May 2011

The sixth annual Brent Rice Memorial Swim of the Sound is coming up on August 20th.

Swimmers don wetsuits and brave cold waters to swim 2.3 miles across Puget Sound. The waters from the Des Moines Beach Park to Point Robinson on Maury Island are a chilling fifty degrees Fahrenheit, but swimmers keep coming back for more. Not only are the swimmers racing across for themselves, they are contributing to the Brent Rice Memorial Foundation.

The Brent Rice Memorial Foundation was founded in 2006 to honor Brent Rice, provide swim lessons for low-income families, and to help fund aquatic safety classes throughout the Puget Sound area.

The swim was started in 2006 by 17-year-old Justin Moser, who wanted to honor his friend and mentor Brent Rice who passed away just over six years ago in a car accident.

Rice once did the swim himself as a personal challenge from one of his brothers. He was a local swimmer, who competed at both the state and national level, receiving All-American honors.

To address public safety concerns, the Des Moines City Council has passed legislation making it illegal for people soliciting money or food to enter the roadway to approach cars.

Interim Police Chief John O'Leary said Des Moines is not trying to stop people from panhandling. But when a car stops for someone on a busy street like Pacific Highway South, it creates a safety problem for the person in the roadway, as well as drivers who come up behind the stopped vehicle.

O'Leary said the police department has received numerous complaints of problems being caused by panhandlers walking into the roadway to get food or money. He also said he, as well as other police officers, have witnessed the problems first hand, but until this legislation the police have had no effective recourse.

Councilman Dan Sherman asked O'Leary what this law would do that the current laws and regulations could not.

O'Leary said the police have fined people for loitering. But it doesn't get the people off of the streets, and since most of the people cited cannot pay the fine anyway it has not been an effective solution.

Burien resident Bob Frank, member of St. Bernadette Parish, received the St. Vincent de Paul "Least of My Brethren" Award for outstanding service to the needy in Burien at the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Seattle/King Co. Council's Appreciation Dinner on Sunday, March 27.

The event, held at John F. Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, celebrated the special volunteers who make home visits and run programs to assist neighbors in need.

Frank was one of seven awardees in King County who received the St. Vincent de Paul's Least of My Brethren Award.
For over seventeen years, Frank has served the poor as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul all-volunteer group at St. Bernadette. He has made home visits to help to neighbors in need preventing eviction, hunger, utility shut-off and more. He has been a past president and co-president of the group and is the food room coordinator for food distribution.

Press Release:

Alaskan Way Viaduct Closure – Routes 5, 54 & 55

From Friday, May 13 at 11:00 PM, through Monday, May 16 at 5:00 AM, Metro bus routes 5, 54 & 55 will be rerouted off of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in both directions to accommodate work being performed by the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Heading toward downtown Seattle, northbound routes 5, 54 & 55 will travel instead via 4th Av S, Prefontaine Pl S & 3rd Av, and will serve posted stops on 3rd Av at Madison and Union streets. They will not stop on Seneca St at 2nd Av.

Heading toward West Seattle, southbound routes 54 & 55 will travel via 3rd Av and I-5, and will serve posted stops along 3rd Av at Seneca and Columbia streets. They will not stop westbound on Columbia St at 2nd Av.

Herban Legends opened their doors with little fanfare on May 4. Located at 9619 16th Ave s.w. in the heart of White Center’s business district, owner Chris Cody decided to keep things subtle. Only a hand carved sign proclaiming their address (9619) is displayed on the outside, with a small sign on the door listing hours of operation.

With a clientele limited to medical marijuana patients looking for a provider, Cody has big plans to make Herban Legends more than a place to procure marijuana and THC-infused products – providing a wide variety of alternative pain management possibilities.

For example, Cody is compiling a list of patients interested in the healing potential of acupuncture. Once the list reaches ten or more people he will bring in a licensed acupuncturist from the White Center community for a “co-op” session he said drives the price down from $90 - $100 a session to $20-$30.

He plans to bring in a physical therapist as well with patients sharing the cost and driving down the price. Cody does not plan to take a cut for these services and reiterated they will only be available for card-carrying medical marijuana patients.

The May 10 meeting of the White Center Chamber of Commerce had a long agenda but up first was the announcement of this years W.C. Chamber Evergreen High School 2011 $500 Merit Scholarship. The winner, out of eight entries was Linda Ba.

Ba, whose community volunteerism was a major factor in her selection, plans to attend the University of Hawaii, to study food science and nutrition under the Diatetics Option. Her current plan is to come back to the mainland and attend Bastyr University to pursue her Masters Degree. Ba pointed out that her Health and Wellness teacher, Stacey Fry at Evergreen has been an inspiration to her. "When I was suffering from Anorexia she was the teacher who helped me get back on track," Ba said.

Her volunteer work includes the Yes Foundation, Union Gospel Mission, and the after school program at her church. She maintains a 3.9 GPA.

Evergreen teacher Ray Zombro said, "The merit award is for students who participate in their family, community and the school."

Ba plans to put the money into savings.

ECOSS on the environment

Press releas from owner Scott Law:

The Electric Train Shop is moving down the track! Due to the Liquor Store's decision to leave us high and dry by their unneccesary and extravagant choice to move to Capco's complex on Alaska Street, and the fact that Junction area rental space has become "beachfront property" we have been forced to leave our home of the last 13 years. (staying would have meant a 300% rent increase)

But instead of crying over spilled vodka, we are making lemonade-coolers and will be moving to a much larger and more affordable space right in the heart of beautiful downtown Burien. The new address is 625 - SW 152nd. We will be closing our California Ave location in early June and hope to be open at the new store in late July. More information will be posted as available at www.ElectricTrainShop.com

3:30 p.m. The West Seattle Herald just spoke to Scott Law and this is what he said:

Press release:
Highline Community College Women's Programs is hosting a weeklong series of events as part of its 29th annual celebration to bring attention to the growing problem of domestic violence in South King County.

"In the last few years we have had an increase in domestic violence referrals," said Women's Programs Coordinator Jean Munro. "We have found the necessity to provide additional resources and programs that will assist individuals who have overcome domestic violence, those encountering this issue now and preventing new cases through education, training and the help of our community organizations such as Domestic Violence Women's Network and the YWCA."

"STOP: Sustain Together, Opportunity and Peace" will feature locally and nationally known speakers, film screenings and a raffle with proceeds benefiting the Women's Programs Emergency Scholarship foundation.

Event: STOP: Sustain Together, Opportunity and Peace
Dates: May 16-20, 2011
Time: Various times
Price: Free and open to the public
Location: Highline Community College's main campus

Press release:

Learn how to tune up your health from the experienced health-care professionals of Burien's medical community at the free Community Wellness Fair on Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., at Burien Town Square.
The third annual event provides an opportunity to learn about the newest and best in health care. You can also improve your general well-being with free health screenings, free food samples, demonstrations, presentations on wellness topics, fire safety, physical fitness information, and more. Kids are sure to have some fun with face-painting, clowning and balloon art. Information on local education programs in the health-care field will also be available.
New this year are free wellness seminars taking place in the adjacent City Council chambers in Burien City Hall.
Seminars include:
Noon: "Eat Well" including food samples
12:30 p.m. - "Sitting Fit" demonstration
1 p.m. - "Move Well"
1:30 p.m. - Zumba demonstration
2 p.m. - "Think Well"
2:30 p.m. - "3Rs of Exercise - Retain, Restore, Renew"

The Missile Defense Agency's Sea-Based X-band Radar (SBX) vessel, one of the sensors for our nation's missile defense system, will arrive Wednesday in Vigor Shipyards (formerly Todd Pacific Shipyards) but it is scheduled to arrive tonight in Elliott Bay. This unique-looking vessel will pass Richmond Beach before sunset and may even be seen from Blue Ridge, Crown Hill or Ballard.

If you spot it, send pictures to anner@robinsonnews.com.

According to the Defense Agency's latest press release:

SBX RADAR VESSEL TRANSITS PUGET SOUND TOWARD SEATTLE'S VIGOR SHIPYARDS