On this Thanksgiving 2009, we here at The B-Town Blog are ever-so-thankful for all our Readers, Advertisers and Contributors, and we send our heartiest, cranberry-soakiest, stuffingist, yammiest, Tofurkeyturdukenist wishes to everyone!

Unless something big happens, we’re all taking the day off to engorge ourselves with our dysfunctional families and friends.

Here are some of the things us B-Town Bloggers are thankful for this year:

“I’m thankful for the diverse range of people who call this area their home. I’m thankful for the smiling faces I see at local businesses that I frequent. I’m thankful for the gorgeous views and beaches of Three Tree Point. I’m thankful for the eagles I see circling in the skies above and that osprey I saw dive and catch a fish this summer. I’m thankful that there’s always something going on here, which means we’re never at a loss for content. I’m thankful for everyone who helps with this blog, which is growing every day. And last but not least, I am thankful for my family and friends!” – Scott Schaefer

Thankful that the farmer’s market is finally in its new home; and back where it started at when Lamont’s was sitting there empty. Thankful that there were only two beavers that had to be euthanized. Thankful for the new library, city hall & town square park and the vision that business and government leaders had way back when. Thankful that Discover Burien got a new exec director. Thankful that Scat the cat lived through his attack by the deranged man. Thankful for our customers at BTB. Thankful for our readers at BTB. - Janet Grella

“I am thankful we live in a nation with a free economy and a strong and indefatigable First Amendment, where an upstart neighborhood blog such as The B-Town Blog can birth itself, thrive and grow. This simply is not the case in many other parts of the world.” - Mark Neuman

The stuff I am thankful for are the people and staff that contribute to the blog and their genuine care and involvement in our communities.
The growth and progress of the amazing small business owners we have. We are lucky they are here.  The readers!!! I couldn’t be more excited to hear of our numbers and see that people really care about the stories we are able to provide. I am thankful for the growth Burien has seen over the last year.. agree with the direction or not… the progress has been well achieved. - Gina Bourdage

I am thankful for family and pets, for good friends, for good health, and for work even in this recession. And for a suburban city like Burien that fosters a sense of community, and looks to the future with optimism. And for the men and women of the King County Sheriff’s Office/Burien Police Department and our firefighters who help protect us. And for the men and women from the Highline area who serve in America’s armed forces. And for the B-Town Blog, which provides a real source of news and information for the community. And for all the little things in life that matter a lot. - Ralph Nichols

“I’m thankful for all of the parks and beautiful trees (especially during the fall) that make Burien so very pretty and easy to enjoy. Happy Thanksgiving!!” – Amy Bouska

“I am thankful for everybody who contributed to our food bank fundraisers, knowing that everything they did will help the less fortunate in the area. I hope to see everyone at our next one at Tin Cellars on Tuesday, Dec. 8th!” - Bart Bryan

“I’m thankful for the ability to do whatever the hell I want – I’m going backpacking in Costa Rica soon! I’m also thankful for my youth and my irresponsibility! – Danielle Burton

Here’s some Turkeyday artwork to enjoy from our youthful, irresponsible artist Danielle Burton:

Click image to see larger version.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

What are YOU thankful for? Please leave a Comment below…

Burien’s St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church is holding a Holiday Bazaar on Saturday Dec. 5th from 9am – 3pm at their building at 1005 SW 152nd, just west of Olde Burien.

It’s happening the same day as Burien’s WinterFest, so keep this in mind when you’re out shopping or enjoying the day – St. Elizabeth’s is just to the west of Olde Burien, and you can’t miss its distinctive, curved rooftop.

Here are the details:

WHAT: St. Elizabeth’s annual Holiday Bazaar

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 5th from 9am to 3pm

WHERE: St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, located at 1005 SW 152nd near Olde Burien.

INFO: From an email:

Our Bazaar will feature BAKE SALE with breads by professional baker and other goodies, HAND-MADE CRAFTS, Quilt and original Oil Painting raffle, coffee bar, “ATTIC” for collectibles, many BOOKS.

Home-cooked lunch served from 11:30am – 2:00pm ($5).

Plenty of parking on 10th, on side of church.

Part of Winterfest in Olde Burien.

COME AND JOIN US!

For more information, call 206-243-6844 or visit their website here.

The City of Burien is holding an Open House on its Shoreline Master Program update on Monday, Nov. 30th from 6pm to 8pm at the Burien City Hall council chambers.

The city has been awarded a grant fro the state to update its master program, and the city’s program has not been amended since incorporation in 1993. The Shoreline Master Program is a set of goals, policies and regulations managing shorelines within the city of Burien, and this forum is intended to give residents a chance to share their thoughts, concerns and ideas.

The master program specifically addresses land use and ecological functions adjacent to Lake Burien and Puget Sound.

The Burien Shoreline Advisory Committee has been considering input received at the first open house in May 2008 and has assisted in creating a new draft Shoreline Master Program. The Nov. 30th open house is an opportunity for residents to talk with members of the committee, city staff and the consultant team and learn more about the new draft program. In the near future, the new draft Shoreline Master Program will be presented to the Planning Commission for its consideration and possible recommendation to the City Council.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Community Open House Regarding Burien’s Update to its Shoreline Master Program

WHEN: Monday evening, November 30, 2009 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Burien City Hall, Council Chambers, located at 400 SW 152nd Street, Burien, WA 98166

INFO: For more information, please contact David Johanson, City of Burien Senior Planner at (206) 248-5522

Community Open House Format:

Participants are invited to drop in anytime between 6 and 8 p.m. to talk with city staff, members of the Shoreline Advisory Committee and the consultant team. Information will be available on a number of topics, including:

• Shoreline vegetation management
• Buoys/docks/bulkheads
• Single-family construction and additions
• Shoreline restorations
• Shoreline Master Program adoption process.

The draft Shoreline Master Program will be available soon on the City website — www.burienwa.gov – and at City Hall, 400 SW 152nd Street, Suite 300. Comments on the draft should be submitted prior to the Planning Commission public hearing on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

A few months ago, The B-Town Blog posted a request from the Burien Little Theatre for a baby grand piano to be used on stage for “Christmas with the Crawfords,” the campy new musical comedy that opens this Friday, Nov. 27th.

BLT had four people kindly offer their baby grand, and thanks to BTB Reader Kathy Reed, on Monday, Nov. 23rd, her piano was delivered. BLT of course paid for professionals to move the piano in and back out, and BLT will have the piano tuned now that it is in the theater space and again when the piano gives up the stage and returns home.

BTB Reader Kathy Reed's baby grand piano was moved very carefully.

“This is the first time in BLT’s 29 seasons that a baby grand has graced the stage,” said Eric Dickman, Artistic Director. “We are all very excited.”

Ann Sager, the music director for “Christmas with the Crawfords,” who will play the piano during the run of the show says, “Since the first day of rehearsal I have been looking forward to sitting down at the baby grand and playing my heart out for the audience.”

Managing Director Maggie Larrick adds: “This is Joan Crawford’s house on Christmas eve 1944.  Joan would not have a lowly upright.  The script called for a baby grand, and thanks to our supporters we have a baby grand on stage.”

“Christmas with the Crawfords” opens this Friday, Nov. 27th, and runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm.

For the first time in 29 years, a baby grand piano graces the stage at BLT!

For ticket information, show times and dates, click here.

To purchase tickets quickly and securely online, click here.

DON’T FORGET there are FREE readings of “a Christmas Story” at 2 pm this Saturday, Nov. 28th, as well as Dec.12th.  That’s right, FREE readings!

You can always tell when the Christmas season is upon us when the cut Christmas trees are on the lot and ready for sale at BTB Advertiser Herr Backyard Garden Center in Burien – let the Holiday’s begin at Burien’s Christmas Store!

Burien-ites have counted on Herr for their fresh-cut Christmas trees for many years, including back in the day when it was Herr Lumber. Still in the original lumber yard location, the Herr sister-in-laws, Diane Herr-Lorella and Lisa Herr continue the family tradition.

You can get your fresh-cut tree starting this Friday, Nov. 27th at 10am. From then until Dec. 23rd they’ll be open seven days a week from 10am-8pm, so you’ll be able to get your picture-perfect tree after work, or on weekends. They’ll also be open ’til 1pm on Christmas Eve.

Hand picked trees include Nobels, Grands, Frasers, Douglas–both shirred and natural–and of course good ole’ deluxe “Charley Browns.” Prices start at just $11.95! Plus they’ve got a gorgeous selection of artificial and flocked trees in their Gift Shop. From “all that glitters IS gold”, to silver to green they’ve got only the best in artificials.

And because Herr is Burien’s Christmas Store, you know you’ll find lots of gifts for everyone on your list. From private label foodstuffs to newley arrived “Pashminas”, novelty tablewear, to Christmas lights, you’ll find that this season Lisa and Diane made some very sharp purchases to pass holiday savings on to their customers. And while you’re in the gift shop be sure and check out their complete wall of affordable and unique and one-of-a kind tree ornaments–the largest selection in the Highline area.

SPECIAL DEAL: And this year when you purchase a Herr Gift Card as a gift, when you mention The B-town Blog, they’ll add 10% to your card.

Let’s see…that means that if you buy a $50 gift card, they’ll put $55 on the card!

Since Herr is a garden store, Diane and Lisa have recommended that you consider giving a living gift of a shrub or tree this Christmas. Give it now and plant it in the spring. They’ve also got a nice selection of live Christmas trees to decorate now and plant later.

‘Tis the season to be jolly. The Christmas season starts this Friday, Nov. 27th when BTB Advertiser Herr Backyard Garden Center’s fresh Christmas trees go on sale starting at 10am.

Herr is located at 107 SW 160th, near the Five Corners area in Burien.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, event listing and/or Ad like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 40,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

The Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department is seeking help for their annual “Light Up The Holidays” outreach program for needy families in the area.

Donations of food or toys are being accepted at the locations listed below through Dec. 18th.

All will go directly to needy families in the area.

Christmas Outreach Drop-off locations include:

• Burien Fire Department – 15100 8th Ave SW & 135 S Normandy Rd.
• North Highline Fire Department – 1243 SW 112th & 1606 S 128th
• Highline Medical Center – 16251 Sylvester Rd SW ∙ 12844 Military Rd S ∙ 13030 Military Rd S
• Burien Toyota – 15025 1st Ave S & 139 SW 150th
• Burien Chevrolet – 14400 1st Ave S
• Albertsons – 15840 1st Ave S & 12725 1st Ave S
• YB Tubless/Economy Wiring – 633 SW 148th
• Frenzi – 218 SW 153rd
• Boulevard Park Place Seniors Center – 2805 S 125th
• Curves – 17824 1st Ave S
• Breaktime – 635 SW 152nd
• Page 2 Books – 15706 1st Ave S

Christmas Outreach Sponsors include:

• Sylvester Middle School
• North Highline FD
• Highline Exchange Club
• Plush Pippin Pies
• Burien Town Square
• DSHS
• Burien/Normandy Park FD

by Ralph Nichols

For the second time in three years, King County is attempting to renege at the 11th hour on a deal with the City of Burien.

The King County Library System reportedly has entered into a preliminary agreement to purchase Puget Sound Park at 1st Ave. S. and SW 126th St. from the county in a deal brokered by through the county executive’s office.

Puget Sound Park is located in the unincorporated area of North Highline that is to be annexed by Burien early next year.

But the stealth attempt to sell the park – initiated and discussed by the county without informing the city of its intent – prompted Burien council members at their meeting on Nov. 23 that they will postpone official annexation of North Highline, which tentatively was set for March 2nd (read our previous coverage here).

Burien officials and North Highline residents now hope that new King County Executive Dow Constantine, who was sworn in Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 24), will intervene to block the sale, thus allowing Puget Sound Park to go to the city as part of annexation.

Constantine represented Burien, North Highline and West Seattle on the King County Council until his election as county executive in November. Because of his swearing in, he was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Burien City Manager Mike Martin informed council members about the pending sale of the park – which he learned about only late last week – at Monday night’s meeting and recommended that they not vote, as scheduled, on an ordinance setting March 2 as the effective date of annexation. They agreed unanimously to postpone action at this time.

“We expect to have that park,” Martin told The B-Town Blog today. “No annexation deal will be done until we get that asset.”

Mayor Joan McGilton sent a letter to Constantine on Nov. 20, requesting his “direct intervention in this matter.” She noted that city attempts to contact county staff had not produced “satisfactory results.”

“I think we can agree that such a delay is not in the best interest of our residents, and comes at significant additional cost to the County’s general fund,” McGilton told Constantine.

Martin said he only learned about the county’s interest in selling Puget Sound Park – initiated when Kurt Triplett was county executive – during a recent conversation on another matter with Fire District 2 officials, who said the property had been offered to them.

After they declined, King County reportedly contacted the King County Library System, which said yes to the offer and subsequently signed a letter of intent.

“We didn’t know what was going on until then,” said Martin. County officials had given the city no indication of their plans, despite the fact the park is in the area to be annexed by Burien.

Staff in the executive’s office under Triplett – who was chief of staff to former county executive Ron Sims until Sims resigned earlier this year to take a position in the administration of President Obama – apparently hope to make about $500,000 on the sale of the park to help plug the $56.4 million shortfall facing King County next year.

Greg Duff, president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, said, “The people of North Highline want their parks. We want our open spaces. For them to do that now is a slap in the face…. The people of North Highline voted for annexation and want King County to stop messing around.”

Shortly after the August election, when residents of the southern part of North Highline approved annexation by Burien, Triplett proposed mothballing King County parks to reduce general fund expenses by $4.6 million.

Constantine quickly responded, opposing Triplett’s plan to cut funding for the parks in unincorporated areas. “Parks are important to the health and quality of life of everyone in the communities,” and closing them would be “short sighted,” he said.

In 2007, Sims pulled out of a deal signed years earlier with Burien and the Port of Seattle for the demolition of the Lora Lake Apartments, which were operated by King County Housing Authority, to pave the way for commercial development in the city’s Northeast Redevelopment Area.

Although the county successfully won control of the apartment complex, it later was demolished anyway because soil contamination made it unsuitable as a residential property.

The cityfolk tell us that construction on the westbound lanes of SW 148th Street between 1st Ave South and 2nd Ave SW will begin Monday, Nov. 30th, and will require three days of “dry weather” to complete.

Work is scheduled to take place between the hours of 8am and 5pm, so you might want to consider taking alternate routes.

According to a news release:

The City will be grinding and paving westbound lanes of SW 148th Street from 1st Avenue South to 2nd Ave Southwest beginning the week of Nov. 30.

This work should take three days of dry weather and it will affect several travel lanes.

Work will take place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Motorists are advised to take different routes during construction time to avoid delays.

For information on this project, please contact Sam Basmeh at 206-439-3163.

[Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/teo/ / CC BY-SA 2.0]

Four Burien-area politicians have thrown their hats into the ring to replace King County Councilmember Dow Constantine’s vacant seat, including: Burien’s first Mayor Arun Jhaveri; current City Councilmember Lucy Krakowiak; Kathleen Quong-Vermeire, Commissioner, Highline Water District and former Mayor of Normandy Park, and Shawn McEvoy, current Mayor of Normandy Park.

Constantine was sworn in as King County Executive on Tuesday, Nov. 24th, which means there is now a vacancy in Council District 8. The King County Council received a total of 11 applications from individuals who are seeking to replace his vacant seat on the County Council.

The replacement appointee will serve in office until certification of the next general election in Nov. 2010.

Arun Jhaveri

Of the four local candidates, two (Jhaveri and Quong-Vermeire) have stated that they would not seek re-election, while the remaining two (Krakowiak and McEvoy) have stated that they would.

The finalists will be determined by a 12-person panel that includes Burien Mayor Joan McGilton and Normandy Park Councilmember Doug Osterman, who were appointed on Nov. 16th.

So with any luck and perhaps a touch of local favoritism, we just might see one of our neighbors on the King County Council, at least for about a year.

Lucy Krakowiak

The selection process for making the appointment will begin Monday, Dec. 3rd, when the 12-member advisory committee created by the Council will conduct interviews with the 11 who submitted their applications by the Nov. 23rd deadline, listed below in alphabetical order:

• Jan Drago—A member of the Seattle City Council who is leaving the Council this year
• Helen Howell—Former Director of the state Department of Financial Institutions, served as Deputy Chief of Staff under Governor Locke
• Zack Hudgins—State Representative from the 11th District and Tukwila resident
• Jake Jacobovitch—Engineer in the Road Services Division of the King County Department of Transportation
• Arun Jhaveri—Former Regional Technology Manager with the Federal Energy Management Program and former Mayor of Burien
• Lucy Krakowiak—Burien City Council Member and a member of the King County Library Board of Trustees
• Joe McDermott—State Senator from the 34th District
• Shawn McEvoy—Mayor of Normandy Park
• Sharon Nelson—State Representative from the 34th District,
• Vlad Oustimovitch—A partner at VoKa Incorporated, and a former Development Program Manager for the Seattle Housing Authority
• Kathleen Quong-Vermeire–Commissioner, Highline Water District, former Mayor of Normandy Park

Shawn McEvoy

The advisory committee will interview all of the applicants and send to the County Council for its consideration three to six candidates who meet the qualifications.

The committee will then use the following criteria to evaluate candidates, including:

• Knowledge of the functions of King County government;
• Knowledge of the issues and challenges facing King County government;
• Knowledge of the issues affecting the constituents of Council District 8;
• A demonstrated ability to develop a responsible budget;
• A demonstrated ability to respond to public concerns; and
• Demonstrated leadership skills.

Council Chair Bob Ferguson and Councilmember Reagan Dunn, chair of the Committee of the Whole, said the Council is ready to act quickly on filling the vacancy

Kathleen Quong-Vermeire

“The Council is acting quickly to ensure representation for the nearly 200,000 residents of District 8,” said Ferguson. “Timely appointment will also allow the new councilmember to transition into the position, hire staff and hit the ground running in the new year.

“The process is in place to quickly review the applications we’ve received,” said Dunn. “With input from the advisory committee, I expect the Council to make the appointment before the end of the year.”

The panel’s recommendations will include at least one candidate who intends to run for election as Councilmember in 2010, and one who does not. Drago, Howell, Jhaveri, Nelson and Quong-Vermeire have stated they will not run for election. Jacobovitch, Krakowiak, McDermott, McEvoy and Oustimovitch said they would run for the position. Hudgins has not made a final decision.

The King County Council has final authority for making the appointment. The interview of the finalists will be done in the Council’s Committee of the Whole. Dunn said the Committee will interview the finalists on Monday, Dec. 7th.

The Council is expected to take action by Monday, Dec. 14th, the last Council meeting of 2009.

KING COUNTY IS AT IT AGAIN!

King County apparently wants to sell Puget Sound Park without public comment or notice.  They had proposed selling it for low income housing during the summer.  This was stopped (?) by public outrage over the sale of a park.

Now the word is that they have a sale pending..  This is wrong on so many levels.  The worst part is that a park should NEVER be sold without public comment and debate.

If this sale was not pending the Burien City Council would have approved annexation of this area on March 2, 2010.  That approval is now on hold.  Many people of the community welcome any holding up of the annexation of North Highline.  Could these people be behind the sale of this park?  I hope not and I think not.

In the election to be annexed  into Burien the control over their area as an issue by the voters, this sale is an example of the high handed tactics of King County Government, without regard for the people effected.

I recognize that the purchase of land by a government from a private party needs to negotiate in private or the cost will go up.  But the disposal of government land needs to be transparent and open or people will wonder about undue enrichment of a government official.

If another government agency is the purchaser then this backroom dealing is terrible, and such behavior by two levels of government should not be tolerated.

- Ed Dacy

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