Local Democrats prepare for caucuses
April 11, 2012
Caucusgoers could change state and, perhaps, national policies as Washington Democrats gather for caucuses April 15.
President Barack Obama is the standard bearer for the Democrats in November, but although the party is not in the midst of a nomination fight, caucusgoers can still influence local, state and national issues by shaping the Democratic Party platform.
Caucusgoers can present resolutions on political issues for consideration at local, state and national party gatherings.
Officials organized caucus sites at schools throughout the 5th Legislative District.
The district stretches from Issaquah to the Snoqualmie Pass, and from Sammamish to Maple Valley.
The state is sliced into about 6,700 precincts. Residents gather for caucuses depending on precinct location.
Voice your opinion about police options
April 11, 2012
North Bend officials would like to hear your comments and concerns about a potential change in police service providers.
Tell city leaders how you feel at a City Council meeting at 7 p.m. April 17 at the Mount Si Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S.
Officials are seeking public comment in an effort to ensure all vital information is considered concerning a potential change in police service providers from the King County Sheriff’s Office to the Snoqualmie Police Department.
The proposed contract with the Snoqualmie Police Department features the following benefits:
- significant yearly cost savings
- stability to the city budget for five years
- localized control
Continuation with the sheriff’s office as police service provider features the following benefits:
- long history of high-quality service
- extensive resources
- well-qualified officers
Each person will be given as much as three minutes to speak. City residents are strongly encouraged to submit thoughts in writing so they may be referenced later, and so they can express thoughts that otherwise would not fit within the three-minute time limit.
Mail written comments to the City of North Bend, Attn: City Clerk, P.O. Box 896, North Bend, WA 98045, or email them to cityhall@northbendwa.gov.
Londi Lindell is hired as North Bend’s manager
April 11, 2012
North Bend’s new city administrator, Londi Lindell of Bellevue, will bring “energy and savvy” to the city when she starts May 1, said outgoing City Administrator Duncan Wilson.
Lindell, who has worked as city attorney and in senior management positions with Mercer Island and Federal Way, beat out 45 other applicants vying for Wilson’s job. He will leave May 15 to start his new administrator position in Friday Harbor.
Wilson said applications came in from all over the state, but also as far away as Massachusetts and Florida.
Wilson, Mayor Ken Hearing, councilmembers Jeanne Pettersen and Russ Loudenback, City Attorney Mike Kenyon and several city staff members served on the search committee, and six were brought in for interviews.
Londi Lindell
Lindell, 53, has years of experience as a city attorney and assistant city manager, two qualities that the North Bend City Council members said were very important to them at their retreat in January.
But she also brings additional skills that Hearing said made Lindell’s application “raise to the top.”
Pettersen said one of the five other candidates did have a law background, but less in the aspect to city government. She said some of the other candidates did have some department management experience, but not managing a city as a whole.
Users can transfer state recreation pass between vehicles
April 11, 2012
Users can transfer the Discover Pass for state parks and recreation lands between vehicles, under legislation Gov. Chris Gregoire signed March 30 — not long before Memorial Day launches the summer recreation season.
The change to the 1-year-old Discover Pass took effect immediately. The legislation allows users to transfer the annual pass between two vehicles at no additional cost.
State lawmakers acted after Discover Pass users complained about the inability to transfer the pass between vehicles.
“Customer survey results indicated that pass transferability between two vehicles could boost support for the Discover Pass,” State Parks Director Don Hoch said. “We are optimistic that the change will lead to greater public support and participation. We now depend on the Discover Pass to keep state parks and other state recreation lands open for public use and enjoyment.”
Legislators created the $30-per-year Discover Pass last year to generate funds for cash-strapped state parks and natural resources agencies. The pass is required to park motor vehicles at state parks and recreation lands managed by the state Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Letters
April 11, 2012
Happy retirement, chief
How does one know when one is getting old?
Well, one sure way is when an ex-student retires!
Not too shabby, retiring Snoqualmie Police Chief Jim Schaffer!
Friday night TV might be less exciting than flagging down a DUI, but now you can kick back with a bowl of popcorn and a beer.
And sleep in without guilt.
Way to go!
Peter Melvoin
Emeritus: Bellevue College
North Bend
Police Blotter
April 11, 2012
North Bend
Attack of the BBs
A North Bend couple reported they left their 2007 Chevrolet truck in Mount Si Tavern’s parking lot the night of March 16. When they returned the next day to pick it up, they noticed the windshield had been shot with BBs. A bartender at the tavern had also reported the patio area had been sprayed with BBs that night.
Peeing in the bushes
A police officer saw a woman in the bushes on Southeast 140th Street at 9:15 p.m. March 16. He reported she then ran out of the bushes, got into her vehicle and drove away. When he tried to stop her, she pulled into a driveway and then almost backed into his vehicle. The officer asked what Mare Bron, 50, of Snoqualmie, was doing in the bushes. She told him she was urinating and was on her way to visit a friend. Bron failed field sobriety tests and her blood alcohol content readings were .218 percent and .24 percent. The legal limit in Washington is .08 percent. Bron was arrested for DUI and taken to the Issaquah Jail.
Hit and run
An SUV with California license plates collided with the front end of a truck bearing Montana plates late the night of March 17. A witness told police the SUV drove away after the incident, which happened in front of the Pour House in North Bend. Police are investigating.
On Earth Day, give a nod to the planet
April 11, 2012
Even though Earth Day is April 22, the entire month has turned into an opportunity to show our appreciation for the third rock from the sun.
People all over the world demonstrate their appreciation for the planet and demand its protection, as well as organize events to clean her up.
Washington is no different.
Opportunities abound this month with special projects to do your part, like the Washington Coast Cleanup 2012, which happens April 21.
According to the Coast Savers website, 8,246 volunteers collected 277 tons of trash from our coastline between 2000-2010.
Figuring an average contribution of five hours per volunteer, that’s a total of 41,230 volunteer-hours contributed. If that’s the route you’d like to go for the 42nd Earth Day, go to www.coastsavers.org/washington.html.
But there are plenty of opportunities right here at home.
Snoqualmie Tribe hosts Earth Day event at Sandy Cove Park
April 11, 2012
The Snoqualmie Tribe is hosting an Earth Day event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20 at Sandy Cove Park, 7970 Falls Ave. S.E., in downtown Snoqualmie.
Begin the event by signing up for the Healthy People for a Healthy Earth Walk. The walk will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the parking lot by Sandy Cove Park and will continue along Centennial Trail toward Snoqualmie Parkway alongside the historic train cars. At the end of the trail, get a complimentary grab bag and be entered into a raffle for a backyard composting kit.
Visit interactive booths for organic food samples and to learn about native plants and their uses, energy efficiency and recycling options.
At noon, enjoy a free lunch of salmon and other freshly cooked foods.
At 1 p.m., walk off lunch as Snoqualmie City Arborist Phil Bennett leads a Gift of Trees interpretive walk.
Learn more by contacting Lisamari Emery at lisamari@snoqualmienation.com or 888-6551, ext. 2103.
Friends of the Forest Day is April 14 in Snoqualmie in honor of Earth Day
April 11, 2012
Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to sign up to help remove invasive plants at Snoqualmie Point Park just off of Interstate 90, according to a press release from Erin MacCoy, communications manager for the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust.
In the late 1990s, there was a plan to develop eight office buildings on the site, which had once been a winery and later was zoned for industrial development, MacCoy said.
A partnership of citizens, elected officials, agencies, The Trust for Public Land and the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust worked to preserve and build the land as a city of Snoqualmie park, she said. Volunteers participating in Friends of the Forest Day will work at the park on a mixture of U.S. Forest Service, state Department of Natural Resources and city lands.
The National Forest Foundation’s Friends of the Forest Day program is a fun, hands-on way for people to help support meaningful restoration projects for the benefit of national forest lands. These family friendly events are designed to be engaging, educational and have a real impact on the ground.
Sign up for the weed removal project at http://mtsgreenway.org.
Following are more volunteer projects with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust.
City of North Bend holds sustainability workshop
April 11, 2012
The city of North Bend and North Bend Planning Commission invite you to the first in a series of public workshops on issues relating to energy use and sustainability at 7 p.m. April 12 at City Hall, 211 Main Ave. N.
The city is developing an energy and sustainability element in the city’s Comprehensive Plan to address topics including energy and water conservation, fossil fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions, waste reduction, and green building practices in both city operations and in the broader community, all within the context of making long-term and fiscally responsible decisions.
The first workshop will look at broad trends relating to electrical energy use, fossil fuel use, and water use and conservation within city operations, and among the larger community as a whole. Examples of what other cities are doing regarding these issues will be discussed, and draft policies addressing these issues will be presented.
Learn more at www.northbendwa.gov. Type in “sustainability” in the search field.
