May 2012

In 1966, Dr. Roy Velling spearheaded a drive to have a special space-travel themed Astro Park built in White Center. The successful venture was a thrill for area kids and was dedicated in November of that year by astronaut Richard F. Gordon taking a ride down the big rocket ship slide.

The Space Race was going strong in the mid-‘60s. Timing was terrific for kids to imagine they were climbing the steps to blast off to the stars before sliding down the stainless steel ramp. King County owned and managed the park as it does today.

The park was in disrepair by the late ‘80s and the space slide was removed to King County's bone yard while a new updated play park was created.

So what happened to all that space memorabilia? We've written about the Navy fighter jet now on display at the Museum of Flight at Boeing on Marginal Way S. We've never told you what happened to the 33- ft. rocket ship slide because we didn't know.

Here is the rest of the story.

By David Brian Woosnam

To you proud citizens of Seattle and SeaTac,

I arrived in Seattle for the first time in my life less than 48 hours ago, and something happened to me (a Brit in his 65th year) soon after landing, that had a profoundly disturbing effect on me.

No, I do not mean the luggage carts at SeaTac airport costing an amazing $4. Ha!(I tell you that if London Heathrow tried to charge 50 CENTS for an airport cart/trolley, there would be a mass revolt of the locals!)

Rather, it was a more serious event that took place just 10 minutes after I had taken the key to a rental car.

But, before I tell you the minutiae of the event, let me first set the scene.

For many years, I have been shopping in the same British supermarket chain, and saving all my loyalty points and turning them into air miles.

And this April saw me cash them in and turn them into a once-in-a-lifetime flight to Seattle.

The Highline Times ran a story stating the artist for the Dollar Store mural has been chosen. Like most of the public art that has been selected for Burien, it was done without citizen input.

The decision was mostly made by the city staff. As a result, Burien citizens continue to get public art that is not what they would have chosen or what truly represents their city. This is how Burien citizens ended up getting the BIAS and the “almost SCREW” public art projects.

Citizens are never sure how these subcommittees for the selection of public art are ordained but they always seem to be dominated by the city staff and even the selection meetings are kept secret from the public.

Public art is a difficult thing as it never pleases everyone but it should please at least 50 percent of the citizens. In Burien this has not been the case.

The Highline Times--Wednesday, March 23, l994--Glacier High School can get very noisy, the Port tells Central Washington University. The ldn contour was 70 to 75 at that time.

What is it now? They have since been in and out--even the Big Picture School that used it for a couple of years has moved to another vacant school because "according to federal guidelines that use is not appropriate without some noise attenuation."

The port already has an avigation easement over the property as a result of a 1977 lawsuit that allows it to conduct air navigation over the property, including the resulting "noise, vibrations, fumes, dust, fuel particles and all other effects that may be caused by aircraft operating at the airport."

An athletic group leases the gym---but I guess because they voluntarily go there---like the community center it is an OK use.

I guess the residents of the neighborhood, like the school district, thought that the sound insulation program was going to be adequate for a compatible life with the airport. Think again---is it time for more insulation and will they pay for it?

Press release:

The Port of Seattle is alerting area residents to two scheduled temporary closures of runways for pavement work this summer at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

During the closure, airport neighbors may notice increased noise associated with changes in runway use.

The closures will address ramp, taxiway and runway pavement improvements as well as the relocation of Federal Aviation Administration antennae.

The scheduled dates are May 14 – June 20 and July 20 – August 8.

The runway closure will not affect airline flight schedules or passengers.

All air traffic will be directed to the two open runways during the projects. Construction work will be done during daytime hours to reduce noise impacts to area neighborhoods during the evening.

The timing also takes advantage of construction season weather to reduce the total time of the closures.


Annexation is a complex issue. It is an issue that has been slightly divisive for Burien.

When looking at the question of annexation there are many issues that must all be separately evaluated and studied. At the same time each issue affects the other. The issues include, but are not limited to, policing, zoning and permitting, land control and use, water, sewer, parks, human services, storm water management, roads, revenues and expenditures, capital improvement projects, and individual voter strength.

We can't look at the costs and associated risks to annexation without also talking about the costs and associated risks of not annexing. We can't talk about the risks of increasing our policing into North Highline and the associated costs without also talking about the continuing cuts to policing with an unincorporated North Highline OR Seattle Police Department in the area. We can't talk about the risks and costs to the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department without also discussing the costs of losing North Highline to Seattle Fire.

Dear Burien City Council

I attended the NHUAC meeting where King County Animal control did a presentation about the services they provide to their members.

I was very impressed with the services they provide to the unincorporated area and the member cities they service.

They have eight animal control officers and an animal cruelty investigator plus they provide animal control services SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. This includes responding to excessive barking dogs and loose dangerous animal control enforcement.

They have a euthanasia rate of 14 percent (one of the lowest in the nation). They provide many services that are currently NOT being provided under Mike Martin’s CARE program, which can only be described as dysfunctional at best.

They contacted every city in Burien's sectional part of the King County area to ask them if they wanted to participate. They got no response from the city of Burien.

They have a new three-year contract that will start July 1st that Burien still has time to be part of.

Press release:

Vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others—including babies—during the ongoing whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic, so Public Health – Seattle & King County and Group Health Cooperative are partnering to provide free whooping cough booster shots for adults.

Adults without health insurance and those who cannot afford to pay can get a free booster on Saturday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Group Health Burien Medical Center.

Young infants are at highest risk for severe illness, hospitalization and death from whooping cough. In older children and adults, the severity of whooping cough can range from a serious illness to less severe cold-like symptoms.

However, the greater danger is that adults can spread the infection to infants, pregnant women and others who have no protection.

Health officials urge all adults, especially those who have contact with infants, children and pregnant women, to make sure they have had their whooping cough vaccination.

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time: The clinic is open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or until there is no more vaccine available

Press release:

Friday May 18th is National Bike Day and the newly formed Walk/Bike Burien (WABI) is teaming up with Bicycles West, the City of Burien, Freggies, and Discover Burien to offer a pair of pedal-powered events for adults and children of all ages and abilities. See below for details on Burien Bike Day events.

In order to help you get ready for Burien Bike Day on Friday, May 18th and the warmer weather that know is around the corner, WABI has teamed up with Bicycles West to offer a FREE Bicycling 101 class for those who want to learn or review what they need to get themselves and their families rolling on two wheels.

When: Weds May 9th, 7:30-8:30pm
Where: Bicycles West - 804 Southwest 151st Street, Burien.
Who: Anyone interested in learning or getting refreshed on bicycling basics, including riding around town and commuting safely and confidently to work or the transit center on a bike.

Topics: What you need (helmet, flat prevention, lock)
Basic maintenance/safety check
Finding safe routes in Burien
Most common causes of accidents
Road rules, skills, and etiquette
What you need to fix a flat

For its annual spring concert, ChoralSounds Northwest chorus will produce ‘Rockin’ the Boat’ May 12 and 13, a show that will feature a wide range of music from classical to pop.

“‘Rockin’ the Boat’ includes many of the great choruses from stage and screen,” said Paul Bauer, ChoralSounds general manager. “It’s including everything from Mozart’s “Dies Irae” (Amadeus)” and John Williams‘ “Duel of Fates (Star Wars: Phantom Menace) to Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and the brilliant 21 Guns (American Idiot).”

“[The show will] examine the vast differences between songs originally written for chorus and songs that were always intended as solo numbers,” he said.

ChoralSounds Northwest, a Burien-based chorus of approximately 50 men and women has entertained the Burien community for years.
Brian Winnie, the new artistic director of ChoralSounds, recharged the chorus last year.