Newcastle to host open house at City Hall
May 3, 2012
The city of Newcastle will open its doors for an open house from 4-6 p.m. June 5 for the public to view the new City Hall and meet the City Council and staff members.
Visitors can learn more about city services and members of the Newcastle Police Department will be on hand to meet younger residents of the city.
City staff members will conduct a food drive and ask visitors to bring nonperishable food donations on behalf of Northwest Harvest.
City Hall is located at 12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200. Learn more by calling Aleta Phillips at 649-4444.
Issaquah School District voters approve $219 million bond
May 3, 2012
Issaquah School District voters overwhelmingly approved a $219 million bond to fund construction and renovation projects on campuses across the district.
In the April 17 special election, 70 percent of voters — encompassing more than 15,000 yes votes of out more than 22,000 ballots cast — approved the measure. (The measure needed to receive a 60 percent yes vote from a minimum turnout of 12,229 voters.)
Despite the passage of the bond, local homeowners will pay less in property taxes to the schools than they do now because a previous bond issue is set to expire this year.
The retirement of the earlier bond will drop the local tax rate from $4.85 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $4.05. Passage of the new bond puts the rate at $4.42.
Compared to present rates, a homeowner with a home valued at $500,000, property taxes will drop by $215 annually, said Jake Kuper, district chief of finance and operations.
King County Elections is scheduled to certify the election results April 27.
King County voters to decide $200 million property tax hike
May 3, 2012
King County voters could decide to increase the property tax rate to construct a juvenile detention facility, county leaders decided April 16.
In a unanimous decision, King County Council members placed a $200 million property tax levy on the Aug. 7 ballot to fund a replacement for the aging Youth Services Center, a juvenile detention facility in Seattle. The facility is a collection of decaying buildings. Officials said the electrical, plumbing, and heating and cooling infrastructure is beyond repair.
If the nine-year levy is placed on the ballot and passed, homeowners should pay about 7 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $20 per year for a home assessed at $350,000.
Judges and commissioners at the juvenile court on site handle 3,700 cases per year at the detention facility. The complex houses about 65 children and teenagers from throughout the county.
Councilman Reagan Dunn, Newcastle’s representative on the council, said the proposal reflects the lean economic reality.
“I think that it is proportionally and appropriately sized given the need,” he said before the council decision. “We all know the facility is desperately in need of repair.”
(Dunn represents rural areas south of Issaquah and Newcastle on the council.)
In 2010, voters rejected a broader sales tax package meant to raise dollars for criminal justice services and replace the Youth Services Center.
Fourth annual USO Happy Hour event will honor area veterans
May 3, 2012
Newcastle residents will have the opportunity to join The Golf Club at Newcastle and Regency Newcastle in saying thank you to area military veterans.
The fourth annual USO Happy Hour event, which takes place from 4-6 p.m. May 21 in the Wooly Toad at The Golf Club at Newcastle, is open to anyone who has served in the military or civilians who would like to thank someone who has served.
“There’s never a complaint about this thing,” event organizer John Jensen said. “There’s always nothing but appreciation.”
Veterans are encouraged to RSVP either on the event’s USO Happy Hour for Veterans Facebook page or by contacting Jensen at JensenRoofing@msn.com or 206-241-5774 to ensure their drink ticket.
Each veteran will receive a “red, white or brew” ticket good for a glass of red wine, white wine or beer.
The event has grown from 45 attendees in its inaugural year in 2009 to more than 100 guests last year.
“There’s a warmth and appreciation in the room that’s hard to explain unless you’re there,” he said.
Get free blood pressure, glucose screenings
May 3, 2012
The Bellevue Fire Department will offer free blood pressure and blood sugar checks during Heart Week.
Screenings will be from 10-11:30 a.m. May 5 and 8, and from 5:30-7 p.m. May 9, at the Coal Creek YMCA. The same services will be offered from 1:30-3 p.m. May 10 at the Newcastle City Hall in the Newcastle Professional Building.
During Heart Week, firefighters will provide screenings for high blood pressure or high blood glucose, which are associated with heart disease and diabetes.
Heart Week allows firefighters to help residents avoid or treat illnesses that are leading causes of death in the United States, and gives residents a chance to meet with firefighters in a nonemergency situation, according to the department.
Golf tournament to benefit veterans
May 3, 2012
The owners of the Newcastle Shell are organizing the first annual Newcastle Shell Charity Golf Event to benefit the Fisher House Foundation Veterans of America charity organization.
The event will begin at 8 a.m. June 16 at The Golf Club at Newcastle. The deadline for registration is June 1.
Winners could win prizes, including an oil change, Shell gift card and a summer vehicle maintenance check.
Call Dennis Yarnell or Joe Woo at Newcastle Shell at 255-2754 for information. Register for the tournament at https://tournaments.okigolf.com/EventInfo.aspx?E=756602.
Author pens children’s book after bout with heart failure
May 3, 2012
Newcastle resident Carolyn Banguero had just been flown halfway across the United States in a small medical plane to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio after being diagnosed with heart failure — the same hospital where her father had died with the same condition 25 years before.
That was a Wednesday.
She was hooked up to an IV with medication, a breathing tube and a medical device that would force her heart to pump.
“It was freaky,” she said. “I had never even broken a bone.”
Contributed Paolo had several different casts as a kitten — including this one fashioned like a rugby jersey —as he recovered from surgery to correct his concave ribcage.
The Federal Way School District teacher was told by doctors to be ready by the following Monday to receive a heart transplant because her heart was only doing about 6 percent of the work it should be doing.
She was only 31.
But by Saturday, something inexplicable was happening — she was getting better.
“They don’t know how or why. The medical papers say it’s miraculous,” Banguero said. “After they just came in and put me on the heart transplant list … they told me I was on the edge of a cliff between life and death. They told me they didn’t know if I would live.”
While she had no idea at the time, she had heart failure symptoms — including shortness of breath, coughing and fatigue — prior to her diagnosis.
Newcastle selected as Tree City USA community
May 3, 2012
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has recognized 83 cities — including Newcastle — that have been chosen as a Tree City USA for their efforts in keeping urban forests healthy and vibrant. It is the fifth year Newcastle has been recognized as a Tree City.
Washington celebrated Arbor Day on April 11. There were events in communities throughout the state during the month of April to celebrate Arbor Day.
To be acknowledged as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, a city must designate staff to care for trees, appoint a citizen tree board to advocate for community forestry, establish a tree ordinance, spend at least $2 per capita on tree care and celebrate Arbor Day.
Learn how to properly plant and care for new trees by going to the International Society of Arboriculture website at www.treesaregood.com.
Police blotter
May 3, 2012
Purse snatched from cart
A woman’s purse was reportedly stolen from her cart while she was waiting for the bus in front of the Safeway next to the handicapped parking stalls in the 6900 block of Coal Creek Parkway on April 4.
Liquor pilferer
A suspicious male who had previously stolen liquor from the Washington State Liquor Store, 6927 Coal Creek Parkway S.E., returned to the store April 6. The subject left without stealing anything before police arrived.
Motorcycle stolen
A man, who moved to Newcastle from Georgia 10 days prior, reported his yellow Honda CBRR motorcycle was missing April 8. The motorcycle was parked in a designated parking stall next to the garage parking at the northwest exit to the Newport Crossing complex at the 7300 block of Coal Creek Parkway.
State seeks applicants for salmon panel
May 3, 2012
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife seeks nominees to a panel responsible for advising state representatives about salmon.
The agency needs citizens for the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission.
Members of the state advisory council must be Washington residents, and knowledgeable about salmon, steelhead and other species. Of the Washington representatives, at least one must represent commercial fishing interests and another must be affiliated with environmental concerns.
Candidates should submit a resume, along with a statement of their fishery management philosophy and potential contributions to Ami Hollingsworth, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capital Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091. Applicants can also email materials to ami.hollingsworth@dfw.wa.gov or fax them to 360-902-2183. Nominations must be received by May 15.
