teammates mob each other with glee after winning the state 4A girls soccer championship by a shootout following a double overtime tie game against Issaquah, held Nov. 21 at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood. See the story on Page C1. By Greg Farrar
Highlands YWCA facility groundbreaking set for Dec. 7
November 24, 2009
Planners will incorporate community spaces into the design of the YWCA Family Village at Issaquah. Courtesy Lynn Shimamoto
Officials will break ground early next month on a long-planned YWCA apartment complex in the Issaquah Highlands, a project hailed by city planners as a key piece of the highlands’ urban village concept.
The project will add 146 rental units to the highlands, as well as a childcare facility, a community center and offices for YWCA employees. Officials at the nonprofit hope to open the $52 million complex — known as YWCA Family Village at Issaquah — by late 2011.
Family Village will be built on about two acres at the northeast corner of Highlands Drive Northeast and Northeast High Street.
City and YWCA leaders will gather at the construction site Dec. 7 for a groundbreaking ceremony. Hours later, YWCA officials will answer questions about the project at Blakely Hall, during a public open house related to the project. Officials held several community meetings during the years the project was planned.
Plans outline a mixture of studio apartments and one-, two-, and three-bedroom units divided among three buildings. The pedestrian-friendly complex would be connected to the adjacent Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride by a footbridge built by the YWCA. Read more
Eagles of a feather advance together
November 24, 2009
Peter Stacy pins his mother Jeanie Stacy during an Eagle Scout rank ceremony. Peter celebrated the accomplishment with his two brothers, Mark, at left, and Brian, who both also earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Contributed
It was a promise made on Scout’s honor more than five years ago. On Nov. 14, it was finally fulfilled.
Together standing on a stage, Brian, 20, Peter, 18, and Mark Stacy, 15, were awarded their Eagle Scout ranks through the Boy Scouts of America after four years and three service projects that have improved the Issaquah community.
Despite completing their projects in 2004, 2007 and 2009, the three boys wanted to have their ceremony together, they said.
“I thought it would be really special to have it with my two brothers,” Brian said, even though that meant he had to wait.
“I couldn’t imagine a better way to do it,” Mark added.
“We’re so proud of them,” said their mother Jeanie Stacy.
“Less than 4 percent of Scouts actually achieve the Eagle rank,” Brian said. “That is a sad figure, because being an Eagle Scout is such a special part of the program. Read more
Issaquah falls to top-ranked Bothell
November 24, 2009
The Issaquah High School football team was feeling confident at halftime against top-ranked Bothell. The Eagles were trailing by 10 points and felt they had a chance to knock off the Cougars in the Nov. 20 4A state quarterfinal in Pop Keeney Stadium. Read more
Judith Whitney
November 24, 2009
Judith Whitney
Judith Whitney, of Issaquah, died at Amber Lights Retirement Community, Tucson, Ariz., on Nov. 16, 2009. She was 88. Read more
State study finds soda drinkers get lower grades
November 24, 2009
It is common knowledge that smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are likely to negatively affect a student’s academic performance, but what about drinking soda? Read more
Off The Press
November 24, 2009
Bob Taylor Press sports editor
Before the first slice of turkey has been lifted off the platter, or the first scoop of mashed potatoes has plopped on a plate, our family practices a Thanksgiving tradition of giving thanks. Each member at the table tells why they are thankful this year.
I’m sure this is a tradition that families across the nation, and in the local community, also perform each year. The tradition of giving thanks goes all the way back to Pilgrims’ days. I can imagine Gov. William Bradford, so thankful that his Plymouth Colony had survived the harsh winter of 1621, kneeling and saying something like, “Almighty, we’re thankful for our friends the Wampanoags for providing the deer and lobster for this meal, otherwise, it would have been TV dinners again.”
Well, the part about TV dinners isn’t true, but Bradford and his people definitely were appreciative of the local Native American tribe, who provided the majority of the cuisine for that feast. The feast, by the way, lasted three days. They must have had a lot of leftovers. Read more
New novel ‘PW2’ explores the end of the beginning in 2012
November 24, 2009
Author MC MIller displays his three novels, including his most recent release, ‘PW2: 2012 The End of the Beginning.’ By David Hayes
MC Miller couldn’t have published his new novel at a more fortuitous time to exploit the hype involving 2012 and the end of the Mayan calendar.
Hollywood rolled out the blockbuster disaster flick “2012” Nov. 13 and not long before that Miller’s novel, “PW2: 2012 The End of the Beginning,” debuted.
Not all apocalyptic tales are necessarily about the end of the world.
“The ending of ‘PW2’ pivots on a theory no one takes seriously,” Miller explained.
What “PW2” doesn’t have is a convoluted tale of a main character who must convince everyone that he’s found evidence the end of the world is approaching. Rather, Miller’s protagonist has discovered something strange, and isn’t quite sure what it means, but it sure goes a long way to explain the weird things happening.
An ex-physics professor has developed an unlikely theory involving a 13.7-billion year countdown, Miller explained, that somehow has something to do with the breakdown of expected probabilities. Miller equates it to a science fiction tale along the lines of “Minority Report,” which at its essence was a “what if” yarn. Read more
