May 2012

By Cassandra Baker, Intern

11:00 p.m. on April 26th. 60th block of Phinney Ave N

Police arrested the male suspect in an April 17th robbery on the night of April 26th. On April 17th the suspect, along with two female suspects, assaulted and robbed a woman who owed them money. The crime occurred at the 80th block of 24th Ave NW. Police did not find the suspects in the area when they first responded to the incident. On April 26th, officers located the male suspect in a vehicle on Phinney Ave N and observed him fumbling with something under the seat. They stopped the vehicle and took the suspect into custody. When he got out of the car, a holster fell to the ground, and officers found a handgun under the seat. The 46-year-old suspect was taken to the Robbery Unit office for questioning and then booked in King County Jail on robbery and firearms violation charges. The robbery is still under investigation.

7:23 p.m. on April 26th. 43rd block of 5th Ave NW

A female senior from Kennedy High School in Burien who lives in White Center was appointed to West Point Academy February. Natalie Budner beat the odds as women make up just 17-percent of enrollment there.

Over 15,000 men and women apply to West Point. Of those, only 1,100 were appointed to West Point this year due to federal budget restraints. You must also get sponsored, or "nominated" by a senator or congressman. She was nominated by our congressman, Jim McDermott, 7th District.

The West Seattle Herald reported on two other area students appointed to West Point, Sean Crowley and Drew Hidalgo.Like Budner, Hidalgo was also nominated by our Congressman. Crowley and Hidalgo attend Aviation High School.

Mayor Mike McGinn came to West Seattle and in a Town Hall meeting with a small but lively crowd of about 30 people at the Senior Center, heard primarily people's frustrations and issues with transportation to and from the peninsula.

NOTE: You can watch the full Town Hall on the Seattle Channel here:
http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=1031219

Prior to the meeting the Mayor took a tour of the Junction with local business leaders. He praised the Junction for its neighborhood feel and noted that this is part of the challenge with the West Seattle Triangle since it is less pedestrian friendly.

Addressing one of his top priorities, jobs McGinn said, "We lost about 35,000 jobs in Seattle from the top of the boom to the bottom. Since then we think we've regained about half, or 18,000 and we're gaining jobs faster than other areas." He noted that while tax revenues are increasing so is the cost of day to day operations.

Until recently, just 19 of the 124-unit Burien Town Square condominiums were sold. However, five more units have sold over the last two weeks, and more are scheduled to close shortly. That, according to the development's sales team of Tracey O'Brien and Stacy Phipps.

To help promote the development, they are making five "homes-of-the-month" available with no HOA (homeowners association dues) for the first year, ranging from a one-bedroom, 527 square foot unit at $132,950 to a two-bedroom, 1095 square foot unit at $278,950. That will save the buyer about $2,000 to $4,300 accordingly.

So far only one retail space is committed, SUBWAY, at the southeast corner of the building.

"Regarding the retail space, we have just relaunched bringing what I call uses that activate the community, and attract people to come to Burien, like restaurants, coffee shops, dog grooming, art stores," said John Tippins, Regional Director, ST Residential, the development's owner. He is currently in town from his Las Vegas office, and lent a hand at the development's booth during the opening of the Farmers Market May 3.
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A female senior from Kennedy High School in Burien who lives in White Center was appointed to West Point Academy February. Natalie Budner beat the odds as women make up just 17-percent of enrollment there.

Over 15,000 men and women apply to West Point. Of those, only 1,100 were appointed to West Point this year due to federal budget restraints. You must also get sponsored, or "nominated" by a senator or congressman. She was nominated by our congressman, Jim McDermott, 7th District.

The Highline Times reported on two other area students appointed to West Point, Sean Crowley and Drew Hidalgo.Like Budner, Hidalgo was also nominated by our Congressman. Crowley and Hidalgo attend Aviation High School.

SLIDESHOW: Click on photo for more

BURIEN FARMERS MARKET
May 3rd, 2012 to October 25th / 11 am to 6 pm
Burien Town Square - SW 152nd & 5th Place
Call: 206-433-2882

Burien Farmers' Market - every Thursday from the beginning of May through mid-October. The Burien Farmers' Market has developed into a very successful market with 40 to 50 vendors each week. Vendors include a food booth, handmade goods, farm fresh products and fresh baked products.

Although SeaTac and Tukwila homeowners are paying a higher property tax rate per $1,000 of their assessed home value, total property tax payments are less because of declining property values.

That was the message from King County Assessor Lloyd Hara recently in an appearance at the SeaTac Senior Center.

In SeaTac, the median assessed home value dropped 9.2 percent between 2010 and 2011, Hara reported. Median assessed value for a SeaTac home in 2011 was $198,000, down from $218,000 in the previous year.

The 2011 values, which property taxes paid in 2012 are based on, were set Jan. 1, 2011.

In 2012, SeaTac taxpayers are paying $13.08 per $1,000 of assessed value, up from $12.27 in 2011 but the total property tax bite is 3.2 percent less because of declining home values.

The average total SeaTac 2012 property tax is $2,589.94. Last year, it was $2,674.86.

Tukwila valuations were also down, according to Hara. Tukwila’s median assessed value went down 9.3 percent, going from $225,000 in 2010 to $204,000 in 2011.

Press release:

The New Futures Board of Directors has unanimously voted to appoint Jennifer Ramirez Robson as its Executive Director.

Ramirez Robson has served as New Futures' Interim Executive Director since October 2011.

"Under Jenn's leadership New Futures has continued to positively impact the lives of the families we serve," said Board president Luis Fraga. "As Interim Executive Director, Jenn has improved program operations, strengthened our community partnerships and increased our fundraising capacity.

We are honored to have her stay on as our permanent Executive Director and continue this great progress."

Ramirez Robson has more than 20 years of management experience in the private sector and in local government. During her career she has served as a management analyst for the city manager of Burien, as well as a policy advisor, legislative analyst, project manager and technology professional with the City of Seattle.

Ramirez Robson also has extensive experience as a supervisor and manager in the hospitality industry in Seattle.

Admiral Safeway is hosting a Mother Day weekend wine tasting event from noon to 4 p.m. May 12th

Visitors will be able to try some fine wines from Washington State including Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay, Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet, and Chateau Ste Michelle Horse Heaven Sauvignon Blanc. The event is free.

The store wine steward is Errol Melonson and the store manager is Curt Baxter

Thursday – MAY 10, 2012 – 7pm
North Highline Fire Station
1243 112th Street, SW
White Center

Police Reports/Neighborhood Concerns:
BJ Myers, King County Sheriff Deputy, White Center Storefront, will give
an update on crime trends in the North Highline area. Deputy Myers will
also take questions regarding neighborhood concerns.

Guest Speakers:
Major Lisa Mulligan, Metro Transit Police Chief, will discuss safety
aboard Metro Transit and at North Highline area bus stops.

Doug Reynold, King County Sheriff Deputy, Community Crime Prevention
Officer for the City of Seatac. Deputy Reynolds will discuss crime
prevention techniques to reduce the opportunity for crime in your
neighborhood. Deputy Reynolds is the past president of the Washington
Crime Prevention Association and is recognized as an International Crime
Prevention Specialist(ICPS) by the International Society of Crime
Prevention Practitioners.

Block Watch Program:
Join or renew the program in your neighborhood.
Discussion of the National Night Out Against Crime-August 7, 2012.