| Apr |
| 9 |
Every year, Members of Congress are allowed to display one piece of artwork by a high school student from their district in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
Congressman Adam Smith, who represents Washington’s 9th Congressional District (which includes Burien), is holding an annual judged art competition to select which local art receives this honor, with a deadline of April 9th.
The selected student will win prizes and be invited to attend the national reception for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 24, 2010 in Washington, DC. two round-trip airline tickets are donated for travel to DC. The winning entry will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
Prizes also include a scholarship to the Savannah Collage of Art and Design.
If you have any questions or want to receive electronic updates about Rep. Adam Smith’s Congressional Art Contest please contact Ms. Debra Entenman (253) 593-6600 or email: Debra.Entenman@mail.house.gov.
For contest guidelines, please download the forms from Adam’s website here.
2010 Congressional Arts Competition:
The Congressional Arts Competition allows each Member of Congress to display one piece of artwork, created by a high school student in their district, in the Capitol for one year.
Entries for the 9th Congressional District Art Contest are due by 5:00 PM on Friday April 9, 2010. All submissions should be sent to:
Congressman Adam Smith
2209 Pacific Avenue, Suite B
Tacoma, Washington 98402Additionally, during the month of April, most entries will be on display at Tacoma Art Museum (1701 Pacific Avenue). However, please be advised that due to space limitations it may not be possible to display all entries.
The winner of the competition will be announced at the Art Exhibition and Reception on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 1:00 pm at The Tacoma Art Museum.
The winning student will win prizes and be invited to attend the national reception for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 17, 2010 in Washington, DC. Three round-trip airline tickets are donated for travel to DC. The winning entry will be displayed in the Cannon tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year.
2010 Congressional Art Competition Guidelines:The competition is open to high school students only. Exceptions will be made for schools that have 7th through 12th grades on one campus. Each Member’s office can choose whether or not to include 7th and 8th grades in the art competition if there are schools in its district that fit these criteria. Additionally, official resources are to be used only to the extent authorized by the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
In order to allow artwork to hang in the Cannon Tunnel in the U.S. Capitol, the following restrictions are enforced:
- Artwork must be two dimensional;
- Each piece can be no larger than 28”x28”x 4” (28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep) including the frame. Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 lbs;
- Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo (not the student’s own), painting, graphic, advertisement, or any other work produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing);
- Artwork must arrive in Washington by May 24, 2010 for inclusion in the exhibition.
- Artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibition and cannot be returned to the students earlier. Students should, therefore, submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.
Last year's Congressional art contest winner Arunan Mukphrom with Congressman Adam Smith at his office in Washington DC. The winning artist and their family were invited to Washington, D.C. to see their artwork hung in the Capitol.
Artwork accepted mediums are as follows:
- Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
- Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers
- Collage: must be two dimensional
- Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
- Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
- Computer-generated art
- Photography
Paper Work:
A typed and securely affixed large label must be applied to the back of each piece. Also provide a typed copy of the Student Release form, signed by both the teacher and the student, must be attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece.
The winning artist’s student release form along with the Member Approval form should be sent to DC via fax to 202.225.3012, attn: 2010 Art Competition, as soon as you have chosen a winning artwork .
Release forms and Member Approval forms must be received by May 28th. This will allow us to determine if more information is required from the student before actually receiving the artwork.
The final decision regarding the suitability of all artwork for the 2010 Congressional Art Competition exhibition in the Capitol will be made by a panel of qualified persons chaired by the Architect of the Capitol.
Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission.
In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed.
It is necessary that all artwork be reviewed by the panel chaired by the Architect of the Capitol and any portion not in consonance with the Commission’s policy will be omitted from the exhibit.
Framing Guidelines:
High School students in Washington's District 9 are eligible.
Framing guidelines apply only to the ONE winning artist/artwork that will be sent to Washington, DC.
All artwork must be framed. Frames should be kept as simple and sturdy as possible.
Metal frames are recommended. No “snap on” frames with glass are to be used.
All artwork must be protected by Plexiglas or glass. Plexiglas is preferred. If glass is used, special packing and shipping arrangements are encouraged to ensure that the work is not damaged if the glass breaks.
All works, including frame, should be no larger than 28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, to the outside of the frame, and 15 lbs. in weight. Please double check the size before sending the entry to Washington, DC. Due to wide participation of Member offices, framed work larger than the specified dimensions will be turned away.
Matting can enhance or detract from a work of art and should be carefully prepared.
Use sturdy picture hangers on the back of the frame. Two sturdy eye hooks should be attached at the top right and left sides of the back of the work for hanging in order to prevent the work from leaning forward or hanging unevenly. Do not put wire between the hooks for hanging; these will be added when the artwork is hung in the Capitol.
Do not attach labels, ribbons, etc. to the front of the piece or underneath the glass or Plexiglas.
If the artwork is abstract in design, please indicate on the backside which side is “up” with arrows.
As directed by the House Oversight and Standards of Official Conduct Committees, each district winner is responsible for framing his or her own entry. Any hardship case should be assisted at the district level; works can no longer be framed by the Architect of the Capitol.
A typed copy of the Student Information & Release Form must be securely attached to the back of the artwork.
More information on this art competition is available at Adam Smith’s website.
We’re pretty sure that the last time a tsunami hit the northwest coast of the U.S. was in 1964, shortly after a major earthquake struck Alaska; far as we know, it damaged some places on the Oregon coast, including Cannon Beach.
Saturday morning (Feb. 27th), imagine our surprise when we saw an “Advisory” posted in our Weather Widget in the right sidebar. Clicking on it revealed that yes, a “Tsunami Advisory” had been issued for the northern and central Washington coast after a huge, 8.8 quake hit Chile´.
We don’t think this is cause for panic in the Puget Sound region, but we wanted to share this info because, well, who knows – maybe a tsunami-based wave will hit the shorelines near Burien? Maybe not?
The advisory warns that, if indeed a tsunami wave makes it up the coast, takes a right turn through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, makes another right and heads down through the upper islands of Puget Sound…when (and if) it hits Pier 48 in Seattle it’s predicted to be .13 feet high, which, according to our rudimentary math skills, equals a measly 1.56 inches high.
According to this NOAA website, the predicted time for this wave to strike Seattle is 1641 PST – for us non-military types, that’s 4:41pm Saturday afternoon.
If you happen to have a video camera and a lot of free time this afternoon, why not hang out near one of Burien’s beaches around 4:30-5pm and see if you can videotape a 1.56 inch wave barreling in from the north? We’d love to post it – please email us if you do!
And if you know anyone who lives on the coast, or in Hawaii, please make sure they’re aware of this advisory, as it could be very serious in those areas.
According to the National Weather Service:
Persons in tsunami advisory areas should move out of the water… off the beach and out of harbors and marinas.
Tsunami advisories mean that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near water is imminent or expected. Significant widespread inundation is not expected for areas in an advisory. Tsunamis are a series of waves potentially dangerous several hours after initial arrival time. Estimated times of initial wave arrival for selected sites in the advisory are provided below.
Here’s the “Tsunami Advisory” language as posted at 9:18am:
Tsunami Advisory
Statement as of 9:18 AM PST on February 27, 2010
… A tsunami advisory remains in effect for the northern and central Washington coast…
A tsunami advisory remains in effect for the northern and central Washington coast.
There is no Tsunami Watch or warning in effect for the Washington coast. Repeat… there is no Tsunami Watch or warning in effect.
A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake occurred at 1034 PM PDT Friday near the central coast of chile. It has generated a tsunami wave… which is now spreading out across the Pacific Ocean.
The first tsunami waves are expected to reach the Washington coast between 250 PM and 310 PM PST this afternoon. The following are the
estimated arrival times of the first waves.
- Seaside or… … ..246 PM PST
- Westport WA… … .257 PM PST
- Neah Bay WA… … .307 PM PST
The largest tsunami waves are expected two hours after the first arrival.
The waves are not expected to be large enough to cause coastal flooding along the Washington coast. However… some coastal areas could experience dangerous currents and surges in harbors and bays. Forecast tsunami wave amplitudes follow.
- Long Beach WA… ..0.46 ft
- Westport… … … .0.78 ft
- Moclips… … … ..1.27 ft
- Neah Bay… … … .0.65 ft
- Port Angeles… … 0.33 ft
- Bellingham… … ..0.46 ft
- Everett… … … ..0.13 ft
- Seattle-pier 48… 0.13 ft
The minimum wave height for a tsunami advisory on the Washington coast is 6 inches or 15 centimeters.
The initial wave will not be the largest. Coastal residents are advised to stay out of the water… off the beach… and away from harbors and marinas. Wave heights and currents are amplified by irregular shoreline and are difficult to predict. The tsunami may not be visible among the common ocean surf… yet tide gages will likely report some fluctuations.
Mariners in water deeper than 600 feet should not be affected by a tsunami.
Repeat… no Tsunami Watch or warning is in effect for the northern and central Washington coast.
And just ‘cuz we found it and we love science, here’s a pretty cool simulation video of what might happen if a tsunami hit Elliott Bay:
UPDATE: 1:45pm PST: So far, no tsunami yet in Hawaii, but this type of rare event is considered and “inexact science.” Here’s a link to a website that’s broadcasting a live TV signal from Hawaii.
Also, here’s the live webcam feed from Burien’s Seahurst Park Beach, just in case; refresh this page to see the latest:
On Wednesday (Feb. 27th), STITA and Farwest taxi companies sent letters to Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag and Attorney General Rob McKenna, urging an investigation into the Port of Seattle.
This follows a recent, fast-paced rash of two lawsuits filed against the Port for its alleged mishandling of switching cab vendors over from STITA to Yellow Cab (read our previous coverage here).
The letter to the State Auditor asks him to investigate the Port’s handing of the entire on-demand taxicab RFP (Request For Proposal) process, which resulted in the two recent lawsuits.
The letter to Attorney General McKenna requests not only for an investigation of the Port, but also of lobbyist Chris Van Dyk, who is accused of collusion in the RFP process.
“It’s time for the auditor and the attorney general to step in,” said STITA spokesperson Jesse Buttar in a statement. “We hope they will take a careful look at the allegations against the Port.”
We got in touch with Perry Cooper, Media Officer for the Port, who said:
“Understand we have just received this and will review our records again…
but we are still emphasizing that we are confident the RFP and bidding process was fair, open and transparent.
We have reviewed our approach continually throughout a thoughtful and thorough RFP and bidding process.
We are aware of no facts that would support allegations of collusion.
At no time during the process did anyone file an official complaint.
We were not aware of these allegations until the suit was filed.”
Both letters are enclosed below, and are available also for download here (both as PDF files):
- Letter to State Auditor Sonntag (PDF File)
- Letter to Attorney General McKenna (PDF File)
It’s Election Night in Washington, the mailed votes are being counted, and, as of 8:12pm, the totals for Proposition 1, the King County Library System “Library Levy,” were:
KING COUNTY RURAL LIBRARY DISTRICT
Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: * 182002 / 647133 28.12%
Proposition No. 1
- YES: 91,215 50.51%
- NO: 89,359 49.49%
We’ll post further results on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 10th), and the final tally won’t be official until Feb. 24th.
The language for Prop. 1, according to the Voter’s Pamphlet:
The Board of Directors of the King County Rural Library District adopted Resolution No. 2009-11 concerning an increase in the District’s regular property tax levy. In order to provide continued funding for the normal operation and maintenance of the King County library system, this proposition would authorize the District to restore regular property tax levy rate to $0.50 per thousand dollars of assessed value for collection in 2011, and to increase the levy in each year thereafter as allowed by chapter 84.55 RCW. Should this proposition be approved?
A preliminary state audit questions the Port of Seattle’s contract with the nonprofit “Port Jobs” program, and Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D – Des Moines) is sponsoring a bill that will make sure the program continues.
Since 1993, the private, nonprofit “Port Jobs” program has successfully matched job seekers with employers, as well as provided continuing education and job training opportunities.
“In the past decade, over 14,000 job seekers in South King County have turned to the services of Port Jobs,” Upthegrove said. “And employers know that when a candidate is referred to them through Port Jobs, that person’s qualifications have been thoroughly vetted.”
Rep. Dave Upthegrove
Upthegrove is sponsoring House Bill 2651, which specifically authorizes ports to support job placement and training programs that are operated by nonprofit entities. State law already authorizes port districts to contract with nonprofits for economic development. At issue is whether economic development encompasses workforce development.
“Port Jobs has connected thousands of job seekers with employers at Sea-Tac Airport, and to apprenticeships in the skilled construction trades. In this economy, we are doing everything we can to get people to work, and to help them stay employed once they get there,” said Heather Worthley, Executive Director of Port Jobs. “Representative Upthegrove’s bill, if passed, will make it crystal clear that the Port of Seattle has the Legislature’s backing to continue to fund this important work.”
The bill passed out of committee in the House and is awaiting possible action on the House floor. Upthegrove is pushing to ensure that the measure passes the House before the February 16 cutoff deadline for House bills.
“Our focus this year in Olympia is to create jobs and improve our economy, and this bill is all about jobs,” Upthegrove said.
Under the proposed legislation, Port Jobs would be required to submit an annual report to the Port of Seattle detailing the number of successful job placements. In 2009, Port Jobs placed more than 500 people through its Airport Jobs office.
From the Port Jobs website:
Port Jobs is not-for-profit action tank that develops practical programs and supports public policies that increase access to living wage jobs, fostering a more vibrant and equitable economy for residents of and businesses in Seattle and King County. We make good jobs easier to get and good employees easier to find, primarily in the port-related economy.
A 501(c)(3) organization, Port Jobs: engages in innovative research to increase shared knowledge; creates powerful partnerships in key action areas; and develops practical programs that provide important services to jobseekers, employers and our local community.
Acting as your own lawyer – as a pro se party – may well be the most challenging thing a person ever does.
Our latest Advertiser, Pro Se University PS, offers webinars and seminars on specific family law issues. They walk people through the process of completing paperwork, filing their paperwork, getting ready for the courtroom, and understanding court courtesy. They also provide one-on-one attorney and paralegal support. They can help you through the confusing process of adjusting or modifying your child support if you cannot afford an attorney.
They know the problems, they understand the process and they know how to help you.
- Are you receiving too little child support?
- Are you paying too much child support?
- Do you need help with daycare or uninsured medical expenses?
- Are you still paying daycare expenses for a child no longer in daycare?
- Does your child need help paying for college?
These are just a few of the possible reasons that you might need to adjust your child support payment or modify your child support order. If you feel that you have a good reason to make a change, contact Pro Se University PS for help. You can give them a call at 877-776-7310 or email them at info@proseuniversity.com. Their services are a small fraction of the cost of full service legal representation.
As you move through each step of the complex and confusing court process, you can attend the one-hour Pro Se University PS Webinar or Seminar that addresses that step. Throughout the life of your case, you can continue to attend Webinars or Seminars specific to the phase of your case.
Coming up in the next few weeks will be webinars and seminars covering Drafting a Child Support Order, Motion to Adjust Child Support and Petition to Modify a Child Support Order (class schedule here). Over the next several months, this menu of Webinars and Seminars will be expanded to help you work through your other family law Issues. The one-hour webinars and seminars are $65 each. Paralegal support is $65 per hour and attorney support is $200 per hour.
Pro Se University PS works with people in either the Kent or Seattle superior court systems in King County. For more information visit their website – www.proseuniversity.com.
First go to school…then go to court – Pro Se University!
[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, Ad and/or Event Listing like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 50,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
Sgt. Mark Renninger
Sunday morning (Nov. 29th) four Lakewood Police Officers were shot and killed in a coffee shop when a suspect suddenly opened fire, and one of the victims, Sgt. Mark Renninger, served eight years with the Tukwila Police Department.
Here’s the most recent report:
Sergeant Mark Renninger, Officer Tina Griswold, Officer Greg Richards, and Officer Ronald Owen were shot and killed at a coffee shop in the Lakewood area.
A man entered a coffee shop where the four officers were working on their laptop computers. He stood in line and when he reached the counter he pulled a gun out of his coat and turned and started firing at the four officers. Two officers were hit before they could react, one officer was shot as he attempted to struggle with the gunman, and another officer fired toward the gunman as he fled, and may have hit him. Two employees and other customers were inside the coffee shop, but were not shot or injured. All four officers died at the scene.
Renninger was born and raised in Bethlehem, PA, and served in the military. He was one of six siblings, served with the Tukwila P.D., and was most recently a member of the Lakewood Police and S.W.A.T. team. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Along with Sgt. Renninger, others slain include Officer Tina Griswold, Officer Greg Richards, and Officer Ronald Owen.
Griswold is survived by her husband and two children, Richards by his wife and three children, and Owen by his daughter.
On Sunday, numerous Facebook pages were created in the officers’ honors, including:
- A Facebook page was created in memory of Renninger
- A Facebook page for the four slain officers
- Another Facebook group created for all officers
Maurice Clemmons
The suspect has been identified as Maurice Clemmons, 37, of Tacoma. He apparently has a long criminal record with evidence of violence, erratic behavior as well as potential mental health issues.
We here at The B-Town Blog (along with all our sister sites) send our condolences to all the families and friends, and hope that justice is served for this heinous crime.
by The effective date for annexation is now all but official. At their next meeting on Nov. 23, Burien council members are expected to approve March 2 as the day that some 14,100 residents of the North Highline unincorporated area become residents of the city.
With the annexation of the southern part of North Highline, 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.
Burien City Manager Mike Martin recommended to the council members on Monday (Nov. 9) that March 2 be set as the effective date, the timing of which will allow the city to get the maximum amount of road tax revenue from King County.
“It’s finally before you,” Martin told the city council. “We’ve been waiting for this moment until the outcome of (Initiative) 1033 was known.
I-1033, which was soundly defeated in the Nov. 3 general election, would have established a baseline for spending by all levels of government in Washington and restricted how much new revenue they could spend each year.
On March 2, 2010, Burien will become the 21st largest city in Washington, surpassing Olympia.
Both Martin and council members had suggested that if I-1033 were to pass, its impact could delay the annexation process by Burien.
There was no detailed discussion of the annexation process at Monday’s meeting. However, some lawmakers did have questions about its impact on the city’s 2010 budget during a public hearing and review of adjustments to the city’s biennial budget and yearly property tax levy.
Almost 59 percent of North Highline voters approved annexation to Burien in the Aug. 18 primary election.
“The North Highline (Unincorporated Area) Council represents the people of North Highline and we are very happy to see annexation take place,” said Greg Duff, president of the council. “This is something that the people of North Highline have been hoping for for a long time.”
The annexation area extends north from South/Southwest 128th Street to a line that zigzags west to east along Southwest 112th Street in north Shorewood, South 116th Street, South 112th Street, and South 107th Street in Boulevard Park, ending at Tukwila. Much of Beverly Park and Boulevard Park, including the Rainier Golf and Country Club, will be absorbed by Burien.
Left in the remaining unincorporated area between the new Burien city limits and Seattle will be the North Highline fire station, Evergreen High School and Pool, and the Top Hat neighborhood.
Emphasizing the fact that he was speaking for himself only, and not for the council, Duff added, “Personally, I hope to see the rest of the area annexed eventually into Burien.”
| Aug ’09 |
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| Aug ’09 |
| 8 |
| 9:00 am |
| Aug ’09 |
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Tukwila company American Electronics Recycling Corporation is holding a FREE “E-Cycling” event this weekend (Aug. 7th, 8th, and 9th from 9am – 3:30pm) as part of the state’s “E-Cycle” law that allows for convenient and environmentally-responsible recycling of computers, monitors, laptops and televisions.
Drop-offs are being accepted at American Electronics Recycling Corporation offices, located at 18435 Olympic Ave. South in the South Center South Industrial Park in Tukwila (see map below). There will be signs directing traffic off of West Valley Highway.
Here are the details:
WHAT: FREE e-cycling event
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 7th, Saturday, Aug. 8th and Sunday, Aug. 9th, from 9am-3:30pm
WHERE: American Electronics Recycling Corporation offices, located at 18435 Olympic Ave. South in the South Center South Industrial Park in Tukwila (see map below)
INFO: They will be collecting a long list of electronic items, including all TVs, Laptops, PCs, and Monitors for free. AER is registered with the WA State Dept. of Ecology, as part of the E-Cycle WA program. More info on our company, and a list of the items they will be accepting can be found at http://www.aercorprecycler.com.
Here’s more info from the State of Washington E-Cycle website:
Who can use the program?
Households, small businesses, schools & school districts, small governments, special purpose districts, and charities can recycle electronic products free of charge in this program.
What can I recycle for free?
- Televisions
- Computers
- Computer monitors
- Portable or laptop computers
Please note that computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and printers are not included in this program.
Why recycle electronics?
Many electronics, especially TVs and computers, contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury. Reusing and recycling electronics keeps these toxic materials out of our landfills and incinerators and also recovers valuable resources. The electronic equipment this program collects will be taken apart and separated into materials such as glass, plastic, metal and toxic chemicals. All recycling will follow performance standards set up by the Department of Ecology.
To find other drop-off points near you, visit this website.
Here are notes from Monday night’s (Mar. 23rd) Burien City Council meeting (link to PDF agenda here):
SPRING CLEANING
The City of Burien has a lot of improvements underway – everything from the restrooms to the city’s website is getting a little “spring cleaning.”
NEW CITY NEWSLETTER
The city releases a printed newsletter every quarter on recent achievements, goals and upcoming events. Now there is a solution to fill the time between the months of waiting for the next quarter to roll around: a monthly eNewsletter that can be subscribed to by visiting the City of Burien’s website at www.burienwa.gov . You can also keep an eye out for your newly tech-savvy city on social networking sites, blogs and twitter for up-to-the-minute Burien information (or you can always visit your favorite blog, which has been doing this for well over a year: www.b-townblog.com). Read our story on the city’s new newsletter here.
CALL FOR ARTISTS
Burien is currently looking for artists to display artwork in local business storefronts, in a continued effort to beautify the city as well as make it a welcome spot for a diverse and more deeply cultural community. For more information contact Gina Kallman at Moshier Arts Center: 206-988-3713.
VIADUCT REPLACEMENT
The topic of replacement options for the Seattle Viaduct has been an intense one. No matter which neighborhood you live in, this topic affects us all (especially us 509/99 users who love to get downtown quickly). The City of Burien reviewed their stance last night, suggesting they draft a letter pointing out their general concerns for the impacts made to residents in our community and neither taking a pro or con vote on the matter in general, until their specific issues are addresses.
“I don’t think there is any way I could support this,” said councilmember Gordon Shaw. “My belief is that reducing the capacity does not create a viable alternative. They ought to go with a bigger tunnel if they are going with a tunnel. The current bored tunnel solution is not a solution.“
BURIEN AUTO DEALERS
With the visible decline of major auto dealers in our area in the recent months (see our coverage on Burien Nissan, which we first reported on March 13th), the city has received expressed interest from local dealership owners in the creation of an auto mall in the northeast neighborhood of Burien. Three years ago, auto sales accounted for 25% of sales tax revenue; however, due to the current economic climate the city is only seeing a 3% return in sales tax this year. The creation of an auto mall is one option for driving auto dealers back to Burien.
COMMUTE TRIP REDUCTION PLAN
Highline Medical Center and the staff of the City of Burien will be participating in King County’s Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) program. The program is aimed at increasing the number of ride share participants and promoting alternative methods of transportation for employers with more than 100 employees that arrive between the hours of 6am-9am. Finding alternative ways to get to work significantly decreases the negative effects on the environment. King County has taken steps to make the program easier to follow by setting measurable goals and tracking the progress. For more information visit www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/alts/employer/index.htm.
COUNCILMEMBERS LEARN IN DC
On a recent trip to Washington DC, Burien City Councilmembers learned about how Federal Government is distributing funds to business and states in need. Through this process, steps have been developed to track the spending and make each recipient accountable for spending decisions through a public website at www.recovery.gov, allowing the public to see how their tax dollars are being spent.
ANNEXATION BOUNDARY REVIEW BOARD MEETING
Members of the Burien City Council may be attending a public hearing held by the Washington State Boundary Review Board for the purpose of considering proposed annexation to the City of Burien of an area known as “North Highline” on Monday, March 30th at 7:00 p.m. at Riverside Residence Inn, 11244 Tukwila International Blvd, Seattle, 98168. The hearing room/building is located behind the main building of the Inn.
The city council’s next regular meeting will be Monday, April 6th.
A bill that would level the playing field between taxi cabs and certain types of limousines has passed out of the House Transportation Committee ahead of a crucial cutoff deadline that keeps it alive in the legislature.
Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D-Des Moines), who co-sponsored the measure, says illegal town cars and limos regularly solicit fares at Sea-Tac Airport and the surrounding hotels, luring passengers away from licensed taxis.
“I’ve had conversations with taxi drivers in the district about this problem,” Upthegrove said. “They are concerned because their business is tightly regulated at the local level, but the limo drivers are not subject to the same regulation. It creates an unfair advantage for the limos, but also puts consumers at risk.”
House Bill 1775 would give the City of Seattle, in conjunction with the Port of Seattle and King County, the authority to regulate two of six classes of limousine – executive cars and executive vans – the way they already regulate taxis. Currently, the state Department of Licensing regulates limousines but lacks the resources to crack down on those operating illegally.
75 percent of the state’s limousine business takes place within King County, and Sea-Tac Airport is a popular pick-up or destination point for passengers who ride in them. But unlike taxis, limousines are prohibited by state law from picking up “stand and hail” passengers. Instead, trips must be arranged in advance, though a business office. Because illegal limousine operators don’t have business offices, they violate the law each time they pick up a fare. Most consumers are unaware of this law, and are easily swayed by drivers who pull up the curb in sleek cars and promise a fare that is “cheaper than a taxi.”
However, that is often not the case. In fact, a ride in a limo can be over twice as expensive as in a taxi.
“We hear so many complaints from people because the town cars don’t have meters and are charging whatever they like,” said Habtamu Aboye, a taxi driver from Sea-Tac. “A taxi fare from the Eastside to the airport is maybe $40 or $50 dollars, but the town car charges $100 or more. This bill is good because it stabilizes the taxi business and provides customer protections.”
The lack of oversight within the limo industry also means drivers with criminal backgrounds, expired licenses, and no insurance are potentially behind the wheel. A 2007 report in the Seattle P-I noted that about 30 percent of the 91 town cars cited for violations by the Port of Seattle between January 2006 and September 2007 were not properly licensed to operate at Sea-Tac Airport and about 10 percent were not licensed with the state.
“The bill goes after the bad apples who are putting passengers at risk and giving the entire business a bad name,” Upthegrove said.
Rep. Dave Upthegrove represents the 33rd Legislative District, which serves Sea-Tac, Des Moines, Normandy Park and large parts of Kent and Burien.
More information on him is available at this website.
The National Weather Service issued the following Advisory Wed. morning about potential snow showers coming tonight/Thursday:
Statement as of 4:21 AM PST on February 25, 2009
… Local snow showers are expected over the western Washington lowlands late tonight and Thursday…
A cooler air mass will move into western Washington tonight… and it will be cold enough for showers to fall locally as snow or rain and snow mixed across the western Washington lowlands late tonight and Thursday.
Widespread snow accumulations are not expected… and high temperatures Thursday will reach the lower to mid 40s. However spotty accumulations of 1 or 2 inches are possible mainly in the northwest interior… along Hood Canal… and in the southwest interior late tonight or Thursday morning.
So be prepared…ol’ man winter might be making one final appearance!
More info/links:
Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna has released this alert, about a telephone scam in which Spanish-speaking callers claim to be from “the insurance agency”:
Callers claim to be from “the insurance agency”
SEATTLE – The Washington Attorney General’s Office is alerting residents about a phone scam in which Spanish-speaking callers claim to be representatives of an insurance company.
Hispanic business owners from Seattle to Yakima and Spokane have reported receiving phone calls from Spanish-speaking callers who claim to be from “the insurance company.” In some cases, the callers also provide the names of actual insurance companies and/or agents.
The callers ask for bank account information they claim is needed to process insurance payments. The callers have left messages if owners aren’t home, along with phone numbers that start with 800, 877 and 752 area codes.
At least two individuals provided bank information to their cons, according to Unico Insurance Agency in Woodinville, which reported the fraud to the Attorney General’s Office. Company owner Carlos Garces said he has received more than 200 calls from customers, primarily restaurant owners, in recent months inquiring about phone calls. In some cases, the cons have mentioned his name. Garces said he is doing what he can to protect his customers and telling them to contact their bank if they provided any information.
The owner of a Spokane grocery store and deli also contacted the Attorney General’s Office after receiving more than 10 calls from individuals who claimed to be associated with various insurance companies. He said the callers, both men and women appeared to be friendly and tried to build up his trust. They claimed they needed to send an investigator to the business. The owner recognized the scam and did not provide any personal information.
As a reminder, never provide your bank account, Social Security number or other personal information to someone who asks for it by phone, e-mail or text message.
If you believe a call might be legitimate, ask for the caller’s name and contact details then end the conversation. Call the business directly using the number on your insurance card, statement or in the phone book.
If you believe you may have provided information in response to a fraudulent phone call, report the information immediately to your bank and place a fraud alert on your credit report.
To read this in Español, click here.
We’re proud to unveil our latest Local Blog, for our southerly neighbor Des Moines:
It will be updated frequently with Local News, Feature Stories, History, Events, Photos, Videos, Webcams and more for this exciting and beautiful waterfront city of over 29,000 residents.
Here’s our press release:
PUBLISHERS OF THE B-TOWN BLOG ANNOUNCE THEIR LATEST NEIGHBORHOOD WEBSITE: “THE WATERLAND BLOG” FOR DES MOINES
LOL Dudez, LLC, the Publishers of The B-Town (Burien) Blog, announced today their latest neighborhood website for the city of Des Moines, WA:
The Waterland Blog (http://www.waterlandblog.com).
“We believe that Des Moines is one of the most exciting communities around, and we’re striving to make this blog reflect that,” said Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer. “While editing the B-Town Blog, I’ve noticed a lot of news and event information for Des Moines, so launching this website was not only logical – it was necessary.”
The Waterland Blog is the sixth local website published by parent company LOL Dudez, which was founded by Schaefer in Dec. of 2007; its other properties include:
“With the continued decline of traditional media like newspapers, coupled with the tremendous growth and use of the internet as a daily news source, it wasn’t a hard decision to create this website,” Schaefer said from his Burien office. “Our goal is to become the main source for local news, events, reviews, photos, videos and more for Des Moines.”
The Waterland Blog is also seeking Contributors who know the Des Moines area. Writers, Photographers, Filmmakers, and anyone who has anything relevant to the “Waterland Community” are encouraged to email Schaefer directly at editor@waterlandblog.com.
They’re also seeking local businesses to Advertise and reach a growing, broadband-using affluent local audience. More info can be found here: http://www.waterlandblog.com/advertise.
Currently, flagship site The B-Town Blog receives over 12,000 Unique Visitors per month, with a Nov.-Dec. ‘08 growth rate of nearly 38%.
For more information, please contact Scott Schaefer at (206) 248-2565 or via email:
editor@waterlandblog.com.#
According to numerous news sources, the Washington man scheduled to be executed March 13th has a bad Burien connection.
Cal Coburn Brown was convicted in 1993 of the 1991 murder of Holly Washa, a 22-year old Burien woman.
He carjacked her near SeaTac Airport, held her captive for 34 hours at a motel, raped, robbed, tortured and slashed her to death, then left her body in the trunk of her car.
Brown will be put down on March 13th at the state Penitentiary at Walla Walla.
Here’s a photo sent to use by Burien resident Bob, an Englishman who has been filing reports for us from Washington, DC, where he attended the Inauguration of Barack Obama:
This is the view Bob had from the Silver Ticket section as Obama was about to be sworn in by the bumbling Supreme Court Justice Roberts.
Look for Bob’s full report soon…
[EDITOR'S NOTE: We are re-posting this column (originally run Nov. 2nd) in honor of the 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 Sunday Holiday
No matter for whom you wish to loft into office with the fuel of your ballot this Tuesday, I am sure we can all agree, today, on this Contemplative Sunday, the following goal: 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
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob is an Englishman and Burien resident who is currently in Washington, D.C. for the Inauguration of President Obama. This is his second in a series of exclusive reports for The B-Town Blog; his first was filed Sunday morning.]
1/18/09 – THE OBAMA INAUGURAL CELEBRATION
Today was the day of the Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. I arrived on the National Mall at 8:40 am to join a line near the Washington Monument waiting for the gate to the west end of the National Mall to open. Once it did, we all moved in quickly and I rushed along the south side of the reflecting pool to a place not far from front. There I stayed in the freezing weather (it reached a balmy 37 degrees) through to the end of the show at 4:30 pm.
Around 10 am we were treated to some rehearsal activity followed by clips of the performers in the waiting area and various videos. We were fairly certain that the large military helicopter that made a low pass in front of the memorial before the show was the Obama and Biden families checking out the spectacle on their way to the venue.
The show itself started promptly at 2:30 pm. The size of the structure built for the television production and ticket holders meant that it was impossible to see what was actually happening on stage from my position but I did have three large screens not far away and was surrounded by so many enthusiastic people that the atmosphere far outweighed the lack of a clear view of the performers. There were many great moments.
U2 were excellent, as was Renée Fleming singing You’ll Never Walk Alone, and Master Sergeant Caleb Green of the US Army singing the Star-Spangled Banner. He was great during the show but he was even better during the rehearsals. It was a real treat to see Pete Seeger performing more than 45 years after he played at the same location as part of Martin Luther King Jr’s March On Washington. He encouraged the crowd to sing This Land Is Your Land with him and they didn’t let him down. The spoken parts of the show were very well delivered, especially when accompanied by historic scenes.
In many ways, Barack Obama’s speech was not unusual. We’ve come to expect him to provide an incredibly inspiring performance and he did exactly that. The crowd loved it and are unlikely to ever forget it.
All in all this was a very special occasion. I don’t know exactly how many people attended but I could see people as far back as the Washington Monument. Apparently there were also people most of the way back to the Capitol too, which is really quite amazing.
But, that may be nothing compared to the two million or more people expected on Tuesday.
Here’s a photo slideshow of some of the scenes witnessed by Bob Sunday:
Normandy Park is one of 15 municipalities in Washington and Oregon that Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services recently upgraded in regards to general obligation bonds.
“These upgrades reflect our continued review of issuers for whom the significance of their small size and more-remote location has lessened in our analysis,” said Standard & Poor’s credit analyst Lisa Schroeer.
“We believe that these entities reflect traits of a higher credit quality than previously assigned because of their good financial performance record,” said Ms. Schroeer in the report, “Criteria Revision Bumps Up Several Pacific Northwest Ratings,” published on RatingsDirect.
“Many of these municipalities have seen strong growth in revenues over the past several years and this has led to healthy financial positions that we believe will provide some cushion to weather the current economic downturn,” she said.
The upgraded municipalities include:
Oregon:
- North Bend
- Dalles
Washington:
- Woodinville
- Edgewood
- Washougal
- Normandy Park
- Kittitas County
- Jefferson County
- Ocean Shores
- Mason County
- Lynden
- Fife
- Moses Lake
- Centralia
Here are live, real-time election results for the state of Washington:
Below is a continually-updated feed from MSNBC of election returns (refresh page to get latest results):
In case you…
Haven’t yet voted- Forgot where the heck you’re supposed to vote
- Just woke up from a Rip Van Winkle-esque long sleep and realized that tomorrow is Election Day
- Are recovering from a soap opera-like amnesia and forgot all about this whole “democracy” thing
Here is a link to a list of polling places for the general Burien area.
Here’s a link to a PDF copy of King County polling places.
If you’ve filled out your ballot but would rather drop it off, you can do so at the Delridge Neighborhood Service Center, which is located 5405 Delridge Way SW in White Center.
Link to King County Elections information website.
The City of Burien’s Community Development Director Scott Greenberg sent us this photo taken whilst on a trip to Walla Walla recently, with the comment:
“My wife and I were visiting Walla Walla and were shocked at the high price of gas there…”
A Renton man was struck and killed by a minivan late Wednesday in the Boulevard Park neighborhood, and the suspected driver was later arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide, the King County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The 22-year-old victim died at the scene of the hit-and-run crash in the 9700 block of Des Moines Memorial Drive about 11:30 p.m. He had been walking in the roadway, deputies reported.
Investigators recognized the victim from a disturbance call less than a half hour earlier at the nearby Rascal’s Casino, 9635 Des Moines Memorial Drive.
Deputies worked with casino security officers to identify the suspect and went to his home in a Tukwila trailer park. They found the suspected hit-and-run vehicle, a 1991 Toyota Previa minivan, which had body damage consistent with hitting a pedestrian, deputies reported.
The suspected driver, a 29-year-old man, was located and booked into King County Jail on suspicion of vehicular homicide.
The incident remained under investigation.
SOURCE:
Joan McGilton, the Mayor of Burien, recently wrote an Op-Ed piece for the Seattle P-I, defending Washington’s congressional delegation and how it’s helped B-Town.
Since a lot of our readers have eschewed traditional media for online media, you may not have seen it.
So, as a favor to all BTB readers, here is Mayor Joan’s piece in its entirety, as it appeared in today’s edition:
Recent criticisms of earmarks that the Washington congressional delegation has secured are more than unfortunate — they are unfair. They mask the many positive results that our members of Congress deliver for us. Their efforts in the other Washington help communities throughout our state address many needs of our residents and businesses.
In our case, the city of Burien — with just 31,410 people — is working hard to recover from the loss of taxes caused by Sea-Tac Airport’s new third runway. Since airports are required to buy homes in runway flight paths because of noise and safety concerns, this removes properties from the tax rolls.
Additionally, our city — along with every other local jurisdiction in this state — suffers the effects of tax-cutting initiatives. With less money coming in, cities have less to spend on critical responsibilities such as public safety, streets, economic development, parks and environmental protection.
While our congressional delegation cannot secure funding for the hundreds of requests received, members always carefully weigh the merits of each and try to advance the most worthy ones. Fortunately for Burien and other communities, our delegation often succeeds in helping us, and we sincerely appreciate that.
Thanks to a few modest earmarks secured by Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and the rest of our delegation, Burien obtained funding for critical infrastructure for our Town Square project. In turn, that helped attract more than $100 million in private investment.
Without that help our bold vision of new downtown shops, housing, City Hall, regional library and a wonderful new park, and the hundreds of jobs associated with Burien’s “extreme makeover” would still be just a dream.
Other vital projects progressing thanks to congressional assistance include a new Metro transit center and a future transit-oriented development project in downtown Burien, plus improvements to the hazardous state Route 518/509 interchange in Burien and the widening of eastbound state Route 518 near the airport.
Furthermore, federal funding to save salmon has come to Puget Sound only because our delegation secures it every year, as this is never included in the current administration’s budget. Congressional assistance enabled Burien and our regional, state and federal partners to improve a portion of our city’s shoreline for salmon habitat, and we hope to restore our whole shoreline soon.
By getting projects ready to go, we have been able to work with our delegation to get the federal government to pitch in a bit. While we expect to continue to need their help, especially with our effort to revitalize the area next to the airport, eventually these investments will help us build up our local revenues and rely less on federal assistance.
We cannot imagine our city’s future had we not received the congressional assistance that led to our downtown redevelopment. If executive branch officials in D.C. were the only ones to decide how to spend federal funds, our lovely city — along with many others — would probably not see a dime of our residents’ taxes returned to help the community.
Joan McGilton is mayor of Burien.
SOURCE:
BURIEN – Two Highline Public Schools students have been named Governor’s Scholars, and we here at the B-Town Blog extend a double Borat-style thumbs-up with a hearty “High Five!” shouted in a weird accent in their general directions:
- Mary Magdelene (Madel) Rogulj of Global Connections
- Byron Maye of HS3
Both received four-year scholarships to any public or private university or college in the state of Washington, which is pretty cool considering that the average tuition for a resident is over $25,000.
In addition to the free education, they will also get a mentor to help them along the way.
Six former Washington governors joined forces to support youth in foster care when they created the Governor’s Scholarship program. Former Governor Gary Locke stated, “Only 3% of foster kids ever make it to college – primarily because they can’t afford to support themselves and go to school at the same time.” The state foster care system support for youth ends at age 18.
Trina Hickey, a recipient of the Governor’s Scholarship early on, has graduated from UPS and is working to help transition foster youth into adulthood.
In the seven years since its inception, the Governor’s Scholarship has been awarded to 144 foster care youth from around the State.
SOURCE:
The mother of a Lynnwood woman whose body was found near Burien two years ago announced that she is increasing the cash reward to $36,000 for information that leads to an arrest in her daughter’s case.
Nicole Pietz, 32, was found strangled Feb. 6, 2006, in a wooded area near South 114th and Des Moines Memorial Drive (see map below).
Her 2003 Volkswagen Jetta was found abandoned two weeks later in the University District in Seattle.
The King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating and hasn’t publicly identified any suspects.
Gail Schneider, mother of Pietz, said at a new conference that she hopes increasing the reward from $26,000 will reach the conscience of someone who might have information about the slaying or who might have been an accomplice.
SOURCE:
MANSON, WA — No decision has yet been made on whether to recommend assault charges against two Burien men involved in a reported fistfight with a Manson man just prior to his being struck and killed by a passing pickup, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Harum said this morning.
And Chelan County prosecutors have also yet to file a vehicular homicide charge against the driver of the pickup that struck and killed 39-year-old John W. Jones early Saturday.
Chelan County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Doug Shae said this morning that prosecutors are waiting for a full report from the sheriff’s office and the results of blood alcohol tests before deciding what charges, if any, should be filed against the 41-year-old pickup driver suspected by the sheriff’s office of driving while drunk.
The man has been released from Chelan County Regional Justice Center, according to both Harum and the man’s former attorney, John Brangwin. Brangwin said in an e-mail Wednesday that he no longer represents the 41-year-old man because his office previously represented one of the witnesses in the case.
The identities of the Burien-based suspects have not yet been released.
Sheriff’s office investigators continue to seek witnesses to the series of events leading to Jones’s death. A dispute began when the longtime Manson resident struck a pedestrian while driving away from a Wapato Way bar, then was chased by two — or possibly three — motorcyclists, according to witnesses.
Jones then was involved in a rollover accident less than a half mile away in the 300 block of Boetzkes Avenue, and a physical confrontation followed with the motorcyclists.
While Harum previously said three men were involved in the confrontation with Jones, he said Thursday morning it was unclear if there were two or three men who confronted Jones. The sheriff’s office has only spoken with two men, Harum said.
“We’re going to be…contacting them again,” said Harum, adding he didn’t think the motorcyclists were given sobriety tests or had blood drawn at the scene, though they were at the same bar as Jones.
Harum said he expected a decision to be made on charges sometime next week.
“I think there are 10 or more witnesses now who had seen something there at the establishment downtown or at the scene,” Harum said.
Some witnesses have given conflicting statements, however. One witness not involved in the dispute described Jones as getting out of his SUV and walking when the fistfight began with the motorcyclists, while another account of the altercation describes Jones as lying in a ditch when confronted.
An autopsy revealed that Jones suffered multiple internal injuries after being struck by the passing pickup. Other questions were left unanswered, however.
“He could have also sustained some injuries in the collision he was in where he rolled over, and we suspect he could have sustained some injuries from an assault as well. But we’re not able to delineate where they all came from,” said Harum.
The driver of the pickup is also believed to have been drinking at the same bar as Jones and the motorcyclists, Harum said, but he added that the pickup driver was not involved in the dispute. The driver is reported to have attempted to flee the scene only to have been brought back by one of the motorcyclists involved in the dispute.
According to his conditions of release, the pickup driver is not allowed to operate a motor vehicle until further orders.
Call the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office at (509) 667-6851 if you have information.
SOURCE:
Do ya ever wonder how to figure out if that glad-handin’, baby-kissin’, door-to-door knockin’ political candidate you’re thinking of voting for would make a good elected official?
And how does one judge a good judge? By the material of their cape or what?
The answers to those and other important political questions have been answered every year for the past 93 years thanks to the hard work and efforts of local citizens who participate in the Municipal League of King County’s candidate evaluation process.
Now is your chance to help your fellow citizens be well-informed before they vote.
In case you were wondering, the Municipal League of King County is a non-partisan organization dedicated to informed decision making and open government. The Municipal League researches policy issues, evaluates candidates, communicates its findings and then mobilizes citizens to action when needed. The group is made up of diverse citizens from throughout King County who are united by a commitment to good government.
The Municipal League is looking for volunteers to evaluate political candidates for a variety of public offices. As a volunteer you will be asked to research work histories and references of candidates; interview candidates; and recommend candidate ratings. The final result is a Voter’s Guide designed to provide useful, nonpartisan information prior to the Aug. 21 primary.
Candidates are rated on four criteria:
- Involvement
- Character
- Effectiveness
- Knowledge
The league does not use partisan criteria and does not endorse candidates. You will be asked to evaluate candidates only to determine their fitness for office. This year, candidates throughout King County will be evaluated in races for the state legislature and judicial offices.
Having a group of volunteers with diverse backgrounds and views is important to ensuring high quality and unbiased candidate ratings. Volunteers must be able to leave their political leanings at the door. Knowledge of or interest in local politics is a plus. Prior experience is not necessary. Volunteer work takes place throughout June.
For more information and applications contact the Municipal League at (206) 264-1070 or visit their website at www.munileague.org.
And remember… good government doesn’t just happen. Good government is the result of good people like you (the astute, intelligent reader of this here Blog) getting involved!
You’d have to dig a bit to find this, so we thought we’d save you the hassle and post this very interesting Comment from an apparent nephew of Ben Laumea, the father of six who was tragically shot and killed at the MVP Sports Bar in Burien last Sunday morning:
I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY PPL JUS WANT TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT. MY UNKO WAS A GREAT MAN WITH A BIG HEART…HE WAS THE BABYY IN THE FAMILY. AND TO THE GUY WHO SHOT MY UNKO YOU BETTER BE VERY THANKFUL THAT LAW ENFORcEMENT GOT YOU 1ST……MAY YOU REST IN LOVE UNKO BEN ALWAYS IN OURS HEARTS AND ON OUR MINDS. I LOVE YOU FOREVER UNTIL THAT DAY WE MEET AGAIN. IA MANUIA LOU MAGALA. I LOVE YOU UNKO B……………………..
UPDATE (8pm 5/7/08):
Bruce Sivao “Monk” Matagi, 27, of Auburn, was charged by King County prosecutors with first-degree murder for the shooting death of Laumea.
If convicted, the sentence range is 26 to 33 years in prison.
Matagi is being held in the King County Jail on $3 million bail.
He is scheduled to be arraigned May 15 at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.
Investigators say Laumea was shot once in the head with an AK-47 early Sunday at the MVP Sports Bar, where he used to work.
Witnesses say he was attempting to stop Matagi, who came into the bar and started shooting at the ceiling, allegedly with an AK-47.
UPDATE 7:30am 5/6/08: Sadly, Ben Laumea, the victim of a shooting at the MVP Sports Bar early Sunday, died yesterday of injuries suffered.
According the the Bellingham Herald, King County prosecutors have filed charges in the case of a man who was shot in the head with what a witness says was an assault rifle.
Bruce Sivao Matagi is scheduled for arraignment May 15 at the Regional Justice Center in Kent on charges of attempted first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Prosecutors said Monday they would ask that bail be set at $3 million.
First reports were that Ben Laumea, a father of six, was in such bad shape that deputies initially reported him dead. Doctors at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle allegedly found that the bullet entered Laumea’s and exited the back of his skull.
He has since passed away from his injuries.
He risked his life early Sunday when a gunman burst into the bar in Burien around 1 am with an assault rifle. The gunman began firing in the crowded bar, riddling the ceiling with bullet holes as bar patrons fled for cover.
When the gunman reached the front of the bar, he got into a scuffle with Laumea, who used to work as a bouncer at the bar. That’s when Laumea took a bullet and slumped behind the bar. The shooter fled the scene and no one else was hurt.
Friends and family call him “Big Ben.”
“Big guy, Big teddy bear,” said family friend Tikeri Liousamoa.
Liousamoa says she talked to Laumea just hours before gunfire erupted.
“It’s kind of hard and see someone that day and then in five minutes, you lose them, or something bad happens to them,” she said, wiping away the tears.
Laumea worked for years at the bar in the 12800 block of Ambaum Boulevard. He wasn’t working Saturday, but jumped in to help when the gunman began firing recklessly.
Liousamoa hears the shooting may be savage payback.
“From what they said he was targeting Ben,” she said.
A bouncer recognized the gunman as a former customer who was kicked out of the bar several days earlier for fighting.
“When you hear your own people hurting each other, it’s a blow,” said Liousamoa. “Samoans, you know, we have big hearts. We were taught better than that.”
Formerly known as Mario’s, this bar has seen its share of troubles before, most notoriously in 1974 when serial killer Ted Bundy killed Brenda Ball, whom he met there.
SOURCES:
5/4/08 5pm UPDATE: A man was shot inside Burien’s MVP Sports Bar early Sunday morning, and police are still on the lookout for the person who pulled the trigger.
According to King County sheriff’s deputies, the victim was shot with an assault rifle inside the bar (located at 12803 Ambaum Blvd SW) just before 1am.
The victim was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he is in critical condition according to Seattle police. Earlier reports claimed that the victim had died.
The shooter fled the scene after the incident, and so far, there’s no description of the suspect.
Law enforcement officials said the incident began between midnight and 1 a.m. when the suspect came to the bar.
A bouncer recognized him as a former customer who was kicked out several days earlier for fighting, and refused to let him in.
The man left and then returned within a minute, bursting through the back door of the bar with an assault rifle in his hands, witnesses told police.
He began blazing away – mostly firing into the ceiling – as bar patrons scrambled for cover. The man worked his way across the bar to the front door, still firing away, witnesses told King County sheriff’s deputies.
As the man reached the front of the bar, he got into a scuffle with a customer who used to work as a bouncer at the bar. The gunman shot the customer, and the customer fell behind the bar.
Whilst on the scene this afternoon, we saw no evidence of gunshots, blood or other scene-of-the-crime stuff, but we did not get inside where the shooting took place.
Formerly known as Mario’s, this bar has seen its share of troubles before, most notoriously in 1974 when serial killer Ted Bundy killed Brenda Ball, whom he met there.
NEWS VIDEOS:
Here are some photos, taken around Noon today:
SOURCE:
Yikes…found this today on seattle-tacoma craigslist > seattle > missed connections:
***MissKelly1977 on Match.com – HELP ME FIND HER!!! – m4w – 30 (Seattle / Normandy Park)
Dear Miss Kelly,
I thought I was drowning when I first seen your face. I think realized cause I had a mouth full of water and forgot how to breath.
I can’t explain it especially since like you, I’ve had my heart dented and was NOT looking in all honesty…but I’ve thought about you for the last two days ever since I’ve seen your picture and read your profile.
We have SO very much in common it’s crazy (likes, fav color, outlook on things)and I would like to get to know everything about you!
Nothing crazy…I just want to feed you.
Please get a hold of me!!!!! Anyone who knows her, please forward this message!
Red flag keywords/phrases that stand out here:
- “thought I was drowning…”
- “first seen your face”
- “mouth full of water and forgot how to breath”
- “heart dented”
- “thought about you for the last two days”
- “Nothing crazy…I just want to feed you”???
Hmmm…post your thoughts in Comments below…
Found on seattle-tacoma craigslist > seattle > games & toys:
PRICE INCREASED 3XX !! air hockey , arcade strength – $2001! – $2001 (City of ratus norvegicus)
Oh btw rat city is an unincorporated area between seattle and burien, know for rats and various government programs that the initials spelled out RTC or something that looked like rat city, anyway that is for those who have just moved here from california or some third world country who have no idea of seattle folk legends. Well reducing the price didn’t work so I have decided to do like OPEC, and Safeway and King County Tax Assessor and GREATLY INCREASE the price. Get it NOW before the price goes up again!!!!!!!!!!! This has got to be CRAIGSLIST’S April DEAL OF THE MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Second price increase!!!!! Just discovered that Jimmy Hendrix & Curt Kobain once played on this table!!! Now a collectors item!!!! And J P Patches etched his initials into the siderails, but you have to look hard, no documentation on the above but believe me it is real, and Pope Benedict blessed this table when he was in Seattle checking out a new location for the vatican summer residence in Medina, anyway.
Air hockey table, came out of Seattle playland, 1990, still has quarter mechanism but converted to auto play, shuts down after win then restarts by itself in less than a minute. Three pucks, 2 shooters. Works fine, maybe needs one or two light bulbs. Very heavy. $2001 or some REASONABLE offer, really soon.
Bring YOUR truck and make it go today.
Thanks, and may the sonics enjoy there trip to Oklahoma.
Email: sale-647753934@craigslist.org
Found on seattle-tacoma craigslist > seattle > cars & trucks:
UPDATE: Jim Bibby, Burien’s City Code Compliance Officer, emailed the following:
I also wanted your readers to know that the junk vehicles shown to me today for sale/pick up are actually in Unincorporated King County NOT Burien. Thank you.
What’s with all the stripped cars for sale in Burien the unincorporated King County area around Burien?
And is anyone really going to pay $200 dolla holla to take this piece of crap away?
Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
HAUL IT AWAY FOR $200 – $200 (BURIEN)
COME AND GET IT, CALL ME OR EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO HAUL THIS AWAY.
CAR IS AS IT..
CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR OVER A YEAR..
IF CELL IS OFF THEN EMAIL ME: sale-647862539@craigslist.org
DAWN
206 683 1501
So let me get this straight – last weekend the temp hit 75 or so, and this coming weekend it may…gulp…SNOW???
Or at least freeze all the spring blooms?
What’s going on?
Is this some kind of Earth Day practical joke?
From the National Weather Service, updated 10:21 AM PDT April 16, 2008:
Unusually cold weather is expected Friday through early next week…
A deep upper level low pressure system moving southeast from the Gulf of Alaska will move into the area Friday and will linger through early next week. This upper level low will give quite cool and unstable conditions to the area Friday and Saturday. While drier air will begin to filter into the area Sunday into Monday… temperatures will remain unusually cool for mid to late April.
At this time of year… temperatures in The Lowlands typically range from lows 35 to 45… and highs are near 60. Low temperatures on Friday and Saturday will generally be in the 30s… while highs stay in the 40s. These temperatures are more typical of early to mid February. Near record low maximum and minimum temperatures are likely on Saturday. Temperatures in the mountains will stay in the 20s and 30s.
Snow levels Friday night and Saturday morning will average around 1000 feet… and may fall to near sea level in heavier showers. Any snow that falls in The Lowlands is unlikely to stick… except briefly on cars and grass. The mountains and Cascade passes will see accumulating snow Friday through Saturday… with accumulations over the two day period possibly between 1 and 2 feet.
Strong high pressure developing over British Columbia Saturday night into early next week will allow drier air to filter into the area. While daytime temperatures will moderate into the lower tomid 50s Sunday and Monday… nighttime lows will be quite cold for this time of year with any clearing. Frost… with freezing nighttime temperatures in protected and outlying areas will likely cause problems for anyone with sensitive Nursery stock…ornamentals…or vegetables that were planted early.
Monitor the forecasts from the National Weather Service closely the next few days.
| Apr ’08 |
| 19 |
| 9:00 am |
- Are you looking for a good, local way to commemorate Earth Day this Saturday?
- Do you care about a healthy environment for your children?
- Do you want to improve the general B-Town area for fish, wildlife and people?
- Do you like planting trees that you’ll be able to watch grow year by year?
- Do you want to get rid of the stress of the work week by whacking non-native, invasive weeds?
- Do you want to meet, hang out and have fun with some of your B-Town neighbors in a gorgeous natural setting?
If so, recruit your friends and family and come celebrate Earth Day by restoring a section of Miller Creek this Saturday!
WHEN: Saturday, April 19, 2008 (Earth Day) from 9am – 1pm
WHERE: South 144th St., one block west of Des Moines Memorial Drive (northeast Burien just north of SR 518 and east of SR 509)
BRING:
- An eager attitude
- Sturdy shoes or boots
- Water bottle
- Shovel and gloves (if you have them)
- We provide gloves, tools, and snacks!
This project is a cooperative effort of the Cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac; the Port of Seattle; and King County. These governments are working with residents to improve water quality and create healthy streams in the Miller and Walker Creek basins.
Advance sign-up is encouraged to help us plan.
For sign up and questions, contact Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward, dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov, 206-296-1909.
BURIEN – The accused gunman who shot an retired Boeing employee and Navy veteran on his doorstep Sunday faced a judge Monday who assigned a $250,000 bail.
Investigators believe Steven E. Tuimaseve shot Frank Curtis at point-blank range after Curtis refused to let him use the phone when he showed up at his doorstep at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Investigators said Curtis, 78, was asleep when he heard someone knocking at the door at his home in the 200 block of SW 116th Street in the Top Hat neighborhood between White Center and Burien.
Answering the door, he saw a man he didn’t recognize standing there, asking to use the phone.
The victim refused to let the man inside because he didn’t know him and because he appeared to be intoxicated. Tuimaseve then allegedly shot Curtis through the glass door, hitting him in the shoulder.
Curtis was hospitalized with shoulder injuries and powder burns to his face. He is expected to recover.
Members of the victim’s family were awakened by the shot and called police. The gunman was arrested a short while later about a block away.
Sean Winchester, a friend of the victim, said the victim did not know the gunman, and the only apparent motive was that he was upset over the victim’s refusal to let him use a phone.
Even so, the victim’s son Sean Curtis said he saw the warning signs long before the shooting took place.
He said Tuimaseve spent a lot of time at the family’s next-door neighbor’s home and was part of a group that brought “noise and garbage” to the neighborhood.
Sean said he never spoke to Tuimaseve, but said he’s had several run-ins with others who frequented his neighbor’s house.
“The conversations have always been confrontational. I was confronted by several males who shouted out racist comments at me. Everything is our fault,” he wrote in an email to KOMO 4 News.
Sean said the neighbor’s home is notorious for hosting wild parties with “…loud music to the point where knick-knacks in our house vibrate on the shelves, drug use (the smell of marijuana can be smelled to the point where we have to shut our windows).”
Sean said he has been reporting the trash issue to environmental health officials and the noise disturbances to the police, but a permanent solution has yet to be found.
Tuimaseve, 25, is a convicted felon who was placed on active supervision by the state Department of Corrections after being released from jail about a year ago. His record includes several felony convictions, including assault, attempted robbery and domestic violence.
Winchester described the victim as a “good man,” a 20-year veteran of the Navy and retired Boeing machinist who “wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“When things got bad for me, when the economy tanked, they took care of me for a while, and now I’m here doing what I can for the family,” he said.
SOURCE:
