Hazen High breakdancers have the moves Page 12
Hazen grapplers topple Liberty Page 14
February 1, 2013 VOL. 15, NO. 2
Do you know him
Police seek suspected bank robber. Page 2
Changing of the guard
Superintendents from both school districts moving on. Page 3
New director
Chamber hires parttime director. Page 5
Old pro
LPGA tour vet teaches at local golf club. Page 9
Police blotter
Page 9
You should know
If you are on vacation, the Newcastle Police Department can periodically check up on your home while you are away. Sign up for vacation house checks by filling out the form at www.ci.newcastle. wa.us/police/vacation_ house_check.htm.
Contact us: newcastle@isspress.com 392-6434, ext. 239
50 ¢
Council begins with a retreat City Council retreat discusses budget, Parks Commission By Christina Corrales-Toy The Newcastle City Council met for its annual beginning-ofthe-year retreat at The Golf Club at Newcastle on Jan. 24. The City Council was not allowed to take any action during the retreat, but council members used the five hour meeting to discuss city business in a more informal setting, with City Manager Rob Wyman and Sara McMillon, the city clerk, as the only other city officials in attendance. The topics ranged from a brief exploration of police level of service, to discussion of the city’s pavement management policies. A proposal to restructure the Parks Commission and talk about the city’s budget policies dominated most of the discussion at the meeting, though. Mayor Rich Crispo spearheaded an effort that would reserve a certain number of spots on the Parks Commission for members of the city’s major volunteer groups, the Newcastle Historical Society and Newcastle Trails. The proposal went further and suggested that money gathered through donations or grants for the particular volSee RETREAT, Page 7
By Joe Whiteko
Miss Washington, Mandy Schendel, of Newcastle, accepts her award as winner of the Lifestyle and Fitness category after modeling a strapless white Catalina swimsuit at the Miss America pageant.
Newcastle’s Mandy Schendel places in top 10 at Miss America Pageant By Julie Varon
What young girl hasn’t dreamt of being a fairy princess or a beauty pageant queen? For most, they settle for the opportunity to shake the hand of one at a theme park or watch them as they wave in a parade. This is not the case for Newcastle’s own Mandy Schendel, a 2008 Hazen High School graduate. She has gone the distance and lived out those dreams.
On the Web Learn more about Newcastle’s own resident queen, and book Miss Washington for an upcoming event, at www.MissWashington.org. She became Belle, the princess from “Beauty and the Beast” at Orlando’s Walt Disney World. Then, she took the title
of Miss Washington 2012. And then, Schendel took the stage at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino with 53 other hopefuls vying for the coveted title of Miss America on Jan. 12. Years of hard work and community service paid off for Schendel when she was crowned Miss Washington 2012 at the state pageant in July. After receiving the honor, See PAGEANT, Page 7
Culvert project will cause lane reductions on parkway By Christina Corrales-Toy A city of Bellevue project to replace an aging culvert underneath Coal Creek Parkway will reduce a portion of the busy arterial to one lane in each direction, beginning at the end of April. The culvert will be replaced with a 39-foot-wide bridge that is expected to protect the roadway, improve public safety, pro-
vide a new pedestrian walkway and improve fish passage, project engineer Bruce Jensen said in a Jan. 15 presentation to the Newcastle City Council. The project requires two phases of construction during which Coal Creek Parkway will be reduced to one lane in each direction between just south of Forest Drive and just north of Southeast 60th Street. During the first phase, April
to November 2013, crews will build the west half of the bridge and relocate underground utilities. Then, from December 2013 to March 2014, crews will reopen the road to its customary four lanes of traffic. During phase two, April to November 2014, the roadway will again be reduced so that crews can build the east half of the bridge and complete the
project by the end of November. The culvert is about 45 years old and has seen better days, Jensen said. He added that it was damaged in a December 2007 storm and the bottom of the culvert is corroded. “It’s really on its last legs and needs to be replaced,” he said at the council meeting. The city of Bellevue is aware See PROJECT, Page 6
Newcastle News
PAGE 2
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Longtime parks commissioner resigns By Christina Corrales-Toy After nearly nine years of service as a member of the Parks Commission, Andrew Shelton resigned from his post at the group’s Jan. 9 meeting. Shelton’s term was set to expire in September 2013, but the resignation is effective immediately after he seized a new job opportunity that will transport his family to Billings, Mont. “You know, we will certainly miss Newcastle,” he said. “My wife grew up in Newcastle way back before it was Newcastle and I grew up in Kirkland, so we are locals. I just didn’t have the luxury of time to serve out the remainder of the term, unfortunately.” Shelton has served on the Parks Commission since its inception. While the duties of the commission have changed over the years, he said he was proud of all the board has accomplished. He highlighted the opening of Windtree Park
and the Newcastle quickly it took summer staple, off and how it’s Concerts in the become just a Park, as the commajor part of peomission’s more ple’s summers,” illustrious accomShelton said. plishments during “It’s a fun time his time. for people to get Windtree Park together and to Andrew opened in late visit with neighShelton 2008 after sevbors and with eral years of planother people from ning. The Parks Newcastle.” Commission set the Mayor Rich Crispo groundwork for the park, commended Shelton’s working closely with the work on the commission designer and the neighand wished him well on borhood to formulate his new venture. a recommended plan “Anybody that is willto present to the City ing to put in the time Council. that he has, I’m real sup“I think, in the end, portive of that, I think that neighborhood got it’s terrific,” he said. “It’s almost exactly the park not easy to get volunthat they wanted,” teers that are willing to Shelton said. “I think the stay around for a long process really worked well period of time and proand we have something vide some continuity for that will be around for a the city, so I thank him long, long time.” for that.” The idea for Concerts Before he begins the in the Park came up in process of appointing the early years of the a new commissioner to commission’s existence, replace Shelton, Crispo but the popular summer said he expects the City series at Lake Boren Park Council to take a closer continues to this day. look at the current struc“I can’t believe how ture and responsibilities
Roslyn Comley
Coldwell Banker Bain Presidents Elite Award Winner 425-351-2208 www.roslyncomley.com Voted “Best in Client Satisfaction” for Seattle Magazine 2006-2011
of the Parks Commission to determine whether any reorganization needs to take place. Volunteers for the Parks Commission do not come easily, Shelton said, but he encouraged Newcastle citizens to get involved and make an impact on the community. “I think what I’ll miss the most is that in a small way, what we do, what we did, quite often had positive impacts on the lives of our citizens,” he said. “Should we come back to Newcastle, we’ll be able to go to a Concert in the Park and say, ‘I remember when we created this.’ People probably won’t believe me when I say I was part of it, but it will be neat to be able to say that.” The Parks Commission is comprised of seven community members who volunteer their time to serve as an advisory body to the City Council about issues pertaining to parks, trails, recreation programs and special community events.
Contributed by Crime Stoppers
This unidentified man is suspected of robbing Newcastle’s KeyBank at 2:36 p.m. Jan. 16.
Man robs KeyBank branch The Newcastle branch of KeyBank was robbed at about 2:30 p.m. Jan. 16, according to a statement from Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine. The suspect robbed the bank branch at 6917 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. He is described as a 5-foot, 5-inch to 5-foot, 7-inch, 180-pound black man in his 30s or 40s. The suspect was armed, though no shots were fired, Irvine said. Further details of how the robbery took place could not be released at this time, including how
much money was taken from the bank, Irvine said. Residents who may have seen the man in the Newcastle area in the early afternoon of Jan. 16 are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 toll free. There is a $1,000 reward for any tip that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Tips will remain anonymous. Residents who see suspicious activity can call 911 or the Newcastle Police Department’s non-emergency dispatch number, 206-296-3311, for an officer to respond.
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
PAGE 3
Both Newcastle school districts seek new superintendents By Lillian O’Rorke Superintendent Steve Rasmussen intends to retire June 30 after leading the Issaquah School District for six years. He announced the decision Jan. 9 to the Steve Issaquah Rasmussen School Board. “I have been lucky in life and have been able to do what I chose to do, and that is being a teacher,” Rasmussen said after the board accepted his resignation. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve with you.” Rasmussen’s retirement caps off a 40-year career in public education in Washington that has included teaching, coaching and leading three school districts. He started as an agricultural teacher at Enumclaw High School in 1973, where he taught for five years. “He was one of my most favorite teachers,” said Vicki Wales, who took Rasmussen’s class as a freshman and sophomore at Enumclaw High more than three decades ago. “He just had such respect for all the students. He was one of those people that gave you confidence and made you feel like you could accomplish almost everything.” Rasmussen made the
transition to superintendent in 1989, when he took the helm at the Deer Park School District in Spokane County. From there, he served as superintendent of the Franklin Pierce School District in Pierce County until he came to the Issaquah School District in 2007. Rasmussen’s contract was extended last year to June 30, 2015, with no changes made to his $212,100 annual salary. But now is the right time to retire, he explained in a Jan. 10 interview. “It’s time for other people to have this wonderful opportunity,” he said. “And there may be other opportunities for me, I don’t know.” Rasmussen added that his decision to retire had nothing to do with the recent Liberty High School schedule debate. Last month, the school board ultimately ruled against his recommendation to switch the school from a block schedule to a sixperiod day. Per school district policy, the board has complete control over hiring a new superintendent, including the timeline and job specifications. The last time a new superintendent was hired, the board used a national search firm — Iowa-based Ray and Associates — in August 2006. The process lasted until May 2007. Sara Niegowski, the school district spokeswoman, said she plans to put together a comprehensive
website with information about the hiring process once it has been established by the board. Renton School District continues search Both of the school districts that serve Newcastle are seeking new district leaders. Rasmussen’s announcement comes just months after Renton School District Superintendent Mary Alice Heuschel announced she would leave to serve as Gov. Jay Inslee’s chief of staff. In a statement announcing her new position, Heuschel said that few opportunities could entice her from her current post, but the call to serve at the state level provides her an enormous opportunity to lead, impact public education and help reform state government. “Renton, the community and the school district, will always have a very special place in my heart,” she said in the statement. “It has become my family.” Former Hazelwood Elementary School educator Vera Risdon is interim superintendent. The district’s search for a new superintendent is already well under way, with search firm Northwest Leadership Associates leading the exploration. Learn more about the Renton School District’s search www.rentonschools.us.
NOW OPEN A new location with an atmosphere you will love! Of course, the menu & staff remain the same Hours: Mon: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Tue - Fri: 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Sat - Sun: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Courtesy of the Issaquah History Museums, 93-32-2-19d
In this 1890 sketch of the Newcastle Mines, the first major mine opening in the hill below the church is seen in the lower picture. The later mine at Coal Creek, later destroyed by fire along with the company sawmill, is in the top sketch. Sketch by Edward Lange.
Back tracking: an ongoing series about the history of Newcastle
If you have historical photos of your own to share, or ideas for upcoming history features, email them to newcastle@isspress.com.
City contracts for development review The Newcastle City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to contract with a consultant that will provide development engineering review for the year. The Public Works Department, in particular Assistant City Engineer Kerry Sullivan, is expected to bear the brunt of what will be a busy 2013. With an increased pavement rehabilitation program, two sidewalk projects and an anticipated need for more development engineer-
ing review in 2013, Public Works Director Mark Rigos requested the extra support to assist with the department’s workload. City Manager Rob Wyman and Rigos interviewed three candidates to provide part-time development engineering review, settling on Bruce N. Johnson, a professional engineer, as the preferred choice.
City Council hosts special guests
The Newcastle City Council will welcome King County Councilman Reagan Dunn and Miss Washington Mandy Schendel to its Feb. 5
meeting. Dunn, the county council’s representative for Newcastle, will deliver his annual state of the county address at the meeting. The City Council will honor Newcastle’s Schendel with a proclamation recognizing her performance at the Miss America competition on Jan. 12. Schendel, a 2008 Hazen High School graduate, placed in the top 10. The Newcastle City Council’s Feb. 5 meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. City Hall’s address is 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200.
Your Dreams, Our Strategies
®
• 401(k)/403(b) Rollovers
• Actively Managed Accounts
• IRAs/Roth IRAs/Sep IRAs
• Tax-Advantaged Products
• Mutual Funds
• Funding for College Education
• Fixed/Variable Annuities
• Retirement Strategies
• Long-Term Care Insurances
• Various kinds of Life Insurances Laura Counsell, MBA Branch Office Manager
1800 NE 44th St., Ste 201 Renton, WA 98056
Direct: 206.396.3161 Office: 425.282.1988 Fax: 425.282.6328 Email: laura.counsell@tfaconnect.com
RISTORANTE • PIZZERIA • BAR 310 Wells Ave. S Renton, WA 98057
425.271.7042
Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. (TFA), Transamerica Financial Group Division - Member FINRA, SIPC, and Registered Investment Advisor. **An investor should consider the investment objectives, risk, and charges and expenses associated with municipal fund securities before investing. More Information about municipa l fund securities is available in the issuer’s official statement.Non-Securities products and services are not offered through TFA. World Financial Group, Inc. (WFG) is a financial services marketing company whose affiliates offer a broad array of financial products and services. Insurance products offered through World Financial Group Insurance Agency, Inc.(WFGIA). WFG, WFGIA and TFA are affiliated companies.
Opinion
PAGE 4
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Notes from Newcastle
Editorial
Public input critical in Sitting in ‘the living room of Newcastle’ superintendent searches By Christina Corrales-Toy
Selecting a new superintendent is easily one of the most important decisions a school board can make. The superintendent sets the tone and direction for staff members and students across the district. In a strange turn of events, both school districts that serve Newcastle students are in search of new district leaders, after Issaquah School District Superintendent Steve Rasmussen announced plans to retire at the end of the school year. The Renton School District is already deep into its own search for a new superintendent after Mary Alice Heuschel left to take a position in Gov. Jay Inslee’s office. As both school boards embark on the monumental task of choosing your child’s next superintendent, it’s imperative that parents and community members alike get involved in the process. So far, the Renton School District has done the right thing in working to involve the public in its search by holding community meetings, allowing families to help develop the position description and leadership profile of the new superintendent. Rasmussen will remain with the Issaquah School District through June, so the process to name his replacement has not begun in earnest yet as Renton’s has, since Heuschel left in mid-January. Nevertheless, once the Issaquah School Board begins the search, there will undoubtedly be various opportunities for the community to make its voice heard. A well-chosen superintendent is a critical component in maintaining a successful school district that properly guides children through their scholastic careers. Parents must be vocal as both school boards conduct the search for new superintendents, ensuring that the person chosen for the position is someone that has the vision, heart and determination to lead the districts and their students into the future successfully.
Poll question After the Seahawks’ exciting performance this year, how far do you see the team going next season? A. They will miss the playoffs. b. They will make it to the first round of the playoffs. c. They will be in the NFC championship game. d. Super Bowl, baby! Vote at www.newcastle-news.com.
Newcastle news Published since 1999 by
Is s a q u a h Pre s s , In c . P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, WA 98027 Phone: 392-6434 q Fax: 392-1695
The Newcastle News office is based in Issaquah, so when I need to conduct an interview with someone from Newcastle, I feel I can’t just ask them to drive 20 minutes east to meet me in the lobby of the building. It’s not a big deal. I actually quite enjoy my several-timesa-week trips to Newcastle. As a Christina journalist, we’re taught that it’s Corrales-Toy best to interview a subject in his or her own element. A subject’s ‘own element’ can be anywhere — home, school, Newcastle City Hall or just a comfortable coffee shop. Whenever I ask a Newcastleite where he or she would like to meet for an interview; however, one location is uttered more than the rest — “How about Sweet Decadence?” Situated in the heart of Newcastle, in the same building as City Hall, the gourmet chocolate shop
has been called the “living room of Newcastle.” The caring homeowner cooking up treats for her guests is Sandra Wixon. “It’s just comfortable. It feels like home,” she said. There is a certain comfort level at Sweet Decadence, making residents, and yours truly, feel at ease to conduct business with a colleague, gossip with a friend or interview an acquaintance. With City Hall just a stone’s throw away, it also attracts its fair share of city staff and council members. With all that activity, it’s a safe bet that Wixon hears a great deal about the juicy happenings in Newcastle. But fear not, Sweet Decadence frequenters, your secrets are safe with her. “I’m like a bartender,” she said with a chuckle. “It doesn’t go any further than it needs to.” In reality, though, Wixon spends much of her time in the back cooking away, so she doesn’t hear as much as we’d like to think. So, feel free to safely continue conducting your business at Sweet Decadence, but remember to clean up after yourself. You are, after all, sitting in the living room of Newcastle.
Rapid Response Are you concerned about the traffic impact that Bellevue’s construction of a new bridge replacing an aging culvert under Coal Creek Parkway, may cause and why? Yes, I’m very concerned about the impact this will cause. Coal Creek Parkway already gets congested in the morning and evening commute times. This will seriously bring more congestion and I’ll personally look for alternative routes. — Jackie Foskett Yes. A backup beyond Factoria due to a lane closure for a truck problem at the same location; other bypasses being congested. — Peggy Price I am not all that concerned about delays in traffic on Coal Creek. One of the nice things about Newcastle is there are
What priorities or goals would you like to see the City Council pursue in 2013?
In honor of Newcastle’s Mandy Schendel, who placed in the top 10 at the Miss America competition this month, what is the one most important thing our society needs, besides world peace?
I’d like to see them continue to focus on/explore ways to bring more tax revenue to our city, i.e.: Who/what businesses we can attract that would bring in needed tax revenue.
A better sense of our influence on the future — well past the next year; a greater sense of responsibility beyond the measure provided by each pocketbook.
multiple ways in which to get in and out of town. I plan on using one of the alternate routes. — Peter Zevenbergen
— Jackie Foskett Fiscal sustainability, including some tax increases, if necessary. A utility tax involves a little control by the taxpayer — slightly lower use would slightly lower the tax paid.
— Peggy Price Our society needs to keep focused on how we can contribute to one another — help less fortunate people — rather than expecting someone else to!
— Peggy Price
— Jackie Foskett
Debbie Berto....................................... Publisher Kathleen R. Merrill.................... Managing editor
Write us
Christina Corrales-Toy ������������������������ Reporter
Newcastle News welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be 350 words or less. The News may edit for length, clarity and potential libel. Letters about local topics are preferred. Send them by the 20th of the month to:
David Hayes................................... Page design
MAIL SUBSCRIPTION
$25 per year Call 392-6434, ext. 220
Newcastle News
P.O. Box 1328 q Issaquah, WA 98027 Fax: 391-1541 q Email: newcastle@isspress.com
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Chamber hires part-time executive director By Christina Corrales-Toy The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce has a new look in 2013 with new leaders, more networking opportunities and increased dues. The chamber officially moved away from its previous all-volunteer model in January when it hired Imelda Dulcich as its executive director. The executive director is responsible for implementing the policies of the chamber’s board of directors and administering the approved budget. Dulcich is also expected to provide more opportunities for Newcastle businesses to market their companies. She will add a blog to the existing website and have a greater presence on the chamber’s social media platforms. The new executive director will effectively become the face, and spokeswoman, of the chamber, said Peter Zevenbergen, the chamber’s president for 2013. “Imelda Dulcich’s back-
ground in public relations, social media and networking made her the best candidate for the job,” Zevenbergen said. Dulcich is a Newcastle resident, the owner of Imelda Dulcich PR and Social Media, LLC, and the wife of Newcastle City Councilman John Dulcich. One of the more significant changes in the chamber’s offerings is the implementation of what will be monthly after hours social events and networking breakfasts, in addition to the monthly luncheons. “They all have a slightly different flavor,” Zevenbergen said. “You can attend all three during the course of a month and get something beneficial from each one of them. But you can also pick and choose. I think that will be of an appeal to more businesses across the board.” The changes are a result of the chamber’s effort to increase its presence in the Newcastle business community. A 2011 survey put out
by the chamber asked its members whether it would like to see more networking events, and if so, would they be willing to pay higher dues to foot the bill. “We got an overwhelming response saying that they wanted more opportunities,” said Angela Wingate, the chamber’s past president, in November. With the incorporation of three events a month, in addition to the chamber’s involvement in larger community events such as the Diamond Awards and Newcastle Days, it was not realistic for the group to continue as an all-volunteer organization, Zevenbergen said. “When you put the combination of those two things together as a workload, just asking volunteers to continue to step up and do that, and do it in a good way, in a sustainable way, month in and month out, the results are just not what you would want them to be,” he said. The new executive
director, Zevenbergen said, will bring the group a sense of consistency in time and effort that will help ensure the chamber’s sustainability. Another significant change the chamber implemented is an increase in membership dues. In the brand new tiered membership system, small businesses must pay $185 a year, in what is a steep jump from the 2012 price of $50 a year. The increase in dues cannot be solely attributed to the hiring of an executive director, Zevenbergen said. The cost to put on more events and the fact that the dues have not been altered for several years were major factors for the increase, he said. “Overall what’s happened is we’re putting on an additional number of events and that takes money,” he said. “That’s an investment that the majority of our members and the totality of the board has seen as an investment worth making.”
PAGE 5
Biography out about late U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn The late Jennifer Dunn, a long-serving representative in Congress for Issaquah and other Eastside communities, is the latest subject in The Legacy Project, a state oral history program. The book “A Woman First: The Impact of Jennifer Dunn” documents the trailblazing Republican’s career, life and legacy. The biography is available as a hardcover book for $25 or as a free PDF
at The Legacy Project website, www.sos.wa.gov/ heritage. (The hardcover book was printed with private funds.) Dunn represented the 8th Congressional District in Washington, D.C., for 12 years between 1993 and 2005, and made history as the first woman to lead the Washington State Republican Party, before she died in 2007. Dunn’s son is King County Councilman Reagan Dunn, the representative for Newcastle, areas south of Issaquah and Southeast King County.
Find Out What Your Home is Worth for Free On-Line Visit: www.NewcastleHomePricing.com John L. Scott KMS
Newcastle News
PAGE 6
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Renton unveils proposed boundaries for new middle school All Renton School District middle school students that reside in Newcastle will attend the new middle school when it opens in 2016, based on preliminary boundaries released by the district. Construction of the new middle school, on the site of the current Renton Academy, 6928 116th Ave. S.E., means boundary changes for the district’s three other middle schools as well. With the proposed boundary changes, more than 1,100 middle school students will change schools when the new one opens in 2016. More than 750 of those students will be moving from McKnight Middle School to the new middle school. The boundaries work to populate the new school, while also reducing the
number of students and creating more uniformity in the numbers of students attending each middle school. Renton School District middle schools are among the largest in the state, with enrollment at McKnight, Nelsen and Dimmitt middle schools well above Washington’s state average of 609 students in 2011. McKnight and Nelsen each had more than 1,000 students; Dimmitt had about 950 for the 2011-2012 school year. The new middle school does not alter high school boundaries. The proposed boundaries would not take effect until the new school opens in 2016. Construction is set to begin in March 2015 on what will be the district’s fourth middle school,
Project From Page 1 of the traffic concerns that may come with the Coal Creek Parkway reduction, which is why Jensen is working to spread the word and warn drivers. “It will be a bottleneck and alternative routes would be advised, and hopefully as we let people know about it, they’ll
made possible thanks to voter support of an April 2012 bond measure. The $97 million bond measure will fund the school, improvements to the Lindbergh High School pool and other construction costs. The new middle school would accommodate students currently in second through fourth grades. A committee of parents and district staff members constructed the boundaries, and the Renton School Board is expected to consider the proposal at its Feb. 6 board meeting. The board may be asked to approve the proposed boundaries at the meeting, but district spokesman Randy Matheson cautioned that even if the board does approve them, the boundaries are still preliminary and changes
make plans to come early, come late, you know find another way, work from home,” he said. The city of Bellevue also plans to encourage the contractor to complete work as soon as possible, by rewarding the firm with payment if it completes the project early, Jensen said. “We think that that will be an effective way to make sure they’re efficient and the roadway gets back open as soon as possible,” he said. Mayor Rich Crispo said he was
could be made before the new school opens. The Renton School District plans on setting up an interactive map, where users can type in their address to find out which middle school their child will attend in 2016. The map is not yet available, so until then, parents with questions are encouraged to call the district’s community relations office at 204-2345. Contributed by Renton School District
Map of new proposed middle school boundary lines to be effective in the fall of 2016: The heavy black lines show current middle school boundaries (which are also high school boundary lines that will not change); the blue area is the boundary for the new middle school and the pink area is the new boundary for McKnight Middle School.
“This road is going to be relatively unpleasant to drive on.” — Rich Crispo Mayor concerned about the impact the closure will have, especially in the summer, when the city expects to do its own work to repair phase one of Coal Creek Parkway. “When you’re going to take
what’s a four-lane road and make it a two-lane road where they’re going to do their work, and we’re going to take the fourlane road and make it kind of a three-lane road as we’re doing the resurfacing, this road is going to be relatively unpleasant to drive on,” he said. Jensen said he’s aware of the headaches the lane reductions may cause, but the city of Bellevue plans to keep residents informed through its website and social media platforms.
People who live in Newcastle will, for the most part, know how to get around the traffic by taking alternate routes, Crispo said, but drivers who just use Coal Creek Parkway to bypass Interstate 405 may not know where to go. Either way, Crispo said he expects it to be an interesting summer of travel along Coal Creek Parkway. “This may change some people’s travel habits, which may not be all that bad,” he said.
EAT OUT Customer Appreciation Special
$7.99
NOW SERVING DAIRY-FREE CHEESE & GLUTEN-FREE CRUST!
Large Cheese Pizza
Pick-up Only. Offer expires 3/1/2013
TRY ONE TODAY AND GET A FRESH PERSONAL SALAD FREE! Not valid with other offers. Offer expires 2/28/2013
Newcastle 425.747.7474 order online at jetcitypizza.com Located right next to QFC
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Pageant From Page 1 she hit the ground running, speaking at assemblies, traveling the country to speak at national conferences and, in what were perhaps her favorite moments, taking photos with the children who loved their “princess” visits. Schendel left for Las Vegas on Jan. 2 in preparation for the Miss America competition, which included a week’s worth of rehearsals and preliminaries, culminating with the live telecast. She started the week off strong, when she was named one of seven finalists for the Quality of Life Award. After an initial interview with the celebrity panel of judges, including
Retreat From Page 1 unteer groups would be stored in city accounts to be used by the organization that generated them. Crispo’s suggestion would bring the groups “under the umbrella of the city,” but would still allow the organizations a chance to maintain their own identity and structure. The proposal was part of an effort to get more out of the city’s Parks Commission after its members’ attendance records showed too many absences. Council members suggested that Parks Commissioners were unhappy with the commission’s duties and the way it was utilized as it stood. Parks Commissioners and Planning Commissioners are all volunteers. “When they look at even the things that they did get done, they don’t see much value,” Crispo said, based on discussions he has had with the Parks Commission. The majority of the council agreed that something needed to be done to reinvigorate the Parks Commission, and offered a multitude of suggestions including redefining the group’s mission and duties. “There’s nothing worse that someone can do, than make a volunteers’ time that they dedicate not feel valuable,” Councilman
Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney, dancer Cheryl Burke and television host Mary Hart, the contestants spent three nights competing in preliminaries of the talent, swimsuit and interview portions of the competition. In her preliminary interview, Schendel spoke about her nonprofit organization, The Difference Maker Organization. By age 11, she created the nonprofit where she worked with kids and teens, teaching them how to become leaders through volunteer service. Schendel authored and published a book, “Do Something.” On the third night of preliminaries, Schendel came out victorious as that night’s winner of the Lifestyle and Fitness category after modeling a strapless white Catalina swimsuit. The look of
genuine shock on her face was priceless. Then, the big night arrived when the Miss America pageant was televised live on ABC. After a brief introduction of the contestants, the previous night’s scores were tabulated, and the top 15 names were announced. Schendel’s name wasn’t called and those who came out to support her, including her parents John and Kandy Schendel and sister Melanie, took a deep breath and reflected on a job well done. But a surprise twist on the night gave new life to Schendel’s run in the competition, when judges were given the opportunity to add one more semifinalist. For the first time, a 16th candidate would be added to the competition. That contestant, much to her own surprise, was
John Dulcich said. Another hot topic of conversation was a suggestion by the city manager to alter or eradicate the city’s financial policy that requires him to bring the council a balanced budget, with no new revenues. Ultimately, the council didn’t reach consensus on the idea one way or another. “I felt like the last couple of years, how we go about creating the budget and getting to an initial preliminary budget, this policy really binds my hands because I’m not able to talk to you guys about any kind of increases, only cuts,” Wyman said. Councilman Bill Erxleben, one of the policy’s original authors, was not a fan of changing the
requirements. “I just don’t want to lose the discipline of the process,” he said. “Legislative bodies need crutches in order to do the right thing. Why? Because they love to spend money.” Councilwoman Carol Simpson disagreed with Erxleben, saying that she was not a fan of the council’s most recent status quo budget, and would be open to seeing what Wyman could produce when given more leeway. “I would like to see him have some more creativity,” she said. “He had no ownership over what he brought forward [last year]. I want to see his ownership on that. I want to see his recommendation.”
Newcastle Chamber of Commerce Networking, Cross-Promotion, Advertising If you’re interested in growing your business & supporting Newcastle join the Chamber!
JOIN US
February Luncheon Speaker
Bill Swartz - The Seattle Sports Scene for 2013 “The ups the downs” February 13th, 2013 • 11:00am - 12:15pm Tapatio Mexican Grill Luncheon Cost: $20 & $25 for non-member Feb. 21, 2013 6:15pm-7:15pm, Homestreet Bank After hours social “Cocoa, chocolate & cookies” Feb. 27, 2013 7:30am - 8:30am, Regency Newcastle Networking Breakfast Travis Daniel, VP of Business Development, Dale Carnegie How to build your own Personal/Professional Credibility Statement Please RSVP via email to: info@newcastlecc.com Membership • News & Updates • Upcoming Events • 206.618.5641 • www.newcastlecc.com
Schendel, who hurriedly ran off the stage to prepare for the upcoming swimsuit competition that would narrow the field from 16 to 12. As Schendel raced backstage, co-host Brooke Burke-Charvet told her, “This may be the biggest second chance in your life.” Schendel made the most of the opportunity. With a previous swimsuit award under her belt, she had the judge’s stamp of approval in this area before, and indeed, she made the top 12. After competing in their
PAGE 7
evening gowns, the top 12 sat together onstage as host Chris Harrison invited the contestants up one at a time to perform their talent. Only the top 10 contestants were called to perform in front of millions of people. Nine girls had performed and with one name left to call, Miss Washington was named as the final contestant to continue on and perform the Rascal Flatts song “My Wish.” While Schendel did not make the final top five, the more than 100 sup-
porters who had traveled from Washington could not have been more proud of her accomplishments. The coveted title of Miss America went to Miss New York, Mallory Hagan. Schendel is back home and continues to represent her title across the state, as she will throughout the year. She continues to have many responsibilities as Miss Washington, including speaking at schools, nonprofits and businesses who want the encouragement of teaching others how to never give up on their dreams.
Newcastle News
PAGE 8
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Laughing all the way
Public meetings From sidewalk installation projects to snow removal to property tax collection, decisions made by officials at a local level have the potential to impact your daily life. Get involved. Provide feedback. Make a difference. Let leaders know what’s on your mind to shape a better Newcastle at these February meetings: q The City Council will have regularly scheduled meetings at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 and 19 at City Hall, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200. q The Parks Commission is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at City Hall. q The City Council’s Economic and Community Development committee will meet at 8 a.m. Feb. 12 at City Hall. q The Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at City Hall.
Les Miserables
It entered the house on Christmas Eve. There were 19 possible carriers. I’m betting on the baby. We ate, we drank, we hugged, we kissed, we exchanged gifts and germs, and then went out and infected everyone else we knew as well. We were sick for a week and a half and then went back to work, congratulating ourselves on our general hardiness. Then, we relapsed. This time, it took us down like a pride of starving lions takes down a Pat Detmer feeble wildebeest. Gone was a long-planned trip to Palm Springs, our appetites, our ability to breathe, our dignity and any misguided notion that we had control of anything in life. This is what I learned: q You can lose weight on an I-Can’t-Taste-Anything, FoodHas-Lost-Its-Meaning Diet, but I wouldn’t advise it. q Visiting the Y is not necessary, because coughing up a lung = 1,000 sit-ups. I now have abs of steel but am too exhausted to care. q You can miss a lot when you’re deaf, not a bad thing when your sizeable husband
Send us your pictures has a cough with decibel readings that rival rock bands at The Gorge. q At the medical center, I felt like I was on the set of the movie “Contagion.” It made me wonder if there was a well person on this side of the Cascades. When the cheerful nurse noted that I hadn’t been weighed since October, I said, “I don’t give a s*** what I weigh. Fix me.” q Anything that they give you to fix you will make you sick as well. Stomach ache? Check. Diarrhea? Check. Yeast infection? But of course! Check. q If you’re too ill for reading,
or doing Sudoku or crosswords, there’s only one option: television. In my journey through that vast wasteland, I discovered that Seattle-based “Here Come the Brides” can be seen at 3 a.m. on some channel that I’ll probably never be able to find again, there are more versions of “Pride and Prejudice” than there are wads of tissue in our wastebaskets, and the British version of “Antiques Roadshow” has some seriously old stuff on it and no one gets excited when they hear the value. Stiff upper lip and all that. q If you’re far enough under
the weather, things that normally have meaning lose their place in line. Chin hairs, frozen hummingbird feeders, whether the word “its” is used correctly in a text, the fact that we failed to take apart our bubbling water features before the freeze ... all of these become distant whispers not worth noting. q If you are sufficiently afflicted, it doesn’t matter if the Seahawks win or not. But you have to be really, really sick for that. You can reach Pat Detmer — who has plans to never, ever get sick again — through patdetmer.com.
Newcastle News welcomes original photography contributions. We give priority to local content. Information about the photo and the photographer’s name are required. Send photos to: Newcastle@isspress.com.
Write Us Newcastle News welcomes letters to the editor on any subject, although we give priority to local issues. Letters should be no more than 350 words. Send letters to: Newcastle@isspress.com.
Your Trusted Hometown Jeweler
Newcastle N Jewelers
MFG
Custom Jewelry & Watch Repair Established 1969
Visit with local artist
Nancy Fiala
As she displays her “Valentine Inspired” glassware. The perfect gift for someone special - by itself or to compliment your jewelry gift presentation. Enjoy cookies and punch & enter to win $100 Fiala Glassware gift certificate.
Saturday, Feb. 9th 11am-3pm Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-4 6931 Coal Creek Pkwy. S.E. Newcastle
425.603.9030
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
PAGE 9
‘Dr. Golf’ has the cure for a poor showing on the links By Christina Corrales-Toy Peggy Conley, or Dr. Golf as she is known to her students, enjoys a good project. So, when it comes to her students, the instructor at The Golf Club at Newcastle prefers the ones whose golf games leave little to be desired. “I particularly like people that are really bad and that have played for a long time, because, for example, I can cure a slice in just 10 minutes,” she said of the shot that often haunts amateur golfers. Conley is no stranger to the ups and downs of a golf game, having played the sport nearly her entire life. Several of those years were spent as a professional on the LPGA Tour and the European Tour. She found a home on the European Tour, where she had the opportunity to tour the continent while playing the game
Police blotter Icy, muddy mess During a regular check of Lake Boren Park, 13000 S.E. 84th Way, police found a truck parked on the field, tearing up the wet and icy grass in the early hours of Jan. 5. The driver was not in the truck and upon inspection of the park, no one was in the park at all.
she loved. Conley had planned to play until she was 50, but that plan was derailed when she was injured in a car accident. After it became apparent that her pro career was over, Conley began teaching, learning from the best at a John Jacobs golf school, one of the world’s best institutions in golf instruction. It was there that she acquired the necessary tools to help further others’ golf games, while gaining insight into certain aspects that may have helped her own. “If people understand why the ball does what it does, that is huge,” she said. “It takes the frustration away. That’s the thing I learned while teaching for John Jacobs that I wasn’t very smart about when I was actually playing.” Conley taught at several golf courses across the country, in places such as
Arizona and California, before returning to her Northwest roots in 2000 as an instructor at the Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish. The Spokane native and University of Washington graduate then became an instructor at The Golf Club at Newcastle in 2004, where she has been since. Conley doesn’t have a particular teaching technique or style that she adheres to, because each golfer is different, she said. “I teach people to golf, I don’t teach golf to people,” she said. She does, however, apply the principles of impact, or what happens at the ball, which is a staple of the John Jacobs schools. “You can have a swing like Jack Nicklaus, Jim Furyk or Rory McIlroy. They all look different, but at the ball, at impact, they are pretty darn good,” she said. “It’s a real interesting
way to teach because most people teach form. But if you improve impact, you improve form.” Conley, a Newcastle resident, teaches golfers of all ages and skill levels. She has so many students that she said she couldn’t even begin to fathom how many there are. When Conley’s not at the golf course giving lessons, though she is available every day. You can find her manning the cash register at the Newcastle Fruit and Produce stand. That position in and of itself was a project, Conley said, as she struggled to get the hang of doing something that was so out of her comfort zone when she took the job a few years ago. But it’s all good now, Conley said — she has enough of a grasp on the function of the cash register that she could probably teach her golf students about that, too.
caught an unidentified woman looking around the house at 12:15 a.m. Jan. 8. Then on Jan. 9, the cameras caught an unidentified pickup truck parked in the driveway.
home while a real estate agent showed their home to prospective buyers.
noise complaints at the home numerous times through the years.
50 years young
Now recording
Police responded to noise complaints at a home in the 8500 block of 116th Avenue Southeast on Jan. 13. Officers warned the homeowner, who was throwing a 50th birthday party for her husband, to turn the music down. Police have responded to
More than $200 worth of goods was stolen from an unsecured car parked in the 8900 block of 129th Place Southeast between the afternoon of Jan. 19 and the morning of Jan. 20. Two flashlights and
Sticky fingers A $1,225 watch was stolen from a home in the 8200 block of 154th Place Southeast, during an open house showing on Jan. 11. The homeowners were not
Contributed
Former professional golfer Peggy Conley (right) helps Dr. Phil Young perfect his golf swing during a lesson at The Golf Club at Newcastle. two digital recorders were among the items stolen.
Rummaging An unknown suspect entered the unlocked front passenger door of
a car parked in the 8900 block of 129th Avenue Southeast, and rummaged through the glove box’s contents, but didn’t take anything, between the evening of Jan. 19 and the morning of Jan. 20.
Helping you preserve your legacy for those you love.
Smashed An unknown suspect smashed the rear passenger side window of a car parked in the 8000 block of 118th Court Southeast, causing $300 in damage, on Jan. 5. An iPod and a briefcase were also stolen from the car.
Library theft An iPhone 4 was stolen, while its owner visited the Newcastle Library, 12901 Newcastle Way, on the afternoon of Jan. 8. She had placed the phone on the chair and noticed it was gone as she got up to leave the building.
Suspicious activity on 118th
Police responded to reports of suspicious activity at a home in the 8400 block of 118th Avenue Southeast on Jan. 8 and 9. Surveillance cameras
Professional Limited Liability Company
Beth A McDaniel Principal Attorney Newcastle Resident
Fast, on-time delivery with any purchase
Serving residents of Newcastle since 2002
Wills and Trusts • Probate Guardianship • Elder Law
425-251-8880
Renton • Bellevue www.bethmcdaniel.com • info@bethmcdaniel.com
Community
PAGE 10
Events City Hall is closed Feb. 18 for the President’s Day holiday. The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce monthly lunch is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Tapatio Mexican Grill, 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. Guest speaker Bill Swartz, of “Sports With Swartz,” awarding winning radio, sports and news reporter. Cost is $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers.
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Chamber hosts sports reporter Bill Swartz
YMCA The Coal Creek Family YMCA, 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road, has regular family programs for all ages. Get a complete schedule by calling 2821500 or go to www.seattleymca. org/Locations/CoalCreek/Pages/ Home.aspx. q Masquerade Ball Parents Night Out at the Y, for ages 3-11, 5-9 p.m. Feb. 2, $30 for facility members/$40 for nonmembers q Small Group: Dance — EZ Adult Jazz, for ages 18 and up, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Feb. 6 to March 20, $75 q Parent’s Night Out at the Y: Valentines Night Special, for ages 3-11, 5-9 p.m., Feb. 15, $30 for facility members/$35 for non members q “Art Explosion: Eat, Construct and Create” — for ages 10-15, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 18, $50 for facility members/$60 for non members q “Get Your Game On: Paintball” — for ages 10-15, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 19, $50 for facility members/$60 for non members q “Tough Muddy: Motocross” — for ages 10-15, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 20, $50 for facility members/$60 for non members q “Extreme Challenge: Laser Tag & Giant Swing”
Contributed
Newcastle resident Bill Swartz gets set to cover the 2010 U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish. Swartz is the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce’s featured speaker at its Feb. 13 luncheon.
— for ages 10-15, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 21, $50 for facility members/$60 for non members q “The Showdown: Unleash the Beast Challenges & Swimming” — for ages 10-15, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 22, $50 for facility members/$60 for non members q Tumbling: Mommy/ Daddy & Me, for ages 1-3, 10:45-11:30 a.m. Thursdays, $5 for members/$9 for nonmembers q Diabetes Prevention Program, for ages 18 and older, call for times or to sign up q Swimming lessons, for ages 3 and older, $54, call for age group times and dates q Itty Bitty T-Ball, for ages 3-4, through Feb. 27, 4:30-6 p.m., $30-$56
q Tae Kwon Do, for ages 5 and older, through March 28, $28-$54, call for age group times and dates
Library events The Friends of the Newcastle Library meets from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 27, at the Newcastle Library, 12901 Newcastle Way. The Newcastle Library is at 12901 Newcastle Way. Libraries will be closed Feb. 18 for the President’s Day holiday. The following programs are
Clubs
q The Society of Artists for Newcastle, an art organization,
Longtime Newcastle resident and awardwinning sports radio host Bill Swartz will be the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce’s featured speaker at its Feb. 13 luncheon. Swartz will talk about all things Seattle sports, from the Seahawks’ exciting play this season and the potential return of the Sonics, to an early outlook on the Mariners’ chances in 2013. “Come to lunch and get a current perspective on Seattle sports so that you can sound like an informed sports enthusiast in your business and social circles,” Peter Zevenbergen, chamber president, said in a statement. Lunch begins at 11 a.m. at Tapatio Mexican Grill, and costs $20 for chamber members and $25 for nonchamber members. The lunch includes food, tax and gratuity. Attendees are asked to RSVP by emailing MonthlyLunch@newcastlecc.com. Tapatio is at 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E.
February 2013
March 2013
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
is seeking new members. Call 271-5822. q East Shore Singles, a social group for single adults older than 45, sponsors monthly activities and special events on the Eastside. New members are welcome. Call 433-0558 for a monthly bulletin go to www. eastshoresingles.org or www.
meetup.com/eastshore-singles. q The Society of Artists for Newcastle, an art organization, is seeking new members. Call 271-5822. q Bridge players are wanted, evening or daytime. Games take place at various homes in See CLUBS, Page 16
Experience Service Results REALTOR, CRS, Associate Broker & EcoBroker marcie@marciemaxwell.com
REALTOR, CRS, ABR & ASP lisalam@marciemaxwell.com
206.949.1696 www.marciemaxwell.com
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Newcastle News
PAGE 11
Speed leads the way at Newcastle Pinewood Derby pler theme, with just a plain color, but it paid off Turtles are not among as Christopher Chow’s the fastest animals on the “Furious” dusted the complanet. The cute, shellpetition. bearing reptile is not likely Last year’s Pinewood to win a foot race, unless Derby champion, Will the opponent was a misSlaton, took second place chievous hare. with his car, “Radium,” Yet at Newcastle Cub while Jacob Robblee came Scout Pack 738’s 2013 in third with his car, “The Pinewood Derby, a Blew Up.” tortoiseAwards themed were also car made given out some recogniznoise with ing standits lightout cars ning-quick in five moves. categories Arkin at the Rao’s Newcastle reptilederby: inspired Best Scout derby car Theme, was one of Most By Christina Corrales-Toy By Christina Corrales-Toy the faster Patriotic, Audience members eagerly watch as derby cars race down the track at Newcastle Arkin Rao shows off his torcars at this toise-inspired car. Most Cub Scout Pack 738’s 2013 Pinewood Derby. year’s Jan. Futuristic, 11 event Most million Pinewood Derby Unique and Funniest Car. at Newcastle Elementary model car kits have been School. While it did not It was event chairman sold across the country, take first place, the car, James Likes’ third year orga- and more than 1 million named “The Not Car,” nizing the derby. Before boys and parents team up won for it’s sheer creativhe volunteered to run the each year to participate in ity. event three years ago, he the annual contest. The idea for the unique had never even participated “It’s really a childcar came from a simple in a Pinewood Derby. parent activity,” Likes said. Internet search, Arkin said. “I wasn’t in scouts as a “It helps kids to really “My dad was searchkid, so it was fun figuring just start a project from ing up Pinewood Derby all this stuff out, but now beginning to end, learn and then we saw a turtle I think I’ve gotten it all how to use power tools, and then my brother said, down,” he said. teaches them how to win ‘Let’s make a turtle,’” he The first Pinewood or lose and cheer on their said. Derby was held in 1953 by friends whether they are The name for the car Cub Scout Pack 280C, of winning or losing. It just came from the idea that Manhattan Beach, Calif. teaches them a lot of good a turtle can’t reach anySince then, more than 90 things.” where near the speed of a car, hence, “The Not Car,” Arkin said. “The Not Car” was Dr. Rod Nordberg just one of many cleverly Orthodontist for Children & Adults themed cars at the derby. There was a car fashFREE Initial Exam ioned to look like a block Newport HIlls Professional Center of cheese, a Pokémon5613 AVE SE Suite 3, Bellevue inspired car and several 23 years at this location cars made to resemble 425.641.3451 military tanks. www.gloriousgrins.com The derby’s winner, ortho5@comcast.net however, went for a sim-
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Shane Zike and Samantha Leischow
Leischow, Zike engaged Samantha Leischow, of Newcastle, and Shane Zike, of Yakima, announced their engagement to be married Aug. 3, 2013, at Saint Paul’s Cathedral, in Yakima. The bride-to-be, the daughter of Richard and Mary Leischow, of Newcastle, is a 2002 graduate of Hazen High School. She works at Qualstar Credit Union. The future groom, son of Steve and Darla Zike, of Yakima, is a 2014 graduate of Perry Technical.
Schools
PAGE 12
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Two members of Hazen High School’s Breakdancing Club perform back handsprings at the club’s Jan. 17 meeting.
Hazen High School breakdancing club makes all the right moves By Christina Corrales-Toy Every Monday and Thursday after school, a group of 10 or so Hazen High School students, and an energetic Spanish teacher, get together to relieve a little bit of stress after a long day. Their particular stress release doesn’t involve meditation or sports competition, though; rather, it’s through dance that they chase away the anxiety of a grueling school day. Just follow the music toward a nondescript location between the gymnasium and the cafeteria, where you will find the group standing in a circle, cheering on one of their colleagues as he shows off his breakdancing moves in the center of it all. Among them will be Kevin Takisaki, the
Breakdancing Club’s adviser and a Spanish teacher at the school, who doesn’t hesitate to jump into the fray and display the moves he acquired during college. “It’s just a great way to express yourself,” Takisaki said. “You never really get to be creative through movement when you’re in school, so it’s a nice thing to have an outlet once the day is done.” Hazen seniors Andrew Truong and Justen Huang joined the club when they were freshman, and they understand firsthand the benefits that come with breakdancing. “It’s like expressing yourself, but at the same time it’s really physical, so it wows people,” Truong said. “I like to wow people and have them enjoy it, because when you wow them with those moves, they start to understand
how much creativity it takes.” The energetic, acrobatic nature of breakdancing makes it an exciting and innovative outlet, something Huang said he was looking for in a club. “I like breakdancing because I can express myself in a different way, because I would like to sing, but I’m not very good at it, so I express it through dancing,” he said. There is an underlying “breakdancing culture” at the school, Truong said, and the club has been around for a number of years, but it almost didn’t survive after its previous adviser could no longer devote the time to attend meetings. That’s when Takisaki, who had just joined the Hazen staff, stepped up to become the club’s new adviser three years ago.
“I got here and said, ‘Well, I want to dance. Do you guys want to dance?’ So, we began recruiting more people to join,” he said. The club performs at school assemblies and always welcomes new members. Many of the members are boys, but last year, a few girls joined, Takisaki said. “Dancing is just what you want it to be,” Truong said. “It takes lots of practice, of course, and sometimes people don’t understand that, so they quit early. But, if you love dance, then you should definitely join this club. Try it out.” By Christina Corrales-Toy
Andrew Truong, Hazen High School senior practices his moves during a Jan. 17 meeting of the school’s Breakdancing Club.
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Rotary Clubs honor students, teacher Rotary Club of Issaquah honors Liberty students The Rotary Club of Issaquah recently honored the following Liberty High School seniors as its students of the month for November.
Veronica Austin q Category of recognition: language arts q Parents: Larci and Mike Austin q Sponsoring teacher: Kris Veronica Daughters q Austin Scholastic achievements: National Merit Scholar Semifinalist, 4.0 grade point average q Activity achievement: editor in chief of Patriot Press q Scholastic interests: English, journalism, art q Hobbies: reading, writing, listening to music and going to concerts, science fiction movies and TV shows q Outside school affiliations: writer for The Beat/ The Issaquah Press q Education goals (post graduation): attend fouryear university, preferably abroad q Occupation/career: be a writer, whether that be fiction, journalism or otherwise
Jacob Morrison q Category of recogni-
tion: social studies q Parent: Sonja Morrison q Sponsoring teacher: Steve Jacob Darnell Morrison q Scholastic achievements: National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Scholar q Activity achievement: Ping Pong Club founding member q Scholastic interests: math, literature, social studies, science q Hobbies: reading, ping pong q Education goals (post graduation): four-year degree first, probably graduate school after q Occupation/career: no idea yet
Hazen student receives honor
team. Fortescue has received the Academic Award, Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction Award and Masonic Outstanding Junior Award. He has also been named a National Merit finalist and been placed on the honor roll. He works part time as a tutor and volunteers through National Honor Society. Fortescue plans to attend a four-year college, major in biology or astrophysics, and pursue a career as a biomedical researcher or work in the space exploration industry.
Rotary honors Hazelwood teacher Roni Nielsen Roni Nielsen, a second-grade teacher at Hazelwood Elementary
School, has been selected as one of the Rotary Club of Renton’s teachers of the month for Roni December. Nielson Nielsen attended Central Washington University, where she earned a degree in elementary education with a minor in early childhood education. She also completed her professional certification course. Before becoming a teacher, Nielsen worked in the recreation department with the city of Renton and at Emerald Downs. She has also worked as a library assistant and a student aide in Renton. Nielsen has been teaching in Renton for 13 years.
PAGE 13
Liberty hosts daddy daughter dance By Hannah Grandine Liberty High School is inviting elementary school students and their fathers to a Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance in the Liberty Commons on Feb. 8. The dance is an annual event open to students and their fathers from Apollo, Briarwood, Maple Hills and Newcastle elementary schools. “The past two years, there have been over 300 people that have come,” Liberty freshman class adviser and physical education teacher Emily Linke said. “The same people come back year after year.” Besides dancing, this year at the dance there will be food and drink, a cake walk, drawings, and Hula Hoop and limbo contests. Liberty’s event is hosted by the freshman class
If you go Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance q 7-9 p.m. Feb. 8 q $15 per couple q Liberty High School q 16655 S.E. 136th St., Renton
Associated Student Body and is a fundraiser for the class of 2016. Tickets can be bought at the door for $15 per couple. Pictures will be taken and sold at the dance for an additional fee. Linke said she hopes that as many people as possible will attend the event. “It’s a great opportunity for dads and daughters to have a special night,” Linke said. “We try to make the girls feel really special.”
Jon Fortescue Jon Fortescue, a senior at Hazen High School, was selected as a Renton Jon Rotary Fortescue Club Youth of the Month for January. He maintains a 4.0 grade point average and has been involved in National Honor Society, Drama Club, orchestra, STEM Club and the swim
Looking for a Dentist? Choose the best!
Voted Your Favorite Dentists Best of Issaquah 2007 - 2012!
BARRY FEDER, DDS, PS MARK GERMACK, DDS Extended Hours 425.392.7541 450 NW Gilman Blvd. Medical Center of Issaquah www.doctorfeder.com S TATE
OF THE
A RT C OSMETIC D ENTISTRY • T EETH W HITENING • I NVISALIGN
Changing the myth of scary dentistry, one smile at a time... Certified, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Member American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Anticavity Tip: Water consumption is the most effective way to slow cavity progression in children because of its natural ability to reduce intraoral acidity and cleanse the mouth. How much water is enough? As a general rule, the amount of water your child should consume (ounces) a day is equal to half their total body weight in pounds. Example: 28 pound child = 14 ounces or 2 cups; 46 pound child = 23 ounces or 3 cups. For more information about how to keep your child’s mouth healthy, visit us online at www.akidsplacedentistry.com
We Welcome New Patients!
Keith E. McDonald, DMD 425-228-KIDS (5437)
451 Duvall Ave NE, Ste. 140 Just minutes from Lake Boren Park
Solid Rock
Counseling Center Rebecca Turner, L.P.C. • Compassionate, Competent, Convenient Christian Counseling that WORKS! • Counseling available for all emotional and mental health needs, for all ages. • Need help, but SKEPTICAL about counseling? Give me a chance to change your mind!
Rebecca Turner, L.P.C. “(Rebecca is) the most naturally gifted counselor I’ve ever known!”
1212 104th Ave. SE Bellevue, WA 98004 • 425-454-3863 rebeccahturner@msn.com www.rebecca-turner.com
Sports
PAGE 14
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Hazen wrestlers defeat their rivals from Liberty By Christina Corrales-Toy As the nation struggles through a particularly aggressive flu season, many Liberty and Hazen high school wrestlers know only too well the ailments that accompany the illness. The flu knocked out a good portion of the Liberty wrestlers, and the Highlanders were not exactly healthy themselves, when the two teams squared off Jan. 15. “It was tough, but the guys that did go out on the mat worked hard and we had a few wins, but we didn’t quite come out on top like we would have liked to,” Liberty coach Manny Brown said. Hazen emerged as the victor, winning, 46-27, against Liberty, its Renton rival. “We didn’t have our full lineup against Liberty, but we were able to get some good matches
for our kids,” Hazen coach Rory Magana said. “Overall we wrestled better than we have been.” Abdu Mukhammadjonov, Peter Scheau and a recovering Zach Moore all had pins for Hazen, while Derek Nichols won his match by decision. “Zach Moore at 120 put in a real good performance,” Magana said. “He’s been pretty sick and that was his first match back, and he looked pretty crisp.” The wins were particularly sweet for Mukhammadjonov, who notched his first varsity win, and Scheau, who has seen time on both varsity and junior varsity squads this season, Magana said. “Scheau’s been wrestling pretty tough, even though he’s not always a varsity guy, he’s getting the job done,” Magana said. Hazen sophomore Nichols defeated his Liberty opponent, 9-5.
By Greg Farrar
Abdu Mukhammadjonov (right), Hazen High School sophomore, is about to have his pin awarded in his 113pound bout against Liberty freshman Kyle Armstrong during their Jan. 15 match. “Derek is only a sophomore, but he ended up getting the victory against a senior, so it was a
tough win,” Magana said. Both Alejandro Tachiyama and Zach Toombs had pins
for the Patriots, while Conner See WRESTLE, Page 15
Hazen High School wrestlers fundraiser takes down cancer By Christina Corrales-Toy Rodney Magana, Hazen High School wrestling coach Rory Magana’s father, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October 2010, and died from the disease just eight months later, in June. In 2013, an estimated 45,220 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a disease that is expected to claim more than 38,000 lives in the coming year. The fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, it has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. About 74 percent of patients will die within the first year of diagnosis and 94 percent will die within five years, according to the American Cancer Society. The survival rate is so low for the disease because a mechanism for early detection of the cancer is not yet available. That’s where research and funding are critical, something that the Magana family knows all too well. So, for the third year, the Hazen coach organized Taking Down Pancreatic Cancer, a special opportunity to raise funds and increase awareness of the disease at a Jan. 11 Hazen wrestling match. Rory’s alma mater, Oak Harbor High School, as well as Lynwood and Highline high schools participated in the match. This year’s event netted about
By Rob Nichols
Hazen High School wrestlers and coaches gather for a group photo after competing in the Taking Down Pancreatic Cancer event to raise funds and awareness for the disease. $1,500 for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network through the sale of T-shirts, raffles and a bake sale. Taking Down Pancreatic Cancer has become a family affair for the Maganas, with Rory’s mother, brother and wife all on hand to honor Rodney’s memory. “We are very proud of this event,” Rory’s mother, Susie
On the web
Learn more about pancreatic cancer at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s website, www. pancan.org.
Magana said. “Rodney would be so proud. I’m sure he looks down on us every time we do
this.” While Rory’s father never wrestled in high school, he was always a fan of the sport, especially when his sons began competing. When Rodney was diagnosed in 2010, Rory nearly gave up coaching to go home and help out, but his father wouldn’t have it, and encouraged his son to continue coaching the sport
he loved. “The first year we had the event was the year that my dad was sick, so he sat on the sideline with us and he got to sit in the good seats with us, so you know, it’s kind of a memorial to my dad and kind of a way to honor him,” Rory said. See CANCER, Page 15
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
PAGE 15
Liberty swimmers dunked by Issaquah, 118-68 Cancer By John Leggett Coaches are notorious planners, especially in individual sports, such as golf, tennis, wrestling and swimming. These amazing aquatic mentors can usually anticipate what may or may not transpire down to the tenth of a digit. At the annual swim meet between the Issaquah Eagles and the Liberty Patriots held at Julius Boehm Pool on Jan. 24, what unfolded in front of the unsuspecting audience was not only in the realm of the uncharted, but was entirely unexpected with the element of surprise and was outrageously humorous. With Issaquah owning a commanding advantage heading into the final event of the afternoon, the 400-yard freestyle relay, swimmers from both squads manned the starting blocks, displaying
Wrestle From Page 14 Small, Alec Bluhm and Zach Arthur won by decision. “Zach Toombs came through for us,” Brown said. “He hasn’t been as healthy as we’d like to see him, but he bit the bullet
their best stern and stoic game faces, but a funny thing happened on the way down to the water. When the horn sounded to initiate the proceedings, the participants began to churn the water with every imaginable myriad of swim stroke possible in rather comical fashion. “With a combined total of 80 different swimmers in the pool area, I am really surprised that those guys were able to keep it a secret from [Issaquah coach] Laura [Halter] and myself,” Liberty coach Kris Daughters said. “But the kids from both teams know each other very well, from the clubs they’ve swam in together, and they just love to have fun by messing with Laura and I. Last year they scrounged up a water polo ball from somewhere and broke out in a game after hitting the water…again, unbeknownst to anyone but the guys competing.”
The teams’ swimmers ensuing event, the 200 have been showing their yard freestyle. serious side all season long Liberty retaliated in as many participants from the following 200-yard both clubs have already individual medley event qualified for the state tour- as swift Patriot sophomore nament in mid-February. Nick Klatt, cut through the Additionally, Liberty’s water for a sizzling time adroit crew dominated of 2:00.71, but Issaquah most of “Last year they scrounged countered the Class by tak3A Seattle- up a water polo ball from ing first, area teams second somewhere and broke it faced and third during the out in a game.” in the 50 regular freestyle. season. In the — Kris Daughters Issaquah Liberty coach diving was one of compethe more tition, formidable contingents in a pair of seniors dueled the KingCo 4A during the against one another, but 2012-13 rigors, finishing in the end Issaquah’s with an accounting of 6-2 Andrew Larsen edged out in league action. Liberty’s Thomas Hughes As the meet got under 146.95-141.15, for the way, the score was half dozen points awarded for the top dive in the fairly close initially, as one meter diving compeIssaquah’s 200-yard medley relay foursome won by tition. The 100-yard buttertenths of a second with fly, meanwhile, was close a clocking of 1:43.36 and to being a photo finish, also struck gold in the
and came through for us in that match.” Tachiyama is a first-year wrestler and 285-pounder who stepped up in a big way for the Patriots, Brown said. “He came through as a heavyweight,” Brown said. “Fortunately, we have two heavyweights this year. One of them was ill, so Alejandro pinned for 285.” The 152-pound Small
defeated his Hazen counterpart, 8-1. The Highlanders actually brought their 145-pounder up to wrestle Small, to give both wrestlers a different challenge, Brown said. “I commend them for that. They didn’t have to do that,” he said. “But, when you get to a point where it’s getting toward tournament time, you
home services
want to try and get those good matches in so that you push wrestlers a little bit more.” The rivalry between the two Renton schools is more of a friendly one, Brown said. “We are kind of working on that rivalry and getting more involved,” he said. “We are neighbors, so there is a little bit of a pride thing going.”
Newport Hills Swim and Tennis Club
JOIN NOW Initiation Fee
only $250
From Page 14
but Liberty prevailed here as Patriot junior Connor Biehl finished hundredths of a second faster than Issaquah senior Austin Melody. The following race was the longest of the day, the 500-yard freestyle, which saw Liberty’s Klatt easily triumph, as he swam it in less than five minutes, posting 4:47.03. In the 100-yard backstroke, once again, the cream rose to the top as Liberty’s Biehl just beat out Issaquah’s Willy Matsuda 0:57.22 to 0:57.54. For the first time in the meet, Liberty claimed back-to-back blue ribbons as in the ensuing event, the 100-yard breaststroke, Patriot senior Raymond Ha flashed to a clocking of 1:01.87, while Issaquah finished second, third and fourth with slightly lesser times.
The event also offered the Hazen wrestlers another opportunity to compete, and even though the results were not what they hoped, dropping matches to Oak Harbor and Lynwood. However, the chance to contribute to such a worthy cause and support their coach was important to the team, Rory said. “They’re always pretty excited to wrestle for a good cause and this year was no different,” Rory said. “I think a lot of them feel honored to participate in such a cool event.” The Magana family hopes to expand the event in the coming years, but as it stands now, Susie Magana said she is proud of the initiative that her son has taken to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer. “This is Rory’s way of making it better for what we went through, and hoping that somebody else has a better chance than we had,” she said.
Certified Residential Specialists Choose a CRS Certified Residential Specialist when you buy or sell a home. Some CRS Realtors in King County are shown here. Call 1-800540-3257 for Certified Residential Specialists serving other areas or counties in the state. For more information on the CRS designation or for the names of CRS out of state, call 1-888-462-8841. The Council of Residential Specialists of Realtors National Marketing Institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.
Barbara Andersen
Laurie Ashbaugh
(425) 392-1211
(425) 450-5287
John L Scott Greater Eastside
Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside
Cindy Hamman
RE/MAX Integrity Greater Eastside & Seattle
(425) 442-4942
Steve Honnen
Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside & Sammamish
(206) 819-6166
through the end of April
Swim Teams & Lessons Available
RBC Fence Cedar/Chain Link Build/Repair RBCFence.com
RBCC0C*953KZ
425.444.6149
(NON-MEMBERS WELCOME)
To advertise in Home Services call us at 425-392-6434 and get results!
5464 119th Ave. S.E. Bellevue • 425-746-9510 For information on dates and times, www.nhstc.com • info@nhstc.com
CALL ABOUT OUR BANQUET ROOM! BOOK YOUR GRADUATION PARTY TODAY!
Debbie Kinson Windermere Greater Eastside
(206) 948-6581
Kathy Lee
Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside
(206) 465-7062
Bev Parsons
Coldwell Banker Bain Greater Eastside & Seattle
(206) 972-0649
“Fewer than 4% of the Realtors in the nation have their CRS designation but they account for 24% of all the transactions. Do the math. Maybe it’s time to call CRS!”
Also try us at the CRS web site
www.crs.com
–Jerry Rippeteau, Associate Broker, CRS CRS Washington State Chapter
CRS Agents: Increase your visibility by participating in the special CRS page. Contact Jill at (425) 392-6434 ext. 229 or jgreen@isspress.com
Newcastle News
PAGE 16
Newcastle’s #1 Repair Shop for over 40 years!
ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER
• Auto Repair • Tune-Ups • Diagnostics • Alignments • Brakes • Tires • Major Engine Repairs • General Maintenance and more...
Newport Hills Chevron 5804 119th Ave S.E. Bellevue - 98006 www.newporthillschevron.com
FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Clubs From Page 10 the Hazelwood area. Call 255-0895. q MOMS Club of Renton meets for play dates at parks and other locations. New activities are planned daily. This
nonprofit, nonreligious organization provides daytime support for moms and their families. Call 260-3079. q Bridge players are wanted, evening or daytime. Games take place at various homes in the Hazelwood area. Call 2550895. q Newcastle Historical Society meets at 4 p.m.
the first Thursday at City Hall, 13020 S.E. 72nd Place. Call 891-8149. q An international dinner, sponsored by Baha’i Faith of Newcastle, is at 6:30 p.m. the third Friday. Call 430-8047. q Drinking Liberally, an informal progressive social group that discusses politics, meets at 7 p.m. the first and third
Don’t wait until spring
It’s a sellers market now!
Prsrt Std U.S. POSTAGE PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71 Thursday at Angelo’s Restaurant, 1830 130th Ave. N.E., Bellevue. Go to www.drinkingliberally.org. q Hill ’N’ Dale Garden Club, meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday September through May at the Newport Way Library, 14250 S.E. Newport Way. Call 747-2953.
Experience the Bible from a Jewish perspective
In the heart of Newcastle 7935 136th Avenue SE (425) 793-3000 www.BeitTikvah.us
Saturday Morning Service 10:30AM Bible Study: Saturday 9:00 AM
New Price
Hylan Slobodkin, Messianic Rabbi
Visit our website www.MyNewcastleHouseValue.com designed to help you follow the activity of house sales in your neighborhood. Luxury in the Reserve $1,285,000 From the moment you walk in the door of this custom built home you’ll know you’re in for a treat. Large but homey, you’ll love all the spaces including a master on the main, 3 additional beds/office/media/bonus room. Perfect combo of cul de sac, golf course and privacy.
This is current and accurate information direct from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.
Experience Integrity Results For all your real estate needs call...
Lake Boren Waterfront $495,000 Rare opportunity to build your dream home on this over 1/2 acre Lake Boren waterfront residential lot! Pristine and private setting yet close to numerous parks and community recreation including Lake Boren Park, Newcastle Beach Park, Cougar Mountain and Lake Washington Bike Trail. Close to shopping, schools, medical clinic, I-90 and I-405. Drive by today!
Remember what breakfast used to cost? still does! only $7.49
Renton: 4750 Lake Washington Blvd. NE Bellevue: 2223 148th Ave NE
444.SALE(7253)
(425)
julievaron@johnlscott.com
New! Shire Sausage Skillet