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Area Libraries Will Be Closed Monday Morning
Our “Empress of Information” Marilee Cogswell, the Manager of the Burien Library, sends us this reminder that all area library branches will be closed for staff training this coming Monday... [Read more]
Senior Expo Coming To Highline College March 27th
When you think of Highline Community College, you usually think of fresh-faced young college kids, right? Well, maybe it’s time to add another demographic to the pie – senior citizens –... [Read more]
“Get The Ivy Out” This Saturday At Shorewood Park
A big pile of Ivy pulled by Pat Haugen and Ted Daley.
As Spring springs into our midst, a young man’s (and woman’s) fancy turns of course to…gardening.
Weeding.
Pruning.
And epecially, as the kids say, “getting the ivy out!”
So what better way to sate your newly-sprouted spring desires than to attend a Shorewood Park Work Party this Saturday, March 21st, from 10an to Noon?
Welcome Our Latest Advertiser: Vickie Bergquist Insurance!
The B-Town Blog would like to extend its hand, like a good neighbor, to our latest Advertiser: Vickie Bergquist Insurance Agency, Inc.!
Vickie’s a State Farm agent just down the road in Des Moines.
Unlike many west coast agents, Vickie started her State Farm career in the home office in Bloomington, Ill., after high school graduation.
She’s spent a total of 28 years with State Farm. When she married her husband Rich 32 years ago they began a professional road trip that took them from southern Illinois to Texas, Arizona, Colorado and 16 years later Washington. It was then that Vickie went back to State Farm. The office she occupies at 22760 Marine View Drive S. has been a State Farm office for over 30 years.
Vickie recalls her first year as an agent when she delivered her first life insurance check to a widow who was very appreciative. This experience validated the impact of what we (as insurance agents) do and the impact they have on peoples’ lives.
She views her job as “helping people deal with the unexpected. The good news is because they plan, they’ll be okay. One great thing about State Farm, is that we really are neighbors to those we serve†she added.
And being neighborly to Vickie means helping her clients make wise use of their insurance dollars. “It takes a professional agent to help people plan for the risks in their lives. We help our clients plan for an entire life, and tweak it as their lives change.â€
In Vickie’s opinion, ‘if you want to save money on insurance, go see your insurance agent. If you have proper coverage, it will save you hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.
Vickie Bergquist Insurance is a full-service State Farm office, selling auto, life, health and fire insurance, plus mutual funds and investment products. State Farm Bank products are FDIC insured. Vickie is joined in her office by Melissa Pallanes, who’s been with her for over eight years. Melissa is a licensed Insurance Agent and is a registered representative with a license to sell mutual funds and assist people in planning for their financial future. Teresa Asphy has 12 years experience as a licensed agent.
The BTB thinks it’s important for our readers to know that Vickie’s agency sells Short Term Health Insurance. For our readers who may be between jobs, it’s less expensive than COBRA. It’s also good for college students no longer on their parents plan, and fills an insurance gap if the family member with the health insurance retires.
Vickie and her husband live, work and shop in Des Moines. She’s President of the Southwest Chapter of Business and Professional Women, on the board for Des Moines Dollars for Scholars, President of the Kent Breakfast Club, and is an ex-officio board member of the Southwest King County Chamber.
So, click on her Ad on the right sidebar, check out her website, or better yet – give her a call at (206) 878-4050 and tell her The B-Town Blog sent ya!
[Are you interested in getting a "Blogvertorial" Ad like this for your Business? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
PHOTO: “The Devil’s Getting Married” Monday Rainbow
Courtesy BTB Contributing Photographer Gregory Rehmke comes this great photo of a rainbow over Lake Burien, taken around 6:15pm Monday night as a squall of rain passed through as the sun kept shining. Some... [Read more]
Whack Some Invasive Weeds At Walker Wetlands Saturday
This Saturday (Mar. 21st) Spring will have sprung so it’s time to get your garden gloves on, dig out those pruning shears and help the Walker Wetlands by removing invasive plants from 10am to Noon.
Here are the details:
WHAT: Walker Wetland invasive plant removal work party…
UPDATE: More Information On Burien Nissan’s Inventory
As we first reported last Friday (March 13th), longtime auto dealer Burien Nissan had its entire lot of new cars (around 100) hauled away within the span of two days.
It may appear that the dealership has, or is, going out of business – but it’s not, according to Sales Manager John Antonelli…
Final Print P-I Is Tuesday; Here’s A Local Connection
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009, will be the final print edition of The Seattle P-I, which is transitioning over to an online-only venture. The local angle for this area is that several P-I staffers live in... [Read more]
Highline Audiology Holding Free Hearing Screening 3/17-19
BTB Advertiser Highline Audiology will be holding a special, free, three-day event this week, from Tuesday March 17th through Thursday March 19th.
This event will include a free hearing screening, consultation, demonstration of the Dual (the exact same hearing aid now worn by BTB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer, who highly recommends getting your hearing tested if you’ve ever rocked out like he has…), and a free No-Risk Trial of the Dual.
Here are the details…
Hi-Liners’ “Little Shop Of Horrors” Begins March 20th
Burien’s Hi-Liners are getting ready for spring’s growing season by planting a hilarious man-eating plant on stage in the classic “Little Shop of Horrors,” which begins Friday March 20th at the Renton Carco Theater.
Here are the details…
PHOTOS: “Cove To Clover” Race Raises $12K For Food Bank
Despite a day which started with snow in some places and a dreadful downpour just about everywhere else, around 300 runners participated in the first-ever “Cove to Clover” 5K Race Sunday morning, which started near the Normandy Park Community Club and ended at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub (BTB Advertiser) in Burien.
Here are some photos from race day:
According to Mick Purdy, co-owner of Mick Kelly’s, $12,000 was raised for the Highline Area Food Bank…
PHOTOS: Old Bowling Lanes Lie Under Discount Furniture
Photos and Story by Scott Schaefer At 14920 Ambaum Blvd. lies an aging, one-level, yellow cement/brick building that currently houses “Paty’s Furniture,” a discount “Mexican Furniture”... [Read more]
Spring Classes Starting Up At Environmental Science Center
by Mark Neuman It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful spot to “go to school†than Seahurst Park, showcasing the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound right here in Burien. Our friends at... [Read more]
Citizen’s Police Academy Starts Wed., March 25th
Together with the King County Sheriff’s Office, Burien and SeaTac Police have designed a twice-yearly program to increase the understanding between citizens and their police departments through education – the Citizen’s Police Academy, the next session of which begins Wednesday, March 25th.
Here are the details:
WHAT: Citizen’s Police Academy
WHEN: Starts Wed., March 25th (and goes 13 weeks from 6-9pm Wed. nights)
WHERE: Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center, located at 19010 1st Avenue South in Burien (see map below)
COST: FREE!
INFO: Graduates of the Citizen’s Police Academy will have a…
Three Tree Community Church Seeking Artists & Musicians
Three Tree Community Church is looking for both artists and musicians of all kinds to come and join them for an upcoming community event on Saturday, April 11th. The Benefit Concert and Art Show will... [Read more]
Burien Nissan Loses Entire Stock, Now An Empty Lot
Story and Photos by Janet Grella
BREAKING NEWS: Burien Nissan, located at the Five Corners intersection of First Ave South and SW 160th, has lost its entire stock of cars and is now basically an empty lot.
Since Wednesday, numerous auto carrier trucks have been hauling vehicles away from the lot, with a total of 100 new cars removed, which we estimate to be between $2 and $3 million in inventory.
But, according to Sales Manager John Antonelli, “it’s business as usual – we’re still open for business in service, parts and sales. When we get our new financing we’ll re-open in a couple of weeks.”
The hauled-away Nissan cars are apparently being taken to a nearby port, and will be auctioned off in the near future.
Antonelli says that new inventory will likely return in a few weeks, and that Burien Nissan is in the middle of a “financial restructuring.”
Twenty-seven employees have been laid off, with just eight remaining on staff.
Burien auto dealers account for a significant portion of tax revenue for Burien, and Dick Loman, Economic Development Director for the city, said “This sorry economic downturn is just hurting everybody.”
Original owner’s son David Gjersee sits at his desk Friday in-between phone calls with potential buyers. Gjersee’s Father started Burien Datsun on this location in 1969, and he now serves as a Sales Professional. This business is one of the oldest Nissan dealerships in the US.
Gjersee also said it was “business as usual” even though he had no cars to sell.
This Reporter walked on to the empty lot late Friday morning and noticed that while there were no new Nissans on the lot, there were still a few cars present, which were most likely employee vehicles; however, the service department was busy.
As a longtime Burien resident, I found it shocking to see, especially after their $5 million remodel a year and a half ago.
This story is still developing, and we’ll post updates as we get them.
Poggi Bonsi Reinvents Itself As Online Store & Retail Outlet
Like many Burien businesses, Poggi Bonsi has had to find new ways to deal with the recent economic downturn.
With two different retail locations on the same block on SW 152nd in Olde Burien, Poggi Bonsi has had to juggle a lot to stay afloat…
33rd Legislators Holding Education Forum March 14th
The 33th District’s state legislators will host a forum on K-12 education in Kent on Saturday, March 14. Senator Karen Keiser and Representatives Dave Upthegrove and Tina Orwall invite you to join... [Read more]
