August 2010

When it became more difficult for Burien resident Dana Wheelock to care for his aging mother in her own home, he turned to microarchitecture.

Inspired by the town homes of Seattle and the current construction slowdown, Wheelock decided to have a cottage built for his mother at the front of his Burien property.

According to Bruce Parker of Microhouse, the opportunity to "age in place" is among several reasons that property owners build backyard cottages.

Completed in September of 2009, Wheelock's cottage is the first that Microhouse has constructed. The company began a year ago, but Parker said that he had been intrigued by the idea for some time, and growing interest in small dwellings allowed him to harness his "passion for cottage design."

Beyond caring for parents, Wheelock said that some families hope backyard cottages will allow them to leverage their backyards for rental income, accommodate growing families or simply live in efficient, environmentally sound homes.

Although detached cottages are not legal in all parts of Seattle, Burien allows property owners whose lots are 1.5 times the size required by city codes to construct accessory dwellings.

Murder suspect captured

Tukwila police detectives apprehended murder suspect Carlos Wayne Ellison. Acting on a tip, the detectives discovered him in an apartment. He was taken into custody with some difficulty. Ellison is alleged to have shot his friend Rogers Jovan Ward in the head during and argument over money.

Slingshot vandalism at the Y

A steel ball was shot through an exterior window of a YMCA building at 3595 S. 188th St. The ball landed in an indoor pool. It may have been shot with a slingshot or wrist rocket. No suspects or witnesses have been identified at the time of reporting.

Man fights bike thief

A suspect stole a bike in front of a store located at 20856 International Blvd. The victim attempted to get the bike back, but he was punched in the face several times by the suspect, breaking his glasses and the bike. The suspect ran away after the victim eventually got his bike back.

Assault and stolen clothes

Nicole Spahie and her boyfriend John Hall got Jack their Border Collie about a year ago (he's 2 1/2) from a family in Idaho. "He's very obedient, friendly and lovable," said Spahie,"and he's very focused on playing with sticks and toys," often retrieving sticks or tennis balls when thrown.

Jack's favorite place in the world is the off leash dog park in Magnuson Park and there's a swimming area there and, "I think that's his best quality," Spahie said, " He swims for miles." When the couple go hiking, "Jack is fearless, he climbs on these cliffs and he wants to dive down."

Jack does respond to spoken words but has has no formal training, he was trained by Hall, Spahie explained, "His commands are 'Sit, Get Back, Let's Go, Are You Ready'. (...) sometimes when you sit down, that's when he's in his element. He's calm and he lays on your lap or he comes up to you and gives you this sweet baby face look like, 'Pet me."

"I was the one who first painted the rock," says Dr. Gordon Newton. "It was really an act of vandalism."

Anyone in Tukwila has most likely seen the painted rock outside Foster High School on South 144th Street but so few are aware of the nearly 70-year history behind it.

A July 19 Times/News article outlined some of the rock's roots but Dr. Newton has come forward to offer more details.

Dr. Newton was born in Tukwila in 1927, making him now 83 years old. He graduated in 1945 from Foster and says he was literally the first to paint the rock, and admits it had nothing to do with school pride.

He says he was maybe 10 to12 years old at the time, sitting outside the general store on a post, kicking his legs when he glanced over at the Rock, which then sat outside the Tukwila Community Hall.

"I liked to sit on those posts and watch the cars go by," says Dr. Newton.

At that time the Rock had the word "Foster" stenciled nicely in black with two black dots on either side.

Dr. Newton says while he was sitting there with his buddy, looking at the Rock, the idea struck him.

The Ballard High School cheer team started the 2010-2011 season off strong by becoming champions at the UC Davis Cheer Camp Aug. 6 through Aug. 9 despite being the only team from Washington participating.

Coach Nancy Ellen Elster took the Beavers to California for the camp as a challenge. The team responded, with four varsity cheerleaders – Taylor Stern, Ashley Hart, Erica Redman and Grace Arends – being recognized as All-Americans.

The varsity team brought home trophies for the dance and cheer division. Ballard also received the leadership award.

“As coaches, we can give them skills, we can give them opportunities, but we cannot give them heart," Elster said. "This team has heart. A very special team indeed, and each and every one of them should be very proud of what they accomplished.”

The cheer team, which finished third in their division in last year's state competition, will make their 2010-2011 public debut at 5 p.m. Sept. 2 during the first Ballard High School football game of the season.

Craig Tweney belongs to one of Burien's more exclusive clubs-- homeowners with historical treasures in their backyards.
His Marine View Drive property is home to the oldest surviving structure in the city-- Gunther's Cabin.

Constructed by the Burien developer more famous for his spiral tower, the cabin has at different times served as a real estate office, a railroad terminus, a post office, and a shop, according to Tweney.

When Tweney's father, George, arrived in Burien with his family in the 1950s, the cabin was slated for demolition. George Tweney, a celebrated aviator, researcher, and book collector, had a keen interest in the history of the area. He bought the cabin and had it moved from its spot on 152nd Street to the family's home on Marine View Drive.

"When my dad said he was going to buy a cabin, I was all excited," Craig Tweney recalled, saying that he had pictured a vacation cabin in the woods, "but nope, he moved it into the backyard."

August 27

Book Signing--Burien Books is hosting a book signing for "The Self Made Woman: Creating the Life You've Always Wanted" by local author Alexzandra de la Iglesia. 5-7 p.m.

August 30

Blood Drive--Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 19030 8th Ave. S. 1-7 p.m. (closed 3-3:45 p.m.) To reserve a time to donate blood, please call Courtney & Nancy Steinke at 206-878-4219.

September 8

Afternoon Dance--Burien Elks Lodge, 14006 1st Ave S. 1-3:30 p.m. Randy Litch will be providing the music. For info (206)243-7044.

Burien Master Gardeners
Get answers to general gardening questions. Learn about proper plant selection. Bring a sample of a diseased plant for diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Have an insect identified. Learn least toxic ways to treat diseases and pests.
Herr Garden Center--107 SW 160th Street. Sept 11-25, Saturday, 1-4 p.m.
Burien Library--400 SW 152nd Avenue. April 24-August 28, Wednesday, 5-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Highline Medical Center

The 2010-2011 school year is just around the corner and parents are gearing up to get their children ready for school. To relieve some of the stress and financial burden of this annual occurrence, a coalition of community organizations and the Angle Lake Family Resource Center is sponsoring our 4th annual Back to School Resource Fair for SeaTac families on Thursday, August 26, 2010.

The event expresses the power of community to work together and create an environment of neighborly care and action for children and families. Our goal is to provide 1300 backpacks filled with supplies to SeaTac students, kindergarten through high school.

The Fair will run from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is located on the grounds of the Angle Lake Neighborhood Church and Angle Lake Family Resource Center, 4040 So 188th, SeaTac (right across from Chinook Middle School on 42nd Street)

When I was first married we lived in a run down summer house on Star Lake in Federal Way.

As we entered the house one day I saw a large furry critter run across the floor into the bathroom.

I ran ahead of my bride, who had not seen it, and fearlessly confronted the beast who was glowering at me from behind the toilet. I had closed the door but yelled at my wife to bring me the axe as I was trying to catch a mouse.

She, of course, asked why I wanted an axe to catch a mouse.

"Don't argue, and don't come in. Just pass it to me and stay out," I yelled.

She found the axe and slid it through the door, and I tried jabbing at the animal with the handle, but he just snarled and then ran right up the plunger handle behind the toilet. His red beady eyes gave away his plans.

He was preparing to leap at me, so I swung the axe blade at him, missed badly, and slashed a deep gash in the plasterboard. He took offense at my offensive tactics, leaping off his perch and racing around the room. He lept into the bath tub, where he found a secure hiding place under a pile of dirty clothes.

For nearly 40 years the Tukwila Pool has stood at 144th St. in Tukwila as a staple of its community.

Now, this structure is facing closure as the economic downturn reaches Tukwila.

At a Tukwila City Council meeting on August 9, the council heard a presentation about the status of the pool. It has been determined that "it is not feasible for the city to continue to support funding pool operations."

Some options were laid out before the Council as to how the pool could be saved from closure.

The first option would involve establishing a Metropolitan Park District. This, according to the City's Economic Development Administrator, is a "form of government authorized by the Washington State Legislature. It could get funding by levying a property tax with voter approval."

An MPD may "be created for the management, control, improvement, maintenance, and acquisition of parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreational facilities," according to council meeting documents.

If the MPD does not pass, there are still other alternatives that were described to the Council.