Thanks to all for our first year in the Valley
March 5, 2009
Editorial:
The SnoValley Star is about to celebrate a birthday. And, while there may be only one candle to blow out, it’s a special one.
Letters to the editor 3-5
March 5, 2009
A Lower tax rate
Sheriff’s office responds to Two Rivers complaint
March 5, 2009
A parent of a Two Rivers School student complained that a recent lockdown at the school was inappropriately handled at the public comment period of the Feb. 12 Snoqualmie School Board meeting.
The parent, Wendy Shafford, said Two Rivers students “were treated like criminals” during the Jan. 28 lockdown.
The lockdown occurred after an individual reported seeing a person bring what appeared to be a gun onto the Two Rivers Campus, located in downtown North Bend. The King County Sheriff’s department responded and determined the object in question was part of a toy water gun, which had been left on the ground outside the school. Police did not press charges.
A slice of Bavaria in North Bend
March 5, 2009
A family of wooden gnomes points the way to Edelweiss-Chalet, Alpine Paintings and Woodcarvings in North Bend.
Just opposite Cascade Golf Course, Adi and Eva Hienzsch have built a home, workshop and art showroom decorated with Adi’s carvings and paintings rivaling any European artisan.
The Hienzsch’s moved to North Bend in 1967, and their story before and after their emigration is one for the history books.
Adi Hienzsch features his golf-themed painting in his North Bend workshop.
Wine tasting to benefit Encompass
March 5, 2009
Encompass is inviting Snoqualmie Valley residents and their friends to sip wine and sample cheese at the Sip of Snoqualmie, held March 14 at the Snoqualmie Casino.
The idea for the sip sprung out of Encompass’ Autumn Gala fundraiser.
“We were searching for an event that was new and fresh,” said Encompass Development Project Manager Kristin Webb.
She and her colleagues noticed the wine auction items at the Autumn Gala were the first to go and some of the highest bid. With that in mind, the non-profit decided to “go with that wine theme,” Webb said.
Mount Si senior bikes against leukemia
March 5, 2009
When Mount Si High School senior Alexander Barr rides his bike, he pedals not only for his enjoyment, but also to raise awareness about lymphoma and leukemia.
In June, the 17-year-old will compete in America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride — Lake Tahoe. The 72-mile route takes riders around Lake Tahoe, through both Nevada and California, and challenges riders to an 800-foot climb to a scenic view of Emerald Bay and a 1,000-foot climb to Spooner Junction.
Competing in the ride would be arduous for almost any bicyclist. But Barr is eager to tackle the course, especially because his team is raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a non-profit that battles blood cancers.
Mount Si High School senior Alexander Barr crosses the finish line on his bike for the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic.
Foundation honors three educators
March 5, 2009
Three Snoqualmie Valley School educators got unexpected accolades Feb. 27 as principals, photographers and the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation burst into their classrooms with flowers and balloons.
For its second annual Educators of the Year award, the foundation chose Mount Si High School math teacher Tracy Petroske, Opstad Elementary first-grade teacher Nancy Pastrana and Fall City Elementary head custodian Patrick “PJ” Duvall.
Lara Currie, left, and Carolyn Simpson with the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation present Tracy Petroske, right, with an Educator of the Year award.
Parents visit Mount Si High School
March 5, 2009
Ken Grant usually drops his son off at Mount Si High School in the morning, but he made the leap from the parking lot to the classroom Feb. 25 for Parent Visitation Day.
About 20 parents in all came to the high school for the third annual visitation day. Some parents came for a half-day and others managed to make it through the entire school day — a feat their children complete 180 days a year.
Before going to classes, parents debriefed with Mount Si Principal Randy Taylor at the Wildcat Café.
Calendar 3-5
March 5, 2009
Events
Veterans and members of the armed services can find resources related to job development, employment referrals, resume and interview assistance with Worksource Redmond. Paul Sanchez, veterans representative at Worksource Redmond, will be available for appointments and walk-ins at the North Bend Community Church, 146 E. 3rd St. in North Bend from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. March 18. Sanchez will also be available from 1-4 p.m. March 5 and March 19 at the Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E., in Snoqualmie. For more information, call 861-3788 or e-mail psanchez@esd.wa.gov.
There will be a crab feed to benefit the Snoqualmie Valley Relay for Life from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. March 7 at the Snoqualmie Eagles, 8200 Railroad Ave., in Snoqualmie. Cost is $25 and tickets are available at Carmichael’s True Value and SnoFalls Credit Union. There will be crab, clam chowder, garlic bread, salad, homemade cookies, door prizes and entertainment at the event. For more information, go to www.snovalleyrelay.org.
The Cascade Jazz Trio will play at 7:30 p.m. March 7 at Valley Center Stage. The trio – John Chmaj, Brian Gmerek and Courtney Crawford – provide a creative blend of standard, modern and original jazz. Tickets are $12.50 and are available online at www.valleycenterstage.org. For more information, call 831-5667. Valley Center Stage is located at 119 North Bend Way in downtown North Bend.
The Ultimate LEGO Experience will be from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. March 7 at Encompass in North Bend. The five-hour workshop will teach first- and second-graders how to build projects with LEGOs, designing everything from motorized machines to demolition derby cars, bridges and buildings. Cost per child is $45. For more information, call 888-2777. The event will be at 400 S.E. Orchard Drive in North Bend.
The city of Snoqualmie will host a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 12 at Cascade View Elementary School, 34816 SE Ridge Street in Snoqualmie. The topic will be environmental sustainability in Snoqualmie. There will be a number of presentations involving “going green,” including the results of a recent online sustainability survey and an interactive station that calculates personal carbon footprints. For more information, call Jody Warren at 888-1555.
The Amazing Bubble Man will be the feature attraction at Si View’s March Family Night from 6:15 – 8:15 p.m. March 27. Admission is free. The event is co-sponsored by Encompass of North Bend. For more information, go to www.tangenttoy.com/bubbleman.
The Snoqualmie Girls Choir is beginning rehearsals for the spring semester with several events planned. There is a performance at the Seattle Center on March 28. On April 11, they will play a concert at a church service at Mary Magdalene/House of Mary. For more information, call Laurie Hancock at 233-4452 or go to www.svgirls.choir.org.
Movie Times
North Bend Theatre show times for this week are as follows:
Thursday – “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” 5 p.m.; “Slumdog Millionaire,” 7 p.m.
Friday — “Coraline,” 5 p.m.; “The Reader,” 8 p.m.
Saturday — “Coraline,” 2 and 5 p.m.; “The Reader,” 8 p.m.
Sunday — “Coraline,” 2 p.m.; “The Reader,” 5 p.m.
Monday — “Coraline,” 5 p.m.; “The Reader,” 7 p.m.
Tuesday — “Coraline,” 5 p.m.; “The Reader,” 7 p.m.
Wednesday — “Coraline,” (Mommy Matinee) 10 a.m.; “The Reader,” (Adults Only Matinee) 1 p.m.; “Coraline,” 7 p.m.
Classes
Heather Evans with the Bellevue Community College Career Center in Snoqualmie provides free career services from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. every Tuesday at the Snoqualmie Tribe Headquarters, 8130 Railroad Ave. in downtown Snoqualmie and from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. every Wednesday at the North Bend Library, 115 4th St. in North Bend. For more information, call 888-6551, ext. 101 or e-mail heather.evans@bellevuecollege.edu.
Let’s Make a Play, a class that explores theatre and creation, meets Mondays from Jan. 26 – April 27 from 4-5:30 p.m. at Si View Community Center in North Bend. The class, which is for ages 11-16, choose a topic to tell a story with ensemble building and acting skills. Fee is $75.
A young writer’s club will meet on Thursdays from Jan. 22 – April 2 from 5:20 – 6:20 p.m. at Si View Community Center in North Bend. The class is $125 and for ages 6-18.
The teen drop-in program happens from 3-5 p.m. on Mondays and 1-5 p.m. on Fridays at Si View Community Center in North Bend. For more information, contact Ryan Daly at rdaly@siviewpark.org or 831-1900.
Spanish classes are held every Thursday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Sno-Valley Senior Center. Open to the community. $5 per class, drop-in basis, taught by Celide Rivero.
Food Addicts Anonymous meets at 7 p.m. every Thursday in North Bend. For more information, please call 888-0314.
The Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program meets at Si View Park from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. every Monday through Thursday. Cost is $4.
An Alzheimer’s Association caregiver support group meets from 6:30 – 8 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Holy Innocents Catholic Church, 26526 Cherry Valley Rd., Duvall. For more information, contact group facilitator Irene Olson at 868-4889.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Senior Services Transportation Program seeks volunteers to drive seniors around North Bend and Snoqualmie. Volunteers will drive their own vehicles and choose the weekdays, times and areas in which they’d like to drive. Mileage reimbursement and supplemental liability insurance are offered. For more information, call 206-748-7588 or 1-800-282-5815, or e-mail melissat@seniorservices.org. To apply online, go to www.seniorservices.org/vts/vts.htm.
The Mount Si Senior Center thrift store is looking for volunteers to sort donations and help with cash sales a few hours a week. The thrift store is located in the Senior Center at 411 Main Street in North Bend. For more information, call Janet at 888-3434.
Hopelink in the Snoqualmie Valley is seeking volunteers for a variety of tasks. The 38-year-old nonprofit agency will have a pair of orientations for prospective volunteers from 10 – 11:30 a.m. March 5 at Hopelink’s Bothell center and from 2-3:30 p.m. March 11 at Hopelink’s Carnation center. The Bothell center is located at 18220 96th Ave. N.E. in Bothell, while the Carnation center is located at 31957 Commercial St. in Carnation. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. For more information, go to www.hope-link.org/takeaction/volunteer or call 869-6000.
The Mt Si Food Bank is looking for individuals to help out with distribution once a month for three hours. Three to eight people are needed each Wednesday from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. to assist in maintaining the food bank. If interested, e-mail mtsihelpinghandfoodbank@yahoo.com or call 888-0096.
Adopt-A-Park with yourself, your family, neighbors or club. Adopt-A-Park is a volunteer program for Snoqualmie residents willing to help improve and enhance public parks and trails. Volunteering requires an application and a one-year commitment. Call 831-5784.
Be a Study Zone tutor and give students the homework help they need. Study Zone needs volunteers to tutor elementary through high school students in math, science, English, social studies and study methods. A two-hour weekly commitment and flexible substitute scheduling are available. The Study Zone program is a free service offered by the King County Library System. For more information, call 369-3312.
Share your love of books and make new friends by becoming a Friend of the Library in either Snoqualmie or North Bend. Annual memberships cost $5 for individuals and $10 for families and help expand opportunities for children, families and seniors around the community. To learn more, call 888-0554.
North Bend Library
Join the North Bend Library Tuesday Book Group for an evening of lively conversation about a variety of new and notable fiction and nonfiction. The group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the North Bend Library meeting room. The book to be discussed March 3 was Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet. New members are always welcome. For more information, call 888-0554.
The North Bend Chess Club, for all ages, meets from 7-9 p.m. every Thursday.
Game On, for ages 12 to 18, meets 3- 5 p.m. Fridays to play XBox 360, Playstation, Nintendo DS, Guitar Hero and DDS. Board games also are available.
English as a Second Language classes meet at 6:30 p.m. Mondays.
Toddler Story Time, for ages 2 to 3 with an adult, meets at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays.
Preschool Story Time, for ages 3 to 6 with an adult, meets at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays.
Evening Family Story Time meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
Snoqualmie Library
Young Toddler Story Time, for age 12 to 24 months with an adult, is at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays.
Preschool Story Time, for ages 3 to 6 with an adult, is at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays.
Anime & Manga Club, for middle and high school students, meets at 3 p.m. Wednesdays to watch anime movies, eat popcorn and practice manga drawing.
Evening Family Story Time, for all young children with an adult, is at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays.
Clubs
Rotary Club of Snoqualmie meets at 7 a.m. every Thursday at the Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club. E-mail SnoqualmieRotary@yahoo.com.
The Eastside Chapter of the Northwest Biodiesel Network meets the second Wednesday of every month, from 7-9 p.m., at the Railroad Depot in North Bend. For more information, go to www.nwbiodiesel.org or call 503-9876.
The Snoqualmie Valley Garden Club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Mount Si Senior Center. There is a guest speaker each month. For more information, call 206-295-8363.
Post No. 79 of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Building at 38625 Southeast River Street in Snoqualmie. For more information, call Steve Fenton, Post Commander, at 396-6100 or Kathy Kerr, Unit President, at 831-5133.
Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis Club meets at 7 a.m. every Thursday at the Mount Si Golf Course restaurant in Snoqualmie. E-mail snovalley@member.kiwanis.org.
Snoqualmie Fraternal Order of Eagles Women’s Auxiliary meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. The Men’s Aerie meets the first and third Wednesday at 7 p.m. Meetings are held at 108 Railroad Ave. Call 888-1129.
The Snoqualmie Valley Youth Hub provides cultural, athletic, recreational and educational opportunities to more than 4,000 young people in the Valley. Call 831-5543.
Loyal Order of Moose is located at 108 Sydney Ave. in North Bend. Men meet at 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month. Women meet at 7 p.m. the third and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Call 888-0951.
The Mount Si Fish and Game Club meets at the Fall City Firehall at 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of every month.
Washington Freemasons meet at 7:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Unity Lodge No.198 in North Bend. Call 888-5779.
The MOMS Club of North Bend, a social group for at-home mothers, meets at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the North Bend Library. Children are welcome at all MOMS Club activities. Call 888-1387 or visit www.momsclub.org for more information.
To submit an item for the community calendar, send to editor@snovalleystar.com or via www.snovalleystar.com.
Snoqualmie Casino bond rating downgraded by company
March 5, 2009
A leading bond rating agency downgraded the rating of a family of companies that control the Snoqualmie Casino on Feb. 20. The rating is a signal to investors that the financial outlook for the casino is negative.
Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Snoqualmie Entertainment Authority’s rating to denote that its bonds have a higher risk of not being repaid. The entertainment authority is the organization that built and operates the tribe’s casino between Snoqualmie and North Bend.
