by Danna McCall

Snoqualmie Elementary 1st Grade Teacher, Catherine Heinz, Named May Teacher Of The Month

May 18, 2012 in School Happenings by Danna McCall

Snoqulamie Valley Macaroni Kid honored Snoqualmie Elementary School 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Heinz, as its May 2012 Teacher of the Month.  The award demonstrates the perseverance of the nominating parent, who admits she wrote Macaroni Kid numerous times trying to recognize her child’s amazing 1st grade teacher.

Here is the nomination:

“I am not going to give up on nominating Mrs. Heinz for the “best teacher ever” award!  I’ve nominated her before, but my writing skills do not express how wonderful she is as a teacher!  Yesterday all the mothers were invited to her class for a Mom’s Tea.  As per usual, she is the Martha Stewart of teaching and it wasn’t just tea!  The children put on a huge production for us complete with homemade costumes (my son played the Troll under the Bridge), they sang to us, and gave us each a poem with a plant they grew themselves.  This wasn’t something the school asked her to do, this is just how she works.  She gives everything to help these kids love school and learning.  Everything from her free time to her own money.  She dresses up in costumes to help them remember science and math facts and sings for spelling and comprehension.  Everyone with a first grader hopes and prays to get Mrs. Heinz as a teacher and when they do… No one can ever compare to how amazing she is.  She is the perfect teacher. Her only flaw is that we only get her for one school year!”

Macaroni Kid Snoqualmie Valley-Issaquah, The Cascade Team, The Woodman Lodge, Therapeutic Health of North Bend and Issaquah Trophy & Awards have honored Mrs. Heinz with a massage gift card, a Woodman Lodge gift card and a plaque commemorating her Teacher of the Month honor.

Congratulations Mrs. Heinz!!!

 

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by Danna McCall

Mount Si Baseball Begins State Playoffs Tomorrow, Girls Fastpitch Earns #2 State Berth

May 18, 2012 in Mt Si High School, School Happenings by Danna McCall

The Mount Si Boys Baseball Team plays its first game of the 2012 WIAA State Championships tomorrow, Saturday, May 19th at 11AM at Borst Park in Centralia. Mount Si, the defending 3A state champs, are the top-ranked team in the 3A rankings with a 19-3 record. They face #5 ranked Peninsula of Gig Harbor, who finished the season at 18-4-1.  With a win, Mount Si will face either O’Dea or Pasco at 5PM for a chance to return to the 3A State Championships final round next weekend in Pasco, WA.

For directions to the game or for more information visit the Mount Si Boys Baseball website.

The Mount Si Girls Fastpitch Team played in the finals of the SeaKing District Championships yesterday. They faced a tough Juanita team and lost 8-1.  The second place district finish earns the girls a #2 state berth.  That tournament draw happens this Sunday.  For more info on Mount Si’s road to a state championship visit Mount Si Fastpitch website.

For a comprehensive look at Snoqualmie Valley sports visit Rhett Workman’s Snoqualmie Valley Sports Journal.

 

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by Danna McCall

Another Possible Break-in Reported In Snoqualmie Neighborhood Of Deer Park Tuesday Night

May 17, 2012 in City of Snoqualmie by Danna McCall

After only two weeks since the last break-in occurred in the quiet Deer Park neighborhood of Snoqualmie Ridge, another possible break-in was reported Tuesday night.

Neighbors on the small, 7-home cul-de-sac of McIntosh Court, say police responded to the home’s alarm system about 10:20PM Tuesday night.  Neighbors report the home’s front door appeared “jimmied.”  They say police came, but that marks on the home’s front door were not discovered until later.  Neighbors say it is unclear if anything was stolen or if the alarm scared the intruder away.  Police say the alarm was false.  The homeowner is unavailable for comment.

Snoqualmie Police say they responded to the alarm, determined it was a false alarm and that nothing was missing.  Neighbors contend there are marks on the front door to indicate screw drivers were used to jimmie the lock and are trying to bring officers back to the home.  They say there is no way to no way to know if anything is missing because the owner is unreachable.

Many Deer Park residents feel their neighborhood is being watched.  There is talk of starting a Neighborhood Watch Program.  Most neighborhood homes back to green belts and Deer Park has quick, easy access to I-90.

For Snoqualmie Police Burglary Prevention Tips click here.  You can also visit the Snoqualmie Police website for more crime prevention tips and request forms.  There is even a form to request police house checks while on vacation.

Police are still looking for the suspects in the May 2nd burglary.  One of the suspects is said to be tall, thin, with an olive complextion and in his 20′s or 30′s.  The suspects are reported to drive a matte blue truck with giant tires.  Snoqualmie Police can be reached at their non-emergency line, 425-888-3333 or 911 for emergencies.

The victim of the May 2nd break-in reported an officer said her home was the third Deer Park break-in in 60 days.  Another break-in did occur on Venn Ave in March.  No word on where the third break-in might have occurred.

 

 

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by Danna McCall

Historic Snoqualmie Transformed Into A Hollywood Movie Set, May 16th-17th

May 16, 2012 in City of Snoqualmie by Danna McCall

It’s an amazingly beautiful day on the streets of historic Snoqualmie.  Bindlesticks is busy with long-time residents filling tables and chatting.  The coffee bar has a line of people – probably due to the multiple film trucks parked in the King Street parking lot.  For the next two days Snoqualmie will be transformed into a movie set.  Hollywood is here Snoqualmie Valley.

The movie is called, You Can’t Win, and is directed by Seattle’s Robinson Devor.  It will be shot on location throughout Washington State and portions of Montana, with the hopes of securing film festival support and eventual national distribution.  For info on the cast and crew click here.

You Can Win is an adaptation of the bestselling memoir of the same name, first published in 1926.  It tells the true story of Jack Black, a convict and hobo who spent over 30 years riding the rails and living out the dying age of the Wild West.  Forsaking an ordinary, law-abiding life, Jack was in and out of prison several times, but in his later years reformed and worked as a librarian in San Francisco.  He wrote the book You Can’t Win as a memoir describing his days on the road and life as an outlaw.  It was written as an anti-crime book urging criminals to go straight, but also provides commentary on the futility of the criminal justice system.  William S. Burroughs called You Can’t Win one of the novels that inspired him to write, and admittedly “lifted chunks” for his classic novel Junky.

Several scenes are being filmed within the Snoqualmie and North Bend area.  Those locations include:

  •  A clear-cut owned and operated by Hancock Logging, north of Snoqualmie – May 15th
  •  The Northwest Railway Museum – May 16th & 17th
  •  The Tollgate Farmhouse in North Bend – May 15th
  • The Railroad Trestle west of downtown North Bend – May 18th

Today and tomorrow, filming occurs at the Snoqualmie Railway Museum.  Several parking spots are blocked in front of the museum.  Movie crew trucks, as well as catering trucks, occupy the King Street Parking Lot.   Those trucks should be there from 6:30AM-6:30PM each day.  There are about 50 cast and crew members participating in the filming.

Welcome to town You Can’t Win!

Film crew trucks and caterers occupy King Street parking lot for next two days

Northern Pacific Railway car moved in front of Snqualmie Railway museum for You Can't Win filming

 

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by Danna McCall

Internationally Known Washington D.C. Bluegrass Band Performs In The Valley For The First Time

May 16, 2012 in Snoqualmie Valley Info by Danna McCall

One of the hottest new bands in the American Roots/Bluegrass scene, Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, will hold a concert at the Sallal Grange in North Bend on Friday, May 18th, at 7:00PM .  The Washington D.C. based band has been getting rave reviews wherever they’ve performed.

“Interesting, innovative, talented and impressive are a few of the words reviewers have used to describe Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen…. All true…” says Katy Daley, an award-winning DJ at WAMU radio in Washington, D.C.

“I can’t believe how lucky we are to have Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen perform in North Bend! They’re amazing musicians and very entertaining!” noted Valley resident Trisha Tubbs, an active member of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and co-producer of IBMA’s 2010 Annual Awards Show in Nashville, Tennessee. “They were one of the featured headline bands this year at the award-winning Wintergrass Music Festival in Bellevue, Washington and they were a huge hit.  Audience members of all ages loved them!”

A recent addition to the band is Puget Sound area guitarist, Chris Luquette, one of the best flat-picking guitarists in the Northwest.  Luquette was with the band, Northern Departure, when it took second place in the 2011 Experience Music Project’s (EMP) Battle of the Bands contest.

The band does an eclectic range of songs that include bluegrass, pop, jazz, country, folk, rock and more with a hard-driving style. “Band members are some of the best musicians and fastest “pickers” that people will ever get a chance to see,” added Tubbs.

Opening for Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen will be the popular local band, Down the Road, featuring Valley residents Cathi Davidson, Gary Davidson and John Tubbs.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Twede’s Café in North Bend, The Nursery at Mount Si in North Bend, Carmichael’s Hardware Store in Snoqualmie and on the Sallal Grange’s website at www.sallalgrange.org.  For information and directions, email info@sallalgrange.org

The Sallal Grange is located at 12912 – 432nd Ave SE, North Bend, WA.  They can be reached at (425) 888-0825

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by Danna McCall

Snoqualmie City News: YMCA Fences Come Down & Be Ready For Some Fireworks – Literally!

May 16, 2012 in City of Snoqualmie, Community Center / Y by Danna McCall

Snoqualmie YMCA Lawn Update

News Flash!  The “not-so-pretty” gray chain link fences that have surrounded the Snoqualmie YMCA site for nearly a year came down late Monday afternoon.  One of my favorite citizen quotes when she saw the fences were gone was, ” It’s about time. I was just wondering yesterday morning why the prison fences were still up.”

I stopped by the Y yesterday and spoke to Dave Mayer, Snoqualmie Y Director.  He said the site has dried out enough to allow the fences surrounding the saturated lawn to come down – and employees were glad.  They think the site looks much better without the fences.

The City of Snoqualmie is in charge of the Y’s  landscape maintenance per the joint partnership agreement that allowed the Y/Community Center to be built.  Dave Dembeck, Head of Maintenance for Snoqualmie Community Park, should be out by mid-week to determine if the site is dry enough to mow.  If so, mowing will happen by the end of this week.

As I was taking photos of the YMCA yesterday, a pedestrian said, “Aren’t the flowers gorgeous?  I hope they never mow them.”  When I mentioned this comment Dave Mayer, he said that it was nice to hear, but thought this opinion might be in the minority – based on them numerous comments Y employees receive about the length of the community center lawn.  Everyone seems to agree the flowers are pretty, but the remarks that the lawn is too long.  Even after mowing, the “eco-turf” lawn length will remain longer than nearby fields, but the flowers will always grow back.

For more information on the YMCA “eco-turf” lawn visit the City of Snoqualmie informational page.

Prepare For Casino Fireworks Tomorrow, May 17th

Looking for a little pre-4th of July fireworks to light up the sky?  You just might see them tomorrow night!

The City of Snoqualmie was notified by the Snoqualmie Tribe that Snoqualmie Fireworks Supply will host a fireworks vendor product demonstration at the Snoqualmie Casino.  The demonstration will be on Thursday, May 17th, beginning around 7:45PM and lasting a limited length of time.

Within Snoqualmie city limits, fireworks can be discharged only on July 4th from 6PM to 11PM.  Because the Snoqualmie Tribe is recognized by the federal government as a sovereign nation is not subject to the Snoqualmie Municipal Code.

For more information or complaints, please contact the Snoqualmie Tribe directly at 425- 292-3759.

The Snoqualmie Fire Department will have two engines on site during the display.

Snoqualmie Y without the chain link fences

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by Danna McCall

Snoqualmie Middle School Teachers Ask School Board To Consider Focusing 2013 School Bond On Mount Si Instead Of A New Middle School

May 15, 2012 in Mt Si High School, School Happenings by Danna McCall

Last month, a group of Snoqualmie Middle School (SMS) teachers met with Snoqualmie Valley school board members.  The meetings were about the upcoming 2013 school bond, not about asking the board to reconsider its decision to convert SMS into a 9th grade campus in 2013.  The teachers met with board members to propose they consider changing the scope of the (most likely) February 2013 school bond.

On March 8th, when the SVSD school board voted 3-2 to proceed with the 2013 annexation which converts SMS into Mount Si’s Freshman campus, they also surprised the room when they voted unanimously voted to run a repeat middle school construction bond to replace SMS on Snoqualmie Ridge – a bond that failed twice in 2011.  Observers say the board’s decision to run the bond again highlights its support of a three middle school education model.

What that group of Snoqualmie Middle School teachers asked the board to consider was a school bond for a Mount Si High School remodel/expansion instead of building a new middle school.  The teachers asked the board to consider using SMS as a temporary 9th grade campus, learning from it and then moving the Freshman Learning Center to its own space on the Mount Si campus.  With MSHS work complete, SMS could again serve Snoqualmie middle school students.

Mount Si's last major renovation was about 20 years ago

Over the past two months of school board meetings, board members discussed a need to remodel/upgrade Mount Si, who’s last major 2-year remodel was completed in 1992.  Modernization could help MSHS students keep up with the technological educational demands now facing them.  There was even talk of available state matching funds for such a remodel in 2014 – ten years earlier than previously stated.

Some think it is a viable option. When the Freshman Learning Center opens in 2013 and 450 9th graders are moved off the MSHS campus, there will be additional classroom space to remodel without highly disrupting MSHS students.  In 2013, there will be about 1200 students at MSHS – roughly the permanent capacity of the school.  The new 2009 portables could house students while other wings and classrooms are remodeled.

SVSD did explore a MSHS remodel/expansion before deciding to utilize SMS as 9th grade campus.  The deterring factors to the remodel/expansion were price and disruption to high school students.  The original MSHS modernization model was $100 million and added capacity for 800-900 students.  New reduced, enrollment projections now show MSHS only needing additional capacity for about 500 students.  With a smaller expansion/remodel needed, it is predicted its cost could decrease – making the price tag possibly equaling that of a new middle school.  Utilizing the 2009 portables for 10-12 graders (with 9th graders temporarily on a different campus) alleviates the concerns of highly disrupting MSHS students during the construction work.

One board member described the 2012/13 SVSD budget as being “down to bare bones.”  After keeping past budget cuts away from classroom education, SVSD was forced to cut teacher salaries from next year’s budget – to the tune of about 20 teachers and instructional assistants.

New schools require increased operational budgets to run them.  Costs of running a new middle school are estimated around $750,000.  The cost to run a 9th grade campus could be up to $300,000.  That’s a possible $1 million budget increase during a time of less state education funding and an SVSD budget that has been already trimmed to “bare bones.”

The Issaquah School District (ISD) faced the same challenges when deciding to convert its Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus to a middle school after 5 years of operation- 3-5 years earlier than planned.  ISD already had bond funding secured to construct a 5th middle school.  Administrators then looked at new enrollment projections and the operational costs to run that 5th middle school (about $750,000 per year) and weighed the impact on its shrinking budget.

The Issaquah School District ultimately determined it was fiscally advantageous to utilize bond funds to remodel and expand Skyline and Issaquah High Schools and then move 500 9th graders back to each school.   Pacific Cascade was then converted to a middle school and the additional operational costs of a new school were avoided.  You can see the details of Issaquah’s Pacific Cascade campus decision process by clicking here.

ISD Pacific Cascade campus. Converted from a 9th grade campus to a middle school in 2009

Like SVSD, Issaquah receives one of the lowest “per-pupil” funding amounts in Washington.  In 2007, not foreseeing an increase in state funding, seeing stabilizing future enrollment projections and not wanting to sacrifice educational programing for the operational costs of a new school, the ISD School Board decided to use and expand existing school buildings.

On March 8th, the SVSD school board voted unanimously to again run a school bond to construct a new middle school.  Since then, new information has surfaced; most importantly, a serious budget crunch and the loss of teachers.  It’s a fact that building new schools increases operational budgets.  The SVSD budget is tight and has been continually trimmed for five years.  In three years, will the district have another potential $1 million dollars of operating budget to run a separate 9th grade campus and 3rd middle school?  Should we know before running a new bond?

An alternative bond option,  Mount Si modernizing, could be a win-win for the district.  A modernized Mount Si benefits each SVSD student.  It’s been 20 years since its last major remodel.  A remodel qualifies for state matching funds, reducing taxpayer impact.  With 9th graders on a different campus, room is created at MSHS to complete remodeling without highly disrupting students.

Bellevue, Newport, Eastlake, Issaquah, Skyline, Shoreline, Shorewood, Vashon – these are the names of area high schools that remodeled with students on campus.  In a time of shrinking state funding and smaller education budgets, is remodeling existing buildings in lieu of building new ones a viable way to protect fragile educational budgets from more teacher layoffs and programming cuts?

Last year’s school bond was 1 vote shy of passing.  A year later, the SVSD budget crunch is real – evidenced by losing teachers, IA’s and larger class sizes next year.  A real question is, if that bond had passed, could we afford to run a 3rd middle school and a freshman campus in 2013?  Is a modernization/expansion of Mount Si a viable bond alternative; one that could put less pressure on future SVSD operational budgets?

The SVSD school board will be doing more bond planning in the coming weeks.  Board member Geoff Doy says, “The Board is planning a work session to discuss the content of the future bond; much will impact that discussion including our ability to afford the running cost of a new school building within our very tight operational budget.”

If you would like to share your thoughts on that 2013 bond you can email Dan Popp, Scott Hodgins, Marci Busby, Geoff Doy and Carolyn Simpson.

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by Danna McCall

Face Vs. Facebook

May 15, 2012 in Guest Blogs by Danna McCall

Thanks to Lori Riffe for another guest post.  Lori lives in Snoqualmie and writes her own blog, Tainted Fishsticks.  She definitely has a way to make me smile with her writing that strives to “be real.”  So in honor of Mark Zuckerberg’s 28th birthday and Facebook going public this week, Lori takes her own look at Facebook.  Read on…

In a world of total exposure, the noise can turn into false reality.

WHAT?

I’m talking about our perceptions of people and the fact that due to things like social media, we see a lot more of people’s lives than we ever did before.  But what are we really seeing?

I want to let you know that I am not you and you are not me and he is not that guy and she is not that girl.  I don’t have my act together and I’m not an incredible cook.

Sally Sue’s kids are a terror and she only posts pictures of them looking cute.  She doesn’t tell you she had to bribe them with Twinkies to get them to shut up and smile.

Jimmy’s new job IS a blessing, but he totally hates the fact that he has no friends there and isn’t allowed on Facebook while on the clock.

Reposting a status in support of some person she’ll never meet who may or may not be sick does not mean Mary is going to save the world while you are watching Netflix.

Healthy living advice comes mostly from people who secretly eat Doritos and drink too much.

Kids with amazing grades are under a lot of pressure and may not make it through college.

Awesome vacations usually mean massive credit card debt.

Multiple ‘check-ins’ mean George goes anywhere he can not to be at home with his family.

Arm in arm group photos indicate booze consumption and temporary BFF status.

Social media IS a way to connect with others.  It can be informational, inspiring, humorous and overall entertaining.  I am personally thankful for the connections I made with many people I might not otherwise be in contact with.  I am definitely not mad at Facebook.  But, I often get sucked in, like many others, to the false reality presented online. Not that people are misrepresenting themselves, but that their time of joy is temporary, and is not representative of all the crap they may have going on behind it.

When you find yourself feeling like everyone else’s life is better than yours, stop yourself, because it’s simply not true.  We are all a mess in our own personal circumstance and this is NORMAL.  No one is living our same life and we should never want for someone else’s life – especially if it’s all wrapped up in a Facebook status update.

Connect with friends in many ways.  Spend time in person with people and find out what’s REALLY going on.  Celebrate, encourage, inform, laugh and cry with them. For real.  Not through a comment or a ‘like’ button.  We are meant to be in community with one another – to be real face to face.

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by Danna McCall

Snoqualmie Strings – Orchestrating Youth Music In The Snoqualmie Valley

May 14, 2012 in Snoqualmie Valley Info by Danna McCall

I have learned so much about the valley since launching Living Snoqualmie almost two years ago.  One such thing is just how much music fills our small part of the Northwest.  It seems every turn I make I am hearing the accolades of local valley music groups.

The newest group I had the pleasure to learn about is Snoqualmie Strings – the valley’s youth orchestra.  Snoqualmie Strings, directed by Sheila Bateman, began in 2009 with about 10 participants.  Today it’s more than doubled in size to 24, including retaining five of the original ten members.

Snoqualmie String members are all ages and all skill levels.  The youngest member is 5 and the oldest is 15.  Some of the kids have been playing for one year and others for eight years.  The orchestra has three performing groups where kids are placed based on skill level.  Snoqualmie Strings even runs an after school class called, Seedlings, at several SVSD schools.  Seedlings  is a beginning strings music program.

The group rehearses each Friday afternoon at Mount Si High School and performs in informal settings like the North Bend Block Party and the Mt Si Transitional Health Center.  The advanced group provides background music for formal events like the Snoqualmie Schools Foundation Luncheon.  They were praised by attendees of this year’s event, myself included.

Tomorrow night, May 15th, Snoqualmie Strings performs in the Mount Si Auditorium at 7PM.  They will be presenting Camille Saint-Saens, Carnival of the Animals, featuring pianist Sam Abramson.  Admission is free, but an individual donation of $2 and/or a family donation of $5 is suggested.

If you have a young musician in the family, you can see a live youth orchestra performance tomorrow evening and can then learn more about Snoqualmie Strings on their Facebook page or website.

 

 

 

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by Danna McCall

Sunday Morning Inspiration: Happy Mother’s Day To All My Mom Friends!

May 13, 2012 in Ramblings by Danna McCall

Many women have code names for the friends in their lives.  Often times those code names are dictated by when the women friends first crossed paths.  Some friends are childhood friends, some are high school or college friends and then there is a special title given to the friends met once they’ve settled down; settled down as is bought a home and found a neighborhood.  Basically, put down roots and found a place to raise kids.

Friends who enter a woman’s life during the kid phase are often referred to as our “mom friends.”  I don’t know who coined the phrase.  I’ve never given it much thought, but I do have them.  I have my mom friends.  They are the friends I wouldn’t have made if we hadn’t moved to Snoqualmie with all our kids in tow.  They are the friends I made because of my kids.

We moved many times before settling on Snoqualmie Ridge as our real home.  Until that time 11 years ago, I had very few mom friends, yet I had a lot of kids.  That all changed when we built a home on Cranberry Court and single-handedly populated the cul-de-sac with our four children.

That first winter I worried again that I was the only one on my street with kids, not realizing that winter was hiding all the other moms in their homes.  Spring came around, we headed outside and moms and kids began appearing.

A year and a half into our stint on Cranberry CT, new neighbors moved in, bringing us out of our homes and backyards – and into the shared cul-de-sac.  Julie bravely took her two kids into the street and just let them play.  My kids would see them and whine to join in.  A tradition was born.  Friendships began.

Our afternoon routine became about getting outside. Kids would play and moms would have someone to talk to over the age 5 – a kind of cul-de-sac mom therapy.  Our street became an episode of Romper Room.  It was like we went back in time, living in the 50’s, with kids and stay at home moms everywhere.   What started out as play time turned into lasting friendships.  My mom friends were found on a Cranberry Court cul-de-sac.

Things have changed on Cranberry Court in recent years, teaching our close-knit group of families that we had it good for a while.  Some of us have changed streets; changed schools; little kids are now in middle school and wandering the neighborhood with friends; some moms are back in school or now working.  One thing that didn’t change were my mom friends.  The kids may have grown up, but the friendships remain.

Once you finally settle down – pick a city, a neighborhood, an actual address – sometimes the rest falls into place.  Mom friends are good friends.  They make dinners and hang Christmas lights when your dad dies.  They pick up your kids from school when you’re stuck in traffic.  They stand in a street with you and watch kids play – helping you make it through that last crazy hour until dad gets home from work.  They watch your kids at the last minute – even if the reason is simply so an overwhelmed mom can catch her breath and find sanity for an hour.

I am lucky.  My neighbors became my friends.  I recognize that isn’t always the case, but Cranberry Court worked its magic on us all during those early years of Snoqualmie Ridge and raising kids.  To all my mom friends out there, Happy Mother’s Day!

 

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by Danna McCall

Stamp Out Hunger And Support Local Food Banks Today – Saturday, May 12th

May 12, 2012 in Snoqualmie Valley Info by Danna McCall

Snoqualmie Valley homes should have received a plastic blue shopping bag in their mailboxes this week.  Those bags are for the USPS annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

“Donating food could not be made any easier.”  says Mt. Si Food Bank Director, Heidi Dukich.  Simply fill the bag with food donations and leave it in your mailbox today, May 12th.  If the bag is too big for your mailbox, you can simply set the filled blue donation bag next to your mailbox.

Members from Kiwanas will be picking up the donations from the post office on Monday morning and deliver them to the Mt. Si Food Bank.  The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive was a record-breaking last year, seeing 3,200 lbs of donated food collected for the Mt Si Food Bank. On average, Mt Si Food Bank serves 380-390 families every week of the year and distributes around 17,000 pounds of food each week.  Food Bank volunteers hope this year’s food drive surpasses last year’s record.

In the Fall City area,  the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive benefits the Fall City Community Food Pantry.  Area PO Box holders are invited to bring food donations to the Fall City Post Office between 8AM-2PM and place them in designated red barrels.  Fall City Food Panty says the most needed items are canned fruit and vegetables, cereal, juice, peanut butter, jelly, rice mixes, top-ramen, snacks, soup and tuna.

Participants are asked to get their donations out before their daily mail delivery – or by 8AM to ensure donation pick up.

 

 

 

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by Danna McCall

Living Snoqualmie “Garage Sale” Page To Be Added This Weekend

May 11, 2012 in City of Snoqualmie by Danna McCall

In an effort to help navigate garage sale shoppers through the various Ridge neighborhoods during next weekend’s annual Snoqualmie Ridge community-wide garage sale, Living Snoqualmie will be adding a new page to its website – a garage sale page – starting next week.

If you are participating in the garage sale, drop an email to info@livingsnoqualmie.com this weekend or early next week.  Let us know your address, which days you are participating and a highlight of your sale items.  We will then add them to the new page.  There is the possibility of a downloadable map of participating homes as well, depending on response rate.  That map would be available next Thursday.

Historically, the first Snoqualmie Ridge community-wide garage sale of the year has a great turnout, with lots of shoppers and lots of sellers.  Help us guide the shoppers in your direction!

Tell your friends.  Share this story.  Help us get the word out about this upcoming garage sale page – kind of a GPS for die-hard garage salers!

 

 

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by Danna McCall

Finaghty’s Debuts New Menu – One Day of Feedback Finds Missing Wings Back on Happy Hour!

May 11, 2012 in Businesses, Snoqualmie Valley Info by Danna McCall

Take one small town, one popular restaurant and one menu change and it’s a recipe for talk.  At the heart of it all?  Wings.  Yes, wings.  Or more appropriately, the lack of wings.  One day after popular Snoqualmie restaurant, Finaghty’s Irish Pub, debuted it’s new menu, the only question on patrons’ minds was, “Where’s the wings?” Or more appropriately, “Where’s the happy hour wings?”

The wings were still on the regular menu, but disappeared off Finaghty’s popular happy hour menu.  A happy hour menu that recently won the restaurant “Best Happy Hour” in the Valley Record’s annual “Best of the Valley” poll.  And a happy hour where we can take our four kids and not break the bank.

I will admit, I was one of the regulars missing my happy hour wings after our visit last Friday.  Yes, I know there are more important things to whine about, but I still whined to owner Phil Stafford.  Before you judge me,  I was not the only one whining!

Phil Stafford says, “After one day of feedback from our first day of changes, we added the wings back on our happy hour menu.”  You can now get 6 wings for $5 during happy hour.

The basic jist of Finaghy’s new happy hour menu is simplicity.  There’s about 7 choices, all for $5.  This is a change from the old happy hour when all of the small plate menu items were half price.  Finaghty’s also made another important change based on customer feedback.  They expanded happy hour by adding a second session from 9PM to close.

Phil adds, “We plan on keeping our happy hour menu flexible so we will mix things up each month and offer different specials for happy hour. One thing that we are considering adding is happy hour personal pizzas.”

Finaghty’s had not changed its menu in over 4 years.  They hadn’t increased prices either, even while absorbing two state-mandated employee wage increases, additional fuel surcharges from distributors and utility increases over the years.  The new menu features some new items and some changes to menu classics.   With the changes, owners say Finaghy’s should be set for another 4 years.

“We are getting great feedback on just about all of the new dishes and some of the changes we have made to the ‘old’ classics.  We spent a long time working on these menu items and recipes and are proud of what we have done.  It was long over due.” says Phil.

Yes, Snoqualmie loves its wings – especially at a discount price.  Change is never easy – abundantly apparent when loyal customers lose their favorite happy hour item.  Customers love their wings so much Finaghty’s was (literally) losing money on the happy hour half-priced wings.  Long-time waitress, Rochelle, says she’s glad wings made it back to happy hour.  She said without them, that first day the new menu debuted, customers walked out.  They were there for the happy hour wings.

Luckily Finaghty’s owners didn’t judge our happy hour wing obsession.  They just added them back to the menu.  Thanks Phil and Lisa!

 

 

 

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by Danna McCall

Emergency Officials Warn Public To Exercise Caution On Area Lakes and Rivers This Weekend

May 11, 2012 in Snoqualmie Valley Info, Weather by Danna McCall

The first warm, summer-type stretch of weather for 2012 is predicted this weekend.  By Seattle-standards, it might even be considered hot.  Snoqualmie Valley will make it to 70 degrees today and then the upper 70’s and lower 80’s for the weekend and Monday.

Warm weather usually leads people to area lakes and rivers.  In response, emergencies officials are urging the public to exercise caution in and around lakes and rivers this weekend.  Officials warn that most area drownings happen in May and June when water temperatures are still very cold, which can get people into trouble very quickly.

Lake Washington is still only 52 degrees and local rivers, the Snoqualmie River included, are running high and fast after record mountain snowfall this winter.  Officials urge swimmers and boaters to exercise caution and use life vests.  In 2011, King County passed an ordinance requiring the use of a personal flotation device (PFD), a lifejacket, in King County rivers due to especially high, fast and cold river flows.

For a great Snoqualmie River Safety Video by Eastside Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief click here.  And don’t forget the sunscreen!   Washington skin is very fragile after a long, gray, wet winter.

Enjoy your sunny, warm weekend Snoqualmie Valley!

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by Danna McCall

Local Valley Boy Scouts Have Your Mother’s Day Floral Answer – Even On A Budget!

May 10, 2012 in Snoqualmie Valley Info by Danna McCall

Note to all procrastinators reading this story:  Sunday is Mother’s Day!  Have you forgotten?  If so, some local valley boy scouts have a budget-conscience solution- and an ingenious fundraising idea.

Local Snoqualmie Valley Boy Scout Troop 700 is taking orders for beautiful, high-quality one dozen rose bouquets, which will be delivered on Saturday, May 12th to the local door of those special ladies in your life.  Mom, Grandma, friend, neighbor – you name it and they can do it.  The roses cost $25.  The scouts say rose bouquets of this quality normally sell for  $50.  The bouquet is delivered in a 9 1/2″ glass vase.

Selling roses for Mother’s Day is one of the fundraisers Troop 700′s leaders came up with to help the boys, all aged 12 – 18 years, pay for this summer’s High Adventure Experience – a one week sailing experience in the San Juan Islands to learn skills and have the adventures of a lifetime.

So far the scouts have sold 150 bouquets, but still have 80 more to sell.  These roses are a local procrastinators dream come true! If you would like to place a Mother’s Day order please email Angela Barrus (scout mom) at angelabarrus@gmail.com  Include your name, address, phone number, best time of day to call – and the number of bouquets needed so the boys can keep track . Interested parties can also call Angela at  425-443-6247.  The contact info will be passed on to a trustworthy boy scout who will contact you to schedule the delivery and collect the payment.

Angela adds, “We live in an amazing community and on behalf of our Troop, I would like to thank community members who have supported the scouts with a friendly welcome, well wishes and even a sale here and there!”

 

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by Danna McCall

Mount Si High School Band Boosters Gear Up For Biggest Fundraiser At TPC Snoqualmie Ridge – Jazz At The Club

May 10, 2012 in School Happenings, Snoqualmie Valley Info by Danna McCall

Mount Si High School has history of award-winning Jazz Bands.  Last weekend, Jazz Band I placed third at the Bellevue Jazz Festival, often described as the  “state championship” of high school jazz bands.  The annual fundraising event, Jazz at the Club, is the primary fundraiser for the Mount Si High School Band Program.  Money raised supports band trips, instruments and repair, sheet music, competition fees and scholarships.

This year’s Jazz at the Club happens Friday, May 18th, from 7:30-9:30PM at the TPC Snoqualmie Ridge Clubhouse.  The event includes dessert and music by both of the Mount Si Jazz Bands, as well as guest trumpeter Jim Sisko.  Mount Si Music Booster Board member, Jane-Ellen Seymour, says, “Jazz at the Club is an elegant event that provides a lovely evening out to enjoy good jazz by talented kids.”

And they are indeed talented.  In addition to its high-ranking Bellevue Jazz Festival Performance, Jazz Band I competed and earned a slot at this year’s Swing Central National Festival.  In late March they traveled to Savannah, Georgia to perform at the annual festival.

Mount Si Jazz Band I at North Bend's Boxley's Place During "Jazz Heads" Night

Earlier this year, senior, Matt Baumgardner, performed with the Grammy Band in Los Angeles at the 2012 Grammy Awards.   He was also recently accepted into the Monterey Jazz Festival program, The Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, and will tour Japan with them later this summer.  Next year Matt will attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City.

Along with Matt, many MSHS Jazz Band members are honors and AP students, involved in other school clubs, sports, National Honor Society or ASB.  Some also work.  Most, if not all of them, have been getting up and coming to school at 6:30 every morning for the majority of their high school careers.  Jane-Ellen says, “Being in the music program teaches them discipline, teamwork, poise and makes them more attuned to the rest of their studies.”

Next year, Jazz Band seniors will be attending universities and colleges such as MIT, University of Washington, Washington State University, Western and Central Washington Universities.  Some are even traveling to Chicago, Boston, St. Louis, New York and Washington DC for college.

Again, Jazz at the Club happens Friday, May 18th, at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge from 7:30-9:30PM.  Tickets are a $50 donation and include an evening of award-winning jazz music, dessert and a no-host bar.  The deadline to purchase tickets and ensure a dessert is Sunday, May 13th.  Tickets can still be purchased after this date, but dessert cannot be guaranteed.  To purchase tickets visit the Mount Si High School Music Boosters website.

 

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by Danna McCall

Finding A Prom Dress That Lives Up To The Perfect Invitation And Teaches Your Teenage Daughter The Size On The Tag Doesn’t Define Her Beauty

May 9, 2012 in Ramblings by Danna McCall

It’s been two weeks since my oldest daughter was asked to prom on a perfect sunny evening on a hillside overlooking the Seattle skyline.  The roses have dried and time’s marched on; leading us to the next chapter in her first prom story – the dress.

This was our first search for the dress; that special dress that matches a girl’s magical prom night expectations.  What I didn’t expect to learn during the search was that sometimes our seemingly strong, confident daughters are still just little girls needing their mother’s words and actions as reminders of their true beauty.  They are never too old to hear us say, “you are beautiful on the inside and out.”

Between society and the media, teenage girls now often define themselves by the size of their clothes.  They very often don’t realize that every body is built differently, from height to bone structure.  Most women are not 5’7” and a size 2 – or for that matter, even a 4 or 6.  How come teenage girls don’t realize that a normal, thin, healthy person can be bigger than a size 2 or 4?

Note to all dress shopping moms: don’t let the sales person zip your daughter into an expensive dress.  Do it yourself.  That was my mistake.  I let a nice sales lady zip my daughter into her dream prom dress – the one she researched online and the only one left in the store.  I let someone else zip my precious daughter into her dream dress in a size too small.   In the sales lady’s defense, she did say it might be a little tight, but a size larger might be too big because the dress is strapless.  Convinced and eager, we walked out with the dress and a matching necklace.

Once home and with mom zipping the dress, reality set it.  Every wrong thing the media taught my teenage daughter for 17 years became embodied by the dream prom dress that was a size too small.  She cried.  The idea of being one size bigger made her panic – even if that bigger size was still a single digit number.  I was stunned.  My beautiful, thin, confident daughter was reduced to tears by the size on a prom dress tag.  Had a size defined her sense of self?  If so, how as a mother had I let that happen?  My own panic set in.

Every negative teenage feeling was rising to the surface of my little girl in a woman’s body.  Her date had just ordered his tux; one to match her yellow dress.  The dress store didn’t have a bigger size.  We’d bought a matching necklace.  We needed to get the dress quickly in case it required altering.  She was convinced prom might be ruined -  and she had to know how on earth she could be a size bigger than her friends.  How would I find the answers that plague so many of today’s teenagers who believe they have to be the small size on a tag to meet the media-standard of beauty?

I told her the problem could be solved.  We would get the same dress in plenty of time.  We could return the dress we bought and order the right size online since it was in stock.  Her date wouldn’t have any tux-matching worries and the necklace would still match.  We would expedite the shipping in case altering was needed.  The dress was the easy part to solve.

The bigger challenge was how to make a 17-year-old believe the size of clothing doesn’t define her beauty, her self-worth.  I hugged and dried tears.  I reminded her that she is taller than most of her friends, that everyone is built differently, that she is beautiful and perfect, that the next size up is still a small size.  Most importantly, I told her she would understand once the new dress came.  She would see how beautiful the new yellow dress looked when it fit the way it was supposed to.  So we waited.

The dress arrived in two days.  She opened the front door and let out a little scream, rushed in and ripped the box open the box.  There it was, the yellow chiffon, empire-waisted, flowing moment of truth for a teenage girl wanting the perfect dress.

On it went.  It was perfect, fitting exactly as it was designed; even the length matched her height; not one stitch of altering needed.  She stood looking at herself in the mirror, joyful, looking like a wish just came true.  I stood silent, holding back tears.  Finally.  She could see how beautiful the right sized dress looked; feel how confident it made her.  I watched, hoping she saw herself as her father and I do.

Life isn’t about a specific size.  It’s about the right size.  Squeezing yourself into something too small is stressful and uncomfortable.   Putting on the right size, with the right fit, creates confidence and increases self-esteem.

Sometimes teenage girls need proof.  Words from their biased moms aren’t nearly enough.  Sometimes they actually have to put on the dream dress in a bigger size, look in the mirror and see how beautiful they look.  It’s about the dress, not the size on its tag.  Girls come in all shapes and sizes, as do the dresses that make them feel like a princess for one special night.

As a mother, sometimes the only thing you can do is buy the right sized dress, zip them up, turn them around to face the mirror and see their own beauty… and hope they finally see themselves as you do.

 

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by Danna McCall

Snoqualmie Valley Music Teachers Band Together For 1st Annual Music Faculty Recital Tomorrow, May 9th

May 8, 2012 in School Happenings, Snoqualmie Valley Info by Danna McCall

In an inaugural event, music teachers from every school in the Snoqualmie Valley School District will take the stage tomorrow evening, May 9th, in the Mount Si Auditorium to show students and parents they can indeed “practice what they preach” each day in their music classes.

The performance begins at 7PM.  Admission is $5.  Kids under 6 are free.  All money raised will support music scholarships distributed by Snoqualmie Valley Music Boosters.  Those scholarships include things like music camps, lessons and workshops.

North Bend Elementary Band Teacher, Lorraine Thurston, says, “There will be a nice mix of instrumental and vocal performances, as well as a variety of styles.”  A big band piece ends the show, which will last about an hour.

The idea of a faculty music performance had been discussed a lot in the past, but this is the first time the music teachers have seen it through to the performance.  They are all very excited.  Lorraine says the group doesn’t take it’s self too seriously so it should be a fun show.

The event is also an opportunity for students transitioning to a new SVSD school next year to meet their future music teacher.  The Snoqualmie Valley Music Faculty begins at 7PM in the MSHS Auditorium.

 

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by Danna McCall

Facebook Report of Two Rapes On Snoqualmie Ridge Trails NOT True

May 8, 2012 in City of Snoqualmie by Danna McCall

Combine a small town and Facebook and reports of criminal activity travel quickly.   This morning there was a report of two rapes in the past month on Snoqualmie Ridge trails.

After researching with Snoqualmie Police, City of Snoqualmie Media Contact and KOMO news,  it has been determined that the Facebook warning/report was mistaken.  The poster apologized for causing undue concern, and was confused, saying her neighbor told her she spoke to an officer about the alleged reports.

Again, there have been NO reported rapes on the trails surrounding Snoqulamie Ridge.  They are safe.  It is still recommended you watch out for bears and other wildlife, though.

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by Danna McCall

Washington State Whooping Cough Epidemic – King County Surpasses Total 2011 Cases In First Four Months Of 2012

May 7, 2012 in Snoqualmie Valley Info by Danna McCall

Last week Governor Gregoire made emergency funds available to the Washington State Department of Health to help battle the whooping cough epidemic declared for Washington last month.

The Governor’s Office says, “Along with $210,000 in existing funds from the Department of Health, Gregoire is making $90,000 available from the governor’s emergency fund to strengthen public awareness efforts about the need for vaccination. Gregoire will keep access to the emergency fund open in the event the state needs to purchase additional vaccinations.”

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved using federal funds designated for other immunizations to buy more than 27,000 doses of pertussis vaccine for Washington State adults who are uninsured or under-insured.

According to Department of Health disease investigators, 1,132 cases of whooping cough have been reported in the state through April 28—that’s compared to 117 cases over the same time last year. There were 965 cases reported in all of 2011. The epidemic is on pace for as many as 3,000 cases in 2012.

King County has not seen the 229 whooping cough cases like Snohomish County has reported, but by April 28th it had surpassed the total number of cases seen in all of 2011. In King County, 125 cases of whooping cough were reported by the end of April.  In 2011, a total of 98 cases were detected in King County.  One of those 2011 cases was a Cascade View student.

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes a long-lasting and often severe cough.  The illness usually starts with mild cold symptoms or cough, which can turn into severe coughing spells followed by gagging, or vomiting and sometimes a “whoop” sound when trying to catch the breath.  Young infants, adolescents and adults with whooping cough are less likely to make the “whoop” sound.  Infants with pertussis may eat poorly, turn blue or stop breathing.  Infants are also at highest risk for severe pertussis complications that require hospitalization, such as difficulty breathing, pneumonia and convulsions.

To date, 78 Washington infants under one year of age were reported as having whooping cough and twenty of them were hospitalized.  Of those hospitalized, sixteen (80%) were three months of age or younger.  Tim Church, WA State Department of Health spokesperson, said Washington State has a 6% (somewhat high) vaccine exemption rate for school-aged kids, which could one contributing factor, but other factors are still unknown.

All but one county neighboring King County have double, triple and more than quadruple the rate of whooping cough cases seen in King County.  Kittitas County, just to the east of Snoqualmie and North Bend, has a whooping cough rate nearly 8 times that of King County.  To find out the latest Washington State Whooping Cough statistics and reported cases click here.

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