September 2012

To The Highline Times and the Burien Community:

The Hi-Liners Musical Theatre held a car wash on Aug. 25th and raised about twice as much money as they usually raise at this annual event.

What was different this year? The car wash was listed in the Community Calendar of The Highline Times and it was held at the Burien Annex (4th Ave S.W. and S.W. 146th St).

Thank you to The Highline Times and the people of Burien for supporting us. The Hi-Liners has been part of this community since 1966 and it is due to the support of this great community that we can provide our young people with a program that teaches respect and responsibility through the medium of musical theatre.

Please come see these talented young people performing CATS this September at the Highline Performing Arts Center.

Tina Giesbers
V.P. Board of Directors, The Hi-Liners
Burien

That was a fine report on what has been done to help the “girls” and target their pimps.

“Prostitution is illegal for all parties involved…” But when are we going to hear one word about the third party engaged in the “illegal” business—the men who are customers of the girls?!!

If you concentrated on getting rid of the customers, the girls would not have a reason to be “on the street” and the pimps would be out of business.

As the old saying goes, “That’ll be the day!!” It will be the day when I know law enforcement is really serious about prostituion!

‘Til then, I won’t hold my breath.

Marilynn J. Van Hise
Tukwila

A majority of parents and teachers in our state appear to be unhappy with our state standardized tests (Once known as the WASL, now the HSPE, etc.)

Several years ago when the students in the public schools were not showing adequate improvement on these exams, the tests was not adjusted so as to increase the percentage of children achieving a passing score.

Would it not be more efficient, cost effective and more accurately determinative of our children’s knowledge to use a national standards test like the Iowa, so we could fairly compare our children’s education with those in the other 49? As it stands now, our children do not receive a true measurement of their knowledge until they take the SAT, a national exam.

Our state tests are designed, adjusted and analyzed yearly by the SPI (state Superintendent of Public Instruction) and staff in Olympia and sent out of state for other teachers to correct. All the above receive compensation for their efforts.

If a nationwide test was used, SPI would no longer have the power to determine the content, codify the rules and regulations and award contracts to testing consultants.

By Gwen Davis

The dogs of Burien are sure to be good dogs from now on, with the initiation of a first-ever off-leash dog park in Burien.

On Thursday, Aug. 30 Burien residents spearheaded an effort to convert Hilltop Park on South 126th Street into an official off-leash dog park. Burien resident Kellie Bassen is leading the effort. Burien City Councilmember Jack Block, Jr. also attending the first planning meeting as the group of 10 dog-lovers brainstormed how to make this happen.

“Our goal is to get a dog park started here in Burien – an off-leash dog park where people could exercises their animals and socialize with each other,” Bassen said at the start of the meeting. “I think it would be a really great addition to our city.”

The group discussed the logistics of getting the venue started, including cleaning up the park, working with Burien Parks and Recreation, building fences, getting running water and a water fountain, possibly maintaining a porta potty, having a disposal place for poop, creating signage and enlisting landscaping services.

For the second summer in a row the Des Moines branch of the King County Library hosted a Teen Photography Contest.

The contest was open to middle school, junior high and high school students and ran from June 1-July 31st.

The teens were encouraged to enter up to five images on any subject matter they chose. The Des Moines Library received 50 entries ranging from portraits of friends and family to close up details of flowers.

The Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Jerry Gay with the support of Stacey Green a visual communication analyst judged the contest. He freelances for Robinson Newspapers’ Highline Times and Ballard News Tribune.

Gay chose one winner and two runners-up for the grand prizes of gift cards to Barnes and Noble.

Lana won first prize for her image of purple crocus. Allison and Rebecca were the runners-up for their images of a girl and her dog and a boy holding a candle (respectively).

By Gwen Davis

If you are facing a home foreclosure, request a mediator to help you negotiate with the bank. These mediators -- contracted and trained by the state Department of Commerce – can potentially save you from losing your home.

The mediators came about via the state’s Foreclosure Fairness Act that took effect in July 2011.

The nonprofit, OUR Washington, which helps people who are at risk of losing their home to foreclosure, or for those who already have, helped pass the act.

The mediating service is invaluable to in-crisis homeowners, according to Joshua Watler, executive director of OUR Washington.

“And the banks pay for the mediators – tax payers don’t pay at all,” he said. “Similar to the Affordable Care Act which was a launching point for further health reform, this is a launching point for further bank reform.”

However, mediators are not automatically given to people who face foreclosure. Walter is concerned that people do not know about their rights to mediators and subsequently never request one.

By Gwen Davis

If you are facing a home foreclosure, request a mediator to help you negotiate with the bank. These mediators -- contracted and trained by the state Department of Commerce – can potentially save you from losing your home.

The mediators came about via the state’s Foreclosure Fairness Act that took effect in July 2011.

The nonprofit, OUR Washington, which helps people who are at risk of losing their home to foreclosure, or for those who already have, helped pass the act.

The mediating service is invaluable to in-crisis homeowners, according to Joshua Walter, executive director of OUR Washington.

“And the banks pay for the mediators – tax payers don’t pay at all,” he said. “Similar to the Affordable Care Act which was a launching point for further health reform, this is a launching point for further bank reform.”

However, mediators are not automatically given to people who face foreclosure. Walter is concerned that people do not know about their rights to mediators and subsequently never request one.

Majestic Mount Rainier stands guard over Burien from this view atop the Metro Transit parking garage on a recent sunny day.

The county-wide burn ban that was declared July 15th – August 30th by the King County Fire Marshal has been extended until further notice due to continued dry weather. We are into day 43 of no measurable precipitation. The record is 51 days.

The Phase 1 burn ban applies to all outdoor burning except for small recreational fires in established fire pits at approved camp grounds or private property with the owner’s permission.

The Fire Marshal states these fires must:

· Be built in a metal or concrete fire pit, such as those typically found in designated campgrounds; and not be used as debris disposal;
· Grow no larger than three feet in diameter;
· Be located in a clear spot free from any vegetation for at least 10 feet in a horizontal direction, including at least 25 feet away from any structure and allow 20-foot vertical clearance from overhanging branches; and
· Be attended at all times by an alert individual and equipment capable of extinguishing the fire shall be in constant attendance at the site while burning.

If there is anything that reminds us of the beauty of nature it’s watching a magnificent, color-blazing sunset over Puget Sound.

Des Moines Marina seems to have a sunset fan club from all over too because carloads of people show up most evenings when there’s a spectacular sunset.

Living nearby I am blessed to end many days watching that breathtaking sight of skies filled with designs that only the heavens could create and display.

The gathering of fluffy white clouds formation seem to be playing peek-a-boo with a setting sun that is bathed in brilliant colors. It’s time to be quiet, thankful, and marvel at the good Lord’s natural beauty we too often take for granted.

Walking in Beach Park or Des Moines Marina is a wonderful opportunity to meet other folks, too. It’s a truth I can readily attest to, having lived here for 50 years and enjoyed lots of good walks with friends and my little dogs.