Central Issaquah Plan proposes shift from suburban to urban in business district
December 11, 2012
Issaquah, circa 2040, could sport a skyline.
The central business district is on the cusp of change, as city leaders plan for redevelopment on about 1,000 acres stretched along Interstate 90.
Nowadays, suburban sprawl dominates the landscape — traffic-clogged streets unfurl next to strip malls. Residents live elsewhere and climb into cars to reach the area’s amenities. Underfoot, 75 percent of land in the area is encased under parking lots.
Imagine, instead, buildings up to 125 feet tall, storefronts and residences arranged along tree-lined sidewalks, and perhaps decades in the future, a station on the regional rail network.
Santa Claus collects gifts at charity-focused cash mob
November 27, 2012
Al Krush returns as Santa Claus for a charity-focused cash mob Dec. 5 at Gilman Village’s White Horse Toys. File
Santa Claus is coming to town — to a cash mob, to be exact.
The next cash mob is due to descend on Gilman Village’s White Horse Toys on Dec. 5, just in time for the pre-Christmas rush. The event is meant to reflect the holiday spirit, because organizers asked cash mob participants to purchase something for themselves, and something extra for charity.
In a cash mob, a group of people descends on a business to buy, buy, buy. The destination is revealed through social media services. Then, the mob pops up at the business to browse and shop.
The 20- and 30-something business leaders in the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce — Young Issaquah Professionals, or YIPPIES for short — modeled the cash mob on similar events elsewhere.
The concept for the upcoming cash mob is BOGO — buy one, give one — and customers can donate toys to the Wounded Warrior Project. The toys then go to children of military personnel killed or wounded in action.
Issaquah cash mob aims to stock food bank
November 13, 2012
The indefatigable team behind recent cash mobs at Issaquah businesses is asking consumers to shop BOGO — buy one and, in a holiday season change-up, give one.
The next cash mob is due to descend on specialty grocer Champion Grocery on Nov. 17, and organizers encourage shoppers to buy something for themselves, and something extra for the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.
In a cash mob, a group of people descends on a business to buy, buy, buy. The destination is revealed through social media services. Then, the mob pops up at the business to browse and shop.
The Grange hosts next Issaquah Chamber of Commerce cash mob
October 23, 2012
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce’s next cash mob is at noon, Oct. 25 at The Grange, 145 N.E. Gilman Blvd.
In a cash mob, a group of people descends on a business to buy, buy, buy. The destination is revealed through social media services. Then, the mob pops up at the business to browse and shop.
The organizers — Young Issaquah Professionals, or YIPPIES, 20- and 30-something business leaders in the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce — held earlier cash mobs at Sisters Antiques and Fischer Meats.
Learn more about the cash mobs at www.facebook.com/CashMobIssaquah and www.facebook.com/YoungIssaquahProfessionals.
Experience 40 years of Issaquah History Museums milestones
October 9, 2012
In 40 years, the Issaquah History Museums has experienced numerous milestones.
- 1972 — Issaquah Historical Society is founded.
- 1972 — Issaquah Historical Society leases Gilman Town Hall from city.
- 1973 — Gilman Town Hall opens as organization’s historical center.
- 1983 — Society negotiates purchase of Issaquah Train Depot from city.
- 1985 — Ground is broken on depot restoration project.
- 1985 — Work on Gilman Town Hall remodel starts.
- 1989 — Weyerhaeuser Corp. donates caboose to the organization.
- 1992 — Issaquah Train Depot is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 2004 — Issaquah Historical Society changes name to Issaquah History Museums.
- 2005 — Puget Sound Energy donates historic Alexander House to the museums. The organization later donates the building to the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce for offices.
- 2006 — Museums’ oral history project captures the stories and memories of about 25 narrators.
- 2012 — Refurbished Issaquah Valley Trolley Project streetcar returns to Issaquah for service.
Issaquah residents recall Seattle World’s Fair as 50th anniversary of closing approaches
October 2, 2012
Ron Blyth and Beverly Blyth Huntington show off the pop-up souvenir their family produced for the 1962 World’s Fair. By Greg Farrar
In the heady months from April to October 1962, more celebrities visited the Century 21 Exposition than “The Tonight Show” couch.
The boldface names — Walt Disney, George Burns, John Glenn and dozens more — trekked to Seattle to gape at the Space Needle, ride the Bubbleator and snack on a Belgian waffle. Even Lassie came to the fair.
In the hubbub, longtime Issaquah resident Kaaren Mathiesen sold souvenirs at the fair from a booth near the Food Circus, a global food court and a nucleus of activity.
Funnywoman Carol Channing stopped at the booth to purchase a postcard and on another day Mathiesen sold Liberace a giant postcard to send to his brother.
“I kept very calm, cool and collected, but I sure smiled a lot,” she said in a recent interview.
The fair ran 50 years ago, from April 21 to Oct. 21, and by the end, Mathiesen and other local residents involved in the once-in-a-lifetime event said the Century 21 Exposition reshaped the region.
“It brought people to the realization that Seattle was no longer a little fishing village,” she said. “It put us on the map.”
Salmon Days Festival returns to downtown Issaquah
October 2, 2012
A chinook tries to surmount the weir Sept. 28 at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. By Greg Farrar
The ode to salmon migration, Issaquah’s iconic Salmon Days Festival, returns to downtown Issaquah on Oct. 6-7.
Local legislative candidates join chambers’ forum
October 2, 2012
Voters can hear from candidates for the state House of Representatives and Senate on Oct. 9 at a forum organized by the Issaquah and Sammamish chambers of commerce.
The lineup includes the contenders for a 5th Legislative District House seat — Republican Chad Magendanz and Democrat David Spring — and the Senate seat — Democrat Mark Mullet and Republican Brad Toft.
The candidates in the 41st Legislative District, state Rep. Marcie Maxwell, D-Renton, and Issaquah Republican Tim Eaves — plus state Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island, and Mercer Island Democrat Maureen Judge — also plan to attend.
State Rep. Jay Rodne, R-North Bend, the uncontested candidate for the other House seat in the district, is also expected to attend.
The forum is from 3:30-5 p.m. at Blakely Hall, 2550 N.E. Park Drive. Organizers plan to focus on business and economic issues.
City seeks tourism grant applicants
October 2, 2012
The committee responsible for doling out lodging tax dollars for tourism projects and programs is accepting grant applications.
The municipal Lodging Tax Advisory Committee plans to distribute about $85,000 in 2013. Past recipients include the Issaquah Visitor’s Center, Issaquah History Museums and the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce Festivals Office.
The 1 percent lodging tax is collected by three hotels and motels. Under state law, revenue can only be used to pay all or any part of tourism promotion, acquisition of tourism-related facilities or the operation of tourism-related facilities.
Find the application on the city’s website, www.ci.issaquah.wa.us. The deadline for applications is 4 p.m. Oct. 22.
Contact city Economic Development Manager Andrea Lehner at 837-3424 or andreal@ci.issaquah.wa.us.
Salmon Days Festival volunteer sign-up party is Sept. 12
September 11, 2012
Salmon Days Festival organizers need a phalanx of volunteers to offer directions to festivalgoers, sell souvenirs, drive a shuttle bus and, importantly, clean up after the event concludes.
