Issaquah WaMu branch robbed Monday

Issaquah

WaMu branch robbed Monday

A lone man robbed the Washington Mutual bank branch inside a Fred Meyer store on East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast about 5:30 p.m. Monday, Issaquah police reported.

The man presented a note to a teller, left with an undisclosed amount of cash and was last seen walking out of the south exit.

He was described as a white male in his early to mid-20s, about 6 feet tall and weighing 150 to 160 pounds, with a green baseball cap, brown hooded sweat shirt and baggy bluejeans.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call 911 or the Issaquah Police Department at 425-837-3200

Bellevue

Council puts off picking member

The Bellevue City Council has delayed the selection of a new council member until March 17.

Councilwoman Connie Marshall resigned Jan. 22, and since then the council has been interviewing potential replacements. The council wanted to pick someone by the end of February, but the discussion took longer than planned.

Some council members will be absent from Monday's meeting, so the appointment will be made at the meeting the week after that, Mayor Grant Degginger said.

The council is considering seven finalists, out of 21 applicants.

Issaquah

Bypass proposal is abandoned

The Issaquah City Council has voted to abandon plans for the Southeast Bypass, an issue that has been debated for more than a decade.

The proposal for a roughly one-mile route between the Interstate 90 Sunset Interchange and Issaquah-Hobart Road was devised as a way to ease traffic downtown.

In a 5-2 decision, with council members Eileen Barber and Fred Butler dissenting, the council on Monday voted to adopt a "no-build" decision on the bypass, as expected.

The November election tipped the council balance in favor of bypass opponents, who said the plan was too costly and failed to improve downtown congestion. There were also concerns about the effect the bypass might have on the environment.

Also at Monday's meeting, Butler withdrew his agenda bill to put the bypass to voters in an advisory ballot.

Bellevue

City a good place to live, survey says

Ninety-five percent of Bellevue residents think the city is a good to excellent place to live, according to an annual survey paid for by the city.

More than 400 residents answered the survey, which was conducted earlier this year by a Seattle research firm.

Eighty-one percent said the city is headed in the right direction, up from 77 percent in last year's survey. Seventy percent said they were satisfied with the city's planning for the future.

Kirkland

Improving parks goal of events

The season's first Green Kirkland Partnership event is on Saturday, with volunteers invited to similar gatherings throughout the year to help improve the city's parks.

The Saturday session will be at Kiwanis Park, 1405 10th St. W., a largely undeveloped area along Lake Washington. Volunteers typically meet at 9 a.m. and work until noon at activities such as clearing ivy and other invasive plants from the park grounds and doing other cleanup work.

Eight other sessions are planned throughout the year, ending with Nov. 8. For more information, go to www.greenkirkland.org.

Kirkland

Citizens Academy taking applications

Applications are being accepted for the 2008 Kirkland Police Department Citizens Academy, a free 10-week course on how local law-enforcement works.

Classes begin April 2 and will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through June 4. The classes cover investigations, special responses, firearms and other areas.

Candidates must be 21 or older, live or work in Kirkland and not have felony convictions. For more information, go to www.ci.kirkland.wa.us or call Sgt. Robert Saloum, at 425-587-3401.

Woodinville

Show celebrates amateur artists

A Celebrate the Arts Show will return to the Carol Edwards Center in Woodinville from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 29, and amateur artists are invited to enter their art for the display.

The show provides an opportunity for artists of all ages to present their works.

Art-show guidelines and entry forms can be picked up at the Carol Edwards Center, 17401 133rd Ave. N.E., from March 24 to March 26 or downloaded from the city Internet site, www.ci.woodinville.wa.

Bellevue

Music series geared to families

Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra will start a Little Maestro Series in April, geared to families with young children. The first concerts, "Cirque de Classic: Hi-Low Big Top Circus" will be at 2 and 3:30 p.m. April 12 at the Theatre at Meydenbauer.

"Cirque de Classic" is produced by Eastside musicians and teachers Lisa Allison and Linda Sebenius. Their company, Music Shine Media, has created similar programs for other major orchestras. Children and parents will be invited to sing and move with classical music presented in a colorful circus setting.

Other shows will be scheduled throughout the Eastside. Tickets for Little Maestro are $10 at www.ticketwindowonline.com or by calling 206-325-6500.

Kirkland

Camp gives youths look at firefighting

Junior-high-school students interested in firefighting are invited to Kirkland's Fire Camp 2008.

The camp offers training in fire behavior, hose handling, vehicle extrication, rope knots and team building. Graduates earn first aid, CPR and water-safety certification cards.

The camp will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 21-25 and is open to 24 students ages 12 to 15. The sessions will be at Kirkland fire stations and a local park.

The cost is $350 for each camper, with some partial scholarships available.

Applications are available from Robin Paster, Kirkland fire educator and public-information officer, at 425-587-3659 or go to rpaster@ci.kirkland.wa.us.

Seattle Times Eastside bureau