Rotary Club’s Grape Escape benefits scholarships
March 1, 2011
The Rotary Club of Issaquah’s annual Grape Escape auction and wine tasting will feature five wineries and breweries, along with a silent auction of art, wine-related items and entertainment packages from 6-9 p.m. March 5 at Blakely Hall, 2550 N.E. Park Drive.
Tickets cost $25 online at www.issaquahrotary.org and $30 at the door. Participants are eligible to purchase wine and beer with no sales tax, and with prices at or below retail value.
All purchases benefit scholarships for Issaquah, Liberty and Tiger Mountain Community high schools.
The wineries and breweries include William Church, Airfield Estates, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Kestrel and Snoqualmie Brewery.
Rotary Club honors students of the month
March 1, 2011
The Rotary Club of Issaquah recently honored the following seniors as its students of the month for February.
Isabelle Chu
Isabelle Chu
-School: Issaquah High School
-Category of recognition: music
-Parents: Lawrence and Janet Chu
-Sponsoring teacher: Doug Longman
-Achievements: 4.0 grade point average, National Merit commended status
-Athletics: two black belts in martial arts
-Activities: principal cellist of the Evergreen Philharmonic and formal principal of Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra; second in state for large ensemble (2009)
-Scholastic activities: biology (and pursue that in college); National Honor Society executive board
-Hobbies: playing cello in orchestra and small ensemble/chamber groups; photography, fashion and traveling
-Outside school affiliations: Universal Energy Martial Arts; Eastside Chamber Choir and Orchestra; Sapor Dei Quartet; volunteer at Clark Elementary School
-Future goals: attend a four-year liberal arts college; dream school is Amherst or Princeton; still undecided on a career
50 years and counting, couple celebrates milestone
February 15, 2011
Finnegans celebrate golden anniversary, share a lifetime of tales
Leo and Rose Finnegan spoil their black Lab, Murphy, as they retell stories about their 50-year marriage and how they raised five children. Contributed
After spending 50 years together, raising five children and helping Issaquah’s handicapped adult community, Leo and Rose Finnegan have a lifetime of stories to share.
The two grew up in Montana and attended grade school together, but it was not until they crossed paths at a funeral that romantic sparks flew.
The two had already moved into early adulthood, with Rose earning her nursing degree and Leo studying engineering at Gonzaga University and the University of Notre Dame.
Leo’s grandmother passed away in summer 1960, and Rose’s mother, who knew the family, took Rose with her to the wake.
“For some reason, we just clicked,” Rose said. “We had an awful lot in common. We felt like we knew each other very well.”
By that summer, Leo proposed and they married Jan. 28, 1961.
“It was probably my grandmother’s doing,” Leo said.
The young couple moved frequently in their early years, from Colorado to Idaho to Michigan to Montana, and finally to Issaquah.
Rotary Club honors students of the month
February 1, 2011
The Rotary Club of Issaquah honored the following seniors as its students of the month for January.
Jordan Thompson
Jordan Thompson
School: Liberty High School
Parents: George and Sherri Thompson
Category honored: Leadership
Sponsoring teacher: Michelle Munson
Achievements: varsity golf captain (twice); junior varsity baseball captain; Associated Student Body vice president, homecoming king, junior class president
Activities/interests: ASB Leadership; math, DECA, Link Crew
Hobbies: Baseball, golf, fishing, ASB
Outside school affiliations: hanging with friends, working at Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Course
Future goals: go to a four-year university and obtain a degree; continue leadership throughout life; pursue a career in the field of landscaping architecture
Issaquah food bank hires new executive director
January 25, 2011
Board selects former Bellingham parks employee for role
Cori Kauk, the new executive director at the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank, takes a moment for a smile on her first day of work Jan. 18 at the downtown facility. By Greg Farrar
Cori Kauk arrived to handshakes, hugs and flowers to start in the top job at the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank last week.
Tuition hikes affect college decisions
January 25, 2011
Tuition hikes at Washington public universities make higher education an even bigger investment
By Ehrik Aldana
Over the next two years, tuition at the University of Washington and other state universities is expected to increase up to 11 percent per year. Washington’s community colleges would see increases of about 9 percent per year. And that still won’t be enough.
Rotary honors November students of the month
November 30, 2010
The Rotary Club of Issaquah recently honored the following seniors as its students of the month for November.
Kelsey Canaga
Kelsey Canaga
School: Liberty High School
Category of recognition: English
Parents/guardians: Susan and Steve Canaga
Sponsoring teacher: Lisa Beck
Scholastic interests: Writing and English, the visual and performing arts
Hobbies: Drawing digital art, character design and role-playing (live and textual), poetry, improv silliness, drama, scenic painting
Achievements: 3.85 grade point average, 4 on Advanced Placement U.S. history test, 5 on AP language test; taking AP studio arts, AP psychology and AP literature
Activities: Three winning designs for LHS drama posters; lead roles and major roles in LHS drama productions
Future goals: four-year university; focus in arts; explore graphic design, illustration and visual arts; perhaps secondary education
Who’s News
November 9, 2010
Trivia champions crowned
Trivia Champions of Issaquah
Issaquah Rotary Trivia Night on Oct. 26 at Malarkey’s raised $1,600 for the Issaquah Friends of Youth At Risk program.
The top three teams donated their prize money to the charity. The winning team crowned “Trivia Champions of Issaquah” included members Christine and Charles Chi and Shannon and Richard McVay. Read more
Rotary honors October’s top students
November 2, 2010
The Rotary Club of Issaquah recently named the following seniors as its students of the month for October.
Gabrielle Brask
School: Tiger Mountain Community High School
Category recognized: Science
Parent/guardian: Gayle MacDonnel Brask and Charles Brask
Sponsoring teacher: Mitra Kundu
Hobbies: Promoter for DJ Blue’s Entertainment events; volunteer at the Bruce MacDonnell Foundation
Athletics: In eighth and ninth grade, started dance program for middle school students; in ninth grade, was president of Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus dance club; sophomore year was on the Skyline High School dance team
Future goals: go to Bellevue College; focus is to be a psychologist
Judicial candidates face tough caseload
October 12, 2010
Crammed onto the ballot alongside the marquee race for U.S. Senate and high-profile initiatives is another important decision.
The electorate in Issaquah and broad stretch of northeastern King County faces a choice next month to pick a pair of King County District judges.
The race for the Position 6 seat features appointed Judge Michael Finkle and Issaquah attorney John L. O’Brien. Redmond City Prosecutor Larry Mitchell is running against Newcastle attorney Donna Tucker for the Position 7 seat.
The contests mark the first elections for both nonpartisan positions. King County Council members — backed by the state — increased the number of District Court judges last year to address a burgeoning caseload.
District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, drunken driving offenses and traffic infractions, requests for domestic violence protection orders, small claims and some civil cases.
The court is on track for a record year of more than 253,000 filings by the end of December.
