SnoCo considers commuter rail proposal

The Port of Seattle took the initiative to bring 42 miles of Eastside rail corridor into public ownership. Absent Port involvement, the corridor could have been sold piecemeal and lost to public use forever.

As Port CEO Tay Yoshitani put it, the Port’s arrangement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway to purchase the line “secures in public ownership all 42 miles rail corridor, linking 12 communities, four regional centers and two counties along the east side of Lake Washington.”

Westwood Development, planned for 20.7 acres in Woodinville’s downtown area on the property long known as Canterbury Square, is a big project for a city this size.

“We’re looking at it as an important room in our house,” said Development Services Director Hal Hart. “This is a great opportunity to create a real neat place.”

Designing Westwood so that it reflects Woodinville, so that it is peaceful and green yet urban, so that it supports the live/work concept, so that it enhances the economy without stifling mobility – well, this is a tall order.

Photo by Leanne Christensen
Derek Klopp is graduating with a 3.988 GPA.

Cedarcrest valedictorian Derek Klopp will attend Gonzaga

Derek Klopp, son of Bev and Les Klopp, has been selected as the Cedarcrest High School 2008 valedictorian, which makes him the highest in academic ranking of all Cedarcrest seniors, with a GPA of 3.988.

Photo by Leanne Christensen
Brett Richardson graduates with a GPA of 3.971.

Cedarcrest salutatorian Brett Richardson heading to Chapman University

Brett Richardson, son of Gina and Bill Richardson, has been selected as the CHS 2008 salutatorian, achieving a GPA of 3.971.

Community members are invited to celebrate Carnation’s newly completed state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system.

A dedication ceremony will take place on Monday, June 2 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at the new facility located at 4301 Larson Ave.

Speakers will include King County Executive Ron Sims; City of Carnation Mayor Mike Flowers; Congressman Dave Reichert; County Councilmember Kathy Lambert; and state representatives Larry Springer and Roger Goodman. Other featured attendees will include leaders from the Snoqualmie Tribe; Carnation City Council members; and employees from City of Carnation and King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division.

Photo courtesy of CHS band/choir
CHS band and choir members show off the awards they won.

Cedarcrest High School band and choir students are still basking in the much-deserved glory of their outstanding performances given at the Heritage Festival Sweepstakes held in Anaheim, California last week.

The Chamber, Jazz and Concert choirs each earned Gold Awards, while the Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble and the Marching Band all earned Silver Awards, and for the final event the students were overwhelmed to learn that they had also won the most coveted of trophies … the Festival Sweepstakes Award.

The new Tolt Bridge spanning the Snoqualmie River near Carnation will open to traffic on Friday, May 30 at 7 p.m.

It is located on Northeast Tolt Hill Road and replaces a much smaller bridge originally built in 1922. The new bridge is approximately 165 feet upstream from the old bridge.It is wider and safer for motorists and pedestrians. The old bridge has limited sight distance, a narrow roadway and restricted weight limits. It also does not meet current seismic, safety or roadway design standards.