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COVINGTON | MAPLE VALLEY | BLACK DIAMOND
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LOCAL | Hearing Examiner declares GSG colletive garden [page 3]
UPSET ALERT | Kent-Meridian defeats Kentlake on the gridiron for the first time FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 in more than a decade [10]
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City hopes to have first chance at school site
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Group plans to appeal LUPA case decision
BY KRIS HILL
BY DENNIS BOX
khill@covingtonreporter.com
dbox@maplevalleyreporter.com
In 20 years the site of Covington Elementary School could be home of a park, a public plaza and the city’s Town Center. First, though, the Kent School District needs to find a buyer for the property, build a new Covington Elementary on a site in the northwest corner of the city and open the school’s doors. During the past nine COVINGTON months the city and the district have been working toward an agreement that could give Covington the first chance to buy the property or match another party’s offer. That school district site, explained Covington City Manager Derek Matheson, is a key piece of
Seattle attorney David Bricklin stated through an email that Toward Responsible Development will appeal the Superior Court ruling denying the Land Use Petition Act appeal filed by the Black Diamond group. Bricklin wrote in his email, “We believe that Judge Oishi’s decision was erroneous for several reasons…. Judge Oishi was BLACK not required DIAMOND to explain his decision, but the absence of any explanation or analysis leaves the decision with little intellectual or persuasive force. It doesn’t serve to persuade the citizens that they were wrong to challenge the city’s decision. It doesn’t serve to persuade the citizens that a further appeal
[ more SCHOOL page 9 ]
Bra Dash Beauties
Shelli Beecher-Seitzler helps her daughter, Olivia Seitzler, 2, hang a bra on a line hung up Sunday at Lake Wilderness Park during the inaugural Wings of Karen Bra Dash 5K. The event, organized by the Maple Valley non-profit, drew more than 600 participants, many of whom wore bras over their shirts. DENNIX BOX, The Reporter To view a slide show go to www.maplevalleyreporter.com.
Running for hope and healing in New York City Marathon BY KRIS HILL khill@maplevalleyreporter.com
Ryan Light’s first 26.2 mile event is the New York City Marathon. Light, who lives in Maple Valley, has never run a marathon and now he’s preparing for one of the biggest events in the world. Oh, and by the way, he also has a goal to raise $5,000 for Go For Hope, a Renton-based non-profit started by his friend Joe Hafner. “I didn’t think I was going to get into the race,” Light said. “I’ve done half marathons. Just to get in is pretty incredible. You pay your $11, you put your name in. I was like, ‘I’m not going to get in, so I’m spending my $11 and that’s it.’”
But, he did get in, and running this race will be about more than just his first marathon. Light grew up in the borough of Queens. It was a tough life. And a significant portion of the race route goes right through his old neighborhood. In many ways, this will be an opportunity to confront the ghosts of his past up close, yet with fundraising it will also be a chance for him to give back, a chance to right some wrongs. “When I got in, I guess I got a little nervous and emotional because it goes right through the neighborhood where I grew up,” Light said. “In that particular area, that was not really a good place for me. I grew up with alcoholic
parents. My step-dad was in the mafia.” To top it off, he hated school, Light said, in large part because he was placed in special education due to his behavior. He was acting out because of his home life and because what he knew was addiction and violence. Once he was placed in special education, Light began to act out more. Following his high school graduation, Light joined the United States Army because he was completely opposed to the concept of further education, college seemed like an extension of the humiliation he endured as an adolescent. “Anything to do with education, I flipping hated,” Light said. After he was discharged from the Army, he went home, but he found himself unhappy in New York City. While in the service he connected with people who led what could be described as a [ more HOPE page 4 ]
[ more APPEAL page 4 ]
Joe Hafner is surrounded by children during a recent trip to Nicaragua. Hafner founded Go For Hope for which Ryan Light is raising money. Courtesy photo