Liberty grad Tim Lincecum pitches Giants to World Series title
November 2, 2010
San Francisco Giants' Tim Lincecum carries the World Series trophy after winning baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Monday in Arlington, Texas. The Giants won 3-1 to capture the World Series. By David J. Phillip/AP
NEW — 11:55 a.m. Nov. 2, 2010
When Tim Lincecum came to Rangers Ballpark on Monday he was wearing a bow-tie and dressed as if headed to a party. As things turned out for the former Liberty High School baseball star, he will be doing some serious partying the rest of this week in San Francisco.
Locals help grieving children
October 19, 2010
Grief is incomprehensibly difficult for many people, especially children.
Now, grieving children have a place to cry and bond with friends going through the same experience of loss. Former Mariners pitcher Jamie Moyer has reached out to children with his network of Camp Erin bereavement programs across the country.
Linda Treosti (far right) stands with some of her friends and volunteers in front of her horse trailer loaded with supplies this summer for its trip to Camp Erin. By Jane Quirk
The camp is named for 17-year-old Erin Metcalf, of Woodinville, who met Jamie Moyer through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. When Metcalf died of cancer in 2000, her family worked with the Jamie Moyer Foundation to set up a camp that would help children grieving from the loss of a loved one, a grief felt by Erin’s sisters and family.
The camps — 36 in all — are staffed by counselors and other volunteers, who help children manage their grief.
For the past few years, more than 20 volunteers from Issaquah have helped with the local Camp Erin at Camp River Ranch in Carnation.
Off the Press
October 12, 2010
Wishes can come true, um, sort of
One day recently I stopped by a garage sale where they were selling gift bags. The bags, which cost $5, were sealed so customers wouldn’t know the contents until after purchasing one. So I spent $5. Over the years, I’ve wasted money on other meaningless purchases, like lottery tickets. So what’s $5?
When I got home, I opened the bag. There were baseball cards of Dave Cripe (1978 Royals), Gary Cooper (not the actor, 1980 Braves) and Frank Zupo (1961 Orioles) — I had to look these guys up in my Baseball Encyclopedia just to make sure they existed. There was a yo (string was missing, so it wasn’t a complete yo-yo), and an orange tie with purple stars. The bag also had something that looked like Aladdin’s lamp. The lamp was dingy and dusty, and in need of some serious polishing. I gave it a brisk brushing. All of a sudden, smoke poured out of the lamp and a man appeared.
Bob Taylor Press sports editor
“I am the genie of the lamp. My name is Bashar,” the genie said. I later researched the name and discovered he had a Persian name that meant “bringer of glad tidings.”
“Wow! My very own genie,” I thought.
But before I could make a wish, Bashar said, “I must warn you. I am retired. I have no wishes to give you.”
I thought “Oh, man, just my luck. A retired genie.”
Bashar noticing my frown, continued.
“You think you got problems, man. I live in an old genie’s home in Genieapolis, but I’m not sure how long I can afford to stay there. I’m down to my last shekel. I lost all my savings in Enron. I have emphysema from all that smoke I’ve been breathing from the lamp over the years. I have no health care,“ he said.
“If I had a wish, it would be that you could give me three wishes,” Bashar said before disappearing in a poof of smoke.
Issaquah, Skyline soccer teams post shutouts
October 8, 2010
NEW — 4 p.m. Oct. 8, 2010
The Issaquah High School girls soccer team maintained its lead in the 4A KingCo Conference on Thursday with a 1-0 victory against host Woodinville.
Rachel Wheeler, assisted by Margaret Rauch, scored at the 12th minute for the Eagles. Goalkeeper Brooke Miller recorded her sixth straight shutout.
Issaquah, 6-0 in league action, holds a three-point lead over Skyline. The Eagles are 10-1 for the season.
Skyline, scored twice in the first half, and blanked visiting Bothell 2-0. Michelle Bretl and Madi Barney scored Skyline’s goals. Goalkeeper Tina Vargas recorded the shutout. Skyline is 5-0 in league play and 10-0 on the season.
Sick youth organizes walk-a-thon
September 14, 2010
The Hope, Strength, Joy team, organized by Cullen Rogers to raise money during the Make-A-Wish 5K, starts out on its walk (above). Rogers and his team of family and friends were the top individual, team and state fundraiser for the event. By Mitch Reinitz
When Cullen Rogers fell ill, the Issaquah community reached forward to embrace him with support. Now, Rogers wants to help other children living with life-threatening conditions by fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
At age 12, Rogers, a Bothell resident, found his fingers hurt him. His parents thought he had sprained them and told him to be more careful during gym class. But a later X-ray showed no sprain, and anti-inflammatory medication didn’t help his fingers recover. Read more
Issaquah grad Colin Curtis slams first major-league home run
July 22, 2010
NEW — 10:45 a.m. July 22, 2010
Former Issaquah High School star Colin Curtis was sitting on the New York Yankees’ bench and savoring a cup of cold Gatorade when he was unexpectedly called to pinch hit in Wednesday’s game against California Angels.
Curtis came through for the Yankees, smashing a three-run home run in New York’s 10-6 victory.
Manager Joe Girardi summoned the rookie outfielder when Brett Gardner was ejected by home-plate umpire Paul Emmel in the seventh inning. Gardner left the game with a 0-2 count. Curtis looked at three fastballs outside the strike zone from Angel reliever Scott Shields before belting a pitch into the right field seats.
County expands Mental Health Court to Issaquah
July 13, 2010
King County plans to expand Mental Health Court — a groundbreaking program launched in the aftermath of a tragedy — to Issaquah by late July.
Launched as a pilot program in February 1999, the court uses a team approach to place defendants in treatment for mental illness. Supporters said the program bridges the gap between mental health treatment and criminal justice systems.
The court accepts mentally ill misdemeanor offenders, and then monitors them during court-ordered treatment. Participants waive a trial and agree to participate in treatment.
The court assigns a team — including a judge, prosecutor, public defender, treatment court liaison and probation officers — to monitor defendants throughout the process. Participants can be jailed for straying from the program.
District Court and elected officials announced the expansion July 9 at the Issaquah Courthouse.
A major league homecoming
July 13, 2010
Issaquah grad Colin Curtis, now a New York Yankee, plays in Seattle for first time as major leaguer
Colin Curtis, former Issaquah High School baseball standout, takes batting practice July 8 at Safeco Field, before his New York Yankees meet the Seattle Mariners in the first game in front of his hometown fans. By Greg Farrar
Fifteen years ago, had Colin Curtis known he would someday become a major league outfielder, he would have said, “perfect, my plan is going to work.” At least that is what Curtis, now 25, said with a laugh when asked what his reaction would have been.
County expands Mental Health Court to Issaquah
July 9, 2010
NEW — 12:30 p.m. July 9, 2010
King County plans to expand Mental Health Court — a groundbreaking program launched in the aftermath of a tragedy — to Issaquah by late July.
Launched as a pilot program in February 1999, the court uses a team approach to place defendants in treatment for mental illness. Supporters said the program bridges the gap between the mental health treatment and criminal justice systems.
The court accepts mentally ill misdemeanor offenders, and then monitors them during court-ordered treatment. Participants waive a trial and agree to participate in treatment.
The court assigns a team — including a judge, prosecutor, public defender, treatment court liaison and probation officers — to monitor defendants throughout the process. Participants can be jailed for straying from the program.
District Court and elected officials announced the expansion Friday at the Issaquah Courthouse.
Off the Press
July 6, 2010
Is that a famous person? Quick, get the camera!
Issaquah is not in Southern California, if all the rain and forests didn’t give it away. But our town on the edge of the greater Seattle area is linked to its fair share of recognizable and famous people. Some have moved here, others used to live here and some just drop in from time to time.
So, just who are these famous folks who graced Issaquah at one time or another, you ask? Modest Mouse front man Isaac Brock; Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki; sportscaster Rick Rizzs; former Mariners Jay Buhner, Ken Griffey Jr., Paul Sorrento, J.J. Putz, Omar Vizquel, Dave Valle and Jeff Nelson; former Seattle Supersonics Detlef Schrempf and Ray Allen; Pulitzer-winning playwright Brian Yorkey; authors Deb Caletti and Serena Rolan; actress Cynthia Geary, who played Shelly Marie Tambo on “Northern Exposure”; Lockergnome founder Chris Pirillo; and Red and Rover comic strip artist Brian Basset.
Also, don’t forget Colin Curtis, who graduated from Issaquah High School and now plays for the New York Yankees. Oh, and Train lead singer Pat Monahan lives somewhere up on Lake Sammamish as well, although that may be just out of city limits.
Others who have been said to live here include The Decemberists’ bassist Nate Query, NBC news correspondent Margaret Larson and filmmaker Phil Lucas, who passed away in 2007.
Many of the city’s notable residents have been featured in The Issaquah Press before, and it may not be unusual to see some of them around town. However, the more famous people in the area aren’t seen around town as often, and their exact whereabouts can be hard to pinpoint.
