Newcastle author to sign children’s book March 18
February 29, 2012
NEW — 3:50 p.m. Feb. 29, 2012
Author and Newcastle resident Carolyn Banguero, who was on a heart transplant list one year ago due to declining health, never got the call she needed for a new heart.
She never had to.
“I never did get a transplant and have made a near complete recovery that doctors cannot explain,” Banguero said.
As she went through the recovery process, she thought of the idea for “Paolo’s Adventures: The Tale of A Very Brave Little Kitty” a children’s book that which tells of Banguero’s cat who was rescued from the wilderness last year with his three siblings.
Banguero will be available to sign copies of the book at 5:30 p.m. March 18 at Third Place Books located at 17171 Bothell Way N.E. Suite A 101 in Lake Forest Park.
Hazelwood Elementary PTSA Pancake Breakfast / Feb. 11, 2012
February 29, 2012
Newcastle Congressional representative Dave Reichert endorses Mitt Romney
February 28, 2012
NEW — 11:50 a.m. Feb. 28, 2012
Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, a former King County sheriff and the Newcastle representative in Congress, endorsed GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney, campaign officials announced Tuesday morning.
Dave Reichert
The endorsement from Reichert came days before Washington Republicans gather at caucus sites statewide to select a presidential candidate to face President Barack Obama in November.
“Congressman Reichert has served his community with distinction and it is an honor to have his support,” Romney said in a statement. “I look forward to working with him and the rest of my growing Washington team so that we can defeat President Obama and bring jobs back to Washington state.”
Reichert cited the former Massachusetts governor’s business background as a reason for the endorsement.
Materials to be collected at recycling event
February 27, 2012
NEW — 3:55 p.m. Feb. 27, 2012
Newcastle residents will have the opportunity to dispose of recyclable material at a city-sponsored collection event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 10 at Renton Academy located at 6928 116th Ave. S.E. in Newcastle.
Residents may bring in tires, motor oil, filters and antifreeze, lead acid and alkaline batteries, household goods and clothing, porcelain toilets and sinks, propane tanks, cardboard, appliances and scrap metal, refrigerators and freezers, electronic equipment and mattresses.
There is a $10 charge for each toilet or sink donated, $5 will be charged for each water heater that still has insulation coating and $25 will be charged for each refrigerator or freezer.
Newcastle-area councilman urges Legislature to create alert for police
February 23, 2012
NEW — 5:30 p.m. Feb. 23, 2012
Reagan Dunn
King County Councilman Reagan Dunn announced a plan Thursday to urge state legislators create a “blue alert” system to inform the public about people suspected of injuring or killing law enforcement officers.
The proposal came hours after a man fatally shot a state trooper in Kitsap County. Dunn plans to introduce a motion Monday urging the council to support state legislation to create a “blue alert” system.
“This tragic pattern of injury and death to law enforcement officers in Washington state simply cannot continue,” he said in a statement. “We in government must do everything in our power to protect those who put their lives on the line everyday in order to protect us.”
Newcastle police seek information for home burglary, lighting thefts
February 21, 2012
NEW — 11 a.m. Feb. 21, 2012
Police are seeking information after a house was burglarized Feb. 15 in the 8200 block of 117th Ave. SE. Prior to the burglary, two males came to the door of that house and said they were raising money for earthquake relief, according to Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine. The men were driving a black four-door Lexus.
The first man is described as a skinny Asian male that is about 5 foot, 9 inches tall. The second man is described as an Asian male, 5 feet, 9 inches or 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a medium build and short hair. He was reportedly wearing a white shirt and tie.
Contact Detective Christy Marsalisi or any other member of the Newcastle Police Department at 425-649-4444 if you have been contacted by the men or have any other information regarding the burglary.
Scholarships available to Newcastle students
February 21, 2012
NEW — 9:10 a.m. Feb. 21, 2012
Scholarship applications are now available from the non-profit Newcastle Running Club. Based on proceeds from the 2011 Newcastle Days 5K Run/Walk, a total of $4,200 in scholarship funds will be awarded to college-bound students who live in Newcastle or are seniors at Hazen or Liberty high schools.
Three individual scholarships of $1,400 will be awarded. Since the event’s founding in 2009, donations by the nonprofit Newcastle Running Club has resulted in $15,000 in community fundraising.
Email to receive a scholarship application and details.
The application deadline is March 31.
King County assessor mails property tax bills to residents
February 20, 2012
NEW —9 a.m. Feb. 20, 2012
King County residents started to receive property tax bills in recent days and, although property tax collection in the county up 1.71 percent from last year, property owners should see a drop in bills and a decline in property valuation.
The total value of property in the county continued to decline for the 2012 tax roll, but the drop is slightly less than 2011. Officials said property values declined in almost every area in King County last year.
The median assessed value in rural Southeast King County, for instance, declined from $304,000 for the 2011 tax roll to $259,000 for 2012 — or a decrease in the tax bill of $470.
Residents can learn about King County’s 911 system at citizen academy
February 17, 2012
NEW — 3:05 p.m. Feb. 17, 2012
King County residents can learn how the 911 emergency dispatch center operates as the King County Sheriff’s Office hosts a 911 Citizen’s Academy next month.
The academy is meant to educate citizens about the role 911 communications specialists fill in the public safety system. The program is also designed to prepare people for dialing 911.
Plans for the daylong class on March 31 include information about the history of 911, call taking and police dispatching, training, King County geography, agency partnerships, citizen training and what national certification means for residents.
Newcastle representative calls for King County to ‘closely examine’ arena proposal
February 16, 2012
NEW — 5 p.m. Feb. 16, 2012
King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor McGinn unveiled a proposed public-private partnership Thursday to construct a Seattle arena for professional basketball and hockey teams.
Dow Constantine
Reagan Dunn
The proposed arena — a $500 million facility, including $290 million from private investors — could host NBA and NHL teams in South Seattle near Safeco Field. Local elected leaders, including Newcastle County Councilman Reagan Dunn, lauded the proposal, but said the package needs additional scrutiny.
“As stewards of public money, we must closely examine any plan that seeks King County’s role in financing such a project,” he said in a statement after Constantine and McGinn announced the proposal. “I look forward to learning more about the proposal.”
