The third annual “UpChuck” memorial, named after the late Charles “UpChuck” Moore, will be Saturday, Feb. 20th at The Barrel Tavern, located at 11051 First Ave South.

This annual event serves as a fundraiser for Families and Friends of Violent Crimes Victims.

Moore, also known as “UpChuck,” was tragically murdered by his stepson in 2005. He was a regular patron of The Barrel and a resident of the Top Hat neighborhood, and his picture hangs on the wall of the tavern. He is missed by all who knew and loved him.

Here’s the original (and gruesome) news story as printed in The Seattle P-I on 1/28/05:

BOULEVARD PARK — King County sheriff’s detectives believe a man who survived a stabbing acted in self-defense when he killed his half-brother.

Jason Moore, 24, was found bleeding from stab wounds outside his Boulevard Park home late Jan. 20. Inside were his father, Charles Moore, 48, and his half-brother, William Moore, 29, both dead from stab wounds.

Sheriff’s Sgt. John Urquhart said it appears that William Moore attacked his sleeping stepfather by hitting him in the head with a heavy object and stabbing him repeatedly in the neck. When Jason Moore went to investigate, his older brother stabbed him, Urquhart said. The fight moved through the house, and the younger brother managed to grab a kitchen knife and fatally stab his older brother.

Here are the details:

WHAT: The Apple Dumpling Gang Motorcycle Club and The Barrel Tavern present the 3rd Annual Charles Moore Benefit for Families and Friends of Violent Crimes Victims

WHEN: Saturday, February 20th, starting at 2pm at the Auburn Eagles Hall.

WHERE:

• 2 p.m. Meet & leave from Auburn Eagles, located at 702 M Ste SE, Auburn, WA (253-833-2298)
• Ride through Tahoma National Cemetery, located at 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, Wa 98042
• Ending at: The Barrel, located at 11051 1st Ave S. Seattle, (206-244-7390)

INFO: The run leaves the Auburn Eagles at 2pm, with a ride through the Tahoma National Cemetery, then back to the Barrel around 3:30pm.

• Door prizes will start being given away around 4pm.
• There will be ribs, spaghetti, Caesar salad and garlic bread for $10 a plate.
• Silent auction until about 7pm.
• Then at or about 7pm we will draw the 50/50 winner, followed by a raffle for a trip to Reno.
• Music will begin at 8pm with The Billy Shew Band.
• All proceeds go to the charity.

Grand Prize will be a trip to Reno.

A memorial will be held Wednesday night, Jan. 27th at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub for Cherisse Luxa, 62, founder of Burien’s “Drinking Liberally” group and community activist, who passed away from stomach cancer in December (read our report here).

The memorial begins at 7pm on Jan. 27th, and attendees are invited to bring photos and/or stories to share about her.

Known as one of the area’s most spirited Democrats, Cherisse was a well-respected organizer who had a hand in many local causes, including the attempted 2007 save of Burien’s Lora Lake Apartments.

Also, if you know of a home for Cherisse’s much-loved cats Howard and Harris (who are four years old and prefer to be adopted together), please contact Liz Giba at 206-605-3824 as soon as possible.

Here’s a flier with more info:

Story & Photos by Scott Schaefer

On the busy 12400 block of Ambaum Blvd., a quiet, makeshift memorial stands as a tribute to Mikarah Nasabreo Sanders, the 15-year old girl who was shot and killed by her 16-year old boyfriend on New Year’s Eve, who later shot himself.

Sadly, Sanders died from her wounds and the male suspect is still being treated (and guarded) at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle (read our previous coverage here). King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg has said that the suspect will likely be charged as an adult with murder in connection with Sanders’ death.

The most recent reports we’ve heard are that the suspect was upset with something he read on Sanders’ MySpace page. Other reports say that the couple argued frequently.

Like most temporary memorials, this one’s got photos protected by plastic sleeves, melted candles and notes, as well as some odd and ironic items like a mysterious, open, black umbrella (we’re not sure of its significance – anyone know? UPDATE: Occam’s Razor called and told us that it was probably placed there to protect the shrine from rain), and an empty peach vodka bottle lying next to stuffed animals – all as a tribute to a life lost way too early.

Scott Schaefer stopped by Thursday morning (Jan. 7th) and shot this Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

On a personal note, we’re getting kinda tired of seeing these memorials all around the Burien area. Let’s get along peeps!

A memorial for Luke T. Gullberg, the 26-year old Des Moines man who was killed on Oregon’s Mount Hood last week, will be this Sunday, Dec. 20th from 3pm to 6pm at Pacific Middle School, located at 22705 24th Avenue South in Des Moines.

Luke died on Saturday, Dec. 12th while climbing Mt. Hood with Anthony Vietti and Katie Nolan, who are still missing. His body was found on a glacier at 9,000 feet by searchers. Reports are that Luke may have fallen and experienced some trauma, then crawled a couple hundred yards before dying of hypothermia.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Memorial for Luke T. Gullberg

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 20th from 3-6pm

WHERE: Pacific Middle School, located at 22705 24th Avenue South in Des Moines.

INFO/RSVP: Here are some links to various pages created in Luke’s honor:

• Facebook tribute page
• Facebook page on the Mermorial here where you can RSVP and/or leave comments
• Tribute page from fellow climber Richard Lutz
  

And here’s a video of a press conference held at Mt. Hood about the incident:

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Virginia Pearce, 96, passed away last week. She owned Burien Books and ran it for 50 years, and was a lifelong resident of Three Tree Point.]

Story and Photos by Jim Branson

Virginia always liked to see my dogs when I visited her at Burien Books or when I helped her around her home on Three Tree Point.

One day, when I brought my dogs over, she said, “I wish I had a picture of them just like that.”

She was amazed when I pulled out my cell phone and snapped the picture. Later that day, I had one printed at Bartell’s and brought the print to her store. Although she greatly enjoyed the picture, she was incredulous of technology and avoided it if at all possible. On her kitchen table, an old radio was her link to the outside world. She kept her rotary phone until it would no longer work with her supplier’s phone system. She never owned a TV.

At the bookstore, she didn’t have a cash register or a calculator, let alone any sort of computer. She would total up your order on a scrap of paper, using a pencil, never a pen. The cash drawer is a work of art (see photo), made of wood, with dished-out coin compartments worn smooth by 50 years of use. The funny old microfiche machine was as high-tech as she would ever get, and when they stopped making new films for it, a couple years back, she did the best she could ordering books by phone.

When I worked at her home, I sometimes borrowed a wonderful old screwdriver with a wooden handle, still in perfect condition and perfectly useful. The screwdriver was probably older than me. Virginia never bought anything new. She loved her garden, as did I. From the street, you can’t even tell there is a house because the rhododendrons and snowberry have grown so thick. The path to her house was overgrown, creating a tunnel Virginia’s height, so I had to bend in half to walk up and down her path, which was just as it should be. Visiting her house or the bookstore seemed like a trip back in time. I’m not sure if the wisteria on her deck was holding the house up or pulling it down. I would ask for explicit instructions on how to prune her holly bushes because I knew she had a particular idea of how they should turn out. I accidentally broke a clematis vine she had trained to climb her Douglas-fir, but I quickly patched it up with some scotch tape, and the next year it was as healthy as ever, the wound no longer visible.

I asked her, just last year, if she would like a hand rail for the uneven brick steps leading up to her front door.

“Oh no. No, no, no,” she said.

The idea of using materials to build a handrail seemed way too extravagant to her. She had an Oregon grape bush that she held onto on the way up the stairs, and a cedar tree to steady herself on the way down the stairs, at 96 years old.

I would clean out her gutters, the only wooden gutters I have ever seen, and then oil them, trying to get one more year of use out of them.

When I would clean her windows on the north side of the house, she would give me a squeegee, a cup of water, and one paper towel. I would have approached the job with a bucket of hot water and an entire roll of paper towels, but she was right. I could get the job done with the supplies she gave me.

She had a yellow rose bush at the corner of her house, and she liked to take roses cut from it to have in her house or at the bookstore. She often took cuttings from her garden and arranged them artfully at the bookstore.

I didn’t know Virginia as well as some other people did, but in my impression of her, I would have to say that “Frugal” doesn’t exactly capture her character. It’s true that she didn’t like to spend money, and she didn’t even like for me to spend money. If I came to the bookstore looking to purchase a particular book, before she would order it for me, she would ask, “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather check it out from the library?” Her parsimony was not motivated by greed at all. I have zero knowledge of her finances, or how she magically kept that bookstore open for 50 years when Amazon and Barnes & Noble put most other bookstores out of business, but I feel certain that her thriftiness was not based on the desire for the accumulation of wealth.

Rather, she felt that she and others could enjoy a simple thing, like a yellow rose, a finely crafted old screwdriver, a crooked little old house, or a bookstore with no computers.

Who needs a TV when you can get lost in a book? She savored the simple things, like a visit from my dogs.

I certainly cherished my visits with Virginia, and I will miss her.

Here’s a Photo Slideshow in Virginia’s honor:

Click to View Jim Branson’s Photo Slideshow

Jim also adds:

“Her memorial service is Saturday at 11:00 at Parker’s on 146th, I have been told.”

Tonight (Friday Nov. 20th) BTB Advertiser Bison Creek Pizza & Pub will be holding a benefit memorial to honor Mark (last name intentionally omitted), the 25-year old victim of the stabbing fatality outside Goodtime Ernie’s in Burien last Thursday (read our coverage here).

Ian from local band The Cauze will be playing an acoustic (intimate) set.

Here are the details:

• The event will start at 10pm.
• 21+ only please.
• They’ll be collecting donations to help the victims family.
• The funeral will be next Wednesday (Nov. 25th); Bison Creek will be closed during the service, but will re-open at 5pm.
• Mark was an employee of Bison Creek a few years ago, and all of their employees will be attending this service.

Sad scene outside Burien’s Goodtime Ernie’s this weekend, as a makeshift memorial has been built for the young man who was the victim of an early morning stabbing death last Thursday, Nov. 12th.

There is still no word from police on the suspect, and while the victim’s identity was revealed in Comments made on this website, we have chosen to withhold those until his name is officially released.

We’ll post updates as more information comes in, but for now, we encourage everyone to show respect for the victim’s family and friends, and to try and value life just a little bit more.

Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer stopped by not only to take these photos, but to pay his respects as well:

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

Story & Photos by Scott Schaefer

Welcome to Dia de las Muertes de Burien – The B-Town Blog’s “Day of the Dead” tribute to Burien’s earliest, and sadly, mostly forgotten settlers, who are buried in a place most residents don’t even know exists.

This is the story of the area’s oldest graveyard, a private, historic and rundown place on South 200th called Hillgrove Cemetery.

You won’t find Hillgrove on many maps, because, like its 360 residents, it’s no longer living. It’s private, it’s fenced off, yet once you look at the chain link barrier and barbed wire, it’s obvious that people find ways to get in to do whatever living people do in graveyards full of dead strangers.

We too found our way into Hillgrove recently (how could we not this time of year?), and despite forgetting to wear boots (our Chuck Taylors got soaked but oddly, we didn’t care) yet managing to be very careful and respectful, we took numerous photographs, which we built into a “Sound Slideshow” to a public domain song from 1910, the era when this site was in its heyday.

But before we present our photographic and audio tribute, we’d like to share our personal observations of Hillgrove:

It was a sad place, and not just because it was full of dead bodies – it’s in disrepair, with missing, crooked and broken tombstones, years of neglect and evidence of vandalism.

Historic, old graves with unique stone markers ranging from the earliest burial (at least that we saw) in 1890 to the most recent in 2005. Some tombstones have been restored, while many are clearly without any markings (several we discovered only by stepping into indentations in the grass).

Here’s some info on it courtesy Highline Historical Society Executive Director Cyndi Upthegrove:

Hillgrove Cemetery is owned by the Hillgrove Cemetery Association, comprised of the remaining families that own the property.  I don’t believe anyone famous is buried there, but a large number of local pioneer families are.  It is in disrepair because the people that remain of those families are quite elderly and cannot physically maintain it themselves, and the city of SeaTac and the Port won’t maintain it because it isn’t theirs. SeaTac has occasionally mowed for them and helped to build a retaining wall at the left entrance when the bank slumped one time and remains started spilling out.

From what I understand, there are about 360 souls there. They consist of veterans from both the North and the South from the Civil War, the Spanish American War, both WWI and WWII, Korea and the first Iraq War.  Their extended families are also buried there.

About 12 years ago a teacher at Highline HS teaching at-risk students taught a local history class and they really responded to it.  These were very bright students “at risk” of dropping out.  So she took them over to the cemetery to show it to them and they told her, “We know about this place. We come over here to drink.” Together with her, the Society acquired a grant to pay for her project. So she got them to clean it up as a class project.  They dug up buried headstones, mowed, learned about the people buried there, mapped it and  tended it for a couple of years.  After they had invested so much time and care into it, they wouldn’t let anyone else go in there and mess with it.

The most recent, from 2005.

Then they graduated and moved on, and she quit teaching that class and things kind of reverted to how they were.  We have retained some of the records and the Association has the rest.

Recently a paranormal investigation group contacted me to see if they could go in and look for ghosts.  I referred them to the Association and I think they did some kind of investigation there, but we weren’t given their results. Occasionally a Boy Scout will work there building benches, or mowing and grooming the place as an Eagle Scout project.

We did several bus tours of “The historic sites of Highline” a few years ago and Hillgrove was a stop on the tour.  People found it very interesting. I have always wished that we could engage the various cities and veterans groups to hold their Memorial and Veteran’s Day commemorations there rather than in schools and community centers, but other heads prevail.

I have always wished I had the funding for the Society to take care of the place for the community, but I don’t.

Walking around a decaying graveyard isn’t really creepy, or new to us – in college we used to visit one that was near our house, and this Reporter has always been fascinated with the dead and how the living treat them. Especially Hispanic culture and their “Day of the Dead” festivities, which involve spending the night in graveyards, setting up elaborate altars, offering food, wearing bizarre (and to me, really cool) costumes, and believing that, for one night on Nov. 2nd, their dearly departed dead relatives and loved ones come back and visit with them.

With those sentiments in mind, here’s our “SoundSlideshow” tribute to Hillgrove Cemetery and the historic people who are buried there, may they Rest In Peace:

Click to Play Scott Schaefer’s SoundSlideshow

by Ralph Nichols

“The heart and soul of the North Highline area” is how Barbara Peters, who died from cancer on Sunday, Oct. 25, is being remembered by friends and colleagues.

Not only was she a wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Barbara was a Commissioner of the North Highline Fire District, a 15-year volunteer with the King County Sheriff’s Office, a long-time member of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, and a strong advocate for Burien’s annexation of the North Highline unincorporated area.

Survivors include her husband, William Peters, and three daughters, Valerie, Cynthia and Natalie.

A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, November 2, at Riverton Crest Cemetery, 3400 S.140th St., in Tukwila. A reception will follow at Rainier Golf and Country Club, 11133 Des Moines Memorial Dr. South.

Since her passing, tributes to Barbara have come from her friends and colleagues in the North Highline/Burien area.

Former Highline Fire Department Chief Russ Pritchard, who is also a past president of the North Highline Council, recalled that during his first term as president he asked Barbara to submit an application to fill a vacancy on the council.

“She kept saying ‘no, no, no,’ then agreed to fill it only for the remainder of the term.” But she remained on the council and “was my vice president all three times I was president,” Pritchard said. “Everyone looked to her for leadership. I looked to her for leadership. When I was president, I would say to her, ‘You’re the president, I just run the meetings.’”

He described her as “a force on that council. She took on projects that no one else wanted to do, and she got things done.”

At Fire District 11, “She was a very cool-headed commissioner,” Pritchard continued. “She thought out every issue that came up. When I was chief, she was the first commissioner to attend our staff meetings. She tried to talk to every firefighter to get their views before voting.”

After King County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Cox was killed in the line of duty three years ago, Barbara “was very much a force behind a lot of what was done there after his death to honor him,” he noted. Later, she was instrumental in getting a White Center park reclaimed, upgraded and renamed Steve Cox Park.

Pritchard said that Barbara, Steve, Judy Duff, also a former Highline Council president, and he “spent a lot of time together working on issues and became good friends. Two to three Sundays a month we would meet at her house and she would fix dinner for us.

“We became good friends and called ourselves the Four Musketeers. Now I’m the only one left. I know that in heaven, Barbara, Judy and Steve are now together on some council up there.”

Burien Police Sgt. Henry McLauchlan said Barbara, who ran the Sheriff’s Office storefront station and was a Block Watch leader, “was one of the leaders of the pack.

“We called her the major of the Boulevard Park storefront, but she was much more than a major. She was the general down there,” McLauchlan said. “She was just an incredible human being who was always there for the officers, always the first to raise her hand to volunteer.”

Burien Planning Commission member Jim Clingan said he got to know Barbara about three years ago when she was involved in keeping the Evergreen Pool open.

“She was an energetic, hard-charging individual who put a lot of energy into the things she did,” Clingan said. “She had strong opinions and whether you agreed or disagreed, you got a fair hearing and you walked away knowing you got a fair hearing.

Barbara “was just a good lady, and it’s a sad, sad loss,” he added. “I’m thankful to her family – to her husband and daughters – for sharing her with the community.”

Mike Martin, who became Burien’s city manager in November 2006, said Barbara “took me under her wing almost immediately. She was the first to take me on a tour of North Highline.

“She was a very good friend to us, the city of Burien. She worked tirelessly for annexation to Burien and her efforts were very critical to the success of annexation.”

Martin added, “Barbara was the heart and soul of the North Highline area.”

Here’s her official obituary:

Barbara Jean PETERS Passed away from cancer at home surrounded by her family on October 25th, 2009. Barbara was born in Seattle, Washington on April 1, 1937 to Henry and Florence Colella and grew up with her younger sister, Janice. When she was eleven years old, Barbara started working at Pike Place Market to help her grandparents, Emilio and Angelina Galliano, sell their produce. Barbara graduated from Cleveland High School in 1955 and worked for Western Electric Phone Company until she married William Peters on November 22, 1957. Barbara stayed home to care for their three daughters and she was always involved in the girls’ school and church activities. She was known as an excellent cook, organizer and adviser. Once the girls were grown, Barbara became involved in community activities: volunteering with the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle, a15 year volunteer with the King County Sheriff’s Department, serving on the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, and serving as a Fire Commissioner for the North Highline Fire District. Without a doubt though, Barb was most proud of her two grandchildren and she cherished the time she spent with both of them.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 52 years, Bill; her sister Janice; daughter Valerie (Jim) and granddaughter Victoria; daughter Cynthia; daughter Natalie (Jack) and grandson Jack. Everyone who knew Barbara was touched by her generosity, determination and her ability to speak her mind and get things done. Her dedication to children was endless and her accomplishments are too numerous to list and too far reaching to know. Barbara will be greatly missed by her family, friends, neighbors and the community she tirelessly supported. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Virginia Mason and everyone at Highline Home Care Services and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Barbara’s name to: North Highline Fire District Aid Car Fund, 1243 Southwest 112th Street, Seattle, WA 98146. In her memory, Barbara asked to please spend time with a child that is close to you. That time spent and your love for that child will be with Barbara forever.

A graveside service will be held at 1:30 PM on Monday, November 2nd at Riverton Crest Cemetery, 3400 S.140th, Tukwila 98168 with a reception following at Rainier Golf and Country Club, 11133 Des Moines Memorial Dr. S., Seattle 98168.

A special Veteran’s Day Commemoration is coming to the SeaTac Community Center on Wednesday, Nov. 11th to celebrate both the history of Des Moines Memorial Drive as well as honor women who have served their country.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Veteran’s Day Commemoration: Women in Service

WHO:  Scheduled speakers include:

• Kitty Milne, Highline Historical Society
• Congressman Adam Smith, 8th District
• Peggy Caudill, Intertribal Warrior Society (former Nurse in the U.S. Army)
• Carol Reed, American Legion (former Sergeant in the U.S. Marines)
• Kit Ledbetter, City of SeaTac

WHEN: Wednesday, November 11th from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: SeaTac Community Center, located at 13735 24th Avenue South SeaTac, WA  98168; (206) 973-4680

INFO: The Des Moines Memorial Drive – The Living Road of Remembrance, is an eight-mile stretch of road through the cities of Des Moines, Burien, SeaTac and the Boulevard Park area of unincorporated King County. The Drive was completed in 1922 with the planting of 1,100 American elm trees, each commemorating an individual from Washington state who died in World War I. On November 11, 1963 a memorial wall commemorating the history of the Drive was dedicated at Sunnydale School in Burien.

ABOUT: The Des Moines Memorial Drive Committee, a citizen advisory committee created in 2000, developed a plan for restoring and enhancing the memorial road. The plan outlines how jurisdictions will implement enhancement efforts as part of future road improvement projects. For more information, visit www.roadofremembrance.org.

From their press release:

Community members are invited on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, to celebrate a local historic road which honors the fallen soldiers of World War I. In addition to highlighting the history of Des Moines Memorial Drive, the event this year will honor women who served in the military during World War I and over the decades since that conflict. The event will be held at 2:00pm at SeaTac Community Center, located at 13735 – 24th Avenue South, in SeaTac.

Des Moines Memorial Drive is an eight-mile stretch of road which winds through the Boulevard Park area of unincorporated King County, SeaTac, Burien and Des Moines. In 1922 the project was completed with the planting of 1,100 American elm trees to line the roadway as a “living” memorial to those who lost their lives in World War I. Over time, the impacts of disease, radical pruning and utility installations have decimated most of the elms. Forty-six years ago on November 11, 1963, a memorial wall commemorating the history of the Drive was dedicated.

While held on Veterans Day, the event will also mark the day formerly known as Armistice Day, which is the anniversary of the official end of World War I (November 11, 1918). Elected officials including Congressman Adam Smith and local mayors will honor the historical nature of Des Moines Memorial Drive and the special role that women played in the country’s military history.

An Advisory Committee was created in 2000 with representation from King County, local cities, other interested public agencies, and concerned citizens to develop a coordinated vision for restoring and maintaining the living memorial. The resulting plan, which has been accepted by all the participating jurisdictions, outlines how the local cities can also incorporate similar memorial elements in their future road improvement projects along the Drive.

Des Moines Memorial Drive has national significance on several accounts:

1. It is the earliest planned “living road of remembrance.”
2. It is the only “living road of remembrance” that uses Elm trees.
3. At 10 miles, it is the longest “living road of remembrance.

In addition to the celebratory event, interpretive displays prepared by the Highline Historical Society will be available for public viewing. Local veterans and school groups are expected to take part in the event that will also recognize the ongoing cooperative efforts of the cities and county. learn more about Des Moines Memorial Drive, visit www.roadofremembrance.org.

Friday, Oct. 16, has been set aside for the annual “Hour of Remembrance,” an event that seeks to honor the six South King County victims of domestic violence between 2007 and 2008, as well as the 430 people killed due to domestic violence in Washington State between January of 1997 and June or 2008.

The Hour of Remembrance will take place from Noon – 1pm at the Tukwila Community Center (12424 42nd Ave S.).  This is the second time the Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN) is holding the event.

“Please join us in commemorating victims of domestic violence and stand with us to declare that they will not be forgotten.  Because survivors often turn to friends and neighbors for assistance, this year we will also be focusing on ways to strengthen our response to domestic violence. Specifically, we will highlight the action steps we can all take to make a difference,” said DAWN’s Director, Lee Drechsel.

In King County’s 2008 Fatality Review, 55% of the domestic violence victims had told a neighbor about the abuse they were experiencing. This finding is higher than the number of victims who sought Protection Orders or who called police to report the violence.

These are stark numbers in a time of ever-declining budgets in King County. In fact, the proposed budget for King County includes an 80% proposed cut for domestic violence and sexual assault.

“The numbers don’t lie. We have a problem in this county, and now is not the time to take away critical county funding,” said Drechsel.

After the hour, DAWN will present Ankita Patel, a Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence staff member and a co-author of the 2008 Fatality Review, to present on the recommendations related to community prevention and intervention.  Many of the findings provide additional, in-depth recommendations for responding effectively to the added barriers faced by women of color, which is especially needed in addressing the specific needs of survivors in SKC.

“On October 16, we encourage people to join us for a moment in remembering those have died from domestic violence,” said Drechsel. “It is just one hour to you – what an amazing way to spend that hour, remembering others who are gone.”

For more information on DAWN, visit their website here.

One year ago today (July 24, 2008) BTB Advertiser Airport/Burien Towing was changed forever when owner Mark Storer, 51 and his son Brian, 24, were killed when their floatplane crashed near Lake Nahwatzel, ten miles west of Shelton.

Mark founded and operated the towing business, and left behind his wife, Lynette, son Jared and daughter Teresa.

His son Brian was married, and left behind a wife and two small children.

Jared sent us this email Friday morning (7/24/09):

Mark Storer and his Model T Tow Truck.

At the Burien office our Airport Towing family is planning a day of remembrance for Mark and Brian. We are having lunch catered for them and leaving the days activities in the hands of long time Managers Colleen and Daryl.

My hope is that the Burien community remembers my dad for his hard work and dedication that he put into everything he was passionate about. He cared about his family, his church, towing, antique tow trucks, airplanes, and people. Mark loved children. He could not walk into the same room as a child without attempting to make them smile. It didn’t matter if he knew them or not. Whenever he saw his grandkids he would light up with joy and play with them for hours, even if he was at his desk and they were interrupting his work. He would make time. There are many things Mark may not be well known for because he did not brag about his accomplishments. He never announced that he would put $100 bills into the donation box at Burien Chevrolet when one of their employees was diagnosed with cancer. He never published that he faithfully gave more than 10% of his income to his church and other local charities. Mark paid back every loan he ever owed on. He enjoyed making a difference quietly and without praise.

Brian Storer

Brian was far from quiet. He was always making jokes and keeping the atmosphere light. His passions were his family, motorcycles, collectible firearms, music, and tow trucks. Brian met life’s challenges head on. He was the youngest of 3 kids and raising a family of his own with 2 sons. He bounced back from a motorcycle crash that broke his femur when he was hit by a drunk driver and his wife was 8 months pregnant with a 1 year old son at home. The now 3 and 2 year old boys miss their dad but continue to remember him through photos, videos, and stories that their mom and family shares with them.

Thanks for remembering them on this important day.

Jared

More from their website:

Mark worked hard every day to create good customer relations and to create a good work environment for his employees.

Brian Storer was one of those employees for most of his life. His playful attitude kept the atmosphere at the office fun and enjoyable.

Both men were an integral part of our business and lives and it has been a tremendous challenge to try and fill their shoes.

The tragic and unexpected loss of Mark & Brian sent a rift throughout the industry. Hundreds of professional tow truck operators knew them personally, as well as many local businesses who felt the pain, and several other friends and family members.

A large procession lead the memorial on 7/30/08.

Mark and Brian were very well connected throughout the industry and the community, which resulted in a Memorial Service of an estimated 800 people in attendance with less than 1 week of notice, several television news broadcasts, and many other articles written about the pair in the B-Town Blog and other publications.

Read more at Jared’s blog here, or learn more about Airport/Burien Towing here.

Jim Hughes, longtime Burien businessman, is having an organizational meeting at Sal’s Deli on Tuesday, July 7th at 4pm regarding erecting a statue in honor of Dick “Mr. Burien” Dahlgard, who passed away in November 2008.

Hughes is looking for volunteers to help with this project (which we first reported on June 7th), and below is a photo of a prototype sculpture, designed by local artist Phillip Levine, which depicts Dahlgard as a whimsical 35mm camera with three human legs as a tripod. A large unraveling roll of film with be place at the lower region of the piece and may include the long list of civic involvements he selflessly dedicated so much of his time towards.

The sculpture will stand over six feet high and will be crafted from brass; the location for installation is still being discussed but is proposed for the new town square development:

“I’ve never done anything like this before so I’m hoping some kind-hearted Burienites will volunteer to help,” said Hughes. “I would invite anyone who would like to help to come on Tuesday.”

The meeting will be this Tuesday, July 7th at Sal’s Deli, which is located at 15212 6th Ave SW in downtown Burien. For more information, please call Jim Hughes at (206) 246-7181.

This whimsical statue, designed by artist Phillip Levine, would depict the late
Dick Dahlgard as a camera on a tripod with three human legs.

by Gina Bourdage

Burien lost one of its most notable citizens in November 2008, when “Mr. Burien,” Richard “Dick” Dahlgard, passed away.

Formerly the owner of Dick’s Camera and pillar of the community through many charity involvements, Dick is a man that will not soon be forgotten and Jim Hughes, owner of Sal’s Deli, is organizing efforts to have a public art piece erected in memorial of Mr. Dahlgard.

“We tend to forget our heroes fairly quickly and Dick was definitely one of mine,” said Hughes.

Working more than 90 hours a week at Sal’s Deli has not detoured Hughes from taking on the large fundraising and planning task of the proposed art piece. A designed by nationally renowned local artist Phillip Levine will depict a whimsical 35mm camera with three human legs as a tripod. A large unraveling roll of film with be place at the lower region of the piece and may include the long list of civic involvements Mr. Dahlgard selflessly dedicated so much of his time towards. The sculpture will stand over six feet high and will be crafted from brass; the location for installation is still being discussed but is proposed for the new town square development.

Due to budget conservations the City of Burien is unable to fund the project and organizers are reaching out to the community for private donations. To make a contribution please stop by Sterling Bank or by mail to:

“Dick Dahlgard Memorial Fund”
c/o Sterling Bank
224 SW 152nd Street
Burien, WA 98166

All checks can be made out to the “Dick Dahlgard Memorial Fund.”

Each donor will receive a special invitation to the unveiling presentation and the piece of mind knowing they are helping to honor the memory of a man who did so much for so many for so long.

Sherrill Miller hopes her newest wine makes a lot of money, but not for her.

E.B. Foote’s newest wine, Remembrance, will raise money for Alzheimer’s research, in honor of her late husband, Rich Higginbotham, who died of the disease last year.

“Rich’s dad had Alzheimer’s, and research has shown a strong heredity link,” Miller says. “Once Rich was diagnosed at 56, he knew what would eventually happen, but he didn’t know a timeline. We learned as much as we could about the disease and found out that often the earlier the onset, the faster the timeline.”

Miller and Higginbotham took over the winery, one of Washington’s oldest, in 1991. They moved from South Park to Burien in 1999.

In that time, they learned to make award-winning wines, focusing on reds using grapes from Washington’s Columbia Valley.

“Rich had always liked to make blends and I tended to be the purist,” Miller says.

“From early in our winemaking career, he wanted to make a Bordeaux-style blend. In 2002 we finally had all three grapes to do it, and we made Perfect a Trois.

“He was pleased with the wine, and he was pleased with the name that I had come up with,” Miller recalls. “The wine was well received by customers, and earned a Gold Medal at the Northwest Wine Summit and 89 points from Wine Spectator.”

Now Miller is using that knowledge to create a new wine, Remembrance, also in the Bordeaux style (French wines from that region typically are blends of different grapes, unlike varietals, which largely use a single grape variety).

Higginbotham was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2003.

“Rich’s decline too soon got to the point where he was not able to do very much at the winery,” Miller says. “I decided that I wanted to make a wine in tribute to him that would benefit Alzheimer’s research. Of course the wine had to be a Bordeaux-style blend.”

Using 2007 vintage grapes, Miller created Remembrance, a blend of 60 percent Cabernet, 30 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc. The grapes come from three different Columbia Valley vineyards, including Milbrandt, Graves and Arianses.

“I wanted to make as many cases as I could, and I will end up making 795 cases of this wine, the most of any wine I’ve made by nearly double,” Miller says.

The label, designed by Sharone Fischer, features Higginbotham’s picture with information about him and the creation of the wine.

Miller is donating 50 percent of the $28 purchase price to Alzheimer’s research. That could raise as much as $133,000. In addition, 50 percent of the purchase price of a special commemorative wine glass also will be donated.

Miller continues to collect Alzheimer’s donations at the winery as well.

“My plan is to make my ‘Step into Spring and Stamp Out Alzheimer’s Disease’ an annual fundraising weekend in March, and all year I plan to donate 10 percent of all Perfect a Trois sales to Alzheimer’s,” she says.

An estimated 4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s.

“We wanted to do what we could to support the Alzheimer’s Association so that someday no other families would have to suffer with this dreadful disease,” Miller says.

“I’ve seen first-hand what this devastating disease can do to a person and a family,” she says. “It may be the worst diagnosis to receive since there is neither a treatment nor a cure.

“Unlike other diseases like diabetes or heart disease where medications can control the disease, current treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease only slow the progression of the disease for a very short time. I am hopeful that this money can make a difference in finding a treatment or a cure.”

Step into Spring and Stamp Out Alzheimer’s, featuring the release of Remembrance, will be Thursday, March 26 from 5-9 p.m.; Friday, March 27, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 29, noon-6 p.m.

The event includes a $5 tasting fee, which can be applied toward a purchase of a bottle. Miller advises customers to dress warmly, as E.B. Foote is a working winery.

For more information, contact Sherrill Miller at E.B. Foote, 206-242-3852, or email winemaker@ebfootewinery.com.

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127B SW 153rd St. in Burien. It is open for tasting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The photo above is of deceased area resident Charles “UpChuck” Moore, who was tragically murdered by his stepson in 2005. The second-annual Benefit for Families and Friends of Violent Crimes Victims will be held this Saturday, Feb. 21st at The Barrel Tavern, located at 11051 First Ave South (map below).

Also known as “UpChuck,” he was a regular patron of The Barrel and a resident of the Top Hat neighborhood, and his picture hangs on the wall of the tavern. He is missed by all who knew and loved him.

Here’s the original (and gruesome) news story as printed in The Seattle P-I on 1/28/05:

BOULEVARD PARK — King County sheriff’s detectives believe a man who survived a stabbing acted in self-defense when he killed his half-brother.

Jason Moore, 24, was found bleeding from stab wounds outside his Boulevard Park home late Jan. 20. Inside were his father, Charles Moore, 48, and his half-brother, William Moore, 29, both dead from stab wounds.

Sheriff’s Sgt. John Urquhart said it appears that William Moore attacked his sleeping stepfather by hitting him in the head with a heavy object and stabbing him repeatedly in the neck. When Jason Moore went to investigate, his older brother stabbed him, Urquhart said. The fight moved through the house, and the younger brother managed to grab a kitchen knife and fatally stab his older brother.

The memorial event starts at 2pm at the Auburn Eagles Hall, with a ride through the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, ending up at The Barrel for a buffet dinner, door prizes, 50/50 drawing, live music and raffles.

Here are the details:

WHAT: The Apple Dumpling Gang Motorcycle Club ADG and The Barrel Tavern present the 2nd Annual Charles Moore Benefit for Families and Friends of Violent Crimes Victims

WHEN: Saturday, February 21st, starting at 2pm at the Auburn Eagles Hall

WHERE:

• 2 p.m. Meet & leave from Auburn Eagles, located at 702 M Ste SE, Auburn, WA (253-833-2298)
• Ride through Tahoma National Cemetery, located at 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, Wa 98042
• Ending at: The Barrel, located at 11051 1st Ave S. Seattle, (206-244-7390)

INFO: Buffet dinner, door prizes, 50/50 drawing, live music and raffles.

Grand Prize will be a 3-day, 2-night stay, including airfare to Reno with accomodations at the Silver Legacy Hotel & Casino.

Here’s the poster:

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The B-Town Blog proudly welcomes its latest Advertiser: 3TreeMemories Celebration of Life DVD’s!

3TreeMemories is a local homegrown startup business run by Pieter (Bruno) Hoolboom. Bruno has been a Burien 3 Tree Point resident for over 50 years.

Bruno transforms your digital and printed photos into a fabulous music video that will knock your socks off. Even better, he can incorporate video clips from your camcorder or VHS tapes to knock both your shoes & socks off!

These DVD productions make great gifts that will be treasured for a lifetime. Make great tributes for graduations, memorials, retirements, birthdays, anniversaries, or honoring your elderly parents or loved ones.

What makes 3TreeMemories productions so special?

1. Local Burien business
2. Great quality and attention to detail
3. Cool Titles & transitions
4. Can accept your photos and videos in almost any format
5. Scanning, cropping, and enhancing your old printed photos
6. Incorporation of video and audio clips in addition to photos.
7. Great music selections
8. Great prices well below professional
9. Additional DVD copies with cool labels & slim cases for friends and family
10. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Hear what some satisfied customers are saying…

“I personally, have seen many DVD’s at Graduation’s, Anniversary’s & Funeral’s, and I will say that Bruno’s DVD’s are by far a better quality.”
Sue D. Burien, WA

“Without hesitation would I give Bruno’s work the highest recommendation to anyone wishing to compile an enriching, memorable, loving and thoughtful collection of their loved ones”
Trevor H. Kingston, WA

“Everybody has enjoyed Bruno’s video and has remarked at what a lasting treasure it is for us to enjoy forever!”
Gary & Lynn W. Simi Valley, CA

“Bruno’s videos have all been of the highest quality, not just in picture and sound, but in their meaning and thoughtfulness.”
Jason & Jessica W. Onalska, WA

“I had the privilege of viewing a graduation video that Bruno did for his son’s graduation.  It was amazing. High quality and very fun to watch!  A true stroll down memory lane.”
Becky P. Burien, WA

So, show your support to our latest Advertiser by either emailing him or giving him a call (his website may not be online yet), and making a memorable DVD to kick off 2009:

• Email: pieterbh@3treememories.com
• Phone: (206) 551-2871

Four veterans from Washington state will be honored with German-American Friendship Awards during the opening reception of an exhibit to honor the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Monday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. in the London Room of the Airport Conference Center.

In cooperation with the German Embassy and the German Honorary Consul in Washington, the traveling exhibit “The Berlin Airlift – A Legacy of Friendship” commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift – one of the greatest humanitarian efforts of all time. The heroic efforts of the U.S. and Allied forces saved more than two million men, women and children in Berlin during a Soviet Union blockade beginning in 1948. This achievement is even more remarkable considering only three years earlier the Allies were bombing this same city.

Four U.S. veterans from Washington state who participated in the airlift will be honored by Washington state First Gentleman Mike Gregoire, Lt. Governor Brad Owen, the German Honorary Consul of Washington and representatives from the Port of Seattle.

The traveling exhibit, composed of over 60 photo panels, is part of the “Friends Always” campaign recognizing the powerful and enduring relationship between the United States and Germany. Since World War II, more than seven million American servicemen and women have been stationed in Germany. Together with their families, they formed lasting friendships. For more information see Friends Always – Legacy of the Airlift at www.germany.info.

The display will be next to the Airport Office Building elevators on the south end of the Ticketing Level. The exhibit will be displayed at Sea-Tac Airport from December 8 – 31 before heading to the Museum of Flight.

WHAT: The reception will honor four Washington WWII veterans of the Berlin Airlift with German-American Friendship Awards. The exhibit will also be opened to the public.

WHEN: Monday, December 8 at 2pm

WHERE: Sea-Tac Airport Conference Center, London Room

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by Janet Grella

It is often agreed that most people over five years old and living in the United States on November 22, 1963 will remember exactly where they were when they found out that President John F. Kennedy was killed by an assassin’s gunshot in Dallas, Texas.

Today is the 45th Anniversary of this event that robbed us of our first Catholic president. The BTB thought we’d look back at this common memory through the eyes and memory of a local man who was there.

I met Tim Leahy at the Des Moines Legacy Foundation’s 9th Annual Bayside Brunch at Anthony’s Homeport recently. He was the Auctioneer, I was a volunteer.  Through the course of conversation, I learned that he not only had lived in Dallas with his family, he was at the actual parade.

His Dad Richard took Tim (6th grade), sisters Cathy (8th grade) and little sister June (5th grade) out of class to see the first Roman Catholic President. Mom Patricia was home with his two younger brothers.  From their vantage point they saw the presidential plane landing and Love Field.  The Leahy family were very excited as the Presidential Lincoln Convertible drew past their spot real slow.  Dad was taking home movies on an 8mm camera. Once they passed, Mr. Leahy got the kids in the car and drove them to a nearby restaurant for lunch.

In what Tim said was “no longer than 10-15 minutes, we walked into the restaurant; everyone was gathered around a radio, weeping.  A waitress told them the President had been shot.  Dad rushed over to St. Monica’s Catholic Church to pray for the president, his family and the country.”

Although they had planned to go back to school at St. Monica’s, they were taken home to start what would be a three-day television broadcast.

Like all viewers on Saturday morning, Tim and his family watched Jack Ruby kill Lee Harvey Oswald in the garage of Dallas Police Headquarters surrounded by policeman and detectives.  Let the conspiracy theories begin!

Walter Cronkite of CBS News broke into the CBS soap opera “As the World Turns” to tell the nation President Kennedy had been shot about 12:35pm CST and rushed to the hospital – here’s a video clip of that very moment:

At 1:38pm CST Mr. Cronkite was back on screen to tell American that our 35th President of the United States had died, about 38 minutes ago at 1:00pm:

BTB wants to know where were you when Kennedy died, and what were you doing?

Email us or post a Comment below…

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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Just a reminder that the memorial service for Dick “Mr. Burien” Dahlgard will be held Saturday, Nov. 15th at 3pm at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 109 SW Normandy Rd, Seattle, WA 98166 (map below).

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s name can be made to:

Highline Medical Center Foundation
16259 Sylvester Rd SW Suite 101
Burien, WA 98166

In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a video of tributes and memories of Dick from some of his peers:

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Richard “Dick” Dennis Dahlgard passed away Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 in his home in Burien, WA.

He was 73.

Dick was born in Pierre, SD, the first son of Dennis and Hazel, the oldest of four.  They moved to Seattle in 1942 where Dick attended Sunnydale Elementary and Highline High School and graduated in 1954.  Following high school he went to work for Tall’s Camera and the Washington State Patrol. In 1958, Dick joined the Army as a cryptographer where he served in Hawaii and the Pentagon.

Following his military service he moved to Seattle and worked for Tall’s Camera.  In 1969 he opened Dick’s Camera and Sound which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2006.

He is well known among the community for donating his time and talents as a photographer.  He was an avid philanthropist and over the years dedicated his time to the Highline Historical Society, Highline Medical Center Foundation, the Hi-Liners, Discover Burien, and Merchants of Burien. He was an active member of the Burien-White Center Rotary for over 46 years.

He is survived by his son Nels Dahlgard of San Diego, daughters Cathy Chambers of Newport Beach, CA, Julie Faugeroux of Portland, OR, and Paige Dahlgard of Seattle, WA, sister Karen Dahlgard of Kirkland, WA, brother Daryl Dahlgard of La Conner, WA, and sister Kristin Galante of Mukilteo, WA.

He will be forever missed and loved.

His memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 15th at 3pm at John Knox Presbyterian Church, 109 SW Normandy Rd, Seattle, WA 98166.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dick’s name can be made to:

Highline Medical Center Foundation
16259 Sylvester Rd SW Suite 101
Burien, WA 98166

To view a special video with memories of Dick, click here.

Below are some comments we’ve received from Readers:

Knew Dick for over 50 years.  Friend at Highline Hich,  co-community worker through Burien Chamber of Commerce, Highline Community Hospital Foundation Board, 4th of July Parade, Miss Burien Scholarship Pageant, Political volunteer, but most of all a shared love of Burien and young people.  He was truly a giver and he gave out of a sincerely giving heart.  Never expecting or wanting anything back.  I draw comfort knowing I’ll see him again at a much bigger reunion.

- Joan Dehn

Story and Video by Janet Grella

With the passing of Dick Dahlgard on Wednesday, Nov. 5th, Burien has lost one of its most passionate supporters. So passionate in fact, that he was often referred to as “Mr. Burien.”

While working in sales at the Highline Times, I passed many informative hours sitting in Dick’s very cluttered office at Dick’s Camera and Video on First Avenue in Burien. He’d share Burien’s history and historical artifacts with me and tell me endless stories about the old days. Like most people in Burien, I bought my first camera from Dick (I was over 50, and it was a digital!).

And like most people in Burien, I considered Dick Dahlgard a friend.

As a 1954 graduate of Highline High School, Dick was a treasure-trove of information about the school and area.  When we last spoke, he was busy planning the 55th Reunion of the class of ‘54 which will take place next summer. The only time he was away from Burien was while he was in the service after high school.  He was proud of his kids and their service to our country. Daughter Paige served in the Washington Army National Guard in Baghdad, Iraq, while son Nels is a Marine currently stationed in California.

Among many venues of community service, Dick was the official photographer and promoter of The Hi-Liners from its very beginning; a board member of Discover Burien and past president of Merchants of Burien; and a board member and volunteer of The Highline Historical Society.

He was always proud of his 46-year association with Rotary International, especially the Burien/White Center chapter that meets every Thursday at 12 noon at Angelo’s of Burien. He was so devoted that he never missed a meeting in his entire 46 years.

Wanting to pay tribute to Dick, I caught up with a few local Rotarians Thursday prior to this week’s meeting, tragically the first missed by Dick in 46 years.  Many members were just hearing about his passing when they entered the weekly gathering.

We at the BTB cannot put into words what Dick Dahlgard meant to this community. Here’s what some of his fellow Rotarians and a few community leaders had to say about Dick:

If you’d like to share your thoughts on Dick, please do so in our Comments section below.

NOTE: to prevent spam comments, we kindly ask that if you haven’t yet registered, please register or log in to post a comment.

Jared Storer, son of Mark Storer and brother of Brian, both of whom died last week when their floatplane crashed, wrote the following message about yesterday’s memorial service on his blog last night:

Thanks to everyone who attended Mark & Brian’s Memorial Service today. It really meant a lot to the entire family to see so many supporters of our loved ones.

Both men would be extremely proud of the service.

Thanks to all volunteers of Church by the Side of the Road, John Knox Presbyterian Church, Normandy Christian Church, Maars Hill, Riverview Community Church, and all other groups for helping organize the service and reception.

As for the procession, a special thanks to North Highline Fire District, Bellevue Fire Department, Burien/Normandy Park Fire, Washington State Patrol, King County Sheriff’s Office, Port of Seattle Police, all towing companies in attendance, as well as security agencies, and other friends that drove in the procession.

Your overwhelming support is appreciated by the Storer family and was a true honor to Mark & Brian.

We estimate approximately 700 people in attendance at the service and 150 vehicles in the procession, primarily emergency vehicles.

Memorial Service Coverage:

• KOMO 4
• KIRO 7

Donations to the family of Brian Storer are currently being accepted at Sterling Savings Bank locations. The Storer Family Memorial Fund will benefit the 2 & 1 year old boys who lost their father.

More info at http://jaredstorer.blogspot.com/

TUKWILA – Burien Towing’s Mark and Brian Storer, killed last week when their floatplane crashed near Shelton, were honored today with a memorial service here.

The procession was highlighted by dozens of tow trucks (several vintage ones that Mark collected) in a procession that started at the Burien Towing offices on SW 149th, along with an honor guard and hundreds of mourners in the Church by the Side of the Road at this afternoon’s service.

More info:

• Son Jared’s Blog
• Mark Storer’s Obituary
• Brian Storer’s Obituary
• KOMO News Story (with video)
  

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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As we reported late last week, yesterday was the day that the White Center Park was be re-dedicated as Steve Cox Memorial Park, in memory of the late Deputy Steve Cox, a true community leader who inspired many with his dedication and hard work in the community.

Here is a Flickr slideshow from the event:

This Saturday, April 5th, White Center Park will be re-dedicated as Steve Cox Memorial Park, in memory of the late Deputy Steve Cox, a true community leader who inspired many with his dedication and hard work in the community.

Naming this park in his honor is a fitting tribute for the officer who was shot and killed while investigating an assault outside a White Center home back in December 2006.

His murder stunned the community, who revered Cox as a Superman, a larger-than-life prosecutor-turned deputy.

News video:

The park will include:

• Area: 12 acres
• Hours: Dawn to dusk
• Amenities: White Center Community Center, Mel Olson Stadium, children’s play area with play structures, tennis courts, picnic tables and barbecues, picnic shelter, baseball fields, racquetball courts, restrooms.
• Rentals: For information on renting facilities, please call 206-205-5275.

More info here.

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