March 2011

Burien's Mardi Gras continues Saturday, March 5 from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a Scavenger Hunt, live music, Mardi Gras-style food specials, drink specials and beads.

On March 5, revelers get drink specials, plus beads, at host restaurants and bars by buying a Hurricane drink glass or wine glass that lights up and is embossed with "First Annual Mardi Gras Celebration 2011 Burien, WA." The glasses are available at host restaurants and bars for $10. A Hurricane glass gets the holder drink specials at any host restaurant or bar for just $5 and beer specials for $3. A wine glass entitles the holder to wine specials for $5.

Individuals or teams in the Scavenger Hunt will search throughout Burien for the Mardi Gras King's crown based on clues provided during the hunt. To receive the first clue electronically via texting or email, participants must sign up online by 3 p.m. at www.discoverburien.com.

To get the first clue live, sign up by 3:55 p.m. at the Mark Restaurant & Bar, 914 S.W. 152nd St., where the initial clue will be provided in person.

For 17 years, Burien resident Debi Wagner has taken steps to bring awareness to the hazards that Sea-Tac International Airport brings to the nearby neighborhoods.

She has now written a book that she calls her "last step" in her efforts against airport expansion.
Wagner will discuss her book at Burien Books, 824 S.W. 152nd St., on Saturday, March 5 from 1- 3 p.m.

"Over My Head" is Wagner's book that talks about how she got into airport activism, at first by being active in grassroots groups that wanted to mitigate the noise that resulted from increased air traffic.

She used to live in a part of Des Moines that was noise-free. Then the air space over her home became a flight path in 1989, subjecting her to the noise of low flying aircraft.

"That's when I got upset," she said.

Her first efforts were on noise pollution, but she eventually turned her sights onto something less obvious but more lethal.

What do you want to be when you grow up? You could become a world traveler, a famous Broadway director or a valiant warrior.

Burien native John Bogar has done all of the above and is currently undertaking a new role. With a rose in his lapel and a cravat around his neck, the tall and handsome rogue is beguiling the ladies, bribing the law and managing a criminal empire.

It's all in a day's work for Bogar. He is a prominent Seattle actor who has inhabited many lives thanks to his characters in classics such as "Brigadoon," "42nd Street" and "Macbeth."

His current leading role is Macheath, better known as "Mack the Knife," in "The Threepenny Opera." A Seattle Shakespeare Company production staged at the Intiman Theatre (playing through March 6), "Threepenny" is the latest performance in an acting career that began in Burien.

The youngest of seven children, Bogar grew up in Gregory Heights.

"There was a great burst of creativity in my generation of the family," says Bogar, whose siblings include a brother who sings in the Seattle Opera chorus and a sister who performs in Las Vegas tribute shows.

A decision on a plan to consolidate five SeaTac departments and divisions into one community and economic development department has been delayed again.

SeaTac council members were expected to act Feb. 22 on a plan put forth Feb. 8 by interim city manager Todd Cutts.

He proposed adding three new division manager positions to work under Cindy Baker, who was selected to head the new consolidated community and economic development department. Two other managers would transfer from their current divisions. While there would be no net gain of positions in the transition, salaries for the three managers would cost the city an additional $31, 415 per year, Cutts estimated.

The fiscal impact figure is based on paying the five managers at the maximum pay rates.

However, Cutts said some of the positions wouldn't be staffed until, at least, April 1, saving the city $46,000 this year. Human Resources director Anh Hoang indicated earlier that the new managers would not have to be hired at the maximum pay ranges but it might be difficult to attract experienced employees from other cities for lower pay.

Burien Little Theatre is sponsoring a performance of Seattle Latino theater eSe Teatro's bilingual (Spanish/English) staged reading of "Passport," an absurdist play about immigration on Saturday, March 5 at 2 p.m.

The play will be presented at the Burien Community Center Annex, 425 SW 144th Street.

Full of politics and humor, "Passport" is written by Gustavo Ott, translated by Heather L. McKay and directed by Arlene Martinez-Vickers.

Audiences do not have to be fluent in both languages to enjoy and understand. They will experience an innovative staged reading where Spanish and English are expertly woven together by bilingual actors, challenging the audience to comprehend beyond language.

Without need for subtitles or written translations, witnesses are plunged into the world of body language, gestures and the intense desire to comprehend.

Follow the story of two families of immigrants across history in Breeders Theater's new show, "West."

"West" is the sequel to "Prairie Heart," BT's production from January 2009.

"Prairie Heart" followed the story of Norwegian immigrant farmer Ole Olson and the woman he loves, Ingrid Thorgrimsdottir. At the end of that play, Ole and Ingrid finally get together.

Fast forward 25 years. Ole and Ingrid's youngest daughter, Glenda, is ready to make her own way. But times have changed in North Dakota. She could get married and start a farm of her own, but will history intervene?

"West" follows the fortunes of the Olson and Dokken families from World War I to the start of the Great Depression.

T.M. Sell wrote "West," based on the stories of his own ancestors, who also, over time, made their way west.
"It's loosely based on my ancestors, but this could be anybody's story, really," says Sell.

The runs March 11-26 at E.B. Foote Winery, 127B SW 153rd St in Burien. This will be the company's 20th production at the winery.

A Normandy Park quilter has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2011 AQS Quilt Show & Contest, March 16-19 at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Sherry Rogers-Harrison has been chosen to display the quilt, Hallelujah, along with 175 others in the annual contest, now in its second year.

Three quilting authorities will judge this elite group in Lancaster, awarding first, second and third place prizes in five categories, along with five overall awards. Winners will be announced prior to the opening of the show on March 16. Cash awards totaling more than $44,000 will be granted, with prizes including $10,000 for the Best of Show and $5,000 each for the Best Hand, Machine, and Longarm Workmanship.

Regardless of how Hallelujah places in the final judging, all semifinalists' quilts will be displayed at the show, which is expected to draw more than 20,000 people.

Sex offender violates parole

A Level 3 registered sex offender was recently found to have violated his parole by possessing child pornography. His CCO also found him to be in possession of a piece of paper listing several names and associated credit card information. The information included the type of credit card and either full card information and/or approval and acceptance codes. Nine individuals are listed on the piece of paper. It was unclear if any of the persons listed on the paper have been victims of a fraud related crime. The suspect is currently incarcerated in King County Jail for 60, days based on the violation of probation.

Vandal conceals damage with a tarp

Few would argue against the theory that weather and living conditions affect folk's attitude, some for good, some bad. And watch out for a Full or New Moon. It's written that we are creatures of the universe and all the influences that go with that heritage. How's your planet doing?

In retrospect, it seems as though that November snowstorm was a preview of recent changes in our great Northwest weather pattern. Are the planets involved?

Yesterday, it snowed and early this morning (02.24) Des Moines Marina is covered with snow and ice and only city staff in sight. No walkers, joggers, doggies, or even young daredevil thrill-hungry (younger than me) drivers squirreling their cars around in the fresh snow and ice.

The reality of how cold it really is became clear when a gush of freezing wind left me shivering in body and soul while opening my front door. Visions of Southern California's palm trees, warm sunshine and heated swimming pools jogged memories and I wondered what it would take to immediately transport me there. Oh well, maybe next year I muttered, while pulling my sweater closed.

When I heard that somebody on Vashon Island had a collection of photos of naked guys on display in a makeshift showroom and that some of Seattle's television studios had plans to do an expose (so to speak) on an evening program I took notice.

I asked a friend and property owner on the island to fill me in.

"Yes," he said. "That is true."

He and his wife own a building that had an unoccupied hall. They have been letting some artists show their wares without charge. He was unaware they showed some photos of some men without underwear.

"When my wife heard about it she took off (so to speak) and demanded to know the naked truth.'

''She insisted they remove what she considered off-the- wall and had the stripper pictures stripped."

I have had glimpses of guys in the buff in steam rooms. It does not offend me but would make Elsbeth close her eyes or turn to stone.

So, don't go out and buy a ferry ticket. The rude nudes are now gone.

A Vashon Story

We once owned a small rental house on Vashon and knew Don MacDonald, husband of Betty MacDonald, who wrote "The Egg and I." Big deal?