Edgewood
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Poll shows Americans' pessimism on economy growing
Yahoo! - ... together to turn the economy around. As well as the rest of the country." However, Republican Roni Lovell, 68, of Edgewood, Wash., said Romney's the one to help the economy turn the corner. "He has helped some really big companies come out of their ... Read more...
Poll shows Americans' pessimism on economy growing
Yahoo! - ... together to turn the economy around. As well as the rest of the country." However, Republican Roni Lovell, 68, of Edgewood, Wash., said Romney's the one to help the economy turn the corner. "He has helped some really big companies come out of their ... Read more...
Thursday, May 10, 2012 -- 9:24 pm
Economy Frustration Grows
Wheeling News - ... together to turn the economy around. As well as the rest of the country." However, Republican Roni Lovell, 68, of Edgewood, Wash., said Romney's the one to help the economy turn the corner. "He has helped some really big companies come out of their ... Read more...
Economy Frustration Grows
Wheeling News - ... together to turn the economy around. As well as the rest of the country." However, Republican Roni Lovell, 68, of Edgewood, Wash., said Romney's the one to help the economy turn the corner. "He has helped some really big companies come out of their ... Read more...
Thursday, May 10, 2012 -- 5:54 pm
Dan Seaborn: Expect the unexpected... in a positive way
Dansville-Genesee Country Expres - One commercial shows the leader of a rock band who is apparently playing in a small bar in a very small town, announcing that their lead guitarist is a no-show. The audience responds with groans in anticipation of a night of lousy music. Read more...
Dan Seaborn: Expect the unexpected... in a positive way
Dansville-Genesee Country Expres - One commercial shows the leader of a rock band who is apparently playing in a small bar in a very small town, announcing that their lead guitarist is a no-show. The audience responds with groans in anticipation of a night of lousy music. Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 7:47 pm
Miss Oklahoma reports crown stolen from her car in Stillwater
NewsOK.com - ... February, Brittney Henry , the current Miss Washington, reported her crown, sashes and gowns stolen from her car in Edgewood, Wash. 53-Year-Old Mom Looks 27 Follow this 1 weird tip and remove 20 years of wrinkles in 21 days. ... Read more...
Miss Oklahoma reports crown stolen from her car in Stillwater
NewsOK.com - ... February, Brittney Henry , the current Miss Washington, reported her crown, sashes and gowns stolen from her car in Edgewood, Wash. 53-Year-Old Mom Looks 27 Follow this 1 weird tip and remove 20 years of wrinkles in 21 days. ... Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 6:16 pm
Man charged in theft of Miss Washington's credit cards -- but crown still missing
Q13.com - ... Jail on unrelated charges. On Feb. 28, a silver SUV belonging to Henry was stolen from outside a residence in Edgewood . The vehicle was found less than two hours later abandoned outside of a motel in Puyallup, but a crown, pageant gowns, and sashes ... Read more...
Man charged in theft of Miss Washington's credit cards -- but crown still missing
Q13.com - ... Jail on unrelated charges. On Feb. 28, a silver SUV belonging to Henry was stolen from outside a residence in Edgewood . The vehicle was found less than two hours later abandoned outside of a motel in Puyallup, but a crown, pageant gowns, and sashes ... Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 2:17 pm
What Happens When You Allegedly Steal Miss Washington's Bank Cards and Buy a Swiffer
Seattle Weekly - As everyone surely remembers, back in February Brittney Henry -- AKA Miss Washington 2011 - had her leased GMC SUV stolen out of her driveway in Edgewood, Wash., with the thief making off with Henry's pageant gowns, Miss Washington crown, sash, and several debit and credit cards. Read more...
What Happens When You Allegedly Steal Miss Washington's Bank Cards and Buy a Swiffer
Seattle Weekly - As everyone surely remembers, back in February Brittney Henry -- AKA Miss Washington 2011 - had her leased GMC SUV stolen out of her driveway in Edgewood, Wash., with the thief making off with Henry's pageant gowns, Miss Washington crown, sash, and several debit and credit cards. Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 1:39 pm
Man charged with using Miss Washington's credit | May 3
The Columbian - ... They were taken along with her sash, crown and gowns when a car was stolen in February from outside her home in Edgewood. When the car was found the property was missing. The cards were used at stores around Tacoma. The prosecutor's office says ... Read more...
Man charged with using Miss Washington's credit | May 3
The Columbian - ... They were taken along with her sash, crown and gowns when a car was stolen in February from outside her home in Edgewood. When the car was found the property was missing. The cards were used at stores around Tacoma. The prosecutor's office says ... Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 1:07 pm
ID theft tacked onto case of Miss Washington's stolen crown
KING-TV Seattle - ... but drivers licenses belonging to other theft victims. Henry's SUV was stolen while parked in the driveway of her Edgewood home on February 28. Inside it was her crown, Miss Washington sash, gowns and debit and credit cards. They still haven't been ... Read more...
ID theft tacked onto case of Miss Washington's stolen crown
KING-TV Seattle - ... but drivers licenses belonging to other theft victims. Henry's SUV was stolen while parked in the driveway of her Edgewood home on February 28. Inside it was her crown, Miss Washington sash, gowns and debit and credit cards. They still haven't been ... Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 12:58 pm
Events Committee Ramps Up Efforts in Anticipation of Milton Days 2012
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - After Milton City Council passed a resolution earlier this year to allow non-residents to serve on the Events Committee, the group has signed on a number of new members dedicated to making this year's Milton Days bigger and better than ever. The newest members joining the team this year include Teresa Cosner, Rori Lelli-Bates, Deb Hooie, Brandy Wade, Susan Johnson and Rachon Hanson. Three non-residents were responsible for about 90 percent of the fundraising for last year's festivities, and Chairman Tom Boyle requested that council allow them to serve as official members. "These gals were with us all throughout the year, but weren't able to vote in our meetings," Boyle said. "We wanted to make sure we didn't lose their help, and it means a lot to them to have a vote on the committee." The committee is already hard at work planning this year's festivities. The theme "Rock the Park" is meant to attract more teens and youth to the largely family-oriented festivities. One of the more exciting new developments of this year's event is the Skate Jam, designed to attract younger crowds. "We have room for 10 booths at the skate park, and we've already heard a lot of interest from potential vendors," Boyle said. The 2012 Milton Days event takes place Aug. 18-19, with the Skate Jam scheduled for Sunday. The Events Committee has already lined up about 12 vendors - this time last year, the group did not begin finalizing vendors until June. Thanks to the extra help and additional committee members, Boyle expects the event to provide more activities than ever before. "Oftentimes, people walk through Milton Days and they're done in an hour and a half or so," Boyle said. "We do not want that to happen this year - we want them to have enough to do that they want to stay all day." Read more...
Events Committee Ramps Up Efforts in Anticipation of Milton Days 2012
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - After Milton City Council passed a resolution earlier this year to allow non-residents to serve on the Events Committee, the group has signed on a number of new members dedicated to making this year's Milton Days bigger and better than ever. The newest members joining the team this year include Teresa Cosner, Rori Lelli-Bates, Deb Hooie, Brandy Wade, Susan Johnson and Rachon Hanson. Three non-residents were responsible for about 90 percent of the fundraising for last year's festivities, and Chairman Tom Boyle requested that council allow them to serve as official members. "These gals were with us all throughout the year, but weren't able to vote in our meetings," Boyle said. "We wanted to make sure we didn't lose their help, and it means a lot to them to have a vote on the committee." The committee is already hard at work planning this year's festivities. The theme "Rock the Park" is meant to attract more teens and youth to the largely family-oriented festivities. One of the more exciting new developments of this year's event is the Skate Jam, designed to attract younger crowds. "We have room for 10 booths at the skate park, and we've already heard a lot of interest from potential vendors," Boyle said. The 2012 Milton Days event takes place Aug. 18-19, with the Skate Jam scheduled for Sunday. The Events Committee has already lined up about 12 vendors - this time last year, the group did not begin finalizing vendors until June. Thanks to the extra help and additional committee members, Boyle expects the event to provide more activities than ever before. "Oftentimes, people walk through Milton Days and they're done in an hour and a half or so," Boyle said. "We do not want that to happen this year - we want them to have enough to do that they want to stay all day." Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 12:55 pm
Parks Cleanup Event a Community Effort
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - After a winter peppered with powerful snow and ice storms, countless parks throughout Puget Sound were in dire need of sprucing up during this year's Parks Appreciation Day. Milton's Interurban Trail was hit especially hard, but thanks to a few extra helping hands during the April 21 cleanup event, the beloved trail received some much-needed attention. This year, about 20 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment attended the event, and spent the morning trimming branches, clearing debris and connecting with residents. Rather than sleeping in or enjoying a sunny Saturday morning, soldiers and their families volunteered their time to give back to the community, and were happy to do so. "The community does so much to support us, so it's nothing for me to come out for a few hours to help," said [RANK/TITLE to come] Julian Ollivierre. Parks and Facilities Supervisor Brent Thompson estimates the volunteers cleaned up at least 20 yards of debris from the trail. The extra help was much appreciated, considering the storm damage that remained in spite of his crew's cleanup efforts. "It's just wonderful to have these guys here today to help out," Thompson said. When Milton first adopted the military unit last year, Mayor Debra Perry was unsure how the connection would unfold, but was happy to support the soldiers. "When I heard they wanted to help out during Parks Appreciation Day, I was so excited," she said. "This is one of the best turnouts we've had, and I don't think we've ever gotten this much work done." In a show of appreciation, Northwest Embroidery donated T-shirts and hats for the volunteers, and a number of organizations donated food to feed the hungry crew. "It's great to give back to the community that gives so much to us," added Sgt. First Class Raymond Castillo. Read more...
Parks Cleanup Event a Community Effort
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - After a winter peppered with powerful snow and ice storms, countless parks throughout Puget Sound were in dire need of sprucing up during this year's Parks Appreciation Day. Milton's Interurban Trail was hit especially hard, but thanks to a few extra helping hands during the April 21 cleanup event, the beloved trail received some much-needed attention. This year, about 20 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment attended the event, and spent the morning trimming branches, clearing debris and connecting with residents. Rather than sleeping in or enjoying a sunny Saturday morning, soldiers and their families volunteered their time to give back to the community, and were happy to do so. "The community does so much to support us, so it's nothing for me to come out for a few hours to help," said [RANK/TITLE to come] Julian Ollivierre. Parks and Facilities Supervisor Brent Thompson estimates the volunteers cleaned up at least 20 yards of debris from the trail. The extra help was much appreciated, considering the storm damage that remained in spite of his crew's cleanup efforts. "It's just wonderful to have these guys here today to help out," Thompson said. When Milton first adopted the military unit last year, Mayor Debra Perry was unsure how the connection would unfold, but was happy to support the soldiers. "When I heard they wanted to help out during Parks Appreciation Day, I was so excited," she said. "This is one of the best turnouts we've had, and I don't think we've ever gotten this much work done." In a show of appreciation, Northwest Embroidery donated T-shirts and hats for the volunteers, and a number of organizations donated food to feed the hungry crew. "It's great to give back to the community that gives so much to us," added Sgt. First Class Raymond Castillo. Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 12:35 pm
Game On!
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - For the Milton community, it is fairly common knowledge that Jennell's Flowers & Pies is the place to go for friendly service and unique floral designs. But when the shop was named the 2012 Jackie Robinson Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner by the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball, Milton's favorite flower shop is sure to earn some well deserved attention from throughout the state. This award recognizes proactive leadership, commitment to sound business practices, quality products, efficiency, reliability and accountability, reflecting the character of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. Jennell's has been working with the Mariners since about 1995, delivering flowers to commemorate special occasions and milestones in the lives of the approximately 1,800 people involved in the organization. Each time the shop delivered flowers for the Mariners through the FTD wire service, the organization received such praise that other shops were quickly overshadowed. From that point on, requests from the Mariners continued to increase until this year, when owner Jennell Sader signed on to provide all flowers for the field. "After a lot of back and forth to see if I was even able to handle the business, I accepted," she said. "I have a wonderful part-time employee, but I'm basically a one-woman show. It's a big commitment, but I love baseball and absolutely love the Mariners." Sader's first large-scale project for the Mariners was the 2001 All-Star Game held in Seattle. She provided flowers for all the hotel rooms of players and employees, and turned a pier into an extended Pike Place Market. "We provided more than 10,000 flowers in arrangements and buckets to transform the pier," she said. "It was amazing." And when the organization asked Sader to provide arrangements for the funeral for beloved announcer Dave Neihaus in 2010, she was blown away. "For me to walk onto the field for his tribute and provide the flowers was incredible for me," she said. Marianne Short, vice president of human resources for the Mariners, says Jennell's Flowers personifies what the award represents. "This has been a long time coming," Short said. "Jennell has a special touch and goes above and beyond what's expected. We have a young group of players and when they have babies, Jennell always wants to know if there is an older sibling to send a gift to, as well. She makes me look good." Jennell says she appreciates the family culture of the organization. "The Mariners are always thanking people with flowers, whether it's fans, players or employees," she said. "People often don't realize what goes on in an organization like the Mariners, and what wonderful people they are. It's a wonderful organization to work with." Read more...
Game On!
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - For the Milton community, it is fairly common knowledge that Jennell's Flowers & Pies is the place to go for friendly service and unique floral designs. But when the shop was named the 2012 Jackie Robinson Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner by the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball, Milton's favorite flower shop is sure to earn some well deserved attention from throughout the state. This award recognizes proactive leadership, commitment to sound business practices, quality products, efficiency, reliability and accountability, reflecting the character of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. Jennell's has been working with the Mariners since about 1995, delivering flowers to commemorate special occasions and milestones in the lives of the approximately 1,800 people involved in the organization. Each time the shop delivered flowers for the Mariners through the FTD wire service, the organization received such praise that other shops were quickly overshadowed. From that point on, requests from the Mariners continued to increase until this year, when owner Jennell Sader signed on to provide all flowers for the field. "After a lot of back and forth to see if I was even able to handle the business, I accepted," she said. "I have a wonderful part-time employee, but I'm basically a one-woman show. It's a big commitment, but I love baseball and absolutely love the Mariners." Sader's first large-scale project for the Mariners was the 2001 All-Star Game held in Seattle. She provided flowers for all the hotel rooms of players and employees, and turned a pier into an extended Pike Place Market. "We provided more than 10,000 flowers in arrangements and buckets to transform the pier," she said. "It was amazing." And when the organization asked Sader to provide arrangements for the funeral for beloved announcer Dave Neihaus in 2010, she was blown away. "For me to walk onto the field for his tribute and provide the flowers was incredible for me," she said. Marianne Short, vice president of human resources for the Mariners, says Jennell's Flowers personifies what the award represents. "This has been a long time coming," Short said. "Jennell has a special touch and goes above and beyond what's expected. We have a young group of players and when they have babies, Jennell always wants to know if there is an older sibling to send a gift to, as well. She makes me look good." Jennell says she appreciates the family culture of the organization. "The Mariners are always thanking people with flowers, whether it's fans, players or employees," she said. "People often don't realize what goes on in an organization like the Mariners, and what wonderful people they are. It's a wonderful organization to work with." Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 12:06 pm
Awards Night Packs the House
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - With a standingroom only crowd filling the room, this month's meeting of the Fife school board was an occasion for somber reflection on what has passed and buoyant applause for those who give hope for our future. Paying tribute to a model bus driver and friend of the children and district, Superintendent Dr. Steve McCammon began the evening with a moment of silence for Ryan Callis. It was Callis who, on April 9, suffered a heart attack while driving a school bus full of Surprise Lake Middle School students. Thirteen-year-olds Jeremy Wuitschick and Johnny Wood leaped to successfully save the bus from crashing and to save Callis' life by administering CPR, but he passed away April 12. "Most heroes are born of tragedy," McCammon said of the two boys who acted so bravely. He praised Callis for his dedication to his work before asking everyone present for a moment of silence in honor of the man for whom the entire district continues to grieve. Callis had been working for the district for just a few months. He was a Houston native, although he had moved to Tacoma in 1990 after serving in the Army that included time in Panama and Nicaragua. Callis had also worked as an in-home health care worker and for 14 years as a Pierce Transit bus driver, particularly with special needs children. He was 43 and the married father of three children. McCammon then presented his annual Superintendent's Leadership Award to both Wuitschick and Wood, who stood before their friends and family smiling proudly. This is the first time the superintendent has ever given his award to a student, citing the boys' decision to step up and go above and beyond the call of duty. Next up, the annual Employee of the Year awards were handed out to one classified employee and one certificated employee from each of the district's six schools. Classified winners: Peter Miles, Melissa Brownell, Deana Holmes, Steve Slavens, Jan Boitano and Jessica Blakeway. Certificated winners: Cathy Paris, Travis Ohlde, Cindy Stewart, Alix Meyer, Rachael Shinn, Michelle Fernando, Ron Dalton and Kim Elliott. McCammon closed the awards ceremony with a quote from Andy Rooney: "Educators who have plugged away at their jobs for 20, 30, and 40 years are heroes. I suspect they know in their hearts they've done a good thing too, and are more satisfied with themselves than most people are. "Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Educators have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives." If you would like to send a donation to the Callis family, send to: Fife Public Schools, c/o Damian Jenkins, Transportation Director, 5802 20th St. E., Fife, WA 98424. Read more...
Awards Night Packs the House
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - With a standingroom only crowd filling the room, this month's meeting of the Fife school board was an occasion for somber reflection on what has passed and buoyant applause for those who give hope for our future. Paying tribute to a model bus driver and friend of the children and district, Superintendent Dr. Steve McCammon began the evening with a moment of silence for Ryan Callis. It was Callis who, on April 9, suffered a heart attack while driving a school bus full of Surprise Lake Middle School students. Thirteen-year-olds Jeremy Wuitschick and Johnny Wood leaped to successfully save the bus from crashing and to save Callis' life by administering CPR, but he passed away April 12. "Most heroes are born of tragedy," McCammon said of the two boys who acted so bravely. He praised Callis for his dedication to his work before asking everyone present for a moment of silence in honor of the man for whom the entire district continues to grieve. Callis had been working for the district for just a few months. He was a Houston native, although he had moved to Tacoma in 1990 after serving in the Army that included time in Panama and Nicaragua. Callis had also worked as an in-home health care worker and for 14 years as a Pierce Transit bus driver, particularly with special needs children. He was 43 and the married father of three children. McCammon then presented his annual Superintendent's Leadership Award to both Wuitschick and Wood, who stood before their friends and family smiling proudly. This is the first time the superintendent has ever given his award to a student, citing the boys' decision to step up and go above and beyond the call of duty. Next up, the annual Employee of the Year awards were handed out to one classified employee and one certificated employee from each of the district's six schools. Classified winners: Peter Miles, Melissa Brownell, Deana Holmes, Steve Slavens, Jan Boitano and Jessica Blakeway. Certificated winners: Cathy Paris, Travis Ohlde, Cindy Stewart, Alix Meyer, Rachael Shinn, Michelle Fernando, Ron Dalton and Kim Elliott. McCammon closed the awards ceremony with a quote from Andy Rooney: "Educators who have plugged away at their jobs for 20, 30, and 40 years are heroes. I suspect they know in their hearts they've done a good thing too, and are more satisfied with themselves than most people are. "Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Educators have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives." If you would like to send a donation to the Callis family, send to: Fife Public Schools, c/o Damian Jenkins, Transportation Director, 5802 20th St. E., Fife, WA 98424. Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 11:24 am
Parks Appreciation Day Draws Record Crowd
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - Fife's annual Parks Appreciation Day drew many hands and working muscles, the largest number of volunteers in recent memory. The high turnout came through a series of factors. The weather cooperated, bringing clear skies and warm temperatures. Arbor Day activities and the unveiling of the city's first public art funneled more volunteers to the effort, and a small army of Comcast employees totaling some 150 people fleshed out the duty roster at key parks projects. Comcast employees volunteered their time as part of the communication company's Comcast Cares Day, when the company fields some 67,000 people for a day of volunteering as a way to promote community involvement. "This was not just Comcast employees," said Parks and Recreation Director Kurt Reuter. "This was Comcast employees and their families. We had lots of husbands and wives and children out on the site, both sites, for the entire day." While Comcast has a large call center in Fife, workers there opted to help with landscaping at Tacoma's new STAR Recreation Center. The workers from the Puyallup Comcast office, however, spent the day clearing brush and small trees from the Hylebos Nature Area. "It was just like a herd of goats," Reuter said. "They just cleared out the hillside." Volunteers alongside Comcast workers or at other parks work sites around Fife that day included hundreds of people with ties to local civic organizations, including Rotarians and several Girl Scout troops. Other business supporters included Starbucks, which donated coffee, and Smyth's Gardenville Greenhouse, which donated several flats of flowers. The Arbor Day celebration on the same day saw the formal dedication of Brenda's Grove at Five Acre Park. Brenda Puaokalani was a city employee for some 10 years before she died of cancer in 2007. The park was named in her honor because of her personality and dedication to public service. The grove has five Tupelo trees that will eventually grow to provide shade along the pedestrian pathway. The day's activities were rounded out by the dedication of public art pieces around the city following the creation of the city's Public Art Commission and a selection of five works for display. "This was a very exciting day for us," Fife spokeswoman Laurel Potter said. "This is the first public art in the city of Fife." Maps of the art pieces and other cultural attractions in the city are now available at city hall. Read more...
Parks Appreciation Day Draws Record Crowd
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - Fife's annual Parks Appreciation Day drew many hands and working muscles, the largest number of volunteers in recent memory. The high turnout came through a series of factors. The weather cooperated, bringing clear skies and warm temperatures. Arbor Day activities and the unveiling of the city's first public art funneled more volunteers to the effort, and a small army of Comcast employees totaling some 150 people fleshed out the duty roster at key parks projects. Comcast employees volunteered their time as part of the communication company's Comcast Cares Day, when the company fields some 67,000 people for a day of volunteering as a way to promote community involvement. "This was not just Comcast employees," said Parks and Recreation Director Kurt Reuter. "This was Comcast employees and their families. We had lots of husbands and wives and children out on the site, both sites, for the entire day." While Comcast has a large call center in Fife, workers there opted to help with landscaping at Tacoma's new STAR Recreation Center. The workers from the Puyallup Comcast office, however, spent the day clearing brush and small trees from the Hylebos Nature Area. "It was just like a herd of goats," Reuter said. "They just cleared out the hillside." Volunteers alongside Comcast workers or at other parks work sites around Fife that day included hundreds of people with ties to local civic organizations, including Rotarians and several Girl Scout troops. Other business supporters included Starbucks, which donated coffee, and Smyth's Gardenville Greenhouse, which donated several flats of flowers. The Arbor Day celebration on the same day saw the formal dedication of Brenda's Grove at Five Acre Park. Brenda Puaokalani was a city employee for some 10 years before she died of cancer in 2007. The park was named in her honor because of her personality and dedication to public service. The grove has five Tupelo trees that will eventually grow to provide shade along the pedestrian pathway. The day's activities were rounded out by the dedication of public art pieces around the city following the creation of the city's Public Art Commission and a selection of five works for display. "This was a very exciting day for us," Fife spokeswoman Laurel Potter said. "This is the first public art in the city of Fife." Maps of the art pieces and other cultural attractions in the city are now available at city hall. Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 10:47 am
70th Avenue Work Enters Final Phase
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - Fife City Council has greenlighted the final phase of street improvements in the works for 70th Avenue, but that work will take another two years. While the actual construction bid for the final leg of street improvements along 70th Avenue came in under budget by $2 million, an associated bid to actually manage the project raised some concerns. The contract to oversee the last of four phases to widen 70th Avenue from two to four and five lanes went to David Evans and Associates, which has been part of the project from the start some eight years ago. But even with the momentum of being the incumbent project manager and a unanimous vote by the council, several council members put the firm on notice that controlling costs and keeping them informed about how the project is moving forward should be top priorities. "The cost for construction management is to me a little bit outrageous," Councilmember Richard Godwin said of the $1.1 million bid to shepherd the work through to completion. "I left the last project feeling that we got our pockets picked and wasn't real pleased." Engineering and oversight contracts associated with this project so far have been revised by a few hundred thousand dollars to include additional work. Godwin was joined by Councilmembers Pat Hulcey and Tim Curtis in a call for more transparency about engineering and project management costs so taxpayers and the city do not suffer from sticker shock once the project is completed or the contract needs to be adjusted. They want periodic, if not weekly, updates on the project spending that can also be posted on the city's website. The contract covers construction inspection, survey, testing and engineering work for the widening of 70th Avenue East from the current two to five lanes from Valley Avenue East through the intersection of 20th Street East before tapering to four lanes to match the existing street at the bridge that runs above Interstate 5. The project will also include bicycle lanes, curbs, gutters, landscaped planter strips, sidewalks, illumination, a full traffic signal at 20th Street East, flashing traffic beacons at 26th Street, drainage, water main, sanitary sewer and conversion of overhead utilities to underground. The project management contract is about 15 percent of the construction cost, which is within the typical fee range for a multi-agency street project like this. The whole project is being funded by federal, state, county, port and local dollars in an effort to curb traffic delays along a main roadway used by trucks flowing in and out of Tacoma's Tideflats. The actual construction of this phase of the work will be done by Active Construction, Inc. Its bid of $7.45 million is some $2 million below the $9.5 million initially budgeted because of supply cost savings that will actually mean the roadway will also last longer. Even with the standard 10 percent needed for contingencies, the bid amount will save money. "We are well under budget," Public Work Read more...
70th Avenue Work Enters Final Phase
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - Fife City Council has greenlighted the final phase of street improvements in the works for 70th Avenue, but that work will take another two years. While the actual construction bid for the final leg of street improvements along 70th Avenue came in under budget by $2 million, an associated bid to actually manage the project raised some concerns. The contract to oversee the last of four phases to widen 70th Avenue from two to four and five lanes went to David Evans and Associates, which has been part of the project from the start some eight years ago. But even with the momentum of being the incumbent project manager and a unanimous vote by the council, several council members put the firm on notice that controlling costs and keeping them informed about how the project is moving forward should be top priorities. "The cost for construction management is to me a little bit outrageous," Councilmember Richard Godwin said of the $1.1 million bid to shepherd the work through to completion. "I left the last project feeling that we got our pockets picked and wasn't real pleased." Engineering and oversight contracts associated with this project so far have been revised by a few hundred thousand dollars to include additional work. Godwin was joined by Councilmembers Pat Hulcey and Tim Curtis in a call for more transparency about engineering and project management costs so taxpayers and the city do not suffer from sticker shock once the project is completed or the contract needs to be adjusted. They want periodic, if not weekly, updates on the project spending that can also be posted on the city's website. The contract covers construction inspection, survey, testing and engineering work for the widening of 70th Avenue East from the current two to five lanes from Valley Avenue East through the intersection of 20th Street East before tapering to four lanes to match the existing street at the bridge that runs above Interstate 5. The project will also include bicycle lanes, curbs, gutters, landscaped planter strips, sidewalks, illumination, a full traffic signal at 20th Street East, flashing traffic beacons at 26th Street, drainage, water main, sanitary sewer and conversion of overhead utilities to underground. The project management contract is about 15 percent of the construction cost, which is within the typical fee range for a multi-agency street project like this. The whole project is being funded by federal, state, county, port and local dollars in an effort to curb traffic delays along a main roadway used by trucks flowing in and out of Tacoma's Tideflats. The actual construction of this phase of the work will be done by Active Construction, Inc. Its bid of $7.45 million is some $2 million below the $9.5 million initially budgeted because of supply cost savings that will actually mean the roadway will also last longer. Even with the standard 10 percent needed for contingencies, the bid amount will save money. "We are well under budget," Public Work Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 10:15 am
Editorial: Volunteers prove 'community' is an action word
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - The annual Parks Appreciation Day on April 21 was a rousing success on several levels. Volunteers from around the area gathered with leather gloves, rakes and shovels in hand to make Fife, Milton and Edgewood more than a bit nicer through sprucing-up projects at area parks. Crews worked on trimming trees, cutting back berry bushes and laying tons of beauty bark and landscaping soil, so city coffers did not have to pay to have the work done. But aside from the savings to taxpayers the work provided, the effort showed that volunteer efforts build more than parks. They build stronger neighborhoods. On that note, Comcast showed that it is a great corporate neighbor by fielding some 150 volunteers, their spouses and their children in a show of company pride for its Comcast Cares Day. The communications company, which has a call center in Fife, takes one day a year to encourage its employees to give back to the communities they serve. Some 60,000 Comcast folks took part in parks clean-ups and other projects in cities around the country this year. Fife was one of them. Comcast crews cleared brush around the Hylebos Nature Area, making them about half of the city's volunteer turnout this year. Imagine, for a moment if every company, church, civic group, housing development association and school had a similar system of encouraging volunteerism. Imagine the army of willing hands working on the singular goal of just giving back a little to the community they call home. Just a few hours of volunteering by everyone could bring great changes for all. Anyone who has volunteered to pick up litter or organized a bake sale, taught a Girl Scout troop about using a map and compass to find their way home or coached a T-ball team that the hitter should run the bases counter clockwise knows that their efforts are much more rewarding than exhausting. But they also know how much better the experience would be if they had just a few more hands and hearts. They donate their time and talent for many reasons - to support their children's activities, to network with co-workers or even just because the work needs doing. But everyone benefits from their efforts. Imagine a park that never had cheering fans along the sidelines because no one would organize teams, or a housing development without a block party or a city hall without art. Not many people would want to live in that community, but those features take effort. Volunteers bring a community alive and paint the vibrant colors and attractions we like to call home. What color are you painting the community? Read more...
Editorial: Volunteers prove 'community' is an action word
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - The annual Parks Appreciation Day on April 21 was a rousing success on several levels. Volunteers from around the area gathered with leather gloves, rakes and shovels in hand to make Fife, Milton and Edgewood more than a bit nicer through sprucing-up projects at area parks. Crews worked on trimming trees, cutting back berry bushes and laying tons of beauty bark and landscaping soil, so city coffers did not have to pay to have the work done. But aside from the savings to taxpayers the work provided, the effort showed that volunteer efforts build more than parks. They build stronger neighborhoods. On that note, Comcast showed that it is a great corporate neighbor by fielding some 150 volunteers, their spouses and their children in a show of company pride for its Comcast Cares Day. The communications company, which has a call center in Fife, takes one day a year to encourage its employees to give back to the communities they serve. Some 60,000 Comcast folks took part in parks clean-ups and other projects in cities around the country this year. Fife was one of them. Comcast crews cleared brush around the Hylebos Nature Area, making them about half of the city's volunteer turnout this year. Imagine, for a moment if every company, church, civic group, housing development association and school had a similar system of encouraging volunteerism. Imagine the army of willing hands working on the singular goal of just giving back a little to the community they call home. Just a few hours of volunteering by everyone could bring great changes for all. Anyone who has volunteered to pick up litter or organized a bake sale, taught a Girl Scout troop about using a map and compass to find their way home or coached a T-ball team that the hitter should run the bases counter clockwise knows that their efforts are much more rewarding than exhausting. But they also know how much better the experience would be if they had just a few more hands and hearts. They donate their time and talent for many reasons - to support their children's activities, to network with co-workers or even just because the work needs doing. But everyone benefits from their efforts. Imagine a park that never had cheering fans along the sidelines because no one would organize teams, or a housing development without a block party or a city hall without art. Not many people would want to live in that community, but those features take effort. Volunteers bring a community alive and paint the vibrant colors and attractions we like to call home. What color are you painting the community? Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 10:08 am
Guest Editorial: Now Biomass is the Enviroment's Enemy?
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - When environmental organizations pushed Washington voters to approve their renewable energy Initiative 937, they touted biomass energy - incinerated wood waste - as one of their preferred alternatives to fossil fuel. They reasoned that biomass energy plants would help clear forests of flammable wood debris from dead and diseased timber, put idled loggers and mill workers back to work and produce cleaner, more affordable energy. But since voters narrowly approved the initiative in 2006, many of those same activists are battling against biomass projects. ?They now claim that microscopic nanoparticulates created by incinerating wood waste are a health hazard, even though those plants have been approved by government agencies. They want to block all proposed biomass projects until nanoparticulates are fully investigated and the Environmental Protection Agency EPA can promulgate regulations. That could take years, but that is okay with opponents because by then the plants will have been canceled because of indecision and delay. The opposition to biomass is disheartening to devastated timber communities on the Olympic Peninsula, where unemployment ranges from 11.2 percent to 13.9 percent. Even before the Great Recession hit, these communities were decimated by deep cuts in state and federal timber harvests and endangered species regulations that put forests off limits to protect the spotted owl. Even with the vast woods put off limits, the University of Washington's Olympic Natural Resources Center reports there is currently enough wood debris on the Olympic Peninsula to operate six biomass plants. Two of those biomass projects are attached to paper mills in Port Angeles and Port Townsend. ?The Port Townsend Paper Company's $55 million biomass plant would create 30 new jobs, save 1.8 million gallons of oil and cut particulate emissions by 70 percent. Nippon's Port Angeles facility would cost $71 million and replace a 1950s-era boiler that was not designed to alleviate greenhouse gases.? For Olympic Peninsula workers and their struggling families, the opposition to biomass projects is both puzzling and frustrating. Fifty years ago, wood waste from state, federal and private timber harvests was burned in crude, inefficient, cone-shaped burners, often blanketing the skies with brownish-gray smoke. But today's sawmills and paper mills burn wood waste in efficient wood-fired furnaces that produce heat and steam for papermaking and create enough electricity to run the mills and provide power for neighboring homes. ? For example, Sierra Pacific, which has a modern sawmill at Aberdeen and a total of six biomass-generating plants, turns wood waste into electricity for 150,000 homes and businesses. Without income from power sales, the plants would have been forced to severely curtail operations, lay off workers or close. Some activists would like to see our forests locked away, put off limits to all human activity. But like the rest of nature, forests are Read more...
Guest Editorial: Now Biomass is the Enviroment's Enemy?
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - When environmental organizations pushed Washington voters to approve their renewable energy Initiative 937, they touted biomass energy - incinerated wood waste - as one of their preferred alternatives to fossil fuel. They reasoned that biomass energy plants would help clear forests of flammable wood debris from dead and diseased timber, put idled loggers and mill workers back to work and produce cleaner, more affordable energy. But since voters narrowly approved the initiative in 2006, many of those same activists are battling against biomass projects. ?They now claim that microscopic nanoparticulates created by incinerating wood waste are a health hazard, even though those plants have been approved by government agencies. They want to block all proposed biomass projects until nanoparticulates are fully investigated and the Environmental Protection Agency EPA can promulgate regulations. That could take years, but that is okay with opponents because by then the plants will have been canceled because of indecision and delay. The opposition to biomass is disheartening to devastated timber communities on the Olympic Peninsula, where unemployment ranges from 11.2 percent to 13.9 percent. Even before the Great Recession hit, these communities were decimated by deep cuts in state and federal timber harvests and endangered species regulations that put forests off limits to protect the spotted owl. Even with the vast woods put off limits, the University of Washington's Olympic Natural Resources Center reports there is currently enough wood debris on the Olympic Peninsula to operate six biomass plants. Two of those biomass projects are attached to paper mills in Port Angeles and Port Townsend. ?The Port Townsend Paper Company's $55 million biomass plant would create 30 new jobs, save 1.8 million gallons of oil and cut particulate emissions by 70 percent. Nippon's Port Angeles facility would cost $71 million and replace a 1950s-era boiler that was not designed to alleviate greenhouse gases.? For Olympic Peninsula workers and their struggling families, the opposition to biomass projects is both puzzling and frustrating. Fifty years ago, wood waste from state, federal and private timber harvests was burned in crude, inefficient, cone-shaped burners, often blanketing the skies with brownish-gray smoke. But today's sawmills and paper mills burn wood waste in efficient wood-fired furnaces that produce heat and steam for papermaking and create enough electricity to run the mills and provide power for neighboring homes. ? For example, Sierra Pacific, which has a modern sawmill at Aberdeen and a total of six biomass-generating plants, turns wood waste into electricity for 150,000 homes and businesses. Without income from power sales, the plants would have been forced to severely curtail operations, lay off workers or close. Some activists would like to see our forests locked away, put off limits to all human activity. But like the rest of nature, forests are Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 10:02 am
Guest Editorial: Washington's Tax Freedom Day Arrived Later This Year
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - Your taxes were due on April 17, but only on April 24 were you free. This year's Tax Freedom Day finally arrived for our state on that date - 12 days later than last year. Washington's Tax Freedom Day is a week later than the National Tax Freedom Day, which happened to be the day federal tax returns were due. It could be just a little bit worse, though; New York and New Jersey had to wait until May 1, and Connecticut will not see its Tax Freedom Day until May 5 this year. This news comes as the United States officially surpassed Japan for the highest corporate income tax rate in the world. The Tax Foundation, which calculates Tax Freedom Day each year, reports that Americans will spend more on taxes this year than on food, clothing and housing combined. If federal deficit spending is included, Tax Freedom Day does not come until May 14. Critics of Tax Freedom Day argue that it is not an accurate measure of what the median taxpayer pays in taxes, but they are missing the point. The idea of Tax Freedom Day is to measure what proportion of national income is sent to our government in the form of taxes, and then represent that proportion on the calendar. The Tax Foundation explains their methodology as follows: We assume that the nation starts working on Jan. 1, earning the same amount each day and spending nothing. When the nation has finally earned enough to pay all the taxes that will be due for that year, Tax Freedom Day has arrived. This year, Americans will pay $2.62 trillion in federal taxes and $1.42 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total tax bill of 29.2 percent. Of course individual taxpayers face varying levels of tax liability, but Tax Freedom Day can give us an idea of how much of Washington's overall income is consumed by government. Our Tax Freedom Day falls 114 days into the year, meaning that Washingtonians pay more than 31 percent of their income in taxes to local, state and federal governments. The fact that Washington has the fourth-latest Tax Freedom Day does not necessarily mean that we have the heaviest local tax burden, though. The progressive nature of the federal tax code means that states with higher incomes pay more taxes, regardless of their local tax burdens. This effect is easily seen in comparing the low incomes of early Tax Day states like Tennessee and Louisiana to the latecomers like Washington, Connecticut and New York. This correlation is further reflected in the fact that the National Tax Freedom Day tends to be later during times of economic growth. Still, the fact that our state forks over nearly a third of its income to government of some sort is significant. The amount of private income that is consumed by government shows that budget shortfalls at the state and national level stem from a spending addiction, not a dearth of revenue. Bryan Leonard is a budget analyst with Evergreen Freedom Foundation. Read more...
Guest Editorial: Washington's Tax Freedom Day Arrived Later This Year
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - Your taxes were due on April 17, but only on April 24 were you free. This year's Tax Freedom Day finally arrived for our state on that date - 12 days later than last year. Washington's Tax Freedom Day is a week later than the National Tax Freedom Day, which happened to be the day federal tax returns were due. It could be just a little bit worse, though; New York and New Jersey had to wait until May 1, and Connecticut will not see its Tax Freedom Day until May 5 this year. This news comes as the United States officially surpassed Japan for the highest corporate income tax rate in the world. The Tax Foundation, which calculates Tax Freedom Day each year, reports that Americans will spend more on taxes this year than on food, clothing and housing combined. If federal deficit spending is included, Tax Freedom Day does not come until May 14. Critics of Tax Freedom Day argue that it is not an accurate measure of what the median taxpayer pays in taxes, but they are missing the point. The idea of Tax Freedom Day is to measure what proportion of national income is sent to our government in the form of taxes, and then represent that proportion on the calendar. The Tax Foundation explains their methodology as follows: We assume that the nation starts working on Jan. 1, earning the same amount each day and spending nothing. When the nation has finally earned enough to pay all the taxes that will be due for that year, Tax Freedom Day has arrived. This year, Americans will pay $2.62 trillion in federal taxes and $1.42 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total tax bill of 29.2 percent. Of course individual taxpayers face varying levels of tax liability, but Tax Freedom Day can give us an idea of how much of Washington's overall income is consumed by government. Our Tax Freedom Day falls 114 days into the year, meaning that Washingtonians pay more than 31 percent of their income in taxes to local, state and federal governments. The fact that Washington has the fourth-latest Tax Freedom Day does not necessarily mean that we have the heaviest local tax burden, though. The progressive nature of the federal tax code means that states with higher incomes pay more taxes, regardless of their local tax burdens. This effect is easily seen in comparing the low incomes of early Tax Day states like Tennessee and Louisiana to the latecomers like Washington, Connecticut and New York. This correlation is further reflected in the fact that the National Tax Freedom Day tends to be later during times of economic growth. Still, the fact that our state forks over nearly a third of its income to government of some sort is significant. The amount of private income that is consumed by government shows that budget shortfalls at the state and national level stem from a spending addiction, not a dearth of revenue. Bryan Leonard is a budget analyst with Evergreen Freedom Foundation. Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 9:58 am
Lakewood Staged Old-School Hoot
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - The golden age of cinema mixes with a dab of the inner workings of the faux staging of a Broadway show and a dash of Agatha Christie murder mystery with a pinch of Groucho Marx for Lakewood Playhouse's latest dish of theatrical goodness. "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940," by John Bishop and directed by James Venturini, has all the makings of a full meal of entertainment. The story centers on the comings and goings of the weekend guests at a New England mansion that happens to be snowed in just in time for the guests to arrive and the mystery to commence. The folks have gathered to pitch a new musical to a benefactor. The mystery comes into play as the Stage Door Slasher strikes and the guests begin the finger pointing on who is using the mansion's sliding panels to do their dirty work and slip away without detection. Toss in the looming war in Europe, a spy story and a batch of back-story drama. What makes this production work so well is the parade of quirky but subdued comedy. This character-driven show has all the classic characters from the 1940s spy mystery movies. There is the all-too German maid, the not-so-fun comedy and the uber-name-dropping director. Up and down the playbill, the actors own their roles like a pair of Christmas slippers. Standouts among them are: Melissa Thayer as the German maid, Blake R. York as the Irish tenor of the bunch and Jeffery Weaver as the gayer-than-Liberace song meister. Their performances were just simple, good fun. But also a standout in this show is the set by artistic director turned set designer John Munn. While the show contains an otherwise simple set of a mansion sitting room, the hidden wall was a great touch. And in case anyone in the audience ever wonders, the books are real. One dude in the back row found that out on April 28 when the books became an avalanche of literary works when the set wiggled. But the show kept going and the actors never skipped a line. Gotta love live theater. This production contains some mildly adult situations surrounding ladies undergarments but nothing too scandalous. Because the show is a murder mystery, the character development and connections might get a bit confusing for younger viewers but they might likely still enjoy the over-the-top moments enough to gloss over the nuances of who knows whom from where. But those details really do not matter anyway. "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays through May 20 at the Lakewood Playhouse, located by the Pierce Transit Center in the Lakewood Towne Center. Tickets are available by calling (253) 588-0042 or at www.LakewoodPlayhouse.org. Read more...
Lakewood Staged Old-School Hoot
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - The golden age of cinema mixes with a dab of the inner workings of the faux staging of a Broadway show and a dash of Agatha Christie murder mystery with a pinch of Groucho Marx for Lakewood Playhouse's latest dish of theatrical goodness. "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940," by John Bishop and directed by James Venturini, has all the makings of a full meal of entertainment. The story centers on the comings and goings of the weekend guests at a New England mansion that happens to be snowed in just in time for the guests to arrive and the mystery to commence. The folks have gathered to pitch a new musical to a benefactor. The mystery comes into play as the Stage Door Slasher strikes and the guests begin the finger pointing on who is using the mansion's sliding panels to do their dirty work and slip away without detection. Toss in the looming war in Europe, a spy story and a batch of back-story drama. What makes this production work so well is the parade of quirky but subdued comedy. This character-driven show has all the classic characters from the 1940s spy mystery movies. There is the all-too German maid, the not-so-fun comedy and the uber-name-dropping director. Up and down the playbill, the actors own their roles like a pair of Christmas slippers. Standouts among them are: Melissa Thayer as the German maid, Blake R. York as the Irish tenor of the bunch and Jeffery Weaver as the gayer-than-Liberace song meister. Their performances were just simple, good fun. But also a standout in this show is the set by artistic director turned set designer John Munn. While the show contains an otherwise simple set of a mansion sitting room, the hidden wall was a great touch. And in case anyone in the audience ever wonders, the books are real. One dude in the back row found that out on April 28 when the books became an avalanche of literary works when the set wiggled. But the show kept going and the actors never skipped a line. Gotta love live theater. This production contains some mildly adult situations surrounding ladies undergarments but nothing too scandalous. Because the show is a murder mystery, the character development and connections might get a bit confusing for younger viewers but they might likely still enjoy the over-the-top moments enough to gloss over the nuances of who knows whom from where. But those details really do not matter anyway. "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays through May 20 at the Lakewood Playhouse, located by the Pierce Transit Center in the Lakewood Towne Center. Tickets are available by calling (253) 588-0042 or at www.LakewoodPlayhouse.org. Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 9:26 am
News Briefs
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - Workshops on hearing loss About 4 percent of the population of Pierce County lives with hearing loss significant enough to affect not only their lives but also the lives of family, friends, co-workers and service providers and more. Everyone knows someone with hearing loss and nobody is immune. Hearing loss can occur at birth and with aging; it has many contributing factors such as work, illness, medications, hobbies and lifestyle. Pierce County Community Connections Aging & Disability Resources is sponsoring a free informational workshop, "Solving the Mystery of Hearing Loss." It will be held four times: May 7, 12:10-12:50 p.m., Pierce County Annex, main conference room, 2401 S. 35th St., Tacoma; May 9, 12:10-12:50 p.m. County/City Building, seventh floor, 930 Tacoma Ave S., Tacoma; May 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Drive N.W. and May 12, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Tacoma Area Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities, 6315 S. 19th St., Tacoma. Christine Seymour, a deaf and hard of hearing resource specialist, will present this interactive and informative presentation. It will change how people perceive hearing loss and give them the tools to support effective communication. Washam fined for ethics violation Pierce County Ethics Commission has determined that county assessor/treasurer Dale Washam violated county ethics rules in 2010. For that, Washam will be fined $500, the maximum amount allowed by law. The commission made its decision on April 18. At a meeting in March it heard testimony from Washam, his chief deputy Alberto Ugas, Gretchen Borck and Bertha Fitzer. Borck was Washam's assistant until recently resigning. Fitzer was on the staff of the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, who was appointed to his position, had to face election that year. Fitzer had filed as a Republican opponent to him. Washam convened a meeting on Sept. 14, 2010 in his office. He invited Fitzer, Borck and Ugas. During the March meeting Washam testified that he did not discuss Fitzer's campaign during that 2010 meeting. Ugas testified that the topic was briefly discussed, but just as a matter of exchanging pleasantries. He also testified that during the meeting he produced a photo of Lindquist with a red circle and slash over his face with the words "Defeat Lindquist" on it. Borck and Fitzer both testified that the campaign was a main topic of conversation during the meeting and that Washam offered to assist Fitzer in her effort to defeat Lindquist. Dr. Mari Kruger Leavitt, chair of the commission said members concluded that the conduct of Washam violated the county ethics code. Washam will be mailed paperwork to officially notify him of the decision. He has 45 days from that point to file an appeal, if he chooses to do so. While Washam, and other elected officials, are allowed to discuss politics and support a cause or candidate, they are to do so on their own time and at their own expense. Because Washam he Read more...
News Briefs
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - Workshops on hearing loss About 4 percent of the population of Pierce County lives with hearing loss significant enough to affect not only their lives but also the lives of family, friends, co-workers and service providers and more. Everyone knows someone with hearing loss and nobody is immune. Hearing loss can occur at birth and with aging; it has many contributing factors such as work, illness, medications, hobbies and lifestyle. Pierce County Community Connections Aging & Disability Resources is sponsoring a free informational workshop, "Solving the Mystery of Hearing Loss." It will be held four times: May 7, 12:10-12:50 p.m., Pierce County Annex, main conference room, 2401 S. 35th St., Tacoma; May 9, 12:10-12:50 p.m. County/City Building, seventh floor, 930 Tacoma Ave S., Tacoma; May 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Drive N.W. and May 12, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Tacoma Area Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities, 6315 S. 19th St., Tacoma. Christine Seymour, a deaf and hard of hearing resource specialist, will present this interactive and informative presentation. It will change how people perceive hearing loss and give them the tools to support effective communication. Washam fined for ethics violation Pierce County Ethics Commission has determined that county assessor/treasurer Dale Washam violated county ethics rules in 2010. For that, Washam will be fined $500, the maximum amount allowed by law. The commission made its decision on April 18. At a meeting in March it heard testimony from Washam, his chief deputy Alberto Ugas, Gretchen Borck and Bertha Fitzer. Borck was Washam's assistant until recently resigning. Fitzer was on the staff of the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutor Mark Lindquist, who was appointed to his position, had to face election that year. Fitzer had filed as a Republican opponent to him. Washam convened a meeting on Sept. 14, 2010 in his office. He invited Fitzer, Borck and Ugas. During the March meeting Washam testified that he did not discuss Fitzer's campaign during that 2010 meeting. Ugas testified that the topic was briefly discussed, but just as a matter of exchanging pleasantries. He also testified that during the meeting he produced a photo of Lindquist with a red circle and slash over his face with the words "Defeat Lindquist" on it. Borck and Fitzer both testified that the campaign was a main topic of conversation during the meeting and that Washam offered to assist Fitzer in her effort to defeat Lindquist. Dr. Mari Kruger Leavitt, chair of the commission said members concluded that the conduct of Washam violated the county ethics code. Washam will be mailed paperwork to officially notify him of the decision. He has 45 days from that point to file an appeal, if he chooses to do so. While Washam, and other elected officials, are allowed to discuss politics and support a cause or candidate, they are to do so on their own time and at their own expense. Because Washam he Read more...
Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- 9:20 am
Trail likely moves forward despite delays
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - The Fife City Council is set to approve a development revision for the Portside development that would allow the city to move forward with a 650-foot trail that would run along the west side of the would-be commercial development and connect it to 20th Street East. Plans had first called for the developer to pay for the trail once the 30-acre development had tenants, but a lagging economy has drawn out that timeline, so the city might do the work itself. The asphalt trail will cost $70,000. "This project will close a gap in the city's sidewalk system between the Mayfair Place condominium neighborhood and the sidewalks being built by the Pierce County Library District as a condition of their construction of their new Fife branch," the staff report stated. "The trail will complete a through off-street pedestrian link between 20th Street East and Valley Avenue East, allowing residents of the apartments along 62nd Avenue East and Holmdale neighborhood and beyond along Valley Avenue East to reach the library and other destinations on 20th Street." The trail will also provide another route from the nearby neighborhoods to Fife High School. The original agreement with the developer required C. Lee Brooke, LLC, James Abbott, LLC and Portside Business Center, LLC to construct a five-foot-wide pedestrian trail along the route only after the commercial development had tenants for its main building. That could still be years away, so the city opted to simply accept ownership of the land now and have the sidewalk built. A public hearing on the plan being scheduled for this summer. Read more...
Trail likely moves forward despite delays
http://www.fifefreepress.com/ - The Fife City Council is set to approve a development revision for the Portside development that would allow the city to move forward with a 650-foot trail that would run along the west side of the would-be commercial development and connect it to 20th Street East. Plans had first called for the developer to pay for the trail once the 30-acre development had tenants, but a lagging economy has drawn out that timeline, so the city might do the work itself. The asphalt trail will cost $70,000. "This project will close a gap in the city's sidewalk system between the Mayfair Place condominium neighborhood and the sidewalks being built by the Pierce County Library District as a condition of their construction of their new Fife branch," the staff report stated. "The trail will complete a through off-street pedestrian link between 20th Street East and Valley Avenue East, allowing residents of the apartments along 62nd Avenue East and Holmdale neighborhood and beyond along Valley Avenue East to reach the library and other destinations on 20th Street." The trail will also provide another route from the nearby neighborhoods to Fife High School. The original agreement with the developer required C. Lee Brooke, LLC, James Abbott, LLC and Portside Business Center, LLC to construct a five-foot-wide pedestrian trail along the route only after the commercial development had tenants for its main building. That could still be years away, so the city opted to simply accept ownership of the land now and have the sidewalk built. A public hearing on the plan being scheduled for this summer. Read more...
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