Of the walkers, one person was visiting from Salt Lake City, a family came from Phinney Ridge and others routinely come from Kent, Renton, Bellevue and Lacey – here’s a pic:

Click image to see larger version.

“It still astounds me to see how well the idea has taken hold,” said Organizer Maureen Hoffmann. “Some people have only missed one or two walks! Again, we had a beautiful, sunny, mid-fifties day as we walked west from Town Square, circled around Lake Burien, and then back to the center of town. It was an easy time of conversation and walking.”

The next Walk-n-Talk will be Sunday, March 4th meeting at Burien Town Square at 2 p.m. with the walk starting at 2:15 p.m.

It’s time for another walk around the lake this Sunday, and they’re forecasting a sunny day! For those that don’t want to be stuck inside, sitting in front of a glowing box, watching men in lycra head-butting while carrying a point-ended ball, come out and walk with neighbors!

February’s Walk-n-Talk will take place this Sunday, February 5th. Walkers and Talkers will meet up at 2 p.m.at Burien Town Square, and start walking at 2:15.

This time they will repeat the 2.25 mile, mostly-flat route that we took last August, circling Lake Burien.

Here are the details

WHAT: February’s Walk-n-Talk.

WHO: Walkers of every level and ability.

WHERE: Start at Burien Town Square, at SW 152nd and 5th Place SW.

WHEN: February 5th, 2012; Meet at 2:00 p.m. Start walking at 2:15 p.m.

ROUTE: A 2.25 mile loop from Burien Town Square, around Lake Burien, and back to Town Square:

• Begin at Burien Town Square.
• Go west on SW 152nd Street.
• Turn south on 21st Ave. SW.
• Go east on SW 156th, 16th and 158th.
• Zig-zag north on 12th, 156th, 11th,
• 154th and 10th, and back to 152nd.
• Turn east on 152nd back to Town Square.

Click image to see larger version.

Intentions for Burien’s Walk-n-Talk:

• (Part of Burien’s new “Vision”.)
• our center and gathering place.
• “Encourage active living to support physical and mental health.”
• Initiate conversation between friends and neighbors, new and old.
• Nurture the idea of our Town Square as the “living room” of Burien,
• Create our own little “volksmarch“, in the European tradition.
• Support our local cafés and restaurants on Sunday afternoons.

This will be the seventh monthly Walk-n-Talk; they each take place on the first Sunday of the month.

Here are posts about some of the previous walks: http://www.kunstdame.com/category/community/buriens-walk-n-talk/

For more information, email: design@RedRedCircle.com

by Dave Markwell

“Dad, you need to make my sandwich”, my twelve year old son, Aden, informed me this morning. And so began our daily dance. Every single day, we both don’t want to make the sandwich, so every single day we bob and weave trying to avoid it. His strategy is to dink around and stall for twenty minutes collecting his school stuff and falsely searching for his shoes and socks until I have to make the sandwich. My strategy is less sophisticated: I sit on the couch drinking coffee and yell at him to “hurry up”. This doesn’t work. He screws around until I am faced with the choice of making his stupid sandwich or wasting a half-hour of my valuable morning time driving him to school because he missed his bus. I always make the sandwich. I hate making his sandwiches. I have made hundreds of them. I used to enjoy it. I used to feel dutiful and loving and proud while making his lunch. I don’t feel this way anymore. In the past, I would sneak a secret treat into his lunchbox to surprise him. I would imagine him finding my gift and declaring to all his classmates seated near him in the school cafeteria that he and he alone, had the best Dad ever! I don’t care about this anymore. Now, I just want him to make his own damn sandwich.

I’m not sure when this changed, but I suspect it has been a progression. I recall no definitive moment standing as a benchmark between times. It just happened. Somewhere along the way, things changed and the doting, ever-concerned father was replaced with a somewhat indifferent and passive man bearing a rather eerie resemblance to my own Dad. It is happening. I am becoming my Dad. I swore I never would, but it was inevitable, I suppose. We become our parents, just as they become theirs. And so it has been since time began.

As I ponder this phenomenon, the only conclusion I can draw is that all kids possess a diabolical power to transform their otherwise reasonable, rational, thoughtful and intelligent parents into mindless and shameless servants. They need things that only we can provide and we have a duty to provide these things. They know we have this duty and so, they manipulate our sense of this duty to turn us into resentful, yet still compliant lackeys placed on this earth to serve only their needs. We are mobile, but beaten robots. We are the defeated.

Since the dawn of parenthood, kids have been screwing over parents exactly this way. It’s what they do. Our job is to take it. It’s what we do. I say this without ill regard or malevolent intent. It is just so. It doesn’t bother me all of the time, just most of the time. I have become a servant, a serf, whose purpose is serving my kingdom’s masters. The masters happen to be a lovely, slightly snotty, eight year old girl and the aforementioned too-smart-for-his-own-good twelve year old boy. They direct my day, hour by hour, minute by minute. They own me. I say this without complaint, only somber resignation. It is what it is and I signed up for it.

“DAD!! DAD!! DAD!!, Diego threw up in my room. Come quick!!” my girl bellowed from the hallway just as I sat down on the comfy couch for an afternoon snack. I didn’t want to clean up dog puke. But I did. I didn’t want to scrape the still warm and soft, half-digested Purina off the carpet. But I did. I did this and I will do this for some time, I suspect. I am here to serve whenever and wherever directed, including and probably especially, on the super nasty jobs. So it goes.

“Hold on, Sweetie!! Let me get a towel!” I replied to my little gal… with a much better understanding about why my Grandma and Grandpa always looked so happy watching my parents serve their masters…

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here. Or work out with him at his new exercise company Waterland CrossFit!]

by Dave Markwell

After a 14 hour travel day, I am too brain-fried to trust the column I have written. I can’t tell if it’s good or if it sucks. When this happens I will pull something from my quiver and hope it strikes a target. This piece was written as a “speech” for my friends, Eric and Michelle’s, wedding last summer. It felt good to write and felt good for me to read it again. Happy Feel Good Friday!!! -Dave

While preparing for today’s presentation, I looked around a bit to see what others have had to say about marriage. I looked to the sages and philosophers from the ages and discovered many beautiful, gushing, flowing and important words; Words that inspired and affected and sang to me. Words that made me want to marry my wife over and over again every day. As impressive as some of these words were, they in large part lacked a fundamental element important to me when saying something: they lacked truth. They were not necessarily untrue. Their words simply didn’t tell the whole story and they were, I think, likely written by people who had never actually been married and understood that a real marriage is not all candlelit kisses and longing looks. Real marriages, invariably, involves bad moods and bad breath and at some point bringing the other person a new roll of toilet paper as they sit needing more toilet paper. I think these experiences are more common than the sentiments expressed by the smart people. A real marriage is more complicated. A real marriage involves varying amounts of conflict and frustration and concession. As human beings we are all flawed and we carry these flaws to a marriage. On a daily basis, our own goofy baggage muddies the waters and raises eyebrows and sometimes the voice of our spouse, who tries to make sense of the senseless. A real marriage is not a clean and tidy business. It can get messy.

In evaluating the countless ways I have made messes in my own marriage, I have come to understand that while my messes may not be avoidable, the impact of these things can be somewhat offset by doing good things, too. Being flawed individuals, we are going to make messes. We are going to say and do some profoundly stupid things. However, these things need not completely undermine an otherwise good relation. By consciously involving our better demons on a daily basis, we can, on some level, shave the sharp edges off of our bad choices. These involve deliberate and intentional effort, but they are worth it, every time. Things we can do include sharing, giving, understanding and doing, even and maybe especially, when you don’t feel like it. I’ve found that doing something when you don’t really feel like it, is perhaps the most important time to do anything.

First, share: share ideas and hopes and dreams and the last piece of bacon. Share the parts of yourself that are awkward and uncomfortable. Share your fears and concerns. Share a true laugh and a true tear. A certain emotional nudity is vital to creating a marriage of substance. When we strip ourselves bare and trust that the other will not point and laugh, a deeper connection is built and a foundation is laid for a relationship of meaning. This relationship makes both people better.

Next, give: Give what you have. An element of service exists in a good marriage. From doing the dishes to mowing the lawn to putting away your shoes to putting the toilet seat up-or down-whichever the case requires, marriage involves doing things that prevent tension. We don’t always want to do these things, but that doesn’t matter. Doing things we don’t want to do is called giving. And doing these things says “I love you” better than the words can.

Closely tied to giving is understanding. Understanding what to give involves understanding where the other person places value. What matters to them are the things we need to be aware of: How do they like their coffee? What’s their favorite flower? What do they think about and care about? Understanding these things makes appropriate giving possible and appropriate giving makes a happy day possible.

To have understanding is very simple: one must PAY ATTENTION. People are subtle. Preferences and trends involve nuance. Being tuned into the other’s heartbeat is the cornerstone of a successful marriage. What’s important is, unfortunately, rarely obvious, thusly, we must pay attention to the gentle shifts in a look or a tone of voice to direct us. Being distinctly different animals, men and women struggle for this understanding, but by watching and learning and caring to understand, an imperfect balance can be attained.

After the “I dos” come the “I wills” and married life begins. Here lies the challenge of carrying on the wedding day bliss. Beyond the “I do” come other words that are just as valuable. Words like “Thank you” “You look nice” “Can I help?” “What do you need” and maybe most importantly the words, “I’m sorry” and “It’s OK.” Forgiveness is necessary. Given our aforementioned flaws, mistakes will be made and forgiving and moving on is the only way to have a marriage that can sustain the inevitable bonehead moves.

We live a life of days. Each day consists of moments. Some are breath-taking and some are eye-rolling and these moments make a life. Any life and certainly a married life is the sum of the moments we create. Life is not a single event. It is an anthology of moments. We have absolute control over these moments. With these moments, we humanize and encourage and support each other. With these moments, we make the other person feel good and we become better. These seemingly innocuous, anonymous little moments, a delicate touch on the back of her neck when passing in the kitchen, an unrequested, but very welcome snack, a head on the shoulder while sitting on the couch watching bad TV, these moments set the stage and a tone. Acknowledging and recognizing that these small moments matter and indeed may be the biggest moments there are, is elemental. The gentle, yet vital moments of loving being in a moment with the person you love changes us. They connect us and bind us and are the place where our truest smiles live. They are important in the ways they shape a life together. All of the beauty and magic of a married life live here. Having, making and enjoying a life of moments is the surest way to having, making and enjoying a married life together. As the sun rises and sets in a brief moment, so does life, and nothing is more majestic, powerful, or important to a good day and a good life than appreciating the significance of a single moment. Nothing matters more than a simple and fleeting moment.

So Eric and Michelle, I wish you both a life filled with a vast and wonderful collection of these simple, loving moments that will enrich you and enliven you and make it all worthwhile.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here. Or work out with him at his new exercise company Waterland CrossFit!]

Along with providing a free, easy and social community-minded exercise, this may also serve as a way to work off the previous night’s celebrations!

“Burien’s sixth monthly Walk-n-Talk just happens to fall on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2012,” said Organizer Maureen Hoffmann. “What a great way to launch into your health and fitness resolutions for the new year!”

Maureen adds:

This Sunday, (rain-or-shine), we’ll walk from Burien Town Square southwest into the slightly rolling hills of Gregory Heights. There’s a great viewpoint spot along the route which may give us a view of Mount Rainier if the sky is clear.

Here’s a map of the New Year’s Day route:

Click image to see larger version.

• Begin at Burien Town Square.
• West on SW 152nd St.
• South on 8th Ave. SW
• Cross SW 160th St. at 8th
• West on SW 160th St.
• South on 10th Ave. SW
• Viewpoint at 10th Ave. SW and SW 166th St.
• West on SW 166th St.
• North on 13th Ave. SW
• West on SW 162nd St. to Gregory Heights Elementary
• North on 16th Ave. SW
• Cross SW 160th St. at 16th
• East on SW 158th St. (It’s unmarked)
• North on 12th Ave. SW
• View of Lake Burien at 12th Ave. SW and SW 156th St.
• East on SW 156th St.
• North on 10th Ave. SW
• East on SW 152nd St
• On the way back to Burien Town Square, stop at a local restaurant for a cup of hot coffee, bowl of soup or other snack to warm you.

NOTE: The route is 3.3 miles, a little longer than previous Walk N’Talks, and with a few more slopes than some of the previous, flatter routes.

WHAT/WHO: This is a FREE Walk-n-Talk open to walkers and talkers of all abilities, including families and dogs.

WHERE: Meet on the grassy knoll at Burien Town Square, at 5th Place SW and SW 152nd Street.

WALK TO: Gregory Heights area, southwest of Burien Town Square (see map above).

WHEN: Sunday, January 1; meet at 2:00 p.m., start walking at 2:15 p.m.

INFO: Intentions for Burien’s Walk-n-Talk:

• “Encourage active living to support physical and mental health.” (Part of Burien’s new “Vision”.)
• Initiate conversation between friends and neighbors, new and old.
• Nurture the idea of our Town Square as the “living room” of Burien, our center and gathering place.
• Create our own little “volksmarch“, in the European tradition.
• Support our local cafés and restaurants on Sunday afternoons.

For a review of the first neighborly walk, click here: http://www.kunstdame.com/we-walked-we-talked/

For more information, email: design@RedRedCircle.com

I spotted the words written with crooked vinyl letters in a giant picture window of a ramshackle house. Those two words that not only caught my attention, but commandeered my thought processes.

Displayed proudly in a house that had seen better days, decorated haphazardly for the season, they invoked the magic of hope. The house and those who lived within its walls seemed to challenge the status quo while demonstrating that what they already had was, at least on some level; working for them. It was humble. The driveway was half gravel, half weeds. Cars were parked askew, and with no particular order. The paint was weathered in some spots, bare in others, and the lawn (such as it was) was dead. The entire viewable property announced a lack of regular maintenance, and an absence of a Homeowners Association (Bless them!) But in the midst of all the imperfection was unmistakable celebration.

The festooned twinkly lights were uneven and dangling precariously in a couple of spots, as if the lightest breeze could take them all out. The Christmas tree was prominent, and enthusiastically adorned with tinsel. Lots of tinsel. Tinsel that would at any other time, be sufficient to use as reflective markings for the third runway at SeaTac Airport. The visual assault was unmistakable. These folks were ready for Christmas, and they were not afraid. They were prepared to ask for and receive abundance, and in the meantime  stayed steadfastly grounded in the reality of their surroundings. They inspired me. Their words triggered an unexpected mental analysis. For the rest of the day and well into the night I pondered the implication of that brief missive: Wish Big. What was my wish? Should I even be wishing for myself? How big is “Big?” Are we talking monetarily, or otherworldly? I have already been blessed with more than I deserve: a home, a healthy loving family, a job that I love, supportive friends…the list goes on. Sure, this year has had its share of ups and downs, but whose hasn’t? Where do I get off wishing for anything? But if I dared to, how ‘Big’ would I wish…?

• World Peace. Hmm besides being cliché, it’s terribly unrealistic. If I could wish for and achieve peace on any level, it would be for my teenagers. Siblings still living together are fighting factions under parental governance. Yet, there is seldom an agreeable treaty, and almost never any honoring of a cease-fire.  I need to get it local before I can go Global. Wishing for it anyway.

• A Cure. Whether cancer, AIDS, or (insert another disease or disorder here); I wish that we as humans did not have suffering. That ought to just be a  given. No pain, no agony, no hurt. With the exception of gas and hangovers; because both serve as reminders for us not to overindulge. Wishing for it anyway.

• Love. I am very fortunate to have found it with the person whom I share my life, and also with so many friends and family. It is a reassurance to me when I feel sadness or self doubt. No matter what sucky thing may happen, I know…I know…that I am loved. Not everyone experiences this. Wishing for it anyway.

As for anything else…I’ll keep an open mind…right alongside an open spot on my Big Wish List.

As for everyone else I wish you a wealth of Wishing Big!!

by Dave Markwell

I love going to the mailbox this time of year. Normally, I am shamelessly indifferent about receiving mail. Bills and junk mail have lost their allure for me. In fact, I usually outsource this duty to my eight year old daughter who still enjoys the little surprises hidden in our black box. As such, she can have this job…except during the holiday season. I love getting Christmas cards. I love seeing old friends growing older. I love seeing their kids, whom I don’t see often enough, getting bigger and growing up, too. I love creative “photo shop” efforts and solemn family poses. I love pictures of my friends and family standing in the snow or by the beach with their smiles and dogs.

While I love receiving each and every computer-generated or hand-written Christmas card, I am shamefully neglectful in sending them. Every year, I say it will be different next year. I will get my family together and shape a perfect card. It will be funny and resonant and important. I will send this masterpiece to all the people I care about and they will really understand how much they mean to me. Unfortunately, also every year, I don’t do this. My good intentions have paved a nice, sturdy, four-laner heading straight south. My wife gets mad at me. My kids get mad at me. And likely some of my friends who send the cool cards wonder, “WTF, Markwell”. I’m sure these people are as interested in seeing my kids and dogs as I am in seeing theirs. They would probably enjoy a card from me. Well, this is my failure and mine alone.

Through the years, my wife has suggested some decent cards to send. I vetoed them, because they were not awesome enough. I have high expectations for my Christmas cards and instead of sending something less-than-spectacular, I send nothing. I use this as my lousy excuse every year and every year my wife shakes her head and says, “You are lame.” I cannot argue with her, I kind of am. This is my curse, lameness.

Like every thing else in life, technology has changed even Christmas cards and I enjoy “e-cards” very much, too. Dancing heads make me smile. My friends’ joyful faces planted on an animated reindeer shaking its rear end, makes me happy. While I am critical about what I send…or rather don’t send…I am not picky about what I get. I do not critique other’s cards. I love them all and though it was not “technically” a Christmas card, couple of days ago, I received a fantastic note in my “inbox” that was as meaningful as any card I have received in recent memory. This note was certainly inspired by the spirit of this season.

Twenty years ago this week, my buddy, JK, was commissioned as a naval officer at a small ceremony in Moscow, Idaho. I was home for break from college at the time but, to support my pal, I loaded a compromised collection of jokers into my Dad’s jeep and made the 300 mile trek across the state to witness JK’s milestone. He was to become a Navy aviator and as a long-time friend, his milestone was ours, too. In his recent e-mail, he expressed appreciation for our efforts so many years ago and attached a photo of us taken at the grand event. We were all skinnier and had more hair. Some of us had A LOT more hair. (You know who you are.) It was a great moment for all of us.

In his note, JK reminded me of my regular closing to our phone conversations during this time. I always ended our chats with “Don’t crash.” As morbid as this may sound, at the time, and maybe still, it was important for me to say this. Understanding that military service is, by nature, dangerous, I wanted him to be careful and in some slightly gruesome way understand that he was important to me. He always replied that he would “try not to”. This was strangely comforting to me and, at the close of his note this week, JK said he is still trying not to crash…and I was still comforted.

While I have rarely subscribed to conventional forms of expression, I do possess a deep understanding that life is always short, and in some sad instances, the sands’ ceaseless trek through our hour glass will shatter the bottom with its pace.

With this in mind, very few people in my life are completely unaware of my feelings about them. And even if they don’t get a Christmas card from me this year, (which they won’t) they are my what I treasure most and they can all rest assured that NEXT YEAR will be THE year for the most epic card ever!! It will sing and pull heartstrings and inspire. They will feel the piece of my heart that beats for them. My art will speak everything that I feel and sometimes don’t say. Next year, for sure, they will all know, with certainty, how much I don’t want them to crash.

For this year, I still wish for EVERYONE: An abundance of abundance and a lack of lack. A smile and a song. Peace and health and hope and love for this season and all seasons. Merry Christmas to ALL!!!

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here. Or work out with him at his new exercise company Waterland CrossFit!]

Julie (678) and Chris Stiles (578) during a recent 'Cove to Clover' run.

by Guy Harper 

Ever driven down 21st Avenue SW near Seahurst and have seen a slender nice looking lady wearing a head scarf, jogging while maybe pushing a baby carriage with a couple of Greyhound race dogs trailing behind? 

Sounds like she lost a bet…right?

Well, not really – it seems that Julie Stiles and her 43-year old son, Chris, who also may be holding on to a dog or two while jogging are actually seen running through many areas in Burien (I get out of breath just driving by and watching ‘em jog with all those dogs)!

Now I should also state that almost every morning, Julie also works out at the Highline Athletic Club lifting weights, stretching and other body building things.  If you discuss training techniques with Julie, she will readily admit that she has tapered off a bit – you see, she used to run 14 miles a day!  Yes, 14…but has now reduced that mileage to “just seven” as other commitments have entered her life (holy smoke….I don’t even drive my car seven miles a day!).

So, just what is so darn important that she can’t even run a measly 14 miles a day, you might wonder?  Well, you should know that Chris, her son, is autistic and was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 1972. Chris had a lot of time to spend studying nature – trees, branches, leaves, rocks, water plus many other interesting subjects and has developed into a very fine artist – and he now communicates through his many drawings and paintings made over these last few years.

Chris actually began drawing picture maps while attending a special program at the University of Washington for children with developmental delays. Then in 2008, Julie decided to enter one of Chris’s colorful drawings in the local Normandy Park Art Show. The subject was a picture of the Matterhorn with a Village Castle that Chris noticed on the cover of a magazine. Well, his very first entry into art competition was a tremendous success – a Blue Ribbon for Best of Show – now it just doesn’t get much better than that!  The award winning picture is shown below:

That triggered a thought in Julie’s mind….how about a website that may be a potential outlet for these paintings?  And so it came to be – here’s their web site: http://www.artautistic.com. Visiting this website will take you through Chris’s bio, autism facts and his Art Gallery that shows over 60 of his drawings and associated gift cards that are available for purchase. After visiting the Art Gallery on the website and viewing these many colorful drawings, you will suddenly realize that each painting seems to have a message of its’ own, that being the release of a picture in the mind of one held captive by autism…

Also, on the site is their very active 2011 Calendar of Events, including the various shows that Chris and Julie attended this year. Chris may be seen at a desk drawing while the show is in process, and it is inspiring to look over his shoulder and see a painting he is developing. The 2012 schedule will be updated as the events are announced and will be posted on the website.

Each painting is mounted and framed and is ready for sale. Purchases may be made by calling Julie at (206) 242-8915 or by emailing her at juliehighline@aol.com.

So, now you know about these two joggers and a little bit of their background – give ‘em a toot on the horn as you drive by to get your morning latte and coffee cake! Mush you Greyhounds!

At Wednesday night’s South King Media Advertiser and Reader Appreciation Holiday Party, a positive new project called ‘Makeover Burien’ was unveiled by The B-Town Blog’s Scott Schaefer and Serenza Salon & Spa’s Daniel Keane.

“Makeover Burien will be a 12-month long project where we’ll help a different local business every month,” said Keane. “Each month we’ll pick a business that needs some help, then go in, give employees a makeover at our salon while other volunteers help clean up or fix things up at the business location.”

This project was conceived by Keane, and will be produced in association with The B-Town Blog and Serenza Salon & Spa.

Keane and Schaefer are currently seeking volunteers to help with this monthly event, and are looking for local businesses that can contribute in-kind services or products to help fellow local businesspeople. Some of the categories needed are services like handymen, contractors, accountants, business consultants, carpet (and other) cleaners, and just about anything else that can help a business get spruced up.

But it’s not just about helping businesses.

“The ultimate goal at the end of 2012 will be to find a needy local family that could use an extreme makeover,” Keane added. “We’ll then go to their home, give the family a makeover while workers help clean and fix up their house.”

Monthly reports will be posted to The B-Town Blog, including photos of each makeover event as well as lists and links of businesses that helped. In other words, if you or your business volunteers to help this project, you’ll receive free marketing on the blog, which reaches between 50,000 – 60,000 Unique Visitors per month.

In addition, a separate website will be built, and photos and videos will be produced and posted as well.

If you’re interested in helping out, please email help@makeoverburien.com.

Santa John Nielsen follows volunteers to the next delivery during last year

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

Donations of food or toys are being accepted at both the Burien Fire Station (15100 8th Ave SW) and North Highline Fire Station (1243 SW 112th & 1606 S 128th) through Monday, Dec. 19th.

There are also donation barrels located around the area, so look for those as well.

The deadline to give is Monday, Dec. 19th, and all donations will go directly to needy families in the area.

We’re covered this great program before, and here’s a snippet from last year’s story by Michael Brunk:

Organized by firefighter Lt. John Zilke, the fire department works with local businesses and the community to gather food, gifts and cash donations in the months leading up to Christmas. Names of needy families are provided by the Department of Social and Health Services.

The ultimate goal? To make sure that each family on the list has a complete turkey dinner with all the trimmings and gifts for the children in the family.

Here’s a selection of photos I shot throughout the day set to a little holiday music. It’s a pale imitation compared to actually participating in an experience like this, but I hope it contributes something to your own sense of the holiday spirit:

Click to Play the Slideshow