October 2009

Curious Species is the name of the Burien Art Gallery's latest exhibit. It will run through Nov. 29 at the gallery, located at 421 S.W. 146th Street.

The art work of Tammie Rubin, Renee Adams, and Allisa Savage is a modern day spin-off of the sixteenth-century concept of a "Cabinet of Curiosities," a room housing exotic and sometimes mythological creatures, designed to stimulate contemplation of the wonders of the natural world.

These chambers also had the beneficial effect of triggering curiosity and often served scientific advancement. The three artists create hybrid organisms. At times these are reminiscent of familiar creatures and plants, at other times they appear like something otherworldly or fantastical.

These relics puzzle the viewer into wondering whether a living organism like this really does exist.

Artists United members Harry Langon, Carol Shankland and Joy Preiser will also show new work in the Attic Galleries.

At last week's Burien City Council meeting, much of the focus was on sustaining city and county services in the midst of the current economic downturn.

The latest King County sales tax revenue figures (based on projections made in June) project a $104 million shortfall, with a projected cumulative shortfall of $704 million between now and 2013.

The economic indicators for Burien aren't any better. As of August, revenue from real estate excise tax was roughly half of what it was at the same time last year, sales tax from June was down around 20 percent and unemployment as of July was at nine percent.

In reference to these indicators, City Manager Mike Martin noted, "All the things we want to go down are going up and all the things we want to go up are going down."

Rather than making deeper cuts in King County Metro's existing transit service, the county is proposing a delay of new services that are part of Transit Now, a voter-approved initiative designed to have buses run more frequently and later into the evening.

For those folks in Burien who think the only waterfront property in town is either in Seahurst or on the shores of Lake Burien, here's a surprise: Malibu Beach has come to South King County.

Oh okay...maybe not the REAL Malibu, but a very close imitation.

And it's not just Malibu that's appearing on the Burien Community Center stage. There are also surfer bums of varying persuasions, a glamorous movie star, a bikini-clad beauty, an existentialism-loving BFF, a domineering mother with a strange resemblance to Joan Crawford and a perky little teenager with multiple personality disorder.

Say that again, please?

No need, I think you're getting the picture.

But, in case you haven't figured it out yet, let's say that Burien Little Theatre's inaugural show of their 2009-2010 season has arrived with the opening of Charles Busch's campy comedy "Psycho Beach Party."

The year is 1962; the place is Malibu Beach.

That aforementioned perky little teenager named Chicklet (Kris Hamberg) is absolutely dying to take surf lessons from her local beach bum idol, the Great Kahana (Rhys Henley).

For those seeking fun ideas for their kids' Halloween costumes or still wondering what they'll wear to that party.Godwill's Burien store will have a Halloween fashion show at 1 p.m. on Oct. 10.

Goodwill is located at 1031 S.W. 128th Street.

Employees and their children will show off imaginative costume creations straight from the store's racks.

With Halloween right around the corner, now is the time to assemble a ghoulish, spooky or creative costume. The store's Halloween section stocks new and used costumes to transform people into clowns, princesses, vampires, pirates, witches and more.

Shoppers can also find accessories to put the right touch on any outfit, including face paint, hats, wigs, wands and broomsticks, to name a few.

The weak economy continues to force consumers to cut back. The National Retail Federation expects people to spend $10 less on Halloween-related items this year compared to last year.

Goodwill staffers say the store is the smart choice for people who want to find great costumes at terrific prices.

The third Metro League cross country meet of the year brought the season's first meeting between West Seattle and Chief Sealth high schools Friday, Oct. 2, at Lower Woodland.

Within the context of a six-team meet won by Nathan Hale High, the duel between West Seattle (third) and Sealth (fourth) was won by West Seattle 79 to 97.

Daniel Perrine of Chief Sealth battled among the top 12 the whole distance to lead the local schools with a 10th place in the team scoring, but all five West Seattle scoring runners crossed the finish line before Sealth's next runner, Michael Autenrieth, followed in 19th place.

The competitive cohesiveness of the West Seattle team would be the envy of many a cross country coach as Jesse Tarabochia, Michael Wickham, Eli Swedlow, Lars Stromberg, and Chad Miller placed 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th, respectively.

Perrine (Sealth) (18:50), Tarabochia (West Seattle) (19:30), and Miller (West Seattle) (20:19) all recorded noteworthy personal records for the hilly Lower Woodland course.

Four men, one adult and three juveniles, have been arrested on suspicion of armed robbery.

According to Seattle Police, on Oct. 3 at about 9:15 p.m., the victim, closed up shop in the 4700 block of California Avenue Southwest and began to walk to his vehicle parked on 42nd Avenue Southwest. Four males who reportedly had been hanging around the area came up and grabbed the victim from behind.

The suspects held a knife to the victim’s mid section and robbed him of his daily cash deposit, his personal wallet and cell phone, according to police.

The suspects walked back to their vehicle parked around the corner. The victim followed the four suspects and observed them get into their vehicle and drive away. He called 911 to report the armed robbery.

At 11:43 p.m., a concerned neighbor saw a burgundy vehicle parked in front of his house. The occupants were throwing items out the window. He called 911 to report the disturbance. Officers quickly arrived and noted the vehicle and occupants matched the descriptions of the robbery suspects.

Does Highline High School's four-period schedule hinder students once they enter college?

That was the question that came up Sept. 30 at the Highline School Board's regular meeting.

The Burien high school splits up the school day into four periods, making for longer individual classes than most high schools.

Highline High allots 75 to 80 minutes for each class.

Board member Julie Burr Spani said that in surveys of former Highline students now in college, the college students complained that Highline schools did not adequately prepare them for scheduling out-of-class study time or learning independently.

The students said in high school they could complete their homework during the long class periods so didn't have to schedule outside time to do it.

Spani added that discussion about Highline High's four-period schedule comes up often, "even at the supermarket."

Highline High principal Mike Fosberg said his staff is "getting better" at fully utilizing the longer class periods but are "not taking full advantage" of the time.

With the King County closure of Evergreen Pool in White Center, Mount Rainier Pool has become the last pool standing in the Highline School District, and its future is far from certain.

Evergreen's swim team has begun practicing at Foster High School, while Tyee, Highline and Mount Rainier High Schools are using the Mount Rainier Pool.

Thousands of people use the pool every week, Mount Rainier Pool Manager Ken Spencer said.

"You walk in there and you might see 80 people in the water and 50 people in the stands, but that is going on for hours every day," Spencer said.

The pool, which is badly in need of a renovation, will need about $2.5 million in capital repairs, Spencer said. "It is nearing the end of its operational life."

Spencer said the biggest problem is not money to operate the pool, but capital expenses to remodel it.

The pool costs $90,000 a year to operate

That is nearly half as much as it cost to run before the Aquatic Management Group (AMG) took over managing it five years ago.

Des Moines and Normandy Park both have resolutions on the ballot in the upcoming election to raise money for the pool. It is Proposition 1 in both cities.

OK, so it’s not the marquee names of Lindbergh or, of course, our own dominator in the Seamount League, Kennedy, but this was a fun game to watch highlight-wise, as the Totems took a 57-24 loss to the Pirates at Highline Stadium Friday evening.

Highline dominated with scores the first quarter, 36-6, outscoring Tyee. The Pirates never looked back.

But give props to Tyee.

Out the first three games because of not enough players to play a football game, the Sea-Tac school notched 24 points total on the scoreboard.

But, again, Highline dominated while Tyee just tried to be competitive. And, with the score, 22-6, at one point in the first quarter, 43-18, midway through the second, they were competitive.

Second year Highline head coach Juan Cotto debriefed things afterward.

“We have a lot of admiration for their head coach (Scott Leick) and athletic director,” said Cotto, whose Pirates rest near the bottom of the Seamount cellar with a 1-4 record. “They played as hard as they possibly could. Difficult night because you know Tyee is getting their program together. I am glad that we could come out and establish ourselves early.”

Football

Kennedy 42, Highline 17

John F. Kennedy Catholic High School scored 28 points in the second quarter on its way to a 42-17 victory over crosstown rival Highline Saturday, Sept. 26.

The Lancers gained 365 yards on the ground and 90 yards in the air, compared to 122 yards rushing and 130 yards passing for the Pirates.

L.J. Jennings led the rushing attack of JFK with 210 yards, while Darian Brooks gained a net 96. Kennedy quarterback Jason Thompson completed four of six passes for three touchdowns and 90 yards.

Highline had 130 yards rushing from Jimmy Hellums, who also caught two passes for 54 yards. Samson Jaramillo-King caught four passes for 51 yards.

The Pirates actually jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 7:49 to play in the first quarter when Umelo Ugwoaba was on target with a 27-yard field goal.

Brooks answered with a 6-yard touchdown run, however, and Christian Velte was accurate on his first of five extra point kicks for a 7-3 Lancer advantage.