Run with the fuzz
April 30, 2015
Contributed
Newcastle Police Department officers Steve Kajihiro (second from left), Scott Yamamoto (fourth from left) and Chief Melinda Irvine (second from right) join their friends, including Sweet Decadence owner Sandra Wixon (far right), for a pre-race photo at the Seahawks’ 12K/5K run at The Landing in Renton on April 17.
Notes from Newcastle: Newcastle Jewelers treats you like family
February 6, 2014
Newcastle Jewelers employee Sylvia Mauerman has one heck of a job.
“How much fun is it to lift diamonds all day?” she asked, when I visited the store for a story last month.
That sounds pretty fun, if you ask me, but not as much fun as getting to do it under the tutelage of Wayne and Joan Underwood, the store’s owners.
I had never been to the store before I visited to write a story about its 20th anniversary, but for the first time since Sweet Decadence left the city, I had the soothing feeling that I was sitting in a cozy living room.
Newcastle Jewelers doesn’t have chairs and seats set up for its patrons, and it’s not meant to be a place where people gather and lounge, but after meeting the welcoming, kind staff, all I want to do is hang out there.
The shelves and display cases filled with beautiful jewelry may or may not have had a hand in my longing sense to linger at the store, too.
At any rate, Wayne, Joan and Sylvia made me feel at home. Whether it was the kind welcome I received from Sylvia as I walked in the door, Wayne’s quiet, self-deprecating humor or Joan’s pride in the community, they were just so comforting.
It seems that their breed is a dying kind, you know, the type of business owners that treat their customers like family.
They’re the kind of owners who will shake their heads at you when you try to pay after a quick repair of your watch, refusing to let you pay for something that took two minutes but was a world of help.
They’re the kind of jewelers who when you say you’re looking for a specific token to add to your charm bracelet, they’ll say, “No, problem,” and will hand craft it in their store. If you don’t see it on their shelves, they’ll find it, or make it for you.
They’re the kind of people who saw a city come into existence 20 years ago, and did everything in their power to support it, even changing their business’ name to do so.
Newcastle is lucky to have the Newcastle Jewelers team in its community, but if you ask their owners, they’ll quickly say, “No, we’re lucky to be in Newcastle.”
Notes from Newcastle: A bittersweet decadence farewell
December 5, 2013
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. Read more
Sweet Decadence will relocate to The Landing in Renton
November 21, 2013
NEW — 1:15 p.m. Nov. 21, 2013
File
Sweet Decadence Chocolates owner Sandra Wixon prepares some of her gourmet goods in a 2008 photo.
The rumors are true, and altogether bittersweet. Read more
Sweet Decadence hosts Mack Strong TEAM-WORKS meet and greet
May 2, 2013
File Former Seattle Seahawk Mack Strong (right), with wife Zoe, are hosting a fundraiser April 28 for TEAM-WORKS Academy.
Newcastle residents will have the opportunity to partake in a night of football, chocolate, wine and charity at a special TEAM-WORKS event May 9.
Locals are invited to visit Sweet Decadence from 5-7 p.m. to meet former Seahawk Mack Strong, who will be available to talk football and sign autographs.
Sweet Decadence will donate a portion of the night’s proceeds to TEAM-WORKS, an organization founded by Mack and Zoe Strong to empower at-risk youths toward a better future. Read more
Former Seahawk is raising funds for TEAM-WORKS
April 5, 2012
Newcastle residents will have the opportunity to meet Mack and Zoe Strong from 4-6 p.m. April 28 at the Newcastle Professional Center.
A portion of the event’s profits will go toward the TEAM-WORKS Academy, a program of the Washington Chapter of HOPE worldwide.
HOPE worldwide is a faith-based relief and development organization founded in 1991 that is dedicated to serving the poor and needy.
File Former Seattle Seahawk Mack Strong (right), with wife Zoe, are hosting a fundraiser April 28 for TEAM-WORKS Academy.
After 15 years in the NFL as a Seattle Seahawks fullback, Mack and his wife Zoe run the Mack Strong TEAM-WORKS Academy to help disadvantaged and at-risk kids.
The Strongs were named Washingtonians of the Year by Lt. Governor Brad Owen in 2011.
The couple resides in Newcastle with their young children.
The Washington Chapter of HOPE worldwide provides services to at-risk individuals in the Puget Sound region through seasonal days of service and its signature program, the Mack Strong TEAM-WORKS Academy. The program was founded in 2002, growing out of the volunteer work of the Strongs.
Sweet Decadence owner Sandra Wixon has offered to donate 10 percent of sales during the two-hour period to TEAM-WORKS Academy.
“You can support a local business, support a local charity and meet an NFL Allstar Fullback all in one afternoon,” event organizer John Jensen said. “Mack and Zoe are an inspiration to children through TEAM-WORKS Academy, and they are role models for those who want to give back to their community. They are a treasure right here in Newcastle.”
RSVP for the event by emailing Jensen at jensenroofing@msn.com or going to the TEAM-WORKS Academy Mack Strong “Meet and Greet” Facebook page.
Event featuring Seattle Seahawks standout Mack Strong to raise money for charity
March 19, 2012
NEW — 4:15 p.m. March 19, 2012
Newcastle residents will have the opportunity to meet Mack and Zoe Strong from 4 to 6 p.m. April 28 at the Newcastle Professional Center. A portion of the event’s profits will go toward the TEAM-WORKS Academy, a program of the Washington Chapter of HOPE worldwide.
HOPE worldwide is a faith-based relief and development organization founded in 1991 that is dedicated to serving the poor and needy.
After 15 years in the NFL as a Seattle Seahawks fullback, Mack and his wife Zoe run the Mack Strong Team-Works Academy helping disadvantaged and at risk kids. The Strongs were named Washingtonians of the Year by Lt. Governor Brad Owen in 2011.
Newcastle residents selected winners of holiday art contest
December 12, 2011
NEW — 5:10 p.m. Dec. 12, 2011
The first-place winner by Jane Bell
Two Newcastle residents have been selected as winners of the Newcastle Weed Warriors’ holiday art contest.
Jane Bell was selected for first place with her hand drawn fawn and bird with a message wishing peace this holiday season, and photographer Ken Vensel was chosen for second place for a snow scene photo of the summit.
The contest could be in the form of any original artwork, including paintings, drawings, photography or a Photoshop composition. The contest was open to all winter holidays, including the new year.
Second Newcastle Days volunteer celebration Saturday
February 17, 2011
NEW — 8 p.m. Feb. 17, 2011
Newcastle Days 2010 volunteers who missed the Jan. 13 happy hour festivities at the Golf Club at Newcastle have another chance to celebrate. Sweet Decadence, 12835 Newcastle Way, will host a happy hour from 4-6 p.m. Feb. 19.
RSVP by calling organizer John Jensen at 206-241-5774.
Weed Warriors holds holiday card contest
November 18, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Nov. 18, 2010
The Newcastle Weed Warriors are searching for art to include in an electronic holiday card this year. Drawings, paintings, photos, Photoshop creations or anything else will be accepted, according to the Weed Warriors’ website.
The Weed Warriors will e-mail a card with the winning art to friends, families, businesses and environmental stewardship groups. The winner will also receive a $20 gift certificate to Sweet Decadence.
E-mail submissions to Weed Warriors founder Grace Stiller at gracestiller@comcast.net by Nov. 27. Submitted art should be generic and applicable to all winter holidays. Themes that highlight environmental issues are appreciated.
Click here for more information.
