Daily archives for September 30th, 2007
Resident posts home video of Renton firefighters battling fire at “Just Parrots” on Aug 23
Sep30
2007
Written by Randy Corman
2007
Written by Randy Corman
Renton’s H.O.M.E. Schoolers began classes this month too!
Sep30
2007
Written by Randy Corman
2007
Written by Randy Corman
The Renton School District has been a leader in partnering with homeschool families to provide a flexible and rich educational envronment for homeschooled students. The District runs the H.O.M.E Program, which offers classes, tutoring, P.E., Music lessons, College Running Start enrollment, and even Renton School district high school diplomas for Homeschooled youth.
The program benefits families and students by providing experiences that can’t be duplicated easily in the home or elsewhere in the community; and the program works well for the district because in addition to helping students, the School District receives the normal state allocated student funding for every H.O.M.E. child that keeps a journal of their studies.
The program is a huge hit with the parents as well. Parents provide both assistance and teachers to the H.O.M.E classes, and can effectively homeschool and traditional school simultaneously if they wish. Many long-time friendships have been developed through this program, and I recommend it to anyone who has explored homeshooling for their children.
We homeschooled our children K-12, and were first-year members of this program a decade ago; My children that have reached college age have marched right on through to their college diplomas with “straight A” averages.
Homeshool families generally try to adhere to the same schedule as the local school district, so that our kids are on vacation the same days as their friends. We even take snow days, to keep everything in harmony. There is a myth that homeschooled kids lack social skills, but that is far from accurate. The social opportunities for students and their parents are immense, as they all get together to plan, study, and take classes, and go on countless field trips together.
Renton is a great city for kids to learn in… whether it’s in one of our beautiful public schools (which have nearly all been rebuilt in recent years), in one of our highly respected private schools, or out in the community as a homeschooler, with all the help a parent could ask for.
Here are a few shots of some H.O.M.E. Program families at our home for a book club/planning meeting/social event, as the year gets kicked off. (Note: That’s GINGER ALE on the table, although most of the parents will drink socially occasionally like everybody else )
Renton Airport in Today’s Seattle Times; residents speak their minds
Sep30
2007
Written by Randy Corman
2007
Written by Randy Corman
Mayor Kathy Keolker’s office sent out a Request-for-Proposals (RFP) for a Renton Jet Center without council approval late last year. When the proposals started coming in, outraged citizens started turning up at council meetings, informing us that they had many, many concerns about this direction for our airport.
The council asked for more time, and for a noise study, before we proceed with a jet center or make any significant long-term leasing decisions.
Here is the latest news from the Seattle Times on this topic. You can get more background by clicking here.
Renton residents worry about airport expansion
By Karen Johnson, 9/30/07
Times Southeast Bureau
More Southeast King County News
As a flight attendant for United Airlines for 40 years, Renton resident Peggi Galster grew accustomed to airport noise and loud planes.
“When I was working, I would cease a conversation when the engines started,” Galster said.
But at her home in the Kennydale neighborhood, Galster says she has to cover her ears when planes fly overhead.
Jesse Tanner’s Citizen of the Year Nomination; Mayor Tanner gave us Renton’s Renaissance
Sep30
2007
Written by Randy Corman
2007
Written by Randy Corman
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
Nomination for Jesse Tanner
Renton’s Citizen of the Year has historically been awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to making our community a better place to live and work. Mayor Jesse Tanner, during his many years of service on behalf of Renton citizens, made a positive mark on this community that will benefit Renton for generations. For his enduring contributions, we feel Mayor Tanner is a strong candidate for Citizen of the Year.
Born in Sandersville, Georgia on April 11, 1927, Jesse was a war veteran who served in the U.S. Navy, and later earned his Master’s Degree in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkley. He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration as deputy director of the Northwest Region after nearly 34 years of service. Jesse passed away on February 6, 2007.
Jesse cared about Renton and devoted many years working to make it a better place to live, work and raise our families. After serving six years on the Renton City Council, Jesse was elected mayor of Renton in 1996. During his two terms in office, he lead a dedicated city staff to implement significant changes in the way the city conducted business, which resulted in the major redevelopment projects of recent years and literally put Renton on the map as a place to do business. It was under his leadership that many of the public centers and additional city services we enjoy today were built. This includes the new Henry Moses Aquatic Center; the IKEA Performing Arts Center; City Center Parking Garage; the Pavilion Building; Piazza Park; Veterans Memorial Park; a new Highlands Neighborhood Center; Fire Stations 12 and 14; the Renton Transit Center, and Skate Park. In addition, it was during his tenure that Renton City Hall was relocated to its new home and the very popular Neighborhood Program and Renton Farmer’s Market were launched.
As Mayor, Jesse was a tireless supporter and promoter of Renton. He was behind the slogan “Renton, ahead of the curve.” He led a city government that oversaw major investments as part of the jumpstart to a long-awaited redevelopment of downtown. This included bringing IKEA and Fry’s to Renton.
Jesse also devoted time to making sure the city government served the citizens of Renton better. He reorganized city hall to merge long-range planning and economic development departments. This improvement to the way city government operated helped bring Michael Christ’s Southport to Renton; facilitated Paul Allen’s purchase of a large tract of land on Lake Washington that will be the home of the Seattle Seahawks; and enabled Boeing’s development agreement on their surplus property which set The Landing in motion.
As Mayor of Renton and a city councilman, Jesse was a dedicated and tireless public servant. He worked to ensure that city government better served the day-to-day needs of the citizens of Renton. He also worked to ensure that the citizens of Renton have a better tomorrow. Jesse put forth a vision for the future that we now see turning into reality. For his years of work serving his community and his leadership, we ask that you consider Mayor Jesse Tanner as Renton’s Citizen of the Year for 2007.
Janice Tanner
Donna Youngblood (Jesse’s daughter)
Debbie Hanson (Jesse’s daughter)
DeAnna Schukar (Jesse’s daughter)
Some words from Jesse’s grandson Brandon Kindle; beautifully read during Jesse’s memorial service.
Sep30
2007
Written by Randy Corman
2007
Written by Randy Corman
It takes a lifetime for us to reunite with our loved ones when they pass. But what takes us an entire lifetime to achieve in order to meet our God, happens in a blink of an eye to them.
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