And the 2014 Diamond Awards go to…
December 4, 2014
By Greg Farrar
Diamond Award winners for 2014 are (from left) Chris Ware, Margaret Strong, Christina Corrales-Toy, Jaime Greene, David Vaisar, Mary Elworth, the Coal Creek YMCA represented by Sara Biancofiori and David Harris.
Whether it’s his suave British accent, his kind, carefree attitude or the shoulder-length hair, something about David Harris just says “rock star.” Read more
Council passes 2015 budget, taxes to rise
December 4, 2014
Newcastle homeowners can expect to see a rise in their property taxes, after the Newcastle City Council made changes to, and then adopted, the 2015 budget Nov. 18.
In a 4-2 vote, with Deputy Mayor John Drescher absent, the council elected to take an annually allowable 1 percent increase in property tax and a 3 percent banked property tax increase.
The move will bring the city more than $150,000 in revenue, with an eye toward using it to pay for an additional police officer, said Councilman John Dulcich, who made the motion proposing the increase.
“It fixes a lot of problems and it funds a police officer,” Dulcich said. Read more
Newport Woods community concerned about proposed development
December 4, 2014
Newcastle resident Rick Bell is questioning his commitment to the city of Newcastle for the first time.
The longtime Newport Woods resident is an active community member, who donates much of his free time cleaning up city parks and trails with the Weed Warriors organization. He poured thousands of dollars into remodeling his Newcastle home, rather than buying a new one, because, as he puts it, “We love the people and the quietness of the location.”
But a proposed multifamily, mixed-use development along Newcastle Way, just beside City Hall, has him and his neighbors wondering how much longer the city will remain the quaint Newcastle they fell in love with.
“We’re not against development,” he said. “But we never thought it would be a monster like this.”
System Pavers donates patio, stairs to Newcastle community
December 4, 2014
Contributed
Workers from Rios Brick Pavers make way for the donation of a new paved patio at Newcastle’s Habitat for Humanity community.
Newcastle’s Habitat for Humanity community now has a new paved patio, complete with safer steps, and it was all free. Read more
Police blotter
December 4, 2014
License revoked
A Newcastle patrol officer pulled over the driver of a speeding white truck in the 7600 block of Coal Creek Parkway Southeast Nov. 2. The driver, who said he was late for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, was driving while his license was suspended for unpaid tickets.
Shattered glass
Police responded to a reported assault at Castle Creek Apartments, 6900 132nd Place S.E., Nov. 3 after a woman said someone threw a small glass object near her patio. The shattered glass did not injure the woman, and she said she didn’t know who threw it or where it came from. Read more
Hazen grad helps keep the ‘Zappers’ in the air
December 4, 2014
Courtesy of Navy Public Affairs
Petty Officer 3rd Class Natasha Thilmony is an aviation electronics technician with VAQ-130.
A 2011 Hazen High School graduate and Renton native is serving with Electronic Attack Squadron 130, also known as the “Zappers.” Read more
VFW, Liberty NJROTC get Gordon Shumacher his flag
December 4, 2014
By Kathleen R. Merrill
World War II veteran Gordon Schumacher, 91, is helped by his sons Dale (left) and Dean as Liberty NJROTC members Emily Magley (with her back to the camera) and Tina Kaiser fold his flag while the VFW’s Dave Waggoner (in hat) looks on.
It was a sunny Saturday that a group of Liberty High School students gave up to honor a 91-year-old World War II veteran on his birthday. Read more
In the spotlight — Cornerstone presents ‘The Nutcracker’
December 4, 2014
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Cornerstone Studio students use the mirror to watch their movements as they rehearse the dance school’s production of ‘The Nutcracker’ in 2013.
Cornerstone Studio presents its annual production of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 20-21 at the Bellevue High School Performing Arts Center. Read more
December calendar
December 4, 2014
Events
Five Chamber Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m. Dec. 5, Holiday Inn, 1801 12th Ave. N.W., $25/members, $30/nonmembers, tickets at www.issaquahchamber.com
Breakfast with Santa, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., The Golf Club at Newcastle, 15500 Six Penny Lane, 793-4646, reservations recommended
Newcastle Chamber of Commerce monthly lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 10, Tapatio Mexican Grill, 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E., guest speaker David Rose, executive producer, host and news anchor of ‘Washington’s Most Wanted,’ $20/members, $25/nonmembers, register at newcastle-chamber.org
Cornerstone Studio presents ‘The Nutcracker,’ 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21, Bellevue Performing Arts Center, 10416 Wolverine Way, Bellevue, $18, 401-5291 Read more
Shop smart, shop local in Newcastle
December 4, 2014
The weekend after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping weekend of the year, and many small businesses rely on the holiday shopping period to ensure a successful year on the books, according to the federal Small Business Administration.
That’s why the day is known as Black Friday, because heavy sales often move a business from out of the red financially into the black.
SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet sent out a press release at the end of November reminding Americans to not only shop small on Small Business Saturday, but to purchase their Thanksgiving dinner items at local grocers, shop small at their local businesses and dine small at their neighborhood restaurants.
American Express founded Small Business Saturday in 2010 to help small businesses get more customers. Its slogan is “When you shop small, it can lead to big things.” Read more
