Local athlete dives her way to the top in Western Region Page 18
Tension is high at school’s first geography bee Page 14
CCUD hikes water, sewer rates
February 3, 2012 VOL. 14, NO. 2
Increase is due to rising water costs from Seattle Public Utilities Welcome By Christina Lords
U.S. Rep Adam Smith meets with local leaders, constituents. Page 2
that we’ve had about what we’ve done there, we just want to make sure whatever the result of that property is … that we’ll be able to look back at what goes in there and still have that sense of pride,” he said. “The community of Newcastle has been very, very gracious to us for years. It’s important that we give this the consideration that this community deserves.”
Newcastle residents can anticipate increases as they open their water and sewer bills this month. The Coal Creek Utility District Board of Commissioners adopted new water and sewer rates for 2012 at its Jan. 11 meeting. The new rates take effect this month. The average single-family household will see its monthly water bill increase $4.48 and monthly sewer bill increase approximately 80 cents in 2012, according to the district. Water rates are scheduled to increase 12 percent in 2012 — with more than half of that increase due to the higher cost of water purchased from Seattle Public Utilities. Water rates will continue to increase by 6 percent in 2013 and 3.25 percent in 2014. Sewer rates are scheduled to increase 4.5 percent in 2012 and 2013 and 3.5 percent in 2014. Those percentages also apply to the district’s commercial, irrigation and multifamily rate classes. “We take any discussion of water and sewer rates very seriously, especially in these tough economic times,” CCUD Board President Pamela Martin said. “We also conducted an extensive and open public comment process as we considered these new rates. I believe we’ve met our responsibilities to maintain and improve our systems and to protect our customers as well.” The rate increase will help maintain the district’s water and sewer systems and fund infrastructure improvements necessary to ensure safe and reliable service for the district’s customers, CCUD General Manager Robert Russell said. Like many other utility dis-
See MATERIALS, Page 6
See RATES, Page 5
Ideas wanted Parks Commission seeks input on parks, recreation. Page 3 By John Jensen
Griffin Cour, a Newcastle resident, catches some air off of a snow pile near Newcastle Elementary School during the snowstorm that created havoc for city staff members for more than a week beginning Jan. 15.
Weather keeps city crews busy Building bridges Business owner helps Haiti residents rebuild. Page 13
You should know Free tickets are available to the Bellevue Arts Museum, KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Museum of History and Industry and the Washington State History Museum. Learn more at www.kcls.org and click on the “programs and classes” link.
Contact us: newcastle@isspress.com 392-6434, ext. 239
50¢
Public Works employees slept in City Hall overnight during storm By Christina Lords While most Newcastle residents endured the brunt of January’s snow, wind, ice and consequential debris from the comfort of their own homes, five members of the Newcastle Public Works maintenance crew weren’t so lucky.
Despite 16-hour shifts, equipment malfunctions and no covered space to put chains on vehicles, Public Works Director Mark Rigos said the city staff “did an exceptional job under the circumstances.” “We have a very small staff here,” he said. “They put in so many hours during this storm.
“They put in so many hours during this storm. Some had to sleep in City Hall … one of our guys didn’t go home for five or six days.” — Mark Rigos Newcastle Public Works director
Some had to sleep in City Hall … one of our guys didn’t go See WEATHER, Page 11
Mutual Materials eyes potential redevelopment By Christina Lords Nestled back from a short, paved driveway off of Newcastle’s Coal Creek Parkway, the now defunct Mutual Materials brick plant still looms large. Covered awnings still protect masonry products and other materials, stacked more than 10 feet high on pallets, from the rain. A small stream meanders by the closed chain link fence gat-
ing its entrance and a quiet has essentially blanketed the plant since it shut down its day-today operations last spring. But now a different kind of work is going on here — work that might lead to redevelopment of the site that would impact the city of Newcastle for years to come, a fact not lost on Mutual Materials executives and shareholders, Mutual Materials President Joe Bowen said. “Given the sense of pride
Newcastle News
PAGE 2
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
U.S. representative meets with local leaders, constituents By Christina Lords Although congressional redistricting doesn’t shift the city of Newcastle’s representation from the 8th to the 9th Congressional District until 2013, U.S. Rep. Adam Smith says he’s already prepared to make his case of focusing on the still-sluggish economy, job growth, and needed tax and education reform to his new constituency. The congressman — whose district now spans the area south and east of Seattle, including Newcastle, Federal Way, Renton and Bellevue — met with about 75 local government officials, business sector representatives and Newcastle residents at an informal gathering at Newcastle’s City Hall on Jan. 14. While the physical boundaries of his district may change, the regional focus of his work — which includes supporting higher education and technical colleges to teach skills needed to maintain manufacturing and other skilled-labor jobs — will not, he said. “There is nothing there
By Christina Lords
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (left) speaks with members of local and regional government and members of the public at an informal meeting at Newcastle City Hall in the Newcastle Professional Center on Jan. 14. illogical at all about my representing Newcastle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, the central district, the international district,” he said. “It fits perfectly with the issues that we’ve been
working on.” Smith’s district will become the state’s first majority-minority district, with more than 50 percent of the district’s constituents made up of racial or
ethnic minorities. The U.S. must continue to remain viable in the global market of manufacturing and technology-related jobs, especially when those sectors continue to expand rapidly in countries like China, Smith said. “When you think about this economy, when you think about people who are desperate for jobs who have been unemployed for two years, and they don’t have the right skills to match … we have to fix that,” Smith said. Technical and community colleges must receive adequate funding that allows students to be workforce-ready with applicable skills within one or two years, he said. Employers should continue to reach out to colleges and high schools within the region to make sure students have handson experience in a trade, Smith said. “The other thing that is critical is to get young people into these businesses so they understand how those businesses function … if you understand a business, you become employ-
able,” he said. Smith said Congress has a unique opportunity to re-examine the federal tax system after 2010’s two-year extension of Bush-era tax cuts comes to an end. “Simplifying that code would … free up a lot businesses and investors to have a far more predictable and understandable environment and at the same time bring in more revenue,” he said. At age 25, Smith was elected to the Washington State Senate in 1991 through 1996. In 1997, Smith beat out incumbent Republican Randy Tate for the 9th District seat. Smith serves as a ranking member of the House’s Armed Services Committee and has also served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Committee. He lives in Tacoma with his wife and two children. Call Smith at his Tacoma office at 253-593-6600 or go to his website at http://adamsmith.house.gov/contact to send him an email.
King County sheriff ’s deputies receive cardiac arrest equipment Local public health officials said equipment and training for King County Sheriff’s Office deputies to respond to cardiac arrest could mean the difference between life and death. King County Emergency Medical Services, a division of Public Health – Seattle & King County, plans to distribute 53 automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, to deputies interested in the training. Trained deputies can then be dispatched to a cardiac arrest call alongside emergency medical responders.
Equipped deputies arriving first at the scene of a cardiac arrest can start resuscitation and deliver the initial defibrillator shocks and, as soon as emergency medical responders arrive on the scene, they can take over resuscitation duties. Officials announced the initiative Jan. 4. “Training and equipping sheriff deputies with external defibrillators is a great service for all residents in King County and will definitely save lives,” Dr. Mickey Eisenberg, medical direc-
tor for King County Emergency Medical Services, said in a statement. “Rapid defibrillation can literally snatch the life from the jaws of death.” Officials said 15 deputies have already been trained and equipped with AEDs. The involved agencies plan to assign the remainder of the AEDs during the coming months as deputies receive training. “This is a voluntary initiative and all deputies receiving an AED have expressed their interest in participating in this life-
saving program,” Capt. Bryan Howard, emergency services coordinator for the sheriff’s office, said in a statement. Public Health – Seattle & King County provided funding for 49 of the AEDs. EMS levy funding is available for projects related to training for King County and a regional municipal workforce, as well as providing AEDs for King County facilities and vehicles. “Our sheriff’s deputies often arrive first at the scene of an emergency, and they are already
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trained to save lives,” County Councilwoman Kathy Lambert, chairwoman of the Security Oversight Committee and the Issaquah representative on the council, said in a statement. “These AEDs are important tools to have available in the field so we can get help quickly to where it is needed. “Recent placement of AEDs in the King County Courthouse already has saved at least one life, and now we can expand this capability throughout the community.”
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Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
PAGE 3
Parks Commission seeks input on the future of parks, city recreation Updates to PRO Plan will enable grant opportunities for city By Christina Lords The city of Newcastle’s volunteer Parks Commission is reaching out to residents for feedback as it looks to update the city’s parks section of its Comprehensive Plan — a document that could shape the city’s park space and recreational aspects for years to come. Parks Program Manager Michael Holly said the commission will conduct four to five online surveys asking questions about what residents would like to see in the city’s recreational future to better shape the city’s Park, Trail, Recreation and Open Spaces Plan, a major component of the Comprehensive Plan updates. The PRO plan encompasses guidelines for environmental stewardship, park design, natural planting, trail systems and other recreational elements. “Having recreation available to all types of community users
Broker certified as home marketing specialist Newcastle resident Greg Lussier, of Choice One Realty Group and Better Properties Real Estate, has been awarded the Certified Home Marketing Specialist Designation from Martha Webb, the woman credited with launching the staging industry. Brokers have recognized
is a part of this process,” he said. “The PRO Plan is the driving force behind what we do.” The feedback will guide the commission’s recommendations to the City Council, Holly said. The commission hopes to have its PRO Plan complete within a year, he said. “A long-range plan is important,” Holly said. “Not necessarily everything you want to do gets done within the next year. It does provide sense of direction, and maybe the direction has changed since the last time you looked at the plan. There’s nothing wrong with that, but you need to get a sense of what’s important to the community.” The updates also have financial implications for the city, he said. Because the PRO Plan hasn’t been updated since 2003, the city is ineligible for grant money from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office that could benefit city parks and protect and restore habitats, Holly said. The plan should be updated every six years for the city to remain eligible for funding from the office. Since the state office was founded in 1964, it has contributed Webb’s designation across the country as one of the best real estate marketing certifications available. Lussier has achieved professional certification as a home marketing specialist. "The CHMS designation is about much more than staging a home,” Lussier said. “Rather, it is designed to give brokers the insight and tools necessary to put a seller’s property first in line among the properties buyers
more than $1.4 billion to more than 6,400 projects, averaging about 230 grant awards for $60 million in contributions annually. To meet the state certification requirements while updating the plan, the city must provide an avenue for public participation in the process. More than 100 people completed the first installment of the surveys, which closed Dec. 31. Holly said while every project listed in the surveys may not be possible or feasible, the commission is looking to gauge and prioritize the community’s wants and needs for the long-term future. “This survey is assessing the needs of the community,” he said. “We want to know what do residents see as assets. Is it parks, recreation or trails-related? It’s import for the city to look forward in the next 20 years with what the community wants in mind.” The next survey should be out within two to three months and focus on the policies and goals that are discussed in the plan. Each time a survey is rolled out, a public hearing will be held by the commission to gather further testimony on the plan, Holly said. will consider.” The CHMS designation is a marketing course, with an emphasis on finding ways to present a home that attracts the best buyers at the best price for sellers, Lussier said. Lussier is a member of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce and is active with the Newcastle Historical Society. Learn more about Lussier by going to www.newcastlehomeresource.com.
Photo courtesy of the Renton Historical Society and Museum
The saloon at Newcastle was one social hub for miners who worked in the area. It was located off company property across the railroad tracks just north of the Company Store. It was built before 1878, and the building stood until 1920. The picture was taken in 1915.
Back tracking: an ongoing series about the history of Newcastle
Know more about this photo? Have historical photos of your own you’d like to see in the paper? Email them to reporter Christina Lords at Newcastle@isspress.com or call 329-6434, ext. 239.
State of the City address set for Feb. 8 As a part of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon series, Newcastle Mayor Rich Crispo will deliver the State of the City address at 11 a.m. Feb. 8
at Tapatio Mexican Grill. Lunch for chamber members is $20, and $25 for nonchamber members. The lunch includes food, tax and gratuity. Attendees are asked to RSVP by emailing info@newcastlecc.com.
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Opinion
PAGE 4
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Editorial
Guest column
Juvenile criminals’ names should be public
Renton bond deserves support
The Legislature is now considering two bills that would restrict access to records of crimes committed by minors, only allowing disclosure in the case of “serious violent offenses” as defined by law. Lesser violent crimes and property crimes would remain confidential. The bills are bad ones, and should be stopped. When a juvenile commits a serious crime, nobody involved takes the matter lightly. From the prosecutors to the courts, to the media that reports on crime, everyone weighs the value of punishing an individual against the needs of society. The policy at Newcastle News is to report the names of juveniles only when they are charged with a felony. We did not arrive at this policy lightly. We’re glad to say it is infrequent that we come across minors charged with felonies. We do understand the implications when we choose to publish the name of a minor. But we stand by the public’s right to know. If you were the victim of a string of home burglaries or neighborhood arson fires, you’d want to know who did it. We believe you’d want to know regardless of whether it was an adult or a teen — especially if the suspect lived next door. It is just as important to ensure that the wrong people are not accused of a crime. Too frequently, the schoolbased gossip mill implicates an innocent person. Reporting in the media can make clear who is actually the suspected criminal. Juvenile defense attorneys are asking the Legislature to rewrite the law because the publicity can have a negative impact on the lives of children once they reach adulthood. Certainly, a person should not have to suffer their entire life for a crime they committed when they were minors. But this proposal (Senate Bill 6292 and House Bill 2542) to restrict access to court records goes too far. The public needs to understand what is happening in their community and who is doing it. Restricting access to juvenile court records goes too far toward protecting the individual over the community as a whole.
Poll question What was the worst part of enduring Newcastle’s first winter snowstorm of the year? A. Two words: road conditions B. Two more words: cabin fever C. Clearing broken tree limbs and other debris D. The cancellation of meetings, school, sporting events or other activities Vote at www.newcastle-news.com.
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By John Galluzzo As a Newcastle resident, a Renton business owner and 2011 chairman of the Renton Chamber of Commerce, I understand the importance that a quality education system has on the vitality of a community and its children. It attracts and keeps businesses and families and has a positive impact on property John Galluzzo values, which benefits all of us. The Renton School District has demonstrated a quality track record that makes Renton (and surrounding communities within the district) a place where business owners can look to relocate and tout as a perk to prospective employees. Examples: District graduation rate: 93 percent for three consecutive years. All elementary schools increased test scores last year, most by 20 percentage points or more. The Renton School District has been recognized for financial management and reporting for eight consecutive years. 98 percent of teachers meet the federal definition of highly qualified; nearly 70 percent of teachers hold master’s degrees; 82 teachers are National Board Certified. Our superintendent was Washington state’s 2011 Superintendent of the Year and the school board was awarded the state’s 2011 Board of Distinction There are three important issues that need your support: 1. The education maintenance and operations replacement levy continues where the current levy ends, meeting the daily needs of the district, including teachers’ salaries and bus ser-
Rapid Response
vices. 2. The technology levy fund continues improvements in technology, including maintaining software upgrades, teacher computer training, cost of annual software licenses and making continued improvements in classroom technology. 3. The school building improvement bond will provide a much-needed new middle school in Newcastle. The new Hazelwood Elementary School was completed four years ago. A new middle school built next door on the Renton Academy site would be a tremendous asset to our community. Other improvements from the bond include upgrades and modernizations of other schools. This will fund the required renovation of the Lindbergh pool, a valued asset that will save the district money by lowering the operating costs of that facility. What will this cost the average property owner here in Newcastle whose children attend Renton schools? On average, a home in Newcastle (in the Renton School District) with a taxable value of $ 388,000 would see a roughly $266 per year or about $22 per month tax increase. Seniors on a fixed income, community members with disabilities and some of our respected veterans may be eligible for a residential property tax exemption. Contact the King County assessor’s website at www.kingcounty.gov/assessor/taxpayerassistance/taxrelief or call 206-296-3920. Without question, from districtwide improvements in test scores, graduation rates, capital projects (all completed on time and on budget), this district has earned our trust as exceptional stewards of these public funds. It is important for all of us to continue to provide the Renton School District the necessary funds to continue to provide all children in the district with an education we can all be proud of. Vote yes for Renton schools on Feb. 14! John Galluzzo is a Newcastle resident and the chair of Citizens for Renton Schools.
constantly going by. I was amazed on Monday morning that they had been working all night, the results being the road was very clear. It has remained so all week. — Valerie Young
Has the city's response been adequate in light of the first major ‘snowstorm of the season?’ Yes! Days before the storm, I went for a run through Lake Boren and I saw the preparations of the trucks, equipment and all. They were ready. When the storm came on Sunday, the plows were hard at work and didn't stop until it was over days later. — Trina Sooy The city has done a really good job in my part of Newcastle keeping the roads as passable as possible under difficult conditions. I live on a neighborhood arterial, and the plow and sander are
Excellent, I saw them out there at 2:30 in the morning! —Lee Strom The magnitude of the storm was unusual for the region. I thought they did what they could given their tools. The city should close some hills sooner rather than later. We saw foolhardy drivers attempting dumb maneuvers and then abandoning their cars when it didn't work out. — Dave Martinez See RESPONSES, Page 5
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Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Neighborhoods report suspicious activity Multiple neighbors saw two males Jan. 24 in the backyards of houses along 127th Avenue Southeast between Southeast 73rd Street and Southeast 74th Street near the Newport Woods and East Donegal neighborhoods, according to a release from Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine. When confronted, the men
Rates From Page 1 tricts, CCUD purchases water from Seattle and wastewater treatment from the King County Wastewater Treatment Division. “Whenever Seattle increases our rates, we have to pass that through to the customers,” Russell said. “We have absolutely no control over that. That doesn’t go toward what we do as a district.” In 2011, the district’s financial consultants performed a study of the district’s finances. The consultants advised district officials that higher water costs from Seattle Public Utilities, facility improvement requirements and an overall decline in water use resulting from cooler, wetter summers in 2010 and 2011 would require a rate increase to make system improvements and keep the district’s credit rating at a sufficiently high level. The increase allows the district to finance water and sewer projects at the best possible interest rate, Russell said. While the new rates are lower than those first proposed by the district’s financial consultants, Russell said CCUD would begin discussions within the next six months regarding the district’s cost of service to ensure those costs remain equitable for each
ran away through other yards, the release stated. The Newcastle Police Department checked houses in the area and did not find any homes broken into near the location. Residents in the neighborhood are encouraged to report break-ins or suspicious activity by calling the nonemergency dispatch number 206-296-3311 or reporting it online at www.reporttosheriff.org. of the rate classes — changes that could affect entities like The Golf Club of Newcastle and the city of Newcastle, the two largest consumers of irrigation water in the district. The district conducted a public input process with two separate study sessions in December and a public hearing Jan. 5. CCUD is one of the only water systems in the region that has been fully upgraded to ductile iron pipe, which prevents leaks, saves water and protects water quality. Reinvestment in its system helps the district operate safely and more efficiently, Russell said. The increases will also help the district cover costs of repainting a 5-million-gallon reservoir, provide funding for improvements to a sewer lift system in May Valley and provide for a new pump at a booster station located in northwest Newcastle. The district operates a water and sewer service area covering the city and surrounding areas. “We want our customers to understand that when you look at what we’re providing … we’re still able to provide water at less than a penny a gallon,” Russell said. “I know what it feels like when you get a bill and your rates have increased. It bothers me a lot, but people need to understand that there’s a lot that goes into providing that service, and we’re still able to provide that at a reasonable cost.”
Responses From Page 4
What are your thoughts on the City Council providing funding in its 2012 budget for a reconstructed covered stage at Lake Boren Park? Seems reasonable. That park is the heart of our city, and that stage gets a lot of use in the summer. Just build it to withstand wind shear. — Lee Strom
PAGE 5 This would be an excellent investment. Lake Boren is the hub and pride of the community that brings both sides of Newcastle (the 98056 and 98059 sides) together and provides a welcome place for visitors. —Trina Sooy
I constantly put books on hold, and I am really looking forward to the convenience of being able to pick them up close to home. And to dropping by to relax and read the magazines. — Valerie Young
As the library takes shape on Newcastle Way, what are you most excited for when it opens?
Books, music, videos and meeting rooms! We're members of various small organizations/clubs and finding quiet places to meet is always a challenge. — Dave Martinez
Teaching my kids about the joys of reading, research and books. — Trina Sooy
Join the conversation! Sign up to receive Rapid Response questions by emailing newcastle@isspress.com.
Newcastle News
PAGE 6
Materials From Page 1 A special opportunity Bowen said while the Newcastle facility has been a cornerstone for the familyowned company for generations, the company aims to take the property in a new direction after the depth and duration of the economic recession was too much for the plant to withstand. The plant has shut down twice since 2008. “It is a special opportunity because of the size of the site and how it could be integrated into the existing area,” Bowen said. “It’s pretty uncommon to have a site this big in this area. To have a clean tablet, if you will, to be able to draw something up from scratch … is a really, really unique opportunity for Newcastle.” An environmental study — with work that includes mapping out stream, wetland and mine-hazard locations — outlining how much of the 52-acre site located within Newcastle’s Community Business Center is expected to be complete and given to the city by early February, Community Development Director Steve Roberge said. Because the property, which is zoned for mixed-use residential and mixed-use commercial use, has several areas that are considered streams or wetlands, only a portion of the property is developable, he said. “That’s what they’re trying to figure out now,” Roberge said. “How big are the buffers? How
much of that area are they going to try to take up? Are they going to have to cross those buffers and do some mitigation? These are all things that will have to be worked out once the development is determined.” Once the city receives that information, the city is responsible for verifying the findings of the Mutual Materials’ study. Redevelopment would bring revenue City Manager Rob Wyman said city officials have been doing everything possible to facilitate a smooth transition for potential redevelopment. The project harbors potential to bring in much-needed revenue for Newcastle, he said. “Formally, at this point, the city doesn’t have an official role in this process, as they’re not in for permit,” Wyman said. “But all my conversations with them have been very, very positive. You really do get the sense that they want to be a partner in this, and we want to work with them. I think we both have the same goal: determine what’s best to put on that site.” If the property is redeveloped, short-term and long-term revenue could alleviate some of the burden of lower revenue projections for the city over the next several years, Financial Director Christine Olson said. “Several things happen when a property is being redeveloped like that,” she said. “Obviously if the property is sold, there’s real-estate excise tax the city would get. But then you’ve also got the construction of building … there is sales tax in the city for that.” Revenue comes into the city during such a project by way of review fees, permitting fees,
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Looking back to the beginning Mutual Materials’ history coincides with Great Seattle Fire in 1889 The day was unseasonably dry for June in Seattle. Little rain had been recorded. Temperatures were hovering steady in the 70s. John Back was at work heating glue over a gasoline fire at Victor Clairmont’s downtown Seattle woodworking shop the afternoon of June 6, 1889. But as the glue boiled over and caught fire, eventually spreading and burning about 25 city blocks in the Great Seattle Fire, Back would have more of an impact on Seattle history than he could have ever known. The next day, nearly 600 businessmen in the Seattle area came Residents receive a grand opening tour of the Newcastle brick plant together to determine how to in 1959. rebuild. to use for a brick plant and found an into the marketing and distribution It was mandated by the mayor ideal site at the base of Beacon Hill business, Builders Brick officially that the downtown business core and went on to found the Builders changed its name to Mutual would be rebuilt with brick. Brick Co. — Mutual Materials' preMaterials Co. in 1966. With only brick. decessor — in 1890. In 2003, the plant was boasting an Experienced bricklayer Daniel After Builders Brick went on to output of about 25 million bricks per Houlahan traveled from California to supply much of the brick that rebuilt year. help pave the city's roads and sideand continues to build Seattle, the Today, Mutual Materials is the walks — a journey that would help company purchased Mutual largest producer and distributor of rebuild Seattle’s infrastructure and Materials, a local distributor that masonry and hardscape products for eventually impact the city of opened its doors in 1959. household and commercial uses in Newcastle for years to come. After expanding its operations the Pacific Northwest. Houlahan located a clay deposit
impact fees for things like traffic and schools, and other revenue, Roberge said. Depending on what goes into the space, it could have further implications down the road, Olson said. “Once it’s established, if it’s any kind of retail, that’s huge for us,” she said. The scope of the project has lasting, unprecedented implications for Newcastle and a city the size of Newcastle rarely gets a project with such potential,
Wyman said, “This is a one-of-a-kind piece of property in Newcastle,” Roberge said. “It really is. It’s 50 acres, undeveloped, in Newcastle. We don’t have any more of that. It’s gone. There are a few medium-sized parcels, but nothing of this size and magnitude.” Depending on how the property is developed, city officials may have to make adjustments by possibly contracting more community develop-
ment-related work out for review to keep the project on target, he said. “The potential is massive because you’re dealing with a clean slate,” he said. “There are no roads there now. There’s no infrastructure. When you have a fresh development like this, you get to plan the whole thing. When you plan something that’s on that scale, there’s just so much available to you — from their perspective and the city’s perspective.”
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FEBRUARY 3, 2012
PAGE 7
Newcastle mom wins IKEA’s Stuff the Bug Contest Money raised by contest funds education worldwide By Sean Duncan There is no such thing as a free lunch, but Newcastle resident Angela Weber often attends IKEA’s free Monday morning breakfasts with a group of friends. That’s how she found out about the Stuff the Bug Contest. But on one trip in particular, it paid off big. “I thought it was really fun to see a VW bug stuffed with toys,” she said. The yellow classic Beetle was stuffed with soft toys to promote IKEA’s Soft Toys for Education campaign. IKEA held its annual Soft Toys for Education campaign from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24. Since 2003, the IKEA Soft Toy campaign has donated $47.5 million to UNICEF and Save the Children — a contribution that has provided access to education to about 8 million children in nearly 40 countries. For every colorful soft toy purchased at stores throughout the U.S. during the contest, IKEA donated $1.30, or the equivalent of one Euro, to UNICEF and Save the Children’s global projects designed to improve children’s education. People were invited to guess the number of soft toys inside the car. Weber entered only three guesses and one of them was the exact number, 286. Her thought process was that since the workers placing the stuffed animals probably have other duties, the number couldn’t be too high. “286 is an obscure, low, but high-ish number,” she said. Weber got to pick among three charities for the toys to go to. One of the options was the Ladies Auxiliary for Post 1 of American Veterans in Tacoma. She chose the Ladies Auxiliary because it sounded like the most grassroots, organic, local group that hasn’t received a lot of media attention yet. “I watch a lot of ‘Portlandia,’ and I wanted to keep it local,” she said. “Portlandia” is a comedy TV series on the IFC channel that purposefully overdramatizes Northwest hipster organic sensibilities. She said she supports women’s organizations in general.
The Ladies Auxiliary gives blankets and stuffed animals for the patrol cars of Pierce County officers, who often are the first responders to emergencies, so that the soft toys can be available to comfort children just coming out of a stressful situation. Donna Buck, president of the Ladies Auxiliary for Post 1, said she was excited to have the auxiliary chosen to receive the toys. “We’re very careful that we have very soft blankets and soft snuggly animals,” Buck said, adding when you visualize a police officer approaching a child who just got out of a fire or domestic-violence situation, having a blanket and toy can make a big difference. “It’s just something really comforting to have for a minute,” Weber said. Weber enjoys being the stayat-home mother of her 5-yearold daughter, and she has lived in Newcastle since 2010. Before that, she moved to Renton in 2009 from Iowa. “Most of my time is spent between volunteer work for my local church and for my daughter’s school,” she said. Weber volunteers at St. Stephen the Martyr, a Roman Catholic Church in Renton, where she has been involved with starting new ministries for stay-athome moms. She has also helped with decorating committees. “I’m a social worker by degree, so I have a mentality of knowing what service looks like on a governmental level and on an informal level,” she said. She received a $100 IKEA gift card for her correct guess. “More than likely I will spend it on myself with bookshelves, but that hasn’t been decided yet,” she said. Weber said bookshelves would be useful. Since having a child, she’s accumulated a lot of baby and toddler items that she feels she can’t get rid of because of their sentimental value. Buck said the auxiliary’s efforts are growing, and “if other organizations in other cities would be interested in doing this for other police, we’d be more than happy to fill them in, help them out and show them how.” Learn more about the project by calling 253-224-7837.
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Sean Duncan is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory. Comment at www.newcastle-news.com.
Donna Buck (left), president of Ladies Auxiliary for Post No. 1 of American Veterans in Tacoma, and George Hight, of the Marine Corps League Pierce County Detachment 504, tell Newcastle resident Angela Weber how the IKEA soft toys will be used by Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputies. Contributed
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Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
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Laughing all the way
amateur dancer's interview was posted on their website, and I'll guarantee you that my sister's answer to this question didn't look like anyone else's: Why are you dancing for Plymouth Housing Group? I should say I am dancing because Plymouth Housing Group is a terrific cause. While that is the case, truth be told I would dance for Bernie Madoff’s defense fund if it meant I could learn to dance with a pro.
It’s all in the family Several years ago I exchanged a series of letters with Patrick McManus, a humorist who has been writing very funny stuff for a long, long time. In one of Pat Detmer the letters, I asked him why it was that magazines and newspapers were generally leery of publishing humorous essays. His response was that humor frightened most editors because it's so subjective. (A moment of appreciative silence for fearless Newcastle News Editor Kathleen Merrill.) It makes me wonder: Where does a sense of humor come from, anyway? Is it genetic? I
can't say that my parents were laugh-out-loud funny, but the legacy that they left indicates a predilection to the comic. My father was often transferred and promoted, so we sometimes moved to a new city before we even had a chance to memorize our latest address and phone number. My sisters and I were forced to create a self-sustaining, insular social model so that when we moved to the next strange place, at least we had each other. Maybe that kind of familiarity breeds either contempt or a sense of humor to combat it. The first time I realized that I was considered amusing was when I was in the seventh grade. Our assignment was to give a five-minute speech on any subject. I wrote about the space between my teeth (no
You can reach Pat Detmer — who really is Laughing All The Way — at patdetmer@aol.com.
longer existent) and how it made it easier to spit out watermelon seeds, and I included a poem about my two little sisters being irritating and loveable at the same time. It was not that big a deal to me, just another homework assignment. When I presented it, the waves of laughter shocked me. More shocking was the fact that the nuns made me do it again and again in front of every
class in the school. It was my first tour, and what I loved the most was getting out of seventh grade assignments to allow for it. All of these musings regarding the origin of humor came to mind when my sister Susie Detmer was chosen for a Seattle version of “Dancing With the Stars.” It's a benefit to combat homelessness put on by the Plymouth Housing Group. Each
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Contributed
Cleaning crew Members of the Baha’i community of Newcastle pose before cleaning Coal Creek Parkway from Newcastle Way to the boundary of Renton for their adopt-a-road service project. Baha’is strongly value service as part of their spiritual beliefs.
These items should be in a backpack or other easily portable bag that is stored in a safe place for quick retrieval. Each family member should have their own kit. At least once a year, rethink your kit and replace batteries, food and clothes.
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Community
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Events The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon is from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Feb. 8 at Tapatio Mexican Grill, 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. Guest speaker is Newcastle Mayor Rich Crispo to give the State of the City presentation. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. RSVP to info@newcastlecc.com. The Newcastle Weed Warriors’ next project is maintenance and restoration work from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 11 and 25 at Lake Boren, 13058 S.E. 84th Way.
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Earth Day 2012 vendor, sponsor applications now available
Public meetings All city public meetings are at City Hall, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200. Call 649-4363. City Hall will be closed Feb. 20 for Presidents Day observance. ❑ City Council — 7-10 p.m. Feb. 7 ❑ Parks Commission — 6-8 p.m. Feb. 8 ❑ Planning Commission — 7-9 p.m. Feb. 15 ❑ City Council — 7-10 p.m. Feb. 21 Newport Way Library Association Meeting — 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, Newport Way Library, 14250 S.E. Newport Way, Bellevue
YMCA The Coal Creek Family YMCA, 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road, has regular family programs for all ages. For a
File
Glenn Wallace, Gary Hansen and Mark Yormark (from left), all of Renton, hear from Larry Ostrom about a 1986 Pontiac Fiero altered to be 100 percent electric during the 2011 Newcastle Earth Day.
complete schedule, call 2821500 or go to www.seattleymca.org/Locations/ CoalCreek/Pages/Home.aspx.
Library events The Newport Way Library is at 14250 S.E. Newport Way, Bellevue. The library will be closed Feb. 20 for the Presidents’ Day holiday. The following programs are offered the rest of the month: AARP Tax Help, 12:30 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. Thursdays
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eReader and Digital Download Demonstration, for adults and teens, 3 p.m. Feb. 7 and 7 p.m. Feb. 21 Opera preview: “Orpheus and Eurydice,” for adults, 7 p.m. Feb. 14 Computer class: “One-onOne Assistance,” for adults and teens, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Feb. 15 Chinese Book Discussion: “The Mysterious Girl,” for adults, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 18 Computer class: “Word Level 1,” for adults and teens, 7 p.m. Feb. 22
February
The application period is now open for sponsors and for vendors to host booths during Newcastle’s annual Earth Day celebration. The earlier businesses and nonprofit organizations get their applications in, the more exposure they’ll receive on the Earth Day website and other promotional materials, she said. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 21 at Lake Boren Park. It features informational mini seminars, a master gardener clinic, the opportunity to recycle appliances and cellphones, the Pacific Science Center’s Science in the Environment interactive display and geocaching. Food vendors and music by the Hazen High School Band and the Boeing Employees’ Concert Band will also be available. The event is held in conjunction with the city of Newcastle and the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce. Download a sponsor or vendor application by going to www.newcastleweedwarriors.org and click on the “Earth Day 2012” link in the center of the page. Learn more by emailing gracestiller@comcast.net or calling 228-7927.
2012
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
Newport Way Book Group: “Infidel,” by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, for adults, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 “Paul Gauguin and the
March
2012
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 31
Search for Paradise,” for adults, 7 p.m. Feb. 28 Computer class: “Internet Level 1,” for adults and teens, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Weather From Page 1 home for five or six days.” The storm began Jan. 15 and created problems for city crews for more than a week. While final estimates on how much the storms cost the city are still pending, Rigos said the equipment, sand, gasoline, deicing materials and extra labor could add up to more than $10,000. Power goes out for some Coal Creek Utility District crews met obstacles of their own after the district’s Meadowview II sewer lift station, serving The Reserve neighborhood, lost power from Jan. 20 through the afternoon of Jan. 22. The upper May Valley sewer lift station, which serves more than 150 families in the neighborhood of the Highlands at Newcastle, intermittently lost power that weekend as well. Despite the setbacks, district crews were able to maintain water and sewer services to all customers in the district. Both onsite and portable generators were brought into service, said Robert Russell, general manager at CCUD. They were operated and monitored around the clock in order to continue uninterrupted services to families in areas that had lost power, he said. Pamela Martin, president of
the CCUD Board of Commissioners, praised district staff for their work on behalf of customers. “We prepare for emergencies like this, and our employees took the actions necessary to ensure that no families lost these vital services during the recent power outages,” she said. While cleanup from the storms continues, power has been restored to all CCUD facilities and neighborhoods within its boundaries. ‘24 hours a day’ The city rented a hotel room within a few miles of Newcastle to allow crew members to catch up on sleep during the storm, while some hunkered down at City Hall with cots and sleeping bags instead of risking the drive home and not being able to make it back, Rigos said. “Some of these guys were just really hungry to help out the community,” he said. “Being a small city, there’s just not a lot of redundancies in staff that can do this work. The residents are counting on these streets to be plowed and sanded, so that’s what we did.” The city owns three snowplows; two of those have sanding capabilities. “Those things were running pretty much 24 hours a day,” Rigos said. “We even had shifts at night, some from 12 to 8 a.m. Those trucks were working 24-7 for five or so straight days.” One of the trucks had a mal-
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function and couldn’t deice the streets for a period of time, while another truck had a fuel filter go out Jan. 19 during the second phase of the snowstorm. That truck was out of commission for about four or five hours. City staff members reached out to the city of Renton during that time to make up for the down plow, but Renton trucks were running at full capacity, Rigos said. The city is now working on an interlocal agreement to be able to call in the assistance of a plow owned by CCUD, he said. Rigos said a member of the crew drove to Seattle to find the right part despite business closures and poor road conditions to ensure the equipment would be up and running as soon as possible.
In December, the City Council budgeted $150,000 to install a maintenance garage at Lake Boren Park that will enable employees to have a space to work on equipment in inclement weather in the future. Priority 1 routes on the city of Newcastle’s snow and ice priority route map, which include Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Golf Club Road, were maintained throughout the weeklong event, Rigos said, while other arterials and side streets were plowed as often as possible. Potholes were filled After the storm, he said he started to receive calls Jan. 20 from residents concerned about large potholes, especially along Coal Creek Parkway, that were
becoming a hazard for motorists. While he said January is not the ideal time to lay concrete due to weather conditions, road crews were filling the holes until more permanent fixes are possible. Crews were also busy after the storm cleaning up tree limbs and other debris throughout the city, collecting more than seven dump trucks worth of debris on Jan. 24 alone. “Some cities in the Midwest who are used to dealing with this … have dedicated funding for these types of snow events,” he said. “It can be a huge portion of their budget, but up in the Northwest, there’s just not as much money allocated toward this stuff, and when it does happen you feel it a little more.”
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Newcastle News
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FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Scouts experience need for speed By Christina Lords There were flashier setups in the mix. One car sported an elaborate R2-D2 paint job. Others boasted more intricate carving techniques, taking the shapes of a banana and a skateboard. But 9-year-old Will Slaton’s gray Pinewood Derby car maintained a more modest approach. Sure, special precautions were taken to make sure the wheels and axles had been sanded down to offer the least resistance on the track. A small amount of graphite had been added to the back end to give the rear some weight, while the sides of the car had been whittled down to create a more aerodynamic end product. But what Slaton’s car lacked
in pizzazz, it made up for in speed. It was crowned champion of Newcastle Cub Scout Pack 738’s 2012 Pinewood Derby held Jan.13 at Newcastle Elementary School. As champion, he’ll go on to face more formidable foes at the district level, he said, though he isn’t changing a thing. “I worked on it for about a week, about an hour at a time,” Slaton said. “I thought I was going to do good. I thought coming in I was going to win. I might put more graphite powder on the wheels to make sure it still goes fast, but I’m not going to change it too much.” As a four-year participant in the derby, it was Slaton’s first win. Dillon Gyotoku claimed second place at the event and Nicholas Disney came in third. Slaton said the event, where
By Christina Lords
Pinewood Derby champion Will Slaton (left), second runner-up Dillon Gyotoku (center) and third-place finisher Nicholas Disney receive trophies for the fastest car entries in Newcastle Cub Scout Pack 738’s annual Pinewood Derby on Jan 13.
On the Web Go to www.newcastle-news.com to view a slideshow of the Newcastle Cub Scout Pack 738 Pinewood Derby.
each Cub Scout designs, carves, paints, weighs and races a car with the help of a parent or other adult, is one of the most popular Cub Scouting events of the year. The first Pinewood Derby was held in 1953 by Cub Scout Pack 280C, of Manhattan Beach, Calif. Since then, more than 90 million Pinewood Derby model car kits have been sold across the country, and more than 1 million boys and parents team up each year to participate in the annual contest. “It’s really a parent-child geared event,” event chairman James Likes said. “There are books you can buy. There are YouTube videos you can watch. It gets pretty serious.” Winning cars are determined by the average time of four races for each contestant. Each car goes down each of the four lanes on the track one time to ensure one lane isn’t faster than another, Likes said. Each car entered into the race must be 5 ounces or less and must pass an official committee inspection prior to the event. Times are recorded and posted in real time via a projector — with cars clocking in at times equivalent to 200 mph if they were the size of a real automobile.
By Christina Lords
Dave Burrell leads the crowd in a countdown to release the race cars. While each contestant starts out with the same derby kit with the same block of wood, wheels and axles, the variations Scouts come up with offer surprises every year, Likes said. Special recognition was given to standout cars in five categories at the Newcastle derby:
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Best Scout Theme, Most Patriotic, Most Futuristic, Most Unique and Funniest Car. “This really gives these kids a good sense of how to start a project,” Likes said. “It teaches them how to use tools and safely sand and paint something that they’ll remember for a long time.”
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
PAGE 13
Local business owner sets out to help Haiti residents rebuild By Christina Lords The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that left much of Haiti’s capitol and surroundings in ruin may seem like a faint memory to some. But to Jeff Gaidjiergis, it’s an event he refuses to forget. The local business owner and May Valley resident, along with four other members of Renton’s New Life Church, will make his third trip in two years to help residents in the Port-au-Prince area rebuild. “There are very few buildings that have been constructed since the earthquake,” he said. “There are still a lot of tent cities that are down there. There are still people living in these tents and looking for food every day. Part of the problem is that yes, this happened, but it never was a very prosperous area to begin with.” Gaidjiergis will spend 10 days beginning Feb. 3 to help rebuild a church and school that had been destroyed in the January 2010 earthquake. He uses a portion of the profits of his Mr. Scrappy Recycling company to volunteer in Haiti, and also makes a mission trip to Mexico with his wife and children every year. The work is one leg of a series of trips to work on the project, which includes building a new church building and two additional structures to provide a safe, covered place for residents to gather. The church sends a group of between five and 15 people to volunteer on the same project several times a year, he said. Anyone interested can volunteer for a trip. “It’s a huge improvement to how they’re living now,” he said. “The church there now has a dirt floor. This is going to have a concrete floor and actual ventilation in the building to help move air around. This will mean better living conditions and a better space for the kids to go to school.” While the church takes offerings for the mission work, most individuals who go on the trips do so on their own time and their own dime, Gaidjiergis said.
Contributed
Jeff Gaidjiergis (center), a Newcastle business owner and New Life Church member, meets local children as he helps rebuild a church near Port-au-Prince during a recent mission trip with the New Life Church. The church aims to continue the work with upcoming trips slated for April and October, said Deanna Adler, assistant to senior and executive pastors at the church. Adler, who volunteered for the church’s November mission trip, said few buildings or homes in the area remain intact and the church will provide a place for school, church and community activities. “This neighborhood in particular is one of the poorest areas in Haiti, and they just don’t have money to rebuild,” she said. “The area is still in a state of complete destruction … they still have debris all over the place because there is no way for them to get it out.” Adler said the church began to provide volunteers and aid for the project following the earthquake when Bill Smith, a missionary who has lived in Haiti for 21 years, put out a call for help after the disaster. “The need is there — big time,” he said. “Even the strongest, biggest people we’ve gone down there with … we’ve shed some tears. It’s heart touching.” Learn more about the project by calling Adler, Pastor Ricardo Quintana or missions director Bert Fields at 2260880.
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Experience Tea Studio — taking you beyond the tea bag What is a tea studio? It’s a place to learn about tea, create tea blends and gifts of tea, taste different teas, and buy tea and tea tools. Offering many different fun and interactive classes, it’s better than a tea store — you actually learn what true tea is and taste teas to get to know what you like. And it’s right here, close to home at 195 Front St. N. in Issaquah. Roberta Fuhr developed the concept of Experience Tea out of a passion for true tea — its taste, expansive varieties, history and connection with cultures of the world. What does Iron Goddess of Mercy and Dragonwell have in common with Lipton? One is an oolong tea, one is a green tea and one is a black tea…but very surprisingly they all start out as leaves on the same plant species: Camellia sinensis. You will definitely learn something new about tea before you leave the studio. From the moment you step into the studio you get the impression that this is not an ordinary tea store. The warmth, fragrant tea scents, and inviting colors draw you in, and there are of course
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shelves of many different kinds of tea. But your eyes quickly go to the large round table and nine chairs — the sharing/tasting/learning center for participants in Roberta’s tea classes. Roberta will quickly welcome you and ask about your interest in tea and what you might be looking for. She’ll guide you through the studio, pointing out the sensory jars and then let you explore the teas to find just the right selection. The Experience Tea Studio classes are an explorative journey of tastings. There is an introductory class called Tea Discovery and from there you can take tasting classes in green teas, white teas, oolong teas, black teas and pu’erh teas. You can also take a tea blending class to create your own signature blend. Think of how fun it would be to have a group of friends all take a blending class together! The classes make a great gift — being a unique experience for the recipient. Discover more about Experience Tea Studio by visiting the website at www.experience-tea.com or call Roberta directly at 206-406-9838.
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SCHOOLS
PAGE 14
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Elementary school organizes first geography bee Winning student Colby Vuong has chance to enter state competition By Christina Lords Just slightly and not at all. That’s how much runner-up Bridget Ury and first-place winner Colby Vuong said they studied for Newcastle Elementary School’s National Geographic Bee — which concluded in a showdown of 14 contestants vying for the top spot in front of their instructors, classmates and family members. Newcastle Mayor Rich Crispo and Deputy Mayor Lisa Jensen served as official judges at the Jan. 13 event. Each fourth- and fifth-grade class held a geography bee of its own — sending two representatives of each class to go head to head with their peers for the school’s National Geography Bee. “These questions were a lot harder than the ones in class,” Ury said. “Then we had multiple
Photos by Christina Lords
After being selected as top two finishers in their respective fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms, 14 Newcastle Elementary School students went before their parents, peers and teachers to participate in the school’s first geography bee Jan. 13. choice answers of A, B, C, D … here you just pretty much had to know them.” Because Newcastle Elementary’s bee is a part of the National Geographic Bee, Vuong will have the opportunity to take a written test to qualify for the state bee. Vuong and Ury, both residents of Newcastle, represented the top-two qualifiers from Mariel Hanna’s fifth-grade class. The other 12 participants were Olivia Lesnik, Andre Wax, Brooke Ury, Dillon Gyotoku, Joey Eigo, Trisha
Jaggi, Tristan Brecht, Jacob Robblee, David Heyward, Toshin Rao, Tommy Todderud and Nathan Jackson. The top 100 students in the state, who are selected based on qualifying test scores, go on to represent their schools and compete at the state level March 30. Children in the fourth through eighth grades are eligible to compete each year. State winners are then invited in late May to the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., to compete
At left, Trisha Jaggi stands to answer her first question. Above, tension mounts as David Heyward, Toshin Rao and Tommy Todderud (from left) wait to answer their first-round questions.
in the national finals for scholarships in the amount of $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000. This is the first year Newcastle Elementary has joined thousands of schools across the country in the national test for geographic knowledge using materials from the National Geographic Society, event Fifth-grader Colby Vuong waits to reveal his organizer and answer to a written question during the final round. Newcastle PTSA Vuong went on to win the competition. member Stina Fluegge said. “We’re hoping to give an opportunity to create a sense of excitement and knowledge for Can you make these kids to learn about the the grade? world we live in,” she said. “We try to give students an arena for recognition at the school outside See if you have what it takes of athletics … There aren’t to match up with these always those opportunities for fourth- and fifth-graders by students to shine academically.” going to the National But make no mistake, Fluegge Geographic Bee’s website and said, the questions are far from taking the daily sample quiz at easy. www.nationalgeographic.com/ “These are some really tough geobee/quiz/today. questions on here,” she said. “It’s not as simple as you might think.”
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Hazelwood community garden takes students back to nature
generation of children can be from nature and the outdoors. “There’s so much more technology zapped at them these days that they just don’t get outside as much,” she said. That’s when Ingalls said she began talking to Hazelwood’s groundskeepers and administration about coming up with an on-site, gated location for the garden that will hopefully become a place to nurture a variety of vegetables, fruits and flowers for years to come. “My goal is that obviously teachers can take their entire class out …. we’ll have enough supplies for them to do that,” she said. “The kids will get a chance to get out there and see the process of ‘I put this tiny
seed in the ground, and I came back in September and I pulled this out of the ground. And look. I have a carrot.’” She said she eventually hopes to have support from the school’s cafeteria staff to be able to use some of the food grown in the garden for meals at the school. “My vision was to create the garden and give each grade level an opportunity to tie in the science they’re already doing out there,” she said. “It’s not just fluff. We’re not just out there playing in the dirt.” Through a DonorsChoose.org project, Ingalls was able to buy a set of garden tools for each classroom, as well as a wheelbarrow, composter and pop-up greenhouse. She said she would continue to apply for several garden grants and work with Hazelwood PTSA members to help fund and enable the project’s success in the coming year. Ingalls said she needs volunteers within the community to help with the garden planning, construction and maintenance throughout the year. “We really want to have this garden be community focused,” she said. “We welcome any support … from donations to labor to construction to garden parties.”
Do not send the original artwork. All submission should include the student’s name, grade, school, teacher and parent name. Mail photocopies or CD and email to Lissy Mandel, Communications Department, Issaquah School District, 565 N.W. Holly St., Issaquah, WA 98027. Or email high-resolution
digital images of any size to mandell@issaquah.wednet.edu. The art selection will be finalized in May, and the district will notify families and request a brief statement giving the district permission to publish the picture and the student’s name, grade, school and teacher in the 2012-13 calendar.
By Christina Lords Every year, the Renton School District provides teachers in each grade science kits that enable them to teach hands-on basic science in three categories: life, physical and earth sciences. Kindergarteners get the animals two-by-two kit, where they study the structure and behavior of snails. First-graders use units about insects and seeds. But Kate Ingalls, whose second-grade class will tackle the air and water kit this year, said she’s ready to take that hands-on learning to a whole new, integrated level by way of founding Hazelwood Elementary School’s first community garden. She said she wants to see the students with dirt under their fingernails while they expand their relationship with the world around them. “We certainly have involved parents, we have the space and we have a PTSA that is very supportive of us,” she said. “I started looking at the possibility of doing a garden but tying it in to the science that we’re already doing.” After reading child advocacy expert Richard Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods,” Ingalls said she started to grasp just how out of touch today’s
Art submissions sought Students are invited to submit artwork or photos for the Issaquah School District’s 201213 student art calendar. Entry deadline is April 6. Physically submit either high quality 8.5-by-11 color copies or high resolution digital images of any size on CD.
Get involved Be part of the Hazelwood Community Gardens project by emailing teacher Kate Ingalls at kathryn.ingalls@rentonschools.us or go to — http://hazelwood.rentonschools.us — and click on Ingalls’ name under the “Teacher Websites” tab to join the Hazelwood Community Garden discussion board.
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PAGE 15
Teacher librarian named teacher of the month
the University of Washington to study in the dental or pharmaceutical fields.
Diane Ferbrache, teacher librarian at Hazen High School, has been selected as the Renton Rotary Club’s teacher of the month. She attend- Diane ed Texas State Ferbrache University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Ferbrache attended the University of Houston, where she earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and instructional technology. She also has certification in library media services from Sam Houston State University. Ferbrache has been a teacher in Renton for 18 years.
Free preschool classes to be offered
Renton Rotary honors Kyle Arinobu The Renton Rotary Club has selected Hazen High School senior Kyle Arinobu, who has a 3.9 grade point average, as student of the Kyle Arinobu month. Arinobu has been involved in National Honor Society, Gordy Guides/Ignite, cross country and baseball. He has received the Advanced Placement Scholar Certificate, has several Athletic Scholar certificates and has several varsity and junior varsity letters. Arinobu volunteers with the Newcastle Weed Warriors, Bellevue Farmers Market, Blaine Methodist Church and Nikkei Concerns. He plans to attend
The Issaquah School District is offering a chance for parents of preschool-aged children to enroll their youngsters in Early Childhood Education classes at no cost to the families. The district is looking for typically developing youngsters to be part of Early Education classes that serve children with special needs at Apollo, Discovery and Sunset elementary schools. Each classroom may have up to 12 children with special needs along with three typically developing peers — who will pay no cost to participate in the preschool program. Research shows that such combined learning opportunities benefit both special-needs and typically developing children. Students must be at least 3 years old by April 15 to participate. Any interested parent can pick up an application and get more information at the main offices of any of the three elementary schools involved. Applications are due Feb. 10; peer volunteer screening is scheduled for Feb. 15.
Newcastle holds kindergarten orientation Newcastle Elementary School’s Kindergarten Parent Orientation night is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at the school. Families with an incoming kindergartner at Newcastle Elementary for the 2012-13 school year will receive registration packets and other information at the event. A student must be 5 years old by Aug. 31 in order to start school next year. Proof of the child’s birth date, immunization records, proof of residency and a parent’s driver’s license must be provided while registering a child.
SPORTS
PAGE 16
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
By Scott Coburn
Highlanders go dipping Members of the Hazen High School swim team celebrate the new year by participating in the Jan. 1 Polar Bear Dip at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park on Lake Washington Boulevard in Renton.
Select baseball club has Newcastle roots By Christina Lords Bellevue Warriors coach Michael McCrite tells his base-
ball players one thing to always remember: How they train and perform at the high school level is the first job interview they’ll
By Michael Stein
Jake Stein, a Newcastle resident and Maywood Middle School student who has played for the Bellevue Warriors for three years, bats during a tournament in March 2010 in Gilbert, Ariz.
have to play in college or beyond. And they’re not even in high school yet. The Warriors, a select club with a 13 and under and 14 and under team, was organized by several parents from Newcastle in August 2009, so children in the area would have a program in place that offered a higher level of competition than was available in the area’s Pony League. “Like a lot of select teams here in the Puget Sound area, there’s a real need for kids to have quality coaching,” said Michael McCrite, coach of the 14U team. “The difference between this club and others is that the team here has 57 years of combined coaching experience.” The team isn’t limited geographically, and includes players from Newcastle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Marysville, Renton and other towns in the Puget Sound area, and there are open spots for the club’s 13U team. McCrite said the team is also looking for more coaches to help with the team. Jake Stein, 14, and Sam Harrington, 13, Newcastle residents who have played baseball together since they were fourth-
graders, said the team was a great place to improve their skills. “I’ve always worked hard at baseball and I thought this team would be a place to take it up a notch,” Stein said. “I wanted a team that did conditioning in the off-season and training pretty much year round.” Both players said they have their sights on high school, college and professional baseball.
Get involved Learn more about the team at its website — www.bellevuewarriorsbaseball.com — emailing bellevuewarriorsbaseball@hotmail.com or calling Michael Stein at 223-7000.
“You have to have a great attitude to be here,” Harrington See BASEBALL, Page 17
By Michael Stein
Members of the Bellevue Warriors speak with coach Carson Cook during a game played in a March 2010 tournament in Gilbert, Ariz.
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
PAGE 17
Liberty girls topple Mercer Island for 59-50 win By Christina Lords As Liberty High School Patriots girls basketball coach Randy Leifer looks to wrap up the regular season, he’s sure this year’s past and future success hinges on how deep his bench is. As the Patriots took on conference opponent Mercer Island the evening of Jan. 25, all but two players on the roster scored for the team. “I think we really have a lot of depth on our team, and we shot the ball well tonight,” Leifer said after the 59-50 victory over the Islanders. “We didn’t rebound as well as we should have been, though, and we’ll work on that.” Starting junior forward Delane Agnew had a team-high 14 points for Liberty — eight of those dropped the first quarter to give Liberty a big push up front — in the contest. Starting sophomore guard Sierra Carlson contributed 12 points and four rebounds, while senior guard Stephanie Yea knocked down two three-point shots in the first half and ended the game with eight total points. The score was 29-14 at the half. While Liberty senior center Aspen Winegar, who is averaging 13.9 points per game, only came up with four points against the Islanders, she contributed eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks on the night. “Having that depth makes for
By Greg Farrar
Sierra Carlson, Liberty High School sophomore guard, shoots at the basket in the fourth quarter against Mercer Island Jan. 25, looking for some of her 12 points in the 59-50 victory. a nice dynamic on the team because people can play all game and get some time in,” he said. “If someone isn’t doing that well that night, then there’s someone else already ready to come in.” Leifer said as the team looks to wrapping up the regular season and begins to prepare for playoffs, the team must shore up its rebounding skills to deny other teams at second — and third — chance shots. Turnovers remain a stumbling block for the team as well, he said. “After taking that break because of the weather, I think we need to just need to get everybody back in shape,” Leifer
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said. “We need to cut those turnovers down and get more aggressive with our rebounding. Those are the two big things we’ll need to focus on.” Mercer Island’s Julia Blumenstein and Ari Moscatel led the Islanders with 16 and 10 points, respectively. By Greg Farrar
Delane Agnew, Liberty High School junior forward, lofts two of her 14 points against Mercer Island over sophomore guard Ari Moscatel during the third quarter.
Christina Lords: 392-6434, ext. 239, or newcastle@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
Baseball From Page 16 said. “This is not a team to just come and mess around on.” The team practices and trains 11 months out of the year, taking only August off to hold tryouts, McCrite said. Each team practices twice a week at The Old Ballyard in Bellevue during the winter, and many of the players take part in an infield camp and private lessons at Rijo Athletics in Woodinville.
McCrite said while the team plays in the Sandy Koufax division in the Washington State Select Baseball League beginning in April, the team organizes pickup games and other scrimmages to test and maintain their skills year round. “The idea behind it is to provide a professional quality coaching staff to produce kids that will not only make their high school teams, but to contribute to their high school team and beyond,” he said. The team also competes in local and travel tournaments from March to August. The
Warriors will travel to their first tournament in Tempe, Ariz., in March, Michael Stein, a founding organizer of the club, said. “Our long-range intent was, and is, to provide a bridge to enable middle school boys to advance to a high-level high school baseball program while instilling in our players an appreciation of the importance of their educations and community service,” he said. “Although we aren’t promising it, we certainly hope and expect that some of our kids will earn college scholarships and play baseball in college.”
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PAGE 18
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Diving to the top Newport Hills resident Maraea Skeen is among the elite athetes in the Western Region By Sarah Gerdes Diving has become one of the most popular spectator sports at the Olympics. It combines the unique attributes of gymnastics, dancing, grace and athleticism. But for 20-year-old Newport Hills resident Maraea Skeen, diving also offers something else. “It’s a thrill,” she said, describing jumping from 20 feet above the water into a cold pool. Skeen’s zeal for diving has lifted her from the ranks of elite high school athletes to a top competitor in the Western Region. “In all my years of coaching, I’ve never once seen a person, male or female, have such intense concentration at such a young age,” said Penny Yantis, Skeen’s high school dive coach. Yantis trains the dive teams for the four Bellevue High Schools, as well as Mercer Island. Penny trained Skeen for four years, but had also seen her as a 9-year old, teaching herself to dive. “What sets Maraea apart from her peers is a natural affinity for diving, as well as the focus and athleticism,” Yantis said. Skeen did have her challenges. The biggest hurdle she faced as a high school athlete was an inconsistent approach.
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“The lead up to the actual jump makes or breaks the dive,” Yantis said. “If the walk, the jump, the arms and the body movement isn’t synchronized, the entire dive will be affected.” Always the underdog Economics were also a challenge. “I was a penny pincher,” said Terry, Skeen’s mother. “With five kids, the first child never even had a new pair of shoes. By the time Maraea developed into swimming, we couldn’t invest in her the way we would have liked.” While other elite divers at the high school level trained daily at private clubs, Skeen attended only once a week. “Driving to Federal Way and managing the house was a juggle,” Terry said. She was also dubious her daughter’s passion would yield long-term results. “I wasn’t thinking about college tuition or a scholarship,” she admitted. Although three of the four children had gone on to attend Brigham Young University, none had been eligible for a scholarship. Skeen’s older sister had briefly practiced with the dive team, but ultimately decided grades came first.
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Maraea Skeen (left) is joined by her coach Julie Weddle at the medal ceremony for 1m at the MWC Championships in 2011 after Skeen earned second place. That didn’t deter Maraea. Every day after attending the Running Start college preparatory program at then-Bellevue Community College, she trained with the dive team. Her placements were usually in the top 10, but rarely in the top three. When Skeen arrived at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, all of that changed. Skeen was suddenly beating the young women who had placed above her in previous years. She attributes this to the training and coaching staff at UNLV. Yantis said she believes it was something more. “When Maraea was doing a little club diving, she was competing with kids who were working out year round and working at the elite club level,” Yantis said. “At college, they are all training about the same, and Maraea was no longer at a disadvantage. That’s where her hard work and athleticism pays off. Now, she has the opportunity to be equal.” From underdog to the top The statistics prove Yantis’ point. Skeen was the 2010-11 Mountain West Conference Scholar-athlete award. She’d received the top academic award for three semesters of the year. She was also the 2010-2011, spring academic All-Mountain West athlete. Her finishes are
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As college acceptance letters start to go out, many parents begin the agonizing task of figuring out how to pay for tuition and expenses. According to Maraea Skeen, now 20 and starting her master’s program, Running Start saved her (and her parents) tens of thousands of dollars. “My older sister participated in the program part time,” Skeen said. “When I was a junior, I decided it was a pro-
Contributed
Maraea Skeen pulls off a final twist before hitting the water at the Mountain West Conference Championships in 2011. always in the top three, and in many cases she is No. 1. “I think it surprised my coach a little,” Skeen said. She has broken a number of diving records at UNLV, and as a sophomore was named captain of the dive team. Skeen was recently home for a short break before she begins her master’s program at UNLV. With two years of eligibility left, UNLV has given her a full athletic scholarship, which pays for
all tuition, room and board plus a stipend. “It’s more than I ever imagined,” her mother said. Skeen herself said she is a little surprised that she has achieved so much with her sports and academics. And she’s not done yet. “I still have two years left to compete,” she said. Sarah Gerdes is a freelance writer. Comment at www.newcastle-news.com.
gram I wanted to do full time.” Running Start is offered to juniors and seniors on the Eastside through Bellevue College. Applicants must be enrolled in a public high school to be eligible, but they are not required to attend public high school. Upon acceptance, the state will pay for up to 15 credit hours per semester. “The wonderful part of the program is that students receive dual high school and college credit,” Skeen said. When she graduated as a senior, she had also earned her
associate degree. Running Start hours are also flexible, from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., conducive for studentathletes or those who work part time. Skeen said the program also helped focus her in the right career direction. “It helped me refine the areas of interest for my career, and went a long way to helping me determine to get my master’s degree,” she said. To learn more information about Running Start go to http://bellevuecollege.edu/ hsprograms.
Newcastle News
FEBRUARY 3, 2012
Police blotter Bags packed, sacked A woman reported Dec. 11 that her 2004 Toyota Matrix was broken into and about $375 worth of personal items in a blue cloth suitcase were stolen. The damage to the woman’s driver’s side window is estimated at $375.
:P A Bellevue woman was transported to a hospital for detoxification after she consumed alcohol and a disturbance was reported Dec. 14 at the Coal Creek Apartments, 6802 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. The woman was asked to leave the apartment but had no way to transport herself back to a Bellevue clean-andsober house, where she lives. The woman was not cooperative with police, began speaking in other languages and sticking out her tongue at officers.
Move and lose A Newcastle man reported his laptop and other personal items, including his passport and Boeing Co. identification, were stolen between Dec. 16 and 18 while he was moving into a new residence in the 13800 block of Southeast 79th Drive. The loss is estimated at more than $1,300.
Debit card fraud A Newcastle woman reported fraudulent activity totaling more
than $2,200 on her Bank of America debit card account Dec. 17. The woman said the charges began Dec. 8, and she had received three Click-N-Ship payment confirmation emails from USPS Shipping Services. The addresses the items were shipped to included locations in California and Texas.
House burglarized Nearly $6,000 worth of items, including jewelry, laptop computers, an Xbox and a television, were reportedly stolen in a residential burglary sometime between Dec. 18 and 19 in the 7400 block of 125th Place. The suspect forcibly entered the home through a back door by throwing a large rock through a Plexiglass window.
Ford Escaped A 2008 gray Ford Escape was stolen between Dec. 18 and 19 from the 14800 block of 200th Avenue Southeast. The vehicle was parked on a steep driveway and could not have been seen from the street. The vehicle was left unlocked.
Home broken into via lawn ornament A woman living in the 7300 block of 127th Avenue Southeast reported her home had been broken into between Dec. 24 and 25. An unknown suspect reportedly threw a concrete bird lawn ornament through the down-
stairs sliding glass door and took a television, camera, iPod, video camera and some jewelry. The loss is estimated at $3,675.
IOU whaaat? A Newcastle woman told police she received a letter from the U.S. Department of the Treasury saying she owes the government more than $248,000. The woman said she does not believe she owes the Treasury money.
Security responds to Maywood break-in A man who works in security for the Issaquah School District and lives near Maywood Middle School responded to an intruder alarm at Maywood’s gymnasium the night of Dec. 28. The front gate to the school was open and the gate lock had been cut, but nothing at the school, which is under construction, seemed to be broken or stolen. There are no suspects or investigative leads at this time.
PAGE 19
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You’ve got (no) mail A $200 curbside locking mailbox will have to be replaced at the home of a woman living in the 11300 block of Southeast 76th Place after someone pried it open between Jan. 6 and 8. It is unknown if any mail was taken.
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PAGE 20
Newcastle News
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Local students make WSU honor roll The following students were named to Washington State University’s president’s honor roll for the 2011 fall semester. To qualify, undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine graded hours in a single term at WSU and earn a grade point average of 3.75 or earn a 3.5 cumulative GPA based on 15 cumulative hours of graded work. Newcastle: Michael Chau, Adriana Ho, Vy Hoang, Henry Kohm, Rosalyn Krueger, Lauren La Fontaine, Katie Lane and Ryan Maio Renton: Matthew Asahara, Lauren Bay, Kelsey Beer, Hannah Blue, Ashley Brennan, Emily Dennison, Jeffrey Elliott, Tiana Ellison, Cameron Fuentes, Nicolaus Hoifeldt, Nathan Janders, David Johnson, Kelly Knauss, Henry Kohm, Paige Lane, Janelle Mattern, Georgia Mee, Rodney Pearce, Tiffany Sasaki, Joseph Sawyer, Ian Smith, Thor Steingrimsson, Sarah Wilcock and Teresa Wong