Expansion of landfill not acceptable
May 13, 2009
Editorial:
King County wants to extend the life of its regional landfill — located about 14 miles southwest of the Valley — for another three to 13 years. There is a better way.
The county has been dealing with the 920-acre Cedar Hills Landfill since it opened in 1964. Most of King County’s garbage comes home to this monstrous dump. The landfill was supposed to close in the 1980s when the county said it would become a park.
Letters to the editor 5-14
May 13, 2009
Teacher layoffs
are hurting
Student group tours Snoqualmie
May 13, 2009
International group hopes to learn more about flood control
Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson had to think on his feet May 7 while giving a tour of the city to a group of Chinese and American urban planning students.
“Not only are we getting local and national recognition for what we’ve done, but we’re getting international interest, too. I think it’s a feather in our hat,” Larson said.
The tour was arranged on short notice. The mayor was told that the group was interested in hazard mitigation issues; especially flood control and earthquake related planning issues. They wanted to visit Snoqualmie, because the city experiences frequent flooding.
Mayor Matt Larson explains how a wetland conservation area works to a group of Chinese and American planning students who toured Snoqualmie on May 7.
Schools may cut staff
May 13, 2009
With shrinking budgets and employee contract renewal deadlines approaching, Snoqualmie Valley School District may be forced to cut teaching positions for the first time since the recession of the early 1980s.
Certified Snoqualmie Valley teachers received notice of their employment status May 13 — after the time of press for the SnoValley Star. According to the 2009-10 budget blueprint approved by the school board, the district has to cut 18.4 out of 246 full-time equivalency teachers. This number may decrease, as regular attrition from retirements and teachers leaving the district submit their resignations.
“Because of the number of attrition, I think we’re in pretty good shape,” Snoqualmie Education Association President Art Galloway said.
Calendar 5-14
May 13, 2009
Events
District-wide art show debuts
May 13, 2009
Art students may start out with finger paints and pinch pots, but by the time they hit the advanced classes of Mount Si High School, many can illustrate with intricate detail and precision.
Chief Kanim Middle School art teacher Julie Legace has decided to showcase this art progression in a district-wide show, the first of its kind. The free show will debut in the Mount Si High School commons from 5:30-8 p.m. May 15.
The art show coincides with the Mount Si High School production of “The Importance of Being Ernest,” allowing audience members a chance to view the art during intermission.
This portrait illustrated by Twin Falls Middle School seventh grader Mikayla Williams will be at the district-wide art show. She had to draw a portrait of herself without lifting up her pencil or crossing over any lines.
Students take road trip for Ashland Festival
May 13, 2009
As Macbeth pronounced, “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,” before an eager audience at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Mount Si High School students had the chance to widen their thespian Shakespearean repertoire.
From April 30 to May 3, 47 students and 10 chaperones bused down to Ashland, Ore. to see three plays, learn about acting and analyze plots. This is the tenth time Mount Si language arts teacher Bill Dillon has taken students to southern Oregon for the festival. He started the tradition after he won a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1997. Using his grant, Dillon headed to Ashland to study Shakespeare and learn methods for incorporating the Elizabethan playwright into his lesson plans.
Valley youth orchestra seeks string players
May 13, 2009
Three of Sheila Bateman’s children play stringed instruments, but there has nary been a place they can play in a group beyond themselves. So, after having her two violinists and cellist play in a trio together, Bateman has recently decided to expand the circle.
“I thought ‘Wow, since I’m doing this anyway, let’s invite other kids to do it with us,’” Bateman said.
A violinist herself, Bateman knows the advantages of group practice. The Snoqualmie resident grew up in Newcastle, where she began studying the violin at age 4 and later played in the Seattle Youth Symphony. At Brigham Young University, Bateman majored in biology and minored in music, while playing for the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra. Now she passes on her talent to students as a music teacher.
Meeting tackles local business marketing strategies
May 13, 2009
Marketing 101 was the subject of a Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce breakfast networking event May 6 at the Snoqualmie Casino.
Geoffrey Doy, a North Bend resident who is retired after 35 years in marketing, presented some ideas on marketing to the group of chamber members and guests. Doy challenged the group to think of marketing holistically, noting that it was interrelated to everything a business does or should do.
“Marketing permeates the whole business. It’s not something you add on,” Doy said.
Doy’s career included working in marketing for the Xerox Corporation and the Marconi telecommunications company. He is a native of the United Kingdom, but became a United States citizen after moving to North Bend in 2002. Doy is currently assisting North Bend with developing a community identity.
Read more
