Issaquah High School senior wins President’s Volunteer Service Award
December 20, 2011
Allie Lustig
Issaquah High School senior Allie Lustig won the silver level President’s Volunteer Service Award for more than 200 hours of community service with the city of Issaquah during 2010.
The silver level award is given by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to young adults who complete 175 to 249 hours of community service to thank and honor Americans who have inspired others to engage in volunteer service.
Lustig said that it was important for her to volunteer to give back to the community.
“I think you should give back to the places that give to you,” she said. “I grew up here and now that I’m going to college, I feel good that I gave back to the community that gave so much to me.”
In addition to an official President’s Volunteer Service Award lapel pin and a personalized certificate of achievement, Lustig also received a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama.
EFR teams with Santa to deliver a Christmas for families in need
December 20, 2011
Daniel Martinez-Otto, of Sammamish, poses with volunteer firefighters Michele Julum (left) and Emily Harig, and Frosty the Snowman (Discovery Elementary School Principal Tera Coyle) after giving a toy to Hopelink at Discovery on Dec. 16.By Christopher Huber
What’s not to love about climbing onto a fire truck and seeing your principal dressed up as Frosty the Snowman?
Hundreds of Discovery Elementary School students and their families literally filled Eastside Fire & Rescue’s traveling reindeer fire truck to capacity with toys Dec. 16. A steady stream of children poured out of the school onto the back playground for more than three hours on the last day before winter break, as they handed off toys for fellow youths they don’t know.
“I’ve never filled up the engine ‘til today,” said Emily Harig, a volunteer firefighter with EFR.
Harig and fellow volunteer firefighter Michele Julum estimated that the students donated 500 items, including Candy Land, Bop-It and other types of toys. The one-day effort was part of a massive, two-week food and toy drive to benefit Hopelink and the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.
When it was all said and done, Discovery families donated 2,874 pounds of food and hygiene necessities from Dec. 12-16, including 305 pounds of pasta and rice, 477 pounds of peanut butter and jelly, 811 pounds of flour and sugar, 625 pounds of oils and sauces and 656 pounds of diapers and toiletries, Principal Tera Coyle said. In addition, fourth-graders spent much of their last day of school making uplifting cards for cancer patients at Seattle Children’s. She was excited about the outpouring of generosity from the Sammamish students and families.
“We have an incredible community that has more than a lot of others and is willing to give back to the community that is less fortunate,” Coyle said.
Restaurateurs’ wine earns top marks from magazine
December 20, 2011
Wine Enthusiast magazine named a wine produced by local restaurateurs as a top wine.
In its December issue, the magazine praised Poggio Nardone 2006 Brunello Di Montalcino as “an absolutely gorgeous Brunello with incredibly smooth, rich and beautiful aromas of mature blackberry, coffee, tobacco and smoky barbecue sauce. The wine’s texture is dense but also silky and the fruit-driven finish lasts many minutes.” The wine is produced in Italy’s Tuscany region.
The wine topped a list of 100 wines from around the globe in the magazine’s Top 100 Cellar Selections 2011.
In Issaquah, the wine-producing Nardone family operates Montalcino Ristorante Italiano downtown. The eatery features the wine honored in Wine Enthusiast.
Giovanni Nardone, Nardone Wine & Food founder and CEO, has a traditional history of discovering and producing fine wines. In addition to wine, the family also imports Italian food products and uses many at the Issaquah restaurant.
Puget Sound Energy warns customers about email scam
December 20, 2011
Puget Sound Energy warned customers to beware of a fraudulent email meant to mimic a bill-payment notification. The bogus email does not affect PSE customer accounts.
The email resembles the notice PSE sends to online-billing customers when a utility bill is ready to be viewed and paid. The message contains PSE’s logo and some legitimate links to the utility’s website.
The phony email has reached some PSE customers, plus people in other states. The email is part of a nationwide phishing scam.
In email billing notifications, PSE always addresses customers by their full name rather than using “Dear Customer” — a clue of the fraudulent email. Another indication of the false email is the boldfaced message, “Refer to the attached file.”
PSE’s website advises customers to take the following steps if they receive the bogus email. Customers should not click on the link in the email or open any attachments. Then, they should delete the email notice immediately.
PSE customers should call 1-888-225-5773 toll free if they have questions or want to learn more.
Press Editorial
December 20, 2011
Merry Christmas Issaquah fosters giving spirit
Like the old adage goes, ’tis better to give than receive.
The holiday season is the peak time for giving, as some donors catch the Christmas spirit and others seek to make a donation before the year ends.
Readers face many choices to donate hard-earned dollars to each holiday season, but Issaquah Community Services is the organization many local residents turn to for help to pay the rent or keep the lights on. The organization’s annual Merry Christmas Issaquah fund drive is essential.
Seattle Humane Society asks for pet food donations
December 20, 2011
Seattle Humane Society and Safeway teamed up for a Holiday Pet Food Drive to help fill the shelves of the Humane Society’s pet food bank. Find collection bins at Safeway stores throughout King County. The nonprofit organization’s greatest need is for dry cat food.
The pet food bank provides pet food every month to more than 1,600 pets belonging to low-income seniors and people disabled by AIDS.
Support local food banks during holiday season
December 20, 2011
Get your gifts wrapped and your picture taken with Pablo the Donkey and help support the Issaquah and Maple Valley food banks.
The event is sponsored by the Golden Horseshoes 4-H Club and is planned from 3-7 p.m. Dec. 22 in front of the Quintessence Gift Shop, 23916 S.E. Kent-Kangley Road, Maple Valley.
With some dressed as elves, 4-H members will wrap gifts and pose for pictures with visitors and Pablo, Golden Horseshoes organizer Tammy Reeve said. Pictures will be printed at the site.
Cash donations to benefit the two food banks will be accepted, though Reeve said donations of items for the food banks would be taken as well.
King County offers tips to turn holiday season red and ‘green’
December 20, 2011
King County is encouraging revelers to turn the holiday season red and “green.”
The county Solid Waste Division launched the Green Holidays campaign at www.kcgreenholidays.com to educate consumers about how to cut waste, save energy and support the local economy during the holiday season.
The campaign covers holiday décor, entertaining, Christmas tree-cycling and more. The “green” motif also extends to cards, packaging and gift wrap.
Residents can dump grease from entertaining, for instance, at designated drop-off sites to avoid clogged pipes in the sewer system and recycle food scraps for composting.
Green Holidays also offers environmentally sound advice for donating to others during the holiday season. Participants can also enter a Green Holiday Drawing for a chance to score meals and other “experience” gifts.
Walmart campaign donates to Eastside Baby Corner
December 20, 2011
Issaquah-based nonprofit organization Eastside Baby Corner received a Christmas gift from Walmart 12 days early.
The retail giant donated $5,000 to Eastside Baby Corner through the “12 Days of Giving” Facebook campaign. Overall, Walmart announced donations of $125,000 to 17 nonprofit groups nationwide. The groups focus on promoting better conditions for children. Walmart announced the awards Dec. 13.
Throughout the 12-day campaign, Walmart plans to award $1.5 million to 145 organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
“Our Facebook campaign led us to so many organizations that are empowering our next generation this holiday season and year round,” Julie Gehrki, senior director at the Walmart Foundation, said in a statement.
Walmart put out a call for nominations in the “12 Days of Giving” campaign on Facebook. The call resulted in more than 5,400 nominations, as Facebook users shared photos and short descriptions of organizations’ impacts on communities.
Then, a panel from the Walmart Foundation reviewed submissions and selected organizations focused on providing basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and baby supplies.
Karen Ridlon, a pediatric nurse practitioner, started Eastside Baby Corner in 1990 to address inadequate care for babies.
Leaders urge donors to avoid holiday charity scams
December 20, 2011
Secretary of State Sam Reed and state Attorney General Rob McKenna urged consumers to beware of holiday charity scams Dec. 14, and unveiled a report to help people donate wisely.
The report, compiled by the Charities Division in Reed’s office, spotlights recent financial information for commercial fundraisers soliciting or collecting donations on behalf of charity clients.
Throughout 2011, charities using commercial fundraisers in Washington received 56 percent of total donations raised by the fundraisers — lower than the 77 percent in last year’s report.
The commercial fundraisers use many methods to solicit the public, including telephone calls and mailers. The fundraisers then take a cut of the donations before sending money to the charitable organization, or charge a fee for services.
Reed’s office offers a searchable guide to registered charities at www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search.aspx. Users can get instant financial histories and other information for fundraisers and charities. Consumers can also call 1-800-332-4483 toll free for the information.
Victims of charity fraud should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Resource Center between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays at 1-800-551-4636 toll free or file a complaint at www.atg.wa.gov.
