April 30, 2025
ISSUE 18
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IT'S IN THE CLASSIFIEDS
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Cruiser tennis edge Trojans, move into first place By Skip Smith Contributing Writer
The Eatonville Cruiser girls tennis team continued their hot streak last week, going 3-0 and climbing into first place in the league standings with crucial wins over Clover Park, Fife, and Franklin Pierce. The Cruisers kicked off the week Tuesday with a dominant 5-0 sweep on the road against Clover Park. Eatonville didn’t drop a single set across five matches. At No. 1 singles, Bailey Andersen cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 win, while Megan Blake impressed at No. 2 singles, handling a tough opponent with a 6-3, 6-1 victory. On the doubles courts, the pairings of Lillian Bickford and Alayna Meyer (6-1, 6-0), Tia Schanbeck and Tierney Amaral (6-0, 6-2), and Jennavieve Smith and Kate Marsh (6-1, 6-0) each rolled to straight-set wins. Thursday brought the week’s most intense challenge — a first-place showdown at Fife. Andersen again set the tone, winning her No. 1 singles match decisively, 6-1, 6-0. However, Eatonville found themselves in an early hole after losses at No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles. Bickford and Meyer fell in a hard-fought 6-7, 4-6 match, while Amelia Ferreira battled through three sets at No. 2 singles before falling 3-6, 6-3, 4-6. Schanbeck and Amaral kept Eatonville’s hopes alive at No. 2 doubles, coming back from a first-set tiebreak loss to win the second set 6-3. A forfeit by Fife sealed that match in the Cruisers' favor, tying the team match at 2-2 and setting up a decisive final court. Megan Blake and Isabel Volk answered the call at No. 3 doubles. After dropping the first set 3-6, the pair fought back to take the second set 6-3 and clinched the overall team victory with another 6-3 win in the third set. Eatonville closed out the week Friday with another 5-0 sweep, this time over Franklin Pierce. Andersen capped her unbeaten week with a 6-3, 7-6 win at No. 1 singles, while Ferreira rebounded from Thursday’s loss
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COURTESY
King Dylan Sullivan and Queen Tessa Veeser.
COMMUNITY DAY IS FRIDAY The Community Day Committee What does it mean to live in Eatonville? Tucked between rolling hills and whispering pines, the town can feel like something out of a storybook. Locals wave to each other calling out by name, and time seems to move just a little slower here. In spring, the scent of lilacs fills the air; along with echoes of crowds cheering at baseball games. Kids ride bikes without a care, and front porches are places for conversation, not just decoration. There’s a deep-rooted sense of belonging, as if everyone is part of a larger, quiet harmony. Visitors often say they came for
a weekend and stayed for the peace. What makes it truly special isn’t just how it looks—but how it makes you feel like you’ve finally come home. Community Day also known as May Day, is one of those special traditions that testify of the exceptionally rare gem that Eatonville has always been. It began in 1913 with a few students and community members that saw the young town needed some cleaning. Faced with piles of rubbish scattered around town and some buildings needing repair, the community decided it was time to act. The town leaders and families came together to make their community better. Roads
were cleaned. Buildings were fixed. Yards were pruned and Eatonville was made happier. To celebrate their new and improved community, they came up with May Day. There were picnics, games, folk music, royalty courts for the kids and so much more. From that year forward, Eatonville made Community Day a tradition. This year on the first Friday of May, celebrates the 109th annual Community Day. The 97th May Day queen will be crowned and the celebration will commence. The Community Day celebration will start at the high school at 1:30 p.m. King Dylan Sullivan, will crown his
queen; Tessa Veeser for all to see. All of the students from Eatonville school district will get a chance to showcase their talents at the feet of the 2025 Community Day Royal Court. Once the coronation has finished, there will be a royal procession announced by the high school band that leads over to the Eatonville Street fair! This fair will provide a full afternoon of entertainment for families and friends to enjoy. There will be food, music, scavenger hunts, friends, crafts, vendors and so much more! Please come enjoy and partake in the storybook event called Community Day!
Economist: Washington's property tax cap is holding state back By Spencer Pauley The Center Square
An economist says removing Washington’s 1% property tax cap could help ease projected budget shortfalls at both the state and local levels. Washington faces a projected budget shortfall of up to $15 billion that has led Democrats to consider progressive tax revenues in order to fill the gap.
Local governments are also feeling the pressure. Seattle, for example, now expects $241.5 million less in general fund revenue through 2026 than previously forecast. In response, state Democrats are considering a wealth tax on financial assets, as well as expanded capital gains and estate taxes. At the city level, Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck says she is exploring new progressive tax options to avoid cuts to programs and staff. Rinck cited University of Washington Economics Professor Jacob Vigdor for why she is exploring ways to tax high-income residents. However, Vigdor advises local governments to focus on property taxes in most cases. “Property is literally nailed down so there's
not a worry that it will walk away if you try to tax it,” Vigdor told The Center Square in an email. According to Vigdor, Washington’s tax system is regressive due to a lack of an income tax and low property tax rates. “Among those states without income taxes, some (e.g. Alaska and Wyoming) make a lot of money off of oil and gas royalties. Others (e.g., New Hampshire and Texas) have relatively high property taxes,” Vigdor said. “Property taxes are less progressive than income taxes but not as regressive as the sales tax. We are incredibly dependent on the sales tax.” Local governments in Washington have been limited to increasing property taxes
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