The 2nd Annual Scholarship Benefit Soccer Game for the Andy MacDonald EMT Scholarship Fund at Puget Sound Skills Center will be held Sunday, Nov. 29th beginning at 11am at Highline Memorial Stadium.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Benefit Soccer Game for the Andy MacDonald EMT Scholarship Fund – Boys vs. Girls! There will also be a Raffle drawing for great prizes afterwards at Mick Kelly’s.

WHEN: Sunday, November 29, 2009; Gates open at 10:30am; Game begins at 11:00am.

WHERE: Highline Memorial Stadium

COST: Admission by donation accepted at the stadium and after the game where the gathering will continue at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub (435 SW 152nd, Burien)

INFO: Here’s info on Andy MacDonald:

Just over three years ago, a torrential storm hit, causing the Cowlitz River near Mt. Rainier to overflow and sweep Highline High ‘05 graduate Andy MacDonald away to a tragic death at age 19.

Andy was hunting elk with his family, and the truck he was in fell into the raging river after the bank gave way underneath it.

He was a popular high-school athlete with a great sense of humor, as well as an aspiring firefighter and a friend with “the best hug in the world.” He played soccer, wrestled, was president of his junior class as well as homecoming king. He was known at Highline as a kid who was kind to all, friends said.

Out of tragedy something good can be born; Andy’s family and close friends set up a scholarship in his name. Each November, in honor of Andy’s birthday and untimely passing a soccer game is held known as the “Boys vs. Girls” game. All of his old teammates and friends come out to play a friendly game, and the public is invited to attend.  Afterwards the team holds a raffle at a local restaurant. This consists of items donated from local business and personal items contributed by Andy’s family.

Last year over 200 people attended the game, which was held at Highline Stadium, and we raised more than $4,500.  All of the money is donated to the scholarship. The Andy MacDonald EMT Scholarship is set up at the Puget Sound Skills center where Andy received his firefighting training. This scholarship will assist future Cadets in the Puget Sound Skills Center Fire Services class to help send them to an Emergency Medical Technician class. This year we anticipate sending four to six Cadets to the EMT class and this will aid in covering lab fees, required equipment, travel expenses, etc. Andy’s passion in life was to help those in need and this is our way of assisting others with the same life goal.

For more information on Andy MacDonald, here’s a link to a Facebook tribute page, chock full of great photos that will soon make those who didn’t know him feel like they actually did.

If you can’t make it to the game, you can also donate directly to:

Puget Sound Skills Center
“Explorer Post-24” in care of Andy MacDonald
18010 8th Avenue South
Burien, WA 98148

To donate prizes for raffle or for more info please contact Becky MacDonald at 206-439-0745.

According to both KIRO-TV and Northwest Cable News, dozens of job-seekers camped overnight Tuesday night outside the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department building on 8th Ave SW in hopes of being one of 250 applicants for a full-time job.

According to BFD’s website:

Applications are now available for download from the Burien Fire web site. Applications will be accepted at Headquarters Station beginning August 19, 2009 at 9:00 AM PST until 3:00 PM PST, Monday through Friday until the first 250 have been received or September 3, 2009 at 3:00 PM PST whichever comes first.

A full list of requirements, minimum qualifications, application procedures, and an information sheet on the written test, physical test, and oral boards is provided to you via the link below. Please read this document in its entirety. You must have Adobe Acrobat to view the document.

2009 Application Information Sheet

2009 Application for Employment

The link below is the 2009 application for employment. It is a PDF document and Adobe Acrobat will be needed to view the file. Please read the Application Information Sheet prior to turning the application in.

2009 Job Application

Questions about the application and employment process, exams, test dates, or other related information should be directed to the receptionist at (206) 242-2040 during normal business hours only.

BFD started accepting job applications at 9am Wednesday morning, and will continue to accept them Mon.-Fri. from 9am to 3pm until 250 have been received or until Sept. 3rd, whichever comes first.

Potential firefighters will have to pass a written test, physical test and an oral board to get hired.

For more information, visit the department’s website or call (206) 242-2040.

Just over two years ago, a torrential storm hit, causing the Cowlitz River near Mt. Rainier to overflow and sweep Highline High ‘05 graduate Andy MacDonald away to a tragic death at age 19.

Andy was hunting elk with his family, and the truck he was in fell into the raging river after the bank gave way underneath it.

He was a popular high-school athlete with a great sense of humor, as well as an aspiring firefighter and a friend with “the best hug in the world.” He played soccer, wrestled, was president of his junior class as well as homecoming king. He was known at Highline as a kid who was kind to all, friends said.

His family established a scholarship fund for Occupational Skill Center’s Firefighting program in Andy’s name, and they’re holding a special soccer match between Andy’s ‘pink shirt boys’ rec team and alumni of Highline’s girls’ soccer team on Saturday Nov. 29th at Highline’s Memorial Field, from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

Admission is by donation, and all proceeds will go to Andy’s scholarship fund.

So come down to Memorial Field and join Andy’s friends in this high-energy tribute to his memory.

For more information on Andy MacDonald, here’s a link to a Facebook tribute page, chock full of great photos that will soon make those who didn’t know him feel like they actually did.

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Dan Packer, the East Pierce County Fire Chief who was tragically killed last Saturday while surveying a forest fire in Klamath National Forest in Northern California, once worked for the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department.

Packer, 49, worked for the local fire department from 1981 through 1994, when he left to work for Bonney Lake as Battalion Chief; he was soon promoted to Fire Chief for East Pierce County.

Packer’s quick rise through the ranks of B/N.P.F.D resulted in being promoted to Lieutenant, then being named “Firefighter of the Year” in 1992.

Many of his old co-workers and friends in the area are very saddened at the loss, and we here at the B-Town Blog wanted to make sure that everyone knew of his local ties, as well as the upcoming memorial service.

According to Doug Luedeman of the B.F.D., Packer was instrumental in the development of the “Children’s Fire Safety House” trailer which was ironically displayed at the Burien Strawberry Festival June 28th, where a young 8-year old boy named Edgar Omar Cisneros Velazquez visited it the day before he was tragically killed in the June 29th arson apartment fire.

Packer leaves behind a wife, four daughters and two grandchildren.

Memorial for Fire Chief Dan Packer

• When: 2 pm Thurs. Aug. 7
• Where: Christian Faith Center, 33645 20th Ave. S., Federal Way. The public is invited to the service.
• Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made at any Washington Mutual location to the Fire Chief Dan Packer Memorial Fund. Checks can also be mailed to:

East Pierce Professional Firefighters
PO Box 7500
Bonney Lake, WA 98391

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