Sunday, May 13, 2012
Lynda Weatherby, in remission from breast cancer 11 years this week, says Mother's Day takes on special meaning for her.
Getting breast cancer is hard. It’s scary, and there’s no answer to why it happens. One year after I was diagnosed, I told myself I was fine but still felt raw inside. My young children kept me busy and my emotions in check. It wasn’t until I met other breast cancer survivors and got involved with Komen Puget Sound that I realized I had healing to do. For the past four years I’ve been involved in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and this is my 2nd year as a volunteer co-chair. My kids are now in high school and I’m so proud they’re actively volunteering after years of coming with me to the race. They’ve seen how it touches people’s lives and learned how the raised funds provide free mammograms for low-income women in our state. …
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Graphic novels have become more than "just" comics and superhero stories. They can be factual, biographical or simply stunning works of art that tell a story.
I recently attended my very first Emerald City ComicCon. In spite of my library geek nature, I never thought to go to a comic convention before. I thought comic conventions were just for the superhero crowd. This was all before I discovered the rich world of graphic novels. Graphic novels have become more than "just" comics and superhero stories. They can be factual, biographical or simply stunning works of art that tell a story. Graphic novels are wonderful and I’d like to share some of my favorites for all ages. All these titles can be found in the King County Library System. Kids Owly: The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton. The "Owly" series are nearly wordless graphic novels that are perfect for little ones. Reminiscent …
Monday, April 30, 2012
Joan Probala says there are a number of factors affecting home sales, many of which could be remedied to encourage greater market confidence.
Home sales are affected by many things. The economy is indeed the guiding factor for a slowdown, but other problems exist that contribute to the frustration felt by both buyers and sellers. Most of these issues could be eliminated and would bring a level of confidence into the housing market. Flood insurance: For the past several years, Congress has been approving short-term extensions of the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) authority to issue insurance policies. Without the ability to get insurance the sale of homes and the growth that has been projected in those areas will be severely limited. About 42,000 people that live in a flood plain here in Washington would not be able to sell their homes. Builders are hesitant about …
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Some Woodinville wineries are opting out of the annual event and hosting their own open houses and wine release parties.
More than 30 tasting rooms are participating in Passport to Woodinville this weekend, but others are opting out this year, either just opening their doors separately or hosting separate events. Those that are open but not part of the event will charge a separate wine tasting fee not covered by the Passport cost. So be sure to check your passport carefully to confirm the participating wineries, or check the complete list in this article. The Passport to Woodinville runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Below is a list of wine open houses or wine release parties through the end of May. Friday, April 27 •Woodhouse Wine Estates will be throwing a party for the release of the 2010 Kennedy Shah Reserve Riesling from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, …
Friday, April 20, 2012
Dr. Steve Rasmussen, superintendent of the Issaquah School District, says the district's community is unparalleled in the state and the nation for supporting education.
A huge, HUGE thank you to the Issaquah School District voters for resoundingly passing the construction and maintenance bond last week! It makes me extremely proud to serve in a community that values education and the future of its children so much—you are unparalleled in this state and nation. Because of you, we will be able to meet our critical construction and repair needs for the next eight years, ensuring students are learning in safe, high-quality schools equipped for 21st-century learning. My commitment is to be the best steward possible for these dollars, completing projects on time and on—or under—budget, protecting our top credit rating, and remaining transparent throughout the construction process (look for a web page soon that …
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Jeff MacMahon, district manager of Waste Management's North Sound District, talks about how we all can work to make the environment a priority.
- OPINION
-
Wednesday, April 18
By Jeff MacMahon, District Manager, Waste Management North Sound District Since Earth Day was established some 40 years ago, it has evolved into a global movement celebrated by more than a billion people in 180 nations. By and large, this annual milestone has succeeded in raising widespread awareness about the impact of our lifestyle and consumption habits on the planet. We’ve come a long way locally and as a nation, but we still face a big challenge ahead. We need to stay focused on continuing to protect the planet and preserve its resources. At Waste Management, this is the heart of our business. Locally, we’re working to reduce overall impact on the environment by extracting more value from the thousands of tons of waste generated in…
Monday, April 16, 2012
The upcoming nationwide Open House is a great way to get lots of eyes on your property.
What do King County and Snohomish County have in common? They both have Realtors® committed to finding new and successful ways to help buyers and sellers. In 2007, the Snohomish Association of Realtors® initiated a countywide Open House. King County took up the banner and eventually Washington State joined in 2009. The interest generated by this resulted in a nationwide event in 2010. The first statewide event saw over 5,000 homes open their doors to the public. This year, the numbers will be bigger and better with hundreds of thousands of Open Houses across the nation and currently in 13 other countries! One key to selling a home is advertising! Having a nation-wide advertising campaign brings attention to the fact that this is a great …
Monday, April 9, 2012
Sometimes minor updates and projects that highlight a home's positives can add more value than investing in major projects.
Barb Schwarz, creator of Home Staging® and CEO of stagedhomes.com, always says.” The way you live in a house is not the way you sell a house.” Staging has become a critical component to effectively market a home, but it certainly is not the only thing necessary to see a SOLD sign on the yard. There is a time during the process of preparing to sell that every seller thinks about doing some type of remodeling to enhance the value of the home. The time to really do that remodeling is way before you decide to move so that there is a chance for the homeowner to enjoy the remodel before selling. Why is that important? Remodeling’s “2011–12 Cost vs. Value Report,” www.costvsvalue.com lists the return on investment for 35 remodeling projects. The …
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Phil Rozenski, Director of Sustainability and Marketing for Hilex Poly, says a plastic bag ban could hurt economy, sustainabilty for Issaquah,
- GOVERNMENT
-
Wednesday, April 4
With the Issaquah City Council delaying their vote on an ordinance that would ban plastic bags and tax paper bags, and in light of a recent Sammamish-Issaquah Patch poll demonstrating that local residents have mixed opinions on the issue, I thought I would take this opportunity to explain why banning or taxing plastic bags is not the right decision for Sammamish and Issaquah consumers, businesses, and the economy. As Director of Sustainability and Marketing for Hilex Poly, an American manufacturer of plastic bags and operator of the world’s largest closed loop plastic bag recycling facility, I understand how this ordinance would impact American jobs in the manufacturing and recycling industries and why local recycling programs are a far …
Friday, March 30, 2012
Barbara de Michele says supporting local schools by voting for the Issaquah School Bond means more for homeowners than just better public education for kids.
March 29, 2012 Dear Editor: Voters have received mail-in ballots for the Issaquah School District bond election. If you’re a senior citizen like me, you might be asking yourself why you should support this bond measure. Here are a few reasons that I hope will move you to vote YES. We have an unparalleled opportunity to maintain our schools, expand the district’s technical and vocational education offerings, and bring old school sites into the modern age, all for a reduced tax rate. As a senior citizen, I recognize a bargain when I see one. Please join me in voting YES for the Issaquah School District bond measure, and please return your mail-in ballot by April 17. Sincerely, Barbara de Michele Issaquah
Jerry Gropp Architect AIA
10:24 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
A good article! I've done a lot of "serious remodeling"- after the sale for the new owners who soon know what they want to change or improve. J- http://jgknols.wordpress.com/article/my-jg1-website-246qxuxd260sm-180/ more ›