Emily Keller-O'Donnell, Journalist

Sammamish Wedding Venues Profit in Summer

    Sammamish couples do not have to look far to tie the knot. The city has several wedding venues that draw brides from around the region. Price and value are some of the differentiating factors between venues, which draw in the majority of their profits in summer.

    Couples pay a minimum of $2,500 to hold their weddings at the Plateau Club during the off-season, and $12,000 for Saturdays during the summer. The club offers on-site wedding coordinators and food, beverages, tables, chairs and candles for additional cost.

    Published in the Sammamish Review. Read the story.

Volunteers Build Low-Income Housing

    The Sammamish City Council is requiring 10 percent of the housing units built as part of the 243-acre Town Center project to be available to people with low incomes, which opens the door for the construction of up to 200 affordable units. One of the city’s potential partners in that effort is the East King County branch of the non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat for Humanity homes are available to people making less than 50 percent of the median income, which equates to less than $40,000 per year for a family of four in East King County.

    Published in the Sammamish Review. Read the story.

    Read a related story.

Menu Labeling Will Take Effect Soon

    A new menu labeling law passed by the King County Board of Health has had minimal impact on some fast food restaurants in Sammamish since it took effect August 1. The law applies to chain restaurants with 15 or more locations nationwide that have gross annual revenues of $1 million or more, standardized menus and recipes and operating permits with Seattle and King County’s public health boards.

    The legislation requires chain restaurants to label the calories, sodium, saturated fat and carbohydrate content of items that are on the menu for more than 90 days. They must post the calorie information on the menu board next to the items, on signs next to the menu board or on a sign within eye level of the board.

    Published in the Sammamish Review. Read the story.

Homeowners Struggle with Storm Overflows

    Homeowners on 209th Avenue Northeast agree that storm water is not properly draining from their street, leaving a large puddle up to 10 inches high in the way of traffic for parts of the winter. However, when it comes to the cause and solution to the problem, opinions vary.

    The avenue is in an area that is vulnerable to landslides and erosion hazards because of its hills, city officials said. An increase in real estate development in the past four years has also reduced the number of trees around to soak up water, increasing flooding. Resident Fran Hogan (pictured) has dealt with the problem by installing a $500 pump to carry water out during the rainy season.

    Published in the Sammamish Review.Read the story.

Advocates Call for Special Needs Programs

 

   When Natalie Brodeur’s son, Austin, turns 21, she wants to make sure he does more than play country music and sports in the garage.

    Austin Brodeur, who has Down syndrome, is nearing the age when many young people with special needs transition away from school-based activities and get more involved in community activities.

    However, that has been a challenge to find in Sammamish, Natalie Brodeur said. While the community is extremely supportive of people with special needs, there are limited opportunities for social activities.

    Published in the Sammamish Review. Read the story.

New Picnic Shelters at Parks are to be Wheelchair Accesible

    When the city’s Parks and Recreation Department opens picnic shelters at Pine Lake Park this week they will be more than just another nice addition to the waterfront beach. They will also be one more step toward making Sammamish’s parks and trails accessible to people with special needs and disabilities. Walkways to the three new shelters will make them easier for people with disabilities to access than the park’s old shelters, said Mark Vysoky, a parks project manager for the city.

    “Some of the old shelters were not accessible because the walkways were limited or they exceeded the maximum percentage of slope,” Vysoky said about the shelters.

    Published in the Sammamish Review. Read the story.

City to Revive Stalled Pine Lake Study

    A draft study about water quality in Pine Lake that has been sitting dormant for two years could be reviewed soon. The city’s former drainage engineer, Eric LaFrance, will return to work for the city again as the Senior Stormwater Program Engineer beginning Aug. 18. One of his first projects will be to review the study.

    Published in the Sammamish Review. Read the story.

Business Recycling Opportunities in Seattle's Eastside

    Businesses in Sammamish will have their annual opportunity to recycle everything from cardboard to computers next week. The city will sponsor a business recycling collection event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. August 13 at Eastlake High School, 400 228th Avenue Northeast. Paul Devine, an organizer for the event, said the collection is designed for businesses to get rid of items that accumulate in small quantities, like wood pallets and fluorescent light bulbs.

    Published in the Sammamish Review. Read the story.

Broker Out on Bond in Mortgage Fraud Case

    Sammamish resident Mustafa “Marc” Khosraw could face up to 30 years in jail for participation in what the U.S. Attorney’s Office calls a mortgage fraud scheme – one that has gained national attention.

    Khosraw, 46, is one of 406 people indicted in Operation “Malicious Mortgage,” a federal investigation that uncovered 144 mortgage fraud cases between March 1 and June 18. The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges that Khosraw, a mortgage broker, drafted false mortgage documents as part of a six-person team in the Puget Sound area that made $8.5 million in profits in 2004 and 2005.

    Published in the Sammamish Review. Read the current story.

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Skyline Project Starts Without Permits

    The city of Sammamish issued a stop work order to the Issaquah School District on July 15 for construction work that was done without a permit. The district’s contractor, Lydig Construction, installed five portable classrooms and did clearing, grading and electrical work without a building permit, said the city’s code enforcement officer, Joan Burlingame.

    Published in the Sammamish Review. Read the story.