Did you know that there’s a Highline Lacrosse Club in the area?

Well, there is.

And they’re now looking for boys between 5th and 12th grade to signup and play.

Here are the details, courtesy Staci McLaughlin:

WHAT: Highline Lacrosse Club signups for 5th-12th-grade boys.

WHEN: Signups are going on now; Season runs from March through May.

WHERE: Early pre-season practices are going on now at the Normandy Park City Hall Gym.

INFO: Please visit the website for more information regarding Highline Lacrosse Club and this exciting sport: www.highlinelax.shutterfly.com.

No experience with Lacrosse is necessary, as most players are beginners.

If you have any questions, please call Staci McLaughlin at 206-999-7094.

The second annual “Cove To Clover” fundraiser 5K race will be Sunday, March 14th, winding its way from the Normandy Park Community Club up the dreaded “snake hill” to the finish line in front of Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub.

We’re proud to be a Sponsor of this great event, which serves as a fundraiser for the Highline Food Bank. Last year over $12,000 was raised, and this year’s goal is $20,000!

If you’re interested in registering, please click here.

If you thought last year’s race was fun and challenging, just wait until you get a whiff of some o’the new elements for 2010. It’s as if the dial on the family-friendly funometer has been cranked up to 11 – check out some of the new features:

• The race begins at 1pm on Sunday, March 14th at Normandy Park Community Club. The course winds up “snake hill” all the way to the Gregory Heights neighborhood, past St. Francis of Assisi, crosses 152nd street with the finish line in Burien Town Square, where there will be a traditional Irish Festival.
• This challenging course takes its toll on even the most seasoned runners! Two water stops are provided, and racers will be rewarded with music from an Irish Piper when the reach the top of the ominous “snake” hill.
• Again there is a 1-mile Family Race which begins at St. Francis and follows the last of the 5K course.
• NEW: “While You Run” childcare, check your kids in at the Family Race start. Run the first 2 miles of the 5K, check your kids back out to run the Family Race together. Your 5K time will suffer of course.
• NEW: Pub Crawl – Friday March 12th!
• NEW: School Registration Contest! $5 from each registration fee can be donated to the local school of your choice! Just—type in your school’s name at registration–the school with the most registrations will be awarded an additional $1,500! Registrations can track their school’s progress at www.covetoclover.com/schools.
• NEW: School Limerick Contest — A $500 prize will be awarded to the school (or non-profit for non- student entries) who present the winning Limerick! Limerick contest details at www.covetoclover.com/limerick. BTW, we’re working on our own Limerick that starts “There once was a man from B-Town…”
• NEW: Start Line Party – Live Band inside the Normandy Park Cove Building prior to the race so you can warm up dancing to old school rock and roll.
• NEW: Expanded Pre-Race shuttle service from the finish line to the start line.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER:

5k at 1:00pm:

• $30.00 early registration (before Mar. 2nd; $35 after)

Family Race (1 mile) at 1:30 PM:

• $25.00 early registration (before Mar. 2nd; $30 after)

Here’s a map of the race course:

<a href=”http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/wa/normandy-park/131126275593197103″ mce_href=”http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/wa/normandy-park/131126275593197103″>Official Cove to Clover 5K Route</a><br/><a href=”http://www.mapmyrun.com/find-run/united-states/wa/normandy-park” mce_href=”http://www.mapmyrun.com/find-run/united-states/wa/normandy-park”>Find more Runs in Normandy Park, Washington</a>

Some other highlights include:

• On-course Irish Pipes
• Irish Entertainment
• 2 Live Bands
• Bigger Beer Garden
• 1-mile Family Race
• Free Hot Dogs for Kids
• Free Root Beer Garden
• Irish Grub

RACE DAY SCHEDULE:

• 10:15am+: Take the Free Pre-Race Shuttle – loads at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub starting at 10:15 am (WARNING: Start Line Parking is EXTREMELY LIMITED!). Please park near Burien Town Square and take the free shuttle from Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub. Final shuttle departs promptly at 12:40 pm. Shuttle will drop you at the family race start-line (St. Francis Parish) of the 5K start-line (The Cove).
• 1pm: 5K Race (race starts at 1 pm sharp) Start Line @ Normandy Park Swim Club “The Cove”
• Registration/Packet Pickup from 10:45 am – 12:45 pm @ The Cove
• LIVE ROCK BAND starts at 10:45 am: “The Throbs” will be cranking out old school rock and roll at the start line until race time. Warm your bones rocking out to covers of Nirvana, AC/DC, Scorpions and other eye-popping ROCK!!! Come early and avoid the last minute shuttle rush.

FAMILY RACE:

• Race starts at 1:40pm sharp
• Start Line @ St. Francis Church
• Registration/Packet Pickup from 10:45 am – 1:20 pm @ St. Francis Church
• 1 mile-ish. This can be walked or run and will include people of all generations. Hopefully we’ll have Irish Step Dance lessons prior to the start. – Pick up bib
• NEW: “While You Race” Childcare (11:00 am – 1:35 pm) at St. Francis Church
• If you want to run the 5K but your kids aren’t ready for that level of suffering, consider checking your kids into “While You Race” Childcare at the family race start line. You can then run the first 2 miles of the 5K to the Family Race Start, grab your kids and run then run the Family Race together. Child care provided by St. Francis Parish, extra fee may be involved.
• YOU MUST CHECK OUT YOUR CHILD BEFORE FINISHING THE 5K. It is not intended that runners finish the run and then return to claim their children. Due to the tight schedule, this service is for families with children who plan to run the Family Race.
• If you do the math, you’ll need to be able to run the first 2 miles in 30 minutes to pickup your child in time for the Family Race. Shuttle from the finish line, will stop drop you at St. Francis to check in your kids. Then you can re-board the shuttle to be taken to the 5K start line (the Cove).

FINISH LINE FESTIVAL AT BURIEN TOWN SQUARE:

• Finish Line Irish Festival runs from 2pm – 5pm at Burien Town Square
• “The Haggis Bros” are a lively Irish Band. You can enjoy the show from the beer garden (or free root beer garden for the kiddies). Be entertained by traditional step dancers while you gnash some Irish grub.

Not a runner? Get involved as a race day volunteer: Please contact John Nelson at jonelson@adobe.com.

And there are still some great Sponsorship Opportunities available – please email Ashley Fosberg at fosberg5@comcast.net for a sponsorship packet!

As the official web Sponsor of the Cove To Clover race, we’ll be posting more updates soon (including details on the Pub Crawl March 12th!), so be sure to come back often.

We’re huge fans of the all-girl sk8er team the Rat City Rollergirls, and when we heard that they’re kicking off their 2010 season with a charity fundraiser at Key Arena this Sunday, Jan. 31st, we just had to announce it.

Donation amounts will depend on game outcomes, and the four home teams have chosen to support the following local charities:

• The Throttle Rockets with play for Fisher House, which assists families of military personnel.
• Grave Danger will support OldDog Haven, finding new homes for abandoned senior dogs.
• The Sockit Wenches are skating for Lambert House, a center for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning youth that encourages empowerment by developing life and social skills.
• Derby Liberation Front will support Pinup Angels, who send care packages to troops overseas.

Here are the details on the event:

WHAT: Rat City Rollergirls charity fundraiser bout.

WHEN: Doors open at 2:30 p.m. and the game starts at 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: KeyArena in lower Queen Anne.

INFO: The Rat City Rollergirls now have a dedicated entrance for our season ticket holders – enabling them to score the best seats! Doors on the East side of KeyArena will open for season ticket holders at 2:15pm.

Visit www.ratcityrollergirls.com for more information on the 2010 season.

Founded in April 2004, Rat City Rollergirls, LLC, (RCRG) is Seattle’s (and the Northwest’s) first flat track, all-female roller derby league. RCRG is composed of about 100 member-owners, who are divided among four teams:

• Derby Liberation Front
• Grave Danger
• Sockit Wenches
• Throttle Rockets

RCRG’s fifth team, the Rat City Rollergirls All-Stars, is composed of the best players from the four home teams, who represent RCRG in regional and national play.

Also, be on the lookout next week for a video we’ll be shooting at Sunday’s bout.

Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D – Des Moines) filed a bill this week that would allow the Port of Seattle to continue to lease land to the Highline-area Little League organization at a steeply discounted rate for use as Little League baseball fields.

The measure authorizes “airport operators” to make airport property available for public recreation and other community uses at less than market value.

“I grew up playing Highline Little League baseball on these exact ball fields,” Upthegrove said. “Today, south county children continue this tradition only because of the extremely affordable lease rates the Port extends to the City of Burien. With local governments currently strapped for cash, a hike in the lease rates could put the future of these fields at risk.”

The ball fields in question are located in the second runway “buyout area” near SeaTac Airport, a neighborhood dotted with boarded-up residences. Federal law specifies how close a residence can be to an airport runway, and over the years the Port of Seattle has had to “buy out” home and business owners to keep them out of the prohibited zone. The recreational and athletic fields, however, continue to enjoy active use and are permitted within the zone.

“The lease rate has recently been called into question by the State Auditor. My aim is to ensure that our state law is consistent with federal law, which actually permits these kinds of arrangements between airport operators and organizations like Little League,” Upthegrove added.

“Little League sports provide affordable recreation for so many children while teaching the values of teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship.  We need to ensure that these Highline ball fields remain available for the community.”

The bill number is House Bill 3007, and it’s scheduled for a public hearing in the House Local Government and Housing Committee on Monday, Feb. 1st at 1:30 p.m.

One way you can tell that spring is on its way is when you start seeing signs for Little League baseball registration (oh, and these 50+ degree days sure help as well) – PACWEST Little League registration begins Tuesday, Jan. 26th.

PACWEST Little League is for kids ages from age 5 to 18.

Here are the details:

The following are the dates, times, and locations for the scheduled registrations.

Please plan to attend one of the dates:

• Tues., Jan. 26th – Highline Christian Church: 6pm-8pm
• Sat., Jan. 30th – St Francis: 10:00am-2:00pm
• Sat., Feb. 6th – Tukwila Community Center: 10:00am-2:00pm
• Sat., Feb. 20th – Boulevard Presbyterian Church: 10:00am-2:00pm

If you have questions about signing up, you can call the main office at (206) 243-9229 or email PACWEST Here.

More info available at the PACWEST website here.

Yasmine Fuller, a guard for Burien’s John F. Kennedy Catholic High School women’s basketball team, recently received some serious media love from ESPN’s “Rise Magazine,” where she credited her relationship with WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes for developing her work ethic.

According to the story:

…Fuller thrives on putting defenders to the test of keeping up with her lightning-quick first step or her ability to bury treys from several feet beyond the arc. The 5-foot-8 senior combo guard averaged 16.7 points and 2.3 assists per contest in guiding the Lancers to the Class 3A crown last winter. She also earned Seamount League and state tourney MVP honors.

Kennedy has reaped the benefits of Fuller’s hard work. Her first year with the Lancers, the team rebounded from a disappointing 2006-07 postseason to end the year as Class 3A runner-up. Individually, Fuller earned the first of two consecutive All-Seamount League selections.

Read ESPN’s full story here.

Everyone here at The B-Town Blog spins an imaginary basketball on our fingers, then we all do an imaginary reverse slam dunk in Fuller’s honor – way to go!

The 2nd Annual Scholarship Benefit Soccer Game for the Andy MacDonald EMT Scholarship Fund at Puget Sound Skills Center will be held Sunday, Nov. 29th beginning at 11am at Highline Memorial Stadium.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Benefit Soccer Game for the Andy MacDonald EMT Scholarship Fund – Boys vs. Girls! There will also be a Raffle drawing for great prizes afterwards at Mick Kelly’s.

WHEN: Sunday, November 29, 2009; Gates open at 10:30am; Game begins at 11:00am.

WHERE: Highline Memorial Stadium

COST: Admission by donation accepted at the stadium and after the game where the gathering will continue at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub (435 SW 152nd, Burien)

INFO: Here’s info on Andy MacDonald:

Just over three 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.

Out of tragedy something good can be born; Andy’s family and close friends set up a scholarship in his name. Each November, in honor of Andy’s birthday and untimely passing a soccer game is held known as the “Boys vs. Girls” game. All of his old teammates and friends come out to play a friendly game, and the public is invited to attend.  Afterwards the team holds a raffle at a local restaurant. This consists of items donated from local business and personal items contributed by Andy’s family.

Last year over 200 people attended the game, which was held at Highline Stadium, and we raised more than $4,500.  All of the money is donated to the scholarship. The Andy MacDonald EMT Scholarship is set up at the Puget Sound Skills center where Andy received his firefighting training. This scholarship will assist future Cadets in the Puget Sound Skills Center Fire Services class to help send them to an Emergency Medical Technician class. This year we anticipate sending four to six Cadets to the EMT class and this will aid in covering lab fees, required equipment, travel expenses, etc. Andy’s passion in life was to help those in need and this is our way of assisting others with the same life goal.

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.

If you can’t make it to the game, you can also donate directly to:

Puget Sound Skills Center
“Explorer Post-24” in care of Andy MacDonald
18010 8th Avenue South
Burien, WA 98148

To donate prizes for raffle or for more info please contact Becky MacDonald at 206-439-0745.

Sunday afternoon (Oct. 4th) was a gorgeous fall day, perfect for the first-ever Burien Brat Trot fundraiser race which wound its way through 5K near Olde Burien.

The winners were:

MEN: Alex Frank, 30, Poulsbo, with a time of 17:54.3

WOMEN: Natalie D’Amico (pictured), 23, with a time of 21:38.3

If you recognize Natalie, it’s because she used to work at 909 Coffee & Wine in Olde Burien. She is now a police officer in Redmond.

Here’s a listing of the top 20 finishers:

1. Alex Frank, Poulsbo, 30, 17:54.3
2. Matt Parker, Burien, 30, 15:55.5
3. Shawn Fehr, Bellingham, 27 ,18:39.6
4. Team Stretchers, Burien, 18:46.2
5. Eric Taylor, Burien, 32 18:56.2
6. Ohrt Family, Seahurst, 18:57.4
7. Dave Allen, Seattle, 42, 19:26.4
8. Jim Mazza, Seattle, 45, 19:29.4
9. Westside Baby Racers, 19:42.7
10. Jason Cummings, Everett, 38, 20:00.5
11. Missing Link, Burien, 20:13.6
12. Douglas Cox, Jr., Burien, 33, 20:23.1
13. Wayne Frank, Pasco, 57, 20:46.9
14. Carl Luer, Kirkland, 51, 20:51.5
15. Eugene Partridge, Kent, 58, 20:58.8
16. Robert Moore, Auburm 43, 21:06.4
17. Paul Steffenson, Seattle, 44, 21:13.6
18. Vincent Partridge, SeaTac, 37, 21:27.2
19. Brien Marcus, Des Moines, 29, 21:27.2
20. Natalie D’Amico, 23, 21:38.3

We’ll be posting more photos later, so be sure to check back…

Last Saturday (Aug. 22nd) there was an actual “Forklift Rodeo” held at Boeing Field, and Photographer Michael Brunk was there to capture both visual and audio elements, which he has built into the following “SoundSlideshow”:

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s SoundSlideshow

In the Forklift Rodeo, drivers were required to use expert forklift operating skills to negotiate a driving course that included various tasks and hazards. Contestants were evaluated on the “safe, efficient, skillful and proper completion of the course using accepted forklift operation standards.”

The top five individual competitors from this competition will advance to the final competition to be held at the 2009 Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference.

The Forklift Rodeo was presented by The Material Handling Panel of the Governor’s Industrial Safety & Health Advisory Board and the Department of Labor & Industries.

You know summer is peaking when the salmon are biting so much that people are catching them from shorelines around the Burien area, including these folks seen at Three Tree Point on Sunday, Aug. 23rd:

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

“It’s crazy down there,” said a young man named Julio as he was waiting for a ride back up Maplewild. “Everyone’s catching their limit. Pink buzz bombs are working man – in fact, the fish are biting anything pink – even bubblegum!”

No word yet on which brand of bubblegum is best, but we’ll chew on it a while and let you know…

8/26 UPDATE: Wednesday afternoon, King County Sheriff’s deputies were checking for fishing licenses at Three Tree Point, so do NOT fish for salmon without one – you can buy them online here.

According to The Seattle Times, a 9-year old boy named Cosmo Miller caught a 150-pound sixgill shark while fishing near Burien last week.

(to enhance this story, please push the play button below:)

[display_podcast]

The story goes that Cosmo was fishing with his grandfather, Dave Woltz, using a 30-pound test line when he hooked something big. It apparently took him almost an hour to reel the shark in and take some pictures before turning it loose (thank goodness this large shark is still alive, right swimmers? Actually, sixgill sharks are not dangerous to humans…).

Cosmo told the Times that the fish was about 8 feet long, about half the size of the 16-foot boat he was fishing in, and that he had broken two other fishing poles trying to catch one before.

Here’s a pic of Cosmo’s shark the Times used in their story:

Read Susan Gilmore’s full story here.

See a video story from KING-TV here.

Previously, we did a story on a documentary about sixgill sharks being filmed nearby – read that story here.

Here’s a video of an encounter with one of these puppies:

On the last morning of Burien’s Strawberry & Arts Festival (Sunday, June 21st), the 3rd Annual Burien Festival 5K & Family 1K Run will take place, starting at 9am.

Here are the details:

WHAT: 3rd Annual Burien Festival 5K & Family 1K Runs

WHEN: Sunday, June 21st, beginning at 9am (registration begins at 7:30am)

WHERE: Race begins at Burien’s Interim Art Space, located at SW 150th & 4th Ave SW, then heads east through Olde Burien and the surrounding neighborhood. The course will be clearly marked by cones, and volunteers will be available at most intersections. The 1K Kid’s race will start 1K from the 5K course finish line. Check back for a course map.

COST: $25 registration fee (you can register online here)

INFO: “The Burien Festival 5K Run is an annual community event sponsored by WhiteWater Aquatics. The purpose of the run, aside from providing a healthy activity for our members and the community, is to raise funds for the Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center and for scholarships for WhiteWater swimmers.

This year, we’re adding a Family 1K Run for kids 12 and under – while they can compete in either race, the 1K will have a SuperHero theme – kids are encouraged, but not required, to dress as their favorite SuperHero and run the race. A prize for best costume will be given at the completion of the Family 1k Run.

Q:  Who is WhiteWater Aquatics and why are they sponsoring a 5K Run?
A:   WhiteWater Aquatics is a year-round competitive swim team that swims at Evergreen and Tukwila Pools.  Swimmers are from ages 5 to 18, and are from the local Highline area.

Q:  How do I register?
A:  Register on-line at www.getmeregistered.com or at the registration site the day of the race.

Q:  How much are the registration fees?
A:  The entry fee is $25 per participant, if you register prior to the event (strongly encouraged to guarantee you’ll get a T-shirt!), and $15 for the 1K Kid’s Run.  The entry fees will increase by $5 (and no guarantees about getting a T-shirt) starting on June 7th, two weeks before the race.

Q: If I register online, how do I get my race packet?
A:  T-shirts, bibs and timing chips will be available for pick up the day of the race (Sunday, June 21th, from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.) at the Registration area near the starting line.

Q: What time do the different events begin?
A:   7:30 a.m.    Registration begins at the race starting line on 6th Ave SW and SW 152nd St.
9:00 a.m.    5K Run begins
9:45 a.m.    1K Run begins on last portion of 5K course
10:15 a.m.   Awards Ceremony at the finish line

Q:  Where does the race start?
A:  The 5K race starts and finishes at the Burien Interim Art Space Park located at S.W. 150th & 4th Avenue S.W..  The race heads east through Olde Burien and the surrounding neighborhood.  The course will be clearly marked by cones, and volunteers will be available at most intersections.  The 1K Kid’s race will start 1K from the 5K course finish line.  Check back for a course map.

Q:  Will timing chips be used in the 5K race?
A:  Yes.  All timing chips must be returned immediately following the race.  Runners who fail to return their timing chips are subject  to a $30 fee, refundable when the chip is returned.

Q:  Are strollers or baby joggers or dogs allowed in the 5K Run?
A:  Strollers ARE allowed, Dog are NOT.

Q:  Who should I call if I have more questions?
A:  Call 206.878.0499

The Tukwila Rotary Club is holding “Strike Out Hunger,” a special bowling party fundraiser for the Tukwila Food Pantry this Saturday, March 28th, from 9am to Noon at Acme Bowl in Tukwila.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Join us at ACME Bowl in Tukwila for a great event that supports the Tukwila Food Pantry!

WHEN: Saturday, March 28th from 9:00 am — 12 noon; Bowler check-in at 8:45am

WHERE: ACME Bowl in Tukwila, located at 100 Andover Park West in Tukwila (map below); 206.340.ACME

COST: Entry fee: Minimum of $200 per team (4 bowlers); Entry deadline: March 24th or until full. Don’t wait…register today!

INFO: For event information, bowler registration and sponsorship opportunities visit: www.TukwilaRotary.org.

If you have questions, or need further assistance, please contact the Tukwila Rotary at 206-674-4673 or send an e-mail to: StrikeOutHunger@TukwilaRotary.org.

View Larger Map

Despite a day which started with snow in some places and a dreadful downpour just about everywhere else, around 300 runners participated in the first-ever “Cove to Clover” 5K Race Sunday morning, which started near the Normandy Park Community Club and ended at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub (BTB Advertiser) in Burien.

Here are some photos from race day as taken by Scott Schaefer and Janet Grella:

According to Mick Purdy, co-owner of Mick Kelly’s, $12,000 was raised for the Highline Area Food Bank!

Highline Food Bank Director Mike Werle was there also, cheering runners as they crossed the finish line.

The race was organized by area resident John Nelson, who spent around six months along with 100 or so volunteers to pull this off.

The starting gun was fired by Normandy Park Mayor Shawn McEvoy, an Irishman if ever there was one. On a humorous side note, Mayor McEvoy kept the starter’s pistol with him in the pace car up to Mick Kelly’s. Organizers had to race up and retrieve it from him just in time for the priest to fire the starting shot for the Kid’s Race at St. Francis School.

Ryan Merle, 33, of Port Townsend, won the race in 20:15, beating 2nd-place finisher Paul Huynh by 50 seconds. Photo by Janet Grella.

Here are race results as posted at the finish line (Name, City, Age, Time):

MEN:

1. Ryan Merle, Port Townsend: 33, 20:15
2. Paul Huynh, Seattle, 17, 21:05
3. Justin Merle, Kent, 30, 21:58
4. Joe Baisch, Seattle, 26, 22:21
5. Nick Baisch, Seattle, 23, 22:27
6. Louis Bull, Seattle, 50, 22:55
7. DJ Tarrant, Seattle, 18, 23:19
8. Erik Willanger, Seattle, 29, 23:28
9. Peter Brant, Seattle, 37, 23:47
10. Douglas R. Cox, Jr., Seattle, 32, 23:53

WOMEN:

1. Dinelle Pineda, Seattle, 30, 24:21
2. Patrice Hardy, Seattle, 43, 24:38
3. Natalie D’Arnico, Seattle, 22, 24:57
4. Cindy Sagmoen, Seattle, 41, 24:59
5. Regina Mutter, Seattle, 42, 25:08
6. Denise Sagmoen, Seattle, 37, 25:10
7. Staci Braun, Seattle, 40, 25:34
8. Marian Brennan, Seattle, 36, 25:44
9. Hayley Fulton, Seattle, 22, 25:56
10. Lisa Cowden, Seattle, 47, 26:50

Photos and Story by Scott Schaefer

At 14920 Ambaum Blvd. lies an aging, one-level, yellow cement/brick building that currently houses “Paty’s Furniture,” a discount “Mexican Furniture” shop adjacent to the Burien City Garage.

It’s chock full of discount furniture, couches, loveseats, recliners, mattresses, kid’s beds, “dinning sets” and more, all at marked-down prices, with many signs in Spanish and the words “Mexican Furniture” on their business cards.

One thing that people don’t realize is that the old wooden floors underneath the marked-down couches and recliners hide a secret, nearly-forgotten Burien history:

These were once the wooden floors of “Burien Bowling Lanes,” a 7-lane bowling alley that operated here between 1948 and 1962.

Where wooden dinette sets now sit, gutter balls once rolled.

Where blue velvet couches lie at a 30% discount awaiting to be taken to a new home, 7-10 splits once frustrated B-Town bowlers.

Currently, you can see the remnants of two or three of the lanes, including the aiming marks on what may have been lane two or three:

We were first alerted to this history by an email from researcher Scott Handley, who wrote:

I’m collecting information on local bowling centers, past and present.

Yesterday, I was at the University of Washington Library working with Polk City Directories, and I came across “Burien Bowling Lanes,” 14920 Ambaum Blvd SW.

Best I could figure from the directories, it opened around 1956 and closed in 1964.

Would anyone with a long memory recall how many lanes it had, or whether it closed coincident with the opening of Hi-Line Lanes, located less than a mile away?

Thanks very much.  I’m impressed by your blog.

Scott Handley
Edmonds

Of course, we immediately forwarded the email on to Cyndi Upthegrove, Director of the Highline Historical Society, who quickly confessed to knowing nothing about it.

Our next step of course was to roll on in to Paty’s Furniture and do our own inspection. It didn’t take more than two minutes before we found the first evidence, and we starting snapping photos right away.

Shortly thereafter, we had to explain why were were crouched over, taking pictures of the old floor boards under the La-Z-Boys to Julio, the store manager – “um, I run a local website, and I understand that this was once a bowling alley…”

Julio just smiled a lot and nodded, and seemed to find what he could understand very amusing.

But that’s the truth, and we’re not afraid to admit we love unusual local history and stories. Especially the kind that involves a fun and funky sport that is now being replaced by a virtual video game version that we play with our kids.

If you have any memories or photos of this building when it was the “Burien Bowling Lanes,” or know of any other lost history in the Burien area, please email us – we’d love to do more features like this.

Otherwise, stop in and say hi to Julio, then walk down the ramp to the main showroom of discount furniture. Find an area of exposed wood, and take a look around at the floor and imagine what once went on in this building – people met here, had fun, got frustrated, won games, lost bets, relieved stress, perhaps even heard the first single by a guy named Elvis as they rented shoes, then stuck their fingers in heavy balls that they rolled down a wooden lane trying to knock down ten white pins, not knowing that some 50-60 years later it’d be mostly forgotten, covered by discount “Mexican Furniture” then revealed again on a community news source that wasn’t even printed on paper.

View Larger Map

The first-ever Rock n’Roll Seattle Marathon Event, scheduled for June 24-27, is seeking volunteers.

And get this – Volunteers for this event will actually get something other than Satisfaction (I Can’t Get No…):

• Free Race Crew T-Shirt.
• Free ticket to the post-race headliner concert.
• Free race goodie bag.
• Satisfaction of helping others.
• You’ll have a great time!

WHAT: Inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

WHEN: Wednesday June 24th, Thursday 25th, Friday 26th, Saturday 27, 2009

WHERE: 26.2-Mile and 13.1-Mile Race Courses from Tukwila to Seattle (Volunteer stations to be assigned)

CONTACT: Volunteer Coordinator: Adriane Ferguson; Email: adriane@seafair.com Phone: (206) 728-0123 ext.109

Seafair
2200 Sixth Ave. Suite 400
Seattle, WA. 98121

INFO: New this year, the Rock n’Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon will be taking place on the streets throughout Seattle! We need your help in creating an inspiring and upbeat environment for the runners and walkers participating in this event.

Not a runner or walker? You can still be a part of the event! With over 15,000 marathon and half marathon participants, volunteers are needed to assist with every aspect of the event, including setup, pre-registration, the Health & Fitness Expo, the Start Line, Finish Line and water stations along the course. Team up with your friends or family and make it an experience you won’t forget!

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Pre-race Expo and Registration: Qwest Event Center-Wednesday June 24 (set up), Thursday June 25 & Friday, June 26.
  • Issue registered runners their race numbers
  • Distribute race participant T-shirts
  • Distribute race Goodie Bags
  • Stock and sell souvenirs
• Start Line – Foster Golf Links- Tukwila- Saturday, June 27th:
  • Start Corrals, Gear Check, Bus Unloading, Refreshments, Medical Tent
• Finish Line – Qwest Field- Seattle-Saturday, June 27th:
  • Checked Gear Retrieval, Chip Removal, Refreshment Zone, Awards, Pedestrian Traffic Control, Medical Tent
• Water Station – Groups of 30 or more-Saturday, June 27th:
  • Volunteers are located on various parts of the course.
• Medical Station-Saturday, June 27th:
  • Various Locations along the course. Volunteers are needed to staff medical tents and assist runners with minor injuries.

To sign-up, or to register to run, please click here: www.rnrseattle.com

[NOTE: This posting is for the 2009 Cove to Clover race; for the most recent info on the 2010 race, click here]

NOTE: Results of Sunday’s “Cove to Clover” race, as well as photos, are available here.

A “brand spankin’ new” St. Patrick’s Day run called “Cove to Clover” is coming up Sunday, March 15th, starting at the Normandy Park Community Club (“The Cove”) and finishing at BTB Advertiser Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub (complete with a beer garden to quench those thirsty legs).

There will also be a mile long kid’s race beginning at “The Bean” espresso stand St. Francis of Assisi Church and ending at Mick Kelly’s. Please note that registration for the Kid’s Race will take place at The Cove in Normandy Park.

The race will be held on Sunday, March 15 @ 11 am on the same day as Seattle’s massive Patty’s Day Dash. This race will be a refreshingly smaller alternative to what the Paddy’s Day Dash has become. Beware though, this annual race will surely become infamous because the first mile is all uphill and attains 800 vertical feet; locals know it as “Snake Hill”.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Cove to Clover” 5K Run & Kids’ Race

WHEN: Sunday, March 15th starting at 11am

WHERE: Starts at the Normandy Park Beach Cove and ends at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub (see actual route map below).

INFO: You can get more information and register online at www.covetoclover.com, or contact John Nelson (jonelson@adobe.com) the race director for more info about the race if you’d like.

All proceeds will benefit the Highline Area Food Bank.

If you’re not into that much suffering a “hill shuttle” option will be offered when you register.

5K Start Line (begins promptly at 11:00 AM):

Normandy Park Community Club (“The Cove”)
1500 SW Shorebrook Drive
Normandy Park, WA 98166

Snake Hill Shuttle loads at the 5K Start Line at 11:10 am (line up behind the 5K runners):

The boarding area will be at the Start Line after all runners have left the area. Those pre-paid riders (registration option) should line up behind the runners wave. Shuttle drop-off will be at the Gregory Heights Pool (1st Water Station) which is approximately 2 miles from the finish line on relatively flat ground!

Perfect for walkers who want to support the cause.

1-Mile Kids Race Start Line (begins promptly at 11:45 AM):

St. Francis of Assisi Church
2103 SW 152nd St
Burien, WA 98166

The organizers promise bag piping on the course to boot, so come out and support the community (or at least quaff a pint and pretend you ran the entire race).

<a href=”http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/wa/seattle/401972419541″ mce_href=”http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/wa/seattle/401972419541″>01/24/2009 Route</a><br/><a href=”http://www.mapmyrun.com/find-run/united-states/wa/seattle” mce_href=”http://www.mapmyrun.com/find-run/united-states/wa/seattle”>Find more Runs in Seattle, Washington</a>

Burien Parks has teamed up with Underdog Sports to bring fun sports leagues like dodgeball, which starts Tuesday, Jan. 27th at Sylvester Middle School, located at 16222 Sylvester Road SW (map below).

Here’s the blurb from Burien Parks:

Burien Dodgeball – The Grade School Classic is Back for “Grown-Ups”!

Want to feel like a kid again?

Underdog Dodgeball brings a fresh new twist to the adult recreational sports scene: Dodgeball… yep, just like you played in 3rd grade… is even more fun when grown-ups are playing.

This great gym class pastime is now back for adults 21 and older to enjoy.

Teams: $495 | Individuals: $65

Sign-Up: Small groups of friends should sign-up as Individuals and use the “Players to be Teamed With” Field on the sign-up form.

Tuesday Burien Dodgeball details:

• 6 Players on the Court (3 women/ 3 men)
• Rosters up to 12 (12 Team t-shirts Included w/ Sign-Up)
• 2 Fast Paced Twenty Minute Matches Each Night
• All the Goofy Fun You Remember from Elementary School!
• 6 week Season plus Playoffs
• 7, 8, and 9 PM Game Start Times

DATES: Starts Tuesday, Jan. 27th and continues every Tues. night: (1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17)

SIGN-UP: Click here for info on signing up, either as an individual or team, as well as learn about other sports leagues coming to Burien

Underdog’s 8+ years of rec sports experience combined with great Burien Parks and Rec facilities equals a fun league experience.

Also starting Thurs. Jan. 29th is Underdog Volleyball:

• 6 Players on the Court (3 women/ 3 men)
• Rosters up to 12
• 1 Hour Match Each Night – Play out the full hour
• Coed Format and Net Height
• 6 week Season plus Playoffs
• Game Start Times from 5-9 PM
• Starts Thursday, Jan. 29th and continues every Thurs. night (1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19)

Underdog Sports Leagues was started with a simple idea: provide laid back leagues for everyday players that are safe and fun. While USL never turns away real athletes or people who take sports seriously, most of our members are not superstars or blue chippers, but rather everyday Underdogs who want to play a game or two, meet some people, and go talk about the game afterwards at the local watering hole.

To get you in the mood, here’s a clip from the hilarious film “Dodgeball“:

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Burien Parks produced this video, which showcases area seniors who took part the first ever regional Wii Bowling League Tournament between participating senior centers on Jan. 7th:

The virtual non-gutter ball, strike & spare-rollin’ Senior Bowlers were from various centers around South King County, and the tournament was hosted by the Great American Casino in Tukwila.

According to numerous, reliable sources (and this is apparent in the video), a fun time was had by all!

[EDITOR'S NOTE: If you have a Wii, please be sure to wear your wrist strap at all times, else suffer the fate of this clumsy Wii Bowler:}

From our sister site The White Center Blog:

Intrepid roaming reporter Bart “On the Street” Bryan reports from SeaTac Airport that the Rat City Rollergirls flew in today, back from Houston where they took third place in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) “Battle Royale” Regionals!

This means that the RCRGs are now qualified for the WFTDA Finals, which will be held in Portland Nov. 14th and 15th.

In a related development, the RCRGs will be sponsoring a street cleaning of 16th Ave SW in White Center this Sat., Oct. 11th, starting at Roxbury and going south for three miles.

So…big huge congrats to the Rat City Rollergirls!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Everyone’s favorite, hood-adjacent-named roller derby clan, the Rat City Roller Girls, have emerged victorious (by termination default) in a lawsuit over their logo filed by Starbucks.

According to the lawsuit, Starbucks believed that the RCRG logo was “too similar” to their logo, what with its highly-unusual usage of the “circle with a lady inside it” concept (albeit a black-eyed tough derby girl vs a contortionist mermaid).

This means that this ding-dang great logo:

Apparently does not infringe on this one:

Yeah Roller Girls – way to kick some corporate ass!

As summer winds down, we thought we’d try to keep it going by sharing this video we found on Youtube – a very nicely done montage of great (and sometimes not so great) skateboarding antics well-shot (good work LastExileProductions) at the Burien Skatepark:

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Filmed at the Burien Skatepark and found on YouTube is this video of some dude doing some sick ‘boardin in B-Town (warning: music track contains some naughty words, so turn the volume down if kids are around!):

Courtesy Janet Grella, Sales & Promotion Diva for this here B-Town Blog, comes these photos snapped today down at Three Tree Point, where two kitesurfers took advantage of a gorgeous yet blustery sunny day:

According to Wikipedia:

Kitesurfing, also known as kiteboarding, involves using a power kite to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (which is like a wakeboard). Generally kiteboarding refers to a style of riding known as free-style or wakestyle where as kitesurfing is more waveriding oriented. These two styles usually require different boards and specific performance kites.

A kitesurfer or kiteboarder uses a board with or without foot-straps or bindings, combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel themself and the board across the water. The sport is still in its infancy, but is rapidly growing in popularity. In 2006, the number of kitesurfers has been estimated at around 150,000 to 210,000, with 114,465 inflatable kites sold that same year.

The sport is becoming safer due to innovations in kite design, safety release systems, and instruction. Many riding styles have evolved to suit different types of riders and conditions, such as wake style, wave riding, freestyle, jumping, and cruising.

Have a great weekend everyone!

What better way to end every summer Humpday than by competing in mid-week Mountain Bike Racing at South SeaTac Park (aka Des Moines Creek Park)?

Advanced Massage Acupuncturist Philip Kelly sent us this tip; apparently when he’s not treating people’s injuries himself, he’s out trying to get his own at these weekly bike races.

As you have probably figured out by now, the Wednesday Night World Championship Mountain Bike Races happen every Wed. night.

From their website:

Feeling nervous about this weekend’s race?

Want to get a great mid-week workout?

For all of you Seattle area mountain bikers, here is the perfect solution: RACE EVERY WEEK.

Here are the details:

START TIMES:

• 6pm: Beginners & Juniors
• 7pm: Sport & Expert

REGISTRATION opens at 5pm

COST:

• $ 5.00 – Juniors
• $12.00 – Adults

CATEGORIES:

• Men 19-34 – Beginner, Sport & Expert
• Men 35-44 – Beginner, Sport & Expert
• Men 45+ – Beginner, Sport & Expert
• Women (all ages) – Beginner, Sport & Expert
• Juniors – Beginner, Sport & Expert

More info here.

LOCATION / DIRECTIONS:

• Des Moines Creek Park, also known as South SeaTac Park.
• From I-5, take the S. 200th Street Exit. Continue west approx. 1 mile. Watch for “Mountain Bike Race” sign across the street from the golf course.

Map:

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The Annual Burien Festival 5K Fun Run/Walk is coming up Sunday June 29th, starting at 9am at 6th Ave SW and SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien, so we encourage everyone to start stretching your gams now.

This event benefits the Ruth Dykeman Center and WhiteWater Youth Swim Team, and is for all ages and abilities.

Pre-registration is $20 online at www.active.com or pick up forms in downtown Burien at:

• Goody Gumdrops
• B-Town Scoop
• Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub
• Burien Community Center

You can register on the actual day of the race as well, but the cost goes up to $25; registration opens at 7:30 am.

For more information go to www.whitewateraquatics.org or www.burienstrawberryfestival.com.

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Say what you will, but we here at the B-Town Blog strongly believe:

• Skateboarding is not a crime
• The Burien Skatepark is a great place for today’s kids
• Skateboarding is exercise and requires skill
• Some pretty cool videos of sk8rs in action are out there

Here are a few:
Joey middle bowl to quarter pipe:

Aaron middle bowl to quarter pipe (according to the Youtube poster, “Aaron is the youngest person (12) to ever do this gap from the middle bowl to the quarter pipe at burien skatepark. NO GRAB”:

Alex burien footy:

Alex breaks his board (warning: strong language):

Burien line:

Do you have some cool skateboarding videos shot in B-Town?

Send ‘em our way!

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