Last Friday night (Mar. 5), the Cove to Clover race organizers held a “Student Limerick Throwdown” contest for area students at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub. Each school in the Highline School District was eligible to submit one entry, with the winner earning $500.
If you haven’t seen the snake posters around yet, the Cove to Clover is a 5k fundraiser run for the Highline Area Food Bank, and it takes place this Sunday, March 14th beginning at Noon at the Normandy Park Community Club (full details here, including how to register).
The winning entry was selected by an “Official Limerick Selection Panel” composed of three non-partisan judges – Normandy Park Councilman Shawn McEvoy, Normandy Park Mayor George Hadley and “A Place for Pets” Owner Kevin Foxen. The winner of the competition was Marvista Elementary 4th 5th Grader Molly Marquis, whose entry we publish below:
The snake is back and we all cheer.
Cove to Clover is finally here
Tiny leprechauns dance
in their jiggly pants.
The race ends with lots of rootbeer!
Marvista decided to give the $500 winnings directly to Molly’s classroom to spend any way they want (with help from their teacher, Mrs. Brossard).
Other schools representing in the throwdown included Bow Lake, Gregory Heights and St. Francis.
Molly’s winning entry will also be read aloud to inspire runners immediately prior to the 5k race start, which is this Sunday, March 14th at Noon – full race details are available here.
| Apr |
| 9 |
Every year, Members of Congress are allowed to display one piece of artwork by a high school student from their district in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
Congressman Adam Smith, who represents Washington’s 9th Congressional District (which includes Burien), is holding an annual judged art competition to select which local art receives this honor, with a deadline of April 9th.
The selected student will win prizes and be invited to attend the national reception for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 24, 2010 in Washington, DC. two round-trip airline tickets are donated for travel to DC. The winning entry will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
Prizes also include a scholarship to the Savannah Collage of Art and Design.
If you have any questions or want to receive electronic updates about Rep. Adam Smith’s Congressional Art Contest please contact Ms. Debra Entenman (253) 593-6600 or email: Debra.Entenman@mail.house.gov.
For contest guidelines, please download the forms from Adam’s website here.
2010 Congressional Arts Competition:
The Congressional Arts Competition allows each Member of Congress to display one piece of artwork, created by a high school student in their district, in the Capitol for one year.
Entries for the 9th Congressional District Art Contest are due by 5:00 PM on Friday April 9, 2010. All submissions should be sent to:
Congressman Adam Smith
2209 Pacific Avenue, Suite B
Tacoma, Washington 98402Additionally, during the month of April, most entries will be on display at Tacoma Art Museum (1701 Pacific Avenue). However, please be advised that due to space limitations it may not be possible to display all entries.
The winner of the competition will be announced at the Art Exhibition and Reception on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 1:00 pm at The Tacoma Art Museum.
The winning student will win prizes and be invited to attend the national reception for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. Three round-trip airline tickets are donated for travel to DC. The winning entry will be displayed in the Cannon tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year.
2010 Congressional Art Competition Guidelines:The competition is open to high school students only. Exceptions will be made for schools that have 7th through 12th grades on one campus. Each Member’s office can choose whether or not to include 7th and 8th grades in the art competition if there are schools in its district that fit these criteria. Additionally, official resources are to be used only to the extent authorized by the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
In order to allow artwork to hang in the Cannon Tunnel in the U.S. Capitol, the following restrictions are enforced:
- Artwork must be two dimensional;
- Each piece can be no larger than 28”x28”x 4” (28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep) including the frame. Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 lbs;
- Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo (not the student’s own), painting, graphic, advertisement, or any other work produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing);
- Artwork must arrive in Washington by May 24, 2010 for inclusion in the exhibition.
- Artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibition and cannot be returned to the students earlier. Students should, therefore, submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.
Last year's Congressional art contest winner Arunan Mukphrom with Congressman Adam Smith at his office in Washington DC. The winning artist and their family were invited to Washington, D.C. to see their artwork hung in the Capitol.
Artwork accepted mediums are as follows:
- Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
- Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers
- Collage: must be two dimensional
- Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
- Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
- Computer-generated art
- Photography
Paper Work:
A typed and securely affixed large label must be applied to the back of each piece. Also provide a typed copy of the Student Release form, signed by both the teacher and the student, must be attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece.
The winning artist’s student release form along with the Member Approval form should be sent to DC via fax to 202.225.3012, attn: 2010 Art Competition, as soon as you have chosen a winning artwork .
Release forms and Member Approval forms must be received by May 28th. This will allow us to determine if more information is required from the student before actually receiving the artwork.
The final decision regarding the suitability of all artwork for the 2010 Congressional Art Competition exhibition in the Capitol will be made by a panel of qualified persons chaired by the Architect of the Capitol.
Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission.
In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed.
It is necessary that all artwork be reviewed by the panel chaired by the Architect of the Capitol and any portion not in consonance with the Commission’s policy will be omitted from the exhibit.
Framing Guidelines:
High School students in Washington's District 9 are eligible.
Framing guidelines apply only to the ONE winning artist/artwork that will be sent to Washington, DC.
All artwork must be framed. Frames should be kept as simple and sturdy as possible.
Metal frames are recommended. No “snap on” frames with glass are to be used.
All artwork must be protected by Plexiglas or glass. Plexiglas is preferred. If glass is used, special packing and shipping arrangements are encouraged to ensure that the work is not damaged if the glass breaks.
All works, including frame, should be no larger than 28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, to the outside of the frame, and 15 lbs. in weight. Please double check the size before sending the entry to Washington, DC. Due to wide participation of Member offices, framed work larger than the specified dimensions will be turned away.
Matting can enhance or detract from a work of art and should be carefully prepared.
Use sturdy picture hangers on the back of the frame. Two sturdy eye hooks should be attached at the top right and left sides of the back of the work for hanging in order to prevent the work from leaning forward or hanging unevenly. Do not put wire between the hooks for hanging; these will be added when the artwork is hung in the Capitol.
Do not attach labels, ribbons, etc. to the front of the piece or underneath the glass or Plexiglas.
If the artwork is abstract in design, please indicate on the backside which side is “up” with arrows.
As directed by the House Oversight and Standards of Official Conduct Committees, each district winner is responsible for framing his or her own entry. Any hardship case should be assisted at the district level; works can no longer be framed by the Architect of the Capitol.
A typed copy of the Student Information & Release Form must be securely attached to the back of the artwork.
More information on this art competition is available at Adam Smith’s website.
| Feb |
| 13 |
| 8:00 am |
The Museum of Flight is holding an Engineering Fair this weekend, and the one event that stood out to us was the 15th Annual Popsicle Bridge Contest, which is scheduled to take place Saturday, Feb. 13th from 8am to 5pm.
High School engineering students will be busy creating sturdy (and perhaps not-so-sturdy) bridges made entirely of Popsicle sticks and white glue, which to us sounds like a lot of fun (especially if they have to eat a lot of Popsicles beforehand to prepare).
Here are the details:
WHAT: Engineering Fair & the 15th Annual Popsicle Bridge Contest
WHEN: Saturday, Feb 13th from 8:00am-5:00pm
WHERE: William M. Allen Theater at the Museum of Flight, located at 9404 East Marginal Way South in Seattle; Phone: 206.764.5720
INFO: From the Museum of Flight’s website:
The Younger Member Forum of the American Society of Civil Engineers will put on a competition of bridges built using only Popsicle sticks and white glue. Each year teams of high school students from local schools build bridges that are strong, efficient, as well as aesthetically pleasing. The bridges will be judged and then tested to failure with a hydraulic press. Be sure to be in the room as each bridge snaps and broken Popsicle sticks fly everywhere. At 12:00 noon the winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded.
In the Museum’s Side Gallery, the Puget Sound Engineering Council will celebrate the annual National Engineers Week with an Engineering Fair. Local chapters of national societies representing the entire span of engineering disciplines will staff booths all day where those interested in engineering careers can learn more about the exciting opportunities available. Several university engineering departments and student clubs will also be represented.
Here’s a video about the Popsicle bridge competition:
| Jan |
| 8 |
| 8:00 pm |
Burien resident Tom Nelligan will be channeling Elvis this Friday (Jan. 8th) when he returns to the 13th annual Seattle Invitationals, the contest to find the area’s best amateur Elvis tribute artist!
Tom has lived in Burien for years and is a local painting contractor – but on the side, in his heart-of-hearts, he’s a hip-swivelin’, pelvis-shakin’ Elvis Tribute Artist!
He’ll be “leaving the (Burien) building” this Friday night to perform at the Seattle Invitationals, hoping to take home the top prize by singing the crowd favorite “I Got A Woman.”
Here are the details:
Rockabilly Queen and Burien resident "SWEETPEA" poses with Tom Nelligan and Burien native Marlow Harris as Priscilla.
WHAT: Seattle Invitationals – The search for the new amateur King of Rock and Roll, featuring Burien’s own Tom Nelligan!
WHEN: Friday, January 8th at 8pm (Elvis’ 75th Birthday!)
WHERE: Club Motor, located at 1950 First Ave. S. in SODO, Seattle
COST: Tickets are $12.00 in advance & $15.00 at the door; buy tickets online here.
INFO: From their flier:
That’s right, the thirteen-year old “mother of all Seattle amateur musical contests” is back in style for 2010…
On The King’s Birthday, Friday January 8th 2009, this beloved Seattle institution returns to Seattle and TO beckon impersonators from near and far to represent just what “The King” really means to them! There is only one place in Seattle each year where you can see thirty different impersonators in full hip-gyrating, fried Chicken-eating and swooning action… You’ll probably even see his wife Priscilla, manager Colonel Tom Parker and even Red West, The King’s alleged best friend in the crowd or on stage… it’s all at the Seattle Invitationals !
Each Amateur performer in attendance will tackle one of the Kings many personas: the innocent and magnetic country boy, the hip-swinging rockabilly superstar, Army Elvis, the Hollywood playboy, the devout gospel singer, or the diamond-studded, gold-sun glassed Vegas crooner. Each impersonator will get one chance to show what he (or she) is made of – a single shot to perform a song, in costume, backed by the fabulous Kentucky Rain band!
A panel of celebrity judges and an audience clap-o-meter decide on who will be crowned The King of the Seattle Invitationals…
Live Music! Comedy! Over 20 professional and amateur Elvis Tribute Artists!
Judges include VFTA (Vern Fonk Tribute Artist) Robert Thielke, Rockabilly Queen Sweetpea, Priscilla and The Colonel!
Hosted by Seattle comedian Nicole Lucas, with special Guest Appearance by Robert Washington, winner of Image of Elvis contest in Memphis!
Opening by THE KINGS, female-fronted Elvis tribute band.
Starring THE KENTUCKY RAIN BAND!
More information at http://www.SeattleInvitationals.com
And here’s the best video we could find from a previous Invitational, with KING-TV’s Jim Dever doing his Elvis:
| Oct ’09 |
| 10 |
| Oct ’09 |
| 11 |
Burien’s Highline Performing Arts Center will play host to a two-day Miss Washington USA & Miss Washington Teen USA event, beginning Saturday, Oct. 10th and ending Sunday, Oct. 11th when the winner will be crowned.
Here are the details:
WHAT: Miss Washington USA and Miss Washington Teen USA beauty pageant
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 10th and Sunday, Oct. 11th:
- 4pm Saturday (10/10): The Presentation Show (Prelims) is on Saturday.
- 1pm Sunday (10/11): Finals Show is on Sunday. Finalists will not be announced until after the start of the Finals show so you may want to attend both the Presentation show (where each contestant will have more stage time than during the finals) and the Finals show.
WHERE: Highline Performing Arts Center, located at 401 S 152nd Street, next to Highline High School
INFO:
“During the 2 day event contestants will be participating in various seminars, self-esteem enhancing discussions, photo shoots, celebrity guest visits, rehearsals, scholarship opportunities plus a whole lot of fun. There are three rounds of competition which include interview, evening gown and swimwear. There will be cash prizes, awards and scholarships for the titlists and the top finalists as well as for some of the competing contestants. The Miss Universe Organization is a joint venture with Donald J Trump and NBC Universal.
For more information call 425-202-7578 or visit the following web sites:
Tickets may now be purchased for the 2010 Miss Washington USA & Miss Washington Teen USA pageants which will be held at Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien, WA! You may purchase tickets online, over the phone, at Brown Paper Tickets in Seattle or at the actual pageant event.”
TICKETS: Tickets for this event are: $15.00—$75.00; you can buy tickets online here: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/83900, or call 1-800-838-3006 (24 Hours)
Here’s a promotional video:
Last Saturday (Aug. 22nd) there was an actual “Forklift Rodeo” held at Boeing Field, and Photographer Michael Brunk was there to capture both visual and audio elements, which he has built into the following “SoundSlideshow”:
Click to Play Michael Brunk’s SoundSlideshow
In the Forklift Rodeo, drivers were required to use expert forklift operating skills to negotiate a driving course that included various tasks and hazards. Contestants were evaluated on the “safe, efficient, skillful and proper completion of the course using accepted forklift operation standards.”
The top five individual competitors from this competition will advance to the final competition to be held at the 2009 Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference.
The Forklift Rodeo was presented by The Material Handling Panel of the Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Advisory Board and the Department of Labor & Industries.
| Aug ’09 |
| 22 |
| 9:00 am |
It almost sounds like a joke, as if it’s some kind of weird competition for unemployed warehouse workers wearing leather chaps, but it’s not – it’s a state-sanctioned “Forklift Rodeo” Regional Competition and it’s coming Saturday, Aug. 22nd to Boeing Field!
And lest you think this is just going to just be a buncha warehouse cowboys doing forklift stunts, keep in mind this is a serious, sanctioned event, ‘cuz there’s even a written test involved!
The prizes will range from $50 to $300, as well as some serious braggin’ rights and a chance to move on to the nationals.
In the Forklift Rodeo, drivers are required to use expert forklift operating skills to negotiate a fun and challenging driving course that includes various tasks and hazards. Contestants are evaluated on the safe, efficient, skillful and proper completion of the course using accepted forklift operation standards.
Regional Competition Day Schedule:
- 9:00 a.m. Registration/Written test
- 10:00 a.m. Drivers meeting/Course familiarization
- 10:30 a.m. Driving competition begins
The top five individual competitors from each regional competition will advance to the final competition to be held at the 2009 Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference.
Forklifts will be provided at the competition site, and will consist of sit-down, propane-powered ones with pneumatic tires, standard 42” forks, counterbalanced, with a capacity of 5,000 lbs.
The Forklift Rodeo is being presented by The Material Handling Panel of the Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Advisory Board and the Department of Labor & Industries.
The entry fee is $40, and here are some other rules:
- No open-toed shoes allowed
- An Automatic Transmission 5,000 lb. forklift will be provided
- The top 5 individual competitors will go to the finals competition.
- Competition limited to 30 drivers at each region – First come, first served – So register now!
For more information, visit the conference Web site: www.wagovconf.org/forklift.htm
To register, download this PDF form here, or contact: Al Rainsberger at 206-281-3842 or toll free: 1-888-451-2004
We’re thinkin’ this rodeo will be held outside, as the website warns:
“Bring lawn chair and sunscreen. Seating may be limited.”
Now, if any Burien forklift cowboys or cowgirls are plannin’ on competin’, let us know ‘cuz we want to spread the word and get a good crowd cheerin’ ya on!
Here are some videos of forklift rodeos to get an idea of what these events are like:
Yes, we too hate those TV “reality” competition shows (er, which is why we used to work on them…), but when one of Burien’s talented, 6′2″ female neighbors gets on by auditioning as a “Yodeling Dominatrix,” we just have to show our love.
Alas, last night Burien resident Manuela Horn got axed off “America’s Got Talent” by the likes of a fool named Hasselhoff, a whiner named Osbourne and the requisite judge with an English accent. Apparently they wanted “more dominatrix” while she gave them “more sexy mom.”
Oh well…it’s just TV, right?
Here’s the video from last night if you missed it:
According to the Youtube channel this video is on:
The yodeling dominatrix looked remarkably different without her black wig. She decided to bring her two worlds together — her mom world and her naughty side.
She gave her own twist to the Pussycat Dolls‘ “Don’t Cha,” changing the words and the meaning to something about moms.
The Hoff and Sharon buzzed her about halfway through. Piers finally did, too, giving us the first trifecta of the quarterfinals.
The judges said she changed too much from the character that they put through in Las Vegas.
She told Nick she was “devastated.”
Here’s Manuela’s stunning “Yodeling Dominatrix” audition video:
Manuela is actually quite a talented resident, having performed in Teatro Zinzanni, modeling, acting, and of course…yodeling, which she does so well because she was born in Germany.
We know we wouldn’t have buzzed her…and hey Manuela, if you’re ever looking to do any Burien-based performances, let us know. We’ve got some ideas…
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- B-Town Undercover: The Yap Of Zorro & A Tall, Yodeling Dominatrix Singer On “America’s Got Talent”? Just Another Day In Burien…
Previously we posted two videos shot at last Friday’s “Battle of Burien II,” and our friends at Burien Parks just sent us these great photos:
Here’s some cellphone video shot by Youtuber andrewnguyen5 from last Friday night’s “Battle Of Burien II” breakdancing competition – some pretty impressive moves:
Burien Parks produced this video, which showcases area seniors who took part the first ever regional Wii Bowling League Tournament between participating senior centers on Jan. 7th:
The virtual non-gutter ball, strike & spare-rollin’ Senior Bowlers were from various centers around South King County, and the tournament was hosted by the Great American Casino in Tukwila.
According to numerous, reliable sources (and this is apparent in the video), a fun time was had by all!
[EDITOR'S NOTE: If you have a Wii, please be sure to wear your wrist strap at all times, else suffer the fate of this clumsy Wii Bowler:}
by Josh Hart
Last weekend, Des Moines’ Mt. Rainier High School Drill Team competed in and won the Liberty High School Drill and Dance Competition.
They competed against drill teams from Issaquah High, Hazen High, Redmond and Interlake High School. Decatur High School Drill Team was supposed to show, but didn’t for unknown reasons.
For Mt.Rainier Drill, this was their first competition of the season, and they ended up placing first and taking home the trophy. The team had been through the same experience last year – winning their first competition that is. They placed in almost all competitions last year, only missing the stand on three occasions.
They may have won the competition, but it was not all fun and games. The girls had to work hard to get to that place. I talked to a member of the Mt.Rainier team, Danielle Knake (who is also a fellow student at Big Picture High School), about the ups and downs when they are at the competition.
Q: What part of the competition was the most fun?
A: I always love watching the hip-hop teams, because they have some really cool outfits. I also enjoy the bus rides that we take to and from the competition. All of us just joke around and have fun.
Q: What was the most difficult part of the competition?
A: For me it’s always waiting for them to announce the winners, because you never know how the judges scored you. I always get worried that we won’t place.
It seems like the Mt.Rainier Drill Team is off to a good start this season, but please check back for more updates as the season progresses.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Josh Hart is the B-Town Blog's first Intern! He's also a 15-year old student at Highline's “Big Picture High School” in SeaTac. He recently wrote about what he'd do if he were Mayor, his take on the economy, about JFK beating Highline 61-0 in football, an opinion piece on the VP debate, a story on Mt. Rainier High's Drill Team playing at the Seahawks' Halftime, another on a Fight at the Tyee vs Rention Football Game and much more...]
Here’s some video from last Friday’s “Battle In Burien” breakdancing competition that took place at the Burien Community Center; this clip shows Tim Chips vs. Thesis:
And here are some amazing photos taken by Teen Council member Nikk Wong:
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
Amanda Morales, Burien Parks’ Recreation Program Specialist, said:
It was a great event!
We had a great turnout, and they were a great, respectful, talented group of teens.
They always amaze me!
| Nov ’08 |
| 7 |
| 7:00 pm |
Tonight is the night to pop, lock and break (or whatever the kids call it these days) to some serious B-Town beats at a Breakdancing Competition called the “Battle of Burien.”
The fun starts at 7pm and goes until around 11pm in the Burien Community Center auditorium, located at 425 SW 144th Street.
Cost is $5, and all dancers are welcome to watch or compete in a variety of battles to win prizes.
Luke will be the DJ and Amanda’s teen council will be helping out.
| Jul ’08 |
| 26 |
Big Brothers and Sisters of Puget Sound are sponsoring a very unusual and BIG event this Saturday, July 26th at Boeing Field – it’s the BIG Plane Pull, where teams compete to actually pull a 767 jet aircraft!
Teams of 20 people or less donate a collective $5,000 in support of Big Brothers Big Sister of Puget Sound to pull a major aircraft 20-50 feet by rope at King County International Airport’s 80th Anniversary Celebration.
So come join the fun at Boeing Field, King County International Airport, located at 7277 Perimeter Road in Seattle, and help raise important funds to fulfill our vision of providing a mentor for every child who needs or wants one.
Is your team up for the challenge?
Or to register or donate offline, please use the links below:
For more information about The BIG Plane Pull, please contact Suzanne Sullivan at (206) 763-9060 x211 or suzanne.sullivan@bbbs.org
For information about sponsorships, please contact Peter Retzlaff at (206) 763-9060 x213 or peter.retzlaff@bbbs.org.
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| Jun ’08 |
| 7 |
The Burien Arts Association (BAA) is holding a decorated birdhouse competition that is open to artists of all ages and abilities. Individuals and groups are invited to decorate blank birdhouse, or create one from scratch, and submit it to the BAA for judging.
Cash prizes will be awarded according to age, and winners will be announced at the 2008 Strawberry Festival.
Completed birdhouses will be sold to benefit the Burien Arts Association and its community-based arts programming. Blank birdhouses and entry forms are available at our Burien sponsors: Hayes Feed and Country Store and Wild Birds Unlimited.
Entry forms are also available at the Burien Art Gallery located at 421 SW 146th in Burien, or by calling (206) 244-7808 or e-mailing info@burienarts.org.
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