PSE to answer questions about Energize Eastside
April 11, 2014
NEW — 11:05 a.m. April 11, 2014
It was a request heard loud and clear at the most recent Energize Eastside workshop. Residents wanted a forum dedicated to solely asking questions of the Puget Sound Energy representatives.
They are now getting that opportunity, as PSE has scheduled a question-and-answer session for April 21 in the Renton Technical College cafeteria, 3000 NE Fourth St.
The Energize Eastside project, in response to the region’s growing power needs, will bring new higher capacity electric transmission lines to the Eastside.
The new lines will extend from a substation in Redmond to Renton, but the exact route the lines will take is currently undecided. One of the proposed routes directly affects the Olympus neighborhood, and many residents attended the April 1 Newcastle City Council meeting to voice their concerns about the project. Read more
Men attempt to lure child in Newcastle Highlands neighborhood
April 10, 2014
NEW — 11 a.m. April 10, 2014
Newcastle Police said two men attempted to lure a young boy into their truck on Wednesday evening.
Police said two men inside a small, white, unmarked pickup truck with an attached black trailer filled with what looked like landscaping tools approached a boy walking his dog in the 14200 block of Southeast 92nd Street between 6:20 p.m. and 6:40 p.m.
The driver ordered the boy to get into the truck. The boy then ran to safety.
The car was described as having constant, heavy exhaust, and a visible dent on the driver’s door.
Police said the driver and passenger looked very similar, possibly related. They are described as thin or average-sized white or Hispanic males, aged 25-30. The passenger also had ear spacers in his earlobes. Read more
Newcastle is named a Tree City for seventh year
April 9, 2014
NEW — 4:10 p.m. April 9, 2014
Contributed
Volunteers plant trees at Newcastle’s Arbor Day celebration Oct. 26.
Newcastle was named a Tree City USA for its seventh straight year in honor of Arbor Day April 9. Read more
Bellevue PD concludes investigation into New Year’s Eve incident
April 9, 2014
NEW — 1:45 p.m. April 9, 2014
The Bellevue Police Department completed its investigation into a King County Sheriff’s deputy who was arrested in Newcastle last New Year’s Eve.
Police arrested the deputy in Newcastle Dec. 31, after a citizen called to report the officer was passed out behind the wheel in his parked patrol car. The deputy was placed under arrest for physical control of a motor vehicle, the legal equivalent of a DUI when no driving was observed.
The officer was not a member of the Newcastle Police Department, according to an email from Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine, and wasn’t working overtime in the city.
A certified drug recognition expert conducted the three-month investigation and showed the deputy was impaired by prescription medications, according to a release from Bellevue Police spokeswoman Carla Iafrate. Read more
Newcastle Earth Day event needs volunteers
April 8, 2014
NEW — 2:15 p.m. April 8, 2014
The organizers of the Newcastle Earth Day festival are seeking volunteers.
Volunteers are needed to set up tables, direct parking, assist with kids activities and help with clean up after the event.
Students can earn community service hours for their time, and those that volunteer four hours or more will receive a special event T-shirt.
Newcastle Earth Day goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 at Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way.
Sign up for volunteer shifts here, and learn more about Newcastle Earth Day here.
Connect with Renton Technical College
April 8, 2014
Nearly every week, I meet someone whose sibling, parent, neighbor or co-worker attended Renton Technical College. Many locals are, or have been, students at RTC. Many are program graduates, working in vital Washington sectors like aerospace, information technology or health care. Many people have taken a cooking class, upgraded their credentials and improved their English skills at RTC.
The key word here is “many.” Many people have a connection to this college. And if you are one of these many people, we want to invite you back. There are many ways, as an alumni or general supporter of the college, you can share your expertise or continue your relationship with us.
Heather Winfrey
First and foremost, come to our events. If you don’t know about the profound work we accomplish at Renton Technical College, here are just a few upcoming activities you can attend:
- Weekly tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning at 11 a.m., Building I, Room 216;
- Free Speakers Series lectures with Dr. Rita Schenck/Institute for Environmental Research & Education (April 17 at 4 p.m.);
- The annual RTC Dinner & Silent Auction, featuring Pat Cashman and Events on the Edge, on Friday, June 6 (tickets available at www.rtc.edu).
If you are a graduate, then you know RTC produces top-notch candidates for in-demand careers in the Puget Sound area. In fact, RTC has the highest completion and placement rates of all two-year post-secondary options in Washington state. We’re working now on the introduction of Applied Baccalaureates in Computer Applications and Applied Management by 2015. We offer more than 65 workforce programs as unique as Band Instrument Repair Technology, as creative as Culinary Arts and as exclusive as Anesthesia Technician, which is one of only five such programs nationally. Our industry connections are superlative, and graduates who pursue work in their chosen professions are getting great jobs.
So, please, share your success with RTC and encourage students of all ages to take a look at our college. We are a viable, affordable and competitive option. I’m proud to say that when my teenager graduates from Hazen High School in 2015, he will attend college at RTC.
Finally, you can stay connected to RTC by joining our mailing list or becoming a member of the RTC Circle of Friends by contacting us at or 235-7867. The RTC Circle of Friends offers tailored benefits and activities and donor recognition.
Heather Winfrey is the director of the Renton Technical College Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the needs of RTC’s students and programs. She lives in Newcastle.
Interested in writing a Newcastle-specific column for the paper? Email newcastle@isspress.com.
