August 17, 2010: Issaquah City Council Hearing on Park Pointe TDR

7:30pm, Council Chambers located at 135 East Sunset Way, Issaquah.   The Transfer of Development Rights requires amendments to the Issaquah Highlands Two Party and Three Party Development Agreements. Please comment on this proposal at the meeting or watch on Channel 21. This is an important step in preserving Park Pointe...and we want to do the right thing with more development in the Highlands.

The purpose of the amendments is to approve an increase of 550 residential units to Issaquah Highlands and preserve open space. There are also some minor revisions to signage, landscaping and parking requirements. Anyone interested may appear at the public hearing and be heard for or against any part of the proposed amendments or to provide comments.

Starting in 2008, the City developed a plan to preserve and protect more than 140 acres of forested land in Issaquah, including the entire Park Pointe area on Tiger Mountain. Park Pointe consists of approximately 101 acres of forested hillside on the foot of Tiger Mountain, adjacent to Issaquah High School.

The preservation plan – which embodies the city’s longstanding tradition of clustering growth to minimize sprawl and protect large areas of open space – would focus new development to an area near Issaquah Highlands, Port Blakely Communities’ master-planned community, through a transfer of development rights (TDR).

August 21, 2010: Get the Kids Cooking

10am-noon. 21 Acres, Woodinville. Get the Kids Cooking – Quick and Easy School Snacks, simply for kids. Cost: $30. Cooking with kids is a great family adventure. No matter the age, getting kids cooking is easier than you think. Learn how to prepare a variety of snacks that are kid tasty and nutritious with farm fresh, natural ingredients. Help kids learn and play with food as they gain healthy food habits for a life-time. Food has never been more fun. Bring the family; one child free for every adult registration. Instructor is Chef Emily Moore, recognized for her flavorful creations having received top reviews from local and regional food critics for her innovative local cuisine and kid friendly skills.

August 21, 2010: Plant, Cover and Sow – Seed Saving and Winter Gardening

1-3pm. 21 Acres, Woodinville.  Cost: $30. Whether your plan includes planting garlic, enriching your soil or growing a cover crop, this class will help you assess your winter needs. Along with your winter preparations, learn specific techniques and effective ways to produce and store seeds on a small scale. Basic skills in seed selection, harvesting, drying, cleaning, and seed storage will be presented. Instructor is 21 Acres Farm Manager, Rosy Smit, a soil specialist and farm educator.  

August 22, 2010: Ivy Removal Work Party

10am-2pm, Meet at the Issaquah Community Center.  Issaquah Environmental Council will host a work party on August 22 to remove ivy from the forested area between the Issaquah Skate Park and the Issaquah School District bus barn.  Park at the Community Center and join us!  We’ll have some tools, gloves and snacks.

August 26, 2010: Issaquah City Parks and Recreation BBQ and Public Feedback Forum

5pm, Future Cybil Park, 595 Rainier Blvd. N., Issaquah.   The City’s Parks and Recreation Department wants your opinion! Residents are invited to a community meeting,  to bring ideas and share their thoughts on the development of the Issaquah Creek Confluence Park Area in downtown Issaquah.

Hot dogs and refreshments will be served at 5 p.m., and the program will start at 6 p.m.

The City recently selected a landscape architectural firm, The Berger Partnership, to prepare a Master Site Plan for the Issaquah Creek Confluence Park Area, which includes three contiguous parks: Tollë Anderson, Cybil-Madeline and Issaquah Creek.

This project – to develop a City park within Olde Town Issaquah – was approved by City voters as part of the November 2006 Park Bond. For more information, contact Margaret Macleod at 425-837-3322.

August 28, 2010: Workshop: How Can I Get Rid of the Knotweed?

10-11am, Upper Preston. FREE Workshop for King County Residents. Knotweed is one of the toughest weed thugs around and it’s becoming all too common around here. It chokes out everything else and increases erosion on creeks. Fighting it is frustrating without effective methods and tools. This workshop is for anyone who wants to know more about this aggressive plant and would like help figuring out how to get rid of it successfully.   Find out:

1. - How knotweed grows and spreads
   - How and where to use different methods to control knotweed
   - How to borrow a knotweed stem injector for use on your own land

2. Email knotweed@prkc.org for more info.

September 7, 2010: Participate in Issaquah City Admin Search

5pm. Tibbett’s Creek Manor, 750 17th Ave. N.W., Issaquah.  The City is one step closer to hiring its next City Administrator. The search firm that was hired to look for a City Administrator has narrowed its applicant list to 27. The Mayor’s Office will now narrow the list to six or seven finalists, who will be invited to:

• A community meeting at 5 p.m.
• Interviews with two panels (including selected community members and staff) on Sept. 8.

Issaquah’s Mayor will ultimately make the final recommendation, which must also be confirmed by the City Council.

September 18, 2010: Small-scale Yarding Course

Oakville, WA.  This training program is for woodland owners and workers who want to extract trees from their property safely and without the use of expensive professional logging equipment. With the use of small equipment such as ATV’s and tractors, arches, winches and block-n-tackle, logs can be extracted in a low impact manner with minimal damage to residual trees, understory vegetation and soils.

The program focuses on choosing the right equipment and how to use it safely. The Game of Logging instructor, and other experienced operators, will demonstrate the use of the equipment and how to set up a small-scale, low-impact logging project.

Using the tools and the techniques offered in this program, woodland owners and workers will have the confidence and knowledge to safely and efficiently work in the woods.
For any landowner who is considering buying their own small-scale logging equipment, this training course is a must!

Cost: Registration is $95 ($75 for NCF members)

To Register: pre-registration is required as space is limited to 16 participants. Contact Kirk Hanson, 360-316-9317, kirk@nnrg.org.

September 20-21, 2010: Game of Logging: Advanced Precision Tree Felling

9am-5pm. Carnation.  Based on the concept of ‘open face felling’, The Game of Logging is the world’s leading method for safe, efficient, and precise tree felling. Developed by Swedish innovator Soren Eriksson, the program combines tree felling techniques gleaned from around the world into a complete training program that will change the way you work in the woods...it may even save your life.

The Game of Logging’s unique training program emphasizes efficiency and technique that will markedly improve productivity, help to reduce chainsaw-related accidents, and increase overall safety awareness to many groups including: urban foresters, tree service workers, land-owners, utility companies, loggers, federal, and state agencies. Because the Game of Logging’s approach is so unique, the program is appropriate for a wide range of saw users and skill levels, from novice to expert.

The Advanced Tree Felling Course (Level 3 & 4) will address specific tree felling challenges, as well as more advanced felling techniques and harvest planning.
Level 3 focuses on techniques for handling difficult trees. Topics covered include limbing, height measurement, segment calculations, wedging techniques and hinge placement. The felling is done against the tree's natural lean and participants also limb and buck using techniques demonstrated in level II.

Level 4 focuses on ways to maximize a harvest plan for safety and productivity. Felling is practiced at working speed using all the techniques from previous levels. This level is geared to the user group.
For more information on the Game of Logging training course: www.gameoflogging.com.

Cost: Registration is $300 ($250 for NCF members)

To Register: pre-registration is required as space is limited to 16 participants. Contact Kirk Hanson, 360-316-9317, kirk@nnrg.org.

October 2-3, 2010: Salmon Days!

Downtown Issaquah.  Lots of events from 5K run to parade to great music.  Visit http://www.salmondays.org/ for more info.

October 2, 2010: 21 Acres Sustainable Living Fair

10am-4pm. 21 Acres, Woodinville.  More info coming soon!

Links to other Online Calendars:

21 Acres Classes & Workshop Schedule

Cedar River Watershed Education Center Events

Duvall Current Events and Recreation

Fall City Community Calendar

Horses for Clean Water Educational Events

Local Harvest Food and Farming Events

Meadowbrook Farm Classes and Events

REI Issaquah Calendar of Events

Tilth Producers of Washington Regional Events Calendar

Treehouse Point (cooking classes, small concerts and community events)

SUMMER RESTORATION EVENTS WITH THE ISSAQUAH ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL. Join us for any or all of these monthly events. All events run from 10am-2pm, rain or shine! We’ll be weeding, cutting invasives, or planting depending on the location.
• July 18 —Ingi Johnson Park: (Squak Mountain). Park along Newport Way & meet at Newport/Wildwood corner.
• August 22 —Forested area between Issaquah Skate Park and the Bus Barn on 2nd Avenue. Park in east Community Center lot & meet at the skate park.
• September 19 — Ingi Johnson Park: (Squak Mountain). Park along Newport Way & meet at Newport/Wildwood corner.
• October 17 —Rainier Trail from 2nd Avenue to Sunset Way. Park at 2nd Avenue Trailhead.
Important Information:
-Snacks and water are provided, bring a sack lunch if you wish
- Closed toe shoes required
- Bring gloves and wear jeans or other suitable work clothes
- All tools and project materials are provided; some adult-sized gloves available to loan

Clean Greens Farm Project needs your help.  This farm in Duvall is run by New Hope Baptist Church in Seattle and provides fresh veggies to low-income folks all season.  If you can volunteer to help on the farm, please call 206-324-3114 or email contact@blackdollar.org.

Have something to add to the Community Calendar? Send text to info@prkc.org.   The Calendar is updated weekly.