Celebrate Independence Day in downtown Issaquah
June 21, 2011
Children with pet dogs, cats, hamsters, chickens or snakes are invited to dress them up and register them for the Down Home 4th of July & Heritage Day celebration.
The annual parade boasts hundreds of pets sporting patriotic colors and children on decorated bicycles.
One year, “One of the groups was a tap-dancing group, so they did tap-dancing routines on cookie sheets,” Pauline Middlehurst, Issaquah Chamber of Commerce spawnsor manager, said.
Registration is free for the 11 a.m. Kids, Pets N’ Pride Parade, but participants must fill out a form before they begin marching. Paradegoers can find the form online, or in The Issaquah Press. Registrants can sign up the day of the event at 10 a.m. July 4 at 425 Rainier Blvd. N.
All bicycling participants must wear a helmet. Children and teenagers in the parade can also throw candy, though they must supply the sweets themselves.
Supporters meet fundraising goal for science curriculum
June 21, 2011
After 47 days of fundraising at McDonald’s and Zeeks Pizza, and in various school parking lots, the Issaquah Schools Foundation and the Issaquah PTSA Council have raised enough money for a new elementary school science curriculum this fall.
The current elementary school science curriculum, last updated in 2003, does not meet state standards.
The fundraising campaign began April 29, the day after the foundation’s annual luncheon. There, foundation community representative Leigh Stokes explained that the district had initially set money aside for the curriculum update, but after the Legislature cut $1.45 million from the district’s budget midyear, the district could no longer afford the curriculum update on its own.
The district committed $700,000 to the elementary school science update, and the foundation and PTSAs partnered to raise the remaining $500,000.
Recently, district administrators negotiated with the curricula vendors and bargained for a better price. Originally, the update was supposed to cost $1.2 million, but after the negotiation, the price tag dropped to $1.1 million. The district is also saving money by developing a specific curriculum of its own, which has a price tag of $50,000.
Councilman Reagan Dunn enters race for state attorney general
June 21, 2011
Reagan Dunn, a local representative on the King County Council and a former federal prosecutor, entered the race June 14 for state attorney general.
Reagan Dunn
In a long-expected campaign announcement, Dunn, a Republican, referenced his experience at the U.S. Department of Justice as a key asset in the race, and rolled out a series of high-profile endorsements.
“I am running for attorney general because I am concerned about the overall direction of Washington state government and I believe we can do much better,” he said in a statement. “While Rob McKenna has done a very fine job as our AG, much more still needs to be done. Our state faces significant challenges, including high unemployment, an unfavorable business climate for job creation and crime levels that are unacceptable.”
Dunn is seeking to succeed Attorney General Rob McKenna, the leading Republican in the 2012 race for governor. McKenna launched a bid for the Governor’s Mansion on June 8. Incumbent Gov. Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, is not seeking a third term; Democratic U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee is expected to run.
Issaquah man experiences Vancouver’s hockey riot
June 21, 2011
Erik Richards, a lifelong Vancouver Canucks fan and Issaquah resident, experienced the mayhem up close June 15 as Vancouver, British Columbia, erupted into a riot after the team lost the Stanley Cup.
Richards — a self-described “huge Canucks fan” — stood among the crowd on Granville Street and snapped photos as rioters lit cars aflame and smashed storefronts.
“There were people running and cars on fire,” he said after returning to Issaquah. “It was like a scene out of a movie.”
The riot started at about 8 p.m. as the Canucks lost the Stanley Cup to the Boston Bruins at Rogers Arena. Immediately after the loss, frustrated fans started tearing signs down along Granville Street, a destination for Canucks fans watching the Stanley Cup finals on a huge screen.
King County, YWCA to hold meeting about Passage Point
June 21, 2011
Safety is on the minds of community members neighboring the future Passage Point facility.
The YWCA will provide housing at Passage Point for men and women recently released from incarceration who wish to reunite with their children. The residents of Passage Point, who would otherwise be homeless, will have access to housing, employment and counseling services. It’s slated to open its doors next month.
A half-dozen community leaders met with representatives from King County and the YWCA, as well as King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Andrea Alexander at Evergreen Community Church during a May 24 meeting about safety procedures.
Passage Point, in the southern part of the Issaquah School District, has long been a hot topic for the area. Students living at Passage Point will attend Maple Hills Elementary School, Maywood Middle School or Liberty High School.
Issaquah City Council sets goals for 2012
June 21, 2011
Less than a month after gathering to brainstorm ideas for the coming year, City Council members set ambitious goals for 2012, including possible solutions for cash-strapped Lake Sammamish State Park, a more citizen-friendly budgeting process and a commission to address economic vitality.
The council OK’d the list June 6, and sent Mayor Ava Frisinger priorities for the months ahead. The decision represents the initial step in the process to shape the 2012 municipal budget. The unanimous decision came after council members met for a rare Saturday meeting May 14 to outline goals.
“In my view, these are a balanced set of goals that cover just about every aspect of city government,” Councilman Fred Butler said during the June 6 meeting. “There’s something in there for everyone.”
The list calls for the city to join with the DownTown Issaquah Association and the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce to determine options for a structured parking study. Issues related to downtown parking — a headache during ArtWalk, Fenders on Front Street and other summertime events — emerged as the top priority at the retreat.
Issaquah hams to practice emergency communication
June 21, 2011
Two Issaquah amateur radio operator groups invite the public to view a mock communication emergency the weekend of June 25 and 26.
Operators from the Issaquah Amateur Radio Club will broadcast from 9 a.m. June 25 to 11 a.m. June 26 at Sunny Hills Elementary School, 3200 Issaquah-Pine Lake Road S.E., Sammamish.
The Issaquah Communication Support Team’s event is from 1 p.m. June 25 to noon June 26 at Hans Jensen Youth Camp, across the street from the Lake Sammamish Boat Ramp.
Members will set up field radio communication stations, get on the air and contact hundreds of other operators in the United States and Canada as part of their participation in the American Radio Relay League’s annual Field Day.
Waste Management rates rise in Issaquah soon
June 21, 2011
Waste Management customers in Issaquah start paying a few cents more for garbage service July 1.
The adjustment reflects changes to the Consumer Price Index, plus a hike in the state business-and-occupation tax. The increase applies only to Issaquah customers.
The garbage hauler sent notices to Issaquah residences and businesses about the change. For a residential customer using a 35-gallon container — the most popular size in the city — the monthly rate for weekly pickup is due to increase from $13.20 to $13.43. Expect similar hikes for other residential and commercial services. Find a complete listing of the updated rates at the hauler’s website, www.wmnorthwest.com/issaquah.
County Council decides against sewer rate hike
June 21, 2011
King County leaders decided against increasing sewer rates for 2012 in a unanimous decision June 13.
The rate remains stable at $36.10 per month for most residential customers. The county provides wastewater treatment to 17 cities, including Issaquah, and 17 local sewer utilities.
Officials use the funds raised through sewer rates for maintaining and operating the regional wastewater system in King County, South Snohomish County and a slice of Pierce County.
The actual amount ratepayers see on bills depends on local sewer utilities. The sewer rate is charged to Issaquah because King County conveys wastewater from city customers to the South Treatment Plant in Renton.
Entrepreneur builds a career beneath golden arches
June 21, 2011
Businessman evolves from milkshake maestro to burger king
Alan Finkelstein
The menu is different, but the golden arches — global emblem for billions and billions served — remain the same.
In 1971, a 16-year-old Alan Finkelstein started work at a McDonald’s restaurant at Seattle’s University Village, earning less than $2 per hour. The early days included stints minding the milkshake machine — a more complicated task in the pre-electronics era, because orders had to be tracked on paper tickets.
Nowadays, Finkelstein is responsible for a lot more than milkshakes. The longtime Sammamish Plateau resident and entrepreneur owns McDonald’s restaurants in Kent, Maple Valley, Sammamish and the busy-as-a-beehive eatery along Northwest Gilman Boulevard in Issaquah.
