Shakespeare on the Green to return to community center
March 13, 2012
Timeless comedies come to the Issaquah Community Center lawn in July and August as Seattle Shakespeare Co.’s Wooden O returns for Shakespeare on the Green.
Catch performances of “Twelfth Night” and “The Winter’s Tale” at the community center, 301 Rainier Blvd. S.
“Twelfth Night” is a bewitching comedy centered on a shipwrecked — and cross-dressing — castaway in a strange land. “The Winter’s Tale” unfolds as a suspicious king accuses the queen of high treason.
Catch “Twelfth Night” on the community center lawn July 12 and “The Winter’s Tale” on Aug. 2. Organizers encourage attendees to bring blankets, chairs and picnic baskets for the shows.
The city Arts Commission and King County cultural service agency 4Culture present the Shakespeare on the Green performances at no cost to attendees.
“I’m so very thrilled that many of our shows will involve so many talented artists who are also audience favorites,” Seattle Shakespeare Co. Artistic Director George Mount said. “It’s a wonderful roster of plays, and I can’t wait for us to share them with our patrons.”
Presidents Day means Issaquah closures
February 15, 2012
NEW — 6 p.m. Feb. 15, 2012
Presidents Day means closures and schedule changes Monday.
King County Metro Transit operates on a weekday and no University of Washington schedule for the holiday.
Sound Transit buses operate on a regular weekday schedule for Presidents Day. Sound Transit customers can also sign up to receive Rider Alerts via e-mail or text message for specific services and bus routes.
Metro Transit also offers Transit Alerts to update riders about inclement conditions, road construction and other service changes.
The city, county and state close government offices in observance of the holiday. In addition, the Issaquah Community Center and Julius Boehm Pool close for the day.
State liquor stores also remain open for the holiday.
Issaquah Community Center offers residents shelter
January 24, 2012
The mercury dipped and the lights turned dark as crews raced to restore power across the region.
The city and the American Red Cross partnered to turn the Issaquah Community Center into a 24-hour shelter amid a dayslong blackout. The refuge opened late Jan. 19, after a rare ice storm sent tree limbs tumbling to earth and snow lingered on roadways.
Barry Morgan (right), American Red Cross volunteer, registers the 100th client at the Issaquah Community Center at 3 p.m. Jan. 20 for a place to stay. Volunteer Stan McKenzie and service dog Katsu are at left. By Greg Farrar
The shelter provided 35 shelter nights — or number of overnight stays — to residents from Issaquah and other Eastside communities. Teams at the shelter handled 244 drop-in visits, and served 778 snacks and meals to clients.
Some shelter clients spread out on cots for the night. Other people stopped in for a hot snack or a hotter shower. The shelter offered some a chance to unwind after stressful days in powerless residences.
“They were feeling cooped up in the house with the kids in particular,” said Stephanie Schoo, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit organization. “It was good to have a warm, safe place for the kids to get to play and sprawl out.”
Issaquah Community Center shelter is open for another night
January 21, 2012
UPDATED — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21, 2012
The 24-hour shelter at the Issaquah Community Center is open for another night Saturday, as power returns to many customers and the need decreases.
The shelter, 301 Rainier Blvd. S., hosted 24 people overnight Friday, as power remained out for many residents in the Issaquah area. Many other people stopped in throughout the day for snacks and warmth.
The shelter is scheduled to close Sunday, American Red Cross officials announced Saturday night.
Meanwhile, city crews and residents continued recovery efforts. Only a section of a Squak Mountain street — Southwest Ellerwood Street — remained closed Saturday afternoon, after crews toiled Friday to clear downed trees from roadways.
Community Emergency Response Teams also fanned out across the city to distribute leaflets about the community center shelter, a joint effort between the city and the American Red Cross.
People intending to spend the night at the shelter should bring prescription and emergency medications; extra clothing, pillows, blankets, toiletries and other comfort items; and important documents.
Crews restore power to some Issaquah residents, but others wait
January 20, 2012
NEW — 6 p.m. Jan. 20, 2012
Puget Sound Energy crews had restored power to many Issaquah neighborhoods by early Friday evening, but large swaths remained in the dark as workers race to restore power across the region.
Downtown residents reported power coming back just after 5:30 p.m. Crews restored power for residents in some areas, including the Issaquah Highlands, late Thursday.
Puget Sound Energy estimated 8,876 customers in Issaquah without power early Friday evening — down from about 18,000 customers without power midday Thursday. Crews continue to work on restoring power to the areas left in the dark.
Still, despite the success, officials remained concerned about the possibility of additional weather challenges in the days ahead.
City, Issaquah School District cancel weekend events
January 20, 2012
NEW — 5:05 p.m. Jan. 20, 2012
City and Issaquah School District officials canceled weekend events as residents gird for rain and wind after ice and snow caused headaches throughout the week.
The city canceled all basketball games at the Issaquah Community Center for Saturday due to power outages and winter weather. In addition, the community center is open as a 24-hour shelter. The games cannot be made up due to time and facility constraints.
The school district nixed all athletic events for the weekend, including a middle-school wrestling tournament and high school events.
The policy is the same as neighboring districts in the league if school is cancelled on a Friday and athletes have not been able to practice beforehand. In addition, emergency conditions exist throughout western Washington, and officials could not guarantee safety of transportation — or power — in facilities. Athletes can learn make-up dates through their schools.
Officials urge residents to check on elderly neighbors as outage lingers
January 20, 2012
NEW — 11 a.m. Jan. 20, 2012
The pummeling from winter weather for several days means many people, especially senior citizens and people of limited mobility, have been stuck at home for almost a week.
Officials urged residents in Issaquah and elsewhere in King County to check on people in their neighborhoods to see if they need assistance. Consider inviting people without power to a warm place to heat up amid the ongoing power outage.
(Puget Sound Energy estimated about 11,000 customers without power in Issaquah early Thursday morning.)
Residents can also seek refuge at a 24-hour shelter at the Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainer Blvd. S. The shelter is operated by the city and the American Red Cross.
Officials also reminded people to limit calls to 911 to actual emergencies.
In Issaquah, power outage, travel headaches continue for another day
January 20, 2012
Rodney Amburgey, a lineman with City Pacific Services contracted to Puget Sound Energy, works Jan. 20 to secure a broken and dangling utility pole crossbeam at Southeast May Valley Road and 231st Place Southeast. By Greg Farrar
NEW — 6:30 a.m. Jan. 20, 2012
Though the forecast calls for temperatures to inch upward Friday, effects from a major snowstorm and rare ice storm continue to impact Issaquah residents.
Puget Sound Energy estimated 11,235 customers remained without power in Issaquah at 6:10 a.m. — a drop from the more than 18,000 left in the dark Thursday. Difficult road conditions continue to challenge motorists on city streets and roads in unincorporated King County.
City road crews continue to focus on maintaining priority routes and removing downed trees from the roadway. Numerous roads in Issaquah and nearby areas closed Thursday due to fallen trees and downed power lines.
Issaquah Community Center opens as 24-hour shelter
January 19, 2012
Barry Morgan (right), American Red Cross volunteer, registers the 100th client at the Issaquah Community Center at 3 p.m. Jan. 20 for a place to stay. Volunteer Stan McKenzie and service dog Katsu are at left. By Greg Farrar
NEW — 9:20 p.m. Jan. 19, 2012
The city and the American Red Cross partnered to turn the Issaquah Community Center into a shelter for people without heat and power.
The 24-hour shelter opened Thursday night at the community center, 301 Rainier Blvd. S.
Downed trees snarl morning commutes in Issaquah area
January 19, 2012
NEW — 7:25 a.m. Jan. 19, 2012
Fallen trees caused road closures and traffic headaches early Thursday, as icy conditions caused fresh problems a day after a major snowstorm.
Newport Way Northwest from Northwest Oakcrest Drive to state Route 900 is closed due to a downed tree. State Route 900 from Northwest Talus Drive to the southern city limits is closed due to a downed tree.
Meanwhile, outside Issaquah city limits, state Route 18 is closed in both directions from Issaquah-Hobart Road Southeast to Interstate 90 due to multiple fallen trees blocking the lanes.
Puget Sound Energy reported more than 1,200 without power at 7:45 a.m.
Early Thursday, National Weather Service meteorologists issued a regional ice storm warning through noon. Forecasters said to expect travel impacts related to icy conditions, although temperatures should start to rise by midday.
City road crews continue to focus on high-priority routes, as ice poses a different challenge than the snow from previous days.
