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Home My WebLink About2014-06 Tukwila ReporterDON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE TUKWILA RESIDENTS' GUIDE INSERTED INSIDE THIS EDITION 06 • 2014 es of three graduates coverstory see page 5 fl 41. SCHOOL CONNECTIONS: Tukwila School District update, pages 10-11 [see us online lkwww.tukwilareportercom 2 JUNE 2014 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com RapidRide F Line providing bus service in Tukwila Riders traveling between Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila and Renton now have more fre- quent all -day bus service, as King County Metro Transit has launched the RapidRide F Line. This is the sixth line in the RapidRide program - which is supported by state and federal funding - and replaces routes 110 and 140. It is the first east -west Rapid - Ride line. The 12 -mile -long route better links communities and riders to Westfield Southcenter Mall, Boeing, The Landing and downtown Renton, and major transit hubs including Sound Transit's Link light rail and Sounder rail stations, according to a Metro Transit news release. The frequent all -day weekday service is 4:45 a.m. to midnight and weekend service is 6 a.m. to midnight. Service is most fre- quent - every 10 minutes - during peak commutes. The corridor will see an overall 69 per - 1 July 4 Come early to stake out a picnic spot! Inflatable 0 �ata��e a pens at 9 a. Entertainment oun�ers 4- m' 4.30, ntertainm 9 3� p•m. 6 p m• Ke/ ent stage: 6�30� p /ee 8 m• B r adley 8 8:30 Alma yq and F 0 p• m. , SWAY ireiVprks AV at lOp, Food available onsite, too! TUKWILA'S FAMILY 4TH AT FORT DENT PARK TUKWILA PARKS & RECREATION 6006 HEAL.THV For more information call (206) 768-2822 www.TukwilaWA.gov 1073164 cent increase, compared to Route 140 ser- vice prior to extending to The Landing. "RapidRide is helping us build the most efficient all -day transit network, one that offers a great customer experience and bet- ter positions King County for the growth coming to our region," said King County Executive Dow Constantine. Voters approved RapidRide in 2006, and now the program has 113 red and yellow low -floor buses in six corridors. RapidRide A -F lines carry more than 50,000 rides a day - more than 12 percent of Metro's 400,000 daily total ridership. Based on the previous Route 140 service, the F Line starts out carrying about 3,500 weekday riders. Along the route, the mi- nority population is higher than the county average and the income is lower than the county average. The F Line began service on Saturday, June 6. Vatni Since1974 A Kent Lions Community Service Project Another Kent Lions Event at Town Square Plaza Park - September 27th 9:OOam - 2:OOpm Every Saturday For more information visit us at www.kentfarmersmarket.com • BIGGER than ever • More farmers • More fresh flowers • More vendors • More fresh produce 253-852-5466 kentlions@gmail.com Serving Kent Since 1938 Or July 10th -,July 13th etirtvi • Over 600 Vendors • Kids Activities * • Fine Arts Display • Live Entertainment • Carnival and Parade vvww.kcdays.com • 5K Walk/Run • cam' rTournaments Kent Cornucopia D. :knottier Kent Lions Community Service Project 1073160 www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » JUNE 2014 3 Largest grading project in city under way BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM What Tukwila's public works director calls a "whopping" 500,000 cubic yards of dirt is on the move for developer Mario Segale's massive Tukwila South project. It's the largest grading project ever in the city, says Bob Giberson. The work has been under way for sev- eral weeks, noticeable to anyone driving on Southcenter Parkway or on Southeast 196th Street/200th Street. The project calls for removing the hill- side at South 180th Street and Southcenter Parkway and hauling it south less than a mile where it's being used to create new ar- eas for development. The city will build a new fire station where the hillside once stood. It will take about 16,700 truck trips to make that happen, mostly traveling on land paralleling Southcenter Parkway to the east. The trucks still need to cross the parkway at two points. The "disappearing hill" is being graded flat in several stages, according to Giber - son. Stage one is the removal of 75,000 cubic yards of dirt to make way for Puget Sound Energy to relocate its high-pressure gas line along the north side of the new fire station site, according to Giberson. That's about 2,500 truck trips. Stage two is to remove old South 178th and the former high-pressure gas line. The relocated gas line will allow the removal of an additional 425,000 cubic yards, or an- other 14,177 truck trips. There is no specific date when the work is to be completed, he said. Once the grading is complete and utili- ties are in place, Segale can apply for build- ing permits. 111•11 R S t a u R A N T Join us for dinner tonight. rot • 1 TUKWILA.SEATAC. DESMDINES WPHDS With Soup... HHH or Salad SEATAC 20402 International Blvd 206-592-5928 TUKWILA 17250 Southcenter Parkway 206-575-0330 Yum. index 2 Fl,n. King County Metro Transit has launched the RapidRide F Line, which will link Renton, Tukwila, Burien and SeaTac with frequent bus service. A massive earth -moving project is under way in Tukwila, in the Southcenter Southcenter Parkway. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter area on TUKWILA • SEATAC • DES MOINES �.QWPRDS� tukwila WINNER BEST°F2014 TUKWILA • SEATAC • DES MOINESWe.Q ARDS THA FOR Tukwila, WA 98188 206-575-1130 * fax: 206-575-1133 www.doctorbuda.com EVERYTHING GEARED TOWARD . YOURCHIAN • • COMFORT ENIOYMENT * 6 month preventative exams * Free Orthodontic exams * Brushing for toddlers * Teething tips *White Fillings * Sports Guards * Space Maintainers *Thumb Guards * Anxiety Medication * General Anaesthesia available ur office is fun and kid friendly. We have great games and giveaways during the year. Your child gets a prize and sticker at every visit. Dr. Buda is currently accepting many different insurance plans. Over the last four years we have become a preferred provider for 7 major insurance companies including: *Aetna •Assurant *Cigna *Delta •DSHS •GreatWest •Guardian •Humana •Metlife •Premera •Regence •WDS •United Concordia 1073139 3 onthemove A whopping 500,000 cubic yards of dirt is on the move in south Tukwila as part of Mario Segale's massive Tukwila South project. 4 keeplearning School is out for the summer but that doesn't mean that learning, especially reading, should take a vacation, writes Supt. Nancy Coogan. 5 coverstory Three Foster High School graduates are profiled in an effort to show the breadth of life experience of the Class of 2014. 12 topdawgs Several Foster High School athletes and Foster's baseball coach were recognized by the Seamount League with all - league honors. tukwila reporter SOUND PUBLISHING INC. >19426 68th Avenue South > Kent, WA 98032 ,253.872.6600 > www.tukwilareporter.com 4 JUNE 2014 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com • • > write staff regional publisher polly shepherd publisher ellen morrison publisher@tukwilareporter.com editor dean radford editor@tukwilareporter.com 425.255.3484, ext. 5150 circulation james kostoroski 253.872.6610 The Tukwila Reporter encourages reader participation in your community newspaper. Share your thoughts in a letter to the editor (200 words or less) including your full name, address and phone number. HERE'S HOW To submit a letter to the editor, E-MAIL: editor@ tukwilareporter.com FAX: 253.437.6016 MAIL: 19426 68th Ave. 5., Ste. A, Kent, WA 98032 STORY IDEAS: dradford@ tukwilareporter.com ONLINE CALENDAR: tukwilareporter.com Our first guide to city of Tukwila Our first-ever Residents' Guide for the Tukwila community is in this month's issue of the Tukwila Reporter. These community guides have been one of my favorite projects over the years. They're always evolving as we try to figure out new ways to give our community use- ful information and to react to changes (such as the internet and social me- dia) in how we share that infor- mation. Please let me know if there's something in the Residents' Guide that you need to know but isn't there. I'll keep a list and include your ideas in next year's edition. As always, any kinds of suggestions are welcome. Obviously we are a community newspaper, so "community" is im- portant to us. There are only a few times when a community comes together to celebrate its success and high school commencement is one of those. Inside today's issue are my pro- files of three Foster graduates, Tulasa Ghimirey, Connor Forsyth and Ardo Hersi, who all come from wildly different backgrounds. But each of their stories helps illu- minate why Tukwila is so unique and special. When I attended Tukwilas schools, I couldn't imagine sit- ting next to a child from Russia. Of course, the reason why is that in the 1950s and 60s, Russia was the Soviet Union and the U.S. and the Soviets were engaged in a Cold War. Now, it's hard to imagine walk- ing into a Tukwila classroom where there aren't kids whose roots are in Russia - or in Bhutan or Somalia or Congo or Mexico. Tukwila has changed for the good. Talking about change for the good: The groundbreaking for Tukwila Village is coming in Au- gust. Read about the project in next month's Tukwila Reporter. Summer slide sets back learning Welcome to summer break! I hope your family has a safe, energizing, and fun respite from school during the next few months. As the district's lead educator, however, there is one seasonal danger lurking in the warm weather that I must warn you about: Summer slide. No, I'm not talking about the popular playground toy! Summer slide occurs when children do not actively learn during break, and they "slide" backward in their knowledge and skills. This is particularly devastating for low-income students, as research shows that more than half of the achievement gap between them and higher -income youth can be ex- plained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities. Think of it this way: Their rate of learning may be the same during the school year, but a child exposed to summer educational experiences advances one month while a child not exposed to summer educational experiences falls back by two months. The gap widens. By the end of fifth grade, the child with no summer learning is about three years behind — three years! The issue is so critical that state lawmakers just formed an Expanded Learning Opportunities Council to create a comprehensive plan to stop summer learning loss. We are very fortunate to have a seat among the select group: School board member Mary Fertakis will be representing Tuk- wila children. We don't have time to wait, though, because summer is already upon us. Let's join together to make sure we stop summer slide now. Our schools have laid the foundation. They are offering a strong summer -school program with emphasis on supporting academic strug- glers and English language learners in literacy and math. A group of in- coming freshmen will learn study skills while preparing for Advanced Placement coursework. High schoolers will be able to retrieve credits and move ahead. At the middle level, incoming eighth graders have an op- portunity to participate in a forensic lab at Swedish Hospital through the Seattle Science Foundation's Kids in Medicine program. In addition, we just began a program that will expand to provide 12 new books to every kindergartner through second grader to read over the summer. But schools can't go it alone. We need the help of every family to rein- force learning and good brain habits. Even if your children do not par- ticipate in any formal programs, please make sure they: 1. Read and write every day Check out books at the King County Library System's Foster Library and join the summer reading program there to earn fun rewards. Read aloud to children and have them read aloud to you. Subscribe to a new magazine for your children. Allow your children to stay up later than normal at bedtime as long as they are reading. Buy postcards for children to send to friends and family describing their summer fun. 2. Use math every day Practice multiplication by having every point in a soccer game (or other athletic competition) worth 5 points (or 6 or 7 ...). Have children make change at restaurants and stores. Have children use fractions while measuring during cooking or divvy - n = 0 N u CC oz [ more COOGAN page 121 Tukwila shows way to ease burden of court fees What does "access to justice" mean? Lots of things but let's talk about legal financial obligation (LFO): fees, fines, courts costs and restitution. If a court imposes LFOs that are unaf- fordable to the offender, what happens? The amount grows with interest and col- lection fees. Non-payment often results in more court hearings and more LFOs locking people into the justice system. Some even go to jail, in effect debtor's jail, for non-payment. This means the taxpay- er gets to pay north of $100 a day for non- payment of LFOs that are unlikely to ever be paid. Some communities even require that LFO payments be taken from pub- lic payments for subsistence. This drives people deeper into poverty. Does any of this make sense? Understanding that people need a chance to improve their lives and contrib- ute, our Tukwila court works to combine accountability and justice with compas- sion and opportunity to move in a better direction. The judge might, for example, conditionally reduce or waive LFOs or al- low community service to be performed to "work off" the LFOs. We can be proud of our court and Judge Walden. Now, if we just had more resources for our court.... Tukwila Reporter columnist Chuck Parrish can be reached via email at chuckpar- rish2009@gmail.com www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » JUNE 2014 5 cover Weare Foster Born as a refugee in Nepal, Tulasa Ghimirey follows dreams When the strong winds blew, they held onto their house made of bamboo, plastic and stone. When it rained, the water dripped on them as they slept. Tulasa Ghimirey remembers well her life in the refu- gee camp in Nepal, where her parents had fled from their native Bhutan and where she was born. In the early 1990s, civil war divided Bhutan, a small country that sits on the southeast corner of the Himala- yas, both subtropical and mountainous. Its neighbor on almost all sides is India. To the north is China. Tulasa's parents were at the heart of the civil strife. Om Nath Ghimirey and his wife Bhagawati fled religious and cultural intolerance and persecu- tion in their homeland for the refugee camp. The Ghimireys are Hin- du. For 20 years, the fam- ily scratched out a liv- ing, running a restaurant from their home. Work outside the camp typical- ly wasn't allowed because it might take a job away from a native Nepali. The Ghimireys wanted their children to dream and have those dreams come true. "The refugee camp was not the place where your dreams would come true;" Tulasa said. Tulasa's last day in Nepal came on Nov 8, 2010. She was 14, almost 15. The day before was just another nor- mal day in camp, playing with her friends. But that night, everyone talked about how after to- morrow they would not see each other again. There were tears and stories were told. Tulasa was lost; she had questions but she couldn't ask anyone for the answers. But her experience taught Tulasa to understand "the plight of a refugee fleeing a harsh world;' as she wrote in an essay that won her a first place this spring in a contest sponsored by the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center They were headed for America and the opportunities the Ghimireys sought for their children. Arriving in Seattle, Tulasa first attended the Seattle World School before transferring to Rainier Beach High School. About 18 months later Tulasa's mother asked her whether the family had made the right decision to move to the United States. Tulasa couldn't understand her mother's expression. She told Tulasa she missed her brother and was lonely when her girls were at school. On Feb. 10, 2012, Tulasa's mother killed herself. Tulasa Ghimirey [ more TULASA page 9] Stories by Dean A. Radford/Editor, Tukwila Reporter Connor Forsyth's two passions: baseball and serving others Connor Forsyth has his feet firmly planted in Tuk- wila. He has good friends, good teammates and a stable life that he appreciates and uses as a launching pad to help others. He's grown up in the most diverse school district in the nation, something else he appreciates. "It's so normal here to have this huge amount of di- versity," Connor says of Foster High School. His diploma was 12 years in the making at Tukwila Elementary School, Showalter Middle School and fi- nally Foster. Connor Forsyth His parents, John and Lisa Forsyth, have lived in or near Tukwila for nearly 30 years. John teaches math at Showal- ter and Lisa is a substi- tute teacher in the Tuk- wila School District and volunteers for Young Life. There's brother Jeff, 27, who graduated from Highline High School, and brother Alec, 22, a Foster graduate. Connor, 18, was born at Valley Medical Center in Renton. For about five years his family lived in the Samara Apartments, just west of Foster on South 144th Street, and in SeaTac in what he describes as "a dinky little house" with two bedrooms and one bathroom. Money was tight, he says. He learned the value of service to the community from his parents and in turn was inspired to serve. For many years his father was a Young Life volunteer at Fos- ter. With his own safety needs met, Connor was able to reach out to other students at Foster new to the country to help them feel safe and comfortable. It's why he chose to become part of the student leadership team at Foster; he's ASB vice president. "Me having those safety needs helps other people at Foster get those safety needs by either being a friend, making them feel comfortable or just straight up saying 'hi' to them in the hallways every day at Foster; he says. "I have always enjoyed serving. And I have a passion for serving. That's why I love to help others," he says. Connor's favorite sport is baseball, his passion, he says, and for three years he ran cross-country. He played wing on the Foster boys basketball team that fell just one game short of making it to the state tournament last season. It was a hard-fought game against Hockinson High School that left the Bulldogs emotionally drained. [ more CONNOR page 9] Ardo Hersi to change the world, starting right here in Tukwila Ardo Hersi wants to change the world. "I don't know how. But I am going to do it," she says. Where will she start? "Home. It's the best place to start:' For Ardo, the middle one of eight children, Tukwila is home and her older siblings, Hufan, Fosiya and Gass, are all graduates of Foster High School. Ardo joined them Friday, after speaking at Foster's commencement. "We are just really ingrained in Tukwila. We love it here," she says. Ardo, 18, is the daughter of Somalian refugees Sahra Hussein and Abdulkadir Hersi, who fled the civil war in that African na- tion in the early 1990s. She was born in Fresno, Calif., but arrived in Tukwila in time to go to Tukwila Elementary School. "Go Tigers," she says. "They definitely came here not just to escape the war but because my siblings and I can get a chance at an education," she says of her parents, and for a better life. "I feel like I owe it to them to be the best I can be," she says. Ardo is personable, articulate, fierce — and a story teller, including Foster's. She has her causes: she's pro- moting composting at Foster and raising money with other students to help the displaced Rohingya people of Myanmar in south Asia. After Foster, Ardo is first headed for South Seattle Community College and then she wants to transfer to the University of Washington. At the UW she'll prob- ably major in international relations and political sci- ence, with a minor in journalism. She'll be the first of her brothers or sisters to go to a university. Ardo keeps on top of what's happening in the world by watching Al Jazeera and RT — Russia Today. She wants to become a journalist in part because she wants such stories as the Rohingya to be told on American television, she says. "I feel very strongly about human rights," she says. Ardo and a group of friends started "Rights for Ro- hingya:' For her work, Ardo was a finalist for the Ernst & Young "Young Entrepreneur of the Year" Award, which recognizes youth who are trying to resolve social issues. Ardo credits her Islamic faith as her motivation for helping others. Some people see Islam as a terrorist re- Ardo Hersi [ more ARDO page 9] 6 JUNE 2014 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com City of Tukwila • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Online: TukwilaWA.gov lviHruK: nm riaggenon COUNCIL PRESIDENT: De'Sean Quinn I.UUIVLIL /Vlt/VILitKJ: www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » JUNE 2014 7 Joe uuirle • uennis Kooenson • Alan tKoerg Verna Seal • Kathy Hougardy • Kate Kruller TUKWILA CITY PAGES Reminder: Setting off fireworks in Tukwila is not allowed. Join us for a great celebration at Family Fourth at Fort Dent Park! The city of opportunity qk V1' TEAM TUKWILA SUMER SPORTS CAMPS UK ELITE SUMMER SOCCER CAMP AND SCHOOL July 7-11 For ages 5-8 & 9-12 Time: 9:00AM to 12:00PM Location: TCC Cost: $130 Register at www. UKElite.com; use code WA063A A dynamic global curriculum introduces participants to soccer games and activities from Brazil, England, Spain, Holland and USA. Daily themes will teach players new skills and techniques, and include small sided world cup scrimmages BASKETBALL CAMP July 14-17 For ages 7-11 Time: 9:OOAM-12:OOPM For ages 12-15 Time: 12:30-3:30PM Location: TCC Gym Cost: $48/$40 resident Teaching the basic philosophy and fundamental values of basketball. Develop skill sets such as ball handling, shooting, passing defense and rebound- ing — all the things needed to be successful and to contribute to your team's success. JUNIOR GOLFER CAMP July 21-24 For ages 6-11 Time: 11:00AM to 2:00PM Location: TCC field Cost: $48/$40 resident Learn proper etiquette, game fundamentals and fair play, and improve skills with on -course, short game, and swing instruction. Clubs are provided. Need a basic understanding of golf, be able to swing the club and participate in on -course instruction. TUSK YOUTH SOCCER CAMP August 4-7 For ages 6-11 Location: TCC field Time: 9:OOAM to 12:OOPM Cost: $48/$40 resident Players of all ages and abilities learn, improve, and have a great time in this upbeat camp. Instruction on passing, receiving, heading, shooting, dribbling and crossing, then testing new skills through interac- tive games and scrimmages. Shin guards required. BULLDOG TENNIS CAMP August 11-15, 18-22 & 25-29 For ages 7-13 Time: 2:30 to 4:30PM Location: FHS courts Cost: $48/$40 resident Serve, volley, and lob your way into the great game of tennis. This fun camp will acquaint you with a life- long sport you'll LOVE. Tennis racquets are required. The registration deadline is generally five business days prior to the start of camp. Tukwila Parks & Recreation brings you these exciting summer camps for KIDS. Future Stars Mini Sports Camps These camps are geared towards ages 4-6, with a focus on fun! SPORTS FOR SHORTS July 1-3 For ages 4-6 Location: TCC gym Time: 9:30 to 11:30AM Cost: $25/$20 resident First-time athletes learn the basic how-to skills of sports, games, fitness and group interaction through running, jumping, ball -handling, and group games. UK PETITE SOCCER CAMP July 7-11 For ages 3-5 Location: TCC Register at www.UKElite.com; select time: Time: 9:30 to 10:45AM — use code WA063APA Time: 11:OOAM to 12:15PM — use code WA063APB Cost: $80 (1 class/day) A perfect introduction to the world's most popular sport enables players to develop motor skills, social skills, coordination and general athletic ability in a stimulating, motivating, educational environment. All participants are required to wear shin guards. MINI MOVERS DANCE CAMP July 22-24 For ages 4-6 Time: 9:30 to 11:30AM Location: TCC Dance Rm Cost: $25/$20 resident This camp is a unique experience for young girls and boys to learn fun ways to express themselves through dance and high energy fun! Dances will include ballet, tap, hip hop, and creative movement. TINY TOT TENNIS CAMP August 19-22 For ages 5-6 Time: 2:30 to 4:OOPM Location: FHS courts Cost: $25/$20 resident Introducing tennis to participants through group instruction, as well as skill -related games and activi- ties. Players will use age specific equipment includ- ing smaller racquets, and special tennis balls (please bring your own child -size racquet if you have one). EXTENDED CARE Looking for care for your athlete before and after sports camp? Register with our day camp (Camp Tukwilly) and join the fun before and/or after sports camp. Please contact Tukwila Community Center staff for schedules and pricing. DON'T MISS OUT, SIGN UP NOW! raw a C/e4t & FREE Junk Car removal available to residents As part of Tukwila's "Clean and Green" summer, residents are encour- aged to rid their yards of junk vehicles. So what is a "junk vehicle"? It's a vehicle that meets three or more of the following requirements: 1 Is three years or older 1 Is extensively damaged (broken window; missing wheels, motor, etc.) 1 Is apparently inoperable 1 Is without valid, current license plates or is unregistered. 1 Has an approximate fair market value equal only to the value of the scrap in it. 1 Is partially disassembled, or is individual parts of vehicles no longer attached to each other. The City has made arrangements for junk vehicles in Tukwila to be picked up AT NO CHARGE to property owners. You may call one of the licensed hulk haulers listed below and make arrangements to have the junker(s) removed. (They may even pay you something!) Affordable Auto Wrecking 206-723-9820 Budget Auto Wrecking 206-244-4314 Binford Metal Recycling 253-854-8000 ADJ Auto Recycling 206-331-6750 JunkThatCar.net 206-707-2833 All West Coast Auto Wrecking206-433-8069 South End Auto Wrecking 425-251-8555 If you need assistance with obtaining the required affidavit or want more information about the program, please contact the Code Enforce- ment Office at 206-431-3671, or email CodeEnforcement@TukwilaWA.gov. NOTE: All wrecking companies require valid title or signed junk car affidavits at time of pick-up. And don't forget! Tukwila's Annual Residential Curbside Clean-up coming up on Saturday, June 21 One -day only - 7:OOAM Tukwila City offices will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observation of the Independence Day holiday Cotten Ghat Come discuss what's on your mind from 10:OOAM to 12:OOPM at FOSTER GOLF CLUBHOUSE 13500 Interurban Ave S Itc4 Chat,. Juhi,12 Council Chat is a monthly chance to stop by and informally speak with one of your Tukwila City Councilmembers about anything on your mind regarding your community. Help Tukwila celebrate National Night Out Against Crime Tuesday, August 5 marks the 31st anniver- sary of National Night Out (NNO) Against Crime — a night for America to stand to- gether and promote awareness, safety, and neighborhood unity. NNO showcases the vital importance of police -community partnerships and citizen involvement in the fight for a safer nation. On NNO, neighborhoods nationwide join together and "give crime a going -away party". Starting at 5:00PM on August 5, Tukwila's Police and Fire Depart- ments — as well as City Council members, Code Enforcement officers and Human Services representatives — will visit each neighborhood event "registered" by Wednesday, July 30. Tar- get Corporation is a national sponsor of NNO. Employees from Southcenter Target will travel with City personnel, visiting neigh- borhood parties with free prizes for kids. For a third year, the Tukwila Police Department partnered with Tukwila School District 5th grade classes, holding a poster contest with National Night Out Against Crime as a theme. Copies of the winning artwork will be provided to event hosts to use as a part of your neighborhood flyers. Types of neighborhood events vary. Most neighborhoods plan a potluck, taking advantage of the wide and wonderful ethnic food contributions offered by Tukwila residents. Whatever your idea, this is your time to bring neighbors together for a fun evening and make this the biggest Night Out Against Crime ever in Tukwila! Sign up early to receive a packet of crime prevention materials for handing out at your event. Get more information or register your event online at TukwilaWA.gov/Police/PDCrimeP.html. You can also contact Community Policing Coordinator Chris Partman at CrimePrevention@TukwilaWA.gov, or call 206-431-2197. Tukwila Community Garage Sale August 9 & 10 Be part of Tukwila's 21st annual Community Garage Sale! Sign up to hold a garage sale at your Tukwila home on the same days as your neighbors all across the city! Your sale will get free publicity—Tukwila's Recycling Program will publish sale addresses in local newspapers, put a sale map on City of Tukwila website, and distribute printed copies. When you register, you'll get a free Yard Sale Kit with a small sign, tips for a great sale, and a list of reuse agencies that take donations. Register by July 10 to hold a sale. Online: TukwilaWA.gov/yardsale.html Email: recycle@TukwilaWA.gov Phone: 206-433-7178 Mail: City of Tukwila Recycling Program 6300 Southcenter Blvd Tukwila, WA 98188 �r FOR SALE Protecting your furriest friends on the Fourth Although the discharge of fireworks is not allowed in Tukwila neighbor- hoods, your holiday plans might end up exposing your pets to noisy July 4th celebrations that frighten them. To help your pet cope with the noise from fireworks and reduce the chance of running away, Tukwila offers these tips: • Don't assume that your pet won't react just because you haven't had problems in the past. Sometimes, pets become sensitive to loud noises later in life. • Keep your pet secured indoors in a quiet room while fireworks are audible. You can also use soothing music or television as a distrac- tion. Some pets will stay calmer when placed in a secure crate in a darkened, quiet room. • If your pets are normally kept outside, bring them inside or put them in a garage or basement while fireworks are going off. • If your pet becomes lost, check in person at all local shelters, and check back often. It may take some time before spooked pets are brought to shelters. • Make sure your pet has at least two forms of identification. This can be a pet license and personalized tag, a license and a microchip, or all three (license, tag, and microchip). Pets with ID have a much greater chance of being returned to their owners. Pet licensing helps reunite owners with their beloved animals. If you haven't yet licensed your pet, now is a great time to do so! Contact the City of Tukwila for pet licensing information at 206-433-1800, or go to www.TukwilaWA.gov. , Planning Commission public hearing set for June 26 on Comprehensive Plan update Tukwila is updating its Comprehensive Plan, the long-range guide for how the community grows and develops over the next 20 years. During June 2014, Tukwila's Planning Commission will hold a work session (June 24) and public hearing (June 26) on three chapters: Parks, Recreation and Open Space; Community Image and Iden- tity; and Roles and Responsibilities. The public is invited to give input at the public hearing on June 26, 2014 at 6:30PM in Tukwila's City Council Chambers, 6200 Southcenter Blvd. In July the Planning Commission will review other chapters, including Tukwila South and Economic Devel- opment, with Residential Neighbor- hoods, Housing, and Transportation corridors to be considered throughout the summer and early fall. Planning Commission recommendations will be forwarded to the City Council for review and public hearing, with final action by mid -year 2015. Information is available for review prior to the meetings. Please visit TukwilaWA.gov/CompPlan.html, call 206-431-3683, or send an email to CompPlanUpdate@TukwilaWA.gov. Tukwila preparing to start construction on Interurban Avenue South The City of Tukwila recently selected a contractor and con- struction management firm to begin reconstruction of a portion of Interurban Avenue South from Fort Dent Way to South 143rd Street. The roadway construction work is expected to begin in July and last 12 to 16 months. Throughout significant portions of the work there will only be one lane of traffic in each direction within the construction zone. Access to local businesses will remain open during construction, but some limited interruptions can be expected, and access may be restricted at specific locations to accommodate the modified traffic patterns. Drivers moving between the 1-405 and 1-5 interchanges are encouraged to find other routes during construction. This $7.5 million project will include a new retaining wall to support the roadway adjacent to the Green River, ex- tensive storm drainage improvements, new pavement, lighting, pedestrian facilities, landscaping and other im- This makeshift pathway along the river will be replaced with a full sidewalk, protected by a concrete traffic barrier and a metal handrail on the river side. provements. Utility companies are planning to relocate their facilities just ahead of construction to accommodate the roadway improvements. The contractor will work to limit the equipment noise, dust and other unpleasant consequences that are a nor- mal part of the roadway construction process. Project status updates will be posted on the City website at www.TukwilaWA.gov/IURoadway.html. Meeting agendas, City programs, recreation activities, publications and more... get the most current information at TukwilaWA.gov! 8 JUNE 2014 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com BRAiN %%MI&fl9 M OMCNts download the free app now dif ANDROID APP ON Turn a simple snack break into a brain -building moment. The first 5 years are when your child's brain develops the foundation for all future learning. History society looks at mission The Tukwila Histori- cal Society is asking for community involve- ment in a new program it's launching in June called STEPS Program - Standards and Excel- lence Program for His- tory Organizations. STEPS is an oppor- tunity for the Tukwila Historical Society to begin a new chapter in its efforts to preserve the city's rich past, look at its present programs, and design a future re- sponding to the city's changing community. Through the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center, which is a partnership with the City of Tukwila, the society is exploring how it can include more community members in its programs and displays and how it can be more of a resource to those interested in local history. The first STEPS meeting will look at the mission of the Tukwila Historical Society and begin the process of set- ting out a vision of its work over the next few years. That meeting is at 6:30 p.m. June 19 at the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center, 14475 59th Ave. S., Tukwila. Sandwiches will be served, and participants are welcome to stay for a short business meeting to follow. Those wish- ing to attend are asked to RSVP to the Tukwila Historical Society at 206-244-4478. Society calendar July 17, 7 p.m.: "The History of Military Road" presented by local historian Karen Meador at the Nelsen House, 15643 W. Valley Highway. (Parking is available on the south side of the residence next to the hotel). Refreshments will be served. Aug.9 and 10:Tukwila Community Garage Sale. The Tukwila Historical Society will participate in this year's garage sale as a fundraiser for the society. The society is accepting do- nations of items in good condition for the sale. Call the center at 206-244- 4478 for additional information. TUKWILA PARKS &, R1 CRUATION GOOD II -A LTI Y FUt. Summer Playground Program @ Cascade View Community Park June 30 -August 22 Mon—Thurs llam-2pm Supervised drop-in program Free Summer Sack Lunch for kids 1-18 @ Thorndyke Elementary July 7 -August 14 M-Thurs 12-3pm For more information & fees on Summer Camps, please call or visit us online. Tukwila Community Center 12424 - 42nd Ave. S. Tukwila, WA 206-768-2TCC www.tukwiiawa.go Direct Burial [ TULASA from page 5] "This was the worst nightmare of my life, and I will never forget it;' she wrote in her essay. "She was my hope, strength, inspira- tion, and I always wanted to show my po- tential to her:' Tulasa and her sisters moved in with her father and step -mother Sabitra at their apartment in Tukwila. She enrolled as a ju- nior at Foster High and graduated on time, sixth in her class, last Friday. Her sister Benu is a junior this year at Foster. She's headed for Western Washington University, where she likely will study something in the medical field, with the support of a $2,000 Tukwila City of Op- portunity Scholarship, among other schol- arships. In the application for that scholarship, she wrote she wanted to become a general practitioner at a public hospital, because she said in an interview, "it's the place where the most help is needed:' Tulasa has already gone where help is needed. She's volunteered for organizations serving refugee women, senior citizens and members of her Bhutanese/Nepali com- munity. She is driven to help because she has lived a life of struggle. "I don't want to see other people go through what I've gone through;' she said. She wants to set an example of service and leadership for her siblings and other members of the Bhutanese/Nepali com- munity. "If I choose the wrong path, they might choose the same path that I did. I want them to follow the right path;' she says. [ ARDO from page 5] ligion, she says, but that's because her faith is misunderstood. The Prophet Muham- mad preached peace for all and fairness. "That is where I get my drive;' she says. Ardo already has a head start telling the stories she wants told. It started with a flyer for KUOW's RadioActive program in a hallway at Foster. She's now an advanced producer for the youth -produced radio news programming. It was hard picking her first story, but she chose to write about the Tukwila School District, the most diverse in the nation. Among her interviewees were Foster Prin- cipal Pat Larson, who grew up in Tukwila, and long-time Foster teacher and coach Mike Shannon. She's now working on a story for July. It's "pretty amazing; she says, how every- one gets along at Foster. She was sitting at ALL KINDS OF YARDWORK4 ✓ Weeding ✓ Pruning ✓ Trimming ✓ Hauling V Retaining Walls ✓ Patios General Cleanup CALL Mike 206-242-4378 or 206-941-9573 Lic#BEAUTGS957PK - Serenity Funeral Home and Cremation Locally Owned and Operated Cremation starting at $550 Burial starting at $950 425-988-2598 SerenityRenton.com CASCADE MEMORIAL low cost cremation & funerals $495 Simple Cremation $895 425.641.6100 CascadeMemorial.com lunch one day, watching boys from Congo, Somalia and Burma play something they all enjoy, soccer. "These are kids from all these different countries who literally escaped war and famine just last year. They are all shaking hands and having fun together," she says. But many of these first -generation im- migrants also struggle with losing what makes them Burmese or Somalian or Con- golese, she says. That's true for Ardo, too. "It's like I am too American for the So- mali kids. And the American kids, I am too Somali for them. I am in this paradox;' she says. She worries that she, and especially her younger siblings, will lose their native lan- guage or not learn it at all. "I think it's so important to not forget where you come from," she says. r- r r VGTCGGIfiW �/dimL- • • t tDirecto FOSTER-TUKWILA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 14401 56th Ave S SO July 14-1 , 6 ISLAND Vm E. Juty 14-18, 6:30-8:30 pm , f .... Summer Schedule: q Sunday Worship 9:30 am • 206-243-4455 • www.ftpc.org TO ADVERTISE YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP Please call Lisa 425-255-3484 Ext. 3052 Affordable Wills Simple Will $300.00 Trust Will for minor children $350.00 Community Prop. Agreement $200.00 Durable Power of Attorney $150.00 Directive to Physician $75.00 Mention this ad for package discount. MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, P.S. Attorneys at Law 15 So. Grady Way,100 Evergreen Building, Renton, WA 98057 (425) 255-4542 • www.mgrlaw.com 5. www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » JUNE 2014 i 9 [ CONNOR from page 5] Afterword, the locker room was quiet, except for the crying, he says. "That was rough. That was rough. But I mean we were just grateful for the run that we made and how fun our season was and how close we came as a team:' he says. Sports and academics take up much of Connor's time. He mentors freshmen for Ignite, a youth mentoring program. A Christian, Conner and his good buddy Max Montoya do the program for Young Life on Monday nights. They eat dinner, have fun, play games and put on silly skits. "I am a hyperactive third grader," Connor says. And they talk about their faith, the Bible and Jesus, "what a life with Jesus looks like, what a life with God looks like," Connor says. All faiths or those with no faith at all are welcome, he says. "It's awesome to see how much fun we can have together;' he says. After graduation, Connor is headed for Go to tukwilareporter. com for more on commencement and Foster's senior class. George Fox University in Oregon on an academic scholarship. He plans to walk on the baseball team. His major is human structures and systems — human anatomy. His ultimate goal is to become a paramedic or an ER doctor, where he can use his inter- est in medicine to serve others. It's a hypothetical question, but not un- realistic: Family friends serve as missionar- ies in Nepal. What if Connor had to move to a for- eign country, learn the language and go to school? For sure, he would know how to relate to the people of a foreign country because of his experience at Foster, he says. "Even though it's a different situation over there, I still have personal stability and I would be able to jump into the culture and the schooling that would go on there. It would be a completely different experi- ence but it would be an awesome experi- ence, for sure;' he says. Property values jump by nearly 20 percent Residential property values in the Tuk- wila/Riverton Heights area have grown nearly 20 percent over last year, according to the King County Assessor's Office. The assessed values are used to deter- mine how much property taxes are owed for the year, in this case 2014, on a piece of property. The 19.8 percent is a general increase and individual property values will vary from that figure, according to the assessor's office. FREE Bingo Imperial Bingo Connection 3100 East Valley Rd. Renton 425-656-5257 Wednesday Friday Saturday Sunday FREE Bingo All Saturdays in June Buy Morning = Pay $150 Play Afternoon FREE = Pay $125 Buy 11 AM Session Regular Games Play Same FREE For 2:30 Session Includes Machines and Paper Includes Power Ball + Cash Cow Imperialbingo.org 1 0 JUNE 2014 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com Foster's 2014 AVID graduates are all college -bound, with more than $220,000 in scholarships Foster High School gradu- ated its first class of AVID se- niors this dune, and each one has already been accepted to a university or college; what's more, they have collectively earned more than $222,000 in scholarships. For many, they are the first in their families to attend college (for some, they are the first in their families to graduate high school). The AVID (Advancement Via In- dividual Determination) pro- gram's mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college suc- cess. In the Tukwila School District, students participate in AVID beginning in sixth -grade. They learn to envision them- selves as college -bound and make concrete goals/plans for getting there. Athletic registration moves online Sign up now for fall sports Great news for Foster Bulldog and Showalter Viking athletes: The registration process is now online, allowing families to sign up for sports from the convenience of their home. Registration for fall sports is now open. Go to www.tukwila.wednet.edu to get more information. For families without online access, the district athletic department will open a school computer lab before each season; for fall 2014, families can go to the Foster High comput- er lab Aug. 11-22 during business hours to register. Questions? Call athletic secretary Suzi Splaine-Duchsherer at 206-901-7991. school connection is presented by the Tukwila School District Tukwila School District #406 www.tukwila.wednet.edu 206.901.8000 4640 South 144th Street Tukwila, Washington 98168 Board of Directors: Mark Wahlstrom, President 206.243.9855 Steve Mullet, Vice -President 206.244.7553 Mary Fertakis 206.767.6053 Dave Larson 206.244.2313 Alicia Waterton 206.248.4302 Superintendent: Dr. Nancy Coogan 206.901.8006 Congratulations to Foster's 2014 AVID graduates: Amran Abdi, Highline Community College Makayla Anderson, South Seattle Community College Carlos Brambila, Bellevue College Lea Adelaine Martin Buenavista, Seattle Pacific University Perla Cisneros, Highline Community College Jayme Cringle, South Seattle Community College Maria Azucena Enciso, Central Washington University Tulasa Ghimirey, Western Washington University Ardo-Khadra Hersi, Seattle Central Community College Edgar Lopez -Allende, University of Washington Tacoma Nadia Keren Merino, Eastern Washington University Bre Mills, Western Washington University Yesenia Morales-Maceda, Washington State University Stephanie Orellana, South Seattle Community College Lorena Ramirez -Diaz, Bellevue College Deroyce Rowland, Green River Community College Yoshio Sanchez -Flores, Bellevue College Sergio Tun, Bellevue College www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » JUNE 2014 11 Tukwila School District #406 JUNE 2014 Tukwila Elementary fifth -graders Melanie Moy, Aria Wheeler, Christopher Garcia, Tyreese Tucker, and Timothy Noa (from left) were so concerned about the Oso landslide victims that they organized a community -wide penny drive to help. They ended up collecting $224.26 and raising awareness about the tragedy throughout their school. Tukwila School District summer hours Schools are closed to the public until August, but the Tukwila School District Administration Building is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. five days a week throughout the summer (excluding federal holidays). If you need assis- tance, call us at 206-901-8000 or visit us at 4640 S. 144th St., Tukwila. It's off to kindergarten for Mia Perez Morales (second to right)! In June, she and her family celebrated the end of the school year in Thorndyke Elementary's Early Childhood Education and As- sistance Program (ECEAP); there were certificates, hugs, and ice cream for all. Early learning is such an important foundation for kindergarten success that a full time coordinator will work throughout the Tukwila community next year to support all pre- schoolers and their caregivers. 2014-15 school year calendar It's hard to think about returning to school when summer break just started, but it's never too early to start planning! In August, each family will receive a printed one-page version of the school year calendar for home reference. In the meantime, here are important district -wide dates for the 2104-15 school year: Aug. 18-19: Sept. 3: Oct. 10: Nov. 12-14: Nov. 26: Nov. 27-28: Dec. 22 -Jan. Jan. 26: Feb. 16-17: Feb. 18: March 11: April 6-10: May 22: May 27: June 12: June 1 7: New student registration First day of school No school for students (staff workday) Early release for conferences Early release No school (Thanksgiving holiday) 2: No school (winter break) No school (staff workday) No school (mid -winter break) No school OR snow make-up day if needed Early release (elementary and high school conferences) No school (spring break) No school OR snow make-up day if needed Early release (middle school conferences) Foster High School graduation Last day of school (early release) For always -up-to-date district and school calendars, visit www.tukwila.wednet.edu. 1 Holy Smoak! Several Seattle Mariners—including first baseman Justin Smoak—visited unsuspecting Cascade View Elementary students during a surprise assembly in May. The professional baseball players talked about the importance of staying in school, having goals, showing respect, and saying no to drugs. Facebook's the place: Ask questions, see what's happening in schools Connect with the Tukwila School District on a social level—you will get critical information/alerts plus access to the day-to-day happenings in schools. Here's where to find us: www.facebook.com/tukwilaschools, www.twitter.com/tukwilaschools www.youtube.com/tukwilaschools, www.flickr.com/photos/tukwilaschools 1 2 JUNE 2014 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com tukwila Foster girls place in state track BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@ TUKWILAREPORTER.COM Three Foster High School track and field athletes finished in the top 10 in their events at the state 2A tournament last month in Tacoma. • Senior Sierra Parsons placed fifth in the high jump with a leap of 5 -foot -2, which matches her previous personal best. • Senior Alem Belete finished eighth in the 3200 -meter run with a time of 11:42.70, just shy of her season's best. Last fall, she placed 10th in the state 2A cross-country meet. • Sophomore Shakila Omar placed ninth in the 400 -meter dash with a time of 60.22, also just shy of her season's best. Last fall, Parsons was rec- Seamount recognizes coach, athletes Foster High's baseball coach, Eric Hall, is the Seamount League's Coach of theYearfor spring sports. Hall and several of Foster's athletes were recognized by Seamount League coaches with all -league honors. The Foster girls softball team was recognized for sportsmanship. Baseball First team: David Em, Connor Forsyth, Max Montoya, Yoshio Sanchez and Tyler Solemsaas. Second team: Mitchell Forhan and Patrick Straight. Honorable Mention: Drew Jorgensen Soccer (boys) Firstteam:Jalal Haji, Mamadou Leigh and Santa Magar. Second team: Mohamed Duntow and Juan Rios. Honorable mention: Ramil Amirov and Tanka Sangu- rala Softball Second team: Bre Mills and Dulce Pestrana. Honorable mention: Nancy Lopez and Kathy Vo Tennis (girls) First team: Eunica Serafica. Honorable mention: Amna Masic, Jody Tran and Jessica Vilai ognized as the Seamount League's girl Athlete of the Year for soccer and Belete was recognized as the league's girl Athlete of the Year for cross- country. Overall Foster's team tied for 36th place at the state 2A tournament with five points. Sehome High School of Bell- ingham placed first. Lindbergh High and Rent- on High, two of Foster's Sea - mount rivals, finished 14th and 19th, respectively, in the girls division. Foster didn't send any boys to the state tournament. In other postseason action, the Foster boys soccer team lost its first game in the district tournament. The boys finished in second place in the Sea - mount League with a record of 9-2-3. Emergency Field Day is June 28 The Tukwila Emergency Communications Team (TEC - Team) annual Field Day exercise is June 28 at Tukwila Fire Station 51 in Southcenter. The public exercise, noon to 5 p.m. at the station, 444 Andover Park E., is part of the national Field Day event, organized by the American Radio Relay League, the na- tional association for amateur radio. The Field Day has many purposes: • Simulate setting up and operating communications equipment in less -than -ideal circumstances to prepare for an emergency, • Educate the public on the value of communications during an emergency, • Opportunity for unlicensed citizens to "get on the air" and make radio contacts across the state or country. [COOGAN from page 4] ing up a pizza. Count cars while driving (or pine cones while hiking...). 3. Get outside and play Physical activity is good for the brain! Swim, walk, bicy- cle—play, play, play! School break and fun can be synonymous with learning, and I want all students to show up in September ready to resume class after a summer full of hands-on educational experiences. Have a wonderful (and educational!) summer break. 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