Our Big Picture High School intern, Bryan Charles, has created another Flash-animated movie trailer in his ongoing “3 Frog Bros.” series.

As we mentioned before, Bryan is a budding young artist/animator, has a passion for comics, cartoons and humor, and his storytelling and Flash skills are coming along quite well.

Here’s what he has to say about this week’s “3 Frog Bros. Movie Trailer 3,” for which he does all the writing, animation and editing, in, as he says, “over 43,000 frames of animation”:

“This is the second to final trailer for my fantastic Flash movie, which has been 95% scripted and planned out.

I hope this trailer will tide my fans over…”

- Bryan Charles
Writer/Animator/Actor

To see more of Bryan’s work, click here.

The annexation of southern North Highline becomes official in just about two weeks (April 1st), and the mainstream media is starting to pick up on it.

With the annexation of this area, Burien will become the 21st largest city in Washington – just above Olympia – with a population of about 45,000. Currently the city ranks 31st in the state.

Seattle’s KING5 News just did a story on it, saying:

The city takes a big step forward on April 1, when it annexes 1,700 acres of unicorporated King County. Overnight, Burien’s population jumps by 14,500 people.

Voters approved the annexation last year by a 55% to 45% margin.

And this quote from City Manager Mike Martin:

“We pride ourselves in Burien for being responsive. We’re a small staff but we’re very responsive. So when people have problems they have somebody they can call.”

Here’s the video:

Burien’s “old library” building’s renovation is nearly complete, and when it’s opened April 13th, it’ll serve as a temporary new home for the Community Center, as well as offices for Burien Parks & Recreation Department.

Total cost of the renovation was just under $1.5 million.

Our friends at Burien Parks released this video on Tuesday (Mar. 16th) showing the progress:

Our fave namesake women’s sports team, The Rat City Rollergirls (RCRG), kicked off their 2010 season opener recently to raise money for various charities, including;

• Old Dog Haven, a small nonprofit group using a network of foster parents to provide a loving safe home for abandoned senior dogs.
• The Pin Up Angels, who send care packages to our deployed servicemen and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.
• The Lambert House, a center for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning youth that encourages empowerment through the development of leadership, social and life skills.
• Fisher House, who supports military and their families while recovering from illness or injury.

The first bout of the season Jan. 31st was an exhibition bout, which was set up like a mini-tournament. Our own Bart Bryan and Mark Neuman braved the dangerous sidelines of the bout to shoot this video, which was edited by Gina Bourdage:

This was a bout RCRG played for charities, and will not count toward their regular season team standings; however, at the end of the night the standings were

1. Sockit Wenches
2. Grave Danger
3. Throttle Rockets
4. Derby Liberation Front

Here are the points:

• Period 1, 1st Players: TR 62, SW 97
• Period 1, 2nd Players: GD 88, DLF 51
• Period 2, Grudge Match: TR 97, DLF 43
• Period 2, Champs: GD 66, SW 70

On March 6th, the RCRG set new records with attendance reaching 5,158 fans, the top attendance for a modern roller derby bout, packed KeyArena to watch the first regular home bout of season 6.

The Throttle Rockets smashed the skates of Derby Liberation Front, while Grave Danger drew first blood against the Sockit Wenches. Word on the street (direct from KeyArena folks), is that Rat City Rollergirl fans drink more beer than ANY sporting event at KeyArena! For more information and tickets visit www.ratcityrollergirls.com.

Ever wonder what it takes to be a Rat City Roller Girl? It’s more than a pair of skates and some lip gloss. To even be considered you need to commit to three 2-hours practices a week, work six committee hours a month and “Have a ton of chutzpah, sweat, determination, and a nice smile” just to name a few.

Beyond the eye-catching outfits these girls take some serious hits. Don’t believe us? Just check out the Hall Of Pain section of their website (there is a reason a disclaimer is posted to this page, this is no joke).

RCRG’s next bout is Saturday, April 10th, with Derby Liberation Front vs. Grave Danger, and Sockit Wenches vs. Throttle Rockets.

Our friends at White Center for the Arts are holding a very unique “Python-A-Thon” fundraiser this Sunday, March 7th, from Noon – 8pm at Big Al Brewing (in White Center), where episodes of the classic “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” TV show will be shown non-stop.

Participants are encouraged to bring potluck food items, dress in costume (lumberjack anyone?), bring penguins to put on the telly, and walk like you’re in the Ministry of Silly Walks, all while donating to a worthy local arts association.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Python-A-Thon” viewing party of classic Monty Python TV episodes to help raise funds for White Center for the Arts.

WHEN: Sunday, March 7th from Noon – 8pm.

WHERE: Big Al Brewing, located at 9832 14th Ave SW; (206) 453-4487 (website here)

INFO: From a poster:

Big Al Brewing Presents Monty Python Video Festival

“Continuing Education”

Earn your letters in Pythonology

Finding it hard to get promoted even though you have a MM- Master of Monty?

Get your Doctor of Pythonology (DP), and silly walk your way to the top!

DP courses in:

• The Arts
  • -Why lumberjacks sing
• Optical Sciences
  • -How not to be seen
• Aeronautics
  • -What makes sheep fly
• Military History
  • -German humor and the demise of the Wehrmacht
• Veterinary Sciences
  • – Learn to determine the difference between “Dead” and “Resting”

And much much more!

If you’re silly enough, you too could become a fully accredited Doctor of Pythonology, capable of answering such puzzling questions as…

• “Why is there a penguin on the telly”?
• “If she’s a go’er why is she with him”?
• And, “Did the Vikings invent spam”?

Classes begin on Sunday, March 7th

First class of the day starts at 12 noon

Location: Go to www.bigalbrewing.com for directions

Extra credit will be given for bringing pot luck and coming to class as your favorite Monty Python character.

To get you in the mood, here’s the classic “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch:

BTB Advertiser Elliott Bay Brewhouse and Pub will be celebrating its 3rd birthday this Saturday March 6th!

Live reggae from Dub Lounge International starts at 8pm.

Families are welcome and there’s No Cover!

Cheers to a great local establishment!

Elliott Bay Brewhouse and Pub is located at 255 SW 152nd in downtown Burien; phone: 206.246.4211. This family-friendly neighborhood pub offers a full pub menu, large party facilities, tournament-sized shuffleboard tables, along with party platters and beer to go.

More info on Elliott Bay Brewhouse & Pub is available at their website.

Here are a couple of videos of Dub Lounge International to whet your rastaman appetite:

Back in October, we premiered a trailer for a new documentary being produced on Burien, called “Where We Live Now, Burien.”

This documentary is still in production, and another clip has been released, this time focusing on Burien’s Skatepark located at SW 144th and 4th Ave SW, near the community center.

Here’s an intro for this segment from the Editor’s (Rowan North) YouTube Channel:

“This is a section from a working documentary about the power of community collaboration and grassroots democracy in Burien, Washington…”

Here’s the clip:

As we mentioned before, the crew behind this production includes many well-known Northwest video folks, such as:

• Executive Producer: Anne Stadler, community leadership consultant, formerly KING-TV5 documentaries and specials Producer
• Co-Producers and Writers: Terry Tazioli, writer/on-air Host, formerly with The Seattle Times, KING-TV5
• Lucy Mohl, formerly Senior Manager, Microsoft (and previously KING-TV, Film.com and RealNetworks)
• Production Manager, Videographer, Editor: Aaron Stadler, www.fatcatVDO.com
• Videographers: Bill Fenster, www.billfensterproductions.com
• Diana Wilmar, www.foxwilmar.com/bios/bios
• Videographer/Editor: Rowan North, LinkedIn
• Still Photographer: Kimi Milo
• Audio: Stevan Smith
• Scott MacLaughlin
• Robin Sarmento

This project is still in production, and like most productions-in-progress, is still seeking funds to complete it.

Executive Producer Anne Stadler says:

“We’re looking for at least $7,000. One thing we want to do is get this packaged with a series of discussion questions to market to Mayors and City governments around the state and country. So anything more that we raise, will go toward THAT. Haven’t budgeted for that yet.

Donations will go towards editing the doc, as well as producing a couple of shorter pieces: skate park and young people; Burien and BIAS.”

Here’s how you can help:

Send whatever you can to the Sunyata Foundation; all Donors will get their names in the credits, as well as a DVD of the video, along with the heartwarming knowledge that you helped promote Your Burien (keep in mind that this is a non-profit, 501-C3 organization):

Sunyata Foundation
PO Box 58788
Renton WA. 98058

As more elements get produced, we’ll preview clips here…so stay tuned to The B-Town Blog.

Our intern, Bryan Charles, of Big Picture High School, has created another Flash-animated cartoon in his “3 Frog Bros.” series.

As we mentioned before, Bryan is a budding young artist, has a passion for comics, cartoons and humor, and his Flash skills are growing quite rapidly.

Here’s what he has to say about this week’s “3 Frog Bros.,“:

“Good news from the Frog Brothers universe!!

After a recent hard drive failure, lots of animation is being redone, this however does mean quality is at a minimal compared to the originals, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be as awesomely funny and epic, so to show you what I’ve recently achieved, here is a preview of the 3 Frog Brothers Movie in high definition!!”

- Bryan Charles
Writer/Animator/Actor

To see more of Bryan’s work, click here.

Burien Little Theatre’s classic, 50s-themed rockin’ version of Arne Zaslove’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” continues at the Burien Community Center this weekend, with shows Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm.

Tickets are $7-$20 online (click here to order) and $17-$20 at the box office, with the $10 student ticket price in effect until the end of the month.

The show runs through Sunday, March 21st.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a video promo that shows off the production – check out the costumes, slicked back hair and big sideburns:

Read our previous coverage here.

B-Town Blog Sales Guy/Host Bart Bryan needs a Date for the Rotary Club of Burien/White Center’s Rockin’ Valentines Dinner and Dance, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 13th at South Seattle Community College.

Bart’s lucky date will enjoy cocktails, dinner, a live auction, raffle prizes and dancing to two different bands – all on the house!

To add to the romance, there will also be corsages, boutinnieres, and chocolates available for Bart to buy you (just make sure Bart gets a receipt so he can be reimbursed by the BTB!).

Here’s the dinner menu:

• Greek Salad
• Grilled All Natural Chicken with Sundried Tomato Tapenad
• Mashed Red Potatoes with Garlic and Pesto
• Fresh Vegetable Medley

And if having a nice dinner out isn’t enough enticement to have a date with Bart, how’s about dancing to The West Coast Swing (crooning sounds of Frank Sinatra and fellow Rat-Packers) followed by local Jazz/Rock band Uncle Ernies?

Our single friend Bart is 50-years young, blue-eyed, still has most of his hair, with a sparkling personality and great sense of humor. He’s also pretty fit (fit enough to do a polar bear plunge – see the video below!). Bart confesses that he can also still “bust a move” on the dance floor, and is “looking for a fun date for a great romantic dinner dance for a great cause!”

If you’re interested in winning a free date night with this Bart-o-licious man at the Rotary’s Rockin’ Valentines Dinner and Dance, and you’re over 21 and not old enough to be Bart’s mother, email us with a recent picture, a short bio and why you want to be Bart’s date by 5pm Wed. Feb. 10th.

Our Readers will choose the winner via an online poll, so make sure your entry is good, and that you include an interesting photo and a fun, short bio.

In addition to a night of dining and dancing with Bart, the winner will receive another night out at at The Mark  Restaurant courtesy of the Mark’s Debra George.

The entry deadline is Wed., Feb. 10th at 5pm, and the winner will be voted on and announced Friday, Feb. 12th at Noon right here on The B-Town Blog, so ladies…email your entries in ASAP!

Also, if you’re interested in attending this great, fun fundraiser event yourself (either to watch Bart’s date or have one of your own), you can still purchase tickets online by clicking here.

And now ladies, if you’ve ever fantasized about what Bart looks like with his shirt off whilst immersed in chilly 46-degree Puget Sound water, here’s a video of him doing the annual Polar Bear Plunge at Three Tree Point on Jan. 1st:

And if that wasn’t enough, here’s what Bart looks like without his pants. In public. On the Link light rail:

What was considered a “suspicious” suitcase was blown up by a bomb squad early Monday morning at the Burien Transit Center on SW 148th.

According to KING5.com, the suitcase was spotted by a Metro Transit bus driver around midnight. The driver became suspicious when he noticed that the bag was actually chained to a bus schedule sign.

A bomb squad was brought in around 3:25am, and police closed 4th Ave SW between SW 148th and SW 150th. Shortly thereafter, the bomb squad’s robot was used to detonate the suitcase.

Turns out that the suitcase didn’t contain a bomb or anything dangerous – just clothes, which of course will have that oh-so-chic “shredded” look.

There were no injuries, and the transit center and surrounding roads were reopened around 5am.

Here’s some raw video shot at the scene by KING5.com/NWCN:

Burien’s “old library” building is in the midst of a major renovation, and when it’s completed it’ll serve as a temporary new home for the Community Center, as well as offices for Burien Parks & Recreation Department.

Our friends at Burien Parks released this video Monday (Jan. 25th) showing the progress:

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are re-posting this column (originally run Nov. 2, 2008) in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, whose life and work we celebrate today:]

“When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, militarism and economic exploitation are incapable of being conquered.”

– Dr. Martin Luther King,
from a speech delivered in 1967

by Mark Neuman

Contemplating the Giant Triplets
I am embarrassed to admit that, at age nine, I knew more about Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch and a TV situation comedy called “F Troop” than I did about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I know this because I was watching a syndicated repeat of that silly show on the afternoon of April 4, 1968, when a news bulletin cut into regular programming to announce that Dr. King had been shot and killed earlier that day.

I did not know who he was.

I quickly got to know, in part, on the strength of my third and fourth grade teachers at Holy Rosary Elementary School in West Seattle, and then I never forgot.

Our recent handful of years
With an over half-trillion dollar burden set firmly on the backs of Americans not yet born, the powers-that-be recently bailed out the powerful who failed us.

And some number of millions of everyday Americans participated as well, in the pursuit of a piece of the glittering illusion: unbelievably rapidly appreciating equity.

Any number of common desk working brokers and agents just “did what the boss told us” to earn fast, fat commissions.

Regulators, overseers are somewhat difficult to blame. They, too, like the profits, were largely imaginary, nonexistent. Those who existed sat by, quite silent.

Today, a Senator from Illinois engenders, through no fault of his own, racist sentiments from various pockets all about our country.

And this is seven score and three years after the end of the Civil War.

And meanwhile another chunk of trillion has been thrown at a conflagration, a quagmire, in the Middle East that, inarguably, Dr. King would have opposed.

A great speech
And so I bring to you today words earnestly delivered by Dr. King, less than a year before he died. Officially it is titled: “Why I Am Opposed to the War in Vietnam.”

It could quite well be subtitled: “The Giant Triplets Speech.”

It could also be called: “Please Don’t Make Our Country Look Like This in the First Decade of the 21st Century.”

If only all we Americans had recited or read, daily, his powerful words, spoken forty-one years ago:

“When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, militarism and economic exploitation are incapable of being conquered.”

In our modest blog offices it was suggested: Should we post and highlight this speech two days before Election Day?

We “Woodwarded and Bernsteined and Bradleed” this about. Would some be offended? Might some misunderstand?

Perhaps some will.

Some always do.

Any complaints? Send them to me.

Any credit or compliments? They go to Dr. King.

Here is a recording of, in my opinion, a stunning and timeless speech from the greatest and most courageous leader of my lifetime.

When you hear Dr. King’s words, spoken less than a year before he passed, does your heart beat fast?

I should expect and hope it would.

Perhaps your eyes water at certain points.

You’re in good company if they do, I assure.

Never heard this speech before? You are not to blame. We live in a “forget the past” society. Additionally, Dr. King’s other stunning and courageous works, including “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” happen to overshadow his own genius, literary and oratory greatness and prescience displayed at other times in his life.

Does the speech seem familiar? Please give it a listen again, in the relative stillness of this, the day most often set aside for meaningful thought, then send a note to that Social Studies teacher from grade six, your History professor from college, your Speech Coach and thank her or him for the initial introduction.

Send the links to your nephew in the Navy, your sisters from the old sorority, your Aunt in Auburn or Alabama, your boss in Bellevue, your kid in college.

Move it along the internet line to your favorite State Rep or least favorite Congressman, the most ethical attorney you know, or maybe even the least trustworthy scumbag Wall Street suit you are glad you never met, or, perhaps, are sorry you ever did.

Print out Dr. King’s words (we’ll get that link to you soon), fold it up and send them along with warmth in your Holiday greetings later this Autumn.

And so, on this Contemplative Holiday
Let us all, now and in these crucial near years, stare down those Giant and Ugly Triplets and knock them off their high perch for good.

Thanks.

–Mark Neuman
mark@b-townblog.com

And in case you haven’t heard it in a while, here’s Dr. King’s classic “I Have A Dream” speech:

We know there are no excuses for posting this video so late, as the event took place last Sunday (Jan. 10th), but, um…we left our Flip camera in our other pants, and since we weren’t wearing any to begin with…

Actually, we hate to just throw up lame raw video, and editing takes time, and um…there’s that whole “other pants” thing again.

But first, a little interesting behind-the-scenes backstory:

Two days before the pantsless prank, we received the following email from Emerald City Improv’s Kelsey Wildstone:

First, please remember that we’re trying to be inconspicuous here.

If you’d like to film the event with a motion camera, try to find a way to disguise your camera in a box or something to make it a sort of “hidden camera”.

Use some creativity here, but the point is that we’d like to avoid people seeing you openly point a camera around.

Considering that we respect the fine art of successful pranking, and that our Publisher used to work on a hidden camera TV show (“Totally Hidden Video,” Fox), we wanted to abide by this request (unlike some local TV news stations who just showed up and shot with their huge cameras and “Reporters”). The end result was that our shooter Mark Neuman went out of his way to “disguise” our Flip camera thusly:

Okay, so here it is (finally!)…with video shot by Neuman, featuring Bart Bryan, edited by Scott Schaefer and featuring the groovy public domain hit “Midnight Special” recorded by some long-dead dude named Bill Cox in 1933, ironically during the last Great Depression when not wearing pants wasn’t a prank, it was a way of life:

Also, we were very curious to find out what the MuckyMucks at SoundTransit thought of this pantsless prank, so we sent an email to Andrew Schmid, Sound Transit Media Relations director –here’s his response:

Q: Was ST aware beforehand that this was going to happen?
A: No, we were totally caught with our… (unless you lack internet access, it was almost impossible to not know about this event).

Q: Did ST security goes pantsless?
A: No.

Q: Was security worried about this prank at all?
A: Slightly – our security is worried about everything.

Q: Did this event increase ridership? if so, by how much? (have any estimate on the # of pantsless?)
A: Yes, but the infrared technology on Link’s Automatic Passenger Counting machines is not designed to distinguish between the pant-sed and the pants challenged.

Q: Will ST tolerate future events like this?
A: So long as folks follow our code of conduct (read it here).

Q: Will ST ever sponsor future events like this?
A: No.

Q: How about creating some ST underwear for folks to wear?
A: Sorta already been done – see this.

Q: Did you, or any other ST officials, attend?
A: NO COMMENT

And in case you haven’t seen the other videos, here they are:

by Ralph Nichols

After beginning a condemnation process in September to seize ownership of a private parking lot on International Boulevard – for the private development of an envisioned city center – the SeaTac City Council appears ready to reverse course.

SeaTac council members entertained at their Jan. 12 meeting an ordinance, introduced by Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher, to rescind the earlier condemnation action against Park-N-Fly surface parking lot, which James and Doris Cassan have operated for almost 50 years.

Action on the ordinance to stop legal proceedings to condemn the Cassan’s property was delayed, however, when Councilman Ralph Shape, who supports condemnation, requested that it be held for consideration until the next council meeting.

Under council rules, that automatically ended discussion of Fisher’s proposed ordinance, which was moved to the agenda for the council’s Jan. 26 meeting.

John Houlihan Jr., an attorney representing the Cassans, later told The B-Town Blog that they “are hopeful that the council at its next meeting will take up the ordinance and repeal condemnation” of their property.

Meanwhile, companion bills to protect private property by restricting the use of eminent domain were introduced in the Legislature Monday – SB 6200 by Sen. Michael Carrell, R-Lakewood, and HB 2425 by Rep. Jay Rodne, R-North Bend – at the request of State Attorney General Rob McKenna.

They provide that private property may be taken by a public entity only for public use, that no public entity may take private property for economic development, and that that taking private property by a public entity for economic development or tax revenue enhancement does not constitute a public use.

SeaTac’s 2010 budget includes funding for the city’s lobbyist to oppose this proposed legislation in Olympia.

Houlihan said he believes the two bills address the use of eminent domain as applied by SeaTac in its earlier action to condemn the Park-N-Fly property. They also would amend the Community Redevelopment Act to prevent potential abuses through eminent domain to remedy “blight” through “condemnation.”

Earlier in their Jan. 12 meeting, following a public hearing, council members voted 6-1 to continue until May 15 a moratorium on development permits in the city’s proposed entertainment district.

Fisher argued for leaving in place that moratorium, which was imposed by city council in November, so a newly appointed ad hoc committee, which has yet to meet, can have time to review zoning in this area and propose changes to accommodate new development.

Initial reaction to Fisher’s proposed ordinance during the meeting indicates that on Jan. 26 the condemnation of the Cassan property may be rescinded by at least five votes. In addition to Fisher, Mayor Terry Anderson and Council members Tony Anderson, Rick Forschler and Pam Fernald indicated their support for reversing the prior action.

Shape argued that the council was bending to pressure from a public relations campaign orchestrated by the Cassans, and claimed they have taken no action to develop their Park-N-Fly property for an extended time.

But Houlihan disagreed, telling The B-Town Blog that most recently they submitted an application for a design revision in December.

The Cassans paid over $10 million in 2007 when they converted a long-term lease into ownership of the property. Before initiating the eminent domain process, the city offered them $8.6 million for the parking lot.

They have filed with the city plans for mixed use development of their property at 17400 International Blvd., including retail and a hotel.

The city, however, wants to build a parking garage on the parking lot site, and encourage private development of a city center entertainment district north of S. 176th St. and just east of Sound Transit’s airport light rail station.

Here’s a video report on this case, produced by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation:

And another one from Fox News:

Like to be helpful by whacking invasive ivy? This Sunday (Jan. 10th), from 10am to 1pm, YOU can help restore Burien’s Eagle Landing Park to health by joining in a “whacky” ivy removal work party.

According to BTB Contributor Jim Branson, volunteers meet on the second Sunday of every month from 10am to 1pm to remove invasive species and plant natives.

Please note that this volunteer effort is not sponsored by or affiliated with the parks department, so please bring your own tools if you have them.

You might need:

• Gloves
• Water
• Shears or loppers
• A pruning saw
• A mattock if you have one
• Layers of clothing appropriate for the weather (the forecast is for sunny and warm weather!)

As an extra bonus, a “Native Plant Steward” trained by the Washington Native Plant Society with over six years of experience battling ivy, will be on hand to answer any questions you might have.  We will be working toward the goals and priorities recently established in the Vegetation Management Plan developed by EarthCorps.

Eagle Landing Park is located at the west end of SW 149th Street, where it turns into 25th Ave SW.  Parking is limited, so some people may need to park on the street.

Also note that the nearest public restrooms are at Lake Burien School Park, at 149th and 18th.

Another reason to go? Bald Eagles actually live at Eagle Landing Park (whoda thunk it?) – here are two videos courtesy Mr. Branson:

KING-TV is reporting Wednesday (Jan. 6th) that Washington State Office of Insurance Commissioner agents raided a Burien business called Premier Auto Glass and Auto Glass Experts investigating for evidence of fraud and theft.

The companies serve as mobile car windshield replacement firms, and they’re suspected of cheating insurance companies and customers by billing for more expensive original equipment manufactured (OEM) glass but using cheaper aftermarket glass. Insurance companies are typically billed for the more expensive OEM windshields.

Agents collected boxes of business records, files and computers from the business during the raid, and it will apparently take weeks to sift through everything.

According to our initial research, Premier Auto Glass and Auto Glass Experts offices are located at 14612 20th Ave SW in Burien.

Here’s KING’s video report (read the full story here):

On a lighter note, we encourage our friends at KING-TV (and their partner site NWCN.com) to consider buying a dictionary, installing spellcheck, and/or hiring someone who can actually spell – check out their misspelled headlines, which were online like this for over three hours (EDITOR’S NOTE: they fixed it shortly after we first posted this, but the URL to their story still has the error, as do our now-collectible screenshots below):

Story & Photos by Scott Schaefer

1/6/10 UPDATE: We were on the scene at the English Garden Apartments (515 South 152nd, near Highline High School) this morning around 9am, where we spoke to a few of the 20 or so residents who were displaced by a fire that began on a third floor balcony and burned up through the attic (see our pics below).

“The first thing I heard were two very loud cracking sounds,” said Marcus Pitre, who lives in an adjoining building. “Then the fire alarm went off, which luckily was very loud. Everyone got out okay, and at first I didn’t see any flames. But by the time the Fire Department showed up, flames were shooting up all over the roof.”

“There’s this much water in my apartment,” said a female resident as she held her hands apart by about a foot. “I live on the first floor, and all the water from the sprinklers and firefighters ended up in my unit.”

Doug Leudeman of the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department said that 13 residents have been displaced by smoke and water damage, and that investigators and firefighters would be on the scene most of the day today. The cause of the fire has not been determined, although a resident who lives in the unit where the fire started claimed she left a candle burning on her balcony.

Leudeman added that the unit where the damage occurred will likely be uninhabitable for a month or two. He also speculated that the estimated loss will be “around $200,000.

Metro Transit provided a bus as a sort of temporary shelter for displaced residents, and we found out that Burien Fire has a deal where they can call Metro for a bus from any fire if one is needed (we think that’s pretty cool…).

The Seattle Red Cross was also on the scene while we were there, working to help those displaced by the blaze to find temporary housing as well as other essentials like food or clothing. According to Media Relations Officer Katherine Boury:

“I just wanted to let you know that the Red Cross has been responding to this morning’s fire at 515 S. 152nd Street.

The Red Cross will provide assistance such as housing, clothing and food to six units (13 individuals).”

Here are some photos we took this morning:

PREVIOUSLY:

Twenty residents were evacuated around 5am Wednesday morning (Jan. 6th) from a fire at the 12-unit English Garden Apartments at 515 South 152nd in Burien.

The fire apparently began on a third floor balcony and burned up into the attic and roof.

No injuries were reported.

According to a KING-TV report:

A woman who lives in the apartment unit that caught fire told KING 5 she had fallen asleep and left a candle burning. She thinks that’s how the fire may have started. She awoke to hear crackling and saw the fire starting. She went into the hallway and grabbed a fire extinguisher, but when she re-entered her apartment, there was too much smoke and heat. She called 911.

Approximately 20 people were evacuated from the 12-unit building. About six units had water damage. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Here’a KING’s video:

Burien’s annual “Empty Bowls” fundraiser for the Highline Area Food Bank is coming to Moshier Community Art Center Friday, Jan. 29th, with both a lunch and dinner serving, along with one-of-a-kind original bowls handcrafted by area Potters.

This is always a great, fun and fulfilling event involving great food, art and fundraising for Burien’s hungry, and you can bet The B-Town Blog will be there.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Empty Bowls” fundraiser for the Highline Area Food Bank

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 29th:

• 11am – 2pm: Lunch
• 4pm – 8pm: Dinner

WHERE: Moshier Community Art Center, located at 430 South 156th, Burien

COST: Just $10 donation, which will get you both a good solid meal AND a work of art in the form of a beautiful handmade bowl!

INFO: From their flier:

JOIN US FOR A MEAL AND HELP FIGHT HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Lunch served 11:00 AM-2:00 PM

Dinner served 4:00-8:00 PM

Moshier Community Art Center, 430 S 156th, Burien

$10 (minimum) Donation

Proceeds to benefit Highline Food Bank

Moshier Community Art Center Potters have teamed up with the Highline Food Bank and Discover Burien to bring you Empty Bowls 2010. Empty Bowls events can be found around the country raising money to combat hunger in our communities. Potters have donated bowls to be filled with soup at this fun event…all are invited!

Your $10 (minimum) donation will get you the opportunity to pick out a beautiful handmade bowl, as well as a simple but wonderful meal of soup, bread, dessert and drink; all donated by local businesses. 90% of proceeds go to the Highline Food Bank, which serves over 750 area families per month, and 10% will go to provide art programming for low income youth.

www.MoshierArtCenter.org or phone: (206) 988-3700

Here’s a video we shot at least year’s event, where over 800 participants helped raise over $10,000 (let’s break that record this year!):

Burien resident Tom Nelligan will be channeling Elvis this Friday (Jan. 8th) when he returns to the 13th annual Seattle Invitationals, the contest to find the area’s best amateur Elvis tribute artist!

Tom has lived in Burien for years and is a local painting contractor – but on the side, in his heart-of-hearts, he’s a hip-swivelin’, pelvis-shakin’ Elvis Tribute Artist!

He’ll be “leaving the (Burien) building” this Friday night to perform at the Seattle Invitationals, hoping to take home the top prize by singing the crowd favorite “I Got A Woman.”

Here are the details:

WHAT: Seattle Invitationals – The search for the new amateur King of Rock and Roll, featuring Burien’s own Tom Nelligan!

WHEN: Friday, January 8th at 8pm (Elvis’ 75th Birthday!)

WHERE: Club Motor, located at 1950 First Ave. S. in SODO, Seattle

COST: Tickets are $12.00 in advance & $15.00 at the door; buy tickets online here.

INFO: From their flier:

That’s right, the thirteen-year old “mother of all Seattle amateur musical contests” is back in style for 2010…

On The King’s Birthday, Friday January 8th 2009, this beloved Seattle institution returns to Seattle and TO beckon impersonators from near and far to represent just what “The King” really means to them!  There is only one place in Seattle each year where you can see thirty different impersonators in full hip-gyrating, fried Chicken-eating and swooning action… You’ll probably even see his wife Priscilla, manager Colonel Tom Parker and even Red West, The King’s alleged best friend in the crowd or on stage… it’s all at the Seattle Invitationals !

Each Amateur performer in attendance will tackle one of the Kings many personas: the innocent and magnetic country boy, the hip-swinging rockabilly superstar, Army Elvis, the Hollywood playboy, the devout gospel singer, or the diamond-studded, gold-sun glassed Vegas crooner. Each impersonator will get one chance to show what he (or she) is made of – a single shot to perform a song, in costume, backed by the fabulous Kentucky Rain band!

A panel of celebrity judges and an audience clap-o-meter decide on who will be crowned The King of the Seattle Invitationals…

Live Music!  Comedy!  Over 20 professional and amateur Elvis Tribute Artists!

Judges include VFTA (Vern Fonk Tribute Artist) Robert Thielke, Rockabilly Queen Sweetpea, Priscilla and The Colonel!

Hosted by Seattle comedian Nicole Lucas, with special Guest Appearance by Robert Washington, winner of Image of Elvis contest in Memphis!

Opening by THE KINGS, female-fronted Elvis tribute band.

Starring THE KENTUCKY RAIN BAND!

More information at http://www.SeattleInvitationals.com

And here’s the best video we could find from a previous Invitational, with KING-TV’s Jim Dever doing his Elvis:

Story and Video by Scott Schaefer

As if on cue, the sun made a brief appearance, the rain stopped, and during a nice lull on an otherwise typical, windy New Year’s Day, 29 people braved the chilly waters of Puget Sound and kicked off the new decade and year at the annual Three Tree Point Polar Bear Plunge in Burien.

With air temps hovering around a mild 50 degrees, and the water temp not far below, this was the biggest turnout that we’ve ever seen for Burien’s annual festivity.

This event also served as a fundraiser for the Highline Food Bank, and according to co-organizer Bob Hubbs, netted 100 pounds of food donations and $50 in cash.

Carol O’Kennedy (along with her dog Kaya) was awarded the Polar Bear Plunge trophy, which consisted of a piece of driftwood, a small Polar Bear and a plaque. To see Carol and her dog, be sure to watch the video below.

Our own intrepid Sales Dude Bart Bryan also participated (after first getting some “fortification”), utilizing our exclusive, customized and waterproofed “Polar Bear Plunge POV” video camera, and here’s our video of the day’s event:

KING-TV has a video report that’s worth a view – two fighting bald eagles got tangled up, and due to gravity, ended up falling into a yard in Burien on Christmas day.

No, it wasn’t some wayward animal gift from Santa’s sleigh, it was actually two male eagles who got caught up in each other and fell into Gary Hallock’s backyard. Hallock wasn’t sure what to do, since tangled, angry bald eagles with two-inch talons aren’t the easiest animals to deal with, so he called the Sarvey Wildlife Center in Arlington, who came to the rescue.

Here’s the video:

Read KING’s full story here.

Story by Scott Schaefer
Photos by Michael Brunk

On Thursday (Dec. 17th), “The Passage,” the large, two-piece Mother/Daughter sculpture by Dan Das Mann that anchored Burien’s Interim Art Space, was de-installed, hoisted by crane, lowered and secured on a flatbed truck in preparation to be carted away, en route back to its “home” in California after spending a year as the centerpiece to an innovated and sometimes controversial experiment in community art.

Co-Curators Dane Johnson and Kathy Justin were there, along with volunteers and hired workers who, over the course of the last two weeks, have removed all pieces from B/ IAS, the one-year art project in a space on SW 150th that once housed Bartells Drugs and its parking lot.

Now devoid of all art, the place will return to its empty parking lot-like self, the chunks of asphalt no longer representing anyone’s artistic vision, but rather an uncertain future for this lot. There will be no more controversial “naked lady statue” (“Paradigm Shift” by Mike McGrath), no more worries by the Fire Department about the use of fire as “art,” no more loud dance music blasting out of speakers, no more smashing pumpkins, and no more “art” here.

Will it house a new cinema? Another section of Town Square? A park of some sort?

Or perhaps…another, new art installation?

Only time will tell, and we here at The B-Town Blog would like to tip our collective hats to all the artists, volunteers, workers, students, community activists, city officials, gardeners, developers, visitors and observers who were all brought together by this idea, and who shared numerous joyous, fun events over the last year.

It seems like it was just yesterday that Photographer Francis Zera captured this time-lapse of the installation of “The Passage”:

Yet here we are repeating that scene, only in reverse – Photographer Michael Brunk stopped by over the last two days and documented the “de-installations” with this Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Also, as our salute to the ending of B/ IAS and the exiting of “The Passage,” we present an encore of our artist Danielle Burton’s vision of this sad ending:

And because we enjoyed covering the arts and events at this place, here are other Photo Slideshows and Videos we’ve posted about B/ IAS:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s SoundSlideshow

Click to View Scott Schaefer’s Photo Slideshow

On April Fool's Day, we showed off how much we suck at Photoshop with this lame doctored image of "vandalism" to The Passage. Everyone of course was fooled.

Read our previous coverage of B/ IAS here.

The B-Town Blog’s “B-Town Breakdown With Amy Bouska” video this week features a rather unique interview with Burien’s own Manuela Horn, known to many as the 6′2″ “Yodeling Dominatrix” who got das boot from NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” last summer.

Manuela’s also a professional actress and multi-talented performer who has done gigs not only for local events like Burien’s own Oktoberfest, Brat Trot, but Seattle’s Teatro Zinzanni, Yahoo in New York City and many others.

She’s also a Mom (!) and lives in Burien (!!), and here’s the interview:

From her website:

The Yodeling Dominatrix’ name is “Hildegard van Schlag.” She stands 6 foot 10 inches tall and dominates her subjects with yodeling. Unfortunately her dungeon is completely full and has no availability for new subjects (so sorry). “Hildegard van Schlag”, is available to reign over special events as imported royalty or MC and loves subduing audiences with a 15-minute set of earbending yodels. Her list of requirements is extensively extreme. If you think you have a community worthy of her attention or want to invite her to an event she will happily send two of her minions to inspect it.

Here are some other vids of Manuela:

“Whipping Bells” by the Yodeling Dominatrix:

Beer Drinking Song at Oktoberfest:

Manuela Horn at Teatro Zinzanni:

If you’d like to book Manuela for a holiday party, email her here.

Read our previous coverage of Manuela here.

View Amy’s previous “B-Town Breakdown,” a video interview with local artist Rebecca Miller here.

We’re proud of our latest Intern, Bryan Charles of Big Picture High School, who’s not only learning new things about storytelling, but has been teaching himself Flash and making numerous animations, all based around his original “3 Frog Bros” cartoon.

Here’s his latest creation, “3 Frog Bros Episode 5” in which the Frog Bros have a close encounter of the strange, and oftentimes funny, kind (keep in mind that he drew and animated this entire thing himself, with the only help coming from friends doing voices):

Have a cartoon idea for Bryan? Email him here!

This just in from BTB Advertiser Richard Doane of Burien Auto Repair – looks like Richard and his wife Sheila are housing one of Burien’s fastest-rising stars – a dog named Ryder!

Ryder, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and lifelong Burien resident, will be appearing in Hallmark’s 100th Anniversary TV Commercial, which will air this Sunday night (Nov. 29th) during the “Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie – A Dog Named Christmas,” which begins at 9pm on KIRO-TV (channel 7).

We’ve been told that the ad will be shown during the first commercial break, so be sure to set your TiVos/DVRs or watch closely for the first 20 minutes.

Owner Richard was recently contacted by Leo Burnett Advertising in Chicago who had previewed thousands of dog videos, and guess what? They selected Ryder to be one of the stars in this commercial, which will air nationally.

Ryder was selected for the commercial based on the following YouTube video clip that Richard shot and posted after his dog’s 1st Birthday about two years ago – it shows Ryder “blowing out the candles” on his birthday cake:

And get this – YOU can help make Ryder the winner of Hallmark’s “Cutest Dog of the Season” contest by voting online here:

www.hhofdogcontest.com/results/current-entries?name=ryder+doane

(Don’t forget to forward the link on to all your friends – let’s see if we can make Ryder a real star!)

According to Richard, for his “acting services,” Ryder was paid $350 which he plans to donate to PAWS to help out dogs and cats less fortunate than himself.

Here’s what Richard had to say:

Ryder was chosen not only for his award-winning talent, but also for his positive attitude and willingness to help others.

When not chasing a tennis ball, Ryder loves to chase birds for fun, and go to the lake with his posse of other Corgis.

He has been a “therapy dog” at the Highline Medical Center, and enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Remember to set your TiVo for Sunday night’s feature presentation – or at least until the first commercial break!

If you attended Burien’s Strawberry Festival, or the myriad of the many other B-Town events this past summer, you may have noticed a film crew (or four) wandering around, shooting footage for a new documentary about our little town.

Well, after months of shooting and editing, a trailer has been created for the production, entitled “Where We Live Now, Burien.”

Without further adieu, here is the 5:32 trailer for your enjoyment – watch closely, you may see yourself, someone you know as well as some of the places you go:

The crew behind this production includes many well-known Northwest video folks, such as:

• Executive Producer: Anne Stadler, community leadership consultant, formerly KING-TV5 documentaries and specials Producer
• Co-Producers and Writers: Terry Tazioli, writer/on-air Host, formerly with The Seattle Times, KING-TV5
• Lucy Mohl, formerly Senior Manager, Microsoft (and previously KING-TV, Film.com and RealNetworks)
• Production Manager, Videographer, Editor: Aaron Stadler, www.fatcatVDO.com
• Videographers: Bill Fenster, www.billfensterproductions.com
• Diana Wilmar, www.foxwilmar.com/bios/bios
• Videographer/Editor: Rowan North, LinkedIn
• Still Photographer: Kimi Milo
• Audio: Stevan Smith
• Scott MacLaughlin
• Robin Sarmento

Keep in mind though that this documentary remains unfinished, and like most productions-in-progress, is seeking funds to complete it.

Executive Producer Anne Stadler says:

“We’re looking for at least $7,000. One thing we want to do is get this packaged with a series of discussion questions to market to Mayors and City governments around the state and country. So anything more that we raise, will go toward THAT. Haven’t budgeted for that yet.

Donations will go towards editing the doc, as well as producing a couple of shorter pieces: skate park and young people; Burien and BIAS.”

Here’s how you can help:

Send whatever you can to the Sunyata Foundation; all Donors will get their names in the credits, as well as a DVD of the video, along with the heartwarming knowledge that you helped promote Your Burien (keep in mind that this is a non-profit, 501-C3 organization):

Sunyata Foundation
PO Box 58788
Renton WA. 98058

Here’s more info on the production from their press release:

“Where We Live Now: Burien” A Video Project

What does it take to have the resilience to rebound from an economic downturn by putting up art in an unfinished section of the Town Square and throwing a party??!!!

Burien’s story shows us what to pay attention to as we struggle to live well where we live!

We’ve shot a documentary and short videos illustrating how the leadership and vision of different groups in Burien, Washington create an emerging fabric of settlement.  Featured are artists; young people; the Town Square developers and other business people; new arrivals and old-timers.  We’re telling the story of how artists have helped Burien create a lively response to the setbacks caused by the current economic downtown and looking at the choices Burien is making to fulfill its aspirations.

There are several stories that have our attention:

1. Burien reacts to setbacks caused by the economic downturn by converting a negative space in the development of the Town Square into an opportunity to create a new story.  That story focuses around how Burning Man artists make up a new storyline in the aftermath of slowdown in proposed Burien development, using art to “construct” and convert an asphalt parking lot into a festive center (Burien Interim Art Space)–however temporary.  We look at how they are helping to pull Burien into a future people have invested in (bond issue), hoped for, and tried to attract.
2. Another story here is the usual one with an unusual angle:  Old timers, new settlers, struggling once again to create community rather than living “side by side”.  The Director of the Historical Association Cyndi Upthegrove is a great spokesperson for the need to create community between the old timers and the newcomers, etc. She asks: “Is Burien truly building on its heritage?” The first Mayor of Burien was a native of India, Arun Jhaveri, from Mumbai.  He still lives in Burien, is retired from Boeing.  He, along with Sally Nelson (the only original Council member still on the City Council) involved 700 citizens in creating the vision and operating principles that have guided Burien since incorporation in 1993.
3. Also, Burien’s young people enjoy a very fine skatepark built on the site of the City’s Community Center where many different ages and ethnicities congregate.  Young people asked city government to give them a place to skateboard; they worked with the Parks Dept., and a designer to create the skatepark.  We have an award-winning young filmmaker, Rowan North, who is part of the production team, who has shot and edited their story of how they fit into the evolving fabric of Burien.

Purpose:
This video project is part of a public conversation that is being spearheaded by www.Suddenly.org.   It shows a vital view from the nitty-gritty of living the changes and choices talked about in that conversation.  A description of that project, Suddenly.org is at the end of this proposal.

Burien’s own stories dramatically illustrate Suddenly’s basic thesis:  Our choices matter.  The landscape where we live now is the result of countless choices. Much of it is an in-between space, neither urban nor rural, but a mingling of both.  Suddenly.org is a digital commons hosting public conversations and events generated by artists, historians, urban planners, government and citizens who are engaging in an inquiry about how we came to BE where we live now, with the intention of creating a future that is “a landscape where we can ALL live, eyes wide open, without tragedy or regret.”

The Burien mosaic shows how one community self-organizes to achieve the intangible AND tangible things that matter in “a landscape where we can ALL live, eyes wide open…”  It brings to light all the elements of a healthy community.

Distribution Plans:
The entire enterprise is an accessible educational venture.

All products will be distributed via the Internet, via www.suddenly.org’s website, via television and other media.

We will also produce a DVD of the ½ hour documentary and the shorter stories, for sale.  Burien’s story will serve as a model for other communities, here and across the planet.  We will work with Burien Mayor Joan McGilton, former Mayor Arun Jahveri , and Jim Diers, community-building consultant, to produce a discussion guide that we will market to Mayors and city governments.

We hope to have a party in Burien when the documentary is completed.

How we will work together:
Members of the team working on this project are colleagues who have had many years of experience–together and separately– at KING-TV, Seattle, and other venues.  All participants are multi-award-winners in their own disciplines. We will work in the way Matthew Stadler and his colleagues have done in Suddenly.org.

Here is our commitment:
“This project depends on the generous hard work of talented people who, if they are paid at all, are never paid enough.  Our reward is the work we do together.” (from the preface of the annotated reader: Where We Live Now.)

“This video project is dedicated to all those who are part of it, and to one of the creative souls that inspired our way of working together.” – Greg Palmer.

“We are hoping to receive the money we need for the fruition of the project,  but money is not the reason we are undertaking this.  It is a labor of love for each other, for our place, and for planting the seeds in our time that help people live well together where they live now.”

As Lisa Robertson says in the frontispiece of Where We Live Now:

“Perhaps here we shall be other than the administrators of poverty.”

Total cost: $12,000.

Contributed value: $30,500.00

This video project is an educational program of Sunyata Association, a 501-c-3 organization:

Mark R. Jones, President
PO Box 58788
Renton WA. 98058
www.sunyatagroup.ws

Burien Parks’ annual “Pumpkin Patch Bash” for 1 to 12-year olders is coming Friday, Oct. 16th from 6pm to 8:30pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Pumpkin Patch Bash

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 16th from 6pm to 8:30pm

WHERE: Burien Community Center, located at 425 SW 144th Street

INFO: This event is for kids Ages 1-12 years old, and will include:

• Carnival Games
• Face Painting
• Costume Contests
• Arts & Crafts
• Photo Booth
• Bouncer (the fun kind, not the kind you find at bars…)

COST: $4 per child/parents free; Children under 1 year of age free with parent

CONTACT: (206) 988-3700 or Email: parksinfo@burienwa.gov

Here’s a video from the 2007 bash to give you an idea of what to expect:

Our friends at the UW-APL/PSSC Environmental & Marine Science Observatory at Seahurst Park have not only repaired their beach and underwater webcams, they’ve upgraded them to high definition.

This means that now you can watch HD footage not only of the beach, but from underwater as well!

Here are some pretty cool video clips ranging from time lapses that show the changing tides (fast-moving) passersby and sunsets, to clips of dogfish and more; as always, we feature these feeds on our Webcams page along with other local cams:

[display_podcast]

For video highlights from the Seahurst Beach Underwater camera, click here.

For an archive of Seahurst Beach HD clips, click here.

More info from their website:

The observatory is a collaboration between oceanographers and engineers at the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory and the Puget Sound Skills Center’s Environmental and Marine Science program. The Marine Science program has a wonderful shoreside facility located at the north end of Seahurst Park in Burien, Washington. To support the salmon hatchery located at the facility there are two saltwater intake pipes that run 850 feet from the building out to 25 feet of water. Those pipes provide an ideal means to run power and fiber optic ethernet cables for underwater instruments, providing a permanent, real-time, high bandwidth presence on the bottom of Puget Sound.

The observatory was installed through a combination of volunteer efforts and a science and engineering development project at APL-UW funded by the National Science Foundation. That project is working to install a cabled-to-shore profiling mooring at the MARS observatory in Monterey Bay, California. The installation at Seahurst provides a plug compatible observatory interface for testing that system in diver accessible depths right in our own backyard.

Data from the CTD is collected every 1.5 seconds. Time-lapse video frames are taken every 10 seconds. Daily time-lapse videos are archived. Full-rate video is captured and archived when motion is detected. For presentation on the front page of the web site a snapshot is taken once per minute and twenty seconds of full-rate (10 fps) video is taken every five minutes.

Oktoberfest is returning to Burien this weekend, beginning Thursday, Sept. 24th and continuing through Sunday Sept. 27th, with live entertainment, crafts, food, a carnival with rides, and of course, Burien’s own “Yodeling Dominatrix,” Manuela Horn.

What? You didn’t know we have our own Yodeling Dominatrix? Here’s a new clip of her “cooking”:

(BTW, we’re actually somewhat responsible for getting her booked at this event, so you’d better show up, ‘cuz she’s HIGHLY entertaining, not to mention tall – 6′2″! – and a professional yodeler to boot; you may have even seen her on “America’s Got Talent”!)

Here are the event details:

WHAT: The return of Burien’s own Oktoberfest

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 24th, through Sunday, Sept. 27th

The carnival runs from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 24 and Sept. 25, noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 26 and noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 27. Hours for the main festival are Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26:

• Noon – Greg Parke (acoustic & electric guitar)
• 2-4 pm. – Kenny Olendorf Polka Band
• 2-4 p.m. – Burien’s Got Talent (Kids’ Stage)
• 4-5:30 p.m. – The Burien Ballbangers (classic rock & roll)
• 5:30-6 p.m. – Dominatrix yodeler Manuela Horn
• 6-8 p.m. – The Evin Rudes (classic rock & roll)

Sunday, Sept. 27:

• Noon – Two Scoops Combo (award-winning blues)
• 3-4 p.m. – Greg Parke (acoustic & electric guitar)
• 4-6 p.m. – Tony & The Time Bandits (classic rock & roll plus rhythm & blues)

INFO: “Celebrating the end of the harvest season, this annual event features live entertainment throughout the day, crafts, food and a carnival. The festival is focused on Burien Town Square at SW 152nd Street and 5th Ave SW. Estimated attendance: 20,000″

Burien’s Oktoberfest will feature much more than just a Yodeling Dominatrix and beer gardens (although there will plenty of that) – this year there will also be lots of food, arts and crafts, as well as a carnival with rides, and live entertainment.

BTB Advertiser Elliott Bay Brewhouse & Pub will also be holding their own festival, with an outdoor beer garden and live music from 2pm to 9pm with the Mellifluous Cephyres, then ramping up with Jonathan Kimball and capping the evening with Sunderlyn. They’ll be serving their own specialty beers brewed on site, and will also be selling bratwurst and other appropriate foods.

Hoist a pint of suds or a glass of wine in true Octoberfest fashion at one of two outdoor beer and wine gardens. Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub will be serving from Friday night through Sunday in front of the restaurant at 435 SW 152nd Street. Mick’s will dish up live entertainment Friday night through Sunday, plus German menu specials and outdoor barbecue Saturday and Sunday.

Shop the festival’s 50-plus booths for unique arts and crafts, plus tasty eats such as Mexican and Hawaiian fare, hamburgers, hotdogs and more. Some vendors from the Burien Farmers Market will also be on hand.

Also on Saturday morning join other walkers for an easy 2-mile stroll to help Hospitality House’s shelter for homeless women (see our previous coverage here), located in Burien. Dogs on a leash are welcome.

Register for the eight annual StreetWalk for the Homeless at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 26 for $20 at SW 152nd Street and Fifth Place SW at Burien Town Square. The walk starts at 10 a.m. Afterward there will be a prize drawing for walkers who raise the most money through sponsorships. For sponsorship forms, call (206) 243-1597.

Sponsored by the Discover Burien Association, the event will center on Burien Town Square at Southwest 152nd Street and Fifth Place Southwest in downtown Burien. Discover Burien is a nonprofit organization that works on the economic development and marketing of the city.

For more information, call (206) 941-7199 or go online to www.discoverburien.com.

As for Manuela Horn, Burien’s Yodeling Dominatrix, she’s also a professional actress and multi-talented performer who has done gigs for Teatro Zinzanni and many others. She’ll yodel her way into your beer-stained heart on Saturday from 5:30pm to 6pm on the main stage.

(Oh, and look for us there as well – we’ll be in our B-Town Blog t-shirts at a booth, or perhaps even a beer garden or two…)

Our friends at Burien Parks did some testing of the new Town Square Park Plaza interactive water fountains on Tuesday, Sept. 15th and shot the video below.

Here’s what Parks Director Michael Lafreniere tells us:

“We tested the fountain on Sept 15th.

Soon the Town Square Park Plaza Fountain (or is it a Fountain Plaza?) will be fully operational.

From what I’m told, the fountains should be operational sometime during the first or second week of October.

Still some tweaking and a County Health Dept inspection to go.

Yes, it needs a “Pool Permit”.

(Apologies for the cell phone quality video.)”

Here’s a map of the new Town Square Park:

Courtesy our friends at Burien Parks comes the following video and photo slideshow showcasing a “monster grinder” chewing up the brush and detritus left over (and not previously eaten by hired goats) in the makeover of Mathison Park.

Here’s what Parks’ Director Michael Lafreniere said:

This is what the goats couldn’t eat!

Mathison Park is being transformed into a real park with trails. Trees and underbrush have been removed, and what the goats couldn’t eat, this monster grinder is chewing up into woodchips. The chips will be used for a natural trail that winds through the park, so very little material will need to be taken off-site, but will be used as part of the improvements.

Click to View Burien Parks’ Photo Slideshow

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Mathison Park Expansion Project To Be Completed This Fall
• VIDEO: Hired Goats Are Eating Up Burien’s Mathison Park

We recently produced a video ad for longtime B-Town Blog Advertiser Highline Audiology, which includes real testimonials from real, actual (and all unpaid) patients:

[Are you a Business looking to make a major impact on the internet? Video is one of the most effective ways to market, and our experienced production team can produce one for you and post it here to over 30,000 local Readers, as well as market it on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter! For more information, email us or call (206) 248-2565!]

Story and Videos by Jim Branson

This year, the nesting pair at Eagle Landing Park has successfully raised two eagles to the fledgling stage. For the three previous years, they did not produce offspring successfully, possibly due to the disturbance of the creation of the park and the daily disruption of the visitors. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, eagles can be disrupted by many human activities, causing them to build the nest improperly, fail to incubate the eggs, or abandon the chicks at critical periods.

Here’s a video of one of the fledglings in a tree:

Before Eagle Landing Park was a park, the eagles had their nest on the south side of the nest tree, where it could be seen clearly from the top of the hill. Apparently in a quest for privacy, they moved the nest around to the northwest side this year. This strategy seems to have allowed them to resume raising chicks successfully. Because the nest was hidden from view, I wasn’t even certain they had eaglets until recently.

Now, there can be no mistaking them as they constantly beg for food and practice flying around the park. They are not skilled flyers, and their landings can be especially dramatic and suspenseful. They will fly around for about a month, gaining confidence. In past years, the fledglings have disappeared in September, presumably because the parents lead them to fishing grounds up north. The parents come back in October, alone, having ditched the young eagles and left them to fend for themselves.

If you visit Eagle Landing Park to see the fledglings (website here), please be quiet. Human impacts can cause the fledglings and the adults to startle from their roosts, expending calories they need to survive. Also, your silence will enable others to see the eagles, making the park experience better for all visitors.

Here’s another video:

“Fledgling eagle in the nest tree at Eagle Landing Park. The quiet one is visible here and the noisy one can be heard in the background. These two will be learning to fly and hunt in the next month…”

One way to cool off this Thursday night (July 30th) will be to head on over the Lake Burien School Memorial Park for another fine evening of FREE music courtesy Burien Parks’ Music and Movies in the Park, this week featuring “Hillbilly Jam Grass at its best” from Deadwood Revival.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Music and Movies in the Park featuring Deadwood Revival

WHEN: Thursday, July 30th from 6pm-8pm

WHERE: Lake Burien Scool Memorial Park at SW 149th and 16th SW

INFO: From their website:

If you put a Georgia theater chick, a California drummer-turned-banjo player, a Deadhead bass player and a bluegrass fiddler in the same room and say….”alright folks… make some music” …you’d think that the result would be…well… interesting to say the least. Well, it is far more than interesting. It’s Deadwood Revival. A most unlikely group of musicians join together to make some of the most unassuming, honest “feel good” music filled with the spirit of old-time Appalachia, soulful American roots and a hint of jam-band improvisation.

Deadwood Revival came onto the scene as a duo in early 2005 when Kim Trenerry and Jason Mogi, after years of co-fronting their own folk rock jam band found a new love…that of old time Appalachian music. Combining their rock background with old time gave Kim and Jason their reputation as “one of the hottest duos around”. Hundreds of concerts and festivals, four west coast tours, and two cd’s later…Kim and Jason reconnected with long time friend, bassist Ches Ferguson in June 2007 and the duo became a permanent trio. In late 2007, DwR met former “Looking Glass” fiddler, Julie Campbell, who brings her fierce fiddle playing to the DwR sound at select concerts and festivals.

Here are some videos to overheat your computer with:

“Good Day Sunshine”:

“Listen to the Music”:

“Charlie’s Dream”:

“When I’m Gone”:

“Cold Rain and Snow”:

At the Spotlight in Seattle:

It was “Heroes” week at Camp Craz, Burien Parks’ summer daycamp program, and on Wednesday, July 22nd, officers from the Burien Police Department visited with the kids.

Here’s a video courtesy Burien Parks, with our fave moments at :25 (kid yells “pull over!!” into the microphone) and at 1:35 (same kid yells “I like fishing!”):

Here at The B-Town Blog we’re excited to introduce our latest feature: “B-Town Breakdown with Amy Bouska,” a new, regular video interview segment.

For her inaugural production, Amy interviews Burien-based artist Rebecca Miller, who also happens to have been a model, as well as being associated with a certain rock drummer (you’ll have to watch the video to find out who…):

According to her MySpace page, Rebecca’s interests include:

Genera:l Creating beautiful things. Loving, Living, Painting!
Music: ALL…Without it what is there??????????
Movies: Hmmm, one’s that evoke emotion.
Television: BLAH… do love the Dexter!!
Books: Ahhh so many!! The stories of other interesting lives. Mark Twain, Robert Anton Wilson, Henry Miller, Anais Nin, Kurt Vonnegut, an on & on……….:)
Heroes: People who inspire others, Free spirits, Artists!

Here’s a slideshow of some of Rebecca’s art:

Click to View Photo Slideshow of Rebecca Miller’s Art

Do you know of someone Amy should interview for her next “B-Town Breakdown”?

If so, please email us ASAP at editor@b-townblog.com!

Three Tree Point resident Alex Sasonoff sent us this photo he took of what appears to be a very large Lion’s Mane Jellyfish washed up on the beach in Burien last weekend (his dog Dottie is in the pic to show scale):

“It was the largest I have ever seen on the beach – three and one half feet in diameter. I measured it,” Sasanoff said.

And yes, the world’s largest jellyfish do sting – just check out the colorful red and orange tentacles on that guy.

According to Wikipedia:

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish is the largest known species of jellyfish in the world.

Its range is confined to cold, boreal waters of the Arctic, northern Atlantic and northern Pacific Oceans, seldom found farther south than 42°N latitude.

The Arctic Lion’s mane jellyfish is one of the longest known animals; the largest recorded specimen had a bell (body) with a diameter of 2.3 m (7 feet 6 inches) and the tentacles reached 36.5 m (120 feet). It was found washed up on the shore of Massachusetts Bay in 1870. This specimen was longer than a blue whale, which is commonly considered to be the largest animal in the world.

A common species, the lion’s mane jellyfish is well known to divers for its painful, but seldom fatal stings; they are toxic and can cause severe burns. Most encounters cause only temporary pain and localized redness. Although this species is potentially dangerous, only one person has ever been reported to have been killed by this type of jellyfish.

Here’s a video of one of these guys swimming in TTP waters that we previously posted from Youtube user and area diver m4jwilliams:

Burien’s recently-installed, controversial nude female sculpture has become a local media sensation (which we first covered on Monday), and Thursday (June 25th) our B-Town Blog video production crew of Mark Neuman and Bart Bryan dared to actually go near “Paradigm Shift,” the lifelike bronze Mike Magrath statue located at the Interim Art Space, where they shot this video:

If you haven’t yet read our original story, it’s worth a peek since the Comments are quite interesting – click here to read ‘em.