Sammamish-Issaquah, WA|News|
Feeling a Bit Down? 9 Stories to Help Inspire You
Yes, everyday life can be a challenge. Need some inspiration from those who "climbed a mountain?"

Email: kendall.watson@patch.com
Phone: 206-455-1331
Hometown: Salem, UT
Age: 37
Bio: From 2006 to 2010, I've worked at newspapers in California and Washington state, including the Mercer Island Reporter in 2009 covering education and sports.
Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for us to inject our beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause editors to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
How would you describe your political beliefs?
I'm a mixed bag. I strongly believe in the power of the government to act as a force for good and to improve people's lives. It is, after all, made up of people. But I also believe that our elected representatives should be held accountable and spend money they raise for the state carefully and wisely—they should conserve our resources for when we really need them. It is, after all, our money. And finally, we should always be thinking about how our actions affect others, now and in the future—both those we don't know and our loved ones living with us now, as well as our children and grandchildren not yet born.
Are you registered with a certain party?
I am not currently registered with a political party.
Religion
How religious would you consider yourself?
I consider myself a casual observer of the mystery of life, and enjoy the multitude of expressions in celebration of it. Heck, it's one of the main reasons I sought out a career in writing. I believe in this.
Yes, everyday life can be a challenge. Need some inspiration from those who "climbed a mountain?"

Yes, everyday life can be a challenge. Need some inspiration from those who "climbed a mountain?"
Not every good job requires a four-year-degree. Check out these industries that hire high school grads. Provided by Jobs at AOL.
Not every good job requires a four-year-degree. Check out these industries that hire high school grads. Provided by Jobs at AOL.
Tania Finlayson will follow the route of the Seattle-to-Portland bicycle tour starting June 8 to raise money for the Oregon Dash for Puppy Cash. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.
Tania Finlayson will follow the route of the Seattle-to-Portland bicycle tour starting June 8 to raise money for the Oregon Dash for Puppy Cash. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.
The Washington Post reports Microsoft was the National Security Agency's "first partner" for a secret monitoring program called PRISM.
WSDOT says moving two of the four damaged pontoons will enable crews to conduct repairs more efficiently.
Eastside Fire & Rescue dramatized a drunk-driving accident, called "Choices", at Issaquah High School in May.
While condos remain scarce, the number of single family homes on Mercer Island is slightly higher than last year, according to the NWMLS.
Construction on the roundabout at West Lake Sammamish Parkway and I-90, is scheduled to begin this summer.
Forty-one percent of Sammamish businesses failed the compliance check.
The following information from May 22-26 was supplied by the Sammamish Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
After surviving major surgery and a long and challenging recovery, 15 year-old Julianna Chiesa is an academic achiever with a bright future ahead of her. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.
After surviving major surgery and a long and challenging recovery, 15 year-old Julianna Chiesa is an academic achiever with a bright future ahead of her. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.
Several safety tips to prevent fires in Sammamish and Issaquah in the summer months.
An Islander Middle School team, called "Los Tacos Hermanos", placed first out of 52 teams from a number of countries.