Reporter ISSAQUAH | SAMMAMISH
Friday, March 28, 2013
www.issaquahreporter.com
Mayor taps Behrbaum as new chief
City Council sets confirmation for April 7 meeting
Cian O’Farrell, who attends Pine Lake Middle School, poses in his Sammamish home on his 13th birthday. Cian wrote and self-published a creative novel this past October. COURTESY PHOTO.
THE WRITE STUFF Sammamish teen self-publishes creative novel
BY KELLY MONTGOMERY ISSAQUAH/SAMMAMISH REPORTER
Cian O’Farrell of Sammamish has always loved to read and write. So much so that the 13-year-old has his first self-published book on display in his middle school library. “When I was a little guy, I was always interested in books and my favorite place was the book shops and library,” he said. Roisin O’Farrell, Cian’s mom, said that Cian has high-functioning autism, and this process has meant the world to him. “I always wanted to write my very own book, but I never got it finished,” Cian said. During Thanksgiving in 2012, Cian was talking to his grandparents about writing his own book, and they gave him the money he
“He is well-known at the Sammamish library.” – Roisin O’Farrell, mother of Cian needed to get started. From there, a friend of the family, who is also self-published, showed Cian how to use the website CreateSpace. After going through a couple test copies, and
playing around with the colors, design and content, Cian’s book, “The Big Book of Stanley,” was published and uploaded to Amazon last October. “Everything between the covers is Cian,” Roisin said. Liam Scanlan, who helped Cian, said that while he helped Cian through the process, Cian wrote every single word himself. “When you consider how many folks voice their own aspiration to write and publish a book some day, it has been an inspiring and touching experience for all of us family members and friends to see Cian complete this all the way to the Amazon.com bookshelf,” Scanlan said. “It’s proof that this new SEE AUTHOR, 9
Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler has appointed Scott Behrbaum as the city's new police chief. “I am excited to appoint Scott as our community’s next police chief,” Butler said. “I admire the fairness and integrity that he brings to every situation. Moreover, his dedication to community policing – as demonstrated through his service Scott Behrbaum to Issaquah over the past two decades is a tremendous asset," Butler said in his appointment message on March 21.” The Issaquah City Council is scheduled to vote on Behrbaums' confirmation at its April 7 meeting. If confirmed, Behrbaum will succeed outgoing Chief Paul Ayers, who will retire April 15 after leading the department for seven years. Behrbaum has more than 18 years of service with the Issaquah Police Department. He has served as a patrol commander for the last six years in a variety of Issaquah Police Department roles, including patrol sergeant, crime prevention officer, narcotics officer and finally as the agency’s first school resource officer at Issaquah High School. Issaquah has a combined commissioned staff of 63 personnel.