June 2012

Press Release:

The City of Seattle, South Seattle Community College and University of Washington will participate in a special earthquake preparedness exercise on June 14 on the SSCC campus. The exercise called a Community Point of Distribution or CPOD is one of the most critical operations in responding to and recovering from a disaster.

It involves locating sites for public distribution of food, water, tarps and other necessities, providing adequate staffing and security and determining quantities of supplies.

One CPOD will be activated to distribute supplies and materials from state and federal agencies. State Logistics will have commodities (food & water) delivered by truck to the North Parking Lot of South Seattle Community College. Exercise players will assemble the commodities into loading points that comprise the CPOD. Exercise actors will drive private vehicles through the loading points simulating citizens picking up goods.

What about the restrooms at the end of the light-rail line?

That was the controversial question before the SeaTac City Council June 12 as they discussed the proposed South 200th Street Station development agreement between the city and Sound Transit.

City of SeaTac program manager Soraya Lowry said restrooms would be part of the retail development at the station.

Sound Transit project director Miles Haupt noted his agency does not normally operate and maintain restroom facilities at light-rail stations.

But SeaTac Councilman Barry Ladenburg questioned whether bathrooms would be available before the retail spaces are developed. He also said the restrooms should be open after businesses close for the night for light-rail riders.

Councilman Rick Forschler noted the station would be at the end of the line until light rail is extended to Des Moines or Kent. He said that while many patrons at other stations may live near them, many riders at the last station might travel from farther away. He said the operation and maintenance of the restrooms should be shared.

“This is a weak area (in the agreement) that needs to be patched,” Forschler said.

SLIDESHOW: SATURDAY, FIRST DAY OF FEST. Click on photo for more.

Everyone is invited to the Burien Wild Strawberry Festival on Saturday and Sunday, June 16-17 at the festival’s downtown location at Town Square Park.

An amazing number of fun activities will be featured, including Saturday Strawberry Break dance Competition that will include a full day of breakdance competitions, workshops for all, and final battles on the Town Square Stage; Carnival Days hosted by Discover Burien, with rides and games for all ages and a new Touch a Truck event. Southwest 150th Street will be filled will all types of fun vehicles for kids to explore.

The festival kicks off with the annual Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Breakfast at the Burien Fire Station. Discover Burien’s popular Father’s Day Car Show & Chili Cook-Off will again be held on Sunday and conveniently located right next to the activities.

Fabulous music, strolling comedians, dancers, puppeteers, storytelling and community performers will be a mainstay of the event, along with delicious food booths, great shopping, and the festival’s signature strawberry shortcake.

A car show, chili cook-off and carnival rumbles into downtown Burien June 14 through 17. Presented by the nonprofit Discover Burien Association, the events are affiliated with the city of Burien’s Wild Strawberry Festival June 16 and 17.

Davis Shows’ full carnival will provide sweet screams plus some gentler action during Summer Carnival Days from Thursday, June 14 through Sunday, June 17. The carnival runs each day until attendance becomes too light. Hours are June 14 and June 15 from 3 p.m. to close and June 16 and June 17 from 11 a.m. to close.

The free annual Burien Father’s Day Car Show Sunday, June 17 displays magnificent machines of different decades from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event also features ‘50s and ‘60s tunes spun by a disk jockey plus a chili cook-off.

Car show participants will compete in nine prize categories: Mayor’s Choice, Best Project Car, Best Truck, Most Likely To Go On A Date In, People’s Choice, Best Interior, Auto Dealers’ Choice, Best Paint Job, and Oldest & Original.

Highline Community College named Sherrill Miller, former winemaker and owner of E.B. Foote Winery, its 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award winner for her success in the wine industry and her philanthropic efforts.

“Sherrill is the perfect example of an individual that had the drive to succeed and followed her passions,” said Highline President Dr. Jack Bermingham. “She has been very generous to Highline and many local charities, and we are honored to have her as an alum.”

Miller got a taste for entrepreneurship while attending Highline and graduated with honors with her Associate of Arts degree in 1975. She then went on to obtain her Bachelor’s in Sociology and a minor in Education from the University of Washington.

In 1991, Miller and her husband opened E.B. Foote Winery in Burien. E.B. Foote wines won numerous awards and recognition from Wine Press Northwest, Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast. Miller was a teacher for 26 years, splitting her time with winemaking.

Dr. Susan Enfield, a former high school journalism and English teacher who is the new Highline Public Schools superintendent, has been elected to the Student Press Law Center’s Board of Directors.

She officially takes over in Highline on July 1.

The Student Press Law Center (“SPLC”) is a Washington, D.C.-area nonprofit whose mission is to promote press freedom and government transparency in colleges and schools nationwide. It provides legal information and attorney referral assistance at no charge to student journalists and the educators who work with them.

“Susan Enfield has a deep appreciation for the unique educational benefits of meaningful participation in journalism,” said Mark Stodder of The Dolan Company, chairman of the SPLC Board of Directors. “As a career educator with a distinguished record of successful school leadership, she will bring an invaluable insider's perspective to the work of the SPLC. We hope her appointment underscores the SPLC's commitment to working cooperatively with schools toward eradicating the censorship problem that so greatly diminishes the learning potential of journalism."

The work continues even on dreary rainy days like we had last week. Opening of the $43.5 million building, which features a unique curved roof, is planned for Sept. 2013.

It is located north of the museum’s space gallery and airpark, also under construction.

Registration is now open for the Burien Brat Trot, which is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7th. Discounts are available for registering early.

The Burien Brat Trot 5k and 1 Mile Family Race has become one of Burien's biggest community’s events. All day long on Oct. 7th, participants may enjoy a Bavarian style celebration with entertainment, food, a marketplace with crafts and vendors—all centered around the brat trot.

This race benefits two local organizations—The Highline Schools Foundation, which gathers community resources to support the 18,000 students in Highline Public Schools, and Safe Kids King County South, which supports injury prevention through access and education.
Go to www.burienbrattrot.com to register and learn more.

B-Town's Recovering Youth in Motion will hold its recovery night on Thursday, June 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Burien Library Multipurpose Room, 400 S.W. 152nd St.

The free event is open to youth recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. There will be music, games, movies and prizes.

For more information, contact 206-251-9171.

I've had a lot of dogs.

Mac was an Australian shepherd I had when I was a teenager. Skipper was a beautiful collie. Tessie was our dachshund for 17 years.

And Richard Tiger was a dog we got for son Tim at the dog pound. He was a wonderful spaniel (Richard, not Tim); I'd rent him from Tim for bird hunting. He charged me fifty cents.

The dog that stands out the most, however, was Charlie Brown. Charlie was a basset hound I got as a gift from my wife.

"They told me that bassets have good noses," she said.

Charlie was supposed to be my hunting companion. But, after one pheasant hunt in which I had to break trail through the beet fields, I gave up on him.

Basset hounds are ungainly, saggy, baggy and undisciplined. They require constant attention. Nobody owns a basset; they own you.

No fence can hold one in. Originally bred to hunt rabbits in Europe, they go off to find a new, more attentive patron once you stop petting them.