F E D E R A L WAY
COMMUNITY
[10] June 20, 2014
PET OF THE WEEK
Sylvie is a lovely girl, inside and out. She came to us with a new litter of kittens a few weeks ago. She has taken such great care of her babies (which are all adopted except one) and now it’s time for her to find her own home. Sylvie is gray and white cat with a very soft coat and emerald green eyes. She is a more submissive and quiet kitty and not demanding in any way. She has perfect manners and impeccable litter box habits. She is about 7 pounds, and is 2 years old. Sylvie loves to snuggle up and feel safe inside. Please email rescuinganimals@ gmail.com to get more info. Her adoption fee is $50, which includes her spay, microchip and vaccines.
www.federalwaymirror.com
Habitat For Humanity completes two more Westway homes BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@federalwaymirror.com
V
olunteers and members of Habitat For Humanity have slowly rebuilt, reshaped and renovated the Federal Way Westway neighborhood one house at a time. And this month, the community rejoiced as their 47th and 48th rebuilt houses in Westway were dedicated to the families that spent “250 hours of sweat equity” working to make those houses homes. The last two completed the goal of 10 and were all built under a 2011 federal grant awarded to Habitat for Humanity by the city of Federal Way. “This is more than just a celebration of the two houses, it’s kind of a celebration of the whole project,” said Shelley Pauls, a longtime Habitat For Humanity volunteer. Westway’s makeover began in 2002 when the Build a Bridge Community Coalition was formed by businesses, educational organizations and nonprofits. Habitat Seattle-King County, AmeriCorps, Franciscan Health System and the city were involved as well. Their mission was to “drive out crime and improve the living conditions in the neighborhood.” Starting in 2005, 38 homes were repaired or renovated by 2011. “It’s exciting to see the neighborhood growing again,” said Councilwoman Susan Honda, a longtime advocate of the project.
“There are young families moving in, kids playing in the yards, and the neighborhood association is getting stronger. Habitat For Humanity’s work in Westway, and their partnership with the city, is one of the reasons for the neighborhood’s resurgence.” Prior to 2005, Westway homes foreclosed and many were left as spots for criminal activity, such as illegal dog fighting, assaults, gang activity, drug trafficking and reckless endangerment. But city officials saw the success from the initial work - crime was starting to decline and was being replaced with a sense of community. In turn, they awarded the Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant of nearly $1.7 million to the local Habitat For Humanity organization for the 10 homes. “It upgraded every neighborhood as a home was redone,” Pauls said of the foreclosed Westway homes. “All of that had to help.” Pauls and her husband have volunteered with Habitat For Humanity since 2012 as members of the Overcomers Covenant Church in Auburn. They’ve helped every second Saturday of the month since then. Pauls said her favorite part is getting to know the volunteers and family members they help out. “The relationships and the fun feeling of giving to the community has been a very positive experience,” she said. Volunteers “completely
Habitat For Humanity volunteers work on one of the Westway houses funded by the Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant. Photo courtesy of Shelley Pauls gutted” houses and worked to replace the roofs, siding, doors, windows, insulation, appliances, heating systems, hot water heaters, plumbing and electrical. The two houses were dedicated to the families on June 7. According to a Habitat for Humanity spokesperson Lisa Samuelson, David and Elizabeth Yonah, originally from south Sudan, recently moved into one of the last two Westway houses with their four children ages 3-12 years old. Their country was “embroiled in a civil war that involved gross violations of human rights and serious violations of humanitarian law on a massive scale” when they left nine years ago. The family arrived in
the Puget Sound area after three years as refugees in Egypt, Samuelson said. About $50,000 was donated by the PCL Construction company, which made the renovation on the Yonah’s home possible. “Not only did [PCL Construction] contribute financially, they also provided many hours of volunteer labor with a team of employees who helped demolish the home and reframe it,” Samuelson said. Ekaterina Maxsimov and Alexandr Maksimova, from Moldova, Russia, lived in a small apartment with their two sons before moving into their Westway home - the other of the last two. The family wanted more opportunities and to be closer to their family when
said. “We’re here to help prepare them for an industry,” he said. Though the shop poses some unique challenges, including safety, seeing students finally solve a specific problem and be proud of their success is rewarding, Thompson said. Thompson is leaving behind a fully functional program. In the last three years, auto shop students from Decatur High School have won the SkillsUSA state automotive service competition and competed in national competitions, Thompson said. Next week, Thompson returns to Kansas City, Missouri, to see a Decatur student
compete once again. Some of Thompson’s stuThompson also worked dents have gone on to take with the paid summer manager of internships, she the district’s said. bus garage to “I just hope establish a job the students shadow proleave here gram where with a better shop students understandcan get some ing of what it real-world takes to work experience in the automoworking with tive industry,” Luke Thompson bus techniThompson said. cians, he said. During his “Luke seven years Thompson at Decatur, has been a huge asset to Thompson estimates he the Automotive Technolhas worked with 800 or ogy program at Decatur 900 students. High School,” said Nancy “We wish Luke well in Hawkins, director of cahis new school district reer and technical educawe will surely miss him,” tion. Hawkins said.
they moved to the U.S. A total of 697 volunteers dedicated 5,300 hours throughout the year to finish the two homes. Volunteers were with the Christian Public Service, Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Overcomers Covenant Church, St. Barbara’s Catholic Church, and Marine View Presbyterian. Sponsors include the city of Federal Way and PCL Construction, with Mountain Valley Heating and Air Conditioning, RGBJR Design, Woods Creative Interiors, Habitat For Humanity International, Whirlpool Corporation, Hunter Douglas, Valspar and Dow as in-kind donors. For more information, visit www.habitatskc.org.
Decatur auto shop teacher moves to new district BY ALISA GRAMANN agramann@federalwaymirror.com
After seven years at Decatur High School, automotive shop teacher
pet of the week sponsored by
Locally Owned
• Pet Store • Doggy Daycare • • Grooming • www.simplypaws.com
35419-B 21st Ave SW • Federal Way • 253-839-7297
LukeThompson is moving on. Next year, Thompson will set up shop at Tahoma High School, which is being rebuilt with room for a brand new automotive shop program, he said. “It’s an exciting opportunity for me,” he said. Tahoma High School, and Maple Valley, will be closer to family and friends, Thompson said. Inspired by his high school shop teacher, teaching auto shop has always been Thompson’s career goal, he said. The non-traditional classroom setting allows students to get handson career training in an environment similar to the workplace, Thompson