March 2012

The pre-schoolers may not have realized who Yvette Sanchez Fuentes was when she walked through the classroom doors of the Children’s Home Society of Washington’s Highline Early Learning Center at Highline Community College, sat down at a child-sized table, played with them and read to them. But the kids seemed to have as much fun with her as they would with any other patient grown-up.

Appointed by President Obama, Ms. Sanchez Fuentes is the National Director, Office of Head Start, with the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She is in town for an Office of Headstart Region X Conference is this week. (There are 12 regions nationally.) In addition to Washington State, Region X supports children and families in Alaska, Idaho, and Oregon. About half of the 54 or so children at the center, which is partnered with the college, are enrolled in Head Start, from newborns to "waddlers", those 1 to 2 years old, to pre-K.

SLIDESHOW, CLICK ON PHOTO FOR MORE

The South King County Wii Bowling League held its annual tournament at Tukwila Community Center on Wednesday, March14 to wrap up fall-winter league play. Over 80 seniors, a male/female mix, from 14 teams in nine cities, including Burien, SeaTac, Des Moines, and Tukwila participated, utilizing several TV screens, and one enormous inflatable movie screen with projected images.

Wii Bowling is a virtual Nintendo game launched in 2006 and instead of a bowling ball, bowlers flick a video game console in their hand resembling a TV channel changer while staring at a screen with a projected image of a bowling lane with pins. Humanlike cartoon figures mimic the action of the bowler.

By Eric Mathison
Update:
Burien City Council members decided Monday, March 19 to discuss setting an election date of Aug. 7 for North Highline annexation at their next meeting on April 2.

City Manager Mike Martin told the lawmakers that he has "professional certainty" that the $5 million per year sales tax credit promised to Burien if it annexes White Center and North Highline will remain.

He said none of the budget proposals coming out of the Legislature's regular session or special session contemplate removing the credit.
"It's not on anybody's list," Martin declared.

Several Burien residents spoke against annexation on March 19 while a few North Highline residents said they favored Burien annexing the area.

Councilman Jack Block Jr. asked Martin when the council would have to decide to call for an election if it was delayed until the November election. With the presidential election on the ballot in November, voting rates would presumably be higher than during a midsummer election.

Deputy Mayor Rose Clark said she will not be at the council's April 16 meeting so would like the decision on requesting an Aug. 7 vote to be made on April 2.

By Eric Mathison
The Burien City Council at its Monday, March 19 meeting will consider going ahead with annexation of White Center and the remaining unincorporated North Highline area by setting an annexation vote for Aug. 7.

The King County Council formally sets the election date at the request of the City Council.

Only voters within the proposed annexation area will vote on the measure. Burien voters will not have a say in the election.

If the North Highline voters approve annexation, the unincorporated area will most likely become part of Burien in early 2013.

The Burien council will not vote on setting the Aug. 7 election at the Monday meeting. The formal council vote is expected April 2 or April 16.

City Manager Mike Martin said the state Legislature is expected to include in its final budget a state sales tax credit to Burien of $5 million for ten years if the area is annexed. Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to approve the credit. Martin had said the city would not go ahead with the proposed annexation if the credit was removed from the budget. The governor had proposed reducing the credit.

The Burien City Council at its Monday, March 19 meeting will consider going ahead with annexation of White Center and the remaining unincorporated North Highline area by setting an annexation vote for Aug. 7.

The King County Council formally sets the election date at the request of the City Council.

Only voters within the proposed annexation area will vote on the measure. Burien voters will not have a say in the election.

If the North Highline voters approve annexation, the unincorporated area will most likely become part of Burien in early 2013.

The Burien council will not vote on setting the Aug. 7 election at the Monday meeting. The formal council vote is expected April 2 or April 16.

City Manager Mike Martin said the state Legislature is expected to include in its final budget a state sales tax credit to Burien of $5 million for ten years if the area is annexed. Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to approve the credit. Martin had said the city would not go ahead with the proposed annexation if the credit was removed from the budget. The governor had proposed reducing the credit.

A 5th grade team, The Stoehr SuperStars, has made it to the Global Reading Challenge Finals on Tuesday, March 27.

Jade, Cory, Natavia, Jeremy, Viridiana, Pieran, and Sarah placed second in today's semifinal to earn a spot in the finals in two weeks. (Graham Hill placed first in today's semifinal to earn the other spot.) All seven are students in Kristie Stoehr's class. Their classmate, Akira, served as a coach. Congrats to the team...and good luck in the finals!

(submitted by Chris Robert, Head Teacher at Roxhill...and dad of Pieran, one of the finalists)

They join George’s Magician’s Treasure from Alki Elementary who scored 115 out of 120 points at Monday’s semi-finals at the downtown library and Da Peeps from Arbor Heights Elementary who scored 110 out of 120.

UPDATE 2: 7pm. Friday

Now at 530 members

-------------------------------------------------

UPDATE: 12:50 a.m. Friday

Now at 435 Members

-------------------------------------------------

It all started at 11:00 p.m. last night. White Center resident and community activist Aileen Sison had the whimsical idea of creating a Facebook Group with recommendations about "fine-snacking" for under five bucks in White Center, called "W.C. Foodies Snackdown." She got more than just a few nibbles in no time as it seems that area residents have a huge appetite for such culinary cues.

press release:
Highline Council PTSA (HCPTSA) is accepting applications for its annual scholarship. It expects to award $6,000 in scholarships this spring.

HCPTSA is the organization made up of all PTSA units in the school district. Last year, with 40 students applying, HCPTSA awarded six scholarships for a total of $5,000.

The student’s high school does not have to have a PTA -- any senior living within Highline and attending a Highline Public School is eligible.

Because PTA is a community service organization, the scholarship applicants will be evaluated on volunteer work and extracurricular activities. An essay, letter of recommendation, and grade point average will also be considered.

The scholarships are funded through donations of school district employees and school PTAs. “We are honored to be able to help the students of our community with their education,” says Debbie Thoma, HCPTSA Scholarship Committee coordinator.

Applications must be postmarked by Monday, May 7. Applications cannot be emailed.

For scholarship application or information, go to www.hcptsa.org or email dpthoma@clear.net

By Kyle Howard

West Seattle and Chief Sealth took the field Thursday March 15th for a metro league boys soccer matchup at Southwest Athletic Complex across from Chief Sealth. West Seattle is coming off of a big loss from their season opener, losing to Ingraham 11-0. Chief Sealth would prove to be very hard competition as they win big with a 10-0 shutout.

Chief Sealth’s offense kept the ball on West Seattle’s side most of the game, keeping the Wildcats freshman goal keeper Liam Dennehy very busy. Dennehy blocked nine shots for the game. Chief Sealth outshot West Seattle by a massive 28-0, with most of their goals coming from deflected shots from players in the box.

Scoring was distributed throughout the Seahawks evenly with eight separate players scoring their nine goals. Senior forward Aden Fidow scored two goals for the Seahawks.

Discover Burien board members voted at last night's meeting to make Interim Executive Director, Gina Bourdage, the new executive director of the organization.

"I love being a part of this community," she told the Highline Times. "It has come a long way over the years and it's great to be a part of Discover Burien where everyone is working hard to make things even better."

The Highline TImes wishes her well in her new post.