August 2012

A group of select people and at least one public official met with the owner of the Alki Homestead, Tom Lin on Aug. 28 to go over the options for the aging, historic building and attempt to gain an understanding of where to go next.

Present at the meeting, held at the Stimson-Green Mansion, Nicholas Vann (Historic Architect) Allyson Brooks Phd. (State Historic Preservation Officer) both with the Washington State Dept. of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Karen Gordon (Historic Preservation Officer, City of Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods), Kathleen Brooker (Director, Historic Seattle), and Jennifer Meisner (Director, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation) and previously unannounced Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and his assistant Ed Murray. Reid Severson, a financial intern accompanied Lin to the meeting.

A primary issue in the meeting was the federal tax credit qualification and it was outlined by Vann.

The three criteria for getting a federal tax credit, which could be worth up to 20% of the qualifying expenses of rehabilitation of the building are:

By Sharon Hofstra Haugen

(Editor’s Note: As the 1960 graduates of Burien’s Highline High School celebrate their milestone birthdays, Sharon Haugen looks back at the historic time in which they were born.)

This year the Highline/Mt. Rainier Girlie Luncheon--Class of ‘60, is celebrating their 70th Birthdays.

We have included the Guys from our class this year to participate in this celebration, as the Guys from our class that attended last year's After Party, were interested in being a part of this special event...so this year it is the "Girlie/Guy Luncheon Class of ‘60 - 70th Birthday Party"!

The Highline/Mt. Rainier Class of ‘60, all entered this world in the latter part of 1941 and throughout 1942, and would be those born in the beginning of our involvement in WW11, so only naturally the theme for our luncheon this year will be the World War 11 Era, the Big Band Music and the role of women during this trying time.

Fugitive found at Burien apartment
The King County Sheriffʼs Gang Unit got information about the location of a fugitive. Clorissa Bossart was spotted on the balcony of her new boyfriendʼs apartment at the Fox Cove apartments in the 100 block of S.W. 160th Street. Deputies say she tried to hide her face from them and cried when they took her into custody saying she knew she was wanted but didnʼt want to turn herself in. The 19 year old is accused of threatening her own grandmother and then attacking a 54 year old woman who came to her grandmaʼs help, knocking her unconscious, busting up her face, ripping out a chunk of her hair and breaking her rib. She had warrants for assault and theft.

Shooting in Burien

For many recent weeks local golf addicts have been glued to the tube watching the world’s best professionals competing for honors on some of the world’s toughest golf courses.

As I have given up the game and joined the televised slicers and hookers I have to admit I am an ardent fan of the young Irish Rory McIlroy.

He became my hero simply because my own father, though never a golfer to my knowledge, was born and raised in the same county as Rory. Dad made his way to Canada and eventually to New York.

He eventually married my mom, Eva May who never played golf either but did work for Thomas Edison in New Jersey and she once talked to the great inventor when he stopped by her work bench (she was very pretty) and chatted with her.

She knew nothing about golf but her own dad (a pattern maker) invented a machine that wound the continuous rubber band that is inside golf balls.

Where was I...?

Oh, yes...

The Poverty Bay Brews and Blues Festival sponsored by Rotary Club of Des Moines combined beer and music at Des Moines’ Beach Park on Saturday, Aug. 25.

Participants enjoyed both the beer and the music during a beautiful sunny Saturday.

By Ken Robinson

This is a story about a dream.

It begins in 1901 on a steep and heavily wooded bluff overlooking Puget Sound at Seahurst at the water's edge of Burien. William Sprague began building a home there. They did not finish it until about 1918. Then their son, six-foot, 185-pound lawyer Hollister Sprague, a World War 1 veteran and honors graduate from the University of Washington took over.

It was not to be an ordinary home. Over the next years, bringing building materials to the site by barge, the project became a 7,430 square foot mansion with a 60x40 foot ballroom with a 26-foot ceiling. The house is three levels, including a basement that today seems medieval but which houses a massive gas furnace that still works.

On the main level, there is a large living room, library, dining room and kitchen and upstairs, six bedrooms with shower and bath. The waterside views are seen through leaded glass across the breadth of the big house.

By Gwen Davis
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES/NEWS

The city of Normandy Park is facing serious financial problems.

The cost of running the city has become more expensive while the city’s revenue has not been rising fast enough to cover increased costs.

Dozens of concerned Normandy Park residents flooded a second in a series of informational meetings last week about a levy lid lift proposal that could bring relief. City manager Doug Schulze explained the situation in detail using a PowerPoint presentation and handouts.

The levy will increase property taxes, he said. Currently, residents pay approximately $1.31 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The increase will cost an additional $0.29 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Practically speaking, a resident living in a home valued at $500,000, would pay an additional $12.19 per month, amounting to an added $146.23 per year.

This tax increase is important.

By Rachel M. Lusby
SPECIAL TO THE HIGHLINE TIMES

On Aug. 23rd at the current Foster Library, residents of Tukwila got to take the first peek at some basic plans for a new library, which is to be built on the site of the soon-to-be constructed Tukwila Village.

The new library is designed to be much larger than the current library and will be located on the corner of South 144th Street and Tukwila International Boulevard. It will be on the east side of the highway, across from Jack in the Box.

Residents saw three possible designs for the library, each with its own name: “Mosaic,” “Connection,” and “Gateway.” The architect, Ryan Bussard from Perkins + Will, says he envisions the library as being a community gathering place and wants it to be as “visible” to everyone as possible.

Each design incorporates large open window space, which appeared to be a popular element to those who attended the event. “It lets in a lot of natural light,” several attendees said.

One of Burien’s most unique annual events promises a magical evening in the forest on Saturday, Sept. 8.

The free Arts-A-Glow Lantern Festival and Procession begins at 5 p.m. in Dottie Harper Park, 421 S.W. 146th St.

Lantern making workshops will help participants to make lanterns out of glass jars, plastic water bottles, pie tins, paper bags or tin cans. Organizers encourage lantern-makers to be creative with recycled materials. The lanterns can then be illuminated with glow sticks or battery operated candles.

Some participants will bring balloon lanterns from home.

Artist installations and performers will be around every corner. Offering their installations are Celeste Cooning, Mary Coss, The Moonrock Collective and ArtAbilityFaire.

Jini O’Flynn will play the harp from 5-6:15 p.m. followed by “Abrace,” with acappella from around the world.

Burien Arts will host face painting.

New this year for hungry festival-goers are food trucks, ‘Fusion on the Run” and “Sweet Wheels,” serving sandwiches, quesadillas, ice cream sandwiches and baked goods. Tea time is back, thanks to Burien’s Phoenix Tea.

In the above photo, the left arrow points to the northern portion of the giant Burien mural painted on the Dollar Tree store wall on 4th Avenue Southwest between Southwest 150th Street and Southwest 152nd Street.