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LEGISLATURE 2013 | New Senate Coalition, Democrats pledge governance, not politics; leaders reveal goals [9]
Potala Village | Developers file second FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013 lawsuit against city, controversy continues [5]
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Car strikes gas pumps, catches fire
New dealership | O’Brien Auto Group opens Volkswagen [10]
Woman battling cancer needs help to save home mom a condo after my dad died,” Furness said of her house. “That took Sandy Furness may lose $200,000.” her Kirkland home of 30 When Furness discovyears while battling breast ered she had stage-three cancer and other issues breast cancer on April 26, for nearly two years. 2011 she described herself Furness, 63, was forced has being in a “fog.” to retire from her 42 “I went in for my mam-year-old career as a flight mogram on Monday, attendant for Delta Air Tuesday they told me I Lines - a struggle in itself had cancer and the next - when the cancer reached week they did a mastecher lymph nodes. tomy because it was so “I had a great job,” Furadvanced,” Furness said. ness said. “That’s why this “They said I had it for is so humbling to me. I’ve 15 years and it had never always been able to take shown up on a mammocare of myself and then gram.” I was forced to retire in Furness decided to get June (2011).” both breasts removed After Furness empfor fear of looking like a tied her savings and her “unicorn,” she jokes, but 401K she was also because forced to rely she didn’t on income want to worry. from Social As a result, Security disdoctors found ability, but two other it still wasn’t cancerous enough. tumors. Furness, The double who lives by mastectomy herself and was the first does not have of many children, hurdles in her now owes a tale of surminimum of vival. Later, SANDY FURNESS $22,000 in Furness would back paydeal with two ments for her mortgage rounds of aggressive cheloan from Chase Bank. motherapy, two months of Furness’ home was set daily radiation, abdomito foreclose in March but nal tumor surgery, a hysshe hopes her lawyer will terectomy and hand and help stall the bank so they knee surgeries due to her can mediate in April. current bout of chemo’s “I just can’t possibly affect on ligaments and catch up,” she said of the joints. Her current form house payments. “Chase of chemo is taken in pill Bank has not given me form, daily, for the next a loan modification that five years and is the third I’ve been working on for round. 18 months.” But during Furness’s Furness says she doesn’t lows she still finds posiqualify for assistance tivity. because she owns her “I’m just tired. Other house and car. And she than that, I still want to hopes to hold on to her go out and have a glass home so that she is near of wine,” she said. “You her oncologist and elderly just have to stay focused mother, who is often in and positive because you and out of hospice. could sleep all day long.” “It should be paid for Furness creates fabric by now but I bought my [ more CANCER page 2 ] BY RAECHEL DAWSON
rdawson@kirklandreporter.com
(Above) A car ignites into flames after it strikes and knocks over some gas pumps at the 76 gas station in the Finn Hill neighborhood on Friday. CONTRIBUTED BY RON MAIER. (Above, right) A car, which collided with the car above, ran into a big rock under the 76 sign. MATT PHELPS, KIRKLAND REPORTER
Two-car collision causes one car to strike gas pumps on Juanita Drive BY CARRIE RODRIGUEZ crodriguez@kirklandreporter.com
A
vehicle crashed into gas pumps at the 76 gas station and ignited into flames after it collided with another vehicle in Kirkland’s Finn Hill neighborhood on Friday. Kirkland, Northshore and Bothell firefighters responded to the motor vehicle accident that happened around 3:30 p.m. at 14106 Juanita Drive N.E., near the Kenmore/Kirkland
boundary. “They collided with each other just as the light changed,” said Tim Carpenter, a corporal with the Kirkland Police Department, noting the BMW was traveling westbound when it collided with a Toyota 4Runner heading northbound. The BMW, which was struck on the left side, continued on and collided with a big rock underneath the 76 sign, said Carpenter. The Toyota then crashed into gas pumps, knocking
one set of gas pumps on its side, he said. The vehicle caught fire, which spread to the 76 building. One of the employees at the gas station was able to shut off the pump, which minimized the flames, said Kirkland Firefighter Bill Barnes. “We don’t know which vehicle was at fault,” said Carpenter, noting police of-
ficials are investigating what happened. Two people in the Toyota and a woman driving the BMW suffered non-lifethreatening injuries and were all transported to the hospital as a precaution. Dave Overhus, who lives a half-mile from the gas station, said he was driving down the hill when [ more FIRE page 2 ]
Constituents voice disapproval and concern at 48th LD town hall BY CELINA KAREIVA Reporter Newspapers
Many Eastside residents turned out to protest Sen. Rodney Tom’s Senate coup Jan. 8 at a town hall meeting in Bellevue, brandishing signs that read: “Traitor Tom” and jeering when he spoke. The 48th Legislative District attracted a crowd of nearly twice its normal size, observed Rep. Ross Hunter of Medina. Tom and Hunter were joined by Representative-
elect Cyrus Habib of the McCleary ruling and Bellevue, a first-time poli- initiatives to promote the tician and graduate of the Eastside’s economic vidistrict’s public ability. school system. McCleary alone The three presents a huge legislators told hurdle. At least $1 constituents that billion is needed the Eastside prein the next biensented a unique nium to meet a set of needs and judge’s ruling to Sen. Rodney Tom adequately pay for challenges this legislative seseducation - a task sion, among that Hunter said the top concerns being was difficult without adtransportation to meet ditional revenue. the growing population, “Judge us on our end
product,” said Tom, addressing several noticeably upset constituents. Resident Brett Hill of Bellevue told the crowd that he had voted for Tom in 2010, but was disappointed with his lack of transparency. He asked for a show of hands - how many people would have backed the senator had they anticipated his Republican alliance. About half the crowd raised their hands or clapped in [ more 48TH LD page 3 ]