(Editor's Note: Jerry Robinson continues his exploration of downtown Burien.)

Like many of you, we often drive through Burien and marvel at the progress of the construction of the new town square, town plaza, city center or whatever comes to mind.

We go by it from all directions and usually stop long enough to take a historic picture for our newspaper files.

It is exciting to have a ringside seat at this changing scene and marvel at what has happened. Along with hundreds of other citizens, we attended a number of community meetings four or five years ago when our city leaders felt the pulse of the people, and asked what we would like to see happen. Like a lot of others we wanted to see a focal point--a center.

They listened and after an enormous amount of study and planning it will shortly become a reality-- a pretty fancy answer to the sprawling madhouse that is Southcenter.

It has taken wisdom, dedication and heart from what is essentially the same group of women tempered by one or two men who have guided the city with skill and enthusiasm.

I take my hat off to them, even though I dislike the Ambaum and 152nd intersection. I belly ached to Councilman Gordon Shaw about it and he had little sympathy, saying." If you don't like the endless light changing go around. We didn't want drivers headed for I - 5 or Southcenter to clog up our main street."

Now I do, but not always. I don't want to miss the exciting changes.

I bumped into Deputy Mayor Rose Clark the other day and asked for help in figuring out the function of each change and she kindly wrote me the following, which you might find useful:

"Here is a description of the Burien City Hall/Library project you asked about.

Stand on 152nd facing the building. The part that is glass that soars two stories is the library with beautiful views of Mt. Rainier.

Walk just a little towards the west and you will see a small part of the building that juts to the west. That is our city council chamber.

It is being designed so that the library can use it also.

When you enter the library from 152nd, you will be able to walk to a hallway that serves this chamber and you will find an elevator to what is a third floor that will house the offices for our staff.

The parking garage will be on the north side, sort of close to where Meal Makers used to be.

Again looking at the city council chamber, you will notice a one-acre park being developed. This is our Town Square Park that will house some beautiful art elements and be a place for public gatherings of large groups. I envision many celebrations there.

I, too, get very excited as I watch this project being constructed.

Other cities are watching us and thinking they would like a town center also. We are progressing very well and will soon open the city hall part sometime this spring.

I am very proud that Council, supported by our citizens, have held this vision since incorporation and kept striding towards its implementation.

Have a great day

Rose Clark"

I stepped out of line at Sal's Deli to ask Elsbeth if she wanted fries with her chicken strips. When I turned to get back in line, a guy a little younger than me had moved into my spot. He turned and looked at me. I looked at him. He turned away, and then looked again. I raised one eyebrow and squinted at him.

He said, "You were in line here. Why don't you go ahead of me?"

His offer caught me off guard. I had pondered the possibility of an Indian Leg Wrestling match with him over who would be first to place their deli order.

The complexity of my own order was looping around in my head and I didn't want to screw it up so I deferred further thoughts of a tussle.

"No, no, that's okay. I have a big order and you'd never get your lunch if I went ahead of you." He stepped up and placed his order.

I ordered three things they were out of but really enjoyed the alternatives.

The guy who got in line in front of me was sitting on a stool by the window while we both waited for our orders.

"You a Burien guy," I asked him?

"Yeah. I moved here in 1964."

He told me his name is Ferd Richlin and there was something familiar about him. He said he had retired from Boeing about 10 years ago. I worked at Boeing until 1949, but I don't remember seeing Ferd around the plant.

He told me he was mentioned in the Highline Times in the past in connection with his group, ChoralSounds Northwest. He is a singer--a tenor, he said.

He has a great smile and warm personality and says he is busier than ever now that he is retired.

Many years ago, he worked at Sal's Deli for the original owner, Mr. Salwitz. He said Sal told him that when he too was a Boeing employee, he begged his supervisor to lay him off so he could open his own deli, but his supervisor refused, so Sal had to finally quit to realize his dream.