Fall 2014
What's New in Newcastle
We can begin to see some of Newcastle's beautiful fall colors and temperatures are starting to cool. It's time for salmon to return to streams in our area to spawn. You can help these salmon by changing the way you do some things at home like using natural materials to care for your yard. Read more in this issue about how to create an even healthier, safer Newcastle.
Museum Exhibit Poster
Photo courtesy of the Renton History Museum and Newcastle Historical Society

Find Newcastle's History  

Learn about Newcastle's prominent place in the region's history by exploring an exhibit at the Renton History Museum called "Newcastle: Little Giant of the Eastside." Coal from Newcastle fueled Seattle's development, and by the late 1890s, Newcastle was the second largest town in King County. Miners and prospectors worked Newcastle mines from 1863 to 1963, removing nearly 1 million tons of coal! Find out more about your city's history now until February 7 at the museum, located at 235 Mill Ave. S in Renton. The exhibit was made possible by the Newcastle Historical Society in partnership with the Renton History Museum.
  
The Newcastle Historical Society has also teamed up with City staff to bring you an exhibit at Newcastle City Hall, including a picture timeline and rotating collection of artifacts from our coal mining past.
Use New Online Tools to Assist Police in Protecting Your Family  Newcastle Police Logo 
More and more people are using cell phones as their only phone, but when you call 911 on a cell phone, response personnel may not know where to find you. You can do something about it by entering information into www.Smart911.com. It's free, and it could provide the vital seconds that will save your life.
  
Another online tool free to Newcastle residents is www.TrackMole.com. Protect your belongings by entering serial numbers into TrackMole today. If your property is then lost or stolen, police can use TrackMole to more quickly recover the items and return them to you. Take a moment to prepare for emergencies.
Natural Yard Care Workshops

Learn how to have a beautiful yard that's easier to care for and healthier for your family and the environment at two free natural yard care workshops in October. The workshops will be conveniently located at the Seattle Revival Center in Newcastle.

 

Workshop 1: Garden Design and Growing Healthy Soil

Wednesday, October 15, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Doug Rice, landscape architect and former co-host of Yard Talk
on KCTV, will share professional advice and resources in garden design. Doug will also discuss the importance of growing healthy soil. You'll learn how to grow more attractive, robust plants by mulching, composting and top-dressing.  

 

Workshop 2: Natural Lawn Care, Natural Pest Control and Smart Watering

Wednesday, October 22, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Ladd Smith from In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes will discuss natural lawn care practices such as mulch mowing, slow-release fertilizers and other natural ways to help you grow a beautiful lawn. He'll offer advice on natural pest control and tips on the best products, methods and tools for controlling pests. Ladd will teach you about smart watering techniques that use less water.

 

You could win free natural yard care products and services!

 

Register for the classes by visiting www.naturalyardcare.info and clicking on "workshops," by calling 425-732-3264 or sending an email to register@naturalyardcare.com with your name, phone number and address. The Seattle Revival Center is located at 12636 SE May Creek Park Drive.

City Council Looking for New Community Activities Commissioners 
The Newcastle City Council is seeking applications for membership on the Community Activities Commission. Two opportunities for serving Newcastle are available. We are looking for residents who are enthusiastic about creating experiences and park spaces that enhance the quality of life for people living here. Commissioners are an important part of making Newcastle unique due to their involvement in projects that improve the city's extensive trail system, create awareness of Newcastle's historical and cultural heritage, and provide opportunities for people to volunteer. You must be at least 18 years old and reside within the city. If you're interested, submit an application, letter of interest and resume to the City Clerk by 5 p.m. Wednesday, October 1, 2014. Applications are available on the City's homepage www.ci.newcastle.wa.us.
City Staff Would Like to Come to You
Are you interested in meeting your neighbors, making your area safer and learning about City services? We all want to live in a safe, connected community and we are looking for opportunities to share information about City services and neighborhood safety, and to discuss issues of concern. We encourage you to contact us if you would like to invite City staff and/or officials to your meetings and events happening in Newcastle. 
  • Tell us what's going on in your neighborhood, what your concerns are and what your ideas for solutions are.
  • Learn about available City services, programs and volunteer opportunities.

Please contact Community Activities Liaison Wendy Kirchner at WendyK@ci.newcastle.wa.us or (425) 649-4444, ext. 142 for more information or to schedule a visit.

Tickets on Sale Now for Chamber of Commerce Diamond Awards  
Tickets are on sale now for the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce's annual Diamond Awards Ceremony that recognizes community members who do good things in the greater Newcastle area. Recipients have demonstrated dedication, integrity and caring, and are chosen based on their contributions. The ceremony is a special evening at The Golf Club at Newcastle to celebrate all nominated individuals who put their time and efforts into our neighborhoods, businesses, schools and groups. The event will be held Thursday, November 20, 2014, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the golf club, and includes appetizers and a no-host bar. Buy tickets at the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce website.
Newcastle Trails Organization Keeps Our Trails on the Map
Newcastle gives you miles of trails connecting neighborhoods, and this unique amenity is made possible in large part by the City's volunteers and the Newcastle Trails nonprofit. Trails volunteers work with the City on maintaining trails and creating new ones. They also identify priorities and recommend trail routes to City officials. View a trails map and trails guide on the Newcastle Trails website. You can also find out about volunteer opportunities, board meetings and general news.  
Development Activity in Newcastle 
Many exciting development projects are under review at the City including a new middle school, senior living facility, redevelopment of the former site of Mutual Materials for businesses and multifamily homes and projects for new apartments. View descriptions of these projects and a map of their locations throughout Newcastle on the city's planning division website. You can also find answers to these common questions on the city's website:
 
How do I schedule inspections?
Go to https://Inspection.MyBuildingPermit.com and select the inspection request option. If you do not have internet access, call City Hall and ask for the inspection request line. Click here for more detailed information.
 
Who do I contact about sewer and water connections or fees?
Sewer and water in Newcastle is provided by Coal Creek Utility District, www.ccud.org or (425) 235-9200.
 
Do I need to contact the City if I want to remove a tree?
It is recommended you contact the City to determine if your tree is located in a Native Growth Protection Easement or critical area, or if the tree is part of a significant tree retention plan. If not, then you are allowed to remove the tree without City permission. 
Invasive Snail Species Found in May Creek
A recent report from King County confirmed the positive identification of the New Zealand Mudsnail in May Creek, just upstream of a culvert crossing with Lake Washington Boulevard. The snail could be present throughout the watershed. Mudsnails also have now been confirmed in several other Lake Washington tributaries within King County, including Thornton Creek, Kelsey Creek and McAleer Creek. Special decontamination precautions or dedicated gear should be used when working in these watersheds. New Zealand Mudsnails multiply quickly and crowd out native species. They have the potential to become a serious problem for the entire region. Go to this King County biodiversity website for more information.
Charges Filed Against Two Suspected of Stealing from Cars in Newcastle  
Car prowls have increased in Newcastle this year compared with last year, but that number may begin to decrease. Newcastle Police Detective Marsalisi has filed charges against two people believed to be responsible for multiple car prowls in Newcastle, Bellevue and Clyde Hill. Officer Yamamoto identified the two suspects while investigating a call from a concerned citizen about a suspicious male looking in cars. Further investigation resulted in 26 charges being filed on two people from Everett. You can prevent car prowls by not storing anything of value inside your car or removing it from eyesight. Electronics are particularly attractive to thieves. If you have to put something in your trunk, make sure no one is watching. If you see anything suspicious (like someone looking in cars or trying car doors) don't hesitate to call 9-1-1 or the non-emergency police dispatch number 206-296-3311. Together we can prevent crime and keep Newcastle safe.

Newcastle Days

Summer Events Were a Blast!

We hope you enjoyed the City's array of events at Lake Boren Park this summer. Skies ignited with a dazzling fireworks display at the Fourth at the Lake Celebration presented by Avalon Communities and supported by Waste Management. The Golf Club at Newcastle and the Coal Creek Family YMCA sponsored our Concerts in the Park series. A variety of musical performers took the stage bringing rhythm and blues, rock, country and a touch of Irish to Newcastle.

 

Warm summer weather prevailed for Newcastle Days and we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the city's incorporation! Gil Rene, whose band played at the City's inauguration 20 years ago, opened the performances, and resident Alan White, legendary drummer from Yes, and his band closed the event. Many people enjoyed a variety of music, games, activities, community booths and food - including food provided by Newcastle's own B&E Meats and Newcastle Fruit & Produce. The car show drew over 70 vehicles, spanning seven decades. All this in addition to pony rides, a petting zoo and other fun for the kids.

 

We'd like to thank Newcastle Days presenting sponsors Regency Newcastle and Waste Management, platinum sponsors BECU, AT&T, UW Valley Medical Center and Coal Creek Family YMCA, and gold sponsors Animal Hospital of Newport Hills, HomeStreet Bank, Key Bank, Apple Physical Therapy and the Golf Club at Newcastle. We'd also like to thank our volunteers for making our summer events run smoothly. If you are interested in helping out, contact our Community Activities Liaison Wendy by sending an email to wendyk@ci.newcastle.wa.us or by calling 425-649-4444.

Fire Station Open House 
Fire Prevention week (Oct. 8-14) will get off to a blazing start this year, with fire safety demonstrations at the Bellevue station on Newcastle Way Saturday, October 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Try on bunker gear, learn how to use a fire extinguisher and participate in other activities designed to inform and entertain adults and children. The station is located at 12412 Newcastle Way. For more information visit www.bellevuewa.gov/fire_department.htm.
Bridge Project Nears Completion
City of Bellevue staff report that a major road project on Coal Creek Parkway requring full-time lane closures is nearing completion. Depending on weather conditions, all four lanes could be open by the end of next week. Some off-peak hour closures will still be necessary during the month of October. The project was to replace a deteriorating culvert with a new bridge, add a new pedestrian walkway under the bridge to connect to Coal Creek Trail and restore the stream for improved salmon passage. Go to Bellevue's project page for more information and to sign up for alerts.
Logo 1 
Upcoming Events 

Newcastle History Exhibit
Now Until February 7, 2015
Renton History Museum
235 Mill Ave. S, Renton
  
Fire Station Open House
Saturday, October 4
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bellevue Fire Station
12412 Newcastle Way
 
Natural Yard Care Workshop 1
Wednesday, October 15
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Seattle Revival Center
12636 SE May Creek Park Drive
  
Natural Yard Care Workshop 2
Wednesday, October 22
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Seatle Revival Center
12636 SE May Creek Park Drive
  
Newcastle Arbor Day
Saturday, October 18
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Details TBD
  
Chamber of Commerce Diamond Awards Event
Thursday, November 20
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Golf Club at Newcastle
15500 Six Penny Lane
  
City Meetings 

City Council
October 7, October 21, November 4, November 18 and December 2
at City Hall
Begin at 7 p.m.
  
Planning Commission
October 15, November 19 and December 17
at City Hall
Begin at 7 p.m.
  
Community Activities Commission
October 8, November 12 and December 10
at City Hall
Begin at 7 p.m. 
  
City Staff Directors 

City Manager
Rob Wyman
  
Finance Director
Christine Olson
  
Community Development Director
Tim McHarg
  
Police Chief
Melinda Irvine
  
City of Newcastle

12835 Newcastle Way,
Suite 200
Newcastle, WA 98056
425-649-4444
  
Sara McMillon
City of Newcastle