Tukwila Reporter, December 20, 2013

tukwila reporter 12 • 2013

coverstory page 8

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SCHOOL CONNECTIONS: Tukwila School District update, pages 12

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Weather damage shuts school

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And this year, we’re inviting you for holiday dinner too!

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The frigid weather in early December forced the closure for a day of Cascade View Elementary School while crews repaired the sprinkler system.

The bitter cold also disrupted classes at Tukwila Elementary School, where a pipe and sprinkler heads broke, spewing water over school interiors.

However, Tukwila Elementary was able to house third-graders from Cascade View in temporary classrooms.

They were bused to and from the school.

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An armed gunman who attempted to rob a store on Andover Park East Dec. 7 was shot and killed by Tukwila Police officers as he left the store, according to the Tukwila Police Department.

Tukwila officers surrounded the Cash and Carry store in the 200 block of Andover Park East at about 7:30 p.m., after an employee inside the store called 911 to report a masked man armed with a pistol was attempting to rob the store, according to Officer Mike Murphy, a spokesman for the Tukwila Police Department.

As the man came out, still armed with a gun, shots were fired and the man was hit, according to Murphy.

No officers or bystanders were injured.

Officers rendered first aid to the man until medics arrived; the man died at the scene.

As of the Tukwila Reporter’s print deadline, the man’s name had yet to be released.

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While all the art students participated, 17 ornaments were selected to be sent to Olympia. Tukwila School District

shootings, is investigating. The Tukwila officers were placed on administrative leave until cleared to return to duty, which is standard procedure, according to Murphy.

City, Segales open South 184th Street The new South 184th Street that replaces the steep South 178th rising from Southcenter is getting great reviews, says Mayor Jim Haggerton, who officially opened the new roadway with a ribbon-cutting last month.

South 184th Street, which connects to Southcenter Parkway just south of South 180th Street, opened to traffic in early November.

The new roadway and the alreadyextended Southcenter Parkway are key transportation pieces of Segale Properties’ plans for Tukwila South, a 10 million-square-foot development on roughly 500 acres that will bring thousands of jobs to the city.

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Mark Segale, son of company founder Mario Segale, joined officials in officially opening the new roadway.

With the steep roadway gone, the plans calls for removal of the hillside that will create more space for development on the west side of Southcenter Parkway – and create an unobstructed view, he said.

Tukwila South will develop over time, with campus-style research and office space, along with such uses as retail, residential and hotel space. It won’t have any warehouses.

Rotary club honors students of month Ardo Hersi and Edgar Lopez are the Tukwila Southcenter Rotary’s Students of the Month for November.

Students are recognized for academic achievement, community involvement or service, outstanding character and strong work ethic and are on track for graduation.

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tukwila’sstory

Single-gender swims continue

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

Nelson girls and Bigelow boys ice skate on Codiga Pond.

Tukwila Historical Society

Practical gifts for pioneers

BY LOUISE JONES-BROWN TUKWILA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Christmas in the late 1800s and early 1900s was a simple celebration including traditional activities such as baking and cooking as well as visiting in each other’s homes.

The first Duwamish River pioneer Christmas celebration in 1851 was celebrated by settlers Henry Van Asselt and Samuel Maple, who joined their new neighbors at Alki, with the men providing wild game so everyone could enjoy a feast.

Most local residents set up a Christmas tree between Dec. 20 and 24. If you were fortunate enough to have a covered front porch, the tree was put outside since candles were used to light the tree. Electric tree lights first used in 1895 were not readily available until the mid-1900s. A bucket of water and rags were kept nearby just in case the tree caught fire.

Gifts were handmade or inexpensive and simple items with emphasis on practical. Most family gifts such as toys were given as a group gift to be shared, such as sleds and ice skates.

The winter is unpredictable in the Duwamish Valley; but in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the weather was very cold and snowy, as demonstrated in the photo shared by Mabel Nelson. The 1915-circa photo is the Nelson girls and Bigelow boys ice skating on Codiga Pond. Bonfires burned for light and warming during night skating. Local resident Roy Henderson would set up a hot-dog stand for the skaters.

A Happy Holidays to all of you from the Tukwila Historical Society.

Tukwila’s Story is written by Louise Jones-Brown, acting director of the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center.

The single-gender swim times at the Tukwila Pool continue, following an emotional Metropolitan Park District board meeting in November in their support and dismissal of a human-rights complaint against them.

The state’s Human Rights Commission has determined that the singlegender swim times at the Tukwila Pool are not discriminatory.

“The legal issues involved are rather complex,” said Brian Snure, general legal counsel to the Tukwila Pool Metropolitan Park District.

But, he said the district concluded the single-gender swims at the Tukwila Pool “survive scrutiny under the legal restrictions imposed by the Washington State Law Against Discrimination and Article XXXI of

the Washington State Constitution, which is Washington’s equal-rights amendment,” he said.

The commission issued its decision on Nov. 21 after investigating a complaint submitted by Tukwila resident Christine Neuffer on Nov. 7.

The complaint helped spark an outpouring of support for male- and female-only swim times Sundays that culminated with lengthy testimony at a recent Metropolitan Park District board meeting. The board is comprised of City Council members.

The state commission issued a No Reasonable Cause finding, which means there was insufficient evidence to show that discrimination occurred, according to Laura Lindstrand, a commission policy analyst.

Neuffer wrote that in her complaint that she and her son went to the pool on Sunday, Oct. 27, at about 6 p.m.

r a t S e h T Your Child’s

Her son was allowed to swim, she wrote, but she wasn’t allowed in the building at all because of the policy.

“I was not allowed to be inside the building because I am female,” she wrote in her complaint.

The Tukwila Pool next to Foster High School began offering singlegender swimming programing in June after requests were received from different community members to offer such a program, said Kimberly Matej, a City of Tukwila spokeswoman.

The Tukwila Pool offers the swims on each Sunday for males, 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., and females 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

“The intent of the single-gender swim program is to provide an opportunity for all members of the community to be able to enjoy swimming as a healthy living option and to enjoy the benefits of learning to swim,” said Matej.

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The Foster High School boys and girls basketball teams are ready to play an aggressive form of defense and put points on the scoreboard

tukwila reporter i19426 68th Avenue South i Kent, WA 98032 i253.872.6600 i www.tukwilareporter.com

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[ more EDITOR’S NOTE page 5 ]

publisher ellen morrison

letter to the editor

publisher@tukwilareporter.com

circulation james kostoroski 253.872.6610

The Tukwila Reporter encourages reader participation in your community newspaper.

Share your thoughts in a letter to the editor (200 words or less) including your full name, address and phone number.

HERE’S HOW To submit a letter to the editor, E-MAIL: editor@ tukwilareporter.com FAX: 253.437.6016 MAIL: 19426 68th Ave. S., Ste. A, Kent, WA 98032 STORY IDEAS: dradford@ tukwilareporter.com ONLINE CALENDAR: tukwilareporter.com

The City of Tukwila crossed over a line it should not have when it converted a program for a group that was renting the pool, excluding men due to a combination of cultural and religious restrictions, from a private program to a public one. Instead of the renters enforcing segregation against non-renters, the government enforces and legitimizes their practices, imposing them on others! Government employees look at a customer, determine their gender, and exclude the wrong gender from entry to the building. The excluded gender is not only denied access to the pool, but also to the bleachers, lobby and bathroom. Female customers have greater modesty standards imposed on them than men.

Due to this program, our son has now experienced the effects of segregation twice! In one episode, he was denied access due to his gender. In the second, he witnessed

Jim Haggerton

editor@tukwilareporter.com

425.255.3484, ext. 5150

City discriminating at Tukwila Pool

COMMENTARY

editor dean radford

discrimination against his mother.

Our son has a disability where he needs a caregiver to be in ear/eye shot to ensure his safety. Single parents and caregivers of the disabled do not need more barriers.

When residents are denied access to government services on the basis of gender, it denies us access to hold our government accountable. It is absurd to think separate times for each gender is an acceptable solution. If this is acceptable, then the government can now set up separate times for other services.

Shall women have access to the permitting office between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. and men from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.?

How will we know if one gender is being provided separate unequal services compared to the other?

Who is left out in the cold?

We urge the City and the Metropolitan Park District Commissioners to stop using taxpayer money to implement and legitimize gender segregation.

Christine and Robert Neuffer Tukwila

Happy holidays, Tukwila community!

No matter what your faith or background, this is the season for family, friends, and thanks. My own family had significant traditions growing up, and more than anything — looming bigger in memory than even the giant Macy’s Day Parade balloons — I remember an overwhelming sense of love and comfort.

That’s what I want for every one of our children in the Tukwila School District, and I am once again humbled to be part of a community that wants the same, that reaches out with abundance to support those in need. Through the many giving programs and service organizations here, hundreds and hundreds of homeless and impoverished children have received gifts, food, warm clothing, shelter, and much more. Thank you. Giving is a noble endeavor.

What makes me even prouder is the spirit and mindfulness in which our community gives. From speaking with many of our families, I realize that charity, even in its best and well-intended forms, is never free of humiliation for the recipients; it is difficult for them to have to ask for and receive help. These families need dignity just as much as food or gifts. So when I see giving programs that are designed to be as painless as possible for the recipients and people donating without the need for recognition, I know this is what giving is all about. It’s simply providing for the need without showcasing the charity. We are in service to others.

We are approaching our work in schools with the same filter. Fundamentally, the Tukwila School District’s mission is to educate children, but there are often social and emotional needs that get in the way. How do we give every child an equal footing while preserving their dignity? Here are few examples: We are looking for better ways to provide food to all children. We are exploring options to provide meals during breaks and after school, and we are piloting a Breakfast in the Classroom program that removes the stigma associated with showing up early to school to eat (would you be willing to single yourself out as impoverished at your workplace?). I am also thrilled to partner with Providence Health & Services to start a mentoring program that will bring consistent, positive, caring, career-oriented role models to Foster High every week.

Ultimately, I am blessed to work in a district where I can make decisions based on what is best for all children, surrounded by community members and colleagues who want and do the same. Thank you for being dedicated to this mission. Every child wants laughter, compassion, and love, and I believe that we as a school district are on the forefront of modeling what it looks like to create a community that works for everyone ... not just some. We are striving to create a society that’s free of charity, free of second-class citizenship.

So let’s continue to support our neighbors this season and throughout the year. More importantly, let’s remember they are just that — our neighbors, human beings who want your friendship and respect as much as any handout.

From my family to yours, happy holidays!

In service, Dr. Nancy Coogan Nancy Coogan

There’s nothing more telling than reality and nothing more real than high school students.

After they warmed to the challenge – and with some encouragement from City Council member Joe Duffie – about 40 articulate Foster High students spoke their minds, about life near a troubled highway, run-ins with police officers and their place in the Tukwila community.

For two hours they spoke to and with members of the Tukwila City Council and the Tukwila School Board at a Socratic Seminar organized and led by school Superintendent Nancy Coogan.

The dialogue was sometimes intense, always revealing, and at times heart-breaking.

And I couldn’t get my head around this: Last spring some members of the football team were in handcuffs and on the ground for painting the Foster rock, a timehonored tradition!

The idea behind a Socratic Seminar is to put all the cards on the table, ask questions that lead to understanding and finally come up with positive solutions.

Because this is a column, I am taking some liberties in how I tell the story of what we heard during those two hours in Andrea Gamboa’s social-studies classroom.

From here on, a Foster “every-student” will weave together the stories of

Help neighbors throughout year

OUR SCHOOLS

regional publisher polly shepherd

Where reality hits the road at Foster

Dean A. Radford

viewpoint iwrite staff

tukwilacommentary

EDITOR’S NOTE

4 h DECEMBER 2013

Tukwila School District Superintendent Nancy Coogan can be reached via email at coogann@tukwila.wednet.edu.

Mayor | Collaboration fuels community Collaboration is a word used a lot these days in the halls of government.

Competition for resources and shrinking funding means government leaders can no longer “go it on their own” or work in a vacuum. Working together has become

critical to our success.

Cooperation among cities and agencies is critical for responding to emergencies, solving crimes and coordinating logistics for large events, such as the recent motel raid along Tukwila Interna-

tional Boulevard, when more than 400 law enforcement staff from a multitude of agencies and municipalities worked together to reduce crime along Tukwila International Boulevard. [ more MAYOR page 9]

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » DECEMBER 2013 i 5

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his classmates and the wise counsel they offered. The Pac is Tukwila International Boulevard.

I was helping my mom the other night close up the store on the Pac. Like I always do, I took out the garbage. I learned the highway was dangerous.

A man approached me, asking for drugs. I haven’t told my mom about that, but I am more aware now when I am walking out there.

That’s not the first time I’ve been scared. I’ve seen guys with guns in their pockets. I’ve seen drug deals. I had to ask for help when I was walking by the strip club. It’s an easy way to earn money, but it’s not right.

I’ve got friends who aren’t allowed to walk on the Pac. Their parents say it’s too dangerous.

We’d all live better lives if we could just make a change in the community. Why does our environment attract these kinds of people? I worry we’ll get pulled into that lifestyle.

We don’t want our intelligence to go to waste.

I wonder why the police aren’t going after the drug dealers and prostitutes, rather than me or my friends. They’re profiling us, just because we wear a hoodie or our skin is dark.

My sister was walking down the street. She was stopped by an officer. She was thrown to the ground and taken to the police department for resisting arrest. That’s happened to a lot of us.

Some of my friends tell me the cops are just doing their jobs, that we criticize them for doing their jobs.

I’ve given this a lot of thought and I have some ideas about what we can do.

I wouldn’t have to be scared or have nothing to do if we had a community center or boys or girls club nearby to hang out at. Someplace safe and off the streets. I can’t walk to the community center now because it’s too far away and I don’t have a car.

I want police officers to get to know me, to learn how to talk to me, to know the difference between the good and the bad. Maybe hire more diverse officers.

We have no one to go to, no one to talk to. Give us something to do, help us connect to people in Tukwila.

Yes, honesty is sometimes disheartening, but there is a blueprint not so hidden in their words to move forward.

The students were asked to talk openly about Tukwila International Boulevard and race relations and that’s what they did.

Duffie assured them Tukwila International Boulevard and public safety is the city’s top priority.

The right people were at the seminar to make a difference, not just the city leaders, but the students themselves.

That’s buy-in. More importantly, the conversation will continue about such ideas as a youth advisory council, an ombudsman and a question box where students can make their concerns known.

And Coogan continues to press ahead on a draft of a strategic plan to help guide the district, which she will present to the community early next year.

Dean A. Radford can be reached at 425-255-3484, ext. 5150.

School official takes Redmond HR job Mellody Matthes, the Tukwila School District’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, has been hired as the City of Redmond’s new human resources director.

Matthes was also a candidate for the superintendent’s job in the Tukwila district, where she served as the interim superintendent after Ethelda Burke resigned.

Her hiring was announced by Redmond Mayor John Marchione. She’ll start her new job in Redmond on Jan. 2.

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TUKWILA CITY PAGES Volunteers take on environmental restoration

This past summer and fall, dedicated individual and corporate volunteers worked at several Tukwila sites to restore degraded habitats and improve them for people, fish and wildlife. Among these volunteer efforts are: t 5VLXJMB 5BSHFU FNQMPZFFT XPSLFE UP DMFBO VQ 5VLXJMB 1POE 1BSL BOE restore small wetlands in the park.

Tukwila Police Department Tips

t Puget Sound Stewards (sponsored by Earth Corps) continued their work to maintain the restored shoreline plantings at Codiga Park.

Stop thieves from casing your GIFTS

t .BOZ WPMVOUFFST XPSLFE BU UIF %VXBNJTI 3JWFS TIPSFMJOF BU SFHVMBS monthly work parties and special events led by the Restore the Duwamish Shoreline Challenge partners (BECU, Forterra, City of Tukwila and other businesses). In addition to individuals, groups pitching in to help included Starbucks, Microsoft, CBRE, Pepsico, Up With People, Seattle Central Community College, and the US Air Force.

Most of us enjoy the fun of post-Christmas shopping when the prices are right. Unfortunately, thieves also find this to be a great time to “shop,� but for them that means in your house. Here’s a couple of things to think about as you unwrap and assemble your gifts: Can that big-screen TV be easily seen by someone walking or driving by your house?

If so, think about ways to make it harder for a potential thief to easily spot a desirable target, such as keeping curtains or blinds partly closed or changing the location of the TV or gaming system.

Do you put those large new-item boxes out at the curb for recycling, or overfill the garbage can with styrofoam packaging?

This shows the bad guys exactly what they can expect as a “reward� for breaking into your house. Consider either: – recycling only the number of boxes that fit in your bin each week until they are gone, doing the same with bulky packaging, or – taking them to Ikea, who takes cardboard and all that styrofoam packaging for free and recycles it.

Winter Driving Tips

your gas tank at half full or more, pin case youKeep get stuck in traffic caused by “snowflake panic�.

If you need to warm up the car in the driveway, be in your car to prevent theft. It is pretty embarrassing to admit to an officer taking a theft report that the thief has keys because you left the car running!

x

When you need to scrape ice off your windshield, also pay attention to your headlights and taillights, to prevent them from being dimmed by frost affecting precious visibility.

If there are freezing temperatures and/or ice on your car windows, anything on the roadway that looks wet is probably ice.

Even if everything else is clear, bridges and on/off ramps are often icy.

Consider filling the windshield washer reservoir with de-icing cleaner.

d

Slow down!

e

Winterizing water pipes Follow these tips to prevent water damage during our cold weather:

t 5IF )PNFTDIPPM 4UFXBSETIJQ 4RVBE PG DIJMESFO BOE QBSFOUT IFMQFE remove invasive plants at the Restore the Duwamish Shoreline Challenge site.

Turn off outside faucets and disconnect the hoses from them.

t /FX Puget Sound Stewards were trained for the Restore the Duwamish Shoreline Challenge and started work during the summer.

Protect vulnerable water pipes with insulation or a faucet cover.

Learn more about: Restore the Duwamish Shoreline Challenge, visit www.RestoreTheDuwamish.org

If you have exposed plumbing in an attached garage, keep its doors shut.

Leave open cabinet doors which have exposed pipes (such as under sinks). This allows household air to keep plumbing warm.

If your home will be vacant for several days, keep the thermostat set above 55 degrees.

If vacant for several months, properly winterize your home.

For properties within the City of Tukwila’s water jurisdiction, a broken water pipe may qualify for a credit on the water bill. However, it qualifies only on pipe breakage between the meter and the house, and is subject to other limitations. You’ll find the City’s Leak Adjustment Policy on the City’s website at www.TukwilaWA.gov; select “Utility Information� under the gold “Residents� tab.

Tukwila GreenWorks recipients The King County Housing Authority, located at 600 Andover Park West, has been selected as a Tukwila GreenWorks member for 2013. Tukwila GreenWorks is the City of Tukwila’s recycling recognition program for businesses. The program identifies a select group of Tukwila businesses who practice excellent recycling, waste reduction and resource conservation techniques. 2013 is the second year that KCHA has been a GreenWorks member.

You can find more business recycling information at TukwilaWA.gov/recycling/BusAssistRecog.html

Angela Wallis and Jenna Higgins of King County Housing Authority receive the Tukwila GreenWorks certificate.

Puget Sound Stewards Program, visit www.EarthCorps.org/PugetSoundSteward.php If your business (or you as an individual) would like to help out on any of these ongoing projects, please contact Volunteer Superintendent Tracy Gallaway by calling 206-767-2305, or email Volunteer@TukwilaWA.gov.

Starbucks volunteer clean-up crew

Holiday miracles made possible The compassion and support coming from the Tukwila community to make the 2013 Holiday Giving Program a success is amazing. Each year, Tukwila’s Parks and Recreation Department, along with the Tukwila School District and the Tukwila Children’s Foundation, coordinate the Spirit of Giving program to provide local children and families with gifts, food, and a lot of hope going into the holiday season.

We thank the businesses, community organizations and local citizens for their generosity in helping make this program possible. Because of their contributions, we were able to help 300 local children have a wonderful holiday. Our special thanks go out to those identified here, and the countless volunteers, citizens and anonymous donors! #BSOFT BOE /PCMF t $BMJGPSOJB 1J[[B ,JUDIFO $JUZ PG 5VLXJMB &NQMPZFFT t %JBMZTJT $POTVMUJOH (SPVQ 'BUJHVF 5FDIOPMPHZ t *OTVSBODF 1SPGFTTJPOBMT PG 4PVUI ,JOH $PVOUZ Macy’s Operation and Logistics Department .FNCFS "DDFTT 1BDJGJD --$ t 5IF 3BZOFS 'BNJMZ 3JWFSUPO 1BSL .FUIPEJTU $IVSDI t 4BGFHVBSE "EWFOU 4PVUIHBUF (BSEFO $MVC t 4USPOH #SJEHF 5VLXJMB $IJMESFO T 'PVOEBUJPO t 5VLXJMB 'JSFGJHIUFST -PDBM 5VLXJMB -JCSBSZ "EWJTPSZ #PBSE t 5VLXJMB 1BSLT $PNNJTTJPO 5VLXJMB 1PMJDF %FQBSUNFOU t 5VLXJMB 4DIPPM %JTUSJDU &NQMPZFFT 8FTUGJFME 4PVUIDFOUFS t ;FF .FEJDBM

MAYOR: Jim Haggerton COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Kathy Hougardy

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Citizens helping government The City of Tukwila is assisted in its operations in several areas by our citizen Boards and Commissions. Residents of the City serve an important function by volunteering their time and expertise as members. Citizens interested in serving on a Board or Commission can complete an application and submit it to City Hall. Applications are reviewed and appointments are made by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

There are currently vacant positions on the following Boards and Commissions: t "SUT $PNNJTTJPO t $JWJM 4FSWJDF $PNNJTTJPO t $PNNVOJUZ 1PMJDF "EWJTPSZ #PBSE t &RVJUZ BOE %JWFSTJUZ $PNNJTTJPO t 1BSLT $PNNJTTJPO Information about the City’s Boards and Commissions along with the Boards and Commissions application form can be found on the City’s website at www.TukwilaWA.gov/Mayor/Boards.html.

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For information about indoor & outdoor burning regulations, burn bans and more, please visit www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/airhome.html

The future of City’s parks and more – we’re making a plan!

The City of Tukwila is updating its Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan. This plan will be the culmination of inventory and needs analyses, along with public input, that will help guide the Parks and Recreation system in Tukwila for the next 6–10 years.

Free Auto Leaks Workshops

If you are interested in knowing about the projected needs, goals and policies, funding and implementation strategies, and other elements of this plan, the draft document is currently available for review on the City’s website: TukwilaWA.gov/recreation/PROpenSpacePlan.html The City is accepting public comment through January 13, 2014.

For more information or to provide comments, please email Dave Johnson, Recreation Superintendent, at Dave.Johnson@TukwilaWA.gov, or call 206-768-2822.

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Looking back at a year of moving forward

Does your car drip automotive fluid? Ever wondered if a ‘spot’ on the ground came from your car? Want to learn how to properly maintain your car? Come to a FREE Auto Leaks Workshop given by professional instructors. Sponsored by the Department of Ecology and Seattle Public Utilities, the workshops (valued at $125) are open to everyone.

At the Auto Leaks Workshop, you’ll get a free professional inspection from a certified automotive instructor, learn how to identify and prevent leaks, learn preventive maintenance for your vehicle, and leave the class with a FREE Vehicle Maintenance Check Kit and the confidence to talk to your mechanic. Taking care of your vehicle helps keep the Green River, Duwamish River and Puget Sound pollution-free.

These free 4-hour Saturday workshops consist of one hour in a classroom session and the remaining time in the shop. Workshop locations closest to Tukwila are Renton Technical College (3000 NE 4th Street) and South Seattle Community College (6000 -16th Ave SW).

Space is limited to only 15 participants per session, so register now. For schedule of dates, times and locations, go to www.ecy.WA.gov/washington_waters/fixcarleaks.html These workshops are supported by Tukwila’s Surface Water Management Program. If you have any questions, please contact NPDES Coordinator Greg Villanueva at 206-431-2442 or email SWMP@TukwilaWA.gov.

CZ ,BUIZ )PVHBSEZ $PVODJM 1SFTJEFOU

2013 has been a busy and productive year for the Tukwila City Council, and we take pride in our accomplishments.

our financial policies, and worked with the Finance Department to enhance the clarity of our budget documents.

Following extensive outreach to different community groups and staff, the City of Tukwila created its first Strategic Plan which was adopted in December of 2012. The Council and City Administration were committed to the fact that, once adopted, this Plan would not just sit on the shelf. In March of this year, the Council had its first ever joint meeting with Executive Staff to develop an Implementation Plan that would establish priority areas for 2013 and beyond.

During 2013, the Council and the Mayor’s Office renewed their efforts to collaborate with the Tukwila School District on shared issues. An item addressed at a joint School Board/ City Council meeting was the desire to increase student involvement in our city government processes. As a result, we are creating more opportunities for Tukwila youth to participate on the City’s advisory boards and commissions.

Concern for safety in our neighborhoods, along Tukwila International Boulevard in particular, was a common theme raised by almost all of the stakeholder groups and thus became our highest priority. The successful crime reduction measures along Tukwila International Boulevard – re-establishment of the Neighborhood Resource Center, more Police officers on bicycles and in vehicles, increased efforts in trash removal, and the multi-jurisdictional enforcement raid in hotels along this corridor – have already made a significant difference.

During the spring, the Council engaged in a hiring process for a Council Analyst to replace Kimberly Matej, who moved into a new position in the Mayor’s Office. In May, Laurel Humphrey joined our staff, bringing her expertise from working with the Seattle City Council.

Besides handling the day-to-day responsibilities of her job, Laurel has been busy assisting us with drafting, revising and updating the Council’s operating procedures and guidelines.

The process of revising Council policies and adding some new ones will continue in 2014 until completed, with future updates to be addressed as needed.

At the beginning of this year, we began identifying goals and work plans for our four Council sub-committees: Community Affairs & Parks, Finance & Safety, Transportation, and Utilities. This has been a great way to assist the Council in the proactive shaping of policy.

For example, the Finance and Safety Committee worked diligently to create consistency in

School superintendent Nancy Coogan, along with the Foster High School Civics class, hosted a Socratic Seminar in November. Elected officials were invited to come to the classroom and listen to students voicing their experiences and opinions on the topics that were of importance to them. It was an enlightening and informative session, and we look forward to the process continuing.

Another shared concern was traffic around school properties, especially at the start and end of each school day. City staff is now working with the school district administration to address these issues.

In addition to working with the schools, City administration is partnering with (MPCBM UP Local to utilize various community representatives. These liaisons will facilitate broader and more effective outreach within the richly diverse communities of our city. Using these resources, the Council seeks to increase our involvement in these communities in 2014.

These are just some of the highlights of the past year. As I finish up my tenure as the 2013 Tukwila City Council president, I am thankful to have had the opportunity to serve in that capacity. These are exciting times for Tukwila. We live in an area that is changing rapidly and that has great potential. I am proud to be part of a Council who is committed to the City’s Vision Statement: Tukwila – the City of Opportunity, the Community of Choice.

– Kathy Hougardy

Meeting agendas, City programs, recreation activities, publications and more‌ get the most current information at TukwilaWA.gov!

8 h DECEMBER 2013

« www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com

coverstory

healthy recipes BURMESE Burmese Rice Soup Ingredients: • 1/4 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast • 2 cups of water • ½ cup cooked rice • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tbsp. olive oil • 1 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce • 1 tbsp. salt • 1/4 cups chopped fresh cilantro for garnish • 1 cups cook rice Directions: 1. Place chicken breast in a large pot, cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 45 minutes.

2. Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the pot and shred. Add both the chicken and ginger root back to the pot along with 3 cloves of minced garlic.

3. Add rice into the pot.

4. Add oil, soy sauce, and salt. Cook for 10 minutes on medium.

5. Lastly, add the fresh cilantro and cook for 5 minutes longer.

Burmese Raw Cabbage Salad Ingredients: • 1 cup cabbage, finely cut • ¼ cup tomato, sliced • ¼ cup cucumber, finely cut • ¼ cup onion, sliced • ¼ cup cilantro, finely cut • 1 tbsp. olive oil • 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce • 1 tbsp lime (optional) • 1 tbs Sriracha hot sauce (optional) Directions: 1. Mix cabbage, tomato, cilantro, onion, and cucumber in a salad bowl.

2. Add oil and soy sauce over the mixer and mix well.

3. Squeeze lime and put Sriracha hot sauce if desired.

P’Lae Say mixes together the ingredients of Burmese raw cabbage salad at her home in Tukwila.

Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter

Healthy spoken here Global to Local Initiative helping Tukwila’s diverse communities cook nutritious meals, keep fit

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

M

onica Davalos of Tukwila wanted to make a change in what her family ate to help them stay healthy and fit.

She found that help, along with many other Latino families living in Tukwila and SeaTac, at Global to Local Initiative healthy-cooking classes offered in native languages.

Besides the cooking classes in Spanish, Global to Local is offering classes for the Burmese, Somali, Eritrean and Arab-speaking communities, and a class in English for those managing diabetes.

Global to Local Initiative is a private and public partnership that brings basic health services and economic opportunities to underserved communities in SeaTac and Tukwila.

Part of program is the distribution this week and in early January of holiday food bags filled with the ingredients – and the recipes – to make a healthy meal to the initiative’s different community groups.

Davalos has a head start. She’s participated with Global to Local programming for more than a year. She’s a liaison to the Latino community.

She was drawn to the cooking classes to change her family’s eating habits.

“My motivation is to do a change. A change in my life, in my family, too, because our culture, sometimes it’s different,” she said. For example, she said, the Latino community will use more oils and eat fewer vegetables and fruit.

That change started in the kitchen. She’s using sea salt, rather than table salt. She’s found a new oil to use in her cooking. She and her family are drinking more water and there are no sugar drinks.

And she’s exercising. She’s lost 12 pounds.

The four children in her home are changing what they eat and her young son and daughter have embraced the exercise routine, often suggesting they do some exercise or go for a walk instead of watch TV or go to a movie.

She’s learning how to make side dishes, using vegetables and fruits, in a variety of ways. “They say, ‘Oh, I like that’,” she says of her children and grandchildren.

“We know how to make a salad, a really good salad.

We know how to do healthy rice. I think this is great,” she said.

Samantha Kunze Garcia, the Global to Local community health promoter for the Latino community, has seen [ more HEALTHY page 9 ]

LATINO Tilapia Tacos Ingredients: • 1 tilapia fillet • 1/4 tbs olive oil • 1/4 teaspoon, sea salt and black pepper • 2 white corn tortillas (mission) • 1/2 cup of each kind cabbage (green and purple) • 1/2 cup, thin sliced carrots • 1/4 cup, fresh cilantro, chopped • 1/2 lime Directions: 1. Get a large sauté pan and add the olive oil 2. Cut in half the fillets, add the sea salt and black pepper 3. Sauté fish until done and then heat up the tortillas 4. Lastly, chop the cabbage into very thin slices

ERITREAN Chicken Breast, stuffed with Ricotta Cheese Ingredients: • 1/2 chicken breast skinless • 1/4 cup of ricotta cheese • 2 leafs of fresh sage (chopped) • 1/4 cup leeks (diced) • 1/8 tsp. sea salt • 1/8 tsp. black pepper Directions: 1. Start by taking the chicken breast and with a knife make a pocket 2. Sauté the sage with the leeks and put it to the side to cool down 3. Grab the cheese and mix it with the leeks and sage when they are cool and add sea salt and pepper 4. Then put the mixture into the chicken breast 5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees 6. Let the chicken bake for 25 minutes or until cooked 7. When cooked, cut the chicken into slices onto your plate.

MORE RECIPES AT TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » DECEMBER 2013 i 9

[ HEALTHY from page 8]

Chef Fabio Leyva, left, teaches a cooking class to the Latino community.

With him is Latino community health promoter Samantha Kunze Garcia.

Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter

in eastern Thailand; it’s main ingredient is sun-ripened chili peppers.

Po translated Say’s explanation of how the cooking classes have benefited her and her family.

Say learned about the different types of meats, such as chicken, fish and beef – and which ones are lower in cholesterol and fat.

For example, it’s better to take the skin off chicken before cooking to reduce the amount of fat.

It’s better to use fish instead of beef, because it has good choles-

[ MAYOR from page 4] The City has worked diligently to collaborate with regional and local partners to benefit our residents and businesses. The South Correctional Entity (SCORE) jail in Des Moines serves the confinement needs of seven member cities and a number of contract agencies, providing a much-needed service to Tukwila and neighboring jurisdictions.

The Cascade Water Alliance, a municipal corporation comprised of seven municipalities (including Tukwila), has become a regional leader in establishing joint municipal utilities, allowing entities to come together to provide cost-effective, essential public services, and have helped bring attention to the need for fire hydrant water and protection in every community.

Our membership and participation in the National League of Cities (NLC), Association of Washington Cities (AWC), and Valley Cities has been invaluable in creating and developing relationships that give all of us a bigger voice and presence with our state and federal legislators regarding common issues and concerns, bearing out the belief that there is power in numbers. Sound Cities Association (SCA) is an organization of 35 cities involved in King County Regional Committees to address areas of importance to all of our cities.

The South King County Fire Training Consortium (SKCFTC) is comprised of multiple fire departments and one law enforcement agency located in South King Coun-

terol instead of bad cholesterol.

In the Burmese community, “the mom cooks and the kids eat it. So if the mom cooks the healthy food, then the kids will eat the healthy food,” Po said.

Global to Local has also reached out to residents who are managing their diabetes – sometimes not very well.

The Mobile Health Program was launched last summer, using iPhones that are preprogrammed to upload regular glucose readings, what they’re eating and their

ty. The consortium shares training resources in order to reach common goals that they might be unable to reach separately.

It takes time and commitment to participate in the national, state and regional organizations but the results and benefits gained for our residents and businesses are huge.

Collaboration and partnerships are an integral part of our day-to-day activities as we work to streamline processes and deliver services across our community, and they are woven throughout our Strategic Plan: • “Build a broad and collaborative approach to preventing crime and increasing the sense of safety.”

• “Partner with organizations that help meet the basic needs of all residents.”

• “Strive for excellent education, vocational supports and personal growth opportunities through effective partnerships and City services.”

• “Strengthen the City’s engagement and partnership with the business community.”

• “Advance Tukwila’s interests through participation in regional partnerships.”

Our elected officials and staff across the City work closely with the Tukwila School District, the Chamber of Commerce, a wide range of service providers and many others as we strive toward our vision of becoming the City of opportunity, the community of choice.

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On the cover Monica Davalos has gone from being a participant in the Latino healthycooking classes offered by the Global to Local Initiative to being a Latino community liaison. She participated in a recent class where the participants learned to make a tilapia taco. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter.

program is really the language specific, that we actually do the cooking classes in people’s own language and we incorporate them in the development of the recipes,” she said. “The health promoters are really a key part of that.”

nificant results can be achieved by working together to solve common issues. Our Strategic Plan challenges all of us to develop and expand existing partnerships and seek new opportunities to work together, both internally and across our region.

On a more personal note, as we say goodbye to 2013 and welcome the new year, I hope you will also embrace opportunities to partner with others and by doing so, you can make a positive difference in someone’s life. Being a volunteer in a local or regional non-profit group, the Veterans Administration, local churches, food banks, schools, and others is a great way to be part of something bigger.

In closing, I would like to compliment all of our City employees for their generosity and efforts, especially at this time of year, to help address the needs of children and families in Tukwila.

Wishing you a very happy holiday season!

Sincerely, Mayor Jim Haggerton Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton can be reached at mayor@ tukwilawa,gov.

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the difference the cooking program makes.

“I have seen the changes when they tell me that they have lost weight, or they feel much better or now they are eating more vegetables, drinking more water, walking more. So that’s very nice.”

Salt is also a health issue for the Burmese community in Tukwila.

Linda Po is the community health promoter for the Burmese families of Tukwila and SeaTac. The cooking classes teach the participants how to choose better ingredients and to use different cooking methods, as well as how to live a healthier lifestyle.

Many Burmese community members eat “a lot of salt,” Po said, and also have high blood pressure. The classes teach them how to choose food low in sodium and how to reduce the amount of salt they use in cooking, she said.

P’Lae Say and her niece Ke Ke demonstrated at home in Tukwila how to make a Burmese raw cabbage salad, which they shared.

Besides the vegetables, the salad uses olive oil and low-sodium soy sauce and Sriracha hot sauce that added a nice kick.

Sriracha is named after a city

exercise routine. In turn they receive customized educational material.

Fareeha Siddiqui, Global to Local’s director of research and innovation, views all the data on her computer as the program’s case manager. She’s already seen that participants in the cooking classes have changed their shopping and eating habits.

The number of diabetes-related deaths in SeaTac and Tukwila is 1.5 times greater than the King County average.

After the months working with her patients, Siddiqui learned they didn’t have much nutritional background. The cooking classes were expanding to include recipes that are diabetic friendly and stress nutritional guidelines.

The classes are in English.

“There was a group we were essentially missing, which was the English-speaking community that lives around here that doesn’t necessarily require language-specific classes,” she said.

Global to Local has offered the healthy-cooking classes for about 18 months, said Alma Villegas, the community programs manager. Similar programs have been offered by agencies elsewhere.

“What’s more unique about our

10 h DECEMBER 2013

« www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com

tukwilasports Foster boys find their high gear

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

Foster boys basketball Coach Isaac Tucker has his players sized up.

They’re not particularly tall but they’re quick.

They’re talented in many ways, making it possible to assign specific roles to specific players.

This is Tucker’s second year as coach of the Foster boys. He grew up a coach’s son and played basketball for two years at a community college. He “left the sport alone for years,” he says.

Then he spent several years coaching youth teams in Renton and was involved with Next Step Athletics, where he coached his step-son’s AAU team. Khalfani Carter is now a freshman on Foster’s JV team.

“It wasn’t until I was sitting at the state tournament at the Tacoma Dome with my Dad six years ago that I realized I wanted/ needed to coach high school basketball,” he said.

His father Rich is a volunteer assistant coach; David Montoya is his assistant coach. Coach of the junior varsity team is Joel Green.

He sees his team as a family.

The Bulldogs had an intense practice to prepare for the Wednesday league opener against Lindbergh on Dec. 11, losing 78-67.

Girls coach has dream job, talented seniors

BY DEAN A. RADFORD DRADFORD@TUKWILAREPORTER.COM

Foster boys basketball Coach Isaac Tucker stands amid the conditioning as his Bulldogs prepared for the Seamount League opener against Lindbergh Dec. 11. Dean A. Radford/Tukwila Reporter.

They’ll resume league play after the Christmas break.

Tucker is shaking off the loss of two key players from last year’s team, scoring threat Adem Suta and top defender Tyerel Brown who earned Tucker’s “Glove” award last year.

“On any given night he was easily the best shooter in the gym and competed every time he stepped on the floor,” said Tucker of Suta.

He’s still hunting for a replacement for Brown, who didn’t show up in the stats in every game but “was my lock-down defender all season long,” Tucker said.

Four varsity players are returning but only two spent much time on the court, he says. Only two players play basketball year round, which means the Bulldogs have to work to catch up with other teams in the Seamount, he says. [ more BOYS page 11 ]

Foster High’s new girls basketball coach has his dream job and his players are excited about the season.

“Foster is a dream job for me,” said new Foster Coach Eric Smith. “I plan to be here for a while and I’m 100 percent sure two years from now Foster will be a powerhouse.”

He’s building this year’s team around three seniors with plenty of experience.

Bre Mills joins fellow seniors Marquis Daniels and Eunica Serafica as the team’s captains. She’s played four years for the Bulldogs.

“I am really excited about this season,” said Mills, a post and wing on the team. “I feel like we have a lot of really good girls on the team.”

Before Foster, Smith coached boys basketball for five years at Chief Leschi High School in Puyallup, where his teams won a league title and appeared in three state playoffs. [ more GIRLS page 11 ]

www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com » DECEMBER 2013 i 11

Girls’ strength is in defense, says coach

Senior Bre Mills is focused on the ball at a recent practice of the Foster High girls basketball team. Dean A. Radford/ Tukwila Reporter

The nucleus of his team, he said, is his three senior captains, Serafica, Daniels and Mills.

“They are at practice and set the tone everyday by working hard and have made my first year really easy with their leadership so far,” he said.

[ BOYS from page 10] night and I have no doubt they’ll be rewarded come the end of January,” says Tucker.

And then there is 5-foot-7 Isiah Lewis, whom Tucker calls his “dynamic freshman guard.”

“He could easily be a four-year starter and I expect great things from him as we progress through the season,” said Tucker.

Tucker said his main returner from last season is junior Ronnie Roberson, who led the Seamount League in rebounding, but for some reason, he says, didn’t make an all-league team.

“He’s got a nose for the ball, quick off the floor and plays with energy most people can’t match – Ronnie never takes a play off,” he says of his 6-foot-4 forward.

The team is still a bit “height-challenged,” Tucker says. As of early this week, Roberson still needed to meet the minimum number of practices to play and junior Dzenan Cosic, a 6-foot-3 forward, was still out with a knee he injured at the first practice.

But senior forward Randy Tippins, at 6-foot-1, was cleared to return from a concussion he suffered this past fall, according to Tucker. Tippins was the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs’ football team.

“Our first two games we’ve had to put wings down on the blocks and play a lot of zone defensively,” Tucker said. “Hopefully over the course of the season our quickness will pay dividends for our lack of height.”

In the season opener, the Foster lost to Kentwood High School, 70-31. Senior Rashad Sang led he scoring with 11 points.

His varsity team is young: a lone junior, five sophomores and two freshmen join the three seniors.

“I expect them to make lots of mistakes from inexperience, but hope with the energy and hard-nosed defense, they can make up for the mistakes,” he said.

The next game Dec. 6 was much closer with Chief Sealth edging Foster 66-62.

Senior Cory Covarrubia was the leading scorer with 14 points What’s new this year is a “clearer mix of talent” compared to last year, when players were similar (with Roberson the exception) and interchangeable, Tucker said.

Roles and style of play were “very general,” he said.

But with that clearer mix, he can define specific roles for individuals, such as point guard, shooting guard and forward, “that I think will make us a stronger team in the long run.

“There were a lot of gray areas last season, but I think this year the kids will benefit from knowing exactly where they fit in, and what’s expected of them, on the court,” he said.

All that boils down to this: “I still expect our overall playing style to be defense-oriented, relying heavily on being quicker than the other team,” he said.

The Bulldogs will play a predominately man-to-man defense, but Tucker says there is always “a time and place” for a zone defense.

“I like to mix things up as needed so the other team never gets too comfortable on offense,” he says.

On offense, the Bulldogs will primarily run a continuity/motion offense in half court.

“But if I can get them to kick the ball ahead and get shots up quickly, that will be our preference,” he says.

All that boils down to this: “Work hard on defense, have fun on offense,” he says.

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In his first year he was named SeaTac 2B League coach of the year.

He coached girls AAU basketball for DAP Sports in Olympia for three years and was a volunteer coach for Grays Harbor College.

The girls opened the season with a 63-17 loss Dec. 3 against Seattle Christian but came back the next day to beat Rainier Beach 6318.

“We had first-game jitters. Things like that,” said Smith. “The second game, they were more comfortable and came to play. We played the way we are supposed to play.”

The girls kicked off their league play Dec. 11 against the Lindbergh Eagles, losing 68-30. They’ll resume league play after the Christmas break.

In a pre-season interview Smith said the team so far “has been looking strong defensively. What we lack in size we try to makeup in speed.”

The team’s strength is its defense, he said.

“We will try to be a headache for any team we play,” he said. “We plan to play four quarters of pressure defense.”

Offensively, the team will “basically read and react” and push the ball back up the court.

He hasn’t discovered the team’s weaknesses “and hopefully I won’t,” he said.

Foster’s new assistant coach is Brandi Travess, who was the girls varsity head coach at Tyee High School. She’ll coach the JV team.

“I’m lucky to have her working with the JV team, because I know that will help our future,” he said.

He thanked Athletic Director J.D. Hill for “trusting me with the job” and the Foster staff that has supported him.

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Finding the Connection

12 h DECEMBER 2013

« www.TUKWILAREPORTER.com

school connection Tukwila School District #406

December 2013

Food for Every Child A monthly column by Craig L. Huckins, Food Service Director, Tukwila School District The Tukwila School District’s philosophy believes in food for every child— we help curb hunger in our community and to provide free, healthy, and nutritious foods to as many students as possible. We took another big step toward this goal last month when we started a new-and-improved version of our after-school snack program.

These new “Power Snacks” are served up Monday through Thursday to students enrolled in one of the many after-school programs in our schools. Power Snacks feature full servings of locally grown fruits and vegetables that many kids may not consistently get at home. They also include a serving of protein, grain and milk.

Superintendent Nancy Coogan explains that “the Power Snack is an expansion of the after-school snack program that we previously offered where all students are offered additional, balanced snacks. It is imperative that we provide these offerings since many of our students remain

school connection

is presented by the Tukwila School District

Tukwila School District #406

www.tukwila.wednet.edu 206.901.8000 4640 South 144th Street Tukwila, Washington 98168

Board of Directors: Mark Wahlstrom, President 206.243.9855 Steve Mullet, Vice-President 206.244.7553 Mary Fertakis 206.767.6053 Dave Larson 206.244.2313 Alicia Waterton 206.248.4302 Superintendent: Dr. Nancy Coogan 206 901-8006

after school engaged in academic and enrichment opportunities. I commend our Food Service Department and its work getting this program up and running. Bottom line...food for all!”

The Power Snacks introduce students to proper nutrition and help their hungry stomachs get through that period between lunch and dinner—the time when many kids reach for the most convenient, high-calorie junk foods they can find such as chips, candy, fast foods, and sugarloaded sodas and artificial juices.

The program is paid for by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is part of a much larger federal children’s food program that was expanded by Congress with the Healthy, HungerFree Kids Act of 2010.

Happy Winter Break There is NO SCHOOL for students Dec. 23 - Jan. 3.

The district office will be closed Dec. 23-25 and Jan. 1, 2014

Have you ever seen a more perfect holiday tree for a library? Foster students Martin Franco and Seizi Yada created this literary masterpiece to remind everyone there’s something we can be universally thankful for this season: Reading!

Please note: The printed calendar incorrectly listed the last day before break, Dec. 20, as an early release day; it is actually a full day for students and staff.

Get Social with Your Schools

It’s back to school for 25 employees of Providence Health & Services!

They have been training—including taking a personal skills inventory— throughout December to pilot a new mentorship program that will provide consistent, positive, caring role models at Foster High School on a weekly basis. The partnership was born out of Providence’s mission to support local communities in need and Foster’s goal to support every atrisk student through graduation and beyond.

Connect with the Tukwila School District on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with alerts, important informtion, and everyday fun happenings in our schools—from Crazy Hair Day to Rotary Students of the Month! www.facebook.com/tukwilaschools www.twitter.com/tukwilaschools

Student and City leaders meet in Socratic Seminar City and student leaders came together Nov. 19 in a Socratic Seminar at Foster High to discuss community issues such as race relations and crime on Pacific Highway. A Socratic Seminar is a collaborative, intellectual dialogue with openended questions designed to move a group toward

critical reasoning, deep understanding, and solutions.

All participants read a study about Critical Race Theory beforehand to guide the discussion. Students talked about their personal experiences living in Tukwila and the need for more positive police/student interactions, structured after-school

opportunities, drug/crime prevention, and more. Both sides agreed to continue the conversation with a follow-up meeting soon as well as opportunities that could include a youth advisory board to the City Council and joint service projects.