Jeffrey Kempe is named fellow for Transforming Life After 50
August 24, 2010
Jeffrey Kempe
The California initiative Transforming Life After 50 Fellowship has expanded into Washington, and one of 19 people to be named fellows is Jeffrey Kempe, adult services coordinator for the King County Library System in Issaquah.
The initiative is a fellowship designed to help libraries better serve and engage adults 50 and older. Research has shown that current library services for adults 50 and older do not match the characteristics or interests of the age group, according to the TLA50 website. Read more
EFR considering new charges for ambulance rides, crash responses
August 24, 2010
Call it the fire department equivalent of tolling.
Faced with the steadily rising costs of health care and personnel, and repeated calls from partners to limit their annual increases in contributions, Eastside Fire & Rescue is considering charging citizens for various fire services, from ambulance rides to car crash responses.
Sammamish officials have pushed the department to see what it would take to draft a budget with a zero-percent increase next year. EFR Deputy Chief of Operations Jeff Griffin said the administration is dedicated to trying for that, but said it may be a choice between staff or program cuts, or new revenue from fees. Read more
Issaquah artist featured in Bellevue show
August 24, 2010
Anita Feng, an Issaquah-based artist, is taking part in the first Art in the Garden held at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
The event is Aug. 28-29. Twenty Northwest artists, including Feng, will showcase their work. As a fun twist, visitors will be issued “passports” as they hunt for artists’ pieces hidden around the gardens.
As well as being on display, plenty of art will be available to purchase.
Feng specializes in Raku Buddha art. In her artwork, she combines her love of pottery and ceramics with Zen meditation, an interest that she has practiced extensively for 30 years. Read more
Seahawks’ Leroy Hill agrees to domestic-violence treatment
August 24, 2010
The assault charge against Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill could be dropped in 18 months if he completes a yearlong domestic-violence treatment program and stays out of trouble.
Hill appeared in Issaquah Municipal Court last week and entered into a stipulated order of continuance. The agreement allows Hill to avoid a trial if he and the city prosecutor agree to conditions in the case.
Hill, 27, had pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge; a trial could have started as early as this week. Issaquah police arrested Hill in April after his girlfriend said he attacked her at his Talus home. Read more
Rowley’s 15th annual POPs! Goes Issaquah free concert is Aug. 27
August 24, 2010
If music brings people together, then free music must draw crowds. For the past 15 years, the Issaquah property management and development firm Rowley Properties has sponsored POPs! Goes Issaquah.
This year’s concert features the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra and conductor Joseph Scott. Trumpet player Natalie Dungey, 11, and young tenor singer Gregory Carroll are expected to perform.
Scott has participated in the free concert for the past 14 years. He said Skip Rowley contacted him to do a free concert for the community. What was supposed to be a one-time event has turned into an annual tradition. Read more
Expect calls for bail in annual muscular dystrophy fundraiser
August 24, 2010
Don’t be surprised Aug. 25 if you receive an unexpected phone call from someone you know asking for bail money.
It’s likely your acquaintance is one of more than 75 of the area’s “most wanted” business executives and community leaders swept up in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual fundraiser.
For example, one of the first time “jailbirds” calling just may be Jim Oswalt, owner of Gemini Fish Market in Issaquah.
“This sounded like a good cause,” he said. “We have a pretty good clientele list we can get in front of to donate.”
By donate, Oswalt means his bail, set for all jailbird participants at a minimum of $2,000. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Aug. 25, “law enforcement officers” from local fire stations will arrive at places of work to apprehend the jailbirds. Firefighters have been one of the biggest contributors to MDA fundraisers for more than 50 years, according to Shelli Kind, executive director of the Bellevue MDA office. Read more
Food bank needs more than canned pumpkin
August 24, 2010
Every holiday season, the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank gets slammed with canned pumpkin. Donors from the community this past year gave more than 20 cases, in fact, according to Cherie Meier, director of the food bank.
That’s a lot of pumpkin — 480 cans, to be exact. People donate pumpkin “because they love their pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and Christmas and so they want to share that,” food bank volunteer Cyndy Heffron said.
In the past, canned pumpkin would stay at the food bank for as long as two years. The food bank offered recipe suggestions to clients with little success.
“Folks didn’t have any idea on how to use it other than the typical holiday fare,” Heffron said. Read more
Sponge hosts cultural event
August 24, 2010
Sponge, the language learning center for children, invites families to a cultural event Aug. 28 to celebrate food from around the world. The event is free to attend and geared toward children 7 and younger and their families.
The event will feature an assortment of arts and crafts projects and a chance for kids to make their own sushi. Guests from Dr. Susanna’s World Baby Foods will be on hand to tempt the smallest of attendees with organic and nutritionally-balanced baby food, based on cuisines from around the globe. The baby foods are preservative free, designed by physicians and favor local farmers. Read more
Byron DuPont
August 24, 2010
Byron DuPont, of Issaquah, died Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010. He was 60.
A memorial gathering was Aug. 20 at the family home in Issaquah. Read more
Shirley Ellen Ladd
August 24, 2010
Shirley Ellen Ladd, of Issaquah, died Aug. 21, 2010, from complications from breast cancer. She was 80.
Funeral services will be at noon Aug. 26 at Flintoft’s Issaquah Funeral Home, 540 E. Sunset Way. Read more
