Snoqualmie Valley students excel on state writing test
December 30, 2009
NEW — 2:41 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
Mount Si High School sophomores Cameron Shand and Abbi Smith write in their journals during language arts class. Elementary, middle and high school students now take writing assessments to prepare them for standardized tests. (Photo by Laura Geggel)
Snoqualmie Valley’s students have written themselves into top place.
Every spring, students in grades four, seven and 10 take a standardized writing test — up until 2009 it was called the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL.
Rattlesnake Mountain hike sure to impress
December 30, 2009
NEW — 2:33 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
Lonesome Mount Si looms to the north, watching over Snoqualmie Valley. (Photo by Christopher Huber)
Hikers and anyone who loves the outdoors: if you only do one hike this winter, do the four-mile Rattlesnake Mountain Trail.
And if you know anyone who doesn’t like to hike, drag them along with you — it’ll be good for them and they’ll love it.
Police blotter, Dec. 31
December 30, 2009
NEW — 2:32 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
North Bend
Coca-Cola theft
Two females and a male stole four, 24-packs of Coke from a display outside the North Bend QFC at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 21. Each pack was worth $6.49. Read more
King County Council donates used vans to Encompass and other nonprofits
December 30, 2009
NEW — 1:28 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
King County Council members donated 27 retired Metro Vanpool vehicles to provide transportation assistance to local governments, community programs, senior citizens and young adults, including North Bend’s Encompass, a preschool, summer camp, family service center and resource for children with developmental disorders. Read more
Public Meetings, Dec. 31
December 30, 2009
North Bend City Council, 7 p.m. Jan. 5, Mt Si Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S.
North Bend Transportation and Public Works Committee, 4 p.m., Jan. 6, Public Works building, 1155 E. North Bend Way.
Calendar, Dec. 31
December 30, 2009
Events
Snoqualmie City Hall’s dedication and open house is scheduled for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 9, 38624 S.E. River St. This event is for everyone of all ages. There will be children’s entertainment, live music, refreshments and a commemorative gift for each visitor. The dedication ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. Dave Battey, a local Snoqualmie Valley historian, will open this momentous event. (File photo)
Community Conversations, 1-3 p.m. Jan. 3, at the North Bend Public Library. The topic will be “Education: our schools, ourselves, our culture.” For more information, call 425-831-0033. Read more
Mount Si basketball teams find success this season
December 30, 2009
NEW — 1:20 p.m. Dec. 30, 2009
The Mount Si boys basketball team has found success so far this season, going 4-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
In December, the boys team defeated Foster 68-57, Sammamish 65-52, Burlington-Edison 56-53 and Liberty 66-48. The team lost to Lake Washington 53-61 and Jackson — a team from Ohio — 70-64. Read more
Greg Hoover declares candidacy for Washington’s 5th Legislative District
December 29, 2009
NEW — 7:21 a.m. Dec. 29, 2009
Greg Hoover, a Sammamish resident, announced Dec. 22 that he would seek a position in the state House of Representatives.
Hoover, a Realtor and real estate attorney, will run in 2010 against Snoqualmie Republican Jay Rodne for one of the two 5th Legislative District seats.
Hoover is casting himself as a tough business professional with an optimistic streak.
The state’s is facing an estimated $2.6 billion budget deficit that will surely dominate the 2010 legislative session.
Hoover’s early positions on issues are based around things he won’t do, like raising taxes. He also has come out against introducing an income tax.
“It’s going to cost a lot of money just to get it started,” Hoover said, adding that it was a less convenient revenue source than the sales tax. “It’s a tax that’s hard to collect on.”
Hoover has a master’s in tax law, in addition to his general law degree.
Hoover also said he wouldn’t vote for deeper cuts to money for public education and is against teacher-to-student ratios ballooning beyond where they currently are.
Hoover also said he wouldn’t be in favor of tolling Interstate 90.
“I think that would ask way too much of people on the Eastside, specifically in the 5th District,” he explained.
He said he was less sure of whether the state should toll State Route 520.
Hoover described himself as a moderate Democrat, with emphasis on moderate. While he was glad Referendum 71 passed in November, he would not vote in favor of a gay marriage bill, he said.
He said he was pro-choice, but felt conflicted about the position, given that he is also Catholic.
Hoover’s opponent, Rep. Jay Rodne, declared his candidacy in early December and has raised $9,400 so far, according to the Public Disclosure Commission.
Rodne was appointed to a seat in the legislature in 2004 when then-5th District Rep. Cheryl Pflug became a state senator. Rodne won an uncontested election campaign in 2006 and defeated Democrat Jon Viebrock in 2008 by more than 19 points.
Besides Snoqualmie, North Bend and Fall City, the 5th District includes Issaquah, Sammamish, Maple Valley and parts of unincorporated King County.
J.B. Wogan: 392-6434, ext. 247, or jbwogan@isspress.com.
Snoqualmie Ridge resident buys Zoka Coffee
December 28, 2009
NEW — 6 a.m. Dec. 28, 2009
Snoqualmie Ridge resident Steve Pennington has bought Zoka Coffee Roaster & Tea on the Ridge, and plans to turn it into Steve’s Doughnuts in late January.
Despite the name change, the coffee and the faces serving it will stay the same. Pennington says he will keep any barista who wants to stay on and he will continue selling Zoka coffee in drinks and in whole-bean coffee bags. Read more
North Bend Realtor recognized as one of area’s best
December 27, 2009
North Bend Realtor Julie Fromm has been recognized as one of the area's best real estate agents by Seattle Magazine. (Photo contributed)
NEW — 6 a.m. Dec. 27, 2009
A North Bend Realtor, Julie Fromm, has made Seattle Magazine’s list of “Best Residential Real Estate Agents,” published in the its December issue. Fromm also received the honor in 2008. She is an associate broker with John L. Scott North Bend.
Recipients are identified through an independent survey of recent homebuyers, home sellers and industry experts. They are rated on nine criteria, with finalists being screened by a review panel. Read more
