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(BLOCK) PARTY LIKE IT'S 2009!
To commemorate the centennial of the city of North Bend, thousands of North Bend residents and others crowded a closed-off two-block section of downtown North Bend on Saturday, June 27. The occasion was the North Bend Block Party, and the Encompass Corner was a big part of the fun:
 Decked out in a wetsuit, community activist Kirby Corder prepares to be dunked while volunteer barker Bobbi Higginbotham guides a youngster's throw.
Not to be outdone, Mary Miller of Down to Earth Photography dons goggles, water wings and a swimsuit to prepare for her dunks in the chilly drink!
Squinting to protect her eyes is Ginger Harris, 6, of North Bend, as volunteer Becky Goodrum, an Encompass summer-camp worker, applies temporary blue hairspray to Ginger's brown locks.
Faced with a choice of dozens of Sandy Candy bottles, 5-year-old Nicole Wedge of North Bend delights in filling a test tube with her favorite flavors.
Ericka Mickelson, 7, of North Bend, admires the temporary Encompass tattoo placed on her hand by Laurie Gutenberg, Encompass grantwriter.
THANKS TO EVERYONE!
Engaging booths and activities, compelling entertainment, stunning weather, happy crowds – could the North Bend Block Party have been any better?
We are thrilled to have been able to put together such a dynamic event to celebrate North Bend’s 100th birthday, and it would not have been possible without the help of scores of volunteers. Below are their names, and when you see them next, please thank them once again on behalf of all of North Bend.
Merchants who participated in block-party planning meetings or provided in-kind contributions included Mark Adamski (Cascadia Spas & Stoves), Jackie Barber (Phoenix Books), Matt Campbell (Mount Si Golf Course), Francis Claffey and Kevin Kalberg (Claffey’s Painting), Brent Cook (Front Row Graphics), David Cook and staff (Cook Real Estate), Chris Garcia (Frankie’s Pizza), Bill Glazier (Bill Glazier’s Antique Building), Ken Hearing (Scott’s Dairy Freeze), Stephanie Huber (Cascade Office Supply), Jolene Kelly (Jolene's Hair & Skin Care), Juls Klum (Moose Lodge), Cathi Linden (U Dirty Dog!), Tracie and Kelvin Lung and Susan Bates (Accurate Electric), Jill Massengill (Straight Chiropractic), Lisa McKay (Chaplin’s Chevy Outlet), Nels Melgaard (The Nursery at Mount Si), Keith Mickle (North Bend Bar & Grill), Mary Miller (Down to Earth Photography), Hugh Reichenbach (Farmer’s Insurance), Rob Reynolds (The Reef), Marc Rosenthal (Replicators Graphics), Angelique Saffle (Nature's Market), Sherry Saucedo (Destiny by Design), Chris Schirado (R&R Rentals), Gary Schwartz (Valley Center Stage), Brenna Shoultz (Renaissance Pet Boutique & Spa), Reena Singh (Blimpie Subs & Salads), Kathie Stokesberry (George's Bakery), Melissa, Dea, Heather, Molly and Suet Set (CC's Thai Cuisine), Oratai and Jiri Tresl (Sawan Thai Cuisine), Kyle Twede (Twede's Café), Sue Van Gerpen (Northwest Railway Museum), Quincy Vidauri (Northwest Disaster Search Dogs), Martin Volken (Pro Ski & Guiding Service), Cindy and Jim Walker (Emerald City Smoothie, North Bend Theater), Bill Weller (QFC), Shelly Woodward (Selah Gifts), Nancy and Steve Wray (Birches Habitat), George Wyrsch (Shell gas station).
Individuals who volunteered at the block party included Korin Adamson; Kim Ayars; Teri Batye; Nadia Beattie; Tina Brandon; Dick and Sallie Burhans; Jeanette Busby; Tracy Bush; Terry Carter; Kathy Crawford; Jim Curtis; Clay Eals; Tanner Evans; Craig Ewing; Pete Glover; Rebecca Goodrum; Linda Grez; Bobby Higginbotham; Meilan Hom; Rebecca Hurst; Sandy Juenke; Dan Kapetanov; Gillian Kenagy; Kathy Klausing; Karen Lee; Lyric Lewis; Curtis Lilly; Shari MacRae; Julie Mayo; Jeanne McCormick; Mary McManus; Kristin Meadows; Kylee Meadows; Rhonda Moorhead; Crystal Prins; Erin Reeh; Lorena Reyes; Craig, Shelley and Kim Rixon; Connor Ross; Kendy Sasaki-Ross; Gary Schwartz; Nikki Slaght; Fransisca Soerjono; Kristina Steffen; Bill Stone; Olivia Thomas; Quincy Vidauri; Kelsey Walker; Chris Weldon; Debby Weldon; Methus Weldon; Nancy Whitaker; Keahn White; Cheryl and Steve Wood; Jean, Ray, Ursula, Muriel and Lowell Woods; and Thom Wunder.
These City of North Bend personnel made the event possible: John Jackson, Lloyd Johnson, Tom Meagher, Cheryl Proffitt, Steve Riggle, Larry Shaw and Duncan Wilson.
Most of all, we thank the thousands of North Bend residents and others who attended the six-hour party, making it a success and inspiring thoughts of planning a follow-up for next summer!
Jolene Kelly, event coordinator
Gina Estep, event coordinator
Stacey Cepeda, event planner and volunteer coordinator
A LIVING LEGACY
Katherine Hayden, a Snoqualmie resident and preschool teacher who is retiring from Encompass after 15 years, displays a plaque she was presented at the organization’s all-staff picnic June 18 at Cedar River Watershed. A tree will be planted near the Encompass outdoor play area in Hayden’s honor, and the plaque will be affixed to the fence. Also honored upon their departure from Encompass after five years each were teacher Louise Houghton and Parent-Child Interaction Training Coordinator Michelle Rhoades.
THE PIZZAZZ OF THE PICNIC
More than 250 children and relatives cavorted at the annual Encompass Family Picnic on Thursday evening, June 11, at Meadowbrook Interpretive Center, including the kinetic kids below:
ALL FIRED UP AT ENCOMPASS!
Who ya gonna call for end-of-preschool-year excitement? Real, live fire-"busters," of course!
Lt. Bill Pitt and firefighters John Wiseman and Scott Foster from Eastside Fire & Rescue made their annual visit to Encompass June 10, wowing preschoolers with a presentation and a tour of their truck.
(Upper left) Pitt displays ladders atop the truck while teacher Corissa McGehe keeps students lined up.
(Upper right, from left) With a mixture of apprehension and delight, Elizabeth, Cassandra and Makhayla wait their turn to board the truck.
(Middle right, from left) Inspecting Wiseman's firefighting garb are Mahad, Sheeru, Jonathan, Christopher, Jeremiah and Preston.
(Lower right, from left) Squealing "I'm a firefighter!" while donning new plastic red firehats are Audrie, Caleb and Jake.
(Bottom middle, from left) Inspecting an axe that the firefighters carry on their truck are Ashdyn, Jennifer, Benzi, Allison and Elizabeth.
(Bottom left) Enjoying a moment aboard the fire truck is a beaming Mia!
Thanks to Nikki Slaght for her photographic assistance!
BUBBLING OVER AT ENCOMPASS!
Encompass preschoolers Peter (left) and Jocelyn delight in filling the pre-summer air with bubbles.
GRANT GIVES BOOST TO FREE CLASSES GEARED TO SPANISH-SPEAKING PARENTS
Award of $6,500 from Children’s Trust Foundation aims to prevent abuse and neglect
Free parenting classes offered by Encompass to Spanish-speaking families have received a well-timed lift from the Children’s Trust Foundation.
The Seattle-based foundation awarded Encompass a $6,500 grant for 2009. The foundation aims to prevent child abuse and neglect, particularly in families with special needs, single parents and language and cultural barriers. The twice-yearly series of five classes provided at Encompass for Spanish-speaking parents fills the bill.
“The Children’s Trust Foundation believes in funding family-support organizations to do the good work that needs to be done,” says Kerry Beymer, Encompass manager of family support. “They depend on us to provide our expertise, and we’re a perfect fit.”
Ten Spanish-speaking families graduated from the November 2008 series, and another 10 graduated in May 2009. Thanks to the grant, the series will be offered again twice during the 2009-2010 school year. The funds pay for teachers, meals and childcare.
The grant to Encompass is among the foundation’s awards of $196,000 to programs serving more than 2,400 families, totaling more than 3,200 parents and children, throughout Washington state.
 HAIL TO QUEEN NINA!
Nina Hawley of North Bend basks in the glow of being selected 2009 Queen for a Day at the event of the same name, held Sunday, May 31, at the Westin Bellevue. Supporters of Encompass filled the hotel ballroom, enjoying a lively program emceed by TV personality John Curley.
 THE GIFT OF BOOKS
FOR ENCOMPASS KIDS
Paula Nelson (left), family-support specialist for the Early Childhood Education Assistance Program at Encompass, chats with Clara (middle) and Lillian Soltys of North Bend May 8 during the girls’ visit to Encompass to donate 29 children’s books. Instead of receiving traditional birthday gifts, Clara, who turned 6 on March 13, and Lillian, who turned 4 on April 10, asked their friends to give them books to donate to Encompass. The books will be given to new Encompass preschoolers who qualify for scholarships because of their families’ income level. The girls are the daughters of Amy and John Soltys.
 IN THE SWIM
AT ENCOMPASS
With lessons about safe swimming, Kosmo the Safety Dolphin entertains about 50 preschoolers May 11 at the Encompass Main Campus. Kosmo, with fellow puppet Jasmine the Swimmer, put on a similar show for 50 morning preschoolers as well. The puppets are the creations of Kinder Swimmer, based in Maple Valley, Renton and Spanaway.
 THE FINE WHITE LINE AT ENCOMPASS
Joe Grez (left) repaints a handicapped symbol while Eric Hellebust and Joe Yabuki (center) repaint parking stripes at the Encompass Main Campus. They were among seven staff from Philips Consumer Lifestyle/Oral Healthcare on Snoqualmie Ridge who spent the sunny afternoon May 1 at Encompass cleaning the grounds, restriping the parking lot and assembling news portfolios. Instead of a going-away party, they chose to organize a volunteer project in honor of their former supervisor, Yabuki, who directed project management and now directs quality and business excellence. Yabuki (right) was part of the volunteer crew, repainting lines while Kris Colliander (far right) swept the lot. Other volunteers were Eric Hellebust, Matt Johnson and leader Gokce Sezgin.
 SEEING THE RIVER
FROM THE RAILS
Preschoolers (from left) Griffin, Amelia and Olivia, along with Amelia's mother, April, were part of an Encompass contingent of 25 preschoolers and 30 adults enjoying views of the Snoqualmie River May 5 from within the vintage Pre-School Train operated by the Northwest Railway Museum. Educator Jessie Cunningham presided over a story time and art project prior to the 25-minute ride to North Bend and Snoqualmie Falls and back to the depot. (Photo by Nikki Slaght)
 HANGIN' OUT WITH A
GREEN CATERPILLAR
Encompass preschooler Aurazia holds the leg of a giant green caterpillar hanging from the ceiling of teacher Julie Forslin's classroom on May 6. The caterpillar is made from 26 paper plates, each plate painted by a different student. Inside white nets hanging in two classrooms, live caterpillars pupated into butterflies.
 RECORD TURNOUT
AND SMILES GALORE
AT THE ANNUAL
PRESCHOOL ART FAIR!
Four-year-old Encompass preschooler Sandy Mazon of North Bend shows her mother, Margarita, a painting she made, inspired by the Jan. 7 flood, during the annual Encompass Preschool Art Fair, held Thursday, April 16, at the Encompass Main Campus. The fair drew a record turnout of 117 adults and 124 children.
FIRST ESL (ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE) CLASS AT ENCOMPASS DRAWS 18
 Sponsored by Encompass and HopeLink, the first session in a series of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes drew 18 participants the evening of Wednesday, April 15. (Right) Lorena Reyes, Encompass family support specialist, speaks to the group. Non-English speakers, especially native Spanish speakers, are invited to take part. For more info, call 425.888.2777 and ask for Lorena Reyes at Ext. 243.
NEVER TOO YOUNG TO BE GIVING
When Gracie Hopkins, daughter of Encompass board member Rhonda Ender, turned 5 recently, she received such a bounty of gifts that one of the first things she said to her mom was "I want to give some away." And from her mom's work as board vice president for outreach, Gracie knew where to find children in need -- at Encompass. On April 14, (left) Gracie, along with her mother and Gregory Malcolm, Encompass executive director, carried two gently used high chairs from her mom's car in the Encompass parking lot to the front door, and (right) delivered and displayed for Kerry Beymer, family-support manager, six toys she was donating. "They're for other kids," Gracie said. Anyone wishing to contribute items for families in need should contact Beymer at 425-888-2777.
 A WINDOW TO THE FUTURE
Is this Encompass preschooler an artist in the making -- or maybe an architect? Only time will tell. Nikki Slaght, Encompass teacher (and ace photographer), recently caught Peter in mid-creation at the whiteboard.
 SNOQUALMIE FIREFIGHTERS
ARE ON A ROLL
AT ENCOMPASS!
When the Great Room at the Encompass Main Campus needed a new coat of paint recently, the Snoqualmie Firefighters Association came to the rescue. Smiling during the paint project were (from left) Jesse Curlee, Ron Payne, Doug McCall, Ned Kautzman, Steve Stockman, Chief Todd Reynolds and, lying atop the scaffolding, Susan Barry. Encompass is deeply grateful for the volunteer help! (Photo by Jeanette Busby)
 CAN’T LET GO OF LEGOS -- AT ENCOMPASS!
Nathan gets help with his vehicle from assistant instructor, Ben Houldridge, of North Bend, during “The Ultimate LEGO Experience,” a spring-break camp conducted by Encompass April 6-8 at Cascade View Elementary School on Snoqualmie Ridge. Youngsters – mostly boys and a few girls – enjoyed taking over the Cascade View auditorium, guided in their LEGO creations by instructor Marco Buoncristiani of Play-Well, based in San Anselmo, California, along with local high-school helpers.
 HIP-HOP FROM THE TOP -- AT ENCOMPASS!
Spring break at Encompass means break camps, and a dozen 5- to 6-year-olds, including (from left) Alyssa, Olivia, Ava, Maggie, Rosie and Jessica, got into the act right away at "Hip-Hop Dance Camp," held April 6-8 at the Encompass Main Campus. (Photo by Donna Crowe)
 AN O-FISH-AL VISIT TO SEATTLE!
The 4-year-old preschoolers of Encompass had a special day on Tuesday, March 31, participating in a long-anticipated field trip to the Seattle Aquarium. Jeremy (left) was among those who oohed and ahhed at the denizens of the briny deep!
(Photo by Nikki Slaght)
 "TO FEED PEOPLE" SERVED BY ENCOMPASS
Five girls from Girl Scout troop 1125, from the Snoqualmie campus of St. Joseph School, display 23 boxes of Girl Scout cookies they donated to Encompass "to feed people" on April 3. During the recent cookie drive, the scouts collected enough cash in the Girl Scouts' Gift of Caring program to allow them to donate 23 boxes of cookies to a charity, and the troop chose Encompass. (Left) Madeline Fish, special events associate, received the gift. The girls were (from left) Madeline Banks, Allie Holt, Erin Graves, Vivian Gatte and (in front) Elizabeth Hui. Troop leader (rear) is Jennifer Holt.
BE IT EVER SO BUBBLE, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE FAMILY NIGHT!
Sausalito-based bubble master Louis Pearl, who has been serenading kids with soap-suds sensations for nearly 30 years, wows the crowd attending Family Night on March 27 at Si View Community Center. Pearl mixed in science lessons with thrilling feats for the free event, co-sponsored by Encompass and Si View Metro Parks. For more information, visit the page for Family Night. (Photos by Nikki Slaght)
 THROUGH THE GIVING GLASS
Assisted by (from left) Nela Cumming, director of program development, and Marsha Quinn, manager of pediatric therapy, Encompass Executive Director Gregory Malcolm presents thank-you booklets on March 23 to Jerry Razwick, president of Technical Glass Products of Snoqualmie Ridge, for TGP’s spirited participation in the Encompass Respectful Giving campaign during the last holiday season. Present with Razwick to receive the booklets were TGP staff (from left) Dave Vermeulen, Jasmine Lind, Sam Berg, Ashley Bahner, LouAnn Smith, Aaron Jackson, Janet Grimsby, Lisa Slobojan, Julie Plumb, Mike Powell and Ron Madeley. Last December, TGP hosted its third annual in-house Caring that Counts drive, providing clothing, furniture, toys and books for four Snoqualmie Valley families nominated by Encompass for “adoption” by TGP. Razwick said of the drive, “Employees really stepped up to make these families’ holidays special.”
ENCOMPASS PLAYS KEY ROLE IN KOMO-TV STORY ON DWINDLING DONATIONS FOR KIDS
 To view this story online,
visit this link at KOMO-TV.
KOMO-TV reporter Elisa Jaffe and cameraman Doug Pigsley, along with (right) North Bend resident Jennifer Boivin watch on Thursday, March 26, as Boivin's 3-year-old daughter, Shelby, an Encompass Pediatric Therapy participant, draws a picture at the Encompass North Bend Way Campus.
Encompass was key part of a wonderful two-minute story aired at 5:16 p.m. Thursday, March 26, on Seattle’s KOMO-TV, Channel 4.
The story focused on how Eastside Baby Corner in Issaquah serves families in need throughout the Eastside and is hurting for donations of clothes, toys, furniture and the like. As part of the story, KOMO wanted to show the end result of a donation – a mother and child actually receiving donated goods – and among its 160 recipient organizations, Eastside Baby Corner chose Encompass to be the example. The segment showed donors bringing goods to Eastside Baby Corner, along with Encompass picking up the items requested by us (including a high chair) and delivering the high chair to Encompass Pediatric Therapy participant Jennifer Boivin and her 3-year-old daughter, Shelby, at our Encompass North Bend Way Campus.
Jennifer and Shelby were true stars, and Shelby's heartfelt "thank you" closed the piece. The reporter was Elisa Jaffe, former host of KOMO’s “Northwest Afternoon,” and the cameraman was Doug Pigsley.
As a bonus, our Spanish-speaking family support specialist, Lorena Reyes, was filmed describing the need for donations and the appreciation of Encompass in Spanish, and a separate Spanish version of the KOMO story was aired Friday, March 27, on KUNS-TV, Channel 51 (Comcast cable Channel 29 in the Snoqualmie Valley), the Univision (Spanish) affiliate for the Seattle area.
 SIPPING A SELLOUT!
Karen Ruppert (left) and Peggy Rita of Snoqualmie chat with Prosser resident Ali Boyle of Alexandria Nicole Cellars during the inaugural Sip of Snoqualmie wine-tasting event held Saturday, March 14, at Snoqualmie Casino. Benefiting Encompass, the event drew 32 wineries and a sellout crowd of 500 wine enthusiasts from all over the Eastside.
ENCOMPASS OFFERS TRIO OF FREE PARENTING CLASSES, STARTING THIS MONTH!
Three intensive series of FREE parenting classes offered by Encompass have their starting dates this month. Here are the details on each class:
“Raising Healthy Children,” a five-class series that started on Tuesday, April 14, is geared to Spanish-speaking parents and follows on the heels of the first such all-Spanish class taught at Encompass last fall. The series covers effective praise, communication, responsibility, consequences and problem-solving. Classes run 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through May 12 at the Encompass Main Campus, 1407 Boalch Ave. N.W., North Bend. A light meal will be served at each session, and child care is free.
The Snoqualmie Valley Record ran a fine article and photo on this class in its April 1 edition -- and, as a bonus, posted a Spanish translation on its web site. To see the English version and the photo, click this logo:
To see the Spanish version, click this logo:
“Make Parenting a Pleasure,” a nine-week series aimed at parents of infants through age 8, started on Wednesday, April 15. The series covers parent self-care, stress and anger management, communication skills, realistic expectations, positive discipline and handling challenging behavior. Classes run 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays through June 10 at the Encompass Main Campus, 1407 Boalch Ave. N.W., North Bend.
“Parenting Skills for a Lifetime,” an eight-week series aimed at parents of children ages 3 to 11, started on Tuesday, April 21. The series covers communication, solving behavior problems, teaching proper habits and social behavior and increasing self-esteem, confidence and family harmony. Classes run 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through June 9 at Cascade View Elementary School, 34816 S.E. Ridge St., Snoqualmie.
All classes are free of charge! To register, call Encompass at 425.888.2777 or visit the Parenting Classes page of this site. For more info, contact Kerry Beymer, family support manager at Encompass.
 THE 5,000 COATS OF RICK TEEGARDEN
Encompass receives 55 coats from
16-year-old who gives for the ‘joy’
It’s astonishing enough that 16-year-old Rick Teegarden walks into the Encompass Main Campus lugging 55 coats of all sizes, to be passed along to youngsters who wouldn’t otherwise have warm outerwear.
The jaw drops further when one realizes that the Bellevue resident has done this for five years, since he was 12 and in sixth grade, and that he has collected and given away more than 5,000 coats.
The topper, however, is his nonchalant reasoning for the endeavor. “It’s a question of why wouldn’t I do it,” he says. “You’ve got to be able to give of yourself to people around you. There’s something warm and indescribably satisfying about it. I get a lot of joy out of helping people with something as little as a coat.”
Over the years, Teegarden – a Sammamish High School junior calling his endeavor the Kids Care Coat Drive and connecting himself with Bellevue Youth Link – has given more than 150 coats to Encompass, one of more than a dozen charitable social-service Eastside organizations that distribute warm outerwear to those in need. The coats, new and “gently used,” have come in handy for recipients of help from the Encompass Flood Relief Fund and for other families with low incomes.
Joining Teegarden in coat-collecting during this school year has been Danielle Fulfs, a Mount Si High School senior who befriended Teegarden at a Western Washington University business camp and who led a multi-school drive in the Snoqualmie Valley to collect 700 coats this past year. Many of the jackets stayed in their home community by being redistributed via Encompass and the Helping Hands Food Bank. “We just wanted to make sure some were brought back to the Valley,” Fulfs said.
Fulfs describes Teegarden as humble, passionate and driven. “He doesn’t really own up to how much he’s actually done,” she says.
Teegarden credits his parents, Janet and Jim, as big influences on his philanthropy but also cites 18th century Frenchman Jean Jacques Rousseau’s “whole person” philosophy. “To live a Rousseauian lifestyle, we have to give back to society,” Teegarden says. “A lot of high-school students do this kind of thing for college resumes, but I couldn’t care less about that, because my goal is to give of myself.”
For more information on Teegarden’s drive, call him at 425-401-8651 or 425-351-9528, or e-mail him at kidscarecoatdrive@comcast.net.
Special thanks to the Snoqualmie Valley Record and the Bellevue Reporter for printing this article and photo in the March 11 editions. To see it on the Valley Record site, click this logo:
 DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN?
If so, it wouldn't be a surprise. He's Kelly Jeffers, president of the Encompass Board of Directors since last fall. To find out more about all the board members -- and learn about what it would take to join the board yourself -- visit the page for the Encompass Board of Directors.
THANKS FOR VISITING OUR SITE!
We hope you enjoy looking at the variety of images and stories on our web site, particularly this home page and the "Good News" page (see link at upper left). We also hope you will join us in nuturing children, enriching families and inspiring community!
IS ENCOMPASS PRESCHOOL OPEN?
Encompass preschool follows the weather-related closure decisions of the Snoqualmie Valley School District. For up-to-the-minute info from the district, click this link to see if the district has issued a closure notification: School Closure Information.
ARE YOU WITH THE MEDIA?
Happy to help you with any Encompass-related questions or story ideas! Please direct any inquiries to Clay Eals, communication officer, at 425-888-2777 (office), 206-484-8008 (cell) or clay.eals@encompassnw.org
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