Imagine having photos with Santa without waiting in line at the mall or downtown in bad weather. This year it’s happening right here in Burien at Photography by Steven.

You can call it a “virtual” line, as all you have to do is click here to schedule your completely private photo session for your kids or family.

NOTE: The good Elves suggest that if you want to book your Santa Photos, you’d best be like Donner and Blitzen and act fast, as there’s limited space and this will be the final weekend!

This will be the final weekend that Santa and Mrs. Claus are stopping by at Photography by Steven’s Burien studio at 243 SW 152nd Street:

• Friday December 9th – Sunday December 11th

Packages start at $20 and Christmas cards are available.

Steve and Ann have been providing professional photography in the Highline area for over 10 years. They specialize in high school seniors, babies, family and wedding photography.

With their state-of-the-art digital studio they also offer immediate viewing. Yes, you’ll get to see your picture of your special time with Santa and the family right then and there!

No lines… no malls… photos… cards… all starting at just $20.

Remember your Santa photos are just a click away.

Complete package pricing is online.

For more information call us at 206-433-0988.

If you’re a parent (or were once a kid), you know that there’s nothing quite like the holiday magic that goes by the name ‘Santa Claus.’

Discover Burien has an easy way for you to create that excitement, sparkle and joy this season – Letters from Santa! That’s right, for just $5, you can get a specialized letter from jolly ol’ St. Nick himself!

“Santa provides this great opportunity to communicate with your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, spouse or friend,” reads a flier. “Share the excitement and joy of opening a personalized letter from Santa from the North Pole, sealed with a gold foil seal.

“Let Santa tell your son he’s been a good boy, but does need to clean his room more. Or, compliment a behavior change, good grades or activity in sports.

“Send one to a friend to tell them they have been naughty and they need to call you more! Tell your husband that he needs to take his wife out to dinner!”

To get your own personalized letter from St. Nick, download and complete this form (PDF file) with as much information as possible, mail it in to the address below, and Santa will create a personalized letter for everyone to enjoy.

Please note that the deadline to order your Letter is Saturday, Dec. 17!

Letters From Santa
916 SW 152nd Street
Burien, WA 98166

For more information call (206) 941-7199

All monies collected will go toward the WinterFest Event on SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien & Downtown Burien, to be held December 3rd. Discover Burien is a non-profit association working on economic development, promotion/ marketing, education and design of the Burien community. Thank you for your support!

Photos and Story by Michael Brunk

A local tradition for over 25 years, “Light Up The Holidays” is an annual effort by Fire District #2 to provide the makings of a happy holiday to area families in need.

Lt. John Zilke (R) with volunteers

Organized by firefighter Lt. John Zilke, the fire department works with local businesses and the community to gather food, gifts and cash donations in the months leading up to Christmas. Names of needy families are provided by the Department of Social and Health Services.

The ultimate goal? To make sure that each family on the list has a complete turkey dinner with all the trimmings and gifts for the children in the family.

All of the hard work came to fruition this past Wednesday, December 22 when a mass of volunteers arrived in the parking garage of the Town Square condos to sort, pack, load and ultimately deliver the goods to the 48 families on this year’s list.

Coming along to supervise the gift distribution was Santa Claus himself, ladened with additional toys and candy canes to pass out to children we met along the way.

Santa John Nielsen follows volunteers to the next delivery on our list

At each address our convoy of fire engines and support vehicles would stop, unload the boxes of food and gifts for each address and a team of volunteers would haul them along sidewalks, up stairs and into the home of the receiving family.

By the time we’d get back to the trucks, the word would spread and an army of children would be flocking outside to meet Santa and receive a candy cane and stuffed animal or wooden toy.

It’s the kind of experience that works to recalibrate your Christmas spirit.

After seeing the huge smiles on the faces of kids and families from what seems like such a small gift, you can’t help but to reflect a little differently on the happiness in your own life. I think it’s safe to say that the volunteers involved get as much out of the day as the families.

Here’s a selection of photos I shot throughout the day set to a little holiday music. It’s a pale imitation compared to actually participating in an experience like this, but I hope it contributes something to your own sense of the holiday spirit.

Click to Play the Slideshow

Kids and parents spending time at the Indoor Tot Spot on Tuesday morning were surprised by a jolly visitor dressed all in red.

The Indoor Tot Spot is a program hosted at the Burien Community Center located at 14700 6th Ave SW. Every Tuesday morning from 10AM to noon kids up to 5 years old can spend time playing in the large, indoor play area.

The play area is equipped with ride-on-toys, tumbling mats, playground equipment and plenty more. The cost is $2 per child or $18 for a 10 visit punch card.

Adding to the excitement on Tuesday morning was the special visit by Santa Claus himself, handing out candy canes and taking time for photos. He even tossed a ball or two around.

Photographer Michael Brunk stopped by and shot these photos.

Discover Burien is sponsoring its annual “Letters to Santa” campaign, which is a great opportunity for Santa himself to communicate directly with your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, spouse, friend or heck, even enemy!

For just $5, Santa will write to whomever you’d like (make checks payable to “Discover Burien Association”) – let St. Nick tell your son he’s been a good boy, but he needs to clean his room more. Or compliment a behavior change, good grades, sports activities, a good haircut – you name it, Santa will write about it (okay, within reason of course…).

But hurry, as the deadline is Dec. 17th!

All monies collected will go toward this year’s Winterfest in Olde Burien on Dec. 5th. It’s a great way to keep your money local, support another great local cause (Discover Burien) and treat someone to a special, one-of-a-kind gift.

To download the form, click here for a PDF file.

Here’s more from a flier:

Create Excitement, Sparkle & Joy This Holiday Season!

Santa provides this great opportunity to communicate with your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, spouse or friend. Share the excitement and joy of opening a personalized letter from Santa from the North Pole, sealed with a gold foil seal.

Let Santa tell your son he’s been a good boy, but does need to clean his room more. Or, compliment a behavior change, good grades or activity in sports.

Send one to a friend to tell them they have been naughty and they need to call you more! Tell your husband that he needs to take his wife out to dinner!

Create excitement and joy that will last for years and will be the family discussion of the season.

Be part of the magic this holiday season with a specialized letter from Santa. Complete the form with as much information as possible and Santa will create a personalized letter for everyone to enjoy.

Create lasting excitement and joy this season.

Letters From Santa
916 SW 152nd Street
Burien, WA 98166

These letters are being produced by Marketing Innovations for Discover Burien Association. All monies collected will go toward the WinterFest Event on SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien & Downtown Burien, to be held December 5th. Discover Burien is a non-profit association working on economic development, promotion/ marketing, education and design of the Burien community.

For more information call one of Santa’s Elves directly: (206) 941-7199.

Click image to download PDF form.

Santa arrives on a fire truck at last year's tree lighting ceremony. Photo by Michael Brunk.

“It’s that time of year and the Burien Tree Lighting Festival is near,” reminds Jay Smith, proprietor of BTB Advertiser Economy Wiring / YB Tubless.

Save the date: Wednesday, Dec. 1st at 6pm.

It’s a Wednesday and Santa will be there. He’ll be showing up on a “Christmas Red” fire engine proudly accompanied by Burien/Normandy Park firefighters.

It all happens at that large, lovely and living Fir tree at the Economy Wiring / Y B Tubless store located at 633 S.W. 148th St. in Burien.

The St. Francis School Choir will grace the occasion with traditional Christmas and Holiday songs.

Treats and hot beverages will be available for everyone.

“We will also be collecting canned food for local families,” says Economy/YB Tubless Operations Manager Shawn Becker.

“Please bring any non-perishable food items you can spare. There are more families in need than any time in recent memory. Your help is much appreciated.”

Come out and enjoy the evening!

Burien’s annual WinterFest is coming to Olde and Downtown Burien on Saturday, Dec. 5th from 10am to 5pm, with a bunch of FREE activities for the entire family, including carriage rides, photos with reindeer, kids crafts, hay rides, human (and dog) photos with Santa, along with (not-free)

Here are the details:

WHAT: Burien’s annual WinterFest

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 5th from 10am to 5pm

WHERE: Olde Burien & Downtown Burien

COST: FREE!

INFO: There will also be numerous in-store specials during the day, along with hot treats and the following:

• Free Carriage Rides from 2pm – 5pm
• Free Photos with Reindeer at Goodie Gumdrops
• Free Kids Crafts at Collins Chiropractic
• Free Hay Rides 11am – 3pm
• Free Dog Photos with Santa at The Mark Restaurant
• Wine Tasting at Vino Bello Wine Bar
• Free Photos with Santa at John L. Scott

Main sponsors of the event include:

• Moss Chiropractic
• John L. Scott Real Estate
• Taproot Church
• Prudential Northwest Realty
• Discover Burien

You know ’tis the season when Santa Claus himself arrives in Burien, delivered to the city’s big ol’ fir tree at Advertiser Economy Wiring/YB Tubless by B-Town’s finest firefighters!

Ol’ St. Nick made it safely of course, led this time not by a reindeer with a bright red shiny nose, but driven in a bright red shiny fire truck courtesy the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department.

Children from St. Francis School sang carols, goodies were given out, the tree was lit up, and our own Photographer Michael Brunk showed up to capture this Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Longtime owner Gwin Smith started this tradition in 1966 when he first bought Economy Wiring. In the first eight years of the tree lighting, Gwin climbed the huge fir tree himself to install the lights and then climbed back up in January to take them down. This changed some years ago, when the fire department took responsibility for installing and removing the lights.

You can see the festive bright lights on the big tree yourself every day around dusk at Economy Wiring’s location at 633 SW 148th Street (Phone: 206-244-7542).

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Santa will be arriving in Burien to help light up our big fir tree, along with firefighters, the St. Francis School Choir, free treats and much more at the annual Tree Lighting Festival on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd beginning at 6pm.

The ceremony will take place at the large Fir tree at BTB Advertiser’s Y-B Tubless store, located at 633 SW 148th in Burien.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 2nd beginning at 6pm

WHERE: The giant Fir tree at YB Tubless, located at 633 SW 148th

INFO: Santa will arrive with Burien firefighters on a fire engine and the St. Francis School Choir will sing Christmas songs.

Treats and hot beverages will be available for everyone.

We will also be collecting canned food for local needy families.

Come out and enjoy the evening.

10:45am 12/24/08 UPDATE: The soggy rain transition period continues, and with it comes potential new dangers like clogged storm drains, slushy roads, large walls of plowed, heavy snow and excessive roof loads.

Some updates:

• The City of Burien’s offices will be open until 2pm this afternoon.
• All Burien Parks and Recreation programs are canceled for the week.
• Far as we know, most restaurants in Burien are open today (including The Mark)
• Normandy Park residents have until 3:30pm to haul their own garbage/recycling to one of two locations for disposal (think of yourself as Santa; read this post here for details)
• Metro Transit is focusing on core service until weather and road conditions improve, which means bus service will be significantly limited during the weather emergency. Information about bus status is available on Metro’s Ice & Snow page, which is updated frequently. You can also call the Metro Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000, but call volumes are high and there may be a wait to talk to a CIO representative.
• Burien’s garbage & recycling service has been canceled for today, Dec. 24 (Waste Management) http://www.wmnorthwest.com/weatherboard.html
• Residents are advised to avoid piling snow on top of storm drains when shoveling sidewalks and driveways. Storm drains need to be kept clear, so when the snow melts the runoff has some place to go. Residents are encouraged to clear snow from storm drains, when streets are clear of cars, after snow and ice starts to thaw. Clearing snow from storm drains will help to reduce the amount of localized flooding, which is likely to occur based on weather forecasts of warming temperatures and rain.

Here’s some info from the City of Burien’s website on excessive roof loads:

Recent weather conditions in the region resulting in abnormally heavy snowfalls may result in excessive roof loads on buildings due to the accumulation of snow and ice.

The series of snow storms that have hit the state have left several inches of snow and ice on roofs, which have added to the total weight that trusses and rafters must support. A cubic foot of snow can weigh from seven pounds for snow that is new and dry up to 30 pounds for old, compacted snow. Rain falling on accumulated snow will add even more weight. The combination of these factors and the recent forecast which calls for more snow and rain over the next couple of days may cause an excess of snow loading on many roofs.

Watch for Early Warning Signs of Overloading:

• Be on the watch for these warning signs:
• Severe roof leaks, indicating torn roof membranes.
• Ripples or bends in metal supports.
• Loud popping noises emanating from the building structure.
• Water ponds in areas where it never accumulated before.
• Obvious deformities in the roof.

What to do if you Suspect Overloading
When snow removal is necessary, it should be remembered that unsafe procedures may cause a collapse and injuries. Anyone working on a roof must have adequate fall protection and keep in mind that workers and others nearby can be injured by snow being dumped from a roof.

Once it has been determined that the snow must be removed, there are several options for snow removal.

Most roofing contractors are equipped to handle snow removal from the roof of your home and buildings.

Another option is to remove the snow yourself. The best way to do this is to get up on your roof and push the snow off with a broom or shovel. It is important to use ladders, safety ropes and take necessary precautions.

Snow rakes also can be used to remove snow. When using a snow rake, use extreme caution when working near overhead electrical power lines. Also, avoid excessive scraping on the roof or trying to chip off any ice.

And finally, here’s a cool website where kids of all ages can watch Santa’s progress as he delivers his goodies around the world:

• NORAD Tracks Santa