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Deep, experienced Kentlake has eyes on the big prize [16]
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
County gives green light to raceways’ pilot plan BY KRIS HILL khill@covingtonreporter.com
Jason Fiorito is one step closer to seeing his master plan become a reality for Pacific Raceways. The King County Council approved a demonstration project for the Kent motorsports venue early last week.
“We’re ecstatic that the council saw this as a way to give a huge boost to the racing industry in the Pacific Northwest,” said Fiorito, racetrack president. “It will absolutely manifest itself in jobs and (provide) positive economic impact.” Little more than six months
ago Fiorito was fighting to keep alive the master plan, which he unveiled in 2006. Fiorito said the plan now has a fighting chance thanks to the support of County Councilmembers Pete von Reichbauer, who sponsored the legislation, Larry Phillips, Jane Hague and Reagan Dunn.
“(They) took leadership roles in crafting legislation that not only offered the economic impact, but also offered the environmental impact,” Fiorito said. “We’re very pleased that the King County Council voted for jobs and economic impact. It should really be looked at as a community victory
CENTER CARES FOR DOGS
BY SARAH KEHOE skehoe@kentreporter.com
BY SARAH KEHOE skehoe@kentreporter.com
[ more DEN page 5 ]
Dave Tagliani, a Northwest Disaster Search Dogs volunteer, works with one of his dogs during a training session at the Doggie Den in Kent. SARAH KEHOE, Kent Reporter
BY STEVE HUNTER
It’s exciting times in London for a Kent teen who plays the starring role in “Billy Elliot the Musical.” Adam Vesperman, 13, has lived in London since last April after he earned the leading role for the production at the Victoria Palace Theatre. “I absolutely love to perform for the audience and bring them emotionally into the story of
Billy Elliot,” Vesperman said through a Skype interview with his mother Robyn Vesperman. “There are many different emotions my character goes through during the show from struggle, depression, mourning the loss of his mother, passion for dance, curiosity, happiness, fun and everything in between.” The show tells an inspirational story about a coal miner’s son who gives up boxing and realizes his ambitions
against the odds to become a ballet dancer. Now Vesperman and the rest of the cast are up for the Laurence Olivier Audience Award. Vesperman, who was profiled in the Kent Reporter last fall, made his debut July 25 at the 1,500-seat theater. He became the 27th boy and just the sixth American to play the title role in the seventh year of the production. [ more VESPERMAN page 2 ]
Carol Kolson has been a volunteer all her life. “I think we all have a responsibility to be good citizens and to give back to the community we work and live in,” she said. “I was raised to be a giving person and have always held that close to my heart.” Kolson, of Kent, is an ambassador for the Southwest Carol Kolson King County Chamber of Commerce and volunteers at the Tukwila’s Habitat for Humanity, the Tukwila Historical Society and the Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN). “I came to work in Tukwila in 2006 and I started getting involved in the community right away,” Kolson said. “My family inspired me to always put others first.” [ more KOLSON page 5 ]
Valley Medical Center, UW Medicine strategic alliance called into question
Kent teen, London musical up for award shunter@kentreporter.com
[ more RACETRACK page 4 ]
Community focus: Kolson reaches out to help others
SPECIAL DEN,
Bob Zuckos gets to do what he loves every day. The Kent resident opened the first dog daycare and indoor dog park in the city on March 5. “I have been a dog lover all my life, but because of finances I was not able to open my own place,” Zuckos said. “I started thinking about what it would take to create a dog care center and built a place by looking at other dog businesses, weighing the pros and cons.” Once Zuckos felt he could fund his own center, he spent close to two years researching dog care facts and daycare facilities. It took him 11 months to find the right building.
as well. We don’t have to choose between jobs and environmental protection … it does both. They really took a lot of time and deliberation to make sure they’re promoting both.” Von Reichbauer explained the project.
BY DENNIS BOX dbox@maplevalleyreporter.com
Adam Vesperman, as Billy Elliot, gets hoisted by the cast of “Billy Elliot the Musical.” COURTESY, Alastair Muirhe
A legal puzzle has arisen between the Valley Medical Center Board of Commissioners and University of Washington Medicine. The issue involves the strategic alliance agreement between Valley, which is formally known as Public Hospital District No. 1, and UW Medicine. The board members approved a resolution [ more ALLIANCE page 2 ]