Longtime resident Bill Burris is well-known for his service as Scoutmaster for Troop 499 Scouts BSA. Local Scouts volunteer at community events, participate in trails maintenance, and coordinate numerous Eagle Scout projects.
How long have you lived in Newcastle and what brought you to live in Newcastle?
We purchased our home in the Newcastle area in 1982. The luck of finding a bit of acreage close to Seattle was the main reason, as both my wife and I worked in Seattle. We wanted a small farm where we could have horses, chickens, dogs, and cats, and with a rural setting to raise our future family without being many miles outside of the Seattle area.
What are some of the ways you contribute to our community?
I was a Board member of The Greater Newcastle Chamber of Commerce from its beginnings in the early 1990's for about ten years and saw the Chamber grow from 5 or 6 of us around a table to the beginning of the major community organization that it has become. I am also a long-time, ongoing Board member of Newcastle Trails, the organizational sponsor of our Scout Troops and Cub Packs in Newcastle. Lastly, I have been the Scoutmaster for Troop 499 Scouts BSA in Newcastle since 2005. Since its beginnings in 1965, Troop 499 has been one of the few Troops that have maintained a consistently strong membership of youth in the Chief Seattle Council. The Troop has been at 50+ Scouts for the last 20 years and is currently at 64 boys and 10 girls. The Troops have been honored to have had 73 Scouts achieve Eagle Scout since 2005. We are also privileged to have a community that welcomes and allows us to be a contributing member to our home community.
Tell us a Newcastle memory.
A couple of things come to mind: first were the early years we lived in Newcastle and would take our horses on rides straight through our back gate and into the woods and trails that became Lake Washington Crest/Ridge, Dorchester, and Olympus and other future neighborhoods. The miles of trails we rode were the precursors to our current Newcastle Trails network of hiking trails. Another fond memory that comes to mind is attending the early Newcastle Days and sitting with Milt Swanson and talking about old Newcastle.
What do you hope for the future of Newcastle?
I would hope that Newcastle can always maintain a sense of "Community" as we continue to grow and face social and financial challenges in the coming years. As a wise old woman told me years ago (my mom), “If you cannot say something nice to someone, then find something nice you can say,” I am a big believer in "We" and the issues we will be facing can be solved, as long as everyone involved is respectful and understands that we only succeed when we all succeed. Let’s stay a "Community" and not a group of competing factions.
What is your idea of a perfect weekend in Newcastle?
Sun, 70s, and time to hike one of our trails, to put it simply. Weekends with a Community Event are great as well. Newcastle Days and Fireworks at the Lake are great opportunities for our Community to come together and enjoy our area.
What are some of your favorite Newcastle places to visit?
The trail system, in particular, the Terrace Trail to the Crosstown Trail as well as the May Creek Trail. I have always enjoyed any opportunity to spend time at our Historic Cemetery.