Student brings lacrosse to Newcastle Elementary Page 14
Hazen swimmers top Liberty Page 18
October 5, 2012 VOL. 14, NO. 10
Money outlook
Financial forecast shows improvements. Page 3
Pat Detmer Police blotter
Page 6
Council discusses potential of annexation Most council members feel the discussion is ‘premature’
By Christina Corrales-Toy The Newcastle City Council decided against taking any exploratory action toward a possible annexation by Bellevue, at least for now, at its Sept. 4 meeting. In a discussion that lasted more than an hour, the City
Page 7
Council debated whether the issue of annexation was even appropriate to discuss at the current time. The prevailing sentiment among the council members was that the discussion was premature. Councilman Bill Erxleben,
Current members of the Newcastle City Council will take a pay cut, should they decide to run again after their terms expire, according to an ordinance the council passed at its Sept. 18 meeting. The ordinance, which passed with a 4-3 vote, will lower councilmember salaries from $700 a month to $500 a month. The mayor’s position will also be reduced from $800 a month to $600 a month. Under state law, salaries of municipal officers cannot be increased or decreased during an election or during a term of
Head of the class
Student scrubs in for a day of brain surgery. Page 10
Always a student
Learning life lessons in mentor program. Page 14
office, so the change will not become effective until the expiration of current councilmembers’ terms. Councilmen Bill Erxleben, Gordon Bisset, Steve Buri and Mayor Rich Crispo voted in favor of the salary decrease, while Councilwoman Carol Simpson, Councilman John Dulcich and Deputy Mayor Lisa Jensen voted against the ordinance. Crispo argued that while the council asks city staff members to make sacrifices in terms of merit pay and other considerations, it was important for the See PAY CUT, Page 11
Newcastle Library will open in December after significant delays
You should know Coyotes were recently seen in Newcastle. Attacks on humans are very rare and coyotes will usually run away if challenged. Care must be taken with cats and small dogs, because coyotes prey on them. Small family pets should be kept indoors, especially from dusk to dawn.
50 ¢
See ANNEXATION, Page 11
Pay cut narrowly passes for future council members By Christina Corrales-Toy
Contact us: newcastle@isspress.com 392-6434, ext. 239
who made the initial motion to get the discussion on the agenda, started the conversation by arguing that it was important to explore whether annexation by Bellevue was a viable option, given Newcastle’s financial fore-
By Christina Corrales-Toy
By Greg Farrar
This way to Newcastle Days Austin Sewell, 3, of Newcastle, slides down the corkscrew pole at the Lake Boren Park playground Sept. 8 during Newcastle Days. For more photos from the event, see page 8.
The Newcastle Library will officially open Dec. 8 with a full day of activities planned to celebrate the occasion, according to a representative from the King County Library System. Festivities are expected to begin at 9:30 a.m. the day of the opening, but more details will be available as the date approaches. Progress on the project picked up significantly after the contractor experienced a multitude of setbacks, according to Greg Smith, the director of Facilities Management Services for KCLS. “The contractor’s been plagued with lots of problems on this job, lots of delays,” Smith said. In December and January, the contractor had to scramble after
On the Web Follow construction updates and see pictures of the library’s progress at blogs.kcls.org/newcastle. the curtain wall subcontractor, the company who provided the glass for the library, went out of business, Smith said. It caused a significant setback that delayed delivery of the glass. As of Sept. 19, KCLS said the building was more than 90 percent enclosed, and Smith added that nearly all of the glass was installed. In addition, workers began installing tile work in the library See LIBRARY, Page 7
Newcastle News
PAGE 2
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Test your Newcastle history knowledge At this year’s Newcastle Days, the city’s rich history was celebrated with the festival’s theme, Return to Newcastle. One of the components of this year’s celebration was a trivia activity put together by Mayor Rich Crispo. Crispo compiled a list of 120 questions that highlighted the history of Newcastle. Each vendor booth had a question, and prizes were awarded for correct answers at the end of the day. Below, we’ve printed 15 of the questions, which bring forth interesting facts about the history of the Newcastle community. Crispo compiled the list of questions through information taken from “The Coals of Newcastle — A Hundred Years of Hidden History,” by Richard and Lucile McDonald. Think you know your city’s history? Test yourself. Q: How much coal was removed from the Newcastle coal mines between 1863 and 1963? A: About 10.5 million tons of coal was removed during the 100-year period. Q: What made Newcastle coal mines so successful? A: It was good quality coal and there were reasonable production costs, as well as a good transportation system to Seattle. Q: What was the primary destination for Newcastle coal from 1870 to 1920? A: San Francisco
Back tracking: an ongoing series about the history of Newcastle
Boren? A: It was called Etta Cartney Lake, named after a young woman in the neighborhood. It was said to have an average depth of 90 feet in 1883. Q: What did the average Newcastle house look like in 1883? A: It was most likely a white house, with vegetable and flower gardens and a lawn or hayfield. It was located near a mine entrance. The community was surrounded by waste dumps continuously emitting smells and smoke.
discovery made in the area? A: Coal chunks were first seen along Coal Creek in 1853. Q: By the end of 1876, how big was Newcastle? A: There were 500 inhabitants, 250 of which were miners, and 100 homes. Q: How much did carpenters working at the mines make in 1876? A: They made $3 a day with tools; $2 a day without tools. Q: When was the first road constructed into Newcastle? What was it called? A: The first road was constructed in 1880. It was called King County Road No. 90, but it was more commonly known as Thomas Rouse Road. Rouse and others had campaigned for better routes.
Q: The original name of the mining area was called the Newcastle Hills. What was it changed to in 1950? A: Cougar Mountain.
Q: What president visited Newcastle? A: In 1880, President Rutherford B. Hayes visited the Newcastle mines. He was accompanied by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman.
Q: When/where was the first coal
Q: What was another name for Lake
Q: Until 1886, Newcastle had the only one of these on the Eastside. What was it? A: Newcastle had the only post office/voting precinct on the Eastside. People from places like Bellevue had to travel by foot or boat to cast a ballot. Q: In 1910, Newcastle served as a destination for what activity, other than coal mining? A: Hunters from Seattle came to Newcastle to hunt cougars, bears and raccoons. Q: What was the highlight of the year for the Newcastle miners and their families? A: The Fourth of July celebration was the highlight. Activities included a baseball game against another mining team, races, other contests, food and fireworks. Q: What was the name of the bar in town? A: The bar was named the Saloon at Newcastle and it stood until 1920. Q: If all of the coal and waste removed from the Newcastle mines was piled on a football field, how high would it be? A: 2.14 miles
Contributed by the Bellevue Fire Department
Smoke and flames billow from the roof of a Newcastle home in the 14300 block of Southeast 77th Street, after a house fire broke out Sept. 13.
Fire causes $300,000 in damage to Newcastle home By Christina Corrales-Toy The Bellevue Fire Department and Eastside Fire & Rescue crews responded to a house fire in the 14300 block of Southeast 77th Street at about 10 a.m. Sept. 14, according to Lt. Troy Donlin, Bellevue Fire Department spokesman. Donlin said landscapers in the area found smoke and flames on the side of the house, called 911, and seven minutes later, crews arrived on the scene to find smoke and flames coming from the attic of the twostory house. There was no one inside at the time, Donlin said; the homeowners arrived about 25 minutes into the incident. Donlin described the fire as “stubborn” because of the cedar roof shingles. It took firefighters about 53 minutes to contain the fire. “It was a stubborn fire because it’s a cedar shake home,” he said. “So, we had a lot of little individual spot fires throughout the roof.” On the scene, there was vis-
ible damage to the roof, and Donlin said the second story was damaged from water and ceiling material as a result of firefighting activities. In addition to the water the firefighters aimed at the house, the home also had an indoor sprinkler system that went off, Donlin said. Damage to the four-bedroom home was estimated at $300,000. Donlin said investigators determined that the fire started on the exterior of the home, though the cause has yet to be determined. “Initial reports were on the exterior,” he said. “So, we’re just reminding people that we’re still in a spot, with the relative humidity and the temperature outside, where exterior fires are a real challenge and it’s totally possible that this started in bark.” The couple and their two children who live in the house asked for help from the Red Cross, Donlin said, adding that the homeowners were insured.
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Updated financial forecast shows improving finances By Christina Corrales-Toy City staff members presented the Newcastle City Council with an updated six-year financial forecast at the Sept. 18 council meeting. At the council’s June budget retreat, Finance Director Christine Olson presented a forecast that showed increasing deficits in the city’s general fund, but the new forecast shows a more positive outlook. The difference, she said, is because of more data and information accumulated over the past few months. “At the budget retreat, I did the same thing I did now, I forecasted, but I only had four months of data,” she said. The new forecast projects the city will end with a surplus in its general fund at the end of this year after higher-than-expected collections from development revenue. The city’s general fund for 2013 also seems to be in good shape, according to the forecast, with a projected shortfall of just $60,000, a number that can be easily remedied once the council decides its priorities for the 2013 budget. For comparison, at the retreat the shortfall for 2013 was projected at more than
Chamber hosts health and safety fair The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce hosts the first Newcastle Health and Safety Fair from 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in the commons at Hazelwood Elementary School. The free event will provide Newcastle residents with information about how to live healthier lifestyles and to help citizens ensure that they are prepared in emergency situations. Representatives from several local businesses will be on hand to show
$200,000. The reason for the improved 2013 outlook is a projected increase in revenue, Olson said. Though, the forecast assumed that the City Council would decide to take an allowable 1 percent increase in property taxes, but that has not been determined yet. While most of the council members seemed encouraged by the new outlook, Councilmen Bill Erxleben and Gordon Bisset were less satisfied. Erxleben said he was dissatisfied with the numbers projected in the real estate excise tax fund, which funds capital projects for the city. He wanted to see more money budgeted for pavement overlay for the streets, an important part of city infrastructure, he said. In the years of 2014-2018, the new forecast projects an initial budget of $400,000 for pavement overlay each year, while the forecast from the budget retreat had it at $683,000. The city does project to spend $683,000 on overlay in 2013, though. “I think this council believes that we have to maintain infrastructure if we are going to call ourselves a city,” Erxleben said. “As far as I’m concerned, there
residents how their services can help improve health and safety. A representative from Valley Medical Center will be on hand to provide free health screenings, and members of the Newcastle Police Department will be available to meet with local community members. Newcastle Weed Warriors will also be there to warn about noxious weeds that are harmful to people. There will be healthy snacks, a raffle and several information booths. Angela Wingate, chair-
is no euphoria. There is no clapping of hands. We need to redo this budget and come back with a reasonable budget that funds properly the city’s infrastructure.” City Manager Rob Wyman said it will be up to the council to prioritize how to spend the money as budgets are formulated. “You guys set the priorities through the budget and if you think we the staff, or the city as a whole, should put more money into overlay than other projects, we’re happy to respond to that and address it that way, but it’s your decision at the end of the day,” Wyman said to the council. Both Bisset and Erxleben suggested that the staff manipulated the numbers to make finances appear better because of the council’s recent discussions about Bellevue annexation. “Why, in June, did we get a forecast that said we were in deep, deep trouble?” Bisset asked. “Now, after we’ve discussed going to Bellevue and we’ve all of the sudden got a happy budget. I guess what I’m saying is a bit inflammatory, but you know that’s my feeling on what’s been proposed here.” Wyman said the Bellevue
woman of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, said she hopes the event will bring awareness to local health and wellness issues. “We hope that the community is able to be more aware of what they can do to help improve their lives, and the community as a whole, in being safe and healthy,” she said.
Annual town hall meeting is Oct. 29
The city of Newcastle will host its annual town hall meeting from 7-9
discussions had absolutely no influence on the numbers. He added that both he and Olsen documented every single change from what was presented at the budget retreat. “There is no connection, no correlation whatsoever between any outside, nonbudget event and what numbers we came up with,” he said. Councilman John Dulcich came to the defense of the staff and the new forecast. “They’re our staff and preparing this, if they were playing any games they wouldn’t be here and I think we proved that with the last change,” he said. One other major change in the forecast was the inclusion of revenue from four major projects that have a high probability of taking place in the city in coming years. The projects include the construction of a retirement home, development of the Mutual Materials site, construction of a Renton School District middle school, and the sale and development of a property owned by the Renton School District. At the time of the retreat, Olson decided against adding the projects to the forecast. “As a finance person, I tend to not want to include projects
p.m. Oct. 29 at The Golf Club at Newcastle. Residents will be able to provide feedback to city staff and City Council members about issues facing the city for the next year, including the city’s budget. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more by calling the city at 649-4444.
The city of Newcastle is requesting feedback from residents about its 2012 community events.
Newcastle Chamber of Commerce Networking, Cross-Promotion, Advertising
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unless I’m really sure they are going to happen,” she said at the meeting. “But, these projects, these four, of all the projects I’ve heard, are the four I think will be viable and probably happen.” Even with the inclusion in the new forecast, the numbers for the revenue expected to come from the projects are very conservative, she said. Furthermore, the major bulk of any projected revenue from the projects would only begin to start taking place in 2014 and later, she estimated. Olson said the purpose of a six-year forecast is to assist the city as it prepares the foundation of its upcoming budget. It also allows the city to plan for long-range challenges and helps build stability in city finances, she said. Wyman said he was happy with where the numbers are, though he added that the numbers are estimates and as time goes by, things will change and the numbers will become more accurate. “I feel really good about it,” he said. “I feel better than I’ve felt in the last couple of years, or since I’ve been here in this position, about where we are financially, at least for the short term. So, that’s a good thing.”
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Oct. Luncheon Speaker
Regional Economic Strategy & Economic Report Chris Enderson-Scott with the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)
Oct. 10, 2012 • 11:00 - 12:15 Tapatio’s Mexican Grill Luncheon Cost: $20 & $25 for non-member Please RSVP via email to: info@newcastlecc.com All are welcome, members & non-members
Membership • News & Updates • Upcoming Events • 206.719.8122 • www.newcastlecc.com
Opinion
PAGE 4
Editorial
Letters
Keep Newcastle’s identity here, not in Bellevue
To merge or not to merge, that is the question
As Newcastle gathered to celebrate the city’s 18th year of existence at Newcastle Days on Sept. 8, we were reminded of the exceptional qualities that make the city one of the best in the nation. The city’s spirit of volunteerism and its unique coalmining history were on full, glorious display, making us question how anyone could entertain disbanding the city and joining Bellevue. CNN Money Magazine selected Newcastle among the top 25 best places to live in the nation in 2009 and 2011. In the magazine’s 2011 article, which ranked the city 18th, the author highlighted the culture of volunteerism. “Despite serious budget cuts that threatened the city’s summer 2011 events, local businesses and citizens offered time and cash to keep the community’s concerts and fireworks afloat,” the magazine said. With committed volunteers from groups such as Weed Warriors, Newcastle Trails and the planning committee for Newcastle Days, it is evident that local community members are dedicated to the well-being of this city. Residents seem to appreciate the Newcastle identity, as evidenced by the city’s attempts to procure its own ZIP code when it incorporated in 1994, and again in 2004 and 2009. A 2009 survey showed residents overwhelmingly supported the city’s efforts to obtain its own ZIP code; 95 percent of respondents said it would better establish the city’s identity. While the city was not granted its ZIP code, the survey showed residents value the city’s own unique identity, something that may be difficult to secure within Bellevue, a city of more than 120,000 people. Too many people work too hard to make Newcastle special. Why throw it away to become just another small part of Bellevue? Newcastle has a good thing going. It’s not time to close up shop.
Poll question Are you satisfied with the City Council’s decision to lower member salaries from $700 a month to $500 a month, effective once the incumbents’ terms in office expire? A. Yes. It brings our council’s salary more in line with other comparable cities. B. No. A lower salary might dissuade community members from running for a council position. C. Yes. During difficult economic times, the council should make sacrifices too. D. No. The salary decrease won’t take effect for a while, so there are no instant savings. Vote at www.newcastle-news.com.
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Last month, the City Council discussed potential consolidation with Bellevue. Why now, after 18 years as a city? Simply put, the math has changed, threatening Newcastle’s long-term survival as a standalone city. I’ll state my bias upfront: My city should have reasonable taxes, good services and facilities, and resources to fund future capital projects. On these criteria, Newcastle’s future compares very unfavorably with Bellevue’s. The problem: In Washington state, cities are financed primarily with property and sales taxes. Without either a large commercial tax base generating property and retail sales taxes, or
OCTOBER 5, 2012
exclusively high-end housing, it is very difficult for a small city to prosper over the long term. Newcastle’s predicament is not recently discovered. From the city’s inception, knowledgeable observers have warned that once the city exhausted its developable land base and the large city fees associated with development, infrastructure maintenance and personnel costs would rapidly outpace the revenue tax base. With most of our land base now under development or developed, we have reached the tipping point. Beyond 2013, we face substantial deficits in our general and capital funds that will result in service reductions and eliminate any major new capital projects. Newcastle
faces a real risk of becoming a high-tax, low-services city, with negative consequences for our housing prices. Alarmingly, after 2013, the city manager is already proposing that we defer $2.4 million in necessary road maintenance to cover future capital shortfalls. Given Newcastle’s financial prospects, why would Bellevue consider a consolidation? The answer: Economies of scale make the math work. Bellevue already provides Newcastle with fire and emergency services, and could easily consolidate the remaining governmental functions at a much lower cost. Under Bellevue’s jurisdiction, Newcastle would
What topics would you like to see discussed at the annual town hall meeting?
Continue with one-day format and pack the stage with acts that attract a crowd such as dancers, quality bands, local kids and community groups who can show off what talents they have. Also, consider a talent show inviting local residents to perform; and short educational presentations for the crowd: medical, legal, financial, fitness, etc, that are less than five minutes in length, in between entertainment acts. Show the residents of Newcastle what services exist locally to support them! — Christina Mason
See LETTERS, Page 5
Rapid Response If you could try any profession for a day, what would you choose and why? I think massage therapy. I’m into the healing service professions (hypnotherapist and dental hygienist). Massage supports the mind and body in feeling better and healing. — Jackie Foskett Something like Oprah or Dr. Oz: Presenting helpful, useful, emotionally connecting material to millions in a crowd or TV format! Bring celebrities together to support a worthy cause and get useful information to people who need it! — Christina Mason
How can we more actively promote Newcastle to others in our state? i.e.: as a place to visit, shop, eat, play golf, (of course), live, hike, play? — Jackie Foskett Plans for Newcastle undeveloped land, community development and social opportunities for fitness in Newcastle. — Christina Mason Finances and trail standards. — Peggy Price What suggestions would you give to improve Newcastle Days?
Have a teen-enticing activity, such as a ropes course or ultimate Frisbee. — Peggy Price
your mind to shape a better Newcastle at these August meetings: q The City Council will have a regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at City Hall, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200. q The Parks Commission is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Oct.
10 at City Hall. q The City Council’s Economic and Community Development committee will meet at 8 a.m. Oct. 9 at City Hall. q The Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at City Hall.
Public meetings From sidewalk installation projects to snow removal to property tax collection, decisions made by officials at a local level have the potential to impact your daily life. Get involved. Provide feedback. Make a difference. Let leaders know what’s on
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Newcastle News
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Letters From Page 4 maintain its neighborhood character and events, much like Newport Hills does. Because the situation doesn’t become critical until 2014, the City Council majority believes further public discussion of the issue is not now warranted. I disagree. For a city trying to plan ahead, all options should now be explored and considered. Your voices deserved to be heard and made a part of the decision process. Let the debate begin. Bill Erxleben Newcastle City Council
Solutions to budget shortfalls needed now
I find it somewhat ironic that the Rapid Responses (Sept. 7 issue) regarding annexation by Bellevue seemed to be mostly about emotional or personal issues (keeping our individuality, setting our own direction, something about a “higher mileage rate…”) yet in the same issue there was an explanation from the city manager about why we can’t manage traffic during a localized electricity problem because we have a “very streamlined budget” and an article about the city budget forecast “showing increasing deficits in the city’s general fund.” The financial forecast was described as ominous. We have traffic backed up
to Interstate 405 and only one officer was on duty, who was busy. The city manager also stated that it is “not possible to quickly get backup for something like traffic control.” Apparently, not more than one thing can happen at a time or police support will be overtaxed. Well, true, that one officer can’t be in two places at the same time no matter how good he or she is. Does this concern anybody else? In the budget article, “City Council tackles expected revenue shortfall,” the idea of annexation by Bellevue was labeled as a distraction by the city manager and one of the council members. Seriously, it is a distraction? Councilman Bill Erxleben at least said it was the council’s duty to explore all options, plus one of the Rapid Responses said there should be a study. These ideas sound like due diligence to me. I think this is the time and place for personal, emotional and vested interests to be put aside in the interest of the citizens of this city. There seemed to be a question as to whether or not the City Council “wants to even discuss annexation.” Seriously? Refer to Erxleben’s statement. When you have a budget shortfall and projected shortfalls in the forecasts, I think it is past time to look for solutions and the fiscally responsible thing to do. Bill Juliano Newcastle
Equal parks for all Newcastle is updating its parks plan for grant applications. The plan establishes the level of service for parks based on park types and population. The present plan requires 5 acres of mini parks, 20 acres of neighborhood parks and 50 acres of community parks: 75 acres total, for today. The city has 22.6 acres of parks and owns 33.5 acres of undeveloped sports park land. Since 2003, no new neighborhood parks and no new community parks (except upgrades to Lake Boren Park) have been developed. New mini parks have been built. Some have many amenities and some have few; and some are
PAGE 5
small and barely usable. In the new plan, city staff proposed eliminating the requirement for mini parks and the Parks and Planning commissions concurred. New mini parks might be built, but they would not be required under the proposed new plan. I want equal parks for all. No neighborhood should be stuck with a park that is a weed patch or have a park with more “bells and whistles” than others. To solve these discrepancies, the city should adopt park design guidelines so that all parks have appropriate and equal amenities. Should a neighborhood want enhanced amenities, those additional costs
Your Dreams, Our Strategies
should be borne by the neighborhood; the city should not be stuck with special maintenance costs. Seventy-five acres is the park land we should have today. By 2032, the projected need for 12,000 people is 90 acres. The city has inadequate plans to find and acquire new land and pay for neighborhood parks. The past 10 years’ experience proves this. There are no 2-acre parcels around anymore. The city should reconsider the allocation of service and size of parks.
I like mini parks and want them in neighborhoods without parks. For Newcastle, neighborhood parks a half-mile away do not make sense for serving our small neighborhoods; nearby mini parks do. Lake Boren Park should be our only large community park. And if Newcastle residents want a big sports park, separate funding should be found for its development and maintenance. Carol Simpson Councilwoman City of Newcastle
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OCTOBER 5, 2012
Laughing all the way
Breaking from the pack I’m originally from the Midwest, where people travel in packs. An example: When the Seattle family vacationed in Quincy, Ill., a few years ago, Aunt Joan and her extended family took us out for dinner at a pizza and beer joint on a hectic Friday night. When we arrived, she asked a harried waitress for a table for 23. Seriously. When I questioned the wisdom of that, she said that she wanted to make sure that everyone felt included, even though this meant that we wouldn’t be seated for three hours and that some of my tablemates would actually be in Missouri and I would only be able to converse with them if I had binoculars and a bullhorn. We’re planning another family trip to Quincy this fall, and with it will come the feeling that I’m part of a never-ending census-taking process, one that I consistently fail as I attempt to slip through the counting bonds and sprint from the pack to freedom. If I leave a room without announcing my intentions, all eyes will follow me even if that room is filled
with a roiling mass of cousins and their children and their children’s children. Aunt Joan will call out to ask me where I’m going, and if gone for more than 15 minPat Detmer utes, the alarm will go out: Where’s Pat? There may have originally been an excellent reason for this mentality. Out on the prairies in the 1800s it would have been critical to keep count, because if Jonathon went out in a howling snowstorm, it made sense to ask “Where are you going?” or “Why isn’t he back yet?” because there are probably some Jonathons who tragically lost their way while heading out to the barn to milk the family cow. I broke free of the pack when I moved to the Northwest 40 years ago. Gone were the Giant Book of Rules, the family members squeezing my cheeks at weddings and saying, “You’ll be next,” and the need to always
be present and accounted for. A closet introvert, I had escaped and found the right place for me. Now in her 80s, my aunt seems to have finally forgiven me for my insurrectionary ways. While we’re there, my sisters and Newcastle Niece and Nephew will stay at Aunt Joan’s place, while the Sainted One and I — with my aunt’s blessing — will stay at the family camp on the Mississippi, miles from nowhere. But I’ll admit that even though I am way past middle age and should have worked through my neuroses by now, I’m still a little anxious about facing the census-takers. Don’t get me wrong: I love it there, and it was a great place to be a kid and a great place to grow up. And actually, I would move back there in a heartbeat if the continental landmass cracked at the Mississippi River and everything west of it slid into the sea. You can reach Pat Detmer — who counts, but doesn’t like being counted — via www.patdetmer.com.
Create quirky characters for PEMCO campaign PEMCO Insurance introduced audiences to Goat Renter Guy, Smug Hybrid Driver and Walla Walla Wine Wine Woman Woman through a quirky advertising campaign. Now, Pacific Northwest residents can provide the inspira-
Costume shop opens in Newport Hills The Scarlet Curtain, a gently-used costume super store, will occupy the space vacated by the Red Apple Market in the Newport Hills Shopping Center for the fall season. The shop sells thousands of costumes and accessories, including typical Halloween costumes and unique theatrical pieces. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, and will remain at the location until November. The Scarlet Curtain is at 5606 119th Ave. S.E. in Bellevue. Nancy Horner, the
tion for the next Northwest Profile. Folks can submit video auditions in a contest to determine another addition to the Seattle-based insurer’s “We’re A Lot Like You. A Little Different.” advertising campaign. The call for video audi-
owner of the store, has been a resident of Newcastle for 22 years. She designs costumes for theaters, operas and schools. Horner has costumed more than a dozen shows for Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE in Issaquah and Everett. “I am proud of the ‘green’ nature of my business,” she wrote in an email. “I save many costumes from the landfill. “People love the idea of saving money and knowing that they are helping the environment just a little bit by not buying new, synthetic costumes.” Learn more at www.thescarletcurtain.com of check out The Scarlet Curtain page on Facebook.
tions allows participants to celebrate the values shared by Northwesterners, and prove why their attributes qualify as the most uniquely Northwest and worthy of Northwest Profile fame. Through Oct. 25, users can
go to www.pemco.com/nexttype to upload a 60-second video audition detailing their Northwest traits. The format and organization are up to the videographer. The finalists have a chance to win more than $18,000 in prizes and Northwest experiences.
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In a story featured in the September edition of the Newcastle News, Newcastle resident Lorinda Eklund said she was inspired by PEMCO Insurance’s Goat Renter Guy when she used goats to manage her overgrown yard.
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Newcastle News
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Police blotter Injured raccoon An employee at the Animal Hospital of Newport Hills reported that a man became aggressive toward her after he was told the hospital couldn’t treat an injured raccoon on Aug. 30. The man returned the next day, the employee said, and shouted obscenities at her because of the way he felt she treated him.
License plates A resident in the 11300 block of Southeast 77th Place reported that the rear license plate was stolen from his car between Aug. 31 and Sept. 7.
Keyed An unknown suspect keyed the driver’s door of a Ford Escape in the parking lot of the QFC, 6940 Coal Creek Parkway S.E., on Sept. 3. The victim reported the damage was about $500.
Suspicious truck A security guard at The Golf Club at Newcastle reported a suspicious truck traveling on the turf main access road of the golf course Sept. 3. The guard reported that the license plate and the driver’s face were covered with towels.
No radio A resident reported that between 8 p.m. Sept. 4 and 3 p.m. Sept. 5, the radio was stolen from his car. The resident said the car was locked, but there were no visible signs of forced entry.
Home burglary A couple reported more than $32,000 worth of belongings stolen from their home in the 15300 block of Southeast 82nd Street on Sept. 7.
Going to the gym An unknown suspect broke into two vehicles in the parking lot of the Cedar Rim Apartments on
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110th Avenue Southeast on Sept. 9. The residents of both cars reported that their gym bags were stolen from their respective cars.
Copper thief More than 10 copper spools, valued at $1,800, were reported stolen from The Golf Club at Newcastle. An employee believed the theft occurred between Aug. 1 and Sept. 4. The wire was kept in an unsecured storage container on the grounds.
Under construction More than $2,000 worth of construction tools was reported stolen from an unoccupied home in the 11400 block of Southeast 72nd Street. The house was under construction and tools were reportedly stolen between Sept. 7 and 8.
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Newcastle Days theft U-Haul A woman reported that her phone was stolen while her family attended a Newcastle Days activity at Lake Boren Park, 13000 S.E. 84th Way, on Sept. 9.
Stolen iPad A woman reported her iPad was stolen from the sitting area of the swimming pool at the Coal Creek Family YMCA on Sept. 11.
No delivery A resident reported that three packages were stolen from her mailbox between the evenings of Sept. 12 and 13 in the 8200 block of 116th Avenue Southeast. The resident received confirmation that the packages had been delivered, but when she checked the mailbox, they were not there.
A stolen U-Haul truck was found parked in the parking lot of the QFC
Library From Page 1 bathrooms. In the coming weeks, workers will continue to focus on the interior of the library. Carpet installation is tentatively set for Oct. 12 and shelving installation is tentatively scheduled to begin a few days later. Some residents have reported seeing little action at the construction site in prior weeks. Smith acknowledged that, saying that there was little work that could be done until the glass was installed, so there
on Sept. 14. The ignition, door lock and rear lock of the truck were damaged.
were minimal personnel on-site. Now, Smith said he expects to see a lot of movement at the site in the coming weeks. “It’s really starting to move now,” he said. “If you go by there each week, you’ll see different things happening.” Smith said the project finally has some positive momentum after many setbacks. “We had no control over the loss of the subcontractors that caused the delay,” he said. “We are back on target and the job is progressing rapidly at this point, and it’s going to be a beautiful new library that will serve the community in years to come.”
Newcastle News
PAGE 8
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Newcastle Days delights Children enjoy the weightlessness of bouncing around in the crayon castle, one of the free inflatable toy attractions at Newcastle Days.
Monique Thomas (left), with the Coal Creek Family YMCA, hands Caroline Cossette, 4, her decorated wood medallion back after they tie the necklace through the hole.
Above, Tim Parker, a member of the Cajun band Folichon, sings and plays ‘Jambalaya’ on his squeezebox. At right, Brenda Kashmir (left) and Darlene Tyler lead the Heart tribute band Heartless to close out the day’s live musical entertainment for the crowds.
Photos by Greg Farrar
Above, Faith Rodriguez (left), 8, and her sister Amanda, 4, of Issaquah, use antique grinders to turn corn into flour at the Newcastle Historical Society display. Jean Rollins, of Renton, wears period clothing next to her 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III, on display with other classic vehicles at the Newcastle Days Classic Car Show.
By Keith Miya
Above, Jack Harris, the 10-month-old son of Christa and Scott Harris, crawls to the finish line of the Newcastle 5K Run after being carried most of the way in Scott’s baby backpack.
Newcastle News
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Officers bust 1,603 motorists for DUI Officers from law enforcement agencies in the state arrested 1,603 motorists for driving under the influence during the Drive Hammered, Get Nailed enforcement campaign from Aug. 17 to Sept. 3. In King County, officers on routine and extra patrols arrested 364 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In the same period last year, King County officers arrested 452 people for DUI. Statewide, officers arrested 1,824 motorists during the 2011 patrols. The campaign included officers from the Newcastle, Issaquah, Bellevue, North Bend, Sammamish, Snoqualmie and Renton police departments, in addition to the Washington State Patrol. The funding for extra patrols originated as a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
County earmarks dollars for veterans programs
King County leaders agreed Sept. 10 to spend $3.4 million to help veterans find counseling, employment and housing. The dollars, approved by the King County Council, come from the Veterans and Human Services Levy approved by voters last year. The spending includes $2.3 million for veterans’ housing capital and supportive services; more than $300,000 for a veterans’ aerospace training initiative; and more than $80,000 for increased post traumatic stress disorder treatment and military family counseling. “This funding makes it possible to honor and help our returning veterans by creating the stability of permanent housing and employment opportunities for living wage jobs in our burgeoning aerospace community,” County Executive Dow Constantine said in a statement.
Department of Licensing increases fees Oct. 1
Motorists should prepare for increased driver and vehicle fees from the state Department of Licensing soon. Starting Oct. 1, the agency is enacting a series of increases authorized by state legislators. Officials said the hikes should help offset operation and maintenance costs for roads, bridges, ferries and other transportation infrastructure. The fee to receive a driver’s license or state identification card, or to renew a license or ID card, rises from $25 to $45. The revision increases the commercial driver’s license fee from $61 to $85. Registration fees also increase Oct. 1. The cost for a certificate of ownership application, for instance, rises from $5 to $15. Find a complete list of fees at the Department of Licensing website, www. dol.wa.gov.
Newcastle Chamber of Commerce We are pleased to present
Diamond Awards 2012 November 14, 2012 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM At The Golf Club at Newcastle You’re invited to join us for this signature event – recognizing many of those who make Newcastle special To register please visit: http://2012diamondawards.eventbrite.com/ Tickets go quickly so register early. Special thanks to our Title Sponsors
Membership • News & Updates • Upcoming Events • 206.719.8122 • www.newcastlecc.com
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Community
PAGE 10
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Scrubbing in for a day of brain surgery By Christina Corrales-Toy Newcastle resident Max Kosobutsky was among those invited by the Swedish Neuroscience Institute to become brain surgeons for a day Aug. 24. The event, hosted by the Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, was held at Swedish’s Cherry Hill campus in Seattle. The purpose of the event was to give participants a look into the work being done to cure brain cancer and raise awareness of one of the most malignant cancers in the world, which affects more than 22,000 people in the United States. The 20-year-old Newcastle resident had the chance to closely examine a human brain, experiment with surgical devices and learn about brain surgery from Dr. Greg Foltz, a neurosurgeon at the Swedish Neuroscience Institute. Kosobutsky, a student at Bellevue College, said he hopes to enter the medical field in the future, which is why he jumped at the chance to become a brain surgeon for a day. “I’m an aspiring nursing student and I’m very interested to get as much experience and different viewpoints from other people about the field itself so that I get an idea of what I’m going
By Greg Farrar
Max Kosobutsky (right), of Newcastle, a Bellevue College student, is guided by Medtronic clinical specialist Lisa Echandia as he inserts a stealth navigation pointer into a plastic head model, which combined with a magnetic field emitter, shows the structure of a brain. into,” he said. “So, I can definitely relate it to my career interests. I didn’t think twice about signing up for it.” The day began with a presentation from Foltz, who showed the group a video of a brain surgery he performed just days before. Next, participants, dressed in scrubs and gloves, had the opportunity to work with instruments like the ones Foltz used in his surgery. As Kosobutsky entered the room with all of the tools, he stood in amazement at the technology that surrounded him. From using a drill to remove a bone flap from
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a plastic skull, to dissolving the inner part of an orange with a tool that does the same to tumors, he said he appreciated working with the hightech tools and learning the intricacies of brain surgery. Using the tools was particularly helpful for Kosobutsky, who wants to become a perioperative nurse, also known as a surgeon’s assistant. It will take about six years of schooling, but he said he is determined to make it through, and opportunities like this will only help. “I thought it was a lot of fun getting to play with all of the tools,”
he said. “With my plan to become a perioperative nurse, they basically assist surgeons by using tools and preparing all of the instruments for the surgical room. So, it was great to get some handson experience.” After the hands-on skills session, the participants went on a behindthe-scenes tour of the Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment and its research lab. The event ended with a question-and-answer session with a brain cancer survivor and Foltz. In his presentation, Foltz said brain cancer is highly aggressive and incurable, with a survival
rate of only one or two years. He added that, during surgery, he can effectively remove a brain tumor 85 percent of the time. So, one of the keys to curing the disease, he said, is to prevent reoccurrence of the tumor. The goal of the Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment is to provide brain tumor patients with a multidisciplinary team of doctors whose entire focus is to treat both benign and malignant brain tumors. “We set up this center with the idea that we were going to optimize each patient’s chances of survival,” Foltz said. Kosobutsky said he was thankful for the opportunity to attend the event and knows it will help him as he works toward a medical degree. “It definitely taught me a lot and it will keep me educated about advancements in surgical technology,” he said. “You’ve got to know what’s going on in the world and I feel like Brain Surgeon for a Day definitely gave me a little taste for what’s happening regarding brain cancer.” Almost 100 people entered for a chance to participate in the event. Due to space limitations, 25 people were randomly chosen to attend. Attendees ranged in age from 15 to 74.
Local students make WSU honor roll The following students were named to Washington State University’s president’s honor roll for the 2012 summer semester. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine graded hours in a single term and earn a grade point average of 3.75 or earn a 3.5 cumulative GPA based on 15 cumulative hours of graded work. Newcastle: Michaela Calderon and Paul Williams Renton: Allison Adams, Shelby Lyonais, Nicholas Mead, Georgia Mee, Rodney Pearce, Thor Steingrimsson and Sarah Wilcock
Veronica Austin named National Merit semifinalist Liberty High School student Veronica Austin qualified as a semifinalist in the 58th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Austin is among 16,000 high school seniors across the nation who are in the running for 8,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million. Students began by completing the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than 1 percent of seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.
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Newcastle News
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Annexation From Page 1 cast based on numbers from the council’s June budget retreat. “What I’m urging now is that this city, which is facing a difficult financial future, check out its options,” he said. “This is a proposal in the interest of full disclosure to our citizens to protect the city by checking out its options.” Councilmen Steve Buri and John Dulcich, in particular, were more optimistic about the city’s financial future and said they felt the Bellevue discussion was premature. “I don’t dispute that it’s a good discussion to have. I think it’s a discussion that we would be much better informed on, three to five years from
Pay cut From Page 1 council to make sacrifices as well. “I do believe it’s important to set the message from the top,” he said. “I mean, you can’t ask people that are reporting to you to do something different than you’re willing to do yourself.” Jensen said she voted against the ordinance because she hopes to see more diversity on the council and for some, she argued, the salary might be a factor in whether someone chooses to get involved in local government. “No disrespect to this council, but we don’t have
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now,” Buri said. “We’ve anticipated deficits every year that I’ve been on this council. Every single year, we’ve anticipated deficits. We’ve never anticipated a surplus, and every year we’ve come close to a balanced budget.” Dulcich added that the city of Newcastle can be a city if it wants to be a city, especially if the local government is willing to roll up its sleeves and work, and manage through tough economic times. “One thing I’m sure of, this talk on Bellevue annexation is way premature, it’s a distraction. We’re not in such a situation where we should even be considering this option,” he said. “It’s not time for the city of Newcastle to fold its tent.” Councilwoman Carol Simpson agreed that such discussion was a distraction
when the city should be focused on other matters. “It’s a huge distraction to keep having this discussion keep popping up,” she said. “I would like to put it to bed that we’re not going to discuss it for a while, and we’re going to focus on going forward and making our city a doable city. That we’re going to solve our problems and go forward.” Deputy Mayor Lisa Jensen said she appreciated the discussion, but like Buri, she felt it would be more realistic to explore it at a later time. “The question is about timing,” she said. “While I may not be as far down the road as Councilmember Buri, in the three- to five-year time frame, I still think at least in the six-month to oneyear time frame, it may be more realistic to look more
closely at this question.” Mayor Rich Crispo and Jensen said they both believed that many residents choose to live in Newcastle for a reason. “There is something unique about the city that a person chooses to live in, and a lot of people have chosen to live here because it is Newcastle, and because it is a small city, and because they like running into their councilmembers at Safeway or Bartell’s or Sweet Decadence, and there’s just that community feel,” Jensen said. “I think most of the folks that have moved into this city in the last 15 years had choices to go other places,” Crispo added. “In general, it’s because they like what’s here.” Erxleben said that the Newcastle area could still have that sense of com-
munity if it were to be annexed by Bellevue, as evidenced by the Newport Hills community. “I want to point out Newport Hills,” he said. “It has a community center, it has an annual festival, it has a separate name, it has ball fields, it has a dog park. So they haven’t lost their, quote unquote, community identity.” Erxleben maintained that he was not urging the city to consolidate with Bellevue. Rather, he hoped to further explore whether it was a possibility. Councilman Gordon Bisset agreed with Erxleben and added that, to do the exploration, it would have to start early, so voters could be properly informed of the alternative. “All we are asking for here is that we investigate whether this is another
a lot of diversity, other than in age,” she said. “I think whatever we can do to encourage more involvement, I think it’s better, and it benefits the city, and it gives greater representation.” Simpson agreed with Jensen, saying she doesn’t want a lower salary to deter residents from participating in their government, a key component of a healthy city. “One aspect of whether this city goes forward as a successful city, that I look at, is not so much based on how much money the city has, whether the city budget is going into the red, it’s whether or not there are people who are willing to run the city, to run for City Council, to serve on the boards and
commissions,” she said. Erxleben, who initially said he would vote against the proposition because he felt it didn’t reduce the salaries far enough, said that other cities with salaries lower than Newcastle’s are still able to fill their council chambers with competent individuals. “You know, Mercer Island pays its councilmembers $100 a month and it gets good people to run,” he said. “Take a look at our Planning Commission. We don’t even pay them and we get good people to work hard on our Planning Commission.” Bisset said he approved of the ordinance because it would bring the councilmembers’ $8,400 a year salary more in line with
other comparable cities. “It’s more of an attempt to say we understand,” he said. “We’ve been trying to hold the line on staff salaries, and we’re going to make this fairly small sacrifice, but when you look at the other councils they are more in the $6,000 range.” Dulcich said the measure was more of a “feelgood” proposition, since it won’t affect anyone at the table. He encouraged those voting in favor of the ordinance to take the pay cut immediately to accrue instant savings. “My thought is this, and I hate to do this because it looks bad to vote against it because it’s sort of a feel-good thing, ‘Look what we’re doing,’ but it’s not going to affect anyone sitting at
the table,” he said. “So I will say, I have no problem voting against this and I would encourage the people voting in the affirmative to immediately start taking the reduction. I think that would look really good.” Buri said the timing of the ordinance was important, so as not to make the decision based on politics. “The reason for doing it now is that it’s not political,” he said. “It’s a decision the council can make absent knowing what people’s plans are, what people’s motivations are.” When the decrease takes effect, councilmember salaries will decrease from $8,400 a year to $6,000 a year, while the mayor’s salary will go from $9,600 to $7,200.
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alternative that we can tell the voters about,” Bisset said. Toward the end of the discussion, Erxleben made a motion to appoint an ad hoc committee of three members of the council to begin informal discussions with Bellevue concerning annexation. It was seconded by Bisset, but the motion failed 5-2. Later in the meeting, Erxleben made a motion that the city’s annual town hall meeting include information on the option of annexation by Bellevue. The motion, however, was not seconded.
Ask the
Insurance Agent... Keep a Home Inventory This one goes in the category of those things we are planning to do when we get the time making or updating a home inventory. It may not sound like an exciting activity, but in the event of a calamity such as a fire, burglary, flood or tornado, a current home inventory can save a lot of time, money and frustration in the insurance settlement process. Take this test. Sit down and try to make a detailed list of what’s in each room of your dwelling. It’s amazingly hard to remember all the “stuff” that accumulates wall hangings, curtains, cookware, clothing, sports gear, jewelry, knick-knacks, rugs, clocks, etc. Get the picture? This weekend, go ahead and face the situation. Video or photo each room and list major items on paper. Record brand, model, date and amount of purchase, if possible (serial numbers are important on some items). Also, saving receipts on big-ticket items is always a good idea. For antiques and jewelry, written descriptions or appraisals are important. Don’t forget the closets, and remember, even your attic may be full of valuables. Finally, remember to update your inventory every year or so, and keep it in a safe location away from your dwelling. Taking time to make and update your inventory now, can help you in working with your insurer later and maximizing your recovery should have the need.
State Farm Insurance & Financial Services 425.378.3700 6920 Coal Creek Parkway SE Suite 4 Newcastle www.kevindunkley.com kevin@kevindunkley.com
Community
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Events Newcastle 2012 Fall Recycling Collection Event, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 6, Renton Academy parking lot, 7100 116th Ave. S.E. The community is invited to join Beit Tikvah Messianic Congregation from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 8 at 7935 136th Ave. S.E. Celebrate with worship and Messianic dance. Learn more by calling 793-3000 or emailing office@beittikvah.us. The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon is from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Oct. 10 at Tapatio Mexican Grill, 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. Guest speaker is yet to be determined. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. RSVP by emailing info@ newcastlecc.com. Newcastle Health & Safety Fair is from 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Hazelwood Elementary School commons, 7100 116th Ave. S.E. Join Valley Medical Center, Puget Sound Energy, Chiropractic Wellness Centers and other Newcastle Chamber businesses and nonprofit organizations to educate and support the community safety, health and wellness. The Newcastle Weed Warriors are hosting an Arbor Day tree planting party from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 13 at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way. Learn more at www.newcastleweedwarriors.org.
Public meetings All city public meetings are at City Hall, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200. Call 649-4444. q Economic and Community Development committee — 8-9 a.m. Oct. 9
OCTOBER 5, 2012
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Volunteers needed to help with tree planting event The city of Newcastle will again host its Arbor Day tree planting event, and it is seeking volunteers to help. This year’s event takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 13. The location has not yet been decided, but it will most likely take place somewhere in the May Creek corridor. The city will update its website at www. ci.newcastle.wa.us when a location is chosen. At last year’s event, the city sought volunteers to plant 250 trees along the East May Creek Trail. The city celebrates Arbor Day now due to better planting conditions. Contributed
Volunteers help plant a tree at last year’s Arbor Day tree planting event along the East May Creek Trail.
q Parks Commission — 6-8 p.m. Oct. 10 q City Council regular meeting — 7-10 p.m. Oct. 16 q Planning Commission — 7-9 p.m. Oct. 17 q City Council meeting — 7-10 p.m. Oct. 2 The Newcastle Trails board meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Regency Newcastle, 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Road. Learn more at www.newcastletrails.org. The Weed Warriors annual planning meeting for 2013 is from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Fire Station No. 9 meeting room, 12412 S.E. 69th Way. Learn more at www.newcastleweedwarriors.org.
YMCA The Coal Creek Family YMCA, 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road, has regular family programs for all ages. Get a complete schedule by calling 2821500 or go to www.seattleymca. org/Locations/CoalCreek/Pages/ Home.aspx. q “Spooky Science,” for ages 3-11, 6-10 p.m. Oct. 6, $30 for members, $35 for nonmembers q “Planning for a Confident Retirement,” for adults, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 q Trick or Treat family dinner, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 12, $5 per adult, $3 per child
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q “Invest in Your Child’s Future Without Sacrifice,” for adults, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 q “Fun with Food 2,” 5:306:15 p.m. Oct. 17, $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers q “Healthy Body Image: Teaching Kids to Eat and Love Their Bodies,” 4-5 p.m.
Thursdays, Oct. 18 through Jan. 3, $75 q Rookies Basketball League, for ages 3-4, 9-11 a.m. Nov. 3 through Dec. 15, $42 for members, $73.50 for nonmembers See CALENDAR, Page 13
Newcastle News
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Calendar From Page 12 q Rookies Basketball League, for ages 5-6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 3 through Dec. 15, $42 for members, $73.50 for nonmembers q Bowling Event — Westerners, 3-5 p.m. Nov. 4, $13
Library events The Friends of the Newcastle Library meets from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Newport Way Library. The Newport Way Library is at 14250 S.E. Newport Way, Bellevue. The following programs are offered the rest of the month: q Fall Festival Children’s Story Times, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 6 q Star Wars Reads Day, 1 p.m. Oct. 6, get a photo with a Star Wars character and then watch a special showing of “Clone Wars” q Fire Prevention Week Story Time, for ages 3-5 with an adult, 1 p.m. Oct. 9 q “Finding the Right Colleges For You,” for teens and adults, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 q Newport Way Book Group, for adults, discusses “Sarah’s Key,” by Tatiana de Rosnay, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 q “College Admissions 101,” for teens and adults, 7 p.m. Oct. 17 q Korean Story Time at Kidsquest, for ages 3-5, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 q Drop in to learn about eBooks, for adults, 7 p.m. Oct. 18 and 25 q “Write to Win: Writing College Entrance Essays That Work,” for teens and adults, 7 p.m. Oct. 24 q Computer class: “Email Level 1,” for adults, 7 p.m. Oct. 31 q Study Hall, for teens, children and families, 2 p.m. Wednesdays and 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays q Study Zone, for teens, children and families, 3 p.m. Thursdays
Clubs East Shore Singles, a social group for single adults older than 45, sponsors monthly activities and special events on the Eastside. New members are welcome. Call 433-0558 for a monthly bulletin go to www.eastshoresingles. org or www.meetup.com/ eastshore-singles. 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 nonprofit, 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 226-4238. 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
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PAGE 13 Club, meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday September through May at the Newport Way Library, 14250 S.E. Newport Way. Call 747-2953.
Angel Care Breast Cancer Foundationtrained survivors offer free emotional support to the newly diagnosed, enhancing emotional recovery while going through treatments. Go to www.angelcarefoundation. org.
Program needs volunteers for intergenerational opportunities, including rocking and comforting infants, teaching children to play bridge and reading to kindergartners. Call 282-1506. 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.
Volunteers
Places to go
Newcastle Weed Warriors: Volunteers are needed to staff the information booth at Newcastle Days at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way. Learn more at www.newcastleweedwarriors.org. The Coal Creek Family YMCA Seniors
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, on Lakemont Boulevard Southeast, 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.
Health
Schools
PAGE 14
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Learning life lessons through student mentor program By Christina Corrales-Toy Newcastle resident Larry Betsch spends one hour a week, every week, being a kid again. Sometimes he reads a book, other days he plays basketball. But it’s safe to say, whatever it is, it’s usually the highlight of his week. Betsch does not do it alone, though. He does it with his mentee, a student at Dimmitt Middle School in the Renton School District. It’s all a part of the Communities in Schools of Renton Mentor Program. The program pairs adult mentors
from the community with Renton School District students in grades three through 12 who may need a little more attention, for whatever reason. “Our primary goal is to keep these kids in school by providing them with a mentor,” said Mara Fiksdal, the program’s manager. “The cool thing about Communities in Schools of Renton is that our whole purpose for being is to surround the child with a community of support to help get them through school.” Betsch, who has been with the same mentee for the past five years, said he sees the program as a chance for students to
What to know To become a mentor, contact Mara Fiksdal at 430-6659 or mfiksdal@rentonwa.gov. get some one-on-one time. “It’s really an opportunity to afford a student, irrespective of their age, an hour a week during the school year to get someone’s undivided attention,” he said. The program pairs the mentors and mentees based on similar interests. So, naturally, Betsch, a big sports fan, was
placed with an active boy when he began with the program five years ago. When the two meet, they’ll often do active things, such as play basketball or throw a football around. The two talk about everyday things as well. Whether it is homework, life or current events, not a meeting goes by that Betsch isn’t fulfilled by the experience. “Rarely is there a meeting that goes by where I don’t say, ‘How about that? I learned something,’” he said. “I not only learn something about my mentee but I learn something about life.”
Fiksdal said students in the program tend to show positive improvements in their schooling. “We survey our kids every year and I would say 99 percent of the students, parents and teachers love it and really see a lot of growth in the students,” she said. “They see a lot of, you know, students who were not engaged in school, becoming engaged in school, or students who had trouble with attendance and suspension, coming to school and not getting suspended.” Betsch said he believes his mentee has benefitted from the See MENTOR, Page 15
Hazelwood community garden beginning to show signs of life By Christina Corrales-Toy
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Ethan Likes (center) poses with members of the Liberty Lacrosse Club after the group donated $100 to his effort to buy lacrosse equipment for Newcastle Elementary School at Newcastle Days on Sept. 8.
Newcastle boy brings lacrosse to Newcastle Elementary By Christina Corrales-Toy When 10-year-old Ethan Likes turned to his mother Maggie Likes and told her he wanted to raise $1,000 to buy lacrosse equipment for his school, Newcastle Elementary, she was shocked. “I said, ‘You want to do what?’ So we had to make a plan and he did it. I’m super proud of him,” she said. Ethan has only played lacrosse for about a year, but he’s already in love
with the sport. “The reason I like lacrosse so much is because it’s like all of my favorite sports combined in one,” he said. “It’s a really fun activity to do, and I think being able to just run up and down the field and throw the ball is cool.” When he returned from a lacrosse camp or a tournament, he would try to share the experience with his classmates, but often, they were unfamiliar with the sport. “I would tell them
about my lacrosse game, but they wouldn’t know what I was talking about,” he said. “For a lot of my friends, they don’t know what lacrosse is about, so they don’t think of it as much as they do football.” So, Ethan spent the entire summer raising money to bring lacrosse to his school and share his favorite sport with his classmates. “For anybody at my school that wants to try See LACROSSE, Page 15
When Hazelwood Elementary School teacher Kate Ingalls reflects upon her childhood, one of the many things that stands out is her work in the family garden. “I grew up digging in the dirt and growing things,” she said. “My dad always let me have a corner of the garden to do whatever I wanted to do.” Now, the second-grade teacher wants to bring that outdoor experience to the school’s students by establishing a Hazelwood community garden filled with trees, plants and vegetables. Ingalls said she wanted to see some sort of garden on the grounds since she started at the school eight years ago, but because of family commitments, it wasn’t until this past year that she really had the time to devote herself to the project. On Sept. 15, parents from the Hazelwood PTSA, students and community volunteers gathered at the school to begin phase one of the garden project. Volunteers came in their best gardening gear, armed with tools and gloves to do the job. Workers spent the morning spreading wood chips donated by the Davey Tree Expert Co. and constructing garden boxes, which will eventually be filled with soil and plants, Ingalls said. She said she envisions
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Peter O’Donoghue shows his daughter Micaela, a kindergartner at Hazelwood Elementary School, how to maneuver a wrench as they construct garden boxes for the school’s community garden Sept. 15. the garden will be the ultimate educational tool, incorporating curriculum from the Renton School District. “I wanted to extend the learning for the kids at Hazelwood,” she said. “Some kids really need that experience to be outdoors, and to take what they are learning inside and connect it to something in the real world. I think it is really important.” Ingalls studied the sci-
ence units at each grade level and found relevant connections to the garden for each one. When second-graders begin their unit on air and weather, Ingalls said she plans to use the garden, which will have a rain gauge and a thermometer, as a teaching tool. “We’ll measure rainfall and temperature and explore how they affect the See GARDEN, Page 15
Newcastle News
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Lacrosse From Page 14 lacrosse, I think they will really like it,” he said. Ethan traveled around his Newcastle neighborhood and offered to do various jobs to raise the funds. He pulled weeds, spread mulch, planted flowers and even picked up dog poop. But it was all worth it, except for maybe the dog poop, he said, because the money would help bring exposure to the sport of lacrosse. Ethan ended up raising more than $1,000, which should provide plenty of equipment for Newcastle Elementary students, his mother said. They even added $60 to the fund when Newcastle Days emcee Lance Lambert unexpectedly led Ethan into the crowd to solicit donations at the Sept. 8 event. Maggie said her son has received a lot of community support, especially from Brian Rinckenberger, of the Liberty Lacrosse Club, who presented Ethan with a check for a $100 from the club at Newcastle Days. “Brian got really excited and he actually had some
Mentor From Page 14 program, but he refuses to take all of the credit. Most of it, he said, should go to his mentee’s parents. “I’m not the ultimate mentor, his parents are,” he said. “By no means am I suggesting that I am anything but a very small part, an hour a week during the school year, of anything that he is accomplishing. That’s his parents. I’m just there as somebody else that is supporting them.” When Betsch talks about watching his mentee grow up and advance through school, he gets emotional. Betsch wants to be there to see his mentee graduate from high school and move on. It’s a commitment that he is truly passionate about. “It’s the smallest investment I have ever made with the largest return that I will ever have,” he said. “To see him and to watch him grow and know that each week I get to see him for an hour, I get
contact at Dick’s Sporting Goods, so he actually got a gift card from there to help Ethan buy some equipment,” she said. Rinckenberger is also passionate about the sport and is leading the effort to put together a youth team through the Liberty Lacrosse Club. The youth league will allow future Liberty High School lacrosse players to play together under that Liberty banner throughout elementary and middle school. In the past, youth players who were expected to attend Liberty High School would have to play with Issaquah Youth Lacrosse. Generally, the youth programs were organized under the banner of the high school team. “These kids will play together all the way up through Liberty High School, so it’s about establishing that continuity and not playing in one team’s colors in middle school and then going on and playing for a different high school team when you get to the high school,” Rinckenberger said. Rinckenberger said he expects to launch the program in spring, so his current focus, much like Ethan’s, is to generate excitement and awareness of the sport among local
youths. “Ethan’s story is almost a serendipitous moment where we decided this is the year to jump out on our own and try to promote a youth program for Liberty in this part of the Eastside, and at the same time, here’s a kid who wants to passionately introduce his classmates and his peers to the game,” he said. The expectation is that the Liberty Lacrosse Club will field two teams for its youth division. One team will be for fifth- and sixth-graders while the other team will be made up of seventh- and eighthgraders. “Most kids that play lacrosse love it and come back year after year,” Rinckenberger said. “So, it’s really a full-court press right now in terms of our effort to introduce the sport to kids out here in Newcastle.” Lacrosse is an investment-heavy sport, but Rinckenberger said he is committed to making sure that is not an obstacle for kids who want to play for the youth team. “There’s a lot of gear that needs to be purchased along with the registration fees that go along with any sort of youth sport, and our goal is to not turn any interested ath-
to hear about his life and how he’s doing in school, that’s the return.” It’s the impact of that return that often takes mentors by surprise, Fiksdal said. “That’s probably, I think, the neatest part about the program, is how much the mentors actually change and how much mentors get out of it,” she said. “I think they are always surprised about that. You know, they think they’re going in and they’re going to help this kid in need and what ends up happening is that the mentors gain so much insight.” The program currently has more than 100 mentors. They are all volunteers from the community who commit just an hour of their time each week to make an impact in a child’s life, Fiksdal said. Mentors must go through a thorough application process, including a background check, before they are paired with students. Fiksdal is currently seeking volunteers, especially in the Newcastle area, to become mentors. “I think Newcastle,
because of its proximity to Renton, is a great place for people to get involved,” she said. Betsch said he will do whatever he can to champion the program that has had such a meaningful impact on his life. “Participating in a young person’s life, just listening, is not hard,” he
What to know Learn more about the Liberty Lacrosse Club and its new youth division at www.libertylacrosseclub.com. letes away,” he said. “So, whether that means making scholarships available for signup fees or making renter or loaner gear available, we want them on the field.” Rinckenberger knows that there will be at least one player on the field once the youth teams begin practices — Ethan Likes. “I’m very confident that he will be a part of our club next season and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do on the field,” he said. Maggie said she expected to purchase the equipment by early October. They are already coordinating with the school’s physical education teacher. Through it all, Ethan has made Maggie one proud mother, as she watched him put in the time and effort for something he is passionate about. “This was all him,” she said. “This was his idea and he did all of the work. We’re just really proud of him.” said. “You will never be sorry for doing it, you just won’t. It’s a no-lose situation. I’ll just keep selling it every chance that I get.”
PAGE 15
Garden From Page 14 growing of the garden,” she said. “We can explore what season is best and how much light plants need. So, I can see us conducting experiments where we have some plants in the light and then cover some up. “ As first-graders tackle their unit on new plants, Ingalls suggested that teachers use the garden to further explore the subject. “They can come out in the garden, they can plant seeds, they can plant new plants from stems, they can plant new plants from bulbs and tubers — there are all sorts of extensions that they can do,” she said. Whatever it is, Ingalls stressed that every student in the school can benefit from the garden. Rosalind Vazquez, the Hazelwood PTSA president, said the group wants to support the community garden project in any way that they can.
“This year, we made sure to add the garden as one of our committees so that we could really rally around it, and then as we raise money in the community with our fundraisers, then we can help with budgets and plan and schedule to get the materials and things,” she said. Vazquez, who along with her children, dedicated a Saturday morning to assist with the project, said she is excited about the potential for new educational opportunities with the garden. “The whole school is going to benefit,” she said. “It will enable the kids to really have some hands-on experience understanding where their food comes from, and just the whole cycle of growing, in a real practical sense.” Volunteers will continue working on the garden in the coming weeks, and Ingalls said she is grateful for the support. “I mean, these people showed up on a Saturday morning at 9,” she said. “So, it’s really coming together.”
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Sports
PAGE 16
OCTOBER 5, 2012
Injuries plague the Patriots after stumbling out of the gate By Christina Corrales-Toy After a rocky 2-3 start to the season, Liberty High School coach Steve Valach said his team needs to focus on taking care of the football and staying healthy, with just four games left in the regular season. The Patriots opened their season with a 41-14 loss to a talented Eastside Catholic team. “Eastside Catholic was a good football team,” Valach said. “From what I saw, their team is going to make a playoff run.” Liberty won their next two games, defeating Hazen, 25-22, and Interlake, 14-7. Receiver Tynan Gilmore was the standout of the Sept. 7 contest against Hazen, when he scored three touchdowns and led the defense with seven solo tackles. “He’s such a dynamic player,” Valach said. “He’s a smart football player. He’s one of those guys that you don’t really know how fast he is, but he just makes people miss. He caught the ball well and he had some great tackles.” The game against Interlake was a team win, Valach said, with solid contributions from everyone. The Patriots then fell to the Juanita Rebels on Sept. 21 after a close game, with a final score
“We’re a very thin squad in terms of numbers, which in the sport of football is tough, because guys start going down and all of the sudden, you just don’t have a lot of depth. So, that’s made it challenging.” — Steve Valach Liberty High School football coach
of 21-28. At halftime, the score was tied at 14, but Liberty took a hit when three key starters — including quarterback Robbie Thomas — were knocked out of the game with injuries. The injuries continued to pile up through the week, as the shorthanded Liberty squad lost to Lake Washington, 38-7, on Sept. 28. Key Liberty starters, including Thomas, linebackers Alex Batali and Matt Maggard and cornerback Ashby Brown, were among those sidelined by injuries. “We’re a very thin squad in terms of numbers, which in the sport of football is tough, because guys start going down and all of the sudden, you just don’t have a lot of depth,” Valach said. “So, that’s made it
challenging.” To date, Valach said he has been impressed with the play of Gilmore, defensive lineman Max Hill and Scott Dean, a linebacker and receiver. Hill has been a disruptive force for the Liberty defense. During the Interlake game, Hill led the team with four solo tackles, four assists and a quarterback sack. Dean has also been steady, with solid play on both sides of the ball. Coming into the season, Valach stressed the importance of fundamentals for his young Patriots squad, in particular, taking care of the football. Yet, turnovers continue to be an issue for Liberty and have been important factors in each of the team’s losses, Valach said. Now, the team will focus on staying healthy, taking care of the football and just enjoying the sport, as the season continues, Valach said. “It’s a fun group to coach and you couldn’t ask for anything more in terms of that,” Valach said. “They are giving what they’ve got and getting banged up. Guys are heartbroken that they’re getting injured. It’s a physical sport, and sometimes you have years like this and it’s our turn.”
By Scott Coburn
Robbie Thomas, Liberty High School senior quarterback, drops back to pass during Liberty’s 25-22 victory over Hazen High School on Sept. 7.
Highlanders at a ‘crossroads’ after disappointing start By Christina Corrales-Toy After a strong 2011 season, expectations were high for the Hazen High School football team, which is why the team’s 2-3 start is a bit frustrating for Hazen coach Drew Oliver. “We’re kind of at a crossroads here in the season and we’ll see how we respond in the second half,” he said. In its season opener, Hazen had a come-from-behind victory, defeating Franklin Pierce, 37-28, behind a strong performance from running back Mason Jacobs, who scored three touchdowns. Hazen started out slow for the second straight week, but picked it up in the fourth quarter, when they took on Liberty. This time, it wasn’t enough to overcome the slow start and the Highlanders lost, 25-22. Oliver said he was happy with Hazen’s effort, but added that
his team was disappointed by the close loss. “I’m very proud of my team as far as effort is concerned,” he said. “I’m not happy on the
scoreboard and the team isn’t either. I told those guys that we are past moral victories in our program, and three years ago that would have been a moral
By Scott Coburn
Kyle Nelson, Hazen High School senior wide receiver, runs for a 64-yard touchdown Sept. 21 during the fourth quarter against Lindbergh.
victory for us.” But on Sept. 14, the Highlanders bounced back with a 50-21 victory against Highline in its Seamount Conference opener. Running back Marquise Lee rushed for more than 200 yards and two touchdowns as the Highlanders cruised to a victory. Lindbergh spoiled Hazen’s Homecoming game on Sept. 21, when the Eagles squeaked out a 10-9 victory. Hazen didn’t score until the fourth quarter, after a Sam Bunnell field goal and 64-yard receiving touchdown by Kyle Nelson. Finally, on Sept. 27, Hazen lost to Kennedy Catholic, 35-0. “We held it close for the first half, and we were battling, but then it feels like we physically got kind of worn down in the second half and just didn’t really perform very well,” he said. Oliver said his team is better
“I’m very proud of my team as far as effort is concerned. I’m not happy on the scoreboard and the team isn’t either. I told those guys that we are past moral victories in our program, and three years ago that would have been a moral victory for us.” — Drew Oliver Hazen High School football coach than what they’ve shown in the first five weeks of the season, and the goal is to turn that around. “I’ve certainly seen the team much more capable than we’re showing right now,” he said. “I know we have a team that is See FOOTBALL, Page 20
Newcastle News
OCTOBER 5, 2012
PAGE 17
By Scott Coburn
And they’re off Members of the Hazen High School cross country team begin a race at the Seamount League Class Meet on Sept. 6. The meet, which includes all members of the Seamount League, includes both boys and girls; participants compete with runners at the same grade level.
By Keith Miya
Runners take off as the Newcastle 5K Run/Walk begins at Lake Boren Park on Sept. 9.
Local runners place in top three at Newcastle 5K Run/Walk Sept. 9 The 2012 Newcastle 5K Run/Walk event took place the morning of Sept. 9. The overall winner was Eric Miya, of Renton, who was first across the finish line with a time of 17
minutes, 12 seconds. The top three finishers for men were Miya; Glen Weissman, of Bellevue, with a time of 17:14; and Corey Stephenson, of Newcastle, coming in third with a time of 18:36.
The top three finishers for women were Shelly Hack, of Redmond, with a time of 20:14; Vanessa Marriott, of Newcastle, with a time of 24:50; and Erin Marckel, of Issaquah, with a time of 24:53.
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OCTOBER 5, 2012
Hazen swimmers top Liberty By Christina Corrales-Toy After 12 events at the Sept. 13 dual swim meet between the Liberty High School Patriots and the Hazen Highlanders, it was only 13 points that ultimately separated the winning team from the losing team. The Highlanders beat the Patriots by a score of 99-86. “It was a good meet
with Hazen,” Liberty coach Kris Daughters said. “I think we’re pretty close in terms of our depth and talent. They got us by about 12 points, but that’s not very much for a swim meet.” Hazen coach Rick Wertman said that the meet between the two schools is always competitive, especially since many of the swimmers are familiar with each other from
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“It’s a natural rivalry because we’re in close proximity, but the kids know each other from club and summer league, so it’s always a fun meet. — Rick Wertman Hazen swimming coach competitions outside of school. “It’s a natural rivalry because we’re in close proximity, but the kids know each other from club and summer league, so it’s always a fun meet. And Kris is an excellent coach, so it’s fun to put our teams together and see what happens,” he said. Wertman said he was happy with his team’s meet and he highlighted the performances of Talisa Wibmer, Amy LeBar and Kourtney Brunings. Wibmer, a junior, took
By Greg Farrar
Talisa Wibmer, Hazen High School junior, cuts through the water Sept. 13 to win the 100meter freestyle against Liberty with a time of 57.13 seconds. first in the 100 backstroke with a state-qualifying time of 1 minute, 2.20 seconds. She also captured first in the 100 freestyle. Brunings, a sophomore, won the 100 breaststroke and LeBar, a senior, won the 50 freestyle. All
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three swimmers, along with freshman Clarissa Mitchell, were on the 200 medley relay team that captured first with a statequalifying time of 1:57.91. Daughters said she was encouraged by Liberty’s performance and, in particular, the swims of Mackenna Briggs and Ellie Hohensinner. Briggs, a sophomore who won the state 100 backstroke title last year, won the 200 individual medley in 2:12.76 and the 500 freestyle in 5:27.69. Hohensinner, a freshman, captured the 100 butterfly. The two swimmers, along
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with freshman Lauryn Hepp and sophomore Cecilia Nelson, took first place in the 400 freestyle relay. It was a good initial test for the young, inexperienced Hazen squad, Wertman said. “Well, we’re excited about our group,” he said. “It’s a little smaller than last year, but the influx in new kids and the growth they’ve had in just three weeks is just tremendous. Almost two-thirds of our kids have never been in a swim meet, so it’s exciting to see the potential we See SWIMMING, Page 19
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OCTOBER 5, 2012
PAGE 19
New management takes over East Highlands Fitness East Highlands Fitness, a 6,000-square-foot gym that has served area residents since 2004, is under new management. The gym provides a multitude of exercise machines, personal training and a kid’s room where children are entertained while their parents work out.
By Greg Farrar
Ellie Hohensinner, Liberty High School freshman, races to her victory in the 100-meter fly Sept. 13 against Hazen in a time of 1 minute, 6.02 seconds.
Swimming From Page 18
have.” For Hazen, the goal is to build on last year’s successful season when the squad captured the Seamount League title and won their district. “We had a real good season last year and initially I thought, if we can come close to equaling that, I’d be happy, but now I think we can build on that,” Wertman said. “This meet showed me that.” Daughters said that Liberty’s goal is to get as many swimmers as possible to qualify for the KingCo championships. “That’s always a goal for me, because if they can make those times, they’re a good, solid high school swimmer,” she said.
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Daughters said the Patriots won’t win many dual meets, as the 2A school competes against several KingCo 4A schools with a lot more depth. But as long as her swimmers continually improve, that’s all that matters, she said. “We’re a good middlelevel team, but it’s not going to look like it in our
meet record this year,” she said. “Fortunately, in swimming, I don’t think people judge us too much on our team score. I have families and kids who don’t even ask what the team score was. It’s more on individual improvement and post season qualifying times, so that’s the focus.”
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The new owners plan to start offering group exercise programs and nutrition services to gym members. The new owners, Denise Martin-Peterson and her husband Steve Peterson, hope to bring an influx of energy to the gym and maintain its comfortable atmosphere.
“It’s a really nice mix of people and a very community-oriented place,” Martin-Peterson said. “People know each other, they talk to each other. We keep the music down so people don’t have to scream above it. It’s a very friendly atmosphere.” The gym is at 16410 S.E. 128th St. in Renton.
Newcastle News
PAGE 20
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Football From Page 16 capable of hanging with most anybody out there, but we just haven’t really shown that yet. So, our challenge is trying to bring that out.” One thing the team must focus on is playing a complete game and not putting themselves in a hole by slow starts, Oliver said. “Our focus will be on putting a four-quarter football game together,” he said. “We want to continue to finish strong, but we want to start strong as well.” Most of all, the team needs to shake off the tough start, Oliver said. “We need to remember that we enjoy football, and sometimes I think we lose sight of that and I know I do as a coach, too,” he said. “We need to keep them focused on the fact that we are all out there to have some fun, and I think our team plays better when they are loose like that.”
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