March 2012

Discover Burien took in a net total of $10,000 at last Friday’s Burien Awards Dinner and Auction, event manager Debra George reports.

That beats the 2011 net total of $7,500.

George reports total revenues from the dinner and auction of $13,274. After a $1,450 contribution to the Highline Schools Foundation and expenses of $1,742.15 that leaves about $10,000. There are still a few small bills to pay and a couple of auction items to collect on, according to George.

Discover Burien honored Elliott Newson of Highline High as Student Leader of the Year, Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence as Non Profit of the Year, Dan House, owner of Tin Room Bar/Theater, as Business Leader of the Year and Margie Gibb as Volunteer of the Year. Doug Query was awarded Team Clean Sweep Recognition.

Prominent Burien attorney Doug Moreland received the Robby Award from the Highline Times and Robinson Newspapers for his outstanding community service. He was unable to attend.

On Saturday, March 4, Mount Rainier High School hosted the Soundview region solo/ensemble contest.

Soundview Region includes Mount Rainier, Renton, Lindbergh, Seattle Christian, Kennedy, Hazen, Global Connections, Evergreen, and Highline high schools.

For the first time in almost 20 years, the Mt. Rainier Choir is sending its mixed ensemble to the state finals competition.

The Music Company, Mt. Rainier’s ensemble, earned a “1” or superior rating, and 1st place.

The choir will be competing at the state competition Friday and Saturday, April 27-28 in Ellensburg.

Last year, the choir earned 1st alternate to state. Mt. Rainier placed second behind Burien’s Kennedy Catholic High School.

Deadline for receiving items for Community Calendar is 5 p.m. Wednesday for the following week’s Times/News. Events are published based on timeliness and space availability. Email submissions to: hteditor@robinsonnews.com Items can be accepted from nonprofit groups and government agencies only. Others may call Dona Ozier at 206-708-1378 for inclusion in our “Out & About” advertising section.

Music
Hank Cramer Trio—March 18. Highline Performing Arts Center, 40-1 S. 152nd St. 2 p.m. Folk Music, Sea Shanties, Celtic and good old Western songs. Opening act, “Clallam County.” Tickets are available from Brown Paper Tickets http://brownpapertickets.com, 800-838-3006 or at the door on the day of the concert. More information and sound clips can be found at http://greatwesternconcerts.org

Highline Classic Jazz Festival—March 10. 3- 10 p.m. Landmark Events Center, 23660 Marine View Dr. S. Featuring 11 top area bands. Sponsored by Burien Arts. Tickets, $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and military, free for youth 18 and underTickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event 218004 or 206-244-7808.

Theatre

What happens when your neighborhood slowly falls apart! We blame it on "Sea-Tac Airport"! It isn't an easy out, though.

Remember when the big push was for sound insulating windows and sliding glass doors for the homes affected by aircraft noise-- boundaries were even set.

NOW our warranties have run out and their purpose no longer is doing its job. The noise levels have changed in a lot of the neighborhoods covered by the original "insulation" job.

What about the people who live here---we are not voluntarily staying here. Some of us have been here for fifty years when it was a secure neighborhood with a school we thought would be there forever and we could enjoy our yards in the summer.

Virginia Dana
Sea Tac (right next to Glacier High School)

Dear Jerry Robinson:

I missed your column this week. Hope you are feeling O.K. I just want to tell you that as another 91 year old I really enjoy your reminiscing.

I, too, ate road tar as a kid in Alameda, California. We played hockey on roller skates on a road end by the bay. When it got too hot and the asphalt softened so we couldn’t skate we would scoop out a tar bubble.

As I recall we chewed it like gum. Two of those girls who played hockey I still keep in touch with. One I have known since we were five and the other moved to the neighborhood when in the third grade.

Like you, my father was a self-made man. His father, a printer, emigrated in 1882 from London to Chicago to make a better living.

Dad was two at the time and as the oldest boy of a family of six children had to go to work at the end of the eighth grade. He read the newspaper every day and I guess that rubbed off on me. I am an inveterate newspaper reader.

In case you have forgotten, hot summer days still happen here and will again. Many kids in Burien will run through sprinklers or frolic on slip and slides. One thing they will not have is a local free pool.

Normandy Park has a pool, Arbor Heights has a pool, Tukwila has a pool, and Gregory Heights has a membership pool. Burien has a roller skate park. Burien used to have a pool on 153rd but that is now gone.

You can't swim in Lake Hicks-- too many toxins. Lakes are okay but are not very safe.

I had a close call when a friend let me take my kids to Lake Burien years ago. It is private and there is no lifeguard. Luckily, my friend had an 8-foot dinghy with no oars at his dock.

Son number one swam out too far and got in trouble. I raced over to the dock, grabbed the boat in a flash and was able to paddle with hands and arms to rescue him. Tragedy averted.

The YMCA has a fabulous membership with two first class indoor swim pools. I sure wish we had one in Burien. Costly but it would help kids stay out of trouble. Swimming kept me out of trouble as a youth.

Press release:

King County Assessor Lloyd Hara will host a South King Community Meeting on Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM to discuss property taxes, valuations and the services that the Department of Assessments provides to assist property owners in light of the economic downturn.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will take place at the Burien Public Library, 400 Southwest 152nd Street, Burien, WA 98166.

This town hall will be an opportunity for property owners to learn more about their property taxes, valuations, exemptions, and the appeal process.

King County Assessor Lloyd Hara will be joined by representatives from the King County Board of Equalization, Treasury, and Tax Advisor Office, to field questions from residents of South King County.

“Bank foreclosures and other distressed sales continue to be a drag on property values overall in King County,” said King County Assessor Lloyd Hara. “This is driving property values down through most of King County, and is resulting in property tax reductions for some.”

WHO: King County Assessor, Lloyd Hara

Over the course of an 11-month undercover operation Seattle Police detectives set up a fake pawn shop/stolen goods fencing operation across the Duwamish in Georgetown, letting thieves come to them instead of chasing them around town. Now that the operation is over, SPD is releasing photos of the stolen goods and inviting the public to take a look and reclaim their property.

On March 6, SPD unveiled the results of Operation Oliver’s Twist: Dozens arrested and 102 suspects identified (with warrants for their arrest to be issued soon) along with 900 stolen items recovered – including vehicles, bicycles, electronics, credit cards, 27 firearms and, in the “might not want to claim this” category, military-grade C-4 explosives.

SPD said word slowly spread throughout the criminal underground that the Georgetown pawn shop (unknowingly staffed by undercover officers) was a great place to get rid of your stolen goods quickly and with no questions asked. Those questions will now come in a court of law.

Update for March 13
On March 11 locals gathered at Beveridge Place Pub to raise money for Trout Unlimited's fight against a mining corporation's plan to turn Bristol Bay, the world's most productive sockeye fishery, into a hard rock mine.

$4,000 dollars were raised during the event. Here is what organizer Brian Cole had to say:

"The event was a great success, raising over $4000 and public awareness for the 'Save Brystol Bay' campaign. Besides the silent auction, raffle and beer sales, individual donations and a letter writing campaign took place.

It wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of local businesses and all the great people that attended. I would especailly like to recognize the support of Hajime Sato, of Mashiko for providing abundant smoked salmon sushi rolls, and The Seattle Fish Company for providing smoked salmon, and sliders, prepared by employee Aaron. And of course the event would never have taken place without the support and hospitality of Gary and Terry, owners of Beveridge Place Pub, where the event was held."

Original post on March 7

By Jerry Gay

Young Angus Duke, 22, dresses the part of Uncle Sam every morning and then dances before passing vehicles on 1st Ave. South in Burien.

Duke's main focus is to remind us that this is income tax season and every good citizen needs to file their tax return by April 15th.