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SPORTS | Overlake lacrosse stars commit to colleges [12] CRIME ALERT | Redmond Police Blotter [3]
FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
YOUNG AT HEART | Meet Fairwinds-Redmond resident Ross Patterson [11]
Lake Washington School District $404M bond is failing SAMANTHA PAK spak@redmond-reporter.com
The latest results for the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) Proposition No. 1 bond show the measure about eight percentage points away from passing. According to King County Elections, the
bond’s approval percentage is 51.99 with a 48.01 rejection percentage as of Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. To pass, the bond needs a 60 percent “yes” vote and a minimum turnout of 18,503. Results will be certified on May 6.
Based on the early returns, LWSD communications director Kathryn Reith said they don’t expect the measure to pass. “The results are disappointing for the students, staff and families of the Lake Washington School
SPECIAL ELECTION
District,” said Superintendent Dr. Traci Pierce. Others are disappointed, as well. “Though the election fell short of the required supermajority support by the community, we are very appreciative of the hard work by the several hundred volunteers throughout the school district commit-
ted to sharing accurate data and reliable information toward the honest outcomes,” said Lake Washington Citizens Levy Committee (LWCLC) co-chair Jackie Pendergrass. The LWCLC is a grassroots, all-volunteer organization founded in 1978 to promote quality education and informs vot-
ers about school levy and bond elections and directs efforts toward ensuring their passage. Pendergrass’s co-chair Byron Shutz added, “We remain many school communities in support of our one school district that has consistently earned our trust to deliver the appropriate [ more BOND page 6 ]
Locals run emotional marathon Sebastian, 12 others take
oath to become U.S. citizens
Mossman finishes her fourth Boston race, heads to Big Sur next
SAMANTHA PAK spak@redmond-reporter.com
Emotions ran high and deep at Monday’s 118th Boston Marathon. A year ago, two bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three spectators and injuring 264 others. On Monday, nearly 36,000 runners returned to the streets of Boston and tackled the 26.2-mile course. “It was an emotional day for a lot of people. I was watching the local news stories and they were saying, ‘We took our marathon back’ and people were really proud of how it went,” said Redmond’s Kristen Mossman, 50, who finished her fourth Boston Marathon in three hours, 22 minutes and 34 seconds. “Overall, I had a great day — I’m happy. It’s been a special time for me,” she added over the phone from Boston on Tuesday morning. While speaking with the Reporter, Mossman walked
Following her Boston Marathon finish on Monday, Redmond’s Kristen Mossman holds a sign of the famous last stretch of the race. Courtesy photo around the streets and relived the “Boston Strong” atmosphere from the day before. At the Reporter’s deadline, the Boston Athletic Association
website notes that three Redmond runners finished the marathon. Along with Mossman, there was Kirk Sall, 46, with a time of [ more BOSTON page 7 ]
! WARNING
Redmond’s Arvin Sebastian recites the oath to become a United States citizen on Monday at the Redmond Regional Library. SAMANTHA PAK, Redmond Reporter
pines and he was able to familiarize himself that way. “It was like moving to another province for us,” he said about coming to the states. Although he grew up in the Philippines, Arvin said the United States has been like a second home for him, Irma and their two sons. He said they do feel like they are a part of the country but now that he is a citizen, it is official. Irma will be [ more CITIZENS page 7 ]
Excessive exposure to the Redmond Reporter has been linked to increased community engagement & overall personal awesomeness. Sound Publishing, Inc.
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ANDY NYSTROM anystrom@redmond-reporter.com
On Monday, 13 individuals earned the right to call themselves Americans during a naturalization ceremony at the Redmond Regional Library. Representing nine countries, the new U.S. citizens came from as far as Romania, Taiwan and Indonesia to just north of the border in Canada. And from the Philippines was Arvin Sebastian, a Redmond resident who works as an engineer at AT&T. Sebastian came to the United States in 2003 to work. He started out in Boston. There, he met his wife Irma Sebastian, who also came to the country from the Philippines in 2004. After they married, the couple moved around the country before they came to Redmond. When he first came to the United States, Arvin said the main thing he had to adjust to was the weather in Boston, which was very different from the Philippines’ tropical climate. “Their winter is never ending,” he said about the New England town. Culturally, Arvin said things weren’t too difficult as they watched American TV shows in the Philip-