Bellevue Reporter, April 19, 2013

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BUSINESS | Go Daddy, world’s largest web hosting provider, eyeing Bellevue for expansion [7]

International | Bill Gates, Bellevue Mayor Conrad Lee participate in world economic FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013 forum in China [3]

Sports | BC student headed to Kentucky for national wheelchair hoops tournament [15]

Residents say it’s do or die time on light rail details BY CELINA KAREIVA BELLEVUE REPORTER

the club, it wasn't to get help with his homework or even make new friends. It was to find an escape. During his freshman year at Interlake, Gillette found himself in a situation most high school boys dread. After striking up a relationship with a young woman, the two were soon lost in the midst of teenage puppylove. While things went well initially,

Residents along the proposed light rail line turned out in droves Monday night for what many perceived to be their last opportunity to voice the need for neighborhood protection. Their comments came as the Bellevue City Council held a public hearing on cost savings for the project. “The ramifications of this decision are very serious and will be felt for a hundred years till the East Link operates, long after you may be all gone from public life,” said Arjun Sirohi in a questionnaire addressed to members of the Bellevue City Council, requesting that they heed neighborhood concern. Of the 26 individuals who spoke, many worried aloud that missteps made on the Central Link line in Seattle would be replicated in East Link. Sirohi, who helped organize a presentation on behalf of his Surrey Downs neighborhood, said this was the last line of defense before the project moved from the blueprint stage to construction. He cited concern after last week’s recommendation by the Steering Committee for an atgrade, street-level alignment along 112th. Using City Council minutes showing early support for grade-separation, and newspaper archives from Rainier Valley, neighbors almost unanimously argued for a trench along 112th and parts of Bellevue Way. Opinion differed on the placement of the downtown tunnel station, whether it be above or below ground. “This added cost is a small burden to be borne by all of our city taxpayers. This economic cost pales in comparison to the many tens of millions in lost property value hundreds of families will incur due to the excessive train noise that will bathe the homes all day and all night long forever

SEE THE CLUB, 9

SEE LIGHT RAIL, 10

Jerrell Gillette (left) and Lance Latimer, the teen services director at the club, have found inspiration in one another during their time together. JOSH SUMAN, Bellevue Reporter

Interlake senior shines at The Club Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue offer safe haven, chance to grow for teens BY JOSH SUMAN BELLEVUE REPORTER

When Lance Latimer watches Jerrell Gillette interact with his peers at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue's teen center, he sees inspiration.

A senior at Interlake High School, Gillette has been coming to the club for seven years after finding a home at Project Learn in the Hidden Village Apartment Complex. Last weekend, he joined other club representatives from around the state at the Governor's Mansion in Olympia as the Bellevue representative for Youth of the Year, chosen from the club's roughly 200 members. When Gillette began coming to

Family festival to celebrate Earth Day in Bellevue on Saturday Bellevue’s annual Arbor Day-Earth Day celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at Lewis Creek Park, 5808 Lakemont Blvd. SE. The event will include several volunteer projects, a treeplanting ceremony and a family festival. Here’s the lineup: Community Ceremony: 11:30 a.m. to noon. A ceremonial tree planting ceremony

will be held to commemorate the city’s 22nd year of being recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. Aaron Everett, Washington State Forester of the state Department of Natural Resources, city council members, and members of VFW Post 2995 are expected to participate. Family Festival: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will feature a variety of free family PASSPORT PHOTOS •

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activities and eco-demonstrations from several organizations, including Bellevue Parks & Community Services Master Naturalists, Bellevue Utilities Stream Team, Cedar Grove Composting, Eastside Audubon Society, Eastside Heritage Center, King County Master Gardeners, Nature Vision, Republic Services and Sarvey Wildlife Rehabilitation.

Participants can get an Arbor Day-Earth Day Passport from a Bellevue Park Ranger and journey through Lewis Creek Park to the various eco-stations. After visiting each station, passports can be stamped, and completed passports can be turned in for a prize. More information is available by contacting Alexandra DySard at 425-452-4195.

You’re invited to the Wednesday, April 24, 2013 • 4–7 p.m., Bellevue City Hall www.bellevuewa.gov/spring-forward-expo.htm

Learn about more than 60 City of Bellevue projects currently underway.


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