Tools for Schools needs supplies
July 24, 2012
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce cash mob participants can help needy students within the Issaquah School District acquire school supplies.
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Community remembers Salmon Days Festival organizer
July 24, 2012
Robert Wayne Uht
Longtime Salmon Days Festival volunteer Robert Wayne Uht died July 15.
Uht, 76, resided in Issaquah for more than 30 years, and served as Salmon Days cochairman and Issaquah Chamber of Commerce board member.
The festival organizer spent hours building floats for the Grande Parade alongside the other cochairman, Dave Bahm. Uht also served the community as a longtime Kiwanis Club of Issaquah member.
Uht and wife Johanna relocated from Issaquah to Sequim 18 years ago. In Sequim, Robert Uht continued the tradition of participation in local celebrations. He served as a ditchwalker — a person walking alongside a parade float — in the Sequim Irrigation Festival.
Chocolate, Wine and All That Jazz celebrates triumvirate of tastes
July 17, 2012
Attendees at last year’s Chocolate, Wine & All That Jazz enjoy the festivities at Boehms Candies. Contributed
Chocolate, Wine and All That Jazz is just around the corner and this year it’s bigger than ever.
Put on by the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and Boehms Candies since 1988, the evening of wine, food and jazz in the gardens at Boehms is set to be twice as large as past festivals.
“Whether it’s entertainment and apparel or arts and crafts and all kinds of various wines and fares,” said Laura Walker, event organizer, “we were trying to make it a little different and unique from all the other wine-tasting events while showcasing Issaquah businesses.”
Tickets include entry, a souvenir wine glass and plate, and food and drink samples from all the various vendors. Booths featuring Washington wines and samples of favorite dishes from local restaurants will be set up around the chocolate factory’s garden. Attendees will also be serenaded by the three voices of jazz trio Tish, Hans and Phil.
Celebrate Independence Day in Issaquah with parade
June 26, 2012
Fireworks are banned in Issaquah and surrounding areas, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of ways to celebrate Independence Day.
Next Issaquah cash mob to descend on Fischer Meats
June 19, 2012
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce leaders have asked merchants and shoppers to prepare for another cash mob.
The event is planned to occur at Fischer Meats, 85 Front St. N., at 4 p.m. June 21, as part of National Small Business Week.
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 — modeled the cash mob on similar events in other locales.
Learn more about the cash mobs at www.facebook.com/CashMobIssaquah and www.facebook.com/YoungIssaquahProfessionals.
Organizers said most participants spend about $20 apiece, but any amount is acceptable.
The inaugural cash mob in Issaquah unfolded last month at Gilman Village merchant Lucky You. Mobbers purchased almost $3,000 in merchandise. The next cash mob occurred at Sisters Antiques.
City Council bans plastic bags at Issaquah retailers
June 12, 2012
Ordinance goes into effect for most businesses in March 2013
Issaquah joined a string of cities along Puget Sound to outlaw plastic bags at local retailers June 4, after months of sometimes-acrimonious debate about adverse impacts to the marine environment and the regional economy.
In the end, concerns about the environment led the City Council to decide 5-2 to eliminate most retail uses for plastic bags. The legislation — and a 5-cent fee on paper bags — go into effect in March 2013 for most businesses.
The council listened to advocates from environmental groups and the plastics industry in public meetings throughout April and May, and then again before the decision.
The plastic bag ban sponsor, Issaquah Highlands entrepreneur and City Councilman Mark Mullet, presented the legislation as a way to reduce the estimated 10 million plastic bags the city sends to the King County landfill each year.
Issaquah hosts forum to focus on employment
June 12, 2012
Citizens can join state legislators and business leaders soon at a local forum to discuss the dearth of young adult employment in Washington.
The employment rate is only 43 percent for young adults age 16 to 24 in Washington — the ninth-lowest in the United States, according to government labor statistics. Community Forums Network is hosting forums and promoting a survey to collect feedback on how to fix the problem.
The local forum is hosted by the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, Issaquah History Museums and Community Forums Network.
Youth advocates take top honors at Community Awards
June 5, 2012
Renee Zimmerman reacts to a standing ovation May 31 after receiving the Citizen of the Year award from Issaquah Chamber of Commerce board chairwoman Dianna Reely, during the 33rd annual Issaquah Community Awards at the Hilton Garden Inn. By Greg Farrar
As Issaquah celebrated its very best at the 33rd annual Chamber of Commerce Community Awards, two residents — celebrated for their lasting contributions to the community — were inducted into Issaquah’s Hall of Fame on May 31.
Barbara de Michele and Master Sgt. Richard “Top” DeMarco received top honors at the May 31 ceremony, which included recognition for Issaquah’s finest in 18 categories, including awards for standout volunteers, businesses leaders, organizations and youth.
Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger said the Hall of Fame awards were based on several criteria, including inspiration, leadership, civic mindedness, fundraising efforts for public good and length of service to the community.
None more so affected by the awardees are Issaquah’s youth.
Organizers need vendors, volunteers for Independence Day
June 5, 2012
Organizers need vendors and volunteers to make the Down Home 4th of July and Heritage Day Celebration — Issaquah’s annual Independence Day celebration — a success.
The action starts at 10 a.m. July 4 as participants gather and register for the Kids, Pets ‘n’ Pride Parade. The parade starts at 11 a.m.
Revelers then head to Veterans’ Memorial Park for a hay hunt, three-legged and gunnysack races, pony rides, face painting, bouncy houses, and a slug race and beauty pageant. Participants must provide their own slugs. Save room for a pie-eating contest at about 1:30 p.m.
In order to present the celebration, organizers need volunteers to participate in setup and tear-down, and to work in the retail area and at activity stations.
Organizers offer booths to nonprofit organizations, arts and crafts vendors, and commercial ventures.
Find the application forms for the parade, vendors and volunteers at www.salmondays.org/4th-of-july.html.
City Council outlaws plastic bags in Issaquah
June 4, 2012
NEW — 11:20 p.m. June 4, 2012
Issaquah joined a string of cities along Puget Sound to outlaw plastic bags at local retailers Monday, after months of sometimes-acrimonious debate about adverse impacts to the marine environment and the regional economy.
In the end, concerns about the environment led the City Council to decide 5-2 to eliminate most retail uses for plastic bags. The legislation is scheduled to go into effect in March 2013 for most businesses.
The council listened to advocates from environmental groups and the plastics industry in public meetings throughout April and May, and then again before the decision.
The plastic bag ban sponsor, Issaquah Highlands entrepreneur and Councilman Mark Mullet, presented the legislation as a way to reduce the estimated 10 million plastic bags the city sends to the King County landfill each year.
