Newcastlenews12 2013

Liberty takes girls state soccer title Page 14

December 6, 2013 VOL. 15, NO. 3

Cornerstone Studio presents ‘The Nutcracker’ Page 10

John Drescher wins City Council race

By Christina Corrales-Toy John Drescher celebrated Election Day with friends and family who were packed to the rim in The Wooly Toad at The Golf Club at Newcastle.

At about 8:15 p.m., he was sitting alone in a corner, glued to his computer. When

he clicked refresh, he saw the results, and called his wife Sally over to show her the outcome.

The screen showed Drescher with an insurmountable lead that night, and it only grew as he defeated challenger Mark Greene in the Newcastle City Council’s only contested race.

“After putting in a lot of

work, and doorbelling so many homes and working hard to make sure that your message got out there, it was particularly rewarding to see it be received so successfully,” he said.

With more than 82 percent, or 1,979 votes, Drescher beat Greene for the council’s sixth position. Greene earned about

17 percent of the vote, or 409 votes.

Drescher will replace longtime Councilman Bill Erxleben beginning in January, and he said he has already begun preparing for the big day.

In addition to regularly See ELECTION, Page 5

Diamond Awards go to city’s top volunteers.

Page 2

Public safety, additional staff highlight 2014 budget

Bittersweet goodbye

By Christina Corrales-Toy

Top honors

Sweet Decadence is moving to Renton.

Page 11

Top educator

Hazen Assistant Principal Ed Crow gets state honor.

Page 12

You should know Do you have a cat or dog? It’s the law to get your pet licensed, and renew it annually.

You can do it at City Hall or learn more at www.ci.newcastle. wa.us/city_clerk/pet_ licenses.htm.

Contact us: newcastle@isspress.com 392-6434, ext. 239

50¢

Wait ’til she sees the big tree

By Greg Farrar

Judy Hentz, an Olympus neighborhood resident, looks on as her granddaughter, Jovi Hentz-Tubbs, 12 months, touches the nearest paper snowman lantern on an iron tree Nov. 30, during ‘A Very Newcastle Christmas Celebration’ held by town businesses and hosted by Newcastle Fruit & Produce at the corner of Newcastle Way and Coal Creek Parkway. See more photos on Page 11.

Library celebrates first anniversary

By Christina Corrales-Toy Newcastle residents waited years for their own library, enduring setback after setback, so when it finally opened its doors Dec. 8, 2012, the community turned out in droves.

As soon as doors opened that December morning, patrons flooded the entrance, and even more stood in a long line, snaked around the building, waiting for their turn to immerse themselves in that brand new book smell.

Flash forward a year later and the library has become

an integral part of the community, standing as an architectural marvel with its glasslined façade, in downtown Newcastle.

“It is well used,” said Kirsten Corning, librarian services manager. “I have a feeling, though, give it two or three more years and it will be really well used.”

The Newcastle Library will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a day of cake, music and a special story time Dec. 7, sponsored by the Friends of the Newcastle Library.

See LIBRARY, Page 5

If you go Birthday celebration q Newcastle Library q 12901 Newcastle Way q Dec. 7 q 2 p.m. — Holiday choral concert with the Hazen High School Chamber Singers and Divina Voce q 3 p.m. — Birthday cake and refreshments q 3:30 p.m. — Happy birthday story time for ages 5 and younger

The Newcastle City Council wrapped up its 2014 budget deliberations in early December, finishing a process that began with a July retreat, and ends with a sizable projected surplus.

Boosted mainly by incoming development revenue, and improving sales tax funds, city finances appear relatively sound for the short-term future, with an anticipated surplus of more than $100,000 in 2014.

The budget does not add any new taxes, with the council deciding against taking an allowable 1 percent increase in property tax for the second straight year.

“It is generally speaking inappropriate to ask for tax increases when you have a surplus forecasted,” Councilman Bill Erxleben said.

Next year’s budget will improve public safety, bumping Newcastle Detective Christy Marsalisi’s position to a full-time role, a decision that was made in June.

Newcastle is the only King County partner city that does not have its own full-time detective, though the council did increase Marsalisi to a 50-50 shared position for 2013.

In the current system, Marsalisi spends half of her time working for the city, and the other half working for the unincorporated areas of King County.

See BUDGET, Page 10

Newcastle News

PAGE 2

DECEMBER 6, 2013

And the Diamond Award goes to…

By Christina Corrales-Toy As Newcastle City Councilman John Dulcich approached the podium to present the first Diamond Award of the evening Nov. 13, the audience was quiet.

Moments later, the first sniffle emanated through the Prestwick Terrace, followed by another and another.

The tears were flowing by the time Dulcich finished his dedication, and not a seat was occupied as the audience stood to honor a man that meant so much to the Newcastle community.

That man was Dennis Yarnell, the popular owner of the Newcastle Shell station, who died Feb. 2.

The name of the award given to an individual who inspires and motivates others in the community was officially rebranded as the Dennis Yarnell Inspiration Award, and the first recipients were Yarnell’s wife Elizabeth Widseth and his

Donate to toy drives Bartell Drugs is collecting holiday gifts for children in need during the 10th annual Salvation Army Toy ‘N’ Joy drive.

Toys will be distributed to low-income children and youths the week before Christmas through the Salvation Army’s “toy warehouses.”

Donations of new,

On the Web View a photo gallery of the night’s festivities at www.newcastle-news.com. son Trevor.

Widseth and Trevor joined Dulcich onstage as he described the work Jon ethic, Fortescue dedication and honesty that defined Yarnell’s personality and made him such a valued member of the community.

“We know your dad is watching you every day and is so proud of you,” Dulcich told Trevor.

The award was the first of seven given to outstanding community members in a special ceremony at The Golf Club at Newcastle.

The Newcastle Chamber

By Christina Corrales-Toy

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of Commerce event switched to an evening affair, and attendees certainly took to the emphasis on glamour, dressing up in their finest cocktail attire.

After the audience had a moment to wipe their tears away, the ceremony continued with the presentation of the Business Award.

Paul Reynolds, sales and marketing director for Regency Newcastle, won the honor given to

an owner or manager of a Newcastle business who donates time, energy or resources for community causes.

Jim Price, Newcastle Trails vice president and a member of the city’s Community Activities Commission, received the top honor in the community leadership category.

This award is given to an individual who demonstrates uncommon initiative and caring, setting an example in the community.

Lea Lo, the director of Cornerstone Studio, won the education award, given to an individual whose personal interest affects education and development of greater Newcastle-area students.

Coal Creek Family YMCA’s Akina Moscinski earned the customer service award, given to an employee that shows an uncommon enthusiasm and commitment that enriches the community.

Local youths Jon

City Council changes street name

unwrapped toys will be accepted at local stores through Dec. 14. The Newcastle store is at 6939 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. The Bellevue Fire Department is also hosting a toy and food drive.

Drop off new, unwrapped toys and nonperishable food to Newcastle’s Fire Station 9, 12412 Newcastle Way, through Dec. 24.

Your Dreams, Our Strategies

By Christina Corrales-Toy

The 2013 Diamond Award recipients (above, from left) Steve Fortescue, on behalf of son Jon, Madeline Dalton, Elizabeth Widseth and son Trevor Yarnell, Jim Price, Lea Lo and Akina Moscinski and Paul Reynolds (at right) show of their new hardware at the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce’s annual ceremony Nov. 13.

Fortescue and Madeline Dalton were co-winners of the evening’s youth award, given to a young person who demonstrates exceptional service and dedication to the community.

Fortescue, a Presidential Scholar, organized students to donate hundreds of volunteer hours to better the community, while Dalton maintains a healthy-eating blog geared to teens.

The recipient of a Diamond Award is chosen based on his or her contribution to the community of the greater Newcastle area. Winners and nominees demonstrate dedication, integrity and caring, with a passion for doing what needs to be done.

A 1 1/2-mile stretch of road in the south end of the city is about to get one mouthful of a new name.

Effective Jan. 1, drivers traversing the Southeast 88th Street corridor will officially be traveling along Southeast May Creek Park Drive.

The City Council approved the name change at its Nov. 5 meeting, setting one continuous name for the street that begins off Coal Creek Parkway as Southeast 89th Place and actually changes names six times along its route.

“This goes back to 2002, when the council then first decided that for its major directional roads that rather than have multiple street numbers, that we have a name for the entire section to provide clear directions to people,” Councilman Bill Erxleben said in August when he suggested the change.

The name change would add a certain pres-

tige to the road, eliminate the confusion that comes with multiple street names and add a directional element since the road goes to the entrance of May Creek Park, Erxleben said.

The corridor is the city’s third most heavily traveled east-to-west road, just behind Newcastle Way and Newcastle Golf Club Road.

At various places in its route, the road is known as 112th Place Southeast, 114th Avenue Southeast, Southeast 88th Street, Southeast 88th Place, 124th Avenue and Southeast 89th Place.

The city was required to publically notify residents who live along the street, giving them an opportunity to comment on the proposal.

The change was a welcome one for most residents who were excited about the prospect of offering easier directions to their homes.

“I surveyed all the people on my street and they said, ‘Thank God,

let’s make it easy for our visitors,’” said Newcastle resident Giles Velte, who spoke at the Nov. 5 public hearing about the name change.

Jim Price, vice president of Newcastle Trials, also offered his endorsement for the change, noting that the organization’s board unanimously supported it.

Rita Rothlisberger, who actually lives on the corridor, liked the change, too, but said the name was a bit too wordy.

The original name suggestion left off the Southeast directional portion, but it was added after an amendment offered by Deputy Mayor Lisa Jensen was approved.

“It seems reasonable to me to have a directional on the front of it because some people do use those and it sounds like our emergency responders use that to know what direction the street goes generally,” she said.

The city has experience with the process, changing

street names to Newcastle Way and Newcastle Golf Club Road in 2003.

Objections of the process most often come in the form of residents unhappy with having to change their address, Erxleben said.

Residents are given plenty of time to do so, though, since post offices generally agree to deliver mail with the previous street name on it for up to a year.

Similar to the signs on Newcastle Way, any new street signs would also likely have a smaller sign below it with the previous street name.

Installation of the signage won’t occur until Jan. 1 at the earliest, Public Works Director Mark Rigos said. The change will affect about 60-70 residences.

For most, the street name will be the only change, but for about 10 homes, both the street name and the street address number will be altered, Rigos said.

Newcastle News

DECEMBER 6, 2013

PAGE 3

Test your Newcastle history knowledge — Part 4 The city of Newcastle is home to a rich coal-mining history that is celebrated at every Newcastle Days.

In 2012, Mayor Rich Crispo compiled a list of 120 questions that highlighted the history of Newcastle. Each vendor booth had a question, and prizes were awarded for correct answers at the end of the day.

Below, we’ve printed a few of the questions, which highlight interesting facts about the history of the Newcastle community.

Crispo compiled the list of questions through information taken from “The Coals of Newcastle — A Hundred Years of Hidden History,” by Richard and Lucile McDonald.

Think you know your city’s history? Test yourself.

Q: What were the biggest years of coal production in Newcastle?

A: The mines produced 305,000 tons of coal in 1916, 368,000 tons in 1917 and 325,000 tons in 1918.

The increase in these years was due to the energy

Back tracking: an ongoing series about the history of Newcastle

needs during World War I. Q: What event in 1900 signaled the general decline of the Pacific Northwest coal industry?

A: The completion of the trans-continental railroad allowed cheaper coal to come from the Rocky Mountain states and British Columbia.

Q: How was coal moved from Newcastle to Seattle in the early days?

A: A wagon transported it over Newport Hills to Lake Washington, and then a barge took it to Leschi and another wagon

got it to Seattle.

pulled up in 1937.

Q: What was “Little Seattle’s” role at the Newcastle mines?

A: “Little Seattle” was a coal-burning engine that hauled coal out of the mines to the bunkers. The locomotive was 12 feet long and 4 1/2 feet high. It made 14 to 16 trips a day hauling 30 coal cars, each carrying at least 1 ton of coal when loaded.

Q: When was the cemetery established?

A: It was established in 1879. It took an entire day for a funeral procession to make the round trip from the company town to the cemetery.

Mourners traveled a total of 8 miles to and from the grave sites.

Q: What was the coal company sport in 1922?

A: Each mine had at least one baseball team.

They played against other mines as far north as Nanaimo, British Columbia, and as far east as Roslyn.

Q: Each part of the company coal town had different names. How did Red Town,

Finn Town and Rainbow Town get their names?

A: Red Town had all buildings painted the same color, red; Rainbow Town had buildings of any color; and Finn Town was populated with the Finnish workers. Today, there are trails in Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park named after the Red and Rainbow towns.

Q: In 1910, the train from Seattle made two trips a day.

Where did it stop and how long did it take?

A: The train stopped at Renton, Kennydale, Newcastle and Coal Creek.

The 3 p.m. arrived in Newcastle at 4:40 p.m. and the 6:20 p.m. arrived at 7:20 p.m.

Q: What happened to the railroad between Seattle and Newcastle starting in 1925?

A: In 1925, passenger service was discontinued and in 1930, all service was stopped. The line was officially abandoned in 1933 and the rails were

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Opinion

PAGE 4

Editorial

Letters

Shop Small, Shop Local in Newcastle

Sorry, CCUD, for the incorrect statement at meeting

A sticker at the entrance of Sweet Decadence Chocolates reads, “I shop Newcastle. It’s home.”

Even though the popular chocolate shop is set to relocate to Renton shortly, the phrase never rang truer as the nation celebrated Small Business Saturday Nov. 30.

The annual promotion, initiated by American Express in 2010, encourages holiday shoppers to patronize the storefronts right in their own hometown.

Shopping local has many benefits, starting with the gas and time you save. And then there is the benefit of sales tax revenues that stay in your city, providing funding for police and fire protection, roads and parks. Let’s not forget that so many community events and programs would not exist without the support of the small business owners who donate to schools and non-profit organizations.

The Newcastle business community demonstrated that perfectly with its free Nov. 30 community tree-lighting ceremony and holiday spectacular at the Newcastle Fruit and Produce stand.

Shopping locally is an easy way to show your appreciation. It should not be a one-time occurrence, though.

Support your hometown stores such as Newcastle Fruit and Produce, when it’s open for the season, B & E Meats & Seafood, Newcastle Jewelers and locally owned Zoëyogurt as often as you can.

Big box retailers may have some hot buys you can’t pass up, and the ease of online shopping is not to be denied. But shopping at local brick-and-mortar stores is satisfying in so many other ways. Make a personal commitment to enjoy the holidays, including the shopping, right here in your hometown.

Local soccer teams make city proud A hearty congratulations goes out to the Liberty High School girls soccer team, which won its first state title Nov. 23.

The odds were stacked against the Patriots, who didn’t even win their own league championship; but the girls fought back to put together one magical postseason run.

“To end your season with a win, only one team does it and we’re glad it’s us,” Liberty coach Tami Nguyen said.

Liberty wasn’t the only team to make a postseason splash, though. Just across town, Hazen won the Seamount League championship outright for the first time since 1992, and made it to the state tournament for the first time since 1993.

Kudos to Nguyen and Hazen coach Ken Matthews for leading groups of exceptional athletes!

Newcastle news Published since 1999 by

Is s a q u a h Pre s s , In c .

P.O. Box 1328 Issaquah, WA 98027 Phone: 392-6434 q Fax: 392-1695

This is an apology to Robert Russell, general manager of the Coal Creek Utility District.

The Coal Creek Utility District cares about the quality service they provide to Newcastle and the surrounding area. At the recent Town Hall meeting, I misspoke when I said it didn’t care about how it bills for streetlights. I apologize.

The district does care. It has been working diligently this past year, checking all 90 streetlighting districts to make sure that every customer is billed correctly. It found 51 customers had been left off the lists, out of the more than 1,700 customers who pay for streetlights.

Last week, the district sent let-

DECEMBER 6, 2013

ters to those 51 customers, alerting them to the correction and the coming $5 charge that will appear on their bi-monthly bills.

My thanks to Robert Russell. He has done a wonderful job in correcting the streetlighting billings.

Carol Simpson Newcastle City Council

Thanks for votes, and congratulations to the winners Regarding the Newcastle council election, thanks to everybody who voted for me.

Also, I offer my congratulations to my former opponent, John Drescher, and to Mayor Rich Crispo and Councilman John Dulcich, for their respective wins. Normally, I don’t concede before the verification of

Notes from Newcastle

A bittersweet decadence farewell I woke up Nov. 9, startled by a frightening nightmare.

It involved Sandra Wixon and the Sweet Decadence team. I dreamed that the “living room” of Newcastle was set to close.

“Oh, good,” I thought to myself as I awoke, “it was all a dream.”

Then, a moment later, I realized it wasn’t a dream; and the nightmare was no coincidence, given that I had heard just a day earlier the iconic business was relocating to The Landing in Renton.

As reality began to set in, a knot formed in my stomach.

Where would I meet to interview people?

Where would I get a cup of hot chocolate before an early City Council meeting? Where would I sit outside with my laptop when I had downtime between Newcastle appointments?

Poll question Which name would you prefer for the Southeast 88th Street corridor?

the count, but I’m making an exception to make sure that this makes the press in time for the News’ December edition.

Regarding Newcastle’s voters who regard themselves as Democrats, as an independent/third party chairman (Commons), it is at least interesting to see so many of them vote “Republican” in the nonpartisan council elections over the years, and I hope they will continue that trend in next year’s 9th District U.S. Representative election, because the Party of Commons just might decide to become affiliated with the G.O.P., again, in order to bring a slightly leftward tilt to that major party, as it was in Theodore Roosevelt’s trustbusting era, for a change.

Mark Greene Newcastle

As I continued to reflect, I realized that Sweet Decadence wasn’t my preferred interviewing spot just because it was conveniently located beneath City Hall.

No, I went to Sweet Decadence for my most important interviews because it felt like home. I felt safe in this cozy little living room where Christina its caring homeowner, Wixon, Corrales-Toy cooked up treats for her guests.

As sad as we may all be that it will now take an extra 15 minutes to get our favorite sweet treats, baked goods and hot chocolate, it’s even sadder that the community is losing an icon in Wixon.

The good thing is Wixon assured me she won’t be disappearing, but it likely won’t be the same without the chance to see her every day working in the back of the kitchen.

Alas, Newcastle will have to find a new living room — a comfortable, centrally located place to gather. I don’t know where exactly that will be, or if it even exists, but I do know it has one heck of an act to follow.

Thank you, Sandra, for all that you’ve done for this community, and good luck in the future. I can’t wait to visit you in Renton.

A. Southeast May Creek Park Drive B. May Creek Park Drive C. May Creek Parkway D. May Creek Way Vote at www.newcastle-news.com.

Debbie Berto....................................... Publisher Kathleen R. Merrill................... Managing editor

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Newcastle News

DECEMBER 6, 2013

Little Rhody Park gets second life Library

By Christina Corrales-Toy A public land parcel in the west end of the city will get some kid-friendly park improvements in 2014.

The City Council allocated $60,000 in its 2014 budget for the development of Little Rhody Park, at Southeast 80th Street and 113th Avenue Southeast intersection.

“It means a lot to the residents on that side of the city,” said Newcastle Public Works Director Mark Rigos, who worked closely with neighbors to craft a vision for the park.

The land is currently little more than dirt and shrubs. Improvements will come in the form of a playground geared toward children ages 5-12.

It will serve the approximately 30 children in the neighborhood who previously had to walk about a mile to find a playground, said Danny Finan, one of the residents that worked with Rigos on the plans.

“This playground upgrade is seen as an investment in child safety,” he said.

Plans for park improvements began more than a year ago, Finan said, after Rigos approached the neighborhood about the underutilized space.

Election From Page 1 attending City Council meetings, Drescher had already met with city department directors, getting a chance to learn more about their duties, and ask questions about important issues.

His best preparation for the job, he said, though, was his time spent doorbelling more than 3,000 Newcastle homes prior to the election.

During the neighborhood crawl, Drescher took notes about particular issues residents had, and heard their concerns and ideas for the city’s future.

“I’m doing all that I can to be as educated as possible, but I do think, ultimately, probably the best thing for me being a good council member will have been talking with

They came up with a blueprint that included playground equipment, a half-court basketball court and a children’s climbing wall.

Finan pooled donations from fellow neighbors eager to see the park become a reality. The neighborhood, which doesn’t have a formal homeowner’s association, rallied to come up with a small, but promising fund balance.

“I suggested we collect money and present it to the city as a show of good faith,” Finan said. “I was truly amazed at how many neighbors came forward with monetary contributions.”

The city applied for a King County Youth Sports Facilities grant to fund the estimated $135,000 project. The initial intent was that if that grant was approved, the project would move forward in 2014. If it wasn’t, it would get delayed.

In October, the city was informed it did not get the grant, However, the City Council, moved by a showing of several neighbors at the Nov. 19 meeting, agreed to allocate $60,000 of city funds.

“Since we don’t have much over there, I think it’s a good fit and I think

it’s prudent for us to do,” Councilman John Dulcich said.

Rather than asking the neighborhood to contribute from its pooled funds for the project, City Council members said they preferred residents provide some “sweat equity” when work begins to install the park.

Rigos said he was hopeful the playground upgrades would be finished by next summer.

Until then, the next steps are to create a site plan, select playground equipment and come up with a formal name for the park.

The naming process will likely go through the Community Activities Commission in conjunction with the neighborhood, but Little Rhody Park, a reference to a nearby rhododendron farm, seems to be the favorite, Finan said.

The neighborhood would still like to see the upgrades outlined in the original plan, Finan said, but for now, the playground equipment is a sincerely welcomed start.

“Now we know what is possible and we’ll hopefully make incremental upgrades in the future,” he said. “This is a tremendous first step and we are grateful.”

so many different people during the election,” he said.

Incumbents Mayor Rich Crispo and Councilman John Dulcich were re-elected after they ran unopposed. Each received more than 98 percent of the vote.

In school board races, the Issaquah School District has a new board member in Lisa Callan, after she narrowly bested incumbent Alison Meryweather with more than 51 percent of the vote, or 10,545 votes.

Local Issaquah School Board member Marnie Maraldo was re-elected, as were Renton School Board members Pam Teal and Al Talley. All three ran unopposed.

Coal Creek Utility District Commissioner Ric Anderson also retained his seat, after running unopposed.

King County Councilman Reagan Dunn will also continue

to serve the residents of Newcastle, defeating his opponent Shari Song with more than 57 percent of the vote, or 31,469 votes.

Song received about 42 percent of the vote, or 22,927 votes.

The 2013 election was certified Nov. 26. View an entire list of results at www.kingcounty.gov/elections.

From Page 1 The toddler story times have been one of the library’s most popular programs since it opened, Corning said. The Newcastle Library offers young toddler, toddler, preschool and family story times.

“Story times are designed to foster an early and ongoing love of books, libraries and learning, and they are pretty fun, too,” said Kelcy Tiger, the children services librarian who leads the Newcastle programs.

The story times were so well attended, the library had to expand its offerings and stagger its start times to accommodate participants.

It was a necessary move, Corning said, because of the library’s limited parking stalls. The lack of available parking is a common complaint among Newcastle Library patrons.

“We’ve done things to help mitigate parking,” Corning said. “Now, we have a very concentrated break in our story times, so the first group can leave and those spots will be available for the next group.”

While attendance at children’s programs has been high, the same isn’t true when it comes to teen programming.

Turnout for teen-centric events is low, probably due in part to the fact that there is currently no middle school or high school in the city, Corning said.

While the Newcastle Library easily established relationships with the local elementary schools, the staff is still working on creating ties with the secondary schools, Corning said.

“We are building bridges and getting there, but I just think it’s taking

PAGE 5 a little longer to get the word out than we initially expected,” she said.

As the library heads into its second year, reaching more teens will be a priority, Corning said, and it plans to partner with Coal Creek Family YMCA to do it.

The two entities have already merged their teen leadership councils, which lets teens offer input about the services they would like to see at the Newcastle Library, Coal Creek Family YMCA and in the community, said Donna Day, Newcastle’s teen services librarian.

The Newcastle Library is also working to provide programming that appeals to teens, such as a duct-tape craft workshop in December and college prep programs in the spring.

In its first year, library staff has worked diligently to form partnerships with local entities including the Newcastle Historical Society and Newcastle Trails, said Vicki Heck, the adult services librarian.

Newcastle Trails provides the library with free trail guides that allow patrons to explore the city’s vast trail network.

The Newcastle Historical Society hosted a series of free September presentations about the city’s history at the library, and displayed pictures in the public meeting room.

It’s those types of community relationships that Heck said the library hopes to continue to foster in the years ahead.

“I’m always interested in hearing ideas from our community members about services or programs they’d like to see at our library,” she said. “The community is what makes our library great.”

When the Newcastle Library opened its doors, staff members said it would be more than a building; it would exist

Newcastle Chamber of Commerce

Thank you to our community for a happy and successful Diamond Awards.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year.

December 4, 2013: Networking Education Breakfast with James Alberson of Sandler Training.

“Eliminate your tendency towards free consulting.” 7:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Regency Newcastle is located at 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Road, Newcastle, WA 98059. Networking breakfasts are free to members and first-time attending guests.

December 11, 2013: Chamber Lunch with Professional Life Coach Nancy Carlstrom shares “How to Keep the Happy in your Happy Holidays, tips and tools to minimize holiday stress.”

Tapatio Mexican Grill from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 6920 Coal Creek Pkwy SE, Newcastle, WA 98059.

December 18, 2013: Join us for a festive Chamber After Hours at Newcastle Chamber Member, The Wine Shoppe at Hawk’s Landing. 6:00 – 7:15 p.m.

1785 NE 44th Street, Suite 105, Renton, Washington. Open to the community.

By the numbers Figures represent totals calculated from Dec. 8, 2012, to Nov. 19, 2013. q 626,633 — The total number of minutes visitors have spent using the library computers. q 345, 390 — The number of items checked out of the library. q 161,925 — The number of visitors based, roughly, on door count. q 4,431 — The cumulative attendance through 83 sessions of Englishlanguage story time. q 2,092 — The number of library cards registered to new patrons. q 587 — The number of times the meeting room has been booked for use by the public.

Source: King County Library System

as a presence in the community.

That’s certainly been true, as library staff members attended Newcastle Days with the red Library2Go van, participated in neighborhood block parties and hosted library programs at Bill Pace Fruit and Produce, Coal Creek Family YMCA and local schools.

“We all really like it here,” Corning said. “This is such a nice library to work at. The community is very nice to work with, the patrons are nice to work with and the collection is lovely.”

Newcastle News

PAGE 6

Police blotter You’re a star A black van with a star logo was stolen from the parking lot of Newport Crossing apartments, 7311 Coal Creek Parkway, between the evening of Oct. 26 and the afternoon of Oct. 27. The car had been locked and legally parked.

Nothing to be found An unknown suspect

rummaged through two vehicles parked in the 8800 block of 125th Place Southeast between the evening of Nov. 4 and the morning of Nov. 5. Nothing was damaged or taken from the vehicles.

Shattered An unknown suspect caused $500 in damage by shattering the window of a car in the Walkers Run Condominiums parking lot, 7453 Newcastle Golf Club Road, Nov. 11. There

was no other damage to the vehicle and the victim did not believe that theft was intended.

Coal Creek YMCA sting There were a series of car break-ins at the Coal Creek Family YMCA, 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road, Nov. 13: q More than $3,500 worth of goods was stolen from a vehicle, including a Louis Vuitton purse, wallet and sunglasses. The driver’s-side

window was smashed to gain entry. q More than $5,000 worth of goods, including a Microsoft Surface tablet, a laptop and a Gucci purse was taken from a vehicle by smashing the driver’sside window. q About $500 in damage was caused after the rear left window of a vehicle was smashed.

Nothing was stolen from it, though. q A purse and a checkbook were stolen from a vehicle. The rear driver’sside window was smashed

DECEMBER 6, 2013 to gain access.

Stolen pickup A stolen pickup was located near the entrance road of the Approach Condominiums, 6800 132nd Place S.E., Nov. 14.

The vehicle was reported stolen from Renton on Nov. 8.

Coincidence?

In the same location where the stolen pickup was discovered Nov. 14, a victim reported that his

Acura was stolen overnight Nov. 13 and Nov. 14. The vehicle owner said the car was locked and did have an alarm.

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While walking a dog in the 11700 block of Southeast 92nd Street Nov. 15, a person reported that a neighbor made threatening remarks toward her. The two have had previous encounters.

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Newcastle News

DECEMBER 6, 2013

PAGE 7

Laughing all the way

The Play’s the Thing Plays loom large in our family background.

We’ve produced skits on Thanksgiving Day for years, terrifying orphan invitees and leading a grandson to sing in loud and crowded karaoke bars today.

I was introduced to the joys of acting in the second grade, when we were barely able to string together decent sentences or walk without tripping. In spite of this, our teacher — who had clearly chosen the wrong profession — had us onstage in powdered wigs and long dresses, reciting lines of dialogue and doing the minuet.

Although the acting part was fun for me, I was most taken with the process of creation.

Because of my naturally overbearing and bossy nature, I started directing my sisters in plays that we put on for our parents and anyone in the neighborhood that

we could entice with free ice cream and cake.

My greatest acting and directing achievement Pat Detmer was “Little Women.” I was Jo. Who else? And little sister Susie, blond like Amy, became Amy. I considered Meg and Beth to be so peripheral to the meat of the story that I had littlest sister Barb play them both.

There was something familiar about Amy vs.

Jo in “Little Women.” It felt a lot like Susie vs. Pat in our “Little Family.”

Susie was thin and studious, and I was neither of those. Susie was careful with her things — fussy, I thought — and careful with her shoes and clothes, and I was none

of those, either. She saved her allowance.

She flirted with boys. I was convinced she was adopted.

My version of the play consisted of three acts: Act I, the sisters talking about Christmas, their father and the Civil War; Act III, their father’s triumphant return home. But Act II was the heart of it for me, the climax, the raison d’être: the Jo vs. Amy fight after Amy threw Jo’s story in the fireplace in a fit of selfish rage.

Ahh … That had a ring of familiarity to it (although Susie had never done anything so heinous) and when we rehearsed it, I did so with a zeal that surprised everyone, including me.

Louisa Mae Alcott wrote that Jo shook Amy “until her teeth chattered,” and

by God, that was the realism I was looking for! I directed and redirected that scene, calling for Susie to chatter her teeth

(You think it’s easy? Try doing it on command) and I remember shaking her shoulders, inches from her pale face and wide eyes as she gamely clacked away, her teeth looking a lot like the ones

Troop 499 to collect Christmas trees for annual fundraiser Newcastle’s Boy Troop 499 will begin circulating through local neighborhoods at 9 a.m. Jan. 4 to collect Christmas trees from homes for disposal.

The group will go through neighborhoods several times, until 2 p.m., for its annual fundraiser.

Homeowners may place their trees at the curb of their home for pickup.

Donations for the Scouts are accepted by placing a Ziploc bag and envelope addressed to Troop 499

at 8042 116th Ave. S.E., Newcastle, WA 98056, on the tree. Donations can also be mailed to that address.

If the troop misses a tree, homeowners can call 206-579-7732 or 206-8178323 for pickup.

It is not uncommon for trees to be picked up a week after the official date, and each year, the troop collects about 500 trees that get chipped and recycled.

Donations are used to support the Scouts’ camp-

ing activities. Individual Scouts earned up to $100 in camping funds during the 2013 tree-recycling program, and several scholarships for Summer Camp 2013 were donated to families hit hard by the economy.

Donations to the Troop Scholarship Fund can also

be made at HomeStreet Bank anytime during the year. Camping equipment donations for the growing troop are also welcome.

The troop, sponsored by the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce, had 60 Scouts in 2013 and will likely go well over 70 Scouts this spring.

that you wind up and put on a table.

We practiced over and over and over again until I felt we had it just right.

It was, however, never presented due to budget constraints and concerns

about Child Protective Services.

You can reach Pat Detmer — whose sister Susie loves her, and who loves her sister Susie ... seriously! — at patdetmer@aol.com.

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Community

PAGE 8

Events Chamber Networking Breakfast: ‘Learn How to Stop Free Consulting,’ presented by James Alberson, of Sandler Training, 7:15-8:30 a.m.

Dec. 4, Regency Newcastle, 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Road, free, 206-618-5641 The Newcastle Weed Warriors need volunteers at the Living Tree with “U-Take” Santa photos and gift wrapping from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or after school to 6 p.m. Dec. 6, from 10 a.m.to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Key Bank in Newcastle, 6917 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. Download a volunteer form at http://bit.ly/IKwv1i.

Newcastle Chamber of Commerce monthly lunch: ‘How to Keep the Happy in your Happy Holidays,’ presented by life coach Nancy Carlstrom, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Dec. 11, Tapatio Mexican Grill, 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E., $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers, 206-618-5641 Newcastle Chamber of Commerce After Hours Social: Wine Tasting, 6-7:15 p.m. Dec. 18, Wine Shoppe at Hawk’s Landing, 1785 N.E. 44th St., Suite 105, Renton, open to the community, RSVP online at bit.ly/17sgqGf, 255-4727 Deadline for Chamber of Commerce Santa Photo Contest, Dec. 21, categories for best ‘Child with Santa’ picture and best ‘Throwback picture with Santa’, winners receive $50 gift card to their choice of six local businesses, information and entry form online at www. newcastle-chamber.org/santa-photo-contest Cornerstone Studio presents ‘The Nutcracker’ at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21-22 at the Bellevue Performing Arts Center, 10416 S.E. Wolverine Way. Tickets are $18, available online at http://bit.ly/IlQjrt. Learn more at www.cornerstonestudio. com.

DECEMBER 6, 2013

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Santa Claus makes annual return trip to Newport Hills Santa Claus is coming to the Newport Hills neighborhood Dec. 14.

Led by a Bellevue Fire Department engine, he’ll tour the neighborhood, hand out treats and collect canned food for those in need.

The tour begins at 9 a.m. departing from the fire station on Newcastle Way. After snaking through the community, the tour will end at the Newport Hills Community Shopping Center at 1 p.m.

Santa’s visit is sponsored by the Newport Hills Community Club and local merchants.

View a map of Santa’s route, and learn more about the event at http://bit.ly/newporthillssanta.

Santa tours the Newport Hills neighborhood at a previous December event.

Public meetings All city public meetings are at City Hall, 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200. Call 649-4444. q City Council meeting — 7-10 p.m. Dec. 3 q Economic and Community Development meeting— noon to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 10 q Community Activity Commission meeting — 6-8 p.m. Dec. 11 q City Council meeting — 7-10 p.m. Nov. 17 q Planning Commission — 7-9 p.m. Dec. 18 q City Hall closed for Christmas Dec. 25 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.newcastletrails.org.

Friends of the Newcastle Library, 7-9 p.m. Dec. 4, Newcastle Library, 12901 Newcastle Way

YMCA The Coal Creek Family YMCA, 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road, has regular family programs for all ages. Get a complete schedule by calling 282-1500 or go to http://bit.ly/ coalcreekymca Family Night: Bingo Bonanza, 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 6, community kitchen, free for facility members Family Movie Night, 6-8:15 p.m. Dec. 20, Gym 1, popcorn provided, participants welcome to bring other snacks or comfort items, free for facility members

Contributed

December 2013

January 2014

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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 31

Parent’s Night Out: ‘Candy Cane Lane,’ 4-10 p.m.

Dec. 21, dinner, games and movies, ages 3-12, $30/facility members, $40/community or program members Teen Service Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 21 Teen Break Camp, all day, Dec. 23, 27 and 30, teens ages 10-15 will participate in

group challenges and go on field trips, different activities every day, cost per day to be determined Club Tyee, 3:45-4:45 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, grades six through eight, free to Tyee Middle School See CALENDAR, Page 9

Newcastle News

DECEMBER 6, 2013

Calendar From Page 8 students Family Pickle Ball, 2-4 p.m., Sundays, Gym 2, free to facility members Preschool Pool Play, 11 a.m. to noon, ages 5 and younger, free to facility members Tumbling — Mommy/Daddy and Me, 10:45-11:30 a.m., Thursdays, ages 10 months to 3 years, $5/class for facility members, $9/class for program and community members Zumbatomic, 4:455:30 p.m., Wednesdays, ages 5-8, free to facility members, first-come firstserved, Zumba for kids Open Teen and Tween Basketball, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, free to facility members, call for times Open Teen and Tween Volleyball, 7:309:45 p.m., Thursdays, free to facility members, ages 14 and older Coal Creek Crew Teen Dodgeball, 7-7:50 p.m., Tuesdays, Gym 1, free to facility members, grades six through 12 Teen Innertube Water Polo, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Saturdays, free to facility members, ages 11-16 Tae Kwon Do, for ages 5 and older, through March 28, $28 to $54, call for age group times and dates Swimming lessons, for ages 3 and older, $54, call for age group times

and dates Diabetes Prevention Program, for ages 18 and older, call for times or to sign up

Library events The Newcastle Library is at 12901 Newcastle Way. The following programs are offered this month: Computer Class: One-on-One Assistance, 7-7:30 p.m. and 7:30-8 p.m., adults, Mondays Newcastle Library One Year Celebration, 2-5 p.m. Dec. 7, celebration includes refreshments, choir performances, cake and story time Duct Tape Crafts for Teens, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 9, duct tape and instructional materials provided Drop-In to Learn about eBooks, 7-8 p.m., Dec. 13, bring your e-reader, tablet or phone and

learn how to access eBooks through KCLS Spanish Literature Reading Circle: ‘Dulce Enemiga Mia,’ by Marcela Serrano, 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 19

Clubs The Society of Artists for Newcastle, an art organization, is seeking new members.

Call 271-5822.

MOMS Club of Renton meets for play dates at parks and other locations. New activities are planned daily. Call 260-3079.

Bridge players are wanted, evening or daytime. Games take place at homes in the Hazelwood area. Call 255-0895.

The Newcastle Historical Society meets at 4 p.m. the first Thursday at City Hall, 13020 S.E. 72nd Place. Call 891-8149.

It’s the produce!

It’s the plants!!

It’s the people!!!

PAGE 9

City seeks to fill commission vacancy John Drescher’s election to the City Council means the Newcastle Planning Commission has a vacancy, and the city is seeking applicants for the position.

Drescher’s position will be vacated by Dec. 31. A newly appointed commissioner will begin serving the unexpired term Jan. 1 and will continue until July 31, 2016.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, and reside within the city or its potential annexation areas as set forth in the Comprehensive Plan.

Interested parties should submit an application, letter of interest and résumé to the City Clerk’s

office by 5 p.m. Dec. 16.

Applications are available on the city’s website at www.ci.newcastle. wa.us.

The commission, an advisory board to the council, makes recommendations on the Comprehensive Plan, zoning and development codes, and performs duties assigned annually by the council through a work plan.

The commission is comprised of seven members, each serving a fouryear term. Members are appointed by the mayor following a selection process and confirmed by the City Council. The commission meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Chamber member wins national award Newcastle Chamber of Commerce member Brenda Nunes was one of five Realtors nationwide to receive the 2013 EverGreen Award.

Nunes, an Eastside real estate agent, was nominated for the annual award based on her commitments to the green industry, as well as her work within the community.

She serves as an advocate, educator and mentor for green real estate topics, and has been a National Association of Realtors Green instructor since 2008. She has learned green industry skills and has made a commitment to the advancement of the green building industry.

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Newcastle News

PAGE 10

DECEMBER 6, 2013

Cornerstone Studio’s ‘The Nutcracker’ is its biggest ever

By Christina Corrales-Toy

If you go

The classic holiday ballet “The Nutcracker” is infamous for its Tchaikovsky-scored elegance and timeless story.

The show is performed in studios across the country, punctuated by extravagant sets, glamorous costumes and opulent choreography.

Cornerstone Studio’s production includes all of the grace and style of the original, but it is also likely the only one that mixes in a break-dancing scene or two.

“We want to keep our show traditionally ballet, but to add sort of an element in modernism in there, it definitely excites the crowd,” said Lea Lo, owner and artistic director of Cornerstone.

The Newport Hills studio began rehearsal in early November for what is expected to be its biggest and best production to date, Lo said.

The cast of 70 dancers, ranging in age from 5 to adult, represents the most performers the stu-

Locals perform in PNW Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’

Few things signify that it’s the holiday season in the Northwest more than a trip to Seattle’s McCaw Hall to dazzle in the magical experience that is the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “Nutcracker.”

This year is the 30th anniversary of the local production, and three

‘The Nutcracker’ q 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. q Dec. 21- 22 q Bellevue Performing Arts Center q 10416 S.E. Wolverine Way q Tickets are $18, purchase online at http://bit. ly/IlQjrt q Learn more at www. cornerstonestudio.com

By Christina Corrales-Toy

Cornerstone Studio students use the mirror to watch their movements as they rehearse for the dance school’s production of “The Nutcracker.” dio has ever had in its “Nutcracker” spectacle.

Newcastle resident Maya Paletta, 11, has been part of the studio’s annual production since she was in first grade at Hazelwood Elementary School.

Now a sixth-grader at McKnight Middle School, Paletta, who is cast in the play’s angel corps and

Newcastle children are part of it.

Glory Burford, Caitlin Buri and Celena Fornell will all take the stage for the show’s 2013 season.

Performances began Nov. 30 and continue through Dec. 29. Tickets range in price from $25 to $140 and can be purchased online at www. pnb.org, in person at 301 Mercer St. in Seattle or by calling 206-441-2424.

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rat pack, said she always enjoys the first day of rehearsals and seeing what’s changed from previous shows.

“This year, they’ve added in a lot of different parts,” she said. “It’s really different, which I like.”

With the expanded cast, Lo said they had to create a few new parts.

The group dances will also be larger and most of the scenes will include more

performers onstage.

“Our production is sort of a spin on the traditional story,” Lo said. “We do have characters that haven’t existed in terms of what Tchaikovsky’s original music was for.”

Those characters include a ribbon candy dancer in the production’s angel scene, and a break-dancing duo that dances to the traditionally Russian music in the sweet

Budget

we have to have a detective that can commit the time to Newcastle, and when she’s split between Newcastle and various areas of unincorporated, and different responsibilities, it’s spreading really thin and it’s tough,” Irvine said in June.

The 2014 budget also calls for three additional full-time staff members.

A surface water maintenance technician will help with the city’s growing drainage infrastructure, while a senior development review engineer will

From Page 1 Once she is bumped to full time, which will likely occur Jan. 1, 2014, she will focus solely on Newcastle cases.

Moving Marsalisi to full time costs an additional $86,000 annually, but it is something that Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine said is important.

“In order for us to investigate all the crimes,

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scene.

Newcastle resident Keila Mohan, 11, a member of the show’s expanded angel corps, said she is a fan of the different dance styles the studio incorporates in its production.

“It’s a good performance to watch during Christmas with your family and friends because there are a lot of different dances, and it’s cool to see the different techniques we work on at Cornerstone,” she said.

The show’s break-dancing scenes, and actionpacked battle scene, set it apart from other local assist with the review of documents connected with Newcastle’s development projects, such as Mutual Materials.

The technician’s salary would be about $45,000 plus benefits, and the engineer would make about $80,000 plus benefits.

Finally, a newly created community activities liaison will assist in the planning of city events, and work alongside the Community Activities Commission, while providing outreach to city volunteer organizations.

The liaison’s salary would be about $47,000 plus benefits.

The city will spend significantly less on pavement overlay in 2014, just more than $280,000,

productions, Lo said.

“The kids that tend to get bored at the traditional ‘Nutcrackers,’ I think they’re more engaged at ours,” she said. “We try to appeal to the masses.”

This year’s show will take place in Bellevue High School’s brand new, state-of-the-art performing arts center.

The auditorium hosts 450 spectators, Lo said.

With four performances scheduled for the weekend of Dec. 21-22, about 1,800 people will see the show.

“What we can do with the effects of the theater, I think, should produce a really high-quality show,” Lo said.

Tickets are a bit cheaper than last year’s $20. The cost is $18 for those who purchase online prior to the performances. Lo said attendees should buy early, since shows often sell out quickly.

If there are any available seats the day of a performance, tickets will be sold for $20 at the door.

“It’s definitely a good, affordable option for a family event during the holidays,” Lo said, “but tickets do go fast.” one year after it expended more than $1.5 million.

A majority of those funds were necessarily used to fix a deteriorating Coal Creek Parkway, though.

Staff will also work on 125th Avenue Southeast sidewalk improvements and conduct a Southeast 89th Place bike and pedestrian improvement study.

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Newcastle News

DECEMBER 6, 2013

File

Sandra Wixon, Sweet Decadence Chocolates owner, creates confections in the kitchen.

Wixon and her popular chocolate store will relocate to The Landing in Renton in December.

PAGE 11

By Greg Farrar

Children in line take their turn meeting Santa Claus and sharing their Christmas lists during the city’s ‘A Very Newcastle Christmas Celebration’ Nov. 30.

Sweet Decadence will relocate Lighting up the night to The Landing in Renton

By Christina Corrales-Toy The rumors are true, and altogether bittersweet.

Sweet Decadence Chocolates owner Sandra Wixon announced that the popular Newcastle shop will relocate to The Landing in Renton.

“Moving to The Landing makes sense for the business,” she said in a statement. “The Landing offers a location that’s located just off I-405. It will be easy for customers to find Sweet Decadence in the outdoor village atmosphere with plenty of parking and an array of shopping and dining options.”

Sweet Decadence Newcastle opened its doors May 1, 2008. Since then, the store and Wixon have played important roles in the community.

The store famously played host to events such as the Mack Strong meet-and-greet to benefit TEAM-WORKS, while Wixon has given her time and energy to help organize past Newcastle Days celebrations.

That won’t change when she moves, Wixon said, as she plans to stay involved with the organization of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce’s beer and wine garden at Newcastle Days.

Wixon’s chocolates have garnered numerous awards, including the honor of best chocolate in Western Washington in

King 5 TV’s annual Best of Western Washington awards.

Sweet Decadence also earned best chocolate at the Enumclaw Wine and Chocolate Festival, while Wixon won a Diamond Award in 2009.

“I am excited about opening at our new location at The Landing, but a part of my heart will always remain in Newcastle,” Wixon said.

Much will remain the same at Sweet Decadence’s new location, located just five miles from the current one. The emphasis on specialized gourmet chocolate will continue, as will the popular chocolate and wine pairings. Featured

pastries and coffees will also still be served.

The Landing location, though, will have more in-store seating, allowing for more guests to sit and enjoy a coffee or glass of wine as they view the chocolate making. The new shop’s decor features a chocolate theme, which will allow customers a full sensory experience.

The new store will be at 810 N. 10th Place, Suite B. It is set to open no later than Dec. 9, Wixon said.

The Newcastle store will remain in business through mid-December, but if staffing is available, Wixon said the location could stay open through Dec. 24.

Your Residential Specialists 206-949-1696 info@marciemaxwell.com

www.marciemaxwell.com

Photos by Greg Farrar

At left, the Newcastle business community’s 20-foot tall official Christmas tree is lit Nov. 30 at the corner of Newcastle Way and Coal Creek Parkway during ‘A Very Newcastle Christmas Celebration.’

Above, two reindeer entertain the visitors.

Schools

PAGE 12

DECEMBER 6, 2013

Hazen Assistant Principal Ed Crow receives state honor

By Christina Corrales-Toy Hazen Assistant Principal Ed Crow comes from a family of educators.

His father was a teacher, and then a counselor, while his mother was always active in school PTAs, even serving as president.

Despite that, he never knew that education would ultimately be his field of choice — he started a brief broadcast journalism career before

switching to the classroom.

“I did some volunteering in schools to see if that’s what I wanted to do,” he said. “Once I got back in the classroom and started helping kids do stuff, they kind of had me hooked at that point.”

Crow certainly found his calling, and if he needed any proof, it comes in the form of a state-shaped plaque bearing his name and the

Newcastle crowns its geography bee champ

By Christina Corrales-Toy As a fourth-grader competing against fifth-graders, one might call Newcastle Elementary School student Pravir Chugh an underdog in the school’s annual geography bee.

If you knew how long he prepared for the competition, though, you wouldn’t be surprised that he took first place in the Nov. 22 contest.

“I studied a long time, at least two to three years,” the charismatic fourth-grader said after his big victory.

Pravir bested nine of his classmates to win the school’s 2013 geography bee, answering a series of questions taken directly from the National Geographic Society.

He and fifth-grader Allison Constantini survived the first rounds, pitting the two in a final showdown.

Allison came into the competition with experience. She was a top-10 finalist in last year’s contest.

“The experience defiSee GEOBEE, Page 13

By Christina Corrales-Toy

Pravir Chugh, Newcastle Elementary School fourthgrader, reacts after he is named the school’s 2013 Geography Bee champion.

words Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year.

The Hazen administrator received the award this year from the Association of Washington School Principals, based on his strong educational leadership, commitment to the needs of his students and his skill in engaging the community in the learning process.

The honor wasn’t really See CROW, Page 13

By Christina Corrales-Toy

Ed Crow, Hazen High School assistant principal, takes a moment out of a busy day after being named Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year.

Liberty trio sings with national choir

By Christina Corrales-Toy Nov. 7 was just another regular day of rehearsal for Liberty High School choir students Cassi Cox, Sarah Edmonds and Jennifer Wood.

They stood, staggered among their peers, with their faces buried in the music sheets, singing along as teacher Robin Wood dutifully instructed.

Just a week earlier, though, the Liberty trio was in Nashville, Tenn. performing in front of an audience of more than 2,500 people, hand selected to stand among the best singers in the nation.

“It was kind of surreal, performing with so many talented singers,” Edmonds said.

The girls made the trip because they were named to the National Association for Music Education’s honor chorus. They were among 350 of the nation’s top vocalists to receive the honor.

Cox, Edmonds and Wood initially qualified for the opportunity by earning all-state or all-region awards last year. They each earned a spot in the national choir after judges were impressed with their taped audition performances.

“It was a lot of screaming happiness,” Wood, a junior, said of the moment she found out she was selected.

The honor is quite the accomplishment. Only one other Liberty High School student has ever been named to the national choir, the girls said.

The trio performed at the famous Gaylord Opryland Hotel, which houses an extravagant indoor garden, Oct. 30.

When the singers weren’t eating or sleeping, they were put on a rigorous rehearsal schedule. One day, the girls estimated they practiced for nearly 11 hours.

Contributed

Liberty High School students (from left) Sarah Edmonds, Cassi Cox and Jennifer Wood, with Liberty choir teacher Robin Wood, take in the indoor gardens at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

“That was my favorite day because it’s nonstop just my favorite thing, my favorite thing in the whole world,” Edmonds said.

Prominent East Coast conductor Rollo Dilworth led the rehearsals and challenged the vocalists by instructing them to sing some of his original works.

“It was really cool getting to work with him on something that he made because he knew exactly what it was supposed to sound like,” Cox said. “In a new piece of music, it’s a lot of fun to get into the details of the piece.”

The girls said they came into rehearsals not knowing what to expect. The 350 students were, after all, given an immense challenge in cultivating a harmony, despite the fact they had never performed together.

It was a challenge met with great success, though, the girls said, when they looked around and truly realized they were in a room with some of the nation’s best high

school singers.

“Just the first time we all sang together, half knowing the pieces, half not, it was absolutely amazing,” Wood said.

When they returned to the Liberty High School choir room, all three said the experience changed them for the better.

“It was actually kind of amazing because you don’t think you’re absorbing that much knowledge, because it’s so fun when you’re doing it, but you come out of it knowing so much more,” Edmonds said.

Edmonds and Cox are seniors this year, and both agreed the honor was the perfect culmination to their four years at Liberty.

All three said they hope to keep music in their life, whether it’s taking a vocal class or joining a chorus in college.

“With choir, you feel a part of something,” Edmonds said, “and that’s something you don’t want to give up.”

Newcastle News

DECEMBER 6, 2013

Rotary club honors top students Kirsten Donno, a senior at Hazen High School, was selected as a Renton Rotary Kirsten Club Donno Youth of the Month for November.

She maintains a 3.99 grade point average, and is involved in National Honor Society, leadership, Future Business Leaders of America and the district Instructional Materials Committee.

Donno has been named an Academic All Star, an FBLA member of the month and member of the year, and has received the Harvard Book Award and Technology Award.

She works part time at Caradigm, a healthcare software company, and volunteers as an algebra tutor.

Donno plans to enroll at a four-year college to study computer science or computer information.

Her dream is to become a computer programmer or program manager.

Hazen sports teams excel in classroom

Thirteen of Hazen’s 16 eligible sports teams were recognized by the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association as either distinguished or outstanding based on a combined grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

The Highlanders’ girls cross-country team leads the way with a combined grade point average of 3.81.

The honor celebrates teams that show excellence on the field and in the classroom.

Hazen senior named to all-state band Hazen High School senior Katrina Garner has been selected to perform as part of the Washington Music Education Association’s All-State Concert Band.

Garner, who plays trumpet, was selected through a rigorous audition process to participate in the prestigious event that showcases some of the best musical talent in the state.

She will join other outstanding high school student musicians in Yakima in mid-February.

Crow

A typical day doesn’t exist for the Hazen assistant principal. His schedule changes weekly or daily, depending on the season.

Crow tries to visit classrooms as much as he can, when he’s not in meetings about instructional and professional development for teachers.

He’s responsible for the school’s safety plans, including lockdowns and fire drills. He also does teacher evaluations, along with the other administrators.

Crow doesn’t have to deal with discipline as much as he used to, with the addition of the school’s new dean of students. He’s a valuable sounding board for his fellow administrators, though, since he’s the only one that has been at Hazen for more than a year.

His favorite part of the job is working with teachers. One of the assistant principal’s responsibilities, he said, is to help good teachers do their jobs, and allow them do it without any distractions.

“I always talk about teaching as a growth industry,” he said. “We want to get better. We

From Page 12 about him, though, as much as it was about the Hazen school community, a humble Crow said.

“I think it meant a lot just because there are times when it doesn’t feel like Hazen always gets its due as what I think is really one of the top schools in the state,” he said.

Weeks later, Crow added another trophy to his shelf, earning the Seamount League’s Athletic Director of the Year award.

Assistant principals in the Renton School District must pull double duty, serving as athletic directors in addition to their academic responsibilities.

Many school districts, including neighboring Issaquah, have full-time athletic directors.

“To be able to be recognized as somebody who is still able to pull his weight as an athletic director within the league, even though it’s not a full-time job, I think that’s something that I took a lot of pride in,” Crow said.

PAGE 13 always want to look at any lesson, and ask what can we do to get better, and working with teachers is a big part of that.”

It’s Crow’s 10th year in the Renton School District, and fifth year at Hazen. It says a lot about the Highlander community, he said, that the school has several longtime staff members.

“This is one of those places that teachers come and then once they’re here, they kind of realize how good they have it,” he said.

That’s one of the reasons Crow feels at home at Hazen, but it also doesn’t hurt that it’s a short drive from his Newcastle home.

Crow has lived in his

Olympus neighborhood for eight years. It’s where he and his wife Susan are raising three kids — Collin, 11, Travis, 8, and Ella, 5.

The Crow family enjoys sports, owning season tickets to University of Washington football and basketball games.

When Crow’s not at Hazen, he can likely be found taking his kids to sporting events or coaching his daughter Ella’s soccer team. But his mind is never far from Hazen, and the great work the staff is doing there.

“When I see lessons that are going really well and test scores that are going up, those types of things,” he said, “that’s what I enjoy doing the most.”

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Geobee From Page 12 nitely helped a little bit,” she said, “and I really hoped that it wouldn’t be like last year, when I got out in the first round.”

Still, she admitted she was nervous, and who could blame her as she stood on the Newcastle Elementary stage in front of an audience filled with classmates, contestant family members and Newcastle Deputy Mayor Lisa Jensen.

“Deep breaths, just take deep breaths,” Newcastle Principal Marla Newton told the 10 anxious contestants after each round.

As if the pressure wasn’t enough, last year’s champion Nathan Jackson made a surprise appearance, coming from Maywood Middle School to witness the 2013 competition.

After moving past the Newcastle contest in 2012, Nathan qualified as a state semifinalist and competed against kids across the state in April.

“I just really wanted to

watch and see how the kids did this year,” he said.

Under the reigning champion’s watchful eye, Pravir and Allison were ultimately the last ones standing, and just as Nathan did a year ago, the two had to go to a tiebreaker to determine the winner.

Pravir took the title when he correctly identified Ukraine as the coun-

try that shares an industrial area known as the Donets Basin with Russia.

The fourth-grader had a look of shock when he was named the winner, and he promised to come back next year to defend his title.

“If you have a love for geography, you should go into a geography bee and test your knowledge

there,” he said.

Pravir will now have an opportunity to take a written test, with a chance to qualify for the state championships.

The other competitors were Owen Mystkowski, Hunter Scheppat, Ally Tribble, Leon Bahn, Andrew Tremel, Troy Spurlock, Sam Bhatt and Grace Beal.

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Sports

PAGE 14

DECEMBER 6, 2013

Brigette Takeuchi helps pace Liberty to top-10 finish at state

By Christina Corrales-Toy

By Greg Farrar

Liberty High School players and coach Tami Nguyen (left) squeal in delight over their trophy after the Patriots won the state 3A girls soccer championship, 2-1, against the Kamiakin Braves in Puyallup Nov. 23.

Liberty wins first ever girls state soccer title

By Christina Corrales-Toy As time wound down and the Liberty High School girls soccer team secured a 2-1 victory over Kamiakin in the Nov. 23 3A state championship game, two things were certain.

First, the Patriots would capture their first state title in girls soccer; and second, the team, which had sworn off fast food this season, would

feast on McDonald’s that night.

“If I was really on it, I would have had Happy Meals delivered,” Liberty coach Tami Nguyen joked.

A trip to Ronald’s was undoubtedly deserved for a group that made school history, riding a wave of momentum that began with the team’s Nov. 13 upset of top-ranked Columbia River.

The 2013 Patriots

didn’t even win their own league championship, which went to Bellevue, but they won the only trophy that mattered.

“People always talk about peaking at the right time, and I don’t think you could’ve scripted it any better than this,” Nguyen said.

The sizable contingent of Liberty fans didn’t have a chance to get setSee SOCCER, Page 15

It says something about the strength of a program when its athletes and coaches are disappointed, even after a weekend in which the team posted its best performance ever at the state competition.

That’s what it means to be a Liberty High School cross-country participant, where the expectations are high, but certainly attainable, Patriots coach Mike Smith said.

The Liberty girls cross-country team was determined to finish in the top four at the 2013 state competition in Pasco on Nov. 9. The Patriots had a good chance, too, given they were ranked third in the state coming into the meet.

As a group, the girls ran faster than last year, shaving about 20 seconds off of the 2012 squad’s team average. That team finished fifth at state, but the 2013 team, despite its improvement, finished sixth.

“They ran better than the year before by a whole bunch. It’s just that everybody else ran better, too,” Smith said.

The Patriots celebrated their first ever medalist, though, as freshman phenom Brigette Takeuchi took fourth overall with a time of 18 minutes, 31.79 seconds.

Only one other underclassman, freshman rival Sophie Cantine, of Lakeside, finished ahead of her. Cantine, from Sammamish, and Takeuchi competed against each other as middle school students, Smith said, so the two are very familiar with each other.

“She really wanted to compete with Sophie, so she’s kind of been beating herself up about it,” Smith said. “But I told her to enjoy it, you got a medal at state.”

The performance earned Takeuchi an invite to the 2013 Nike BorderClash in Beaverton, Ore. The race, at Nike headquarters, pits the top runners from Washington and Oregon against each other.

Two other Liberty girls finished the Pasco course in less than 20 minutes.

Sophomore Carlyn Schmidgall crossed the finish line in 19:26.18, and Takeuchi’s twin sister Kelsey finished in 19:34.43.

Senior Amy Broska had a time of 20:25.77, while sophomore Anna Malesis finished just behind her in 20:26.08.

Juniors Jordan Raymond and Sarah Bliesner rounded out the Liberty finishers.

Liberty was hit by the injury bug

By Mike Smith

Brigette Takeuchi, Liberty High School freshman, runs alone on the way to her fourth place finish in her first state championship Nov. 9.

at the worst possible time, when the Patriots’ No. 2 runner Bliesner came up limping.

The nagging injury affected her district performance the week before, but she powered through it to compete in state, Smith said. She felt good through the first mile of the state race, but Smith said he could tell she was in pain after that.

“You could tell pretty quickly that it wasn’t going to be something she could force her way through,” he said.

Bliesner was the seventh and final Patriot girl to cross the finish line, in 20:46.37.

The Patriots ended with a team average of 19:41.5, and despite what they call a disappointing finish for 2013, the future certainly looks bright for Liberty.

Of the seven finishers, Liberty will see six return, and is set to reload in 2014, thanks to a solid Maywood Middle School program, Smith said.

“It took a long time for our program to get there, but the kids now understand the commitment it takes,” he said. “The level they want to be at required a great amount of work, and they did it.”

See STATE, Page 15

Newcastle News

DECEMBER 6, 2013

State swimming roundup Liberty’s Mackenna Briggs wins title in butterfly The Liberty girls swim team notched its highest finish ever at the Nov. 15-16 3A state championships held at Federal Way’s King County Aquatic Center.

The team finished fifth, just missing the chance at a team trophy, but several swimmers came home with individual medals.

Leading the way for the Patriots was junior Mackenna Briggs, who captured her second individual crown in three seasons, winning the 100 butterfly in 55.02 seconds.

Her time was the fourth fastest in state history.

Briggs, who won the 100 backstroke title as a freshman, also finished second this season in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:04.71.

Sophomores Ellie Hohensinner and Lauryn Hepp also won individual medals. Hohensinner was sixth in the 500 free (5:12.80) and Hepp was eighth in the 100 backstroke (59.99).

The Patriots quali-

State From Page 14 Liberty boys relish first state appearance The Liberty boys squad proved it was one of best teams in the state, capturing ninth place in its first ever state appearance.

The Patriots’ road to state wasn’t an easy one, Smith said, and the boys had to give a historic performance in the district meet a week before just to qualify.

They made it by the skin of their teeth, as the fourth and final team to qualify for state from the Sea-King District.

“We pushed them very hard to give us their best race at districts, because we knew there was absolutely no way we were going to make state otherwise,” Smith said.

The team used up so much emotional and physical energy just to make it to that point, Smith said, that it might have affected their state performance.

“That was really hard for them just to calm down from the high of the district meet, and settle back into training,” he said.

Liberty finished with a

fied all three relays for state, and won medals in the 200 free relay (fifth, 1:41.70) and 400 free relay (fourth, 3:39.10).

Briggs, Hohensinner, freshman Sydney Hartford and junior Cecilia Nelson swam in the 200 free relay; while Briggs, Hohensinner, Nelson and Hepp swam the 400 free relay.

The future looks bright for the Patriots, since no one from this year’s state team will graduate in 2014.

Hazen finishes 16th The Hazen girls swim team finished just two spots below last year’s mark, taking 16th in this year’s 3A state championships.

All-league swimmer Talisa Wibmer led the team in her final state competition.

Wibmer, a senior, took second place in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.11, and finished fifth in the 100 freestyle with a time of 53.02.

Sophomores Kristen LeBar and Clarissa Mitchell and junior Kourtney Brunings all swam in consolation finals. team average of 16:41.5 in Pasco. Senior Aaron Bowe was the top finisher, placing 19th overall in 15:55.59. Fellow senior Collin Olson came up eight spots later, crossing the finish line in 16:06.88.

Junior Trevor Sytsma had a time of 16:48.53, while sophomore Andrew Cooper followed just a few seconds later, crossing the finish line in 16:53.75.

Senior Mason Goodman, sophomore Michael Daly and junior Nick Bliesner rounded out the rest of the Liberty finishers.

Soccer From Page 14 tled in at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup before the Patriots scored their first goal against Kamiakin.

Just seconds into the game, Liberty sophomore Sydney Abel put the Patriots on the board, netting the ball inside the right post, with an assist from junior Sami Harrell.

“She played me a good ball and I just had to be there to finish it, and our momentum went up right as we got it,” Abel said.

Kamiakin tied it up in the game’s 16th minute, sending the teams into halftime with a 1-1 score.

Abel and Harrell would connect again in the second half, only this time Harrell had the score, while Abel had the assist.

The goal was all the Patriots would need to capture the state title.

When the referee blew the whistle, officially ending the game, the Patriots jumped and screamed with excitement, while echoes of the chant “Patriot power” emanated through the stands.

“We didn’t think we were going to win it this year, and we did it,” Harrell said.

The win against Columbia River was a momentous turning point in the Patriots’ season, Nguyen said.

It instilled confidence and a belief that Liberty really could make it to the top, after coming so close the past few years.

In 2012, the Patriots placed fourth at state; a year earlier, they finished

second.

“It’s unbelievable for the seniors, for our school,” Abel said. “We came back and won it.”

Liberty reached the title game after a close victory against Seattle Prep in the semifinals.

That Nov. 22 game went to a shootout.

Ten seniors will graduate from this year’s Liberty squad, a special group that was defined by their close relationships, Nguyen said.

“Their leadership of getting the underclassmen on board and teaching the tradition of our program has been important,” she said. “They’ve really taken those guys under their wing, which really instilled a good team atmosphere for us.”

Hazen wins Seamount League championship It was a year of milestones for the Hazen girls soccer team.

The Highlanders captured the Seamount League title outright for the first time since 1992, and earned their first victory against Kennedy Catholic since 1999.

“We don’t really talk much about last year’s cochampionship, but this one is our real own championship, the first at Hazen girls’ soccer since 1992,” Hazen coach Ken Matthews said in a statement.

The Highlanders continued breaking down long-standing records when they punched their ticket to the state tournament for the first time since 1993.

Hazen made it to state with a 1-0 victory against Prairie on Nov. 9. Scoring and shooting were a rare

PAGE 15

By Maggie Brower

Hazen’s Brook Swenson handles the ball during the Highlanders’ win over Prairie Nov. 9. commodity for both teams, but a penalty kick by senior Gabby Brower at the 30th minute was enough for the win.

Brower, a team captain, is a Newport Hills resident and will continue her soccer career at Western Washington University next year.

The Highlanders’ season came to an end Nov. 13, after a 4-1 openinground loss to Seattle Prep.

Hazen was in the game with 15 minutes to go after senior Chelsea Delgado scored off Melissa Carney’s assist to cut Seattle Prep’s lead to 2-1.

Seattle Prep scored two late goals to put the game out of reach, though.

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Hazen sends one to state The Hazen High School cross-country team sent a lone representative to state this year in senior Luis Puga.

Puga, who also plays soccer, finished 120th, crossing the finish line in 17:55.71.

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seniors graduate from this year’s team, Matthews said.

“There are no words I can come up with right now to adequately describe what this class has meant to our soccer program,” he said.

The Highlanders dominated the Seamount allleague honors this year.

Hazen earned the league’s Sportsmanship Award, while Matthews was honored as Coach of the Year.

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PAGE 16

DECEMBER 6, 2013

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A mysterious spill caused a light coating of gasoline or oil to cover streets in the Newcastle Highlands neighborhood Nov. 12.

Newcastle Public Works Department crews enacted spill response procedures, which included containment of the material, prevention from entering storm drains and cleanup.

City staff believes they successfully worked to contain it, Newcastle Surface Water Engineer Laura Frolich said, but there was no certainty about what caused the spill.

The city worked diligently to prevent the material from entering storm drains, she said, and if it did, at the outfalls, there was material there to absorb any oil.

The neighborhood’s storm drains funnel into detention ponds before entering May Creek. The ponds provide water quality treatment, so it’s likely the pollution never reached May Creek, Public Works Director Mark Rigos said.

“It’s not a threat to the environment and it won’t contaminate any salmon-bearing streams,”

City of Newcastle photo

An oil spill covering streets in the Newcastle Highlands neighborhood made for slick roads Nov. 12.

Frolich said.

One of the primary concerns was the slick roads, with traction similar to ice. Drivers were encouraged to use caution when driving in the neighborhood.

Frolich said the spill was an odd one in that it cov-

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ered several neighborhood streets. Staff hypothesized that it could have been caused by a vehicle that has a route through the neighborhood, such as a dump truck or a school bus.

The city contacted Waste Management and the Issaquah School District to see if their vehicles were the source of the leak, but both searches came up empty, Rigos said.

He estimated that the city used about 10-12 hours of staff time for inspection and cleanup of the spill.

Material costs ran at about $250 to $300 for items such as absorbent pads.

The spill will be reported to the state Department of Ecology in compliance with the city’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, Rigos said.

Anyone with information related to the spill should call City Hall at 649-4444.

The streets affected were Southeast 91st Street, Southeast 92nd Street, 140th Avenue Southeast, 143rd Avenue Southeast and Southeast 90th Street.