April 2012

Burien, WA – Moritz Wienke, a freshman at Aviation High School, led his squadron’s Civil Air Patrol color guard to a first place finish in the Washington Wing Cadet Color Guard competition. Moritz is the color guard commander. His brother Max, an AHS junior, and two other cadets make up the color guard.

The National Cadet Competition is held annually by the Civil Air Patrol. The state level competition takes place over a day and a half at Camp Murray near Joint Base Lewis McChord. It consists of seven categories: written exam, one-mile run, uniform inspection, standard drill, outdoor practical drill, indoor practical drill and a panel quiz. Under Moritz’ command, the color guard took first place in all seven categories.

The team will represent the state in the Pacific Region competition against top teams from Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Oregon. The winner of regional the competition will compete in national competition in June in Dayton, Ohio.

The Wienke brothers post colors at the start of all school assemblies. “We have made this a tradition at AHS for our students who participate in the Civil Air Patrol,” says Principal/CEO Reba Gilman.

Deadline for receiving items for Community Calendar is 5 p.m. Wednesday for the following week’s Times/News. Events are published based on timeliness and space availability. Email submissions to: hteditor@robinsonnews.com Items can be accepted from nonprofit groups and government agencies only. Others may call Dona Ozier at 206-708-1378 for inclusion in our “Out & About” advertising section.
Art Exhibits

Burien Community Center—Marquetry art by Dennis Harrison. Marquetry is an art form that uses only natural and dyed wood veneers in its presentation. It is a little-known art form in America, but it is hundreds of years old as practiced elsewhere. Through May 31. 14700 6th Ave. S.W. Mondays-Thursdays 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

I've been singing a sad song about car ownership ever since I left my brother's car on the Hawthorne St. Bridge in Portland in 1939. While it was only an empty gas tank then, I've had numerous occasions to sing the blues.

It may have been an omen when my brother gave me that very car the day he went into the Navy. It was a gorgeous '29 Model A Ford. I drove it for three years, taking numerous trips to Portland to visit my folks during the war. As a Boeing electrician I could wire a B-17 but I did not understand simple windshield wipers.

There was driving rain on Highway 99 that holiday Sunday. I promised the folks I'd come down for Mother's Day. The wipers simply stopped mid-wipe, forcing me to reach out the driver's side window and move them manually all the way to Portland. The rain never ceased. My arm hung limp at my side for the whole day.

(Editor’s Note: Usually, Lee Ryan profiles a Highline senior with interesting tales to tell. But in a Seattle film writing class, she met a Hollywood legend, who is now a lively Seattle senior. She decided to present his story this week.)

When Stewart walked into his cousin’s house, over 50 years ago, there was a young guest who was spinning ‘round and ‘round in a swivel chair.

“I remember that I just stood there, silent for awhile, then I decided to join him. So I started spinning around in a chair, too. There we were just spinning around, not even talking to one another. All of a sudden this fellow let out a loud ‘mooooo!’ So I mooed back at him. He stopped cold and said, ‘How’d you do that?’ So, I had to explain to him why my moo sounded so much more real than his. He asked me if I knew any other animals, so I did a flock of sheep. We did all kinds of barnyard animals and then he invited me to go to a movie with him,” he said.

That movie was “East of Eden. “

Mayor Brian Bennett did not really attend the (April 2 Burien City Council) meeting. He was home sick in bed. Strangely when the vote on annexation came up and Mike Martin knew that he was not going to get the votes to pass it, Brian Bennett arrived to the meeting just in time to vote on that one issue and then left. Could it be that Mike Martin called to get him out of bed to come in just for this vote?

Also had Jerry Robison done the honorable thing and disclosed his real relationship with the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council and recused himself, it would have failed.

The council is clearly not together on what is perhaps one of the most financially important issues in the city’s history. Contrary to whatever Joan McGilton blathered on about, 13 reports that Burien and King County have paid for at taxpayer expense on the annexation of Area Y/White Center, all say that in the long run Burien will be financially worse off for annexing this area.

By Gwen Davis

In Burien this spring, all iPods can be safely put away.

Two choruses of the Northwest Associated Arts (NWAA) – ChoralSounds Northwest and the new SilverSounds Northwest – will put on shows with such vibe that Apple devices, will be far from necessary.

SilverSounds Northwest will present ‘Rockin’ with the Oldies’ April 22, which will be the group’s second major performance at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien.

SilverSounds debuted in Jan. 2011, and has since performed in community centers, retirement homes and churches. The chorus is made up of 33 senior and retired citizens.

“We take any ages from 58 to 85. You are never too old to rock and roll,” said Paula Hawkins, artistic director of SilverSounds Northwest.

The group mainly focuses on rock and roll from the ‘60s, ‘70s and 80s.

However, this spring’s concert will not conform to just one genre.

“We are excited about not only having tunes from ‘60s and ‘70s but also some ‘Cold Play, and ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ by Glee,” Hawkins said. “We’ll have dancing, choreography, humor and some special surprises along the way.”

At a meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, Burien City Manager Mike Martin briefly discussed the recent city council vote (4-3) to hold an annexation election for North Highline

“That vote is a very important milestone … because it finally shifts the ball to the residents of White Center,” he said. “We are in the course of putting together our game plan for outreach (to North Highline residents to explain how annexation will effect the area).”

Martin added the outreach will be factual and not a campaign to sway opinion in favor of annexation.

When asked if there is any way the city council could change their mind on holding the vote in November, Martin said it is unlikely as “I don’t think the council is anxious to go through this process twice.”

“We are ready to do this if the residents are ready to do this,” he said. “If the vote is successful, you know those are good people down there too (speaking of Burien residents opposed to annexation), and they are going to get comfortable and part of this is about change and uncertainty and where the control is …”

Des Moines Mayor Dave Kaplan presented a proclamation April 5 to Highline Community College (HCC) president Jack Birmingham celebrating the Des Moines school’s 50th anniversary.

The value of HCC students’ education and the economic contribution to King County is valued at over $250 million annually, Birmingham reported.

HCC the first community college in King County, is celebrating its’ golden anniversary during the 2011-2012 school year.

“Highline Community College makes an invaluable contribution to the economy of the city of Des Moines, and the Highline region, by increasing an individual’s lifetime earning capacity, improving employee job skills with education and training and providing resources for dislocated workers, the under-employed, and unemployed,” the proclamation read.

Birmingham noted, “The college is a positive force in economic development.”

There is an average 5.8 percent return on investment for Highline students, according to Birmingham. Not all schools enjoy that statistic, Birmingham said.

Sandy Zimmerman, a student a Highline’s Big Picture School, will be recognized by King County as an Earth Hero. King County Executive Dow Constantine will honor Sandy and other Earth Heroes at the County’s annual “Earth Heroes at School” ceremony on April 26.

For her senior project, Sandy initiated a trash audit, which led to her role in expanding the school’s recycling program, organizing a pep rally to motivate students to properly recycle, and coordinating support from the district, facility staff, and teachers. This project was the culmination of four years of environmental commitment by Sandy.

“I want to shift my school’s thinking on how important reducing our waste output really is,” said Sandy.

Big Picture Principal Jeff Petty describes Sandy as “driven, scholarly, compassionate, curious, open-minded, wise, grounded, exceptional, awe-inspiring, humble.”

“She is the most outstanding student I have worked with during my time at Big Picture since starting the school seven years ago,” says Petty.

Sandy is the only individual student named among the 22 Earth Heroes this year.

At the corner of Watch Out Street and Paranoia Avenue

Drivers face an ominous set of signs along South 140th Street near Kennedy Catholic High School.

It’s just about enough to make one garage the family car, hike to the Burien Transit Center and grab a a bus ride.