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About

The B-Town (Burien) Blog is your only daily-updated, totally independent online source (meaning we’re not selling real estate, nor do we work for the city) for all things Burien-related, including:

News

Events

Businesses

History

People

Artists

Music

Mysteries

Photos

Videos

Humor

and much more

The folks behind this website include:

Scott Schaefer, Founder/Publisher/Editor: With three National Emmy Awards for Writing on “Bill Nye the Science Guy” (Note to Seattle Magazine readers: Scott is not Bill Nye’s brother, and we’re not sure either how they came to that conclusion) and over 21 years’ experience in TV/video, multimedia, marketing/advertising, technology and the internet, Scott started the B-Town Blog as a hobby and has since turned it into a full-time business. His other credits include as a Director on “Penn & Teller:Bullsh*t!” (Showtime), “The Arsenio Hall Show” (Paramount), “Sightings” (Paramount), “Totally Hidden Video” (Fox), “America’s Funniest People” (ABC), Fox On-Air Promotions and KING-TV’s “Almost Live!” where he got his start in 1985.
Mark Neuman, Writer/Marketing: former real-world Journalist, TV Host, Producer and Marketer, Mark is an old friend of Scott’s going back to when they worked on their high school newspaper together (West Seattle High’s “Chinook”). Mark has interviewed two US Presidents, cops, cooks and cartoonists, authors and artists, senators, singers, scholars and senior citizens, along with the first Mayor of Burien and a local man running for State Superior Court.
Janet Grella, Sales Director/Diva joined the LOL Dudez team last July. Seems like her retirement as Sales Manager from a local newspaper gave her too much time on her hands. So now she’s busy selling Ads and contributing stories, photos and video to our community blog sites. She came to us with not only 30+ years of advertising and marketing experience, but a keen understanding of the communities we serve – their people and businesses. With Janet on board, The B-Town Blog has enjoyed incredible growth in both readers and advertisers. Janet knows the future of advertising is online, not in newspapers.
Michael Brunk, Photographer. With a love of photography that spans more than 20 years, Michael has fond memories of film but wouldn’t give up his digital SLR for anything. His checkered past includes stints as a monthly columnist for a nationally published magazine on telecommunications and technology and several years reviewing movies. He’s also been known to dabble in community theater. His main qualifications are a large camera and free time.
Jack Mayne, Reporter. Jack Mayne has done about all there is to do in print journalism. He has been city editor of the Seattle P.I. back in its glory days, edited the Journal American in Bellevue and Valley Daily News in Kent in the 1990s. Before that he was a freelance international journalist and reported from South Africa, China, visited over 80 countries and even covered a colonial war in the 20th century between the United Kingdom and Argentina over the desolate Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. He got his start at the Vancouver Province, thence to The Associated Press, becoming chief of the New England bureau, but a desire of AP to send him to Buffalo, N.Y., drove him back to Seattle. With writing for print becoming quaint and dated, he is now setting his sights on Web journalism and has written several stories for the B-Town Blog and plans many more.
Ralph Nichols, Reporter. Ralph specializes in public policy and legal issues, medical matters, and business profiles. For several years, he was an editor, reporter, and columnist for the Highline Times. Previously he worked in the Seattle area, Alaska and Idaho as a reporter for daily newspapers, United Press International, and trade publications; as a state capitol bureau chief and columnist; and a public relations writer and project manager.
Shawn Underwood, Humor Columnist: Twenty-five years of living in Burien gives this Humorist much fodder for her writings. All of her stories are true, or at least have a grain of truth with no added embellishments. Or something like that.
Josh Hart, Intern Extraordinaire: Hailing from Highline School District’s innovative Big Picture High School, 15-year old Josh provides our youth-oriented voice on everything from local football game blowouts to opinion pieces on VP debates.
Gina Bourdage, Reporter/Directory Editor: graduate of Washington State University with a B.A. in Communications, Gina is a native who currently resides on the cusp of the proposed annexation area. She will be covering annexation issues, restaurant reviews and is now the Editor of our Business Directory.

Aside from striving to be the main (and most timely being that we update several times per day) News Source for the Burien area, the B-Town Blog does something few other local blogs do; we actually strive to serve and help our community!

Over the last year, we’ve helped raise more than $12,000 for needy area resident ranging from two local food banks to victims of the fatal apartment fire and more.

We’re also active members of both Discover Burien and the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce.

Here’s a informational video worth viewing:

This is part of a network of blogs produced by Schaefer’s company LOL Dudez, LLC, and includes:

White Center Blog – Diverse Community + Interesting People = This Blog about White Center, our neighbor to the north
Tukwila Blog – “100 Years in the Making” blog about Tukwila
SeaTac Blog – “Everywhere’s Possible” with this blog about SeaTac
Normandy Park Blog – all about (you guessed it) Normandy Park
Crapolicio.us – comedy site that “Worships the Worst of the Web”
Jokestarter – blog devoted to helping writers, comedians, producers, etc. find comedy ideas
Many others in development!

Remember, a blog is only as good as its contributors and participants, so please email me with any story ideas, event listings, business directory listings or other B-Town-related stuff.

LOL Dudez also produces corporate videos, comedic videos and viral marketing on the internet, including: