Honoring Our Past | Shaping Our Future

In September 2019, the City of Newcastle celebrated its 25th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, on the 25th of each month, we release a special anniversary edition of the Newsletter from Newcastle City Hall, featuring special projects, events and photos. The goal is to celebrate Newcastle, while showcasing and offering unique community activities each month.

YOU'RE INVITED: Community Tree Lighting & Small Business Saturday

Newcastle Fruit and Produce is hosting its community Tree Lighting event from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30. They’ll light a 25-foot tree and enjoy a visit by carolers from the Liberty High School choir, Santa, his elves, and trusted reindeer companions Comet and Cupid. There will be a photo booth with Santa, hot cider, hot chocolate, and snacks to keep you warm, while supplies last. All ages are welcome. Overflow parking is available across the street at the collision center, the QFC parking lot or Newcastle City Hall. Nov. 30 is also Small Business Saturday — a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. Join the City of Newcastle in choosing to shop small, think local and patronize the independent retailers and restaurants that make this community special. By shopping or dining at small businesses throughout the year, you’re showing your support for the independent retailers in your neighborhood. Plus, when you shop local, you’re directly contributing to your community. The  sales tax  revenue generated supports the City services that make Newcastle a special place to live.

City, Aegis Gardens Host FREE Arts Programs

The City of Newcastle is pleased to partner with Aegis Gardens to host FREE arts programs spotlighting traditional Chinese crafts! Join us as we explore the artistry of Chinese paper cutting and knot tying. The traditional Chinese folk art of paper cutting is the earliest form of paper craft. Its origins date back to 105 AD, when the Chinese invented paper. You will often see the intricate paper cut-outs adorned on windows or doors. They celebrate festivals, weddings or other important life events. The instructor will show you how to use scissors and paper to create these beautifully handcrafted scenes. Attend a paper-cutting class from 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Aegis Gardens (13056 SE 76th St.). A Chinese knot is a knot that is tied and woven from a single length of cord or rope to create a variety of shapes of varying complexity. Each shape has its own symbolic meaning, and nowadays, you can find them as decoration, gifts for special occasions and adornments on clothes. Chen Mu Yun from the Washington State Chinese Cancer Care Network Association, will instruct the class. Attend the Chinese knot-tying class from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 7 or 14 at Aegis Gardens. The events are free to the community, but your RSVP to Aegis Gardens would be appreciated! Please call 425-970-6708 to RSVP. This event is presented by Aegis Gardens, sponsored in partnership with the City of Newcastle and 4Culture.

25th Anniversary T-shirts

There's still time to pick up your 25th anniversary T-shirt! You can purchase them for $10 during regular business hours (Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at Newcastle City Hall (12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200). We accept cash, check or credit card, though if you choose to pay with a card, there is a 3 percent fee. The City has very limited stock available in S, M, L, XL, XXL. Grey T-shirts are only available in small.

Trail of the Month Meadowview Trail

What do you do when the kids want to go to a playground and you want to take a hike? You check out the Meadowview Trail! This 0.9 mile trail is primarily on stroller-friendly sidewalks. At Bullybunion Park, the trail tucks into the woods and connects to miles of trails on Cougar Mountain. Check it out today – it’s fun for the whole family! And post your photos using the hashtags #NewcastleWA, #HikeNewcastle, #NewcatleWA25.  If you want to know anything about our beautiful trail system, please bookmark  newcastletrails.org and visit often for a wealth of information, trail maps and photos! Thank you Newcastle Trails!

Throwback Photos

In honor of the City's anniversary, we're sharing photos from the past 25 years! If you have photos you'd like to contribute, email them to christinac@newcastlewa.gov !

Judy Hentz, an Olympus resident, looks on as her granddaughter, Jovi Hentz-Tubbs, 12 months, touches the nearest paper snowman lantern on an iron tree Nov. 30, 2013, during A Very Newcastle Christmas Celebration held by town businesses and hosted by Newcastle Fruit & Produce.

Marine Sgts. Quatieh Kabehl (left) and Torin Gayles, with Combat Logistics Batallion 23 at Joint Base Lewis McChord, stand beside boxes filling with donations from the public for Toys for Tots Nov. 30, 2013, during A Very Newcastle Christmas Celebration at Newcastle Fruit and Produce.

Santa Claus poses with a very photogenic Etcher Maldonado, 11 weeks old, during the second annual Very Newcastle Christmas Celebration and tree-lighting ceremony Nov. 29, 2014, at Newcastle Fruit & Produce Company.

Photos by Greg Farrar courtesy of the Newcastle News Archives

Nov. 25, 2019 City of Newcastle |  newcastlewa.gov   The anniversary editions of the Newcastle email newsletter are produced in partnership with the City's volunteer Community Activities Commission. The main Newcastle email newsletter is still published the Friday before every regular City Council meeting. Learn more about the newsletter, see an archive of past newsletters and sign up to receive it at newcastlewa.gov/newsletters .