by Ralph Nichols

A few years ago, when I worked as a volunteer in the Emergency Department at Highline Medical Center, the waiting area usually was filled with patients and family members well into the evening.

Patients waited, as they still do, for their turn to be screened in a single triage room, then waited longer for a treatment room to become available. That’s not surprising since the crowded Highline Emergency Department, designed to handle 12,000 patients a year 50 years ago, now provides care for nearly 50,000 patients annually.

But all this will change soon. Construction of a new state-of-the-art Emergency Department that will triple the size of the current facility is nearing completion – on time and on budget. When its doors open to patients on April 13, waiting times for triage and treatment will decrease dramatically.

The new patient-friendly facility also will improve exponentially the convenience and efficiency of the working environment for physicians, nurses, radiology and lab technicians, and everyone else who contributes to the care of Highline’s emergency patients.

B-Town Blog photographer Michael Brunk and I joined a tour of the new Emergency Department on Jan. 19 – shortly after the end of major construction activity as the finishing process got underway. No equipment or furnishings had yet been installed.

Even at this incomplete stage, however, one thing was immediately apparent – the new Emergency Department is a magnificently awesome improvement over the current emergency facility.

Highline Medical Center CEO Mark Benedum described it well: “a facility that’s up to the care the staff’s been providing.”

Benedum said planning for the new Emergency Department began in 2005, with the start of construction on the $60 million project (which includes a new 31 bed Patient Care Unit) getting underway in 2008.

Highline Medical Center’s  service area extends from West Seattle to Federal Way and from Tukwila to Vashon Island, and most of its emergency patients come from this region – as well as persons driving along Interstate 5 and both passengers and employees at Sea-Tac International Airport.

Combine the size of this service area with its population growth in the last two decades and it’s easy to see why the aging emergency facility is overcrowded, noted Renée Klein, Executive Director of the Highline Medical Center Foundation.

The differences between the current facility and the new Emergency Department are strikingly apparent the moment one walks into its main entrance, which is on the west side of the medical center not far from the current emergency entrance.

The interior is bright and airy, with large windows that provide ample natural light, as well as spacious – 27,000 square feet compared with the current 9,000 square feet. In fact, the main nurses station area, well inside the Emergency Department, looks as if it could hold the entire existing facility.

Just beyond the reception desk are three private triage rooms, which will speed evaluation of patients, reducing their time in the general waiting area. Patients then will be taken to any of the 32 large, private treatment rooms, where admitting can be done at bedside.

Every room is universally equipped – “hardwired” – to handle any emergency. Two of the rooms are dedicated for pediatric care. The current facility has 19 beds, only eight of which are hardwired.

The ambulance entrance – with an ambulance bay that can accommodate about a dozen emergency vehicles including police cars – is on the north side of the Emergency Department. Two trauma bays for serious emergencies such as heart attacks are immediately inside. Each is designed to handle two patients if necessary.

Two diagnostic imaging rooms – one x-ray, the other CT, both dedicated for emergency patients – and a separate diagnostic imaging waiting room are located just beyond the triage rooms.

In addition, there are two seclusion rooms for psychiatric and other patients who require additional security, an isolation room for highly contagious patients, a decontamination room with an outside entrance for disasters and contact with hazardous materials, a separate area for first responders – emergency medical and law enforcement personnel – to write their reports, and a private family consultation room.

Designed byNAC Architecture, the Emergency Department was planned “from the physicians’ and nurses’ point of view” to provide “rapid treatment,” Klein said. The general contractor is GLY Construction .

One floor above the new Emergency Department is a 31-bed Patient Care Unit for medical and cancer patients. (Look for a report on this unit on the B-Town Blog soon.) Beneath it is a parking garage for those going to the Emergency Department.

The grand opening of the Emergency Department is set for April 9-10, and will include an open house for the public.

Klein noted that while most of the cost of the new facility was paid through bonds and capital reserves, only $5.4 million of a $10 million capital campaign has come in or been pledged. “I’m optimistic that the community will help us with that last amount,” she said.

Highline Medical Center receives no tax dollars for capital expenses and general operations, and relies largely on grants and pledges. If you would like to learn more about how to support Highline’s Campaign for a New ER, log on to www.LifeDependsOnIt.org or call the Foundation office at 206.901.8500.

Here’s Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow of the facility:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Our good friend Dan “The Sausageman” House has opened his new “Tin Cellars” wine, gift shop and bar.

His new “Tin Theater” is scheduled to open in mid-January or February, with the classic “Wizard of Oz” slated for the big premiere (stay tuned to the BTB for more details soon).

Here are the details for the Tin Cellars opening:

WHAT: Grand Opening of “Tin Cellars”

WHEN: Doors open Thursday, Nov. 12th at 11am; be sure to stop in, say hi to Chirlee and check out the place, as Dan is re-utilizing even more historic artifacts from the historic old Tin Shop that used to be in this location, making this another altar of sorts to the historic old Burien business which originally opened in 1930. Be sure to admire the old wooden sign above the new bar, circa 1940; here’s photographic proof:

WHERE: Tin Cellars is next to The Tin Room Bar at 923 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien.

INFO: From their press release, which also includes updates on the “Tin Theater”:

Tin Cellars Is Opening!

We are proud and excited to announce the opening of Tin Cellars Thursday, November 12th!

Many of you have questions about Tin Cellars, the Tin Theater and Dan the Sausageman. Hopefully this will answer a few of them.

What is Tin Cellars?
Tin Cellars will be a wine shop featuring Dan the Sausageman sausages, assorted cheeses and Dan’s gift packs during the holidays. Hours of operation will be from 11 AM to 5 PM Monday thru Saturday with extended hours this Thursday for our Grand Opening Celebration. After Thanksgiving we will be open 7 days a week from 11 AM to 5 PM.

When will the Tin Theater open?
We are hoping for late January or early February.

What movies will you play?
Classics, foreign films and second run movies. We are hoping to hear from you on what movies you would like to see.

Can the theater be used for private parties?
Yes, you can book the entire theater as well as Tin Cellars, bring your favorite movie or DVD’s of family photos and enjoy your own theater for a night. Tin Cellars is available immediately for private parties so please call ASAP if this is something you would like as the days are already starting to be booked.

Why is there another bar in the Tin Cellars?
This will be the bar to service the movie theater when it opens. Also it will handle the overflow for the Tin Room allowing our guests to enjoy a new atmosphere, a drink and an appetizer while waiting for a table. You just might find it so comfortable and such a different experience from the Tin Room that you may just want to stick around.

Is the Tin Cellars open now?
Yes, it is open to handle whenever the Tin Room needs more space and it is available for private parties.

Thank you so much for your patience and we hope this is going to be a great new addition to the neighborhood. See you at the movies!

This month Kelley, Nikki and Kristin M are celebrating anniversaries working with the Tin Room. Kelley and Nikki will celebrate 5 years with the Tin room and Kristin M has been with us for 4 years. Chef Daniel and Rigo both have birthdays this month as well.

And, last but not least, the Tin Room will be celebrating it’s 5th birthday this month!!! Join us on Saturday, November 21st for an all out party where we will be giving away gifts and having an all-around great time. Thank you Burien for 5 great years! We’re looking forward to celebrating with you!

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Saturday morning (June 13th) at 10am sharp, the Highline High School Pirates marching band kicked off the grand opening ceremonies by marching (and boisterously playing) down SW 152nd to the main podium at Burien’s new Town Square where numerous local and state dignitaries spoke to a crowd estimated by local police as “well over 1,000.”

Here’s a video segment we call “Whaddaya Think?” shot by your B-Town Blog video production crew of Mark Neuman and Bart Bryan:

The day’s celebration served as the culmination of over 12 years of the city’s planning for the $193 million “town square as the central focal point for the downtown core” as first approved in 1997, then developed and built beginning in 1999 until construction began in 2004 to Saturday’s festive ribbon cutting ceremony.

Temps were in the lower 70s with a slight hazy cloud cover that made for good lighting for the politicians, developers and library folk who spoke, including:

• Burien Mayor Joan McGilton
• King County Library Director Bill Ptacek
• Congressman Jim McDermott
• State Rep. (and Burien native) Dave Upthegrove
• Dan Rosenfeld of Urban Partners (another Burien son)
• King County Council Chair Dow Constantine
• City Councilmember Lucy Krakowiak
• Judge Richard Eadie

Free tours of the new Library building, Town Square condos and city hall were provided all day, and foot traffic was busy throughout. As children explored the new kids section of the library or bounced in the bouncy houses outside, parents enjoyed free refreshments and giveaways from local Burien businesses.

We’ll have more videos and photos soon, so be sure to come back to your most up-to-date local news source right here!

Saturday morning ’round 10am will mark the grand opening celebration of Burien’s new Town Square/Library/Transit Center, and if you happen to not be able to attend, you can watch the fun live right here via the streaming video below:

It’s going to be a busy Town Square grand opening weekend in B-Town, and here are this weekend’s haps from our Free Weekly Event Newsletter (sign up today):

To see our entire Events Calendar listings in an interactive calendar, click here:

www.b-townblog.com/events/

FRIDAY, JUNE 12th:

ELMER’S PUB, 15027 Ambaum Blvd SW, 439-1007
9:30pm+: Live Music! NO COVER! ROCK! BEER! FOOD! DANCING! DARTS! POOL! FUN!

MICK KELLY’S IRISH PUB, 435 SW 152nd, Burien, 246-2473
10pm+: Live DJ, 80s night, dancing, NO COVER! Irish accents + Guinness on tap! More info here: http://mickkellysirishpub.com/

SATURDAY, JUNE 13th:

GRAND OPENING OF TOWN SQUARE/LIBRARY/TRANSIT CENTER
10am: The brand spankin’ new Burien Town Square, King County Library and Transit Center will all celebrate their grand openings Saturday. Ribbon-cutting, speeches from local and state dignitaries, live music, storytimes and much more!

MASTER GARDENER CLINIC, HERR BACKYARD GARDEN CENTER, FIVE CORNERS
10am-4pm: BTB Advertiser Herr Backyard Garden Center is holding weekly “Master Gardener Clinics” every Saturday from 10am-4pm at their location at 107 SW 160th.

HIGHLINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY GARDEN TOUR
10am-5pm: Highline Historical Society will be holding a Garden Tour where people can visit gardens in Normandy Park, SeaTac and Burien. Some of Highline’s best gardeners are preparing their homes and gardens for this Garden Tour. Large or small, traditional or eclectic, there is something in each of this year’s featured gardens that the visitor will find of interest.

HIGHLINE RELAY FOR LIFE, HIGHLINE STADIUM
Sat. 3pm-8am Sunday: The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is a life-changing event that brings together more than 3.5 million
people across the country each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. Come to Highline Memorial Stadium starting at 3pm Saturday for an all-night fundraising to help fight cancer! 3pm: Opening Ceremonies and Survivor Lap; 10pm: Luminaria Ceremony; Sun. 8am: Closing Ceremonies.

SUMMER POETRY PUB CRAWL, MICK KELLY’S + MORE
6:45pm+: A “Summer Poetry Pub Crawl” will rhyme its way through various Burien pubs on Saturday starting at Mick Kelly’s at 6:45pm. It’s a “Singles Meetup” event, and according to their website: “Poets, Performance Artists, Friends and many others will bring poetry to the streets of B-Town as they eat and drink, read poetry and then drink some more!”

“COLORAMA” BOWLING, HI-LINE LANES, BURIEN
7-10pm: “Colorama” bowling, a fun, active and funky thang to do, and it beats Wii Bowling anyday! (206) 244-2272

LIVE MUSIC, 909 COFFEE & WINE, OLDE BURIEN
8pm: Live Music, NO COVER CHARGE! 909 is located at 909 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien;Call for details: (206) 243-7909

MICK KELLY’S IRISH PUB, 435 SW 152nd, Burien, 246-2473
9pm+: Irish accents + Guinness on tap! More info here: http://mickkellysirishpub.com/

BARREL TAVERN, 11501 First Ave South, Burien, 244-7390
9pm+: Live Band! NO COVER! Read our review: http://is.gd/lRKO

ELMER’S PUB, 15027 Ambaum Blvd SW, 439-1007
9:30pm+: Live Music! NO COVER! ROCK! BEER! FOOD! DANCING! DARTS! POOL! FUN!

SUNDAY, JUNE 14th:

SUSTAINABLE BURIEN MEETING, NP CONG. CHURCH
2pm-4pm: Sustainable Burien is having its next meeting at their temporary new location – the Normandy Park Congregational Church, located at 19247 First Avenue South.

To see the entire weekend lineup in an easy-to-use interactive calendar, click here for our Events Page, then click on a date and all our events listed for that day will appear.

After years of talk, arguments, proposals, planning, an unusual public-private partnership, along with some recent art installations and polishing, the brand spankin’ new Burien Town Square, King County Library and Transit Center will all celebrate their grand openings this Saturday, June 13th beginning at 10am.

Here’s the schedule as received from the B-Town cityfolk themselves:

• 10am: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the new Library/City Hall building at 400 SW 152nd Street will feature Federal, State and Local Dignitaries:
  • Highline High School’s Pirate Marching Band, directed by Scott Babcock, will kick things off with celebratory music.
  • Welcome by Burien Mayor Joan McGilton, and Bill Ptacek, King County Library System (KCLS) Director
  • Remarks by Congressman Jim McDermott, 7th District
  • Remarks by Congressman Adam Smith, 9th District
  • Sheila Babb, Dep. State Dir.
  • U.S. Senator Patty Murray
  • Nate Caminos, King Co. Dir.
  • U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
  • State Rep. Dave Upthegrove, 33rd District
  • King County Council Chair Dow Constantine
  • Dan Rosenfeld, Urban Partners
  • Lucy Krakowiak, Burien City Council/KCLS Board
  • Judge Richard Eadie, KCLS Board of Trustees
  • Closing Remarks by Mayor McGilton
  • Outside Entertainment:
    • 11:15am-12:15pm: Mango Son: This seven-piece band cuts through the formalities to get you dancing while taking a fresh look at traditional Cuban son, Dominican merengue, cumbia and Venezuelan parranda.
    • 12:15pm-1:15pm: The Toy Boats: These musicians will roam around and perform short sets around the venue. Their set includes Hungarian and French folk songs and a few original compositions, played on toy piano, concertina, ukulele, toy banjo, toy glockenspiel and toy percussion instruments.
    • 1:15pm-2:00pm: Linda Severt: Perfect for a wide range of ages, this performer weaves circus stunts, music and puppets into hilarious, creative routines.
  • Entertainment Inside the Library:
    • 11:30am: Eric Ode: Eric Ode uses American Sign Language and other hand motions, body movement, finger-plays, children’s books, poems, puppets and props to teach, engage and entertain.
    • 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., Story Times: Please join us with your little ones for a 15-minute Story Time in the new Story Time room!

    And for those who have been living in a cave, here are the features of the new Burien Town Square:

    • New joint three-story, 58,000 square foot, $18 million King County Library and City Hall building
    • A one-acre Town Square Park with grassy areas, crushed granite pathways, water features, and several pieces of artwork
    • New streets, crosswalks and stop lights (but, far as we can tell, no new red light cameras…yet)
    • Urban Partners’ condominium and retail building, which are BuiltGreen certified (free tours will be offered)
    • Metro’s new Burien Transit Center is nearby, located on SW 148th Street between 1st Avenue South and 4th Avenue SW.

  This all came about through a partnership between the King County Library System and City of Burien. The new Burien Library occupies the lower two floors and the new city hall is located on the third floor. The $18 million library was funded as part of the $172 million library capital bond approved by voters in 2004 to finance major improvement projects at all KCLS libraries. The new library includes more books, music, movies, magazines, computers, space for children and teens, and community meeting space. On the top floor the City has its offices, work areas, conference rooms and a large public lobby. A large meeting room on the first floor will be used by both the library and the City for large meetings and will serve as the City Council Chambers.

  Metro’s $12.5 million Burien Transit Center opened May 30th, with service on 12 Metro and Sound Transit bus routes. All of the boarding areas are now located off-street, enhancing safety for both transit customers and motorists in downtown Burien. The Transit Center also has 340 park-and-ride spaces and 24/7 monitored security.

  Refreshments will be available, and the local business organization, Discover Burien, will be offering gift bags with coupon specials for event-goers who wish to enjoy an afternoon of dining and shopping at local Burien businesses.

  This could be the biggest day for Burien since a guy named Mike Kelly wandered over a hill in the 1870s and found a “sunny dale.”

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.

Saturday afternoon saw chilly temps but warm hearts set aglow by numerous innovative and often fiery sculptures, art pieces and artists at the grand opening of Burien’s Interim Art Space (B/ IAS) at Burien Town Square. Slideshow photos by Maureen Hoffmann and Scott Schaefer.

The celebration consisted of numerous elements imported from The Burning Man Festival (with the major element of course being fire), local dignitaries, artists, DJs, dancers, residents, several local firefighters (on hand just in case) and, did we mention…fire?

Lots of fire.

The day was basically our own “Burien Man Festival,” with firewood-stoked intricately-carved cauldrons (used to keep attendees warm), a computer-controlled “Fire Pod” sculpture that shot fire out to techno music (with dramatic sudden bursts of propane-powered flame), numerous smaller pieces, and of course the centerpiece sculpture “The Passage,” whose co-creator, Dan Das Mann, was on hand.

The art will remain on the site until the end of the year, and you can bet that it will most certainly light up numerous times for upcoming celebrations. B/ IAS is located on SW 150th near 5th Ave SW, almost directly across the street from Staples.

UPDATE 1/25/09: Here are some more excellent photos of the event, taken by Maureen Hoffmann:

Fire drips from the hand of the “Mother” figure into the hand of the “Daughter” in “The Passage” sculpture.

Closeup detail shows lit kerosene drippinginto  the “Daughter’s” hand.

Even the dancers heated things up with fire.

Closeup detail of the intricately carved scenes and messages in a fire cauldron, which was stoked with wood.

We’ll be posting more video and photos soon, and if you have any pics you’d like to share, please email us or upload them to our Flickr Group.

More info, including how you can take part, available at the Burien Interim Art Space (B/ IAS) website.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• VIDEO: Time Lapse Of Thursday’s “The Passage” Installation
• Sculptures Installed At Interim Art Space For Sat. Unveiling
• PHOTOS: “The Passage” Makes Safe Passage To Burien
• Daily Journal Of Commerce Digs Burien’s Interim Art Space
• Ground Broken For Town Square Sculpture “The Passage”
• UPDATE:”The Passage” Installation Postponed To Jan. 24th
• VIDEO:Impressive Sculpture Coming To Burien Town Square

Here’s an exclusive time-lapse movie of “The Passage” being installed late Thursday afternoon, courtesy Burien Photog Francis Zera:

[flashvideo filename="http://b-townblog.com/wp-content/media/thepassagetimelapse.flv" /]

Time-lapse video courtesy of Francis Zera Photography / zeraphoto.com

Here’s a schedule of events for Saturday’s Grand Opening ceremonies, which start at 3pm:

3pm: Opening Ceremonies at Burien Town Square (BTB Advertiser) office, located at 455 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien (see map below for locations)

4pm: Drum band procession

 to the B/ IAS site

4:20pm – Block Party B-Boys hip hop dancers

4:40pm – Public ceremony – thanks & introductions

5:00pm – Lighting of the Passage

5:15pm – Spinergy fire performers

5:30pm – Ludington GT

6:30pm – DJ Randy Engstrom and Firepod

7:30pm – Abyssinian belly dancers

7:30pm – Firepod

View Larger Map

It actually “soft opened” somewhat quietly on Jan. 2nd, but we wanted to make sure everyone knew that Burien now has its very own hardware store – Ace Hardware, located at 14930 4th Ave SW, near Saars Market and Staples (map below).

The “Grand Opening” festivities will start Friday, March 20th and run through Sunday, March 22st. Activities will include:

• Special sale items
• Meet Ed Hume
• Enter to win a $750 Weber BBQ
• Complimentary refreshments

And while we’re big fans of McLendon’s Hardware in White Center, it’s nice to have a neighborhood joint when you absolutely, positively have to have an inflatable garden snake.

Here’s the Ace press release:

America’s most celebrated “helpful place” opened its doors on January 2, 2009 in Burien. The new Ace Hardware store, located at 14930 4th Ave SW, will bring the company’s unique blend of nationally recognized customer service and quality home improvement knowledge and products to Burien residents.

The store is designed to reflect the needs of the Burien community, including solutions to everyday home improvements needs, as well as an extensive array of high-quality products in categories such as paint and lawn and garden. Ace’s mission is to provide customers with convenience combined with superior service through one-on-one expert advice and assistance.

The almost 13,000 square foot store with a 2,500 square foot garden center is packed with thousands of essential products and supplies, including some of the most respected brand names and best-selling items in the home improvement marketplace. Key product offerings include paint, lawn and garden, hardware, electrical, plumbing, automotive, home décor and one of the largest selections of nuts, bolts and screws in the Northwest.

The Grand Opening festivities will take place from Friday March 20 and run through Sunday March 22. Activities include special sale items, meet Ed Hume, enter to win a $750 Weber BBQ and complimentary refreshments.

Store Hours:

• Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m
• Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Address & Phone:

• 14903 4th Ave SW, Burien WA 98166
• Phone: (206)242-8700

About Ace Hardware:
Throughout its 80-year history, Ace Hardware has been known as the helpful hardware store by both customers and communities. In 2007 and 2008, Ace Hardware was ranked the “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Major Home Improvement Retail Stores” by J.D. Power and Associates in its inaugural study of the retail home improvement industry. With 4,600 hardware, home center and building materials stores that generate annual retails sales of more than $12 billion, Ace is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace currently operates 14 distributions centers in the U.S. and a warehouse in Shanghai, China, and its retailers’ stores are located in all 50 states and 60 countries. More information about Ace can be found at www.acehardware.com.

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The folks at the new Normandy Park Towne Center tell us that their Grand Opening will be Saturday and Sunday Dec. 13th and 14th, with a Winterfest theme.

Here’s their press release:

Normandy Park Towne Center is proud to announce the Grand Opening of their new building, built by local developer McKittrick Real Estate Group.  Housing tenants such as nutritious (& yet still tasty) vendor Emerald City Smoothie, old favorite hamburger-maker Herfy’s, and Café Mia, a lovely Italian themed restaurant with its own pizza oven, bakery, wine & coffee bar; this addition to the Normandy Park neighborhood promises to be well received.  In addition, NPTC houses the offices of McKittrick Real Estate Group, as well as the local non-profit, the Hear See Hope Foundation.

To introduce the new tenants to the community, Normandy Park Towne Center is hosting a community-wide Winterfest on December 13th & 14th from 10am to 3pm. Be sure to mark your calendars as you will not want to miss out on this festive holiday event that includes a little something for everyone:

• Baked goods offered by Café Mia
• Specially priced Smoothies from Emerald City Smoothie
• Local entertainment from The Hi-Liners, Momentum Music & Dance Academy, TeenSounds, YouthSounds, & KidSounds Northwest Choirs
• Special visits from Rudolf, Frosty and their friends
• Story time and sing-a-long with Mrs. Claus
• Professional holiday photos taken with our Special Guest, Santa Claus!

Yes, Santa Claus truly is coming to “Towne” to partner with the Hear See Hope Foundation to raise awareness about Usher syndrome. Created in 2004 to as a response to the diagnosis of their eldest son Conner, Todd & Lane McKittrick created Hear See Hope as a means to raise funds to support research looking to find a cure.  Four years later, their fourth son, Dalton, was born with Usher as well. Usher syndrome is the leading cause of deaf-blindness in the world. Those with Usher syndrome are born profoundly deaf, and lose their vision by their teenage years. To date, Hear See Hope has raised approximately $850,000, and will not stop until a cure is found.

NPTC is continuing to look for local entertainment that would make the event even better. If you have an idea, let us know by emailing us at info@mckittrickre.com. We will contact you once your information is received. No matter what, plan on joining in on the fun at Normandy Park Towne Center!

Located in-between the City of Des Moines and the City of Burien, Normandy Park Towne Center can be found at 19803 1st Ave South in Normandy Park.

Directions and more information on the development can be found at www.normandyparktc.com.

See you “around Towne”!

Here’s an informational video about the Hear See Hope Foundation:

by Janet Grella

Nearly 150 guests celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting party of BTB Advertiser John L. Scott’s new offices Thursday (Oct. 16th) in Olde Burien:

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Local business owners, friends, neighbors and John L. Scott’s family of agents enjoyed live music by OTC, as well as plenty of food and refreshments inside this historic building located at the corner of 152nd SW and SW 10 Ave in Burien (EDITOR’S NOTE: the BTB has been advised that this location was the site of the Burien Post Office in the middle of the last century).

John L. Scott moved its office to Olde Burien on September 1st, and this event, sponsored by the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce, served as the official grand opening.

There were plenty of B-Town luminaries on hand, including Burien Mayor Joan McGilton.

Owner Tony Hettler said in an interview with the B-Town Blog earlier this week that “Coming to Olde Burien is another step in cementing Scott’s 40-year relationship with this community.”

The commitment to community was apparent when the office managing broker Greg Johnson, and his team, pitched a tent outside of their new office and distributed water to Burien’s Art Walk participants during their first week at their new location. Tony assured us that all the agents are enjoying the shopping and restaurants located outside their door.

Hettler joined John L. Scott 19 years ago as a realtor. He purchased John L. Scott, Des Moines in May 2006 where he is owner/broker, and finalized the purchase of the Burien office in May of this year.

“This is the first time that corporate has sold existing offices. We are now a franchise office, like many independent John L. Scott offices in the area”, said Hettler.

Hettler is optimistic about the current real estate market due to “lower prices and lower interest rates”. In fact, Hettler told us “greater Des Moines pending sales are up over 80% in the period of September 2007-September 2008.”

As this reporter pulled herself out of the shrimp bowl, and downed my last potato chip, I was asked by Tony and Team to invite all of our readers to stop by. You can probably enjoy some leftover cake and punch if you act fast enough!

Find John L. Scott, Burien at 930 SW 152nd Street (see map below).

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The B-Town Blog is happy to welcome its latest Advertiser, Yo’s Bistro!

Yo’s Bistro is located at 205 SW 152nd Street, Burien, in the space formerly occupied by The Daily Perk.

Owner Sriyong Brashear, better known as “Yo,” has delivered a marvelous transformation of the venerable Perk, on the levels of both its interior design as well as the presentation of a stunning and generous menu, which includes a weekend brunch.

While the morning coffees and pastries are always available (Yo’s opens at 7am Monday through Friday),  the introduction of the knowledge, skill, talent and passion of Yo’s life and professional career is immediately evident.

The theme for his bistro is “American Cuisine With a Touch of Thai.”

Yo was born in a small town in northern Thailand. He learned cooking from his mother and sisters, later working in Bangkok restaurants.

He came to the US in the 1980s, studied and worked more. He was the General Manager of Dilettante Chocolates’ retail store in Seattle, mastering the fine art of pastry making and Eastern European cuisine.

Yo branched out on his own this past fall, finding his perfect spot in Burien. His “Yo’s Bistro” sign was raised and installed this summer.

Yo says that his secret, if you will, is to “always start with fresh ingredients, including the spices, cooked very, very rapidly at hot temperatures. The timing is important.”

Whether your pleasure is Classic Phad Thai…or Classic Cobb Salad…enjoy!

Yo’s Bistro
205 SW 152nd Street, Burien
Phone 206-244-4084

Breakfast:  Mon-Fri, 7-noon
Lunch:  Mon-Fri, 11-3
Dinner:  Wed-Sat, 5-9
Weekend Brunch:  Sat-Sun, 8:30-3

So, stop by and say “yo” to Yo at Yo’s Bistro, and be sure to tell him you heard about it on the B-Town Blog!

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Just got word that “8th Avenue Christian Books” is opening Friday (Aug. 15th) and they’re giving away gifts to the first 50 guests.

Here’s the info:

• Grand Opening – Friday, Aug. 15, 2008
  10 am to 6 pm
• Gift to first 50 guests
• Address:  14822 8th Avenue SW, Burien (map below)
• Phone:  (206) 248-1234 – Call for directions
• Info: We have Christian used books for sale, we purchase books for store credit and we gladly accept donation of your Christian used books.
• A portion of the resale of books donated will go to a Christian mission organization.
• Meeting spaces and available for studies and meetings.

MAP:

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