By Sam Kenyon

Paul Sprouse, of North Bend, was a stay at home dad five years ago when his son, Calvin, said he wanted to build robots for NASA when he grows up. So Sprouse and his son looked for an orga-nization or club that would let them dabble in robot-ics. But they were all too expensive.

Then, Sprouse received a grant from the Nehemiah Foundation for $900 to buy robotic parts and teach some after school classes

to Calvin and other kids at Opstad Elementary in North Bend.

He quickly discovered $900 wasn’t enough.

“I immediately realized ‘Oh we need more stuff’ because a ton of kids signed up for the class,” Sprouse said. “I didn’t have near

Wildcat soccer team

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serving North Bend and Snoqualmie,

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April 3, 2014

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SECAST Team assists Oso mudslide rescue operations

The Snoqualmie Emergency Communications and Support Team is assisting in the rescue and recovery operations at the Oso mudslide disaster near Darrington.

Volunteer team members are providing on-site com-munications support using the Snoqualmie Department of Emergency Management communications van. SECAST is part of the large multi-juris-dictional rescue and recover-ing operation in Snohomish County.

“The city of Snoqualmie will provide support to respond to this disaster in whatever way possible,” said Mayor Matt Larson. “On

behalf of the Snoqualmie City Council and staff, our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this tragedy, those residents in Oso who have lost their homes, and the first responders who tirelessly continue rescue efforts.”

SECAST is a volunteer unit of the Snoqualmie Department of Emergency Management. It is part of a non-profit group originated to provide volunteer emer-gency workers to the city of Snoqualmie and the sur-rounding region. The team has a wide range of skilled volunteers; incident commu-nications is the primary focus. For more information about SECAST services and opportu-nities to volunteer on SECAST, please visit www.secast.org or call 888-3333.

By Sam Kenyon

When 12-year-old Catalina Jarocki grows up she wants to be an actor. She took her first step toward that goal by winning the 2014 SnoValley Idol Jr. competi-tion March 28 in the Mount Si High School auditorium.

Eleven girls performed for the audience and three judges.

Jarocki’s performance of “Let it Go” from the movie “Frozen” won. It was her first singing competition.

The field of singers, ranging from 10-14 years old, was select-ed during an open audition Feb. 8 at Boxley’s in North Bend. The three judges, Annmarie Farris, Susanna Fuller, and Danny Kolke, chose the finalists based on natural ability, quality of performance, and showmanship, the same criteria they used again at the SnoValley Idol Jr. show, to select the overall winner.

Jarocki says she was nervous at first, but once she began her

song she fell into her perfor-mance groove.

“I started to feel like I was actually in the movie and that I was the actor actually singing the song,” she said.

The judges responded posi-tively to her commitment to the song.

“She just had wonderful pitch, wonderful expression, good dynamics,” Fuller said. “There was a lot there that she really put into it. It was a very wonderful, pleasant perfor-mance.”

Jarocki signed up for the com-petition originally because she thought the stage experience would be good for her, especially considering her future cho-sen profession. After winning, Jarocki was asked to give an encore performance of her song. She said the second time around was even better than the first, because she had already won so

By Sam Kenyon

Catalina Jarocki won the SnoValley Idol Jr. competition. The 12-year-old sang ‘Let It Go’ from the movie ‘Frozen.’

SnoValley crowns its idol

See IDOL, Page 2

Valley robotics: It’s more than child’s play

See ROBOT, Page 2

Valley of the ‘botsA series exploring the growth of robotics for youth in the Snoqualmie Valley.

By Sam Kenyon

Calvin Sprouse’s interest in robotics inspired his father Paul Sprouse to get involved, help-ing with camps and workshops.

PAGE 2 SnoValley Star APRIL 3, 2014

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she was relaxed and just having fun.

While the judges determined the overall

winner and runners-up, the audience voted for their favorite as well. The audience picked 10-year-old Julian Betz as the People’s Choice winner.

Betz performed the song “When Will My Life Begin” from the movie

“Tangled.” In addition to winning the People’s Choice award, Betz fin-ished second overall. The diminutive Betz won more hardware than she could carry.

The third place tro-phy went to 13-year-old Jessica Conlon, who sang “Who You Are,” by the artist Jessie J. Conlon. She and Jarocki both attend Chief Kanim Middle School. Betz is home-schooled.

Fuller often works with

kids, coaching them in singing and performance. She has been a SnoValley Idol Jr. judge for five years and enjoys seeing the younger contestants step-ping on the stage for the first time.

“I really enjoy encour-aging young talent and helping them develop their skills too,” she said. “Every year is like a new crop coming up.”

Fuller knows how scary it can be for the young performers to get on stage

and sing, especially with bright lights and a full audience. Nerves are part of the reason the com-petition holds auditions beforehand, so they can make sure that the singers are ready for the inevitable stage fright.

“It takes an incredible amount of courage,” Fuller said.

The judges don’t want Valley Idol to be some-thing that turns the kids off from performing.

“We hope for it to be an encouraging experi-ence, and one that really ignites their love for sing-ing and performing,” she said.

Jarocki certainly had a positive experience. After the competition ended, while she held her trophy and bouquet of flowers, she described her feelings about her performance.

“I was just really happy.”

IdolFrom Page 1

enough equipment.”More kids came, and

Sprouse’s collection of robotic bits grew. Eventually, he was carting his pile of gear from class to class. He decided he needed a centralized location: A robot headquarters.

A robot is a machine capa-ble of completing a complex series of actions automati-cally. Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation and application of robots. In 2012, according to the International Federation of Robotics, more than 150,000 robot units were sold world-wide.

Valley Robotics opened Nov. 1 in the Mt. Si Shopping Center in North Bend.

It is a small storefront over-flowing with gears, parts, diodes and doo hickeys. Sprouse hosts robotic activities in the store, where kids learn about engineer-ing by being engineers.

Robots are the hook that pulls children and Sprouse uses that hook to teach them science.

“You get those minds work-ing at an early age and instead of telling them how things work

you let them play around and learn how things work,” Sprouse said.

Most of the robots are built around the LEGO Mindstorm, a small, programmable computer that can be customized with wheels, gears, and LEGO parts.

As a member of the PTA, Sprouse often heard how the school was trying to push for greater STEM learning in the classroom, but it wasn’t hap-pening fast enough for him. Sprouse’s kids were getting older, and every year the school didn’t include more STEM in the cur-riculum was a year that Calvin and others like him didn’t get to experience the hands-on learn-ing of robotics.

Sprouse’s classes help fill that void.

Since he began, Sprouse estimates that he has taught between 400 - 500 kids. He has six week classes that fill up in advance, sometimes immedi-ately, and he has done zero advertising.

Today, Calvin attends Twin Falls Middle School where he is in the sixth grade, and Sprouse finds it just as important that his son, and other kids who want to, gets a chance to learn and have fun with technology.

“It shouldn’t be a lottery, it shouldn’t be luck,” he said. “Every kid should have a chance

to do this. So my goal is to give every kid a chance.”

The world, he said, is deeply dependent on technology. It will only increase and become more advanced with each passing year. The careers that these kids end up with are more and more likely to involve some combina-tion of programming, engineer-ing, and robotics. Sprouse said he is keenly aware of this and part of his motivation is to pre-pare kids for their future jobs, even if they only see it as play-ing.

If a teacher tells a student to memorize the periodic table of elements, that student might be able to do so after hours of tedious study. The student will likely forget what they have memorized as soon as they fin-ish being tested on it. But when a kid is interested in something, like LEGO robots, they will learn and memorize far more effec-tively.

“That’s the way the brain works,” Sprouse said. “You memorize things that are impor-tant to you and that you need.”

He tries to take advantage of this learning pattern by giving the kids something they enjoy, and then constantly challeng-ing them to improve on it. Once they learn how to put a robot together, they are challenged to learn to program it. Once they have learned to program it, they are challenged to learn how to make it stronger, faster, more complicated.

One of the challenges Sprouse uses is a sumo wrestling com-petition, where robots battle in a small circle to push the other enemy robot out of bounds.

This kind of competition happens at all levels of robotic enthusiasts, all the way up to through college. YouTube, for instance, has hundreds of ama-teur sumo robot battle videos.

Sprouse hosts robot Olympics, where five teams of two kids and two robots apiece compete with each other. The participants must program their robots to perform synchronized move-ments. The winner of the last robot Olympics was a team of two kids who had no robot previous experience before his camp.

The robot Olympic teams represent different countries; some real like the United States or China, and other imaginary, like Minecraftia, named for the popular video game, Minecraft.

Minecraft, like LEGO robots, is a hook for Valley Robotics that pulls kids in.

It is a game where players build things out of blocks, and the only goal of the game is for players to creatively express themselves through building. It is a video game version of LEGOs, and Valley Robotics has Minecraft based themes and dec-orations throughout the store.

“I like the creativity and the adventure,” said Tegan Brown, a 12-year-old friend of Calvin’s who is also a sixth grader at Twin Falls Middle School. “I like how you can build amazing things and have fun with your friends.”

Sprouse uses the kids interest in Minecraft to teach them cod-ing, which can then be applied to the robots they build.

Sprouse is inspired by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway and many other inventions. Kamen said that in society, we get what we celebrate. Sprouse wants to spend more time celebrating engineering and science to help kids become interested in these fields. That’s why Valley Robotics, which is full of edu-cational equipment, feels like a toy store.

“I want kids to walk in and feel like ‘wow, science. Science is cool.’”

On the WebFor more information about robotics classes and activities go to www.valley-robotics.com.

RobotFrom Page 1

APRIL 3, 2014 SnoValley Star PAGE 3

3

When: This Friday, April 4th from 7:30 am to 9:00 amWhere: Holiday Inn of IssaquahRegister: www.issaquahchamber.comQuestions? Contact Tricia Barry at tbarry@issaquahchamber.com

Table switches, light breakfast provided, door prizes & more!

Join members of the Greater Issaquah, Sammamish, Mercer Island, Snoqualmie Valley &

Newcastle Chambers of Commerce at the quarterly

5-Chamber Networking Breakfast!

Mount Si students bring home honors

Students at Mount Si High School have been racking up the honors and wins in recent competi-tions.q The Knowledge Bowl

Team placed fifth in the State Knowledge Bowl eighteen team 3A division.

The Mount Si group, known as the “Magic School Bus” team, includ-ed: junior Naomi Litwack-Lang (team captain), seniors Tyler Moore and Samantha Sparling, sopho-mores Will Kramer and Ryan Moore, and fresh-man Esther Litwack-Lang.q Three Culinary Arts

program seniors were recently honored for their kitchen talents at the Skills USA Puget Sound Regional Competition.

Brandon Sletten fin-ished second in the culi-nary category. He was judged on preparing and plating chicken chasseur, steamed seasoned broccoli and rice pilaf, along with knife skill demonstration.

Hunter Abbott-Heutmaker won the food and beverage service mock scenario.

Danielle Clark won first in baking. She prepared cookies, yeast rolls, lemon meringue pie.q DECA students,

junior Kaitlyn Gate and senior Jack Hunt, placed seventh in the state (out of 70 teams) in the busi-ness law and ethnics com-petition, at the State DECA Career Development Conference in March in Bellevue. They advance to the International Career Development DECA Conference May 2-7 in Atlanta, Ga.

Among the nine stu-dents from Mount Si who competed at the DECA state conference, senior Adam Husa was awarded a semifinalist medal for his performance in principles of marketing hotel and lodging management.q Mount Si High

School teams placed sec-ond and third in the state debate tournament at University of Puget Sound

March 21-22 in Tacoma. Juniors Ryan Hartman and Kevin Pusich took home the second place trophy, and seniors Riley Dirks and Kevin McLaughlin finished third. In addition, Hartman won the speaker award.

Also, the team com-prised of Hartman and Pusich qualified to com-pete in the tournament of champions at the University of Kentucky later this spring.

Three Mount Si seniors are honored for video

A demonstration truck from C-SPAN and Comcast will be visiting Mount Si High School at 1:15 April 3. C-SPAN will be honor-ing three seniors for earn-ing an honorable mention in C-SPAN’s National 2014 StudentCam Competition. They will receive $250.

Emmitt Rudd, Dean Sydnor and Josh Helzerman and their documentary, “Income Inequality: Dividing America,” were among 97 honorable mentions out of 2,355 video submissions to the 10th annual competi-tion, which invites stu-dents from grades 6 - 12 to submit a five-to-seven minute documentary about a national policy issue.

The tech truck will be open for demonstrations and displays until 2:15 p.m.

“StudentCam serves as a yearly reminder that young people are not only passionate about issues of national significance, but their ideas and opin-ions are also worthy of our consideration,” says Craig McAndrew, C-SPAN Manager of Education Relations.

Mount Si was not

the only area school to produce a winning docu-mentary for the competi-tion. Olivia Marcus and Paige Montague, seniors at Issaquah High School, were one of 32 third prize winners of $750 for their documentary, “Clean Energy Legislation: A Message to the U.S. Congress.”

For the focus of the competition this year, stu-dents were asked to answer the question, “What’s the most important issue the U. S. Congress should con-sider in 2014?”

More than 4,800 stu-dents in 46 states and Washington, D.C. sub-mitted documentaries for consideration. The three most popular topics were: economic issues (pov-erty, unemployment and national debt), gun legisla-tion and education.

The submitted docu-mentaries were judged by a panel of C-SPAN educa-tion representatives. They were evaluated based on the competition’s theme, quality of expression, inclusion of varying sides of the documentary’s topic, and effective incor-poration of C-SPAN pro-gramming. In the greater Seattle area, C-SPAN is available locally through Comcast.The 150 winning videos may be viewed at www.stu-dentcam.org/winners14.htm.

Women in Business host adventurer Chris Fagan

Chris Fagan will be the guest speaker at the Snoqualmie Valley Women in Business Association monthly lun-cheon that begins at 11:30 a.m. April 9 at Pogacha, 120 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Issaquah.

Fagan and her husband recently returned from a 48-day Antarctica expedi-tion where they skied and pulled sleds to the South Pole.

The Snoqualmie Valley Women in Business hosts luncheons and seminars on business-related top-ics to help local business women learn and network. Luncheons currently are being held in Issaquah to accommodate more guests, although many of the other networking events take place in the Snoqualmie Valley.

Reservations are required. Cost is $27 for nonmem-bers and $22 for members. For more information or to make a reservation, visit: www.svwib.com.

Donate to mudslide responders, rescuers at Lowe’s store

In response to the recent deadly Oso mud-slide, Lowe’s has activated its American Red Cross customer donation pro-gram in all Washington stores to provide a conve-nient place for customers to make financial dona-tions.

Since March 22, the Red Cross has provided shelter, water and health services in the area, as well as four response vehicles and more than 100 trained workers to provide sup-port.

Red Cross family care centers are also open in Darrington to provide meals, emotional support, child care and information about available assistance.

As a member of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, Lowe’s pledges donations on an ongoing basis in advance of disasters to help the Red Cross deliver immedi-

ate aid to communities in need.

The nearest Lowe’s store is at 1625 11th Ave. N.W., Issaquah.

Donations of emergen-cy supplies to the search and rescue teams in the affected area to support the continued recovery efforts will be accepted through April 27.

County accepting applications for flood reduction project grants

The King County Flood Control District is accept-ing grant applications to fund programs that reduce the impact of local flood-ing.

The new grant program will target flood reduction projects throughout King County. Total funds avail-able in 2014 will be $2.6 million.

Eligible applicants include homeowner asso-ciations, private nonprofit organizations or asso-ciations, schools, special districts, tribes and King County jurisdictions.

Eligible projects include those that address:

q Localized flooding;q Surface water over-

flows;q Near-shore flooding;q Lake flooding due to

outflow blockage;q Assessment of exist-

ing conditions in order to create a lake management district;q Clearing a clogged

agricultural drainage sys-tem;q Maintaining access to

goods and infrastructure that serve a larger agricul-tural economy; orq Providing navigable

water channels for indus-try and recreation.

The deadline for applications is June 15. Proposals will be reviewed and selected by the King County Flood Control District, and funded proj-ects must be completed within 36 months of receiving funds.

Learn more or get the application form at www.kingcountyfloodcontrol.org/grants.

For help with the appli-cation process, contact King County River and Floodplain Management at wlr-rivers@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-4812.

Chaos would be the resultI am compelled to react to the letter to the edi-

tor that David McRae wrote last week urging read-ers to join the Convention of States “grassroots movement.”

Now, I have to wonder who the promoters and donors of this movement are. Could they be the same folks who continue to promote policy that accelerates a greater transfer of wealth to the rich than even in the Gilded Age? If it prevails, what for the common good will happen? What is your problem with the feds and what is it that you want to do that you are prohibited from doing, Mr. McRae? The feds have too much power over what? If the states leading the charge (Georgia, Arizona and Alaska) are any indication, I’d have to hazard a guess that they feel restricted from exercising racism, sealed borders, and access to more guns. After all, none of those states are good examples of egalitarian politics or providing intel-ligent national candidates.

The Convention’s plan lists eight main points, and one of them is term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court. Allow me to point out that the purpose of voting is to decide term limits. If a majority of voters say an incumbent should remain in office, why should some rule about length in office trump that vote? THAT seems like too much power to me.

Although I’ll concede that there are a lot of things the U.S. government could do better (pro-viding universal single payer health care and free college education, or cutting defense spending by 90 percent), lessening standards to allow states to decide critical issues is simply the first step to

counties, and then cities, and then individuals making those decisions. This is not a sound basis for rational public policy. It is chaos. Good public policy is based on science and collective consen-sus, in that order. The Convention is urging a path that points to a state-focused decentraliza-tion of decision making or at worst a dismantling of the government. That’s an old, tired theme, and quite frankly, a bad choice for you and me.

Dave EiffertSnoqualmie

Support the businesses that serve your community

As a new small business owner, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of “shopping locally.” As a member of local chambers of commerce, I’ve met numerous business people who feel privileged to serve those in their community.

Why not turn around and support those busi-nesses that are so eager to serve you? There are many reasons to shop locally. A few of them are:

1. It’s the “green” thing to do. (Less driving means less pollution.)

2. Tax dollars that businesses pay stay in your local community.

3. You will feel a stronger sense of community.To help you find local businesses, go to your

chamber of commerce’s website and search its member directory. Another option is to go to this paper’s online version and search in its business directory. I’m sure you’ll be successful in finding the perfect local business to meet your needs.

Oh, and thank you for your support!Amy Sehayek

Issaquah

Wheezer family hauled in twigs and grass and made a place to raise their family.

And each spring, as Mrs. W. sat on her eggs, it would take Doc a few days before she would tolerate him coming and going through the gate.

This was the dove family he was close to. They let him get right up to maybe a foot from

the ugly little baby birds each spring, and he was careful never to move quickly or make a noise.

That was his contribution, you see, to the putting together of the “Doves in the Concrete Block” family.

Wonder how long doves live? Doc thought. Wonder how long old Wheezer will last? I’ll have to look it up.

No he won’t.

Slim Randles can be reached at homecoun-try8@gmail.com.Brought to you by “Saddle Up: A Cowboy Guide to Writing.”Have a look. http://nmsantos.com/Books/Saddle/Saddle.html

OpinionPAGE 4 APRIL 3, 2014

Hold your noseand vote yes

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Editorial Letters

Write to usSnovalley Star welcomes letters to the editor about

any subject, although we reserve the right to edit for space, length, potential libel, clarity or political relevance. Letters

addressing local news will receive priority. Please limit letters to 350 words or less and type them, if possible. Email is pre-

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Home Country

Slim RandlesColumnist

Return of the Wheezer means springtime

WEEKLY POLLSnoqualmie Valley Schools are on spring break next

week. Are you going on a trip?

A) Yes, we’ve been planning a spring break trip for months.B) No, we can’t afford to take a vacation right now.C) We don’t have kids and don’t pay any attention to the school calendar.D) We don’t have kids but we always take a spring break.

Vote online at www.snovalleystar.com.

The state failed, once again, to find a way to fund trans-portation. So, once again, the county is on the hook to do so. Its unfortunate that its come to this, but it has. Voters should approve King County’s Proposition 1, to fund roads and transit.

It’s not cheap, ($60 on car tabs and a 0.1 percent sales tax increase for the next 10 years) but neither is the trans-portation network needed to keep one of the fastest grow-ing counties in the nation moving.

It’s important to note a bus fare increase is part of the package so riders, even those without cars, are paying directly for the system as well.

Opponents say that Metro is taking in record revenue, even more than it did before the recession. Their simplistic analysis seems to ignore the increases in ridership and population.

Without the money, Metro is looking at a 17 percent reduction in bus service.

Even for those who don’t ride the bus, consider the hun-dreds if not thousands of cars that would be dumped on the roads if those cuts become reality.

In the Valley, Routes 209 and 215 would be eliminated and Route 208 service would be reduced.

The measure would also help fund the county’s road network. Forty percent of the money raised would go back to the

cities to help them support their road network. North Bend would get $155,000 per year for city streets and Snoqualmie $302,000.

The funds going to neighboring cities, which will help drivers who travel anywhere inside the county.

The measure has flaws. The 10-year sunset is a bit too far out. If the state does get its act together, it would be nice to see this tax go away more quickly. The flat taxes are regres-sive, hitting the poor more sharply than the wealthy — a car tab tax based on the vehicle’s value might be more palatable.

The measure is far from perfect, but it is what we’re left with after years and years of state inaction. Hold your nose, and vote yes.

Doc smiled and felt really good inside when he heard the familiar bird song.

“Hey there, Wheezer,” he said. “Happy spring!”

For some reason, this mourn-ing dove with the speech impediment comes around to Doc’s back yard every spring, and Doc thinks that’s just all right. If ol’ Wheez didn’t have that distinctive voice, Doc would never know if this bird favored his yard or was just another bird looking for a home.

Let’s face it, Wheezer looks just like every other dove in town.

But he was back and flirting with a good-looking lady dove up on the branches of the locust tree. Doc always wondered whether doves mate for life, and this was the same Mrs. Wheez he sees every year, or if Wheezer had to court a new lassie each spring.

“I’ll have to look it up,” Doc said, knowing that he wouldn’t.

But he did go over to the con-crete block wall and clean out the crud from the hollow in the top block by the gate.

Doc had put dirt in it years ago, and each spring, the

Joe Heslet General manager

Sherry Grindeland Editor

Sam Kenyon Reporter

Ari Cetron Page designer

Michelle Comeau Advertising rep.

4

APRIL 3, 2014 SnoValley Star PAGE 5

5

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Sharon D. Larson

Sharon D. Larson lost her courageous battle with cancer on March 27, 2014, at her home in North Bend. She was 79.

Sharon was born June 17, 1934, in Seattle. She was the only child of Hiram and Beulah Cowles. Their family lived in Fall City, and then moved to Snoqualmie in the mid-1940s.

Sharon attended school in Fall City and Snoqualmie, where she met Dale Larson in the seventh grade. They were high school sweethearts, graduating from Mount Si High School in 1952.

Sharon and Dale were married Jan. 1, 1955. Wendy was born in 1960, and they moved to their newly built home in Brookside Acres in 1961; Sande followed along in 1963. They lived in this home the remainder or their lives.

After two years at Washington State University, Sharon had many jobs: office work in Seattle, the local Weyerhaeuser office and teaching swimming les-sons at Si View Pool. For many years, she was the secretary for the North Bend Community Church. She is mostly known for her position as librarian at North Bend Library, where she retired in the mid-1990s.

In her early years, Sharon enjoyed baking and could often be found in the kitchen making cookies with her girls. If not in the kitchen, she would be found working in the garden. Sharon was

very close with Dale’s family and was fortunate to have both her parents and in-laws live nearby.

Sharon was extremely active in the community. She was a member of Ladies Aide. She dedi-cated many years to the Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer

Society, where she served as team co-captain of the “Dynomites.” Sharon could often be found with the “Red Hat Society” (aka Valley Girls) many of which are childhood friends.

An avid golfer, she was among the few who shot a Hole in One and was a longtime member of the Cascade Women’s Golf Club.

Sharon was the corner-stone to her high school class of 1952, keeping the class updated of events

and life milestones, as well as organizing and plan-ning reunions.

Sharon and Dale took many trips together with good friends through-out Europe and South America. They particularly enjoyed taking cruises, traveling to Alaska and through the Panama Canal, to name a few.

Sharon is survived by her daughters Wendy Stokosa, of North Bend, and Sande Mia, from Santa Barbara, Calif.; son-in-law Rolando Mia; and two

grandchildren, Sarah and Jordan Mia.

A celebration of life service will be held for Sharon on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m. at Snoqualmie Valley Alliance Church in Fall City.

A reception will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, the fam-ily requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society or the Puget Sound Blood Center.

— www.snoqualmie-valleychapel.com

Della RooneyDella Rooney passed

away Feb. 18 at her Fall City home.

She was 87.She was preceded in

death by her loving hus-band Dennis.

Della is survived by daughters Diane Wade, Donna (Dan) Crowe, of North Bend, and Dale (Bob) Venters, of Fall City; 10 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

There were no services at her request.

Obituaries

Sharon D. Larson

PAGE 6 SnoValley Star APRIL 3, 2014

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TUES

8

q North Bend Young Artists Exhibit, all day, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554

q Developmental Screenings with Encompass, ages 3 months to 5 years, 9-11 a.m., Snoqualmie Valley YMCA, 35018 S.E. Ridge St., free, 888-3347

q Bob Baumann and Friends, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, 292-9307

q Study Zone, 4-6 p.m., free homework help, grades K-12, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554

q Study Zone, 5-7 p.m., free homework help, grades K-12, Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E., 888-1223

q Finance & Administration Committee meet-ing, City Hall, 38624 S.E. River St., Snoqualmie, 888-1555, ext. 1118

YOUR WEEK

MON

7

q Cornish College Combo with Randy Halberstadt, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, 292-9307

q North Bend Young Artists Exhibit, all day, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554

q Public Works Committee meet-ing, 5-6 p.m. City Hall, 38624 S.E. River St., Snoqualmie, 831-4919

q Planning & Parks Committee meeting, 6:30-7 p.m. City Hall, 38624 S.E. River St., Snoqualmie, 888-5337

SUN

6

q ‘The Laramie Project,’ 3 p.m., Theatre Black Dog at the Black Dog, 8062 Railroad Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie, $15/adults, $12/students and seniors, http://bit.ly/1cFQefW

q Structural Pruning of Trees Workshop, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Snoqualmie Valley YMCA, 35018 S.E. Ridge St., Snoqualmie, free, call to RSVP 766-2452

q Low Key Trio, 6 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, 292-9307

q ‘Super Brawl Sunday,’ 4-9 p.m., 21 and older, The Ballroom at Snoqualmie Casino, 37500 S.E. North Bend Way, Snoqualmie, www.snocasino.com

SAT

5

q ‘Meadowbrook 101,’ 10 a.m. to noon, Meadowbrook Farm, 1711 Boalch Avenue, North Bend, 831-1900

q ‘Going Batty,’ Mount Si Senior Center Activity Room, 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend, $5 suggested donation

q ‘Over the River and Through the Woods,’ Valley Center Stage, 119 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, $17.50/adults, $14/students and seniors, www.valleycenterstage.org

q ‘The Laramie Project,’ 8 p.m., Theatre Black Dog at the Black Dog, 8062 Railroad Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie, $15/adults, $12/students and seniors, http://bit.ly/1cFQefW

q Greta Matassa Quartet, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, 292-9307

q Yard waste and recycling, 8 a.m. to noon, Public Works Facility, 1155 E. North Bend Way, North Bend, more dates and info at www.northbendwa.gov

FRI

4

q Pete Gallio Trio, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, 292-9307

q ‘Over the River and Through the Woods’ by Joe DiPietro, 7:30 p.m., Valley Center Stage, 119 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, $17.50/adults, $14/students and seniors, www.valley-centerstage.org

q ‘The Laramie Project,’ 8 p.m., Theatre Black Dog at Black Dog, 8062 Railroad Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie, $15/adults, $12/students and seniors, http://bit.ly/1cFQefW

q North Bend Young Artists Exhibit, all day, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554

q Son’s of Palmer, 8 p.m. to midnight, Mt. Si Pub, 45530 S.E. North Bend Way, North Bend, 831-6155

q Paul Green & Brian Butler, 7 p.m., Snoqualmie Falls Brewery and Taproom, 8032 Falls Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie, 831-2357

WED

9

q AARP Tax Help, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., no income or age limits, bring picture I.D., proof of Social Security number, last year’s tax return and any current tax documents, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554

q Anime and Manga Club, 3-5 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E., 888-1223

q Future Jazz Heads, 5 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, 292-9307

q Pajamarama Story Time, 6:30-7:30 p.m., North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554

q Jazz Heads, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, 292-9307

q Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., The Black Dog, 8062 Railroad Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie, 831-3647

q Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night, 7 p.m., Snoqualmie Falls Brewery and Taproom, 8032 Falls Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie, 831-2357

THUR

10

q North Bend Young Artists Exhibit, all day, North Bend Library, 115 E. Fourth St., 888-0554

q Game Night, 4-9 p.m., Snoqualmie Falls Brewery and Taproom, 8032 Falls Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie, 831-2357

q April Symer’s String Duo, 7 p.m., Boxley’s, 101 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, 292-9307

q ‘Over the River and Though the Woods,’ Valley Center Stage, 119 W. North Bend Way, North Bend, $17.50/adults, $14/students and seniors, www.valley-centerstage.org

q The Spinners, 7 p.m., 21 and older, The Ballroom at Snoqualmie Casino, 37500 S.E. North Bend Way, Snoqualmie, www.snocasino.com

q Family Story Time, 7-8 p.m., Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Blvd. S.E., 888-1223

Valley Center Stage presents ‘Over the River and Through the Woods,’ a comedy by Joe DiPietro, at 7:30 p.m. April 4-5 and April 10-12 at Valley Center Stage, 119 W. North Bend Way, North Bend. Tickets are $17.50/adults, $14/students and seniors. Tickets are available online at www.valleycenter-stage.org.

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to newsclerk@isspress.com by noon Friday.

THE CALENDAR FOR APRIL 4-10

Sports PAGE 7APRIL 3, 2014

7

By Sam Kenyon

The Mount Si Wildcats boys soccer squad took down the Sammamish Totems, 4-1, in a late-scoring, one-sided match that featured the first hat trick of the season by junior captain Connor Williams.

A light rain showered Wildcat stadium as the two teams faced off on March 28. This was Mount Si’s first victory in KingCo this season, and comes off a disappointing loss to Interlake three days prior. The Wildcats are now 3-1-1 for the season.

Neither team scored in the first half, a defensive stalemate caused by the Wildcat’s backline that Coach Darren Brown calls the “Iron Curtain D.” Mount Si put pressure on the Sammamish defense in the first half, control-ling the majority of possessions. But they went scoreless partially due to a number of offside pen-alties.

In the second half, the game turned and the Wildcats quickly scored off a penalty kick. It was Williams’ first goal of the night,

but the success was short lived as the Totems answered with a goal of their own, off an out of bounds toss within minutes of the first Mount Si score.

It was junior midfielder Evan Betz who scored next, with an assist from Williams. The goal came off an out of bounds toss, and the reaction from the crowd was thunderous.

“Don’t forget, Evan Betz scored the game winner,” Williams said. Even though Williams scored the team-high three goals, he considered Betz’s goal the game winner since it gave them the lead that would ultimately win the game.

The rain started to fall in earnest as the Totems struggled to recover. The next two goals, both by Williams, came off of mistakes by the Sammamish goalkeeper. Twice, the Totem goalie came way out of his box to try and capture the ball. Both times Williams made him pay by getting past the goalie and kicking into a wide open net.

“I don’t really know what he was doing,” Williams said of the Totems goalkeeper.

The junior captain gave credit to his teammates for the goals, especially since they were shot into a wide open net.

“I was lucky enough to get the finish,” he said.

Brown was all praise for his team after the match. He was pleased with his team’s defense and they way they leveraged their possessions into goals.

“We’re good when we play our game,” he said.

Williams downplayed his hat trick, but his coach was more willing to brag on his leading scorer’s behalf.

“I thought Connor Williams was spectacular,” Brown said.

In addition to Williams’ one assist, sophomore forward Reid Howland provided two assists. Coach Brown awarded the player of the match honors to Williams and the Wildcat iron curtain defense.

Mount Si faces Lake Washington and Bellevue next, both matches are at home. Those games are against difficult teams, but should be winnable provided the Wildcats play their style of soccer.

By Calder Productions

Evan Betz leaps over his opponent to corral the ball.

Connor Williams scores hat trick as Wildcats whip Totems, 4-1

Contributed

The Twin Falls Middle School Varsity girls soccer team was undefeated for the season. The team finished with an 8-0 record.

Twin Falls girls soccer team was unbeatable last season

Mount Si loses one and wins one in Kennewick tourney

The Mount Si High School baseball team split two appear-ances in Kennewick on March 29. The Wildcats lost the first game to Walla Walla, 6-5.

In the second game, Zach Usselman notched another win on his pitching record as the boys defeated Kamiakin, 2-0.

Right fielder Evan Johnson and second baseman Tanner Simpson both had hits in the game. Johnson’s current bat-ting average is .400; Simpson’s is .412.

The team’s first KingCo League game begins at 4:30 p.m. April 4 when Mount Si hosts Juanita High School.

Registration now open for fall soccer leagues

Registration opened this week for the Snoqualmie Valley Youth Soccer Association. Even though the recreational soccer season doesn’t start until fall, registration closes May 31. Late registrants will be put on a wait-ing list.

If your child is interested in the more advanced select pro-gram, called the Cascade FC, an informational night will be

held at 7 p.m. April 16 at Chief Kanim Middle School.

For information on the select programs, go to www.cascadefc.org.

New players and parents will learn about the program and meet the administrator and coaches. This is particularly important for players who qual-ify for the U9-U12 (under nine-twelve years old) teams.

The recreational soccer pro-gram typically begins practice Aug. 1. Games begin right after Labor Day for youth on U6/U7/U8 teams. Parents in those divi-sions can expect their children to play two games a week.

Registration fees vary for the recreational divisions from $115 to $175 per child. Some schol-arships are available for those who need them and for families with multiple children in the program.

For information on teams in North Bend, email northbend@snvysa.org.

For information on Snoqualmie teams, email: sno-qualmie@snvysa.org.

General registration questions can be sent to: registrar@snvysa.org.

For more information on the Snoqualmie Valley Youth Soccer programs, visit: www.snvysa.org/home.php?layout=41104.

David was born April 26, 1963, in Omaha, Neb., to Ronald Ross and Susan (Connerley) Heitman. He worked seasonally at the sugar factory in Scottsbluff and enjoyed his position as carbonator.

David is survived by his children David Heitman, of Walla Walla, Dayna (Tyler) Switzer, of Norfolk, Va., and Donelle Heitman, of Denver; mother Susan Heitman, of Scottsbluff; sisters Katherine (Michael) Owen, of Kirkland, and Melissa (Scott) Schaub,

of Scottsbluff; brother Steven (Darla) Heitman, of Kent; and eight nieces and nephews.

His father, maternal and paternal grandparents preceded him in death.

May he rest in Peace.Memorials in David’s

honor may be made in care of the family to be designated at a later time. Online condolences may be left at www.jol-liffefuneralhome.com. Jolliffe Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

PAGE 8 SnoValley Star APRIL 3, 2014

8

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Anthony S. ‘Tony’ GloverAfter a brief illness, Tony

Glover departed his life on Jan. 3, 2014. He was born June 16, 1964, in California.

Tony and wife Jammie Dearinger passionately operated the Eight Bar B motel in Wilbur.

Tony enjoyed wrestling, bowl-ing, fishing, cabining, the out-doors and all sports. But mostly he loved spending time with family and friends. His great sense of humor ensured that he always lived life to the fullest. It’s safe to say that everyone that knew him loved him for his witty catchphrases!

Tony is survived by his wife Jammie; three sons, Tony (Anthony) Glover, Donaven Sparrow and Austin Glover; step-son Allan Shaner; stepdaughter Ashley Canfield; two grand-daughters; his mother Barbara Howard; and four siblings, Pete, Tim, Marty and Kim Glover.

Tony also left behind many

nieces and neph-ews as well as an exchange student, Rex Lui. He also had a large extend-ed family and numerous friends.

There was a celebration of life on Jan. 12. Condolences or donations to pay for medical and final expenses can be mailed to Jammie Dearinger, 718 S.E. Main St., Wilbur, WA 99185.

Please sign the online guest-book for the family at www.strate-funeralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home in Wilbur is caring for the family.

David Wayne HeitmanDavid Wayne Heitman, 50, of

Scottsbluff, Neb., died Thursday, March 27, 2014, peacefully at his home.

At his request, cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation. No services are sched-uled at this time.

Obituaries

Anthony S. ‘Tony’ Glover

Go online and save tax dollarsThe city of Snoqualmie is looking to

save $10,000 and 400 pounds of paper by switching at least one third of the 4,000 residents who receive their water utility bills through the postal service to online billing.

The city’s new “33% campaign for paperless billing” aims to save money and paper. If you are a property owner in Snoqualmie who currently receives your water bill through the mail, you can switch to an online payment sys-tem and help save the city revenue and reduce the city’s carbon footprint. Not to mention conserving one fifth of a metric ton of paper.

Residents can pay online through their bank or through UBPayments, a secure, online billing service. Customers can make payments online using debit or credit, review bill details, track usage, update account information, and make service requests via email.

To pay online, simply add “City of Snoqualmie” as a merchant/payee on your account.

To sign up you will need your util-ity account number to register. The process only takes a minute. To switch to online billing visit https://snoqualmie.merchanttransact.com.