Students celebrate the season at Harvest Festivals Page 18
School mourns death of longtime announcer Page 20
Improper installation causes parkway concerns
November 2, 2012 VOL. 14, NO. 11
Protection granted
City OKs project to proof against flooding. Page 2
Police blotter Pat Detmer
Page 11 Page 13
Phase one shows indications of ‘premature failure’ By Christina Corrales-Toy
Acting debut
Local teen stars in ‘All I want is Christmas.’ Page 14
Life-changing trip
Teen’s outlook changes after trip to Senegal. Page 15
Home at sea
Liberty grad adjusts to life in U.S. Navy. Page 17
You should know A bear was sighted rummaging through trash cans on Southeast 75th Street in early October. If you see a bear and are not experiencing an emergency, call the Department of Fish and Wildlife at 775-1311 or 649-4370 to report it.
Contact us: newcastle@isspress.com 392-6434, ext. 239
50 ¢
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Baine and Diana Moshe hold their children, (from left) Baine and Shalom, who are clutching the teddy bears they received from Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine.
HEROES IN ACTION
Newcastle police, Bellevue fire departments help man in medical emergency By Christina Corrales-Toy On the surface, it looked horrible. A driver, sitting in his car, with two young children in the back seat, about to go the wrong direction toward oncoming traffic on Coal Creek Parkway as he turned out of the Safeway parking lot the afternoon of Sept. 26. Thankfully, a Good Samaritan parked his large truck in front of the car, stopping the driver and avoiding
any damage. Newcastle Police Department officer Mark Sigurdson was dispatched to the scene, responding to a possible drunken driver, but he found that it was not quite what it seemed. “I approached the car and talked to him,” Sigurdson said. “No odor of alcohol, clear eyes, but he was definitely not doing well.” Baine Moshe was not doing well. Moshe, who has been a diabetic since 1995, had a gravely low blood sugar level
of 37. It had reached a point where he was not cognizant of his surroundings. He lives next to Bellevue College, but he had no idea how he ended up in Newcastle. It was not a case of drug abuse or alcoholism; it was a medical emergency, Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine said. Sigurdson and Irvine called for an aid unit and members of the Bellevue Fire Department See HEROES, Page 6
Discussion begins on 2013 budget By Christina Corrales-Toy City Manager Rob Wyman and Finance Director Christine Olson presented a balanced, and mostly status quo, 2013 preliminary budget to the Newcastle City Council at its Oct. 16 meeting. The budget preserves core services, improves public safety
and, per council policy, was presented as balanced without suggested new revenue sources and no property tax increase, Wyman said. The preliminary budget includes a proposal to improve public safety by adding a 50-50 shared detective to the See BUDGET, Page 6
If you go The council will hold a second public hearing on the budget at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at City Hall in the Newcastle Professional Center, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200.
A portion of Coal Creek Parkway between Newcastle Way and Southeast 84th Way is showing signs of “premature failure,” with indications of longitudinal cracking, according to Bryan Hawkins, an engineer with HWA GeoSciences Inc. The city of Newcastle contracted with the company to study pavement conditions on phase one of Coal Creek Parkway. The report states that there was likely no tack coat applied between the upper and lower lifts of pavement that were installed in 2002 and 2003. The lack of a bond between the two lifts is not ideal because it creates air pockets, Public Works Director Mark Rigos said. “Air pockets are bad in pavement because it can result in water infiltrating through the pavement in the cracks, and then when you have freeze-thaw conditions, it can expand the pavement and rupture it and cause cracking, and that’s a problem,” he said. But the absence of a tack coat was not the only reason the road may be deteriorating faster than anticipated, Rigos said. Heavy truck traffic from the construction of phases two and three of Coal Creek Parkway, increased development in the Renton Highlands and heavy snow-plow usage may have contributed as well. A road that gets as much traffic as Coal Creek Parkway is expected to last about 20 years, Rigos said, but some sort of reconstruction will need to be done before 2015. See PARKWAY, Page 6
Newcastle News
PAGE 2
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
City Council approves project to protect homes from flooding on 118th Avenue The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce is Proud to Announce
Diamond Award Finalists 2012 Business Lake Boren Townhomes The Golf Club at Newcastle
Citizenship Lee Strom Stacey Hurwitz
Community Leadership Angela Wingate David Harris
Customer Service Classic Dry Cleaners Lucie Pezzner
Education Donald Maher Jon Fortescue
Employee Jeff Calderwood Jenna Boerboom
Other Nominees this year included: Carol Simpson Chiropractic Wellness Center
Mary Lu Sansburn, Heather Ohm & the Y’s Senior Community Group Peggy Price
Coal Creek Family YMCA
Peter Zevenbergen
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Emma Ledbetter
Rich Crispo
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Rob Wyman
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Steve Fortescue
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By Christina Corrales-Toy The Newcastle City Council has approved a project that will help protect properties from flooding in the 8600 block of 118th Avenue Southeast. The project, which calls for the installation of three catch basins and 325 feet of stormwater drainage pipe, will benefit four properties on the street and cost the city an estimated $52,000 to complete. Resident Tim Thomson, whose home will benefit from the project, said his property has fallen victim to flooding in the past due to stormwater runoff from steady rains. Public Works Director Mark Rigos brought the project before the council and advised them to approve the fix, which it did at its Sept. 18 meeting. He said the street was constructed decades ago, well before the city of Newcastle even existed, when contractors were not required to install catch basins or construct a proper drainage system for stormwater runoff.
The system will bring some relief to the homeowners, who are susceptible to flooding because of rain that flows off of the road and neighboring roofs. “Not only is this public road generating stormwater when it rains because of the impervious surface, there’s also stormwater that sheetflows from adjacent private properties onto 118th Avenue Southeast that contributes to the flooding,” Rigos said. Thomson said he was happy with the city’s decision to approve the project, but he and many of his neighbors would still like to see improvements made to the street. “I’m pleased with their decision at this point,” he said. “You know we still have a lot of work to do on our street, but it’s a good start.” The street is narrow, Rigos said, with a width of only 12 to 15 feet in some places. It also does not have sidewalks. “I’d like to see a widened road out there with curb, gutter and sidewalk on one side,” he said. “The
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preliminary cost for doing that from 84th Street to 88th Street is going to cost more than half a million dollars. There’s no getting around it. So, that’s kind of where that project is right now — it’s still in the design phase until the city has the money to do it.” But before significant improvements are made to the street, and there is no telling when that will be, given the price and scope of the project, Rigos said the city would like to work with the Coal Creek Utility District to extend a sewer system in the neighborhood. About 45 homes are currently hooked up to onsite septic systems. “The city would like to see public sewer extended into that neighborhood so that those septic drain fields can be decommissioned and the property owners would connect into public sewer,” he said. “That would be the city’s hope, so that we have less of a concern of water quality in that neighborhood.” In addition, Rigos said he would like to see the sewer system figured out before major construction is done on the street. “I just don’t want to construct a brand new road, curb, gutter and sidewalk, and then have to rip it up to put in sewer manholes, because we currently don’t know where those sewer manholes are going to be,” he said. “So, why don’t we plan for sewers first, start constructing the sewer system and then, down the road, when we know exactly where the utilities are going to be, then we would build the road, budget permitting.”
Shel Neufeld, a resident on the street, said he was frustrated by the lack of work the city has put into the road. He said there has been a project to improve the road listed on the city’s budget in the past, but as time went on, the council had to move the project out to later years because of budget constraints. “It seems like our portion of the city has always been neglected,” he said. At the Sept. 18 meeting, Councilman Steve Buri approved of the $52,000 fix, but acknowledged that there is more work to be done on the road. “It’s not a full solution, obviously. It’s a partial solution that is long overdue and we may have to, over time, do this in a more piecemeal fashion, just owing to our budgetary challenges,” he said. “I think it’s a good fix.” Councilman Bill Erxleben reluctantly supported the project. He said he feared that by taking on the project, the city would set a harmful precedent in fixing all stormwater problems no matter the source, at a time when the city doesn’t have the funds to do it. “There’s a saying in law that hard cases make bad law, and this is a hard case, and I think it may make bad policy on stormwater and city’s responsibility, willingness or whatever to do something about it,” he said. At the end of October, Rigos said the project was currently being designed, and depending on weather conditions, the city would like to have the project installed within the next three or four months.
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PAGE 3
EFR battles forest fire near The Golf Club at Newcastle By Christina Corrales-Toy Firefighters from Eastside Fire & Rescue, the Bellevue and Duvall fire departments and the Forest Service responded to a forest fire near The Golf Club at Newcastle at 6 p.m. Oct. 2. The fire was spotted by a pilot who relayed the information to an air traffic controller at the Renton Airport, said Lt. Troy Donlin, Bellevue Fire Department spokesman. Initially, firefighters were not exactly sure where the fire was, but the approximate location of the response was the corner of 154th Avenue Southeast
and Southeast 83rd Court, according to Capt. Todd Dickerboom, of the Bellevue Fire Department. Two women then alerted the firefighters to the blaze about a quarter-mile into the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park near Marshall’s Hill Trail, Dickerboom said. The size of the fire was approximately 1.5 acres, Donlin said. After about two hours, the fire was under control and crews had formed a perimeter around the fire’s remnants. “When we consider it under control, we’re not seeing big flames, it’s been
knocked out, we’ve sprayed water everywhere and we don’t see anything, but there’s still smoldering going on,” Dickerboom said. Crews used about 2,600 feet of hose to reach the fire, he said. At the blaze’s height, 40 firefighters were battling the fire, Bellevue Battalion Chief Marty LaFave said. Firefighters remained on the scene overnight and into the morning, when it was safer to put out any lingering hot spots. There was no immediate word on cause of the fire, but no one was injured and no homes were harmed by the blaze.
Newcastle residents work to save ‘Bambi’ Newcastle resident Ana Martinez Hueto flew into action when she noticed a deer in her backyard had some sort of wire around its neck Oct. 21. She called the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Natural Resources, the city of Newcastle, local television stations — anyone who might be able to help the poor animal. It took her a while to get a response, Hueto said, but now it appears everyone knows about Bambi, her nickname for the young deer who visits her home in the 14000 block of Southeast 83rd Street. The deer doesn’t appear to be in any immediate
Courtesy of the Issaquah History Museums, 93-32-1-19
A territorial view of Coal Creek homes is pictured in a photo dated circa 1900. In the book, ‘The Past at Present,’ Edwards Fish writes, ‘This appears to be the town of Coal Creek, neighbor to Newcastle and site of several mines on the same big seams. Piles of newly cut mine timbers at left and smoke from house chimneys indicate that business was active. The road which crosses the trestle and winds away along the hill has now been filled and paved, but is still the main route around the west side of Cougar Mountain to Newcastle.’
More than 100 attend town hall
By Ana Martinez Hueto
A young deer with wire around its neck visits a backyard in the 14000 block of Southeast 83rd Street. danger, since he’s able to get around easily, but it could turn into something worse, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sgt. Kim Chandler said. Chandler said the most
pressing issue is determining Bambi’s location. If neighbors see the deer, they are encouraged to call the Department of Fish and Wildlife at 7751311.
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About 115 residents armed with electronic voting clickers responded to real-time poll questions at the annual town hall meeting held Oct. 29 at The Golf Club at Newcastle. City Manager Rob Wyman presented information about the 2013 preliminary budget and development in the city, then Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine offered information on community safety and crime prevention.
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The evening ended with a question-andanswer session, where topics discussed included annexation to Bellevue, how the City Council prioritizes the city’s capital projects and the development of the Mutual Materials site. The meeting was well attended, with nearly every seat full. In fact, the city ran out of clickers to hand out to residents. Find out more about the meeting and see results from the poll questions at www.newcastle-news.com.
Daniel Brown, a Newcastle resident, earned his undergraduate degree from Western Washington University for the summer 2012 quarter. Brown received a bachelor’s degree in communication. Marcia Nobuyama, a Newcastle resident, earned her undergraduate degree from Washington State University for the summer 2012 semester. Nobuyama received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts.
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Opinion
PAGE 4
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
Editorial
Letters
Litzow, Maxwell for state representatives
Joining Bellevue is a good idea
Newcastle voters face some clear choices in the legislative races on the Nov. 6 ballot. If you haven’t yet voted, here is more food for thought.
State Senate — Steve Litzow
Republican Steve Litzow was elected to represent the 41st District just 22 months ago. Already, Litzow has shown leadership on diverse issues — education reform and same-sex marriage among them — and the capacity to ably represent his constituents. Most notably, Litzow played a key role in bringing together both political parties to agree on a state budget. He has demonstrated his ability to work across the aisle for the good of his district. He deserves the opportunity to return for a full term. Opponent Maureen Judge is an articulate, intelligent candidate, and we encourage her to seek public office again in the future.
State House of Representatives, Position 1 — Marcie Maxwell
Democrat Marcie Maxwell serves her district well by acting as a genuine community representative. Residents in Issaquah, Sammamish, Newcastle and other cities throughout the district are as apt to meet her at community functions as residents in her hometown, Renton. Every district should be so lucky as to have an elected official that has the time to devote to community outreach and understanding. Challenger Tim Eaves wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to his commitment to serve, but Maxwell is the better choice.
Urquhart for sheriff
The sheriff’s office is mired in problems with personnel, policies and procedures — all brought to light in recent audits. The next sheriff has a paramount duty to correct the issues and restore public confidence in the agency. Neither candidate is ideal, but both Sheriff Steve Strachan and John Urquhart offer a deep respect for the agency and its mission to protect and serve. We support Urquhart, whose strength is in his skill to communicate the agency’s mission and priorities to elected leaders in King County and Olympia, deputies in the field and, most importantly, to the public.
Newcastle news Published since 1999 by
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P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, WA 98027 Phone: 392-6434 q Fax: 392-1695
Please let it be known as a resident of Newcastle, the facts remain that this city cannot survive unless it raises taxes on the people of Newcastle. I cannot and will not support this! The people who want to stay the city of Newcastle should give their own money to the city. I do not agree that Newcastle needs its own chief of police! We do not have a fire chief. In these hard times, joining the city of Bellevue would be the best for all; we already have their fire department services, which have been great. Kraig Kurata Newcastle
Newcastle should remain Newcastle I am against the annexation of Newcastle to any city, and my opposition to annexation is not the least bit uncertain. As far as I’m concerned, Newcastle should always remain Newcastle, period. I read Councilman Bill Erxleben’s letter about annexation in the News. However, believe it or not, everything about life is not about money, and as far as I’m concerned, money doesn’t take precedence over certain principles. Moreover, just like practically any city in the nation these days, Newcastle has financial problems, and we will manage to get through them one way or the other. Ever since I ran for the council in 2007, I have proposed expanding businesses in Newcastle by proposing that the city become a center of clean, renewable and green energy production, which would in turn expand the retail market and the overall tax base, thereby greatly enhancing Newcastle’s revenue outlook.
Rapid Response What are you most looking forward to when the Newcastle Library opens Dec. 8? An award-winning book and media selection that’s only minutes away. Not to mention, meeting rooms! Various clubs and HOAs would greatly appreciate that service. — Dave Martinez A great place to simply look at physical books, research and commune with others in our great Newcastle! — Jackie Foskett
What capital projects or priorities would you like to see the City Council pursue as the 2013 preliminary budget is unveiled? Carving bus turnouts to Newcastle Way and other streets that would benefit. Enough said. — Dave Martinez
Even if this plan doesn’t happen, there are other ways to keep the city financially afloat without surrendering to the money god. Mark Greene Newcastle
Go All in for Kids Our community values education and it shows through your support of our levies and bonds. Thank you — we cannot say it enough. But did you know that the Issaquah School District receives less money from the state than many of our neighboring districts? Compounding that inequity, the state limits the local funds we can raise, again to levels below that of many or our neighbors. The end result is that ISD is funded at 291st of 295 districts statewide. Fortunately, we have the Issaquah Schools Foundation to help bridge the gap. ISF funds academic enrichment grants at individual schools, such as after-school homework help and financial literacy classes, and also partners with the district on programs such as elementary literacy enrichment and high school courses in computer programming and Web design. The ISF is a crucial part of the entire student experience and, without the foundation’s money and volunteers, valuable programs — many designed to help our students most at risk of dropping out or falling behind — will be jettisoned. It is with this backdrop that we ask you to give to the ISF during the All in for Kids campaign. We thank you for the many ways you support our children and our schools, and ask you to take another step and support the ISF. Suzanne Weaver and Brian Deagle Directors, Issaquah School Board
I would like to see consistent funding for open spaces, trails and preservation of our remaining wildlife corridors. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. — Jeff Skocelas
As Thanksgiving approaches, what is it about Newcastle that makes you most thankful for living in this community? A close-knit community. Merchants and patrons that know your first name. A rapid response from Newcastle Police Department and sheriff’s deputies, and Bellevue Fire Department. — Dave Martinez So much! A great community, easy access to Seattle, the airport and especially hiking — short walk from our house! — Jackie Foskett Join the conversation! Email newcastle@isspress.com to sign up to receive Rapid Response questions every month.
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Newcastle News
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
PAGE 5
Newcastle teacher is rated among the top professors in the nation By Christina Corrales-Toy On the popular website www.ratemyprofessors.com, college students have the opportunity to anonymously evaluate their instructors based on criteria including clarity and helpfulness. It can be a useful tool as fellow students determine which classes to take, but with the anonymous nature of the site, many students don’t hold back when assessing a particular teacher. It’s not uncommon to see a long list of negative reviews by a professor’s name. But upon inspection of Newcastle resident Dan Mitchell’s profile on the site, visitors won’t find a single antagonistic comment. Visitors will see more than 10 pages of student comments praising the Bellevue College instructor and his classes. The chemistry instructor was recently named one of the nation’s top professors in the country, according to the site.
Time change is reminder to change clocks, batteries Prepare to fall back as
Mitchell came in at No. 16 on the site’s list of the top 25 highest rated professors. Mitchell was the only instructor in Washington state named to the list. “It’s pretty humbling to have all these students be so generous,” he said. “I’m certainly honored to receive so many nice evaluations from my students. I feel like I’ve just been lucky because there are so many people out there. Somebody’s going to get lucky. I guess I was the one.” Mitchell, who recently moved to the Newcastle area with his family, has loved chemistry ever since high school. He began working in the research field, but he said he really found his calling when he started teaching. “When I started teaching, it just never felt like a job,” he said. “I just love it. Teaching is something that I will do for as long as I can. I look forward to getting up and going to class, and teaching lets you have a fairly profound
effect on people’s lives.” A common sentiment among Dan Mitchell the comments posted about Mitchell is his ability to really connect with students. “Every student is different, just like every person is different, so one of the important things for me to do is to break down barriers between myself and the student and have them feel really comfortable with coming to me to ask questions,” Mitchell said of his teaching style. In a statement, Bellevue College interim President Laura Sanders praised Mitchell’s contributions to the school. “We’re especially proud of Dan and the tremendous work he does in the classroom, making chem-
istry come alive for our students,” she said. “This ranking is a perfect example of the strong emphasis we put on exceptional teaching here at Bellevue College.” Mitchell has worked at Bellevue College since 2008. While he said he was flattered with the ranking, he had even higher praise for his fellow instructors at the school. “I work with so many great people,” he said. “I know there are many instructors around me, who are, I think, better instructors than I am. So, it’s hard for me to believe that ranking, because I still have a lot to learn when it comes to teaching.” But Mitchell said he credits Bellevue College for allowing him to grow as a teacher and share his passion with others. “Bellevue College is great,” he said. “You get to work with a lot of other instructors and so I’m constantly talking to my fellow instructors and trying to learn what I can from them.”
daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Nov. 4. Set clocks one hour behind before bedtime and plan accordingly. Many computers, mobile
phones and other electronic devices make the adjustment automatically. The time change also serves as a reminder to
change smoke alarm batteries. Local public safety experts recommend changing batteries at least once a year and testing smoke detectors monthly.
Contributed
Newcastle Chamber of Commerce members (from left) Karen Pike, Joani Glasser and Jackie Foskett man the chamber’s 2012 Newcastle Days booth.
Chamber member Karen Pike dies Longtime Newcastle Chamber of Commerce member Karen Pike passed away in early October. Pike was an active member of the chamber and was engaged at every event with her Arbonne products. Representatives from the chamber are asking the community to join Most battery-powered smoke detectors chirp as the battery weakens. The daylight saving time period lasts until March.
in contributing to a college fund to support Pike’s teenage daughter, whose father passed away several years ago. Donations can be brought to HomeStreet Bank at 6949 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. Mention the “Pike College Fund” and the bank employees will be able to assist. During daylight saving time, the sun appears to rise later in the morning and set later in the evening, seemingly stretching the day.
Your Newcastle State Legislative Team Working for you in Olympia! •
Marcie has represented our 41st District for four years. She serves as Deputy Majority Leader for Education & Opportunity in the House of Representatives. Her committees are Education Policy; Education Appropriations for Early Learning, K-12, and Higher Education; Community & Economic Development and Housing; House Rules; and the QEC/Quality Education Council.
•
Judy has represented our 41st District for ten years. She serves as the Transportation Chairman and on the Health Care & Wellness committee. Judy’s strong leadership in transportation policy and funding is vital to improving mobility for people and freight throughout our region and state.
•
41st District State Representatives Marcie Maxwell and Judy Clibborn are proud to serve the communities of Bellevue, Beaux Arts, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Renton, and Sammamish.
Working to ensure that East King County is the best place to live, learn, work, and play! Marcie Maxwell
Paid for by: Citizens for Marcie Maxwell (D) PO Box 2048, Renton, WA 98056 www.marciemaxwell.org
Judy Clibborn for State Representative (D) PO Box 808, Mercer Island, WA 98040 www.judyclibborn.com
Judy Clibborn
Newcastle News
PAGE 6
Budget From Page 1
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Newcastle Police Department officer Mark Sigurdson (left) and Chief Melinda Irvine helped Baine Moshe through a medical emergency while he was driving in a car in Newcastle.
Heroes From Page 1 came to assess Moshe’s condition and get his sugar level up. But before the Bellevue Fire Department arrived, Sigurdson gave Moshe a granola bar out of his own sack lunch. Meanwhile, Irvine sat with Moshe’s two young children, his daughter Shalom, 5, and his son, also named Baine, 3. She gave the children teddy bears to help calm their nerves. “We’ve had donations of brand new teddy bears from citizens along the way and they are just for moments like that when children are frightened,” Irvine said. Irvine, Sigurdson and the members of the Bellevue Fire Department stayed with Moshe and his children until his wife and neighbor arrived. There was no doubt about it, Moshe said, the police and fire personnel saved his life that day. “These are the people that you want protecting your family, because they protected mine and I was obviously way out there from my home,” he said. “I’ve never been treated with such care like that. These guys really went out of their way to make sure that I was OK, and to me that’s a hero.” The very next day, Moshe worked tirelessly, contacting every superior within the city of Newcastle and the Bellevue Fire Department to let everyone know how grateful he was for the treatment he received. When City Manager Rob Wyman heard the story, he wasn’t surprised at all. “I’ve seen it time and time again from our officers here in the city,” he said.
“It’s a testament to their training, their background and their personal traits.” Sigurdson joined the Newcastle Police Department in early September after officer Ryan Olmstead transferred to Sammamish. Both Sigurdson and Irvine dismissed the notion that they were heroes. “No, we’re not heroes,” she said. “We would do that for anybody, and I know he would do it for us. It’s just part of our job.” Since the incident, Moshe has been extra careful to take his medication and check his blood sugar level before he drives. “Mark told me to check my sugar level before I leave the house, before I go and pick up my kids,” he said. “I’ve done that every day since, because I don’t want that to ever happen again.” As things wrapped up at the scene, Moshe approached the officers and asked if he should expect to receive a ticket from them. “Well, I asked them, ‘Am I going to get a ticket?’ and Melinda said, ‘If I had Mariners tickets, I’d give you some.’ I just thought that was so sweet,” Moshe said. “She was just a kind person.”
Newcastle police force, which would increase costs by about $60,000 for detective services. The 50-50 shared detective would ensure the city is allocated a halftime detective that will spend half of his or her time working for the city, and the other half working for the county. Currently, Newcastle is one of the only cities that contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office that does not have a fulltime person who works as a detective for the city, Wyman said. “If we can pull it off, it will be great for the community and it ensures we can keep on top of things, you know, burglary rings and things of that nature,” he said. In order to present a balanced operating budget, cuts were proposed to staffing and the equipment rental fund. Every year, the general
Parkway From Page 1 The reconstruction and repair of the road requires the removal of the upper and lower lifts of asphalt, which amounts to about 6 to 7 inches of pavement, on that portion of Coal Creek Parkway. Then, two brand new lifts will need to be installed, Rigos said. “If reconstruction happens in 2013, great, if it happens in 2014, that’s fine, too. We can crack seal it next year, but I don’t think we can push it off much beyond that without
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NOVEMBER 2, 2012
fund makes a contribution to the equipment rental fund, which pays for new vehicles and capital equipment, Wyman said. For 2013, the contribution was reduced from $58,052 to $22,242. “It’s not something that you want to do more than once, and every few years,” he said. “You need to ultimately repay the money into that fund, so in a subsequent year from now, we need to find money to put back into that fund.” There was also a proposed reduction in community events staff, reducing the parks program manager from a fulltime position. “We’re not going to cut events, but the amount of time that the position spends helping with Eagle Scout projects, Newcastle Trails, getting grants for parks and trails, there is a hit there,” Wyman said. In terms of 2013 transportation projects, among the proposed projects are $225,000 to construct sidewalks along a portion of 116th Avenue Southeast and $683,000 to fund the city’s pave-
ment overlay. During the public hearing, Sue Beverly, of the Friends of the Newcastle Library, asked the City Council to consider using the funds for 116th Avenue Southeast pedestrian improvements for Southeast 73rd Place improvements instead. It was a rather brisk meeting that lasted just under two hours. There were few questions from the council members, who received the budget document the same day of the meeting. But there weren’t many surprises, Mayor Rich Crispo said. That’s because Wyman made a concerted effort to create an ongoing dialogue about the budget to understand the council’s priorities throughout the year. “We talked about it little bit by little bit, so when we presented this budget, I know the City Council got it right before the meeting that night, but there was nothing in there they haven’t seen,” Wyman said. It was an effective process, Crispo said.
“I was very much supportive of that, of doing it along the way, because it is the council’s budget, not the staff’s budget and therefore the council needs to give input all the way along the road,” he said. At its Nov. 6 meeting, the City Council will continue its discussion on the 2013 budget, including whether or not the city should take an allowable 1 percent increase in property tax. But other than an attempt to fund pedestrian improvements on both 116th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 73rd Place, Councilman Bill Erxleben doesn’t think the budget will change much. “I think what you see right now is pretty much what you are going to get,” he said.
just having lots of potholes out there,” he said. The city hopes to get at least a portion of the project funded with grants, City Manager Rob Wyman said. The project is estimated to cost $800,000, but the engineer said that could increase the longer the city waits to work on it. The city has applied for a $400,000 grant to help pay for the project. If the city gets the grant, Wyman said work on the reconstruction can begin
in 2013, with the other half paid for out of the $683,000 that the city budgets for pavement overlay. If the city does not get the grant, Wyman said the city will wait, apply for the grant again next year and crack seal the road this year. Crack sealing will temporar-
ily extend the life of the pavement. “It’s a road that gets a lot of traffic, a lot of buses and at the end of the day, it hasn’t been a disaster,” Rigos said. “It’s not like it lasted three or four years and went bad. Does it get an A+? No. But maybe it gets a passing grade.”
On the web The city has posted a copy of the 2013 preliminary budget on its website at http://bit.ly/VOLL1A.
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NOVEMBER 2, 2012
Newcastle News
PAGE 7
Who’s Who& Who’s New
From left, Larry, Eric and Glenn
From left, back row, Jeff, Tom, Michael. From left, front row, Jamie, Pauline, Gloria and Laura.
Here at Dom and Nicks, our food is beyond the best! We make our pizza dough to our sauces with our own recipes. Our pizza is made with all whole grain produce and is made to the style you want it! Pizza isn’t the only thing we serve, we serve pastas and salads too! We encourage all to come in and join us with a nice evening with dine in, we also now serve beer!!! Dom&Nicks also delivers, we deliver all through 98006, and Newcastle!
Portfolios Actively Managed by Professionals Dramatic fluctuations in the stock market can have a significant impact on investors’ holdings. Recent economic events have brought to light that many investors need professional help in managing their assets. Active management is a strategy in that the money managers may reallocate and/or rebalance the portfolio on an ongoing basis to adjust to market conditions. TFA works with some of the industry’s most well-known third-party money managers.
(425)679-6201 5625 119TH Ave. SE Bellevue, WA 98006 www.domandnicks.com
1800 NE 44th St. #201 Renton, WA 98056 I-405 Exit 7 Head East for one block.
From left, Kurt, Caitlyn, Lindsey and Chris.
We at Planet Fitness are here to provide a unique environment in which anyone can be comfortable. Our Judgment Free Zone philosophy allows members to relax and get in shape, without being judged. Member statements: “I love coming here because the atmosphere is so comfortable”. “I have lost over 100lbs and it has been very affordable”. “The personal trainer is knowledgeable and pushes me just enough , and is included with the membership”. “Clean and friendly and at the right price!”
Porter Jensen Jewelers has been a trusted, full service jeweler since 1924. Through the years we have been best known for our custom work. We carry a great selection of fine jewelry, including a large estate collection. We know how important a jewelry purchase can be and we are happy to help with your needs. Our services include; appraisals, custom work, repairs, watch batteries & free cleaning. We look forward to meeting all our new neighbors!
4613 NE Sunset Blvd. Renton, WA 98059
Corner of Duvall & Sunset Blvd.
425.255.5522 www.planetfitness.com
6401 Lake Washington Blvd SE. • Newcastle 425-793-3730 info@porterjensen.com
Brian Gold
Seattle Gold & Prospecting is the Pacific Northwest’s premiere Mining & Prospecting supply store. Come visit our showroom or visit us online. Our store carries over 2500 products and we ship worldwide. We also do In-store demonstrations, and we offer classes and outings to teach you how to find gold in the local area, Find all your holiday gifts for the prospector in your family, Come catch the fever!!
We Buy Gold & Silver 401 Olympia Ave NE #107 Renton, WA 98056 206-922-2408 www.SeattleGoldProspecting.com
From left, Sue, Maryann, Jerry, Jina and Linda.
As one of the largest community banks in the region, we pride ourselves on our hands-on, individualized approach to helping people and businesses with their banking and lending needs. HomeStreet offers a full range of financial services to include free checking accounts, investment and mortgage lending. Branch Manager, Linda Stemler and the HomeStreet Team are committed to continue to give generously of their time and talents to the Newcastle community. We’re here to help!
6949 Coal Creek Pkwy S.E. Newcastle, Wa 98059 425-401-8778 www.homestreet.com
Who’s Who& Who’s New
From left, Josh and Nancy
Kim’s Tae Kwon Do: Your local fitness and self-defense experts. We offer traditional Tae Kwon Do classes, women’s self-defense and bully prevention. We’re also a licensed facility for Cage Fitness: 30-minute strength/cardio blast! Want more information about our programs? Call us today to schedule a FREE trial. Come in and see how much fun exercise can be. Online at www.rentontaekwondo.com and on Facebook at Kim’s Tae Kwon Do of Renton.
Kim’s Tae Kwon Do 4602 NE Sunset Blvd Renton, WA 98059 (425) 254-3526 www.rentontaekwondo.com Dedicated to Progress, Peace & Love
Doofers has been in business for 30 years offering a family friendly atmosphere with a variety of good food. We serve breakfast on Saturday and Sunday from 9 to 1. We are a sports bar with NFL Ticket on 18 TV’s and located in the East Highlands Center. Come in and see Gus or Paul. “My mission is to provide my customers with great food, a positive environment and supportive customer service. We offer reasonable prices while supporting our local community. I also sponsor local school efforts” - Gus Routos
16430 S.E. 128th St. Renton, Wa 98059 425-228-6645 doofersbarandgrill.com
Zoëyogurt is new to the Newcastle community, but owners Tom and Donna Hudson are not new to the neighborhood! The Hudsons, who live in Lakemont, serve locally-manufactured, true live and active culture yogurt produced without rBST hormones and not sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. Local and independent, 12 rotating flavors, 40+ toppings, 100% compostable serveware, generous sampling policy and loyalty program. Self-serve frozen yogurt just the way you like it – give us a try!
6920 Coal Creek Pkwy SE Suite 7 Newcastle WA 98059 425.429.3091 www.zoeyogurt.com
From left: Carlos Garcia, Sema Calvo, Rafael Salcido
Generous portions of Chicken Parmesan and pizzas loaded with cheese is what folks associate with the Jay Berry’s name . Welcome to Jay Berry’s Café, serving all of your favorites PLUS a phenomenal breakfast with Eggs Benedict, the best bacon around, and $3 Bloody Mary’s on Sunday. We offer a fantastic $5 Happy Hour and daily drink specials in our lounge and a Family-Friendly Happy Hour Breakfast during the week. Yummy!
16341 Renton Issaquah Rd. Renton 425-271-1817
Neighborhood Gold
Aara Saldana, Private Voice Instructor
Every amazing vocalist starts somewhere, so tap into your inner voice at Blue Dog Dance and Performing Arts. We offer 30 minute, in-depth voice lessons in a comfortable, private environment. No matter what your age or experience, you can expand your vocal repertoire. Take your passion for singing beyond the shower - develop stage presence and gain the confidence to sing your favorite songs whenever and wherever! Whether you’re looking to simply learn the fundamentals of music or to refine your tone & range - take your voice to the next level at Blue Dog Dance and Performing Arts.
12642 164th Ave SE Renton, WA 98059 425-255-0310 www.bluedogdance.com
I am a resident here in your community; you probably know us, with six kids of our own in the Issaquah school district we get around. In my business, Neighborhood Gold, I try to offer a service to people who need extra cash for the holidays or everyday life. I buy gold, sterling, and vintage jewelry in any condition and I pay a fair and honest price for it. Pricing fluctuates daily, if not hourly, so I stay right on top of what is the maximum I can offer you. I can offer you top dollar $. Have you ever thought of having a “Gold Party”. It is really fun and you get paid cash just for hosting it. Call me for an appointment anytime, even after hours.
Bernice Lockhart
4725 NE 4TH STREET RENTON OPEN: Monday - Friday 11:00 to 5:00 Sat. 10:30 - 4:30 Bernice Lockhart 425 890-2810 www.neighborhoodgoldbuyer.com
Get acquainted with your area merchants!
You’ll feel right at home ! Did you know there is a restaurant with the finest cuisine and the best food in the Seattle area right in your neighborhood. 4th Street Grill & Lounge invites you “Come in and feel the beautiful atmosphere and taste the great food”. Located just two blocks west of Union on 4th street in the Renton Highlands it is just a few minutes’ drive from Newcastle. You won’t be disappointed. Once you have tried the 4th Street Grill and Lounge you will come back again and again. The food is so good and the prices are so reasonable! Look at our 10oz Ribeye:
10oz Rib-eye
$10
with coupon side dishes only $3 extra 4004 NE 4th St • Renton, WA 98056 • 425-255-3595
coupon exp 12/1/12
Looking for creative design solutions? We come to you to help you make your home or business more beautiful, comfortable and functional! You get on with your life and we take care of all of the details. Your style, your lifestyle, your budget! We can help you with just about anything you might need including: custom window treatments, blinds and shades, furniture, bedding, rugs, art, accessories and lighting, kitchen/bath remodeling, paint consultations, carpeting, flooring and counters!
From left, Linda, Kevin, Heather
Personal Property Insurance and Risk Management HOME – AUTO – LIFE - HEALTH As your Newcastle State Farm agent, my focus is to help my clients manage their risks of everyday life, and recover from the unexpected. My team and I will work closely with you to avoid gaps or overlapping coverage and act as your advocate in the event of a claim. Whatever your insurance needs, we have the customized solutions, price and ongoing service you expect and deserve. Stop by our Newcastle office, phone in or visit me on the web for a no obligation proposal.
State Farm Insurance and Financial Services 6920 Coal Creek Parkway SE Suite 4 • Newcastle 425-378-3700 • www.kevindunkley.com
From left, Colton, Julie, Steve, Jennifer, Denise, and Noah
Give us a call and relax!
Christie Johnson
Open since 2004, East Highlands Fitness (EHF) is the beautiful, clean gym with a community feel and friendly staff just southeast of Newcastle. Steve and Denise Peterson have recently purchased this little jewel and have exciting plans for expanding the gym’s services, including nutrition and group exercise classes for a variety of fitness levels. Steve and Denise are absolutely thrilled to be leading the team at EHF and look forward to serving the Newcastle community.
Christie Johnson
Designer / Owner / Field Manager P. 425-430-1240 johnsondecden@comcast.net www.decdens.com/cjohnson www.decoratingden.com
East Highlands Fitness 16410 Southeast 128th Street Renton, WA 98059 • (425) 227-0900 Mon.-Fri. 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sat.-Sun. 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
From left, Brett, Doug, John, Barry, Rick, Brandon
Honest, Reliable Auto Repair Shop in Bellevue. If you are like many people, your car is something you simply can’t function without. So, when your vehicle stops working as it should, you need a dependable auto repair shop to get to the bottom of the problem as quickly as possible. In Bellevue, the auto repair shop to trust is Newport Hills Chevron Service. Whether your car is in need of a minor fix or an extensive overhaul, we’ll give your vehicle our full attention until it is running the way it should be.
5804 119th Ave S.E. Bellevue, Wa. 98006 425-243-5885 www.newporthillschevron.com
Tony Fuentes, Owner
German Car Specialists, Inc. has been servicing fine German Automobiles on the Eastside since 1979. German Car Specialists has become somewhat of a legacy, with the children of our founding customers now bringing their automotive needs to our establishment on a regular basis. Combining specialized factory equipment, knowledgeable technicians and great customer service, German Car Specialists has earned a reputation that can be trusted. We are centrally located in the Factoria area of Bellevue, and have a shuttle available for convenient transport. Please come by any time and learn how our extensive experience and service can help enhance your ownership of your Mercedes-Benz®, BMW®, or Audi®.
425-644-7770 12408 SE 38th Bellevue, WA 98006 www.germanauto.com
Who’s Who & Who’s News Jet City Pizza, Newcastle is celebrating its 10-year anniversary! Under new ownership, we are committed to continuing the excellent service and experience you depend on. Jet City Pizza Co. proudly serves gourmet crusts made from scratch everyday. Buttermilk handtossed, our signature micro-brewed Beer Batter Pan, Seattle style thin, and Gluten-Free. In combination with our fresh selection of toppings- it’s quality you can taste! Whatever the occasion, Finally, Gourmet Pizza Delivered!
Glenn
From left, Jill and Kayti
JET CITY PIZZA, NEWCASTLE 425-747-7474 6920 COALCREEK PKWY SE #6 NEWCASTLE, WA 98059 OPEN SUNDAY-THURSDAY 11AM-10PM AND FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11AM-11PM
From left, Kyle Schwartz, sales; Tommy Winterburn, sales rep; Josh Harrison, manager; Saul Stephens, sales.
Bellevue Paint & Decorating, Inc. is very proud and excited to be celebrating its ninth year serving the Sammamish community. Bellevue Paint & Decorating, Inc. presents their premium coating, Benjamin Moore paints, Sikkens stains and clear finishes, for all of your painting needs. For your decorating needs, we offer a complete line of paint and wallpaper supplies. Please call us at 425-836-5484 or stop by to meet our Sammamish Plateau store manager, Josh Harrison, and his friendly and knowledgeable staff, who will help you complete your project right the first time. Or visit our other store at 13120 Bel-Red Rd. 425-454-7509.
Dick Wahl’s BELLEVUE PAINT & DECORATING, INC. 425-836-5484 • 612 228th Ave • Sammamish Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7-6 • Sat. 9-4 • Sun 10-4
From left, advertising manager Nathan Laursen, reporter Christina Corrales-Toy, editor Kathleen Merrill and advertising rep Jay Patterson.
It takes a great team to publish a great community newspaper for Newcastle! www.newcastle-news.com email: newcas@isspress.com 425-392-6434, ext. 239
Most people’s reaction is “That is the best hotdog I have ever eaten”. I offer the finest dogs available anywhere and with all the trimmings. They are made from top quality beef and offered, plain, kosher , or spicy. Come in and try one, repeat clientele is the majority of our business. You won’t believe how really good these dogs are! We are open every day morning until late afternoon. I look forward to seeing you.
weiner world 206-229-6354 12811 164th Ave SE East Renton Highlands WA
Newcastle News
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
Police blotter Stolen iPhone An iPhone 4 was stolen from a locked car in the parking lot of the Castle Creek Apartments, 7000 132nd Place S.E., on Oct. 3. Someone smashed the driver’s window to gain entry into the car.
Drug use Police responded to reports of narcotic activity by a man parked in the parking lot of QFC, 6940 Coal Creek Parkway S.E., on Oct. 4. Police found an uncapped syringe and other drug paraphernalia in the car. The man was read his rights and then said he had injected heroin and there were no narcotics left. A subsequent search yielded nothing.
Home break-in An unknown suspect broke into a secluded home for sale in the 11000 block of Southeast 76th Street between Oct. 4 and 6. The suspect reportedly entered the residence through a bathroom window, but did not take anything.
Egged Between the evening of Oct. 5 and the morning of Oct. 6, a Newcastle resident’s car was egged by an unknown suspect. The car was parked in the 8100 block of 150th Place Southeast.
Firm selected to purchase Mutual Materials site Mutual Materials has chosen AvalonBay Communities Inc. to purchase and redevelop the 52-acre site of the former Mutual Materials brick plant, according to City Manager Rob Wyman. AvalonBay Communities Inc.’s plans for the site were not immediately available, but its website says the company “is in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing high-quality apartment communities in the high barrier-to-entry markets of the United States.” Wyman said he expected to meet with the buyer and representatives from Mutual Materials in early November to discuss plans for the site.
Stolen car On Oct. 9, police found a stolen vehicle parked across from the Castle Creek Apartments, 7000 132nd Place S.E. The vehicle was stolen from Tacoma.
Fire causes more than $500,000 in damage, harms two homes
Fill & flee
By Christina Corrales-Toy
A man was arrested Oct. 9 after reportedly attempting to steal gas from a motorcycle parked at the Newport Crossing apartments, 7311 Coal Creek Parkway. The motorcycle’s owner said he found the suspect underneath the bike with some tools.
A residential fire in Newcastle destroyed a home, and damaged an adjacent property, the afternoon of Oct. 6. The homes are in the 8300 block of 128th Avenue Southeast. Firefighters were called to the scene after a neighbor reported smoke and flames coming from the roof of the first house. Personnel from Eastside Fire & Rescue and the Bellevue, Renton and Mercer Island fire departments arrived to heavy flames and smoke coming from the roof and the back of the house, said Lt. Troy Donlin, Bellevue Fire Department spokesman. As they began to fight the fire, the roof partially collapsed and the firefighters were forced to temporarily abandon the structure. After an emergency roll call to ensure that
Keyed at school A Newcastle resident reported his car was keyed while parked in the Liberty High School parking lot on Oct. 10. There were no suspects.
Sticks and stones An unknown suspect threw rocks through the front window of a Newcastle resident’s home in the 7000 block of 122nd Avenue Southeast on Oct. 12. The incident caused about $200 in damage.
Unknown entry More than $1,200 worth of personal belongings was stolen from a car parked at the Newport Crossing apartments, 7311 Coal Creek Parkway, between Oct. 13 and 14. It is unknown how entry into the vehicle occurred, but police did collect fingerprints from the scene.
New city director’s position to be filled City Manager Rob Wyman said he expects to name a new director of community development by mid to late November. The position became available after Steve Roberge left in early September. Wyman has assumed the position’s duties since. At a meet-and-greet Oct. 24, Wyman introduced the three final candidates for the position to the public. The three candidates are Dennis Lefevre, Tim McHarg and Paula Stevens. Lefevre most recently served as planning director for the city of Sequim; McHarg is the planning director in Bozeman, Mont.; and Stevens is the associate planning director for Teton County in Jackson, Wyo.
PAGE 11
“We had to abandon the structure, which is an unusual event for the Bellevue Fire Department. In my 10 years, I’ve never heard of us doing that, so it was very unusual.” — Lt. Troy Donlin Bellevue Fire Department everyone was safe, the firefighters continued to combat the fire, Donlin said. “We had to abandon the structure, which is an unusual event for the Bellevue Fire Department,” he said. “In my 10 years, I’ve never heard of us doing that, so it was very unusual.” As the firefighters continued their work, wind carried the products of the fire away from the house, and an ember
By Jim Palzer
Firefighters battle a blaze that broke out at a Newcastle home in the 8300 block of 128th Avenue Southeast on Oct. 6. An adjacent property was also affected by the fire that caused more than $500,000 in damage. made its way to a neighboring house, starting a fire on the cedar shake roof, Donlin said. But firefighters noticed it right away and were able to extinguish that fire rather quickly, Donlin said, and the occupants, who had already been evacuated because of the fire next door, were able to return to their home that evening. In total, 23 units responded to the fire, and firefighters worked for more than an hour to
control the two fires. Damage to the initial house was estimated at $500,000, while damage to the second house was estimated at $30,000, Donlin said. There were no injuries. The homeowner was not home at the time of the fire, but Donlin said that discarded smoking material — a cigarette butt in a plastic container — may have been the cause of the fire, originating on the back deck of the home.
PAGE 12
Newcastle News
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
LIBRARY COMES TO LIFE Take a look at the Newcastle Library’s two-year journey
By Greg Farrar
Above, land at the corner of 129th Avenue Southeast and Newcastle Way awaits the construction in September 2010. At left, In August 2012, a green roof is installed.
By Greg Farrar
Golden shovels full of dirt get the heave-ho in October 2010 as members of the Newcastle City Council, state Legislative 41st District and King County Library System board of directors perform the ceremonial groundbreaking for the future Newcastle Library at Newcastle Way and 129th Avenue Southeast.
Contributed by the King County Library System
Concrete work for the underground parking structure of the Newcastle Library was completed in October 2011. By Christina Lords
Above, work started on the front windows and brick veneer in early September. At left, paving and landscaping work gets underway in October. Contributed by the King County Library System Contributed by the King County Library System
The library really began to start taking shape in July as work on the exterior framing and roof was well under way.
Newcastle News
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
PAGE 13
Laughing all the way
Proof that I’m losing it Although my face and body show the full effects of having lived for 62 years, I like to think that my brain is akin to that of a 20-year-old: resilient, fast, pliable, my neurons still covered with plenty of fatty insulation and firing on all cylinders. Those who know me well are laughing out loud as they read this because they’ve been witness to my fuzzy nerve endings and resultant misfires for years, and my actions at a recent business meeting finally made me face the fact that I no longer have the gray matter of a youngster, although I do still have plenty of fatty insulation, unfortunately none of it attached to neurotransmitters inside my skull. Case in point: The Sainted One and I traveled to Eastern Washington to talk to a business owner about helping them sell their company. The owner’s wife/partner was at the initial meeting, and as we got acquainted she said that she was very familiar with Whidbey Island where we’d had a second home because of the work she did picking up partridge there to bring to Eastern Washington for
a company called “Feel Free to ....” She said a word. I didn’t hear it clearly, but I could tell that it started with an “H” and a “u”. As the conversation Pat Detmer continued around me, I was lost in thought. What had she said? Feel free to ... what? Why would anyone transport birds from western Washington to the other side of the mountains? Is it possible that birds were hauled from one place to another — like pandas or Siberian tigers in national zoos — to procreate? Was there a shortage of partridge in coulee country that I was unaware of? If that’s what she was referring to, it would be a mighty unconventional name for a business, but I’d encountered odd company names before. I might have saved my question for a more opportune time, but I was dying of curiosity, so when there was a brief lull in the meeting I
Roslyn Comley
www.roslyncomley.com roslyncomley@cbba.com 425-351-2208 Winner of Seattle magazine’s “Best in Client Satisfaction from 2006-2011”
turned to the wife and said: “Excuse me. Did I hear that correctly? Did you say ‘Feel Free to Hump?’” Yes. I said it out loud. “Feel Free to Hump.” I said it to two lovely people who didn’t know me or my husband from a hunk of basalt, in our first meeting ever, the most important meeting of all. After a silence as deep as the Dry Falls, she said, “Umm
... no. It was called ‘Feel Free to Hunt.’” Of course. “Feel Free to Hunt.” My vision of happy, horny pheasants running around making baby chicks and replenishing the population was gone in a puff of smoke, smoke that I believed I could almost smell given that I could picture the sizzle and burn of another dying, overloaded synapse in my brain.
Luckily, they laughed. Then I laughed. Then I overheated as I laughed and needed to fan myself with our company collateral. Believe it or not, they decided to work with us. Or maybe just The Sainted One ... You can reach Pat Detmer — who believes that stuff like this is a sign of genius — through www.patdetmer.com.
Newcastle News
PAGE 14
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
Teen makes film debut in ‘All I want is Christmas’ By Christina Corrales-Toy Newcastle actor Ashton Herrild isn’t mean or rude, but that may be hard to believe for audiences who saw him star as the bully Scut Farkus in the 5th Avenue Theatre’s 2010 production of “A Christmas Story, The Musical!” The 15-year-old Liberty High School sophomore is a hardworking student who enjoys doing a little acting on the side. But for some reason, the charismatic teen keeps getting cast as an antagonist. “I think it comes with the red hair,” he said as he smiled and pointed to his ginger locks. “You see a lot of movies with red-haired bullies, just because they may be different.” Fortunately, Ashton doesn’t mind, and it’s a good thing because he was cast as Jack the Jerk in his film debut, “All I want is Christmas.” The family-friendly movie tells the story of a young boy who simply wants to celebrate Christmas, but the thing is, he’s Jewish. So, the boy trades places with another kid his age and hilarity
What to know See local actor Ashton Herrild star in the film ‘All I want is Christmas,’ available for purchase on video on demand. Check whether your provider offers the movie at all-iwant-is-christmas.com.
By Laurie Clark Photography
Newcastle resident Ashton Herrild plays antagonist Jack the Jerk in a still from the locallyshot film ‘All I want is Christmas.’ ensues. Ashton’s character is sort of the bad guy. Jack the Jerk picks on the main character, but it isn’t all what it seems; the character has somewhat of a broken home life, Ashton said. The movie was filmed locally in 2011 by director Sue Corcoran. The film’s setting, the fictional city
of Christmastown, Wash., was actually Leavenworth, and many of the interior scenes were shot in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. It was Ashton’s first movie, but thankfully there were some acting veterans on set that he could observe and learn from. Elliot Gould, famous
for his role in “Ocean’s Eleven” and its sequels, and David DeLuise, who starred in the Disney Channel series “Wizards of Waverly Place,” had parts in the film. “I learned a lot just by watching them and seeing them, how they carry themselves on camera, how professional they are,” Ashton said.
Ashton admitted he was a bit intimidated by the two stars, but just by watching them work, he learned the importance of doing what you love. “Everybody around my age is thinking about what they are going to do with their lives, and seeing people act for a living is just really cool, because they take it seriously but they still have fun and they love what they do,” he said. Beth Herrild, Ashton’s mother, said that her son has always had a passion for acting. It began at just 4 years old when he was cast in “Swimmy,” a local play based on the book by Leo Lionni. “He kind of stole the show,” she said. “All of
the other parents were saying, ‘Wow, your son is so shy,’ in a tongue-andcheek sort of way.” As a toddler, Ashton would wake up his parents, dressed in a full costume of his own making. The experience shooting the film solidified Ashton’s dreams of becoming an actor or a moviemaker, he said. “It’s given me a sense of clarity in terms of what I want to do in life,” he said. “I don’t want to settle for a job that maybe society should settle for. Because I mean there are a lot of actors that don’t make it, but as long as you keep doing what you love, you will find a way to make it work.” The film was released to the general public on video on demand on Nov. 1, but it’s already been shown at various film festivals, including the Seattle International Film Festival, where it was named one of the top 10 films shown. “It’s a great family movie that you can watch with your kids or your parents, but it’s still really original,” Ashton said. “It’s funny and it’s local, and that’s big.”
Scouts from Troop 499 volunteer to restore Newcastle Trails By Michele Skinner The Boy Scouts of Troop 499 gave back to the community in September, when a work party of about 20 Scouts and parents spent a day with pick-axes and shovels improv-
ing a section of the east May Creek Trail. The new trail segment is narrower and steeper as it descends into a ravine close to May Creek. It is a little piece of green paradise to be enjoyed by all.
There have been numerous Eagle Scout projects along Newcastle trails and in parks. Anyone who would like to join a trail work party should email info@newcastletrails.org. On Nov. 17, Troop 499 will be active again in the commu-
nity doing a Newcastle street cleanup. As new businesses and more people move into the area, more trash tends to accumulate. Troop 499 will be out in force keeping the streets clean. The Scouts would like
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to thank Peggy Price, of Newcastle Trails, who guided the group in trail making improvements, and the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, the charter organization for Troop 499 and Cub Scout Packs 497 and 738.
Newcastle News
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
Senegal trip changes teen By Christina Corrales-Toy When Newcastle resident Diego Moreno returned from his twoweek trip to Senegal in August, his mother, Hortensia Moreno, noticed that he was different. The 16-year-old was more helpful around the house, he took care of his younger sibling without any qualms and he hugged his mother a little bit tighter. “He changed,” Hortensia said. “It touched his life very deeply.” Diego visited Senegal through the YMCA’s Global Teen Program. The purpose of the twoweek trip was to allow local teens to explore the roots of African American history and experience a foreign culture. The visit put strong emphasis on social issues, cultural education and community service. Last summer, Diego visited South Korea through the program. But the Senegal trip, he said, was different because of the poverty he witnessed in the country. “My trip to Senegal was really eye opening,” he said. “In Africa, it was shocking to see how different it is, from such a poor community to a pretty rich economy here in the United States. It made me have more respect for the things that I have.” On the trip, Diego and a small group of students from the Seattle area completed various community service projects, including picking up trash on a
Contributed
Newcastle resident Diego Moreno crouches down in a cell that used to hold slaves during the height of the West African slave trade on Goree Island, just off the coast of Senegal. beach. The students were housed with host families where the group got an up-close-and-personal look at the local culture. “It was impressive to see how giving and happy they are, just with the few things they have,” Diego said. In particular, Diego said he was shocked by the way local youths maintained a positive attitude, despite their lack of material belongings. “The kids there, I saw them play with just trash and bottles, and they were so happy with each other,” he said. “I thought they would be kind of sad
and just disappointed at how they live, but they are so happy. I was just amazed.” He was also impressed by the work ethic of the local citizens. “They work hard every single day, just to get food for one day, and it just shows me how they appreciate life,” he said. “They’ll do whatever they can do to be happy.” The whole experience changed Diego’s perspective on life. It made him truly appreciate the opportunities he is afforded as an American, he said, especially when he heard his host family speak hopefully about the
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American dream. “The United States is really free and there are so many opportunities,” he said. “We should try and take as many opportunities as we can, because it’s one of the few places in the world where there are no limits to what you can do. You can really be whatever you want to be.” The best part of the trip, Diego said, was a visit to Goree Island, a former hub of West African slave trading. The small island located off the coast of Senegal is the site of a slave house
PAGE 15 where an estimated 20 million Africans passed through during the height of the slave trade. “It was really sad and tragic to learn what happened there, how the people were treated there,” he said. “But it was really great and important to learn about it too.” Through his global experiences, Diego said he has found a personal calling to help others, which he hopes to instill among his peers. “It changed me in a way that made me want to help people more because
I don’t like seeing people not have enough money to go to the doctor, or not even have food for a day,” he said. “It just makes me want to do more for my society here, to do whatever I can to help other people.” While Hortensia said that her son has always had a caring soul, she appreciated the change she saw in him after the trip. “It means a lot to me,” she said. “He noticed that even if you don’t have a lot of money, you can be happy.”
Community
PAGE 16
Events Diamond Awards Lunch, honoring top volunteers in the community, is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at The Golf Club at Newcastle, 15500 Six Penny Lane. Tickets are $30 and include lunch. Register online for a small additional fee at http://2012diamondawards. eventbrite.com/# or to pay at the door. RSVP by emailing info@ newcastlecc.com. See a list of nominees and finalists at http:// newcastlecc.com/aboutthechamber/ diamondawards.htm. The Newcastle Weed Warriors are hosting a restoration project from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 10 at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way. Learn more at www.newcastleweedwarriors.org. The Hazen Players present “A Christmas Carol” from Nov. 26 to Dec. 1 and Dec. 6-8 at 1101 Hoquiam Ave. N.E., Renton. Call 204-4200.
Public meetings All city public meetings are at City Hall, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200. Call 649-4444. City Hall will be closed Nov. 12 for the Veterans Day holiday and Nov. 22-23 for Thanksgiving. q City Council meeting and public hearing on the 2013 budget — 7-10 p.m. Oct. 2 q Economic and Community Development committee — 8-9 a.m. Nov. 13 q Parks Commission — 6-8 p.m. Nov. 14 q City Council regular meeting — 7-10 p.m. Nov. 20 q Planning Commission — 7-9 p.m. Oct. Nov. 21 The Newcastle Trails board meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Regency Newcastle, 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Road. Learn more at www.
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Chamber of Commerce hosts Diamond Awards on Nov. 14 The Newcastle Chamber of Commerce’s annual Diamond Awards Luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at The Golf Club at Newcastle. Tickets for the event are $30, which includes lunch. The awards celebrate individuals who have demonstrated dedication to improving the Newcastle community. Community members nominate recipients, and the awards are given in six categories: business, citizenship, community leadership, customer service, education and employee. Learn more on the chamber’s website — www.newcastlecc.com. File
Valley Medical Center representatives accept the Diamond Award last year for outstanding business.
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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 Parents Night Out at the Y: Hollywood, for ages 3-11, 6-10 p.m. Nov. 3, $30 members/$35 nonmembers q Workshop: “Effortless Walking,” for ages 14 and older, 4-6 p.m. Nov. 4 q “Kids Create 2,” for ages
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4-10, 5:30-6:15 p.m. Nov. 7, $5/$15 q Family Dinner: Turkey Bingo, for ages 13 and older, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 9, $5 q Veterans Day Paintball trip, for ages 10-14, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 12, $50/$60 q “Easy Holiday Entertaining,” 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 14, $10/$15 q Ultimate Dude’s Weekend, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17-18, $140/$160 q Workshop: “Happy Healthy Hips,” for ages 14 and older, 4-6 p.m. Nov. 18 q “Fun with Food 3,” for ages 3-10, 5:30-6:15 p.m. Nov. 21, $5/$10 q Workshop: “Breathe Away
November
2012
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Stress,” for ages 14 and older, 4-6 p.m. Dec. 2
Library events The Friends of the Newcastle Library meets from 7-9 p.m.
December 2 9 16 23 30
2012
1 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 31
Nov. 8 at Fire Station No. 9, 12412 Newcastle Way. The Newport Way Library is at 14250 S.E. Newport Way, Bellevue. The library is closed Nov. 11 for the Veterans Day See CALENDAR, Page 17
Newcastle News
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
Liberty grad finds ‘home away from home’ at sea By Christina Corrales-Toy Thomas Timmons spends his day doing what most welders do. He welds, grinds, brazes and fabricates different metal pieces to make something new. The difference is that Timmons does his work aboard a mammoth aircraft carrier that is made up of 60,000 tons of structural steel and travels across the Pacific Ocean, protecting the collective maritime interests of the United States and its allies. In a call from the USS George Washington, as it traveled somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, Timmons spoke about his life on the ship. Timmons joined the U.S. Navy in 2009 and for the past two years he has called the USS George Washington his home. Aboard the ship, the 2008 Liberty High School graduate, a hull maintenance technician, is known as Fireman Thomas Timmons. As a student at Liberty, Timmons was a member of the school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. But he knew long before then that a career in the Navy, and work in engineering, was something he wanted to pursue. “I made my mind up pretty early on, almost even before high school, that the Navy was something that I wanted to do,” he said. “The thing that attracted me to engi-
Fireman Thomas Timmons, a 2008 Liberty High School graduate, grinds a piece of steel in the machine shop aboard the USS George Washington (CVN 73). By MCSSA Brian Abel
neering is that I wanted to get into welding, and the Navy definitely has that covered.” Timmons spends most of his day in the machine shop where he fabricates different parts of the ship. He generally works to maintain the vessel, whether it is fabricating brackets that prevent pipes from vibrating or mending leaking pipes. “I really like to be able to weld and really make something out of nothing,” he said. “We just take different pieces of metal and then it really just lets your mind expand and explore the different kind of possibilities of things that you can make.” While getting to weld is Timmons’ favorite thing about living on the vessel, the worst part, he said, is the 6 a.m. wakeup calls. “I do value sleep,” he said, “but it’s something that I do have to kind of fight through and just kind of suck it up.
Needless to say, after a cup of coffee, usually I’m pretty good to go throughout the day.” During his time on the ship, Timmons has had the opportunity to visit exotic locales across the Pacific. He has visited ports in Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea and Australia, but his favorite was Singapore. “It’s a beautiful country,” he said. “The beaches over there are very nice. The people there are very understandable and also very nice. Just the overall feel of it really just kind of gives you a sense of almost being on a kind of tropical vacation.” Even though Timmons has been on the ship for more than two years, except for the few times he has visited home, he is still amazed at the sheer size of the crew and the strength of the vessel. “We have a population of about 5,500 people out here on this big, almost
floating city, and just about everybody knows everybody and it’s really quite an amazing feat,” he said. “It still amazes me just being able to stand outside on the dock and being able to look up at the ship and imagine how the boat stays afloat just because of how big it is.” When he first got on the ship, Timmons admitted he battled a bout of homesickness, but now he’s used to being away from home. “This place is kind of the home away from home,” he said. “But it’s nice being able to take leave once in a while and being able to actually hug Mom and Dad again.” His parents couldn’t be prouder of their son, the Liberty grad said. In fact, Timmons is following in his father’s footsteps. “My dad, he was a sailor in his time back in Vietnam and I just wanted to carry on the tradition,” he said. “My dad loves me and he says how much he misses me and all the stories that he can’t wait to hear about all of the ports I’ve visited, and my mom can’t wait for all the pictures that come in so she can scrapbook them and stuff like that. They’re all very happy.”
PAGE 17
Calendar From Page 16 Holiday and Nov. 22 for Thanksgiving. The following programs are offered the rest of the month: q Newport Way Library Association Used Book Sale, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 3 and 1-4 p.m. Nov. 4 q “The Money Maze & The Scholarship Market,” for teens and adults, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 q Art preview: “A Century of Women Artists,” for adults, 7 p.m. Nov. 14 q Japanese Story Time at KidQuest Museum, ages 3-5 with an adult, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15 q Drop-in to learn about eBooks, for adults, 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and 10 a.m. Nov. 24 q Women’s selfdefense class, for adults, 11 a.m. Nov. 17 q Computer class: “Introduction to Computers,” for adults and teens, noon Nov. 19 q Teen movie matinee: “Hunger Games,” 2-5 p.m. Nov. 21 q Korean Language Story Time, for ages 3-5,
10:30 a.m. Nov. 30 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 2715822. 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 255-0895.
Schools
PAGE 18
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
SPIRITED FESTIVALS Photos by Christina Corrales-Toy
A group of Hazelwood Elementary School students, dressed in their Halloween best, see how low they can go as they do the limbo at the PTSA’s Harvest Homecoming and Dance on Oct. 26.
Above, Hailey Wong, a student in Apollo Elementary School’s preschool program, gets transformed into a dog as Maywood Middle School student Ashley Vong paints her face during Apollo’s Fall Harvest Festival on Oct. 19. Below, Kennedy Tinnea bowls a perfect strike as her father Ryan looks on at Newcastle Elementary School’s Costume Carnival on Oct. 26. Kennedy is the daughter of Katie Tinnea, a first-grade teacher at the school. Above, Makenna Garrett, an Apollo Elementary School kindergartener, uses a life-size Angry Birds slingshot to knock down obstacles and earn prizes. At left, Hazelwood students literally shout as the classic Isley Brothers hit ‘Shout’ is played at the PTSA’s Harvest Homecoming and Dance on Oct. 26.
At right, a group of Newcastle Elementary School students clad in their best Halloween costumes dance to the music at the school’s Costume Carnival on Oct. 26.
Newcastle News
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
Liberty grad is named Harvard College Scholar Jay Chakravarty, the 2011 valedictorian of Liberty High School and a student at Harvard University, has been designated a Harvard College Scholar. To qualify, students of the sophomore, junior and senior classes must be in the top 10 percent of their respective classes. Chakravarty is a sophomore at the school, where he is studying stem cell and regenerative biology. Contributed by the Renton School District
About 10 acres of undeveloped property (bottom right) is for sale by the Renton School District.
Public meetings planned for proposed property sale The Renton School District will hold public meetings to present the plan to sell two pieces of undeveloped property near Newcastle’s Hazelwood Elementary School and Renton’s Tiffany Park Elementary School, according to a press release from the district. The district will hold two community meetings at schools near each property, as well as more formal school board public hearings — 6 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Hazelwood Elementary library, 7100 116th Ave. S.E., and 7 p.m. Nov. 27 and 29 at the district’s administrative offices, 300 S.W. Seventh St., Renton. Both pieces of property are zoned for singlefamily residences. The property at the north end of the district, near Hazelwood Elementary, measures about 10 acres. Both sites present challenging issues that preclude the district from building a school on either site, including size, location, accessibility and environmental issues, the release said. The cost to prepare
both of the densely wooded sites — with its challenging topography — to construct a school would have resulted in an excessive expense request of district taxpayers, according to the district. Funds generated from the sale of the properties must be placed into the district’s capital projects fund for school construction and renovation.
Renton District school opens in 2016 The Renton School Board has approved a timeline to construct a new middle school on the site of the current Renton Academy. Demolition of the site is scheduled for June 2014 and construction of the new school is planned to begin in March 2015. The school, which is scheduled to open in September 2016, will be at 6928 116th Ave. S.E.
Stay up to date with the latest in local news at www.newcastlenews.com.
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PAGE 19
Rotary honors Hazen seniors Christian Puga-Salazar, a senior at Hazen High School, was selected as a Renton Rotary Club Youth Christian of the PugaMonth for Salazar September. PugaSalazar maintains a 3.9 grade point average and has been involved in groups such as Highlander Club, Diversity Club and Future Business Leaders of America. He has received junior varsity soccer and cross country certificates, a scholar athlete honor and the most inspirational award in soccer. Puga-Salazar works part time at a construction company, and volunteers with Weed Warriors and YMCA. He plans to attend the University of Washington to study medicine and hopes to become a doctor. Vicki Tang, a senior at Hazen High School, was selected as a Renton Rotary Club
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Youth of the Month for October. Tang maintains a 4.0 grade point average and has been involved in groups such as Diversity Club, Key Club and National Honor Society. She has received junior varsity letters in both cross country and track, the Ignite Award, the Spirit of the Highlander and the Outstanding Junior Award. She has also been named an Advanced Placement Scholar and been placed on the honor roll. Tang volunteers with the University of Washington Medical Center. She hopes to attend a four-year undergraduate program majoring in biology or math and would like to continue on to medical school where she can achieve her dream of becoming a doctor.
Hazen students named AP Scholars
Seventy students from Hazen High School were part of more than 100 in the Renton School District to be honored as Advanced Placement Scholars by The College Board. The designations are in recognition of the students’ exceptional achievement in AP program courses and on collegelevel AP exams. Students took AP exams in May after completing college-level courses at their high schools, and
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many of the recognized students have graduated and are now in college. Some, however, took the test in their junior year and are now seniors in high school. The College Board’s AP program provides academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses, and to earn college credit, advanced placement in college classes, or both through AP exams. Only about 20 percent of the 2.1 million students worldwide who took AP exams earned an AP Scholars Award.
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Sports
PAGE 20
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
Dan Braillard, longtime ‘Voice of the Patriots,’ dies By Christina Corrales-Toy There are certain things that make the atmosphere at a Liberty High School football game special. The smell of burgers sizzling on the grill, the sea of blue-and -green clad fans, the music of the band filling the stadium and, most distinctly, the sound of Patriot announcer Dan Braillard’s voice echoing through the night, all made the Friday night lights shine a little bit brighter. “Friday night at Liberty was kind of a production,” Liberty coach Steve Valach said. “Dan used that microphone as a way to just enhance the whole experience. It was kind of like a Shakespearean performance.” Braillard, who spent 25 years announcing Liberty football games and 15 years calling Patriot basketball games, died of kidney failure on Oct. 1. He was 66. As the “Voice of the Patriots,” Braillard was fair and original. He loved Liberty, but he also worked to call a fair game for both teams on the field, Valach said. After Sept. 11, before every game, Braillard would ask the fans to stand and honor the
“Friday night at Liberty was kind of a production. Dan used that microphone as a way to just enhance the whole experience. It was kind of like a Shakespearean performance.” — Steve Valach Liberty High School football coach servicemen and servicewomen stationed around the world with a moment of silence. It became Braillard’s signature call. “I would get a lot of comments from other schools, calls the next day, telling me what a wonderful job he did,” said George Vanni, the former Liberty High School athletic director. Braillard was never paid to announce a game, but that didn’t matter to him, said Michelle Munson, Braillard’s daughter and a teacher at Liberty High School. “He never wanted anything,” she said. “He just was always there on a Friday night to be a part of the environment and a part of the community.” For Braillard, there was nothing better than sitting down in
Dan Braillard the bowl that is Liberty’s field, watching the sun set and rooting for the Patriots, Munson said. “It just filled him with a sense of pride and excitement to be able to watch these young kids,” she said. The Liberty announcer was positive and optimistic, Valach said, even when the team was struggling. “He always had something good and encouraging to say, and I think he was like that with a lot of people,” Valach said. But at the heart of it all, Braillard was a family man and See BRAILLARD, Page 21
By Greg Farrar
Dan Braillard’s daughters Kim Straight and Michelle Munson (from left), with their aunt and his sister Joanne, stand during the National Anthem on the field Oct. 5 beneath his announcer’s booth of nearly three decades.
Hazen notches win streak just in time for playoffs By Christina Corrales-Toy
By Rob Nichols
Hazen High School quarterback Tony Nipert gets solid protection from his offensive line as he drops back to pass against Evergreen on Oct. 4 at Renton Memorial Stadium. The Highlanders beat Evergreen, 48-6.
It’s been an up-anddown year for the Hazen High School football team, but the Highlanders seem to be hitting their stride just in time for the playoffs. The team has won three of its last four games, ending the regular season with a 5-4 record, after a slow, 2-3 start to the season. “The whole season has been kind of a roller coaster,” Hazen coach Drew Oliver said. “There’s really only been one game that we haven’t been close. I think that the
second half of the season has been more of what we wanted.” The Highlanders began the second half of the season Oct. 4 with a 48-6 win against Evergreen. The team flourished behind a strong performance from Jordan Abdullah, who rushed for two touchdowns and more than 100 yards. Hazen then fell to Bainbridge, 21-20, on Oct. 11. The Highlanders led Bainbridge 14-7 at halftime, but couldn’t hang on against the nonconferSee HAZEN, Page 23
Newcastle News
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
PAGE 21
Contributed
Dan Braillard is moved by a Christmas present in December 2009, a Liberty Patriots’ football helmet signed by members of the team, which had played in the state 3A championship final that month.
Braillard From Page 20 in addition to his wife and three children, he had a family of Patriots. “His family was very important to him and I think Liberty was just an extension of his family,” Vanni said. The Braillard family is a Liberty High School institution and it all started with Dan and his wife Irene. All three of the couple’s children graduated from the school, and Irene worked at the school until she retired a few years ago. The Braillards were active in the school’s PTSA and the drama program, in addition to athletics. The reason Braillard worked so tirelessly to support Liberty High School was because of the sense of community the school offered to his family, Munson said. “I think he just loved being a Patriot,” she said. “He just loved what the community gave to his family. It gave us home, it gave us comfort and it gave us security.” It’s safe to say that Liberty football games will never quite be the same without Braillard, Valach said. But the mark that Braillard left on Liberty
athletics pales in comparison to the impact the school’s community left on him, Munson said. “He exemplified what Friday night was at Liberty High School,” she said. “You go to a football game, that spirit, that pride and that excitement for the blue and green, that was Dad. Dad brought that to life with his voice and his exuberance and his love for the Patriots.” Braillard is survived by his wife Irene; their three children, Michelle, Kim and Patrick; and three grandchildren, Lorelli, Alexander and Calvin.
By Kim Ellenberg
It’s good to be No. 1 After a successful 12-3 season, the Liberty High School girls soccer team poses with its new hardware — the 2012 KingCo Conference 3A/2A championship trophy. Next up, the girls will compete in the 3A state soccer championships.
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Newcastle News
PAGE 22
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
Liberty remains a team while facing adversity By Christina Corrales-Toy The Liberty High School football team went into the season believing in the acronym TEAM — together everyone achieves more. It was the motto that drove and motivated a young, thin-in-numbers Patriots squad. And even though the team finished its season with a 3-6 record and won’t be going to the playoffs, the acronym was truer than the team could have ever imagined. “They picked as their motto, the acronym TEAM, and it’s really a cliché because everyone uses
it,” Liberty coach Steve Valach said. “But the team really stood behind it and that’s who we are. We are going to be a team.” The 2012 Patriots faced adversity throughout the season. Liberty was plagued by injuries, a tough predicament for an already small squad. While it didn’t translate to wins for the Patriots, it did bring the team together, Valach said. “It’s about us sticking together, playing together and fighting together, and we’ve done that,” he said. The Patriots began the second half of the season on a high note, when they
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Tynan Gilmore, Liberty High School senior quarterback, drags Mount Si senior defensive back Jimbo Davis into the end zone with his fourth-quarter punt return, as Patriot coaches on the sideline jump and raise their hands to celebrate his touchdown effort. crushed Sammamish, 50-7, Oct. 5. Liberty put together a formidable rushing attack against the Totems, running for more than 375
yards. Tynan Gilmore and Russell Boston each had two rushing touchdowns in the game. There wasn’t much offense between Liberty
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season play ended Oct. 26, after they lost to Mount Si, 35-7. It was a gutsy performance by Gilmore, who stepped into the quarterback position due to injuries. Gilmore, a senior leader, did it all for the Patriots this season. Whether it was scoring, defense or special teams, Gilmore was right there making an impact. It would have been nice to see more wins in the season, Valach said, but it was a group of kids that he truly enjoyed coaching. “We haven’t won, but what you want is you want them to battle and you want them to stay coachable and stay together, and they’ve done that,” he said. “They made it pretty fun to coach.” The Patriots will play one last game when they host Bishop Blanchet in a KingCo/Metro crossover game at 7 p.m. Nov. 2.
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and Mercer Island when the two battled Oct. 12. Both teams were able to move the ball, but getting it into the end zone wasn’t so easy. Ultimately, Mercer Island was the only one to reach the end zone as Liberty fell to the Islanders, 7-3. Liberty’s only points came from a second-half field goal by kicker Josh Johnson. With just two games left in the season, Liberty was faced with a difficult task — going up against the top two 3A teams in the state in Bellevue and Mount Si. While the Patriots fell to Bellevue, 49-11, they were the first team in the state to put up more than 10 points on the Wolverines this season, behind a Johnson field goal and a score by Gilmore, as well as a 2-point conversion. The Patriots’ regular-
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Newcastle News
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
PAGE 23
Hazen High School running back Mason Jacobs stiff arms a Foster defender Oct. 19 at Foster High School. The Highlanders defeated Foster, 56-7. By Rob Nichols
By Rob Nichols
Hazen High School fullback Joe Glaefke runs the ball against Bainbridge on Oct. 11 at Renton Memorial Stadium. The Highlanders fell to Bainbridge, 21-20.
Hazen From Page 20 ence foe. But Hazen bounced back quickly, winning their next two games in extravagant fashion and putting together the team’s first winning streak of the season. The Highlanders shot out of the gate early Oct. 19, scoring 28 points in the first quarter alone, against Foster. Joe Glaefke and Abdullah each rushed for more than 100 yards, and Abdullah found the end zone four times. Hazen eventually tacked on 28 more points, defeating Foster, 56-7. In Hazen’s regular season finale, the Highlanders
Hazen athletes recognized for academic success Athletes at Hazen High School have been doing exemplary work on the field and in the classroom, according to the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association, which honored 14 of the school’s 16 fall sports teams. Both varsity and junior varsity teams for girls cross country and boys tennis qualified for the Outstanding Team Award, given to teams with a cumulative grade point average above 3.5.
played what Oliver said was the team’s, “most complete performance,” beating Renton, 38-7. The team scored in every quarter of the Oct. 26 game, and Glaefke and Abdullah each had two rushing touchdowns. “Aside from that Bainbridge game, I think we’ve been starting to put four quarters fully together,” Oliver said. “I think the Renton game was our most complete example of that.” The second-half defensive effort has been strong as well. In three of the last four games, the Hazen defense held their opponents to 7 points or fewer. Defensive end Cody Moorhead had sacks in three of the last four games, while Zach Cable recorded tackles for losses
in each of the last four games. But Oliver declined to name any second-half standouts, saying it took a complete team effort to get the team where it wanted to go. “It’s been a complete team effort,” he said. “It’s been the offensive line, the defense, everybody. So I think that’s a good thing that everybody’s stepping up and playing.” Up next, the team heads into the playoffs, where it will travel north to face Ferndale at 7 p.m. Nov. 3. “Going to the playoffs, it’s a brand new season and everybody’s starting from the same spot,” Oliver said. “So hopefully we don’t worry about what’s happened before and we just focus on moving forward.”
The varsity girls cross country team, led by coach Sarah Menaul, recorded a near perfect cumulative GPA of 3.958. The varsity and junior varsity teams for boys cross country, girls soccer, girls swimming, boys golf and volleyball qualified for the Distinguished Team Award, given to teams with a cumulative GPA above between 3.0 and 3.49.
Walk will be used to award $3,000 in scholarship funds for college-bound students. In all, three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors who live in Newcastle or attend Hazen or Liberty high schools. Scholarship applications will be available beginning Jan. 1, 2013. Interested individuals can email Newcastle5K@ hotmail.com to receive application notifications and details. The 2012 Newcastle Days 5K Run/Walk drew almost 250 participants.
5K Run/Walk will award $3,000 in scholarships Proceeds from the 2012 Newcastle Days 5K Run/
Newcastle News
PAGE 24
NOVEMBER 2, 2012
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