History feature — When strikes and Uniontown came to Newcastle
September 6, 2015
NEW — 6 a.m. Sept. 6, 2015
Early Newcastle was a coal town. That meant that everything — land and buildings — was owned by the coal company and the only jobs were associated with mining, separating, washing and delivering the black diamonds.
Conditions were hard and dangerous. As one account from that time noted, “There was a man killed in the mine last night. Mr. Oakley (a director) sent the coal car, with others in it, whizzing down into the mine. He fell out and it ran over him.”
As a result of these conditions, unions arrived and strikes became fairly frequent.
The Knights of Labor representing 50 of the 250 workers was on the scene. It operated from 1881 until 1891 and was noted for being anti-black and anti-Chinese. Read more
Laughing all the way — Paradise Lost
September 4, 2015
NEW — 10 a.m. Sept. 4, 2015
I mentioned in a recent column that we would be road touring the vast and empty spaces of southeastern Oregon and jumping the borders between Washington and Idaho before heading home. It was a great trip. The vistas were endless, and road signs that declared “No service for the next 45 miles” were abundant. It was paradise.
But here’s what was not paradise: the fact that we’d planned the trip as a series of one-night stands. It seemed like a great idea when we looked at the map, but in practice, we realized that the Wake Up/Pack Up/Leave model was not for us. From the start, it was clear that this was going to be a trip to the Land of the Lost. Witness:
‘Broadway at Boren’ kicks off Newcastle Days
September 4, 2015
NEW — 6 a.m. Sept. 4, 2015
Max Willoughby needed to get in character.
So, the 10-year-old Newcastle resident let out a repeated “ribbit.” He was, after all, playing a frog in one of the numbers at the upcoming musical revue, “Broadway at Boren.”
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Candace Larson, a choreographer for the ‘Broadway at Boren’ musical performance, leads local actors through rehearsal at the Seattle Revival Center on Aug. 29. ‘Broadway at Boren’ is at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 at Lake Boren Park.
Willoughby joined five other local performers at the Seattle Revival Center on Aug. 29 for rehearsal of the show at Lake Boren Park. A cast of community members will dance and belt out tunes from various hit musicals in the hourlong “Broadway at Boren” spectacular at 7 p.m. Sept. 11. Read more
Police chief honors citizens for taking a bite out of crime
September 3, 2015
NEW — 6 a.m. Sept. 3, 2015
At the Aug. 18 Newcastle City Council meeting, Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine honored two people who helped police take a bite out of crime.
King County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bruce Nielsen and observant resident Jeff Garlock each received special certificates for their contributions to the community.
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Longtime King County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bruce Nielsen (middle) is flanked by Mayor Steve Buri and Police Chief Melinda Irvine after the duo honored him for his service to Newcastle over the years.
Nielsen retired from the King County Sheriff’s Office after a 34-year career earlier this year. He dedicated about 30 of those years to the Newcastle area, both before and after it became an incorporated city, Irvine said. Read more
Newcastle Days 2015
September 2, 2015
Calendar — September 2015
September 2, 2015
NEW — 5:07 p.m. Sept. 2, 2015
Events
All libraries and government buildings will be closed Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day.
Newcastle Days, ‘Broadway at Boren,’ UC7 Band, car and truck show, parade and more, 6:30-9 p.m. Sept. 11, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 12, Lake Boren Park, 13058 S.E. 84th Way, 649-4444
Newcastle Chamber of Commerce monthly lunch with guest speaker Representative Tana Senn, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 9, Tapatio Mexican Grill, 6920 Coal Creek Parkway S.E., catch up with Newcastle Police Chief Melinda Irvine, $20/members, $25/nonmembers, register at newcastle-chamber.org
Networking Education Breakfast, ‘Stress Relief Tools to Keep Your Day Running Smoothly’ with Jackie Foskett, 7:15 a.m. Sept. 23, Regency Newcastle, 7454 Newcastle Golf Club Road, newcastle-chamber.org Read more
Editorial — Consider volunteering in the classroom
September 2, 2015
NEW — 4:50 p.m. Sept. 2, 2015
Newcastle parents whisked their children off to school this week, symbolically bringing an end to the long summer nights.
After dropping the kids off at school, you might feel the urge to kick back, relax and enjoy some “me” time. You deserve it after a long summer keeping the young ones entertained.
But wait! The schools need you. The volunteer jobs are endless. The playgrounds need monitors, the libraries can use assistance, the front offices might need your organizational skills, teachers almost never have enough helpers and the nurse’s offices are often in need of a mother’s touch to watch over a sick child.
But the best volunteer jobs may be working directly with students. Parents, grandparents and other citizens are always welcome to just listen to children read. Read more
To the Editor — September 2015
September 2, 2015
NEW — 4:48 p.m. Sept. 2, 2015
Reject the proposed School Woods plan
I am writing this to express my opposition to the proposed plan for the School Woods. Beyond the loss of trails, the increased residential and “cut-through” traffic through two established neighborhoods, and the violation of existing wetlands, it is a shame to have lost a potential open space and park area.
This is especially true in a city having the least park land of any in the area (4.7 acres of park acreage per 1,000 residents in Newcastle, compared to Renton’s 12.7 acres and Bellevue’s 21.2).
Further, the proposed development shows a complete lack of imagination and respect for the land. The site plan as it stands is in the perfect image of California practice: Flatten for building pad, drop, flatten for building pad, drop again, flatten for building pad, drop again, etc., extending over the entire site. This is a forced, high-density housing development that shows little or no sympathy and respect for existing neighborhood ambiance. Read more
Hazen marching band is back after more than 30 years
September 1, 2015
NEW — 6:15 p.m. Sept. 2, 2015
When Chris Coy interviewed for a teaching position at Hazen High School several years ago, it was clear administrators were looking for someone with a particular set of skills.
“The first question they asked me was what did I know about marching bands,” Coy, now the school’s director of bands and orchestra, said.
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Hazen High School senior Devin Dolling plays the drum at an Aug. 18 preseason practice of the school’s new marching band.
Coming from Ohio, a mecca for marching band enthusiasts, Coy knew quite a lot. In addition to marching himself in high school and college, he also taught students to march and play. Read more
Hazen football looks to take next step in coach’s second year
September 1, 2015
NEW — 3:28 p.m. Sept. 1, 2015
The Hazen High School mascot is a Highlander, but this year, the football team has wolves on its mind.
It stems from the squad’s 2015 motto, “Legs Feed The Wolf.” If a wolf wants to eat, it needs legs to hunt down its prey, Hazen quarterback Michael Mason explained.
By Christina Corrales-Toy
David Kilpatrick-White, Hazen High School’s head football coach, leads his team through warm-ups at an Aug. 26 preseason practice.
“Every guy represents the legs of the wolf, and for the wolf that is Hazen football to eat, we’ve all got to do our share and put in the work,” he said. Read more
