Local pathologist attends stuttering workshop
July 29, 2009
By Laura Geggel
People who speak with a stutter are in good company. Winston Churchill stuttered, as did James Earl Jones and John Stossel. But these big celebrity names did not make it any easier for Jennifer Irvine when her preschool-aged daughter started stuttering.
Irvine, a part-time speech language pathologist for Snoqualmie Valley School District, had worked with stuttering students before. The disorder affects about 1 percent of the population, more than 3 million Americans.
Stuttering people may hesitate or repeat certain syllables, words or phrases, according to The American Stuttering Foundation’s Web site.
Children who are still developing their language skills are more likely to recover from stuttering, which prompted Irvine to take her daughter to Seattle-based Speech Language Pathologist Susan Hamilton.
“She did end up recovering, we’ve been out of therapy for six months,” Irvine said. “It’s wonderful, but there is an emotional side to it.”
Irvine said she wanted to learn more about stuttering so she could better help Snoqualmie Valley students who stutter. When Irvine learned The Stuttering Foundation of America was hosting an all expenses paid workshop in Portland, she applied and got into the program.
“I did have knowledge (of stuttering), but I just wanted to be more effective,” Irvine said. “I wanted to help students on my caseload.”
She joined 15 other speech pathologists from around the world at the July 14-19 workshop in Portland, Ore. Once there, she learned how to help patients be confident, competent and comfortable.
There are four factors that may contribute to stuttering, including genetics, childhood developmental delays and how one’s brain processes language. Lastly, stuttering children may be affected by families with high expectations and fast-paced lifestyles, according to the foundation’s Web site.
Because there are so many factors involved in stuttering, pathologists recommend an individualized approach for each patient.
“The thing about stuttering is people think it’s only what you hear, the sounds coming out of somebody’s mouth,” said Hamilton, a speaker at the conference. “There is also an affective part to it. You can imagine if you’re a kid and you’re asked to read aloud and the words won’t come out; you start to worry about the next time you stutter.”
Irvine had advice for anyone who is friends or family with someone who stutters. People should be polite and refrain from interrupting, giving advice or trying to finish their sentences for them.
“The most important thing is to sit and wait for the message,” Irvine said.
The school district has nine speech language pathologists who fill about six full-time positions.
“As Jennifer (Irvine) comes back, she’ll be sharing with the other therapists who have kids on their caseloads who could benefit from that workshop,” Director of Student Services Nancy Meeks said.
Irvine agreed.
“I am excited about putting this into practice,” she said.
Reach reporter Laura Geggel at 392-6434 .221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com. To comment on this story, visit www.snovalleystar.com.
People who speak with a stutter are in good company. Winston Churchill stuttered, as did James Earl Jones and John Stossel. But these big celebrity names did not make it any easier for Jennifer Irvine when her preschool-aged daughter started stuttering.
Irvine, a part-time speech language pathologist for Snoqualmie Valley School District, had worked with stuttering students before. The disorder affects about 1 percent of the population, more than 3 million Americans.
Stuttering people may hesitate or repeat certain syllables, words or phrases, according to The American Stuttering Foundation’s Web site.
Obituaries – Rieke, Copeland, Shearer, Richards, Ulrich
July 29, 2009
Jori Rieke
Jori Marie Rieke, of North Bend, died at Children’s Hospital in Seattle on July 22, 2009 in the company of family and friends. She was 17 years old.
Jori was born Dec. 20, 1991 in Snoqualmie, the daughter of Tammy Rieke and granddaughter of Marvin and Gloria Rieke. She was raised in North Bend and was a junior at Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie. Jori had a love for animals and people, particularly her dog Maggie and her cat Sam. She enjoyed being active in her church, the North Bend Community Church, and spending time with family and friends.
In December of 2006, Jori was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma and has courageously battled this disease with the love and support of her faith, family, friends and the wonderful doctors and nurses at Children’s Hospital in Seattle. It was during this time that Jori discovered her passion for the medical field and set her sights on the goal of becoming an oncology nurse. Jori was preceded in death by her mother, Tammy, in 1999.
Survivors include grandparents Marvin and Gloria Rieke and brothers Jesse and Jarad Rieke, uncle and aunt Thomas and Terri Channita, and cousins Kasey, Alison and Anthony Channita, all of North Bend.
A graveside service was held July 25 at Mt. Si Memorial Cemetery in North Bend. A memorial service was to be held at North Bend Community Church, 126 E. Third Street, North Bend.
The family suggests remembrances to Children’s Hospital Foundation P.O. Box 50020 / S-200, Seattle, WA 98145-5020.
Friends are invited to share memories and sign the family’s online guest book at www.flintofts.com.
Kirk Douglas Copeland
Kirk Douglas Copeland, of North Bend, died Evergreen Hospice Hospital in Kirkland, July 22, 2009. He was 73 years old.
Doug was born Sept. 3, 1935 at Providence in Seattle, the son of James Fredrick and Mildred Copeland. He was raised in the Snoqualmie Valley. Doug Spent his working career as a heavy equipment operator. Kate and Doug have been together for 19 years. They were married on July 25th, 2000 and are soul mates for life Doug loved the outdoors, working around their home, and giving advice to others.
Surviors include: wife Kathleen Copeland, of North Bend; brother Gary Barter, of North Bend; son Kirk James Copeland, of North Bend; daughter Lori Read, of Woodinville; step children, Ronnie Lane, of North Bend; Daniel Lane of Spokane; eight grandchildren.
Special thanks to neighbors; Marlene Connelly of North Bend and Jennifer and husband Mark, also of North Bend.
Friends are invited to share memories and sign the family’s online Guest Book @ www.flintofts.com
Please send any flowers or cards to their home at 13212 423rd Ave SE, North Bend, Wash. 98045.
William Edward Shearer
William Edward Shearer, 63, a resident of Snoqualmie, died July 22, 2009 in Bellevue. William was born July 19, 1946 in Lawrence, Mass., to William Douglas and Martha Margaret (Hourigan) Shearer. He worked as a draftsman most of his life and also for Job Corp. William went back to draftsman as his career choice. He was retired at the time of his death. He had also worked at the Snoqualmie Valley Record. William’s hobbies included stamp and coin collecting.
William is survived by his two sisters, Betty Spear, and Norma Leone, and also by numerous nieces and nephews. The family will hold a private family gathering. Memorial contributions may be made to your local homeless shelter.
Ina Marie Richards
Ina Marie Richards, was born February 11, 1910 in Monticello, Iowa to Albert and Louise Gruenig. She was raised in Chamberlain, South Dakota.
Ina moved to Fall City in 1936. She married her first husband George Blomquist in 1939 in Fall City. She married her second husband George Richards in 1961 and they continued to make their home in Fall City. Ina moved to Issaquah in 1976, where she remained a resident until her death on June 24, 2009.
Ina worked for the Colonial Inn in Fall City, then at the Coba Farms and retired after working with her friends at Fall City Foods.
Ina was a member of the Order of Eastern Star – Rebecca’s. Her hobbies and interests included flower gardening, baby sitting for family and friends and travel. Her most memorable trip was to New Zealand, Australia and Bora Bora.
She is remembered as always being a happy person, who never complained. She was good to everybody, and always worried about others, instead of herself. She was very easy going.
Ina is survived by her son John A. (and his wife Edna) Blomquist of Troy, Montana, her daughter Marie L. (and husband Dwayne) Raefield of North Bend, five grandchildren: Jimmy, Donna, Randy, Vicki and Kim; five great grandchildren: Bridget, Travis, Ryan, Kace and Larry – all of whom she was very proud. She was preceded in death by three brothers, a sister and her grandson Jerry.
A graveside service was July 6, 2009 at Fall City Cemetery, 4713 Lake Alice Road SE, Fall City, WA 98024.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and sign the family’s online guest book at www.flintofts.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Flintoft’s Funeral Home and Crematory.
Roy William Ulrich
Roy Ulrich, of Duvall, died July 27, 2009 at his home in Duvall. He was 81 years old.
Roy was born on Aug. 14, 1927 in Oakdale, Wash., the son of Benward and Anna Ulrich, he was the fifth of eight children. He was raised in St John, Wash., and graduated from St John High School in 1946. He served as an airplane mechanic in the United States Navy, during the Korean War – from 1950 to 1954. After serving in the Navy, he moved to Burien and worked for the Boeing Co. at which time he met and married his wife Delores on November 29, 1958. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in November of 2008. They lived in Burien for several years, but moved to Duvall in August of 1965, where they raised their family and remained residents.
In 1970, he became a truck driver and worked for himself contracting to Mayflower until he retired in 1999. Then he did volunteer work for Sno Valley Senior Center. He is preceded in death by his parents Benward and Anna Ulrich and his brothers: Wesley, Harland and Lawrence (and Lawrence’s wife Josephine).
He is survived by his wife Delores Ulrich; one son Brian Ulrich of Duvall; three daughters Leslie Day (Charles) of Burien, Karen Carlson (Jim) of Whidbey Island and Amy Padron (Fred) of Duvall, six grandchildren: Cameron Padron, Brooke Padron, Benjamin Carlson, Jonathan Carlson, Sarah Day and Joseph Day; sisters Margaret Mauer (Melvin) of Spangle, Amy Thomas of Columbus, New Mexico, Eillen Anderson of Spirit Lake, Idaho and Wanda Anderson of Kettle Falls, WA.
A memorial service will be held at be The First Baptist Church of Monroe at 2 p.m. July 31, with a reception to follow.
Graveside services will be held for immediate family only prior to memorial service at Riverton Crest Cemetery.
The family requests that instead of flowers, donations be made in his name to the First Baptist Church Building Fund at 17922 140th St. SE, Monroe, WA 98272.
Jori Rieke
Peterson makes his move as a professional
July 29, 2009
By Ryan Piersol
It was wet and cold at the end of a long day, but Tom Peterson couldn’t have been happier — at last, he had arrived.
Since graduating from Mount Si High School five years ago, Peterson had been working his way up on the professional cycling tour. He made a big jump at age 21 by signing on with team Slipstream Sports, but it wasn’t until this spring that it became evident he had a lengthy professional career ahead of him.
The turning point came when Peterson won the second stage at the Tour of California, hailed as one of the largest races in the United States. The stage was in less than ideal situations on Feb. 16, but was the biggest win of Peterson’s career. To top it off, he later grabbed a pair of top-10 finishes at other races, and by mid-summer, Peterson had everyone convinced that a bright future was in store.
“That (Tour of California) stage told me that everything I’ve done is starting to culminate into something good,” he said. “I was pretty sure I was in there (as a professional), but this year was the turning point. The first half of the year has gone really well. It’s the best year I’ve had so far.”
Peterson is no stranger to accomplishment. In 2004, he won the U.S. Junior National Championship Road Race. In 2006, he was named the Best Young Rider at the Tour of California. And, in 2008, he had three overall finishes in the top 11.
This year, though, has produced a new kind of success. After winning the second stage at the Tour of California, Peterson finished the overall race a respectable 38th. He then took eighth at the Tour of Bavaria and was 10th at the Tour of Austria.
“Every race has been consistent for me this year,” he said. “There’s been no lull.”
Peterson returned home to North Bend last week for a short stint. Most of the year, he calls Girona, Spain home. The town, located in the northeast corner of the country, is known as an ideal training ground for all the greats of the sport.
“The training is really good there. They build roads up to the tops of all the mountains,” he said. “They also have flat roads, and the Mediterranean is there, so it’s a great place to ride.”
Girona picked up an extra dose of popularity several years ago when Lance Armstrong decided to make it his training ground. Armstrong is one of Peterson’s teammates on Slipstream-Sports and, although the legendary cyclist isn’t handing out daily advice, Peterson says he has benefited greatly from being on the team.
“I’ve yet to talk to (Armstrong). I’ve just ridden with him,” Peterson said. “But the guys on the team are always really helpful. They’re always helping the younger guys and it’s really easy to race with them.
“It’s been a lot of fun so far. A lot of times I have to overlook what’s going on and snap back into reality. Not many people get to do what I do. How many people can say they’ve seen some of the places I’ve seen and done some of the things I’ve done?”
Peterson plans to race in the Vuelta a Burgos in Spain and the Tour du Limousin in France in the next month. He will then participate in the 21-day Tour of Spain, before deciding how many more races he’ll do this year.
In the meantime, there’s a final thought that continues to help him through all the daily workouts at the gym and three-hour rides in the mountains.
“Every year has just been continued progression for me. I’m always worried that this year has gone well and I’m not going to be able to do any better. But every year just keeps getting better,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine what’s going to happen next year. If I continue to progress, the next step will be a big one.”
Reach editor Ryan Piersol at editor@snovalleystar.com or 392-6434. To comment on this story, go to www.snovalleystar.com.
It was wet and cold at the end of a long day, but Tom Peterson couldn’t have been happier — at last, he had arrived.
Since graduating from Mount Si High School five years ago, Peterson had been working his way up on the professional cycling tour. He made a big jump at age 21 by signing on with team Slipstream Sports, but it wasn’t until this spring that it became evident he had a lengthy professional career ahead of him.
The turning point came when Peterson won the second stage at the Tour of California, hailed as one of the largest races in the United States. The stage was in less than ideal situations on Feb. 16, but was the biggest win of Peterson’s career. To top it off, he later grabbed a pair of top-10 finishes at other races, and by mid-summer, Peterson had everyone convinced that a bright future was in store.
Tom Peterson, right, leads a pack of riders during the Tour of California. Peterson, a Mount Si High School graduate, has had a special 2009 season so far.
Mount Si golfers qualify for WJGA state tournament
July 29, 2009
Star Staff
Three Mount Si boys golfers qualified last week for the Washington Junior Golf Association state tournament with district performances.
All three — Bradley Harrelson, Jack Kelly and Mike Rutledge — were able to qualify in the 17-18 age bracket at Willows Run Golf Course in Redmond. They will compete at state July 29-31 at Glendale Country Club in Bellevue.
At districts, Harrelson managed to tie for third place by stroking a 71-72 — 143, which was -1 under par. Rutledge wasn’t too far behind him, coming up with a 71-74 — 145. Kelly posted a 77-72 — 149.
The trio has had quite a successful last year. After leading Mount Si to a conference championship in the fall, they were key components in the Wildcats winning the Class 3A state title.
Three Mount Si boys golfers qualified last week for the Washington Junior Golf Association state tournament with district performances.
All three — Bradley Harrelson, Jack Kelly and Mike Rutledge — were able to qualify in the 17-18 age bracket at Willows Run Golf Course in Redmond. They will compete at state July 29-31 at Glendale Country Club in Bellevue.
At districts, Harrelson managed to tie for third place by stroking a 71-72 — 143, which was -1 under par. Rutledge wasn’t too far behind him, coming up with a 71-74 — 145. Kelly posted a 77-72 — 149.
The trio has had quite a successful last year. After leading Mount Si to a conference championship in the fall, they were key components in the Wildcats winning the Class 3A state title.
Calendar 7-30
July 29, 2009
Events
The popular Rodgers and Hammerstein’s production of “Oklahoma!” is scheduled to be performed at Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater on Saturdays at both 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. from July 25 – Aug. 30. It will be directed by Roger Westberg, with music direction by Paul Linnes and choreography by Sandy Brown. Tickets are on sale now. Go to www.foresttheater.org or call 736-7252 or 222-7044 for more information.
Mike’s Cascade Grill will host Mike’s Bike Night With Jeff Warren and Friends, an open mic night from 6-8:30 p.m. every Wednesday through August. The band will be raising money for Relay For Life and Mike’s will donate 25 percent of all burger special sales to the American Cancer Society during the event. Bring an instrument and play or come for the music, food and to support the Snoqualmie Valley relay.
A variety of classic cars will be displayed at the Legends Car Show, scheduled to be held as part of Snoqualmie Railroad Days on Aug. 2. The Legends Car Club, which was founded in 2000, has more than 100 members from the Puget Sound region. For more information, go to www.legendcarclub.com.
The Kids Sale, a children’s consignment event, runs from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Aug. 7-8 at Cascade View Elementary School on Snoqualmie Ridge. Admission is free. Shopping spree giveaways will be at 2 p.m. both days. Most items are 50 percent off from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday. Go to www.TheKidsSale.com for more information.
The annual Festival at Mount Si continues this year from Aug. 7-9 with another round of events in North Bend. For the eighth straight year, the festival will include a chili cookoff, a cherry pie eating contest and the Burstin’ with Blueberries Dessert Contest. Also included will be the kids’ Fun Zone, The Grand Parade, a pancake breakfast, live and silent auctions, the Skate Jam, stupid pet tricks, kids bingo, Irish dancers, Veils of the Nile, a dog pageant and more.
The Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast will be from 7-11 a.m. Aug. 9 at North Bend Elementary. Pancakes, ham, juice, coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be served for $6 per person. All proceeds go to support children in the community. To volunteer to help with the event, contact Debby Peterman at 392-6835.
The Tour de Peaks kicks off again Aug. 9 with a variety of rides for cycling enthusiasts of all skill levels. There is an easy, all-flat terrain five-mile Centennial Family Route, the recreational Centennial 15-mile route, the more challenging Centennial 35-mile route and the toughest Centennial 80-mile route. All routes begin in downtown North Bend and include scenic views of the Valley and its mountains. All routes end at The Festival at Mount Si at Si View Park. For more information, go to www.tourdepeaks.org.
The U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West will perform a free outdoor concert at Snoqualmie Point Park at 7 p.m. Aug. 11. The band will play a wide variety of music, from jazz and pop to patriotic tunes.
Celebrating its second year, Art in the Park offers art lovers an up-close look at the best artists the Valley has to offer. The public event takes place at Gardiner Weeks Park in North Bend on Aug. 15 and 22, where members of the Mount Si Artist Guild paint, draw and share their knowledge of their craft with others.
Snoqualmie Railroad Days will celebrate its 70th annual year Aug. 22 with more food, rides and fun in the downtown Snoqualmie area. This year, there will be a fun run, a pancake breakfast, food and booths, a grand parade, train rides, the railroad demo, a field of fun, trailer car rides, a children’s stage and a main stage for the festival, which is meant to honor the city’s origins as a logging and railroad community. For more information, go to www.railroaddays.com or call 888-3030.
The Mount Si boys basketball team will have its annual fundraising golf tournament Aug. 21 at the Mount Si Golf Course. The format will be a four-man scramble with net and gross prizes. Shotgun start is at 8 a.m., with check-in starting at 6:30 a.m. Cost is $100 per golfer and includes lunch. For more information, e-mail Ken Sinner at ksinner@comcast.net.
The Snoqualmie Firefighters Association is holding its annual fundraising pancake breakfast from 7-11 a.m. Aug. 22 at the Snoqualmie Fire Station, 37600 SE Snoqualmie Parkway. The non-profit association helps support Snoqualmie Fire Department special equipment purchases, as well as charitable organizations and historical preservation within the community. Included in the breakfast will be pancakes, ham, orange juice and Starbuck’s coffee. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Those under 5 are free. For more information, call 888-1551.
Robin Schween, of Edward Jones, will host a free investment seminar at the Snoqualmie Library from 7-8 p.m. Aug. 26. The theme of the seminar is “10 Reason to be a Long-Term Bull”. For more information, call 888-2068.
Movie Times
North Bend Theatre show times for this week are as follows:
Thursday — “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” 7:30 p.m.
Friday — Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance presents the Seattle premiere of “Kranked: Revolve”. Go to www.evergreenmtb.org for details.
Saturday — “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” 2:30, 6 and 9 p.m.
Sunday — “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” 2:30 and 6 p.m.
Monday — “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” 2 and 6 p.m.
Tuesday – “Pollyanna,” (Free Summer Film Series), noon; “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” 2:30 and 6 p.m.
Classes
The Early Bird Workout began July 2 at Si View Community Center. The class meets from 6-7 a.m. every Thursday morning, and offers a high intensity workout for those who want to exercise before work. For more information, go to www.siviewpark.org or call 831-1900.
The Mount Si School of Karate is offered through Si View Community Center Mondays and Wednesdays each month. Interested participants 7-8 years will meet from 4-5 p.m., those who are 9-11 years from 5-6 p.m. and those 12 and up from 6-7 p.m. Register for the class at www.siviewpark.org or call 831-1900.
The Umibushi Self-Defense Academy is conducting AAU Level 2 Karate Club classes at Twin Falls Middle School in North Bend from 6-7 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. The classes cost $60 per month and are open to all ages 7 and up. For more information, go to www.umibushi.com.
Heather Evans with the Bellevue 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.
An Al-Anon Family Group meets at 7 p.m. each Thursday at Mt. Si Lutheran Church in North Bend.
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
Through the end of July, donations for the Mt Si Helping Hands Food Bank may be made at the following Sno Falls Credit Union locations: Snoqualmie Branch, 9025 Meadowbrook Way SE; Snoqualmie Ridge Branch, 7730 Center Blvd.; North Bend Branch, 460 E. North Bend Way.
Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum seeks docents to volunteer at the Museum from 1-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday through October. Duties will include greeting visitors, selling items in the gift shop and more. Training will be provided. Contact the museum at 888-3200 or Pat Kelly at 888-1557.
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. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. For more information, go to www.hope-link.org/takeaction/volunteer or call 869-6000.
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.
Clubs
The Mt. Si Artist Guild promotes visual fine arts in the Snoqualmie Valley. It meets the third Saturday of every month at 9:15 a.m. in the North Bend Senior Center. Upcoming events include: the Festival at Mount Si, Aug. 7-9; Art in the Park, Aug. 15 and 22; Sawdust Art Show, Aug. 31. For more information, contact Diane Solomon at djsolomon@comcast.net.
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.
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. amily, neighbors or club. Adopt-
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.
To submit an item for the community calendar, send to editor@snovalleystar.com or via www.snovalleystar.com.
Events
The popular Rodgers and Hammerstein’s production of “Oklahoma!” is scheduled to be performed at Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater on Saturdays at both 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. from July 25 – Aug. 30. It will be directed by Roger Westberg, with music direction by Paul Linnes and choreography by Sandy Brown. Tickets are on sale now. Go to www.foresttheater.org or call 736-7252 or 222-7044 for more information.
Woman wins $250,000 at casino
July 29, 2009
Woman wins $250,000 jackpot at casino
What started off as an evening out with family before heading back to Montana, turned into a life changing moment with the spin of a reel. While playing Million Degrees, Washington’s only million dollar payout machine, Barbara Phillips lined up nine symbols at Snoqualmie Casino and is now taking home a jackpot worth $250,000.
Phillips had been playing the machine for less than an hour, before the jackpot occurred. Had she been playing the maximum amount on the machine, $3.00 per spin, and lined up the same symbols, the top award payout would have been over $1.1 million.
Since Nov. 6, 2008, Snoqualmie Casino has paid out nearly $1 billion.
What started off as an evening out with family before heading back to Montana, turned into a life changing moment with the spin of a reel. While playing Million Degrees, Washington’s only million dollar payout machine, Barbara Phillips lined up nine symbols at Snoqualmie Casino and is now taking home a jackpot worth $250,000.
Phillips had been playing the machine for less than an hour, before the jackpot occurred. Had she been playing the maximum amount on the machine, $3.00 per spin, and lined up the same symbols, the top award payout would have been over $1.1 million.
Since Nov. 6, 2008, Snoqualmie Casino has paid out nearly $1 billion.
City works with owners on downtown project
July 29, 2009
Some downtown Snoqualmie property owners are asking for more than the city has to give, according to Mayor Matt Larson.
Larson updated the City Council on the downtown improvement project at the council’s July 27 meeting. He said that some property owners on Falls Avenue were hesitating to give up access to small parking lots and driveways that would need to be closed to build new sidewalks as part of the downtown revitalization project.
Larson said that, in exchange for giving up access to their parking lots and driveways, they wanted the city to agree to not place restrictions on what the property owners can do with the land. This would mean that, if the properties are redeveloped, the city would have no control over design and other planning considerations. Read more
Economy has local libraries packed
July 27, 2009
One of Michele Drovdahl’s favorite parts of being a librarian is, as she puts it, “forcing a good book on people.”
With the state of today’s economy, Drovdahl’s had plenty of opportunity to do that.
As unemployment numbers across King County and the rest of the country continue to rise, so is the number of people who are visiting libraries. According to a recent study conducted by Washington State Public Libraries, library attendance across the state in the latter half of 2008 was up 7.5 percent from what it was a year ago.
Library classes teach how to cook and survive in the wild
July 25, 2009
By Laura Geggel
Stray from your backyard and you just might find yourself in the wilds of Snoqualmie Valley. Just remember not to wander off without a compass or snack.
North Bend Library is set to host two free workshops, the first a wilderness survival class for children and the second an outdoors cooking class for teenagers and adults.
The Wilderness Survival class, aimed at children ages 7 or older, will be held at the North Bend Library at 2 p.m., July 29 and at Fall City Library at 7 p.m. Aug. 10. Presented by Nature Vision Inc., the workshops will teach youth some easy-to-remember methods of “lost proofing” themselves.
Children’s Librarian Kate Patrick said the program tied in nicely with King County Library System’s summer reading program, “Be Creative @ Your Library.”
“When faced with that type of situation requiring survival skills, it certainly helps to be creative,” Patrick said.
Nature Vision Executive Director Clay Heilman said the workshop would teach participants how to build a shelter to protect against hypothermia, how to find clean water and how to forage for food and make a fire.
Children will have a chance to check out outdoor adventure books at the library, like Jean Craighead George’s “Julie of the Wolves,” Gary Paulsen’s “Hatchet” and David Borgenicht’s “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Extreme Junior Edition.”
“We have wonderful books on outdoor adventures,” Patrick said. “This is a great way for us to introduce those books, both fiction and non-fiction.”
Registration is required for the Wilderness Survival class, which is sponsored by the Friends of the North Bend Library. Visit www.kcls.org/srp, and select “programs.” To learn more, call the North Bend Library at 888-0554.
Maple Valley author Sarah Kirkconnell will present the second workshop, “Freezer Bag Cooking: Trail Food Made Simple,” at the North Bend Library at 7 p.m. July 28. Kirkconnell, an avid hiker, started creating recipes with a friend when the two challenged each other to come up with a new recipe for every hike they took. Once they hit 100 recipes, they founded www.trailcooking.com and later wrote a book on their culinary projects.
“They can eat better on the trail and they don’t have to spend a lot of money either,” Kirkconnell said of her readers.
Many prepackaged hiking meals have too much sodium and break her budget, Kirkconnell said. By making her own food, she can adjust the type of food, especially for her vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free friends. Some of the recipes include pesto salmon pasta, southwest chicken corn wraps and lazy hiker mac n’ cheese.
Kirkconnell will review cooking gear for the trail, such as stoves, pots and pans, as well as bear safety. For people wary of plastic bags, Kirkconnell will explain how to prepare meals in other containers, such as camping mugs.
“Having raised two Eagle Scouts, I’ve taken part in many planning and shopping sessions for camp and trail food and know how challenging it can be to create satisfying and balanced meals in the out of doors,” Managing Librarian Irene Wickstrom said. “ Sarah Kirkconnell’s concept of freezer bag cooking seems both simple and convenient.”
Reach reporter Laura Geggel at 392-6434 .221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com. To comment on this story, visit www.snovalleystar.com.
Stray from your backyard and you just might find yourself in the wilds of Snoqualmie Valley. Just remember not to wander off without a compass or snack.
North Bend Library is set to host two free workshops, the first a wilderness survival class for children and the second an outdoors cooking class for teenagers and adults.
The Wilderness Survival class, aimed at children ages 7 or older, will be held at the North Bend Library at 2 p.m., July 29 and at Fall City Library at 7 p.m. Aug. 10. Presented by Nature Vision Inc., the workshops will teach youth some easy-to-remember methods of “lost proofing” themselves.
Author Sarah Kirkconnell will present her book, “Freezer Bag Cooking: Trail Food Made Simple,” at the North Bend Library July 28.
Hospital program an option for the uninsured
July 24, 2009
The jury is still out on whether or not President Barack Obama will be able to pass legislation that provides health coverage for the entire country. In the meantime, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital is offering residents of the Valley a helpful alternative.
In May, the hospital district that serves the area announced it had created a prepaid primary health care plan. The plan will allow people to pay $30 a month and a $5 co-pay to be seen by primary care physicians at any of the district’s three clinics.
That’s not much money for a little piece of mind. It’s especially important in these rough economic times, as more and more employers are struggling to provide health insurance benefits and individual health insurance is becoming less and less affordable.
The hospital’s plan is not a substitute for health insurance. It’s focus is on preventative medicine, getting you in to see the doctor when you’re still wondering whether you have the cold or the flu, a sprain or a broken bone. It does not cover things like surgical procedures, blood testing or x-rays. It will, however, provide some less-specialized treatments and give patients an option when they get sick.
The program is scheduled to begin Aug. 1 and will do so on a trial basis. Only the first 100 who register will be accepted. If, after 60 days, the hospital decides the program will work, there will be no cap on the number of people who can participate.
No one can predict their health, which is why programs like these are so necessary. If you’re one of the growing number of people who simply can no longer afford health insurance, perhaps this is a plan for you.
We commend Snoqualmie Valley Hospital for being creative in its effort to make health care affordable. We look forward to following the assessment over the next few months to see if the hospital administrators just may be onto something big.
Editorial:
The jury is still out on whether or not President Barack Obama will be able to pass legislation that provides health coverage for the entire country. In the meantime, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital is offering residents of the Valley a helpful alternative.
