As May nears its gray, drizzly and at times way-too-cold end, it’s hard to believe that the 4th of July is just over a month away, which means we’re entering the final stretch of fundraising for Burien’s annual Three Tree Point Fireworks Fund.

As you can see in the photo above (taken Tuesday, May 31st), this year’s goal is $24,000, but the total raised thus far is only $12,500 – Organizers still need to raise $11,500, or nearly 48% of the total required to fund this great local tradition.

If you’ve already donated, Organizers shout-out a huge “THANKS for your generosity!” in your direction.

If you haven’t, you can either do it online safely and securely by clicking here:

(Safely & Securely with a Credit Card)

Or by sending in a check made out to “Three Tree Point Fireworks Fund” to:

Three Tree Point Fireworks Fund
P.O. Box 385
Seahurst, WA 98062

This is a non-profit, all-volunteer based organization, and its sole mission is to help continue a great community tradition.

Money raised for this annual event will go towards fees for the professional pyrotechnics firm that puts on the show, as well as barge, tug, security, insurance, permit fees and dumpsters for the all-important 5th of July clean up.

Please note that you do NOT have to live in the neighborhood to donate – if you’ve ever enjoyed the display, or plan on enjoying it in the future, please do your karma a favor by giving something – no donation is too small!

Organizers are also still open to Corporate Sponsors for this year’s festivities, and initial Sponsors include:

Key Bank (Burien branch)

Design In A Day

Safe Boats International

The Tin Room Bar

Highline Athletic Club

Seahurst Dental Design (Dr. Jim Coleman)

Gordon Derr, Attorneys At Law

The B-Town Blog (Media Sponsor)

If you’d like to join these locally-minded business leaders, click here to learn more about how you can become a Sponsor, email info@3treepoint.org, or call one of the Co-Chairs – Scott Schaefer or Laura Beth Peterson – directly at (206) 659-1282 anytime.

Celebrating 32 years in the Burien community, El Dorado West is a gracious, single level building close to all the in-city conveniences.

Relax and enjoy retirement amidst a thoughtful, caring community with access to excellent health care facilities, convenient shopping malls, bus lines, and the excitement of downtown Seattle.

Residents enjoy major league sports, world-class art and theater all within a 15-minute drive.

By using a simple yet comprehensive fee schedule, El Dorado’s retirement community offers you the security and freedom of a healthy, independent lifestyle…without the time-consuming responsibilities of expensive home ownership.

At El Dorado West, we strive to enhance the quality of your life. Whether you are pursuing an active, independent lifestyle or you require more personal living assistance.

It’s all part of a very simple philosophy: Bring retirement to life at El Dorado West!

And soon, the B-Town Blog will be featuring interviews with some of El Dorado’s fascinating residents, so stay tuned!

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Under the terms of the deal, Microsoft will pay the Sounders roughly $4 million a season for five years, according to people familiar with the arrangement.

Unfortunately, when a player gets “Blue Screened” and has to be re-booted, the entire cache of the stadium must be cleared and the BIOS re-set, but this usually only takes about seven to eight minutes…

In the summer of 2000, Keli Sim-DeRitis, a freelance graphic designer, went on an extended family vacation to Italy to visit her husband’s relatives. While there she fell in love with the vibrant colors and unique designs of the Italian pottery as well as the Italian culture.

After returning home she found a local Italian food importer and worked on developing a business idea, identity and packaging for a corporate gift line of artisan olive oil and hand-painted ceramic dipping bowls. The name “Poggi Bonsi” came from the Tuscan town of “Poggibonsi”…while on vacation Keli and her family got lost every day and kept running into signs directing them to “Poggibonsi,”  they had so much fun learning how to pronounce the name and repeating it again and again, that it stuck.

Keli recruited her friend and fellow entrepreneur, Michelle Codd—a floral and container garden designer–whom she had met through their children’s preschool to become a partner.

In August of 2003 a friend approached them with an offer of a small retail space in the Olde Burien Shopping District. Using Michelle’s strong background in floral design and visual merchandising and Keli’s background in graphic design along with a common work ethic and drive, they created a tiny gem of a store in only one-month’s time. This first store, at 929 SW 152nd St. opened in September of 2003 selling Italian ceramics, linens, olive wood and specialty foods.

The retail store soon gained a following and in September of 2004 they launched their online store www.poggibonsigifts.com and a larger retail outlet at 901 SW 152nd Street. In March 2006 they again expanded with Cucina, their kitchen store, located just down the block at 907 SW 152nd st.

Today Poggi Bonsi has 9 employees, imports products from Italy, France, Spain and Portugal and ships them from their Burien location to customers across the United States. The first time they shipped an order from Olde Burien to New York City was quite an event. Since then they’ve gained many loyal customers from Burien and beyond. Some special orders have been: a wedding present to Glenn Close—a Christmas gift to Mario Batali—and selling home décor items to Kelsey Grammer’s interior designer.

They are now in the midst of redesigning their online store and adding a blog with stories from their travels abroad.

We welcome Poggi Bonsi to the B-Town Blog family, thank them for not removing our little yard sign in front of their store, and ask all readers to please support them by clicking on their ad on the right sidebar and checking them out!

Please support our latest sponsor by clicking on her bright shiny new ad on the right and checking out her special offer!