Sammamish gathers to celebrate city's ninth birthday

Colorful beach balls bounced through the crowd, kids ran and laughed and toes tapped to the tunes of the Sammamish Symphony at the ninth birthday celebration for the city of Sammamish on Thursday.

"It's beautiful," said Akshata Prakash, who has lived in Sammamish for about two-and-a-half years. "It's very well organized, and you get to know people and make new friends."

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For the first time, city officials decided to combine the Sammamish birthday celebration with the final summer concert of the year. The symphony played at one corner of the Sammamish Commons, with the audience spread across the pavement and lawn in front of them and booths participating in a volunteer fair at the back of the Commons area. Concert series sponsor Plateau Jewelers passed out free beach balls to all the kids (and the young at heart).

The volunteer fair included organizations such as the Chris Elliott Fund, the city of Sammamish, the Issaquah and Lake Washington schools foundations, the SAMMI awards, Rotary Sammamish, the Sammamish Chamber, the Sammamish Heritage Society and more.

Mayor Lee Fellinge kicked off the celebration.

"It's really hard to believe that we're already 9 years old," Fellinge said. "Not quite double digits, but we're getting very close.

"When you look at how the city has been transformed with new roads, new parks and great gathering places like this — the Sammamish Commons ... It's hard to believe this has all been accomplished in such a short time."

Jake Michaels, 7, attended the celebration with his 2-year-old sister, Rebecca, and mother, Amy.

"I will never catch up. It (the city) will always be older than me," Jake exclaimed.

In the center of the Commons, a group of sisters and their friends played tag, danced and talked together. A short distance away, the mixed group of Brownies and Daisies — troop 52923 — held their scout meeting, taking the pledge and discussing what they'd like to learn about this year.

Many residents sat close to the symphony, enjoying the selection of songs and melodies that the musicians performed, from "Summertime" to "Start Spreading the News" to the theme of "Phantom of the Opera." As the sun set to the west of the Commons, the clouds and low lights were reflected in the tuba and other instruments in the horn section.

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