City Council selects CleanScapes to haul Issaquah garbage
October 19, 2011
NEW — 11 a.m. Oct. 19, 2011
The next hauler for Issaquah garbage is Seattle-based CleanScapes, City Council members decided Monday.
In a unanimous decision, council members selected the garbage hauler to serve Issaquah neighborhoods other than Greenwood Point and South Cove. CleanScapes offered additional curbside recycling options, a local storefront, wildlife-resistant containers and other features to land the $3.8-million-per-year Issaquah contract.
Consumers could experience a rate decrease as the city transitions from the current hauler, Waste Management, to CleanScapes.
For a residential customer putting a 32-gallon cart out for weekly curbside pickup, rates could decrease from $13.43 to $12.74 — though a recent rate increase from the King County Council could dilute the proposed drop in rates.
The contract runs from July 1 through June 2019.
City could choose CleanScapes for garbage contract, dump Waste Management
October 18, 2011
Officials seek hauler to serve most Issaquah neighborhoods
CleanScapes nudged out larger competitors and emerged as the No. 1 contender to haul Issaquah garbage due, in part, to offering curbside pickup for difficult-to-recycle items, such as batteries and light bulbs.
The city is seeking a garbage hauler to serve most Issaquah neighborhoods. Waste Management is the predominant hauler in the city, but the current contract between Issaquah and the Houston-based company expires in June.
Seattle-based CleanScapes came out as the top candidate after city officials evaluated offers from both companies and another collector, Allied Waste — a local name for national company Republic Services.
City officials said a $3.8-million-per-year CleanScapes contract could mean lower rates for Issaquah customers, plus increased customer service and recycling options. The contract requires City Council approval.
If the CleanScapes contract is approved, a residential customer putting a 32-gallon cart out for weekly curbside pickup could see rates decrease from $13.43 to $12.74 — a 5.1 percent drop.
South Cove couple make tired kitchen a keeper
October 18, 2011
Mark and Leslie Gilbert, with son Trey, 4, now enjoy more family time in their ‘great room,’ created by opening up their kitchen space into the little-used living room. By Greg Farrar
With a growing family, Mark and Leslie Gilbert had a tough decision facing them and their two boys (ages 7 and 4) — abandon the home they love for a larger one or upgrade their current house?
“For me, it came down to the question, ‘Do we upgrade within the neighborhood to something with more square feet?” Mark said. “Or do we upgrade our home and reuse the square feet in a different way?”
Leslie looked at the problem from a different angle — what could they do if they stayed?
“We had a lot of floor space that was unused,” she said, adding she thought they could do something better with the flow through the kitchen to the unused formal dining and living room.
After weighing all of their options, they chose to stay in their home and upgrade the kitchen.
The renovation entailed knocking out an L-shaped wall and creating a “great room.” It would feature a central island in the opened-up kitchen that would face a more defined living and dining space, rather than separate rooms.
Issaquah could dump Waste Management for CleanScapes, despite questions
October 12, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. Oct. 12, 2011
The discussion about the next contract to collect Issaquah garbage turned messy Tuesday, as a rival company interested in the deal criticized the process and urged elected officials to scrutinize the top contender.
The city is seeking a garbage hauler to serve most Issaquah neighborhoods. Waste Management is the predominant hauler in the city, but the current contract between Issaquah and the Houston-based company expires in June.
Seattle-based CleanScapes emerged as the No. 1 contender after city officials evaluated offers from both companies and another collector, Allied Waste — a local name for national company Republic Services.
City officials said a $3.8-million-per-year CleanScapes contract could mean lower rates for Issaquah customers, plus increased customer service and recycling options. City Council members should decide on the contract before the end of the month.
CleanScapes is leading candidate to haul Issaquah trash
September 15, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. Sept. 15, 2011
The leading candidate to haul Issaquah garbage, recyclables and compostables from the curb next summer is Seattle-based CleanScapes.
The city formed a review panel to study proposals from CleanScapes and other haulers. The panel then selected CleanScapes to proceed to the next step, contract negotiations.
Council Utilities, Technology & Environment Committee members heard a briefing about the process Tuesday. The final contract is expected to go before to the complete City Council for consideration in October.
CleanScapes serves customers in Seattle, Shoreline, San Francisco and Portland, Ore. The company started operations in Seattle’s Pioneer Square 14 years ago.
DIY Network crashes Issaquah homeowners’ master bathroom
July 12, 2011
$70,000 upgrade transforms space into spa-inspired destination
The master bathroom in Jeremy and Carrie Paget’s South Cove home resembled a time capsule from 1981, the year the house was built — colorless tile, a slim skylight and oak cabinets accented in brass.
Factor in a leaky shower and a dearth of space, too, and the need for a floor-to-ceiling overhaul became apparent.
“We didn’t really use this room other than just to get ready and use the sink to brush our teeth, things like that,” Jeremy Paget said.
Reclaimed teak is a prominent feature in the renovated bathroom at Jeremy and Carrie Paget’s home after a ‘Bath Crashers’ makeover. By Greg Farrar
Now, after some persistence and TV magic, the blah bathroom is a destination. DIY Network’s “Bath Crashers” transformed the space. The episode featuring the Pagets debuted July 4.
The remade space includes a spacious shower outfitted with a pebble-tile floor, a deluxe bathtub and larger skylight to drench the bathroom in natural light. The upgraded bathroom also includes more electrical outlets than the 1981 original.
The reclaimed teak flooring and surround-sound system lend the space a feel more commonly found in a spa than a suburban bathroom. The estimated cost for the renovation: $70,000 in donated materials and labor.
Crews used some attic space above the garage and space from a closet to expand the bathroom. The team enlisted the homeowners to help install tile and flooring.
“They came through,” Paget said. “They made some really cool changes.”
The homeowners listed ideas for “Bath Crashers” host Matt Muenster, a contractor, and a crew descended on the house in March.
Lake Sammamish-area roads to close for triathlon July 17
July 12, 2011
Expect some road closures and detours along the southern Lake Sammamish shoreline — including access to and from South Cove — during a triathlon July 17. Residents and motorists should plan for closures between 6:30 and 11:15 a.m. during the TriRock Seattle Olympic Triathlon.
Residents on the lakeside of the course should park outside of the course for fastest access during the race. Traffic officers plan to meter traffic at designated locations across the course during gaps in participants. Motorists should also plan to use alternate routes or face additional travel time.
Find a complete list of road closures and route maps at http://trirock.competitor.com/community-seattle.
DIY’s ‘Bath Crashers’ features Issaquah homeowners
July 2, 2011
NEW — 1 p.m. July 2, 2011
The master bathroom in Jeremy and Carrie Paget’s South Cove home resembled a time capsule from 1981, the year the house was built — colorless tile, a slim skylight and oak cabinets accented in brass.
Factor in a leaky shower and a dearth of space, too, and the need for a floor-to-ceiling overhaul became apparent.
“We didn’t really use this room other than just to get ready and use the sink to brush our teeth, things like that,” Jeremy Paget said.
Now, after some persistence and TV magic, the blah bathroom is a destination. DIY Network’s “Bath Crashers” transformed the space.
The episode featuring the Pagets is scheduled to debut at 7 p.m. July 4. DIY Network is channel 203 on Comcast and channel 217 on Broadstripe.
Issaquah family bids bittersweet goodbye after decade in business
June 28, 2011
Goodfellas Sandwich Shop, a decade-old gathering spot for Issaquah High School sports teams and office workers on lunch breaks, closed June 24 after owners Steve and Melinda Sanelli stacked the last sandwiches.
Jessica Crites (back row, from left), Mario Sanelli, Julie Donate, Stephen Sanelli, Sicily Sanelli, Nolan Graham, Angelina Edwins and Tyler Edwins join Melinda Sanelli (front row, from left) Brody Edwins and Steve Sanelli for a last lunch at Goodfellas Sandwich Shop on June 21. Contributed
Steve Sanelli, a longtime South Cove resident and Issaquah High assistant baseball coach, said business was good, but the impending closure stems from a disagreement between the eatery and the building owner.
“It would be one thing if I was failing in business and we had to close,” he said. “This is something that’s not my choice.”
For Sanelli and other family members, the closure is about more than the bottom line.
“When you’re in business this long, it kind of becomes who you are,” Melinda Sanelli said. “In a way, you feel like you’re being stripped of your personality and how everyone sees you and what you stand for.”
The closure announcement came as a surprise to employees and customers.
Issaquah family bids bittersweet goodbye to business
June 22, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. June 22, 2011
Goodfellas Sandwich Shop, a decade-old gathering spot for Issaquah High School sports teams and office workers on lunch breaks, is due to close Friday after owners Steve and Melinda Sanelli stack the last sandwiches.
Steve Sanelli, a longtime South Cove resident and Issaquah High assistant baseball coach, said business is good, but the impending closure stems from a disagreement between the eatery and the building owner.
“It would be one thing if I was failing in business and we had to close,” he said. “This is something that’s not my choice.”
For Sanelli and other family members, the closure is about more than the bottom line.
