This Saturday is ‘Children’s Day’ in Mexico, when you may hear the expression ‘Happy Dia de el Niño,’ and it’s also being celebrated at La Plaza, located at 23311 Pacific Highway South in Kent, from 3pm – 7pm.

According to the website Mexico Insights:

“Children’s Day has been a big deal in Mexico with parties, piñatas, outings, and gifts since its 1925 inception. How big a deal? The last Walmart advertising flier devoted the center 6-8 pages to Christmas-like displays of toys and games – this in a country where most children in working families receive just a couple of gifts for Christmas instead of the mountain of presents north of the border kids have come to expect.”

“And in some schools they give the day free or let the kids wear shorts and a colored shirt,” adds Wikipedia.

Here are the event details:

WHAT: Children’s Day!

WHEN: Saturday, April 30th from 3pm – 7pm.

WHERE: La Plaza, located at 23311 Pacific Highway South in Kent.

INFO: It’s FREE and open to the public, and will include:

• Balloons
• Games
• Pin?atas
• Prizes
• Cakewalk

by Scott Schaefer

Just days after her husband passed away, a 75-year old Burien widow was the victim of a telephone scam, and she wants our Readers to know how she was recently duped into sending money to a man she “thought she knew, but didn’t,” in Nogales, Mexico.

During the first phone call, received Tuesday, Feb. 15, the man fished for information from the woman, speaking in Spanish and asking her excitedly, “you know who this is, right?” She guessed by mentioning the name of a Mexican relative, and he claimed that, yes indeed, he was that very same man, and that he was driving “all the way up from Mexico just to see” her.

The next day, the scammer called the woman’s daughter and told her he had been in an accident. She was initially convinced it was the relative, since her Mother had told her about the man’s first phone call the day before. The fact that the man didn’t speak any English didn’t arouse much suspicion, as the daughter chalked that up to his stress from being in an accident.

However, the relative that the scammer was claiming to be also speaks fluent English, yet this man didn’t – a definite red flag.

The man was able to convince them both that he had been in an accident. The scammer claimed that he had two checks in his possession – for $4,000 and $3,000 (US) – but that he couldn’t cash either until he crossed the border and found a US bank. He then asked her for money to pay for the repairs on the car he hit, initially asking for “a couple thousand dollars.” She said she didn’t have that much. He then asked how much she could send, and she told him $180. The man quickly agreed to that amount.

She then wired $180 via Western Union to a woman in Nogales, Mexico named “Georgina Zamora Palafox,” who the man claimed was the woman in the accident whose car he hit. Western Union has since confirmed that the person who claimed the money was indeed that woman, and that she used a matching picture ID.

Later that day, the scammer called back and asked her to send him more. The victim said she didn’t have any more to send, but that her daughter might be able to help.

The victim, now getting suspicious, called the alleged man’s Mother in Mexico City to confirm that the man was who he said he was. When his Mother told her that the man was not traveling, was at home with his wife, she realized she had been scammed.

The woman’s daughter also talked to the man and he gave her a phone number to call back. Since this scam has been revealed, the man dialed the victim back several times today. She didn’t answer her phone, but recorded the number from Caller ID. Burien Police were unable to be on the scene to answer any of his calls on Thursday (Feb. 17).

“This man is missing his calling,” the victim said. “He should be an actor! He simulated realistic stress and excitement over the alleged accident very well. He also simulated affection and concern for the loss of my husband and for the pain I was in.”

Burien Police have been contacted, and the victim will soon be contacting the state Attorney General and the FBI.

For more information on how to detect, avoid and report telephone scams, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website here, or the FBI’s here.

Dia De Muertos, aka “Day of the Dead,” will be coming to the White Center Community Cultural Center on Nov. 1st and 2nd, and residents are encouraged to participate by building an alter, showing off some artwork or just visiting alters created by others.

This is one of our personally favorite holiday celebrations, not only for us to pay respects to our own departed loved ones, but to enjoy the very interesting and oftentimes humorous culture surrounding it.

The Community Cultural Center is located at 9421 18th Ave SW in White Center.

Here’s more info and a cool-looking flier:

DIA DE MUERTOS OR DAY OF THE DEAD is holiday celebrated in central and southern Mexico during the days of November 1 & 2.

Even though this coincides with the Catholic holiday called All Soul’s & All Saint’s Day, which is celebrated by Folks in parts of Italy, Spain, Central & South America and the Philippines.

The indigenous people of Mexico have combined this with their own ancient beliefs of honoring their deceased loved ones.

They believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children (angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. On November 2, the spirits of the adults allowed to come down.

In most Indian villages, beautiful altars (ofrendas) are made in each home. They are decorated with candles, buckets of flowers (wild marigolds) mounds of fruit, peanuts, plates of food, stacks of tortillas and big Day-of-the-Dead breads called pan de muerto. The altar needs to have lots of food, drinks, salt, bread and water for the weary spirits. Toys and candies are left for the angelitos, and on Nov. 2, cigarettes and shots of mezcal are offered to the adult spirits.

Day of the Dead is a very expensive holiday for these self-sufficient, rural based, indigenous families. Many spend over two month’s income to honor their dead relatives. They believe that happy spirits will provide protection, good luck and wisdom to their families. Ofrenda building keeps the family close.

On the afternoon of Nov. 2, the festivities are taken to the cemetery.

People clean tombs, play cards, listen to the village band and reminisce about their loved ones. Tradition keeps the village close.

Please join us in Celebrating the DIA DE MUERTOS by building an alter, showing off some artwork or just visiting the alters created by others.

Just when you thought that the fun with the skeletons and candy were done, today (Sunday, Nov. 1st) is the official start of Dia de las Muertes, an Hispanic celebration also known as “Day of the Dead.”

We here at The B-Town Blog love this celebration so much that we’ll be at Burien’s only known commemoration starting at 3:30pm, at the Interim Art Space on SW 151st just north of the new Town Square – it’s “Night of 1,000 Pumpkins”!

Sadly, this will be the final event held at B/ IAS before the dismantling begins and the space returns to an empty lot Dec. 31st – all the more reason to come up and celebrate one last time.

In case you’re not familiar with Dia de las Muertes, here’s some info from Wikipedia:

The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls’ Day) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints’ Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls’ Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.

Original Artwork by Danielle Burton. Click image to see large version.

The fun begins today at 3:30pm and goes until dark:

• Bring a carved Pumpkin (or more) with a candle to fill the site with 1,000 lit pumpkins (you can also carve one there)
• Bring something for the community Dia de las Muertes altar (photos of the departed, trinkets, symbols of their lives, etc.)
• Walk through the makeshift cemetery
• Dress up in Day of the Dead costumes/makeup (Calaveras, or skeleton costumes are perfect)
• Pay tribute to your departed loved ones and gather with your neighbor over food, drink and dance
• Celebrate your community, your family and friends one final time at this innovative space
• Face Painting
• Flower Making
• Grand Pumpkin Games
• Sand Painting by artist Amaranta Sandys in the lobby of the Burien Library
• Traditional foods and vendors
• Community created Altars

PERFORMERS:

• 4:30 to 6:30: Trio Lucero del Norte on the B/ IAS Site (Roots Music / Regional Mexican / Folk); 
Trío Lucero del Norte play traditional/regional Mexican music from the Huasteca. Specialists in son huasteco and huapango, they are currently the only local group who play son huasteco with the complete ensemble: violin, jarana and quinta huapanguera. Son huasteco is the zapateado style of Mexican son from the Huasteca region. It formed the basis for many styles of huapango that became popular throughout Greater Mexico. The Huasteca region encompasses the plains region of six states: Hidalgo, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Veracruz and Tamaulipas.
In addition to sones huastecos and huapangos, Trío Lucero del Norte interpret sones de costumbre for Day of the Dead and Carnaval, sones and cumbias in Náhuatl and Huastecan regional stylings of polkas, canciones rancheras, boleros and cumbias. The three members: Jose Hernández (violin), Modesto Antonio Hernández (quinta huapanguera) and Kim Carter Muñoz (jarana), met when Kim posted an add in the El Paisano, a Mexican Carnicaría/Grocery in White Center.
Kim traveled to Mexico for several years to study son huasteco and sones de costumbre for her graduate studies in Ethnomusicology. After playing with well-known son huasteco musicians in Mexico, including Los Cantores de Pánuco, Soraima y Sus Huastecos, Trio Chicóntepec, Los Caporales de Pánuco and others, she wanted to form her own trío in Seattle.
• 5:30 to 6:30: Los Flacos At the Burien Library; Join with Los Flacos for a musical celebration of El Día de los Muertos. This Latino music group performs a blend of the traditional sounds of Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. Using a variety of instruments, some indigenous to the Americas and others of European and African origin, they create their own renditions of the songs of Latin America. Gather together with friends at the Burien Library to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died. For More info on Los Flacos.
• 6:30 to 7:30: Pyrosutra on the B/ IAS Site; Pyrosutra is a fire dance collective based out of Seattle, Washington. We combine choreographed bellydance, breakdance and stilt walking with a wide range of professional fire performance techniques and innovative tools.
• 7:30 to 9:30: La Banda Gozona on the B/ IAS Site

Tapetes de Arena or Sand paintings
These “murals” are typically made of sand, sawdust, seeds, flower petals, and pigments. Traditionally, a tapete is made in the home when there is a death in the family. After a period of mourning, the tapete is swept up and entombed with the body of the deceased. Tapetes are also created all over Oaxaca for the Días de los Muertos celebration, and judged along with the ofrendas in the Concursos de Altares de Muertos.

Amaranta Sandys is been collaborating in the making of sandpaintings with Latino artists in Seattle for the last 10 years @ SAM and Tacoma Art Musuem.

We think that if you dig Tim Burton or Danny Elfman, or love Hispanic culture (or even just good ol’ fashioned dead people), you’re sure to enjoy this event (and we can assure you, we’ll be there…).

All pumpkins will be composted through a gift from King County Solid Waste.

Tuesday, May 5th is Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican holiday that gives everyone an excuse to take a shot of tequila on a weekday.

Oh, and it’s also the celebration of the Mexican army’s defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. However, it is not Mexican Independence Day, nor is it a national holiday in Mexico, but rather a day that can be observed voluntarily.

And no, we’re not going to mention swine flu in this story just to increase our Google pagerank.

Oops…we just did. Dang.

Here’s what’s going on:

BURIEN:
Azteca: 153 SW 157th: Happy Hour All Day 32oz Beer Special

La Costa: 206 SW 152nd: BIG PARTY 9pm-2am Drink Specials & Jello Shots NO COVER

El Rinconsito: 15101 Ambaum Blvd SW: Taco Plate Special

Vino Bello: 636 SW 152nd: 2pm-9pm Beer & Sangria Specials

Tin Room: 923 SW 152nd St: All Mexican Menu & Drink Specials

Sunnydale Tavern: 14404 Des Moines Memorial Drive: Live Music, Beer & Tequila Specials. Jello Shots

Twiggs: 12803 Ambaum Blvd SW: $3 Corona’s

Breaktime Lounge: 635 SW 152nd: $1.00 Taco’s

Barrel Tavern: 11051 1st Ave South: Beer & Food Specials, Regular Jam session. No Cover

WHITE CENTER:
McMurphy’s: 11069 16th Ave SW: Karaoke & Drink Specials

Marv’s Broiler: 9808 16th Ave SW: Appetizer & Drink Specials

Triangle Pub: 9454 Delridge Way SW: Beer & Tequila Specials

Viva Mexico: 10601 16th Ave SW: Beer & Tequila & Appetizer Specials

UPDATE 4/30 4pm

Still no known cases in the Burien area, and none have yet been confirmed by the CDC.

The 10 probable cases of swine flu in King County include:

• A male child of Seattle who was hospitalized and is improving
• A male in his 20s from Seattle, not hospitalized and improving
• A woman in her 30s from Seattle, not hospitalized and improving
• 7 additional probable cases in King County as of 4/30/09, 3:30pm (Public Health is still investigating and has not yet announced the locations or status)

Also, because one of the victims was a student at Seattle’s Madrona School, both Public Health and Seattle Public Schools decided to close the school for seven days, starting today, to reduce the ability of the infection to spread. The school is scheduled to re-open on May 7.

As for the Highline School District, there are no known cases or planned closures yet, and here’s the latest statement from their website (which concerned parents should check often as this news is developing quickly):

The first suspected cases of swine flu have been detected in Washington State, and Highline Public Schools is monitoring the illness and is working closely with Public Health-Seattle and King County and the national Centers for Disease Control as a precaution.

If more cases are reported in our area, Public Health will advise the district on closing schools.

PREVIOUSLY:

Just after 9pm Wednesday evening (4/29), King County Public Health Department announced that three probable cases of swine flu (H1N1) have been identified in the county.

All three were reported to be in Seattle, with none reported as being in the Burien area.

Laboratory samples have been sent to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Public Health – Seattle & King County is awaiting final confirmation.

Also today, the World Health Organization raised its pandemic swine flu alert level to Phase 5 – its second-highest level, and one that includes the language “a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent.”

The CDC has determined that the swine flu virus H1N1 is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

Symptoms of swine flu include:

• A fever of more than 100°F
• Coughing
• Joint aches
• Severe headache
• And, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea

“Now that swine flu is likely in King County, we expect to see more infections, but it’s too early to say how severe the illnesses will be. We are working to provide needed information and assistance to these people and their families. We are also working with health care providers and community partners to prepare in the event that the situation becomes more serious,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County.

“We’ve prepared for this day for the past four years, and now we must all do our part to reduce its spread,” said Ron Sims, King County Executive. “We encourage everyone to get prepared at home, find out about plans at your job, and take steps to protect yourself, your family and the community by staying home when you are sick, washing your hands often and covering your coughs and sneezes.”

“In the last few years, Seattle has prepared for pandemic flu. We will activate our Emergency Operations Center at the first level so our emergency operations personnel can coordinate procedures and communications,” said Greg Nickels, Seattle Mayor.

As of April 29, there are three probable cases of swine flu in King County, in addition to two cases in Snohomish County and one case in Spokane County.

The three King County residents with probable swine flu include:

• A male child of Seattle who was hospitalized and is improving
• A male in his 20s from Seattle, not hospitalized and improving
• A woman in her 30s from Seattle, not hospitalized and improving

Officials did not release any other information, such as whether the victims had traveled to Mexico recently.

When should you seek medical care?

Use the same judgment you would use during a typical flu season. Do not seek medical care if you are not ill or have mild symptoms for which you would not ordinarily seek medical care. If you have more severe symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches or are feeling more seriously ill, call your health care provider to discuss your symptoms and if you need to be evaluated.

Public Health will continue to work with health care providers to test flu patients who develop severe illness or are associated with clusters, but does not currently recommend testing for all flu patients.

If the following flu-like symptoms are mild, medical attention is not typically required: runny nose or nasal stuffiness; low-grade fever for less than 3 days; mild headache; body aches and mild stomach upset.

What can I do now to get prepared?

This is an excellent time to get prepared at home and work for a possible influenza pandemic. See www.kingcounty.gov/health/pandemicflu

Everyday behaviors to stay healthy

• If you are sick, stay home from work or school.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• To further prevent the spread of germs, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with sick people

What is swine flu?

“Swine flu” is an influenza A (H1N1) virus normally found in pigs. There are many such viruses and they rarely infect humans. The virus currently causing human illness is a new type of swine flu that has developed the ability to infect people and be transmitted from person to person.

Although this new virus is called “swine flu,” it is not transmitted from pigs to humans, or from eating pork products. Like other respiratory diseases, it is spread from person to person through coughs and sneezes. When people cough or sneeze, they spread germs through the air or onto surfaces that other people may touch.

Rest assured The B-Town Blog will be following this story closely, and we urge all readers to be vigilant in following the directions listed above, as well as seeking immediate help if you suffer from any associated symptoms.

For more information and frequent updates: www.kingcounty.gov/health/swineflu, or call the Public Health Hotline: 206-296-4949.

Here’s a link to a PDF called “Pandemic Flu Planning Guide” which is probably now worth a read.

by Scott Schaefer

Monday afternoon (4/27), the King County Council held a special session on the swine flu with public health experts, who reassured councilmembers that despite heightened monitoring, the swine flu that recently originated in Mexico has not yet spread to the area.

No cases of swine flu have yet to be reported in Burien, let alone King County or the entire state of Washington, according to Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. He said the 40 cases confirmed in the U.S. have been mild, with no serious illnesses or deaths.

“At Public Health we are actively preparing with our partners for the real possibility of swine flu here in our region,” said Dr. Fleming. “Whether or not swine flu arrives in King County, now is the time to get prepared. The more we are all prepared at home, the better we’ll be able to respond and recover.”

He said Public Health has asked local health care providers to notify them of suspected swine flu cases and has made arrangements with the state Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the submittal of suspect lab specimens.

Dr. Jeff Duchin, Disease Control Officer for Communicable Disease at Public Health – Seattle & King County, said the CDC has asked to receive all suspect lab specimens to ensure that cases that may appear as seasonal flu are not in fact the new strain of swine flu. He also said local providers are being advised on how to screen patients who present flu-like symptoms and that Public Health will investigate any cases of severe unexplained respiratory illness. Dr. Duchin said Public Health is recommending that the public not seek health care that they would not otherwise seek.

“Today I was pleased to hear that King County is as prepared as any jurisdiction in the event of a pandemic flu,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, chair of the King County Board of Health. “However, I am concerned that given the cuts proposed in the state budget and impending cuts to the County budget, our health department will have reduced capacity to respond to emergencies in the future.”

“The Council’s work in recent years calling for a pandemic flu response plan and stockpiling of Tamiflu means we are mobilized and ready to respond if swine flu strikes King County,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, sponsor of legislation to create a Pandemic Flu Preparedness Plan for King County.

Dr. Fleming said the framework already laid out by the King County Council for the County’s comprehensive planning for pandemic flu will provide effective guidance and that the current response will provide useful lessons for updating the plan. The Council in 2007 adopted the Pandemic Flu Preparedness Plan that recognizes:

• the County’s role in regional public health and emergency management response.
• the County’s duty as both a regional service provider and a local service provider for continued provision of police and paramedics, bus service, wastewater treatment and other public services in the event of a pandemic flu, and
• the County’s duty as a large employer to ensure that its own workplaces help prevent the spread of pandemic flu.

At Sea-Tac Airport, there’s no unusual alert or extra screenings of passengers yet, according to Port of Seattle spokesman Perry Cooper.

However, the airport does have a quarantine zone at the south satellite that has room for several hundred people. Apparently it’s only been used once before during a screening for avian flu.

Alaska Airlines flies daily to and from Mexico, and the next plane from Mexico City is due to arrive Wednesday.

More information about emergency health preparedness can be found at www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu.aspx.

For more information on Swine Flu, visit this website.

Here’s a “Swine Flu” map that shows that the nearest cases were up in Vancouver, B.C. and involved two men who had recently traveled to Mexico: