The Long Road Home
May 21, 2013
Issaquah couple recall a year of touring North and South America by motorcycle
Just over a year ago, we left behind our jobs and home in Issaquah and set off on a motorcycle journey that took us through the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Central America. We didn’t know what to expect other than to expect the unexpected.
Having fulfilled the dream and accomplished the goal of arriving safely back into the states, we can’t help but congratulate ourselves for a ride well done. It has been the most rewarding year of our lives.
Photos contributed
Above, the bright blue waters of the Rio Celeste are created by a chemical reaction from the Tenorio Volcano in Costa Rica. Below, the deepest lake in Central America and surrounded by three active volcanos, in Lago de Atitlan, Guatemala, was a favorite.
We have traveled through 32 U.S. states, six Canadian provinces, Mexico and Central America — 10 countries in all and more than 38,000 miles. Our travels have taken us as far north as Labrador and as far south as the Darien Gap in Panama, an 80-mile stretch of impassible jungle where you either stop and turn around or figure out a way to ship your vehicle to Columbia. In our case, we didn’t have the budget to continue into South America … not this time.
Newcastle students honored as Waste Watchers
May 21, 2013
Students from Newcastle Elementary School are doing big things to help reduce waste on the planet, and they were honored for their efforts at Newcastle’s April 20 Earth Day Celebration.
All of the hours spent rifling through trash cans, sorting garbage and teaching others about recycling and composting paid off when the students received Earth Day Hero Awards.
By Greg Farrar
Students from Newcastle Elementary School’s Waste Watchers program are honored as Earth Day Heroes for their work to reduce waste during the Newcastle Earth Day event April 20.
About 50 students gathered on the stage at Lake Boren Park to receive their certificates, all distributed by Miss Washington Mandy Schendel.
WSU hosts local summer reading program
May 21, 2013
Washington State University, Global Campus, will offer eight reading skills programs for ages 4 to adult this summer.
Issaquah sessions will be June 22 and July 27.
Reading programs for younger students build comprehension, and students learn the phonics and fluency skills they need to become strong readers. Programs for older students and adults are geared toward improving comprehension and study skills, vocabulary and speed reading.
Tuition and materials fees vary by program level. Register by calling 888-201-2448 toll free.
Bartell hosts food drive
May 21, 2013
Helping fight hunger in the Puget Sound area continues with the “Bartell’s Community Food Drive,” a community partnership with Food Lifeline, through June 1.
All Bartell Drugs in Issaquah, 5700 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway S.E. will be accepting nonperishable food items to replenish local food banks in the summer months, when families that normally depend on free or reduced-price school meals may struggle to provide healthy meals at home, according to a press release from Bartell Drugs.
Suggested foods include tuna, instant oatmeal, cereals, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jam, cheese crackers, applesauce and canned fruit. Other items include baby formula, diapers, baby food and personal care items, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, tissues, shampoo and conditioner, soap and feminine hygiene products.
Sports med students win state title
May 21, 2013
Fourteen of Issaquah High School’s advanced sports medicine students competed in the Washington Career and Technical Sports Medicine Association’s Sports Medicine competition April 26 and 27.
This is the 19th year a team from Issaquah has competed.
The competition has several components in which the students are tested. All 14 students take two 100-point, multiple-choice tests, which can be on any topic in the medical field. The best six students take a practical exam, while the rest take specialized tests. The combination of all 14 students’ grades make up the team score.
National Trails Day event to build new trails
May 21, 2013
Come celebrate National Trails Day with other people who enjoy trails and the outdoors.
In partnership with the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, volunteers will build a new nonmotorized trail in the Tiger Mountain State Forest, according to a press release from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
Issaquah backs Bike to Work Day
May 14, 2013
With the month of May designated as National Bike Month, the Cascade Bicycle Club will host its annual Bike to Work Day with the help of the city of Issaquah.
On May 17, the club will set up stations along commuting routes for cyclists. It will include provisions, rest stops and information on the benefits and ease of commuting by bicycle. Thousands annually take to the various bike lanes and trails to forge a new path into a sustainable future.
Issaquah will host its own station for those making their way into and out of the city.
Liberty volunteer honored
May 14, 2013
Melissa Blue, a senior at Liberty High School, was recognized by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program as a top youth volunteer in a ceremony at the school April 24.
Melissa Blue
Sponsored by Prudential in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the national program is now in its 18th year. It recognizes middle and high school students for their outstanding community service. Blue is one of six students in Washington and 234 nationwide who were named Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service activities.
It’s not my yard
May 14, 2013
I have a question. Are the deer living in our yards, or we living in theirs? I have a feeling it’s the latter. When we follow their eating habits we have to wonder, is there anything they won’t eat? The answer seems to be, “Very little.” When times are tough, they even eat the bark right off the trees. But here, in suburbia, they mostly go for our prized plants.
We can’t remember everything they like and don’t like, so it’s best to know just the generalities. Here are a few:
Evergreens — Old, tough leaves are not favorites, so evergreens, both broadleaf and conifers, are usually safe. They don’t seem to touch Mahonia, Kinnikinnick, ferns, rhododendrons or azaleas.
Development Services to close for training
May 14, 2013
Customers should plan ahead for a three-day closure of the City Development Services Department as staff members undergo training.
The department’s office at City Hall Northwest will be closed from May 15-17. Staff will not be available to assist customers during that time.
