The City of Burien announced this week that the location of its Planning Commission Meetings is moving from the 3rd floor lobby to the 1st floor Meeting Room/Council Chambers at the Library/City Hall beginning Tuesday, Feb. 23rd.

It’s possible that this decision was made because of the recent turnout for the controversial Shoreline Master Program update meetings (some say 300 around 100 residents showed up).

The first Planning Commission meeting in the new location will be Tuesday, Feb. 23rd at 7pm.

According to the cityfolk:

Regular Planning Commission meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month.

This switch from the 3rd floor lobby will enable more people to comfortably attend the meetings.

The meetings will also be televised live on TBC 21 (The Burien Channel), live streamed and available via archived video at http://www.burienmedia.org.

Audio recordings of the January 12 and January 26 Planning Commission meetings are also available on our website at http://www.burienwa.gov/PlanningCommission under “Shoreline Master Program Update.”

The February 9th audio will be uploaded soon.

We stumbled upon a sketch by Burien resident Dave Branson, who is letting us post his rendition of the new Library/City Hall Building he created on Monday, Feb. 15th.

Here’s what Dave had to say about this particular piece:

This is a sketch of the Burien Library and City Hall I did on February 15, 2010.

I have to remember to use a different pen next time I combine ink and watercolor. The pen bled a bit when it got wet.

I like the simple but strong architecture of the Library. It’s modern and original without being too cluttered or trying too hard to be avant-garde. I also enjoy libraries in general.

While out on errands today, I stopped and took a few photos of the building, trying to find an angle that showed off the elements of it that I like, then I based the sketch on one of those shots.

To see more of Dave’s art, check out his blog: http://popsiclemud.blogspot.com.

Normandy Park City Hall was evacuated and closed for most of Thursday, Jan. 28th, after a bomb threat was left on a city official’s voicemail Wednesday night claiming to blow up the building at “around Noon.”

According to a Normandy Park Police spokeswoman, the building went into “lockdown” mode around 10am this morning, when city hall was shut down and all employees were evacuated and sent home for the day.

After the evacuation, Port of Seattle Police brought in their bomb squad, which includes bomb-sniffing dogs, and checked the building for around an hour. Officers from the Des Moines Police Department also helped out.

No bomb was found.

However, city hall was shut down for the day, and it will not re-open until tomorrow.

As for the bomb threat itself, police say the caller ID was traced to Minnesota, and they’re considering it a hoax.

We know what you’re thinking – it’s waaay too early to be posting holiday-related blurbs, but we’re making an exception for this one – the American Association of University Women (Highline Branch) is sponsoring a Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 7th at the Normandy Park City Hall.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Holiday Bazaar sponsored by the American Association of University Women (Highline Branch)

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 7th form 9am to 3:30pm

WHERE: Normandy Park City Hall, 801 SW 174th St.,

INFO: Many vendors with lots of gifts, table decorations, floral arrangements, etc.

There will also be a Silent Auction, including tickets to 5th Avenue Theater and many more.

Proceeds benefit High School Scholar Recognition Program

Sponsored by AAUW (American Assoc. University Women) HIghline Branch

BTB Reader Kathi Vallade sent us the photo above, which she took at Saturday’s Burien Town Square grand opening celebration; here’s what she had to say about it:

OK…So I was at the Burien Town Square opening today and snapped this random picture of this girl walking by because I thought her hair was adorable! (It had a few different colors in stripes,kind of like a rainbow…SUPER CUTE!)

ANYWAYS, when I got home and uploaded the pictures I noticed it looks like I may have captured her Aura! (Cool huh?!)

I would love to find her to show her the photo but HOW on Earth do you go about finding a complete stranger ?!

(And how weirdo does it sound “Hi, I took your picture at random and saw this interesting glow around you and just HAD to track you down!”)

So…is the light around the girl’s head her “aura” or just lens flare?

We sent the original, uncropped photo to our Photographer Michael Brunk, who studied it – here’s his take:

Having seen the uncropped original, I’d say this is almost definitely lens flare.

It was taken around 12:30pm according to the meta-data, so the sun was starting to burn through the clouds about that time. You can see the camera was pointing slightly up and to the right, which angles the lens towards the bright natural light bouncing off the clouds. And this was shot with a Canon Powershot A720 so it most likely did not have a lens hood on which would tend to help prevent lens flare.

This thread has a couple of examples of lens flare that look very similar to the photo you sent. It’s just a fluke that in this case, the visible artifact is centered on the girl’s head:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=465848

So…what do YOU think? Is that an “aura” or just lens flare? Please Comment below…

The City of Burien made its big move to the new city hall building over the weekend, and Photographer Michael Brunk was there to capture these photos:

Click to View Slideshow

The city’s shiny new digs will be open for regular business on Tuesday, May 19th at 4th Ave SW and SW 152nd Street.

Burien’s King County library branch also packed their stacks and started their move this weekend, and is slated to open their new space on June 13th, the day of the big grand opening celebration for Burien Town Square.

The city of Burien will be making the big move to its new digs this coming weekend, with plans to open its new city hall on Tuesday, May 19th.

This will be the first phase opening of the Burien Town Square project.

City Hall will be closed Monday, May 18th and will then reopen on Tuesday, May 19th.

The new Urban Partners condominium and retail building will welcome its first occupants in late spring. The King County Regional Library and Town Square Park also will be opening around the same time.

The Burien Town Square Grand Opening celebration will be held on Saturday, June 13. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 10 a.m. followed by tours of the City Hall, library and City park. Urban Partners also will be conducting tours of the condominiums. The festivities will include live entertainment and refreshments.

by Marilee A. Cogswell
Manager, 
Burien Library

As everyone has shown time and time again, we’re a strong community here in Burien, whether we’re using our beloved library or whacking invasive weeds in a local park or helping neighbors in need, and the month of May will show everyone just how strong we are with this upcoming, helpful, community-oriented event:

‘Look to Your Library’ job-hunting help from May 1st – May 8th at ALL KCLS Libraries!

Across the county people are feeling the economic pinch: layoffs, reduced hours, decreased benefits and mounting bills. To help people cope and get back on their feet, KCLS is hosting how-to demonstrations of the latest job search and financial tools.

All libraries will open one-hour earlier than normally scheduled each day that week.

Look at our website for all the details.

The Burien Library Guild has generously agreed to bring coffee and donuts for Burien Library patrons May 1st and May 2nd.

COMING UP:
Japanese Paper Cutting Workshop Presented by Aki Sogabe:

• Saturday May 2nd at 2pm at the Burien Library
• Ages 7 and older
• Using her books as an introduction to the ancient art of Japanese paper cutting, this book illustrator will help participants create an origami and paper cut project.
• Please bring scissors. Registration required.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
Grand Opening of our New Burien Library is set for Saturday June 13th!

This will be an all day event, with music, speeches, food, and programs throughout the day – Don’t miss it!

The New Burien Library is located at 400 SW 152nd St (corner of 152nd & 4th), and the Burien Library Guild is sponsoring refreshments inside the library for the celebrations.

For news and pictures of library construction projects throughout the county visit http://www.kcls.org/bond/

On May 15th at 6pm the current Burien Library will close its regular operation.

On Saturday May 16th we will be open limited hours for book returns and holds pick up. We will not have public use computers or reference services during this time (May 16-June 8th).

From June 9th until our Grand Opening on June 13th the Burien Library will be completely closed. Please visit our nearby libraries for reference services and public computers during this time.

Visit our webpage at http://www.kcls.org/locations/index.cfm for a complete list of library locations and open hours.

We appreciate your patience during our move, and we look forward to seeing you in our new digs!

BOOK REVIEW:
“Autobiography of a Face“ by Lucy Grealy:

Ms. Grealy tells her life story from age 9 when she was diagnosed with bone cancer. In stark and touching detail Grealy shares her remarkable strength, humor, and resilience as the cancer progresses.

The cancer eventually takes 1/3 of her jawbone.

Her struggles to remain ‘normal’ and continue to give and receive love are beautifully written in this moving story.

In “Truth & Beauty: A Friendship,” Ann Patchett writes about her long and special relationship with fellow writer Lucy Grealy (author of ‘Autobiography of a Face’). A heartbreaking and tender story of friendship and commitment.

Read together these two books provide special insights on love, laughter, and the beauty of life.

Highly recommended!

See you in the (new) stacks soon!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

The Highline Historical Society will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, Nov. 23rd at 2pm at the SeaTac City Hall, which is located at 4800 South 188th Street (see map below).

This meeting will also feature an encore showing of the Ken Slusher Documentary “The Seike Garden: An American Story.” This 27-minute film tells the story of the Seike family and their beautiful Seike Japanese Gardens that were moved by the cities of Burien and SeaTac to make way for the 3rd runway at SeaTac International Airport.

It chronicles the history of the garden, cooperative efforts by local governments, nonprofits, and citizens to save the garden, and the physical challenge of relocating and replicating a 45 year-old living work of art. It also highlights the seminal roles that immigrant families have played in building the Highline community, a story that has been repeated in thousands of communities across America.

The film tells the (literally) moving story of the community effort to save this living gem. Using personal interviews and images drawn from family photos, Super-8 footage of original garden construction, and more recent still and motion photography, the film details the fascinating array of social, financial, and logistical hurdles involved in such projects.

A question and answer session with the filmmaker and one of the project managers involved with relocating the garden will follow the premiere.

Admission and parking are free.

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We heard rumors about this all summer, and now it looks like it’s true according to the City of Burien – the Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center, located on SW 152nd (with prime waterfront property on Lake Burien) is proposing to change its area zoning permit from “Special Planning Area 2″ to “Moderate Density Residential Neighborhood and High Density Multi-Family Neighborhood.”

The City of Burien will be holding a public meeting about it on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7pm, at 15811 Ambaum Blvd. SW (Suite C) to receive public comments.

From what we understand, the owners of the Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center are looking to develop two waterfront properties with single family homes, plus two single-family homes directly behind them. To the back and left of that would be multi-family housing. Whether or not they want lake access for the multi families or for the two houses in back is still in question.

Here are the meeting details:

• Public hearing will be Tuesday, Sept. 23rd at 7pm
• Meeting will be at 15811 Ambaum Blvd. SW, Suite C (map below) to receive public comments on the application
• The Agent for Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center is R.W. Thorpe and Associates Inc., Jennifer Lee, ASLA
• Proposed Change Comprehensive Plan map designation is from Special Planning Area 2 to Moderate Density Residential Neighborhood and High Density Multi-Family Neighborhood; as well as to change the zoning designation from Special Planning Area 2 (SPA-2) to RS-7,200 and RM-18
• File is available for viewing at Burien City Hall during regular business hours
• Any person may submit written or oral comments or testimony at the public hearing, or may submit written comments prior to the hearing. Written comments may be submitted in person, via mail, e-mail or by facsimile. All documents submitted or requested as part of this application, including the City staff report are available for review at City Hall during regular business hours.
• Contact for the City of Burien:

David Johanson, AICP, Senior Planner
Department of Community Development, City of Burien
15811 Ambaum Blvd. SW (Suite C)
Burien, WA 98166
Phone: (206) 248-5522
E-Mail: DavidJ@burienwa.gov

Stay tuned to the B-Town Blog for further developments on this, including some upcoming interviews with Lake Burien-area residents opposed to the proposed zoning change.

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