Harnessing the power of imagination to create solar car
May 15, 2012
Jeff Weng, an Issaquah High School senior, stands by his finished solar car. Photo Contributed
His idea was birthed on a sloshy, windy day while he was driving through Seattle. A solar panel — failing to work properly due to the wind and lack of sun — fell off a nearby streetlight, and Jeff Weng had an epiphany.
“It wasn’t really effective in what it was doing,” the Issaquah High School senior said. “I wanted to make something that could counter the environmental limitations that are inherent to living in the Northwest, while having the same advantages of a solar panel in a more sunny environment.”
Weng’s panel idea — along with a go-cart to utilize the invention — became the fruit of his 436 hours of labor last summer. Long days and all-nighters toying around in his garage paid off — Weng now has a pending provisional patent for his weather-savvy, solar panel invention.
Unlike other panels, Weng’s can attract the sun while maintaining a flat profile. The panel attaches to his car, charges its batteries and allows for his vehicle to travel at about 25 miles per hour.
“The panel has the ability to move in all directions through two separate drives and maintain flat while being able to attract,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if the sun’s out, it hits in the right spot in the sky, it will try to look at it to find efficiency.”
Issaquah Relay for Life sets record-breaking goals
May 15, 2012
Teams walk around the Skyline High School track last year, fundraising for the annual Relay for Life event. File
When you have one of the most successful programs around, that essentially leaves one goal each year: do better than the previous year.
Such is the envious dilemma facing Gwen Schweitzer in her first year as the coordinator of the Issaquah area’s Relay for Life.
At this time last year, there were 78 teams signed up. This year, there are already 81, just four away from the goal, Schweitzer said. After last year’s two-day event netted more than $285,000, that left her with the goal of reaching $300,000 in 2012.
“We are one of the only mega events to raise over $200,000. Overall, the relay has seen a drop in contributions due to the economy,” Schweitzer said. “Issaquah has been lucky. We’ve seen funding increase by a small margin every year.”
Tradition lives on at Issaquah Valley Senior Center’s annual pancake breakfast
May 15, 2012
Nothing says Americana more than the family tradition. The Issaquah Valley Senior Center is inviting the public to a tradition it has hosted since opening 33 years ago — its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser from 9-11:30 a.m. May 19 at the center, 75 N.E. Creek Way.
Center Director Courtney Jaren said she hopes to attract as many as 300 hungry eaters to the all-you-can-eat buffet, which features bacon, sausage, eggs, coffee, tea and juice to accompany the pancakes. At just $5 per person, Jaren said that adds up to a nice amount for the center.
“It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” she said. “Netting $1,500 would be nice. It will go toward paying for all our programs. And nothing specific. Rather, it’s an amount to help defray all our costs.”
Community Awards ceremony switches to evening event
May 15, 2012
The ceremony for the Community Awards is getting a makeover as organizers prepare for the 33rd annual event.
The event celebrates individual, organizations and service clubs in the Issaquah area.
In past years, Community Awardees received honors during a luncheon at the Holiday Inn – Issaquah. Come May 31, the event transitions to a nighttime celebration at the Issaquah Hilton Garden Inn, 1800 N.W. Gilman Blvd.
The festivities start at 6 p.m. Learn more about the celebration and purchase tickets at www.issaquahchamber.com/schedule/event/33rd-annual-community-awards-event.
The honorees at the event include the inductee into the Issaquah Hall of Fame, Citizen of the Year and more.
Student can submit artwork, essays for 1962 World’s Fair celebration
May 15, 2012
Budding Washington student artists and visionaries have the opportunity to showcase their talents at an exhibit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair.
Seattle Center and the League of Education Voters are asking Washington’s K-12 students to think about what the classroom of the future will look like. In 50 years, what technology will be used? What are students learning? What will the classroom/learning environment be like?
The deadline to submit a short intent form to participate in Seattle Center’s Classroom of the Future Exhibition has been extended to May 21. The letter of intent is just a short form letting Seattle Center know a project will be submitted. The deadline to turn in the project is June 1. Submissions can be in a variety of forms, including essays, poetry, videos, slideshows or 3D models.
Students can submit their work individually or as part of a team. Selected artists will be showcased at an exhibition in August at the Seattle Center.
Professionals in the fields of education, technology, architecture, art and design will curate the submissions to present common themes apparent in the participants’ visions of future learning environments.
Go to www.educationvoters.org/seattlecenter for information about the letter of intent and exhibition rules.
City, businesses celebrate Bike to Work Day on May 18
May 15, 2012
City leaders, local businesses and the Cascade Bicycle Club invite bicyclists to celebrate Bike to Work Day on May 18.
The city is hosting a Salmon Friendly Commute Bike Station at the corner of state Route 900 and Northwest Sammamish Road from 6-10 a.m. Bicyclists can load up on snacks and water bottles to help fuel their trips.
Pacific Bicycle Co., a Sammamish bike shop, also plans to be on hand to do small repairs and answer questions.
Then, REI, Costco and the city plan to host a barbecue for bicyclists at Lake Sammamish State Park’s rotunda picnic area from 4-6 p.m.
May is National Bike Month.
Bicyclists using King County Metro Transit and Sound Transit ride free through May 18. The offer applies to any Metro Transit bus or ST Express bus operated by Metro Transit, including routes 554, 555 and 556 from Issaquah.
Donors ‘GiveBIG’ to Issaquah History Museums
May 15, 2012
The Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG campaign generated $7.43 million in online contributions for nonprofit organizations May 2, including more than $1,000 for the Issaquah History Museums.
During the 24-hour online event, people made donations to more than 1,100 area nonprofit organizations. The Seattle Foundation “stretched” the gifts by matching a share of every contribution from a pool of funds provided by corporate sponsors, individual contributors and the foundation.
Gifts started coming in at midnight and, overall, donors made more than 37,800 individual online gifts. GiveBIG attracted donations from all 50 states and 23 foreign countries.
“GiveBIG brings together two of our region’s greatest passions — technology and philanthropy — in a way that truly excites and unites the people of King County,” former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, The Seattle Foundation president and CEO, said in a statement. “I have never seen a stronger display of generosity and community spirit than what I witnessed today with GiveBIG.”
Get ready, set, shop for Young Issaquah Professionals cash mob
May 15, 2012
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce leaders asked merchants and shoppers to prepare for another cash mob.
The event is planned to occur at a still-unknown business at 4 p.m. May 23, as part of National Small Business Week.
In a cash mob, a group of people descends on a business to buy, buy, buy. The destination is revealed through social media services. Then, the mob pops up at the business to browse and shop.
The organizers — Young Issaquah Professionals, or YIPPIES, 20- and 30-something business leaders in the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce — modeled the cash mob on similar events in other locales.
Learn the cash mob destination May 16 at www.facebook.com/CashMobIssaquah and www.facebook.com/YoungIssaquahProfessionals.
Organizers said most participants spend about $20 apiece, but any amount is acceptable.
The inaugural cash mob in Issaquah unfolded last month at Gilman Village merchant Lucky You. Mobbers purchased almost $3,000 in merchandise.
“We’ll be trying different times, days and locations for our mobs.” YIPPIES Chairwoman Audrey Slade said. “Moving this mob to an early evening start time, will hopefully allow more people to take part at the end of their workday.”
Nominate outstanding citizens for state’s highest honors
May 15, 2012
Secretary of State Sam Reed is accepting nominations for the Medal of Valor and Medal of Merit, the highest honors presented by the people of Washington.
Last awarded in 2007, the Medal of Valor recognizes individuals for risking personal safety to save, or attempt to save, another person’s life. (The medal cannot be awarded to police officers, firefighters or other first responders for on-duty actions.)
Last awarded in 2009, the Medal of Merit is given for exceptional conduct in providing outstanding services to citizens. Learn about the application process at www.sos.wa.gov/medals. Mail nominations to Office of the Secretary of State, Medal of Valor Program, P.O. Box 40220, Olympia, WA 98504-0220. The deadline is Aug. 12.
FISH hosts Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon lecture
May 15, 2012
Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is hosting U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologists and a state Department of Fish and Wildlife manager to discuss the Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon recovery program May 23.
The event starts at 6 p.m. at the Watershed Science Center at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, 125 W. Sunset Way. The lecture is free and open to the public.
The event includes U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologists Jeff Chan and Roger Tabor, plus state Department of Fish & Wildlife Region 4 Hatchery Manager Doug Hatfield.
Participants can learn about the Lake Sammamish kokanee and the status of the population from the federal biologists. Hatfield plans to cover the details of the innovative effort going on at the hatchery to preserve the species.
FISH, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the preservation of the historic hatchery through educational programs in school classrooms and at the hatchery.
