Covington/Maple Valley Reporter, September 07, 2012

Page 1

REPORTER

COVINGTON | MAPLE VALLEY | BLACK DIAMOND

NEWSLINE 425-432-1209

COMPLEAT HOME GARDENER | Solutions for strappy leaves [page 6]

WEBSITE | Check the website for breaking HARD HITS | How Tahoma and Kent handle diagnosis, management and return news, sports and weather stories. maplevalleyreporter.com or covingtonreporter.com FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 to play after a head injury [3]

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Change proposed for Brandt property

Medical marijuana business now open

BY TJ MARTINELL

BY TJ MARTINELL

tmartinell@maplevalleyreporter.com

tmartinell@covingtonreporter.com

A possible zoning change for a chunk of land on state Route 169 could be the next step from a bedroom community to bustling suburb for Maple Valley. The Maple Valley City Council is considering proposed zoning changes to a 50 acre chunk of land, known as the Brandt property, located northeast of state Route 169 and Southeast 240th Way. The proposal has already drawn criticism from residents near the property who have concerns about the MAPLE possible effect VALLEY on traffic and the appearance of buildings which could potentially go up there. At its Aug. 15 meeting, the Maple Valley Planning Commission voted to recommend the changes. Currently, the property is zoned as multiple use which the owners, according to the Planning Commission’s recommendation, “have said repeatedly that they have been unable to successfully attract investors and partners and unable

A medical marijuana business has opened in Black Diamond. Lady Buds, Inc., located at 31515 3rd Ave., is described as a management company by owner Vali Bauer. According to Lady Buds website, it is a “garden management service company.” Bauer said the organization, which she asserted was not selling products, ensures different collective gardens in the area comply with state law. “The collective gardens can BLACK bring in donaDIAMOND tions,” Bauer said. “Qualified patients are able to receive donations.” Some of Lady Buds’ products are also offered as donations on mmjmenu.com for patients who qualify. Bauer said there are plans to offer massage therapy and other alternative medicines available in the future. “We’re still new, so we’re still starting up,” Bauer said. “But we want to do what we can to help those who qualify.”

Harris, 5, of the Harris Farm in Enumclaw rides in the Labor Day Parade Monday in Sitting Tall In Alyssa Black Diamond. Community floats, marching bands, political candidates were among the of the annual event which ran down Third Avenue to Baker Street then Roberts The Saddle participants Drive. To view a slide show go to www.maplevalleyreporter.com DENNIS BOX, The Reporter

[ more BRANDT page 4 ]

[ more BUSINESS page 4 ]

Tahoma School District’s first step to help students become future-ready BY KRIS HILL khill@maplevalleyreporter.com

Every high school senior should aspire to be a college student. That has been the prevailing attitude for some time in the Tahoma School District, and likely the community, but Superintendent Mike Maryanksi realized a few years ago that approach was not serving the needs of all students who walk away with a diploma from Tahoma High School. To that end, the Tahoma School Board

asked district staff to form a committee to evaluate how the district should help kids become not only career ready, but college ready, or as the administrative team at Tahoma High has dubbed it: future ready. The committee, which consisted of nearly 50 members, first met June 6. Larry Destro, who has six children with four in the district now, was invited by Tahoma High Principal Terry Duty to participate. “The process was really, No. 1 to understand the current situation as it relates to

our public education system, K-12, and recognition of the fact that they data they shared with is that upon graduation, almost all parents said, ‘Yeah, my kid’s going to college,” Destro said. “But, at the end of six years, roughly 40 percent had gone on to get an AA or BA degree. The question that Mike raised and that we raised is, ‘Are we really addressing the needs of that other 60 percent?’” With 60 percent of Tahoma High graduates going on to a two-year or four-year college, Destro said, it’s important to note the district does a great job getting kids ready to get accepted as well as the fact that college is still a worthwhile pursuit for kids. “We have a really strong program for kids who want to go to college,” said Tahoma High Assistant Principal Diane Fox. “Those classes are laid out. We do a really

go job of sending our kids to college. Only 40 percent that go actually finish in six years. What is life like for them when they drop out? What we know is No. 1, that debt doesn’t go away.” There are, however, alternatives to the traditional four-year concept that many students feel they have to strive for and parents believe their kids should aim for. “We just wanted to know if we were meeting the needs of all the students, were we being inclusive,” Destro said. “Everyone who participated … had the same ‘aha!’ moment. Everyone’s mindset was that everyone should be going to college when in fact there are many alternatives which provide a great income without creating the burden of a four-year degree which may [ more TAHOMA page 8 ]


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