COMMUNITY | Northshore student receives national honor [2]
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REPORTER
FRIDAY, April 20, 2012
A serving of food — and friendship Kenmore church lends a helping hand BY ANDY NYSTROM anystrom@bothell-reporter.com
Meeting people — really connecting with them — is what Becky and Ryan Kent are all about. And lending others a hand during tough times is a crucial aspect of these friendships. “It’s in my blood. I want to go help people,” said Becky, a member of Cedar Park Northshore Church in Kenmore. Becky, who went on several church missions to Mexico, Peru and Romania in high school to help in orphanages and a soup kitchen, was with her husband Ryan at the local church last Saturday morning to unveil its food bank, which will be open from 9 a.m. to noon each Saturday. “This is a ministry we
Colorful bike ride in Kenmore Bicyclists cruise by the ‘Blue Trees’ in Kenmore last Saturday morning. According to a sign near the Himalayan Birch trees — planted on the Burke-Gilman Trail on Northeast Bothell Way near 80th Avenue Northeast:“These newly planted trees have been temporarily transformed with environmentally safe pigment to inspire awareness and discussion about global deforestation. As an ephemeral artwork, they will gradually revert back to their natural state and remain as a legacy for the community.” Konstantin Dimopoulous is the artist. The trees’scientific name is Betula jacqemontii.
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ANDY NYSTROM, Bothell-Kenmore Reporter
can do in our hometown that means just as much as going overseas,” said Becky, the food-bank director. Added Ryan: “We always (wanted) to be a part of something where we can help people in need. (We’re) able to make a difference and an impact in someone’s life, to help people maybe become closer to God through it. We knew we could do God’s will this way. Unlimited potential can come from this.” Families in need can sign up during foodbank hours to receive groceries twice monthly, or weekly if pregnant, disabled, age 55 or older or homeless. People need to provide identification (government ID, medical bill or utility bill) when [ more FOOD page 8 ]
Northshore teacher, students honored as Earth Heroes BY ANDY NYSTROM anystrom@bothell-reporter.com
One teacher and a crew of sixth-grade students may have been singled out to receive King County Earth Heroes at School awards, but it turns out that school-wide environmental-conservation efforts catapulted these people into the spotlight. At Skyview Junior High in Bothell, teacher Tom Nowak has spearheaded the compost program and salmon-release project, but students and staff members alike have been with him every step of the way. Across the parking lot at Canyon Creek Elementary, the sixthgraders got the entire school on board with recycling programs through presentations, posters, videos and leadership by example in filling the bins in the cafeteria and classrooms. Executive Dow Constantine will present awards to these Earth Heroes and a handful of others on April 26 at Maplewood Greens in Renton. “These stewards of the environment are our heroes — for conserving resources, protecting the environment and spread-
ing the word about sustainable practices,” Constantine said. “I am proud to recognize them for their handson commitment to the planet.”
SKY VIEW
Nowak helped get the compost program rolling last year after taking a cue from Leota Junior High, and notes they are now decreasing lunch waste by an average of 80 percent by eliminating liquid, recycling and food scraps from general solid waste. Through this, they are minimizing the school district’s pick-up fees. A $1,000 Parent Teacher Student Association grant funded bins and signs, and Cedar Grove employees collect the compost after volunteers get it ready to go. When Nowak was gone from school for three months on maternity leave, specialeducation teacher Stephanie Escott, her support staff and students picked up compost in classrooms. “It’s empowering students, it’s helping the custodial staff and it’s building a community, where people know that they’re impacting the world,” Nowak said of the job-share. [ more HEROES page 10 ]
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A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Becky Kent stands outside the food-bank pantry at Cedar Park Northshore Church in Kenmore. ANDY NYSTROM, Bothell-Kenmore Reporter
SPORTS | Bothell and Inglemoor’s 4A Kingco fastpitch teams are in the Reporter spotlight. [Pages 12-13]
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