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Home My WebLink About2012-05 Tukwila Reporter[see us online lit,,www.tukwilareportercom 2 MAY 2012 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com 0, CASCADE WATER ALLIANCE City of Bellevue City of Issaquah City of Kirkland City of Redmond PAID ADVERTISEMENT City of Tukwila Covington Water District Sammamish Plateau Water & Sewer District Skyway Water & Sewer District Celebrating Delicious and Abundant Water As our magnificent region's population continues to grow, so does the demand for clean, safe, reliable drinking water. Cascade Water Alliance provides water supply to meet the current and future needs of its members in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner. Cascade's model for regional cooperation and effective public resource management is a legacy for the future. Water for people, water for fish and water for fun. Water for today and tomorrow. Cascade is comprised of eight municipalities in the Puget Sound region that joined together to provide a safe, clean, reliable water supply to its almost 400,000 residences and more than 22,000 businesses. Our members include: City of Bellevue City of Issaquah City of Kirkland City of Redmond City of Tukwila Covington Water District Sammamish Plateau Water and Sewer District Skyway Water and Sewer District Cascade continues to work collaboratively with Seattle, Tacoma and Covington to ensure that we'll meet the water demands for the next 50 years --and beyond. a In 2009, Cascade purchased Lake Tapps in Pierce County for future municipal drinking water supply and was granted water rights for its use. Not only will Lake Tapps be a new potable water reserve, but the project will improve river flows for endangered fisheries, make improvements to the Lake Tapps facilities and allow for continued recreational use of the lake. As a member of the Central Puget Sound Water Supply Forum and one of the region's major water suppliers, Cascade plans to maximize the use of existing supplies before delivering new supplies, providing ratepayers with maximum value at lower costs. On May 7, the Forum issued a regional update saying the drinking water supply for the Puget Sound Region is very good for another 50 years, giving our region both an environmental and economic advantage over other parts of the country for decades to come. Puget Sound regional water suppliers are working together for efficient and cost effective use of this precious resource ---today and for the next 50 years. Conservation Matters The Savvy Gardener Class Series Presented by Cascade Water Alliance and the Saving Water Partnership Get your spring planting off to a great start! Join Cascade for free Savvy Gardening Classes and discover how to create a beautiful, healthy and waterwise lawn and garden. There are dozens of classes from which to choose in many locations, and they're all free of charge. The Savvy Gardener Classes will inspire you and give you practical advice on creating and maintaining beautiful landscapes that are good for you and the environment. Topics Include: Food Gardening Plants and Garden Design Drip Irrigation and Rainwater Harvesting Natural Yard Care Learn from Popular Gardening Experts Marianne Binetti, Peggy Campbell, Don Marshall and many others. Visit cascadewater.org to see a complete list of classes and to register. 1151 Like us on Facebook! ji Follow us on Twitter! 1 Water Week Proclamation WHEREAS, water is a basic need; and WHEREAS, safe and reliable tap water is a vital part of our daily lives and a fundamental element of a healthy prosperous community; and WHEREAS, protecting drinking water is essential to preserving our own health and that of future generations; and WHEREAS, every citizen can do their part by protecting our source waters from pollution, supporting the upkeep of our drinking water infrastructure, practicing water conservation, and getting involved in local water issues; NOW THEREFORE, I, Christine 0. Gregoire, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby proclaim May 7 - 11, 2012 as Drinking Water Week in Washington State, and I urge citizens to join me in recognizing the importance of a dependable supply of safe drinking water. Signed this 2nd day of April, 2012 Christine O. Gregoire Governor cascadewater.org A brighter outlook for business BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM Lynn Wallace sees hopeful signs in the local business community that she tends as CEO and president of the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce. The veteran of chamber work has held the post for slightly more than a year, arriving in April 2011 when the recession still had a lingering grip on the local economy. Today, high gases prices don't help the bottom line, and, she says, the economic uncertainty weighs heavily on busi- ness owners. "But I think there is a slight steady increase in the eco- nomic outlook right now," she said. Still there is caution, with businesses owners "testing the waters," wary of major moves such as hiring employees or expanding, she said. "They don't want to slip backward," she said. She's bullish about the chamber, too, that brings togeth- er and promotes the member businesses from Tukwila, SeaTac, Burien and Des Moines. The chamber has about 380 members today and hopes to grow that number to more than 400 by year's end, she coffeewith Lynn Wallace has completed her first year as president and CEO of the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce. Dean A. Radford www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » MAY 2012 3 said. "A very large component of what we do is building the membership and providing programs for the members,' she said. About a third of the chamber's members are Tukwila businesses, followed by Burien with 20 percent, SeaTac with 17 percent, Des Moines with 7 percent and the re- maining 22 percent from other areas. The cities are a team, not competitors, she said, working together to draw new businesses to the region and to advo- cate for the idea of "buy local." The idea is to compete as a region against other regions as partners, she said. "They don't try to poach within their own backyards," she said. Each city brings it own strengths to the table: Tukwila its retail and industry (including Boeing), SeaTac its airport, Des Moines its waterfront and Burien its "great down- town," she said. So what is Tukwila's strongest business advantage? Loca- tion, location, location, she answers. Tukwila is a regional transportation hub, with two major airports nearby, rail service and three major freeways. And Southcenter is a "major attraction," she says, draw- ing customers from all over the region who might also stop at a small business in Tukwila to make a deal. "The smaller businesses can take advantage of that," she said. 1 • •• • • �J J Y I HIND -11-] J ,1 � J r , IS GEARED'roWARD YOUR CHILD'S ( j r •COMFORT AHD . ENJOYMENT • • Millions of school hours are lost each year to dental -related diseases. • Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease. Regular visits to Southcenter Children's Dentistry are the best way to combat these problems. Dr. Buda and his staff will make your child's visit a fun and comfortable experience from the very first visit. At Southcenter Children's Dentistry - we take your child's oral health and dental care seriously! 411 Strander . Su Tukwila, WA 9818 206-575-1130 * fax: 206-575-1133 WWW.doctorbuda.com r * 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 Our 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 •Great West •Guardian •Humana •Metlife •Premera •Regence •WDS •United Concordia 621550 index 3 coffeewith Lynn Wallace, CEO and president of the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce, sees promise in economy 5 Ijquorinstore Liquor will go on sale at Costco and other retail oulets in Tukwila starting on June 1, the result of Initiative 1183. 6 editor'snote Foster High School marking anniversaries, its place as one of the most diverse high schools in the nation. 10 boyswin Foster High School baseball team and boys soccer team did well this spring 14sandbags The sandbags will finally be removed from along Green River by this fall. tukwila reporter SOUND PUBLISHING INC. >19426 68th Avenue South > Kent, WA 98032 >253.872.6600 > www.tukwilareporter.com 4 MAY 2012 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com 1 On the cover Rony Tevalon and Aspera Pandey at Fos- ter. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter Foster's seniors a portrait of the world BY SARAH KEHOE SKEHOE@KENTREPORTER.COM He Ber Moo, Aspera Pandey and Rony Tevalon left their countries to seek a better life in America. They came from war-torn, poverty-stricken cities where higher education was not an option for them. Their fami- lies made sacrifices so the three teenagers could leave their refugee camps and live in a country that was safe and pros- perous. This year's seniors at Foster High School represent 32 different cultures. There are 177 students total. Moo, Pandey and Tevalon are three out of 46 ESL stu- dents. He Ber Moo came to Tukwila from Thailand, where she and her family lived in a refugee camp. Sarah Kehoe, Tukwila Reporter He Ber Moo Moo dreamt of coming to America since her father shared stories with her as a little girl about the opportuni- ties available in America. Yet, when Moo prepared to leave a refugee camp in Thailand at 15, she found it hard to say goodbye. "I thought Id be so excited to leave everything behind; but when it became real, I felt so sad to leave family and friends," said Moo, 19. "My parents left so they could find a better job and I could get a good education, but I was scared about what I would find when I came to America" Moo found English hard to learn. A. Preserve your wealth from taxes & uncovered medical costs * Learn the roles of Medicare, Medicaid, VA Benefits and LTC Insurance .} Preserve quality of life & avoid nursing homes 4411 Agingopt ons LIFE PLANNING SEMINAR May 16th at 6:30pm at Normandy Park Senior Living 16625 First Ave. South Normandy Park, WA 98148 206-241-0821 www.artegan.com Accepting most long term care insurances NORMANDY PARK senior living 623954 "The language barrier was the hardest part of coming here and going to high school," Moo said. "I could barely speak English and was afraid to speak it because I didn't want to get made fun of. It was very difficult for me to make friends at first:' Moo stayed after school to work with the ESL teacher and spoke only English at home with her family to im- prove. "The speaking helped me," she said. "It took time to get better, but once I did, I started do- ing better in school and made new friends:' M o o signed up to partici- pate in the school's bad- minton club and joined the National Honor Society. "It was so worth it to come to America," she said. "When I was in Thailand, I lived in a refugee camp where sol- diers watched over me and I couldn't be free. There was no way to improve your life situation through education or hard work. I was trapped. That's why I feel so blessed to be here." Moo plans to attend Highline Community College for two years and transfer to a university. She hopes to work in the medical field someday. "Growing up where poverty and disease are everywhere makes you think about how the problem can be solved," she said. "I want to go back to Thailand someday and help the people" Moo wants to travel all over the world, helping those who have little access to medical attention. "Going to Africa is a dream of mine because so many people are dying over there," she said. foster grads About 177 students will graduate from Foster High School June 15 at the high school's Werner Neudorf Stadium. The school is finalizing the details of the ceremony. There are 32 cultures represented in the class and the overall grade point average is 2.7. For more information, call 206-901-7900. Aspera Pandey fled and her family fled the religious conflicts of her native Nepal. Sarah Kehoe, Tukwila Reporter Aspera Pandey Pandey grew up scared because of the religious conflicts in Nepal. "It was a very hard life, moving from one camp to the next," said Pandy, 18. "There was much death surrounding me all the time. If people didn't follow the religious rules placed on them, they were killed. People were stressed out, which caused them to argue and kill each other" Pandey and her family were forced to move from place to place, living in tents or houses they made from bam- boo. "The bamboo houses were staked right next to each oth- er, so if one house caught on fire, the whole village caught on fire and everything was destroyed," Pandey recalled. "Unfortunately, this happened frequently." Pandey's family filled out forms to come to America. Three months later, they received news they were free to go. Pandey was 15 years old. "I'm very glad I came here," Pandey said. "In Nepal, there was no hope for me to build my future. How can someone make goals when every day they are worried about their survival? I was stressed out there." Pandey worries people in America might find her to be strange or shy. "I'm afraid to talk because English is still hard for me, so I'm scared I'll say the wrong thing," she confessed. "So I keep to myself sometimes. It's something I need to work on:' Pandey plans to attend Highline Community College for two years after she graduates from Foster and then attend a university. She wants to get into the medical field. "I want to go home and help matters," she said. "In Nepal there is a lack of hospitals, of medication and so people are dying when they don't have to. I want to go back and share everything I learned in America so I can help people" Rony Tevalon and his family sought safety and security in the United States. Sarah Kehoe, Tukwila Reporter Rony Tevalon Tevalon came to America from Guatemala in 2004 for safety and security. "My dad was a soldier and his life was threatened," said Tevalon, now 18. "We had to come here to escape but also to live a better life." Tevalon had a hard time understanding his teachers and doing his homework. "I spoke no English before I came here, so not only was living in a different culture challenging, but I felt like I couldn't communicate," he said. At the urging of his mother, Tevalon stayed after school to work on English and his school work with teachers. "I started to read better and understand more," he said. "I learned many things and they gave me the confidence to think about college." Tevalon joined Foster's football and wrestling, excelling in sports. "It's been great to meet new people and to make friends," he said. After graduation, Tevalon plans to take some time off from school to improve his English and think about his future. He wants to attend a university and study criminal justice. "I want to be a police officer someday because I like laws and want to help keep places safe," he said. Reach Sarah Kehoe at skehoer@kentreporter.com or 253- 872-6600 ext. 5056. To comment on this story go to www.kentreporter.com. www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » MAY 2012 5 Liquor sales expand in Tukwila on June 1 BY STEVE HUNTER SHUNTER@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM Shoppers at Costco and other stores in Tukwila soon will find displays of spirits available to buy next to the wine and beer. Voters approved Initiative 1183 last year to get the state out of the liquor business and privatize sales. That change becomes effective Friday, June 1, unless a lawsuit to stop the change is upheld later this month. Costco is getting ready to stock shelves at its Tukwila store. The Issaquah -based company contributed nearly all of the $22 million spent in the state to get voters to pass Initiative 1183. "If anyone has been in any of our loca- tions outside of Washington, it'll be very similar;" said John McKay, Costco execu- tive vice president, in a phone interview about what customers can expect to see. "We'll have approximately 75 spirit items, including most of the name brands." Costco also will feature about a half dozen of its Kirkland signature brand li- quors, including vodka, scotch, tequila and a ready to drink margarita mix. McKay said it's been a challenge to work with new distributors, figure out pricing and getting everything ready to go. "But I feel certain when June 1 rolls around we'll be ready to go and fully stocked," McKay said. Target, Walgreens, Bartell and Cost Plus are among the Tukwila stores that have received or applied for spirits licenses, ac- cording to state Liquor Control Board re- cords. BevMo! and Total Wine & More, two chains that specialize in other states in large volume sales of spirits, wine and beer, also have applied for new licenses for potential stores in Tukwila. BevMo! started in the San Francisco area and now has 115 stores in California and Arizona that only feature spirits, wine and beer. BevMo!'s website includes job applications for new stores in Tacoma and Silverdale. The potential Tuk- wila site is at 17197 Southcenter Parkway. Total Wine & More started in Delaware and has more than 80 superstores in 11 states. The company's potential site in Tuk- wila is at 300 Andover Park W. The Costco Wholesale store in Southcenter is gearing up to start selling liquor on June 1, along with other retailers in Tukwila. Steve Hunter, Tukwila Reporter McKay expects sales at Costo to go quite well, even with new competitors on the ho- rizon. "We sell a lot of everything but it should be comparable to the amount of volume we do on beer;' he said. "In stores where we sell all three, it's pretty evenly split among beer, wine and spirits" Hailom Ghebreab of Federal Way won the right at a recent auction to apply for a spirits retail liquor license at the Tukwila state-run liquor store. He put in the high bid last month of $110,100 for the store at 14227 International Blvd. The store had $4.4 million in gross sales in 2011. Ghebreab said in a phone interview that he has lived in Federal Way for about 10 years but then declined to talk further about his plans for the store. His infor- mation with the Washington State Liquor Control Board listed Portage, Ind., as his hometown, even though he has a local phone number. The liquor board announced the win- ning bids in April for the 167 state-run li- quor stores that were part of an online auc- School probe continues The Tukwila School Board has made no decision yet regarding the fate of Superin- tendent Ethelda Burke as of last week. Nine Tukwila School District employees filed complaints against Burke this March for racial discrimination. The district has been conducting an investigation, along with the U.S. Equal Employment Oppor- tunity Commission, with whom the com- plaints were filed. "Nothing has happened yet with regard to Ethelda;" said Mark Wahlstrom, school board president. "The district legal coun- sel continues to work toward responding to the EEOC. We will let the public know when a conclusion has been reached" The board held a meeting at Foster High School May 8, but mainly focused on a re- port about Foster High School. There were presentations by the high school's staff and students regarding the accomplishments made this year. At the end of the meeting, the board met in executive session to review with the district's legal counsel the complaints filed against Burke. The next board meeting is May 22 at Foster High School. tion concluded on April 20. The sum of individual bids for the 167 stores totaled $30.75 million, with rights awarded to 121 individual bidders, accord- ing to a liquor board media release. Stores must have at least 10,000 square feet to sell liquor under the initiative, but the state-run stores are excluded from that rule. Initiative 1183 directed the liquor board to auction the state store properties at their current location. However, the state leases the properties, not owns, creating a unique circumstance for the auction. Successful bidders earned the exclusive right to apply for a liquor license at the cur- rent location within its current footprint. All state store properties are below the 10,000 square foot threshold established by the initiative. Successful bidders will need to secure a lease with the property land- lord. If they are unable to secure a lease, they may re -sell their right or request an alternative location within a 1 -mile radius of the existing location. Free for Residents and Small Businesses FREE Bingo Imperial Bingo Connection 3100 East Valley Rd. Renton 425-656-5257 Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday FREE Bingo All Saturdays In May 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 6 MAY 2012 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com > write staff regional publisher polly shepherd publisher ellen morrison publisher@tukwilareporter.com editor dean radford editor@tukwilareporter.com contributers steve hunter > reporter tracey compton > reporter adam mcfadden > sports sarah kehoe> reporter 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 Tess) including your full name, address and phone number. HERE'S HOW To submit a letter to the editor, E-MAIL: submissions@ tukwilareporter.com FAX: 253.437.6016 MAIL: 19426 68th Ave S, Ste. A, Kent, WA 98032 CALENDAR/EVENTS: calendar@ tukwilareporter.com ed itor'snote Foster jumping off point for its students I was out at my alma mater last week, tak- ing the cover photo for this month's Tukwila Reporter. Driving back to the office, I got to thinking about my own senior year at Foster High School 43 years ago. That seems like a long time ago, especially when you say it out loud. Four decades later, seniors still count down the days to graduation. They still stress over a date to the prom - or maybe not in these "modern" times. By now they know whether they've made it into college. Or they have no clue what their future holds. Every graduating class will take away four years of memories. That's good, because they will help keep Fos- ter alive in the de- cades ahead as they are remembered. Foster was built in 1952, the year after I was built. So that makes this year Foster's 60th anniversary by my reckoning. The post -World War II high school was filled with young baby boomers. It aged along with that generation, not always well. At just 20 or so, Foster was declared showing its age, but it still had another 20 years to go. This year marks the 20th anniversary of what still seems to me like the "new" Foster High School. Here are some of my memories. • Werner Neudorf was a real-life teacher and football and track coach, not just a name on a football field. He was memorable and beloved. The football field at Foster was re- named the Werner L. Neudorf Memorial Field in 1976. • Grace Gylling taught a generation of girls - and boys - to type and inspired at least one of them to become a journalist. There was a really big snowstorm our senior year and we thought, maybe we should cancel the Growler for that week. Miss Gylling said "no way," or at least something that translates into those words. That instilled in me the importance of what we do as journalists, no matter the hard- ships. • There were whispers when one of the guys came to school sporting an earring. In the 60s that could only mean one thing. Was he gay? Today, an earring on a guy is a piece of fash- ion; most of the time the speculation never even begins. • We couldn't wait to get our drivers license at 16. For most, it was the ticket to the open road and freedom. We couldn't wait to get our draft card at 18, either. You needed no special instruction to get that mandatory card. For many, it was a ticket to southeast Asia and America's most unpopular war. • Notice that swimming pool next door? The Growler staff from 1969 (I was editor my senior year) can take some credit that it's even there. Those were the days of Forward Thrust and money galore to build new swimming pools. We figured Tukwila deserved one. So, the staff decided to do a survey of sorts, to drum up community support for a pool. We walked door to door gathering signatures. The results were overwhelmingly in favor of a pool. The next year's editor took the results to the county council to make our case. I didn't go; too nervous. But Tukwila got its pool and who's to say we didn't make a difference. • Oh, and by the way, the pool is not the only landmark that has graced that piece of real estate. Perched back from South 144th Street was this massive brick structure. As kids, we had all sorts of theories about it. Was it an insane asylum? An old -folks home? It was scary. And we couldn't get anywhere near it. I am sure someone out there recalls its use. All I know is that in our senior year, it came tumbling down. I was poking through our archives the other day, looking at clippings in the Foster High School half -folder. The clippings go back to January 1971 and end in 1991. There must be another folder somewhere; history never sleeps. I did find an interesting bit of history about the Foster rock. I had forgotten the three -ton behemoth had been kidnapped, or maybe rock -napped. It disappeared on April 5, 1980. It turned up in Skyway two months later. Marc Maio, the student body president at the time, wanted to bring in a Marine helicopter to fly it home. That didn't work out. So, the rock was moved back in early June with the help of a crane and a dump truck, just as Foster's seniors were having a pre -gradua- tion party in the parking lot. The rock-nappers apparently were never nabbed. One suspect had a good alibi. But the rock, with its layers of paint, remains a piece of Foster lore that no one can steal. Decades go, we were just small-town kids, speculating about a spooky mansion or angry about a stolen rock or waiting to get a drivers license. The outside world loomed large (and dangerous), but Tukwila was our cocoon. How things have changed in a few relatively short years. That's why the Foster of today is so amazing. In reading our cover story today, you'll see why. These are three vignettes of courage and perseverance. Literally, the grads today are children of the world. For many their worries were about sheer survival before coming to America. To- day, Tukwila and Foster is their cocoon, their jumping off point to a bright future. tu kwila'sstory Three Tukwila mayors, from left, Charles Baker, John Strander and Stan Minkler, take a ride through Southcenter Mall. Tukwila Historical Society Question: Did You Know? Three mayors made Southcenter happen Editor's note: The Tukwila Historical Society each month will share an artifact from its collec- tion, as part of its exploration of Tukwila's history, its story. The column is written by Louise Jones - Brown, director of the Tukwila Heritage and Cul- tural Center. The three men pictured in the photograph in July 1968 had worked for more than a decade on the project which developed a cow pasture into what is now known as Westfield Southcen- ter Mall. Charles Baker was mayor of Tukwila from 1947 to 1962 and worked at City Hall (now known as the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center) and many evenings on the shopping center project, which included negotiations with the State of Washington on the proposed I-5 freeway to allow easy access for potential shop- pers. John Strander served as mayor from 1962 to 1967 and was also past chairman of the Tuk- wila Planning Commission during the develop- ment phases. Stan Minkler was mayor from 1968 to 1971 and was in office for the grand opening of the Southcenter Mall with filled with more than 100 stores. In honor of these forward -thinking men, we have streets which are driven on daily by thou- sands of people and it is likely that most are not aware of the reason these streets are named Bak- er Boulevard, Minkler Boulevard and Strander Boulevard. If you are interested in seeing some of our before and after photos and learning more about Tuk- wila's history, please visit the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center which is currently open lim- ited hours or by appointment with Acting Director Louise Jones -Brown. The center phone number is 206/244 -HIST and email: tukwilaheritagectr@ tukwilahistory.org. Council delays decision on garbage collection BY STEVE HUNTER SHUNTER@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM The Tukwila City Council decided to scrap for at least a year the idea of manda- tory garbage collection. The council decided by consensus after a public hearing in April to defer a decision about mandatory garbage collection in the city until at least Nov. 1, 2013. "We had nine people vehemently op- posed to mandatory collection," said Frank Iriarte, city deputy public works director, about testimony by residents at the public hearing. "A lot of the central idea was they have been self hauling and don't feel it's right for the city to impose it." Iriarte said he received several phone calls from residents who called the pro- posal government interference. Only one person spoke in favor of man- datory garbage pickup at the public hear- ing. "We'll revisit it in a year and see what happens;' Iriarte said. "We will have more information from code enforcement about the litter problem in our city." About 74 percent of Tukwila single-fam- ily homes sign up for garbage collection, according to city officials. Many of the other 25 percent self haul to King County transfer stations or use other legal disposal methods. Other residents use illegal disposal, including burning, burying, using com- mercial dumpsters without permission, accumulating garbage in rental spaces or dumping in unauthorized places. The city Code Enforcement Office handled 105 gar- bage and trash complaints in 2011. The mandatory collection program would have given residents a basic level of service at $4.75 per month to include monthly garbage pickup with recycling service and annual curbside collection events at no extra cost. Waste Management takes over garbage, recycling and compostable collections in the city Nov 1. The council awarded in Feb- ruary a seven-year contract (2012-2019) to Waste Management with the option by the city of three additional years. Allied Waste of Kent has the current contract that expires Oct. 31. Allied had a five-year contract with Tukwila and re- ceived a one-year extension. Allied Waste and CleanScapes also submitted bids to the city for the new garbage contract. www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » MAY 2012 7 Chose Boulevard Park Place My kids love knowing I am safe and secure at Boulevard Park Place. I now have the freedom to enjoy all of the activities and amenities. Who knew this family owned, Affordable, Re- tirement Living existed in our area! I Love living at Boulevard Park Place! Join us at our: SENIOR COMMUNITY 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments 10 acres of Beautiful Gardens & Walking Trails Pool Craft Rooms Libraries Wood Shop Computers Bingo Monthly Socials Field Trips Tours 7 Days a Week! ARCM PARK PLACE +1[: 11''1. til. 11131 X611 N 1 II!'I\[i CaII: 206-243-0300 2805 South 125th Street * Burien,WA 98168 * '' Sponsor of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event on June 9th & 10th f4 623541 " It's like they try to do all they can to help you out...like you're extended family." Deidra Fidelis Patient Earlene Fidelis Caregiver Find out more. Register today for one of our information sessions.5 CASH All attendees will receive a $`0 CASH as compensation for time W CARD and travel expenses. "My daughter has been through a lot. She's had the door closed on her so many times, sometimes we weren't even sure where her next prescription would come from — or whether she'd have enough medicine to get through the month. You know, all that worrying can make your health even worse. That's why I like to say that the Fidelis healthcare program was created just for us. Now, Deidra knows that her doctors and nurses really care about her, and I know when 1 have a question, I'll get an answer right away, not in two or three weeks. I'll always be there for my Deidra, but now with Fidelis, I know she's getting the healthcare she needs...and that means everything to me." We believe that dedicated state -paid caregivers and their loved ones can benefit greatly from the care and support Fidelis provides. If you would like to learn more, come to an informational meeting and find out how Fidelis can improve your patient's care — and pay you extra for your help. CaII 1.800.861.5902 or go to: www.FidelisCaregiver.com 623412 8 MAY 2012 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com Pertussis epidemic moves through State Pertussis ("whooping cough") is currently at high levels in King County and Washington State. Governor Christine Gregoire re- cently made emergency funds available to the state Department of Health to help curb the pertus- sis epidemic. This very contagious cough ill- ness puts young infants at the highest risk for severe illness, hospitalization and death. The disease can be spread to infants, pregnant women and others by older children, teens and adults whose pertussis symptoms can range from mild to severe. Vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others. Be sure all children, teens and adults are up- to-date with pertussis vaccine. If you or a family member have been in contact with someone with pertussis or a prolonged cough illness, OR you have spells of violent coughing and choking, making it hard to breathe, drink or eat, OR your cough has lasted 14 days, see your healthcare pro- vider for a pertussis evaluation. For more information about keeping your family safe from this serious disease, go online to www.KingCounty.gov/health Annual Garage Sale reminder! Registration begins June 1 to take part in Tukwila's 19th annual Community Garage Sale, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, August 18-19. Register online: TukwilaWA.gov/yardsale.html Register by phone: 206-433-7178 Register by email: RecycleTukwilaWA.gov City of Tukwila • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Online: TukwilaWA.gov MAYOR: Jim Haggerton COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Verna Seal COUNCIL MEMBERS: www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » MAY 2012 9 Joe Duffle • Dennis Robertson • Allan Ekberg Kathy Hougardy • De'Sean Quinn • Kate Kruller TUKWILA CITY PAGES City offices will be closed on Memorial Day - Monday, May 28 Join Mayor Haggerton for celebrations at the Museum of Flight Tukwila Tax Facts When paying sales tax while purchasing goods or services, have you wondered what the taxes collected are used for? Here's a breakdown. The City of Tukwila has a combined sales tax rate of 9.5%. What this means is that for every $10.00 spent, 95( is also collected in sales tax. Of this amount, the State receives 6.50/0 of the tax while the remaining 3% is returned to local jurisdictions. Tax revenues are shared among the local jurisdictions as follows: AGENCY SHARE King County General Fund .15% King County Metro - for transportation .900/0 Criminal Justice Funding - for criminal justice purposes and activities that substantially support them such as legal and domestic violence advocacy .10% Regional Transit Authority - for Sound Transit and their local transit -related projects 900/0 Mental Health and Chemical Dependency services .100/0 City of Tukwila General Fund - for day-to-day operating and administrative costs 850/0 In 2011, sales taxes received by the City of Tukwila totaled $15.4 million, an increase of $764,000 over 2010. Slightly more than half of the taxes collected were from five main categories, shown at the right: TOTAL - 3.000/0 Clothing & Accessories 13.0% General Merchandise 13.00/0 Stores Electronics & Appliances 9.00/0 Food Services & 8.70/0 Drinking Establishments Wholesale Trade & 6.60/0 Durable Goods If you would like further information about sales taxes or sales taxes in jurisdictions other than Tukwila, contact the Department of Revenue at 1-800-647-7706 or on the web at www.DOR.WA.gov. Code enforcement to resume for temporary signs Who needs a City of Tukwila Business License? How do I acquire one for my business? A business license is required by anyone who is engaging in business within Tukwila's city limits. This includes vendors located outside of Tuk- wila who come into the City to do business. If you are generating rev- enue here in Tukwila, you need to have a business license. Per TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE 5.04.015 - BUSINESS LICENSE REQUIRED, "No person or persons shall conduct, maintain, operate or engage in business within the City without first applying for and obtaining a business license and paying the fee(s) as prescribed herein". It is a violation of the Tukwila Municipal Code to operate a business without first obtaining a City busi- ness license. The purposes of a business license are to regulate and insure legal con- duct of businesses; assist in the effective administration of health, fire, building, zoning and other codes of the City; impose fees for revenue purposes; and provide a means for obtaining public information and compiling statistical information on existing and new City businesses. You can acquire a business license application from the City's website - www.TukwilaWA.gov - or at City Hall, 6200 Southcenter Boulevard. Before submitting your application to the City, you must have a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number from Washington State Department of Revenue. The UBI is considered a State Business License and is re- quired to obtain a Tukwila business license. You can apply for the State license at www.DOR.WA.gov. Following application and appropriate fee(s) submittal, license review can take up to two weeks. If you have any questions regarding business licenses, please contact our Business License Specialist at 206-431-3680 or email Licensing@TukwilaWA.gov. COUNCIL CHAT Second Saturday of each month, from 10:OOAM to 12:00PM Come join the talk at the FOSTER GOLF LINKS CLUBHOUSE 13500 Interurban Avenue S SALE The City of Tukwila reminds all businesses and property owners within the Southcenter Area that, if you have installed temporary signs (such as banners), it is now time to either remove them or get a permit. In May of 2011, the City suspended enforcement of temporary sign regulations within the central business district. Tukwila businesses and commercial properties found temporary signs were often necessary due to the impacts of the road closures and traffic interruptions associated with the Southcenter Access Project. With the roads now reopened, temporary signs again need to comply with the City's sign regulations. A temporary sign is a sign erected for a limited time to advertise special businesses, real estate, or other events. Typically, these are banners. Temporary signs can be cloth, vinyl, rigid cardboard or plastic. They may range in size up to a total of 64 square feet and are permitted for up to 30 days once per calendar quarter, provided a permit is issued by the City. Information on obtaining a permit and the requirements for temporary signs can be found at wwvv.TukwilaWA.gov/DCD/apps/Sign-Temporary.pdf. Please note that "A -frame" signs are not permitted in the City and need to be removed. An "A -frame" sign that is placed on the sidewalk or within the City's right-of-way is subject to removal by the City. City staff will be conducting site visits in the next few weeks with friendly reminders to businesses about complying with the City's temporary sign regulations. If you have any questions, please contact Brandon Miles with the Department of Community Development at 206-431-3684. Council Chat is an opportunity to stop by and informally speak with a Tukwila City Council member about anything on your mind regarding your community. Next Chat: Saturday, June 9 Know what's going on at Council meetings The best way to stay informed about your City government - issues, projects, programs and more - is to look over the City Council meeting agenda packets. A list of topics to be discussed, plus supporting background in- formation for each agenda item, is included in the packets. Agendas are available online for all City Council meetings - Regular and Committee of the Whole meetings, Council Com- mittee meetings, and Special Council Workshops. The City Clerk's Office emails links to the online agenda packets every Fri- day. Sign up online to get on the mailing list: www.TukwilaWA.gov/ clerk/cc.html. For more informa- tion, please call 206-433-1800. City of Tukwila — ANNUAL RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE CLEAN-UP — Week of June 18-22, 2012 Items to be collected on your regular pick-up day Small Items (must be no larger than 3'x 3', or weigh 65 lbs or less) • Toys • Picture Frames • Bicycles and skateboards • Lawn furniture ♦ Mirrors (sharp edges wrapped) • Push style lawn mower (reel) *Tarps (bundled) • Dishes • Pots and pans • Small kitchen appliances • BBQ grill (all fluids drained) • Baseboard heaters (6 ft or less) *Toilets (separate tank) • Styrofoam packaging blocks (no peanuts) • Carpet and carpet pads (3 ft max and bundled) • Small broken furniture Large Items (for safety, doors MUST be removed from all appliances) • Refrigerator • Freezer • Stove *Washer ♦ Dryer • Mattress and box spring (all sizes) • Lounge chair • Loveseat or sofa (no sofa beds) • Furnace (all fluids drained) • Large furniture or appliances • Microwave • Hot water Tank Limit: One of each large item; extras will NOT be collected! Items that will NOT be accepted • AUTOMOTIVE WASTE (includes all fluids, batteries, running gears, automotive body parts, motor oil) • ELECTRONIC WASTE (includes computer monitors and towers, printers, scanners, desktop copiers, televisions, stereos, VCRs, radios, cellular phones) *CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION (includes concrete, asphalt, dry wall, masonry, roofing, siding, insulation, structural metal, brush, sand, rocks, dirt, windows, doors/door frames, vinyl flooring, fencing) • GARBAGE (no household trash will be collected as part of curbside clean-up) • HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (products on which labels read: caustic, flammable, warning, danger, poison, and pesticides) • MERCURY -CONTAINING PRODUCTS (including thermometers, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs, mercury added batteries and switches) • WOOD (treated and untreated) Collection Guidelines The Residential Curbside Clean - Up is designed to help single- family home and duplex home residents of Tukwila dispose of bulky household items that are non -hazardous, non -liquid, non - recyclable, and non -reusable at the curb or alley. Participants must live within the Tukwila city limits, and be Allied Waste Services customers. During the week of June 18-22 your pick-up will be scheduled on your regular garbage collec- tion day. Set your items out by 7:OOAM to ensure collection. Pack unwanted household items into boxes, bundles or bags and place them at the curb or alley for pickup on your garbage col- lection day. Keep items NOT meant for col- lection away from those items which are meant for pick-up. FOR MORE INFORMATION: City of Tukwila Public Works — 206-431-2445 Allied Waste Services — 206-682-9735 The Draft Southcenter Plan: Tukwila's Blueprint for its Urban Center The Southcenter area serves many functions for the citizens of Tukwila. It is the City's primary commercial hub, drawing customers from within the community and all over the Puget Sound region. It is a workplace center, providing jobs to Tukwila residents and those in nearby commu- nities. It is a major contributor, through property and sales tax, to local government for the services provided to citizens. The intent and purpose of the draft Southcenter Plan is to bolster these valuable functions, ensure the continuing success of this economic en- gine, and contribute positively to our community. To do this, the draft Plan outlines a long-term evolution from a suburban commercial area to more of an urban center, particularly north of Strander Boulevard. In the future, Southcenter will look and feel more urban - be more pe- destrian friendly; have smaller block sizes with more cross streets; have quality housing within walking distance of shopping, work, high-quality bus/train service, and parks and trails; and develop a unifying "sense of place" that will continue to draw people from around the region. Interested in finding out more? At their next work session on May 24, Tukwila's Planning Commission will be reviewing Book 2 of the Draft Plan, which sets forth the development regulations needed to imple- ment this vision for the Southcenter area. Book 2 - along with Book 1 which presents the community intent or vision - can be accessed on the City's website: www.TukwilaWA.gov/DCD/UrbanCenterPlan.html. Look for an open house on the draft Plan in mid-June, with a Planning Commission public hearing to follow. You can add your name to our list of interested parties by emailing SouthcenterPlanCa?TukwilaWA.gov. Working together for Tukwila's children Community Schools Collaboration (CSC) has been providing services to students and families in Tukwila for over ten years. CSC provides expanded learning, health services, health educa- tion, and family engagement at every school in the Tukwila School District, funded in part by the City of Tukwila. Every Monday through Thursday, students throughout the community are participating in expanded learning activities, and receiving free tutor- ing and homework help. Along with these important learning opportunities for students, CSC recognizes that for students to be successful in school, they must be healthy and ready to learn. With this in mind, CSC facilitates health edu- cation programs that empower students to be active, and to learn about nutrition and healthy food choices. CSC coordinates dental screenings for all elementary students. Additionally, each month students who are identified with vision needs are taken to receive a free eye exam and pair of glasses through a partnership with Tukwila LensCrafters. To engage families in their child(ren)'s education, CSC holds quarterly celebrations for their afterschool programs, as well as family literacy events such as the Dr. Seuss Night which was held on March 3, hosted in partnership with Tukwila Parks & Recreation. With the support of the City of Tukwila, Community Schools Collaboration is able to pro- vide this community's children and youth with opportunities to succeed in school, to develop high aspirations, and to create a better world. community schools COLLABORATION Learn more about CSC at cscwa.org. Save the date: Tuesday, August 7, 2012 This year's National Night Out Against Crime (NNO) is Tuesday, August 7. Each year, hundreds of Tukwila residents celebrate an evening of fun with their neighbors, while sending the message to criminals that they're not welcome in our City! On NNO, teams of City staff members travel throughout the community after 5:00PM to visit registered events. Sign up and let Tukwila know you are hosting a get-together! Our goal this year is to see if our community can support 30 or more neighborhood events! Sign up early online: TukwilaWA.gov/NNO.html THE SUN IS OUT! THE SPRAY PARK AT TUKWILA COMMUNITY CENTER OPENS ON SATURDAY, MAY 26! Splash hours: 10:OOAM-8:00PM daily Meeting agendas, City programs, recreation activities, publications and more... get the most current information at TukwilaWA.gov! 10 MAY 2012 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com • Bulldogs bat away at district playoffs BY ADAM MCFADDEN AMCFADDEN@RENTONREPORTER. COM Competing in playoff games might be a new experience for the Foster baseball team, but it's one they're loving so far. The Bulldogs finished in last place last year and managed just two wins. This year, the team has already locked up a trip to the dis- trict tournament. "It's huge progress for our pro- gram," said first-year Foster coach Eric Hall. "Nobody on our team had ever played in a playoff game before." The Bulldogs are 7-13 so far this season after losing to Interlake in the first round of the West Cen- tral District 2A tournament May 8. They played again May 12 against Sumner or North Kitsap in a loser - out game. If the team won the next three games, they moved on to state. Much of the team's success re- volves around its only senior — shortstop, captain and leadoff hit- ter Joel Gonzalez. "He's been an incredible leader;" Hall said. "The makeup of our team has been very important. They're not arguing and they're there to Foster's Angel Esqueda maneuvers against Hazen High School in recent play. Adam McFadden, Tukwila Reporter Foster High shortsop Joel Gonzalez hit leadoff and led the Bulldogs in bat- ting average this season. J. Forsyth pick each other up. That starts with Joel. He really gets things going for us. Gonzalez led the team with a .478 batting average and got on base at a .586 clip. His 16 runs also led the team. The Bulldogs have not made the district tournament since 1998, also their last time going to state. The team struggled out of the gate this year, starting 2-8. At that point the group's cohesiveness kept them strong. "At that point a lot of teams would just give up," Hall said. "We looked at our schedule and saw the next few games are winnable." From that point on, the team went 5-5, including a 1-1 record in the sub -district tournament. The 5-1 win against Eatonville May 4 was the first playoff win for any player on the team. "We showed up and it was a beautiful field, under the lights;' Foster boys triumph The Foster boys soccer team finished second among 2A Seamount teams this season. The Bulldogs went 11-4 overall and 8-3 in league competition. They made the West Central District tournament where they faced Fife in a winner -to -state, loser -out game May 12. The state appearance would be Foster's second straight and third overall in school Serving our Seniors in Tukwila, Burien & Des Moines! • Home health & hospice care • 24/7 skilled caregivers with awake night shift • Extensive activities program tailored to residents needs Call us today & schedule a tour! 206-992-1271 13534 Macadam Rd Tukwila 98168 !;-- history. history. Zakaria Matan and Jalal Haji each scored five goals to lead the team. Goalkeeper Ka- mal Gulaliyev tallied four shutouts and was voted the Seamount League MVP. Adrian Hernandez and Ariel Rob- lero made the all -league first team. Angel Esqueda and Meron Falu made the second team. Haji earned honorable mention. Gluten Intolerance Group Gluten -Free Health and Wellness Experience June 16, 2012 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. DoubleTree by Hilton, Seattle Airport 18740 International Blvd, Seattle Speakers, health screenings and gluten-free exhibitors will provide an engaging and informative mix of events focused on how to live Gluten -Free in a healthy, balanced and positive way. Register on-line or at the door. General Admission is $15. For more information go to www.experience.gluten.net or call (253) 833-6655. 623213 Hall said. "It felt completely dif- ferent. I had been telling them all week long that this is a game you're going to remember for the rest of your life ... Then we came out fo- cused and that was the best game we've played all year long." Max Montoya had two RBI in the game, while Connor Forsyth stole two bases and scored two runs. Alex De La Torre pitched a complete game for the win. Hall said the game meant a lot to Gonzalez. "He's done everything this pro- gram has asked of him for the past four years and never been to the playoffs," he said. "It's a nice way to go out for him." Forsyth, a sophomore, has been another key player. Not a natural catcher, Hall put him there because of need, and Forysth's athleticism. "He's really developed into a good catcher," Hall said. "And he's developed into our No. 2 pitcher too, which is impressive for a soph- omore?' Forsyth led the team with 14 RBI and his .274. His 10 steals also led the team. De La Torre, a junior, has been the team's ace. He has 46 strikeouts in 43.2 innings, with two wins. Foster's Adrian Hernandez dominates in play against Hazen. Adam McFadden, Tukwila Reporter RAINIER SYMPHONY presents Sibelius -Symphony No. 7 Rachmaninoff - Piano Conce rj No SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MAY 19TH A 7:30PM4 .....� 3:00 P -~ Eduard Zilberkant, pianist 206-781-5618 www.raintersymphony.oi • www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » MAY 2012 11 Burglary suspects elude big manhunt BY DEAN A. RADFORD dradford@tukwilareporter.com Two suspects in a Burien burglary eluded capture after an extensive search earlier this month just south of Foster High School in Tukwila by a police tracking dog and officers from Tukwila and Renton. The manhunt was pre- ceded by a short high-speed chase from Rainier Avenue in Renton to Tukwila International Boulevard in Tukwila. The pursuit, which started at 11:32 a.m. and lasted just a few minutes, followed all protocols of the Renton Police Department, according to a department spokeswoman. Tukwila and Renton police officers, along with state troopers, set up a wide perimeter to contain the suspects from Interstate 5 westward toward Tukwila International Boulevard and from South 144th Street at Foster High to South 154th Street near the light-rail tracks. The two burglary sus- pects, described as Hispanic males, 5 -foot -8 and in their 20s, were spotted by a Renton Police sergeant on Rainier Avenue near McLendon Hardware. Local police agencies had been alerted that the Burien burglary suspects were driving a green BMW that had been stolen in Kent. The high-speed pursuit, which reached 70 mph at times, took Renton officers through the Fred Meyer parking lot on Rainier, then to Southwest Seventh Street, Oakesdale Avenue, Grady Way and then to southbound Interstate 405. They continued west in TECHNICIANS NEEDED! Come join the Broadstripe Team in the Pacific Northwest, recently purchased by Wave Broadband! We are currently seeking in Tukwila and Echo Lake, WA Cable Broadband Technicians: Perform Basic installations, disconnects and service changes while ensuring customer satisfaction! Competitive salary and benefits package! Send resume and cover letter to: hrmgr@wavebroadband.com For more information as well as other job opportunities available, visit: www.wavebroadband.com CO (11) BROADBAND State Route 518, exiting onto Tukwila International Boulevard. They continued east on South 154th Street, which later becomes South - center Boulevard. They fled after leaving the BMW at an apartment complex. Mike Murphy, a spokes- man for the Tukwila Police Department, said Tukwila's police cars halted their pur- suit on South 154th, follow- ing protocol. He indicated that Renton's police cars also stopped their pursuit. Officers have discretion to end a pursuit, based on such issues as traffic levels and the pursuit speeds. A sergeant monitors every pursuit. Futon Frames • Mattresses Bunk Beds • Futon Covers Accessories and much more! We'll PAY your SALES TAX!! Love Illy Futon l * * Jif What an excellent Futon store. Fantastic selection, no high pressure selling. My new futon is beautiful, comfortable, and I am so pleased with my purchase. Even better than I expected. Delivery right on time, great set up. I highly recommend this store. Great sale staff. Thanks Adam! 17195 Southcenter Parkway • TUKWILA 425-656-2993 Inside the search perim- eter, about 20 police units - most of the day shifts of the Renton and Tukwila police departments - searched for the suspects. They were assisted by the Washington state troopers. The search ended at around 1 p.m., after officers had followed tips from resi- dents who came in contact with the suspects or saw them running through back yards and on streets. Thorndyke Elementary, Foster High School and Showalter Middle School in the Tukwila School District were locked down about noon; the lockdown ended about 1 p.m. Join us every Saturday June thru October Located in the Marina 10am to 2pm More information available at www.DMFM.org WIMenier .°A,Ocklitutim 111 MI R1. NOW ACCEPTING g7glo Camp Tukwilly TeenVenture damp „6r PARKS 6.4. RJ CKJAI ION 201° ws 1 GCOn Willi V 'i_.. TUKWILA For more information & fees on Summer Camps, please call or visit us online. Tukwila Community Center 12424 - 42nd Ave. 5. Tukwila, WA 206-768-2TCC www.tukwilawa.gov FREE @ Cascade View Community Park July 2 -August 23 Monday—Thursday 11am-2pm Supervised drop-in program Free Summer Sack Lunch for kids 1-18 i 1 2 MAY 2012 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com Affordable Wills Simple Will $200.00 Trust Will for minor children $250.00 Community Prop. Agreement $150.00 Durable Power of Attorney $100.00 Directive to Physician $100.00 MOGREN, GLESSNER & ROTI, P.S. Attorneys at Law 15 So. Grady Way, 100 Evergreen Building, Renton, WA 98057 (425) 255-4542 * www.mgrlaw.com r. Mention this ad for i acka ! e discount. PUGET SOUND ENERGY NOTICE OF PLANNED FINAL ACTION AUTHORIZING CONDEMNATION As part of the O'Brien — Asbury 115 kV Line Project, Puget Sound Energy, Inc. needs to acquire two easements over Tax Parcel Nos. 022204-9057 and 022204-9011 (located in Tukwila, Washington) and Tax Parcel No. 660021-0230 (located in Kent, Washington) for the construction of a new transmission line. PSE is taking action to move forward with condemnation proceedings under RCW ch. 8.20. Notice is hereby given that PSE will consider taking final action to authorize condemnation of the necessary property rights over the above - referenced property. The date, time and location of the public meeting at which the proposed condemnation will be considered is May 22, 2012, at 4:30 p.m., at PSE's South King Service Center, 6905 S. 228th Street, Kent WA 98032. Amor The ,sc66Vtceyou need lib a\ you want you deserve WEATHERLY 1NN ��eff14/1,�izd tr, CLfGP ,Aeleedia,t Premier Dementia &Alzheimer's Community 253-630-7496 15101 SE 272nd St , Kent, WA 98042 Southend draws tourists for the fun, food, interesting sites BY TRACEY COMPTON TCOMPTON@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM Kristina Thorne of Seattle Southside Visi- tor's Center considers herself more of an eater than a cook, but offers this as one of her go -to recipes for all seasons. This versatile recipe Thorne said can go with anything one might find in their kitch- en. "So for the flavor profile and simplicity of the recipe, it's impressive for guests and I en- joy it too," she said. Summer is almost here and it's the busiest time for the Seattle Southside Visitor's Center, located just east of International Boulevard at 3100 South 176th Street. "People come from all over to visit Seattle and then the surrounding areas," said Ash- ley Comar, marketing and communications manager for the center. The largest number of tourists visiting cities south of the Puget Sound come from Canada and Australia, according to Thorne. She calls them "roadtrippers" and said they rent recreational vehicles and pass through the area driving down to Portland, Oregon and California. So where do people like to visit on the southside? The Museum of Flight, Westfield South - center Mall, the Thunderbirds hockey team at ShoWare and the iFly sky diving experience are all very popular attractions, according to Comar. "Last year visitors to our area spent over $592 million just in the Seattle southside re- gion; she said. That doesn't include the rest of King Coun- ty, Comar said. The visitor's center is involved with the lo- cal community by hosting a volunteer and intern program that works with Highline and South Seattle Community Colleges. People come from around the community and volunteer in the visitor's center. The center offers maps, attractions bro- chures, restaurant recommendations, and help with hotel reservations free of charge. Thorne, who lives in Renton and grew up in the area, said she didn't know how awe- some the Des Moines waterfront was until she started working in the visitor's center. Another southside hidden gem is the Hy- droplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent. The Seattle Southside Visitor's Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Fri- day and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sun- day, starting Memorial Day through Labor Day. localflavor Kristina Thorne of Seattle Southside Visitor's Center offers up her chicken and vegetable curry with rice. Tracey Compton, Tukwila Reporter Chicken and Vegetable Curry with Rice 1 cup brown rice 2 tablespoons canola oil 3 chicken breasts 4 carrots, cut into 3/4 inch pieces 2 Yukon gold potatoes cut in 1/2 in pieces 10 button mushrooms cup into quarters 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste 2 cups low sodium chicken broth 1 cup coconut milk 1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves Cook the rice according to the package directions. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, tossing occasionally until golden, cut into 1/2 inch pieces transfer to plate. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in the skillet. Add the carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften. Mix in the curry paste. Add the broth and coconut milk to the skillet and bring to simmer. Add the chicken and cook stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with basil and serve with the rice. Kent man shot in parking lot on Tukwila International Boulevard A 24 -year-old Kent man was shot and wounded in Tukwila during a confrontation at about 1:36 a.m. May 11 in a parking lot in the 14600 block of Tukwila International Boulevard. The Kent man sat in the front pas- senger seat of a vehicle stopped in the parking lot when another vehicle occupied by four men and a female pulled up next to him, according to a Tukwila Police media release. The man had a previous argument with one of the four men in the car. One of the men then shot the Kent man once in the torso, causing serious injury. After being shot, the man stumbled into the Shell station at 14620 Tuk- wila International Blvd. An employee called 911 for help. Paramedics trans- ported the man to Harborview Medi- cal Center in Seattle. www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » MAY 2012 13 Green sandbags to be removed Tukwila fifth grader recognized for safety BY STEVE HUNTER SHUNTER@TUKWILAREPORTER. COM A proposal to pay for the re- moval of the giant sandbags and Hesco barriers along the Green River in Tukwila moved one step closer. The King County Flood Con- trol District Executive Board recommended May 7 to the Flood District's Executive Com- mittee a $5.8 million plan to re- move 26 miles of sandbag barri- ers lining the river along Kent, Tukwila and Auburn, according to a county media release. The full board was scheduled to vote May 14 on the proposal, after the Tukwila Reporter press deadline. The county would pay about 75 percent of the removal cost with the cities of Kent, Au- burn and Tukwila paying 25 per- cent. "These sandbags served their purpose, but now that the in- creased flood risk no long ex- ists, it is time for them to come down;' said Executive Board Chairwoman Julia Patterson, who also represents the Green River Valley on the King County Council. "By moving this pro- posal, we hope trail users will soon be able to enjoy walking and biking without the eyesore of sandbags." The removal costs would be shared between the District and the cities, with the District's pay- ing approximately $4.4 million and the cities of Kent, Auburn and Tukwila paying approxi- mately $1.4 million, with the majority of that cost to Kent. Any Flood Control District project delays caused by shifting funds will be applied to projects within the Green River basin. The giant sandbags cover about 4.5 miles of levees in Tuk- wila while the Hesco barriers cover another 3.4 miles, said Bob Giberson, city public works director. Giberson said under the pro- posal the county would pay about $1.6 million of the $2.1 million cost to remove the sand- bags and barriers as well as re- pair the Green River Trail. "That helps our budget signifi- cantly" Giberson said. Giberson said if the plan re- ceives approval, it could still take up to three months for contrac- tors to remove the sandbags and repair the trail. The sandbags have lined the trail for nearly three years for extra flood protection because of damage in 2009 to an abut- ment next to the Howard Han- son Dam on the upper Green River. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced last fall it can operate Hanson Dam at full capacity, which means the sandbags are no longer needed. The King County Flood Con- trol District Advisory Commit- tee, a 15 -member body com- posed of mayors and council members from eight cities, rec- ommended the flood district board pay for 75 percent of the removal cost with the cities of Kent, Auburn and Tukwila pay- ing 25 percent over a six-year period. The flood district board is composed of the nine members of the King County Council. It is a special-purpose government that funds and oversees flood protection projects and pro- grams. The board is funded through a county -wide property levy of 10 cents per $1,000 assessed value or about $40 per year on a $400,000 home. That brings in about $36 million a year for projects. Each jurisdiction in the coun- ty also receives a small portion of the flood district property levy to pay for any flood control projects within each city. Under the proposal, Kent, Auburn and Summer jobs on way for teens this summer Not only has the reces- sion spelled trouble for many unemployed adults, but teens with the hopes of landing summer jobs have been hit hard as well. King County youth em- ployment has decreased by a total of 24 percent be- tween 2008 and 2011, ac- cording to the Workforce Development Council of Seattle, King County. CASCADE MEMORIAL low cost cremation & Funerals $495 Simple Cremation $895 Direct Burial 425.641.6100 CascadeMemorial.com Friday morning at King County YouthSource in Renton, Bank of America announced it is providing a $50,000 grant to the Work- force Development Coun- cil that will fund 16 intern- ships through the City of Seattle's Summer Youth Employment Program. Bank of America and Ex- peditors International are trying to give teens a boost. AMA Appliances & Repair Sales -Service 4. Serving Renton Since 1978 12626 Renton Ave S 206-306-3222 The grant is part of Bank of Americas Summer Youth Employment Initiative that leverages public and private funding to place at -risk teens in summer jobs with nonprofits and local busi- nesses. Expeditors Internation- al's "Opportunity Knocks" program hires high school students part time and teaches basic job skills. Tukwila would use that money to help pay for sandbag removal rather than other projects for the next six years. In Tukwila, the delayed project would be the Gaco Western Le- vee that sits south of South 180th Street along the new Southcen- ter Parkway extension. About $628,000 has been scheduled to be spent by the flood district on the project. That work would be delayed until 2018. "There's no immediate danger there; Giberson said about the levee. "It needs to be rebuilt but it's an easy one to delay." King County paid for the in- stallation of the sandbags in the fall of 2009 through the flood control district by delaying planned projects to heighten the levees and help protect the cities from flooding in case the then - damaged Hanson Dam could not hold back enough water. No heavy rainstorms struck since the January 2009 storm that damaged an abutment next to the dam, so the bags were never tested. For more information about the county flood control district, go to www.kingcountyfloodcon- trol.org. The program is designed to guide youth to continued employment with the com- pany or other employers and even to higher educa- tion. In King County Work- force Development Coun- cil reports that the number of 14 -to -18-year-olds who were employed went down by 48 percent between 2008 and 2011. The number of 19 -to -21 - year -olds also went down by 23 percent and their av- erage earnings decreased by $20 a month. The average monthly earnings of 22 -to -24 -year- olds decreased by $282 and FOSTER-TUKWILA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 14401 56th Ave S Join us for GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER Sunday, May 27, 10:30 am Sunday Schedule: CE 9 am; Worship 10:30 am 206-243-4455 • www.ftpc.org TO ADVERTISE YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP Please call: Brenda 425-255-3484 ext. 5052 or email bcantelon@rentonreporter.com 567401 Sydney Brusnighan, a fifth grader at Tukwila Elementary, was induct- ed into the 2012 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame on Friday, May 4, in recognition of her dedication to safety, community stewardship and leadership. Brusnighan was one of 10 out- standing patrollers from across Washington to be recognized at the evening awards ceremony held at Safeco Field. As a long standing tra- dition, AAA Washington and a pan- el of judges from the National High- way Traffic Safety Administration, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washing- ton Traffic Safety Commission select top patrollers from schools across Washington each year and honor their accomplishments through in- duction in the AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame. Patrollers are judged on their com- mitment to traffic safety, citizenship, leadership skills, and contributions to their school safety patrol. Nomi- nations require input from both the patroller and their advisor. their employment went down by 15 percent. "Our Summer Youth Employment Initiative helps meet a critical need in Seattle and strengthens the local communities we serve," said Bob Peters, Washington State President and Regional Market Exec- utive at Bank of America. "This grant will help pro- vide learning opportunities and work experiences for at -risk teens that can set them on a course to pursue long-term education and career goals. "The King County YouthSource in Renton provides that connection between employers and youth looking for their first jobs.YouthSource is located at 500 Southwest Seventh Street, Suite 100 in the Renton WorkSource. For more information visit, www.youthatwork. info. Shift into 1 k savings. Brenda K Kulju, Agent 525 Strander Blvd Tukwila, WA 98188 Bus: 206-575-1300 brenda@brendakulju.net www.brendakulju.net Se habla espanol Get discounts up to 40%*. Saving money is important. That's why you can count on me to get you all the discounts you deserve. GETTO A BETTER STATE'". CALL METODAY. State Farm *Discounts vary by state. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company Bloomington, IL 621516 14 MAY 2012 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com County collects toxic materials All King County and city residents can safely dispose of old car batteries, oil, paint and other household haz- ardous waste items when the Wastemobile comes to Renton, May 25-27. The Wastemobile will be in the Fred Meyer parking lot at 365 Renton Center Way and will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Residents are helping safeguard the environment and public health by prop- erly disposing household hazardous waste materials and keeping them out of drains and landfills. Following the Renton event, the Wastemobile will travel to Enumclaw to col- lect household hazardous waste collection event, June 8-10. Created in 1989, the Wastemobile was the first program of its kind in the nation. It is operated by King County Solid Waste Division as part of the Local Hazardous Waste Manage- ment Program, and trav- els throughout the county from the spring through fall. Since its inception, the Wastemobile has collected more than 14,000 tons of hazardous household waste from 333,000 residents. For South King County residents, an alternative to the roving Wastemobile is the household hazardous waste collection site in the northwest parking lot of the Auburn SuperMall, 1101 SuperMall Way (near the loading docks and Sports Authority). It operates ev- ery Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about disposal, including acceptable materials and quantity limits, call the Lo- cal Hazardous Waste Man- agement Program's Haz- ards Line at 206-296-4692, Monday through Friday be- tween 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., except holidays. Recorded information is available after hours, or by visiting the Wastemobile website at www.hazwastehelp.org. Looking for reusable household products? The Wastemobile provides free products to the public, such as oil-based paint, stain and primer, plus wood care and cleaning products. These products are subject to availability, and residents will need to sign a release form prior to receiving ma- terials. ..local cuisine ZTEC MEXICAN RES1AJRANTS 17555 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila, WA 98188 (206) 575-0990 HAPPY HOUR EVERYDAY FROM 3 - 7 PM 'LOD- 00 OD EMEM OMOnCID Ill ER WITH THE PURCHASE OF TWO (2) ENTREES & TWO (2) BEVERAGES (One (1) coupon per table. Valid Monday through 1 Friday. Can not be used on any Happy Hour, Party 1 Platters, or limited time offers.) 1 SM ZTEC, 17555 Southcenter Parkway Tukwila, WA 98188 (206) 575-0990 617784 REQ VELVET PANCAKES Check out these two local restaurants SEATAC TUKWILA 20402 International Blvd 17250 Southcenter Parkway g 206-592-5928 206-575-0330 Yum. NOW OPEN 24 HOURS complete calendar online...www.tukwilareporter.com TUKWILA PARKS These family friendly FREE events are brought to you by Tukwila Parks and Recreation 206.768.2822 www.tukwilawa.gov k R[(: RIAI If1N Come sliders interactive gaming T AT early to Bouncers,par and aurin fun! �► stake out a picnic spot! i sC liEj) ULEoF Aet; • e°bens, The /Sjanders�e617 F gr't'Sh 6'30,x. Ir / e�,orksD's�l'` 83oPrn y Io 9 a UENT - 4 p m. tn. S 'idilim lik. Imo IL o o',&U1 Safety EmergencyPreparedness Fair Sat,,June 23vlt 11 am - 3pm Climb Safety & emergency preparedness Discover tips and information + all types of Explore big rigs for all ages! p __ -, Come see Tow Mater! r 4 t Pictures available for a fee with proceeds • benefitting community projects sponsored --' by the Tukwila Rotary. Held at Foster High School 4242 S 144th, Tukwila U K W FAMILY FORT * I L A' S 4 DENT PARK TUKWILA PARKS These family friendly FREE events are brought to you by Tukwila Parks and Recreation 206.768.2822 www.tukwilawa.gov k R[(: RIAI If1N OPEN DOOR FESTIVAL May 17th from 9am-8pm Learn more about Renton Technical College. Free community event with food, games, live bands & more! Renton Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director, HRD, (425) 235-7873 www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » MAY 2012 15 VISIT CLASSES 10:30-11:30, 1:30-2:30, 6:30-7:30 RTC ALL STAR BAND - KIDS! Eclectic Rock & Blues Bldg. K: 11:30-1:00, Cafeteria Lawn: 5:30-6:30 $2 MEAL DEAL Cafeteria: 11:45-2:45, 4:00-7:00 LONNIE WILLIAMS GROUP - KIDS! Smokin' R&B Cafeteria Lawn: Noon -4:00 FREE POPCORN - KIDS! Cafeteria: 2:00-4:00 CLICK 98.9 On site giveaways Bldg. H: 2:00-4:00 PICK UP A CAMPUS BINGO CARD Fill in the activity squares and win a prize! RAFFLE DRAWINGS Cafeteria: Get your tickets while they're hot! SUPER COOL CAR SHOW - KIDS! Bldg. K: Automotive Show ARC-ING IN THE PARKING Bldg. A: Welding Demonstrations "OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR DREAMS" - KIDS! Bldg. C & D: Chalk Drawing Contest SO YOU WANT TO START A BUSINESS? Cafeteria, East Wing: Q&A table hosted by the Small Business Development Center. INFORMATION TABLE Cafeteria, East Wing: Maps, schedules, and more. RTC IMAGINATION STATION - KIDS! Cafeteria, West Wing: Play area for kids! (Outside if weather permits) HANDS ON ACTIVITIES - KIDS! Cafeteria, West Wing: All ages: Make a statement with a personalized bracelet you create in minutes! TALK TO US Cafeteria, East Wing: Questions about registration? Financial Aid? Program requirements? Get some answers and pick up your "Getting Started" checklist! 623888 16 MAY 2012 « www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com CHOOSER REMARKABLE DOCTO Ileymed.org/do Valley Medical Center proudly offers a network of primary care clinics which serve as a medical home for care management. Urgent care clinics provide a safety net of after-hours care and walk-in consult and treatment, and specialty clinics provide convenient and comprehensive access throughout the district. UW Medicine VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER Remarkable things happen here' Primary Care: Partners for Health & Wellness VMC's primary care providers get to know you and your medical history, serving as personal health advocates for you and your family, and working with you to monitor and improve your health through all life's stages. ■ Cascade Clinic ■ Covington Clinic ■ Fairwood Clinic ■ Highlands Clinic ■ Kent Clinic ■ Lake Sawyer Clinic ■ Newcastle Clinic ■ Valley Family Medicine Clinic Urgent Care: Immediate Medical Services It hurts. It itches. It's swollen. It's after hours. Urgent Care is a great choice when you can't wait for an appointment with your primary care provider, or when you need medical care after hours for non- life -threatening conditions. Enjoy walk-in appointments for acute illness, minor injuries and other services: ■ Auburn Clinic ■ North Benson Clinic ■ Covington Clinic ■ Renton Landing Clinic ■ Newcastle Clinic Extensive Network of Specialists VMC offers a comprehensive network and board-certified specialists to meet all of your family's healthcare needs. For a comprehensive list and FREE physician referral, please visit us at valleymed.org/doc or give us a call at 425.277.DOCS. 617080