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
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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
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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