Fife, Milton, Edgewood year in review

Photo by Rocky Ross

LOCAL RESIDENTS AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY GATHERED TO REMEMBER LAKEWOOD’S FOUR FALLEN OFFICERS ON DEC. 8.

>10< Edgewood approves utility tax

By Clare Jensen

Edgewood City Council passed the final reading of a 3.5 percent utility tax five to two, as well as the 2010 budget, on Dec. 8.

Council members in support of the tax hope it will cover the city’s looming $450,000 shortfall, an amount that has been chipped away at line item by line item for months.

“We have spent a very, very long time on this budget,” Councilmember Paul Crowley said before voting to approve the budget. “I think this is the best budget we could put together under the circumstances…(we have made some) pretty tough cuts.”

Cuts include the loss of three law enforcement positions and three city staff. Council also put a freeze on staff salaries and increased benefit contributions.

A citizen referendum and petition of the tax may repeal the council’s decision in early 2010.

>9< Two Fife leaders die

By Meghan Erkkinen

Joe Rozenski, former Fife mayor

Joe Rozenski, a former mayor, council member and lifelong resident of Fife, died March 9 at the age of 94. Rozenski attended Fife School District schools and graduated salutatorian of his class. He spent several years in the Civilian Conservation Corps and married Elenora Larson in 1941. They were married 60 years, until her death, and had one daughter, Janell.

Fritz Bohren, former Fife council member

Former Fife City Councilmember Fritz Ernest Bohren died March 19 at the age of 75. Bohren moved to the Fife area in the mid-1940s from Pennsylvania after his father got a job in the Tacoma area. Bohren graduated from Fife High School in 1951. He served in the military following his graduation, and then spent 20 years as a general contractor and another 20 years as a Pierce County building inspector.

Bohren had two sons with his wife, Marilyn, who he married in 1955. The two divorced in 1973. He also had long-term relationships with two other women, June Majeric and Viva Ertler.

>8< World War II vet receives medal after 65 years

By Meghan Erkkinen

Almost 65 years after he fought in a pivotal World War II battle, Milton resident and former Fife Mayor Bob Mizukami received a Bronze Star medal for his heroism.

Mizukami was a member of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, an Asian-American unit composed mostly of Japanese-Americans. The unit became the most highly decorated in United States history.

>7< Economy forces youth center to close doors

By Meghan Erkkinen

After six years of operation, the Paidion Youth Center in Milton closed its doors due to lack of funds.

Since its inception, the youth center served more than 5,000 students between the ages of 12 and 19 after school got out. The center operated on a small budget, thanks in large part to the volunteer staff.

Over the years, Paidion received a lot of support from the community, according to Executive Director Abe Mouracade. But in the last couple of years, support dwindled. On April 13, Mouracade sent a letter out to Paidion supporters and the youth who attended. The center’s last day of operation was May 1.

“We are living in economically challenging times,” Mouracade wrote in the letter he sent to supporters. “No doubt you have personally experienced the financial pinch in some way. Paidion has felt the pinch, too.”

>6< Tennis team takes league title

By Fife Free Press staff

The Fife girls tennis team served notice to the Nisqually League this year that they are the best in the league and showed their strength by going undefeated and earning the league title. This is a first for the girls team in many years.

“We have had good players in the past but the girls team as a whole has never been able to capture that title, coming close last year but falling one match short,” coach Chris Lundquist said.

This year Fife dominated the league, winning many of their matches 5-0. Going into the league tournament the team continued their domination by earning five of the 10 places into the district tournament, with the doubles teams finishing first, second and fourth.

>5< Fife artist receives award

By Jill Russell

Fife artist Jeremy Mangan is the winner of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation’s second annual Foundation of Art Award.

The $7,500 award recognizes artists for their talent and commitment to the creative community of Pierce County. It also allowed Mangan to create a commissioned art piece for the foundation, which was unveiled in fall 2009.

>4< Board votes to shut down Hilltop  

By Clare Jensen

Edgewood’s Hilltop Elementary School has seen its last round of kindergarten through sixth-graders.

On July 13, Puyallup School Board voted unanimously to close the 52-year old school, located adjacent to Edgemont Junior High.

“The cost savings is important, but at the end of the day, it comes down to the education of (our students),” Board President Greg Heath said. “There’s no denying that there’s a high emotional quotient on something like this. But (the board) collectively felt the staff had done a good job researching and coming forward with the recommendation on this issue.”

The decision was made after about a decade of the issue being on the district’s back burner, and several months of serious consideration and discussion.

As the school with the district’s lowest enrollment, which has been steadily declining over the last decade, budget and student learning opportunities were at the forefront of the board’s decision. Hilltop students were split up among Northwood and Mountain View elementary schools starting in September 2009.

>3< New manager in Edgewood

By Clare Jensen

Edgewood City Council selected Mark Bauer, former city administrator for Enumclaw, to serve as Edgewood’s new city manager Nov. 10.

The council officially approved his contract, which includes a $120,000 salary and benefits package, Nov. 17.

Bauer has served as city administrator in Enumclaw since 1999. Prior to that, he was public works director for the city from 1991 to 1999.

He is replacing R. Kim Wilde, who resigned in summer of 2009, after less than one year on the job.

Bauer thinks his experience in public works and education will allow him to effectively manage Edgewood as the city navigates through major infrastructure projects on the horizon.

“(The sewer LID) is going to be a big project for the city to manage. From my public works background, I’m very interested in that project and from a city manger perspective, I’m very interested in how the city develops (around the project),” he said. “It’s a new city and for me it’s exciting.”

>2<Fife residents approve library plans

By Jill Russell

The votes are in and Fife residents will be getting their library.

Voters in Fife passed Proposition No. 1 with a 69 percent approval for the city to annex to Pierce County Library System for services in November.

“It’s a great day for the community and we’re glad to finally be a part of the (library) system,” Fife Mayor Barry Johnson said at a Nov. 10 city council meeting.

>1<Police, public gather to mourn Lakewood’s officers

By Jill Russell

A mass of dark blue was visible as far as the eye could see before the memorial began on Dec. 8 for four fallen Lakewood police officers at Tacoma Dome. Although the officers’ uniforms looked similar, the crest attached to their arms told the stories of the communities they served.

Milton. Tacoma. Gig Harbor. Oakland, Calif.

Then the others came. Canadian Mounties wearing jackets in bold red. Washington State Patrol in light blues. Even Ft. Lewis soldiers in sandy browns.

These colors were as diverse as the faces of the public who came to show their support. A firefighter who made the trek from California to pay his respects; Royal Canadian Mounted Police who understand the loss of fellow officers; a student whose goal of becoming a police officer had not been deterred; and an officer who appreciated the outpouring of community support.

All shared in how this incident has impacted their lives.

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