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🌱 Patch AM: What Joe Nguyen’s new Chamber role means for Seattle’s economy

Be sure to catch KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie - Seattle on the Seattle Patch calendar

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Friday January 2nd Patch AM
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Hey hey Seattle! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Joe Nguyen’s new Chamber role means for Seattle’s economy
  • Remember Seattle’s bizarre New Year’s monolith on Magnuson Park’s Kite Hill?
  • How did a Rainier Beach daycare receive over $690,000 so quickly?

Also on today's calendar: KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie - Seattle and 6 more events.

Find out what's happening in Seattlefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I quit my job as a banker. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Seattlefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Cloudy with a bit of rain, with a high of 50 and low of 45 degrees.
  • Saturday: A little rain in the morning, temps: high: 54, low: 44.
  • Sunday: A brief shower or two, with a high of 51 and low of 42 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Head of WA Department of Commerce is leaving (tricitiesbusinessnews.com) — Seattle’s business community is getting a new leader as Washington Commerce Director Joe Nguyen leaves his state role to head the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber. Nguyen, a White Center Democrat, will now focus on shaping policy and economic priorities for the Seattle region’s 2,600-member business organization, while Gov. Bob Ferguson considers how to fill the powerful Commerce post.
   

• Seattle's New Year's Day monolith still fascinates 25 years after sudden appearance (kiro7.com) — A mysterious nine-foot metallic monolith that appeared on Kite Hill in Magnuson Park on New Year’s Day 2001 still stands out as one of Seattle’s strangest public art episodes. Crowds flocked to the northeast Seattle park before the structure vanished days later, spawning copycat installations, artist claims of responsibility, and an enduring local legend that still fascinates 25 years on.
   

• TCS investigating potential child care center fraud in WA (komonews.com) — Washington officials are examining potential fraud in heavily subsidized childcare centers, with one Seattle Rainier Beach daycare listed as receiving more than $690,000 in recent grants and subsidies. Reporters found several Federal Way sites with no visible children and evasive operators, prompting DCYF to pledge investigations and lawmakers to debate stricter financial disclosure rules for taxpayer-funded providers.
   

📸 Around Seattle

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Seattle

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Friday January 2
  • Story Time at the Garden for Preschoolers
    Sharp Cabin , 12001 Main St. , Bellevue
    10:00 am
  • Teen Dungeons & Dragons Meet-Up
    Bellevue Library , 1111 110th Avenue NE , Bellevue
    4:00 pm
    • Saturday January 3
  • Journaling the Garden
    Sharp Cabin , 12001 Main St. , Bellevue
    9:00 am
  • Intro to the Cricut
    Bellevue Library , 1111 110th Avenue NE , Bellevue
    11:30 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • 3, 2, 1…….
    Midnight! Happy New Year! Snowy Owl, photo by Jerry Simmons (Nextdoor Fairmount Springs)
  • I tiptoed through the tail end of the year, embarking on miniature adventures along the sidewalk, never quite sure if any floral wonders would greet me.
    Yet, nature loves a good surprise! Just when I thought my strolls would be flowerless, a lily in my own yard decided to throw a months-long party,… (Nextdoor Hawthorne Hills)
  • Equinox Group posted a job opening for Maintenance Manager on Duty, Rainier Square in Seattle. Apply here.
  • Washington Staffing posted a job opening for Travel RRT job in Seattle, WA - Make $2477 - $2706/week (Job #3138159) in Seattle. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Seattle here.

🗞 Nearby News

Mercer Island

  • Yuka Shimizu, Japan-America Society of the State of Washington 〜New Year Greeting (napost.com)
  • Police ID mother, older son in 4 Mercer Island, Issaquah deaths (chronline.com)

Kirkland

  • 2025: A Year of Music, Memories, and Community at c89.5! (c895.org)
  • Former Real Estate Professional Convicted in $2.4M Investor Fraud Scheme (townhall.com)

Bellevue

Ok Seattle! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I just lost interest.
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