Car hits bear

I saw a car collide head on with a black bear on the Snoqualmie Parkway about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 1.

The car was heading up the parkway towards Interstate 90. The bear crossed from the opposite side, running through traffic.

The uphill driver likely didn’t even have time to react as the bear jumped over the median and right into his lane. I turned around at Douglas Avenue and returned to the scene. There was plastic debris from the front of the car, but the car was not there and neither was the bear.

At the top of the hill, I turned left into the townhome development and located the car and its driver. There was significant damage up front, with the bumper assembly dragging on the ground, and the air bags were deployed.

The driver was on the sidewalk on his cell phone. I asked him if he was OK. He said he was fine and thanked me for stopping. I stopped by the police station and contacted a police officer and requested that he check back on the driver. The driver indicated the bear continued across the road and into the woods.

Judging from the impact I saw, and the damage to the car, there is a good chance the bear is injured. The public should be on the lookout and be cautious if the bear is located.

Jeff Curtis

Snoqualmie

Block party is big hit

Engaging booths and activities, compelling entertainment, stunning weather, happy crowds — could the North Bend Block Party, held the afternoon and evening of Saturday, June 27, 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 of Cascadia Spas & Stoves; Jackie Barber of Phoenix Books; Matt Campbell of Mount Si Golf Course; Francis Claffey and Kevin Kalberg of Claffey’s Painting; Brent Cook of Front Row Graphics; David Cook and staff of Cook Real Estate; Chris Garcia of Frankie’s Pizza; Bill Glazier of Bill Glazier’s antique building; Ken Hearing of Scott’s Dairy Freeze; Stephanie Huber of Cascade Office Supply; Jolene Kelly of Jolene’s Hair & Skin Care; Juls Klum of Moose Lodge; Cathi Linden of U Dirty Dog!; Tracie and Kelvin Lung and Susan Bates of Accurate Electric; Jill Massengill of Straight Chiropractic; Leesa McKay of Chaplin’s Chevy Outlet; Nels Melgaard of The Nursery at Mount Si; Keith Mickle of North Bend Bar & Grill; Mary Miller of Down to Earth Photography; Hugh Reichenbach of Farmer’s Insurance; Rob Reynolds of The Reef; Marc Rosenthal of Replicators Graphics; Angelique Saffle of Nature’s Market; Sherry Saucedo of Destiny by Design; Chris Schirado of R&R Rentals; Gary Schwartz of Valley Center Stage; Brenna Shoultz of Renaissance Pet Boutique & Spa; Reena Singh of Blimpie Subs & Salads; Kathie Stokesberry of George’s Bakery; Melissa, Dea, Heather, Molly and Suet Set of CC’s Thai Cuisine; Oratai and Jiri Tresl of Sawan Thai Cuisine; Kyle Twede of Twede’s Café; Sue Van Gerpen of Northwest Railway Museum; Quincy Vidauri of Northwest Disaster Search Dogs; Martin Volken of Pro Ski & Guiding Service; Cindy and Jim Walker of Emerald City Smoothie and North Bend Theater; Bill Weller of QFC; Shelly Woodward of Selah Gifts; Nancy and Steve Wray of Birches Habitat and George Wyrsch of 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.

City of North Bend personnel who made the event possible include 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, Gina Estep and Stacey Cepeda, event planners