Free sustainability movie series continues with “Addicted to Plastic”
November 7, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. Nov. 7, 2009
A series of free movie nights with films about sustainability will continue Nov. 10 with the documentary “Addicted to Plastic.”
The documentary will be shown at 6:30 p.m. at the King County Library Service Center Community Room, 960 Newport Way N.W. City officials said the event aims to educate the community about plastics, the effects of plastics on the environment and human health, and the plastics industry.
A panel of experts will lead a discussion on plastics and other related environmental issues after the movie. Information about eco-friendly programs, as well as refreshments provided by Cedar Grove Composting, will also be available to attendees. Organizers will give away door prizes after the film.
The free movie nights are presented by the city Resource Conservation Office and paid for through a grant from the King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program.
NEW — Friday sports update
November 6, 2009
Park Pointe stalled again as developer files for Chapter 11
November 6, 2009
NEW — 11:05 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009
The developer behind the troubled Park Pointe project filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday, just before the Tiger Mountain land where the development would rise headed to a foreclosure auction.
The project developer, Wellington Park Pointe LLC, filed for bankruptcy protection Monday as the company worked to restructure a loan from Regal Financial Bank. The developer failed to make payments on a loan from the Seattle-based bank and in June defaulted on nearly $12 million. Wellington held $29 million in assets but owes about $15 million, court filings show. The filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Tacoma halted the foreclosure auction planned for today at the King County Administration Building.
Park Pointe developers envisioned hundreds of homes on 67 forested acres on the west slope of Tiger Mountain, behind Issaquah High School. Developers proposed Park Pointe in the mid-1990s, but the project withered amid community opposition, zoning changes and a tough construction climate.
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce launches seminar series
November 6, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. Nov, 6, 2009
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce leaders will launch a seminar series Tuesday with lessons to business owners about developing a market niche. Upcoming sessions will focus on financial management and using the power of social media tools to promote business.
The first seminar will feature Chad Rudolph, a business consultant, management coach and former Olympic athlete. Rudolph will discuss market positioning and niche development in Issaquah. The first event will be noon to 2 p.m. at Pogacha, 20 N.W. Gilman Blvd.
Tickets cost $59 for a three-seminar package, or $30 per seminar for chamber members and $50 for nonmembers. Lunch is included with each seminar. R.S.V.P. to the chamber office, 392-7024.
“Our goal is to bring business experts from across Puget Sound to Issaquah to help local businesses and individuals benefit from their advice, experience and ideas” chamber CEO Matt Bott said in a news release. “Despite the difficult economy, local business leaders know that exposure to new and innovative business ideas is a sound investment in helping their business succeed in 2010 and beyond.”
NEW — Thursday sports update
November 5, 2009
NEW — 9:35 a.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Football teams seek state berths
Skyline, Issaquah and Liberty high school football teams will seek berths in next week’s state tournament when they enter preliminary-round games Nov. 6-7.
Issaquah and Liberty will be on the road, while Skyline, the defending 4A state champions, will be home.
Skyline, 7-2, entertains Kentridge, the No. 3 team from the South Puget Sound League’s North Division, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 in a 4A preliminary contest. The Spartans are coming off a tough 25-20 defeat to Bothell in last week’s 4A KingCo Conference championship game. Kentridge enters the contest with victories in three of its last four games. Defense has been one of the Chargers’ strengths. Dylan Zylstra, of Kentridge, is regarded as one of the state’s top linebackers. Other defensive standouts are linebacker Harrison Rozane and defensive back Sean Ringor.
Posh noshing will benefit Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank
November 5, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. Nov. 5, 2009
Help the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank — and sample some high-end nibbles — at Corks & Forks. The event returns for a second year at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at Blakely Hall, 2550 N.E. Park Drive. Attendees raised $1,200 and donated more than 300 pounds of food to stock food bank shelves last year.
Corks & Forks, organized by the Issaquah Highlands Wine and Cooking Club, will feature appetizers, desserts and wines paired with the menu. Attendees will nosh artisanal cheeses, chorizo-stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto, wild mushroom rolls with leeks, gruyère and fresh thyme, chocolate truffles and other goodies.
Tickets cost $30, and attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the food bank. The event will include a silent auction.
R.S.V.P. to the event by Monday. Learn more about the event — including how to buy tickets — at the events calendar on Issaquah Highlands Association Web site.
Leading city, schools candidates solidify margins as elections office updates tally
November 4, 2009
NEW — 4:45 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009
City Council candidates Tola Marts and Maureen McCarry, and school board hopeful Marnie Maraldo, strengthened leads in unofficial election returns released 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Marts led opponent Nathan Perea by 915 votes in the latest batch of returns released by King County Elections. Incumbent McCarry widened the gap between challenger Joan Probala to 1,588 votes. In the school board contest, 2,371 votes separated Maraldo from opponent Wright Noel.
King County Elections released the first unofficial returns at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, and more tallies will be posted Thursday afternoon. Though additional ballots could still shift the results, Perea, Probala and Noel would need to see stunning reversals to prevail.
NEW — Wednesday sports update
November 4, 2009
NEW — 12:27 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009
Issaquah wins soccer title
The Issaquah High School girls soccer team got a little of everything Nov. 3. The Eagles got some revenge, a league tournament championship, and more important, a berth in next week’s 4A state tournament,
Issaquah defeated the rival Skyline Spartans 3-1 in the 4A KingCo Conference championship game Nov. 3 at Issaquah.
The Eagles, who won the league’s regular-season title last week, will host the District 3 No. 4 team either Nov. 10 or 11. Issaquah is 14-2-0 on the season.
In beating Skyline, the Eagles avenged a 2-0 loss to the defending state champions earlier this season.
Margaret Rauch scored two goals for Issaquah.
Rauch’s first goal, which was assisted by Dayna Talley, came at the 26th minute and gave the Eagles 1 -0 halftime lead.
Rauch scored again with an unassisted goal at the 41st miinute. She also set up a penalty kick for Kristen Maris, who connected for her 15th goal of the season.
Michelle Bretl accounted for Skyline’s scoring with an unassisted goal at the 42nd minute.
Skyline will host the Greater St. Helen’s League No. 2 team, either Battle Ground or Skyview, at 2 p.m. Nov. 7 in a winner to state, loser out game.
Tola Marts, Maureen McCarry lead in City Council races
November 3, 2009
NEW — 9:50 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009
City Council candidates Tola Marts and Maureen McCarry led by wide margins as Election Day wrapped.
King County Elections released unofficial returns at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. The next update from the elections office will be 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Additional ballots could still shift results in the contested races.
The elections office predicted 56 percent of King County voters would cast ballots. Officials sent 16,428 ballots to Issaquah voters; 5,818 ballots— or 35 percent — had been returned to the elections office and tallied by Tuesday night. The election marks the first city contest since King County switched to all-mail voting.
Newcomer Marts led opponent Nathan Perea by 726 votes — 60 percent to 39 percent — while incumbent McCarry bested challenger Joan Probala by 1,353 votes — 69 percent to 31 percent.
“The candidates who talked about specific, concrete issues” reached voters, Marts said after the elections office released unofficial returns.
Tola Marts (right) talks to campaign supporters during an election night party at Stan's Bar-B-Q on Front Street in downtown Issaquah. He leads in the race for the City Council seat being vacated by 18-year veteran David Kappler (left). — Photo by Greg Farrar
Park Pointe goes to auction Friday
November 3, 2009
The proposed Park Pointe development would be built on 67 acres near Issaquah High School, but the project is in limbo as the land heads to auction Nov. 6. Source: city of Issaquah
City planners detailed last week how the long-planned Park Pointe project could impact Tiger Mountain views, wetlands and wildlife. But the information could be useless because the land where Park Pointe would be built heads to auction Nov. 6.
The project developer, Wellington Park Pointe LLC, failed to make payments on a loan from Regal Financial Bank and in June defaulted on nearly $12 million owed. Developers envisioned hundreds of homes on 67 forested acres on the west slope of Tiger Mountain, behind Issaquah High School.
City planners released the long-awaited environmental impact statement for the project last week. The timing carries a particular irony: The final environmental impact statement for Park Pointe was released Oct. 30 — a week before the land heads to auction.
Meanwhile, city officials hope to smooth the way toward a development-rights transfer to keep the Park Pointe site undeveloped. The transfer of development rights between the Park Pointe developer and Issaquah Highlands developer Port Blakely Communities would leave Park Pointe undeveloped; additional houses would be built in the highlands instead.
Major Development Review Team Manager Keith Niven said city officials still want the development-rights deal to materialize. He said city officials entered discussions with developers to gauge interest in the Park Pointe site and a transfer of the development rights. Read more
