Family friendly bird walk is May 18
May 7, 2013
Lorenzo Rohani, 13, does some birdwatching with a camera, long lens and tripod. He gives a talk May 18 at an Eastside Audubon event.
By Michael Rohani
A guided family birding walk at Lake Sammamish State Park and a lively talk by an accomplished 13-year-old birder will show kids and grown-ups the excitement of discovering the natural world through bird watching.
Both events are free, and Eastside Audubon welcomes everyone in the community to attend either one or both.
An easy walk on maintained trails and walkways with master birder Andy McCormick will explore the many habitats of Lake Sammamish State Park. Woodlands, streamside, lakeshore and meadow attract a variety of birds this season. Expect to see (and hear!) colorful songbirds and woodpeckers, Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, goofy American Coots and many others.
Man crashes experimental plane in Lake Sammamish, again
March 12, 2013
When Redmond resident Paul Weston crashed his experimental plane in Lake Sammamish on March 4, there was a bit of déjà vu.
Weston, who was not seriously injured, had crashed the same plane in about the same spot in the lake in June 2009.
By Ari Cetron
Paul Weston shakes the water out of his plane’s wing after it was moved back onto land. He crashed the plane into Lake Sammamish on March 4.
This time, the problem was the weather. Weston was drawn out by a sunny day in March, but conditions were still windy. The float plane — it has no landing gear and can only take off from and land on water — was unable to achieve liftoff due to the water conditions, Weston said.
Leaders needed for Lake Sammamish State Park group
February 5, 2013
The effort to establish a community organization to support Lake Sammamish State Park is on the agenda for a Feb. 14 meeting hosted by the state parks agency.
State OKs King County rules for creek, lake
January 29, 2013
The state Department of Ecology approved King County rules for development near shorelines, including Issaquah Creek and Lake Sammamish, county and state officials announced Jan. 17.
The plan, or shoreline master program, is designed to guide construction and development on almost 2,000 miles of marine, stream and lake shorelines countywide.
City Council applicants offer varied skills
January 22, 2013
Members to appoint candidate Jan. 29
The applicants for a rare open seat on the City Council include long-established community leaders — and some candidates from the last time the council accepted applications to fill a vacancy.
The seven candidates offer assorted skills in community, government and military service in the process to succeed Mark Mullet on the council.
Initially, Ken Sessler, a retired Boeing engineer and a prolific letter writer to The Issaquah Press, applied for the vacancy, but withdrew not long after the city released the applicant list.
State approves plan for Issaquah Creek, Lake Sammamish
January 17, 2013
NEW — 10 a.m. Jan. 17, 2013
The state Department of Ecology approved King County rules for development near shorelines, including Issaquah Creek and Lake Sammamish, county and state officials announced Thursday.
The plan, or shoreline master program, is designed to guide construction and development on almost 2,000 miles of marine, stream and lake shorelines countywide. The rules combine local plans for future development and preservation, plus recent development ordinances and related permitting requirements.
The county Shoreline Master Program includes stretches of Issaquah Creek — from the headwaters on Tiger Mountain to the Issaquah city limits — and the mouth of the creek in Lake Sammamish State Park.
Legislators’ priorities reflect education, transportation needs
January 15, 2013
Lawmakers confronted a familiar scenario as the Legislature convened Jan. 14 — a budget shortfall, opposing pressures to preserve essential services and rein in government spending, and a court mandate to spend more money on education.
Mark Mullet
Chad Magendanz
Observers expect education and transportation to rank as the dominant issues in the 105-day session. The state faces a $900 million budget shortfall for 2013-15 and, in the meantime, faces a court order to increase education funding by 2018.
In addition to the statewide issues on legislators’ docket, a lobbyist hired by city leaders to represent Issaquah is in search of support for local projects, including dollars to upgrade transportation infrastructure and Lake Sammamish State Park.
Issaquah is also focused on securing state dollars for a transportation improvement district in North Issaquah near Costco headquarters and high-traffic retail centers.
Explore state, national parks at no cost for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 15, 2013
NEW — 10 a.m. Jan. 15, 2013
Washingtonians can observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Lake Sammamish State Park and other state facilities, Tiger Mountain State Forest and other state forestlands, or in national forests and parks.
Officials at the agencies responsible for state and national public lands waived admission fees for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday.
Visitors do not need a Discover Pass to visit state parks, including Lake Sammamish and Squak Mountain near Issaquah.
Mount Rainier National Park waived entrance fees to the 235,625-acre park. Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is waiving fees at more than 74 day-use sites in the forest.
Throughout the year, state and national parks waive entrance fees to promote outdoor recreation.
Tastin’ n Racin’ event ends after 16 years
January 1, 2013
After 16 years of thunderous hydroplane racing and family-friendly fun, Tastin’ n Racin’ will come to an end.
Citing rising expenses and unreasonable insurance requirements, organizers made the decision to end the summer event, held at Lake Sammamish State Park, effective immediately.
Over the years, Tastin’ n Racin’ gave Eastside communities the opportunity to experience the excitement of hydroplane racing, up close and personal.
Editorial
January 1, 2013
2013 goals are imperative for Issaquah
Our news staff and editorial board put their heads together each year to create a list of 2013 goals for the Issaquah area. Some are repeats from former years, but are still waiting to be accomplished.
