Students experience salmon’s ‘miracle of life’ Page 12
Patriot’s new baseball coach is happy to take the helm Page 14
April 6, 2012 VOL. 14, NO. 4
Council OKs $6,000 raise for city manager By Christina Lords After evaluating City Manager Rob Wyman’s performance on the job, the Newcastle City Council has approved a $6,000 raise for the position. The raise — increasing
Wyman’s annual salary from $110,000 to $116,000 — will be retroactive to Jan. 1 and includes two additional days of merit leave for 2012. Wyman was hired as interim city manager in January 2010, and the council selected him as the permanent city manager
that August. This is his first raise since taking the position. The council also assigned Wyman seven goals to work on this year. The goals include demonstrating efficient use of expenditures while maximizing revenue sources, accomplishing objec-
Family effort
Page 6
Back on the ballot Renton bond goes to April 17 special election. Page 8
Police blotter
By Christina Lords
speakers, seminars and activities for Earth Day 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 21 at Lake Boren Park. This year’s event will focus on responsible storm water management. “This event celebrates our community’s love for the environment,” Stiller said. The family-friendly event features interactive displays, music, children’s events, mini-seminars, electric cars, recycling for metal and electrical appliances, and, of course, the blackberry-munching goats. More than 30 booths featur-
The Newcastle Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies located two suspects after a home burglary was reported Feb. 29 on Forest Drive in Bellevue, just outside of Newcastle city limits. The house was occupied during the incident, Police Chief Melinda Irvine said in a statement. Two male suspects fled into the heavily wooded area toward Newcastle-Golf Club Road. Due to the proximity of the incident to Newcastle, police are looking into possible connections to burglaries in the city. Newcastle officers, King County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives, and K-9 units from Kirkland and Federal Way assisted Bellevue police. The suspects were hiding under a foot of leaves in a ravine and were located by the K-9 units. “We will continue a thorough investigation of the burglaries that have occurred in the city to determine if these men are responsible, and work to locate any stolen property,” Irvine said. The suspects may be responsible for several burglaries in Newcastle over the past few months. Irvine gave an update on the investigations at a Newcastle City Council meeting and the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce luncheon in March. “One of the reasons we’re seeing a lot of burglaries now is because of the economy,”
See EARTH DAY, Page 3
See BURGLARIES, Page 3
Page 9
Community calendar
Page 10
Issaquah voting, too $219 million bond could revamp area schools. Page 12
You should know Two covered shelters with picnic tables are available for reservations at Lake Boren Park. Tentative reservations may be made by phone up to three months prior to an event date and a reservation application must be in two weeks prior to an event. Call 6494444 for information.
Contact us: newcastle@isspress.com 392-6434, ext. 239
50 ¢
See RAISE, Page 2
Police nab two suspects in home burglaries
Mack and Zoe Strong host fundraiser. Page 3
Pat Detmer
tives set by the council in the 2012 budget, promoting economic development in town, maintaining a positive staff performance for employees and developing a communication strategy with residents.
Contributed
Something to smile about The Hazen High School drill team performs its pom routine at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s Dance and Drill State Championship on March 24 in Yakima. The team would go on to take first place in the 3A pom and military categories. See story on Page 15.
Earth Day event promotes water management, eco-friendly habits By Christina Lords The third annual Newcastle Earth Day will play host to some highly anticipated and somewhat unusual guests this year — and they’re not even human. With the help of Rent-aRuminant LLC, 15 goats will make their way from Vashon Island to their Newcastle debut to prove that getting rid of invasive plant species need not be harmful to the environment or be backbreaking work. “People might not realize it, but the goats are a good alternative to herbicides and manual labor,” said Grace Stiller,
On the Web Go to www.newcastleweedwarriors. org and click on the ‘Earth Day 2012’ link to see a schedule of events and event sponsors, or go to the Newcastle Earth Day Facebook page. Newcastle Earth Day event chairwoman. “Instead of having to clear all of that debris of the blackberries, you have to the goats do it for you.” The city of Newcastle, the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce and the Newcastle Weed Warriors will provide
Newcastle News
PAGE 2
Raise From Page 1 Wyman’s performance was evaluated in several executive sessions prior to the resolution amending his contract being placed on the council’s March 20 consent agenda — a series of items bundled and voted upon without discussion. Although a city employee’s performance or qualifications can be evaluated in executive session by a governmental body, a decision, consent among the
body or final action relating to a city employee’s salaries or wages must be discussed in a public meeting, according to Rob Wyman state law. The newest member of the council, Gordon Bisset, pulled the item from the consent agenda, stating he didn’t agree with the increase as Newcastle faces projected reductions in revenue as the city
“I’m glad council member Bisset pulled this item from the consent agenda. We are supposed to set the salary in a public meeting and putting it on the consent agenda is just a little bit less visible. It doesn’t enter any discussion into the record about this.” — Carol Simpson Newcastle city councilwoman navigates the country’s worst economic hardship since the Great Depression. Bisset was the dissenting vote in the 6-1 decision. Newcastle Mayor Rich Crispo said he and Deputy Mayor Lisa Jensen put together the proposal and the raise helps reflect the desire for Wyman to make a comparable wage to other cities with a similar position. Crispo said no vote was taken and no consensus was achieved during the executive sessions in regard to how much the raise would be. “It was probably a mistake on our part to just have it on the consent agenda, although it was not illegal or anything like that,” Crispo said. “There’s no vote that was taken. That just doesn’t happen in executive session.” Councilwoman Carol Simpson said while she supported the raise, she was grateful Bisset opted to open discussion
APRIL 6, 2012 on the resolution. “I’m glad council member Bisset pulled this item from the consent agenda,” Simpson said. “We are supposed to set the salary in a public meeting and putting it on the consent agenda is just a little bit less visible. It doesn’t enter any discussion into the record about this.” Crispo cited Wyman’s recent contract renegotiations with the King County Sheriff’s Office and the city of Bellevue for Newcastle’s police and fire services — which make up more than half of the city’s budget — as examples of how Wyman has made a difference for the city. “He has done some very significant things for us,” Crispo said. “He has a very good relationship with residents of this city, and he’s a known quantity. He worked here previously in the planning department … he’s the kind of guy who will make things work.” Councilman Steve Buri said Wyman has proven himself to be an asset to the community, and he said the increase was reasonable and comparable to other cities. Despite tough budgetary times, Wyman is still making significantly less than his city manager predecessor, John Starbard, who made $133,000 annually, he said. “This is still a $20,000 reduction from where we were previously,” Buri said.
Newcastle Trails prepares for upcoming projects Newcastle Trails is looking to complete and explore possible projects in coming months. The East May Creek Trail is walkable from Coal Creek Parkway down to the “picnic site” (logs make ad hoc benches and tables) just down May Creek from the mouth of Boren Creek. From there, a rough trail exists all the way to the existing May Creek Trail. The section along the creek is being steadily improved by Newcastle Trails volunteers working closely with the city of Newcastle. The final sections up to the existing trail will be completed as a series of Eagle Scout projects. Working with officials from Newcastle and Renton, the trails organization has identified a possible route and bridge location for the extension of the May Creek Trail west into the city of Renton. The group is also examining the prospect of resuming work on the East CrossTown Trail when the Newcastle Vista subdivision goes in later this year. Many volunteers will be needed to help to get the trails finished quickly. Email Peggy Price at info@ newcastletrails.org to volunteer.
Newcastle News
APRIL 6, 2012
Former Seahawk is raising Earth Day funds for TEAM-WORKS From Page 1
Newcastle residents will have the opportunity to meet Mack and Zoe Strong from 4-6 p.m. April 28 at the Newcastle Professional Center. A portion of the event’s profits will go toward the TEAMWORKS Academy, a program of the Washington Chapter of HOPE worldwide. HOPE worldwide is a faithbased relief and development organization founded in 1991 that is dedicated to serving the poor and needy. After 15 years in the NFL as a Seattle Seahawks fullback, Mack and his wife Zoe run the Mack Strong TEAMWORKS Academy to help disadvantaged and at-risk kids. The Strongs were named Washingtonians of the Year by Lt. Governor Brad Owen in 2011. The couple resides in Newcastle with their young children. The Washington Chapter of HOPE worldwide provides services to at-risk individuals in the Puget Sound region through seasonal days of service and its signature program, the Mack Strong TEAM-WORKS Academy. The program was founded in 2002, growing out of the volunteer work of the Strongs. Sweet Decadence owner Sandra Wixon has offered to
File
Former Seattle Seahawk Mack Strong (right), with wife Zoe, are hosting a fundraiser April 28 for TEAM-WORKS Academy. donate 10 percent of sales during the two-hour period to TEAM-WORKS Academy. “You can support a local business, support a local charity and meet an NFL Allstar Fullback all in one afternoon,” event organizer John Jensen said. “Mack and Zoe are an inspiration to children through TEAM-WORKS Academy, and they are role models for those who want to give back to their community. They are a treasure right here in Newcastle.” RSVP for the event by emailing Jensen at jensenroofing@ msn.com or going to the TEAMWORKS Academy Mack Strong “Meet and Greet” Facebook page.
ing green products and services by nonprofit environmental organizations and businesses will also be on hand at the free event. This year’s Earth Day includes geocaching — the real-world treasure hunting game where players search for hidden containers using GPS devices — and the interactive “Science in the Environment” display from the Pacific Science Center. The display will be hosted by center staff and will consist of 10 tables of activities for children and
Burglaries From Page 1 she said. “The price of gold is very high, and it’s one of the primary items these people are looking for.” There were nine home burglaries in January and 10 in February in Newcastle. There were also four commercial burglaries during the same time period, and the suspects reportedly responsible for three of those have been identified and the associated investigation is nearly complete, according to the city. Irvine said there had been
PAGE 3 adults alike, Stiller said. “This kind of environmental education and outreach enables community members to give back to each other and the community,” she said. Stiller said the celebration will enable the city, chamber, local businesses and individuals to explore and implement sustainable, environmentally friendly and ecologically renewable practices together. The Hazen High School Booster Club will host its first plant sale featuring bedding annuals, native plants, serviceberries, crabapples, herbs, vegetables and hanging baskets to benefit the Hazen Overnight Senior Graduation event and Baccalaureate program. “It’s a nice way to keep the
kids in a fun atmosphere for the event where they’re safe and chaperoned in a drug- and alcohol-free environment,” Tammy Coburn, booster club member, said. The group aims to make the plant sale a feature of Earth Day every year. Attendees may also place an order for plants at Earth Day and pick them up at Hazen on May 3. Email hazensge2012@ gmail.com for information and an order form. The Boeing Employees Concert Band and the Gifted Program Rock Band, as well as bands from local high schools, will provide musical entertainment. Food will be available for purchase from several vendors.
six burglaries in the city by mid-March. “This has been all over King County,” she said. “Luckily, we have not been hit as seriously as some of the other … areas in Seattle, but we are very aware and very concerned about the burglary problem. We have a very large, very active investigation going on.” A Newcastle detective is working with a Bellevue detective on suspect interviews. Irvine said the ultimate goal of the long-term investigation is to curb the problem, not just solve one burglary. “I would like to thank all of the residents who have called in suspicious activity, vehicles,
provided license plate numbers, descriptions, and even photos and video at times,” she said. “These are helpful in our investigation and in deterring criminal activity in the community.” As investigations continue, Irvine encourages residents to continue to be aware of their surroundings. If residents observe suspicious activity, they are encouraged to call 911 or the nonemergency dispatch number, 206-296-3311, to have an officer respond. Police encourage residents to put the nonemergency dispatch number into their cellphones so it is easily available in case a suspicious incident arises.
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• Funds Phase 2 of the Liberty High School modernization. • Funds critical repairs, such as roofs, HVAC and flooring, throughout the district • Funds the expansion of career and technical training programs for high school students • Increases energy efficiency, saving classroom dollars • Addresses critical construction and maintenance needs through 2020
Best Time to Build: • Interest rates and construction costs are at historic lows. Modernizing school buildings now will save money in the long run. • Moody’s Aaa bond rating for Issaquah School District allows borrowing at lowest possible rates. Quality public schools benefit everyone in the community. They are the main drivers of high property values and a vibrant regional economy.
Opinion
PAGE 4
APRIL 6, 2012
Editorial
Letters
Controversial bond deserves a yes vote
Renton bond invests in students’ future
We wish the Issaquah School District had been more conservative in its request to fund the long list of items on the April 17 construction bond, but we get why it was not. With another school bond ending its 20 years of tax collections, this is a good time to get a lot of catch-up work done on our school facilities, while still giving taxpayers a couple hundred dollars’ reduction in property taxes next year (an estimated $215 drop on a $500,000 assessed valuation home.) Volunteers for Issaquah Schools, the group pushing a yes vote, say this is the biggest campaign it has ever mounted. It’s no wonder. With so many questions and a $219 million price tag, the proposed bond has raised a lot of eyebrows. There are a lot of questions voters are asking, as we did. Do the middle schools really need artificial-turf fields? Does it really make sense to tear down Clark Elementary School? Does Tiger Mountain Community High School, population 80, really need to be relocated at a cost of $4 million? Isn’t $75,000 for clocks at Beaver Lake Middle School rather excessive? And so on. First, recognize that the extensive repairs, remodels, permanent classroom additions for 500 students, rebuilds of the five oldest schools, stadium upgrades, safety and energy-saving additions is so extensive that it will take eight years to get it all done — although taxpayers will pay for the next 20 years. Equality in school facilities will come closer to reality if these projects are completed. Consider that the slower economy makes it a great time to get the best construction bids. For many voters, this bond request is a stretch. But just like the committee of volunteers who studied the issues and drafted the bond plan, we believe the facilities bond keeps Issaquah schools in tip-top shape and designed for changing educational needs. Vote yes.
What do we want? Rapid Response email addresses! When do we want them? Now! In a horrific turn of events involving one new work computer and a severe (and hopefully temporary) lapse in judgment, Newcastle News reporter Christina Lords lost any and all email
What is the most effective way to combat home burglaries in Newcastle? A. Increased patrols by the Newcastle Police Department B. Neighborhood watch systems with email chains or social media groups C. Contacting police if a suspicious vehicle or person shows up in a neighborhood D. Installing a home security system and ensuring doors and windows are locked at all times
Newcastle news Published since 1999 by
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The Renton School District passed both levies in the Feb. 12 election. However, the bond, which requires a 60 percent yes vote, received only 58.08 percent, falling short of approval by 335 votes out of 17,000. Because of that narrow margin and the significant value that passing the school bond will have on students in the district, the Renton School Board decided unanimously to seek approval of the bond again, and I agree. The bond accomplishes two essential components for the district. First, it provides the funding for a new middle school in the district. Why is this important? The average middle school in Washington has 609 students per school. Renton’s three middle schools rank in the state as follows, McKnight: third (1,150 kids, almost double), Nelsen: ninth (1,050) and Dimmitt: 24th (890). If the bond is passed, it means a fourth middle school, which could open in four years, allowing the school district the ability to lower the average number of children per school down to 891 in 2016 (this number includes adjusting for anticipated growth). As you can see, a fourth middle school really just helps the district hold the line. In addition, the bond provides capital for improvements, upgrades and modernizations to other schools and the renovation of the Lindbergh pool. These improvements will save the district money by lowering operating costs of these facilities. The Renton School Board understands the concerns of taxpayers and balances those concerns with the essential needs of the district. This will help balance the concerns about school size for now. Your yes vote goes a long way for the children of the Renton School District. Newcastle residents in the Renton district would see an increase of $5.83 per month on average if the bond is approved (defined as a home in Newcastle
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with average assessed value of $388,000). Less than $6 per month for all of that seems like a great investment to me. Vote yes for the Renton school building improvements bond on April 17! John Galluzzo, chairman Citizens for Renton Schools
Bond provides vital funds for schools
Our Renton School District, where I previously served as an elected school board director for eight years, is known for ever-increasing student achievement, fiscal responsibility and holding true to promises made to parents, community members and taxpayers. Local residents and voters appreciate the district’s leadership, and the dedication by teachers and support staff, to ensure that the district is focused on quality teaching and successful learning for all kids. Local voters have consistently shown their support by voting yes for school funding measures to ensure teachers have the necessary classroom tools and technology to prepare our community’s children for a competitive and productive future. For the past 20 years, voters have also provided funding to allow the rebuilding of every elementary school and upgrades or remodeling of middle and high schools. Now, on the April 17 ballot, there’s an opportunity for voters to provide something vital to the continued success of the district. The Building for a Lifetime of Learning School Construction Bond measure will allow the district to continue to protect the taxpayer investments in those schools by providing needed maintenance and repair projects at schools across the district — like replacing roofs, windows and floors; renovating/repairing aging heating, electrical and mechanical systems; and upgrading school security and safety features. The largest portion of the bond measure will See LETTERS, Page 5
addresses that the newspaper has been sending Rapid Response questions to for years. Yes, years. Gone. Poof. Into the technological abyss. If you have been a Rapid Responder and would like to continue providing conversational answers to our three questions a month that provide insight about Newcastle’s people, places, issues and events on the opinion page, email newcastle@isspress.com. Never been a Rapid Responder and want to try it out? Email us to join the conversation!
Let leaders know what’s on your mind to shape a better Newcastle at these April meetings: q The City Council will have a regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. April 17 at Newcastle’s City Hall. q The Parks Commission is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. April 11 at City Hall. q The Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. April 18 at City Hall.
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APRIL 6, 2012
Letters From Page 4 build an additional, much-needed middle school to provide current elementary school students with a place to learn that is free from the overcrowded conditions that currently exist. Renton’s three middle schools are among the largest in the state, and the incoming students from the district’s 14 elementary schools means that the district must act now to be ready to accommodate those children. The proposal shows responsible planning on the district’s part; that’s also something voters appreciate. I ask you to vote yes for Renton Schools on the April 17 ballot. Your vote will help the district continue to provide an excellent education for our children now and well into the future. Marcie Maxwell State representative
Support needed for ISD
By now, registered voters should have received their ballots for the Issaquah School District bond election. We are being asked to decide one thing: whether to help bridge the huge
gap left by inadequate state funding of education. Although the $219 million bond package might seem big, the truth is our taxes will actually go down — the owner of a $500,000 home will pay about $215 less per year than we currently pay on the bond package that runs out this year. You might be surprised to learn that Washington does not fund regular maintenance of public schools — local voters must approve school bonds to make sure our kids have safe buildings in which to learn and grow. If we don’t approve this package, the district will be forced to divert funds from areas like teacher salaries and books in order to make even basic repairs to school buildings. For example, if a school boiler fails, the replacement is $500,000, which is equivalent to six teaching positions. In some elementary schools, class sizes are up to 28 students. Imagine how much more difficult it would be for our kids to learn and our teachers to teach if there were 30 or more students in each classroom! Within the $219 million package are almost $4 million for Maywood Middle School and $44.58 million for Liberty High School, which will enable our
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district to complete the construction that has already begun and turn our high school into a stateof-the-art facility like Issaquah and Skyline high schools. Our south-end Newcastle and Renton schools are first on the construction schedule, which means the work should be complete in about three years, in plenty of time for most of our kids to actually enjoy the new buildings. Ballots must be postmarked by April 17, and we need 60 percent plus one of those votes to be in favor of funding a better education for our kids. Learn more at www.visvote.org. Edana Peacock Newcastle
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Insurance Agent... Don’t Invite Burglars In Imagine coming home to find that someone has broken into your home and stolen valuable items and ransacked your personal possessions. The feeling of devastation can be overwhelming for victims of burglary. It’s a crime we are all vulnerable to, whether we live in a city or rural area, have a high or low income, live in a house or in an apartment or condominium. According to the FBI, a burglary happens every 15 seconds in the United States. It’s a serious crime. The problem is many of us, through our own carelessness, make it easier for burglars to carry out their work. A few simple steps can make your home a harder target for burglars: • Lock all outside doors before you leave or go to bed. • Lock all windows. • Leave a few lights on when you are not home. • Keep all garage doors closed and locked. • Don’t allow daily deliveries, like newspapers and mail, to pile up when you’re out of town. Ask a friend or neighbor to pick them up for you or arrange to have deliveries stopped until you return. • When you’re on vacation, arrange to have someone take care of your yard. Other things to consider • Contact a locksmith for advice on pickresistant locks for your doors, sliding glass doors and windows. • Don’t leave keys under flower pots, doormats or other “secret” hiding places—burglars know them all. • Keep a detailed inventory of all your personal possessions. Include a description of the item, date of purchase, original value and any serial numbers. Creating a video can be helpful. Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious, contact the police immediately.
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PAGE 5
Library group to approve bylaws, elect officers An important Friends of the Newcastle Library meeting will take place from 10-11:30 a.m. April 7 at the Newport Way Library, 14250 S.E. Newport Way, Bellevue. The meeting will lay the groundwork for the library and elected officer positions that will form the Friends group.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend. Topics to be discussed at the meeting will include approving of the group’s official bylaws, electing the group’s officers, viewing updated plans of the Newcastle Library and planning for the Newcastle Library’s opening-day activities. Learn more at http://blogs.kcls. org/newcastle or like the library on Facebook.
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Newcastle News
PAGE 6
Laughing all the way
Words escape me I consider myself a wordsmith, and yet when speaking, appropriate words leave me as often as a brainless Twitter post leaves a Kardashian. In my gray matter — and I’ll admit to periodic synapse misfires up there — if an object name does not fit the thing that it refers to, then the word simply does not exist in my world. This might explain why I’ve called flashlights “fire hammers” for the past 20 years, although I’m not sure why I decided that “fire hammer” made more sense. It’s possible that this propensity is genetic, because my mother fumbled for words as well. She didn’t create new words like I do; she just used “doomaflidger” for anything that she couldn’t remember, from safety pins to car batteries. She also called slippers “pusskins,” claiming that it was a word derived in part from our
German heritage. As a result, we all use “pusskins” to this day, even though a trip to the Internet underbelly on a definition search has convinced me that it’s a good Pat Detmer time to look for a substitute. It also used to make me crazy when Mother would tell a story and find it necessary to verbally scroll through the name of every acquaintance she’d had since 1947 to get to the right person, i.e., “So then Carol said ... I think it was Carol. No. Deborah. Anne. Barb? Sue? Christa?” Listening to her in my 30s, I would feign drooling and rolling my eyes back in my head while promising myself that I would
jump off the nearest cliff if I ever got that bad. Well, guess what? I am now 61 and should probably avoid any hikes up DeLeo Wall. These thoughts occur to me because when we had the family over for dinner the other day, something was spilled on the floor and I said that I had to go to the garage and retrieve the “swipinta.” What’s a “swipinta?” Well, for some reason, the words “dust” and “pan” together have just never worked for me. Rarely is it dust that you’re sweeping up, and the thing never looked like a “pan” to me, so it became the “sweepinto,” and then shortened and morphed into “swipinta.” And if that’s not bad enough, I often forget the name for the broom (it was, briefly, the “indoor rake”) so the broom periodically becomes the “swipinta with.” When I started writing this column, I thought these slips were pretty funny. But re-reading it, I’m feeling a little uneasy and wonder if it’s time for me to make an appointment for a trip through a people silver tube radar thing.
APRIL 6, 2012
You know what I mean ... that patient tube scanner X-ray doohickey? The one that takes indoor pictures of your skull? You know: The doomaflidger.
Reach Pat Detmer — whose husband The Sainted One claims to understand every verbal aberration that she’s ever come up with — at patdetmer@aol.com.
Select chamber chorale celebrates sacred music By Christina Lords
Contributed
Bob Ingalls (center), Newcastle resident and Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale Artistic Director, kneels before the chorale’s full ensemble in December.
After graduating from the Juilliard School of Music and making a more than 40-year career out of conducting, playing and composing, music has given Bob Ingalls a way to live. Now the longtime Newcastle resident says he’s at a stage in life where he’s compelled to give something back. “The ability to help people is an important thing,” Ingalls said. “The ability to create concerts — not just good concerts, but fabulous concerts — is an
important thing to me.” Ingalls incorporated the Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale in January 2011. The select choir with 12 core members formed to celebrate sacred music as well as serve as an avenue to benefit the people and environment around us. Through the performance of traditional music, Ingalls said he hopes the chorale will connect with people on a musical and spiritual level while its performances serve as benefit concerts for various volunteer or nonprofit groups.
“The goal was to put together a very small, very elite group and establish an audience,” Ingalls said, “and then use that audience as a source to be able to do benefits when the timing was right … It ended up far surpassing my own thoughts about what this was going to be. It’s sensational.” Ingalls has spent his career performing as a clarinetist for the New York State Opera, the Seattle Symphony, the Seattle Opera, the San Francisco Opera See CHOIR, Page 8
Being there is why I’m here. Kevin Dunkley, Agent 6920 Coal Creek Parkway SE Newcastle, WA 98059 Bus: 425-378-3700 kevin@kevindunkley.com www.kevindunkley.com
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PAGE 7
Birth Elle Nadya Bajsarowicz Janusz Bajsarowicz and Trisha Pollara welcomed daughter Elle Nadya Bajsarowicz to their Newcastle home March 5, 2012. She was born in Renton, weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 19.25 inches. Elle joins sister Paige Anya, 6, and brother Jacob Thomas, 2. Grandparents are John and Jan Pollara, of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Krystyna and
Parks commissioners seek feedback on goals The city of Newcastle is seeking feedback on a plan for the city’s parks, trails, recreation and open space. Parks commissioners are seeking input on goals they have drafted to be included in a portion of the Comprehensive Plan, the
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Elle Bajsarowicz Wojciech Bajsarowicz, of Walnut Creek, Calif. Janusz is an environmental manager at Topsoils Inc. Trisha is a physician at Newcastle Primary Care.
city’s main guiding document. The information you provide will be used to update, modify or create additional goals. View the Parks Commission’s proposed goals and current goals at www.ci.newcastle.wa.us. Comments are due by April 9. Email them to Michael Holly, parks program manager, at michaelh@ci.newcastle.wa.us.
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Newcastle News
PAGE 8
APRIL 6, 2012
Renton bond back before voters in April 17 special election Measure would provide funding for a Newcastle middle school By Christina Lords The Renton School Board voted Feb. 29 to rerun a $97 million building improvement bond that would fund a new middle school in Newcastle among other projects. The bond, which originally came up two points shy of the 60 percent needed to pass in the Feb. 14 special election, will run again April 17. Citizens for Renton Schools Chair John Galluzzo said a major setback to gathering enough support for the bond
Choir From Page 6 and the Pacific Northwest Ballet, and conducting for the St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic Church Choir in Bellevue and the Holy Rosary Catholic Church Choir in West Seattle. “Sacred Music: Different Views” — the theme of a concert series to be presented by the Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale on April 28 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Bellevue and May 4 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle — features three examples of four sacred texts, with each setting taken from a different his-
the first time was not giving residents a clear picture of what the bond would mean to them financially. The election was about 335 votes short of the ballots needed to approve the bond, he said. “We are confident that once we explain in further detail and do a better job of what that cost will be that people will jump at it,” he said. The bond measure’s proposed bond collection rate would be an increase of about 18 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value, or about $46 per year for the average homeowner, according to district officials. That rate includes funding from all past voter-approved bond measures plus the new bond measure.
The proposed rate for those living in the district would increase to $5.39 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2013, up from $5.21 per $1,000 per assessed value in 2012. The bond, identical to the one run Feb. 14, would fund a new middle school in Newcastle at the former Hazelwood Elementary School site, now home to the Renton Academy. The academy provides alternative-education services for students in the district. It will be moved to a new location if the bond passes, according to district spokesman Randy Matheson. According to data collected by the district, the 213 middle schools in the state of Washington have an average of
609 students per facility. McKnight Middle School, of which most students in Newcastle who live in the Renton district attend, has 1,152 students, while Dimmitt Middle School and Nelsen Middle School have 1,038 and 970 students, respectively. “In my mind, there is absolutely no question the need for that middle school,” Galluzzo said. There are 14 elementary schools that feed into the three middle schools in the district. “It goes to show how important that middle school is,” Galluzzo said. “Enrollment is growing, and you have to keep in mind those schools and those teachers are doing exceptional things at full capacity.”
torical period or viewpoint. “The goal is to present sacred music in the sacred space which it was originally intended when the composer wrote it,” Ingalls said. “When you’re dealing with a chamber chorale, which is more of a select, intimate group, you want to be in an intimate space where you can establish a connection with the audience.” The performance will include choral music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras. “The concept is, as a listener, you come to the concert and you can hear how different composers treated these texts based on the tradition of the period in which they were living,” Ingalls said. Well-known composers, such as Mozart, Bruckner, DeLassus,
Biebl and Morten Lauridsen, will be presented as well as lesserknown composers Michel-Richard DeLalande, Jacobus Gallus, Colin Mawby and Ralph Manuel. Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and will benefit the Nature Consortium, a nonprofit organization that aims to connect people, arts and nature. The group offers programming and volunteer opportunities in three areas: its West Duwamish Greenbelt forest restoration project, its Youth Art Program and its Arts in Nature Festival. “This money will help us continue with our programming, such as art classes for kids or putting trees in the forest,” Nature Consortium Director Nancy Whitlock said. “We have 300-plus days a year where we
have things going on. Sometimes we’re so busy doing our work that we often don’t have the time to tell the world about it. This gives us that chance.” The Nature Consortium has programmed projects through Eastside Catholic High School and other areas on the Eastside. Working synergistically with the choir will allow the organization to reach a new audience, Whitlock said. “Our organization has one foot in the environmental world, and one foot in the art world at all times,” she said. “Sacred Music: Different Views” tickets purchased in advance are $18 to $20, while tickets purchased at the door range in price from $22 to $25. The Nature Consortium will
Fast, on-time delivery with any purchase
Of the $97 million requested by the district, $53.2 million would go toward building the new middle school in Newcastle and $5.5 million would go toward improvements of the Lindbergh High School swimming pool. About $5 million would go toward the district’s land acquisition for future projects, $5.9 million would go for upgrading existing facilities, $8.8 million would go toward energy conservation districtwide and $18.6 million would go toward building upgrades for existing structures. Learn more about the bond on the Citizens for Renton Schools Facebook page or by emailing Galluzzo at jgalluzzo@ farmersagent.com.
On the Web
Learn more about Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale at www. musicasacrachamberchorale.com, like the choir’s Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale Facebook page or follow the group on Twitter at @MSChamberChoral. receive $5 of each ticket sold. Discounted group rates of 10 or more are available by calling 277-0809 or emailing info@musicasacrachamberchorale.com. Learn more about the choir by calling the Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale at 277-0809 or go to www.musicasacrachamberchorale.com.
Newcastle News
APRIL 6, 2011
Police blotter
she reportedly pushed and threatened an officer.
Garage burgled
Stolen car found
A burglary was reported March 1 in the 7500 block of 138th Place Southeast. The resident left the garage door open overnight, and an unknown suspect entered the structure and stole carry-on baggage and two laptop computers from an unlocked car. The estimated loss is more than $2,100.
A stolen vehicle from Des Moines was recovered under a tarp March 6 in the 12400 block of Southeast 89th Place after a caller reported someone dumped rubbish in the roadway. Only the center portion of the vehicle remained. No license plates were recovered.
Home burglarized More than $10,900 worth of items were reportedly stolen March 1 from a single-family home in the 11600 block of Southeast 89th Street. A lock was broken off and one of the home’s windows was pried open. The suspect took jewelry, laptop computers, gaming equipment, cash and a surround sound system.
Burglary Nearly $13,000 worth of items including diamond jewelry, a laptop computer and personal items were stolen in a home burglary reported March 1. The suspect entered the home through a rear garage door and left several items of value undisturbed.
Hospital bound A 38-year-old Newcastle woman was transported to Overlake Hospital Medical Center after three Newcastle Police Department officers responded to a report of her acting erratically in the 7300 block of Coal Creek Parkway Southeast. The reporting party said the woman accused her of killing her cat and was “too high,” according to police reports. The woman was handcuffed after
Without power Power cords valued at $3,200 were reported stolen March 6 from the Newcastle Library construction site in the 12900 block of Newcastle Way. A small hole was cut in the fence surrounding the site to gain access to the area.
Can you hear me now? A brown Resound Future hearing aid valued at $2,500 was stolen from the men’s dressing room at The Golf Club at Newcastle on March 12.
Amp, GPS stolen A woman reported a $200 amplifier and a $500 GPS device were stolen from her 1993 Ford Probe on March 15. The car was located near the 13300 block of Southeast 79th Place. There were no signs of damage to the vehicle.
Lifting the lid More than $650 worth of tire chains and tools were stolen March 18 from a vehicle parked near the 13300 block of Southeast 79th Place. The truck’s canopy was locked, but it appears the suspect pushed the covering up until the lock snapped off.
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A Sony laptop was reported stolen March 19 after a suspect smashed out the passengerside window of a woman’s 2005 BMW near the 12800 block of Newcastle Way Southeast. The estimated loss is at $300.
Honda Civic reported stolen
A green, four-door 1998 Honda Civic with Washington license plates was reported stolen March 19 from the 6800 block of Coal Creek Parkway Southeast.
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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. April 11 at Tapatio Mexican Grill, 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. Guest speaker is Tony Ventrella. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. RSVP to info@newcastlecc.com. “Lunch & Learn Class: How to Apply Social Media to Your Business,” presented by the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce and Waste Management, is from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 18 at the Coal Creek Utility District, 6801 132nd Place S.E. RSVP to info@newcastlecc.com. Learn more by calling Angela Wingate at 462-3351. Newcastle Washington Earth Day 2012 is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 21 at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way. The event features a real treasure hunt using GPS devices, an interactive Science and the Environment display from the Pacific Science Center, the Boeing Employees Concert Band, the Gifted Program Rock Band and other local high school bands, food, vendors and more. The Newcastle Weed Warriors’ next projects are maintenance and restoration work from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 21, Earth Day, at Lake Boren, 13058 S.E. 84th Way. TEAM-WORKS Mack Strong Meet and Greet — Meet former Seattle Seahawk Mack Strong and learn about the TEAM-WORKS Academy from 4-6 p.m. April 28 at The Newcastle Professional Center, 12835 S.E. Newcastle Way. RSVP
APRIL 6, 2012
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Science center hosts Earth Day displays The Pacific Science Center will host 10 interactive, hands-on displays of science in the environment at Newcastle’s Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 28 at Lake Boren Park. The family friendly display educates attendees on agricultural topics, including how to tell a good bug from a pest, what kind of soil grows the biggest crops and how to keep a farm running, through inquiry-based puzzles, experiments and activities. Contributed by the Pacific Science Center
A family learns together with one of Pacific Science Center’s travelling “Science on Wheels” exhibit sets. The organization will have 10 tables of interactive displays at Newcastle’s Earth Day celebration April 28.
by emailing jensenroofing@msn. com.
Public meetings All city public meetings are at City Hall, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200. Call 649-4444. q Parks Commission — 6-8 p.m. April 11 q Salary and Benefits Committee — 8 -9 a.m. April 17 q Planning Commission —
7-9 p.m. April 18 q Finance Committee — 7-9 p.m. April 19 q Economic & Community Development Committee — 8-9 a.m. May 1 q City Council — 7-10 p.m. May 1 Newport Way Library Association Meeting — 7:30 p.m. April 9, Newport Way Library, 14250 S.E. Newport Way, Bellevue The Newcastle Trails
April
2012
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May
2012
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board meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the
3 4 5 10 11 12 17 18 19 24 25 26 31
See CALENDAR, Page 11
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Newcastle Chamber of Commerce
6973 Coal Creek Parkway SE www.coalcreekfamilyvision.com
April 11, 2012 • 11:00 - 12:15 Please RSVP via email to: info@newcastlecc.com All are welcome, members & non-members
Membership • News & Updates • Upcoming Events • 206.719.8122 • www.newcastlecc.com
Newcastle News
APRIL 6, 2011
Calendar From Page 10 Regency Newcastle, 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Road.
YMCA The Coal Creek Family YMCA, 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road, has regular family programs for all ages. For a complete schedule, call 282-1500 or go to www.seattleymca.org/Locations/ CoalCreek/Pages/Home.aspx. q Orkila Spring Campout: Happytalk, Slookum and Tykes, April 27-29, $120, call 644-8417 for times and to learn more q Rookies T-Ball baseball league, for ages 3-6, May 5 to June 23, $40 for facility member/$70 for program member, call for specific age group times q Youth Basketball League, for grades one through three, April 6 to June 16, $60/$95, call for specific age group times q Adult Cooking: Celebrating Spring, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 18, $10 q Dude’s Night: Laser tag and swimming, for ages 11-15, 8:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. April 27-28, $35 to $40 q Family Dinner Night, 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 13, $3 for children and adults q “Health & Wellness Seminar — Fabulous Feet: Self-Help With Reflexology,” for all ages, 6:45-7:45 p.m. April 24 q “Health & Wellness Seminar — Card Making,” for adults, 2-3 p.m. April 29 q “Health & Wellness Workshops — Feldenkrais Workshop 8: Maximize Your Treadmill & Elliptical Time,” for ages 14 and up, 4-6 p.m. April 15 q Healthy Kids Day, 9 a.m. to noon, April 28 q Rookies Flag Football League, for
ages 4-6 at Lake Heights Center, May 5 to June 23, $40/$70, call for times q Rookies T-Ball League, for ages 3-6, May 5 to June 23, $40/$70, call for specific age group times q Youth Volleyball league, for grades five and six — 4:55-5:55 p.m. April 17 to June 9, $60/$95 q Youth Volleyball league, for grades seven and eight — 7:30-8:30 p.m. April 20 to June 9, $60/$95
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. April 17 Newcastle Friends Meeting, for adults, 10 a.m. April 7 “Playing With Word: Developing the Author Within Yourself,” for ages 10 and older, 7 p.m. April 11 Fiestas D Alfabetizacion Temprana En Espanol, for children and families, 10:30 a.m. April 13, 20 and 27 One-on-One Computer Assistance, for adults and teens, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. April 6 Newport Way Book Group, for adults, discusses “Kindred,” by Octavia E. Butler, at 7:30 p.m. April 6 Fiddle Tunes of the Civil War, for adults, 7 p.m. April 18 Opera Preview: ‘Madama Butterfly,’ for adults, 7 p.m. April 24 Computer class: “Internet Level 2,” for teens and adults, 7 p.m. April 25 SAT Practice Test, for teens, 10 a.m. April 28, registration begins at 10 a.m. April 14 Computer class: “Internet Level 1,” for teens and adults, 7 p.m. May 2
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Choose a CRS Certified Residential Specialist when you buy or sell a home. Some CRS Realtors in King County are shown here. Call 1-800-540-3257 for Certified Residential Specialists serving other areas or counties in the state. For more information on the CRS designation or for the names of CRS out of state, call 1-888-462-8841. The Council of Residential Specialists of Realtors National Marketing Institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.
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PAGE 11
Special Section of the Newcastle News advertising department
Greenbaum’s Home Furnishings offers free in-store design aid Shopping for home furnishings and accessories can be exciting, but overwhelming. Having a well-organized showroom to help you envision the possibilities in your home is a good first step. Having a complimentary in-store design assistant help you meet your budget and lifestyle needs makes the shopping fun and easy. Greenbaum Home Furnishings in Bellevue has been furnishing Eastside homes for 52 years, providing the highest level of service and products along with professional advice for all aspects of the home. The 40,000 square-foot showroom provides decorating ideas for your primary living spaces, but also for home offices and home theaters, children’s bedrooms, breakfast nooks or vacation homes. Greenbaum’s offers products from over 50 quality manufacturers. In addition to furniture and accessories, you’ll find window treatments, blinds, wallpaper, carpeting, hardwood flooring, installation, space planning, shipping, delivery, service and set-up. If they don’t have what you’re looking for, then their goal is to help point you in the right direction so you can complete your project. Greenbaum’s is a local family owned and operated business that loves serving its community and its clients. Co-owner Jon Greenbaum says the family is passionate about your home. “We know there is a big difference between buying something out of pure necessity verses purchasing something to create an environment that feels good every night when you come home from a busy day,” said Jon. He credits the amazing, knowledgeable staff for keeping generations of cus-
Siblings and business partners Steve Greenbaum, Cindy Greenbaum-Lindner and Jon Greenbaum tomers coming back. “Our employees have worked for us for an average of 18 years,” said Jon. “They understand how important it is to listen as we help you meet your needs.” The Greenbaum family loves their work, but also loves helping to make a difference in the community. “We have worked with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Pete Gross House and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance on many projects,” said Jon. “We participated in ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover a few years ago. We work to support foster children and make countless donations to organizations who provide furniture to people in need.” Greenbaum is proud to be “different by design,” a slogan that applies to their store merchandise as well as their business practices. To learn more, go to www.differentbydesign.com or call 425-454-2474. Find Greenbaum just off I-405 at 929 118th Ave. S.E., Bellevue. The showroom is open daily.
SCHOOLS
PAGE 12
APRIL 6, 2011
Students experience salmon’s ‘miracle of life’ By Dan Aznoff Five-year-old Dylan Pearson took extra care as he crept his way across the rocks under the watchful eye of his PeePah to the edge of the creek to release the young salmon fry swimming at the bottom of his plastic cup. The youngster and his grandfather joined third-graders from Apollo Elementary School on March 21 to release more than 230 small coho salmon that were raised from eggs in their classroom into Issaquah Creek behind Pickering Barn. Participating in the life cycle of the salmon was an important lesson that Dylan’s grandfather, Issaquah native Jerry Pearson, wanted to teach his grandson. Pearson can still remember the salmon spawning in Lewis Creek near his home when he was the same age as his grandson. “Sharing this moment and the lessons we learn about the renewal of life are things that I will never forget,” Jerry Pearson said. “Hopefully, the salmon will inspire Dylan to nurture new life and then set it free.” Many students were sad; others cheered as they watched the tiny fish swim away.
“This is so exciting,” 9-year-old Camryn Creed said as she walked back to get a second fry. “We see the big salmon swim upstream every fall to lay their eggs. Now I know where those big ones came from.” Camryn’s grandmother Shirley Stubbs made the drive up from Kent to watch the release with her granddaughter. Stubbs said she has taken her granddaughter to streams and rivers in Renton and Issaquah to witness what she described as the “miracle of life.” Third-grader Allyson Marus named her tiny fish George. She walked out on the small spit of rocks before kneeling down to set him free. She called out to her fish as he was swept away by the current. “Goodbye, George,” she said. “I’ll see you back here in three years.” Dylan named his tiny fish Fast Joe. His grandfather responded by calling his Slow Mo. This could be the last year for the Salmon in the Classroom project in the Issaquah School District unless the state Legislature reverses its decision to cut the unit out of the state budget. Lawmakers have estimated that eliminating the program will save $442,000 during the upcoming two-year budget cycle.
“It’s just not right,” teacher Lauren Molnar said as she passed cups to each of the eager children. “My students have learned so much about science — and about life — during this unit. The kids love watching the eggs hatch and seeing them grow. It has been an incredibly valuable lesson for everybody.” The third-grade teacher said Salmon in the Classroom provides elementary school students the hands-on experience of caring for coho salmon eggs until they are released into local streams to begin the three-year cycle of migrating downstream to the Puget Sound, and then return to spawn a new generation. Molnar expressed her gratitude to the local business owner who stepped up to sponsor the Salmon in the Classroom program at Apollo Elementary. Dylan’s PeePah and his MeeMah donated enough money to maintain the program at Clark Elementary, where Jerry attended school in the early 1960s. They both became involved with the program after reading about the $5.1 million shortfall in the state budget for education. “It’s important for kids to know that the salmon are an important part of the culture here in the Northwest,” Jerry Pearson said. “Today was our own little circle of life.
By Greg Farrar
Jerry Pearson and his grandson Dylan Pearson, 5, release salmon fry into Issaquah Creek March 21 under the Northwest Sammamish Road crossover. There is so much we can learn from studying the life cycle of the salmon. “For example, it is always good to come home,” he said with a smile. Dan Aznoff was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the toxic waste crisis in California. He is now a freelance writer who makes his home in Bellevue. Reach him at da@ dajournalist.com. Comment at www.newcastlenews.com.
$219 million Issaquah bond could revamp Liberty, Apollo schools By Tom Corrigan For Liberty High School, passage of the April 17 Issaquah School District $219 million bond would mean completion of the reconstruction and modernization plan now under way thanks to a 2006 voter-approved bond. At the same time, Apollo and other elementary schools in the district would receive sizable space additions, making room for 120 additional students at each building. Apollo and other schools would benefit from some much-needed maintenance, according to the principals of the schools. Outside of schools being rebuilt or transplanted, Liberty, Apollo and Issaquah Valley Elementary are the three individual school facilities that would receive the most attention in terms of dollar value should the district win passage of its current bond proposal. Liberty High School Still under construction, Phase 1 of the Liberty project includes creation of a performing arts center similar to the still-new facility at Issaquah High School. The Liberty center is supposed to be finished this summer, according to Steve Crawford, district director of capital projects. “That’s an exciting piece for us,” Liberty High Principal Mike DeLetis said.
The new facility will put his school’s performing arts department front and center, he added. While not an all-inclusive list, Phase II could include revamping Liberty’s commons, relocating and modernizing facilities for the school’s culinary arts program and reworking some classroom spaces. Plans would add an auxiliary gym and modernize the school’s locker room. The building’s existing roof, outside of the modernization areas, would be repaired or replaced. At one point, DeLetis referred to one targeted portion of Liberty as “the bunker.” Classrooms there have no windows, he said. In regard to the commons area, DeLetis said it would become more open. The L Café, the retail outlet for Liberty’s culinary arts program, would be located off that commons, greatly increasing its visibility. The bond proposal also calls for creation of TV labs and production and editing facilities. That might seem a frill to some, but not to DeLetis. He said media is now largely electronic, that the Web and video are key portions of any print media operation, even the school newspaper. School announcements are often done via student-produced videos, he said. The total cost for Phase II of Liberty’s remodeling is $39.7 million, not including $4.8 mil-
lion for revamping the school’s football stadium. Liberty’s stadium From the beginning of the discussions over the upcoming school bond issue, Issaquah School District officials have admitted funding for millions in improvements to athletic fields in the district might be a hard sell to voters. “We’re not doing anything outlandish,” said Steve Crawford, district director of capital improvements. School board members have discussed issues of equity, saying they couldn’t appear to be playing favorites among the schools if they expected the bond to pass. One chief example held up was the plan to renovate the stadium at Skyline High School. The revamping will put the school on equal footing with other high schools in the district, said Chad Magendanz, president of the board. Plans for the Liberty stadium call for the conversion of the home-side bleachers to the visitor’s side. New, covered home stands would seat about 2,000 with a new press box on the west side of the field. Total cost: $4.8 million. Liberty’s home-side, covered stands now seat about 1,400. “We are way beyond capacity,” DeLetis said. He talked about seeing high schools, including the sports
stadiums, as assets for the whole community. He said he enjoys seeing parents or even grandparents who once attended or played for Liberty in the stands watching their children or grandchildren on the field. “It really is a community space,” he said. Like Skyline High School, Liberty needs to rent bleachers in order to host play-off games. DeLetis said he likes the idea of Liberty being able to host regional play-off games not involving Liberty teams. The school would collect extra dollars from concession sales, he said. Liberty Athletic Director Porter Stark said he believes the revamped stadium would pump up the school’s athletes and students. The new Liberty stadium would be on a par with other area stadiums inside and outside of the district, he added. Porter also looks forward to eventual replacement of the natural turf on the school’s baseball fields. He described as a huge improvement the artificial turf installed on the infield of one baseball diamond last year. Putting new turf on the school’s other diamond would even out those fields, he said. Apollo Elementary School Like her counterparts at other schools, Apollo Principal Susan Mundell would enjoy doing away with the portable classrooms. Apollo has six classes using por-
tables. Mundell would like her school to have a more unified feel, something she said just doesn’t seem possible with portables. “There is a sense of isolation,” she said. “I’d like to build a community feeling.” Mundell talked about students and staff members being forced to walk outside to use restrooms or to reach the main building. “Everyone wears coats around here,” she added. Passage of the bond would mean far less use of portables at Apollo and construction of six additional, indoor classrooms. The school also would receive new restrooms and an expanded commons area. The central office would be remodeled. Exterior walkways would be enclosed. Drainage would be added to the school’s outdoor play field. When the rain is heavy, as it was recently, Mundell said the field becomes little more than a mud pit and is totally unusable. Lastly, for Apollo, the bond proposal calls for new carpeting. Some might see the latter as at least a bit of a luxury. Mundell does not. “Our carpet is really worn. You can see that it is in need of replacing,” she said, adding the new carpeting is supposed to be easier and cheaper to clean and maintain. In all, Apollo would receive some $7.2 million in attention if the bond issue passes.
Newcastle News
APRIL 6, 2011
Local students are named to dean’s lists q The following students from Newcastle have been named to the dean’s list at the University of Washington for the autumn quarter (to qualify, students must complete at least 12 graded credits and have a grade point average of at least 3.5): Tiffany A. Chau, Lauren M. Colver, Shahrzad R. Dow, Jiaqi Liang, Brandon M. Nudelman, Zachary A. Pritchett, Tyler S. Watson and Leslie A. West; junior Jessica Kim; sophomores James Q. Wang and Angela M. Lattanzio; and freshmen Jacky Cheung, Chris K. Han, Lauren M. Mortier and Simerjot Singh. q Newcastle resident and Azusa Pacific University student Taylor Newbury made the academic dean’s list at APU. Newbury was honored for a fall semester 2011 academic standing of a 3.5 or higher grade point average. Newbury is a nursing interest major. q Emily A. Hargis and Jacob C. Zimmer, both of Newcastle, have made the Seattle Pacific University 2011 autumn quarter dean’s list. To qualify, students must complete at least 12 credits and attain a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Scholarship application available for RSD students Soroptimist International of Renton is accepting applications for its Rosalie Evans Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. Applicants must have completed their first year of college or vocational training-continued college level coursework and have permanent residency within the Renton School District. Request an application by contacting Del Mead at
Worship Directory
Soroptimist International of Renton, P.O. Box 681, Renton, WA 98057. Deadline for the scholarship submissions is May 15. The scholarship will be awarded in June.
Student represents McKnight at spelling bee
After winning McKnight Middle School’s annual Scripps Spelling Bee Competition, eighth-grader Arnelie D. Cruz had the opportunity to represent the school in front of an audience of nearly 400 people at the King/Snohomish Regional Spelling Bee on March 25 at Town Hall Seattle. More than 50 middle school students competed at the event. The winner of the statewide contest, 13-year-old Mercer Island resident Kela Harrington, will go to Washington, D.C., to compete in the nationally televised event. McKnight’s event was spearheaded by seventh-grade language arts teacher David Black.
universities in Washington for the entire 2012-13 academic year. The maximum eligibility is five years. The application deadline is 5 p.m. April 16. Apply at www.waopportunityscholarship.org.
Hazen teacher is Music Educator of the Year
Hazen High School music teacher Ernest Hibbard was recently honored by the Washington Music Educators Association as the Soundview Region Music Educator of the Year. Hibbard was selected for the award because of his teaching ability, his service to other teachers and his exemplary leadership in the district and throughout the region.
Newcastle Elementary named Earth Hero
Students, parents, teachers and staff members who share a passion for environmental conservation — including at
PAGE 13 Newcastle Elementary School — will be honored by King County Executive Dow Constantine at the county’s annual “Earth Heroes at School” ceremony in April. “These stewards of the environment are our heroes — for conserving resources, protecting the environment, and spreading the word about sustainable practices,” Constantine said in a statement. “I am proud to recognize them for their hands-on commitment to the planet.” A King County Green School since 2009, Newcastle Elementary School ensures its recycling and composting programs thrive through Waste Watchers, a program where students monitor lunchroom containers to ensure proper sorting. In an effort to save paper, the school’s staff-meeting notes are no longer printed out, and teachers and students work together to post signs about conserving resources. The school has also increased its recycling rate from 50 percent to 60 percent.
The executive will present awards to Earth Heroes at 4:30 p.m. April 26 at Maplewood Greens, in Renton. The program will recognize one student, three student groups, four school programs, eight teachers and seven other school employees this year. Some of the accomplishments of those receiving the awards include enhancing the health of a local watershed; creating an eco-leaders program for fifth-graders to teach environmental topics to younger schoolmates; repairing old computers and distributing them free to needy families; and repurposing and reusing furniture, equipment and materials that would otherwise have been discarded. Many winners also participate in the King County Green Schools Program to take specific actions to conserve natural resources and reduce waste. Email Donna Miscolta at donna.miscolta@kingcounty.gov or call 206-296-4477 for information about the Earth Heroes at School Program.
New scholarship is available to low- to middle-income students The newly created Washington State Opportunity Scholarship will help low- and middle-income Washington residents earn bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health care. An applicant from a family of four must have a family income of $102,200 or less to be eligible. There are 3,000 $1,000 scholarships per academic year for high-demand fields in the state. Seniors must have a 2.75 grade point average or higher, have completed a 2012-13 FAFSA form to submit an application, and plan to attend colleges and
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APRIL 6, 2011
John Martin happy to take the helm of Liberty’s baseball squad By Christina Lords While he always had an interest in the game, Liberty High School coach John Martin never anticipated he’d end up dedicating the past 20 or so years to coaching it. “What I really want to do is try to produce and mentor these kids so they’re leaders and young men coming out of the school first,” he said. “Baseball is really secondary. It’s a way to teach life skills, like teamwork, decision-making and ethics. I want to develop them as people first.” Martin returns to Liberty after
working for a three-year stint under coach Glen Walker, a former Liberty head coach himself, at Auburn Mountainview High School. “I’m kind of a local fixture,” Martin joked. “That’s part of the reason why I’m here. The environment I was in at Mountainview was really good. Coach Walker is just a super good friend of mine, and I love working with him in baseball. Probably the only job that would have gotten me to come back to this area was this one.” Liberty High School athletic director Stark Porter made the announcement in September
“Baseball is really secondary. It’s a way to teach life skills, like teamwork, decision-making and ethics. I want to develop them as people first.” — John Martin Liberty High School baseball coach
that Martin was hired to be the Patriots’ new baseball coach. He replaces Steve Darnell, who directed Liberty to a 6-8 record See COACH, Page 15
By Greg Farrar
John Martin, the new Liberty High School baseball coach, works his team in the gym while it’s snowing outside March 13 on the Patriots’ baseball field.
Individual invitational
Photos by Greg Farrar
Above, Megan Chucka, Liberty High School junior, holds fourth place ahead of the rest of the 1600meter field during the Liberty Invitational Track and Field Meet March 24. Her time was a new personal record of 5 minutes, 21.9 seconds. Chucka finished fourth as well in the 3200 meters with a time of 12 minutes, 6.2 seconds. At left, Alexis McGinnis, Liberty High School senior, throws her discus. Her long throw of 77 feet, 2 inches, earned fifth place and was just two feet under her personal record from last year. At far left, Trevor Merritt, Liberty High School senior, sprints up the runway and aims his javelin for a 165foot throw, good enough to take second place.
Hazen bests Liberty 6-2 in nonconference baseball matchup In a 2A/3A KingCo Conference versus Seamount matchup March 20, the Hazen High School baseball team bested the Liberty Patriots with a final score of 6-2.
The game was played at Liberty. Hazen was able to start the game strong with two runs scored in the top of the first inning by junior Jared Howell and senior Jimmy Schmidt. Hazen senior Zac Kolterman and junior Cody Moorhead had one RBI each in the first. Hazen added one run in the
second inning with a leadoff single by senior Sam Cook, who scored on a game-winning RBI single by senior Kyle Arinobu to bring the score to 3-0. The Patriots added their first run scored to the board in the fourth inning after an RBI-single by senior Blake Reeve. Liberty closed in on the Highlanders in the fifth inning
after an RBI-single by sophomore Loren Archibald, but Hazen pulled away from the Patriots to lead the contest, 5-2, after six innings played. Hazen ended its scoring efforts with one additional run scored in the seventh. Jake Kolterman, a Hazen sophomore, went on to be selected as the Washington
Interscholastic Athletic Association’s state athlete of the week for March 18-24 after he was one strike from a no-hitter before settling for a one-hit, 12-0 shutout against Kennedy Catholic High School on March 22. Kolterman finished the game with 12 strikeouts and one walk.
Newcastle News
APRIL 6, 2011
Hazen drill team comes up big at state championship By Christina Lords The Hazen High School drill team was able to bring home a little hardware from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s Dance and Drill State Championships after taking first place in several categories at the March 24 event. The team placed first in 3A military, first in 3A pom and fourth in 2A/3A kick categories. Hazen beat Decatur and Shorewood high schools for firstplace in military, and Shorewood and Capitol for first in pom. Liberty High School placed sixth in the 3A military category. Hazen coach Kristin Sargent, in her fifth season of leading the squad, said the team’s success is the result of hours of practice, sweat, tears and sisterhood. “Being a Hazen Driller is being part of a family,” she said. The team — consisting of 29 girls that include sophomores, juniors and seniors — compete in three separate categories: military, pom and kick. Senior captains Elaine Chow, Kelsey Chen and Kristi Kajita lead the team. Lieutenants for the team include senior Dakotah Kidd and juniors Lydia Sim and Newin Pales. “Our team practices 10 months a year, starting in late spring until the state finals in March,” Sargent said. “The girls begin practice in May to begin training, increase flexibility and learn to work together as one team, instead of 29 individuals. We start the year off running
— starting practices in order to prepare for their summer camp competition.” The team also participates in community parades, football games, basketball games, community and charity events, and Hazen pep assemblies throughout the year. “They are amazingly dedicated to their teammates and to this program,” Sargent said. The team competes at area competitions beginning in November, trying to earn a district qualifying score for each of the three routines. The Highlanders completed and earned a state-qualifying score for each of the three categories at the District 3 Competition on March 10. The team practices as much as four to five days a week throughout the year — all the while the members maintain a 2.5 grade point average. “Working with these young women is inspiring, especially when I get to see them be so passionate about something they love,” Sargent said. Members of the team from Newcastle include senior and captain Kajita, junior and lieutenant Sim, junior Uugii Munkhdelger, sophomore Michelle Tsuboi and sophomore Kelsey Chin. Tryouts for the 2012-13 drill team begin at the end of April and are open to upcoming sophomores through seniors. Those interested can check out the Hazen Drill Team Facebook page, or the team’s website at www.hazendrillteam.shutterfly.com.
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Coach From Page 14 last season. The Patriots were knocked out in the first round of the KingCo Conference 3A tournament in 2011. Martin was an assistant varsity coach at Liberty through the 2001 to 2008 seasons. He was on the staff when Liberty won its 3A state title — with the help of future Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, of the San Francisco Giants — in 2003. Martin has also coached summer select baseball teams. “I’ve enjoyed being an assistant and learning as much as I can,” he said. “I’m a consummate learner from a number of people and sources. I hadn’t thought about head coaching, so when the opportunity came up to come back here and interview, I really had to think about what I really wanted to do.” Martin, who has lived in the area since 1978, had two children go through the Liberty athletic program, including his son, Troy, who signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2005. “Liberty High School is my community,” Martin said. “It’s where I’ve been affiliated with as a parent, as a coach and as a fan since the mid ‘90s. I appreciate a lot of people in this community.”
PAGE 15
Liberty’s seniors on the team were freshmen the last time Martin was around, and he said he’s ready to tackle new challenges with a new team. “The kids are all new to me, but the surroundings and the administration is familiar,” he said. “Short-term goals for me include installing a little bit of a different system than what everybody is probably used to and get everyone on the same page as a team so we can get a rhythm going.” He said he views the team’s strong pitching staff and defense as this year’s squad key to success, but for the long term, instilling positive life skills will be what makes the program a success throughout his time at the helm. “From a baseball standpoint, it’s not really about execution,
because different people have different skill sets,” he said. “God made some of us one thing and some of us another. The real goal is to teach the kids work ethic and commitment, hard work, teamwork and those sort of intangible things that make a team a team.” As a site facilities manager at The Boeing Co. for the past 26 years, Martin said taking on a leadership role within the team felt like a natural next step. “I’ve been an assistant for 12 years, so for me, it’s like, ‘Do you want the additional load of being the full-grown leader?’” he said. “In my regular job, that’s what I do: I lead teams of people. I’d love to lead the kids in my local community and see if I can make a difference.”
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Newcastle resident Joseph Gray, 28, was the overall winner of the Merrell of Huntington Village Caumsett State Park 50 Kilometer Run on March 4 in New York. The run, for the fifth straight year, was the USA Track and Field National Road 50 Kilometer Championship. More than 100 athletes from across the country finished the 50K race. A newcomer to the 50-kilometer ultramarathon distance, Gray clocked a winning time of 2 hours, 56 minutes and 43 seconds, which is 1 minute and 41 seconds shy of runner-up Michael Wardian’s course record that was set in 2008. Wardian, of Arlington, Va., came in second during this year’s event with a time of 3:02:55. Wardian was the runner-up at the 2011 IAU 100 Kilometer World Championships and was named USATF’s Ted Corbitt Award winner for Ultra Runner of the Year, while Gray was last year’s USATF Mountain Runner of the Year. Wardian was the defending champion in the event for the past four years in a row. Gray and Wardian have announced their intention to continue their rivalry at the 2013 edition of the run.
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