The View From Here

The City of Sammamish is urgently in need of a Korean translator, to help a local family.

If you are available during the daytime and can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Please contact Dawn Sanders, 425.295.0556 or dsanders@ci.sammamish.wa.us ASAP.

It is probably not a surprise to most that, although the U.S. constitutes only 4 percent of the world’s population, it accounts for 22 percent of the world’s total energy consumption.
Usually when we hear statistics like this we assume the big culprits are industry and big business, or transportation. In fact, the operation of residential housing is responsible for 21 percent of total US energy consumption, things like space heating and cooling, appliances, water heating, and lighting.
At Thursday night’s first Sustainable Issaquah Home Energy Efficiency Group (HEEG) speaker event in Issaquah, local home energy auditor Gary Wood explained how the efficiency gains made in home construction in the 1970s had petered away in the next three decades. Homes built after 2000 – bigger, with more appliances, and no more efficient per square foot – come with higher energy bills than homes built at any other time in history.
“Our newer homes are not enabling people to live more efficiently,” Gary said.
State and federal governments are working at changing that. President of Home Performance Washington David Bangs told interested locals that the new state energy code, which will come into affect in 2011, will require new home builders to perform leak and sealing tests.
However, as Gary noted, 75 percent of all homes that will be occupied in 2050 have already been built, which means that retrofitting of existing homes is where the lion share of national energy savings can be made. The Home Star legislation, now under consideration in the US Senate, may be a future tool for incentivizing more home retrofits.
Good news for Washingtonians – Puget Sound Energy and City Light have already, or are about to, roll out rebate programs for homeowners who get their homes checked out by certified energy auditors.
Good news for Issaquah residents – at the next HEEG event on Sept 16, a movie night hosted by the City of Issaquah’s Resource Conservation Office, the city will announce a competition where two homes in Issaquah will receive a completely free home energy improvement makeover. Stay tuned.

The Sammamish Farmers Market invites everyone to Bike or Walk to the Market this week.  Stop by the Info booth on Wednesday for a market buck reward to anyone who bikes or walks to the Market.

Enjoy Americana at its best, equal parts folk, country, blues, and bluegrass music by The Lost River String Band. Join Guest Chefs from PCC Cooks, who will prepare food from fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients from vendors.  You can also learn natural cooking techniques from our expert, practical kitchen skills, and tested recipes.

Visit the Washington Native Plant Society at the non-profit booth to learn more about the unique and diverse plant life in Washington.  Come to the Sammamish Community Wildlife Project booth, also a non-profit group; understand how you can certify your own backyard as a wildlife habitat and be recognized for creating havens for our local wildlife .

Please take a moment and participate in a Market Survey at the Info Booth when you come in this Wednesday. The results from this survey and the suggestions that are provided will offer some ideas for how Sammamish Farmers Market can continue to grow and improve, making it a place where people can access fresh, local produce, and healthy foods that will help them eat better and live healthier.

The <a href=”http://www.sammamishrotary.org/HTML7.phtml”>Rotary Club of Sammamish</a> invites the people of the Plateau to attend this Thursday’s club meeting, July 1, to hear President-elect Jerry Vice’s “State of the Union” speech, which will set the tone for the club’s activities in 2010-2011.
Vice will focus on a number of key goals for the club in the immediate future, including building the success of the annual Nightmare At Beaver Lake  fundraiser, and building the club’s membership.
Vice also hopes to improve the club’s outreach to the community, helping the people of Sammamish understand the work Rotary does and how they can get involved.
Everyone is invited to learn more about the local Rotary club at their weekly meetings, 7 a.m. every Thursday at Bellewood Retirement Apartments, 3710 Providence Point Drive SE.
For more information, e-mail Dellann.Elliott@Sammamish.Rotary.org., or visit <a href=”http://www.sammamishrotary.org/HTML7.phtml”>www.SammamishRotary.org</a>

The Sammamish Farmers Market and Sammamish Library team up to buzz to the community with the presentation “From Farm to Plate” by Dr. Kais Faddah this Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Sammamish Library. Mark Johns of Misty Mountain Honey from the Market will bring a nonworking hive and his beekeeping suit to the library for kids to explore!

Come listen to renowned musician Jim Valley, former guitarist with Paul Revere and the Raiders, delight kids and parents alike with his Rainbow Planet musical entertainment. In addition, you can learn about Guide Dogs for the Blind at the nonprofit booth this week.

Head to the market for a weekly dose of fun, kid-friendly arts and crafts, activities, music and live entertainment for the whole family! Plus FOOD!!!

Be a part of Sammamish Summer events – your support is needed to put on these events. All levels of skills. All events are at the City Commons.  Contact Dawn Sanders at  dsanders@ci.sammamish.wa.us or 425.295.0556 to sign up or ask questions.

Teen Fest – Friday June 18th from 1-9pm
The event for teens in Sammamish. 1-4 Skateboard contest, 6-9 live music on the plaza.

Daytime (Skate contest)
Food Service 12-4 prepare hot dog and drinks for attending, minimum 2 hour shift, food handlers permit preferred
Parking/Security 11-5 – encourage attendee’s and library patrons who can’t find parking to park at Mary Queen of Peace, minimum 2 hour shift

Evening (Music) – Adult volunteers only
Check In 5:30 – 8:30; bag search, check ID, assist as needed at the front gate
Parking 5:30 – 8:30 – direct bands to parking area, encourage attendees to park at Mary Queen of Peace

Fourth on the Plateau – Sunday July 4th
Vendor/Sponsor Support 3-7pm help direct vendor and sponsors to their location, unload if necessary, troubleshoot any problems
Zone Manager 3:30 – 11:30 (entire shift) Work with Area Directors and city staff to support event. Oversee volunteers, roam event to be the eyes and ears for staff, help with set up and clean up.
Zone Assistants 5 – 11:30 pm (3 hour minimum shift) Assist Zone Director as needed, give directions to guests, answer questions, assist with garbage pick up
Kids Area – 5-10:00pm (2 hour minimum shift) Supervise guests at Kids Area on bouncy toys, help with line control and other duties as assigned

Sammamish Days – August 21st 10-4 Cultural event; music, food and crafts on the plaza
Stage Manager – help support entertainers by assisting them for their performances. Make sure that they are ready on time, help trouble shoot problems.
Set Up 8:30-10:30 – help vendors and sponsors load in and set up. Must be able to lift 30 lbs
Clean Up – 3-6pm – help transform the plaza from the daytime event to the evening jazz event. Pack up and load out vendors, pick up trash and set up for evening event. Must be able to take directions, lift 30 lbs and work quickly.

Sammamish Nights – August 21st 6-10pm Wine and Jazz event sponsored by the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce
Set Up – 3-6pm – help transform the plaza from the daytime event to the evening jazz event. Pack up and load out vendors, pick up trash and set up for evening event. Must be able to take directions, lift 30 lbs and work quickly
Ticket Sales 4-7pm
VIP Tent 4:30-10:30pm (entire shift) – be the host for the VIP tent, serve guests, keep area neat and clean, help with set up and take down.

Want to wander through the Issaquah Alps? King County Parks have published a series of trails maps covering 25 parks and forest areas, including local gems Cougar Mtn, Grand Ridge and Duthie Hill.

King County Parks’ backcountry system offers trails with year-round accessbility for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

For more info, and to download the free maps, visit www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/trails/backcountry

Check out this excellent video by Issaquah-based video producer Nathan Bosseler. It was shown at the Issaquah Schools Foundation Luncheon last week – a tremendous event which raised more than $400,000 to support teachers and schools in the Issaquah School District.

Did you see an accident in the Issaquah Library parking lot on Friday, May 7, at about 2 p.m?

The victim is looking for witnesses – anyone who might have seen a red truck back into a green Taurus at the above place and time.

If you can help, please call Holly at 425-271-4424

Are you confident and comfortable with completing a mail merge project?

City Council has accepted new members to serve on next school year’s Youth Board.  A membership directory (in Excel) and acceptance letters informing them of this exciting opportunity need to be sent to their homes by the end of May.  Help support this young, energetic team of local teens that serve as a voice for our youth and help promote recreational opportunities for young people.

Contact dsanders@ci.sammaish.wa.us for more information.