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The BEST of 2015

BALLOTS

02 • 2015

INSIDE THIS EDITION PAGE 7 & 10

coverstory | page 12

Crossroads Tukwila:

YOU CAN GET THERE FROM HERE SCHOOL CONNECTIONS: Tukwila School District update, pages 14-15

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Historic house suits couple, filmmaker BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

There’s a house in Riverton that’s perfect for someone who’s into history and UFOs. For 105 years the Craftsman house has stood mostly unchanged, built at a time when Seattle was more into gardens than jets and Tukwila was just a year old. It’s that timeless charm that attracted

Jack and Gina Tucci, along with fulfilling a very specific wish list that many homes they looked at just couldn’t do. And, then there’s that vision Jack offered to Gina in an email while they were still dating: He could see them, retired, sitting in their rocking chairs on a broad porch, together. “I was so charmed by that,” Gina said. Ever since, they’ve been looking for that

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• Registration $15 in advance / $20 day of event • Children under 10 are free, but need to register • T-shirts are $5 • Registration includes the opportunity to plant a tree or shrub at the post riverside restoration event.

Businesses and community groups can register too. Contact Shannon Fisher by email at shannon.fisher@tukwilawa.gov or by phone at 206.768.2822. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Help on the race course or at the post-runriverside restoration event. Interested? Call 206.768.2822

TO REGISTER: Call 206.768.2822

Gina and Jack Tucci stand on the front porch of their 105-year-old house in Tukwila’s Riverton neighborhood. They have plans to do renovations but retain its historic character. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter

porch. They found it in fall 2013 on South 128th Street, among similarly historic homes and new ones. “We fell in love with it,” said Gina of the 3,000-square-foot home, still with much of its original interior woodwork and builtin cabinets, a big backyard and a place for Jack to refurbish a bus. They told their good friend Scott Schaefer about finding their perfect house. They were surprised to learn it was his perfect house, too – to make a movie about UFOs called “The Maury Island Incident.” Unbeknownst to the Tuccis, after an exhaustive search Schaefer settled on the house, which was for sale at the time and empty, for interior shots for the movie. The movie was set in the 1940s and he was having trouble finding a house that retained the look and feel of 70 years ago. He had found it in Tukwila. “We used Gina Tucci a great old owner of historic home ‘farmhouse’ in Tukwilathat was like stepping into a time machine,” he said. The Tuccis want to slowly return the grand old house to its original grandeur. Luckily, no one covered all the house’s personality by putting paint on the wood, for example. She just wishes someone hadn’t painted the brick fireplace. Electric wiring was added after the house was built, evident in the stylish wooden runners in the living room ceiling that house the wires. An outhouse gave way to

“I really do see us as kind of preserving a piece of history and hopefully attracting other people to do that, too.”

an indoor bathroom. There’s one upstairs and at some point the den was turned into a bathroom just off the dining room, which Gina says seems “a little odd.” Original built-in cabinets adorn a wall in the dining room and one in the kitchen. The original lath and plaster is under elegant wallpaper in the living room. They’ll do their renovation deliberately, not knowing what’s hidden inside a wall. “We haven’t tackled any major project yet because we have to put it in the correct order,” Gina says. Jack says he finally convinced Gina they needed to do the upkeep on the exterior first, replacing worn cedar siding and repainting. Inside, they’ve talked about creating a farmhouse kitchen. Schaefer used the back porch off the kitchen for the front porch for a key scene in his movie. That’s where the “Man in Black” (played by actor Allen Fitzpatrick) stood, watching protagonist Harold Dahl (played by actor Tony Doupé) through the window in the door. Dahl claimed he saw six flying discs near Maury Island on June 21, 1947, while on his boat. The Man in Black (remember the 1997 movie?) was at his doorstep to take him to breakfast in Tacoma to convince him through threats to keep quiet. Schaefer used a small entryway for the telephone and other rooms in the house for filming. Jack and Gina are continuing to learn the history of the house. It’s likely the first owner was a merchant at a business in Riverton’s busy commercial area. “We own our own little corner of history,” Gina said. They hope others will come behind them to preserve Tukwila’s historic homes. “I really do see us as kind of preserving a piece of history and hopefully attracting other people to do that, too.” Dean A. Radford can be reached at 425255-3484, ext. 5150.

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » FEBRUARY 2015

Foster Centennial party March 21 BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

One hundred years in the making, the extended Foster High School family will celebrate the school’s Centennial on Saturday, March 21. A community committee has been working for months to plan the event that will include plenty of social time, speeches, music, refreshments, a slide show and, of course, a sock-hop dance. A special re-enactment will portray the presentation of Foster’s first diploma to Ava Sophia Adams Bainter in 1915 by district Superintendent L.M. Dimmitt. It’s the presentation of her diploma that set off the 100-year countdown. Here’s the general schedule: • 3 p.m. - 4 p.m., social time, plus self or guided tours of the school, Commons • 4 p.m. - 5 p.m., formal program, with a welcome, introductory speeches and a cul-

tural program, gym • 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., refreshments and social time, Commons • 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m., sock-hop dance, gym A slide show will run continuously in the Foster Performing Arts Center. The committee is seeking donations

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online at YouCaring.com (http://www. youcaring.com/other/foster-high-schools-centennial-celebration/289832) or shortened URL (http://tinyurl.com/m5l2zf3) to help pay for the day’s activities. The celebration is free but the committee has set a goal of $3,500 to pay for refreshments, music, set up, advertising and other costs. Keith Wheeler will put together the video and slide show that will run continuously through the celebration in the performing arts center. His email address to send photos is graceflyright@aol.com. He can also scan photos that are mailed to him but be sure to include a stamped, self-addressed envelope so he can return them. His address is 3429 S. 141th St., Tukwila, WA 98168. Updates about the celebration are available at the Centennial Committee’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/FosterHighSchoolCentennialCelebration.

r a t S e h T

Finding the Connection

• Dr. Seuss Day Birthday Party is 3 p.m.6 p.m. Monday, March 2, at the Foster Library, 4060 S. 144th St., Tukwila. Tukwila Library Council volunteers will tell Seuss stories and explain how everyone can raise money for the community mosaic space in the new Tukwila Library. • Dr. Suess Night at the Tukwila Community Center to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday, is 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, at the center, 12424 42nd Ave., Tukwila. There will be bouncers, arts and crafts, games and an appearance by the Cat in the Hat. Everyone will receive a free book.

Healthy you Healthy Earth Healthy You 5K run walk is 9 a.m. Saturday, April 25. For more information contact Shannon Fisher at shannon.sher@tukwilawa.gov.

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Foster High School is celebrating on March 21 its Centennial, which marks the presentation of the diploma to the school’s first graduate.

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tukwila’sstory

The Green/Duwamish River has had a rough life, starting out as a different river and finding watery suitors along the way, all at man’s hands.

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The Foster High School Bulldog wrestlers and basketball players made it into the postseason, with eyes on state.

coverstory

Tukwila has always been a crossroads of highways and even rivers. Today, it’s a major transportation hub for the region and the state.

tukwila reporter i19426 68th Avenue South i Kent, WA 98032 i253.872.6600 i www.tukwilareporter.com

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Dean A. Radford can be reached at 425-255-3484, ext. 5150.

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State testing: Introducing the Smarter Balanced Assessments We are required by the state and federal governments to measure the academic growth of our students in English language arts and math each spring. This year, the state is replacing its former tests in these subjects (the MSP and HSPE) with Smarter Balanced Assessments. If this sounds like acronym soup, here’s the bottom line: The Smarter Balanced Assessments require deeper thinking, asking students to apply knowledge and reasoning skills to solve problems instead of simply recalling content. The assessments align with the state’s new learning standards for language arts and math, which are meant to prepare students to be career- and college-ready in a dynamic global environment. The motto for the new standards and corresponding Smarter Balanced Assessments is “Real Learning for Real Life.” This is also the approach we take every day in the classroom, where content knowledge is the building blocks for creative problem solving. A more tangible difference between Smarter Balanced Assessments and their predecessors is that they are done online using computers, which will be a big help in getting the data returned in a faster timeline. Because the Smarter Balanced Assessments are new and have increased rigor, we expect to see overall achievement levels dip across the state when the results come back, and that’s OK. I want to prepare [ more COOGAN page 5 ]

Chuck Parrish

COMMENTARY

HERE’S HOW To submit a letter to the editor, E-MAIL: editor@ tukwilareporter.com FAX: 253.437.6016 MAIL: 19426 68th Ave. S., Ste. A, Kent, WA 98032

Is it a coincidence that February is the month for hearts and affection and also the time in the school year when we get ready to kick off spring testing? I think not — while it’s an unorthodox Valentine, I admit, let’s show our standardized assessments a little love this season! Assessments are absolutely critical to our work. Our strategic plan requires each student to make at least one year’s worth of academic progress annually. With this type of growth model, we need clear, consistent, in-depth measures of a child’s knowledge and skills from year to year. Based on these assessments, we allocate resources and customize comprehensive learning plans from the building-level down to the child-level. Without assessment, we wouldn’t be able to offer specific interventions or highly capable programs to students. We wouldn’t be able to target best-practice professional development and materials for our staff. In other words, assessment data forms the foundation for everything we do in teaching and learning. I offer this perspective because it’s important for students to understand the link between assessments and their day-to-day education. I certainly do not want anyone to become anxious about taking a test, but I do ask that every student gives it his/her honest best attempt. To best serve you, we need to know what you know! This testing cycle promises to be different from previous years in many ways as the state replaces the former English language arts and math tests with a new ones that focus on real-world problem-solving skills. We are also reviewing the common assessments we choose to give as a district. Nancy Coogan

will turn Southcenter into something new. Of course, the city’s central business district will always be Tukwila’s economic engine. But in years to come, it will also take its place with other city residential neighborhoods, with the added advantage of having a bus or commuter train a short walk or bike ride from your doorstep. Of course, I also have to drive home the point that (I am sure I’ll hear from someone if I don’t) we’ll always have an I-5 back up on Southcenter Hill during the evening commute or a sometimes terrifying run on I-405 in Tukwila and Renton at busy times. Planners expect that I-5 and I-405 will come into play in the decades ahead as the region struggles to accommodate growth. One way to stave off unacceptable solutions (double-decking of lanes?) is to embrace public transportation. Something to embrace soon is Sound Transit 3, another chance to pay for a fundamental responsibility.

COMMENTARY

regional publisher polly shepherd

The ability to get around, to our jobs, to our schools – anywhere, really – is simply a fundamental part of life and a fundamental responsibility of our governments. It’s safe to say that Tukwila is ready to “get around” for the next 20 years with ease, based on just how much traffic we’re willing to tolerate (level of service in bureaucractic terms.) Part of the reason for that is the millions of dollars that have been spent to get people out of their personal vehicles and onto public transportation. Again, that’s something you can do with ease in Tukwila. Without a doubt, the city is a regional transportation hub, thanks to its central location. Policy makers learned long ago that to get anywhere north and south on existing freeways and rail lines, you had to go through Tukwila. Tukwila’s leaders have taken advantage of the city’s location to move forward with a vision that Dean A. Radford

viewpoint iwrite staff

tukwilacommentary Take testing to heart Getting around is easy to do in Tukwila – it’s a key to success

EDITOR’S NOTE

4 h FEBRUARY 2015

Prudent budget policies bring city through the Recession Perhaps you have heard that the city a $300 million 2015-2016 biennial budget. The All Funds budget includes the General Fund budget along with various other forms of revenue and cash flow. Think property sales, federal and state grants not included in the general fund, proceeds from bond sales, fines and penalties, enterprise funds, etc. The General Fund budget is more interesting because it is funded primarily through sources that people recognize.

For 2015, the city is projecting just more than $14 million in property taxes and about $17 million in sales/use taxes. The remainder of the projected ongoing revenues of $54 million will come from fees for licenses, gambling revenues, permits, services provided, regular intergovernmental revenues and other miscellaneous sources. The General Fund ongoing revenue numbers reflect the most predictable regular streams of revenue upon which the most predictable regular expenses are

budgeted. It is the means by which cities judge their economic health relative to previous years and other cities. It is fair to say that Tukwila has recovered well from the Great Recession through the presidential policies that helped bring about a national recovery and the prudent management of the administration and the City Council. Tukwila Reporter columnist Chuck Parrish can be reached via email at chuckparrish2009@gmail.com

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » FEBRUARY 2015

tukwila’sstory

Green River is also black and white BY PAT BRODIN TUKWILA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

[COOGAN from page 4] you before you get your own students’ scores. We are moving our state standards to a much higher level of learning, which is exactly what we need to do to prepare our students for life after graduation. In the process, we are starting over with a new baseline for our test scores, which is not comparable to previous years. What does that mean for students who must show proficiency in language-arts and math in order to graduate? Current high-school-

The Green/Duwamish River in South King County frequently flooded before it was controlled by the Howard Hansen Dam. Tukwila Historical Society

It was reported that the White/ Duwamish River Valley was a lake between the West Hill and the East Hill to the present-day Boeing Field. In most places the water was deep enough to allow rowboats to pass over fence lines and other high obstructions. Before the floodwaters crested, a massive log jam occurred at Auburn, cutting a channel down through to the Stuck River and thence into the Puyallup. The renaming of the river from the

White to the Green was recommended years later by none other than Col. Hiram Chittenden, the Seattle District Engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers after whom the canal locks are named. For years preceding this event, there had been interference by citizens of both counties relative to the White River flowing through the Stuck channel. Early settlers did not want their fertile claims flooded and often made covert

ers will have several options for meeting the graduation requirement, including Smarter Balanced, end-of-course assessments, and the former HSPE. The state wants to ensure that upperclassmen are successful during the transition to the new test. In the coming four years, the Smarter Balanced Assessment will be phased in to become the single measurement for the majority of students. The window for Smarter Balanced Assessments runs from March through June, and your school will let you know the exact

dates of administration. Streamlining our district assessments I also want to mention the work we are doing with our local assessments. These are common tests that we as a district choose to administer across grade levels to supplement the data we get from the state-mandated tests. In my second year as a superintendent, it’s a priority to come up with a more streamlined, effective system of local assessments. I want to make sure that every test we use provides the most usable data for serving

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students with the shortest disruption to classroom learning. In the coming months, we will finalize a comprehensive plan for next school year. Overall, we have an exciting spring ahead in the realm of standardized testing! Please do not hesitate to contact me or your principal if you have questions. In service, Dr. Nancy Coogan

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The Green River winding its way into the Duwamish north of Fort Dent has had a rather colorful history. In fact the Green River was really the White River for centuries until after a serious flood occurred changing its course. In a 1913 Act of Legislation forming a joint river commission between King County and Pierce counties, the two counties agreed to permanently divert the waters of the White River to Tacoma. By this agreement the channels of the White came into the Stuck River near Game Farm Park in Auburn, and dumping into the Puyallup River to alleviate the Duwamish Valley, required King County to compensate Pierce County for flood damage repairs and flood control measures along the Puyallup. It was the catastrophic 1906 flood that brought about this permanent change when autumn rains never stopped until the White River became particularly violent in November of that fateful year.

modifications redirecting the water the other direction. It was locally known that gun-toting farmers would stand guard on crude debris levees to maintain the status quo. Today the Duwamish receives only the waters from the Green River basin and other ancillary creeks and drainages along the way. The Cedar River once flowed into the Black River but was redirected to Lake Washington to make up flow losses through the newly installed Government Locks at Salmon Bay that lowered the lake. As a result, the Lake Washington outlet no longer flowed to the Duwamish through the Black. The Black River has been reduced to a short thread of flow that is fed from Springbrook Creek via a flood control facility in Renton.

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School signup dates set for March Now is the time to start registering next school year’s kindergarteners in the Tukwila School District. To enroll in kindergarten, a child must be 5 years old on before Aug. 31, 2015. Registration packets are available at Tukwila’s three elementary schools, Tukwila, 5939 S. 149th St., Thorndyke, 4415 S. 150th St., and Cascade View, 13601 32nd Ave. S. Families can call the Tukwila School District at 206901-8000 if they’re unsure which elementary school a child will attend. The school district strongly encourages that all incoming kindergarten families complete the registration process during an in-person event in March, where interpreters will be available and the health team, transportation team, and office staff will provide all of the important information. The kindergarten registration dates are: • 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Friday, March 13, at Showalter Middle School, 4628 S. 144th St., Tukwila. • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Showalter Middle School. Families only need to attend one of the events.

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6 h FEBRUARY 2015

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Girls team full of court promise

tukwilasports

Foster’s Schenck league champ

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER. COM

Foster junior Mark Schenck is the Seamount League wrestling champion at 132 pounds. Brenda Schenck

Cale Woyvodich placed second at 120 pounds at subregionals. Vicki Maddy

Coach: Boys’ season tough but the future is bright BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

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Foster wrestler Mark Schenck is the Seamount League’s champion in the 132-pound weight class. He went undefeated in the subregional tournament Feb. 7 at Highline High School. Schenck, a junior, competed in last weekend’s regional tournament in Lacey for a chance to compete in the state tournament, the Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome this Saturday and Sunday. Joining Schenck at the regional tournament were Cale Woyvodich, who placed second at sub-regionals in the 120-pound weight class, Zane Galoia, who placed second at 220 pounds and Kumar Teve, who placed fourth at 285 pounds. Benjamin Vongtawan is an alternate at 285 pounds. This is Schenck’s first league championship. “Listening to my coaches and working hard in practice is how I’m able to win matches,” said Schenck, who has been wresting for eight years.

The Foster girls basketball team met the biggest goal of the season: making the postseason. The girls lost to ninth-ranked Liberty High School 7931 Feb. 11; they played Kingston High School last Friday night. If they lost, they were done for the season. The Bulldogs finished 4-10, which qualified them for the 2A postseason from the Seamount League. “We are a very young team with no seniors on the team and just two juniors, so we expected to lose some games due to inexperience; but overall I’m happy in the position we are in,” said Coach Eric Smith. A key to moving on to the postseason was Foster’s victory over Lindbergh, 45-34, on Jan. 28, which Smith also called the team’s best victory. On Dec. 19 Lindbergh squeaked by Foster 48-46. “It was good to see our team come together and execute the game plan and get a victory that game,” Smith said. The Liberty game was the first in a playoff for the three freshmen and a sophomore in the starting lineup, so Smith said he wanted them “to concentrate on having fun and play to the best of their ability.” One of the team’s standout players this year is Grace Williams, who Smith believes is the best player in the league, averaging 17 points, 8 rebounds, 8 steals and 4 assists a game. Just a freshman, she made the all-league first team. With her work ethic, Smith said “she will only get better.” Another freshman, Chasity Spady, received all-league honorable mention with less playing time on varsity and playing on junior varsity, he said. “With her size and athleticism, if she stays working hard, I definitely see her playing college ball,” he said. Freshman Emolani Morris, who stands 5-foot-10 and is “very athletic,” is a game-changer on defense, Smith said. With the young players he has and upcoming eighth graders, “we will definitely be changing our goal to the state playoffs and eventually be state champions,” he said.

The Foster boys basketball team made it back to the postseason, after nearly reaching the state 2A tournament in Yakima last season. Their run to state took a hit Feb. 12 with a 78-25 loss to the Sammamish High School Totems, with seven freshmen Bulldogs playing. The boys played Olympic High School on Saturday; if they lost, their season was over. Foster finished sixth in the Seamount League with a league record of 4-16. “If I were to assess this year’s season for the team, I’d say we probably weren’t very successful ... not based on wins and losses, but based on our three core measures of success that we use every year to evaluate ourselves,” said Head Coach Isaac Tucker. Those values are: did the team improve; did it represent itself well on and off the court and in the classroom, and did it grow together, he said. He didn’t go into detail but he said “we left room for improvement in each one for sure.” “With that said, each kid in the program is still very special to me and they never ever fail individually ... they just learn, grow and move on,” he said. The “silver lining” is a core of young players who managed to make it to playoffs in “an unexpectedly tough season,” he said.

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www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » FEBRUARY 2015

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17250 Southcenter Pkwy • 206-575-0330

SEATAC

20402 International Blvd • 206-592-5928

Fine Sandwiches & Espresso Drinks

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Name ______________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________ Address__________________________________________ City ________________________________ Zip _______________ Please mail or bring your completed entry to Best of… c/o Tukwila Reporter: 19426 68th Ave. S., Kent, WA 98032 or vote online at www.tukwilareporter.com. One entry per person. Employees of participating sponsors are not eligible to win. Voting ends and all ballots must be received/postmarked not later than at 4pm on Friday, February 27, 2015. Entry must be at least 50% completed with name, address & phone to be eligible for drawing and be counted. No photo copies of ballot. Nominee MUST be a business in Tukwila, Seatac or Des Moines, WA.

Tuscany

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at Des Moines Creek

(1 mile north of airport)

206-431-9411 • thepancakechef.com

Home-Cooking and Old Fashioned Hospitality Breafast • Lunch • Dinner 2825 S. 188th St. • Sea Tac, WA 98188

(206) 277-7196

give

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Attorney at Law

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

Serving Breakfast & Lunch

(206) 957-7950

21830 Marine View Dr S Des Moines, WA 98198 206-878-3855

Maureen A. Wickert

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• Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • Catering

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L AW OFFICE

www.tukwilareporter.com Mail-in or Drop-off:

Community

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YOUR COMMUNITY COFFEE & TEA HOUSE

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US THE BEST! Best Chiropractor & Best Massage Therapist in Tukwila! “Helping people get the most out of life”

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Open Daily for Lunch & Dinner 11am to 10pm Happy Hour at Basil’s Lounge 4pm to 7pm

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THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST FINE DINING IN 2013 & 2014!!

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8 h FEBRUARY 2015

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » FEBRUARY 2015

« www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com

City of Tukwila • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Online: TukwilaWA.gov

TUKWILA CITY PAGES Guiding Tukwila’s future: Comprehensive Plan update The City of Tukwila is continuing its update of the Comprehensive Plan, the community’s planning guide for future growth and development over the next 20 years. 2014 City Council Action: On October 6, 2014, after a public meeting and work session, the City Council adopted updates and revisions to the Community Image and Identity, Economic Development, Tukwila South and Roles and Responsibilities sections, as well as the new Parks, Recreation and Open Space element. These updated elements will be integrated into the Comprehensive Plan.

Fire and Police battle benefits the Tukwila Pantry On Saturday, February 7, members of the Tukwila Fire Department and Tukwila Police Department participated in a wing-eating contest to raise money for the Tukwila Pantry. Held at Buffalo Wild Wings, 10% of the proceeds from the event went to the nonprofit which serves as an emergency food pantry for families in Tukwila and the surrounding areas. In 2014, the Pantry had over 15,000 visits from people needing food assistance, and provided over 1.9 million pounds of food for families in the area who need extra help. The wing-eating contest consisted of four heats, where each department was represented by one contestant. Participants had to eat 12 hot wings within six minutes, and the one with the best time won the heat. After the first three heats, the contest was over as Fire swept them. The Police Department managed to come back and win the final heat, and their representative won the overall best time, but Fire’s early and commanding lead could not be overcome. The event was full of families cheering for both sides and the friendly rivalry between the two departments remains strongly intact.

2015 Update Work: During 2015, the Planning Commission and City Council will consider three Comprehensive Plan elements that remain to be updated: Transportation Corridors/Tukwila International Boulevard Area, Housing and Residential Neighborhoods.

Community Center closing for maintenance To accommodate a large number of planned projects, the entire Tukwila Community Center will be closed March 16—22 for a deep cleaning and maintenance overhaul. This closure will allow the City to paint, address outstanding upkeep issues. and undergo additional activities to spruce up the facility. In addition, the gym and racquetball courts will be closed March 16—April 12 so that they can be completely overhauled. The floors will be sanded down, lines repainted and refinished. The floors in the social hall, banquet hall and dance studios will also be refinished, thereby closing these facilities from March 16—29. Non-affected areas of the Tukwila Community Center will remain open with the exception of the full closure from March 15—22. If you have questions regarding the closure activities or dates, please call 206-768-2822. The City will post updates on the closure and reopenings on the City’s webpage at TukwilaWA.gov.

Get involved – leadership training at TCC The Healthy King County Coalition will hold its 2015 Health Equity Leadership Training event on March 7, 2015 at the Tukwila Community Center from 9:00am to 4:00pm. This is a great opportunity for community members to learn skills to become advocates for themselves and their community around healthy living and active lifestyle choices. This year’s advocacy trainings teach participants how they can: • Make changes in their community for equity in healthy eating and active and smoke-free living. • Participate in health equity advocacy projects and report back to lawmakers. • Discover techniques and approaches for creating social change. • Have fun and make an impact! Breakfast and lunch will be provided at the training, and a stipend is available for participants at the end of each leadership trainee’s completed project. For more information and to access the application form, visit HealthyKingCounty.org/Leadership-Training. Applications are due by 5:00pm on Friday, February 20, 2015.

In January of 2015, the Planning Commission and City Council held a joint work session to discuss the vision and policies for the Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB) area. An additional joint work session will occur on February 25 at 6:30pm in the Council Chambers at Tukwila City Hall. These work sessions allow staff, Councilmembers and Commissioners the opportunity to develop the initial goals and policies. In May, the public will have the opportunity to provide input and comment on the proposed goals and polices at an open house, as well as a public hearing before the Planning Commission. Ultimately, these three updated portions of the Plan will go to the City Council for review and approval, which will also include an opportunity for public comments. Work is also proceeding on the Housing and Residential Neighborhoods chapters. Background materials are being prepared that will serve as the initial foundation for the goals and policies in these areas. As the process for these two elements move forward, a public open house and Planning Commission hearing will be held later in the year. Once a schedule is finalized, all meeting dates and opportunities for comment and involvement will be publicized to the community. The Comprehensive Plan update is scheduled for completion during 2015. There’s still time to sign up for the winter/spring TUKWILA CITIZENS’ POLICE ACADEMY – a program covering a variety of topics relating to Tukwila’s Police Department. Beginning MARCH 4, the class will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings from 6:30–9:00pm , with graduation on May 20. To register for the Citizens’ Academy, download an application from TukwilaWA.gov/Police/PDCrimeP.html. Applications must be submitted by February 24.

MAYOR: Jim Haggerton COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Kate Kruller

United Way of King County is offering free tax preparation services in 25 locations throughout King County – including Tukwila’s Community Center – from now until April 18. Households earing under $60,000 can have their taxes prepared, plus they can get connected to one-on-one financial counseling, healthcare enrollment, and other public benefits. TCC days and times – through April 18 Tuesdays & Thursdays: 5:00–8:00pm; Saturdays: 10:00am—2:00pm Other locations can be found throughout the county with daytime, evening, and weekend hours available. To find a location, the languages available, a list of what to bring and other details, visit their website at www.UWKC.org/TaxHelp or call 2-1-1. No appointments are needed. Clients are taken on a first-come, firstserved basis. Let United Way of King County prepare your return, help you get your maximum refund, and charge you no fees!

Joe Duffie • Dennis Robertson • Allan Ekberg Verna Seal • Kathy Hougardy • De’Sean Quinn

FREE FAMILY FUN! Don’t miss out on this popular annual event… Dr. Seuss Night – February 26 from 6-8PM – Tukwila Community Center

A better community starts with you – get involved! BECOME A PUGET SOUND STEWARD EarthCorps trains volunteers to steward habitat restoration sites. As a Puget Sound Steward, you will: CONNECT with fellow stewards, restoration experts LEARN about restoration ecology, plant identification RESTORE sites on the Duwamish river LEAD events, manage volunteers, educate others Tukwila needs volunteer stewards for projects in here in our community – there’s nothing better than volunteering in your own backyard! Attend an orientation on March 3 at 6:30pm. Visit EarthCorps.org/volunteer.php or call 206-322-9296.

HELP FEED HOMELESS CHILDREN In partnership with the Tukwila School District, join the volunteers who are providing “WEEKEND SNACKPACKS” for distribution at Thorndyke Elementary School. Your assistance is needed for the collection of food, the assembly of the snackpacks, and other opportunities to serve this population in our community. You can learn more about this program at Facebook.com/TukwilaWeekendSnackPack, or email TukSnackPack@gmail.com

Frequently asked questions about the Regional Fire Authority The City of Tukwila continues its process to explore potential annexation to the Kent Regional Fire Authority (RFA). While no decisions have been made, last year the City Council gave the Administration the direction to move forward on additional due diligence around this option. A Steering Committee comprised of residents, businesses, members of the Council and Administration, along with representatives of the Kent RFA will begin meeting next month. The City remains committed to being transparent throughout this process and has developed the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to provide residents additional information. More information, including additional FAQs can be found at TukwilaWA.gov/FireCommittee. In addition, broad public outreach is of utmost importance to the City. If you have a group that would like a speaker or have an event where you would like a guest speaker on this topic, or have a publication in which you would like an article, please contact Moira Bradshaw at Moira.Bradshaw@TukwilaWA.gov or 206-431-3651. We want to hear from you about specific questions or comments. Frequently Asked Questions

Take the stress out of filing your taxes

COUNCIL MEMBERS:

i 9

Why is the City considering annexation of its Fire Department to the Kent Regional Fire Authority? During the City’s 2014 Fire Exploratory Committee process, the committee identified – and the City Council concurred – that of all the options available for the provision of long-term fire suppression and emergency services in Tukwila, joining the Kent RFA may be the best route for the City. The Kent RFA has been in operation since 2010, and has cleared many of the early organizational challenges associated with the creation of a new governmental entity. The Kent RFA is respected across the region for its successes, leadership and experience. Further, the

City and Kent RFA already enjoy a highly successful collaborative relationship due to participation in the South King County Regional Training Consortium. Why is regionally-provided fire suppression and aid a better service? Current fire suppression and aid service is already regionally coordinated. For instance, Tukwila, along with other jurisdictions in the area, uses Valley Communications to provide dispatch services for Fire and Police operations. Tukwila also receives and provides mutual aid seamlessly with other departments in Zone 3, including the Kent RFA. In addition, required recurrent training for firefighters is done through a regional consortium. Combining resources is a costeffective way to deliver high-quality fire protection and emergency medical services. Consolidation of fire departments can result in lowered costs due to economies of scale obtained by reducing duplication of facilities, leadership, equipment and other expenses within close geographical areas. Has regional consolidation of fire departments happened elsewhere? The cities of Federal Way and Des Moines merged fire departments to become the South King Fire and Rescue; Auburn, Algona and Pacific are now Valley Regional Fire Authority; Covington, Kent and Fire District 37 combined to make up the Kent Fire RFA. How will the annexation decision be made? The City Council will determine whether to formally propose the annexation to Tukwila voters, who will ultimately make the final decision. Will it cost Tukwila residents more money? This is undetermined at this time. Potential costs are being investigated by the Steering Committee and will be known before a recommendation is made to the Council or any vote on the issue.

170%+. % %140'4

by Kate Kruller, 2015 Council President

In January your Tukwila City Council assembled in a workshop for training along with many members from Tukwila’s citizen advisory committees. This training was held because – effective July 1, 2014 – our State government mandated that all members of governing bodies must complete training on open public meetings law shortly after taking office and then via refreshers every four years. What we reviewed and learned made me reflect on how far “access to government” has come in my lifetime. Did you know there is no constitutional right of access to government meetings? In fact, the framers of the U.S. Constitution met in secret. The open public meeting laws we enjoy today are the result of a more recent chain of events – specifically, the passage of the “Sunshine Laws” in Florida drafted by journalists, and more access provisions at the federal level following Watergate. Washington State’s Open Public Meetings Act (“OPMA”), found in Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 42.30, was passed by the State Legislature in 1971 as a part of a nationwide effort to make government affairs more accessible to the public. The OPMA gives “all persons” in our state the right to attend the meetings of governing bodies of public agencies, with a handful of exceptions for closed sessions. If a governing body wants to hold a closed session, called an “executive session,” it must identify a specific statutory exemption of the fourteen subject-area exemptions found in RCW 42.30.110. The Act does not give the public an absolute right to participate or comment during open meetings. The public may participate in meetings, however, if the governing body wishes it. Here in Tukwila, your City Council encourages public comment as a matter of routine, because we know it is a good way to stay in touch with our community and to understand what people believe are the important issues of the day. I should mention that the presence of a quorum of the members (in our case, four or more) at a meeting not called by the Council does not, in itself, make the meeting a “public meeting” for purposes of the OPMA. The Act would apply if the Councilmembers took any “action” as defined in RCW 42.30.020(3) at the meeting, such as voting, deliberating together, or using the meeting as a source of public testimony for Council action. To ensure the City Council is always in compliance with open meetings law, we work closely with the certified professionals in the City Clerk’s Office as well as the City Attorney, to be as transparent and accessible to the public as legally possible.

Council Chat Come discuss what’s on your mind from 10:00AM to 12:00PM at FOSTER GOLF CLUBHOUSE 13500 Interurban Ave S

Next Chat: March 14

Meeting agendas, City programs, recreation activities, publications and more… get the most current information at TukwilaWA.gov!

ÂŤ www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com

County planning transit future decades, this will be Metroâ€™s most comprehensive planning effort yet. The planning effort, called â€œWeâ€™ll Get You There: Our Vision for the Future of Public Transportation,â€? launches at the same time that Sound Transit lays the groundwork for further expansion of light

reporter

VOTE TODAY!

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2015

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Health/Fitness

Normandy Park Senior Living 16625 1st Ave. South, Normandy Park, WA 98148 www.artegan.com/normandypark

It is our commitment to provide quality veterinary care throughout the life of your pet.

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Please mail or bring your completed entry to Best ofâ€Ś c/o Tukwila Reporter: 19426 68th Ave. S., Kent, WA 98032 or vote online at www.tukwilareporter.com. One entry per person. Employees of participating sponsors are not eligible to win. Voting ends and all ballots must be received/postmarked not later than at 4pm on Friday, February 27, 2015. Entry must be at least 50% completed with name, address & phone to be eligible for drawing and be counted. No photo copies of ballot. Nominee MUST be a business in Tukwila, Seatac or Des Moines, WA.

1226558

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and other community partners over the coming months. To get involved go online at http://www. kcmetrovision.org to learn more about the long-range planning process and how to get involved. Take our online survey. You can tell the agency what you think about current transit service and what will be needed in future years to help you get around.

1225239

King County Metro wants public input as it launches an intensive long-range planning effort that will help determine what regional transit service will look like in 25 years. With the regionâ€™s population expected to increase by 30 percent over the next two

rail, and local cities and the Puget Sound Regional Council update their own transportation and comprehensive plans. What should Metro and our broader transit system look like in 25 years? How will cities and communities across the county know there will be the right service mix and connections in place to meet their local needs? How will we meet and plan for the future growth of our region? Thatâ€™s what Metro will be exploring with riders

Please give me a call or visit my website: smarsh.remaxallcity.com

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10 h FEBRUARY 2015

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www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » FEBRUARY 2015

tukwilabusiness Chamber recognition Outstanding businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals were recognized at the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce Recognition and Awards Luncheon Feb. 13. The winners, from left, are Roger McCracken of MasterPark, Business Advocate Award; Jim Stutz of HomeStreet Bank, Southcenter, Large Business of the Year Award; Lisa Adsero of Freedom Snacks, Small Business of the Year Award, and Pam Dunning and Sean Englin of Starfire Sports, Outstanding Community Service Award. Not pictured is Annie Jacobsen of SHAG, Ambassador of the Year. Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce.

SPOTLIGHT

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ICKERT

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tukwila

12 h FEBRUARY 2015

« www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com

coverstory

Tukwila: on the move to everywhere Tukwila is one of three key transportation hubs in region BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

With the new Tukwila Sounder Station, Tukwila has more direct access to public transportation than any other suburban city in King County. The City of Tukwila is carefully cultivating that access to create a vibrant urban district in Southcenter, where people live, work and are entertained. It’s why Washington Place, a 19-story hotel and residential community, is so important to the city’s vision. Here’s Tukwila’s roster of ways to get THE DEDICATION around: Sound Transit will dedicate the Tukwi• Sounder comla Sounder Station at 2 p.m. Wednesday, muter rail Feb. 18, at the station at 7301 Longacres • Link light rail Way, Tukwila. Dignitaries will attend, in• RapidRide F Line cluding U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, members • Amtrak of the Sound Transit Board of Directors, • Metro buses King County Executive Dow ConstanAnd, say, if you tine and Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton. want to go from here Sound Transit Ambassadors will hand to Timbuktu (it’s in out commuter kits to riders 3 p.m.-6:30 Africa, will require p.m. in a show of appreciation. transfers), SeattleTHE BIG NUMBERS Tacoma International Tukwila is served by two major public Airport has you covtransportation providers in the region, ered. Get to Sea-Tac Sound Transit – Sounder and Link light Airport by bus or rail – and Metro Transit. light rail – or old• 8,010: number of Metro Transit school car. bus boardings in Tukwila on an average But more practicalweekday ly you’ll want to use • 1,800: number of Sound Transit public transportation Sounder riders who come and go at the to get to work, to do Tukwila Station on an average weekday some shopping, to get • 4,600: number of Link light rail someplace entertainriders who come and go at the Tukwila ing or to see family International Boulevard station. or friends. Your trip Amtrak also provides service at the can begin in Tukwila, Tukwila Sounder tation. thanks to millions of A USER’S GUIDE dollars of taxpayer • Here’s where to learn about fares investment in bus, and how to purchase tickets: http:// trains and light rail. www.soundtransit.org/Fares-and-Pass“It’s all about locaes/Sounder-fares tion, ” says Tukwila • All about the Tukwila Station: http:// Mayor Jim Haggerwww.soundtransit.org/Rider-Guide/ ton. Tukwila-Station. Tukwila has always ON THE COVER been known as a The Tukwila Sounder Station on Loncrossroads. The word gacres Way in Tukwila is a key hub in the is prominent in the region’s transportation system. Photo by title of Tukwila’s hisDean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter tory book, “Tukwila: Community at the Crossroads.” Today, Tukwila joins Seattle and Tacoma as the region’s major transportation hubs. This week marks the dedication of a key piece of that crossroads, the Tukwila Sounder Station, which is already one of the busiest stations in the Sound Transit system and a major destination for commuters. Amtrak has a stop there, too, and city research shows it’s becoming a popular alternative to driving to Seattle or Tacoma to catch a train going north or south. Ground was broken on the $46 million Sounder station in June 2013, by local, state and federal officials. U.S.

Metro Transit Route 150 is the workhorse of the bus system in South King County. In Tukwila alone, there are 1,820 boardings on an average weekday. Here a passenger gets off the bus at the Tukwila Transit Center in Southcenter to retrieve her bicycle. DEAN A. RADFORD, Tukwila Reporter. Sen. Patty Murray, who played a key role in obtaining federal funding for the project, will attend the dedication on Wednesday (Feb. 18). Tukwila didn’t supply any direct funding for the project construction, although the city and the City of Renton jointly planned the project, along with other agencies. “One thing we did do is display patience,” said Haggerton.

tion, Southcenter, SeaTac and Burien. The F Line stops at the new Metro Transit Center that straddles Andover Park West in Southcenter, virtually on the front steps of Westfield shopping center. Metro Transit’s venerable Route 150 stops there, one of the major routes for bus passengers in South King County to Seattle. Metro Transit is the workhorse of the region’s transportation system, with about 8,000 boardings in Tukwila on an average weekday alone. The transit center will affect the “overall transportation ecosystem” of the Southcenter urban center, according to Haggerton, and will be heavily used. Portions of the center are already in use, but the formal ribbon-cutting is expected this spring or early summer.

The modern station replaces two wooden platforms, which provided little protection from the elements and were difficult to walk to up a long rising sidewalk. “The platforms were frankly quite dangerous,” he said. One was even hit by a train. Like other projects, HagFor more than a degerton said the $7.5 million cade, the city continued to renew Sound Trantransit center is an example of sit’s agreement to use the “a great partnership,” this one wooden platforms, while including the Washington State the regional agency put Department of Transportation, together the funding for King County, Westfield SouthThe Tukwila Sounder Station is a major transfer station for center and the City of Tukwila. the project, he said. For example, Westfield proTukwila Station is one the RapidRide F Line. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter vided a $300,000 easement and of the last projects to be completed under Sound Move, which voters approved in $500,000 toward construction, according to Haggerton. Because of major funding from partners, the city’s conNovember 1996. The temporary station began service in February 2001. tribution to the transit center was about $128,000, making “This project was delayed to better coordinate with road the project “pretty economically feasible” for the city, Hagprojects in Tukwila and Renton that service the station,” gerton said. The city was the lead agency for permitting said Chris Arkills, transportation policy adviser to county and planning. While the city’s transportation system is fueled mostly Executive Dow Constantine. Now the station is done, there’s parking for 600 vehicles by gasoline or diesel, Haggerton and other city officials and it’s “beautifully landscaped,” said Haggerton. want “foot power” to move the system, too. “We are really proud that it’s there,” said Haggerton of The city is working on a plan to build a pedestrian bridge the Sounder station. “It is the nucleus of a lot of our trans- over the Green River to the east of Baker Boulevard. That portation system.” $10 million project would allow people to walk or ride That transportation system includes what Haggerton their bikes between the Tukwila Sounder Station and the describes as the successful King County Metro RapidRide Southcenter urban center. About $8.3 million would come F Line, which connects Renton, the Tukwila Sounder Sta[ more SOUNDER page 13 ]

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » FEBRUARY 2015

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Strander funding key to finishing station access BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@ TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

One key City of Tukwila project that isn’t funded is the extension eastward of Strander Boulevard, which, when done, will improve traffic flow in and out of the Tukwila Sounder Station. Strander Boulevard dead ends on the east side of West Valley Highway at the Interurban Trail and the Union Pacific railroad tracks. That means it falls about a quarter-mile short of connecting to a new street in Renton, Southwest 27th Street, which provides access off Oakesdale Avenue next to the Federal Reserve Bank to the Sounder station from the Renton Transit Center. “That’s a critical stretch of road,” said Mayor Jim Haggerton.

Construction of the extension would cost about $20 million, about a third of which would go toward carrying traffic under the Union Pacific tracks, according to Bob Giberson, Tukwila’s public works director. Additional money is needed for project engineering and buying right of way. Like Renton, Tukwila is considering building two lanes of a fivelane road initially but have room under the bridge and right of way for the additional three lanes. Tukwila was turned down for a federal transportation grant; the competition for the $600 million available nationwide was stiff, Giberson said, and typically went to large state agencies, counties and ports. The City of Tukwila has a pledge of $5 million from the state Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, but the ques-

ty projects,” Giberson said. To the north the two tracks use the same overpass on South 180th Street/Southwest 43rd Street, just east of West Valley Highway. Haggerton said the city was told that a project’s first application for the federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant is often turned down and cities must reapply. The city will continue to seek the money, because of “good support” from U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and U.S. Congressman Adam Smith. In order to apply for the grant, the city will need to design the project, which will require obtaining other grants for that work, according to Giberson. The process could take two to five years; the project needs to be “shovelready” to apply for the TIGER grant, he said.

The City of Renton completed two lanes of a five-lane extension of Southwest 27th Street/Strander Boulevard, with an overpass for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks that carry the Sounder trains. When it finds the money, Tukwila will extend Strander to West Valley Highway. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter

tion is whether that’s for a fivelane section or a two-lane section, Giberson said. He’s guessing the city would get partial funding,

which is what happened in Renton’s similar situation. Extending Strander Boulevard is one of the board’s “high-priori-

Tukwila Transportation Plan meets service needs for 20 years [SOUNDER from page 12] from park impact fees and the general fund. Baker Boulevard east of Westfield would become a pedestrian-friendly residential neighborhood with condos and apartments and nightlife and other entertainment in what’s known as Transit Oriented Development. What’s been missing in that area are places to live; Washington Place will help fill that gap. The city is talking with the Washington State Department of Transportation about how it would get pedestrians across West Valley Highway (a state highway) and to the Sounder station at or near Longacres Way. A pedestrian bridge is a possibility. For seven years Craig Warnock of Gig Harbor has made the bike ride from the Sounder station to Red Dot Corp. on Andover Park East and back again. He catches the Sounder train at the Tacoma Dome. “I just don’t like the I-5 traffic. And I save gas and wear and tear on the car,” said Warnock. “It’s just down time when I am on the train.” Up the west hill on Southcenter Boulevard/South 154th Street is the Tukwila International Boulevard Link light-rail station. It’s the combination of a Sounder

Craig Warnock of Gig Harbor gets on the southbound Sounder train at the Tukwila Station with his bike. He’s been riding the train for seven years to his job at the Red Dot Corp. in Southcenter. He used the platforms, at right, before they were torn down. The platforms were ‘OK,’ he said. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter

station and the Sound Transit light-rail station that sets Tukwila apart from other suburban cities. Light rail, which began service in 2009, offers travelers an option to Sounder trains to get to downtown Seattle, including direct service to the Westlake Center near many of Seattle’s cultural attractions. Travelers can also transfer to the Monorail for a short trip to the Seattle Center. The Tukwila light-rail station has seen an increasing number of police calls for service, enough that the city is considering assigning commissioned officers to the sta-

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tion. The station is patrolled by transit police, a service provided by the King County Sheriff ’s Office. Haggerton has been mayor during much of the explosive development of the city’s transportation infrastructure. He’s now lobbying for the extension of the busy RapidRide A Line, which stops its northward drive at Tukwila light-rail station, all the way down Tukwila International Boulevard and East Marginal Way to the Boeing Access Road. The Boulevard is expected to develop new housing and commercial areas – the

Tukwila Village is already under way – with the removal of crime-ridden motels from the highway. As importantly, Haggerton wants the Sound Transit to “undefer” its plans for a light-rail station in Tukwila at the Boeing Access Road. He argues the station is needed to serve the Museum of Flight, Boeing Field and Boeing facilities, Aviation High School and potential new job-generating developments in north Tukwila. Funding for building a light-rail station at the Boeing Access Road could become part of a Sound Transit 3 ballot measure that could go to voters in November 2016. These transportation projects, along with others, such as the major reconstruction of Southcenter Parkway and its extension southward, and major improvements to Interurban Avenue, will help ensure the city meets its need for road capacity and level of service for the next 20 years, according to city officials. The city is upgrading its underground infrastructure, such as sewer and water lines, to accommodate the expected growth. “All of these pieces you see around the city that are under construction now fit together in a plan,” said Haggerton. Dean A. Radford can be reached at 425255-3484, ext. 5150.

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school connection Tukwila School District #406

February 2015

Smarter Balanced Assessments coming Smarter Balanced FAQs this spring for language arts and math Q. Who is being tested and when? What you should know, how to take a practice test Standardized testing is going to look a lot different than filling in the bubbles this spring! Our state has adopted new Washington State Learning Standards in language arts and math, which are focused on real-world problem solving and critical thinking. They provide grade-level expectations of what students need to know, culminating in graduation when a student leaves prepared for career and college success. To assess these new rigorous learning standards, the state has replaced its language-arts and math standardized tests (formerly the MSP and HSPE) with new Smarter Balanced Assessments, which all students in grades 3-8 and 11 will take this spring. Smarter Balanced Assessments will be different and more challenging. They are untimed and taken online on a computer. Most importantly, students can expect a more interactive experience than filling in multiple-choice answers. Students will

be writing more and asked to critically defend their ideas, as opposed to recalling memorized facts; this mirrors the engaging lessons that are happening in our classrooms, too. What does the change look like? Here are examples of the types of questions asked on the old assessments versus the Smarter Balanced Assessment. Imagine an elementary student read an excerpt of “Little Red Riding Hood”: Old MSP question: What happened right after Red Riding Hood arrived at Grandma’s cottage? New Smarter Balanced question: What does the use of dialogue in paragraph six show about the relationship between Red Riding Hood and the Wolf? To get a better sense of what the Smarter Balanced Assessments are like, please go online and take a practice test at www.smarterbalanced. org/practice-test/.

A. Students in grades 3-8 and 11 will take the Smarter Balanced Assessments in language arts and math during the testing window from March to June. Individual schools will notify parents of their exact administration dates. Q. Because the Smarter Balanced Assessments are more rigorous, what will that mean for scores? A. This is a new system with a new way of scoring, so it is not possible to directly compare new scores with old ones. However, because of the increased rigor, the state expects overall achievement levels to be lower when the Smarter Balanced results come back. A dip should not be interpreted as a decline in student learning but a reflection of the transition to learning goals and assessments that prepare students at a deeper level for career and college success. Student scores have climbed steadily since the introduction of state standardized assessments in the past decade, and that will likely be a similar trajectory with the Smarter Balanced Assessments, too. Q. Are the Smarter Balanced Assessments the only state tests students will take this spring? A. No. We are also required to assess students in science, which will be done using the same MSP (Measurements of Student Progress) test as in years past in grades 5 and 8; and there will be EOC (End of Course) exams in biology for high-school students. High school students will also take EOC exams in Algebra and Geometry.

Thanks to a partnership with Bike Works, six students at Thorndyke Elementary are learning to disassemble and repair bicycles. The multi-week, after-school class also includes a safety and maintenance component. The best part? The students will get to take home and keep the bicycles they fix up (along with a helmet, of course).

Darth Vader used his powers for good when he surprised students at an assembly at Tukwila Elementary in January to encourage them to read. The event was to celebrate delivery of more than 1,550 books from Barnes & Noble in Southcenter, collected during the store’s holiday drive in December. Thank you to everyone who donated. All of our Tukwila elementary schools have new books because of you, and our students are excited to get reading!

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Q. Why do assessments matter? A. Assessments are how the school district and schools determine the learning plan for all students and your specific student, including intervention and highly capable services. Smarter Balanced Assessments will also be reflection of how well your student is prepared for life after graduation in a career or college. These tests help us know how to best serve your child. Q. What can I do to help my child on standardized assessments? A. Discuss the new tests with your child, and make sure s/he is not afraid or anxious but is prepared to do his/her best. Have your child get a good night’s sleep before the test and a nutritious, filling breakfast the day of. Because the real learning happens as an ongoing process throughout the school year while your child becomes an analytical thinker, please stress the importance of school work every day and provide a comfortable, quiet place for your child to study (whether at home or somewhere like a library). If your child struggles with homework and you cannot help, contact your child’s teacher right away. Q. Who can I talk to about the upcoming standardized testing? A. Your classroom teacher, building principal, and Superintendent Nancy Coogan (206-901-8006) are all great resources.

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » FEBRUARY 2015

Tukwila School District #406

‘Cool Food’: Tukwila schools are committed to making nutrition fun By Craig Huckins, Tukwila School District Food Service Director To help combat the old lunchroom and lunch-lady stereotypes created many years ago, one of this year’s goals for the Tukwila School District’s Food Services Department is to add a little fun and excitement to our cafeterias. We believe that if our kids enjoy their breakfast and lunchroom experience, they will be more apt to eat the healthy options we provide. If that positive experience begins at a young age, we hope it will transfer with them to middle school and high school (where it can be especially challenging to get older students to eat a healthy meal) and, ultimately, the rest of their lives. So let us share with you a few of things that we are doing to make our school food “cool food” and have a little fun in the process: • Breakfast in the Classroom Fun—the Golden Coin Game: The purpose of this game is to increase our student’s interest in our free Breakfast in the Classroom program and encourage even more students to open their morning breakfast bags to find something nutritious to eat to start the day right. Food Service staff wore their 12th Man Every three weeks or pride each Friday before game day! so, our elementary lead cooks hide a golden coin in one student’s breakfast bag in each classroom before they are delivered. Students who find the golden coins can redeem them for small prizes from the kitchen staff during lunch period. This very simple game has worked to add some fun and positive energy to the breakfast program and to the lunch program when winning students pick up their prize. Because the game is played on random days, it encourages students to open their breakfast bag every day and look inside; even if there is no coin, they are more apt to find something they want to eat. The faces on our kids tell the story of how these simple prizes can create some fun and some very big toothy smiles as well! • Theme day t-shirts—“Go Hawks, Our Food Rocks”: To show our support for our beloved world-champion football team and the 12th Man spirit and to create some fun energy in all our cafeterias, food service staff members wore a specially designed t-shirt every Friday before Seahawk Games. The Seahawk-green t-shirts have the words “Go Hawks!” and “Our Food Rocks” written on the front in blue and silver and have the #12 on the back with “TUKWILA” placed where a player’s last name would normally be. For the Food Service staff, this has turned out to be a fun change of pace from their normal work uniforms and it gives them something in common and exciting to talk about with our kids. On Fridays when there were no Seahawk games, our staff wear a purple long-sleeve t-shirt that says, “Our Food Rocks! Tukwila School District” in white with a gold image of rock star playing the guitar.

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February 2015

Four Foster High seniors earn prestigious Act Six scholarships A quartet of Foster High School seniors have just learned some life-changing news—which is sure to change the lives of many others in our community for the better, too! They have earned the prestigious Act Six Scholarship, the Northwest’s only full-tuition, full-need award for emerging leaders who want to use their college education to make a difference in their home communities. Congratulations to Cierra Ghafari and Daynon Jackson (attending Pacific Lutheran University); Joseph Jerome (attending Gonzaga University); and Alejandra Silva-Avendano (attending Whitworth University). These students were selected through a rigorous three-month competition among hundreds of applicants because of their distinctive leadership, academic potential, and commitment to making a difference in their community. The Act Six program not only provides tuition but also ongoing support and leadership training during college to ensure the students’ success. Nearly 85 percent of Act Six alumni have brought their degrees back to home to serve and lead in Northwest communities, and more than a quarter are pursuing or have earned graduate degrees.

Calling all soon-to-be kindergartners! Do you live in the Tukwila School District and will your child be 5 years old on or before August 31 this year? Then it’s time to register for kindergarten for the 2015-16 school year! All incoming kindergarten families are strongly encouraged to complete the registration process during an in-person event next month, where interpreters will be available and the health team, transportation team, and office staff will be on hand to provide all of the important information: • 5-8 p.m. Friday, March 13, at Showalter Middle School OR • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Showalter Middle School

Celebrate Foster High’s 100th birthday! Community centennial party is Saturday, March 21 Come one, come all: Foster alumni, staff, students, community members, volunteers, business owners—anyone who feels an affinity with Tukwila’s dynamic high school, which graduated its first student 100 years ago. The entire community is invited to a celebration on Saturday, March 21, at the school. The doors open at 3 p.m. for tours, a looping slideshow, socializing, and displays of historic artifacts. The official program begins at 4 p.m. Afterward, there will be dinner, cake, and mingling. A sock hop will run in the gym from about 6:30-10 p.m. To RSVP for the event and get updates, go to www.facebook.com/FosterHighSchoolCentennialCelebration.

Are you interested in planning the future of Tukwila schools? Bond committee forming to shape next ballot measure The Tukwila School District is beginning the process of looking at critical repairs, growing student-space requirements, and programmatic needs for the next decade and beyond. A committee with representatives from each school and community stakeholder group will begin work to put together a bond proposal in early spring. The committee will meet in the evenings, every other week, through May or until the work is complete. If you are interested in representing the community at large, please contact Sara Niegowski, Director of Communication, at niegowskis@tukwila. wednet.edu.

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