Hazen High School sports teams tackle postseason Page 18
Robots compete to clean pretend spill in pool Page 16
June 3, 2011 VOL. 9, NO. 6
City staff post-employment restrictions tightened By Tim Pfarr
Water worries City moves forward to stop Lake Boren flooding. Page 2
The City Council voted May 3 to create a new section of city code that — in some circumstances — restricts former city employees from working for companies with which they negotiated, supervised or approved contracts during their city employment. If the employee takes a job at such a company, he or she would face a $10,000 fine for violating any of four restrictions. According to the new code:
First, for one year after leaving the city, an employee cannot accept a job with a company if he or she approved large contracts for that company and would work on the same project as he or she did at the city. The contracts are considered large if they total more than $100,000 during the employee’s last two years at the city. Second, an employee cannot have a financial interest in any contract that he or she played a role in negotiating, supervising or awarding while working at the city.
Third, an employee cannot accept a job offer from a company if he or she knows or has reason to believe the offer has been made as compensation for his or her work while working at the city. Finally, an employee cannot accept a job offer if the circumstances of the offer appear “to a reasonable person” to have been made as compensation for the employee’s work while working at the city. The rules do not apply to employees who take jobs with government agencies.
Planning to return Carol Simpson to seek re-election to council seat. Page 3
Man with connections Former Seahawks’ coach brings celebrities here. Page 10
Going greener Environmentally conscious schools ramp up efforts. Page 16
Hiron Redmon, Liberty High School sophomore, races to his third-place finish in the 3A 800-meter race at the 3A state track championships May 28 in Tacoma. The Patriots’ boys team took second place overall. Read the story on Page 18.
Contact us: newcas@isspress.com 392-6434, ext. 239
50¢
See ETHICS, Page 6
By Tim Pfarr
Refining the leaders of tomorrow Woman’s nonprofit provides mentors for high school girls When children reach high school, they often start learning from those outside the home. That was the case for Danna Johnston. “When I was in high school, it wasn’t a parent that said, ‘Go to college,” she said. Instead, it was an adviser. After graduating from Franklin High School in Seattle, Johnston attended the University of Washington,
The city’s previous code of ethics bars city officials and employees from general conflicts
Details emerging for Newcastle Days
By Greg Farrar
By Tim Pfarr
Read the new code, section 2.67.020, on the city’s website, www.ci.newcastle.wa.us. Click “City Hall,” “Documents & Press Releases” and “Municipal Code.”
Fourth of July fireworks set at Lake Boren
Track titan
You should know Listen to audio recordings of City Council meetings on the city’s website, www.ci.newcastle.wa.us. Click “City Hall,” “City Council” and “Council Meeting Audio.”
On the web:
majoring in international studies. She then landed a job in finance, where she worked her way up the ladder of success. In 2009 Danna — nine years out of college Johnston — Johnston decided it was time to give back.
Simultaneously, she launched the nonprofit Danna K. Johnston Foundation and the for-profit AloeForMocha Skin Care. The former focuses on helping at-risk youth, and the latter is a line of products that addresses skin care issues specific to people with dark skin. In April, Seattle University recognized the nonprofit with its Red Winged Leadership See FOUNDATION, Page 5
The city’s annual Fourth of July celebration in Lake Boren Park is a go this year, thanks to a $10,000 sponsorship from Lake Boren Townhomes, which opened in April on the north shore of Lake Boren. This year’s celebration in the park will include music from Seattle cover band Shelley and the Curves, food vendors and — of course — a lot of fireworks to light up the twilight sky. The celebration starts at 6 p.m. with fireworks starting at 10 p.m. Don’t forget a blanket. The new playground will be open for children in attendance. “We are extremely excited to be part of the Newcastle community and are happy to do what we can to keep the celebration going,” Lake Boren Townhomes developer Claudio Guincher said in a news release. “Future homeowners will have a front row seat to the fireworks celebration. This is something we want them to be able to enjoy for years to come.” Mayor John Dulcich said he was very grateful for the contribution from the developer. See EVENTS, Page 6
Newcastle News
PAGE 2
JUNE 3, 2011
County adopts plan to prevent offenders from returning to jail By Warren Kagarise King County leaders accepted a plan May 9 to prevent offenders from returning to jail, and to help former offenders transition from incarceration to society. The decision enables the county to access funds through the federal Second Chance Act, a measure meant to provide social services to prevent recidivism among former offenders. The legislation authorizes federal grants to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing and other services. “I was pleased to put together a motion calling for the plan in July, and I am more pleased that we have adopted that plan,” Councilman Reagan Dunn, prime sponsor and Newcastle representative, said in a statement. “During these times of seriously declining resources, we need to do everything we can to position ourselves to compete for resources.” Congress recently authorized $83 million for Second Chance Act programs. The federal government awards grants to local and state governments
for the implementation of reentry programs for released prison and jail inmates. In order to be eligible for the funds, local governments must put a re-entry program in place. The program adopted focuses on coordinating human services and criminal justice activities. “This plan puts King County in the position to seek federal funding for programs and services aimed at reducing recidivism,” Councilman Bob Ferguson, the council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee chairman, said in a statement. “Setting people up for success after being released from jail improves public safety, and improves outcomes for those individuals and their families.” The decision burnishes both councilmen’s records on crime fighting in the race for state attorney general. Ferguson, a Democrat, entered the race in February. Dunn, a Republican, is considering a bid for the office. Observers expect current Attorney General Rob McKenna to enter the race for governor in the months ahead. Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com.
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By Tim Pfarr
China Creek roared into the north end of Lake Boren in December 2010 with heavy rain, flooding residents’ properties and dumping a slew of gravel and sediment on their lawns.
City moves forward with Lake Boren flooding mitigation plan By Tim Pfarr The City Council has directed city staff members to move forward with a plan aimed at mitigating flooding from Lake Boren. The lake’s water level rises in winter, flooding residents’ basements and yards on the north end of the lake. City staff members presented a draft scope of work at the May 13 council meeting, seeking feedback regarding how to proceed with the project. The staff members proposed collecting data from the lake and identifying ways to mitigate the lake level. In addition to addressing flooding on the north end of the lake, the draft said the project would also include exploring ways to make the north end of the lake more accessible. The draft listed numerous possible solutions for keeping lake levels from rising, including:
❑ Creating more drainage ponds upstream from the China Creek inlet, on the north end of the lake. ❑ Retrofitting existing drainage ponds to better control water flow. ❑ Making changes to the China Creek channel upstream from the lake. ❑ Flood-proofing homes. ❑ Constructing a water flowcontrol structure at the lake’s outlet on the south shore. ❑ Dredging the lake, so it can hold more water. ❑ Dredging the outlet channel, so it drains more efficiently. ❑ Building a bypass route to channel water away from the lake during peak flow times. Council members agreed they did not want to pursue floodproofing homes on the north end of the lake. Councilman Rich Crispo said flood proofing would not address the source of the problem.
“That’s the wrong approach,” he said in an interview after the meeting. “I wanted to deal with the causes, not the effects.” City Manager Rob Wyman said city staff will get cost estimates from engineering firms and then report back to the council regarding the project’s next steps. New Public Works Director Mark Rigos has also started working on the project. “He’s all over it,” Wyman said about Rigos. “He already had some great ideas.” The council allocated $50,000 to the project this year, asking for a tangible fix to the flooding problem. Wyman said city staff members will do as much work as they can in-house to save money for physical labor. “It’s a lot of information, a lot of detail, and I think we’re just looking to have somebody present to us the options and what they will cost,” Councilwoman Lisa Jensen said.
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Newcastle News
JUNE 3, 2011
PAGE 3
Carol Simpson will Issaquah School District seek re-election considers $228 million bond to council seat By Laura Geggel and Tim Pfarr
By Tim Pfarr Councilwoman Carol Simpson announced in May that she will seek re-election this fall. Simpson — who has Position 2 on the council — joins Deputy Mayor Steve Buri, Councilwoman Lisa Jensen and Parks Commission Chair Andrew Shelton on the November ballot. None of the candidates who are slated to be on the ballot have yet picked up opponents, although candidates have until June 10 to file for election. Members serve at large and represent the entire city, rather than specific neighborhoods or defined geographic areas. Simpson has lived in Newcastle since 1998. She is a retired architect — although still a licensed one — and she began her work on the council in 2008. Prior to being elected as a councilwoman, she spent eight years as a member of the planning commission. “I liked doing the job,” Simpson said about serving on the commission, adding that she is honored to serve the residents of the city. “I saw running for council as the next logical step.” She said the biggest issues facing the city are the future of the city’s downtown area and the city’s finances. Specifically, she said city leaders must face the question of whether the city is sustainable. Simpson said the city needs to take a hard look at its financial forecast, and also determine whether the cost of providing fire and police protection will level out or continue to rise. With respect to the city’s downtown plan, she said the city needs to change it to reflect what is on the ground in the city. Also, she said the plan needs to reflect residents’ needs and be consistent with the citywide comprehensive plan. “We’re focusing too much on being pedestrian-oriented, when the people who live here also want to be able to drive downtown and be able to do their shopping,” she said, adding that the comprehensive plan calls for balance between walking and driving. Simpson has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in environmental design. She also took a course in arctic engineering at the
University of Alaska in Juneau, spending six months there before returning to the area. As a councilwoman, she Carol Simpson serves as a member of the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee. She also serves as a member of the Renton Technical College Foundation Board, and is a member of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, Newcastle Trails and the YWCA Benefit Luncheon Committee. She was a member of the Seattle Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for more than 25 years. Simpson said the most significant achievements she took part in on the council were purchasing the May Creek entrance parcel and balancing the city’s 2011 budget. Her husband, John Gordon, will serve as her treasurer during her campaign. She lives in Olympus with her husband and teenage son. Her hobbies include family activities, traveling, scrapbooking, knitting and volunteering in the community. “I want to continue working for a better Newcastle,” she said.
Though far from complete, the 2012 Issaquah School District bond has something for all of the district’s 24 schools, making the work-in-process price $228.6 million. The bond — which has yet to come before the superintendent and the Issaquah School Board — calls for $44.6 million in improvements and expansions to Liberty High School, $3.8 million in improvements to Maywood Middle School and $17,000 in improvements to Newcastle Elementary School. At Liberty, the bond calls for a new auxiliary gym, a modernized locker room, a new café in the commons and an acoustic improvement to the main hall. The bond would also call for Liberty to receive a new video and TV studio, roofing fixes, modernized classrooms, a new ticket booth at the entrance to the school’s fields and new bleachers on the home side of the football field. For Maywood, the bond would call for improvements to roofing, windows, flooring, carpeting, plumbing, and the heating and ventilation system. The school’s grass field would also be converted to artificial turf, as rainy winters make the grass field muddy and temporarily unusable. The artificial field will also help finances in the long term, saving money on custodial work and maintenance, such as mowing, watering, fertilizing and aerating. At Newcastle Elementary, the bond would improve plumbing and refrigeration equipment.
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See the bond proposal online at www.issaquah.wednet.edu and click on “Bond feasibility and development committee.” Get involved Email thoughts or suggestions about the proposed 2012 bond to bond2012@issaquah.wednet.edu. Every district bond goes through five steps. For the proposed 2012 bond, district officials tracked maintenance needs — such as roofing, carpets and paint — and created a list called a springboard. The district then formed a committee that added and removed items from the springboard. From March to April, a committee of parents, principals, students, business representatives, senior citizens and community members discussed each item on the springboard. In one instance, the committee voted to remove $4.42 million in new portable classrooms added in case the state begins requiring full-day kindergarten. Given the current budget deficit of $5.1 billion, the committee decided that the state would probably not require full-day kindergarten, Associate Superintendent Ron Thiele said. In another instance, the committee added a remodel of the Maple Hills Elementary School office, costing a projected $35,000. The remodel would give office staff a view of the front door, helping the school’s safety monitoring. The committee unanimously
approved the bond proposal April 26, allowing the bond to move to its third phase: the superintendent’s review. Superintendent Steve Rasmussen attended all of the committee’s meetings, and he will spend the next month analyzing and possibly changing the proposal before he presents it to the school board in June. Rasmussen, with a team of administrators, will examine the original springboard, the committee’ proposal, the feasibility of voters’ approval and the taxpayers’ burden. He will make a recommendation to the board, which will review the proposed bond this summer. By fall, the board will decide whether to put the bond before voters, likely in February or April. In the fifth and final step, voters will have their say. The bond needs a supermajority of 60 percent to pass. Voters passed the most recent district bond with a 68 percent approval rating in 2006 for a bond of $241.8 million. The more the district can collect in voter-approved bond money, the less it has to rely on its general fund to pay for maintenance, Rasmussen said. Bond money can only be used for school construction or repair. On the other hand, the general fund pays for items including teacher salaries and school supplies. If the district does not have bond money, it will have to dip into its general fund to fix malfunctioning buildings. “We want to make sure we have quality schools for kids,” he said.
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Opinion
PAGE 4
JUNE 3, 2011
Editorial
Share Your Views
Ethics ordinance a positive step forward
Citizens can make a difference by contacting their elected representatives.
Federal
The City Council’s recent ethics ordinance — which most notably aims to keep employees from signing off on contracts in return for jobs — is a fantastic step forward. However, this ordinance should also apply to members of the Newcastle City Council. The existing code of ethics was too broad and did not hold employees accountable, whereas the new ordinance does — through fines. This new degree of accountability should give residents a higher level of confidence in their government. The ordinance — which applies to employees for one year after they leave the city — should also discourage suspicious situations from originating, such as the departure of former Public Works Director Maiya Andrews. After resigning in February 2010, Andrews took a job with contractor CH2M Hill, which she worked with on the Coal Creek Parkway and Newcastle Transit Improvement projects. There is no evidence that Andrews used her power at the city to obtain a job with the company. In fact, City Manager Rob Wyman said it would be reasonable to assume she would not have been subject to the new regulations had they been in place when she left the city and joined CH2M Hill. Nevertheless, the situation is a hair-raiser. When Andrews recommended change to the city’s contracts with C.A. Carey Corp. and Marshbank Construction, CH2M Hill was given more work to manage and more money from the city. Even if there is no wrongdoing, these types of situations adversely impact the city’s image and diminish residents’ trust. The new regulations may not apply to situations like that of Maiya Andrews, but they may discourage them, and the ordinance proves the city is serious about such ethical issues. It is refreshing to see this ordinance apply to the entire city staff, but it only makes sense to apply these regulations to the elected members of the council. Although each individual member of the council has no authority on his or her own, each plays a role in making the most significant decisions in the city. The ordinance is well-written, and only substantial conflicts of interest would be in violation. If a member of the council is found guilty of such a conflict of interest, he or she should face the same fine as a member of the city staff.
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P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, WA 98027 Phone: 392-6434 ❑ Fax: 391-1541
State — Governor
City Mayor John Dulcich: johnd@ci.newcastle.wa.us Deputy Mayor Steve Buri: steveb@ci.newcastle.wa.us Councilwoman Lisa Jensen: lisaj@ci.newcastle.wa.us Councilwoman Carol Simpson: carols@ci.newcastle.wa.us Councilman Sonny Putter: sonnyp@ci.newcastle.wa.us Councilman Rich Cripso: richc@ci.newcastle.wa.us Councilman Bill Erxleben: bille@ci.newcastle.wa.us
Issaquah School Board
Gov. Chris Gregoire (D), Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 40002, Olympia, WA 985040002; 360-902-4111; www.governor.wa.gov
President Jan Woldseth: 641-9941; woldsethj@issaquah.wednet.edu Director Brian Deagle: 785-8623; deagleb@issaquah.wednet.edu Director Chad Magendanz: 391-3318; magendanzc@issaquah.wednet.edu Director Marnie Maraldo: 220-3379; maraldom@issaquah.wednet.edu Director Suzanne Weaver: 313-2494; weavers@issaquah.wednet.edu
State — 41st District Sen. Steve Litzow (R), 416 Legislative Building, P.O. Box 40441, Olympia, WA 985040441; 360-786-7641; steve.litzow@leg.wa.gov Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D), 324 John L. O’Brien Building, P.O. Box 4600, Olympia, WA 98504-0600; 360-786-7894; maxwell.ma@leg.wa.gov Rep. Judy Clibborn (D), 435 John L. O’Brien Building, P.O. Box 40600, Olympia, WA 98504-0600; 360-786-7926; clibborn.ju@leg.wa.gov Toll-free Legislative Hotline: 800-562-6000
Renton School Board
County King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Chinook Building, 401 Fifth Ave., Suite 800, Seattle, WA 98104; 206-
President Lynn Desmarais: lynn.desmarais@rentonschools.us Vice President David Merrill: david.merrill@rentonschools.us Director Todd Franceschina: todd.franceschina@rentonschools.us Director Al Talley: al.talley@rentonschools.us Director Pam Teal: pam.teal@rentonschools.us
From the Web
How often do you and your children plan to use the new Lake Boren Park playground when it opens in this month? A. Every day B. Several times per week C. Once per week D. Less than once per week Vote at www.newcastle-news.com.
President Barack Obama (D), The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; 202-456-1414; president@whitehouse.gov U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D), 717 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-3441; http://cantwell.senate.gov; 915 Second Ave., Suite 512, Seattle, WA 98174; 206220-6400 U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D), 173 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; 202-224-2621; http://murray.senate.gov; Jackson Federal Building, Room 2988, 915 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98174; 206-553-5545 U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-8th District), 1223 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; 202-225-7761; 2737 78th Ave. S.E., Suite 202, Mercer Island, WA 98040; 206-275-3438; www.house.gov/reichert
296-4040; or kcexec@kingcounty.gov King County Councilman Kathy Lambert, District 3. King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave., Room 1200, Seattle, WA 98104; 206-296-1003; 800-325-6165; kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov King County Councilman Reagan Dunn, District 9. King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave., Room 1200, Seattle, WA 98104; 206-2961009; 800-325-6165; reagan.dunn@kingcounty.gov
Caspar Babypants Presidential performer brings toddler rock to the masses: Great article! It’s nice to have musicians doing interesting children’s music. I’m in a band and we go into my son’s school a few times per year to play music for his class. Very fun!! The kids love it! Gary – Musicforkids.com
Theater helps performer connect to audience, and also to life I would like to thank (you) for allowing our daughter to share her highs and lows with depression and Asperger’s. Our family is very thankful for the LHS Patriot Players for being a large part of our families support network over the past four years! Cynthia Freese, Issaquah
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JUNE 3, 2011
Foundation From Page 1 Award, which honors unsung heroes who align social awareness with business practices. “I had no idea that anyone knew we were doing this besides the school, parents and participants,” Johnston said with a laugh. The nonprofit’s cornerstone is the Successful Young Woman’s Program at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle. With the help of seven volunteers, the organization mentors about 50 female students during high school, helping them develop study skills and healthy habits, and get into college. “I know that Rainier Beach has lower test scores and maybe a little different culture,” she said. Students are also treated to guest speakers and health and wellness seminars from a registered nurse, in which students discuss — in a group — dealing with the stressors of high school. “Danna inspires me because she’s been so successful in inspiring other people,” Seattle University business graduate student Brook Buchanan said in a video detailing the Red Winged Leadership award recipients. “I spent a day at Rainier Beach High School and got to meet these students that are so focused on what they want to do in terms of going to college and what they want to do after college. “It’s really inspiring to be around,” he said. Johnston runs her organizations from home, working as the visionary leader and supervisor for the nonprofit. However, she spends much of her time at Rainier Beach with the students in the Successful Young
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Woman’s Program. “I’m their cheerleader,” she said. “I want them to graduate and graduate on time and get accepted to college.” Johnston said she hopes to expand the program in the future to encompass male students as well. “There are a lot of young people out there that need guidance and aren’t getting it,” she said. “We have the responsibility to get up and help young people. It sounds cliché, but they really are our future.” Johnston lives in China Falls with her husband Jim and their two children. “In a word, I guess it’s pretty amazing,” Jim Johnston said about his wife launching both organizations. “The time and resources show me that you’ve got a person that is incredibly passionate and dedicated to both efforts.” The couple discussed the possibilities of launching businesses prior to launching both organizations. “Launching the for-profit and the nonprofit at the same time is a lot of work,” she said. “I’m busy, but it’s good busy. I’m enjoying each second of each day.”
PAGE 5
Find out at www.CherylCoupens.com By Tim Pfarr
Newcastle resident Danna Johnston operates a nonprofit organization that helps teenage girls and a company that addresses skin care issues specific to people with dark skin.
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Newcastle News
PAGE 6
City drive-thru ban is Ethics likely to be overturned From Page 1
By Tim Pfarr Drive-thrus will likely be welcome again in the city’s downtown, as the City Council has begun reviewing several sections of code relating to the area. Drive-thrus were banned from the downtown area in 2007 after the city conducted a study and found that drive-thrus were contradictory to the city’s vision of having a pedestrian-friendly downtown. Drive-thrus already in use were exempt from the ban. The council has not yet finalized overturning the ban — which was recommended by the Planning Commission — as it will review several other sections of city code and make its alterations in one motion. The other sections of code the council will review concern floor-area-ratio requirements, distances between storefronts and right of ways, and maximum building heights. The Planning Commission will review each section of code first and then recommend changes to the council. If the council approves the draft of the new drive-thru code, a drive-thru can be built if it is not on the side of a building facing the right of way, if it has a landscaping screen to conceal it and if its car queue area is not adjacent to pedestrian walkways. Also, drive- thrus must meet several criteria regarding safety, traffic impacts, public service impacts and impacts to future development. Councilwoman Lisa Jensen was among the members of the council who spoke in favor of overturning the drive-thru ban. She said she knows residents who prefer to go to Renton for certain services specifically because there are drive-thrus in the area. Deputy Mayor Steve Buri said it was telling that the Planning Commission recommended
overturning the ban. He cited the commission making a similar recommendation through a unanimous vote in 2007 when drive-thrus were first banned. However, a motion to halt the ban in 2007 failed 2-5. Councilmen Rich Crispo and Bill Erxleben, Mayor John Dulcich and Councilwoman Carol Simpson also spoke in favor of the overturn. However, Councilman Sonny Putter said there should be analysis of the fiscal impact of any code changes before adoption. It would be more appropriate to make changes to the city’s comprehensive plan rather than make changes to specific pieces of code, he said. If it is approved, the revised drive-thru code will be in section 18.15.060 in the city’s municipal code. Along with a review of the drive-thru ban, the council reviewed remodeling guidelines for buildings in the downtown area. The council’s drafted changes allow for buildings in the area to undergo more extensive remodels without being subject to the city’s latest code requirements. If the drafted code is adopted as written, buildings can undergo exterior remodels worth as much as half the value of the building itself — given the building does not move nor does its site plan change — without needing to meet new code requirements. Interior remodels are not subject to any cost threshold. Previously, if a remodeling project included an interior and exterior remodel, the cost of both were subject to a threshold. Members of the council praised the change, saying it would encourage more incremental remodels in the downtown area. Being subject to new requirements can often make a project more expensive, they said.
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of interest. It also restricts former employees — for one year after leaving the city — from being involved in contracts in which they were involved with while at the city if the contracts were worth more than $5,000. The code of ethics did not address fines, and the new and old code will be combined, City Manager Rob Wyman said. City Councilman Bill Erxleben brought up the issue in late 2010. He said the issue came about after the 2003 Boeing tanker scandal gained renewed notoriety in 2008 when The Boeing Co. lost a major tanker contract with the government. In 2003, Boeing hired Air Force official Darleen Druyun after she deliberately inflated the price of a sale in favor of her future employer. Druyun and then-Boeing CFO Michael Sears were both sentenced to prison time. Some pointed to the incident as the cause of Boeing losing the contract five years later. Erxleben said he wanted to protect Newcastle from falling victim to that type of situation, which has historically been a problem in procurement settings. “I wanted to plug a hole,” he said. He said the city also ran into an issue of a perception of a conflict of interest when former Public Works Director Maiya Andrews left the city in February 2010, taking a job with engineering contractor CH2M Hill. As the public works director, Andrews worked with CH2M
JUNE 3, 2011 Hill while it did construction management work on the Coal Creek Parkway project and the Newcastle Transit Improvement project — formerly known as the Newcastle Transit Center. “While there is no evidence whatsoever that I know of that there was any impropriety, it looks like hell,” Erxleben said about CH2M Hill hiring Andrews. Andrews signed change orders for contractors C.A. Carey Corp. and Marshbank Construction, which handled the physical labor on the Coal Creek Parkway project. CH2M Hill continued billing the city as change orders increased the duration of the project. Andrews did not respond to phone calls or emails from Newcastle News. Wyman said he also knows of no evidence of wrongdoing, and he said it would be reasonable to assume Andrews would not be in violation of the new code had it been in place when she left the city. The council approved the new code by a 6-1 vote, with Councilman Sonny Putter dissenting. While the council majority applauded the new code as a step forward, Putter said the code was flawed. “My concern is that as proposed, this ethics language is far too broad,” he said before the code’s adoption May 3. He said the city should have directed the code specifically at the public works director, as the public works director handles large contracts the code addresses. He said the code could also be damaging to the city’s contracting options. “As a small city, we have limited options,” Putter said. “Our goal is to contract where we can.”
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Events From Page 1 “He’s just as excited as we are about this thing,” Dulcich said regarding Guincher. Donations have also poured in for Newcastle Days, which will be Sept. 9 and 10. The event will be funded with a $10,000 sponsorship from Valley Medical Center, a $2,500 sponsorship from Waste Management and a $1,000 donation from resident Shel Neufeld. Like last year, the Friday and Saturday celebration will consist of a sidewalk sale in the downtown area the first day followed by festivities in Lake Boren Park the second day. This year’s celebration in the park will include the Newcastle 5K run, a tennis tournament, and the popular inflatable toys and pony rides. Newcastle resident and Yes drummer Alan White and his band White will also return to rock out as the headliner for his neighbors. Organizers said they plan to release more details in the coming weeks. Concerts in the Park will be funded this year with a sponsorship coming from The Golf Club at Newcastle, although the sponsorship amount was not announced as of Newcastle News’ May 31 deadline. With the sponsorships, Newcastle Days will likely be revenue neutral, City Manager Rob Wyman said. If the city obtains additional sponsorships, Concerts in the Park may also be revenue neutral. However, the city will need to pay for between $5,000 and $8,000 of the Fourth of July celebration with money from its community events fund, budgeted at $15,000 for the year. Nonetheless, the events have begun lining up under budget, Dulcich said. “We’re off to a good start. We’re ahead of last year,” he said, adding that he is thrilled with the support the city’s events have received. “I’m very excited about the fact that we’re going to be able to have these events. It really builds community.”
Newcastle News
JUNE 3, 2011
Police Blotter Home burglaries ❑ A woman reported that her home in the 7500 block of 138th Place Southeast was broken into between 5 p.m. April 23 and 10 a.m. April 24. The garage was entered, as was her unlocked vehicle inside. She reported that a cello worth $1,500 and two pairs of shoes together worth $90 were stolen. ❑ A woman reported that her home in the 12700 block of Southeast 80th Way was broken into between 10 p.m. April 23 and 8 a.m. April 24. The garage was entered, as was her 2002 Toyota Corolla, which was parked in the inside. She reported that a golf bag and golf clubs were taken from the trunk. Police were unable to recover fingerprints from the scene. ❑ A man reported that his home in the 13800 block of Issaquah-Hobart Road was broken into between 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. May 4. A rear window was shattered — causing $250 in damage — and $1,000 worth of jewelry was stolen. ❑ A man reported his home in the 12000 block of Southeast 92nd Street was broken into between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. May 4. A rear window was broken and most of the rooms in the house were ransacked. He reported the stolen items to be an iPod Touch worth $250, a Kindle case worth $250, a suitcase worth $100, a passport card worth $150, a speaker worth $150, a Swiss army knife worth $50, miscellaneous jewelry worth $1,500, two restaurant gift cards together worth $100 and a bottle of prescription pain pills. Police recovered 13 fingerprints from the home. ❑ A man reported that his home in the 8100 block of 126th Place Southeast was broken into between 1 and 5 p.m. May 8. The rear sliding-glass door was broken with a rock. The man reported that his Playstation 3
worth $300 and his 50-inch plasma TV worth $2,700 were stolen. Police recovered six fingerprint samples from his home. ❑ A man reported that his home, in the 13800 block of Southeast 92nd Street, was broken into between 11:30 a.m. May 20 and 2:30 p.m. May 23. The burglar or burglars broke a piece of glass on the upper half of the home’s rear door — causing $100 in damage — and reached through to open the door. The man reported the stolen items to be a $600 9-millimeter pistol, a $250 iPod, a $500 laptop computer, a watch worth $13,000, a mini safe worth $75 and an Xbox with a Kinect worth $300. ❑ A man reported that his apartment at Newport Crossing Apartments, 7311 Coal Creek Parkway S.E., was broken into between noon May 21 and 11:45 p.m. May 22. He said he returned home to find his front door ajar and his sliding door open. Prying open the deadbolt on the front door caused $100 in damage. Stolen items included $40 in coins and a Playstation 3 with three games, worth $240. Police recovered a set of fingerprints from the apartment.
Car break-in A man reported that his 2011 Lexus RX 450h was broken into at the Red Town Trailhead, 15500 Newcastle Golf Club Road, between 4:30 and 5:45 p.m. May 19. The rear driver’s side window was smashed, causing $1,000 in damage. Stolen items included a $50 gym bag, a $50 pair of dress pants and a pair of sandals worth $100.
Car theft A man reported that his 1988 Subaru GL was stolen from the Cougar Mountain Trailhead in the 10100 block of RentonIssaquah Road Southeast between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. May 22. The Newcastle News publishes names of those arrested for DUI and those charged with felony crimes. Information comes from police reports.
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Issaquah School District puts laid off teachers on recall list By Laura Geggel and Tim Pfarr With the approval of the state biennial budget, the Renton and Issaquah school districts are in a budget crunch. Class sizes will not increase in the Issaquah district next year, and although the Renton district has not yet determined whether it will need to increase class sizes, officials said they hope not to. Laying off teachers is also an option, but Renton district spokesman Randy Matheson said it is one district officials hope to avoid. “Our intent is not to do either of those things,” Matheson said. He said district officials will need to discuss the situation with its unionized employees. Alternatives to cutting pay could include reducing the money the district stows away in its emergency savings or leaving open positions unfilled. “We’ve got some things to come to the table with, but we’ve got to have those discussions,” Matheson said. The state Legislature approved the budget May 24. After reviewing the budget for the past four months, the state House of Representatives and Senate approved a compromise budget that would lower the salaries of teachers and administrators, but would save the jobs of many district teachers. Gov. Chris Gregoire has yet to sign the bill. Issaquah district administrators had to renew teachers’ contracts by May 15. Unsure of the final budget, they came up with a worse-case scenario plan that included layoffs for 36 teachers. The plan also axed the positions of 15 teachers leaving through
attrition, bringing the total number of teacher reductions to 51. Under the compromise budget, the district is able to place those 36 teachers on a recall list. Laid off teachers will receive a recall if there is a demand for the class they teach. “I can only recall back folks to teaching positions that are there, where there’s an opening,” Issaquah district Executive Director of Personnel Services Kathy Miyauchi said. Staffing depends on student enrollment and registration, as well as employee shuffling within the district. As for teachers leaving through normal attrition, the district will replace them on an as-needed basis, Miyauchi said. Officials usually have staffing squared away by the last day of school, but because the Legislature finished the budget two months late, the district is running behind. Staff members will work throughout summer to complete the hires. A similar situation played out in 2009, when the Legislature took longer than scheduled to complete its 2009-11 budget. Then, the Issaquah district laid off 158 teachers, but recalled all but one — a teacher administrators were able to recall the following year, Miyauchi said. Though more teachers’ jobs are safe for next year, they are slated to receive a pay cut. The most significant cuts affect salary apportionment and staffing ratios, Issaquah district spokeswoman Sara Niegowski said. Certified and classified staff members in both districts would experience a 1.9 percent decrease in base salary allocations; certificated administrators would see a 3 percent decrease in base salary allocations.
The compromise also eliminates the enhancement to keep kindergarten through fourthgrade classes smaller and increases pension-rate contributions by 2 percent, Niegowski added. Even with the kindergarten through fourth-grade cuts, the Issaquah district will keep the average elementary school class size the same as this year. The compromise budget includes $4.3 million in cuts to the Issaquah district and $4.2 million in cuts to the Renton district for each of the next two years. The Issaquah district is working to fill gaps with its local maintenance and operations levy. Lawmakers approved a measure to allow districts to increase the levy lid — the amount they can levy — by 4 percent, bringing Issaquah’s levy lid to 28.97 percent. That doesn’t mean the Issaquah district is able to collect more than its voters approved; the district can either collect the amount voters approved, or the amount the levy lid allows, whichever is lower. In an email sent to staff members May 26, Issaquah Superintendent Steve Rasmussen outlined the areas where the district is cutting back. “In fact, the increased levy dollars are significantly responsible for filling the 2011-12 budget gap,” he wrote. “Other offsetting factors include more operational efficiencies, decreased nonclassroom service levels, utilization of reserve funds, increased fees for families, reallocation of overload funding, and continued reliance on organizations such as the PTSA and Issaquah Schools Foundation to help fund critical district and school-level purchases.”
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JUNE 3, 2011
American Heart Association Patriots’ drama program honors Valley Medical Center earns award nominations For the second year in a row, the American Heart Association awarded Valley Medical Center, which has a clinic in Newcastle, with the Get With The Guidelines — Heart Failure Gold Quality Achievement. The award recognizes the medical center’s success in treating heart failure patients. About 85 percent of heart failure patients treated at Valley Medical Center are compliant with their treatment to American Heart Association core standards for two years, according to a news release.
“The full implementation of national heart failure guideline recommended care is a critical step in preventing recurrent hospitalizations and prolonging the lives of heart failure patients,” said Dr. Lee Schwamm, chairman of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee. “The goal of the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program is to help hospitals like Valley Medical implement appropriate evidence-based care and protocols that will reduce disability and the number of deaths in these patients,” he said.
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By Warren Kagarise “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” — a stage production based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished murder mystery — garnered Liberty High School performers a half dozen nominations in the annual 5th Avenue Awards Honoring High School Musical Theater. The high school’s company, called the Patriot Players, earned nods for Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Costume Design, Outstanding Program Design and Outstanding Performance by a Chorus. Tucker Goodman and Paige Fabre also received acting nominations in the statewide competition. “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” also earned the Patriot Players honorable mentions in the Outstanding Overall Musical Production and Outstanding Direction categories. Overall, Liberty earned
nominations in most major categories. The theater announced the nominees Tuesday. The honor is considered as a kind of high school Tony Award and is meant to celebrate exceptional musical theater productions presented during the 20102011 school year. The ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 6 at Benaroya Hall. Nominated students and schools perform excerpts from nominated shows at the ceremony before a packed audience expected to reach 2,400 people. Local elected officials, and arts and media personalities, present the awards. Liberty, a perennial performance powerhouse, last year earned 10 nominations and received awards for Outstanding Lighting Design and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast for ”Into the Woods.”
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Washington is the most bicycle-friendly state Washington is the Most Bicycle Friendly State again. The ranking from the League of American Bicyclists honors a strong commitment to bicycling through policies and programs. The honor marks the fourth consecutive year the Evergreen State has clinched the No. 1 spot. “Public support is strong for making biking safer and more convenient for children, commuters and recreational users,” state Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond said in a statement. “WSDOT works closely with regional and local agencies to increase the number of walkers and bikers, while also improving safety to reduce the number of bicycle- and pedestrian- related collisions.” The league rates states based on bike-friendly legislation, policies and programs, education, places to ride and planning. Washington scored consistently high in all ranking evaluation categories. Statewide, the number of people bicycling has increased — a figure reflected in the state Department of Transportation’s annual statewide bicycle and pedestrian count. In a three-day snapshot taken at 155 locations across the state in fall 2010, volunteers counted almost 16,000 bicyclists, compared to more than 9,600 in the previous year. Washington’s bicyclistinvolved fatality crash rate improved from 1.37 per 1 million people in 2008 to 1.35 in 2009.
JUNE 3, 2011
Newcastle News
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Newcastle News
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JUNE 3, 2011
Former Seahawks’ head coach brings celebrities to Newcastle By Tim Pfarr Who would’ve ever thought Newcastle would be a place to catch of glimpse of professional sports’ biggest stars? Come June 27, it will be. Former Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora, founder of the Jim Mora Count on Me Foundation, will bring the Jim Mora Celebrity Golf Classic to The Golf Club at Newcastle this month. This year marks the second time Newcastle has hosted the tournament, which will boast 30 celebrities, such as local greats Bill Russell, Lenny Wilkens and Warren Moon, and out-of-towners Michael Irvin, Marshall Faulk and Warren Sapp. Newcastle resident and former Seattle Seahawk Mack Strong will also
be on hand. The tournament’s proceeds will benefit numerous charities, including the Special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Jim and his wife Shannon Mora — both Washington natives — started the foundation in Georgia in 2005 while Jim was head coach of the Atlanta Falcons NFL team. Jim Mora said his wife is a driving force behind the foundation. “She’s like a one-man wrecking crew,” he said. “She works so hard on our events, and the golf tournament especially. It’s all inspired by being able to fund programs that help kids in need.” When Jim Mora took the job as head coach of the Seahawks in 2009, the organization
expanded to Western Washington, bringing the golf tournament — which began in 2006 in Georgia — with it. Prior to this year’s tournament, a VIP party is scheduled for the evening of June 26 at Joey Restaurant in Bellevue. The tournament will begin the following day with an 11 a.m. shotgun start, and an invitationonly auction will follow the tournament. As many as 120 golfers can register for the tournament, and registration is open to the public. Each group of four golfers will hit the course with a celebrity. However, being a spectator is free. Visit www.countonmefoundation.org for more information about the Count on Me Foundation and the tourna-
By Chris Clark
Shannon Mora, NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin and Jim Mora (From left) enjoy the festivities surrounding the 2010 tournament. ment. The Moras and their four children — ages 8-16 — now live in Yarrow Point, and Jim works as an analyst for the NFL on FOX and the NFL Network. Newcastle News caught up with Jim Mora over the phone
in May. What was your inspiration for starting the charity in 2005? We started it in 2005 in Atlanta, and Shannon and I had See MORA, Page 15
NFL wide receiver Jake Locker tees off during the 2010 Jim Mora Celebrity Golf Classic at The Golf Club at Newcastle. This year’s tournament will feature athletes including former NFL stars Warren Moon and Marshall Faulk. By Chris Clark By Chris Clark
An auction will follow the tournament, with items such as jerseys and signed footballs up for bid.
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Newcastle News
JUNE 3, 2011
City finalizes its deal with Teamsters Union By Tim Pfarr The City Council unanimously approved in May its agreement with the Teamsters Union, which now represents the city’s maintenance crew and the parks program manager. Negotiations took 14 months. City Manager Rob Wyman said the city’s priority was to maintain internal equity among the maintenance crew and the city’s other, nonunion employees. The negotiations did not result in changes to the employees’ scopes of work or their salaries. Minor changes were made to how overtime is calculated, and changes were made to working conditions when employees are called in for emergencies. For example, when an employee is called back in to work, he or she must work a minimum of three hours. Wyman said the negotiations went well and he is extremely satisfied with the result. “It took up a fair amount of time, certainly. But the discussions were cordial,” he said.
“Both sides shook hands at the end.” Maintenance worker Aaron Milner had previously served as the maintenance crew’s shop steward, but after Milner left the city in May 2010, maintenance worker Josh Forte took the role. Forte said he is happy the process is finished, adding that the maintenance crew is looking forward to moving forward and getting to work on summer projects. Wyman, Community Development Director Steve Roberge and labor consultant Cabot Dow made up the city’s negotiating team, and the group reported back to the council in closed executive sessions.
Police contract cheaper than expected for 2011 The city’s police contract with the King County Sheriff’s Office came in under budget for the year. In late 2010, the sheriff’s office estimated that the contract for 2011 would cost the city about $1.46 million. The final contract cost came in $37,000 under budget. There will be no changes to the level of service for the year.
Street repairs to be cheaper than expected The city’s street repairs for the year will be cheaper than its contract engineers estimated. Engineers estimated the city’s repairs to cost about $1.04 million, but Redmond-based Watson Asphalt Paving submitted a bid of $825,000. The city’s budget for the year was $1 million. This year’s repairs — which include deferred repairs from
PAGE 11 last year — call for fixes to 10 stretches of road in the city, including on Newcastle Way and Southeast 84th Way. City Manager Rob Wyman said construction will likely begin in late June or early July. For a map of construction locations, go to the city’s website, www.ci.newcastle.wa.us, and click the “Public Works Project Updates” link under the “What’s New” heading. Then click the “2011 Pavement Overlay locations” link.
City updates salary, vacation policies for its employees The City Council in May unanimously passed updates to the city’s personnel policies. The updates make small
changes to city employees’ salary and vacation accrual practices, which were last updated in December and January. Pertaining to salary practices, the city will strive to conduct salary surveys every two years, adjusting the top and bottom salary ranges for each employee in accordance with the Seattle Consumer Price Index. These changes take the place of costof-living pay increases. Employees are to start in the bottom to middle of their salary ranges, although the city manager can approve a higher starting salary. Raises, which now come in the form of merit increases, are dependent on results from an annual performance review. With respect to vacation accrual, employees can accrue as much as 30 days of vacation.
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COMMUNITY
PAGE 12
Events Newcastle Weed Warriors hosts National Trails Day – Trail Walk beginning at Boren Park at 10 a.m. June 4. Newcastle Chamber of Commerce hosts guest speaker Susannah Frame, KING 5 investigative reporter, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 8 at The Golf Club at Newcastle, 15500 Six Penny Lane. Frame will share what led to her “Waste on the Water” story. Cost is $30. The Newcastle Weed Warriors’ next ivy removal project is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 11at Hazelwood Park. Download a volunteer form at www.newcastleweedwarriors.org/pr ojects.html. Eastside Mothers and More hosts a discussion about organ donation with LifeCenter Northwest from 7-9 p.m. June 14 at Eastshore Unitarian Church, Room No. 206, 12700 S.E. 32nd St., Bellevue. Learn more at www.eastsidemothersandmore.org or email info@eastsidemothersandmore.org.
Public meetings All city public meetings are at City Hall, 13020 Newcastle Way. Call 649-4363. ❑ City Council — 7-8 p.m. June 7 ❑ Parks Commission — 6-7 p.m. June 8 ❑ Planning Commission — 7-8 p.m. June 15 ❑ City Council — 7-8 p.m. June 21 The Newcastle Trails
JUNE 3, 2011
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Lake Boren Park playground sets groundbreaking for June 16 The city will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at noon June 16 for the new Lake Boren Park playground. Children in attendance will be treated to free cupcakes and drinks. The former playground was replaced due to safety hazards thanks to a $325,000 grant from the state. Construction began March 14, and Enumclaw-based Maroni Construction installed the new playground equipment. The new playground is larger with separate areas for children 2-5 years old and children older than 5. By Tim Pfarr
The new Lake Boren Park Playground will open this month. It was built with a $325,000 grant from the state.
board will hold its May meeting at 7 p.m. May 9 at the Regency Newcastle, 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Road.
Youth The following events take place at the Coal
Creek Family YMCA, 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road. Call 282-1500 or go to http://www.seattleymca.org/Locati ons/CoalCreek/Pages/Home.aspx. ❑ “Vegetarian Indian Cooking: Appetizers,” for ages 12 and up, 10 a.m. to noon, June 18, facility member $10/community participant or
program member $20 ❑ Family dinner, 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 24, $5 adults/$3 for children ❑ “Creative Card Making,” for ages 4 and older, 3:30-4:30 p.m. June 7, free ❑ “Kids Create 4: Father’s Day Surprise,” for ages 4-10, 3:304:15 p.m. June 15, $10
❑ Itty Bitty Basketball Class, for ages 3-4, 10:30-11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 730; and ages 5-6, 5:30-6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, June 6-29, $30/$53 ❑ Cycling, 25-mile ride, 9-11 a.m. June 4, free See CALENDAR, Page 13
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Newcastle News
JUNE 3, 2011
Calendar From Page 12 ❑ Y Stroller Bootcamp, Wednesdays 9-10 a.m. June 9 through Aug. 31, free ❑ Exploring Cougar Mountain hike, 8:30-10:30 a.m. June 30, free ❑ Yoga at the Lake, Thursdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. June 30 through Aug. 25, free
Library events The Newport Way Library, 14250 S.E. Newport Way, Bellevue, has reopened and offers the following programs: ❑ Mandarin Chinese Story Time, for all young children with an adult, 6:30 p.m. June 3 ❑ Newcastle Family Story Time, for ages 2-5 with an adult, 10 a.m. June 7 ❑ Family Story Time, for ages 2-5 with an adult, 10 a.m. June 21 ❑ Magic Around the World, for ages 5 and older with an adult, 7 p.m. June 29, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church across from the library ❑ Volunteer information meeting, for teens and adults, 4 p.m. June 8
Clubs The Society of Artists for Newcastle, an art organization, is seeking new members. Call 271-5822. MOMS Club of Renton meets for play dates at parks and other locations. New activities are planned daily. This nonprof-
June
2011
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it, nonreligious organization provides daytime support for moms and their families. Call 260-3079. Bridge players are wanted, evening or daytime. Games take place at various homes in the Hazelwood area. Call 2550895. Newcastle Historical Society meets at 4 p.m. the first Thursday at City Hall, 13020 S.E. 72nd Place. Call 2264238. An international dinner, sponsored by Baha’i Faith of Newcastle, is at 6:30 p.m. the third Friday. Call 430-8047. Drinking Liberally, an informal progressive social group that discusses politics, meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Thursday at Angelo’s Restaurant, 1830 130th Ave. N.E., Bellevue. Go to www.drinkingliberally.org. Eastside Mothers & More, a social network for mothers, meets from 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday in the North Room at East Shore Unitarian Church, 12700 S.E. 32nd St., Bellevue. Go to www.eastsidemothersandmore.org. Hill’N Dale Garden Club, meets at 6 p.m. the first Monday September through June at the Newport Way Library, 14250 S.E. Newport Way. Call 255-9705.
July
2011
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Seniors Lake Heights Family YMCA Seniors Program has drop-in time Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the YMCA, 12635 S.E. 56th St. in Newport Hills. Have lunch, socialize and have fun. Call 644-8417. Coal Creek Family YMCA Active Older Adult Program, ages 55 and older, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road, 282-1500 ❑ Open for community service projects, intergenerational projects, crafts, pinochle games, field trips and fellowship; sack lunches are available for a $3 donation. ❑ Refresher bridge class, 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays
Health Angel Care Breast Cancer Foundation-trained survivors offer free emotional support to the newly diagnosed, enhancing emotional recovery while going through treatments. Go to www.angelcarefoundation.org.
Volunteers The Coal Creek Family YMCA Seniors Program
PAGE 13 needs volunteers for intergenerational opportunities, including rocking and comforting infants, teaching children to play bridge and reading to kindergartners. Call 282-1506. Newcastle Weed Warriors: Volunteers assist city workers in removing noxious and invasive weeds from Newcastle parks, trails and open spaces. Youth groups, community groups and individuals are invited to participate in monthly environmental stewardship projects. Learn more at www.NewcastleWeedWarriors.org. Newcastle Trails - Trail Advocates and Builders for Newcastle: The group has built and maintained miles of trails for the public throughout the city, and has regular meetings and work parties. Call 453-9292, ext. 110. Learn more at www.newcastletrails.org. King County Library System’s Words on Wheels program needs volunteers to select and deliver library materials to homebound patrons. Training is provided. A one-year commitment is required. Volunteers must be at least 18, have their own transportation and be able to pass a Washington State Patrol background check. Call 369-3235. Dependency CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate): Community volunteers advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in King County. Call 269-3201. Domestic Abused Women’s Network: Provides services to survivors of domestic violence in King County. Call 795-1441. Grace Children’s Charity: Provides essential school supplies for impoverished children. Call 430-0300.
Engagement
Colby McCartney and Rachel Smith
Smith, McCartney Rachel Smith, of Newcastle, and Colby McCartney, of Bedford, Texas, announce their engagement to wed on June 11, 2011, in Woodinville. Smith, the daughter of Jeff and Susan Smith, of Newcastle, is a 2007 graduate of Liberty High School. She is a self-employed nanny. McCartney, the son of David McCartney and Kay Scanlon, of Bedford and Plano, Texas, is a 2003 graduate of Nimitz High School. He is a sergeant in the U.S. Army.
Places to go Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is a 3,000-acre park with more than 30 miles of trails and the site of the 1880s coalmines. Go to www.metrokc.gov/parks.
Newcastle News
PAGE 14
Laughing all the way
Olympus garage sale mania By Pat Detmer We have managed yet again to survive the onslaught of garage sale aficionados who annually take over our hill. For those unfamiliar with the yearly rite, the sale occurs on a Saturday in May and involves up to 50 homes, not including those from surrounding neighborhoods who put out signs and goods to cash in on the drive-throughs. We learned long ago not to leave our garage doors open that day in fear that we might inadvertently sell something we may need later. We’ve also learned to drive very, very carefully when leaving the hill, because shoppers criss-crossing the streets don’t always look both ways when their arms are laden with juicers, breadmakers, and other goods that they simply could not live without. We’ve never participated in the sale. We don’t have the patience or the storage space to hang on to stuff past its usefulness. The people at Goodwill drop-off sites know us by name, and my sister’s cabin and the
Kyle Stubbs graduates from Coast Guard Academy Kyle Stubbs graduated May 18 from the United States Coast Guard Academy, in New London, Conn., with a Bachelor of Science Kyle Stubbs degree in Naval architecture and marine engineering, and received his
homes of the youngsters in our family look very much like ours did about 10 years ago, since they’ve put our old furniture, rugs, curtains and Pat Detmer lamps to good use. Here’s another reason why we don’t participate: I suck at negotiating. I find that fact humorous and a little alarming, because I make my living as a sales and marketing consultant, and have been a sales representative or sales manager for more than 20 years. Case in point: I sold my first car — a used ‘65 Comet Caliente with enough power to participate in the Monster Truck Rally circuit — to a pimply-faced young man whose anxious parents stood about 20 feet behind him as he negotiated with me. My father had told me ahead of time that I could get at least
commissioning as ensign in the United States Coast Guard. The class of 2011 will have President Barack Obama as its commencement speaker. Stubbs, a lifelong resident of Newcastle, graduated from Liberty High School in 2007. At that time, he received his appointment to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He is the son of Frank and Cathy Stubbs, of Newcastle, and the grandson of Geraldine Stubbs, of Newcastle, and Robert Woodey, of Sammamish. Upon graduation, Stubbs will return to the Seattle area, where
JUNE 3, 2011
$250 for the car, and I should take no less than that. Here is an actual transcript of that negotiation: Boy: I’ll give you a hundred for it. Me: All right. Was I a rube? Did I feel cheated? No. Because when I’m done with something, I’m done with it. When it’s outlived its usefulness to me, it’s like it doesn’t even exist anymore. He clearly wanted it, and I didn’t. Deal. Given that attitude, I have a hard time justifying the existence of a small box that I have sitting on my desk as I type this. We uncovered it during the archeological dig that occurred in our kitchen pantry prior to having it remodeled. It’s a box of Sure-Jell. We haven’t made jelly since we lived in our old house, which means that we carefully packed it up and brought it with us when we moved. The “use by” is January 1989. I’m surprised the date wasn’t scratched on the box with a charcoal stick or a Clovis spear point — it’s that old. I should have made an “Antique Sure-Jell” sign and sold it at the garage sale. You can reach Pat Detmer, who has a sudden and overwhelming urge to make jelly, at patdetmer@aol.com.
he will serve in the engineering department aboard the USCGC Mellon, a 378-foot Coast Guard cutter based in Seattle.
Hazen graduate finishes Navy bootcamp Navy Seaman Apprentice Desmond K. Tunnermann, son of Brandie H. and Jeffry W. Hicks, of Renton, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. During the eight-week program, Tunnermann, a 2010 graduate of Hazen High School, completed a
variety of training that included classroom study and practical instruction about naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.
Local SPU students make dean’s list The following students made the Seattle Pacific University 2011 winter quarter dean’s list. To qualify, students must have completed at least 12 credits and attained a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
Renton: Lyudmila Bekchiu, Rosalee Gammell, Rachel Gidlof, Jessica Hill, Elias Lunsford and Christifer Nathanial Newcastle: Zoe Strong
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Mora From Page 10 both been very involved with the communities that we live in in the past, primarily through Special Olympics. Shannon’s older sister, Roxanne, has Down syndrome. Throughout our relationship — in Louisiana, in Georgia and out here in Seattle — we’ve always served as grand marshals of the state games and things like that. We just felt like giving back was always something that was important to us, teaching those values to our children, trying to inspire others to do the same, to give to those that are in need or less fortunate or just need a helping hand. So when I became the head coach of the Falcons, we thought it was just perfect timing and a great platform to try to do some things to make a difference in the community. So we started our foundation, and really we target — I’d say it’s a pretty broad range — but it has to do with children: children that are at risk, children that are in need. Shannon used to work for CASA, which is Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, so that’s always been our focus. When we moved to Seattle, we did not abandon Atlanta. In fact, we still have our foundation down south, but we expanded it to this area because this really is home for us. How did the golf tournament come about, and how did it end up in Newcastle? We started it in Georgia, and when I was the head coach of the Falcons, we lived on the TPC course at Sugarloaf, and we had it there for a couple years. The reason we started with a golf tournament is because it’s a major fundraiser and we felt like we could create a really fun, unique event that, quite frankly, could raise a lot of money for the programs that we wanted to support. The first year, we raised more than $450,000 at our golf tournament. Times were a little bit
better then. Atlanta — just like Seattle — is a real nonprofit community, a lot of people willing to give. We’ve always kind of built it around the feeling that we want to be unique and unlike other tournaments, and the way we do that is we create an experience where they’re going to be around celebrities that are personable and fun to play with. When we came to Seattle, we certainly wanted to continue the tournament. We do other things to raise money, but it’s our main fundraiser. The first year we were out at TPC [Snoqualmie Ridge] in conjunction with the Boeing Classic and the Seahawks. When I separated from the Seahawks, we were kind of looking for a new venue. We were looking for a place that was welcoming, a place that set us apart a little bit from what we’ve been doing with the Seahawks. Newcastle was the perfect spot. Anybody who has ever been up to Newcastle on a bright and sunny, clear Seattle day can make the argument that it’s one of the most beautiful places in this area. It’s a great location for this kind of tournament. It’s a great course. The people up there are friendly. They put on a lot of tournaments. They know what they’re doing. The food is good. The service is good. The atmosphere is great. We have a really neat contest at the end of the day. Through Michael’s Toyota, who’s been a major sponsor, a major contributor to our foundation, we give away a car. We started doing that with Ford down in Atlanta. Who can we expect to see at this year’s tournament? Locally, you’ll see Lenny Wilkens and Bill Russell. You’ll see Jay Buhner. You’ll see Matt Hasselbeck. You’ll see some other Seahawks. You’ll see the Mahre brothers. Phil and Steve Mahre. I think Phil, I’m not sure if Steve is. And then from out of town, guys like Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp. I think Kurt Warner is coming this year. Marshall Faulk. I’ve invited Troy Aikman. I’m not sure if he can fit it into his schedule. He’s trying to.
“When I separated from the Seahawks, we were kind of looking for a new venue. We were looking for a place that was welcoming, a place that set us apart a little bit from what we’ve been doing with the Seahawks. Newcastle was the perfect spot.” — Jim Mora Former Seattle Seahawks coach
Don James will be out there. A lot of neat people to ride around with for the day and make connections with. Jake Locker. Jake will be out there. Hugh Millen. I try to get all the Husky quarterbacks out there. I went to the University of Washington. How do you recruit the celebrities who attend? I call them. I know them all. It’s funny. I’ll go play in a bunch of tournaments for guys, and they’ll in turn play in mine. We kind of do that for each other. There are just a lot of people in this area that are willing to jump in and do these things. You’d be surprised at professional athletes. For all the rhetoric out there about them being selfish and spoiled and self-centered, what I’ve found is that they’re all very giving, especially when it has to do with children. They’ll do anything. They’ll come out to any event, and they’ll support you in any way. As long they know that it’s helping kids. You find that with the Seattle Seahawks certainly. That organization in general and the players in particular are just always willing to jump in and support whatever cause we might be supporting. How much are you hoping to raise at this year’s tournament? Last year, we raised $211,000. I’d like us to raise a quarter of a million dollars this year. That’s my goal. We’ve done everything we can to keep our overhead really, really low so that the money can go right to the programs. And I think we can do it. I think we’re on track to do it.
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City hires Mark Rigos as public works director The city hired Mark Rigos in May as its new public works director. Former Public Works Director Maiya Andrews resigned from her position in February 2010, and Community Development Director Steve Roberge took over the position after her departure. Rigos — a licensed engineer — spent the past 12 years as a senior project manager at Concept Engineering. He holds bachelor’s degrees in civil engi-
neering and biology from Washington State University, and a master’s in business administration from Seattle University. City manager Rob Wyman said Rigos has proven himself proficient at getting projects finished on time and under budget. He added that Rigos has a proven track record of customer service, addressing concerns and problem solving. Rigos’ first day at the city was May 26.
Renton Rotary honors student of the month
and a most improved award in jazz band. He works part time as an instructor at the Washington Black Belt Academy Sunishchal and volunD ev teers with Boy Scouts of America and the YMCA. Sunishchal plans to attend the University of Washington to study business, and he would like to someday open his own martial arts academy.
Sunishchal Dev, a senior at Hazen High School, has been named one of the Renton Rotary Club’s students of the month for May. Sunishchal holds a 3.9 grade point average. He has been involved in Future Business Leaders of America (holding vice president and president positions), DECA and National Honor Society. He has been a member of Ignite, Highlander Club, Breakfast Club, Ping Pong Club, jazz band and tennis. Sunishchal has received regional awards with the FBLA
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SCHOOLS
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JUNE 3, 2011
Robots stop swimming pool’s pretend oil spill By Laura Geggel Time was of the essence as students navigated their handmade robots underwater, doing their best to stop the oil spill and save the sea life from impending disaster. Granted, there was no actual oil spewing into the swimming pool, but students from Maywood Middle School pretended there was as they sent their robots to save the day. Last year, the Maywood Robotics Club had only two students, but it grew to seven this year, enough to send two teams to this year’s competition, called the Marine Advanced Technology Education Remote Operated Vehicle Competition, sponsored by the Marine Technology Society. Since January, the students — Matthieu Blanchet, Sydney Hartford, Jason Jarman, Joseph Jarman, Duncan Magendanz, Hannah Matson and Benton Smith — have designed and built robots equipped for the 2011 challenge, a contest modeled after the 2010 Deep Water Horizon Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. During the challenge, each robot had to turn off an oil valve — a task requiring the robot to turn an underwater wheel around twice — and then cap a leaking oil derrick. Next, students directed their robots to the pool floor, where they could
By Marla Crouch
Vortex, the remote-operated vehicle underwater robot made by Maywood Middle School students, sits ready May 7 for its contest at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. pick up and rescue fake sea cucumbers, crabs, sponges and plants from the spill. The teams also made posters about their projects, detailing their work. “The best part of this project for me was having to build a robot,” sixth-grader Benton Smith said. “I learned that building a robot is pretty much harder than building anything else,” sixth-grader Joseph Jarman said. Students feverishly worked on their robots, connecting motor propellers to the framework, and linking the wires to their hand controllers, which allowed them to direct the
robots remotely. They got a few test trials — robotics club advisor and Maywood science teacher Marla Crouch has a friend with a swimming pool. She also took the students to the University of Washington, where they could test their robots in a saltwater tank. Students got a tour of a university oceanography laboratory, where they saw a giant robot used to measure weather and water currents in the middle of the ocean, eighth-grader Jason Jarman said. “It has made me more interSee ROBOTS, Page 17
By Marla Crouch
Maywood Middle School’s team (from left) members Hannah Matson, Matthieu Blanchet, Jason Jarman and Sydney Hartford, check the buoyancy and maneuverability of Vortex, the name of their remote operated vehicle.
Hazen on brink of overcoming sink-or-swim battle to save its pool By Tim Pfarr Did someone say pool party? Thanks to numerous donations and widespread fundraising, Hazen High School’s pool has nearly escaped closure for the 2011-2012 school year. The campaign came in the wake of school officials finding themselves without $60,000 needed to operate the pools at Hazen and Lindbergh high schools for the year. As of Newcastle News’ May 31 deadline, fundraising had yielded more than $58,000 in contributions. “Everyone is just delighted,” said Chris Carlson, Renton Pools Community organizer. “It’s such an important asset.” Hazen’s public pool — built in 1969 — hosts swim lessons, the WhiteWater Aquatics swim team, the Shadow Seals swim team, the Issaquah Swim Team and the Bellevue Swim Club, as well as the swim teams from
Hazen, Liberty and Renton high schools. The funding crisis began in 2010, when King County transferred ownership of the Lindbergh pool to the Renton School District. Thus, the school district was tasked with maintaining the pool. “All of the sudden, it was a new line item in the school district’s budget that wasn’t funded,” district spokesman Randy Matheson said. For the 2010-2011 school year, the city of Renton contributed $40,000 to operate Lindbergh’s pool — $15,000 less than what was needed to keep the pool open. However, community groups picked up the slack, raising funds to overcome the shortfall. For the 2011-2012 school year, the city pulled its funding, leaving community groups to close a $60,000 gap instead. However, this time, Hazen’s pool was on the chopping block
as well. When he heard the news, Carlson volunteered to help. Carlson’s son graduated from Hazen in 2009 after four years as a member of the school swim team. With his background as a community organizer and experience as an involved parent, Carlson took charge with Renton Pools Community. Since October, the group has met several times a month to organize fundraising efforts. Countless groups and individuals stepped up to help, including the Bellevue Swim Club, which donated $10,000 to keep the pools open. The Hazen Booster Club held an auction, the Renton Civic Theatre held a performance of the play “Here on the Flight Path” and the Hazen pool hosted a swim-a-thon, all to raise money for the cause. At the swim-a-thon May 14 — at which swimmers collected pledges to swim laps —Hazen
junior Blake Baxter swam 336 laps. At 25 yards per lap, he swam roughly 4.8 miles. Baxter swam the first 285 for a dollar per lap from friends and family members, swimming without a break. After he finished, he found a swimmer from Kentridge High School trying to complete more laps than he did. “She was trying to show me up, so I kind of tried to keep that from happening,” Baxter said with a laugh. “I was feeling pretty good, but after the additional 51, I was pretty dead. I slept really well that night.” Although his additional laps were not for money, they inspired those in attendance, as he and the Kentridge swimmer swam until the swim-a-thon ended and the pool closed. “It was pretty cool to see,” said Jen Ben, Hazen pool manager. “He was quite dedicated.” The swim-a-thon raised $1,200.
Donations were also collected at both pools, with pool users donating as little as $1 and as much as $1,000 at the doors. Being so close to the goal of $60,000 calls for a sigh of relief, at least for now, as most of the donations flooded in during the spring. “Back in January, I was biting my nails hoping something would start,” Ben said, adding that she is thankful for the great community support. “Without these pools, people won’t learn how to swim and the drowning rate will go up.” Although it is almost certain the pools will be funded for the 2011-2012 school year, another round of fundraising will likely be in store for the 2012-2013 year to keep the pools functioning, Matheson said. However, he said the fundraising goal will likely be less than $60,000, as increases in fees for pool users will help offset the cost.
Newcastle News
JUNE 3, 2011
PAGE 17
Graduation comes to Newcastle News in July
Contributed
Celebrated seniors
Liberty High School
The Renton School Board recognized 12 ‘outstanding’ Hazen High School seniors. Front row from left are Tyler Brown, Karisa Bunker, Amy Delo, Saba Mateos, Farheen Siddiqui, Mishaal Aleem and Logan Walton. Back row from left are Luc Charbonneau, Jacob Zimmer, Giovanni Trujillo, Jordan Bumgarner and Kyle Martin.
Robots From Page 16 ested in pursuing a career that involves our oceans and a job that involves designing and building robots,” eighth-grader Matson wrote in an email. “I doubt that I would be interested in these possibilities if I hadn't joined Robotics Club.” Introducing students to careers dealing with robotics and oceanography is essential, Crouch said. “When you look toward the future for jobs, ocean and marine sciences are expecting huge growth,” she said.
Congratulations to the class of 2011! Photo coverage of graduation day will be presented in the July edition of Newcastle News. Liberty and Hazen high schools will have commencement celebrations this month. Purchase tickets to Liberty’s graduation in advance through the bookkeeper. Tickets will also be sold the day of graduation at Safeco Field, where the ceremony will be held. Only seniors may purchase tickets to Hazen’s graduation, which will be at ShoWare Events Center in Kent.
Students had a great time at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way on May 7, the day of the contest, learning as they went. One team attached a dustpan to its robot with the hope that it would scoop up the faux sea creatures, but the pan was not deep enough and many of the little creatures floated away. The robot also had a series of propeller malfunctions, but some deft rewiring helped them reboot the system. “I learned a lot about hydrodynamics,” Blanchet, an eighthgrader, said. “When I was building land robots, they could be bulky and flat and it didn’t matter, but with this, the water is dense so it can’t be flat,”
because of the water’s resistance. Joining Robotics Club taught Matson about time management and teamwork. “It wasn't like in a normal class where you could shove the whole group project onto one dedicated overachiever and then take credit for it when it gets turned in,” she wrote. “Building a remote-operated vehicle and making a display board about the project requires as many hands as you can get.” The Issaquah Schools Foundation and the Maywood Associated Study Body provided funding for the club. Beaver Lake Middle School’s robotics club also attended the competition.
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❑ 270 graduates
❑ 5 p.m. June 10 ❑ Safeco Field ❑ Valedictorian: Jay Chakravarty ❑ Seniors Boyd Cottom, J.D. Cherest and Bo Woo will speak. ❑ Issaquah School District Board Member Brian Deagle will accept the class.
Hazen High School ❑ 315 graduates ❑ 4 p.m. June 14 ❑ ShoWare Events Center in Kent ❑ Seniors Farheen Siddiqui, Nick Kawamoto and Tasha McQuade will speak. ❑ Renton School District Board President Al Talley will accept the class.
SPORTS
PAGE 18
JUNE 3, 2011
Hazen sports teams tackle the postseason By Tim Pfarr
By Scott Coburn
Kyle Nelson, a Hazen High School sophomore, crushes a pitch against Kelso High School on May 10. Nelson finished the season with a .419 batting average.
Hazen High School’s baseball season came to a bitter end after an extrainnings, 4-3 loss to Capital High School in the second game of the West Central District III Tournament. It was a tough loss to swallow for the 2011 Seamount League champions. After finishing their season with a 14-0 romp over Foster High School on April 30, the Highlanders took on Enumclaw and Auburn Mountainview high schools in seeding games, dropping the games, 11-1 and 3-1, respectively. Hazen then dropped the first game of the district tournament to Kelso High School, 3-0, putting it one loss from elimination. Against Capital High School, Hazen got off to a hot start early thanks to backto-back RBI-doubles by Zac Kolterman and Jeff Beckman in the first inning. Cody Moorhead knocked an RBI-single of his own, giving Hazen a 3-0 lead. However, Capital crept back in the game, tacking on single runs in each of the first three innings, tying the game 3-3.
Hazen kept Capital’s offense at bay through the seventh inning, thanks to some fine pitching from junior Jimmy Schmidt, who retired 16 batters straight late in the game. However, a delayed balk call in the top of the seventh inning erased what would have been a game-winning RBIdouble by Kolterman. Hazen lost in the bottom of the eighth inning after a Capital batter sent the ball into the right-field gap for an extra-bases hit. The fielder bobbled the ball and overthrew third base, allowing the runner to cross the plate on the error for an inside-the-park home run. Soccer team loses first postseason game Hazen’s soccer team advanced to the postseason, facing off against Auburn Mountainview on May 10. However, the Lions shut down the Highlanders, 3-0, ending their playoff run. For Hazen, the downfall was giving a hat trick to Auburn Mountainview’s Issac Cardoza — the Lions’ leading scorer. Cardoza sank goals in minutes See HAZEN, Page 19
Liberty boys track and field team places second at state By Tim Pfarr The Liberty High School boys team placed second overall out of the 3A schools at the state championship track and field meet at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High School May 27 and 28, thanks to phenomenal performances from Josh Gordon and the school’s boys 4x400 meter relay team. Gordon, a junior, took first in the 3A long jump with a 22-10 1/2 jump and second in the high jump, clearing 6-6. The latter set a new personal best and a school record. “The last few weeks, I’d been really down, only clearing 6, 62, so to come out on a nice day and get that was really great,” Gordon said about the high jump. “It just felt really good. I just came off just flying through the air. I’m over the bar and I don’t feel it yet. It was just really a great feeling.” The 4x400 team — Gordon, Devin Bennett, Joseph Bergmann and Hamilton Noel — took first place with a time of 3 minutes, 22.08 seconds. Also, Liberty’s Hiron Redmon, a sophomore, took third in the
800-meter dash with a time of 1:56.1; Bennett took fourth in the 400 with a time of 51.01; and Noel took sixth in the pole vault with a jump of 13-6. Bennett ran in lane seven for the 400, which he said helped eliminate distractions at the start of the race, given that he started in front of most of his competitors. “You don’t have somebody to pace you,” he said. “The competition is all on your inside. It makes you work harder.” For the Liberty girls, senior Madison Birdsall took seventh in the 400 with a time of 58.78; sophomore Jessica Pickering took 12th place in the pole vault, jumping 8-6; and freshman Amy Broska took 15th in the 3,200 with a time of 11:51.73. Softball team falls in first round Liberty’s softball team advanced to the 3A SeaKing District Tournament, falling to Bishop Blanchet High School, 52, in the first round. The Patriots entered the game as a No. 4 seed from 3A KingCo; Bishop Blanchet entered as the No. 4
seed from Metro. In the final game, both teams’ offenses were cold through the top of the fourth inning, when the Braves managed to score a run on a single to left center field. The Patriots struck back in the top of the fifth, when junior centerfielder Ana Faoro drew a two-out walk and freshman second baseman Liza VanCamp made it to first base on a dropped fly ball to third base. With runners on first and second, junior shortstop Denise Blohowiak came to the plate. After a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance, Blohowiak hit a ground ball to third. However, the Braves’ third baseman stepped on the bag, mistakenly thinking there was a forceout on the bag that would end the inning. Faoro scored on the play to tie the game, and VanCamp made it to third without being tagged. A foul-out ended the top of the fifth, and Bishop Blanchet just as quickly regained control of the game in the bottom half of the inning. The Braves opened with a single, and after a
By Greg Farrar
Devin Bennett, Liberty High School senior, flies in the air for his 44-foot, 8 1/2-inch triple jump, to take fifth place at the 3A state track championships May 28 in Tacoma. strikeout and a fielder’s choice, they racked up five straight hits, driving in four runs. Liberty added another run in
the sixth inning, but it was too little too late. See LIBERTY, Page 19
Newcastle News
JUNE 3, 2011
Liberty From Page 18 “My team has grown so much from the beginning to the end,” softball head coach Jessica Johnson said. “They’ve done everything I’ve asked them, from mental toughness to physical ability.” The loss brought the Patriots’ final record for the year to 8-10. However, most of the team will be back next year, as the team has only three graduating
Hazen From Page 18 16, 26 and 76. “He’s a good player,” Hazen soccer coach Ken Matthews
seniors. The Liberty baseball team’s season was cut short in the first round of the KingCo 3A tournament after a 10-1 loss to Mercer Island High School on May 10. Liberty entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed on the heels of a five-game winning streak that included a 3-0 victory at home against No. 4 seed Mercer Island. “We ran into a tough team tonight,” Liberty baseball coach Steve Darnell said after the game. The Patriots baseball team lost 13 seniors after the 2010 season, and they entered this season
with only five returning varsity players. The season began as an uphill battle, and Liberty entered the final five games with a 4-10 overall record. “A few weeks ago, we couldn’t even talk about playing in this game,” Darnell said after the game. “It was really tough getting everybody to believe and play through that 21st out, but once we started doing that — scratching and clawing at all 21 — we really got it going.” The boys soccer team did not advance to the playoffs, finishing the season 4-9-2.
said. “We let him off the hook a little bit too much.” In the second half, Hazen changed its formation and managed to slow the Lions’ offense slightly, but the damage had already been done. “They beat us, but we contributed a lot to the loss,”
Matthews said, adding that Auburn Mountainview took advantage of Hazen’s disorganized play in the game. “We didn’t play very well.” The loss came after a 3-0 shutout win over Highline High School in a tiebreaker game for the Seamount League championship. Matthews said the tiebreaker was the best game the team had during the year. The soccer team will lose five seniors this year — including midfielder Jonathan Bettencourt — but it will still have impact players, such as forward Samuel Bunnell, and defenders Devin Sando and Conner Hall. Bunnell — who will be a junior next year — led the team in scoring with five goals and three assists. Sando will be a junior next year as well; Hall will be a senior.
Hazen High School sophomore forward Samuel Bunnell cuts through Kennedy Catholic High School defenders April 7. The game ended in a 0-0 tie. By Scott Coburn
Worship Directory
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PAGE 19
Area rowers win big in Canadian meet The Sammamish Rowing Association junior rowing team — which includes Liberty High School senior Alanah Bell — competed at this year’s Brentwood School Regatta in Mill Bay, British Columbia, Canada. The team brought home the total points trophy and the individual boys’ and girls’ team points trophies for the second year in a row. The team won points by finishing each race. The Brentwood Regatta is the largest youth rowing event in North America, featuring more than 1,700 rowers from the Pacific Northwest and southwest Canada.
Local man wins national 15K trail championship Newcastle resident Joseph Gray, 27, recently took first place in the USA 15km Trail Championships in Spokane, crossing the finish line with a time of 54 minutes and 57 seconds. He finished a minute and a half ahead of the second-place finisher. Gray will race in the 2011 North American Central American Caribbean Mountain Championships — which he won in 2009 and 2010 — in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico, on July 17. He will race as a member of the U.S. team. Gray finished 10th at the World Mountain Running Championships in 2010, leading the U.S. men’s team to its first
team silver medal.
Hazen sports stacking team wins big in Texas Hazen High School’s sports stacking team traveled to the World Sport Stacking Championship in Garland, Texas, from April 15-17. The team used its talents of quickly stacking cups to take home 38 medals and five trophies. Hazen stackers Brittney Drebert, Josh Glassburn and Pierce Harris set new personal world records. Ashley Boyd, Brittney Drebert, Priscilla Hurt and Kayla Zapatad set a new relay world record.
Triathlon is June 4 The Issaquah Triathlon is June 4 and is held at Lake Sammamish State Park. More than 1,000 athletes are expected to compete in the 11th annual event. The first race, the sprint triathlon, starts at 7 a.m. The sprint triathlon appeals to veteran triathletes, as well as novices. The sprint triathlon course consists of a quarter-mile swim, a 15-mile bicycle ride and a 3mile run. The sprint duathlon consists of a 15-mile bike ride and a 3mile run. Among the other events are the 5K and 10K runs, and the kids’ triathlon. The kids’ triathlon is broken down into two groups, 10-13 and 9 and under. Learn more by calling 206-9144846, or go to www.issaquahtri.com.
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(206) 972-0649
Also try us at the CRS web site
www.crs.com CRS Agents: Increase your visibility by participating in the special CRS page. Contact Jill at (425) 392-6434 ext. 229 or jgreen@isspress.com
“Fewer than 4% of the Realtors in the nation have their CRS designation but they account for 24% of all the transactions. Do the math. Maybe it’s time to call CRS!” –Jerry Rippeteau, Associate Broker, CRS CRS Washington State Chapter
Newcastle News
PAGE 20
JUNE 3, 2011
No substitutions. $4.99 per person. No sharing. Ayce Dine in only. No take out.
FREE BREAKFAST
25% OFF
(Regular Menu)
ENTIRE GUEST CHECK (Regular Menu)
Purchase one entree and two beverages from our regular menu and receive the second entree of equal or lesser value FREE. Offer Expires 6/30/11.
Receive 25% off your entire check from 2:00pm to 10:00pm. (Does not include alcohol beverages.) Offer Expires 6/30/11.
Valid with coupons at participating locations. Not valid with any other specials, discounts, senior programs, kids eat free, all-you-can-eat promotions or holidays. Limit one coupon per party. Dine-in-only. Kennydale/Renton 4750 Lake Washington Blvd. NE Renton Bellevue/Overlake 2223 148th Ave NE Bellevue Code: WNA
Valid with coupons at participating locations. Not valid with any other specials, discounts, senior programs, kids eat free, all-you-can-eat promotions or holidays. Limit one coupon per party. Dine-in-only. Kennydale/Renton 4750 Lake Washington Blvd. NE Renton Bellevue/Overlake 2223 148th Ave NE Bellevue
Code: WNA
Start Dad off with a Happy Father’s Day at Denny’s! Kennydale/Renton 4750 Lake Washington Blvd. NE
Bellevue/Overlake 2223 148th Ave NE