Maywood artists are state Reflections finalists Page 14
Liberty rugby team builds a culture Page 16
March 2, 2012 VOL. 14, NO. 3
Redevelopment stressed in State of the City By Christina Lords
Newcastle Mayor Rich Crispo stressed financial responsibility and smart economic development — and redevelopment — during the city’s 2012 State of the City address. The address, given before residents and the Newcastle
Chamber of Commerce at its monthly luncheon Feb. 8 at Tapatio Mexican Grill, laid out big-picture goals for the city for the upcoming year and beyond. The city must find a balance of opening its doors to new growth and redevelopment without losing its sense of identity, he said.
“The first thing we have to do is let people know Newcastle is open for business,” he said. “That may sound kind of trite, but when you think about the 17 years of this city and how many new buildings have been put up here in a commercial sense … you have Valley Medical Center, you have the
library that is in construction right now and you have the professional building. That’s it.” Crispo cited the City Council’s work to revamp Newcastle’s downtown business code last year as ways the city has tried to entice new developSee MAYOR, Page 5
Renton School District voters defeat middle school bond
Prepared for disaster
Newcastle woman encourages readiness. Page 2
Operations, technology levies are supported By Christina Lords
Fighting back
MS sufferer combats disease at the gym. Page 12
Police blotter
Page 19
You should know Newcastle city staff members are available to accept passport applications for residents from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday at City Hall. Call 649-4444 to set up an appointment. Contact us: newcastle@isspress.com 392-6434, ext. 239
50 ¢
Contributed by the Bellevue Fire Department
This Newcastle home, in the 6400 block of Lake Washington Boulevard Southeast, caught fire Feb. 3 after a stack of cardboard boxes were ignited by radiant heat from the home’s fireplace.
House fire causes $500,000 in damage By Christina Lords A residential fire in Newcastle destroyed a home the afternoon of Feb. 3 and sent one of the occupants to the hospital with minor burns. The home is located in the 6400 block of Lake Washington Boulevard Southeast. The fire was caused by radiant heat from the home’s fireplace that ignited a pile of boxes stacked nearby, Bellevue Fire Department Lt. Troy Donlin said. The fireplace was located in the home’s sunroom area. It progressed through the home by burning through a nearby sliding glass door and entering the kitchen.
Because of working smoke detectors, a 22-year-old woman was able to exit the home without injury. The woman’s stepfather was also home at the time and was taken to the hospital after he was first found unresponsive with burn injuries, Donlin said. “After he left the scene, those turned out to be very minor injuries and very minor burns,” he said. The owner of a gas station less than a block away called 911 when he heard the smoke detectors and saw smoke coming from the home. Firefighters arrived within five minutes to find the back of the home engulfed in flames, Donlin
said. The second and third floors of the home were destroyed by the fire. Donlin said the residents had moved into the home less than three weeks before the fire. Firefighters from Bellevue and Mercer Island worked for just under an hour to extinguish the flames. Members of the King County Fire Investigation Unit also assisted with the investigation. No firefighter injuries were reported. The initial damage is estimated at about $500,000. The family did have insurance and were being assisted by members of their church.
A Renton School District bond that would have provided funding for a new middle school in Newcastle came up 2 percent short of the votes needed to pass, but residents did support the district’s maintenance and operations and technology levies. The Renton School Board will examine whether the district should run the bond again in an upcoming election this year, district spokesman Randy Matheson said. It could be back on the ballot as soon as April 17. “While there is great need for another middle school, board members are interested in hearing if there is consensus among parents and citizens about running the bond measure again so quickly, and if the community is willing to assist in the shortened campaign to communicate the measure,” he said. The district’s building improvements bond required a 60 percent yes vote and a minimum turnout of 10,582 people. About 30 percent of registered voters cast their vote — or about 16,900 ballots — in the Feb. 14 election. About 9,900 voters approved the bond, while about 7,160 rejected it. See BOND, Page 2
Newcastle News
PAGE 2
Eastside Select hosts fundraiser for tourney
Eastside Select Sports is hosting several fundraisers to get players on four of its teams, including Torey Anderson of Newcastle and Justin Tucker of Renton, to the 2012 Latin American Baseball Classic in August in the Dominican Republic.
Bond From Page 1
The $97 million bond would have funded the new middle school at the former Hazelwood Elementary School site, now home to the Renton Academy. The Renton Academy facility would have been torn down and a new building built in its place. The facility could have been a traditional middle school or a magnet school to focus on a specialized curriculum, such a math or science. The bond would have also funded improvements to Lindbergh High School’s swimming pool. About 61 percent of residents voted in favor of passing the district’s replacement maintenance and operations levy, which provides 30 cents
The first is a jazz dinner March 31 at Carpenter’s Hall, in Renton, featuring live music by pianist Deems & Co., a barbecue chicken dinner, silent auction, raffle and other activities. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for ages 5-12 and children under age four are free. Learn more at www.eastsideselect.com.
of every dollar spent in the district, while about 60 percent voted in favor of its replacement technology levy, which funds technology-based education, buys equipment and covers nearly $1 million worth of software licensing fees the district must pay each year. “Having more than 60 percent of voters agree with and cast ballots in favor of anything (school district measures, political candidates, etc.) is incredible validation that the community appreciates and supports local education,” Renton School District Superintendent Mary Alice Heuschel said in a statement. “These election results provide clear public support of the hard work by district teachers and support staff, and the accomplishments of our students.” Final special election results were canvassed Feb. 28.
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MARCH 2, 2012
Before disaster strikes Newcastle resident encourages emergency preparedness in homes, neighborhoods By Christina Lords For Newcastle resident Paula Spence, there is no such thing as too prepared. Spence compiles and sells emergency preparedness kits as a home-based business. Taking the time to ensure you have the necessary supplies to endure something as small as a brief power outage or as big as long-term damage from an earthquake can mean all the difference for a family’s safety during a disaster, she said. “I know some people don’t like to think about it, but I just feel a peace of mind is important to know that you have the supplies on hand that will ensure your safety,” she said. After her now-grown sons began to attend St. Monica Catholic School on Mercer Island, Spence said she quickly began to realize how important emergency preparedness was. About 40 percent of the students lived off the island, and if a natural disaster were to occur, she said she wanted the school to be prepared in case parents were unable to pick up their kids due to an emergency. She began to take emergency preparedness and first aid classes, and worked with the school to have the necessary supplies on hand to be prepared. She also took on a volunteer position with the Seattle-based Red Cross, where she responded to emergencies first hand. That’s when she started to compile the Emergency-Pac, a red backpack with a three-day
Contributed
Paula Spence, a Newcastle resident and American Red Cross volunteer, compiles materials for emergency kits as a home-based business and promotes emergency preparedness in her neighborhood. supply of food and materials that could help a person respond and get through any emergency. “What I like about these things is that you can get them and just forget about them,” Spence said. “You put them wherever you need to be and forget about them until you need it.” A one-person, three-day Emergency Pac backpack contains items such as a blanket, poncho, ice pack, flashlight, multifunction knife, light stick and first-aid materials, as well as water and food rations. Twoperson Pacs with similar supplies are also available. “It’s a good starter kit, and I always tell people to put emergency supplies in your car,” she
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said. “Your car is almost always where you are. You can always grab it and go.” Residents can request custommade Pacs with more supplies for families, Spence said. Anyone with a pet should also consider including emergency supplies such as food, water and toys for the animal, she said. People should remember to always customize their emergency supplies with items like extra eyewear for people who wear glasses or contacts, any necessary medications and activities or toys that don’t require electricity for children. Always keep cash, especially small bills, handy in an emergency kit, Spence said. If the power goes out, ATMs, banks and stores may not be able to take a debit or credit card to purchase needed items. Spence also began a Map Your Neighborhood project in Newcastle. The MYN program, created by the state’s Emergency Management Division, is designed to help neighborhoods prepare for disasters by creating neighborhood contact lists, and evaluating skills and the equipment neighborhoods have to respond to a disaster, and promoting timely and organized response efforts during an emergency. “You can take care of yourself and your family … and then you can start to branch out to your neighbors,” Spence said. Learn more about emergency preparedness and Spence’s Emergency-Pac kits by going to her website at www.emergencypac.com. Start a MYN project by going to www.emd.wa.gov/myn/ index.shtml.
Newcastle News
MARCH 2, 2012
PAGE 3
The Ant that could First steam engine made the Newcastleto-Seattle coal run more efficient
Richard K. McDonald and Lucile McDonald in “The Coals of Newcastle: A Hundred Years of Hidden History.” “Most of the animals’ lives were spent there in darkness hauling out mine cars. Horses then pulled the larger tram cars to the incline above the landing where the bulk coal was loaded onto a scow.” While the Ant was a relatively small locomotive (it was called the Ant for a reason) that could only pull eight loaded cars, or
about five tons worth of coal, it was a serious improvement to the system, Segner said. “This was much more efficient as the loads got heavier,” he said. “It also meant they needed less people to operate the trains than you needed for horses … the whole venture was probably pretty good sized by Seattle standards at the time.” The addition of the Ant was only the second steam railroad in the state, according to “The Coals of Newcastle.”
But within four short years, the George C. Bode, a slightly larger engine, replaced the Ant on the Seattle leg of the coal route. Three years later, it would be put into service in the Seattle & Walla Walla Railroad in 1875. In Kurt E. Armbruster’s “Orphan Road: The Railroad Comes to Seattle,” Armbruster describes Seattle’s first run at the steam engine railroad as it looked to improve and expand the lines in the future. “Since 1872 the little city had listened to the daily tootings and chuffings of the tiny engines Ant and Geo. C. Bode of the Seattle Coal & Transportation Co. as they lugged cars of Newcastle coal from Lake Union along Pike Street to the waterfront.” While the Ant would be put out of commission from the coal route, it would find a home until the 1940s hauling new loads for a logging company in Oregon, Segner said. But the engine, a critical piece of railroading history in the Puget Sound and to the successful coal mining of Newcastle, would be lost to history forever after it was mistakenly collected for a World War II scrap drive. “It’s just one of those things where things get lost,” Segner said.
ed budgets. Hara and other county assessors statewide establish property values. County Treasury Operations collects the property taxes on behalf of the state, cities and taxing districts, and then distributes the revenue to the correct agencies. So, residents only need to make property tax payments to a single location. The county uses assessed property valuations established during the previous year to determine property taxes.
April 30 is the deadline for King County homeowners to pay property tax bills. Taxpayers can send bills by mail. The payment must be postmarked by April 30. Taxpayers should include the tax statement and write the property tax account number on a check or money order. Cash should not be sent through the mail. Homeowners can pay property taxes online or by check, cash or credit card in person at King County Treasury Operations, Room 600, 500 Fourth Ave.,
Seattle. Or use the secure payment system at www.kingcounty. gov/propertytax to pay bills. Taxpayers can make payments by check at a Community Service Center. The statement is sent to the lender if a property owner relies on a mortgage company to pay the bill. However, the taxpayer is responsible for the bill to be paid in a timely manner. The county also offers property tax-relief programs, including breaks for seniors. Call the King County Assessor’s Office at 206-296-3920.
Back tracking:
an ongoing series about the history of Newcastle
By Christina Lords The successful export of coal and the early success of this town called Newcastle are, quite simply, inexorably linked. But exactly how the coal was extracted from deep within the coal seams of Newcastle and transported to the awaiting economic lifeline of Seattle’s shores — especially as full mine operations started in Newcastle in September 1871— was far from easy. The loads were transferred a whopping 11 times from start to finish. The coal from Newcastle was generally San Francisco bound after being loaded onto ships in Seattle, but the Puget Sound area would get something in return from the Bay area — its first steam railroad system. The Ant, brought up from San Francisco in the winter of 1871 to
Property taxes due in to assessor April 30 King County residents started to receive property tax bills in February and, although property tax collection in the county is up 1.71 percent from last year, property owners should see a drop in bills and a decline in property valuation. The total value of property in the county continued to decline for the 2012 tax roll, but the drop is slightly less than 2011. Officials said property values declined in almost every area in King County last year. The median assessed value in rural Southeast King County, for instance, declined
Photo courtesy of the Renton Historical Society and Museum
The Ant, the first steam engine in the Puget Sound area and second in the state of Washington, was shipped from San Francisco to the Seattle area in the winter of 1871 to enable the transfer of Newcastle coal from Lake Union to the Elliot Bay area. enable the transfer of coal from Lake Union to the Elliot Bay area, would be a major improvement to further Newcastle’s ability to export coal, local train expert Russ Segner said. Until the addition of the first edition, coal was transported by a series of various modes of transportation, including hauls by mules, horses, trams and flatboats. “Mules were the sole motive power underground,” writes
from $304,000 for the 2011 tax roll to $259,000 for 2012 — or a decrease in the tax bill of $470. “Bank foreclosures and other distressed sales continue to be a drag on property values overall in King County,” King County Assessor Lloyd Hara said in a statement. “This is driving property values down through most of King County, and is resulting in property tax reductions for some.” Washington operates under a budget-based property tax system, meaning local taxing districts — including fire, library and school districts — submit annual adopted budgets to the county assessor. The county assessor then has the responsibility to determine the necessary taxing route to meet the adopt-
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Opinion
PAGE 4
Editorial
Rapid Response
Brick plant revamp is key to city’s future
What are you most looking forward to for this year’s Newcastle Earth Day event?
Talk to anyone with a vested interest in the potential redevelopment of Newcastle’s Mutual Materials brick plant site and you’ll hear the same word time and again — opportunity. It’s no exaggeration that as the city faces a $300,000 shortfall in 2013, and similar deficits in coming years, the redevelopment of this critical Coal Creek Parkway property may have an unprecedented impact on Newcastle for years to come. With redevelopment comes the potential for much-needed revenue in the form of real-estate excise tax, sales tax, permitting fees, impact fees, review fees and any combination thereof. Simply, this project matters. It must be done efficiently, competently and in a way that benefits Newcastle. With this much at stake, it must be done right. With a 52-acre site and a developer that has been in the community for more than 50 years and seemingly wants what’s best for the city, Newcastle arguably won’t have a chance like this again. Starting with leadership from the top, including the City Council, city staff, city commissions and the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, officials must be on the same page with a vision for this area’s future. Now is the time to have big-picture discussions about how to highlight Newcastle’s amenities to bring in new business, review municipal codes that may apply to the project and dedicate the necessary resources — time, money, staff — to facilitate the process. If work on this project is contracted out, and it very well may be, the city must make sure those contracted agencies have a good understanding of Newcastle’s development regulations, design guidelines and building codes to save time and money, as well as limit potential frustration between the developer and the city. Mayor Rich Crispo said in his State of the City address that the city of Newcastle is open for business. There has never been a better moment to ensure he is right. Opportunity is officially knocking in the earliest stages of this redevelopment process. Nothing matters more than how Newcastle opens the door.
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MARCH 2, 2012
My Daisy Girl Scout troop will be on hand, girl-manning the community recycled art activity! Come see the adorableness and create your best upcycled art! — Trina Sooy it!
I’m looking forward to good weather to enjoy
Finish linking the sidewalks on the east side of 116th Avenue and then run sidewalks down the north side of Southeast 88th/89th until they reach Coal Creek Parkway. That will offer sidewalks that circumnavigate nearly all of Newcastle. — Lee Strom
What do you think of the Lake Boren Townhomes project on the north shore of Lake Boren? Great use of the space/area.
— Jackie Foskett
— Trina Sooy
Where are sidewalks/pedestrian friendly trails most needed in Newcastle?
I like the idea of the Lake Boren Townhomes, but am concerned about what the final product will look like. Will it emphasize the waterfront? Will it include a public walkway like downtown Kirkland has in front of its newer lakefront condos? Will it look like dense apartment living with sparse vegetation or like a beautiful lakefront condo with thoughtful and beautiful landscape? I sure hope these were the questions asked during the permitting process. — Maury Miller
I would like to see 116th Avenue Southeast have wide, continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street between Southeast 68th Street and Southeast 88th Street. Both Southeast 68th Street and Southeast 88th Street need continuous sidewalks connecting 116th Avenue Southeast to Coal Creek Parkway. This would establish the “primary” pedestrian grid needed to provide access to Lake Boren Park and our “micro” city center. “Secondary” spurs could be added as needed to connect smaller neighborhoods to this Main Street walkway. — Jeff Skocelas Southeast 89th off of Coal Creek Parkway to 116th Avenue Southeast — it would create a perfect running/walking loop. — Trina Sooy
Public meetings
I think they are fine. A bit small for my taste, what I’ve seen of the insides so far, but I know they will be great for some people. Nice location! — Jackie Foskett Join the conversation! Sign up to receive Rapid Response questions by emailing newcastle@isspress.com.
q The City Council will have regularly scheduled meetings at 7 p.m. March 7 and 20 at Newcastle’s City Hall.
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 March meetings:
q The Parks Commission is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. March 14 at City Hall. q The Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. March 21 at City Hall.
Poll question If the city sponsored just one community event next year, what should it be? A. Newcastle Days B. Fourth of July fireworks C. Concerts in the Park D. The city should not sponsor any community events. Vote at www.newcastle-news.com.
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Kathleen R. Merrill.................... Managing editor
Christina Lords..................................... Reporter David Hayes................................... Page design
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Newcastle News
MARCH 2, 2012
Mayor From Page 1
ers to town. Few major developable properties are left within city limits, he said. Instead, larger opportunities loom with a chance for redevelopment of existing properties, such as the Mutual Materials brick plant site off of Coal Creek Parkway. Mutual Materials President Joe Bowen has said while the 52-acre
site has been a cornerstone property for the company since it opened in 1959, the area may be redeveloped after the depth and duration of the economic recession was too much for the plant to withstand. Environmental studies outlining developable acreage at the site are expected to be reviewed by the city this month. While the new use of that property is still yet to be determined, the city must maintain an open door policy for developers looking to set their sights on
Police seek home burglary, lighting theft information By Christina Lords
Police are seeking information after a house was burglarized Feb. 15 in the 8200 block of 117th Avenue Southeast. Prior to the burglary, two males came to the door of that house and said they were raising money for earthquake relief, according to Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine. The men were driving a black four-door Lexus. The first man is described as a skinny Asian male who is about 5 foot, 9 inches tall. The second man is described as an Asian male, 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a medium build and short hair. He was reportedly wearing a white shirt and tie. Call Detective Christy Marsalisi or any other member of the Newcastle Police Department at 649-4444 if you have been contacted by these men or have any other information regarding the burglary. Residents can also email the department at police@ ci.newcastle.wa.us or provide an anonymous tip through the
anonymous tip page at www. ci.newcastle.wa.us/police/anonymous_tip.htm. Residential lighting thefts The department is also seeking information regarding residential landscape lighting that has been stolen from in front of multiple houses in the Reserve neighborhood in the past month. Car theft suspect identified Residents of Newcastle reported several vehicles that were stolen in the past month and several attempted thefts. With help from a witness and a tip from a resident, police have identified one of the suspects in at least one of the attempted thefts. The department is working to complete charging papers to refer the case to prosecutors. If you observe suspicious activity, call 911 or the nonemergency dispatch number, 206-296-3311, to have an officer respond. The department recommends residents program the nonemergency dispatch number into cellphones for quicker response times.
Newcastle, Crispo said. “We are trying to create an environment where they have some flexibility, where they can build Rich Crispo and go ahead with projects that will be profitable, not only for them but for the residents who live here,” he said. “We’d all like to see more amenities.” Facilitating open conversations about developable proper-
PAGE 5 ties is one way to ensure financial stability as the city aims to maintain a balanced budget in the long term, Crispo said. “We’re in the middle of the road,” he said. “We’re stable right now, but when we have economic growth come back and everything looks good with the country, it’s not going to help us very much. We don’t currently have the kind of retail or amount of land available to build on that will really let us take advantage of that.” Crispo said while the city’s debt load is thankfully low, longterm revenue projections for the
next four years look bleak. “By 2018, we’re in the red, which means in the general operating budget, we don’t have the money to pay for what we have to do for our general services,” he said. Residents of the city should be commended for their loyalty to Newcastle businesses, he said. That trend will be essential as redevelopment takes place on the Mutual Materials site and elsewhere, while more should be done to pull residents from other towns to draws that already exist in town, such as The Golf Club at Newcastle and Lake Boren, Crispo said.
Newcastle News
PAGE 6
Pile on the pancakes At right, Allyson Lee, left, and Melanie Locke skim the pages of a possible book purchase at the Hazelwood PTSA pancake breakfast and book fair Feb. 11. Below right, Spencer Rowland, 6, and Indigo Bamba, 3, flip through pages of ‘Star Wars’ books. Below, PTSA volunteers Laura Postin and Gary Shibata serve up pancakes and sausage from the school kitchen.
Self-defense class offered
A free self-defense class hosted by the Liberty High School PTSA, for girls in grades nine through 12, is from 3-5 p.m. March 12 in the LHS upper gym. Students can pick up a class participation agreement form in the attendance office. Forms need to be signed by the student and parent/guardian and are due back by March 9.
Newcastle Elementary hosts first science fair
Registration for the first Newcastle Elementary School science fair must be in to the school by March 16. The fair will be from 6-8 p.m. May 11 in the school commons. The Newcastle Elementary PTSA-sponsored event will begin with a Radical Reactions demonstration by the Pacific Science Center. After the show, attendees can
MARCH 2, 2012 Richard Blakely mans one of the pancake griddles in the Hazelwood kitchen. The pancake breakfast and corresponding book fair are the largest fundraisers of the year for the school’s PTSA. Along with the latest books available in print, attendees could pick up bookmarks, posters and various other gadgets, gizmos and school supplies. Photos by Christina Lords
engage in hands-on activities led by staff members from the Kids Quest Museum and observe science fair projects created by children from Newcastle Elementary School. Judges from different branches of the science community will be there as well. Students interested in creating projects for the fair must register by 3:40 p.m. March 16, and projects will be due in early May. To learn more, email Danielle Dixon at danielle_dixon@comcast.net.
RSD praised for financial management
For the eighth consecutive year, the Renton School District has been recognized for outstanding financial management and reporting. The district recently received financial awards for fiscal management and reporting from the Association of School Business
Officials International and the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The awards are among the highest forms of recognition in governmental budgeting and reporting. The awards, presented by independent auditors, academics and finance professionals, recognize the school district’s standards of excellence in managing taxpayer funds, and open and transparent accounting practices. Through the awards, Renton is presented as a model to encourage other agencies and companies to achieve and maintain high standards of financial excellence. The work reflects the district’s aim to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars by keeping tax rates low and stable and by accounting for all district funding, according to a release from the district.
MARCH 2, 2012
Newcastle News
PAGE 7
PAGE 8
Newcastle News Learn about King County’s 911 system at Citizen’s Academy
King County residents can learn how the 911 emergency dispatch center operates as the King County Sheriff’s Office hosts a 911 Citizen’s Academy this month. Space for the program is limited. Completed applications should be turned in as soon as possible. The application deadline is March 9. The academy is meant to educate citizens about the role 911 communications specialists fill in the public safety system. The program is also designed to prepare people for dialing 911. Plans for the daylong class March 31 include information about the history of 911, call taking and police dispatching, training, King County geography, agency partnerships, citizen training and what national certification means for residents. In addition to the classroom session, academy participants can spend a twohour session with on-duty communications specialists. The “sit-along” time is meant to offer a practical demonstration of the lessons learned in the academy.
MARCH 2, 2012 The academy is open to anyone at least 18 years old and without a felony conviction. Applicants must live or work in King County. The application is available at the sheriff’s office website at www.kingcounty.gov/safety/sheriff.aspx, by calling 206-205-6625 or by emailing KCSO911FB@kingcounty.gov.
Local student artwork sought for voters’ pamphlet
Students can design artwork for the Washington State Voters’ Pamphlet — a guide distributed to more than 3 million people statewide before the November election. Secretary of State Sam Reed’s office invited students in fourth and fifth grades to enter the contest. In addition to featuring the top artwork in the voters’ guide, Reed plans to make a surprise visit to the winner’s school. The theme for the contest is “If I Could Vote.” Students must submit artwork by April 16. Email JulieAnne Behar at julieanne. behar@sos.wa.gov to ask questions or to learn more about the contest.
Newcastle News
MARCH 2, 2012
Laughing all the way
Dining at Chez Fred The Sainted One is our official Family Cook, and when I say “Family Cook,” I don’t mean just for me. I also mean for Newcastle Niece and The Sainted One Jr., my stepkids and grandkids, and both my sisters and their families. As Family Cook, he is so respected that his Christmas Eve Spicy Turkey Lasagna recipe has been presented to the hotel chef where my stepdaughter is being married so that it can be replicated for the wedding dinner. As a bystander to this and in my defense, my mother never insisted that cooking was something that we needed to learn, either for attracting men or for our own pleasure. While recently comparing notes with my sisters, we remember that my mother never seemed to enjoy her time in the kitchen. There was always a
grim set to her lips while she cooked, and she bore an attitude of duty versus a sense of fun. We still harbor visions of her tenderizing meat with the side of a plate, Pat Detmer her left hand on her hip, her actions fast and furious, as if she was going for her Black Belt in Round Steak. You could hear her pounding it into submission from anywhere within a three-block area, and we generally watched her do it from a safe distance. As sister Susie has since said, “Who needs Prozac when you have a piece of cheap meat and plate?” So we are a perfect team at Chez Fred: I take the dinner res-
PAGE 9
ervations, seat people, make the salad, and provide dessert and comic relief. And The Sainted One cooks. He’ll cook anything and cook it fearlessly and well. It’s a treat to eat his food and to watch people enjoy it, and if we ever divorce, I would lose about 50 pounds from a combination of grief and attempting to feed myself. It’s tough to get a reservation at Chez Fred. You pretty much have to be family, Good Neighbor North or South, longtime friends or a cartoonist who provides art for my newspaper columns. If there’s a drawback, it’s that the seatings are relatively early and the kitchen sometimes shuts down before guests are ready to leave. I’ve been known to flick the lights on and off when people aren’t moving for the door fast enough post-meal. The price, though, is always right. Reach Pat Detmer — who has now been providing columns for this newspaper for 10 years — at patdetmer@aol.com.
Local resident is selected for environmental summit at GMU By Christina Lords
Amy LeBar, a student at Hazen High School, has been selected to represent Washington as a National Youth Delegate to the 2012 Washington Youth Summit
on the Environment at George Mason University. The Washington Youth Summit on the Environment is a student leadership conference designed to develop and encourage future leaders in the field of environmental studies
and conservation in the 21st century. LeBar joins a group of only 250 students throughout the country selected for an intensive study of leadership in environmental science and conservation. She was chosen based on academic accomplishments and a demonstrated interest in leadership in the sciences and conservation studies. George Mason University, along with partners from the
National Geographic Society and the National Zoo, will host the nation’s leading youth scholars from June 24-29. The weeklong program, at George Mason University’s cam-
pus near Washington, D.C., will encourage young leaders from across the country who desire a unique experience focused on successful careers in the environmental studies field.
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Community
PAGE 10
Events The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon is from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. March 14 at Tapatio Mexican Grill, 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. Buddy Waddington will give a presentation titled “The Power of LinkedIn.” Cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. RSVP to info@newcastlecc. com. The Newcastle Weed Warriors’ next projects are maintenance and restoration work from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 10 and 24 at Lake Boren, 13058 S.E. 84 Way. An ivy removal project is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 31 in a May Creek open space.
MARCH 2, 2012
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Scholarships are available to Newcastle students
Public meetings All city public meetings are at City Hall, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200. Call 649-4363. q City Council — 7-10 p.m. March 7 q Parks Commission — 6-8 p.m. March 14 q Planning Commission — 7-9 p.m. March 21 q City Council — 7-10 p.m. March 20 Newport Way Library Association Meeting — 7:30 p.m. March 12, Newport Way Library, 14250 S.E. Newport Way, Bellevue The Newcastle Trails board meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Regency Newcastle, 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Road.
Contributed by the Newcastle Running Club
Participants, who raised $4,200 for local students’ scholarships, take off from the start line of the 2011 Newcastle 5K run/walk. Last year was the first year the event was held in conjunction with Newcastle Days at Lake Boren Park.
YMCA The Coal Creek Family YMCA, 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road, has regular family programs for all ages. For a complete schedule, call 2821500 or go to www.seattleymca. org/Locations/CoalCreek/Pages/ Home.aspx. q Small Group Personal Training: Swim Lesson, ages 18 and up, 5-6 p.m. March 2, $20 q Youth Basketball Class, ages
6-8, 4:15-5 p.m. March 2, $40 q Youth Basketball Class, ages 9-11, 5:15-6 p.m. March 2, $40 q Feldenkrais Workshop 4: “Get Up Off the Floor,” ages 14 and up, 4-6 p.m. March 4 q Itty Bitty Basketball Class, for ages 3-4, 4:30-5 p.m. 5-5:30 p.m. and 5:30-6 p.m. March 5, $53 q “The 10 Great Health Promoters,” 6:30-7:30 p.m. March 6 q Family Dinner, 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 9, children $3,
Scholarship applications are now available from the nonprofit Newcastle Running Club. Based on proceeds from the 2011 Newcastle Days 5K Run/Walk, a total of $4,200 in scholarship funds will be awarded to college-bound students who live in Newcastle or are seniors at Hazen or Liberty high schools. Three individual scholarships of $1,400 will be awarded. Since the event’s founding in 2009, donations by the nonprofit Newcastle Running Club has resulted in $15,000 in community fundraising. Email Newcastle5K@hotmail.com to receive a scholarship application and details. The application deadline is March 31.
March 2012
April 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
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
adults $5 q Small Group Personal Training: Swim Lesson, ages 18
and up, 5-6 p.m. March 9, $20 See CALENDAR, Page 11
Newcastle News
MARCH 2, 2011
Calendar From Page 10
q Feldenkrais Workshop 5: “Fluid Hips,” ages 14 and up, 4-6 p.m. March 11 q Kids Create: Canvas Bag Creations, for ages 4-10, 5:306:15 p.m. March 14, $10 q Small Group Personal Training: Swim Lesson, ages 18 and up, 5-6 p.m. March 16, $20 q Saturday Swag Night: COD Video Game Tournament, 7:3011 p.m. March 17, $9 q Feldenkrais Workshop 6: “Growing Younger,” ages 14 and up, 4-6 p.m. March 18 q Twin Lakes & Lake Lillian Snow Shoeing, for adults, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 24 q Fun with Food: Teddy Bear Party Mix, for ages 3-10, 5:306:15 p.m. March 28, $10 q Urban Adventures: Teen Paintball, ages 11-15, noon to 5 p.m. March 31, $50
Library events The Newport Way Library is at 14250 S.E. Newport Way, Bellevue. The following programs are offered the rest of the month: AARP Tax Help, 12:30 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. Thursdays Drop-in to Learn About eBooks, for adults, 2 p.m. March 6 and 20 Melodies Italiano! — for children and families, teens and
adults — 6 p.m. March 7 Early Literacy Workshop, for adults, 6 p.m. March 14 Computer class: “Internet Level 1,” for adults and teens, 7 p.m. March 14 Chinese Book Discussion, for adults, 10:30 a.m. March 17 Newport Way Book Group, for adults, discusses “My Name is Mary Sutter,” by Robin Oliveira, 7:30 p.m. March 19 Computer Class: “One-onOne Assistance,” for adults and teens, 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. March 21 “Inquiring Minds – Global Literature,” for adults, 7 p.m. March 26 Computer class: “Internet Level 2,” for adults and teens, 7 p.m. March 27 Baby Rhyming Time, for children and families, 10:15 a.m. Young Toddler Story Time, for ages 1-2 with an adult, 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays Toddler Story Time, for ages 2-3 with an adult, 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays Preschool Story Time, for ages 3-5 with an adult, 1 p.m. Tuesdays Baby Rhyming Time, for children and families, 10:15 a.m. Wednesdays World Language Story Time, for children and their families, 1:30 p.m. Saturdays Study Hall, for teens, children and families, 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays Study Zone, for teens, children and families, 3 p.m. Thursdays
PAGE 11
Newcastle News
PAGE 12
MARCH 2, 2011
Fighting back against multiple sclerosis Newcastle woman combats debilitating disease with regular exercise at YMCA By Christina Lords Kim Scott’s left leg was completely numb. She got up. She took a shower. She thought, “Why is it that my hip to my knee felt like there was Novocain put in there?” She had gone Christmas shopping the day before. Surely that was the cause of the problem. After a coworker asked her why she was dragging her left foot, the 55-year-old Newcastle resident of 20 years took off her shoe to reach down to touch her skin. She could see she was touching her body, but she couldn’t feel it. It wasn’t a pinched nerve affecting her mobility. It wasn’t stress. And it wasn’t healing on its own. After seeing a neurologist and going through five MRIs, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis — a chronic disease that attacks the body’s central nervous system. The affects of the disease can cause numbness in limbs, loss of coordination, paralysis, pain, organ dysfunction and loss of vision. “Part of me said, ‘Oh, dear,’” Scott said. “The other part of me said, ‘Oh, give me a break. You’re wrong.”
Newcastle resident earns collegiate honor Lindsey Kranz, a resident of Newcastle, has earned placement on Gonzaga University’s president’s list for fall semester 2011. Students must earn a 3.7 to 4.0 grade point average to be listed. Kranz attended Kennedy Catholic High School and graduated in 2011. She is the daughter of Karen and Lee Kranz.
Local student earns dean’s list honors
Katherin Routos, of Newcastle, has been named to the William Penn University’s dean’s list for the fall 2011
Doctors suggested steroid treatments and medications but they also had one more suggestion. Despite the diagnosis of a physically debilitating disease that leaves some patients using a walker or a wheelchair, Scott was given the goal by her doctor of losing 40 pounds. At the time, she weighed 185 pounds. “He took off his glasses and said to me, ‘Don’t keep whining to me, you have to fight the enemy,’” Scott said. “That has been my model to this day. I have to fight the enemy. He said, ‘If you don’t, who will?’” Scott hired a personal trainer who would change everything for her. “We literally started out with a 5-pound weight,” she said. “I could hardly lift it up … and I had my bad days and my good days. My trainer had a plan A, B and C to help me with that.” Scott started writing everything that she ate to keep better track of the foods that would help strengthen and nourish her body. In two years, she lost 45 pounds and went from a size 14 down to a size 6. Today, Scott maintains a rigorous exercise regimen through classes and personal work at the
Coal Creek Family YMCA in Newcastle and has kept off the weight. “I never went back,” she said of her life of not exercising. “In my mind, every hour I’m in a class or on the elliptical it’s like … take that, MS. Take that.” During an ideal week, Scott is at the YMCA at least once a day. Because the disease affects mobility and coordination, Scott said she had to overcome doubts of embarrassment about how she looked or felt doing workouts. “I always thought, ‘What if I trip? What if I give up?’ But you can let those thoughts take over. You can’t let them. ‘It’s like ‘What if what if boo hoo, boo hoo?’” she said. “But anytime you get that negative voice in your head, there’s always still something you can do.” She said the best way for anyone to make a change and start a workout is to never give up. Even if a class seems too daunting or if getting on a treadmill seems like too much, get up, show up and do what you can, she said. “I would like people to know that anyone can do this,” she said. “If I can do this, anyone can do this. Everybody has something that could potentially hold them back … but my whole goal, even until I’m 95, is that I’m going to do what I can do. Even if I’m in a walker or a wheelchair, I’m going to do what I can.”
semester. To be included on the dean’s list, a student must complete at least 12 hours of credit with a grade point average of 3.5 to
3.89 on a 4.0 scale. William Penn University was founded by Quakers in 1873 and is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
By Christina Lords
Kim Scott, a Newcastle resident of 20 years, works out at the Coal Creek Family YMCA. Scott, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, uses exercise as a way to fight the debilitating disease.
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Newcastle News
PAGE 13
SCHOOLS
PAGE 14
MARCH 2, 2011
Competition celebrates the colors of diversity through artwork Three Maywood students selected for state PTA Reflections contest By Christina Lords As Rachel McKee was searching for inspiration for an entry for her school’s PTA Reflections art contest, she realized she had to look no further than where she spends a lot of her free time — her select basketball team. With this year’s theme surrounding what “Diversity Means” to each student, she knew she wanted to represent the sense of camaraderie and togetherness on the team. She grabbed a camera and some friends from the team and asked them to pose, hand to hand. “I used a variety of skin colors to show that we can all work together and lend a helping
By Rachel McKee
Rachel McKee’s entry for the National PTA Reflections Program was a photo taken of members of her select basketball team and enhanced in Photoshop. hand,” she said. “Some people believe that if we look different, we are different. I believe we are
all the same internally.” See REFLECTIONS, Page 15
By Michele McKee
Rachel McKee (left) and Amit Furman receive district-level recognition for their artwork submitted in the National PTA Reflections Program.
Rotary clubs honor students, teacher of the month Renton Rotary honors Hazen student Madalynn Martin
ence and hopes to serve with AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps.
Madalynn Martin, a senior at Hazen High School, has been selected as the Rotary Club of Renton student of the month for Madalynn February. Martin Martin maintains a 3.8 grade point average and is the president of Earth Corps Club. She participates in honors orchestra, cross country, and track and field. She has received the Academic All-Star Award, Scholar Athlete Award, honor roll recognition, the president’s bronze volunteer service award, as well as junior varsity and varsity letters. She volunteers with Youth Earth Service Corps, the state Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Campfire USA, Newcastle Weed Warriors and East Hill String Lessons. Martin plans to attend Western Washington University to major in environmental sci-
Issaquah Rotary honors Liberty students The Rotary Club of Issaquah honored Sierra Hunt and Tiffany Stephens as its students the month of January.
Sierra Hunt
Sierra Hunt Sierra Hunt, recognized in the leadership/citizenship category, is a senior at Liberty High School; she was sponsored by teacher Dan Joslin. Her parents are Patty Kubeja and Drew Hunt. Hunt maintains a 3.8 grade point average and has been involved with the school’s honor society for four years. She has received the Stephen Decatur Leadership Award and was selected as the Cadet of the Year in Naval Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for outstanding dedication. She received the highest possible score on her
Advanced Placement U.S. History test. She is the NJROTC commanding officer in the Patriot Company and is an Associated Student Body member. Her scholastic interests include Advanced Placement biology, AP U.S. History and AP Government, as well as honor society, the Patriot Players, the Liberty Wind Ensemble/marching band and NJROTC. She likes acting, singing, hiking, cycling and knitting (and plans to ride in a Seattle to Portland 200-mile bike race this summer). She enjoys playing the clarinet and is a self-taught ukulele player. Hunt’s future goals include attending the University of Washington on a full-ride Army ROTC scholarship to major in nursing. She hopes to be an obstetrician. Tiffany Stephens Tiffany Stephens, a junior at Liberty High School, was recognized in the rotary’s career and technical education category after being sponsored by teacher Delores Leber. She is the daughter of Jill Meitzel. She has been a member of the school’s honor society since
2010, she maintains a 3.89 grade point average and she is ranked No. 25 of 287 juniors. She volunteers for the VOICE Tiffany Mentor Stephens Program, and her hobbies include reading, writing and studying French. Her future goals include attending the Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University. Stephens hopes to become a teacher and eventually serve as an elementary school principal. The Rotary Club of Issaquah recently honored the following seniors as its students of the month for February. Tucker Goodman q School: Liberty High School q Category of recognition: drama q Parents: Camie and Troy Goodman q Scholastic achievements:
4.0 grade point average; 5 in Advanced Placement language test; 2190 on SAT q Scholastic activities: 5th Avenue High School Musical Tucker Award — Lead Goodman Actor 2011; nomination for supporting actor award 2010; Drama Club treasurer; Associated Student Body president; marching band drum captain q Scholastic interests: math, psychology, government q Hobbies: ASB, band, Drama Club q Outside school affiliations: Village Theatre KIDSTAGE q Future goals: Seattle Pacific University major in theater/business q Occupation/career: own a theater Nicholas Russell q School: Liberty High School q Category of recognition: music q Parents: Robert and See ROTARY, Page 11
Newcastle News
MARCH 2, 2011
PAGE 15
Graduation rates celebrated in Renton School District Hazen High School receives Washington Achievement Award three years running By Christina Lords Lack of parent involvement. Low state test scores. Poor study and organizational skills. These things are just a handful of key indicators that a student won’t graduate from high school — indicators Hazen High School Principal John Kniseley said the school aggressively seeks to overcome with students each year. “There are things we can control in the classroom and things we can’t control,” he said. “We know we need to really look at the things we can. We need to do everything we can do to help all of our kids be successful.” And for the third year in a row, Hazen will receive the Washington Achievement Award for improvements to its extended graduation rates. The state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education created the award to recognize achievement of topperforming schools statewide. The school’s extended graduation rate for the class of 2010 was 95 percent. The term “extended graduation rate” means the rate includes students who take more than four years to graduate. While Kniseley said the award is tangible recognition of changes taking place at the school — and, on a wider
Rotary From Page 10
Michelle Russell q Scholastic interests: Jazz band at Liberty q Hobbies: writing, mixing and playing music; jamming with friends; reading graphic novels; playing bass guitar and drums Nicholas and some keyboard Russell
scale, within the Renton School District as a whole — Hazen staff members, teachers and administrators are conscious of more ways to improve. He said counselors at the school closely monitor those key indicators for students most likely to drop out before graduation to try to get them back on track. That means not just for graduation day, but beyond, Kniseley said. “We know not every kid goes to college, but what we believe in … is that every kid should have the opportunity to go to college,” he said. “Our job as educators is to make kids that are graduating college ready. It shouldn’t be that when you graduate it’s sink or swim.” Hazen has begun to work with Seattle-based Equal Opportunity Schools, an organization that identifies students of every socioeconomic background and whether they have access to coursework that will prepare them for college, such as participation in Advanced Placement classes. “We are taking a hard look at how to make those classes more closely representative of our demographics of our school,” he said. “If we have a student population that is 16 percent Hispanic, then 16 percent of our AP classes should be made up of Hispanic kids.” Washington Achievement
q Outside school affiliation: member of the band 4 1/2; makeshift recording studio; five years of bass and guitar lessons from A Sharp Music q Future goals: Interested in going to school to be a nurse; also do music in free time q Occupation/career: nurse McKnight teacher recognized by Renton Rotary Jennifer Koch Jennifer Koch, an eighthgrade language arts teacher at McKnight Middle School, has been selected as the Rotary Club of Renton’s teacher of the month. Koch attended Georgia State
Awards are given in several categories, including graduation rate, language arts, math and science. The graduation rates, measured by the state’s accountability index, take into account rates for low-income and nonlow-income students, improvement from the previous year and how graduation rates compare to other schools with similar student demographics. The accountability index was created to be a comprehensive snapshot of a school’s performance at the state level. The Renton School District’s graduation rate was 93 percent in 2009 and 2010, while its class of 2011 extended graduation rate increased to 94 percent. The inaugural Washington Achievement Award ceremony, held in 2010 at Hazen, yielded an award for extended graduation rate and for overall excellence for the school. Hazen also received the award in extended graduation rate last year. A statewide awards ceremony to celebrate winners will be April 25 at Mariner High School in Everett. Hazen joins 17 other schools in the district to be recently recognized by the Renton School Board for its inaugural Educational Excellence Awards based on data collected throughout the last two years. Those awards will be held annually beginning this year. The board recognized the school for its performance on state tests in several areas, including reading, writing, math and science, as well as its improved graduation rates.
University in Atlanta, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in middle childhood education with language arts Jennifer and social Koch studies concentrations. Before becoming a teacher, Koch was a district manager and customer service trainer for a medical insurance company. She has taught in the Renton School District for five years.
By Amit Furman
Amit Furman drew two contrasting colored hands joining at the thumbs to symbolize togetherness. Her work will move on to the state level of the Reflections Program competition.
Reflections From Page 10
McKee, 12, joins fellow students Amit Furman and Katrina Filer, of Maywood Middle School, to be honored at the district level for artwork they submitted for the National PTA Reflections Program Contest — a more than 40-year old program offered throughout the country to inspire youths to express their creativity and talent in a variety of artistic means. Their entries will move on to the state competition, McKee said, where they will be judged in Spokane in May for further consideration for the national contest. Two Liberty High School students, Kate Simmons and Kiera Stevens, were also chosen to compete at the state level. The 12 Maywood students selected from the pool of the school’s contestants for the district level were Laurie Willoughby, Jyotsna Kuramkote, Filer, Taylor Kaszycki, Ben Poile, McKee, Furman, Brittany Toombs, Mosiana Piutau, Sophia Lindstrom, Kelsie Gardner and Emily Chun. McKee said she used Photoshop to highlight the diversity of the world we live in. “My photo reflects a spectrum of colored skin holding each other’s wrists to show that together we are one,” she said. “I chose to put different colors in the background of the photo
On the Web Go to www.ptareflections.org to learn more about the 40-year-old PTA Reflections program.
“We can all make this world a better place if we looked past the shades we were born with and focused on our inner colors. We can learn from each other’s inner differences by not judging from the outside in.” — Amit Furman Maywood Middle School artist to reflect that the world is full of color.” Furman’s interpretation of the theme was a drawing of two contrasting colored hands joining at the thumbs to symbolize togetherness. She said she painted one hand with cool colors and one hand in warm colors, while the background is actual various skin tones. The focus is on the contrasting colored hands to show that color shouldn’t matter, Furman said. “We can all make this world a better place if we looked past the shades we were born with and focused on our inner colors,” she said. “We can learn from each other’s inner differences by not judging from the outside in.”
SPORTS
PAGE 16
MARCH 2, 2011
Contributed by Brian Curl
The Newport FC Warriors boys 12 and under team played in the Washington Youth Soccer Founders Cup semifinal game Feb. 11 at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.
By Greg Farrar
Jason Piutau, a Liberty High School junior, receives a pass during a practice drill with the Liberty Rugby Football Club, one of six Division 1 programs in the state.
‘Building a culture’ Liberty Rugby offers camaraderie, international competition opportunities By Christina Lords As one of only 16 high school rugby clubs in the state, the Liberty Rugby Football Club has grown accustomed to traveling long distances to find adequate competition. In fact, the team welcomes it. “We pride ourselves on being nationally recognized, nationally ranked,” coach Jeff Candler said.
“The big reason we are is the traveling we do helps us prove ourselves.” Regular season play starts up in March for the team, which was originally established by Mark Bullock in 1986. Since then, competing nationally and internationally has become a staple of the club. About 60-80 players are in the program, with an additional 15
“I like to tell the kids that you can be dropped out of a helicopter anywhere in the world and you can land, you can look for the nearest rugby club and you instantly have 40 new friends.” — Jeff Candler Liberty rugby coach children in the club’s mini program geared to 9- to 11-year-olds. See RUGBY, Page 17
Local soccer teams make final rounds of state tourney The Newport Lightning Cheetahs girls 11 and under soccer team took second place in the Washington Youth Soccer Founders Cup championship game played Feb. 12, while the Newport FC Warriors boys 12 and under team played in the state semifinal game Feb. 11. Both teams have players and coaches with deep links to Newcastle. The Washington Youth Soccer Founders Cup is the select level tournament with top select teams vying for the No. 1 spot from across the state. Coached by former Newcastle resident Brent Systma with players from Newcastle and the Newcastle area, the Newport Lightning Cheetahs may be the first recreational team to play in a
Founders Cup final. Playing in their fourth year together, the Cheetahs began outpacing their regular recreational competition and petitioned to play in the North Puget Sound League — the region’s main select league. After wrapping up a successful 10-1-1 regular season, the Cheetahs entered the state cup tournament, winning all three of their bracket games against Seattle United, Kent United and Mercer Island FC. That successful run set up a quarterfinal match against Pacific FC from Yelm. In a dramatic overtime finish, the Cheetahs got three goals in extra time to win 5-2 and earn a berth in the state semifinal weekend at Starfire Sports See SOCCER, Page 17
Hazen High School sends school record eight wrestlers to state tourney The Hazen High School wrestling team posted its most successful regional tournament performance ever after placing fifth out of 15 teams at the 3A Eastside Catholic Regional Feb. 11, advancing a school record of eight individuals to the Washington state tournament. At 160 pounds, Andre Faciane and Jose Ramirez became the first pair of Hazen wrestlers to qualify for the state tournament in the same weight class.
Faciane became Hazen’s first regional champion under coach Rory Magana and the current coaching staff in a 17-8 major decision over Andrew Kennedy, of Bishop Blanchet. Freshman Derek Nichols made it to the 106-pound finals but lost a down-to-the-wire battle (9-6 decision) to senior Justin Mah, of Franklin. Zach Moore (113), Austin Clark (132) and Jose Ramirez (160) all took third while Daniel Karpman (138), Jeremy Guilbert
(195) and Justin Russell (220) all took fourth place. O’Dea ultimately won the match with 201 points. The Hazen team finished second at the Seamount 3A wrestling championships Feb. 4, trailing behind Highline which won with 208 points. Derek Nichols (106 pounds), Zach Moore (113), Austin Clark (132), Daniel Karpman (138), Andre Faciane (160) and Jeremy Guilbert (195) won 3A league titles at the match.
Contributed by Brian Curl
The Newport Lightning Cheetahs girls 11 and under soccer team took second place in the Washington Youth Soccer Founders Cup championship game played Feb. 12.
Newcastle News
MARCH 2, 2011
PAGE 17
Rugby
Soccer
The Liberty team, which is not associated with any one public school in the area, is one of six Division 1 programs in the state. “It seems like the winning takes care of itself,” Candler said. “We don’t need to set that as a goal, because what we’re doing creates enthusiasm and the winning just kind of happens.” Beginning April 5, the team will travel for 12 days to New Zealand to take on international competition — a major goal for the team this year. The tough travel season, which often takes the teams to tournaments in other states and sometimes internationally, runs through May. “The camaraderie is second to none,” Candler said. “I’ve traveled the world because of this game, and I have lifelong friendships because of this game. I like to tell the kids that you can be dropped out of a helicopter anywhere in the world and you can land, you can look for the nearest rugby club and you instantly have 40 new friends.” Many team members have experience playing football, soccer or wrestling, but students outside of those activities can often find success with the club, he said. “A lot of kids who otherwise wouldn’t participate in mainstream sports find their niche in rugby,” he said. Because the club offers spots for three different age groups, there are opportunities for younger players to learn from older teammates, he said. Coaches for the program have developed a vested interest in the players on and off the field, and maintaining good grades and seeking out collegiate team opportunities remain motivating factors for students, Candler said. “It’s really growing,” he said. “The number of players playing rugby right now is similar to lacrosse in growth. These
Complex in Tukwila. Against a strong Crossfire team from Redmond, the Cheetahs jumped out to an early lead in the semifinal match, scoring a goal in the first two minutes. They padded the lead to 5-0 before fending off a comeback attempt by Crossfire, winning the semifinal, 5-2, and a showdown with the tournament’s leading team — CK United from Kitsap. With a packed sideline of parents and club supporters cheering them on the Cheetahs lost the final game, 2-0, but earned the distinction of being perhaps the only recreational team to have played in a Founders Cup final.
From Page 16
What to know Learn more about the Newport Lightning Cheetahs and the Newport FC Warriors teams at the Newport Youth Soccer website — https://newportsoccer.org.
From Page 16
By Greg Farrar
Jeff Candler (left) coaches Matt Maggard (middle) and Blaine Clark, two Liberty High School sophomores, during a shuttle passing drill.
On the Web Learn more about the Liberty Rugby Football Club at its website at http://libertyrugby.org or email libertyrugby@gmail.com.
alternative sports are grabbing people’s attention.” Candler said the more coaches focus on personal growth for individuals and for the team,
the more success they see on the field. “We have this tradition here, and winning and attracting kids who might not have any other opportunity to play rugby and building success on and off the field,” he said. “That’s one of the biggest things we do: build character off the field. That’s huge to me. “A lot of people hear about rugby and think these kids are rough and gruff, but we’re trying to change the image by building the culture.”
Newport Warriors Led by coach Bud Deccio, the Newport FC Warriors feature players from Newcastle and the Newcastle area (including a number of former Newcastle baseball club players) and assistant coach and Newcastle resident Brian Curl. In their first year as a select team, the Warriors played in the North Puget Sound League’s first division against some of the top teams in the state. The final four Bu12 teams in the state tournament were all from the league. After wrapping up a 5-2-5 record in the division, the Warriors started their bracket play in the state cup with wins against Edmonds and University Place — including a snow-delayed midweek
night game under the lights at Newport Hills Park to reach the round of 16 elimination games against Vancouver Timbers. Playing again on their home field at Newport Hills Park in a physical match that included two yellow cards and a direct red card ejection, the Warriors battled to a 4-0 win and a home quarterfinal matchup against Storm King from Kitsap. Down 2-0 late in the second half, the Warriors overcame the Storm King defense by notching a pair of goals in the final minutes to send the match to overtime. Still tied 2-2 after the first overtime, the Warriors knocked in late goals to settle the match, 4-2, and earn a berth in the semifinal weekend at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. In the semifinal, the Warriors faced Eastside and league-rival Lake Hills Synergy in Starfire Stadium. The Warriors played a strong game and at the half were knotted 0-0 with Lake Hills. Late in the second half, Lake Hills scored a goal, and with the Warriors chasing the game scored a second. The Warriors mounted a comeback effort, but in injury time Lake Hills scored a final goal to earn a 3-0 win.
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Newcastle News
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MARCH 2, 2011
Liberty wrestler finishes sixth at Mat Classic By Sebastian Moraga
Photos by Greg Farrar
Superior swimmers Above, Chase Onstot, Hazen High School junior, races in the state 3A state swimming championship 200-yard freestyle consolation final Feb. 18, finishing second with a time of 1 minute, 48.72 seconds. Below, Raymond Ha, Liberty High School junior, carves the water to a 3A state championship medal in a 100-yard breaststroke time of 57.46 seconds.
When the last chapter closed on the 2012 Mat Classic, all it said about Hamilton Noel’s performance was that the Liberty High School senior finished sixth in the 160pound division at the Class 3A Tournament. Not a word about his heart, of which he displayed plenty in the Tacoma Dome. Not a comma about his tears, of which there were a few. Not a period about how he stepped on the mat weakened by an unspecified ailment that made him look almost nothing like the champion that dominated at regionals. At the end, the fact that Mercer Island’s Blake Johnson, the wrestler who won the 160-pound state title was the same one Noel defeated at the regional finals seven days earlier, seemed to do nothing but add insult to an already injured warrior. In 2010, then-145-pounder Noel lost to Olympic High School’s Brandon Yeik, 13-7, in the state finals. In 2011, 152-pounder Noel lost to Enumclaw’s Josh Musick, 6-2, in the state finals. The win against Johnson was the fourth in five tries for Noel. Noel stepped onto the mat for the regional finals having won two of their three encounters
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this season. “We know each other very well,” Noel said. Noel was one of three wrestlers the Liberty squad took to state this year. Luke Oman finished fifth at 220 pounds and Conner Small finished fifth at 138 pounds. They both went as alternates. In the first round of the Mat Classic, Noel defeated Enumclaw’s Ryan Anderson, 9-5. In the second round, Decatur’s Nick Karis stunned onlookers by beating Noel, 11-4. At that point, fans were already talking about how Noel did not look like himself. To the senior’s credit, he strung together two more wins, against Pasco’s Lonnie Hurley (9-6) and Sunnyside’s Sam Romero. (9-5). Then, Bonney Lake’s Chili Sabin stopped Noel with a pin late in the third round.
Despite the devastating pin, which knocked Noel out of contention for third place, Noel turned the fifth-place match into a battle of wills. Late in the match, he managed to turn a 3-1 deficit with 76 seconds left into a 3-3 tie on a takedown. The effort took the last reserve of gas from Noel’s tank, who yielded two more points and lost 5-3. Then the tears, the hugs from the coaches and an afternoon of misty-eyed waiting until the awards ceremonies, where Noel would receive his sixth-place prize and say goodbye to high school wrestling. The brackets for the Mat Classic 2012 are full, and at 160 pounds, Noel’s name stands next to a “6.” Those who watched him this weekend know no number high enough exists for competitors who wrestle two opponents at once.
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Newcastle News
MARCH 2, 2011 block of Southeast 73rd Place. The vehicle’s driver’s side door was left ajar and the steering column had been damaged. Total property damage is estimated at $300.
Police blotter Locked and (un)loaded A Newcastle man reported an unknown suspect pried open his locking mailbox at his home Jan. 20 in the 11400 block of Southeast 87th Street. It is unknown what was stolen.
Attempted car theft A woman reported an attempted vehicle theft Jan. 24 in the 7400 block of Newcastle Golf Club Road. The vehicle’s steering column and window sustained an estimated $500 worth of damage.
Home, car burglarized A home in the 11500 block of Southeast 83rd Street was damaged and burglarized Jan. 23. The front door, doorjamb and roll-down garage door will cost an estimated $1,600 to replace. A passenger window to a vehicle parked in the home’s garage was also damaged and will cost $300 to be replaced.
Honda Civic recovered in mud
A stolen 1999 Honda Civic was recovered Jan. 25 about 100 yards west of the trailhead in the 7800 block of 129th Avenue Southeast. The car was stuck in deep mud, unlocked with the sunroof and passenger window open.
Student brings drugs to school
Purse stolen at ballfield
An 18-year-old Liberty High School senior with a history of narcotic violations at the school was arrested Jan. 24 after flakes of marijuana and two empty capsules of Adderall were found in his backpack. He was expelled immediately and transported to the King County Jail in Seattle.
Suspicious men reported near home
A woman reported her black leather purse had been stolen out of her van parked in the 6900 block of 116th Avenue Southeast near the Renton Academy’s baseball field. She left the van for about 10 minutes and when she came back to check on it, the window to her vehicle was shattered.
Girl expelled for glass pipe
A woman called police Jan. 24 after she noticed a man in her front yard and another man running out of her backyard. Her husband followed the suspicious men down the street on foot, and neighbors reported seeing the pair running eastbound on Southeast 72nd Street. The woman described the first man as possibly a white male with a thin build wearing a black beanie, a gray hooded sweatshirt and skinny jeans sagging and showing his underwear. The other man is described as possibly white or Hispanic with a regular build wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and gray sweatpants.
Attempted car theft A man reported an attempted vehicle theft Jan. 24 in the 12600
A Liberty High School student was expelled immediately and released to her father after she brought a glass marijuana pipe to the school Jan. 26.
Got a light? Three 2-foot-tall copper dome lights were stolen from a home Jan. 26 in the 14700 block of Southeast 83rd Place. The estimated loss is $690.
Items stolen from home A Tiffany wedding ring, two laptops and an iPad were reported stolen in a home burglary Jan. 27 in the 7600 block of 120th Avenue Southeast. The front door to the home had been kicked in and about $4,900 worth of property was stolen.
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PAGE 19
Civics swiped
Back off my bags
A 1997 green Honda Civic with a turtle sticker in the lower left corner of the windshield was stolen Jan. 28. The car was parked in the 7800 block of 155th Avenue Southeast. A blue Honda Civic parked in the 13300 block of Southeast 79th Place was also reported stolen that day.
A woman reported several expensive purses and cash had been stolen from her Subaru Jan. 29 in the 7900 block of 110th Avenue Southeast after a suspect smashed a passenger window. The estimated loss from the incident is $990.
Electronics, jewelry stolen Three laptops, a Kindle Fire and assorted jewelry were reported stolen Jan. 29 from a rented home in the 8400 block of 120th Place Southeast. There was an estimated property loss of about $3,800.
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Burglary A laptop and $600 cash were among the items reported missing after a home in the 11800 block of Southeast 88th Street was burglarized Jan. 30. The suspect threw a landscaping brick through a sliding glass door to gain access to the home. The
total loss in the incident is estimated at more than $2,500.
DVD player stolen A 10-inch portable DVD player was reported stolen Jan. 29 from a vehicle parked in the 7300 block of Coal Creek Parkway. The suspect broke the driver’s side rear window causing $300 worth of damage.
Lights out Three silver landscaping lights were reportedly stolen sometime between Jan. 27 and 28 from a home located in the 1500 block of Southeast 80th Street. The property was worth about $350.
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What is the value of my home? Some of you may be asking yourself, “Does my insurance coverage fit my needs?” “Do I have enough coverage to replace my home in the event of a serious loss?” “What affects my premium?” These questions create a need for you to regularly review your homeowners insurance and to consider other questions such as: “Have you recently remodeled or appraised your home?” “Has the rate of inflation risen since your last appraisal?” “What influences the building construction costs in your area?” As you consider these issues, it is important to understand that real estate values measure the market value or selling price for a home. For insurance purposes, it is important to estimate the current replacement cost which is the amount needed to hire a contractor to repair the damage or to rebuild the home to its pre-loss condition. Dwelling replacement costs used by insurance companies do not include the value of the land. Market conditions in your area may impact the amount it will cost to rebuild your home if you experience a loss. Building contractors or professional replacement cost appraisers are a good source for obtaining an estimated replacement cost for your home. Estimates from these sources should reflect your home’s special features and details. If you are unable to obtain a detailed estimate from these sources, I can help provide an estimate. Once you know the estimated cost to replace your home, you can decide how much insurance coverage fits your needs. You should also consider other policy endorsements such as back up of sewer and drain coverage, or additional coverage for personal articles with high values such as jewelry, fine arts, and collectibles. You may want to consider high personal liability coverage or the need for flood insurance which is provided by a separate policy. In addition to the amount of coverage you decide to purchase, your premium is impacted by optional endorsements you select, your claim history, the amount of your deductible, company longevity and multiple policy discounts such as home/auto. Finally, remember to periodically review your insurance coverage with your agent. That will ensure you have the coverage you need. Stop by my Newcastle office for a free - no obligation estimate.
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Newcastle News
PAGE 20
MARCH 2, 2011 Prsrt Std U.S. POSTAGE PAID Kent, WA Permit No. 71
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The Seattle University cross-country teams were wellrepresented on the 2011 Great West Conference Fall Academic All-Conference squad, as six males and six females received the academic recognition, including former Hazen High School student and Newcastle resident Peter VanNuland. It was the first time VanNuland, a sophomore, has received the honor in his collegiate career. He graduated from Hazen in 2010 and is the son of Mike and Mary VanNuland. According to the conference office, 175 Great West Conference athletes in the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s soccer and volleyball were named to the team based on a minimum cumulative 3.2 grade point average. The athletes also must have participated in at least 50 percent of their respective team’s contests. First-year students and JC transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. The cross country team finished its third and final season in the Great West Conference this past fall. On July 1, the program will join 15 other Seattle U teams and move to the Western Athletic Conference.
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