Business 4G network goes live in Valley AT&T announced that its 4G LTE mobile broadband service was turned on last week in Carnation, Snoqualmie, Fall City and North Bend, bringing customers the latest generation of wireless network technology. 4G is up to 10 times faster than 3G. Existing smartphone customers with AT&T do not have to make any changes to their data plans, but do need to ensure that they have a 4G LTE-compatible SIM card in their device.
Contact editor Seth Truscott at struscott@ valleyrecord.com or 425.888.2311
WWW.VALLEYRECORD.COM
Big step forward
Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce hires director of events, membership
For most of its existence, the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce has had a two-person staff and relied heavily on volunteers, interns and its members to help support the community. Now, as the Chamber strives to provide greater value to its members and improve the well-being of the local economy, they’ll add a new role to the staff. After reviewing dozens of resumes and conducting numerous interviews, the Chamber welcomes Elizabeth Billington as its newest employee. Billington (who goes by “Lizzy”) will start her new role as director of membership and events just after the new year. “Lizzy rose to the top of the applicants because of her enthusiastic demeanor and her very relevant career experience working for a membership-based organization and having managed events,” said Nate Perea, Chamber CEO. “She has a drive to work with people, thrives on building relationships ELIZABETH and has such a pleasant way about her. I think BILLINGTON people will really enjoy knowing Lizzy as she works towards our mission of helping the Snoqualmie Valley thrive.” Aside from her career experience supporting membership and managing events, Billington has also served in many volunteer and leadership roles. She has served on committees for charitable causes including March of Dimes, Women’s Resource Center and Michigan’s 211 system for undernourished families. “My family and I moved here from Michigan. We love the state of Washington. We love hiking, boating, biking—anything outdoors.” Billington said. “My entire family and I are very excited about this opportunity for me to serve the people of this beautiful community!” The Chamber is also busy making plans to help add more value to local businesses. “We have just launched a new valley-wide resource website, we’re creating new membership packages, launching new events and planning many other new initiatives for 2014. It’s very exciting and adding Lizzy to our staff is a giant step towards reaching our goals.” said Perea. Learn more about the chamber at www.snovalley.org.
Photo by Susan Skelton
Trinkets and Treasures staff, Marissa Chappelle, store manager, left, with owner Kelly Kyle, at their shop’s Giving Tree.
Trinkets and treasures Kelly Kyle has opened Trinkets and Treasures, a boutique thrift store, at 33511 Southeast Redmond-Fall City Road. Trinkets and Treasures offers fabric, furniture, jewelry, home decor items, books, antiques, art and holiday items. The store is open seven days a week, and has four employees. Marissa Chappelle has recently been promoted to manager. Kyle says she is always friendly and helpful. This season, Trinkets and Treasures hosted a giving tree for the Eastside Salvation Army, to help area children. Call the business at (425) 441-8471.
THE GIVERS FROM 1
year made a difference, for the simple reason that both donations and families served were both down this Christmas, compared with past years. The One Voice holiday event served 250 families One Voice helps families in need have a mer- and about 600 children. That’s about 150 children less rier Christmas, through children’s gifts, clothing and than last season. necessities. Bethany’s co-workers stepped up, providThe smaller amount of donated gifts was definitely ing diapers, wipes, new and used clothing, all things noticeable, said volunteers Stacey Cepeda and Kim that One Voice organizers worried they might not get Irvine. enough of in this short season. “The calendar worked against us,” Irvine said. “I feel passionate about it. I can relate to it,” explained “Thanksgiving was late.” Bethany, who sorted and readied gifts for the big day Cepeda expects an additional 100 children to be last Wednesday at the North Bend Church of Latter- signed up for help before the holidays end. day Saints, her own two children working alongside “Encompass got calls all day from families who her. “It’s my way to give back.” want to be in it,” she said. For latecomers, the Kiwanis Club of Snoqualmie Valley will accept donations of Donations drop gifts and needed items through Christmas. The One Voice umbrella organization was foundEvery business, club and church that donated this ed three years ago to unite Valley-wide holiday donation drives and avoid duplication of effort. A number of drives, including Encompass’ giving campaign and the Kiwanis Club’s 18-year-old Giving Tree program, are lumped into a single push. Families are chosen to take part through referrals by school counselors, food banks, churches and staff at Encompass. Schools, churches, local clothing banks and more than 50 businesses took part this year. It takes about 12 hours over several days for a dozen or so volunteers to set up rooms of gifts and goods at the Church of from light comes beauty Latter-day Saints. Child care is provided Comfortably removes pigment and vascular while parents shop using a points system based on the size of the household. lesions to reveal a refreshed youthful appearance.
Palomar Icon Laser ~
930023
SNOQUALMIE VALLEY
6 • December 18, 2013 • Snoqualmie Valley Record
Making a difference
On one line of tables, volunteers laid out a selection of diapers, toiletries and blankets. “We came up with—if you are a strug-
gling family, what are the things that are hard to come by?” Cepeda said, “maybe because it’s not covered by food stamps.” Our Lady of Sorrow Church and St. Vincent de Paul provided blankets. Encompass provided gingerbread houses. One bright spot this season, though, was teen donations. “We did a big push on teens this year and that was very successful,” said Cepeda. Erica Ribary, a One Voice volunteer, did drives in her neighborhood, and with three moms in the Si View neighborhood made 124 gift bags for teens, with many donations coming in from a single business, Finest Accessories of North Bend. “They went way over and above,” Cepeda said. “They’re just great little stocking stuffer bags.” Donations for teens, especially girls, came through in a big way—lots of socks, shaving items, wallets and gloves for boys, jewelry, accessories, lotion and body care items for the girls. Children got into the volunteer act. Girls and boys flattened boxes and put clothes and toys away. Sometimes, when finished, they perused the aisles, pointing out worthy toys. Wii games and a radiocontrolled monster truck were the top choices. Sorting and stocking the teen area late Wednesday, volunteer Diane Garding admitted that she may never be a shopkeeper—she knows how much work it is from helping with the One Voice drive. Garding, today joined by her family, has been a part of this event since long before it coalesced as One Voice, about eight years in total. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without pitching in, she says. “It’s totally part of our holidays,” added fellow volunteer Laura Keller. • To help One Voice through Christmas, you can drop off donations at Sallal Water District office and Encompass in North Bend. Teen items and gift cards are especially welcomed.