To the Editor
August 30, 2011
Education
State senators, representative support environmental education
During the week of July 25, I had the opportunity to meet with my state senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, as well as Congressman Dave Reichert’s senior legislative assistant in Washington, D.C., regarding environmental education and sustainability.
I am a fourth-grade teacher in the Issaquah School District. I have integrated environmental education into the core curriculum for many years using science lessons from Project Learning Tree, in particular.
Siblings exchange visits with students from sister cities
August 30, 2011
Contributed Christina Corbitt (left) spent about a month as the guest of the family of Samanta Kaleja in the latter’s hometown of Liepaja, Latvia.
“Hot, really hot,” said Scott Corbitt, 15. “It just gets hot and stays that way.”
And while she talked a bit about the weather, for Scott’s older sister Christina, 17, it was the architecture that first grabbed her attention.
Rapid Response
August 30, 2011
The city is the midst of a $50,000 study to better determine how municipal departments function. What steps would you take to make city government more efficient?
Thought the mayor had a paid individual to manage the different city government departments. If the city has to blow $50,000 for some hokey study, then fire that manager.
Ken Sessler, Issaquah
Frankly, I think Issaquah city staff are amongst the best you will find — listen to them regarding what needs to be fixed, what doesn’t and how they would go about it. It has to be difficult for them with all the expansion and changes under way.
Mark Bowers, Issaquah
First, start with a 10 percent cut to all programs. We all have had to do this in our personal lives and businesses. Why should government be immune? Yes, some may lose their jobs and have to work harder … so have the rest of us. Second — Cap the budgets not to exceed this cut amount for three years.
Matthew Balkman, Issaquah
Eat your heart out at the Issaquah Farmers Market
August 30, 2011
The farm-fresh produce is no longer the only local and organic offering at the Issaquah Farmers Market.
Summer Saturdays at the historic Pickering Barn blend the food-truck mania and the local food movement. Sellers serve street snacks to crowds hungry for authentic tastes.
So, head to the market and dig in.
Gypsy moth traps dot area as state hunts for insect invaders
August 30, 2011
Hung from the trunk of at least one tree on Issaquah’s Front Street South near Our Savior Lutheran Church, the bright green traps definitely can grab your attention.
State workers placed the traps, which look somewhat like triangular-shaped boxes, sometime in late July. And the traps are only harmful if you happen to be a gypsy moth, said Mike Louisell, a public information officer with the state Department of Agriculture.
All in all, according to the state, some 20,000 gypsy moth traps went up around Washington in the last month or so. They are a key part of an annual effort to prevent gypsy moths from establishing themselves in Washington. The traps are hung annually in residential areas, as well as business districts and rural stretches.
Louisell said the traps are put up somewhat randomly, that the presence of the traps doesn’t necessarily mean the presence of gypsy moths. Because of its size and some risk factors, King County gets a large number of the traps. Those risk factors include the Port of Seattle, Louisell said. The unwanted moths easily can end up as stowaways aboard incoming ships.
Police Blotter
August 30, 2011
Reality check
Police responded to suspicious activity in the 100 block of East Sunset Way at 2:55 p.m. Aug. 16 after a man started talking about a panhandling ticket turning into a homicide investigation. The man refused to speak to officers, and said he intended to contact the FBI in Seattle. Police said the man “did not appear completely in touch with reality” during the incident.
Purse snatched
A window was damaged on, and a purse was stolen from, a vehicle parked near a Squak Mountain park before 3:22 p.m. Aug. 16. The estimated loss is $650.
Hacked
A window was damaged on, and a laptop computer was stolen from, a vehicle parked in the 1800 block of 10th Avenue Northwest before 3:23 p.m. Aug. 16. The estimated loss is $1,500.
Discover digital surprises as ArtWalk season concludes
August 30, 2011
QR code exhibition is designed to launch conversation
The latest exhibition from artEAST is a series of stark images — square and oblong patterns in a “Tetris”-esque arrangement against a colorless background.
The smartphone-equipped in-crowd recognizes the patterns as QR codes, barcodes designed for mobile devices to read.
Expect to see oversized QR codes along Front Street North as the spring- and summertime ArtWalk concludes Sept. 2. The nonprofit artEAST collective plans to deploy the codes to connect attendees to images and videos at the Art Center & Up Front Gallery and along the street during the event.
Seattle artists Stephen Rock and Nichole DeMent used QR codes to connect smartphone users to data and images during a spring exhibition in Seattle.
Now, the duo plans to offer a similar experience to ArtWalk attendees. Rock is creating a sculpture up to 12 feet tall designed to evoke building blocks — and covered in QR codes — for the event.
Issaquah Eagles’ seniors set high bar for season
August 30, 2011
Eric Lemke, Issaquah senior tight end, performs endurance exercises with teammates on the Eagles’ new football field turf. By Greg Farrar
Ethan Kalin began his football career with perfection.
The Issaquah High School quarterback and other seniors on the 2011 team hope to conclude their final year with perfection, too. Read more
Liberty Patriots aim to build on past successes
August 30, 2011
Today, not tomorrow.
Hamilton Noel, Liberty senior running back, weaves through the defense with a handoff from senior quarterback Jordan West during practice. By Greg Farrar
Those are the words the Liberty High School football team will live and die by to maintain the past several years’ momentum heading into the 2011 season.
That phrase, or “TNT” in team parlance, is something the team’s leaders said they’ve set in their sights to keep them explosive during every play of every practice.
“What’s nice about our school is that we’re not really known for having the top athletes or players, but we work really hard,” said Kevin Ahrens, a junior returning offensive and defensive lineman. “We bust our butt to get it done in the off-season and we play as a team. That’s been our calling card.”
Skyline Spartans reload for championship run
August 30, 2011
Max Browne, Skyline junior quarterback, looks for a receiver during practice Aug. 25. By Christopher Huber
It didn’t take long for the Skyline High School Spartans football team to bounce back from defeat at the 2010 state 4A title game.
From players’ reactions after the final buzzer sounded, the loss to Ferris stung.
Ultimately, it inspired the team to start preparing for the 2011 season earlier than ever. Players began optional workouts in January instead of March. And, coupled with the handful of team and 7-on-7 camps they attended, the Spartans seemed to exude as much confidence as ever during late August practices. That’s despite losing Kasen Williams, considered by many national publications to be last year’s top wide receiver prospect in the nation.
