Issaquah offers grants to arts organizations, programs
October 16, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Oct. 16, 2010
The city Arts Commission seeks cultural organizations and programs for the latest round of arts grants.
Each year, the city awards grants to organizations to present performances and programs in the city and local schools.
Organizations must apply for the grant dollars by Nov. 15. Find application information here.
For 2010, commissioners awarded $128,825 to 21 projects. The lineup included ArtWalk, Issaquah Farmers Market entertainment, Concerts on the Green, Shakespeare on the Green, performances at local schools and programs to help troubled youth.
Sound Transit proposes cut to Issaquah service next year
October 15, 2010
NEW — 8 a.m. Oct. 15, 2010
Sound Transit plans to reduce some Issaquah service, as the transit agency attempts to cut costs for the year ahead.
The draft service plan for 2011 released last week calls for changes to Route 554 between Issaquah and Seattle. The plan recommends for midday service to be reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes, and Sunday and holiday service to be reduced from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes.
The proposal outlined cuts to other Eastside routes as well. The reductions respond to a forecast 25 percent reduction in sales tax revenues projected through 2023.
The draft plan calls for routes with consistently low ridership to be changed or discontinued in order to save $3.5 million a year.
Interstate 90 Undercrossing construction progresses
October 15, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Oct. 15, 2010
Construction continues on the Interstate 90 Undercrossing, or Fourth Avenue Northwest, a north-south link beneath the interstate.
The contractor has paved several phases of the project. Though the new signal at Northwest Gilman Boulevard and Fourth Avenue Northwest is operational, the entrance to the Issaquah Post Office off of the undercrossing is not yet available for use, in order to keep the job site safe. In the meantime, drivers must continue to use the driveway just west of the new signal.
The long-planned undercrossing should be completed by next month. The project is designed to reduce traffic on Gilman Boulevard and Front Street North.
Issaquah Highlands goats featured on ‘The Colbert Report’
October 14, 2010
NEW — 6 p.m. Oct. 14, 2010
The goats hired to landscape the Issaquah Highlands trot into the national spotlight in a segment on “The Colbert Report.”
The piece is scheduled to air as part of the satirical show at 8:30 p.m. Thursday on Comedy Central. Watch the clip here.
In September, a Comedy Central crew filmed a segment on the living lawnmowers. The crew also interviewed Russ Ayers, Issaquah Highlands Community Association landscape manager, for the piece.
The goats returned to highlands hillsides in June. The goats — more than 120 from Rent-A-Ruminant on Vashon Island — chomped through tall grass and invasive plants for several weeks.
Rent-A-Ruminant also provided goats to landscape the highlands last summer. The goats gained some notoriety as the ruminants in PEMCO Insurance’s “Goat Renter Guy” spot.
Business groups plan pre-election rally Friday
October 14, 2010
NEW — 5:45 p.m. Oct. 14, 2010
Issaquah and Sammamish business leaders plan to rally Friday to raise awareness about the issues facing the business community in the Nov. 2 election.
Enterprise Washington, plus the Issaquah and Sammamish chambers of commerce, has scheduled rally for noon Friday at Proliance Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, 510 Eighth Ave., in the Issaquah Highlands. The event — called the Jobs for Main Street rally — is open to the public.
The lineup includes local business leaders discussing why they chose Issaquah and Sammamish, how they support job growth and what they do to promote economic development.
Liberty High Schools girls race to another win
October 14, 2010
NEW — 1:30 p.m. Oct. 14, 2010
The Liberty High School girls cross country team placed seven runners among the top 10 finishers Wednesday to gallop away to an easy victory in a 3A/2A KingCo Conference meet at Mercer Island’s Luther Burbank Park.
Amy Broska, of Liberty, finished first in the 3.1-mile race in 19 minutes, 16 seconds. Teammate Megan Chucka was a close third in 19:18. Allie Wood, Michaela Chucka and Rachel Shaw, all of Liberty, finished fifth, sixth and seventh respectively. Aimee Christenson was ninth and Megan Larson took 10th for the Patriots.
Liberty took first place with 22 points. Host Mercer Island was third with 43 points and Mount Si ended up third with 70 points.
Issaquah Brewhouse features hops, frogs and dogs at weekend fest
October 14, 2010
NEW — 10 a.m. Oct. 14, 2010
The beer lineup at the Issaquah Brewhouse includes a number of options named for frogs — but the downtown pub hosts actual amphibians Saturday and Sunday.
The family-friendly Frogs & Dogs Festival has a lineup of amphibian- and canine-related activities, including a dog parade, a dog-food eating contest, a leapfrog competition, free dog washes and a dog agility and obstacle competition.
The festival runs from noon – 9 p.m. Saturday and noon – 5 p.m. Sunday at the brewhouse, 35 W. Sunset Way.
Proceeds from the festival benefit Reach for the Sky July — a three-week, all-scholarship arts camp for Issaquah and Snoqualmie Valley children.
The brewhouse hosted the inaugural Frogs & Dogs Festival last September.
High Point Trailhead to close Friday for maintenance
October 14, 2010
NEW — 8:30 a.m. Oct. 14, 2010
The state Department of Natural Resources plans to close the High Point Trailhead and access road Friday for maintenance and grading of the road and parking area.
The closure is expected to last for a day.
The trailhead — off of Interstate 90 at the High Point interchange, or Exit 20 — provides the main access point to the trail system through the Tradition Plateau/West Tiger Mountain Natural Resources Conservation Area.
City announces sites for electric vehicle charging stations
October 14, 2010
NEW — 8 a.m. Oct. 14, 2010
The city plans to install a pair of charging stations at City Hall Northwest soon, as part of a regional push to create a network of charging stops to juice up electric vehicles.
The stations lay the groundwork for all-electric vehicles to be used in commuter vanpools traveling to and from Issaquah.
City staffers and other commuters plan to use the King County Metro Transit vanpools. The transit agency is due to provide the vehicles by the early next year.
The effort is funded through a U.S. Department of Energy petroleum-reduction grant. The agency awarded the grant to the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition; Issaquah is a coalition member.
Sammamish energy saver is a contestant for PSE prize
October 14, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Oct. 14, 2010
Sammamish resident Elizabeth King is a finalist for a prize from Puget Sound Energy for toughing out cold days and nights.
In a YouTube post, King explains how a game of chicken helps save energy.
King is a weekly winner in PSE’s Re-Energize Your Block contest. The weekly winner with the most votes from Re-Energize Your Block Facebook fans receives the grand prize: a 32-inch, flat screen, Energy Star TV.
Contestants submitted a video or photo and caption online, showing how they took steps to reduce energy use. The weekly winners received energy-efficient lighting prizes from Philips.
