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ELECTION 2013 | The Mirror will host two public forums for local candidates [2]
VOL. 15, NO. 38
Mirror
F E D E R A L WAY
division of Sound Publishing
OPINION | Roegner: City council candidates vs. the PACC [4] Jarvis: 1,100 new apartments should be a wakeup call [4] FATAL CRASH | State patrol says driver in fatal crash may have been high on meth [3] MR. FEDERAL WAY | Reader donated cash for a 9/11 memorial, so where is it? [7]
SPORTS | Soccer and football updates, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 | 75¢ plus local hall-of-fame inductees [10]
Schools get grant for $471K Mirror staff reports
Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) recently announced that it will receive a grant of $471,000 as part of its membership in the Road Map Project, a regional consortium of districts aimed at improving student and teacher success. This initial grant money comes from the project’s participation in the federal Race to the Top program. According to FWPS, the funds will go toward “graduation, math achievement and kindergarten/first grade literacy.” “We are delighted that these funds will support this important work for our students most in need,” FWPS Superintendent Rob Neu said in a news release. “At the same time, we are lifting up the quality of instruction for all students.” Federal Way’s grant is part of the consortium’s Project 1, which is slated to be a “fund that districts may access to build teacher and principal content knowledge, to assist in the creation of personalized learning environments in the region’s high-need [ more GRANT, page 22 ]
CALENDAR | Don’t miss farmers market’s annual charity chili cook-off Sept. 28 [8-9]
Backdoor endorsement for mayor? Candidate says school board crossed the line and violated state law By GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com
The Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) Board of Directors recently recognized Mayor Skip Priest’s
work on securing education funding during his time as a state legislator. However, Deputy Mayor Jim Ferrell was a bit perturbed by the recognition, believing it to be an indirect endorsement of the mayor in an election year. “I think it was pretty dubious, it’s kind of a head scratcher, that they would wait three years to recognize the mayor,” said Ferrell, who is Priest’s opponent for mayor this
year. “It would have had a lot more legitimacy if done two years ago, or a year ago. I think the timing speaks for itself. It doesn’t really pass the logic test.” Ferrell’s objection to the recognition is one that is, oddly enough, raised consistently at Federal Way City Council meetings. Priest and City Attorney Pat Richardson remind the public that City Hall and the public comment podium
are not the place for endorsing a candidate, or speaking out against a candidate or current council member. “The mayor, as you know, before any council comments are ever delivered…restates that city/government resources cannot be used for political purposes, and then has the city attorney say the same thing,” Ferrell noted. “It’s disappointing [ more ENDORSEMENT, page 22 ]
Seahawks’ Richard Sherman visits FW Seattle Seahawks star Richard Sherman was in Federal Way on Tuesday to hand out school clothes and supplies to kids. He told every kid he greeted that the school supplies and clothes weren’t a “donation, but an investment in you as a person.” Read more about Sherman’s visit — and his legendary trashtalking — on page 10 in today’s sports section. CASEY OLSON, The Mirror
Weyerhaeuser wants to donate bonsai collection By ANDY HOBBS editor@federalwaymirror.com
NEWSPAPER RACKS: To see a list of rack locations for the print edition of The Mirror, visit federalwaymirror.com/about_us.
One of Federal Way’s top cultural and tourist attractions is courting proposals for new management. The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection opened 24 years ago on the Weyerhaeuser Campus. It attracts nearly 30,000 annual visitors from all over the country and world. However, Weyerhaeuser thinks the bonsai collection — which
features 60 miniature potted trees shaped by artists — could be run better by someone else. The collection is a department of the timber company, but will transition to an independent entity with a non-profit status. “Other organizations are designed to promote and market and really highlight a collection like that in a way that we’re not,” said Kristen Sawin, director of government and community affairs. She
noted that the collection costs Weyerhaeuser hundreds of thousands of dollars to maintain. “We really value the entity as a whole and we want to see it promoted in a way that honors that.” Weyerhaeuser has sent requests for proposals to determine where to donate the collection. Responses are due this month. The company will also consider an endowment for financial support, Sawin said. [ more BONSAI, page 23 ]
The Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection is located on the Weyerhaeuser Campus in Federal Way and is open year-round. Mirror file photo