June 2010

Nine years ago, Rebecca Davis and her partner at the time wanted to get a dog but a full size Alaskan Husky was out of the question. They compromised and found Sasami, a female miniature Husky. But the first year was difficult. "Sasami has separation anxiety" David explained which led them back to the breeder where they got Tenchi, her male counterpart.

The names come from a Japanese Anime series called Tenchi Muyo that was popular in the early 90's. "It's a very silly series but it's cute," Davis explained.

Huskies, even the miniature variety are pack dogs and possibly to reinforce their relationship, they chatter, even to their humans. "They chat a lot. If you go away and you come home, especially the girl dog, she will chat at you for a good five minutes and you basically have to get down and talk to them, pet them or otherwise she will just keep following you around the house chattering." It's not barking. It's more like talking.

Burien new animal care and control program will begin July 1.

The city will begin issuing City of Burien licenses for dogs and cats. Burien is contracting with a local veterinarian, Dr. Leslie Kasper, to provide residents animal control and sheltering services at the Burien Animal Care and Control shelter located at 19655 1st Ave. S.

New licenses will be free during the month of July. Pet owners can obtain free licenses at a special kick-off event. The event will take place Thursday, July 8, at 6:15 p.m., just prior to the first Music in the Park concert at Lake Burien School Park, Southwest 148th St. and 16th Avenue Southwest. Leashed pets are welcome.

Residents will be able to obtain the free licenses at the concert. Please bring documentation of spay/neuter if that applies to your pet.

Dr. Kasper will be introduced and available to answer any questions at the July 8 kick-off event.

The cost of licenses beginning Aug. 1 is $20 annually for altered pets and $50 for unaltered pets. Licenses are good from July 1 until June 30. Current annual pet licenses obtained through King County Animal Control are valid in Burien through June 30, 2011.

At the Marvista Elementary reunion of the 1970s classes, one former student took the opportunity to ask his sixth grade teacher, Felton Picou, a question that has apparently troubled him for nearly forty years.

"Why did you send me to the office? What did I say?"

Unfortunately, Picou had no recollection of the incident, describing his students as "good kids."Picou taught at the Normandy Park school for 25 years.

Currently living in Federal Way, he seldom sees any of his old pupils. Then Alan Peterson knocked on his door.

Peterson, a Eugene television station meteorologist, recalled seeing Picou's name and address listed and asking his classmates, "Do you guys think this is the same one?"

They did, and Peterson paid Picou a visit, which inspired him to plan an event to allow other Marvista alums to reconnect with their instructors. His classmates were receptive.

Ultimately, at least seven teachers showed up at the event. Approximately 100 former students, several of whom had traveled from other states to attend, joined them. One had come from Tunisia.

Local residents are reminded that fireworks are banned in most Highline cities.

Burien, Des Moines, SeaTac and Tukwila do not allow fireworks except in licensed public displays. Private fireworks are now banned in neighborhoods annexed into Burien this year.

In Normandy Park, residents may discharge legal fireworks, beginning at noon on June 28th, between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. On the Fourth, fireworks may be discharged until midnight. Leftover fireworks may be discharged the next day.

Residents of unincorporated North Highline may discharge fireworks between 9 a.m. and midnight on July 4.

Local fire departments encourage residents to celebrate by attending a public fireworks display. Licensed displays will occur at the Des Moines Marina, SeaTac's Angle Lake and Tukwila's Fort Dent.

The Des Moines Area Food Bank has announced the sponsorship of the Simplified Summer Food Program for Children. Meals will be made available at no charge to attending children 1 to18 years of age.

All meals are available without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

Meals will be served at the Madrona Elementary School field, 20231 32nd Ave. S. in SeaTac. A cold lunch will be served Mondays through Fridays from June 24 to Sept. 3 between 11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.

Midway Park, at the corner of South 221st Street and 28th Avenue South in Des Moines, will also be a free meal site. A cold lunch will be served Mondays through Fridays from June 24 to Sept. 3 between 12:15 p.m. and 12:45 p.m.

For more information, call 206-878-2660.

Highline Public Schools earlier announced sponsorship of a summer meal program for kids in Burien, SeaTac and North Highline. Most sites will begin serving July 6.

For dates and hours of operation, visit www.hsd401.org.

Eight or nine weeks ago, Katie Brandt's cat set out one evening and never returned. This disappearance is one of several that have occurred in Brandt's neighborhood, which lies directly above Burien's Seahurst Park. The incidents are leaving area pet owners looking for answers.

Brandt believes that the cats have been eaten by predators living in the park's expansive wooded areas, which are inhabited by coyotes and foxes.

"They're just becoming emboldened," she said. She and her neighbors have inquired with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), learning that the agency typically does not trap and relocate small predators.

Now, Brandt noted, "People who have small pets should be aware that they need to keep them in."

The WDFW offers similar advice on its website, suggesting that pet owners keep their animals indoors, especially at night.

Once restricted to the prairies and mountainous regions of the west, coyotes have taken advantage of human activity and the decline of the grey wolf to occupy almost every habitat in the state.

Even after a disabling accident forced Jenon Laurene of Burien to leave her position as an intensive care nurse, she retains one patient.

Since 2007, Laurene noted her "full time job, and it is a full time job," has been protecting and caring for her mother, Doris Jean Hoogstad.

Though Hoogstad had lived in eastern Washington for decades, Laurene knew that she had to take in her Alzheimer's-affected mother when her brother and sister, also eastern Washington residents, attempted to sell Hoogstad's property and place her in a nursing home.

Once the initial legal battles were over, Laurene began the process of structuring her life around the "24-hour" care her mother required.

Her nursing experience has been invaluable, Laurene noted. "She's getting a professional standard of care," she said of her mother, noting that her training has helped her remain patient and provide a well-organized, healthy environment.

One of the services meant to fill the care-giving niche between independent life and nursing home, Elder and Adult Day Services, has become critical for Laurene and Hoogstad.

Jane Austen meets JP Morgan in Breeders Theater's new show, "Withering Heights."

"It's a parody of Victorian romance novels, and a commentary on the financial meltdown," says playwright T.M. Sell. "I like Victorian romance novels, but they're also kind of funny. And although Jane Austen didn't write "Wuthering Heights" (Emily Bronte did), I liked the title."

And, technically speaking, Jane Austen was Georgian, not Victorian.

The play tells the story of young Miss Clarity Fugue, who has an inheritance of a most difficult nature. Will she find true love in the form of a rich husband before she hits the poorhouse?

J. Howard Boyd will direct "Withering Heights," with music by Nancy Warren, choreography by Teresa Widner and costumes by Melissa Sell.

The cast includes Adrienne Grieco, Amber Rack, Martin J. Mackenzie, Eric Hartley, Doug Knoop, Brenan Grant, David Roby, Steve Schenk, Melissa Malloy, and Megan Krogstadt.

Show dates are July 16, 17, 21, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. and July 25 and Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for evening performances and at 1:30 p.m. for matinees. All shows are festival seating.

To the NIMBY City Council

Thanks not so much for the third runway art work located on the triangle property at SW. 152nd St. & Des Moines Memorial Way. Just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy every day when I drive or walk by it.

How long do you think this would fly if it were located on the" your" side of First Avenue South? Hmm...

Robert L. Keller
Burien

I am a 73-year-old Wesley Homes resident who enjoys walking roads and trails in Des Moines and SeaTac.
While on my walks (about 7 miles), I enjoy picking up litter of all kinds from cigarette butts to glass bottles and putting the litter in appropriate receptacles on my route.
I hope those that do the littering appreciate my service (which is performed for my God to clean the earth near my route.) It is really nice to walk on clean streets and paths!

John Nitardy
Des Moines