Municipal League honors King County Library System, elected officials
April 3, 2012
NEW — 8 p.m. April 3, 2012
Efforts to help people find jobs, learn English and grow small businesses earned the Issaquah-based King County Library System a top honor from the Municipal League of King County.
The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization recognized the library system as Organization of the Year, and also honored King County Executive Dow Constantine and local state Sen. Steve Litzow, in the 53rd Annual Civic Awards.
Each year, the Municipal League and the Municipal League Foundation present the honors to highlight people and organizations for significant contributions to the community. Organizers plan a Thursday ceremony to honor the recipients.
Constantine earned the James R. Ellis Regional Leadership Award for years of public service, efforts to bring a culture of performance to county government, completion of major projects and improved relationships among the county and other jurisdictions.
Let ‘The Hunger Games’ begin
March 20, 2012
Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen in the film adaptation of the bestselling novel ‘The Hunger Games.’a By Murray Close/Lionsgate
Library hosts events to celebrate bestselling book series’ film debut
Imagine “The Hunger Games” is a mishmash of “Survivor” and “The X Factor” set in a “Lord of the Flies”-style arena.
The film based on the mega-popular novel debuts on the big screen March 23 and to celebrate, the bustling Issaquah Library is hosting a party and a discussion March 28. Organizers said participants can join activities inspired by the book — although nothing as dangerous as the titular games — and nab prizes inspired by the book and the film.
Other activities planned for the library party include flora and fauna identification stations — key skills for characters in the book and film.
Backers promise big campaign for $219 million school bond
February 21, 2012
Issaquah City Council President Tola Marts addresses about 100 people gathered for the kickoff of the campaign promoting passage of an April 17 school bond. By Tom Corrigan
The coming push for passage of a proposed $219 million school bond issue that will appear on an April 17 ballot, may be the biggest campaign ever mounted in the name of the Issaquah School District, campaign co-chairwoman Lesley Austin said.
Austin is probably in a worthy position to make such a statement. A former Issaquah School Board member, she has worked on numerous bond and levy issues for the local schools. But Austin and others said the coming bond campaign is going to be different for a couple of reasons.
“It’s because it’s a bond and it’s a complex bond,” Austin said.
Speaking to a crowd of about 100 residents and officials — virtually all supporters of the bond — the campaign committee, Volunteers for Issaquah Schools, held a campaign kickoff Feb. 2 at the King County Library Resource Center on Newport Way Northwest.
With about $45,000 already in hand, the group hopes to raise $90,000 to help promote the bond issue, which would fund replacement of four schools, along with maintenance and refurbishing projects at other buildings in the district.
City seeks applicants for municipal boards, commissions
February 7, 2012
City leaders need civic-minded citizens to offer advice on key issues as municipal board and commission members, even as officials remain undecided about just how many such groups Issaquah needs.
City seeks applicants for municipal boards, commissions
January 30, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. Jan. 30, 2012
City leaders need civic-minded citizens to offer advice on key issues as municipal board and commission members, even as officials remain undecided about just how many such groups Issaquah needs.
The city needs applicants for openings on 12 boards and commissions. The groups advise the City Council on issues related to the arts, cable TV, development, parks and, in more specialized realms, city cemetery operations and sister-city relationships.
Officials need regular and alternate members. Applicants for board and commission posts do not need to reside in Issaquah.
Applicants undergo interviews before Mayor Ava Frisinger recommends appointees to council members for confirmation. The council usually confirms appointees in the spring. Terms for appointees start in May.
Issaquah School Board President Chad Magendanz eyes Glenn Anderson’s House seat
January 10, 2012
In a campaign announcement focused on dollars for education, Chad Magendanz, a Republican and the Issaquah School Board president, entered the race Jan. 5 to represent Issaquah and rural East King County in the Legislature.
Magendanz, a Tiger Mountain resident in Issaquah, launched the local campaign season days after state leaders offered a re-contoured legislative district for the Issaquah area and a little more than a week after the longtime incumbent, GOP state Rep. Glenn Anderson, opted against running for the seat in 2012.
Chad Magendanz
“Much of the policy that affects our kids is not made in the district, it’s made down in Olympia. That’s where the funding for the most part is, and that’s where the major decisions are made as far as the future of education,” Magendanz said to business and education leaders gathered at the King County Library System headquarters in Issaquah.
“If we’re going to enact meaningful education reform, we need to have a voice down there in Olympia,” he added.
The kickoff reflected on Magendanz’s experience on the school board, and state and national education organizations. The former United States Navy nuclear submarine officer highlighted the Issaquah School District’s accomplishments in the campaign announcement.
King County librarians offer student academic aid
January 10, 2012
Local branches of the King County Library System are at the service of students looking for homework assistance or just something to do, said Ann Crewdson, left, children’s section supervisor for the Issaquah and Sammamish branch libraries, and Jessica Gomes, teen services director. By Tom Corrigan
“Fundamentally, we can find almost anything almost any time for almost anybody,” said Marsha Iverson, public relations specialist for the King County Library System.
Issaquah School Board member Chad Magendanz launches campaign for Legislature
January 5, 2012
NEW — 11:35 a.m. Jan. 5, 2011
In a campaign announcement focused on dollars for education, Chad Magendanz, a Republican and the Issaquah School Board president, entered the race Thursday to represent Issaquah and rural East King County in the Legislature.
Chad Magendanz
Magendanz, a Tiger Mountain resident in Issaquah, launched the local campaign season days after state leaders offered a re-contoured legislative district for the Issaquah area and a little more than a week after the longtime incumbent, GOP state Rep. Glenn Anderson, opted against running for the seat in 2012.
“Much of the policy that affects our kids is not made in the district, it’s made down in Olympia. That’s where the funding for the most part is, and that’s where the major decisions are made as far as the future of education,” Magendanz said to business and education leaders gathered at the King County Library System headquarters in Issaquah.
Local library readers’ appetite for ‘The Hunger Games’ dominates top titles
December 27, 2011
“The Hunger Games” — Suzanne Collins’ young adult novel set in a dystopian future — ranked as the top title requested throughout the King County Library System in 2011.
The top titles requested throughout local libraries mirror bestseller lists and offer a glimpse at readers’ tastes. “The Hunger Games” — No. 1 in a popular series about a post-apocalyptic world — and other books in Collins’ lineup jousted against titles from authors Rick Riordan and Laura Hillenbrand, and comedienne Tina Fey, for the top spot.
King County Library System librarians tracked the most-requested titles by determining the number of holds on a particular book. The number indicates readers’ most likely checked out the book, although the figure is not a precise count.
The system does not release the information for individual libraries due to confidentiality policies.
Catch candidate forum replays until Election Day
November 1, 2011
Issaquah residents can hear from local and regional candidates during replays of a candidate forum on Issaquah Channel 21 at 4 and 9 p.m. each day until Election Day, Nov. 8.
Organized by The Issaquah Press and moderated by Publisher Debbie Berto, the forum attracted candidates for City Council, Issaquah School Board and Port of Seattle Commission.
The candidates, gathered at the King County Library System headquarters in Issaquah, answered questions Oct. 13 in 40-minute sections organized by office.
