To the Editor
June 28, 2011
Pedestrian bridge
Why waste local and federal money on low-priority projects?
Issaquah joins other cities in funding transportation projects with 85 percent to 90 percent federal grant money. These projects would never be high priority if funded solely with local money. The federal government awards grant money that is unfunded, borrowed and which further jeopardizes Social Security and Medicare.
City priorities are skewed. We build projects that the feds will pay for, rather than those that will grow jobs and improve mobility in the city. How many permanent jobs will the 85 percent federally funded bicycle bridge over Interstate 90 create for Issaquah?
As state governors wise up to the disaster that is U.S. transportation funding, they are starting to reject these federal offers. Cities need to do likewise.
Spending money Issaquah doesn’t have, received from the federal government that doesn’t have the money, on things we don’t need, has to stop.
Ann M. Lamb
Issaquah
King County honors 11 Issaquah district ‘green’ schools
June 28, 2011
Thanks to the “green” conservation work of staff members and students, the King County Green Schools Program is honoring 11 schools in the Issaquah School District.
In total, King County will honor 77 schools across the country, including the 11 schools in Issaquah.
The three-level Green Schools Program provides hands-on assistance, recycling containers and signs, and website tools to schools. In addition to the Green Schools Program, King County provides an elementary school assembly program, classroom workshops and support for student green teams.
The program has saved schools and the district money from successful waste reduction and recycling programs, and reducing energy and water use.
Seven schools in the district have achieved Level One status, including Apollo, Cougar Ridge, Issaquah Valley, Sunny Hills and Sunset elementary schools; Pacific Cascade Middle School; and Issaquah High School. Level One schools focus on waste reduction and recycling.
Two schools in the district achieved Level Two, including Creekside and Newcastle elementary schools, after students and teachers targeted energy conservation.
The other two schools — Issaquah Middle School and Liberty High School — completed Level Three after students and teachers worked on water conservation.
“Thanks to support from King County Green Schools and city of Issaquah, the students and staff at these 11 schools understand why conservation is important and are doing a great job conserving natural resources and dollars,” John Macartney, the district’s resource conservation manager, said in a news release.
Mountains to Sound Greenway celebrates 20th anniversary with hikes, parties
June 28, 2011
It’s not too late for hikers, historical buffs and music lovers to register for the hikes and parties scheduled for the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust’s 20th anniversary.
The hikes have a historical precedent.
“In 1990, a group of avid hikers got together and realized that population growth was going to happen,” Mountains to Sound Greenway spokeswoman Erin MacCoy said. “They wanted to make sure we could keep the green places green, so they did a hike from Snoqualmie Pass to the Seattle waterfront to raise awareness about that.”
The group of 100 hikers, including members of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club, took five days to complete their trek. One year later, in 1991, environmentalists founded the greenway trust.
Sampson brothers hit the mound, same night, a continent apart
June 28, 2011
Brothers Adrian and Julian Sampson, although a continent apart, were the starting pitchers on the same night for their respective teams.
Although neither recorded a victory, both Skyline High School graduates had stellar performances June 20.
Adrian, pitching for the Bellingham Bells, had a no-hitter for 8 2/3 innings against Cowlitz. The Bells emerged victorious, 1-0, in 13 innings.
On July 26, Adrian tossed six scoreless innings, allowed two hits and struck out eight in the Bells’ 11-0 rout of Klamath.
College New
June 28, 2011
Local students graduate
Courtney Faber, of Sammamish, graduated May 15, 2011, with a Bachelor of Science in forensic science from the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn.
Aaron Osgood, of Sammamish, graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., May 29 with a Bachelor of Science in architecture, art and planning.
Local students make deans’ lists
Kathleen Moore, a 2010 graduate of Issaquah High School, made the University of Washington dean’s list for autumn 2010, winter 2011 and spring 2011. Entering as a freshman, Moore was selected as a NASA Space Grant Scholar, which included a four-year Washington NASA Space Grant Scholarship.
The following students from Issaquah were recently listed on the 2011 spring semester dean’s list at the University of Portland (to qualify, students need at least a 3.5 grade point average): Allison Beck, Amanda Marques, Andrew Salmeri, Hannah Schultz, Sarah Underwood and Charles Wood.
Matthew Brown and Jess Coulter, of Bellevue; and Emily Chu and Kathryn Malone, of Sammamish; were recently named to the Pepperdine University dean’s list for the 2011 spring semester. To qualify, students must be in the upper 10 percent of their class and maintain a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Harlem Globetrotters draft Beaver Lake basketball phenom
June 28, 2011
Jordan McCabe, a basketball-handling phenomenon from Beaver Lake Middle School, was drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters on June 21, according to his family and a press release from the team.
Jordan McCabe juggles three balls in February during a Beaver Lake Middle School assembly featuring a visit from members of the Harlem Globetrotters. By Greg Farrar
He was among six players selected as part of the team’s 2011 draft class. Other players included 2011 College Slam Dunk Champion Jacob Tucker, and 2011 College 3-point Champion Andrew Goudelock, according to the press release.
Jordan’s selection was unique because the Globetrotters exercised its special “future discovery clause.” That means the team obtains the rights to sign McCabe once he graduates from college.
Jordan’s father, Matt McCabe, said he wasn’t sure to what to think of the news, but that it follows a busy past few months for the rising star. Jordan appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” performed at the NBA All-Star Weekend and has wowed crowds across the country at college basketball halftime shows.
Kasen Williams named top track and field athlete
June 28, 2011
Hopefully, recent Skyline High School graduate Kasen Williams will have enough room on his trophy case for yet another award.
Williams earned another honor June 23, when he was selected as the Gatorade Washington Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
In its 26th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Co., in collaboration with ESPN RISE, said in a release that Williams is the first Gatorade Washington Boys track and field Athlete of the Year to be chosen from Skyline.
The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the track. Williams is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.
‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ reopens old debates
June 28, 2011
“Jesus Christ Superstar” started raising eyebrows — and ire — before the initial run debuted on Broadway in 1971, and the production at Village Theatre in downtown Issaquah is no exception.
Aaron Finley (left), as Jesus, and Michael K. Lee, as Judas, star in Village Theatre’s modern-day interpretation of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’ By Jay Koh/Village Theatre
The groundbreaking rock opera about Jesus Christ’s last days has attracted criticism from audience members since the show opened May 11.
“We’ve had some people that feel like it’s in some way sacrilegious because it’s not a traditional robes-and-sandals telling,” Village Theatre Executive Producer Robb Hunt said.
The playhouse is celebrated — and sometimes denounced — for bold choices, including a same-sex kiss in “The Wedding Banquet” in 2003 and male nudity — albeit, a snapshot — in “The Full Monty” late last year.
Brian Mogg leads field of young golfers in junior circuit
June 28, 2011
Young golfer Brian Mogg couldn’t help but be excited about his recent time spent in Palm Beach, Fla., with players from the PGA Tour.
Brian Mogg
Mogg, 15, has won his fair share of recent youth golf tournaments in the Northwest, but just finished a stint learning from the pros at the first ever Ryder Cup Junior Academy.
Mogg, who will play in the fall for Skyline High School, and about 50 other Sammamish and Issaquah golfers are gearing up for a summer of golf on the Washington Junior Golf Association circuit.
They will compete against about 175 other District 2 golfers, ages 8-17. They will play four tournaments and contend for one of about 50 total spots in the state tournament, held this year at Walla Walla Country Club.
“I get to see all my friends again,” Mogg said. “And I’m just excited for more competition.”
Who’s News
June 28, 2011
Physics club egg launch makes top 50 nationwide
The Skyline High School Physics Club placed 47th out of 100 teams nationwide competing at the Team America Rocketry Challenge on May 14 in The Plains, Va.
The students designed a rocket that would safely harbor an unbroken egg during its ascent and descent.
“I’m very proud of their accomplishments and their respectful behavior while we were in Virginia,” Becky Fowler, Skyline physics teacher and club advisor, said.
