July 2006

I decided to visit the Burien Strawberry and Art Festival on June 17. But to my surprise the Art Galley was not put into the fair's advertising. In fact, walking around the fair, in my viewing there was a feeling of separateness.

This fair is a family fair, children with their parents, the fair closing about 6 p.m. My question is why is the city of Burien selling cocktails in the middle of the day? Time, it's really spinning a different story (being a day fair).

Americans are crying out for culture.

Re: the EMC third runway survey (Times/News, July 12).

Yes, I agree with CASE. The EMC survey on the local impact of the third Sea-Tac runway may be just a tad skewed. I'm plenty upset by both the potential increased noise and the endless line of dirt trucks.

How about if EMC does a survey on whether or not there should be a no-fly curfew at Sea-Tac. Every other major airport in the world has one. 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. sounds about right.

Richard Carter

Des Moines

It is my understanding that the Des Moines City Council has had several complaints concerning the ban on fireworks on the Fourth of July. I was both shocked and amazed that anyone would wish to have the noise, fire risk, and injury risk back after experiencing one of the safest and sanest holidays I can remember.

As you know, I have pushed for years to have a ban due to the fire risk in my own neighborhood.

Is it me or did I miss something? Our recent Fourth of July Parade was noticeably smaller; this is from a long-time resident of Burien who has seen it annually and even was a participant in one.

I would have thought this is something that would get incrementally larger every year, since this is a growing and recently incorporated city. This parade is one event this is a wonderful way to showcase our local area, but I was disappointed in the parade this year.

Off the top of my head I can think of many things that were lacking this year ...

MITIGATED DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE

Description of Proposal:

Construction of six retail buildings totaling approximately 53,000 square feet on a 5.62 acre parcel comprising two tax lots. The project is located at 19919 - 1st Ave. South in Normandy Park, Washington 98166 on tax lots #6115400142 and #6115400138.

Proponent: Normandy Park Investors, LLC

15921 Northeast Eighth Street, Suite 200

Bellevue, WA 98008

(Editor's Note: This is a reprint of an article that first appeared in the Times/News on May 10.

After hitting the streets with petitions and posting signs around town for two weeks, members of the Burien Residents Against Annexation Political Action Committee talked back to city hall at the July 17 council meeting.

Filling the council chambers, many of the community activists wore "I Love Burien" t-shirts as they hoisted signs and applauded and cheered during a succession of anti-annexation comments.

"People are emotional about this issue," said PAC member Sharon Oliger.

Burien should not annex the North Highline unincorporated area because the move would be too costly and would burden the city with new problems including a high crime rate.

This was the message Ron Seale, a member of the Burien Residents Against Annexation Political Action Committee, delivered to Burien Lions last week.

But, countered local resident Cherisse Luxa, what the anti-annexation group is not telling the public is that no annexation is the most costly option for the city.

"The Burien City Council should adopt all of North Highline as a potential annexa

Burien Town Square took another step forward July 17 when city council members unanimously approved a vital element of Urban Partners' financial plan for the private portion of the development.

Of the estimated total cost of $138 million for the private portion of Town Square, Urban Partners has arranged for $40 million in cash equity to come from Westport Capital Partners, LLC.

Westport Capital Partners manages institutional real estate investments for pension funds, insurance companies and Wall Street investment banking houses.

Additional funding w

The projected financial impact of annexation of the North Highline unincorporated area by Burien, according to numbers provided by city staff, doesn't provide an accurate picture of the real costs to the community.

This is the message of Ron Seale, a member of Burien Residents Against Annexation Political Action Committee, presented during an interview with the Times/News last week.

Although the city claims the "no annexation" option would be the most costly for Burien, that simply is not the case, Seale said.

The cost of services that North Highline will need,