by Lori A. Alden
Prudential Northwest Realty

Opportunity is knocking for those considering home-ownership in Burien for the first time.

Historically low interest rates, lower home prices in most South King County neighborhoods and the first-time homebuyer tax credit – part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – brought first-timers to the market in droves throughout the year.

In fact, these consumers represented about half of home sales logged during 2009, according to the National Association of REALTORS®, a significant increase from historic levels. And the favorable conditions that prompted many of these first-time buyers are likely to continue. President Obama in early November signed into law a five-month extension of the first-time homebuyer tax credit of up to $8,000, as well as a new tax credit of up to $6,500 for existing homeowners who want to purchase a home to be their primary residence (see your real estate professional and tax advisor for details). Both credits will be available through April 30, 2010 (NOW is the time to get your house on the market if you are looking to attract these consumers).

Today’s opportunities aside, here are eight time-honored reasons why those considering homeownership for the first time should make their move.

1. Pride of Ownership
Owning your own home adds to your own sense of self-esteem and personal pride. The satisfaction that comes from feeling connected to the land you occupy and the home in which you live is ages-old.

2. Security of Tenancy
With homeownership comes stability. When renting, you never know when you may have to move because of new ownership, rent increases or other changes. As a homeowner, you decide when and if you want to move.

3. Privacy
While there are usually some limits on the access landlords have to property, almost all landlords can access your property for necessary inspections and maintenance. For many renters, this lack of privacy is a significant discomfort. Homeowners on the other hand generally have much stronger property rights and experience an increase in perceived and actual privacy.

4. Decorating
Homeowners are free to decorate, remodel and accessorize a home any way they want. Not only do you have the right to make improvements, but the value of those improvements becomes yours as well. Having your living space and exteriors just the way you want them can significantly increase your satisfaction with your living environment.

5. Financial Predictability
When you buy a home with a fixed-rate mortgage, you have more predictability over future housing costs. Because your interest rate never changes, the amount of your payment never changes. Financial planning and credit are more easily managed with a fixed-rate mortgage compared to renting.

6. Building Equity
When you own your own home, you pay rent to yourself instead of a landlord. Most homeowners pay for their purchase by obtaining a mortgage. As you pay off that mortgage, your equity builds and you gain an increasingly larger share in a valuable asset. Over time, that asset can work for you in many ways, such as home equity lines of credit. And of course, a home is a wonderful asset to pass along in an estate.

7. Investment Appreciation
There are certainly no guarantees of property value appreciation. In the long-term, however, real estate valuations almost always increase. This means that when you decide to sell your home, its value may be significantly higher than when you purchased it. The difference in value is called appreciation. You can reinvest that appreciation in other real estate or you may wish to downsize and keep the value of that appreciation for retirement or other purposes.

8. Tax Benefits
In the United States, the cost of home mortgage interest and property taxes are usually tax-deductible. Depending on your circumstances, thousands of dollars in taxes can be saved each year. These tax savings are not limited to federal taxes either. Many states and localities either base their tax system on the federal system or offer similar incentives to homeownership. Some additional benefits are designed specifically for first-time homebuyers. (See your tax advisor for additional information.)

If you still have doubts, contact a real estate professional in your community. He or she can answer questions you may have about homeownership and explain the buying process to you.

Lori A. Alden can be reached at 206-244-6400, or via email at lorialden@PNWRealty.com.

Prudential Northwest Realty is an independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity. They’re also a proud sponsor of The B-Town Blog’s Real Estate section.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

We’d like to welcome our latest Advertiser – Benson’s Best Bites, located at 17851 First Avenue South in Normandy Park.

Located in Manhattan Village, near the QFC, Benson’s Best Bites brings gems of the world’s cheese culture to the Normandy Park neighborhood—as well as some notable specialty groceries and bakery items.

Here’s what the Bensons have to say about their store:

The Benson family’s long-standing fascination with world foods combined with Ezra’s retail history (he managed the advertising and printing for Benson’s Fashions in Des Moines for 35 years) inspired them to open Best Bites in October 2008. The carefully selected stock reflects a good value for quality products. Not sure you’ll like a certain cheese? Sample it before you buy. Cheese and meat are cut-to-order. Thumann’s Brand Premium cold cut meats offer top quality at better than grocery store prices. Come in and taste the difference. While meats and cheeses are the center of the store, olives, chocolate, and an amazing selection of spices, rice, beans, and lentils are sold in bulk. Other items in the store will optimize their use. As your neighbors, we are excited to offer you great food choices and a fun, personal shopping experience: The extra-you-don’t-pay-extra-for.

If you delight in the Food Channel, you’ll be right at home in our store. We’re not a super market – although we are beside QFC; instead, Best Bites is a small, specialty store, similar to what you might find in Europe. It’s a friendly place to find fresh ideas and special ingredients for supper – or a party! Our cheese and salami platters make any event special. Best Bites also is happy to make sandwich, quiche, or dessert platters.

Best Bites’ Snack Bar is open from 10am to 6pm (10 am to 3:30 pm on Saturday; Closed on Sunday). We have limited in-store seating, but also offer take-out sandwiches and home made soup. The Snack Bar is not a café (no coffee) though we have a great assortment of sodas. Try the Dirty Jobs Sandwich with a cup of Ezra’s Roasted Potato Leek Soup. Top it off with a sticky bun or a scoop of Snoqualmie Raspberry Honey Gelatto in a waffle cone (made fresh at The Bites)!

Special events happen on Saturdays: pig roasts, garlic fries, crêpes, guest chocolatieres, Chicago Style Hot Dogs, raclette tastings, etc. For instance, from 11 to 3 this Saturday, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early with a hearty plate of hot sliced Corned Beef, Steamed Red Potatoes, Cabbage, Carrots & Rye Bread, a scoop of Pistachio (or your favorite flavor) Ice Cream! Sign up for our email list to be notified of special events, food demonstrations, and new arrivals.

Baking and cake decorating enthusiasts will find Best Bites’ selection a valuable resource. We have a daughter who loves to bake and had to search the length of Seattle to find ingredients and gifts for her. Now, they are in our store! Best Bites carries an impressive array of ingredients and flavors that are usually only available to commercial bakers.

We offer food choices that can lift the level of cuisine at your own home without destroying your food budget. Guests will seek your recipes! We invite you to taste foods and discover what you like!”

Cheesiest Deli and Specialty Grocery in Normandy Park:

• Over 50 cheeses—from our own back yard to the corners of the world—including some cheeses that are organic and some that use vegetable rennet.
  Italian style salamis; East Coast Deli style cold cuts, and meats from local smokehouses.
• Cured olives from Europe, California, and South America.
• Fine bulk baking chocolate as well as gourmet chocolate bars.
• Cookies and crackers featuring some of Europe’s best!
• Quality oils, vinegars, and jams are flavorful buys. Taste the difference!
• Wonderful bulk selection of fresh spices & herbs—both basic and unusual—at tremendous savings over grocery store prices.
• Bulk section offers an amazing selection of exotic rices, beans, and lentils and pasta.
• An opportunity to discover “gourmet salts” from around the world.
• Ingredients and tools to delight candy making and baking enthusiasts!
• Frozen Raviolis, puff pastry sheets and pie & tart shells.
• Hardware to facilitate the use of foods sold!
• Snack Bar features Deli Sandwiches on artisan bread – Panini Toasted if you wish; hot dogs (Saturdays only), and cheese & cracker Party Platters for entertaining.
• New – Fresh Artisan Breads & Rolls from Columbia City Bakery and Zatz’s Better Bagels in West Seattle

Please welcome our latest Advertisers by showing your support and shopping there:

Bensons Best Bites
17851 First Avenue South
Normandy Park
(206) 243-2420
www.bestbites.biz

Hours:

• Monday to Friday 10 to 6:30 (snack bar closes at 6)
• Saturday 10 to 4 (snack bar closes at 3:30)
• Closed Sunday

Owners – Ezra & Loie Benson

Best Cheeses + Best Meats + Best Breads = Best Sandwiches @ Best Prices!

By the way – Ezra & Loie are better known for their unique honor-system, treasure-chest business, Boundary Pass Trader’s NW, which they have operated for 15 summers on Stuart Island, a remote island in the San Juan Islands.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

A big B-Town welcome to the Discover Burien Association, new to our Advertising roster. They have stepped up to be the first-ever sponsor of our weather-widget. That’s the daily and updated weather for Burien you see in the right sidebar – next time you check out the weather, click through to check out Discover Burien’s new website.

Over the years our readers have all enjoyed the many events staged by Discover Burien, all designed to bring people to the city core. You may not be aware that Discover Burien is also a non-profit organization whose mission is to not only provide events, but also to promote and represent the concerns of businesses to the city and beyond.

When we sat down with Steve Gilbert, Executive Director of Discover Burien he chose not to talk about their new and highly interactive website. He didn’t talk about their hardworking steering committee members of 14 Burien business people. He didn’t address the current membership and how the new site links to all its member websites.

What he wanted to talk about was two things. First was “volunteer extraordinaire” Jane Matz:

“She’s a dynamo who loves giving back to the community.

Jane’s truly the nicest ‘people’ you’ll ever meet.”

Jane typically works at their Burien location at 620 SW 150th across from the main post office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Steve is looking to build a team of 10-15 volunteers to work the back office and help facilitate the many business-oriented programs which include bi-monthly business forums and “after hours” networking get-togethers, which are the second thing that Steve wants our readers to know about. If you’re interested in volunteering, give Steve a call at 206-433-2882.

The business education programs are designed to provide timely information that local businesses can use to enhance their bottom line. Highline Community College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) helped educate business owners on successfully navigating the challenges of seeking business financing. Their next program will take place the morning of Wednesday, April 28 at Prudential Northwest Realty Associates offices and feature The B-Town Blog’s own Scott Schaefer helping businesses thrive in an online world full of Facebookers and Twitterers. And all you have to do to attend is be a Discover Burien member.

And who doesn’t like a party? Every eight weeks or so, members of Discover Burien get together to network and share ideas in a casual setting complete with food and drink. The next “After Hours” will be on March 24th at Mark Restaurant and Bar in Olde Burien starting at 6pm. They plan a wine tasting event.

Steve looks at Burien as a “community that’s truly a community.” And he further believes that “there’s an energy and real momentum happening in the Burien business community.”  He finds that more sponsors are stepping up to market their businesses through event sponsorship.

He invites all non-members to consider joining Discover Burien, to take advantage of the many programs offered by this group. And with the new website, it’s easy. You can join online or contact Steve or Jane. (www.discoverburien.com/join/)

We welcome Discover Burien as our first ever weather sponsor.

But we assure you that Discover Burien is just bringing you the local weather, they can’t do anything about it.

BTB Advertiser Burien Toyota wants our Readers to know that they’re holding a “New Owner Clinic” on Thursday, March 18th beginning at 7pm at their location at 15025 1st Avenue South.

This event will also serve as a fundraiser for the Highline Area Food Bank, so if you can, you are invited to bring a non-perishable food donation (although this is not required).

There will also be some giveaways, including:

• Free oil change certificate just for attending
• Free car wash the night of the event
• Raffle drawing for prizes

Here are the details:

WHAT: “New Owner Clinic” at Burien Toyota

WHEN: Thursday, March 18th at 7pm

WHERE: Burien Toyota, located at 15025 First Ave South.

RSVP: Please RSVP to Sharon Daniels at 206.243.0700

INFO: More info available here; from a flier:

Toyota owners are welcome to share in the evening with Burien Toyota Seattle representatives & service advisers.

Product demonstartions, food & entertainment will make for a fun and informative evening.

BTB Advertiser Pro Se University wants our Readers to know that Seattle Family Law Attorney and CEO Marie White will be offering FREE 30-minute family law issue support appointments on Tuesday, March 23, 2010.

Sign up for a free 30-minute appointment now, but keep in mind that there is a limited number of these free appointments available, so you may want to act fast.

For more information, click here or call 1-877-776-7310.

Free drinks and light snacks will be available as well.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is an “extremely clean 3 bedroom, 2 full (all new) bath rambler” located near the beach in Hurstwood and priced at $376,950.

This home features newly-refinished hardwoods, new tile in the kitchen and family room, new interior paint, and a 2-car garage with huge attic storage.

Here are the details:

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, March 7th, from 1pm to 4pm.

WHERE: 13843 17th Ave SW • Burien 98166

INFO:

• List Price: $376,950
• Listing#: 32089
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 2
• Fireplaces: 1
• Year Built: 1966
• 2 Garage-Attached
• Approximate House SqFt: 1,420
• Lot Square Footage: 16,000

Interior Features:

• Bath Off Master
• Dble Pane/Strm Windw

Site Features:

• Cable TV
• Fenced-Partially
• Patio

Marketing Remarks:

Extremely clean 3 bdrm, 2 full (all new) bath rambler.

Newly refinished hardwoods and new tile in kitchen and family rm.

New interior paint. 2 car gar. w/huge attic storage.

Sought after Hurstwood-near the beach.

Get in this one! Furniture negotiable if interested..

Directions:

• Ambaum Blvd. to SW 144th St.
• West to 13th SW.
• Right to stop sign.
• Turn Right then immediate left to 13843 17th SW.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

REMINDER: The 6th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival kicks off tonight (Friday, March 5th) with a black-tie “A Night in the Vineyard” gala party starting at 7:30pmat the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines.

Gala tickets are $75 in advance or $85 at the door, and include a buffet catered by Anthony’s HomePort, unlimited wine tasting, and live music by the Steve Ryals Trio and Ed Taylor & TaylorMade, plus free admission to the wine tasting event on Saturday or Sunday. Several premium wines and other exclusive items will be offered at a silent auction.

Sponsored by the Des Moines Rotary Club, this annual wine festival will run through Sunday March 7th at the historic and grand Landmark Event Center (formerly Landmark on the Sound) in Des Moines. Guests will enjoy live jazz and great food while tasting wines from 25 Northwest wineries.

“The wine festival gala is the hottest ticket in town,” says Des Moines Rotary President Lisa Meineke. “Everybody has a great time! People come back year after year. And this year we have new wineries and more wineries than ever before.”

The fun continues on Saturday and Sunday, with more wine tasting, food, and live music. Saturday’s music line-up includes Darren Motamedy and 4th Degree. On Sunday, it’s Rouge and Billet-Deux. Local restaurants and gourmet food vendors will sample breads, cheeses, smoked salmon, chocolates and other fine fare.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are just $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Gala tickets are $75 in advance or $85 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Corky Cellars in Des Moines (206-824-9462) or at www.dmrotary.org.

Through the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, the Rotary Club of Des Moines has raised over $150,000 in its five-year history. All proceeds fund a wide variety of charitable projects, including college scholarships, grants to local schools, safety and recreation programs for children, yard projects for elderly residents, support for the local food bank and the homeless, and projects to assist needy people as far away as South Africa and Pakistan.

“People can come to the wine festival to have fun and discover some great wines and feel really good about what they are contributing to the community at the same time,” says wine festival chair Brian Snure. “There are so many needs in our community and in our world right now. What better way to give?”

HOURS:

• Saturday, March 6:  12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Sunday March 7: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

WINERIES:

• Canyon’s Edge
• Chandler Reach
• Covington Cellars – NEW
• Coyote Canyon Winery – NEW
• Burien’s own E.B. Foote Winery (BTB Advertiser)
• Eaton Hill
• Erin Glenn
• Fall Line
• Five Star Cellars
• Fort Walla Walla Cellars – NEW
• Kestrel – NEW
• Knipprath – NEW
• Masset Winery
• Otis Kenyon
• Page Cellars
• Pondera – NEW
• Sleeping Dog
• Sodo Vino – NEW
• Stina’s Cellar
• Two Vintners – NEW
• Vashon Winery
• Vin du Lac – NEW
• Waving Tree
• Willis Hall
• Windy Point

MUSIC:

• Friday, March 5 (Gala):
  • Steve Ryals Trio , Ed Taylor and TaylorMade
• Saturday, March 6:
  • 12:30-3:00:  Darren Motamedy Duo
  • 3:30-6:30: 4th Degree
• Sunday, March 7:
  • 12:30-2:30: Rouge
  • 3:00-5:00: Billet-Deux

For more information, please visit www.dmrotary.org. We’ll see you there tonight!

Want to wow your friends this bikini season?

BTB Advertiser Highline Athletic Club has this suggestion:

On Wednesday, March 10th at 6pm and Saturday, March 13 at 10am, Highline Athletic Club will be having an Open house at our Pilates Studio. Stop by to meet Instructors Scott Miller and Melissa Rutherford.

You can watch an excellent demonstration of the different classes we offer and have a chance to ask questions. It would also be a great time to ask our demo participants (all who have taken for at least 2 1/2 years), how they like what Pilates is doing for them.  Our studio is almost 3 years old and we want to show it off.  You don’t have to be a club member to come to our open house, nor to take Pilates Classes at the HAC.

Here are some of the benefits of Pilates, which has earned a featured spot in the world of fitness due to it’s effectiveness and it’s many benefits including:

• A healthy, supple spine
• Kinder, gentler conditioning
• Better balance, more coordination
• Less pain and stiffness
• Faster return to pre-pregnancy figure
• Sports performance & other benefits

Melissa will be doing a Pilates mat demonstration and Scott will be doing a demo with different Pilates apparatus. Also starting on the 17th of March, Melissa will be starting a new beginning mat class that is awesome indeed. Some of our other offering are as follows:

Private Apparatus Session:
One on one session on a reformer and other apparatus (Gratz Equipment). Generally a couple of sessions should be completed before advancing to semi-private lessons. This allows you time to get accustomed to the equipment and to be able to navigate through the exercises. 55 minutes

Semi-Private Apparatus Session:
2 clients work together. To ensure the best workout, it is important that you work with someone as close to your level as possible. Mix and match semi private sessions with privates and a mat to obtain the most complete weekly workouts. 55 minutes

Group Pilates Studio Wall Unit Class (Very Popular):
This is a class for 3 to 5 clients on the Pilates Studio Wall Unit. These units are versatile and allow for focused work on all of the target core areas. Ideal for group instruction and priced “just right” These classes run once a week for 4 weeks starting at the beginning of each month. 55 minutes

Private Mat Session:
One-On-One instruction. Some client may want private instruction in mat before going into a group setting. The Private Mat allows for guided, individual attention that is sure to get you prepared for level one. Or if you’d just like to schedule a mat class for your convenience, this is for you. These sessions can be done in a private or semi private workout.

Group Pilates Mat Class:
Mat class is divided into the following 4 levels.
Do you want to look and feel your best? Try Pilates!

We are conveniently located at 125th St and 1st Ave. inside the Highline Athletic Club. Hope to see you then!

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

BTB Advertiser Elliott Bay Brewhouse and Pub will be celebrating its 3rd birthday this Saturday March 6th!

Live reggae from Dub Lounge International starts at 8pm.

Families are welcome and there’s No Cover!

Cheers to a great local establishment!

Elliott Bay Brewhouse and Pub is located at 255 SW 152nd in downtown Burien; phone: 206.246.4211. This family-friendly neighborhood pub offers a full pub menu, large party facilities, tournament-sized shuffleboard tables, along with party platters and beer to go.

More info on Elliott Bay Brewhouse & Pub is available at their website.

Here are a couple of videos of Dub Lounge International to whet your rastaman appetite:

New B-Town Blog Advertiser GGC Embroidery–Grams Gift Closet–is on a mission; that is “to provide small businesses in the area the opportunity to brand and logo in the same manner as a mid to large size businesses at a lower cost,” so says owner/operator Jeananne Tescar-Burcham.

With this mission in mind, Jeananne created her small business from what was once a hobby. She specializes in personalized-custom embroidery and logo items for local sports teams, companies, families and individuals. Her closet of logo-wear includes sweatshirts, polar fleece, polos and hats.

Jeananne and her husband have had a 20+ year association with, and love for, the Highline Schools where they have worked and volunteered. It was during this time that Jeananne began her “hobby job” embroidering HHS warm ups.

“I saw how the coaches were paying exorbitant amounts for set ups, and small orders,” she said. This is why GGC is proud to offer a no set-up charge, no matter how small the order is. “We’ll do one-ups, there’s no minimums,” she added.

New guy on the team? Need a single item? Not to worry with GGC Embroidery, where Jeananne has set up a unique team and company store on her website for individual schools or businesses who want to order what they want when they want it.

And why would a woman with no grandchildren name a business “Grams”? After her own grandmother of course!

“My grandmother had a quote that inspired me after being laid off from Washington Mutual and making the decision to start the business in a less than friendly economy:

“You can accomplish anything you set your mind to.  It is like the light at the end of the tunnel; it is there.  You may have to kick a few rocks out of the way to find the light, but it is there.”

In her first full year in business Jeananne has “kicked a few rocks” but she is seeing a dramatic growth in her customer base with over 200 satisfied customers in the Burien and greater Seattle area; and an A- rating from the BBB.

When it came time to order some new shirts for our sister site The Waterland Blog, we asked our good friend Wayne Corey of the Des Moines Farmers Market “who does your branded clothing?”  He strongly recommended GGC Embroidery for their service, quick turnaround and embroidery work.

After several very prompt emails, and a visit to her sunny in-home studio in Burien, we quickly had a new “official clothier for our branded blog-wear.”  If the turnaround wasn’t just short of amazing, it’s the fact that we each select shirts to our liking (no two are alike), which means that she had to do a lot of “one-of-a-kinds”.

Are we another satisfied customer of GGC? You betcha! Would we recommend their services for your small business? We sure would.

You can contact Jeananne at 206-931-1548 or click here for the website.

by Lori A. Alden
Prudential Northwest Realty

Thinking about investing in Burien? Now is the Time!

Turn on any financial news program and at some point you’ll hear the experts extolling the virtues of diversification. Real estate, even through the market downturn, has long been considered a conservative, long-term strategy to growing wealth.

In fact, that very downturn has created a historic buying opportunity for potential homebuyers and investors alike. The combination of lower home prices across the Burien and Southwest King County areas and historically low mortgage rates, two essential factors that usually don’t trend in the same direction, have triggered a buyer’s market in many areas of the county. For real estate investors who want to rent their properties, this can make the difference in achieving positive cash flow sooner or right off the bat.

While some seasoned real estate investors make it look easy, to be successful, beginners should follow some basic principles.

Learn all you can. Before committing your cash, you should have a fundamental understanding of real estate. For example, be aware that, in general, investment properties are not liquid investments. Barring exceptional circumstances, real estate does not sell at a moment’s notice. It could take days or months to sell a property, depending on the strength of the market in a particular region.

Consider cash flow. You’ll need to have enough capital on hand to cover any short-term losses due to vacancies between tenants.

Start small. Look into buying a condominium, single-family home or a duplex. Leave large apartment buildings and commercial properties to the pros.
Inquire at the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce about companies relocating into or out of the area. Company movement is one indicator of demand for rental and/or office space.

Find a property that will be in demand. Look for a moderately priced home with three or four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage that sits on a quiet street.

Research the property. The most common way first-time investors lose is by failing to investigate a property thoroughly. Look beyond the front door. Investigate the reputation of the school district, the crime rate, and plans for expanding a nearby highway or developing vacant land. Ask a local Prudential Northwest real estate professional about the area, its history, and how fast (or slow) properties are moving.

Inspect the home you’re considering for signs of water damage, such as stains on the ceiling and crinkling or gathering wallpaper; open and close every door and window; and check all electrical sockets by plugging in an appliance. Get an independent home inspection, roof inspection and termite inspection. Unexpected repair costs can eat away your cash flow. Because even the best inspection can’t always predict problems, try to set aside some of the rental income for unexpected repairs.

Spend time driving the streets of the neighborhood noting the condition of other properties. Are lawns maintained? Are roofs in good shape? Are homes kept up?

Be ready to make fixes quickly and respond to the renter’s needs. If you’re not prepared to be a hands-on landlord, consider hiring a property management firm.

See your tax advisor for related planning and laws that can affect your investment decisions.

Remember, investing in a property is much different than living in one, and while emotion and attachment can be prime motivators when it comes to homes, it is return on investment that counts when investing in real estate.

Lori A. Alden can be reached at 206-244-6400, or via email at lorialden@PNWRealty.com.

Prudential Northwest Realty is an independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, a Prudential company. Equal Housing Opportunity. They’re also a proud sponsor of The B-Town Blog’s Real Estate section.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

“Getting the pictures you meant to take” is the slogan for the latest advertiser to The B-Town Blog – The Photo Junkie Project. Self-proclaimed photo junkie and local mom, Heather Mathias, created The Photo Junkie Project, an online photo retouch service.

Heather is a photographic artist with over 10 years experience in graphic design, digital photo manipulation, and traditional photography, including photo exhibition and darkroom/photo lab work. Not only does Heather love pictures, she also loves to help people.

After becoming a mom, Heather thanked her lucky stars she knew Photoshop. She could turn that “perfect” picture into a “masterpiece” by eliminating the toy-ridden living room in the background. She could brighten up the “cutest picture ever”, that was unfortunately taken on the day the camera flash decided not to work. She could even be creative in the way she sent pictures to family. For example, one Christmas, everyone in Heather’s family received a refrigerator magnet depicting her one-year old as a DJ grooving on a toy music station.

Heather’s love of photography has allowed her to turn her archive of pictures into fun projects for family, friends…and herself. “It has become an obsession that only grandparents can truly appreciate,” jokes Heather. But in all seriousness, Heather feels her photo projects have been the best way, and the most fun way, to keep her family that lives in the Mid-West involved in her daughter’s life here in Burien.

Now Heather would like to help other people with their photo projects. Whatever the subject may be…family pictures, vacation shots, random snapshots of interesting and unique things, eBay/Craigslist items…and whatever the project may be, Heather would like to help you get the pictures you meant to take.

Heather’s online retouch service, The Photo Junkie Project, offers a range of services from simple touch-ups to complex manipulations. Pictures can be cropped, color corrected, and brightened or darkened. Items can even be added or subtracted from a picture; and entire photographs can be manipulated.

The Photo Junkie Project also offers a resize service, which can open the window to different ways of displaying your favorite pictures; for instance, in a locket, a wallet sleeve, or a circular photo frame – or transformed into a refrigerator magnet!

Prices are well below professional photo lab standards, which can be upwards of $75/hour; but the quality is not.

Heather is constantly developing ways to help other people with their photo projects. So if there is a service you are interested in, but you do not see it listed on the website, just email in a request. The Photo Junkie Project is here to help.

The Photo Junkie Project
www.photojunkieproject.com

Heather Mathias
heather@photojunkieproject.com
206.431.3001

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BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a “beautifully restored 1.5 story home, with 3-bedrooms and 1.5-bath home right in the heart of Burien” priced at an affordable $269,999.

This home features an Island kitchen with newer appliances, laminate wood flooring and lots of cupboard space.

Here are the details:

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, Feb. 28th, from 1pm to 4pm.

WHERE: 119 SW 130th Street • Burien 98146

INFO:

• List Price: $269,999
• Listing#: 27215
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 1.5
• Fireplaces: 1
• Year Built: 1961
• 1 Garage-Attached
• Approximate House SqFt: 2,060
• Lot Square Footage: 7,478

Interior Features:

• Dining Room
• Dble Pane/Strm Windw
• High Tech Cabling,
• Skylights

Site Features:

• Fenced-Fully
• Nat. Gas Available
• RV Parking

Marketing Remarks:

Beautifully restored 1.5 story home, in the heart of Burien.

This home features an Island kitchen with newer appliances, laminate wood flooring and lots of cupboard space.

The living room has large picture windows, wall to wall carpeting and a fireplace.

Newly painted exterior, the roof is only about 5 years old and newer vinyl windows and water heater.

Do not miss out on this turnkey home.

Directions:

• From 1st Avenue South turn West onto 130th
• Home is on the left.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

New B-Town Blog Advertiser The Senior Housing Assistance Group (SHAG) is pleased to announce the completion and upcoming Grand Opening of Arrowhead Gardens, its newest and most impressive affordable senior living community, a one-of-a-kind senior living campus consisting of a Village Center community building and three residential apartment buildings designed specifically for seniors, all of which are now open and available for immediate occupancy

Arrowhead Gardens (phone #: 1-888-472-5155) will be hosting its official Grand Opening event over the upcoming weekend of Saturday, February 27th and Sunday, February 28th. The general public is invited, especially prospective senior residents and their families, with tours, prizes, food, refreshments and live music. Prospective senior residents and their families can tour the community during the Grand Opening event weekend, or at anytime by appointment. A $99 Move-In Special will be offered to any eligible applicant who leases an apartment home over the Grand Opening event weekend. Visit Arrowhead Gardens today, where the lifestyle is rich and the rents are affordable. And don’t miss the Grand Opening event! See what all the fuss is about.

Located in the Highland Park neighborhood of West Seattle at 9200 2nd Ave SW, Arrowhead Gardens is the latest of 28 affordable senior living communities operated by SHAG, the largest senior housing provider in the Puget Sound region. Arrowhead Gardens contains an aggregate of 449 dwelling units in three unique and architecturally distinctive residential apartment buildings situated on a lushly landscaped four acre campus and configured in a village-like setting around the Village Center community building which contains leasing and management offices and many of the community’s special amenities and facilities.

For over twenty years, SHAG has been the leader in providing affordable independent living opportunities to seniors in the Puget Sound region. As a non-profit operator, SHAG is able to offer quality housing to seniors at affordable rents that are typically as much as 15% to 30% below comparable market rents. With no entrance fees, buy-in fees, service charges, move-in fees, exorbitant security deposits or other mandatory charges at move-in, and with most utilities included in the monthly rent, SHAG’s affordable senior living communities are even more attractive to seniors with moderate incomes in today’s stagnant economy. Senior citizens with fixed incomes in particular have felt the financial pinch with declines in their home values, retirement savings and stock portfolios, amid the rising costs of living. SHAG is part of the solution.

Arrowhead Gardens provides affordable independent living opportunities designed specifically for active seniors with moderate incomes. Certain age and income restrictions apply. Eligible individuals must be at least 61 years of age or at least 55 years of age and disabled. Maximum incomes for eligible individuals and households are approximately $35,000 per year for singles and $40,000 per year for couples. Rents start as low as $680 per month. Most utilities are included. Small pets are welcome.

All of the buildings at Arrowhead Gardens are access-controlled for security, elevator-serviced for convenience and fully sprinklered, with audio and visual fire alarms and smoke detectors, for fire safety. Secure underground parking is also available. Sunrooms and outdoor roof decks on the top floor of each residential apartment building provide stunning views of the Cascade Mountains, Mt. Rainier, and the Seattle cityscape. Each residential apartment building has a fully furnished main entry lobby with a fireplace. Trash chutes, common laundry rooms and resident lounges are provided on most residential floors.

View one of the model apartment homes or take a tour of any of the large selection of one- and two-bedroom rental apartment homes at Arrowhead Gardens, which are designed with seniors in mind and equipped with full bathrooms, full kitchens with full-sized appliances including dishwashers. Choose from among five attractive color décor packages. Apartment homes equipped with washer/dryer hookups are available. A selection of fully handicap-accessible apartments is also available. In addition to apartments with traditional bathrooms that have shower/tub surrounds, a selection of apartments are available with bathrooms that have roll-in showers or showers with transfer seats. Most ground floor apartments have outdoor patios and a number of upper floor apartments have outdoor balconies, decks or terraces.

In addition to the affordable rents are the beautifully landscaped gardens and courtyards, soothing water features and a wealth of other amazing amenities and facilities that have most new and prospective residents excited. Each residential building has a gated and beautifully landscaped semi-private outdoor garden and courtyard. Some pea-patch planter boxes are available for resident use and community gardening. The village campus includes several delightful and soothing water features, such as re-circulating fountains and rain gardens that make use of ambient water, channeling rain water through downspouts into garden troughs and streams. The sights and sounds of flowing water help make Arrowhead Gardens a pleasant and relaxing place for seniors.

Take a tour of the Village Center and see what all the fuss is about. The amenities include:

• A Great-Room with vaulted ceiling
• A fireplace and first-class décor and furnishings, with comfortable color-coordinated furniture, tasteful art work, and soft background music.
• A Computer Lab with a network of computers providing residents free internet access, including several touch-screen computers and wireless internet access.
• Media Room for a home theater experience with a large screen HDTV, a Blue-Ray DVD player, surround sound audio, and plush theater seating.
• Craft Room for water colors, origami, card making, knitting, crochet, or contribute to a community jigsaw puzzle.
• Community Room / Lounge with kitchen facilities and banquet tables and chairs for large or small gatherings or celebrations, formal catered events or informal potluck dinners.
• Fitness Center with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, including treadmills, elliptical machines, strength training equipment, and recumbent and upright exercise bikes, and with flat screen LCD TVs with built-in DVD players to watch the news or other programming while going through a workout or playing their favorite workout routine DVDs.
• Spacious outdoor decks and terraces surround the Village Center, along with outdoor patio furniture, umbrellas to ward off bright sun or rain, and a gas barbeque grill for impromptu cook-outs

Arrowhead Gardens is located immediately adjacent to a King County Metro transit center, conveniently located near freeway access, and also features a dedicated transit van for local transportation. Arrowhead Gardens is an affordable senior living community like no other, offering a rich lifestyle and affordable rents in a beautifully landscaped and environmentally-friendly garden setting.

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Welcome back BTB Advertiser Burien Honda, which is having a birthday party and inviting everyone to come on in to check out the special green tag savings hanging from the rear view mirrors of all their cars.

They’ve been around Burien for 47 years and counting. In 1963, owner Jack Enderson opened a Honda Cycle dealership on SW 153rd and First Ave South, where “Mr. Auto” used to be (now Horizon Pets). He eventually added Triumph, BSA and Harley bikes to his inventory. In 1972, they needed more room and moved to their current location at 15026 First Avenue South.

This original 1970 N600 Honda has just 628 miles on it; its MSRP new was just $1,995!

In addition to an international reputation for its high mileage, Honda is leading the automotive industry in the Green and Hybrid Movement in automotive efficiencies. “Green” cars include the FIT Hatchback, Civic Sedan and “Hybrids” include Civic, Insight and Accord. They also have all of Honda’s conventional models. On the horizon is the FCX Clarity – a hydrogen and electric car available right now in California – and the CRV Diesel SUV sold in Europe and Japan.

Right now you can enjoy great 47 Anniversary savings on all Honda’s in stock! So stop on by and start enjoying your new Honda today.

Here’s a flashback pic of Burien Honda, circa 1972 – they’ve come a long way!:

Olde Burien merchant Zizia is hosting a PJ Salvage Trunk Show on Saturday March 6th from Noon – 5pm, themed as the ultimate “girl party,” with PJ Salvage Rep Missy G.

Visitors can order from the entire spring/summer collection of pajamas and beachwear, while sipping your favorite beverage and noshing on snacks.

Zizia is located at 827 SW 152nd in Olde Burien.

Here are the details:

WHAT: PJ Salvage Trunk Show

WHEN: Saturday, March 6th from Noon – 5pm.

WHERE: Zizia, located at 827 SW 152nd in Olde Burien; phone: (206) 242-2646.

INFO: From a press release:

The ultimate “girl party” is back!

Meet PJ Salvage rep Missy G and order from the entire spring/ summer collection of pajamas and beachwear, while sipping your favorite beverage and noshing on snacks.

In addition, we will be introducing affordable luxuries by New York jeweler Wendy Mink. Wendy pieces combine aspects of traditional Eastern world jewelry with classic European design.

A well know artist, Wendy’s work has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and Harpers Bazaar magazines.

Take a peak at www.wendyminkjewelry.com.

• Enter a drawing to win a free pair of pajamas
• 10% off all existing PJ Salvage in stock

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The B-Town Blog happily welcomes back one of our Advertisers: The Ming Wong Chinese Restaurant.

Located in a strip mall in Burien near the Dairy Queen off Ambaum Blvd., the Ming Wong Chinese Restaurant is lovingly run by husband and wife team Connie and Kwan Chan.

Connie was born in Canton, China, and moved to the Seattle area in 1995. After honing her culinary skills for 14 years at various restaurants in Seattle, she now brings her dining expertise to Burien.

Connie says “Nothing we serve has MSG anywhere in or on it. It’s good Chinese food at a very fair price!”

Also, Connie tells us if you purchase $25 or more you will receive four free Egg Rolls OR Connie’s fabulous Crab Cream Cheese Wontons (not valid with lunch special menu, individual combos or family dinners).

They also serve beer, wine and Sake.

The Ming Wong has ample room for banquets, large dinner parties, or special occasions.

Ask about their catering menu. They can put together something special that you can enjoy at your home or office.

Connie and Kwan say:

“Thank you, Burien, for seeing our Ad on The B-Town Blog and enjoying our place.

And keep coming on by!”

And one other element that sets Ming Wong apart is their ability to take orders online – give it a try here.

Location:

The Ming Wong Chinese Restaurant
14400 Ambaum Blvd. SW
Burien, Washington 99166

• Phone: 206-241-2679
• Fax: 206-241-4860

Order online here: www.mingwongrestaurant.com

Hours:

• Monday through Thursday: 11am to 9:30pm
• Friday and Saturday: 11am to 10pm
• Sunday: 12pm to 9:30pm

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There’s a couple of things happening through February at BTB Advertiser Market Place Salon and Day Spa that our readers should know about.

The first is Hair Cuts that Love to Help Others:

The first 100 people to bring in a canned food for the Highline Area Food Bank will receive a haircut for $25 compliments of Market Place’s Stylist Helena.

All participants will be entered in a drawing to win a complimentary color or foil.

The second is a B-Town Blog Only In-Salon Special:

Mention The B-Town Blog when you book your appointment and you will receive 10% off an Express Manicure and Pedicure Combo (regular price $50) and $20 off a Spa Mani-Pedi combo (regular price $80).

Take advantage of all these offers, and give yourself a mini-beauty blast at Market Place, which is located near Trader Joes in Five Corners, at 15858 1st Ave. South.

Call 206-455-9524 to book your appointment, and be sure to mention The B-Town Blog to get the Mani-Pedi deal! More info online at their website here.

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BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a newly-remodeled 4-bedroom house in Burien priced at $359,950.

Here are the details

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, Feb. 7th, from 1pm to 4pm

WHERE: 16409 8th Ave SW in Burien

INFO:

• List Price: $359,950
• Listing#: 29107117
• Beds 4
• Baths 2.00
• Fireplaces 2
• Year Built 1963

Interior Features:

• Bath Off Master
• Ceiling Fan(s)
• French Doors
• Security System

Site Features:

• Cable TV
• Fenced-Fully
• High Speed Internet
• Nat. Gas Available

Marketing Remarks: This home has been newly remodeled, it features 4bdrms, 2.5bths, 2fplcs, hardwood flrs, custom cabinetry, 2007 construction grade metal roof and 2460sqft.

It has a panoramic view of the Olympics and the airport.

Just minutes to downtown and close to schools and the hospital.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

BTB Advertiser West Seattle Montessori School and Academy will be presenting the play “Mulan” this Thursday, Feb. 4th, and Friday, Feb. 5th at West Seattle High School, at 7pm both nights.

Starring in the play will be the schools’ lower and upper elementary students.

Directing is WSM’s faculty member Mary Springer, local founder and artistic director of Twelfth Night Productions.

The tale of Mulan contains universal themes – that often the individual must sacrifice for the greater good, and that the path of personal discovery lies in that sacrifice.

Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.

Since 1985, West Seattle Montessori School has been an integral part of the West Seattle Community. Offering preschool through 8th grade education, WSMS prides itself on fostering independence and intellectual curiosity, stimulating personal growth, and encouraging innovation and a love of learning.

The school and academy are now enrolling for the 2010 – 2011 academic school year.

For more information, please contact the main office at (206) 935-0427, or visit their website here: www.WestSeattleMontessori.com.

Play location:

West Seattle High School
California Avenue SW and SW Stevens Street, in West Seattle

Ticket information: www.westseattlemontessori.com/updates/mulan

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BTB Advertiser Pro Se University wants our Readers to know that Seattle Family Law Attorney and CEO Marie White will be offering FREE Attorney Support on Tuesdays, Feb. 16th and March 2nd, to help you with any family law issue.

Sign up for a free 30-minute appointment now, but keep in mind that there is a limited number of these free appointments available.

For more information, click here.

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The Rotary Club of Des Moines has announced that their Sixth Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival will be held on Saturday, March 6th, from Noon– 7pm, and Sunday, March 7th from Noon – 5pm at the historic Landmark Event Center (formerly Landmark on the Sound) just down the road in Des Moines.

The opening night gala will be held Friday night, Mar. 5th, beginning at 7:30pm.

This festival is a must for anyone who loves wine, as well as for anyone who wants to support the work of Rotary, which supports schools and families in our community and around the world or anyone who enjoys an afternoon of good food, good wine and great music.

“The wine festival is an opportunity for wine-lovers to come taste samples from 25 Northwest wineries,” said Rotary spokesperson Catherine Carbone-Rogers. “All of the wineries typically offer two, three, or four different wines. Each winery will have wine by the bottle for sale. The festival is also a great opportunity to see the newly-restored Landmark Event Center, a unique architectural gem of the Des Moines community. Many people have driven by for years but have never had the opportunity to see the interior.”

What can participants expect while at the event? Besides the wine tasting from 25 Northwest wineries, there will also be a sampling of food from local restaurants, along with numerous musical guests throughout the festival. Here’s the preliminary lineup:

Friday, March 5 (Gala):

• Steve Ryals Trio
• Ed Taylor and TaylorMade

Saturday, March 6:

• Darren Motamedy Duo
• 4th Degree

Sunday, March 7:

• Rouge
• Billet-Deux

For just $20, participants receive a souvenir wine glass and 10 tokens, a sampling of delicious foods, and live music. What if you run out? Don’t worry, there’ll be tokens for sale at the event.

And for all you non-wine drinkers, Pikes Brewing will also have a booth.

Major sponsors are Anthony’s HomePort, 98.9 KWJZ, Landmark Event Center, Fred Meyers, Powell Brothers Custom Homes, Highline Times/Des Moines News, Kent Reporter and The Waterland Blog and its sister sites.

The opening night Gala will be Friday, March 5th at 7:30pm at the Landmark Event Center. The theme is A Night in the Vineyard. A lavish buffet will be provided by Anthony’s HomePort. Tickets for the gala are $75 in advance, $85 at the door. The ticket price includes food, entertainment, and wine.

Wine Fesival tickets are priced at $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets for the Wine Festival and Gala are available at Corky Cellars, located at 22511 Marine View Drive in Des Moines (206-824-9462); or online at www.dmrotary.org.

Poverty Bay Wine Festival is the major annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Des Moines. Lisa Meineke is the club President and Brian Snure is chair of the wine festival.

The main purpose is to raise funds for the charitable projects of the Rotary Club of Des Moines that include:

• Financial and volunteer support of Des Moines Food Bank
• Financial and volunteer support for Fireworks Over Des Moines on the Fourth of July annually
• “Dictionaries by the Dozens”: Rotary provides a new children’s dictionary to every third grade student in Des Moines
• Mini-grants of up to $1000 to schools or teachers in Des Moines for special projects
• College scholarship of $2,500 to a Highline Community College student
• Pacific Middle School essay contest
• Funding for after school program at Pacific Middle school
• Financial support to Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence, a non-profit benefiting Highline Public Schools
• Financial support for a women’s shelter in South Africa
• Purchase of sewing machines for women in Peru so they can generate income

“We hope to have more attendees than ever this year,” Carbone-Rogers added. “Each year, we have taken the wine festival up a notch with the number of wineries, the entertainment, and the food. The gala is classier every year, and the Landmark Event Center is an amazing venue. We also hope that people coming to the event will get interested in Rotary and join us in our work to support community causes and families,” she added.

For more information on the Des Moines Rotary, please click here: http://dmrotary.org/aboutrotary.php.

BTB Advertiser Ventana Construction is holding another free event: “Building a Better Home: Remodeling and Custom Home Workshop” on Thursday, Feb. 11th at 6pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Ventana Construction’s “Building a Better Home: Remodeling and Custom Home Workshop”

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 11th beginning at 6pm

WHERE: Ventana Construction offices, located at 5458 California Ave SW, in West Seattle (98136).

INFO: Ventana says:

“If you are a homeowner considering remodeling your home or building a new custom home, this workshop is an invaluable first step in the process.

Learn from experienced professionals about how to get started, what to expect, and the steps you can take to make your project successful.

This 1 ½ hour workshop is open to the public and seating is limited.

Call 206-932-3009 to reserve your space.”

For more info, visit Ventana Construction’s website here, or call 206-932-3009.

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Are you looking for a great place to enroll your child in preschool this fall?  Then come to new Advertiser Burien Co-Op Preschool’s Open House on Monday, Feb. 8th to find out why parents and kids have fallen in love with this fabulous little school!

In the Co-Op spirit, parents are “hands-on” and work with their kids in the classroom under the supervision of knowledgeable, caring teachers who receive support through Bates Technical College. Parents help in all aspects of running the preschool and develop connections with other families that last a lifetime.

The Open House will take place on Monday, February 8th from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Burien Community Center, which is located at 425 S.W. 144th St. Burien. Families wishing to enroll that evening will need to complete a registration form (available at www.burienco-op.org) and turn in a non-refundable check for the $40 registration fee.

Emphasis is placed on learning through play and meaningful experiences for the children, with a focus on the natural world. Every child’s unique talents and interests are celebrated each day. The classrooms are magical places designed to capture the hearts and imaginations of everyone who passes through. Come see for yourself!

No matter the age of your preschool child they will thrive and be happy at our school. We look forward to meeting your family

For a registration form and more information, please visit: www.burienco-op.org.

For questions, please email buriencoop@gmail.com or call 206-241-6714.

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Valentine’s Day is just about two weeks away, which means that now would probably be a good time to start shopping for something for your sweetie.

We here at The B-Town Blog strongly believe in shopping local, which is why we highly recommend that all our Readers buy their Valentine’s Day gifts from Burien-based Advertiser Dan the Sausageman.

I mean, what says “I Love You” better than a groovy gift box full of high quality meats, cheeses, chocolates and other goodies? And what better way to spend your money than by keeping it local?

Dan the Sausageman has been in business in Burien since 1988. Back then, Dan House (who also owns The Tin Room and the soon-to-be-opening Tin Theater) used to drive around selling sausages to car dealers and other businesses in the south end. Eventually he opened a tiny retail store in Seahurst, then moved into the classic old Hi-Line Tin Shop in Olde Burien where he still works every day.

And no, Danny hasn’t retired his retail sausage business – he’s just moved it in preparations for his new “Tin Theater” (which will be opening soon – stay tuned to the BTB for details) and is doing most work online now (check out his website here).

For Valentine’s Day, Dan the Sausageman is offering a great deal – purchase any gift box, and you’ll get both an extra 9oz Summer Sausage as well as a dozen chocolate kisses!

Gift Boxes are available at this web page, and here are three favorites:

“Dan’s Favorite“: Packed inside this hand made pine crate (15″ x 6.5″ x 4.5″) are all the things Dan loves and is a consistent top pick among our loyal customers. Contents: Summer Sausage (9oz), Sharp Cheese (4oz), Pepper Jelly (5oz), Smoked Salmon (3.25oz), Smoked Pate (3.25oz), Spiced Almonds (1.5oz), Sweet’N'Hot Mustard (2oz), Crackers (1oz), Chocolate Truffles (2pcs), Chocolate Covered Cherries, Blueberries, Cranberries and Apricots (4oz) – all for just $53.95! Click here to order.

“Retro Lunch Box“: If you took a lunch like this to work every day, you probably would WANT to go to work. Our nifty retro lunch pail is filled with all of the stuff that keeps our customers coming back for more. Contents: Summer Sausage (9 oz.), Hot Summer Sausage (9 oz.), Santa Barbara Garlic Stuffed Olives (2 oz.), Bandon Sharp Cheese (8 oz.), Seattle Chocolate Truffles (2.5 oz.), Gourmet Caramels with Almonds, Spiced Almonds (1.5 oz.), Venus Crackers (2 oz.), all for just $54.95! Click here to order.

“Perfect For The Palate“: No, we haven’t started selling paint like Martha Stewart. We do fancy the can though. Whether it is the office, home, or outdoors – all you have to do is spread this out and paint a smile on your face. Contents: Summer Sausage (9 oz.), Hot Summer Sausage (9 oz.), Santa Barbara Garlic Stuffed Olives (2 oz.), Bandon Sharp Cheese (8 oz.), Toffee Almond Cranberry Crunch (8 oz.), Eastshore Pretzels (4 oz.), Sweet ‘n’ Hot Mustard (2 oz.), Spiced Almonds (1.5 oz.), 1 Gallon Collector Paint Can. Just $47.95. Click here to order.

You can order these gift boxes online, as well as many others, safely and securely here (you can also order ala carte items too!).

Locked out? Lose your keys? Need to replace all of your locks? Don’t worry! There is a new locksmith in town: Seatown Locksmith in Burien, serving all of King County.

When Highline Lock and Key closed their doors last year, former employee Maurice Bressack said, “Burien still needs keys!” He put his plan into motion and opened Seatown Locksmith a few months ago bringing another former employee, Dee Stewart, with him. Maurice worked at Highline Lock and Key for eight years. Before that he worked with his uncle in his mobile locksmith company for six years.

Seatown Locksmith offers fast, friendly, professional service. They have low overhead and low prices, but they are very high in customer service. They will respond to you any time of the day or night with their 24 hour emergency service.

What is the most expensive key you own? If you own a car that was made after 1996 it is your transponder key. If you need a replacement transponder key check out Seatown Locksmith’s prices – they will be lower than your dealership.

Do you have commercial properties? Seatown Locksmith can handle your commercial accounts. They do master keying, rekeying, lock replacements and more. They even offer monthly invoicing.

Whatever you need – residential, automotive, commercial, emergency – Seatown Locksmith is here in Burien to serve you anywhere in King County. Stop by and say hello to the friendly people at Seatown Locksmith: Maurice, Dee and Shiloh.

Seatown Locksmith
135 SW 153rd Street
Burien, WA 98148

Phone: 206-420-3426

Website: www.seatownlocksmith.com

Friend ‘em on Facebook here.

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Our new Real Estate sponsor Prudential Northwest Featured Open House this week is for a gorgeous house on Lake Burien

Sunday, Jan. 31st from 1pm to 4pm:

1804 SW 156th Street
Burien, WA 98166

• List Price: $750,000
• MLS Number: 29064725
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms:3.50
• Approximate House SqFt: 2,980
• Lot Square Footage: 15,240
• Year Built: 1949



• Gorgeous grounds & pretty home in a super convenient location.
• Close to shops, restaurants of Olde Burien, St.Francis private school, Eagle Landing Park & the Seahurst community beach.
• This unique property has many exceptional spaces including the almost impossible to find level backyard of Waterfront.
• Every detail remains inviting & open while still allowing 4 estate & privacy.
• Home features 4 bed, 3.5 bath have plenty of closet space to keep things spacious & spotless.
• Cottage w/1bed,1bath,& kit.
• Parking Type: Carport-Detached

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

There are “New Lower Auto Rates” out there, and new B-Town Blog Advertiser Harbor Insurance Services will help you find them.

Harbor Insurance Services is located in the Seahurst neighborhood of Burien. Owners Julie and Tim Reagan started this agency over 30 years ago in their basement. Shortly after that they moved their office to Burien, and 13 years later to Seahurst. Their daughter Leah Caudle “officially” joined the family biz in 2001, but she’s actually been working with them since the 8th grade doing filing, answering phones and helping out in the office.

Tim, Julie and Leah pride themselves in their shared philosophy of selling insurance which is service, service……and finally, service. They add to the service aspect by being family friendly and accessible. Julie adds, “When you call Harbor Insurance you’ll always talk to an agent.”

In addition to auto and home, Harbor Insurance insures a variety of vehicles, or as Julie calls them, “the toys.” This includes boats, RV’s, motorcycles and motor homes. And because they’re INDEPENDENT insurance agents they can shop around for best prices to suit your needs. Among their portfolio of insurance companies are:

• Grange
• Progressive
• Foremost
• Hagerty

And about those lower rates, Tim? “We now have tiered rating systems so we can offer the most preferred rate to the most preferred driver while still getting good rates for those with less than perfect records.”

Unlike other “Ma and Pa” businesses in Burien, Julie and Tim are also “Nana and Papa” (to Leah’s boys, Atticus- 2 1/2 and Dominic- 6 months). Atticus has moved on to daycare, but Dominic is in residence every day, holding court in his well-toyed corner of the office. “Customers just love bringing their kids in here because of all the toys”, explained Leah. A lot of customers also stop by just to watch Leah’s little red-headed boys grow and change.

Harbor’s slogan is “Our Family Serving Your Family Since 1979.” “Nana and Papa” pride themselves in taking care of insurance needs for multiple generations of families. Original customers have referred Harbor Insurance to their kids, who have again referred them to their kids. And with Leah on-board, there’s another generation or two of families who will enjoy Harbor Insurance Services’ .….well, service!

If you want to shop around for lower rates on your insurance, contact Harbor Insurace:

• Send an email to reaganharbor@aol.com
• Call 206-241-8744
• Fax 206-246-0810
• Online at www.harborinsuranceservices.net
• The old-fashioned way: stop by and see them in person at 2104 SW 152nd (across from The Bean).

They’d love to meet you.

However you contact them, give Harbor Insurance Services a chance to show you how to lower your insurance rates on your auto, home and toys.

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BTB Advertiser Three Tree Montessori invites parents and kids to their Open House this Saturday, Jan. 30th from 10am – Noon.

Here’s what they’d like you to know:

Come see the beautiful classrooms, gardens and playgrounds, meet the teachers, and learn about Montessori programs for children ages one through twelve.

All are welcome!

Three Tree Montessori is located in Burien at 220 SW 160th, near Sylvester Middle School. More info at their website here.

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B-Town Blog Advertiser and local Hypno-Coach Patricia Eslava Vessey is inviting all smoking Readers who want to be a ‘quitter’ to check out her newest class offered at Burien Parks and Recreation beginning Monday evening, Feb. 1st.

Patricia has successfully helped many Burienites stop smoking, and continues her good work starting next Monday evening. If your new year’s resolution including kicking the habit, this class will launch you on your goal. Patricia’s goal for her participants is “the first day of class you’ll quit smoking for good.”

Description:

Discover how hypno-coaching can help you with your life’s goals. The focus of this class is to help you stop smoking. You can become the kind of person you’ve always wanted to be. Feeling powerless over your smoking habit? Tired of all the failed attempts at quitting? Ready to try something that really works? This class will help you change your attitude, beliefs and habits. Learn to reprogram that successful smoking habit to freedom as a non-smoker today! Using innovative and proven methods from hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), life coaching and personal fitness training, you will discover that giving up your smoking can be far easier than you ever imagined.

SCHEDULE:

• Monday Feb. 1st 6:00PM – 8:00PM Classroom 3-Burien Community Center
• Monday Feb. 8th 6:00PM – 8:00PM Classroom 3-Burien Community Center

INSTRUCTOR:

Patricia Eslava Vessey is the founder of Integrity Coaching & Training Systems, a multifaceted company with expertise in coaching, training, leadership, Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) and hypnotherapy. With over 30 years in social work, 29 years as a fitness trainer and over 6 years as a sought after speaker, trainer and certified international coach, Patricia inspires, motivates and supports people in transforming limiting beliefs and behaviors into heartfelt, meaningful and lasting changes.

Visit her website at: www.integritylifecoach.com

Call (206) 988-3700 to register today. Class starts Monday Feb. 1st! Dress comfortably and bring a mat.

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Advertiser Normandy Park Senior Living will be hosting two special benefit events to help raise funds to help victims of the Haiti earthquake, including a Pancake Breakfast this Sunday (Jan. 31st) and a Spaghetti Dinner on Feb. 13th.

Both fundraisers will be held at their campus in Normandy Park, and all funds raised will go directly to Doctors Without Borders.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Two benefit fundraiser events for Haiti earthquake victims by Advertiser Normandy Park Senior Living

WHEN: Pancake Breakfast will be this Sunday, Jan. 31st from 11am to 2pm; Spaghetti Dinner will be Saturday, Feb. 13th from 3pm to 6pm

WHERE: Normandy Park Senior Living, which is located at 16625 1st Ave. South in Normandy Park.

INFO: From a press release:

Haiti Earthquake Relief and Doctors Without Borders Fundraiser

Pauline Smith, Executive Director, Normandy Park Senior Living announced today two special benefit events to raise funds to help the victims of the Haiti Earthquake. A Pancake Breakfast will be held on Sunday, January 31 from 11:00am to 2:00pm and a Spaghetti Dinner will take place on Saturday, February 13 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. Both events will be held at Normandy Park Senior Living located at 16625 1st Ave. South in Normandy Park.

According to Smith, “All proceeds will go directly to Doctors without Borders one of the critical relief organizations assisting victims in Haiti. We’re pleased that our parent company, Artegan, our residents, staff and family members have joined together to make these events possible.”

Other area businesses interested in participating should contact Pauline Smith. “We’re honored to be part of the worldwide Haiti relief effort and hope our community will join us on January 31 and February 13th to help the people of Haiti and Doctors without Borders.”

“Once you’re pre-approved (to buy a home) you’re armed and dangerous,” says Mark Denniston, Senior Loan Consultant at new B-Town Blog Advertiser Northwest Mortgage Alliance LLC. “Pre-approval is as easy as a phone call or email. I will let the buyer know in a very short time,” he added.

You can reach Mark at 206-932-1500, or email him at mdenniston@nwmortgagealliance.com.

Mark feels that there is no better time than now to buy a home.

“With interests rates as low as 5%, home prices at the bottom, and the government tax credit for first time and current homebuyers extended through April, there’s no better time than now to buy a home,” stated Mark.

The First Time Homebuyers credit is up to $8,000 and expires April 30, with closing by June 30. The Current Home Owners credit is up $6,500 with the same expiration and closing.

Northwest Mortgage Alliance (NWMA) has been a trusted leader in home loans in the Northwest since 1998. Mark has been a trusted loan officer with several companies throughout his nearly 40 year career in first the real estate business, and then the mortgage loan industry. Half of his career in mortgages have been spent right here in Burien.

As a mortgage loan consultant for so many years, Mark has learned that counciling prospective buyers on the ins and outs of home buying and ownership is the best way to earn trust and business. He has counseled thousands of buyers over his career. While BTB was interviewing Mark, he had a person call in that had used his services as a mortgage broker 10 years ago. She was downsizing, and called Mark before she even started house-hunting. His council was needed for this customer to start the process.

Knowledge, expertise and council is what Mark brings to customers who choose to finance their biggest purchase of their lives–their home–with Northwest Mortgage Alliance and Mark Denniston.

NWMA has nine offices throughout the Puget Sound, with one right here in Burien at 127 Southwest 156th Street, Suite 100.

So if you’re in the market for a home, be sure and give Mark a call at (206) 932-1500 for that pre-approval before you start looking at houses. He’ll get you pre-approved in minutes, and at no charge, so you can hit the streets, as Mark puts it “armed and dangerous.”

Visit their website here, or call Mark directly at (206) 932-1500.

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BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery wants all our loving Readers to know about their upcoming “Red Wine and Chocolate” event, which begins Thursday, Feb. 4th.

Nothing says looooove much better than red wine and chocolates, doncha think?

Here are the tasty details:

WHAT: “Red Wine and Chocolate” at E. B. Foote Winery

WHEN: Dates and times are:

• Thursday, Feb. 4, 5 pm – 8 pm
• Friday, Feb. 5, 11 am – 8 pm
• Saturday, Feb. 6, 11 am – 6 pm
• Sunday, Feb. 7, Noon – 6 pm
• Sunday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, Noon – 6 pm

WHERE: E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127 SW 153rd St. lower level, Burien; (206) 242-3852; www.ebfootewinery.com

COST: $10 tasting fee, applied toward bottle purchase (No tasting fee for Wine Club members)

INFO: “Enjoy dozens of chocolates along with our current and newly released red wines.  We will be sampling red wines including the new releases. No reservations needed! Get a friend or two and drop in during these hours.”

Scheduled for release:

• 2006 Merlot
• 2007 Northwest Duet
• 2006 Perfect à Trois

More information available at E.B. Foote’s website here.

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Our new Real Estate sponsor Prudential Northwest will be showcasing a Featured Open House here every Friday, and here’s this week’s inaugural listing:

Sunday, Jan. 24th from 1pm to 4pm:

398 SW 176th Place
Normandy Park 98166

$475,000

“Smart, Chic and Classy with a fresh new look! This lovely home is located in gorgeous Normandy Park w/nice winter Puget Sound views.

The main floor features very spacious living & dining rooms, huge sun-filled windows, extremely large kitchen & three bedrooms with fabulous territorial views from all living areas.

Downstairs has a bedroom, 2 large rec rooms, an extra finished room, and is ready for a 2nd kitchen.

Newer 50-yr. roof and award-winning Marvista Elementary School make this a real gem.”

More details:

• 4 bedrooms
• 2.25 bath
• Over 2850 SF
• Spacious living & dining areas
• Nice winter Puget Sound views
• 2 lg rec rooms
• Bath Off Master
• Dining Room
• Dble Pane/Strm Windw
• Cable TV
• Deck
• Fenced-Partially
• Nat. Gas Available
• Patio
• It’s a gem you’ll want to see!

Directions:

• From 1st Ave South, head West on Normandy Road
• Turn Right on 3rd SW
• Turn Left on 176th Place

Click here to view the full detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

We’d like to shout out a big Bonjour/Bienvenuito/Hola and even a hearty “Xin Chào” to our latest Advertiser: LC Interpreters!

LC Interpreters offers professional language interpretation and translation services in Burien and the Greater Seattle Area.

How can LC Interpreters help you?

Let’s say you are a business person interviewing a prospective employee who may not yet be fluent in the English language. LC Interpreters will provide an interpreter for you to help complete the job interview.

You will know both parties are understanding each other clearly.

Over 150 languages are currently supported via telephone. LC Interpreters’ experienced interpreters and translators are certified and produce timely, accurate interpretations and translations at affordable rates.

LC Interpreters also provides expert document translation services in over 25 languages. Each translation is double-checked for quality and accuracy before it is delivered in electronic form to the client. Translations are also delivered as print materials, upon request.

Some of the many types of documents LC Interpreters translators cover are:

• Medical records and legal documents
• Employee handbooks
• Contracts, letters and marketing materials
• Academic transcripts and diplomas
• Wedding and other social announcements

LC Interpreters was founded by Perlita Matta in 2005.

“Our main focus is medical settings. Many of our services are covered by the state,” Perlita told us. “Medical providers can call us in for workers compensation claims and not have to pay anything out of pocket.

“Sometimes our work is done over the phone,” said Perlita. “But we mostly provide interpreting services onsite.”

LC Interpreters pricing is quite reasonable. They are more than happy to provide a quote in advance.

LC Interpreters is a Certified Washington Women’s Minority Owned Business and is a member of many professional groups including:

• ALC – Association of Language Companies
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• ATA – American Translators Association
• NOTIS – Northwest Translators & Interpreters Society
• OMWBE- Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises
• PWC – Professionals in Workers’ Compensation
• WITS – Washington State Court Interpreters and Translators Society

Setting up an appointment or requesting a quote is easy – just call 206-901-9834 or e-mail: service@lcinterpreters.com.

In most cases an appointment can be scheduled and completed with just 48 hours notice.

Or feel free to stop by their new offices – they are located just east of Ambaum, on SW 153rd Street:

LC Interpreters
641 SW 153rd Street
Burien, WA  98166

Phone: 206-901-9834

www.lcinterpreters.com

E-mail: service@lcinterpreters.com

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John Chattin-McNichols will be the featured lecturer Thursday night, Jan. 21st, at BTB Advertiser West Seattle Montessori School.

The approximately 90-minute presentation is scheduled to begin at 7pm.

Since 1985, West Seattle Montessori School has been an integral part of the West Seattle Community. Offering preschool through 8th grade education, WSMS prides itself on fostering independence and intellectual curiosity, stimulating personal growth, and encouraging innovation and a love of learning.

John Chattin-McNichols has a seasoned history with Montessori methodology and teaching that goes all the way back to 1968.

Some of his vast accomplishments include being the president of the American Montessori Society, the founder of the American Montessori Teachers Research Network, and a Professor of the American Montessori Society teacher education program at Seattle University.

John is respected and highly esteemed throughout the field of education, and is a published author, and world-renowned speaker.

The school will also soon be hosting two Open Houses, the first one being this Saturday.

Anyone and everyone in the Burien/White Center/West Seattle and surrounding communities is invited to attend the lecture and Open Houses.

The school is now enrolling for the 2010 – 2011 academic school year. For more information, please contact the main office at (206) 935-0427.

Open House Schedule:

• Saturday, January 23, 1pm – 3pm
• Wednesday, February 10, 6pm – 8pm

West Seattle Montessori  School
11215 15th Ave SW
Seattle, WA  98146
Phone (206) 935-0427

www.WestSeattleMontessori.com

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The B-Town Blog would like to welcome our newest Advertiser – the Law Offices of W. Tracy Codd!

He’s the new guy in our “Page Peel” Ad spot in the upper right corner.

Tracy’s a longtime Burien resident. He attended nursery school in Seahurst. He then attended local public schools, and is a 1979 grad of John F. Kennedy High School.  After that he had a gig as a college tennis player at the University of San Diego, but the gloom and doom of the Seattle area called him back to finish at the University of Washington. Then off to UPS Law School to get his law degree, then back to the University of Washington to get an MBA.

In 1987 he hung his law shingle in downtown Seattle to become a sports agent, specializing in representing baseball players. But Burien called him back. In the early 90s he started office sharing with his Father, Paul J. Codd. Paul J. Codd has been a Burien general practice lawyer for over 45 years. He’s also served as a municipal court judge for 30 years. His sister Julie Codd also shares office space.

“I’m lucky to see my family members every day. I’ve often benefited from my dad’s years of accumulated wisdom,” states Codd.

The substantial portion of Tracy’s practice involves Plaintiff’s Personal Injury cases and Criminal Defense. But instead of talking about the law, Codd chose to use his complementary BTB “Blogvetorial” to sing the praises of Burien, his family and running (but not necessarily in that order).

In Codd’s mind, “Burien is one of the best kept secrets, if not in all of the state of Washington, certainly King County. The quality of life, the water, access to the freeways and the firmly rooted community,” are at the top of his list. When it comes to community involvment issues, he commends two restaurant/bars and their owners on 152nd that have changed life for runners and residents alike in Burien.

As a lifelong athlete, Codd continues to run to keep fit. As a former Marathon Man and Iron Man, he has diverted his running to “cause related” races and shorter distances. He hopes to run into his 60’s or 70’s.

When Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub started the Cove to Clover race last March, it gave Codd and many others a chance to participate in cause related running while making over $10,000 for the Highline Area Food Bank. He hopes to talk to Mick about changing the course …..”the hill from hell, the snake hill’s gotta go. Mick is trying to kill us.”

He also appreciated the Tin Room’s Brat Trot. Perhaps that’s because if was on a flat course, it’s well organized and the inaugural race day weather was beautiful. Four hundred runners raised $25,000 for West Side Baby and Safe Children in South King County.

Codd wanted to use his complementary blogvetorial to give a Big Shout Out to Mick Purdy (Mick Kelly’s) and Dan House (Tin Room) for their civic service!

Codd and his family live in the Burien area.  His wife Michelle is part owner of Poggi Bonsi and board member of Discover Burien. They moved back to Burien shortly after they started a family. Daughters Sydney (17) and Caroline (16) are basketball players at Mt. Rainier High School, while son Stuart (14) is on the swim team. Son Paul (9) is carrying on the family sports tradition by playing soccer at St. Francis.

So there you have our profile of W. (William) Tracy Codd. Dad, Husband, avid runner, Burien-ite, Burien advocate and plaintiff’s lawyer in personal injury and criminal defense. We hope that you, our Readers, don’t need his services, but if life throws you a curve, be sure and give Tracy Codd a call.

You’ll find him at:

Address: 15401 1st Ave. South #A

Phone: 206-248-6152

Website: www.tracycodd.com

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Today marks a big day in the just over two-year life (so far) of The B-Town Blog, as we’re proud to introduce our newest section and Advertiser: Real Estate Powered by Prudential Northwest!

This means that you can now access all local real estate listings by clicking on “Real Estate” in the upper navigation menu section between Advertise and Events. We’re happy to be working with the Burien-based Prudential Northwest office, and the entire company consists of six offices throughout the Greater Seattle area.

Techie-types at both PNW and BTB have been working ’round the clock to develop the innovative new “Zero Click House Finding Engine” for real estate listings in the Burien and South Seattle areas. Users will be able to quickly and easily see all of the area’s latest home listings, view by neighborhoods, see open house maps and more just by clicking on “Real Estate” in our top navigation menu. The real estate section will also be available soon on sister sites The Waterland Blog (Des Moines),  The White Center Blog, and soon The Normandy Park Blog.

“To search on a real estate site we wanted to make it easy to use so that every level of user can find what they are looking for,” said PNW Sales Manager Bradley Hawthorne. “Just by clicking on ‘Real Estate,’ you’ll instantly have every listing in all of Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines without having to do anything, hence the ‘Zero Click’ technology moniker.”

Want some real proof? Just click on one of the five areas below and see for yourself:

• South Seattle
• Burien
• Des Moines
• SeaTac
• Tukwila

If you click on any of those five areas, on that page is every listing for that area – and not just Prudential Northwest Realty listings – but everything that is inputted into the Northwest Multiple Listing Services website! Within those five major pages you’ll also find several communities and if you click on a community again just the listings in those communities will be shown without you having to input any search criteria (of course PNW’s standard and advanced searches are still available for the techie searchers, so you can tailor our search site to any criteria that you personally want), but for those of us that need a little help when surfing the web, “This is the simplest sight I have ever seen!”

Hawthorne adds: “Tying into these fast-growing community websites will not only help us showcase the latest listings for these areas, it will also help us serve our communities better. We all love the Southwest King County area and we hope we can help others find out what a hidden gem it is.”

PNW has been a community player since they first set foot in Burien seven years ago. With 56 active Realtors, they outgrew their first location in Olde Burien and they’re now located at 127 SW 156th Street. Broker/Branch Manager Lori Alden-Pense has been managing PNW Burien since they moved here; she’s been with them since 1994.

“It is PNW’s mission to help build a better tomorrow by partnering with our communities today,” Lori said.

She talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to PNW’s mission of giving back to the community.

Not only is Lori President of the Discover Burien Executive Board, you’ll find PNW sponsoring all of the events that Discover Burien brings to our community including the Farmers Market, Clean Sweep, the Father’s Day Car Show, Lunch-time Concerts (New!), Octoberfest, Winterfest and Empty Bowls.

For the past six years, PNW has held an annual food drive benefiting the Highline Area Food Bank on the first Saturday of October. They are currently hosting a three-month food bank drive at their office, and you can drop by non-perishable food items or money now through March.

Owned by long-time and well known real estate professional Mike Gain, Prudential Northwest Realty Associates has established itself as an industry leader by upholding the principles of the agent-customer relationship. Their combination of real estate expertise and responsive, flexible customer relations has allowed them to continue to grow and become one of the most influential real estate companies within the greater Puget Sound region. Constantly looking for ways to improve their company, PNW remains committed to the very highest standards of professionalism and service. More info is available at http://www.pnwrealty.com.

Prudential Northwest realty has a total of 450 real estate agents in their neighborhood offices, which, in addition to Burien includes Federal Way, Kent, West Seattle, Bellevue and Kirkland.

“We’re very excited to have Prudential Northwest Realty as our newest Advertiser,” said Scott Schaefer, B-Town Blog Founder/Publisher. “This brand new sponsored section will help inform the more than 55,000 monthly Readers of The B-Town Blog, Waterland Blog (Des Moines) and White Center Blog for the latest local news, events, arts, entertainment and now – up-to-the-minute local real estate listings.”

Be sure to stay tuned for another new related feature – “Open House Friday” on our blogs, where we’ll present the weekend’s best Open Houses throughout our coverage area, among other real estate related features.

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Acting as your own lawyer – as a pro se party – may well be the most challenging thing a person ever does.

Our latest Advertiser, Pro Se University PS, offers webinars and seminars on specific family law issues. They walk people through the process of completing paperwork, filing their paperwork, getting ready for the courtroom, and understanding court courtesy. They also provide one-on-one attorney and paralegal support. They can help you through the confusing process of adjusting or modifying your child support if you cannot afford an attorney.

They know the problems, they understand the process and they know how to help you.

• Are you receiving too little child support?
• Are you paying too much child support?
• Do you need help with daycare or uninsured medical expenses?
• Are you still paying daycare expenses for a child no longer in daycare?
• Does your child need help paying for college?

These are just a few of the possible reasons that you might need to adjust your child support payment or modify your child support order. If you feel that you have a good reason to make a change, contact Pro Se University PS for help. You can give them a call at 877-776-7310 or email them at info@proseuniversity.com. Their services are a small fraction of the cost of full service legal representation.

As you move through each step of the complex and confusing court process, you can attend the one-hour Pro Se University PS Webinar or Seminar that addresses that step. Throughout the life of your case, you can continue to attend Webinars or Seminars specific to the phase of your case.

Coming up in the next few weeks will be webinars and seminars covering Drafting a Child Support Order, Motion to Adjust Child Support and Petition to Modify a Child Support Order (class schedule here). Over the next several months, this menu of Webinars and Seminars will be expanded to help you work through your other family law Issues. The one-hour webinars and seminars are $65 each. Paralegal support is $65 per hour and attorney support is $200 per hour.

Pro Se University PS works with people in either the Kent or Seattle superior court systems in King County. For more information visit their website – www.proseuniversity.com.

First go to school…then go to court – Pro Se University!

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