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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015
A DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
Prop. 1 opponents say park district is wrong way to fund ARC Critics say Metropolitan Park District lacks specificity of a traditional bond measure, takes power away from Kirkland voters BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
F
or members of the effort against the creation of a Metropolitan Park District (MPD) as a funding mechanism for the Aquatic and Recreational Community Center (ARC) it’s not about whether to fund the ARC but how. One of the leaders of the
“no” vote against Proposition 1 includes Rick Whitney, who served on the city Parks Board for nine years as well as on prior committees dedicated to getting park bond measures passed. Both Whitney and Ken MacKenzie, another Prop. 1 opposition organizer, agree that there is a strong need for an aquatic center. “The need is not the
issue,” Whitney said. “It’s about how it’s [ARC] being funded.” An MPD is a junior taxing district that sets a fixed tax rate all property owners pay per $1,000 in assessed valuation (AV), with a maximum rate of 75 cents per $1,000 AV. A bond, on the other hand, raises a fixed amount per year and the tax rate changes accord-
ingly. Under the proposed ARC, believe an MPD is ordinance, the the most practi“The need is cal way of fundMPD’s boundaries not the issue. ing the ARC after would be the city limits. The city has It’s about how searching for both estimated that the it’s [ARC] being locations to build tax rate would be it, as well as ways of funded.” around 25 cents per paying for the asRick Whitney 1,000 AV. sociated costs. With City officials many of the costs and proponents of Prop. still uncertain, including 1, including the political the purchase price for a action committee (PAC) specific property on which Yes on Prop. 1, Build the to site it, the MPD would
Evergreen Strong on prostate cancer
Kirkland City Council candidate forum, submit questions BY REPORTER STAFF Kirkland Reporter
Kirkland hospital leading the way with new treatment BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
Former Seattle Seahawks fullback Mack Strong hosted an event at EvergreenHealth Sept. 16 to raise awareness about prostate cancer that also helped highlight exclusive new technology introduced at the hospital for improving cancer treatment. The event allowed participants to test their Seahawks trivia knowledge, get signed autographs and photos with Strong, who played for the Seahawks 14 seasons. Strong has been hosting the event for six years and said he first got involved out of a desire to encourage more men in his age group, particularly African American men, to take proactive steps in dealing with prostate cancer and live their lives with peace of mind. “It became one of those
enable the city to raise as much as needed to cover the final bill, while a bond measure would require more certainty as to the final cost. From Whitney and MacKenzie’s perspective, however, the measure offers a lack of specificity, certainty and accountability. Whitney stated one of [ more MPD page 3 ]
EvergreenHealth X-ray technician Erin Pool meets with former Seattle Seahawk and current broadcaster Mack Strong in front of the hospital during a prostate awareness event in Kirkland. This was the sixth year Strong has volunteered for the event. MATT PHELPS, Kirkland Reporter things I needed to do,” he said. “It’s something we need to stress a lot more, when you’re approaching that age you need to get checked. “ Around 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. African American men have the highest incidence rate of prostate cancer and 60 percent more are likely to develop it compared to Caucasian men. However, 95 percent of men get prostate cancer at
some point, according to tate cancer treatment, Rose Guerrero, director EvergreenHealth has of cancer services at The introduced new technolHalvorson Cancer Center ogy not found elsewhere at Evergreenin the state. Health. Although Approved by the the exact cause is Food and Drug not known for cerAdministration in tain, the survival April, the techrate is relatively nology reduces high. The main the side effects of problem, Guerrero prostate cancer Dr. Richard Hsi said, is convincing treatment. reluctant men be Richard Hsi, screened earlier, starting MD, a radiation oncoloin their 40s and 50s. gist at EvergeenHealth, As part of their prosparticipated in the clini-
cal trials for the technology. Injecting a gel into the patient reduced radiation in the surrounding areas treated for cancer by 75 percent, with a 70 percent reduction in toxicity. For patients looking at treatment options, the gel injection makes radiation a more attractive choice than surgery; the gel is 90 percent water and goes away within six months, according to Hsi. For doctors like Hsi, [ more PROSTATE page 3 ]
The Juanita Neighborhood Association and Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance will host a forum featuring all five candidates on the ballot for Kirkland City Council during the November general election, from 7-8:45 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Kirkland Justice Center. The candidates scheduled to participate are Councilwoman Shelley Kloba and challenger Jason Chinchilla for Position 2, Councilman Dave Asher and challenger Martin Morgan for Position 6 and Councilman Toby Nixon for Position 4, who is running unopposed. The two neighborhood groups are soliciting questions for the candidates to address during the event. To submit a question for the candidates, email Ken Albinger at ken.albinger@gmail.com The Kirkland Justice Center is located at 11750 NE 118th Street.