July - August Issue of Issaquah, Sammamish and beyond

and beyond...

For the Love of the GameChallenge Day RacesThe Running Man’s Story

www.isandbeyond.com | Jul/Aug 2011

Lake Frontlifestyle

Living next to local lakes provides a wonderful lifestyle and a strong investment

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isandbeyond.com - Jul/Aug 2011 - 1

2 - Issaquah, Sammamish and beyond...

Directory of Professionals

MARKETplace

Captivating Cuisine

upcoming eventsJuly/August Events

contentsWINE FOOD HOME GARDEN TRAVEL COMMUNITY

The Running Man’s StoryMaking a difference one step at a time.

shoppingRain or Shine, Make a Regular Visit

family :: petsPrescription for Your Pre-adult Dog

familySummer Reading for Kids

Jul /Aug 2011

Features:

8

6

The Challenge Day RacesA time for Tim and his friends to come home with a trophy.

Sections:

contributing authors

10

1325

Page 14

Departments:

communityLocal History is Just Around the Corner

All Hail the Red, White and Blue

For the Love of the Game

money mattersLake Front Lifestyle

20

22

24

28

26 27

Page 16

Jean Cerar is a retired editor/writer and an active volunteer with the Issaquah History Museums. She and her family have lived in Issaquah since 1972.

In 1984 Reisha Holton said goodbye to small towns, fried chicken and sweet tea and hello to the Northwest suburbs. When she’s not carpooling, she writes about outdoor adventures.

Jay Kipp is a Broker with Coldwell Banker Bain who, in partnership with Christine Kipp, specializes in representing quality Issaquah and Sammamish properties.

Allyson Valentine Schrier lives and works in Fall City, writing books and stories for children and young adults.

Jeff Skierka is the owner, and designer of Reflections Landscaping located in Sammamish.

Denise Stringfellow is a professional dog trainer and owner of award-winning Riverdog Canine Coaching in Issaquah.

contents

contributing authors

Michael Johnson has had a camera in his hands since he was 8 years old and has been hooked on capturing quality images ever since.

contributing photographer


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PublishersFred & Mardi Nystrom

[email protected]

Creative DirectorShawn Kellner

[email protected]

Sales

Pam Thorsen Director-Business Development [email protected]

Brian Rooney [email protected]

PhotographyMichael Johnson

EditorsJim Merrill - Home Editor

Proofing ReaderMiriam Bulmer

Issaquah, Sammamish and beyond... is a publication of Kellstrom Publishing, LLC. ©2011 - All rights reserved. No part of this magazine can be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher.If you would like to change the name of the recipient or the address where you are recieveing Issaquah Sammamish magazine, email us the info on your current mailing label and the corrections that you would like made to [email protected].

P.O. Box 378, Issaquah 98027 Office: 425.392.0451

Kellstrom Publishing sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. This copy of Issaquah, Sammamish and beyond... was printed by

American Web in Denver, Colorado on paper from well-managed forests which meets EPA guidelines that recommend use of recovered fibers for coated papers. Inks used contain a blend of soy base. Our printer meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) standards and is a certified member of both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). When you are done with this piece please pass it on to a friend, or recycle it. We can all have a better world if we choose it together.

Jul/Aug 2011 - Vol. 3 - Issue 4

and beyond...


As publisher of a community lifestyle magazine, I take a great interest in a healthy local business environment. For this reason, we have long been promoting the idea of purchasing as many of your goods and services as possible from businesses located in Issaquah and Sammamish. Patronizing local businesses not only helps to keep them

in business, but the generated tax revenue goes to fund the services, parks, roads and municipal activities we all appreciate. In this issue you will read about several local businesses that offer professional services. Supporting them is an extension of buying your groceries and household items locally. Think about how to broaden your support of local businesses by using banks, insurance agents, financial advisers and accountants in the Issaquah and Sammamish community. These decisions are all critical steps in creating a healthy local economy.

On a much broader level, there is a growing national movement that encourages consumers to take a closer look at the goods they purchase and to be conscious of where they are made. Our family is now giving preference to goods made in America and Canada, even if we have to pay a few cents more than for those imported from cheap-labor countries. For the past month, if we see a product not made in America or Canada, we leave it on the shelf. Think about the impact and benefit to us all if this becomes a part of our national consciousness.

Build a Stronger Community — Buy Local

A note from the publisher

Visitisandbeyond.com/subscribeMake sure you keep receiving Issaquah, Sammamish and beyond... for FREE by visiting our website and completing the subscription form.

and beyond...


Rain or Shine, Make a Regular Visit

SHoPPinG

In the last decade farmers markets have become favorite venues for many farmers; in fact, they are one of the oldest forms of direct marketing. In this community, we are fortunate to have two from which to choose.

Rain or shine, our local farmers markets are for the entire family. Items offered by vendors range well beyond local vegetables and flowers, and include jewelry, blown glass, homemade candies, live entertainment and a full array of food products. These are just a few of the dozens of vendors found at both markets.

Pappardelle’s PastaIssaquah and Sammamish [email protected]

Pappardelle’s Pasta, which offers more than 100 flavors of pastas and sauces, is available to the public through select farmers markets. Paparedelle’s pasta lets you create dishes rivaling those served in the finest restaurants. The handmade pasta has no preservatives and flavors are all natural, so you can be assured of the highest standards of quality. Stop by and talk to Linda Kowalsky about the nuances of each flavor and how you can blend several pastas together for spectacular taste.

Hedlin FarmsSammamish [email protected]

In 1906, newly landed in La Conner from Denmark, Rasmus Koudal started a farm, which is in its third generation of family ownership. Hedlin Farms offers a wide variety of organic, pesticide-free vegetables. Due to the wet spring this year, crops of tomatoes and strawberries have been slower to ripen. Expect those juicy sweet berries to be plentiful by the time you read this. Stop by to see their beautiful displays.

Misty Mountain HoneyIssaquah and Sammamish [email protected]

As a distraction from the high-tech world 10 years ago, Mark Johns learned to be a beekeeper. Little did he know what wonderful products he and his wife, Karen, would create. Mark is a happy man as he talks about his pure, raw Pacific Northwest


We specialize in helping you create the home of your dreams. Call or visit us online!

www.MerrillDesign.net485 Rainier Blvd. North, Suite 103, Issaquah, WA 98027 • 425-557-3774

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The Issaquah Insurance Agency since 1977 Patrick & Sandy Shockleywww.IssyInsurance.com22525 SE 64th Place, Ste 228

Low Rates for Young Drivers. REALLY!!If you have a young driver on your

policy you know how expensive auto insurance is. It doesn’t have to be.

Call 425-392-7887

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I couldn’t either, but my local community bank has been there to help us continue to grow our business. Our Fischer Meat banking needs are well looked after at the Bank of the Northwest.

They are providing us with strong customer focus, local lending decisions and a profound interest in our success

Chris ChiechiFischer Meats

Could you imagine a big national bank helping a local butcher?

1375 NW Mall Street, Suite 1Issaquah, WA 98027

425.395.1199

BELLEVUE • EVERETT www.bankofthenorthwest.com ISSAQUAH • TACOMA

*Loans subject to approval.

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Issaquah Farmers Market Pickering Barn - 1730 10th Ave. NW

Saturdays, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., through October 8

Sammamish Farmers Market Sammamish City Hall - 801 228th Ave. NE

Wednesdays, 4 –8 p.m., through September 28

varietal honeys and his wife’s aromatic handcrafted beeswax candles. Next time you see him, ask about his bear visits.

SugarpeaIssaquah [email protected]

Sugarpea’s sumptuous exfoliating body scrubs and Lip Truffles will moisturize your skin and nourish your spirit. The blend of refined sea salt, pure cane sugar, essential oils, butters and sweet honey will leave your skin feeling refreshed. My perennial favorite is the Rosemary Mint Body Scrub: It smells good enough to eat! Kathryn, the creator of Sugarpea, can always be found at the booth for “ooh and ahh” samplings.


Fourth article in a series on training your best friend— your puppy.

I n previous articles we guided you through selecting and raising a puppy, and taming a teenage dog.

This article focuses on the next stage of your dog’s life: pre-adulthood.

At 18 to 24 months, dogs look nearly full grown. Habits, good or bad, become

Prescription for Your Pre-adult Dog

FAMiLY :: pets

by Denise Stringfellow

practiced and ingrained, and the resources a young dog controls are starting to cement for life. Active youngsters are easily bored at this age, and still need plenty of physical exercise, but also mental stimulation, as well as more practice perfecting obedience skills.

So, what can go wrong in this stage? Sadly, owners are often already tired of regular training (this usually happens during the teenage stage) and now give the dog very little direction and supervision. Left to his own devices, a pre-adult dog will often do one of two things: become either overly reactive or frustratingly independent.

The overly reactive pre-adult. •Overly reactive dogs bark and lunge at other people and other dogs while on-leash. Most of these dogs are actually filled with anxiety and fear. They display aggression when they become anxious, so that whatever is causing their anxiety (unfamiliar people, dogs, etc.) will go away. Owners tend to respond by tightening up on the leash, further alarming the dog, and doing a lot of shushing and petting, which the dog interprets as “Well done! Good dog!” Rewarded behavior is likely to be repeated.The independent pre-adult. •Independent dogs, in the absence of meaningful time with their owners, completely disconnect and seek interaction elsewhere. These dogs often bolt out the front door. When they get out to explore the world, they don’t come when called. Why should they? Home is boring. Once home, they try to make life interesting by chewing shoes, jumping on counters and digging in the yard. This type of dog will take what he wants, go where he wants and do what he wants because no one is willing to direct his energy toward productive outlets. Often, the only attention these dogs get is negative attention, which for them is better than none at all.

What, then, should you do with your pre-adult dog?

Generalize your dog’s training. •Practice commands for longer durations, in new and novel places, at greater distances and around more complex distractions. For


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example, be sure to practice off-leash gradually; don’t walk on-leash one day, then expect perfect off-leash control the next. Provide interim steps, such as walking on-leash, then letting your pet drag the leash for several minutes while you use only voice commands. When your pet is successful with that, work with a 30-foot-long line. When this is consistently successful, try short off-leash walks. Small, successful steps are the key to ensuring that your dog’s training is solid and will hold up to new circumstances.Exercise with mental stimulation.• It is much harder to tire out a nearly grown dog than a young puppy.If your dog is in better shape than you, and you can’t easily tire him out, switch to activities that include more mental work. For example, instead of putting your dog’s food in a bowl, try a Buster Cube. If your dog likes to fetch tennis balls, try throwing a Frisbee instead; trying to figure out where a Frisbee will fly is much more challenging than catching or chasing a straight-in-flight tennis ball. Or, train your dog for a Dock Dogs event—not only will you add swimming as exercise, but your pet will also have to learn to stay and plan a proper takeoff into the water, both highly intellectual activities.

Remember, your pre-adult puppy may in many ways seem like a full-grown adult dog. However, he still very much needs your guidance and steady leadership to ensure that he will continue to develop into a well-trained and well-mannered companion. Slow and steady progress will help your dog master skills and gain confidence.

In the next issue: Your puppy is grown up: ideas for maintaining a healthy relationship.

The past articles in this series can be found at isandbeyond.com


Summer Reading for Kids

W hether you and the kids are trundling off to the beach, zooming away to distant

lands or simply hanging out at home, why not while away those long summer days with a basket of books? Booksellers Lori Mitchell of Island Books (Mercer Island) and Christy McDanold of Secret Garden (Ballard) helped put together a list of surefire favorites. Picture Books (ages 4 - 8)

Summer shade, a cozy lap and a just-right book—do lazy days with little ones get any better than that?

Good Night Sam• and companion book Good Morning Sam, newly available in paperback, from Marie-

Louise Gay’s delightful Stella and Sam series. Sam can’t sleep and big sister Stella is, as always, there to help him work things out. With soft, flowing water colors and tongue-in-cheek humor, Gay tells a story that is perfect for young siblings. Adelaide• by Tomi Ungerer, reissued from 1959, a fun romp about a flying kangaroo whose curiosity takes her on adventures around the world. Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator• , by Mo Willems. Tender, surprising and funny, Amanda’s friendship with her stuffed alligator hits a bump when a surprising new friend enters the scene.

Morning in Maine • and Blueberries for Sal, two summertime classics by Robert McCloskey. A 1952 Caldecott honor book, Morning in Maine is a warm, well-told story about Sal, a character both boys and girls will relate to, who loses a tooth while mucking for clams on a summer vacation with her family.

Middle Grade (ages 8 to 12)Summer is perfect for books that speak

of quieter times:The Friendship Doll• , by Seattle author Kirby Larson. Based on the Japanese ambassador dolls exchanged in the 1920’s to ease cultural tensions, Larson’s newest book tells the tale of four girls and the doll that changed their lives.The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale •of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. by Jeanne Birdsall. This National Book Award winner is a about the sweet, funny Penderwick sisters (ages 4 – 12), social misfits who spend the summer in a Berkshire cottage where they befriend Jeffrey, son of their pretentious landlady, and plot to save him from being sent to military school.Scorpia Rising: The Final Mission• , is the ninth and final book in Anthony Horowitz’s NY Times bestselling action-packed series about Alex Rider, a teenage spy whose adventures often mirror real-world issues.The Throne of Fire• , second in Rick Riordan’s latest series. Carter Kane and his sister, Sadie, use unusual powers to battle gods of Ancient Egypt released into our world. Perfect for fans of the wildly popular Percy Jackson booksGone-Away Lake• by Elizabeth Enright. Cousins Portia and Julian share a magical summer adventure discovering an (almost) abandoned Victorian village. Published in 1957, this summertime classic has a timeless feel.

The number one rule for summer reading? Make it fun!

FAMiLY

by Allyson Valentine Schrier


Young Adult (age 12 and up):Perfect for the beach bag or

camp locker. Honey Baby Sweetheart• by Deb Caletti of Issaquah. It’s the summer of her junior year and quiet, shy Ruby McQueen falls for Travis

who is rich, handsome and, as she discovers, dangerous. Teens will root for Ruby who makes some bad decisions while traveling down the road toward wisdom.Feed• by M.T. Anderson. This brilliant first-person satire about consumerism and corporate power takes place in a world where teens are connected directly to information, media and one another via implanted computer chips—“Feeds.” A computer virus forces the main character, Titus, to see things differently.Matched• by Ally Condie. Fans of Collins’ The Hunger Games and Lowry’s The Giver will be drawn to this romance set in a dystopian world where everything is perfect—or maybe it isn’t.The Dark City• by Catherine Fisher. For fantasy fans, the first of four books to be released, one each month, until the end of summer. Here, in

the mysterious, ancient world of Anara, sixteen-year old apprentice, Raffi, accompanied by a young woman named Carys, searches for a relic with power to potentially save a crumbling world.


Fixing a broken deck or renovating an outdated kitchen? Are your home repairs or maintenance projects needing some expert advise?

Learn simple ways to stop a minor repair from becoming a major expense.

Our September issue will include indoor and outdoor hints to keep your biggest investment – your home, in top condition.

We’re also looking for recent remodeling projects from our community to share with our readers, so if you have one we should include in this special section, we want to hear from you.

September Special Section in Issaquah, Sammamish and beyond…

Home Improvement Guide

The September issue will mail

the week of :9/5

and beyond...and beyond...

being well* Restorix Health: Advance Care Options* Personalized Medicine* Healthier Eating in Public Schools* Preventing Cancer

Ordinary People,Uncommon OutcomesThe Williams family has built success upon strong family values

SAMMI & Community Awards Farmers Market Compassion2One

and beyond...

Planning a Vist

to Walla Walla

The Value of a View

Installing a

Backyard Fire Feature

Washington’s best-kept secret



For businesses that want to include home improvement products and services in this guide,

email: [email protected]

Issaquah, Sammamish and beyond… your community life-style publication.

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QR Codes and the Relationship to Shopping LocallyNew products will make it easier to find local goods and services.

T he small square box on the cover of this issue is a QR code and a doorway to helping you

find the products and services you want. The QR and the rival Microsoft Tag are digital codes designed to be read by your smart phone, after down loading a free code reader. Already widely used in Japan and other wireless countries, these codes are designed to bring instant informa-tion to your cell phone by linking you to web content. This link could bring up the daily special at a restaurant, or provide the ticket ordering form for a concert.

This magazine intends to use codes in future editions to link you to expanded copy of an article, or directly to an advertisers for additional product or service information. These will be valuable tools for the savvy consumer.

by Fred Nystrom


Directory of Professionals

TOM SESSIONS INSURANCE

AGENCY, INC.

Areas of Focus: provides comprehensive risk and asset management strategies.

Our mission is to help you manage the risks of everyday life and realize

your dreams by using strategies that fit your needs. We strive to help our clients build wealth efficiently using Insurance and Financial Services products. My experienced team and I are here to serve you.

485 Rainier Blvd N. Ste 101Issaquah, WA 98027

425.391.0200 www.TomSessionsAgency.com

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ALECIA L MODAHL, JD, LLM, CFP®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER

The most valuable question I explore with clients is “What will bring

meaning and purpose to your financial life?” There is a vast difference between “using your life to make money” and “using your money to make a life.”

175 NE Gilman BlvdIssaquah, WA 98027

425.295.2258 [email protected]

Areas of Focus: Financial life planning, cash flow analysis, risk management, and investment advisory services.

Securities and investment advisory services offered through KMS Financial Services, Inc.

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DAVID SELIGMAN, AAMS®

FINANCIAL ADVISOREDWARD JONES

David provides the highest level of personal service along with

financial strategies for retirees and women going through life transitions such as divorce. David is also proud to serve on the Board of Issaquah Schools Foundation as well as his previous service as Race Director of the Issaquah Rotary Run.

Gilman Village375 N.W. Gilman Blvd #C-102

Issaquah, WA 98027 425.391.8507

[email protected]

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Tate & Oellrich Inc. PSCertified Public Accountants

425-392-5650tateandoellrich.com

Are the numbers

adding up?

Make the wise decision—look to our QuickBooks experts & CPAs to make sure your numbers add up.

Tax, accounting, bookkeeping, & payroll since 1964.

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Baldwin Resource Group is excited to announce we’re joining forces with The Partners Group—a top Oregon-based employee benefits consulting and financial services firm.

This new partnership means we can now offer even more robust benefits programs and private wealth expertise, in addition to the full range of insurance and risk management services you’ve always known us for.

We’d love to help you find new ways to improve the health of your company, your employees and your personal wealth.

ANNOUNCING A POWERFUL NEW

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by Fred Nystrom



F or years I have observed an older man, always dressed in yellow, running along Lake Samma-

mish Parkway: Why does this very Zen-looking man run? How often? How far? How long has he run? I chatted with friends about him as well, and they too had seen him, but knew little. When I was given an opportunity to write for Is-saquah Sammamish and beyond, I felt I had the perfect reason to see if I could get my questions about this mystery man answered. What I found out far exceeded my expectations.

Mel Romeu runs on Monday through Friday, 12 miles every day, 60 miles a week, 3,120 miles a year—and that’s only the start of this man’s amazing life and lifestyle. Romeu was born in Puerto Rico in 1934, making him a young man of 77. He spent time in Japan with DODDS (Department of Defense Dependent Schools) as a high school and college teacher, where he met his wife of 42 years: Dorothy. He spent 27 years teaching in Bitburg, Germany as well as in various cities in America. He has been running most of his life, and while in Europe he completed 11 marathons. This includes one in Munich after the 1972 Olympics and one along the Berlin Wall prior to its removal. He shared with me that he clocked his best time in a marathon in Luxemburg that started at 6 p.m. Unfamiliar with the route, Mel said, “I got in with a fast group as I was afraid of getting lost if I let them get too far ahead of me.” The most beautiful marathon was run at night in the “City of Lights” - Paris! Traffic was stopped for the event, and the city lights made it a magical run.

After Romeu retired from teaching, he and Dorothy decided to move back to

the U.S. in 1996. They purchased a book titled The Best 50 place to live in America. After visiting only a few cities on the list they found and fell in love with their home in Issaquah.

Getting to know Mel is like learning how to live life. A typical day starts with a healthy breakfast of one banana, a bowl of fruit and nut granola, and some coffee, always sweetened. (He has a bit of a sweet tooth.) This is followed by his favorite TV show, The Golden Girls, and then his daily run.

Romeu says that now that he runs at a slower pace, he is able to see more things as he runs. One thing his eyes are always looking for is what he calls “street money.” This money is collected during his run, even if it has to be “popped out” of the asphalt. He saves it for a year and then gives it to a charity. He collects more than 10 pounds of “street money” every year. The grateful recipients always tease Romeu about how dirty the money is. Other items that catch his watchful eye include discarded furniture pieces; he returns to them after his run and picks up, cleans, and donates them to charities such as Goodwill. He also attends to animals that have been struck and killed by autos.

Romeu always runs on Lake Sammamish Parkway for two reasons: He finds more money and “gifts” along

the busy road, and if he should happen to get injured a lot more people would be able to see and help him.

The only thing that deters Romeu from his daily run is ice on the road; otherwise, every weekday is a day to run and serve. While most people, would pass on days with snow on the ground, Romeu’s attitude is that God has laid out a white carpet for him to run on that is better than any red carpet. When he is not running you can find him attending church at St. Joseph’s, serving spaghetti for fundraising events for the Knights of Columbus, serving as cantor at St. Anthony’s Church in Renton for Spanish services, or doing volunteer work at the corrections facility church in Marysville.

Romeu’s lifestyle has kept him very healthy; he believes that prevention is better than cures, and he lives every day to the fullest, knowing that all he has is today. He also believes in eating less, and donates the money he saves to worthy causes. One of the things that he is the most proud of was getting to meet Mother Teresa. He says he was very moved by this experience. I cannot imagine how that felt, but I do know that I was completely moved by meeting this remarkable man.

The Running Man’s StoryMaking a difference one step at a time. by Jeff Skierka


I magine for a moment that you are a parent trying to explain to your son Tim why his younger broth-

ers can excitedly participate in the Soap Box Derby races but he can’t. This is the situation Leo and Rose Finnegan faced for years, as their younger sons partici-pated in driving their single-seat Soap Box Derby cars in local races while Tim had to sit on the sidelines and be content to watch. Tim could not comprehend why he was excluded, just as he did not understand the meaning of being a “spe-cial-needs” child. As Leo says, “Tim was a kid and, like every other kid, he want-

ed to be in a car racing just like all the other kids.”

In 1980, as Leo was comforting Tim alongside the racecourse, someone told him about a fiberglass model for a Soap Box Derby–style car what would seat two children side by side. Leo jumped at the information and soon had the mold for the wider car; he fabricated the frame and added “official” wheels and two steering wheels, only one of which actually steered the car. For several years the Finnegan boys would load Tim in as a passenger and challenge the fastest soap box competitors to a race. This

brought great joy to Tim, as their heavier car always won the races.

Leo convinced his employers at Puget Sound Energy to purchase eight more double cars, and for many years Leo, Tim and a host of company volunteers toured the service area from Bellingham to Olympia, hosting races for challenged kids. These races brought a lot of joy to hundreds of children and families until Puget Sound Energy’s new management axed the program. Ever resourceful, Leo got the company to donate the cars and trailer to Life Enrichment Options, an Issaquah-based nonprofit.

The Challenge Day Races A time for Tim and his

friends to come home with a trophy. by Fred Nystrom

Eli Dever and his new friend Tim Finnegan.


A second chance conversation, this time between Leo and Sammamish resident Jack Berry, helped to bring the race cars out of retirement. Berry suggested that the Issaquah Rotary Club could field the team of volunteers needed to put on a race, and 14 years ago the first Challenge Day gravity race was held on Second Street on the sloping grade past the Community Center.

Seven years ago Berry also brought the concept of helping special-needs children to the Sammamish Rotary Club. Now both clubs invite residents to enjoy the Challenge Day races, as two cars leave the starting blocks at the same time and come down the course side by side, each straining to gain the advantage and cross the finish line first. This year the races are on July 16 in Issaquah and August 13 in Sammamish.

In the months leading up to the races, Leo and Rose manage the process of talking with the families of special-needs kids and directing them to the Issaquah or Sammamish race day. Requests to attend come from families throughout western Washington, as these are the only such events available for these children.

The race days are structured in much the same way. Early on the day of the race, volunteer drivers are trained in how to safely drive the car while also being mindful of the special-needs child who will eventually be riding with them. Drivers are students 5 foot 2 or shorter who weigh 120 pounds or less.

Before the races begin the drivers and passengers are outfitted in contrasting colored shirts so it is very clear to the volunteers that the correctly trained student is driving. As Issaquah Police Commander Stan Conrad notes, ”At the beginning there are clusters of kids in separate groups, the red shirts with other red shirts and the blue shirts with their group. Then, after the first round of races, all this changes and you see the drivers beginning to realize that these passengers are just like them, differently abled, perhaps, but kids having fun. Then for the rest of the day they are all mixed

by Fred Nystrom


together, enjoying each other and the fun they are having together.”

Each special-needs child gets at least three races down the hill. I-90 Motorsports provides the four-wheel quads to pull the racers back up the hill, which for many is as much fun as the race down. The Rotary clubs solicit both sponsors and other volunteer groups. High school cheer squads add their energy to the day, and Athletes for Kids and high school sports teams like the Issaquah wrestlers to help turn the cars around at the end of the races. Athletes for Kids student Michelle Bretl says, “It’s a joy to see the smiles on their faces as they go down the hill and even bigger smiles on the way back up the hill.”

There are adaptive bicycles for parents and special kids to try. Lunch is provided to all racers, families and volunteers. In Issaquah, the magical moment comes right after lunch as each special child is called up to receive a trophy and


www.issaquahhighlands.com

For additional information on the Challenge Races, please contact: leoorganization.org

Issaquah Challenge Race - July 16 issaquahrotary.org

Sammamish Challenge Race - August 13 sammamishrotary.org

certificate as a winner in the Challenge Day races.

Rose Finnegan says, “Everybody is having fun. Lots of smiles. Kids have told me that they woke up this morning at 4a.m. because they were so excited. Moms have told me that their children sleep with these trophies for months after the races.”

All the proceeds contributed by the sponsors of both races go to Life Enrichment Options, a nonprofit organization helping those with developmental disabilities, to support its efforts to provide housing, education, employment and activities for special-needs children.

Rehabilitation

Got Chronic Pain? This summer, get back to the activities you love. Call today for your appointment.

Michael Johnson, LMPMassage Therapy

425-246-6239DownTown Issaquah - MA10019

michael-j-massage_166-julAug-2011.indd 1 6/15/11 6:47:37 PM


Local History is Just Around the CornerA special place for a family visit this summer. by Jean Cerar

CoMMUniTY

F or a trip into our community’s past, go just one block south of Is-saquah City Hall. There you’ll find

the Gilman Town Hall, home of the Is-saquah History Museums and host to the interactive exhibit, “In This Valley – The Story of Our Town.” The small false-front-ed building on Andrews St. has served the community since 1888 when it was built as a public hall for hire. Today, in addition to the items on display, it houses hundreds of photographs and artifacts and a wealth of research materials.

“In This Valley” tells the tale of our area from Native American times to the 1960s. As you browse, look for a rare Native American skinning knife, graffiti from inside the walls of the fish hatchery, and a special Issaquah quilt. Items from the Seattle Sky Sports Club bring back memories of skydivers leaping from planes over the airfield that once existed near Pickering Barn. (Trivia note: Plane hijacker D.B. Cooper’s parachutes came from the Issaquah Skyport.)

There are plenty of opportunities to get your hands on history as you tour Gilman Town Hall. Where else can you set off an imaginary charge with an authentic dynamite blaster or ring a logging camp bell or listen in on the gossip on a party line phone? The old-fashioned kitchen features a touch table and dress-up boxes to keep the kids occupied while the adults marvel at how much work it took to keep a household going.

A huge hit with kids – and with adults too – is the town’s second jail, in the museum’s back yard. With eight-inch-thick concrete walls and a 12-inch floor, all reinforced with rebar, the two-cell jail isn’t going anywhere. Iron bars on the windows and a locking bar that weighs more than 80 pounds made sure that the prisoners didn’t go anywhere either. The structure was built in 1914 after inebriated loggers kicked down the original wooden jail with their hobnailed boots. The solid new jail was used until 1930.

The museum became the civic hall when it was purchased by the town of Gilman (now Issaquah) in 1898. The Council Chambers were set up in the front room, the back area was used for storage, and errant animals were penned in the back yard. Over time the building also housed the fire department and the library. Around 1930 the city sold the building as a private residence. In 1972 the city re-purchased the building for use as a museum operated by the historical society (now IHM).

The objects currently on display are a small fraction of the museums’ collection, which is rapidly reaching storage capacity. Before long a new, larger museum will be needed to better tell the story of Issaquah.

Gilman Town Hall, then and nowPhoto Courtesy of Issaquah History Museums.

Gilman Town Hall Museum165 S.E. Andrews Street392.3500issaquahhistory.org


by Jean Cerar


Down Home Fourth of July and Heritage Festival, in Issaquah

Soft dew dampens the sidewalks of Front Street each Fourth of July morning. But thanks to the morning-shift guys at Darigold and the milk crates they hand out, your jeans won’t get damp. Even though the Kids, Pets ‘n Pride Parade through downtown Issaquah doesn’t start until 11 a.m., you’ll want to secure your sidewalk spot early. Bands, dance teams, kids in wagons and walking dogs, teenage beauties and handcrafted floats grace Front Street en route to Veterans’ Memorial Park at 120 Second Ave. NE. Stay for an afternoon of free activities and events, including the traditional sack races and pie-eating contests, and more novel activities, such as making butter.

Issaquah’s Down Home Fourth of Juy celebration begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m., giving you enough time to nap before the evening barbecue!

For more information, visit ci.issaquah.wa.us/Calendar.asp?View=EVENT&EventID=1587&Date=07/04/2011&SectionID=-1.Fourth on the Plateau, in Sammamish

It’s been a warm, sunny day in the neighborhood: Klahanie, Pine Lake Estates, Brookshire, maybe Livingston. The grass is cut, the sidewalks swept, the watermelon cut, the picnic and blanket tucked into the back of the van. End the Fourth of July with the fireworks display at the Sammamish Commons, at 801 228th Ave. SE. Sitting on the lawn at the Commons, you can enjoy live music


CoMMUniTY

by Reisha HoltonStart and end the Fourth of July with these local events.

from 6 to 10:15 and then snuggle in for a fireworks display with the Seattle skyline as a backdrop.

For more information, visit ci.sammamish.wa.us/events/4thJuly.aspx.The Great Carnation 4th of July Celebration, in Carnation

For a full day of festivities, head to the Snoqualmie Valley and spend the day celebrating. You can start the Fourth with pancakes, run them off in a fun run, grab a strawberry shortcake, watch the kids parade before the Grand Parade, see hot rods and Harleys, ride ponies, hear live music and dance till dusk, when the fireworks display begins.

For more information, visit carnation4th.org.


AF 6000-476 IssHigh Coming Soon ad_IS Magazine_July

AF 6000-476 IssHigh Coming Soon ad_IS Magazine_July

Swedish Medical Center IS Magazine

6/6/11

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Here comes the future.

This July, a new kind of hospital is coming to the Issaquah Highlandsto serve the entire Eastside. It will be a place that’s as much about keeping you healthy

as it is about helping you when you’re not. So get ready for a hospital that’sdesigned for a long and happy future — yours.

For more information, visit swedish.org/issaquah

OPEN HOUSE: Saturday, July 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

AF_SMC 6000-476 IssHigh Coming Soon ad_IS Mag_060611.indd 1 6/6/11 11:48 AM


Harsh truths circle every season of high-school-affiliated sports: tryouts, cuts, limited playing time, superstar egos and benchwarmer blues.

CoMMUniTY

For the Love of the Game

W hat happened to playing for the love of the game, that passion for playing

that celebrates with high fives instead of trophies, and centers around the sandlot instead of the stadium? Here’s a look at two non-school sports programs that keep the zest going.

When it comes to non-school sports, there’s no lack of skill and no lack of competitiveness, but there is a lot of community. The Sammamish Rowing Association and Issaquah Youth Lacrosse (IYL) are self-operated, fee-based programs run by volunteers. Some coaches are compensated, but they don’t coach for the paycheck. They coach for the passion.Rowing

Silhouettes in the setting sun, a shell with eight junior rowers glides across Lake Sammamish, ending a sprint back to the boathouse at the north end of the lake. Tucked off West Lake Sammamish Parkway, a quarter-mile walk from the road, is the hub of Eastside rowing, the Sammamish Rowing Association. “We

offer a program that gives athletes a chance to thrive in a team atmosphere while developing their personal skills at the same time,” executive director Marcy Chartier explains. “You don’t find that combination in a lot of other activities.”

During the past five years, athletes from more than 50 different schools have joined the Sammamish Rowing program. The reasons vary by student, but there is one constant. “Kids who come to row haven’t found their sport yet,” Chartier says. “Then it hits them: ‘Wow, I can succeed here.’ ”

Sammamish Rowing is succeeding, too. More than 70 percent of novice rowers return—back to the cold, the wind, the wet, the human energy powering the boat. They also come back for each other. “The team concept is our most essential element, our core value,” Chartier says. “These kids come here and don’t know each other, don’t go to school together, but create a community. The connections are unique.”

LacrosseEric Bean, current president of

Issaquah Youth Lacrosse, is a lacrosse coach and volunteer who has never played the game. Odd? Not for IYL. “I got recruited by those who got things going and carry on mostly for the great love of the game that the kids show,” Bean says. And a lot of kids show the love. Currently, close to 700 school-age boys and girls are involved in non- school lacrosse.

“I was not good at soccer and not good at some other things I tried. But with lacrosse, I found a sport I was actually good at,” Lexi Boyer, a junior at Skyline High School explains. Lexi found lacrosse as a third grader by way of her mother, Lois, who played through high school on the East Coast. Lois also rowed in college and shared her experiences with Lexi, who spent a summer and a fall season with Sammamish Rowing.

The like-mother, like-daughter dynamic is important in this story,

by Reisha Holton


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because that’s how the IYL program got its start in the area. “Most of the early instigators and contributors to lacrosse’s growth in Issaquah had played the game or participated in it in some way in another part of the country,” Bean says. “These guys wanted to bring it here for their kids and their friends.” T-E-A-M

Lacrosse is now a household word in Issaquah and surrounding neighborhoods, and words like shell, scull and starboard don’t raise eyebrows anymore. Players of these non-school sports, and their parents, have crossed

neighborhood and school boundaries and carved out a new community that supports the pursuit of a passion. There’s fervor for excelling at what you’re good at and enjoy, a zeal for stepping off campus and into individuality, and an eagerness to embrace something outside the norm. For rowers, it’s in the organic elements of the sport, the boat, the oar. For lacrosse players, it always comes down to the mud.

Because these sports are off the grid and rely on parents to propel them, kids see collaboration everywhere they look. Who’s reserving the fields? Who’s

organizing the carpools to off-campus locations? Who’s handling the gear and uniform ordering? There’s no one quarterback, no one head coach in non-school sports. It’s T-E-A-M from the first toe in the water, from the first mask in the mud.

Sammamish Rowing Associationsammamishrowing.org issaquah Youth Lacrosseissaquahyouthlacrosse.com


S ummer has arrived in the Pacific Northwest, and so has the prime selling-season for waterfront real

estate. We in Issaquah and Sammamish are fortunate to have two distinct water-front lifestyle options: the active water-front lifestyle on Lake Sammamish and the more serene waterfront lifestyle on Pine Lake and Beaver Lake. Both op-tions offer the beauty, fun and cachet

by Jay Kipp

Lake Front Lifestyle

MonEY MATTERS

of owning a lakeside residence, summer home or seasonal recreation lot.

Lake Sammamish offers 469 waterfront parcels representing a total tax-assessed value of more than $735 million. This is more than twice the assessed value of all non-waterfront residential parcels in Issaquah and Sammamish combined. Many residents are drawn to Lake Sammamish for its lively summertime

boating activities, west-facing daylong sunshine and relative proximity to Issaquah and Redmond along the East Lake Sammamish Parkway. Most of the original homes along the lakeside have been remodeled or completely torn down to make way for new construction. Entry-level values for Lake Sammamish begin at about $2 million; the highest sale to date, an estate on 1.1 acres with

Living next to local lakes provides a wonderful lifestyle and a strong investment.


by Jay Kipp

American cuisine

Sip1084 NE Park Drive, Issaquah425.369.1181 | siprestaurant.com

Sip at the wine bar & restaurant is everything a great wine bar should be. Welcoming. S o p h i s t i c a t e d . Comfortable. Lively. offering a well balanced American cuisine that spotlights bold flavors, locally sourced seasonal ingredients, & spectacular presentations; passionate & experienced culinary teams; attentive & knowledgeable wait staff. Life’s fast...sip slow. Weekdays Open at 5pm; Weekends Open at 4pm.

Italian

Lombardi’s695 NW Gilman Blvd, Issaquah425.391.9097 | lombardisitalian.com

A lively italian neighborhood place featuring both tradition and modern cuisine. Fresh and locally sourced ingredients, authentic neapolitan Pizza, pasta with a Tuscan flair. A great wine list with both italian and Washington selections and the best Happy Hour in issaquah. Weekdays 11:30 am – 9pm. Weekends Noon – 9:30pm

Captivating CuisinesWhether it’s casual/fine dining, take out/delivery, or happy hour, consider these listed establishments to enjoy your favorite cuisine—within a comfortable short drive from home…

Mexican

Agave Cocina & Tequila1048 NE Park Dr., Issaquah | 425.369.8900 17106 Redmond Way, Redmond agaverest.com

S e r v i n g contemporary M e x i c a n cuisine: Hand-crafted using fresh, natural ingredients, no preservatives, trans fats or lard. Sustainable seafood, free-range, hormone-free chicken, beef, eggs, rice & beans. Specialty cocktails feature Agave’s impressive selection of premium, hard to find, and limited production tequilas, and highlight scratch Margaritas in traditional lime and fruit combinations. Open 7 Days a Week at 11am.

L

B

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Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Offering Key

Br

O

TD

Brunch

outdoor dining

Takeout/delivery

WB HH PP RC WL K LE

WL

KF

SB

Weekend/late night

Kid friendly

Sports bar

WB

HH

LE

Wine bar

Happy hour

Live entertainment

OE

PP

C

other entertainment

Catering

Private parties

R

DG

Reservations

Deli/Grab-n-go

Full BarFB

D O TD

DL FBKF PPWB HH C RO

RDL O PPCTDKF FB HHWL

278 feet of waterfront, garnered a price of $8.4 million in 2005.

Pine Lake and Beaver Lake offer 269 waterfront parcels valued at a combined total of $165 million. These two lakes represent more than a third of residential property values in the city of Sammamish. Few alternatives rival the privacy, intimacy and comfortable lakeside accessibility of these two lakes, which offer a lakeside living opportunity still somewhat off the radar of many incoming out-of-state buyers. The two highest sales to date on Pine Lake and Beaver Lake: a 5-acre Nantucket style estate along SE 20th Street sold for $2.75 million in 2006 and a 6,200-plus-square-foot custom home on Viney Cove sold for $2.4 million in 2009. Local real estate

professionals acknowledge that values on Pine Lake and Beaver Lake are still relatively affordable when compared to similar properties on Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington. Buyers in today’s market are seeking these values, and now is an ideal time to be making a long-term investment in waterfront real-estate. At the height of the next cycle, these properties will, no doubt, command the highest premium again. Even though the local market continues to settle out, there is no doubt that the long-term, sustained value of waterfront real estate will always make it a good investment.


Concerts in the Park Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8pm.July 7 Creme Tangerine (Beatles tribute)July 14 @Five (Dance music for the soul)July 21 The About Face band (Classic Rock ‘n Roll)July 28 Dr. Funk (Funk and Groove)August 4 FreddyPink (Classic Rhythm and Blues)August 11 BottleRockit (Country Rock)August 18 Sammamish Symphony (Music from the Oscars! Award winning film scores)August 25 Soul Purpose (Motown)

Other area attractionsJuly 2510th Annual Chris Elliott Fund Celeb-rity Golf Classic Tournament will be held at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge,36005 SE Ridge Street, Snoqualmie. Golf Registration check in begins at 9 a.m.For more information, call 425.396.6000.August 12Sammamish Nights - Wine and music by Sammamish Chamber of Commerce at the Sammamish Commons.August 13Sammamish Days at Sammamish Commons. Kids Parade, food and entertainment from around the world from 11 to 3pm. for more information: ci.sammamish.wa.us/events/Samma-mishDays.aspxAugust 19The Sammamish Symphony Orches-tra’s summer performances for their 20th season. Pine Lake Park, Samma-mish. Free to public.August 27The Sammamish Symphony Orches-tra performs at Village Theater, Is-saquah - open for free to Issaquah residents only.

Concerts on the Green Issaquah Community Center Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m.July 5 Wings and Things (The music of Paul McCartney) wingsnthings.netJuly 12 Bottle Rockit (Classic and Pop Rock) bottlerockitband.comJuly 19 Deadwood Revival (Soulful American Roots) deadwoodrevival.comJuly 26 All Mixed Up (The Car’s Tribute – 80’s and Beyond) AllMixedUpRocks.com

July/August Events

August 2 Second Hand Newz (Tribute to Fleet-wood Mac) secondhandnewz.comAugust 9 Ventura Highway Revisited (Semi Acoustic tunes of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s) venturshighwayrevisited.comAugust 16 Cherry Cherry (Neil Diamond Tribute and more) cherrycherryband.comAugust 23 Clinton Fearon (Roots Reggae’ at it’s best) clintonfearon.comAugust 30 Jr. Cadillac (Classic Rock n Roll by a NW Legend Band) jrcadillac.com

UPCoMinG EVEnTS

Concerts on the Green

425.392.9868 1180 NW Gilman Blvd.

(next to Wells Fargo Bank)

www.IssaquahSewAndVac.com 425-392-9868

Issaquah Sewing & VacuumYour Hometown Sewing & Vacuum Experts

Baby Lock

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Summer season is a time for great free musical evenings. Listed below are the lineups for both the Concerts on the Green in their 15th year, and the Concerts in the Park at Pine Lake Park

And she felt really great knowing she’d saved $145.

Jennifer was treated at Overlake’s 24-Hour Urgent Care Clinic in Issaquah. Her totalout-of-pocket cost was $63. If she had gone to a standalone Emergency Room for the same treatment, Jennifer’s out-of-pocket would have been $208.

Overlake’s Urgent Care Clinic: Making the pain of an illness or injury a little less painful.

For treatment of non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, visit Overlake’s 24-Hour Urgent Care Clinic in Issaquah.

In a true emergency, immediately call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest hospital-based emergency department, where there is access to specialist physicians and hospital support services.

5708 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway SEIssaquah, WA 98029 | 425-688-5777

Costs above are estimates based on a typical health insurance plan. Your out-of-pocket costs may vary.

Jennifer felt much better after getting

antibiotics for her earache.

www.overlakehospital.org/urgentcare

SE Black Nugget Rd.

Overlake 24-HourUrgent CareClinic

E Lake Samm

amish

Parkway SE

Lake Sammamish

Lake SammamishState Park

Issaquah-Fall City Rd.

SE 56 St.

NW Gilman Blvd.

W Sunset Wy.

Front St.S

900

N

90

90

90

Documents

July - August Issue of Issaquah, Sammamish and beyond