Plateau’s ‘best kept secret’ — Sammamish Symphony Orchestra — kicks off new season
February 22, 2011
On Thursday nights, Kathryn Boudreau-Stroud and Victoria Tkatch meet in a large, empty studio.
Somewhat dimly lit, the space slowly fills with more people and the room begins to hum with varying chords and notes.
Although Boudreau-Stroud is a math teacher and Tkatch is a ninth-grade student, the intent of their meeting is not for school purposes. Instead, they are there to play music together with the other musicians who comprise the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra.
The nonprofit, volunteer-based organization, originally known as the Providence Point Players, has been a staple on the plateau since 1994.
Issaquah Brewhouse honors Year of the Rabbit
February 22, 2011
In honor of the Year of the Rabbit, Rogue has added a Nano brewery to Issaquah Brewhouse.
It joins the Buckman Village Brewery Nano in the Green Dragon and one at the Rogue Public House in Eugene, Ore. The brewers for the Nano are local homebrew clubs and sales of the brews benefit the clubs.
Issaquah Brewhouse is a 15-barrel system artisan brewery that has earned more than 35 national and international awards for quality and taste.
‘Annie’ composer reflects on life after ‘Tomorrow’
February 22, 2011
Issaquah resident and ‘Annie’ lyricist Martin Charnin discusses long theater career
The list is impressive: gold and platinum records, Emmy Awards, and Drama Desk and Tony awards for a blockbuster musical about a redheaded orphan.
“Annie” elevated Issaquah resident Martin Charnin — already a successful songwriter — into the Broadway stratosphere in 1977. The comic-strip-turned-musical marked another milestone for Charnin, the director and lyricist.
Martin Charnin wrote the lyrics and directed the original Broadway production of the blockbuster musical ‘Annie.’ Contributed
Charnin originated the role of Big Deal, a Jet, in the original “West Side Story” production and later penned the musicals “Two by Two” — a Noah and the ark retelling — the immigrant tale “I Remember Mama” and “The First” — a show about color-barrier-breaking baseball star Jackie Robinson. The lyricist also collaborated alongside Richard Rodgers in the years before the seminal composer died in 1979.
“Annie” — and the chipper anthem “Tomorrow” — continues to define a long theater career.
“You reach a point in your life where it sort of becomes your middle name,” Charnin said. “It becomes Martin ‘Annie’ Charnin and, while I’m not for a moment dumping on that — I think that’s grand — and every author, writer, director, producer should have one of those.”
Charnin settled in Issaquah after a 2004 stop at Village Theatre to direct “Robin Hood: The Legend Continues” — a musical about the aging outlaw and middle-aged Merry Men. The longtime scribe created the lyrics for the show, too.
Charnin agreed to direct the mystery “Sleuth” in the ongoing Village Theatre season. The play runs at the downtown Issaquah theater through Feb. 27.
Press Editorial
February 22, 2011
Donations send flags to soldiers overseas
Residents who travel are often seen wearing T-shirts that display their hometown pride. But who knew that soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere from Washington often fly the state flag at faraway places?
State Rep. Jay Rodne knew.
Rodne, a 5th Legislative District lawmaker and Iraq war veteran, sponsored legislation in 2009 to create a state flag account. Donations from the public will be used to purchase state flags to be mailed to military units.
“I know firsthand how much it matters to our men and women overseas when they receive their Washington flag,” Rodne said recently.
Patriot repeats as state’s No. 2
February 22, 2011
Hamilton Noel reached the finals at the Mat Classic for the second straight year. This time, the Liberty High wrestler reached the 152-pound finals of the 3A state competition Feb. 19 in the Tacoma Dome.
But, once again, Noel came up a bit short.
Noel lost to Enumclaw’s Josh Musick 6-2, after opening the match with a 2-0 lead.
Hamilton Noel, Liberty junior, has the better position on Enumclaw’s Josh Musick early in their 152-pound state 3A championship match Feb. 19 at the Tacoma Dome. By Sebastian Moraga
A disappointed Noel blamed himself for the loss.
“I knew it was going to be a good match; I came out, I scored on him, thought I had him, but I didn’t finish strong enough,” he said. “I’m just glad there’s next year.”
As it turned out, Noel was just one of two 3A KingCo Conference wrestlers to reach the finals.
Noel pledged to work on his conditioning for his senior season.
“I was a little gassed,” he said. “More than I should have been.”
Noel’s road to the finals began with a pin of Bishop Blanchet’s Myles Hollowed in the second period, a pin of Yelm’s Anthony Allred in the third, and a 4-2 decision over Mount Spokane’s Austin Pea.
Liberty coach Manny Brown praised his wrestler and the new champion.
“He gives us his all in practices and matches, everything,” Brown said of Noel. “Congratulations to Josh, who had a good match.”
Hilton Garden Inn says ‘I do’ to host bridal show debut
February 22, 2011
Vicky Markussen, owner of Victoria Graceson Floral Design, arranges a bouquet of peach and cream roses with peach stock and peach-colored hypericum berries. By Gary Halperin
Brides and grooms often have a flurry of shopping before their big day, and they usually have to leave Issaquah to do it.
The “I Do!” Casino Night reverses that trend, with 17 vendors — including wedding planners, photographers, bakers, hair stylists and even an eyelash extension company — coming to Issaquah’s Hilton Garden Inn.
Dress for the evening is casual.
Gina Mary Bahhage, owner of Gina Mary Hair Design, plans to show patrons hairdos and makeup that her stylists have done for brides in the past. If a bride has a scar or a blemish, airbrush makeup can cover it up, leading to a beautiful wedding photo.
Cynthia Golpe, the Snoqualmie founder of MyCakes, plans to have three wedding cakes on display and a medley of sample cakes, including guava, carrot, caramel, red velvet and chocolate.
Jules Nesenblatt, the owner of Amaris Design Fashion Consulting, will showcase the handmade jewelry she fashions with pearls, 14-karat gold, sterling silver, Swarovski crystals and gems.
Nesenblatt said she looks forward to sharing her craft with the community, as well as “having a mini Vegas-style event.”
Off the Press
February 22, 2011
Future of journalism is not all gloomy
I’m not buying into the doom and gloom.
Kathleen R. Merrill Press Editor
I know you’ve heard it — that newspapers are on their way out, soon to be extinct, like unicorns and dinosaurs. No one reads them anymore, right?
Wrong.
Check out the comments on our website, from people who are reading our stories and giving us their opinions — about the topic, the information or even just how a story was written. Oh, I know some people will say those people are only reading the paper on the Web, but they’d be wrong. I hear from people all of the time who are reading this paper. I see people in public places with their Issaquah Press spread out across their laps or the table in a restaurant or at the library or at bus stops.
And it isn’t just older people who read our paper. I also hear from young people on a regular basis about stories they’ve read in this paper. I have heard from a few classes this year who read our paper and have even studied topics from it or based on stories in it.
To the Editor
February 22, 2011
Newport Way bypass project
Having a concern for the environment does not make one a tree-hugger
Sorry I am so late writing this, but as a good American, I am late in getting things done.
In response to a Feb. 9 letter regarding the delay on the Newport Way bypass, I am not a “tree hugger.” I value trees for what they do for our environment and mental health.
The gas burner who wrote that letter is upset because it takes “so much time” to drive the speed limit through residential areas in the city, pass a school, a day care and a church, along with crosswalks. What a horrible imposition.
What heaven we have — a city that values our laws, our residents and our environment.
Jack and Judy Albrecht
Issaquah
Posters encourage residents to read
February 22, 2011
With hectic lives filled with chores, errands, work and school, who has time to sit down and read a good book?
Aware of the constant time crunch, the King County Library System developed a time coupon through its Take Time to Read program.
“Chores can wait,” the coupon reads, “Take Time to Read.”
“I flash that one at my family and say, ‘The dishes are going to be there 10 minutes from now,’” Issaquah Library Site Manager Philis Bodle said. “You don’t need a great big block of time to read — five minutes here, 10 minutes there.”
The reading coupons are only one facet of Take Time to Read. It also includes the Winter Reading for Adults program, in which adults 18 or older can tell the library how they took time to read and win prizes for their submissions.
Enter the contest before March 31 at www.kcls.org/taketimetoread for the chance to win gift cards to local stores, including Starbucks, Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria, Barnes & Noble and University Book Store.
Participants can also enter on Facebook by searching for Take Time to Read.
“The kids have all the fun in the summer, so we thought, ‘Let’s let adults have some fun, too,’” library system public relations specialist Marsha Iverson said.
Career blossoms for longtime floral designer
February 22, 2011
Wendy Taggart designs all of the floral arrangements at the Michael’s arts and crafts store in Issaquah. She earned two corporate awards for her work at Michael’s. By Laura Geggel
As a girl in Kent, Wendy Taggart often had a trowel in one hand and a plant in the other, a leafy shrub waiting to enter its earthy home in the ground.
Since then, her materials have changed, but not her passion for beautifying her corner of the world. Instead of limiting herself to real flowers, Taggart also uses artificial flowers made of silk, balloons of every color, candles and cloth galore for decorative events, including parties, weddings and auctions.
Many may recognize the Sammamish resident from the flower stand at Issaquah’s Michael’s craft store. Every artificial flower that enters the store passes through Taggart’s hands. She arranges some in custom-made floral arrangements, weaves others into wreaths, spruces up artificial ivy plants with moss and ties bows around spring bouquets.
Her creative work at Michael’s has earned her two corporate awards: 2010 outstanding performance in custom floral and creating holiday ambience, and top performer in custom floral sales for October 2010.
She has reason to celebrate in 2011, too; Taggart leads in sales in her entire district of 27 Michael’s stores since the new financial year began in February.
“Wendy is a true blessing to have at the store,” Issaquah Store Manager Chris Donahue said. “It’s the overall attitude she brings to the store. Wendy can cheer up our day if we’re feeling down.”
