March 2011

Memorial trees and bike trail may not be able to coexist on Des Moines Drive bewteen SeaTac and Burien

Two long-planned projects involving neighboring Highline cities may conflict with each other along a 1.45-mile stretch of Des Moines Memorial Drive South on the Burien-SeaTac border.
Trees along the drive from South Park to Des Moines have long served as a memorial to the soldiers from Washington state who were killed in World War I. Through the years, due to urbanization and disease, many of the original trees have died or been removed. But plans are underway to renovate the drive by replanting elm trees.
Also in the planning stages is a Lake to Sound Trail. The trail is a proposed 16-mile-long biking and walking trail that would link the shoreline of Lake Washington at Gene Coulon Park in Renton to the shoreline of Puget Sound at Beach Park in Des Moines, while passing through the cities of Tukwila, SeaTac and Burien.
The trail would also connect to four regional trails: The Des Moines Creek and Westside trails, plus King County’s Green River and Cedar River regional trails.
Part of the trail would be along Des Moines Memorial Drive from South 156th Street in SeaTac to South Normandy Road in Burien.

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Admiral Safeway construction rough on local business

Early each morning employees of SD Deacon General Contractors and their subcontractors descend upon the Admiral Safeway construction site in West Seattle to build a 60,000-plus square foot grocery store, 78-apartment complex and 7,000 square feet of additional retail space with an estimated completion date of August, 2011.

Many construction worker vehicles end up taking valued spots in front of Admiral retail stores such as Alki Bike and Board, owned and operated by Stu Hennessey, at 2606 California Ave s.w.

“What’s really important is people know that we are here and open for business,” Hennessey, who watches prime parking real estate snatched up for the day long before potential customers arrive each day, said.

“We have 30 to 50 (construction) employees coming in each day to work on the site and they pretty much pick whatever parking was available without any room left for a lot of the customer parking, so that makes a difference (in business volume),” he said.

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Admiral Safeway projected for August completion in West Seattle

“Elite” complex will include apartments, additional retail space and larger selection of products in-store

On Aug. 21, 2010 the old Admiral Safeway shut its doors in preparation for demolition and rebirth as a flagship Lifestyle Store for West Seattle. Safeway officials are currently hoping for an August 12, 2011 opening date.

“I think almost every store in Seattle is a lifestyle store now, but this one in particular will probably have the most elite features of any store in Seattle,” Safeway real estate manager Sara Corn said.

Corn said the elite features will include a fresh sushi bar with a full-time sushi chef, a hearth oven for bread and rolls, a wine steward stand, dedicated wine cellar and wine tastings, two levels of indoor seating with a fireplace and 1000 square feet of outdoor seating.

Food offerings will also be expanded to fill the 12 foot seafood station, 12 foot meat station, organics sections and more, according to Corn.

“The size of the store (60,000 square feet) allows us to provide the company’s best selection and service,” she said.

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Mayor McGinn proclaims the week of March 7 to 11 to be Woodland Park Zoo Field Conservation Week

Woodland Park Zoo hosts conservation conference and summit

The Woodland Park Zoo will host an international conference and summit next week to support the zoo’s growing role in conservation and its role as an important regional institution.

Nearly 250 zoo and aquarium conservationists, field biologists, wildlife agencies, and conservation organizations from 23 different countries and disciplines will come together for the biennial conference of Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation (ZACC) conference.

Scheduled at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel, the 2011 ZACC conference will draw some of the most successful field conservationists in one room to share knowledge and findings, to build stronger conservation bridges between wildlife and local communities, and to establish direct links to zoos, aquariums and their stakeholders.

The conference will include presentations from recognized conservation experts on a variety of pressing environmental issues ranging from human-elephant conflict in Tanzania and technological advances in snow leopard research, to linking human and wildlife health to the environment.

Neighborhood
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34th District lawmakers invite citizens to town hall meeting

Press Release:
Sen. Sharon Nelson, Rep. Eileen Cody and Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon will host a town hall meeting to talk about the 2011 Legislative Session and to hear from constituents.

The legislators from the 34th District will provide updates about the state’s budget situation, efforts to create new jobs in Washington and an array of issues specific to the 34th District. Residents are encouraged to come with comments and questions.

WHAT: 34th Legislative District Town Hall Forum
WHEN: Saturday, March 12th from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: High Point Community Center in West Seattle,
6920 34th Ave SW, 98126

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Taco Time Coke machine of the future just installed

Over 100 flavor combinations offered

It may look like a clothes washer, but it is actually a flavor-filled robot. The new Coca-Cola "Freestyle" machine was installed Tuesday at Taco Time located on Avalon Way at the Fauntleroy/35th Ave intersections. One of just three in the Seattle area so far, (there are 300 nationwide) the self-serve machine offers over 100 drink flavors achieved by a multitude of combinations. Spritz a little Powerade Orange into your cup of Coke and top it off with Minute Made Strawberry. Or how about a little PibbXtra with your Barq's Root Beer? OK. That might seem a bit silly.

A line of five were waiting for their turn at the machine at Taco Time while a customer pushed the "water" button. If the machine could talk, it might remark, "You kiddin' me?" However, the machine obliged with impunity.

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SeaTac International Festival set for June 25-26

The city of SeaTac will host the 16th Annual International Festival Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 at Angle Lake Park.
Other event sponsors include the Rotary Club of SeaTac, Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce and the Matt Griffin YMCA.
The festival features a new Cultural Village, live entertainment, craft and food vendors, a play area for children, a volkswalk (an organized “people’s walk”) and more.
“With more than 83 languages spoken throughout the city, SeaTac is a growing, vibrant and diverse community,” said Kit Ledbetter, SeaTac Parks and Recreation Director. “The International Festival is an annual tradition that officially kicks off the summer and celebrates our diversity as a community.”
The SeaTac Rotary is creating the all new Cultural Village that will highlight entertainment and booths that present and share special traditions from each country, religion or culture.
Festival Hours are as follows: Saturday, June 25, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Craft and food vendors will be open throughout the festival.

Neighborhood
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New tenants move into the old Carnegie Building

Two new tenants have moved into the old Carnegie Building on Market Street. Opening shop on the second floor of the building is Root. Integrative Health.

Root is Ballard's newest edition of collaborative Healthcare including chiropractic, nutrition, massage therapy, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, and mental health counseling.

"We're offering a multidisciplinary practice as your one-stop heath center," said co-owner Kourtney Lockwood.

In addition to physical and mental health disciplines, BNT's very own columnist, Corbin Lewars, is joining the collaborative team to offer writing mentoring.

"We liked the idea of having a creative aspect to our holistic health center and I think it's great to have Corbin here," Lockwood said.

Root is hosting a Grand Opening on March 12, introducing themselves to Ballard and offering the public a chance to meet the practitioners. At the opening, Root will offer fine wine, delectable treats, prize worthy raffles, visual stimulation from our local artist and more.

The Grand Opening takes place on Saturday, March 12th, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. at the old Carnegie Building at 2026 Northwest Market Street.

Neighborhood
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Highline College seeking top alum nominations

Highline Community College in Des Moines is seeking nominations for its Distinguished Alumnus Award, the college's most prestigious award for alumni.
The award honors a former student who attended Highline prior to the 2005-06 academic year and has made outstanding contributions through community service, noteworthy professional achievement and/or recognized leadership. Nominations are due by April 11.
Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, who attended Highline in 1968-69, was the first recipient of the award in 1990. Other past honorees include Junki Yoshida, CEO of the Yoshida Group; Sam Green, Washington state's first poet laureate; Dr. Linda Petter, local health care advocate and author and Deborah King, civility and etiquette expert.
Nominees will be asked to submit a résumé and personal profile that will be reviewed by a campus selection committee. The person selected will be invited to accept the award and participate in Highline's commencement exercises on June 9.
Send your nominations to msell@highline.edu or Melissa Sell, Resource Development Office, Highline Community College, PO Box 98000 MS 99-248, Des Moines, WA 98198-9800.

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