The Tukwila School District has been hailed as the “most diverse in the nation,” and students at the city’s Foster High School are using that as part of an attempt to lure President Obama to speak at their commencement this spring.

Advance placement students produced a video highlighting the 68 different countries where members of the student body were born, and are hoping that the Prez (or perhaps his peeps) sees it and decides that “Yes he can” come to Tukwila and speak.

In addition to the video below, students also submitted essays answering the President’s challenge to show why they should be a model for others and how they’re preparing more students for college and careers.

According to the school’s Youtube channel:

Advanced Video Students from Foster High School created a 2-minute video demonstrating the rich culture that exists in their school and community.

Music was sung by our very own students here at Foster High School. E.P.I.C

Here’s the video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our

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

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

Back in October, we premiered a trailer for a new documentary being produced on Burien, called

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:

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

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:

Rockabilly Queen and Burien resident "SWEETPEA" poses with Tom Nelligan and Burien native Marlow Harris as Priscilla.

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:

Click here to view the embedded video.

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:

Click here to view the embedded video.

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):

Click here to view the embedded video.

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:

Click here to view the embedded video.

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!

Click here to view the embedded video.

[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!]

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!”):

Click here to view the embedded video.