& QueenAnne&Magnolia news QueenAnne&Magnolia news QueenAnne facebook.com/QueenAnneMagnoliaNews
Magnolia news
Serving Queen Anne & Magnolia Since 1919 www.QueenAnneNews.com
JANUARY 18, 2023
DISCOVERING HER VOICE
@qamagnews VOL. 104, NO. 3
FEATURED STORIES
Local woman travels to Olympia to help families in need By Laura Marie Rivera Contributing writer
Last week, Tamara Sharabi traveled to Olympia to participate in the Advocacy Day for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, Washington state’s pre-kindergarten program for families furthest from educational justice. This was the first time she had engaged with lawmakers like this, and she was surprised to discover how relatable they are. Sharabi works as a tutor for Seattle Public Schools and her husband, Muthanna Algammaz, is a truck driver. They first learned about ECEAP when their daughter, Valentina, was diagnosed with autism when she was 2 ½ years old. They had a lot to learn about their child’s diagnosis, and they read all of the resource papers that the doctors gave them. Through their research, they heard about the Experimental
TREE TALK
RECIPE
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
Photo by Ewings photography Parent Ambassadors, educators and parents from all over the state gathered to advocate for expanding Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program services and paying its teachers fairly. Education Unit at the University of Washington’s Haring Center for Inclusive Education and enrolled their daughter. EEU is an ECEAP program
that offers comprehensive preschool services for children both with and without disabilities and wraparound services for their families. Unfortunately, there are not enough programs
like this for families who need assistance, and teachers are frequently not paid a thriving wage.
SEE SHARABI, PAGE 7
THEATER PRODUCTION PAGE 2
District 36 legislators cap busy week with town hall [Olympia],” Frame said. She said one thing she is already pleased about is the new format for the Legislature. In previous years, Washington State Legislature’s if legislators were sick or unable to session began Jan. 9, and the three attend for a day for whatever reason, legislators from District 36 had a they missed all action for the day and busy week that ended with a town were unable to vote on legislation. hall meeting with a crowd of interestThis year, if legislators can’t attend in ed constituents Saturday in Ballard. person, they can participate remotely, At the town hall, the three District and their votes will be counted. 36 legislators, Rep. Liz Berry, Rep. Residents can also listen in or testify Julia Reed and Sen. Noel Frame on legislation remotely, as well. shared their priorities for this session, That is important for the District which ends April 23, and what they 36 legislators as each has a full slate would like to see accomplished. this session with committee work For Berry and Reed, it was their and legislation they are either sponfirst trip to Olympia and the Capitol soring or supporting. Building as legislators. Reed is Frame is serving as the vice chair newly elected to the legislature, filling of the Senate Housing Committee, the seat Frame used to have. And the vice chair of the Senate Business, although this is Berry’s second term, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade it is the first where business is taking Committee and is a member of the place in person in Olympia. Frame is Senate Human Services Committee. in her seventh year as a legislator, her She said all of her legislation will first as a state senator. She replaced work toward her continued prioriformer Sen. Reuven Carlyle, who ties as a legislator, creating economic retired after his last term. prosperity for everyone; rebalancing the state tax code; and strengthening “It’s just so nice to be back in
By Jessica Keller QA&Mag News editor
Photo by Jessica Keller District 36 Rep. Liz Berry, standing, speaks to the audience while Rep. Julia Reed, left, listens and Sen. Noel Frame smiles at the antics of George Berry, 6, at the town hall meeting the three District 36 legislators hosted in Ballard, Saturday. community diversity. While much of her legislation will focus on fixing the regressive tax code that puts much of the burden on the poor and middle class, including a continued push for a wealth tax, she also has four bills focusing
on juvenile justice. One she feels especially strongly about is making clergy members mandatory reporters. Currently, they don’t have to report cases of abuse to law enforcement or any other agency. “I think that is unconscionable,
and we really need to fix that,” Frame said. Berry is the chair for the Labor & Workplace Standards Committee and is assigned to the Environment
SEE LEGISLATURE, PAGE 4
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SEATTLE, WA PERMIT 1271