March 2011

On the weekend of March 18-20, Highline High's first-year robotics team competed in the world's largest regional robotics competition at the Qwest Events Center in downtown Seattle.

They started out Friday in last place but the 16 students and several mentors were having a great time.
But by Sunday the totally unexpected happened-the Burien team won the Rookie All-Star Award and was invited to the world championships in St. Louis.

Now the team's students and mentors are desperately scrambling to raise $1,200 per student by April 26 so they can go to the worlds.

That's when they are booked out of Sea-Tac International Airport for their flight to Missouri where the competition begins April 28.

The team is holding a garage sale April 1 and 2 at 15819 12th Pl. S.W. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
In addition, the students are ready to do most any odd job to earn their way-mow lawns, wash windows, landscape lawns, whatever.

Work requests, donations, grants and sponsorships are payable to Highline High School PTSA Robotics, Attention: Darin Gee, P.O. Box 66840, Burien 98166.

A retired Machinists Union member from SeaTac has been honored again by the White House for his outstanding community service in 2010.

George Braun, who has retired after a career as a Machinist at Boeing, has received a bronze-level President's Volunteer Service Award for his volunteer work last year. Braun donated 177 hours of his time to community service projects, easily passing the standard required to receive the award.

This is the second year in a row that the White House has honored Braun, Last year, he also received a bronze-level award for his volunteer work in 2009.

In recognition of his contribution, Braun received a bronze pin, a certificate and a letter signed by President Obama thanking him for "the kind of commitment to your community that moves America a step closer to its great promise."

"Thank you for your devotion to service and for doing all you can to shape a better tomorrow for our great nation," the President wrote.

With images of Japan's devastating earthquake fresh on our minds, so is another round of Internet misinformation about what should be your first move during an earthquake, according to the King County Office of Emergency Management.

The county department wants Highline residents to know that "Drop, Cover, and Hold" is the best method to protect yourself during an earthquake in the United States, especially in our own quake-prone region.

Here's why, according to county experts:

Many injuries from earthquakes are caused from people running around while the ground is shaking. They fall down, run into furniture, step on broken glass, or are hit by falling objects._

In and around older buildings especially, there is a much higher likelihood of broken windows, falling bricks, and other dangerous debris._

Despite the urge to flee, experts advise people to stay put - you are more protected indoors under a sturdy desk or table._

Earthquakes in the U.S. do not typically result in total building collapse ("pancaking") due to high building construction standards.

Residents of the Highline area may help earthquake and tsunami victims in northern Japan at a charity bazaar April 16.

The bazaar will inlcude a garage sale, bake sale and snacks, and a crafts sale.

The event is sponsored by the Himawari Japanese Preschool and will be held at Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church, 25701 14th Pl. S. in Des Moines, from9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

For more information, visit toiawase@himawariseattle.com or call 206-670-0899.

Captain Steve Paulsen, commander of West Seattle's Southwest Precinct, was officially recognized at Seattle City Hall on March 30th for his promotion to Captain.

Captain Paulsen took over as the SW Precinct commander in October of 2010, but today marked his official transition. Fourteen other Seattle Police Department employees were also promoted.

To learn more about Captain Paulsen, please check out the Herald article Captain Steve Paulsen returns to West Seattle as commander.

Below is a press release from the SPD on the promotion event:

SPD promotes fourteen employees – Family members practice tradition of pinning on the badge

Some of you might remember the air raid sirens, where we ducked under our desks, covered our heads and held onto a leg of our desks. However, very few of us experienced the devastation from the bombings that followed.

Marie Doughty was one such child. In fact, in 1936, in her mother's arms, she became an orphan. Her mother was killed during a Hyde Park air raid in London and, at only 3 months old, baby Marie was shipped off to a Catholic orphanage in Leeds Yorkshire.

Three years later, Frank and Minnie Simpson were grieving the loss of their beloved son, in the war. Their other son, Douglas, suggested that they adopt one of the many orphaned children from the war.

"Back then it was like going to the pound and picking a puppy," remembered Marie. "There were so many homeless children from the war. I was three then and the nun said, 'You don't want that little girl - all she does is cry', but she came back a second time, because she wanted me, anyway."

If there's anybody who can "fool" anyone, that would be us - foolin' ourselves. And we don't always wait for April 1st to get the fooling done.

While fooling can be in all good fun, sometimes the truth of human behavior is funny enough for a laugh.
After being weighed-in at my doctor's office I protested considerably, saying surely your scale needs an overhaul. There is no way I'm a few pounds heavier than a month ago, certainly not with all that fruit and vegetables daily. However, my complaint was quickly put to rest when another pass on the scale confirmed the first reading was correct.

Oooh -kay, so there were a few chocolates that tasted really good, and is there anything finer than a glass of good wine to wash them down? Of course not!

How in the heck is a gal in golden years supposed to get the best out of life if we can't kinda splurge once in a while? Well, maybe, more than once in a while.

Still there is exercise to help cope with overactive eating. Right?

The Board of Trustees for the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence is pleased to announce the selection of the new Executive Director of the Foundation, Ashley Fosberg.

Ms. Fosberg is a long-time resident of the Highline area with a wealth of experience working in the public schools. Her latest task was chairperson of the very successful "Heart and Soul," the bi-annual auction benefit for the Marvista PTA. Other Highline District involvement experiences have been with the Athletic Advisory Committee and the Middle School Assessment Committee. Some area residents will remember her also as the owner of the B-town Scoop in Olde Burien. Ashley has also been the manager of the Gregory Seahurst Swim Club. Her other non-profit experience has included over seven years as the Director of Marketing with the Seattle Art Museum and prior to that , the Director of Communications at the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Seattle Southside Visitor Services (www.seattlesouthside.com), the official tourism department for the cities of Tukwila, SeaTac, Kent and Des Moines, announces a Facebook Video Contest to win entry to the third annual Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon benefiting the American Cancer Society(r) taking place on Saturday, June 25, 2011.

Last year's Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon sold out in April with 28,000 marathon and half marathon runners, an estimated 118,000 spectators and generated approximately $35 million in economic impact for the region. Runners hoping to participate in the race this year are encouraged to submit a three-minute video to the Seattle Southside Facebook page (www.facebook.com/seattlesouthside). The three videos with the most "Likes" will win an entry to either the full or half marathon. The contest will be live April 1-30, 2011 and the race is very likely to sell out in that timeframe.

The Washington Department of Transportation has outlined major road closure around the Southcenter mall during construction:

Southcenter Parkway (both directions) closed between Strander Boulevard and the west mall entrance
Klickitat Drive (both directions) closed between Southcenter Parkway and I-5 (southbound) on-ramp

I-5 (southbound) off-ramp is open during construction

I-5 (northbound) off-ramp (exit 153) to southbound Southcenter Parkway closed

Southcenter Parkway (southbound) closed between the north mall entrance and the west mall entrance

I-5 (northbound) off-ramp (exit 153) to northbound Southcenter Parkway is open during construction

Southcenter Parkway (northbound) from I-5 off-ramp is open during construction