BTB Advertiser Vision Collision is sponsoring a car wash this Saturday and Sunday to help raise funds for Robin Hoof, a local teacher who is fighting breast cancer.

The event takes place on both this Saturday (Oct. 10th) and Sunday (Oct. 11th) from 11am to 5pm at Vision Collision, located at 803 SW 154th Street in Burien.

Robin Hoof has been a teacher and swim coach with the Highline School District for 20 years. At Evergreen High School she is a French teacher, and also serves as swim coach for the boys and girls teams at Highline High School.

In April 2007, Robin was diagnosed with breast cancer. After undergoing chemo and a mastectomy, she was considered in remission. In early 2009 she noticed a lump in her neck and was diagnosed for the second time in February. She again underwent chemo and then in the Spring she took her students to Europe. When she got back from that trip, she noticed she had a rather bad cough. Then in August she was admitted to Swedish Hospital where she continued chemo treatments, but her health was rapidly declining. Due to her compromised immune system, the doctors gave her the last chemo treatment on September 18th and told she and her mother, “any day now.”

That day has come and gone, and Robin is still fighting, but she needs your help (and you need a car wash, so this is a perfect match!).

Alternative forms of treatment are now being explored by her family, as those closest to her refuse to give up. Robin’s words to her mother at Swedish were, “I’m not going to let this get me Mom.” She’s in the fight of her life, and wants to beat this disease.

Here are some pertinent website links:

• Facebook Group: “Hope for Robin”
• Facebook page for Vision Collision’s car wash
• A local AVON representative is giving 30% of total sales to Robin’s cause

Here’s more info:

Amy Driscoll and her husband are graciously opening their doors on the weekend to help Robin. We need volunteers to hold signs and draw people in off the road, wash cars, and talk to the public about what’s going on with Hope for Robin. We are doing this BOTH days! Misty will be there with her laptop to push the AVON site. Get in touch with Kristina Todd (on my friends list) if you’re willing to volunteer. I will be visiting both Evergreen and Highline high schools Friday October 2nd to rally for business and volunteers. Thanks everyone

Car washes to be held at different times through out the year by the Driscoll family at Vision Collision.

And the big Kahuna…a charity climb in her honor to the summit of Mt. Rainier Summer ‘10.

Many have rallied around Robin by way of well wishes, donations, and offerings of volunteer work for her. But it’s not enough. More people are needed. Her medical bills are through the roof already, and as a person who’s touched as many people as she has, don’t we owe it to her? Isn’t it our job to give back. And giving Robin hope, is the best gift any human being can give to another.

Because 1 car, and $1 can make all the difference! And because ONE person can make a difference! Be a part of the Army of HOPE!

Burien Arts (formerly the Burien Arts Association) is presenting an exhibition of graphite on paper works by Seattle artist Steve Roumas (sample above) at the Burien Art Gallery, located at 421 SW 146th in Burien (map below), with an opening reception Friday night Feb. 6th from 7-9pm

The exhibition opened Thursday, Feb. 5th (sorry – somehow we overlooked this!), and Friday’s reception is free and open to the public.  In addition to the work of Mr. Roumas, the Burien Art Gallery will also present paintings by Artist United painters Carol Huddleston, Judy Eckhardt and Carolyn Dorratcague and decorated skateboard decks and woodblock prints by Evergreen High School Technical Campus students.

Steve Roumas was born in St. Joseph, Missouri but spent his formative years in Kansas City. His father is an architect, so he grew up in a household that nurtured the slightest inclination toward visual art. As a result, he’s been creating art since early childhood. Close inspection of Steve’s current work reveals homage to the architectural elevations and renderings he watched being constructed as a youth.   In 1988, he enrolled in The University of Kansas to study graphic design. Six-and-a-half years later he graduated with a degree in painting. Needless to say, he is well versed in the differences between the Fine and Applied Arts.

Steve moved to Seattle in 1995 where he adjusted to life in the real world. He no longer had room for a painting studio, at least not one that allowed the kind of mess necessary to his process, nor did he have the forced structure that comes with academia. So, for several years he worked sporadically with acrylic paint and canvas.  Five years ago he moved into a house that provided an appropriate space for an art studio. Shortly thereafter, and as a result of being financially strapped, he was urged to pick up a pencil and paper and start drawing. This proved to be a turning point. For the past five years he has worked almost exclusively with graphite on paper. The work has evolved profoundly in size, technique and content as a result.

Steve has shown in galleries and restaurants in the Seattle area since early 2003. Currently, his work can be seen in Tacoma at Robert-Daniel Gallery.

The Burien Art Gallery is open from 12-5 Wednesday through Friday, 11-5 Saturday and 12-4 on Sunday.

For further information about this exhibit or Burien Arts, please contact Erin Williamson at (206) 244-7808 or via e-mail at erin@burienarts.org.

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Highline Public Schools is encouraging families of all high school seniors to attend “College Goal Sunday,” a special event this coming Sunday, Jan. 25th that will help students obtain financial aid for college.

As part of the district’s laser focus on college readiness, many staff members will volunteer at the upcoming College Goal Sunday events at four campus locations.

College Goal Sunday is a free, on-site program that helps students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form that is required to apply for federal financial assistance for higher education. Students receive step-by-step instructions for completing and submitting their FAFSA. The event is organized by the College Success Foundation.

“Part of our strategic plan – and our everyday work – is to make certain students graduate from Highline Public Schools ready for college, career, and citizenship,” said Superintendent John Welch.  “In today’s world the academic requirements for being successful in an apprenticeship program, a community college, and a four-year university are nearly the same.  We want to make sure our students have choices when they graduate – that means preparing all students academically. It also means informing families of the financial resources available for college.”

On Sunday, Jan. 25th, from 2pm – 5pm, experts will be on hand at these locations to assist students and families (map below):

• Highline High School
  225 South 152nd St., Burien
• Tyee Educational Complex
  4424 South 188th Street, SeaTac
• Mount Rainier High School
  22450 – 19th Ave. South, Des Moines
• Evergreen Campus
  830 SW 116th Street, Seattle (White Center)

Students and parents are strongly encouraged to attend College Goal Sunday together because household financial information is needed to fill out the FAFSA.

Participants should bring:

• Student’s Social Security number, driver’s license (if any) and any financial records related to income.
• If available: student’s FAFSA pin number

Participants 23 years old or younger should bring:

• A parent and their 2008 income data (W-2’s or a pay stub and/or 2008 tax return)
• Participants 24 years old or older should bring:
• Student’s 2008 income information.
• Any other financial records related to income.

Participants who are not U.S. citizens should bring:

• Alien registration card

Families should attend even if they do not have all these documents.  Those who don’t have this year’s income tax returns, may bring copies of last year’s forms and/or last pay stub for making estimates. They should also bring any other financial records related to income. Even families with have no paperwork at all can get help completing part of the FAFSA.

Students may attend on their own, but they’ll need to bring parents’ recent income tax returns and/or last pay stub and other financial records. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend with their children.

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