Local schools celebrate 2014 graduates
June 6, 2014
By Greg Farrar
Liberty High School seniors cheer during last year’s graduation ceremony at Safeco Field.
As another school year comes to a close, local public high schools are getting set to celebrate the class of 2014 with annual commencement ceremonies. Read more
Calendar
June 6, 2014
Events
Newcastle Chamber of Commerce monthly lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 11, Tapatio Mexican Grill, 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E., guest speaker is Issaquah Press Inc. General Manager Joe Heslet, $20/members, $25/nonmembers, register at newcastle-chamber.org
Chamber Networking Breakfast, speaker Theresa Callahan, talent management consultant, 7:15-8:30 a.m. June 25, Regency Newcastle, 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Road, free, register at newcastle-chamber.org Read more
Safe, but not secure
June 6, 2014
My sisters and I are a cautious lot. My mother was a careful, self-reliant German Midwesterner, and my father — German as well — was an insurance adjustor, cleaning up after accidents, tornadoes and fires. We heard all of the horrific possibilities that life could serve up while we were at the dinner table. Read more
Public works director leaving for North Bend
June 5, 2014
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Mark Rigos, outgoing Newcastle Public Works director, with his son Alexander, speaks at the May Creek Trail ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 15.
Newcastle Public Works Director Mark Rigos has only worked with the city for three years, but his impact on the community is so great that when he announced his resignation, at least one resident became emotional at the thought of losing him. Read more
Summer events lined up
June 5, 2014
Fireworks will again grace the Newcastle skies this Fourth of July, and this time for more than a few minutes.
Attendees at last year’s Independence Day celebration at Lake Boren Park will remember that technical difficulties shortened what was supposed to be a 12-minute fireworks display.
The Olympia-based company Entertainment Fireworks Inc. took full responsibility for the problems, City Manager Rob Wyman said last year. Newcastle will contract with the company again for its 2014 fireworks show, with assurances the issues won’t occur again.
“I have spoken with the owner multiple times on the phone and he has assured me 200 percent that we will not have the problem again,” said Wendy Kirchner, Newcastle’s community activities liaison. “They’ve got a very, very experienced pyrotechnician that’s going to be working with us.” Read more
D-Day flyover scheduled for anniversary
June 5, 2014
Four P-51 Mustangs from the Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field will do a flyover of Newcastle’s Lake Boren Park on June 6, the anniversary of D-Day.
They’re not unlike the ones Regency Newcastle resident Roy Alldritt flew as a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.
In fact, Alldritt, a fighter pilot, was there June 6, 1944, among the 13,000 aircraft supporting the invasion that experts call the beginning of the end of World War II.
“I got in on the invasion and there was just a lot of action,” he recalled. “You just didn’t have any relaxation or anything.” Read more
Hazen’s new principal comes home
June 5, 2014
When new Hazen High School Principal Kate O’Brien officially begins her duties July 1, she certainly won’t need a tour of her workplace.
O’Brien knows the Hazen halls very well, because she roamed them as student, having graduated from the school in 2000.
“There’s no hiding from me, I know where you all are. I know all the spots,” she joked when talking about her familiarity with the school. Read more
Candidates file for public office, August primary
June 5, 2014
Local voters will have to choose candidates in an August primary.
King County candidate filing week ended May 16 with more than two applicants in a race for the local Congressional representative.
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-9th) seeks re-election against three challengers, one of which should be very familiar to Newcastle voters.
Former Newcastle resident Mark Greene, who last year unsuccessfully ran for Newcastle City Council, is one of the candidates who hope to unseat Smith. Greene now lives in Federal Way. Democrat Don Rivers and Republican Doug Basler also filed for the 9th Congressional seat. Read more
Police blotter
June 5, 2014
Mailbox damage
An unknown suspect tore a mailbox from its post and pried open the door in the 8000 block of 116th Avenue Southeast on May 2. It is unknown if there was any mail stolen.
Seedless and sweet
A watermelon was among the items taken from a car parked in the 7400 block of Newcastle Golf Club Road between May 3 and 4. An unknown suspect also caused $1,500 in damage to the car’s rear passenger window and door. Read more
Liberty PTSA hosts recycling drive
June 5, 2014
Newcastle residents can donate unwanted items at the Liberty High School PTSA electronics recycling drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 7 at Renton Technical College, 3000 N.E. Fourth St., Renton.
Accepted items include working and broken electronics, appliances, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, trucks, batteries, fitness equipment, medical equipment, lawnmowers and barbecues. Computers, laptops, printers, scanners and other computer parts are also accepted.
A suggested donation of at least $10 is encouraged. The money raised will go toward senior events for the Liberty class of 2016.
