Issaquahpress11202013

By Neil [email protected]

The families who are part of the Discovery Ele-mentary School community are ethnically diverse.

The school with an enrollment of about 630 is comprised of nearly 50 percent minorities, and more than 40 percent of the student body is of Asian heritage.

That seemingly made Discovery the perfect place for an ethnic food festival, and there was a huge turn-out Nov. 6, when the school hosted its free “Taste of Discovery” event.

“Last year, we took a break from it because no one was available to chair the event,” said Becky Callahan, the mother of a Discovery first-grader. “This year, we were like, ‘That’s kind of lame that it didn’t happen last year. We need to bring it back.’”

The school’s Parent Teacher Student Associa-tion spearheaded the food festival, with Callahan and fellow parent Catherine Campbell doing much of the planning.

Callahan said the initial idea was to host “Taste of Discovery” in the spring, but plans changed because “we thought it would be better to have around the holidays, because a lot of people are looking for reci-pes for parties, that sort of thing.”

Campbell, who has a son in kindergarten and a daughter in fourth grade at Discovery, said people were quick to volunteer. More than 15 tables were set up for the event, with

a wide variety of foods like cupcakes, barbecued chicken, seafood pancakes, corn chowder and pumpkin pie dip.

“There were definitely a ton of people who wanted to bring a different taste from all the different cul-tures that are represented in the Sammamish commu-nity,” Campbell said.

“We were pretty much open to whatever people wanted to bring in,” Cal-lahan added, “but we were trying to emphasize some-thing that is culturally or traditionally a big hit.”

More than 100 students and parents filled the school’s gymnasium for the event, and participating went beyond the simple taste test.

In one corner of the room, Skyline High School junior Katie Gibian helped youngsters make edible eagles — Discovery’s mas-cot — using Oreo cookies, marshmallows, shredded coconut and chocolate chips.

Campbell’s daughter Sydnee had a huge crowd surrounding her table as she frosted dozens of mini cupcakes that she had

COMMUNITYSection

B WednesdayNovember 20, 2013

THE ISSAQUAH PRESSTHE ISSAQUAH PRESSTHE ISSAQUAH PRESS

OPENING THE ARCHIVES

AN ONGOING LOOK AT MEMORABLE IMAGES

FROM ISSAQUAH’S PAST

The Issaquah History Museums take requests regarding what people would like to see in the Digital Collection. Roughly quarterly, volunteers have a data-entry day and prep a bunch of records for upload. If there is a particular name, place or item you’d like to see more images of on the website, email Erica Maniez at [email protected]. If you have a photo or subject you would like to see in this feature, email [email protected].

FIC.2000.049

1921 Issaquah High School women’s basketball teamThe Issaquah High School women’s basketball team, founded in 1912, wore restrictive uniforms consisting of bloomers, black stockings and white middy blouses. This uniform did not change until the late 1920s. Pictured from left to right are 1921 team members (front row) Erma Brown, Marie Chevalier and Julia Erickson; and (back row) May Wilkinson, Alix Sween, Pearl Peck, Alene O’Connor and Mildred Thompson.

By Christina [email protected]

Nov. 7 was just another regular day of rehearsal for Liberty High School choir students Cassi Cox, Sarah Edmonds and Jen-nifer Wood.

They stood, interspaced among their peers, with their faces buried in the music sheets, singing along as teacher Robin Wood dutifully instructed.

Just a week earlier, though, the Liberty trio was in Nashville, Tenn., performing in front of an audience of more than 2,500 people, hand se-lected to stand among the best singers in the nation.

“It was kind of surreal, performing with so many talented singers,” Ed-monds said.

The girls made the trip because they were named to the National Associa-tion for Music Education’s honor chorus. They were among 350 of the nation’s top vocalists to receive the honor.

Cox, Edmonds and Wood initially qualified for the opportunity by earning all-state or all-region awards last year. They each earned a spot in the national choir after judges were impressed with their taped audition performances.

“It was a lot of scream-ing happiness,” Wood, a junior, said of the mo-ment she found out she

was selected.The honor is quite the

accomplishment. Only one other Liberty High School student has ever been named to the na-tional choir, the girls said.

The trio performed Oct. 30 at the famous Gaylord Opryland Hotel, which houses an extravagant indoor garden.

When the singers weren’t eating or sleep-ing, they were kept to a rigorous rehearsal sched-ule. One day, the girls estimated they practiced for nearly 11 hours.

“That was my favorite day because it’s nonstop, just my favorite thing, my favorite thing in the whole world,” Edmonds said.

Prominent East Coast conductor Rollo Dilworth led the rehearsals and challenged the vocalists by instructing them to sing some of his original works.

“It was really cool get-ting to work with him on something that he made, because he knew exactly what it was supposed to sound like,” Cox said. “In a new piece of music, it’s a lot of fun to get into the details of the piece.”

The girls said they came into rehearsals not knowing what to expect. The 350 students were, after all, given an im-mense challenge in culti-vating a harmony, despite the fact they had never performed together.

It was a challenge met with great success, though, the girls said, when they looked around and truly realized they were in a room with some

of the nation’s best high school singers.

“Just the first time we all sang together, half knowing the pieces, half not, it was absolutely amazing,” Wood said.

When they returned to the Liberty High School choir room, all three said the experience changed them for the better.

“It was actually kind of amazing because you don’t think you’re absorbing that much knowledge, because it’s so fun when you’re do-ing it, but you come out of it knowing so much more,” Edmonds said.

Edmonds and Cox are seniors this year, and both agreed the honor was the perfect culmina-tion to their four years at Liberty.

All three said they hope to keep music in their life, whether it’s taking a vocal class or joining a chorus in college.

“With choir, you feel a part of something,” Edmonds said, “and that’s something you don’t want to give up.”


The staff at Life Direc-tions Financial is assign-ing a mission out to the Issaquah community and, should you choose to ac-cept it, families in need will receive a full Thanksgiving dinner.

The local financial-plan-ning firm hosts its first ever “Operation Thanksgiving Dinner,” Nov. 22-23, ben-efitting the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.

“We’re just trying to make a difference, and find a way to give back to our community,” said Kristin Hillmann, a Life Directions Financial employee.

Community members are asked to donate a bag of groceries containing items the food bank identified as particular needs during the holiday season.

Cooking oil; 5-pound bags of sugar, flour and potatoes; canned corn; canned yams or sweet potatoes; canned fruit; and stuffing are spe-cifically requested.

For each bag containing as many of those items as possible, and dropped off at the firm’s office over the two-day period, the com-pany will donate a turkey to the food bank.

“Many people already donate, so we thought, why not come together and increase the impact of the donation,” Hillmann said.

Anyone who drops off groceries will automati-cally be entered into a drawing for a $250 Costco cash card. Refreshments, including cider and cof-fee, will also be available during the firms’ drop-off hours.

The firm will deliver the groceries and turkeys to the food bank in time for Thanksgiving.

“We hope that this event helps to bring the community together to support those in need this holiday season,” Hillmann said.

Mission possible

‘Operation Thanksgiving

Dinner’ benefits families in need

GET INVOLVEDDrop off bags filled with Thanksgiving dinner fix-ings to support ‘Operation Thanksgiving Dinner.’49 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 2249 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 234Life Directions Financial41375 N.W. Mall St., Suite 3


As the holiday season draws near, Eastside Fire & Rescue is once again looking to help area fami-lies.

EFR’s adopt-a-family program has grown each year, with the goal of giv-ing families financial help and inviting them to a firehouse for a holiday din-ner. Last year, the program helped 26 families.

The Eastside Fire Benev-olent Fund seeks to assist residents who are unable to buy gifts for their fami-lies during the holidays.

Tim Castner, a fire-fighter with Station 78 in

Renton, helps coordinate both charity efforts. Each year, he contacts churches, schools, food banks and other social assistance entities to find families in

need.“This program is not for

just any family in need,” Castner said. “It is for the families who slip through the cracks after Thanks-giving. For one reason or another, they don’t meet a criteria or missed the food bank program or are new to town.”

After locating families, Castner said, EFR officials conduct interviews to de-termine the age of children in the family and their gift wish lists.

EFR is then able to cre-ate a geographic map of families and match them with corresponding fire

HOW TO HELPExtreme Pizza, 660 Front St. N., is partnering with the benevolent fund this year. Cash donations can be made at the store anytime in November or December. In addition, Extreme Pizza will donate 20 percent of its net sales Nov. 21 and Dec. 19 to EFR.

EFR seeks families to adopt

School discovers ethnic diversity

through food festival

BY NEIL PIERSON

Dee Camp and her daughter Caroline serve up ‘Texas caviar,’ a dish of corn chips and beans, during the Nov. 6 Taste of Discovery event.

BY CONTRIBUTED

Jennifer Wood, Cassi Cox and Sarah Edmonds (from left), Liberty High School choir members, visit backstage just before they perform in front of 2,500 people at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

Singing Liberty trio performs in honor chorus

TOP OF THE POPS“It was actually kind of amazing because you don’t think you’re absorbing that much knowledge, because it’s so fun when you’re doing it, but you come out of it knowing so much more.” — Sarah EdmondsLiberty High School vocalist

See EFR, Page B3

See FOOD, Page B3

BY NEIL PIERSON

Elvin Li, a Discovery Elementary School first-grader, enjoys an apple wedge covered with pumpkin pie dip.

B1

SPORTS WednesdayNovember 20, 2013B4

THE ISSAQUAH PRESSTHE ISSAQUAH PRESSTHE ISSAQUAH PRESS

B4


After finishing fifth at the 2012 state champion-ships, the Skyline High School girls swimming and diving team didn’t want to go home again without some hardware.

Only the top four teams get trophies, and Skyline managed to score 146 points to snatch fourth place at the Class 4A state meet, held Nov. 15-16 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

The Spartans didn’t win any events, but their consistency throughout most of the meet proved valuable. They earned seven medals, including a runner-up finish from senior diver Erin Taylor.

Taylor started diving only last year, but she improved dramatically upon a 17th-place finish at state in 2012. She stood in fourth place after her first eight dives, and then moved up with three quali-ty scores on the second day

of competition. Taylor’s 373.40 points trailed only champion Hailey Kessler, of Auburn, (387.30).

“I just love to dive, and I put in the time and effort,” Taylor said of the reasons behind her success. “I’m just glad to be in this group of kids. Everyone here that competes in diving, we’re all friends, and we all love each other.”

Skyline wasn’t able to keep up with KingCo Conference rival Newport, which repeated as the 4A champion with 232 points. Wenatchee was second; Gig Harbor was third.

And although the Spartans didn’t return to the apex they achieved as three-time state champions from 2009-11, earning a team trophy was a great accomplishment, senior Stephanie Munoz said.

Munoz was one of the keys, winning individual medals in the 200-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly, as well as contributing to

BY GREG FARRAR

Mackenna Briggs, Liberty High School junior, wins her preliminary state 3A heat in the 100 butterfly Nov. 15 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way with a time of 56.31 seconds. Although that time would have sufficed for the state championship, she even shaved more than a second off in the finals Nov. 16 in a time of 55.02 seconds.

SPARTANS MAKE WAVESSkyline takes fourth in state, Liberty’s Mackenna Briggs wins 100 butterfly

By Kaelyn SaylesSeattle Times staff reporter

Don’t call this an upset. Federal Way won’t let you.

After No. 6 Federal Way beat two-time defending champion No. 2 Skyline, 26-20, in the first round of the 4A state playoffs Nov. 15, players clad in blue and white jumped around, screaming, “This is not an upset!”

The Eagles never showed fear against a team many expected to make a run at the state title again this year. Federal Way had different expectations.

The game at Skyline was lights out. Literally.

With just over two minutes left in the game, Federal Way was up 26-20, and Skyline had the ball on its own 18 after a Federal Way fumble.

Then, the lights went out and the field went black.

But Federal Way maintained composure,

forcing a turnover with 45 seconds left to seal the shocking victory.

Eagles quarterback Keenan Curran finished with 144 yards rushing on 16 carries and two touchdowns. That made up for Skyline’s ability to stop running back Chico McClatcher in the first half, limiting him to 40 yards rushing on 11 car-ries. Skyline led 14-0 at the half.

But Curran helped keep McClatcher’s head in the game, talking to him at halftime, reminding him that they had to stay in the game.

McClatcher found some more running room in the second half — or he made more running room — finishing with 254 yards rushing on 24 carries and a touchdown.

Federal Way finished with 439 yards total offense — all rushing. Skyline finished with 341 yards total in a balanced offense.

Federal Way shocks No. 2 Skyline with

comeback win, 26-20

BY GREG FARRAR

Erin Taylor, Skyline High School senior, enters the water doing an inward dive during a preliminary round Nov. 15 at the state 4A swim and dive championships in Federal Way. See SWIMMING, Page B5


The Columbia River girls soccer team came into the state tournament with a rather impressive résumé.

In addition to being the defending state champi-ons, the Chieftains had outscored opponents 83-0.

That’s right, no team had scored on Columbia River this year, that is until the team met the Patriots Nov. 13.

Not only did Liberty find the net twice against the Chieftains, but the team also pulled off a shock-ing upset, sending the top-ranked team home in the first round of the state playoffs. The Patriots even did it on Columbia River’s home turf, down in Vancouver.

It was a nice bit of re-venge, Liberty coach Tami Nguyen said, given that Columbia River defeated the Patriots in last year’s semifinal game.

“This win was a chance for this group of seniors to put their stamp on the program, and prove how good they are,” she said.

Jacquelyn Anderson and Sami Harrell each scored, while Harrell and Kelley Johnson both had assists. Amy Ellenberg and Katie McGuire com-bined for the shutout.

The victory made for a fun ride home, Nguyen

said, but the Liberty coach stressed to her team that its job was not done.

“We have to take one game at a time,” she said. “At this stage, everybody is good. It’s about who’s going to be great on a given day.”

Just days later, the Patri-ots continued their march toward the state cham-pionship with a convinc-ing 3-0 win over Bishop Blanchet on Nov. 16.

Harrell scored twice, with assists from Ashlann Applegate and Tara John-son. Anderson scored the third goal with an assist from both Kelley John-son and Kali Youngdahl. Ellenberg and McGuire again combined for the shutout.

The Patriots are now guaranteed to, at the very least, match last year’s fourth-place finish, but Liberty is determined to improve on that mark this year, Nguyen said.

“Our preparation is all about us, being confident and sticking to our plan,” she said.

They will play in the state semifinals against Seattle Prep at 4 p.m. Nov. 22 at Puyallup’s Sparks Stadium.

If the girls win, they will play in the championship game at 2 p.m. Nov. 23. If they lose, they will play for third place at 10 a.m. Nov. 23. Both games are at Sparks Stadium.

Liberty stuns Columbia River

BY GREG FARRAR

Sami Harrell (second from left), Liberty High School junior forward, sees her kick get by Bishop Blanchet’s goalie Nov. 16 for the for the first of her two goals in a 3-0 state 3A soc-cer tournament first-round win at home.

Above, Amanda Johnston (right), Skyline High School junior forward, kicks the ball away from Issaquah’s Olivia Witherspoon (left) and Megan Stapley. At left, Jaeden Chew (left), Skyline High School senior keeper, takes in the ball on a penalty kick as Issaquah’s Deval Talley, with Abbie Litka and Erin Schlosser, of Skyline, pursue the play in the second period.

Third time’s a charm

Issaquah High School soccer players scream and

jump for joy as their sopho-more keeper Anna Miller stops

the last shootout kick by Skyline after two overtimes to give the Eagles the 2-1 (6-5

PK) first-round state 4A soccer tournament victory over the

two-time defending champion Spartans Nov. 16 at Gary

Moore Stadium. Skyline had won the previous two, regular-

season matches against Issaquah.

PHOTOS BY GREG FARRAR

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