Stained glass depiction of Mt. Rainier.

Longtime Burien business Glass Expressions has been selected as the first ‘Makeover Burien’ recipient, with a full makeover scheduled to happen sometime in early February.

Glass Expressions has been in business in Burien since 1974, and in their current location at 648 SW 152nd Street since 1989. Kathy Johnson has owned it since 1983, and Lael Smidt has been a partner since 1993.

According to their website:

Glass Expressions is a full service stained glass studio. We do custom stained glass windows, repairs and teach classes. We carry a full line of tools and supplies for stained glass, fusing and glass beadmaking. And we’ve got lots of glass!

“After meeting with the owners, we determined some areas that would be beneficial for them that we could help with in our first Makeover,” said Organizer Daniel Keane.

NOTES:

• An Interior Designer is still needed to help with this makeover. If you know of any, please email help@makeoverburien.com.
• Cash (or check) donations are being accepted – please contact Gina Bourdage of Discover Burien at (206) 433-2882 or via email at gina@discoverburien.com.

Space Needle window designed by Kathy Johnson.

Here are the areas that will be focused on to assist this longtime Burien business:

• Organization (office, supplies, etc.)
• Merchandising
• Signage (internal)
• Floor covering
• Painting (interior)
• Marketing (classes, products, etc).

Participants so far that will be lending a hand include:

• Daniel and Melinda Keane of Serenza Salon & Spa, offering a “day of beauty” for Kathy and Lael.
  
• Debra George of The Mark Restaurant provided space for the meeting and snacks as well as great enthusiasm.
• Scott Schaefer of The B-Town Blog will get before photos and post stories and update the Makeover Burien Website.
• Dan Trimble, Burien’s new Business Development Manager, offered some helpful insights and is happy to see local businesses helping each other out.
• Patti Gifford of Keller Williams will take some measurements and make some contacts regarding Floor Coverings.
• Gina Bourdage of Discover Burien will will assist in finding some business planning and lighting assistance.
• Michelle Codd of Poggi Bonsi, Melinda Keane and Theresa White of Statements will work on a Merchandising Plan.
• Janet Grella will write a story.
• Dr. Jim Coleman will be doing teeth whitening for the owners.
• Maura Costello and Sally Law of Prudential Real Estate will help out with grunt work
• Andy Rodgers of Cox Financial and his charming daughter Gabrielle will offer assistance.
• Linda Plein will help as well.

For more information, or to learn how you can help in this ongoing project, visit the Makeover Burien website or “Like” them on Facebook here.

This event will include food from B-Town restaurants as well as local entertainment.

Tickets are $35 each in advance or $50 at the door. A table of 8 is $240.

Tickets are available at the Discover Burien Office as well as Burien City Hall.

The Burien Community Center is located at 14700 6th Ave SW.

Organizers are currently seeking donations for the auction, which should have an attendance of 125 to 150 people.

Here are downloadable PDF forms:

• Donate for the Auction
• Annual Dinner Sponsorship
• Sponsorship Opportunities

If you have something you’d like to donate, or to learn more about the event, please contact Gina Bourdage at (206) 433-2882.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee talks with Burien Mayor Joan McGilton Tuesday before his walking tour through B-Town Tuesday, Sept. 27th.

Story, Photos & Audio by Scott Schaefer

Even though the Washington State gubernatorial election is more than a year away, Democratic candidate Jay Inslee dropped in to Burien on Tuesday (Sept. 27), and somehow his handlers decided to invite me to participate in a ‘walk and talk’ around town with him and several others.

If you saw a group of nine people walking along SW 152nd Street, starting at City Hall then moving west, all gathered around a tall man who looked like a candidate, that was us – this Reporter, Mayor Joan McGilton, Deputy Mayor Brian Bennett, Mauricio Ayon from Para Los Niños, Gina Bourdage of Discover Burien (who put the entire tour together), two of Jay’s handlers and another reporter.

Inslee, who grew up nearby on 116th SW in what used to be White Center but is now part of Burien’s most-recently annexed area, is a fifth-generation native Washingtonian. He even painted houses in the Burien area with his Father, Frank Inslee, a teacher and coach at Seattle’s Franklin High School. Jay raised his family in Yakima, and currently lives on Bainbridge Island.

He is currently a congressman for the 1st District (which does not include the Burien area, currently in the 7th District), and is running for Washington State Governor in 2012.

I recorded audio of our walk & talk, and have broken it down into several edited segments below.

Questions asked include:

• As we passed a mostly-empty Burien Town Square development, I asked Jay “How can we bring back the housing market?”
• At the new Electric Train Shop, Jay talked to owner Scott Law. He also bought a train toy for a grandson, as well as a Union Pacific logo hat. He asked Scott what he could do as governor to help small businesses.
• At Carniceria Zacatecas, Jay spoke with Owner Maria Vidrio.
• 909 Coffee and Wine was our final stop, where we all sat down and had some great coffee and pastries. Jay spoke with Owner Kelly Ricci about “how to bring more private enterprise efficiency to government.”
• And finally, I asked Jay who his role models were…

[display_podcast]

And finally, as we sat at 909, Mayor McGilton spontaneously offered her endorsement of Inslee.

Here are photos of the campaign stop as shot by Scott Schaefer:

Inlsee was all smiles once he entered new B-Town biz Electric Train Shop.

Electric Train Shop owner Scott Law talks trains, both models and 'big ones' with Inslee.

Mauricio Ayon, left, walks and talks with Inslee in downtown Burien Tuesday.

Maria Vidrio, owner of Carniceria Zacetecas, talks with Inslee about the economy.

909 employees Emily and Stephanie talk with Inslee.

BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest Realty will be holding a Ribbon Cutting celebration at Noon on Wednesday, July 20th at their new location at 930 SW 152nd in Olde Burien.

“Prudential Northwest Realty returns home to Olde Burien,” reads a press release. “It’s like a dream come true!” said Lori Alden-Pense, who adds “We couldn’t be happier!”

Everyone’s invited to come watch local celebrity Realtors wielding dangerous, over-sized scissors, as well as enjoy refreshments and an opportunity to take a look at PNW’s new office.

To learn more about Prudential Northwest Realty, click here.

To RSVP, click here to send an email to Gina Bourdage.

This is the warrant that was posted at Piranha Joe's on Wednesday. Click image to see larger version.

Late Wednesday afternoon (June 15), local members of Discover Burien were surprised when they tried to go to a monthly networking event at Piranha Joe’s, only to discover that doors had been locked, the lights were out, and a warrant from the State Department of Revenue was on the door.

The B-Town Blog caught up with owner Coy Wood on Thursday (June 16), who was at Piranha Joe’s cleaning up. Although the Department of Revenue sign on the closed restaurant said they owed $36,000 in back taxes, Coy tells the blog that “we’re behind in sales taxes, there was a warrant for $36,000 and we had $11,000 left on the balance. I couldn’t pay them in time, so they closed us down.” Apparently Coy has been working with the Department of Revenue since the first of the year to pay the debt.

Whether Piranha Joe’s will remain in their Safeway Plaza location will remain up to the landlord, who Coy is trying to contact.

“At this point in time we don’t know what we’re doing or where we’re going,” he added. “The tough thing is that we’ve ended up with around $40,000 in inventory that’s going south on us in the next week” (salmon, steaks, perishable foods).

Gina Bourdage, Discover Burien Executive Assistant, discovered the closing when she went over to coordinate Wednesday’s event. She called Elliott Bay Brewery’s Michael Goldsmith, who welcomed the party during his dinner rush. DB bought some appetizers and over 20 members enjoyed Michael’s hospitality and bought their own Elliott Bay microbrews, sodas and wine.

“Discover Burien would like to give Elliott Bay Kudos and a big B-Town thanks for saving the day,” said Gina. “It turned out great and Michael was more than accommodating.”

Our friends at Discover Burien (we’re members – join here) want our Readers to know that on Wednesday, June 15th, there will be a “Networking B-Town Style” After Hours Event from 5:30pm – 7pm at BTB Advertiser Piranha Joe’s Bar & Grill.

Piranha Joes Bar & Grill (also a Discover Burien member), is located at 180 SW 148th Street, in Burien, near the Safeway complex (in the Keg Restaurant’s former location).

The Afterhours – Meet Your Neighbors program, typically held the third Wednesday of the month, is a great place to mingle with other businesses in a fun and casual atmosphere. If you’re looking for a way to engage with the local business community and you are a networking newbie or a connector extraordinaire this event perfect for you – AND IT’S FREE!

Here are the details:

WHAT: Discover Burien Monthly After Hours Event.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 15th, 5:30-7:00 PM

WHERE: Piranha Joe’s Bar & Grill, located at 180 SW 148th Street.

RSVP: Please RSVP to Gina Bourdage at gina@discoverburien.com.

BONUS: As an exclusive to B-Town Blog readers, if you type the phrase “B-Town Blog RSVP to Piranha Joe’s” in your email subject line, you’ll be entered into a drawing for an exclusive Discover Burien door prize (must attend to be eligible for the prize drawing).

My Oh My! – Saturday night (May 21st) at Safeco Field, The B-Town Blog team hit a major home run when it was named ‘Best Hyperlocal Website’ by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) in their annual awards that covers Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Montana.

“We received more than 2,500 entries from dozens of media organizations throughout the region which were then reviewed and rated by out-of-state judges,” reads the SPJ website. “Congratulations to all of our 2010 SPJ award winners and to the editorial, design and production teams that helped make their work possible!”

This is a huge honor for everyone involved with The B-Town Blog, which was started as a hobby by Founder/Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer in Dec., 2007, then turned into a full-time business in 2008.

Now, we’ve been awarded the top prize in our category for the entire Pacific Northwest by our journalist peers, and we are humbled by this honor.

Since this is an award for the entire team, some serious shout-outs are required now to everyone who works very hard to make this site the ‘best,’ including:

• Michael Brunk, Photographer/Technical Guru
• *Ralph Nichols, Senior Writer (*also a 3rd place winner in Business Reporting for his series on Burien Town Square!)
• Janet Grella, Sales Diva
• Mark Neuman, Writer/Marketing
• Bart Bryan, Sales Dude/Video Host
• Philip Benais, Intern, Big Picture High School
• Bryan Charles, Intern, Big Picture High School
• Nicholas Johnson, Reporter/Photographer
• Kristen Kerns, Sales
• Lisa Bosques, Sales
• Jack Mayne, Reporter
• Rachel M. Lusby, Writer
• Gina Bourdage, Reporter/Designer
• Francis Zera, Photographer
• Joy Steele (aka “Missed Congeniality”), Humor Columnist
• Shawn Underwood, Humor Columnist
• Theresa Frasch, Sales
• Many others!

Over 200 awards were handed out Saturday night in a ceremony hosted by Jerry Brewer of The Seattle Times and Jen Mueller of Root Sports (download a PDF of all winners here).

Here’s a Michael Brunk pic of the big screen at Safeco Field when we were announced as winners:

About the SPJ
Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, the Society of Professional Journalists is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty. To ensure that the concept of self-government outlined by the U.S. Constitution remains a reality into future centuries, the American people must be well informed in order to make decisions regarding their lives, and their local and national communities. It is the role of journalists to provide this information in an accurate, comprehensive, timely and understandable manner.

Elizabeth Bourdage, 1924-2010

Elizabeth was born to Frances and Ralph Whitemarsh on October 16, 1924 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Washington. She joined a brother, Bruce, born 2 years before.These were depression times and families spent leisure times with friends and families, played cards, and made their own good times and the Whitemarshes had lots of good friends in Spokane with families. Elizabeth remembered sitting around the breakfast nook and listening to her favorite stories on the crystal radio.

When Elizabeth was 5 years old the family moved to Pasco, Washington to live near Grandpa and Grandma Douglass in the railroad housing. In 1931 they moved to Walla Walla where her father Ralph joined the Baker Boyer Bank. Those were good times for Elizabeth and her family until in 1931 her Grandmother died in Pasco. Her mother was expecting a baby at that time and they stayed in Walla Walla until the baby was born and then moved back to Pasco to be with her grieving Grandpa. The children were a blessing to him at this time. Elizabeth grew up in a friendly family neighborhood with lots of friends. Her friend Else lived just two doors away and had a playhouse and they spent many happy hours there.

Things turned dark for the family when Elizabeth was 15 years old and her father passed away very suddenly and at a very young age. It was a sad time for all and her mother, who had always been a devoted and supportive influence, had to go to work and Elizabeth and her brother Bruce, shouldered much of the responsibility for helping in the home and taking on the chore of keeping an eye on her 7 year old sister Jean. Her sister Jean, remembers times when she could have made life a bit easier for her older siblings but chose to do it her way those must have been trying times but as her sister now says, “I don’t believe I ever saw her angry”.

The war then came and everyone grew up in a hurry and it was during that time in Pasco that Elizabeth met Elmer Bourdage who was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Pasco and her real story begins……..

Always the matchmaker, Frances, Elizabeth’s mother, sat enjoying a day in a park with her daughter when she noticed a good looking sailor in uniform also relaxing in the park. As it happened Elmer J. was stationed in Pasco while serving in WWII. The ever charismatic match maker, Frances marched up to the young man and told him of a nice young lady he just had to meet and the rest was history. The young couple starting dating and while he was overseas Elizabeth moved to Seattle where she went to work for Boeing.

Elmer and Elizabeth were married on August 26, 1945 in Seattle, WA. In the following years she and Elmer had four boys Tom in 1946, Don in 1950, Bob in 1952 and John 1954. Living in the Hazel Valley neighborhood the young couple raised their boys in Burien on the small, but lively street of SW 133rd. 43 other children grew up with their family in their neighborhood, where there were seemingly children coming and going and at times, which Elizabeth would have no other way as her home was always open. Being involved in her community and around her family was the highlight of her life as she held prominent positions in her local PTA and becoming a Den Mother for all four of her boys’ Cub Scout troops. Any given summer you could find the Bourdage family piling all of their camping gear, four boys and both parents into their 1957 Chevy station wagon headed into the wilderness for a camping excursion.

As their family grew their oldest son Tom, while following family tradition, joined the Navy and shortly after met his wife Becky. Moving to San Diego they raised Elizabeth’s first grandsons Joe and Aaron. Don, who also joined the Navy, later met his wife Chris and purchased a house Burien, close to Elizabeth and Elmer where they began to raise their daughter Regina. Bob, while completing his PHD at the University of Washington met his wife Michelle and after having two daughters, Monique and Mallory, moved to Fort Worth Texas. John, being the lifelong traveler and student of history set out to see the country and develop his skills in the fine arts before returning to Burien to be closer to his family.

Elizabeth’s zeal for life and the outdoors never ceased. Her love of camping and the ocean were ever present destinations for her and her ever growing family. As her boys got older and grandchildren grew Elizabeth retired from Standering Hospital (later known as Shorewood Hospital) in Burien and Elmer from Boeing, but the duo never slowed down. They became active members of WWII Submarine Veterans Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Between involvement in her church and traveling Elizabeth and Elmer were found themselves spending time visiting with friends and family locally and across the country.

Elizabeth was again blessed in her life as she became a Great-grandmother to her Granddaughter Mallory’s children Rory and Brady which she cherished more than the wallet space for pictures could allow.

While battling a year long struggle with illness, and loving family and friends at her side she passed away in November 17th, 2010. As Elizabeth would have insisted, her family decided to select a Spring date from her memorial so as they could be all together to celebrate the wonderful life she lived.

A celebration of her life will be held at Fauntleroy Church in West Seattle on May 7th at 2pm. Friends and family whom would like to celebrate her life are welcome to join.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are experimenting with publishing obituaries for local residents. If you have one, please email as editor@b-townblog.com for consideration.]

Ospreys are also sometimes known as ‘Seahawks‘ due to their ability to hunt fish so well, so this is an appropriate new neighbor to have.

Scott Schaefer managed to take some pics of the large bird, which at one point left its nest and was quickly pursued by crows in a mini-dogfight over the freeway:

According to National Geographic:

Ospreys are superb fishers and indeed eat little else—fish make up some 99 percent of their diet. Because of this appetite, these birds can be found near ponds, rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways around the world. Ospreys hunt by diving to the water’s surface from some 30 to 100 feet (9 to 30 meters) up. They have gripping pads on their feet to help them pluck fish from the water with their curved claws and carry them for great distances. In flight, ospreys will orient the fish headfirst to ease wind resistance.

We found it somewhat odd that a creature that makes fish 99% of its diet would be nesting this close to a freeway, but according to Doug Osterman, Green/Duwamish Watershed Coordinator for King County:

“The cell phone tower might incorporate features that are attractive to the ospreys, including that it’s higher than surrounding trees. Doubtful danger to the bird, but to the technology—unsure (sometimes utilities provide nesting opportunities with their tall poles—sometimes required by permitting agencies). Ospreys have pretty big home ranges so it’s not inconceivable that they are fishing from Puget Sound, but the more likely fish sources are the open water wetlands in the vicinity of SR-509 such as the big upper Walker Creek wetland and the wetlands north of the airport in the Miller Creek basin.”

Newly Appointed Administrative Coordinator Gina Bourdage meets the Board at Wednesday night's Discover Burien Board Meeting.

Story & Photos by Janet Grella

The first order of Wednesday night’s Discover Burien monthly meeting was to introduce Gina Bourdage, DB’s newly appointed Administrative Coordinator, to the Board.

Nancy Hinthorne, Interim Executive Director, told the group that 220 applicants applied for the position, which was advertised on Craigslist, The Highline Times and The B-Town Blog and its sister sites. Nancy whittled the list down to seven candidates. Gina was chosen based on her ties to the Burien and North Highline areas (she was born and raised here, and still lives here), her knowledge of Social Networking and her web design work. Gina will work in the DB office from 10am – 3pm Monday through Friday, and will be seen around town at various DB events. She started her job on Wednesday.

“I’m real excited for the challenges and to work with Nancy with all her experience,” Gina told the BTB.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Gina has worked for BTB for the last three years in ad production, reporting, video production and sales. She will be missed by all of us at the Blogs, but will be a great asset to DB. You go gal! We’re proud of you!