Burien native Dan Satterberg will prosecute play live at our Launch Party!

We’re proud to announce another addition to our upcoming Launch Party for SoKing Internet Radio – there will be a second live performance from a Burien native – King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg and his band the ‘Treehouse Dreamers‘!

Satterberg and his bandmate Rusty Fallis will perform two songs live after opening act Jordan Biggs plays, sometime between 6:20 – 6:45 p.m. in the theater. Be sure to get there early though (5/5:30 p.m.-ish) as we’re certain the joint will be packed. The event is FREE and open to the public; the Tin Theater is located at 923 SW 152nd in Olde Burien.

If you can’t attend though don’t fret – just bookmark sokinginternetradio.com and click on the “Listen Now” button around 6 p.m. Wed. Feb. 15th; if the stream is silent don’t worry, be patient and keep listening – we’re planning on pushing magical buttons and broadcasting live as close to 6 p.m. as we can!

The Prosecutor/Rocker was born and raised in the Burien/Normandy Park area, went to Highline High School in the 70s, then graduated from the UW before going on to become King County Prosecutor. On the side Dan is involved with two bands – Treehouse Dreamers, with all original music, and a cover band called The Approximations.

Satterberg will be the second local musician playing at our party, which we believe is a fitting way to launch! SoKing Internet Radio will be (far as we know) the first Internet Radio Station tied into a network of local blogs in the Northwest (perhaps the entire US), with a mission of promoting and showcasing local music from the region, with heavy emphasis on tracks from the South King County area. We plan on playing a lot of Treehouse Dreamers, along with many other local bands, musicians and songwriters from many different genres. If you’ve got some music you’d like us to consider, please email music@sokinginternetradio.com!

Here’s a video of Dan playing bass and singing “Played Before” with his band at Mick Kelly’s in 2008:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Highline Community Symphonic Band’s BAND FEST is coming to the Highline Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27.

BAND FEST will include performances by the Mt. Rainier High School Wind Ensemble, Kennedy High School Band, and Highline Community Symphonic Band.

The Mt. Rainier High School Wind Ensemble is their top performing ensemble. It is an audition group and plays challenging music for high school. Kennedy High School Band has won numerous accolades for their marching, jazz, and concert bands.

Highline Community Symphonic Band (HCSB), celebrating its 40th concert season, is dedicated to providing classical band music for the enjoyment and cultural enrichment of communities in and around the Highline area of South King County. HCSB performs quality concerts in a traditional venue without cost to the general public, while nurturing individual talents and continuously improving the skills of all HCSB members.

Established in 1971, HCSB provides a venue for local amateur musicians, post high school to senior citizens, to continue or return to the enjoyment and challenge of playing a wide range of concert band music. The band also provides an opportunity for selected high school instrumental students to expand their musical education by participating in a quality community symphonic band.

Highline Community Symphonic Band is supported, in part, by donations from the City of Burien Arts Commission, 4Culture, and Tukwila Parks Commission. More info at www.highlineband.org.

The Highline Performing Arts Center is located at 401 S. 152nd Street, next to Highline High School.

Here’s a video of the HCSB performing “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” in 2011 :

Click here to view the embedded video.

B-Town Blog reporter Bart Bryan called in to the newsroom minutes ago with the following phone report:

“Brian Partridge and Janie Kelly are playing at Advertiser The Barrel Tavern in north Burien tomorrow night, Saturday, February 11, starting at 9.

No cover, but lots of fun.

“They rock the gamut from Lady Gaga to Zeppelin to Fleetwood Mac to Aretha.

“Brian masters the keyboards and provides well-timed backup vocals. The light show is phenomenally 70s and 80s!”

Bart adds “I vouch for ‘em! You won’t be disappointed. Put on your dancing shoes!

“And lead singer Janie with a pitch-perfect voice and just the right touch of showmanship sings leads.

“She knocked them out through two rounds of American Idol tryouts last year in Portland, Oregon. And you many see her go even further sometime soon.

“See you there. The Barrel is located at 11051 1st Avenue South in Burien.”

Highline School District teacher Beverly Mowrer received the highest honor in the 2012 Golden Apple Awards sponsored by KCTS 9.

Mowrer was awarded the Stanley O. McNaughton Award, which recognizes one educator or program in Washington state whose commitment inspires academic or vocational success.

Mowrer was selected from among nearly 200 individuals and programs nominated from public and private schools across the state. The panel of Golden Apple judges included representatives from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington Education Association, Washington State Parent Teacher Association, Association of Washington School Principals and past Golden Apple Award honorees.

Mowrer teaches at New Start, an alternative high school that serves students in a creative and flexible learning environment. She is known for her innovative approach to teaching and her ability to rally the community around her students.

From the Golden Apple web page:

Beverly Mowrer’s students were once on the verge of dropping out. Some have been homeless or tangled in the legal system, many are financially stressed. For these young adults, finishing school can be the last thing on their mind. And yet, with the attitude that “teaching is not my job… it’s my calling,” she helps her students want to learn for themselves and earn a high-school diploma. She works tirelessly to involve the community in her mission, once organizing a trip aboard a 1917 wooden tall ship after which the crew was so impressed with the motivation and commitment of her students, they pulled together a 3-day excursion. Last year, her students won a King County Earth Hero Award for their work to remove invasive species and restore native plants to Salmon Creek Ravine near their school. “She goes above and beyond to motivate learners who otherwise have no place to go,” says one colleague. “She cares for her students as though they are her family.

Mowrer and other Golden Apple honorees will be featured in a primetime broadcast on KCTS 9 on March 1 at 8 p.m. The program will be re-broadcast on April 8 at 3 p.m. and April 16 at Noon.

PREVIOUSLY: BTB Reader Nic Templeton wants everyone to know that he found this female dog in Boulevard Park, near the intersection of South 124th and 10th Ave South Friday:

Click image to see larger version.

“After nearly running over this dog twice, we grabbed her and put her in our yard,” Nic said. “She looks to be well kept, and very young, she has a collar but no tags.”

Nic adds that they plan to take her to a vet Saturday and have her checked for a microchip.

“Even if she isn’t chipped she’ll be off to the shelter,” he adds. “She is a very sweet dog, I really hope we can find her family.”

If you recognize this dog, please contact Nic at nic@nictempleton.com or at 206-437-8667.

Volunteers are needed to help with two upcoming invasive plant removal work parties – the first at Walker Preserve Saturday, Feb. 18 and the second at a stream in Burien Monday, Feb. 27.

Donuts, along with gloves and tools, will be provided, and workers are asked to bring:

• Your enthusiasm
• Clothing that will protect you from the rain and blackberry thorns
• Filled water bottle
• Gloves if you have them
• Pruners

Here are the specific details:

WHAT: Walker Preserve Invasive Plant Removal

WHEN Saturday, February 18, 2012, 9:30 a.m. – Noon

WHERE: SW 168th Street and 2nd Ave SW in Normandy Park, up the road from Normandy Park City Hall.  If driving, your parking options include:

• Three spaces in the small lot at SW 171st St. and Second Ave. S.W.
• On the street along SW. 168th St.

INFO: Stewardship Purpose: Improve habitat along the stream by removing non-native, invasive plants.

Activities:

• Seek out English ivy and remove it from trees and pull roots out of the ground.
• Seek out Himalayan blackberry plants, cut them back, and then dig out the root balls.

RSVP:  See below for what to bring and how to sign up.

The second event:

WHAT: Streamside Invasive Plant Removal in Burien.

WHEN: Monday, February 27, 9:00 am – 11:30 a.m.

INFO: Neighbors will meet at SW 158th Street near 7th Ave SW to remove ivy from trees along the stream.  This stream is a tributary to Miller Creek, which supports spawning coho and chum salmon. Please park along the street.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  There are no restrooms at either site.

CONTACT/INFO: Elissa Ostergaard, elissa.ostergaard@kingcounty.gov, 206-296-1909 (Day of event only: 206-707-6549)

Also, check the Volunteer Event Calendar for other stewardship opportunities in the basin.

These stewardship projects are a joint effort of the City of Normandy Park, the City of Burien, the City of Seatac, King County, the Port of Seattle, and the Miller and Walker Creeks Stewardship program.

Click image to see larger version. Photo by Amanda Zancanella.

We’re proud to announce an exciting new feature to our upcoming Launch Party for SoKing Internet Radio (to be held at the Tin Theater from 5:30-7pm Wed., Feb. 15) – a special live performance from Burien native Jordan Biggs and his band!

Biggs will perform the first songs officially aired on our innovative new radio station live, just after 6 p.m. in the theater, so be sure to get there before then (it’s FREE and open to all but we think it could get packed so show up early, say around 5-5:30 p.m.!).

Born at Highline Hospital and raised in the Burien area, Biggs has been playing music and singing since he could walk and talk. He attended Seahurst Elementary School, Sylvester Middle School, and graduated from Highline High School.

The first 100 people to show up at our Launch Party will receive this groovy SoKing Internet Radio oval car sticker!

We think it’s only fitting to kick off our innovative new locally-driven station with a local talent like Biggs, who writes all his own songs, and recently recorded several with a well-known Producer named Lewis Richards, at 17th Street Records in Costa Mesa, CA.

“I’m big into family, friends, and enjoying life,” Biggs said. “My daughter is the light in the darkness that I call my world. My music speaks for itself. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoy making it.”

To give you a taste of what kind of music to expect at our party, here’s a video of Biggs doing “Once Again” featuring Kat Nestel (learn more about Biggs here):

Click here to view the embedded video.

BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s Open House for this week is an impeccable West Seattle Craftsman built in 2005, like new inside and out.

Steps to Lincoln Park and located on a dead-end street, this gorgeous home has Olympic, Sound and territorial views with amazing sunsets!

There’s also a huge Chef’s kitchen with granite counters and family room, plus formal dining room, outstanding Master bedroom with fireplace and beautiful bathroom and much more!

Here are the details:

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 12th, from 1pm – 5pm.

WHERE: 7808 45th Ave SW, West Seattle, WA 98136

INFO:

• List Price: $647,000
• Listing #: 288304
• Beds: 4
• Baths: 2.5
• Year Built: 2005
• Approximate House SqFt: 3,600
• Lot Square Footage: 7,500

Interior Features:

• Bath Off Master
• Built-In Vacuum
• Dble Pane/Strm Windw
• Dining Room
• Fireplace in Mstr BR
• High Tech Cabling
• Security System
• Skylights
• Pantry
• Walk-in Closet

Marketing Remarks:

Impeccable Craftsman built in 2005, like new inside & out.

Steps to Lincoln Park & located on a dead end street.

Olympic, sound & territorial views w/amazing sunsets! Mezzanine formal entry, open floor plan great for entertaining.

Tall ceilings w/high end finishes throughout.

3 frplcs, Brazilian Cherry flrs.

Huge Chefs kitchen w/granite counters & family rm plus formal dining rm.

Outstanding mstr bdrm w/frplc & beautiful 5 pc bthrm.

Decks, ex finished rm, 3 car garage.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

A home invasion robbery took place Wednesday night (Feb. 8th) around 10:19 p.m., where a group of three knocked on the door of a house in the 13500 block of 6th Ave SW in Burien (map below), forced their way inside, physically assaulted a female resident, stole her credit cards, Xbox, games, jewelry and finally her car before escaping, according to Burien Police Sgt. Henry McLauchlan.

We were first tipped to this crime by a neighbor of the victims, whose door was knocked on first by the suspects. The suspect asked him “is Patrick there?” before being told they had the wrong house. The neighbor was immediately suspicious of the stranger, who quickly walked away.

According to our source, whose story was corroborated by the police, the suspects then went to the next house on the same block, where they asked the female resident if her husband was home. When she said no, they forced their way inside and robbed her. While the neighbor did not witness the home invasion, by then he had called the Burien Police non-emergency line, where the dispatcher told him there was a robbery in progress next door (our source was unable to intervene, as the perps had escaped by then).

The three suspects were described as a tall, thin African-American male (who knocked on the door), a younger Hispanic boy, and a 40-ish, heavyset African-American woman who was “clearly the ringleader” according to the neighbor.

The victim, a smaller-framed East Indian woman, told her neighbor the following details:

• No weapons were visible during the robbery, although force was used and the victim was physically assaulted.
• At one point during the robbery, the female ringleader threatened to kill the victim with the cord of a wall charger.
• The young Hispanic boy continually apologized to the victim as he pilfered through her belongings.
• At one point the boy referred to the female ringleader as “Momma.”
• One of the stolen credit cards was attempted to be used at the AM/PM Mini-Mart on Ambaum and SW 136th around 3 a.m. Thursday morning.
• The victim was hosting a friend from out of the country, whose credit cards and cell phone were also stolen.

“We love the blog and we want to make the community aware,” said our source, who prefers to remain anonymous. “Do NOT answer your door, even in the middle of the day, if you don’t know who’s there. Also, get motion sensor lights, or a dog, and other deterrents.”

Sgt. McLauchlan concurs:

“If somebody knocks at your door and you don’t know who they are, don’t open the door – you can talk to them through the door. The best words of warning I can give are make sure you have a peephole, make sure you identify the people before you open the door, If they want to use your phone or they need help calling do not let them in your house – make the phone call for them, and if you have any suspicions about them call 911 immediately.”

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by Jack Mayne

The majority of the 36 schools in the Highline School District were rated as good, very good or exemplary, for the 2010-2011 school year by the State Board of Education.

The remaining 15 were rated as fair or struggling.

A 2009 state law required the state board to create an Accountability Index of more than 2,000 public schools, to determine whether schools are fulfilling their duty to provide a quality education for every child. Test scores are just one part of the data collected by the state, said Catherine Carbone Rogers, Highline School’s director of communications and community relations.

In the analysis of the relatively new data, the Washington Policy Center in Seattle said 42 percent of the state’s 871 K-12 schools were ranked as “fair” or “struggling,” while 23.5 percent were “very good” or “exemplary”.

Highline’s numbers
Numbers show that of the Highline district’s 36 schools and state education board rated three schools in the “exemplary” category and another three in the “very good” category. (See the complete list below.)

There are 15 schools in the middle “good” category, 13 schools in the “fair” category and only one school – Odyssey High School on the former Tyee campus in SeaTac – in the state’s lowest rating, “struggling.”

About five years ago, two high schools were split up into smaller facilities located on the former Tyee and Evergreen campuses, “so that students can interact more in a smaller group where teachers and students know each other better and that teachers know each other better and can coalesce.” Odyssey is one of the resultant schools.

School officials “know that if a student is struggling in a certain area a teacher in one class can collaborate with a teacher in another class to bring that student up to grade level.”

But the low rating prompted changes in the Odyssey’s operation, Rogers said.

“The idea is that if a school is struggling, you don’t want to keep doing the same thing you have been doing,” she said.

Odyssey was once a school for nearby residents.

“It is now a district-wide choice school . . . and it uses a different model. Instead to talking about credit hours, they measure students in terms of competency and they are doing more with technology. They are piloting what they call ‘blended learning’ where there is more use of technology as a teaching tool to provide learning opportunities for kids.”

Odyssey High School is the only one rated "struggling."

Highest rated schools
Three Highline schools were rated “exemplary” by the state. Two are Aviation High School and Southern Heights Elementary School. The third is on the same Tyee campus with “struggling” Odyssey – it is Global Connections.

“They focus on a personalized education with a small school model,” Rogers said. “They are very much about college preparation (and) they have made big improvements in their student achievement and that is what earned them that ‘exemplary’ rating.”

She said almost all Highline schools are formed around service areas and the Highline School Board has a policy of neighborhood schools. A few, like Odyssey and Aviation High, are open to any student in the district (Aviation is also open to some from outside the district).

“If you live in the SeaTac or the Tyee Service Area, you would have a choice of attending Global Connections, the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment, Odyssey, Aviation or other alternatives,” she said.

She said the district is continually working to improve its educational mandate, but noted there are no simple fixes.

“We celebrate our improvements, but we realize we have a long way to go and we keep working at it,” Roger said.

Highline Schools and State School Board Accountability Index Scores: