Washington Teachers Among Nations' Best


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For a year, Newport High teacher Van Onishi spent hundreds of hours thinking, reviewing and writing about the way he teaches English to freshmen and sophomore students at the Bellevue school. He wrote 151 pages' worth of material about his methods and approach, videotaped his lessons and took a three-hour exam about teaching. Last month, Onishi learned the work paid off. He was one of 1,248 Washington teachers who passed the rigorous National Teachers Board certification, a prestigious feather in any teacher's cap, and one that puts more money in the paycheck as well. The state ranked second in the U.S. this year in the number of teachers that received certification. North Carolina was first.

Washington teachers among nations' best - Seattle Times
All new children's museum - The Olympian
$43 million for salmon projects - Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
Family tradition helping others - Snohomish County Tribune
Bellevue's new youth theater - I am Eastside

Kirkland School Tops in Nation

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Kirkland’s International Community School was ranked 29th best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report last week in its annual top 100 list. It is one of just four schools in Washington state given a “Gold” rating. “We are honored to once again be recognized as one of the nation’s top 100 high schools,” noted ICS Principal Cindy Duenas. “It is truly a reflection on the students and staff at our school that we have achieved this ranking for the third year in a row.”

Kirkland School Tops in nation - Kirkland Reporter
Dreamliner Taxis - Puget Sound Business Journal
PSAT scores. Important? - Mercer Island Reporter
Christmas Ship visits Ballard - Ballard News-Tribune
Government confirms Q3 uptick - Business Examiner
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Sammamish teen's Hollywood debut


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Sammamish High School senior Rose Gunson is eyeing a career in television. She already has a leg-up on the competition. Gunson was one of 20 people across the U.S., of 5,000 applicants, chosen to produce and direct Usher in his newest music video this past Thanksgiving. The project included an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles where, over the course of 10 days, teenagers aged 13 to 18 got a crash course in how to plan for a film, use the equipment, edit the film later, and how to film in general.

Sammamish teen's Hollywood debut - Bellevue Reporter
Kirkland woman wins state title - Kirkland Reporter
Native artists gather at Longhouse - Olympian
Freeway interchange rolling along - Auburn Reporter
SnoCo Aids walk - Snohomish County Tribune
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Hundreds line up as coffee shop reopens

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Pierce County - Hundreds of police officers and other customers lined up early Saturday for the reopening of the Washington state coffee shop where four officers were shot and killed two weeks ago. A bagpiper played as the Forza Coffee shop opened its doors at 8:14 a.m., the time on Nov. 29 when Maurice Clemmons ambushed Lakewood Police Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards. Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar was the first customer. He hugged patrons who turned out to reclaim the shop from tragedy. Some waited up to three hours in line.

Hundreds line up as coffee shop reopens - Seattle PI
Boeing readies 787 for first flight - Puget Sound Business Journal
Snohomish County crews ready for snow - Marysville Globe
Village Theatre gives freezing performance - Issaquah Press
GHHS junior sails in Texas - The Peninsula Gateway
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Happy 234th Birthday Marines - Semper Fi


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Marines from the “Death Rattlers” of Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 323 celebrated the Marine Corps 234th birthday aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Thomas Conant, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing commander, made his first carrier trap to celebrate with the VMFA-323. “There’s no other place I would rather be than out here with you,”said Conant. “Two hundred and thirty four years ago our country thought we needed a Marine Corps. Unfortunately, today we are still needed to fight an even more vicious enemy. I thank the current generation that fights this fight.”

Happy 234th Birthday Marines - Northwest Navigator
"Office" actor Rainn Wilson home to help Kirkland - Kirkland Reporter
Adoptions display SnoCo heart - Everett Herald
Evergreen Hospital Very Crafty - Redmond Reporter
Gates Foundation Awards $2.8 Billion - Puget Sound Business Journal
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Washington Wine Named World's Best

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For the first time in history, a Washington state wine — Columbia Crest 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon — has been named the “No. 1 Wine in the World” by a prestigious wine publication. Wine Spectator magazine has been ranking the world’s best wines for 21 years; this is the first time one from Washington tops the list.
Washington Wine Named World's Best - Puget Sound Business Journal

More Local Headlines

Bellevue's Favorite Bachelor - Bellevue Reporter
Tulalip Chef Gets Spotlight - Marysville Globe
Saying A Prayer For Auburn - Auburn Reporter
McChord AFB Crews To Transport Dolphins - The News Tribune
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Microsoft Releases Exchange 2010


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In its new iteration, Microsoft Exchange, which brings Outlook to the Web and mobile devices, catches up to Google's offerings by adding services such as voicemail integration.
At its TechEd Europe event Monday in Berlin, Microsoft announced the general availability of Exchange 2010. The software superpower is touting the new product as a big money-saver for businesses, mainly by eliminating the need for redundant voicemail and e-mail-archiving systems.
"I never listen to my voicemail anymore," said Julia White, director of marketing for Exchange.
Exchange Server 2010 features what Microsoft is calling the "universal inbox," which gathers not just e-mail but also text messaging, instant messaging and voicemail – both in audio form and converted to text. Google's Gmail already offers similar features, like instant messaging and Google Voice, but Voice currently is still only available to invited users.

Microsoft Releases Exchange 2010 - Seattle PI
Mercer Island grad finds fashion career - Mercer Island Reporter
Hike around Mt Rainer - Everett Herald
New leadership at Mutual of Enumclaw - Enumclaw Courrier
Gig Harbor wine shop pours with the big boys - Peninsula Gateway
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Local Voters Want Change


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Early on in this campaign season, it looked like voters were ready to revolt against the local political order. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels got tossed in the primary for a pair of political newcomers. Susan Hutchison, the former TV newscaster with strong Republican ties, looked to be in prime position to take the King County executive's office, held by Democrats since 1994.
Even Seattle's city attorney drew a strong challenge unusual for that office. For good measure, voters stuck Tim Eyman's latest tax-limiting plan, Initiative 1033, on the ballot — a measure that could sharply cut government services in coming years. "This has to be one of the biggest change environments I can remember in local politics in the 25 or 30 years I have been involved or observing it," said Rollin Fatland, a lobbyist and former deputy county executive.
But will voters really go for a dramatic sweep, or more a gentle dusting of the shelf?

Local Voters Want Change -Seattle Times
Bellevue Light Rail - Bellevue Reporter
Education Reform: How & Why - Marysville Globe
White River Museum awarded $62,000 - Auburn Reporter
The Evergreen State College praised for efforts against global warming - The Business Examiner
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Bill Gates money shaping national agenda


Turn to King County Libraries. The choices will surprise you. Click.

Bill Gates big bucks shaping national agenda - Seattle PI
Local golfer, 10, hitting it big - Seattle Times
Amazon shares at all time high - Puget Sound Business Journal
Modest tax to income rate - Issaquah Press
Pierce County home sales warming up - The News Tribune
Monroe woos big box stores - The Hearld
Puget Sound used as classroom - The Olympian
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Microsoft beats profit forecast

After Microsoft spilled thousands of words and streamed gigabytes of video to launch Windows 7 this week, one question remained: How well will the new operating system sell? The company's quarterly earnings report Friday gave signs that bode well for the company.

Microsoft beats profit forecast - Seattle Times
Newport Way trail to open Wednesday - Issaquah Press
Pink and proud -The Enterprise
Upgrades for Stevens Pass Ski Area - The Olympian
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Sunny Hills named 'Great School'



Students, teachers and administrators have a lot to be happy about this month after recently being recognized for continued academic improvement.Sunny Hills Elementary School was named a “Great School” at a Schools of Distinction luncheon Sept. 26 in Renton. The award goes to the top 5 percent of schools statewide that show the greatest improvement on the math and reading portions of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning over the past five years, according to the Center for Educational Effectiveness.
“We’re really excited to have this award,” said Sunny Hills Principal Sarah White. “I like that it’s based on several years of success. It just shows the dedication of our students, of our staff and of our families.”

Sunny Hills Elementary named Great School - Issaquah Press
Washington #2 for stimulus contract impact - The Seattle PI
India Gives Ganhdi to Bellevue - Bellevue Reporter
Google: profit up 27%, 'recession behind us' - The Puget Sound Business Journal
Keeping Bonney Lake beautiful  - The Herald
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Alaskan Way Viaduct tunnel claims: Who's right?


City and state leaders signed an agreement nine months ago to replace the crumbling Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bore tunnel. Even so, the tunnel has become the biggest and most contentious issue in the Seattle mayor's race. Businessman Joe Mallahan supports the current plan: $3.1 billion for a four-lane tunnel and new Sodo interchange, plus hundreds of millions in city money for a waterfront promenade, utility relocations and major east-west streets. Former Sierra Club leader Mike McGinn says he will fight the plan, which he says costs too much and encourages dependence on cars. He wants to use the state's tunnel money to widen Interstate 5 and add bus service once the viaduct is gone.
The candidates have made dozens of claims about project costs and other details. Here's a look at how accurate their statements have been:

Alaskan Way Viaduct tunnel claims: Who's right? -The Seattle Times
Expansion Sounders clinch playoff berth - MyNorthwest.com
Two New Tacoma off-leash parks - The News Tribune
Shoreline's new city hall - The Enterprise -
Native Longhouse expansion celebrated - The Olympian
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The Imaculate Interception

The Washington Huskies spent most of the second half flailing against the Arizona Wildcats in search of a helping hand. Then the Wildcats obliged, throwing in a fortuitous foot for good measure, allowing the Huskies to escape with one of the most improbable wins in their 120-year football-playing history.
"I don't know if [I've ever seen a game] that crazy," UW coach Steve Sarkisian said. "I mean an interception off a guy's foot returned for a touchdown? I don't think so."

The Imaculate Interception - The Seattle Times
Pending home sales up again -The Seattle Post Intelligencer
Q3 IPO market strongest since 2008's Q1 - The Puget Sound Business Journal
Salmon Days hosts nearly 200,000 visitors - The Issaquah Press
I-90 traffic to increase - The News Tribune
Kirkland Choral Society keeps to Kirkland roots - The Kirkland Reporter
Swift station completed, testing starts - The Enterprise
Reconnections rule the day for 81st Brigade Combat Team - The Olympian
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CEO confidence up in Q3

The CEO confidence index rose in the third quarter to 63, according to a report released Friday.
New York-based The Conference Board reported that the measure rose from 55 in the preceding quarter, for its third consecutive increase. The survey includes about 100 business leaders in a wide range of industries. "CEOs have grown considerably more optimistic in their short-term outlook," says Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board consumer research center. "Although nearly 60 percent say they've scaled back capital spending plans since January, growing optimism over the past several quarters should translate into increased spending in 2010."

CEO confidence up in Q3 -The Puget Sound Business Journal-

Unions support Boeing's Air Force tanker bid



Boeing's bid for the Air Force's $35 billion aerial refueling tanker contract is the clear choice for investing in American workers, knowledge, security and future, the presidents of 10 AFL-CIO state federations said in a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates last week. "Given the current state of the U.S. economy, taxpayer dollars shouldn't be funding the economic growth of European countries. This money should be invested at home," the labor leaders wrote, according to an account on the AFL-CIO blog. "The U.S. military and the American citizens it protects should not be put in a position where any foreign government has control over our nation's military capabilities."

Unions Support Boeing's Air Force Tanker Bid - The Seattle Post Intelligencer
Bellevue's Urban Farm Park - The Seattle Times
Bellevue Philharmonic Set To Begin New Season - The Bellevue Reporter
Edmonds’ Global Hero - The Enterprise
Tumwater honored for school test score gains - The Olympian
Uncorking customers and conversations - The Puyallup Herald
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Salmon Days Named World's Best Festival

Judges ranked the 2008 Salmon Days Festival as the premier festival in the world, the Salmon Days Festivals Office announced Wednesday. The weekend-long event celebrated the theme “It’s a Wonderful Whirl.” Salmon Days was awarded the prestigious Grande Pinnacle Award for Best Overall Festival Presentation during the International Festivals & Events Association awards ceremony Wednesday. Salmon Days also picked up seven other awards at the ceremony, in Indianapolis.

Salmon Days named world's best festival - The Issaquah Press
Puget Sound Energy joins electric vehicle project - The Business Examiner
Mating Season - The News Tribune
Everett home show- Ideas and motivation - The Everett Herald
How to help your maxed-out kids - The Bellevue Reporter
Saving Christmas from the grinches - The Redmond Reporter
Greater Seattle's top companies - The Seattle Times
Drier-Warmer weather expected for Greater Seattle - MyNorthwest.com
UW gets $32M to launch genomics research center - Puget Sound Business Journal
Ferry system offers live music for passengers - The Seattle PI
Totally Fired Up! - The Puyallup Herald
Olympia walking - The Olympian
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Seattle . . . America's #1 Destination City

If you were a recent college graduate in a recovering economy launching a career, looking for a mate or both, where would you choose to live? Predicting cities that will emerge as post-recession meccas for the young is easy to argue about, but impossible to forecast empirically. Whether you prefer hip, casual Austin, Texas, over the cosmopolitan allure of New York City is partly a matter of personal taste. Still, we asked six experts which 10 cities will emerge as the hottest, hippest destinations for highly mobile, educated workers in their 20s when the U.S. economy gets moving again.
Our panelists—demographers, economists, geographers and authors on urban issues—picked their cities based on the criteria they deem most important, from economic diversity to lifestyle.

First Place (Tie): Seattle
Former Ohio residents Lane Kuhlman, 26, and her husband, Matt Mansbach, 32, mulled several cities, including New York and Chicago, as potential destinations last summer, after Ms. Kuhlman received her master's degree specializing in interactive media.

In their eyes, none could match Seattle's combination of a diverse high-tech sector, cultural life, access to rugged natural terrain and a strong university presence. Ms. Kuhlman has since taken a post as a new-product researcher for Microsoft, and Mr. Mansbach is weighing attending one of the city's grad schools in his field, computer animation. Meanwhile, Ms. Kuhlman says, "we're only 15 minutes from a beautiful waterfall, and there are amazing places to hike."

Anchor to a region of corporate innovators, from Amazon.com to Starbucks, Seattle is "a high-tech and lifestyle mecca," Dr. Florida says. Mr. DeVol says the city's high-tech sector, with 226,300 workers, is just slightly smaller than Silicon Valley's. Joblessness, at 7.7%, remains relatively low. City officials see rapid growth in biotech; Seattle also has tens of thousands of jobs in music and interactive media. And it enjoys a reputation as home to a lot of brainy people.

Seattle #1 Destination City -
The Wall Street Journal

Judge Overturns Award Against Microsoft

A district judge has abolished a high-profile, $388 million award against Microsoft and ruled that the company did not infringe a patent held by software maker Uniloc.
The judgment, signed Tuesday by Judge William Smith of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, overturns an April jury verdict that slapped Microsoft with the largest patent award on record.
"We are pleased that the court has vacated the jury verdict and entered judgment in favor of Microsoft," spokesman Kevin Kutz said Tuesday.
The case has spanned six years and numerous courts. Irvine, Calif.-based Uniloc USA, and its Singapore-based parent company, filed the lawsuit in Rhode Island in September 2003, alleging Microsoft used its patented technology for software activation.
The technology in question included the use of a software activation key to keep users from installing licensed software on more than one computer. Uniloc initially sought $560 million in damages and said Microsoft deployed the technology in Windows XP and Office.

Judge Overturns Uniloc - The Seattle PI
Governor says she's willing to discuss taxes to plug budget gap - The Seattle Times
Viaduct agreement approved by City Council committee - The Seattle Post Intelligencer
Boeing battles Northrop Grumman for Air Force $40B contract - Puget Sound Business Journal
Bravern's -Look Better Naked- Gym - Bellevue Reporter
Salmon Days celebrates 40 years - Issaquah Press
$184M Nalley Valley Overpass complete by 2013 - The News Tribune
Investment managers hit -Pause- -Business Examiner
Evergreen Awards promote SoSnoCo pride - The Enterprise
Will Everett land Boeing's new 787 production line? - The Everett Herald
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Seattle . . . America's #1 destination city

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If you were a recent college graduate in a recovering economy launching a career, looking for a mate or both, where would you choose to live? Predicting cities that will emerge as post-recession meccas for the young is easy to argue about, but impossible to forecast empirically. Whether you prefer hip, casual Austin, Texas, over the cosmopolitan allure of New York City is partly a matter of personal taste. Still, we asked six experts which 10 cities will emerge as the hottest, hippest destinations for highly mobile, educated workers in their 20s when the U.S. economy gets moving again. Our panelists- demographers, economists, geographers and authors on urban issues- picked their cities based on the criteria they deem most important, from economic diversity to lifestyle.

Seattle #1 Destination City - The Wall Street Journal