January 2013

Compiled by Shara Wallace

Deadline for receiving items for Community Calendar is 5 p.m. Wednesday for the following week’s Times/News. Events are published based on timeliness and space availability. Email submissions to: hteditor@robinsonnews.com Items can be accepted from nonprofit groups and government agencies only. Others may call Dona Ozier at 206-708-1378 for inclusion in our “Out & About” advertising section.

Art Exhibits

Burien Community Center---“Extraordinary Women of Highline," an exhibit that showcases the accomplishments of pioneering women from the Highline area. Through Jan. 31. Hours are Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Burien Press--Artist Scott Grigg, presents American Spring Art show a visual critique of modern American politics. 423 S.W. 152nd St.

I'd like to say thanks to our neighbors on 18602 Marine View Drive. Again, they amazed us, especially our 5-year-old granddaughter.

Visiting them and beholding their lights is an essential part of our Christmas. Please express our thanks to them.

Carla Teigen and Dan Skjonsberg
Normandy Park

You’re leaving the house late for work in the morning and you’re hoping to make up the time during the commute.

But it seems like there’s a stoplight at every intersection, even before you get to the clogged freeway… and they are all red! Why can’t the @#&* City synchronize those lights!?

While waiting for the light to change, you remember that time you went out for a late-night ice cream run on a Sunday night. There you sat for the longest time at a red light as the ice cream melted on the seat and there was not a car in sight on the street with the green light.

That was part of the frustration of 32-year Burien resident Kathy Nygard who finally emailed Burien staff and council members telling them she had never been more disgusted with them.

“Why on earth does the City of Burien need 6, yes 6 stop lights from 152nd Street to the entrance of 148th and SR 509?

“…It takes me almost 15 minutes to drive from SW 152nd and 21st Ave SW to the entrance of SR 509 at 6 a.m. in the morning. There is something wrong about that—15 minutes at 6 a.m.—come on folks—wake up!, Nygard wrote.

Highline Times freelance photographer Kurt Howard accompanied the Global Connections High School Wind Ensemble to the Presidential Inauguration Festival in Washington D.C.

We’ll have many more of his photos from the once-in-a-lifetime trip. Here we present photos as the band made its way to Washington D.C.

Empty Bowls—Buy a beautiful bowl made by a Moshier Arts Center potter and enjoy a light meal with soup. Burien Community Center, 14700 6th Ave. S.W. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 4-8 p.m. $15 minimum donation for adults, $10 minimum donation for children. All proceeds go to area food banks.

Burien CARES Fundraiser—“Stand Up for Animals,” Over 8 comedians, appetizers, no-host bar. Production Room, 14634 8th Ave. S.W. 8:30 p.m. Tickets, $20. Available at CARES, 909 S.W. 151st St, 206-812-2737 or Mark Restaurant and Bar, 918 S.W. 152nd St.

Burien City Public Works staffers say city snow-removal crews are ready for the first flakes to fall in Burien.

The crew works 24 hours in continual 12-hours shifts during storms. They first will clear arterials, then secondary streets, and if possible, residential streets.

Burien operates two large plows and two mini-plows.

To view primary and secondary roads that will be plowed, see the snow routes map.

In the case of heavy, deep snowfall, crews will focus mainly on arterials, officials noted.

Residents can obtain information about road conditions, power outages, facility closures and other storm-related news on the city of Burien website (www.burienwa.gov), which will be updated. Similar storm-related information will also be available by tuning in to the city radio station, 540 AM.

Paul Bauer lived on Russett Street and Union Avenue in Portland. He was about 16 and inspired by Tex Rankin flying his WACO to the airport near the Columbia Slough.

So he built one in the basement of his dad's grocery store but he could not get it out of that space so he had to dismantle it. Sadly, it never flew.

Tex was my hero. He once gave me a ride in his WACO at the airstrip, taxiing down the runway and back. He even flew over our house.

Maybe he wanted to check out the neighborhood. He rented a house two blocks from us.

I wanted to be a pilot. Maybe Paul Bauer did too.

My brother Russell and I used to sit on the curb on Union Avenue and claim every other passing car as mine or his. It was thrilling to own a Pierce Arrow or a Cadillac or Locomobile.

Many years later I was visiting Portland. I was driving a Lincoln Continental or a Chrysler Imperial. I wonder if any little kids on the curb claimed it?

We loved the Rose City Pie Company, where cousin Howard worked; Russ and I thought Howard owned it.

I swear it was not a set-up.

When I heard the Highline Historical Society was mounting a Burien Community Center display of the “Extraordinary Women of Highline,” I thought my mother might be picked.

Most guys think their mother is the greatest.

She wasn’t selected among the first 11 but I thought it was a story that reflected an important part of our community’s history.

So we played the story up big on the front page of the Dec. 28 issue with a large photo of Jane Fenton Kelly, Highline’s first school teacher.

Then a couple of weeks ago, the historical society’s curator, Nancy Salguero McKay contacted me. She asked for a biography and memorabilia of Mom for an addition to the Extraordinary Women exhibit.

Again, I swear that big newspaper spread wasn’t a giant lobbying effort.

So now Bernadine Mathison is part of the free historical display open through Feb. 28. The community center is in the old Burien library building at 14700 6th Ave. S.W. It’s open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mark Solomon, the crime prevention coordinator for the Seattle Police Department's Southwest Precinct in West Seattle, released his January newsletter and this one is all about how to deal with a nuisance property in your neighborhood.

From Solomon:

Dealing With A Neighborhood Nuisance

Do you have a property in your neighborhood that gives you headaches? You know, that house, apartment building, motel, liquor establishment or store that seems to be the source of a lot of problems, such as drug activity, fight disturbances, prostitution, violent crimes and other criminal activity? In these cases, the property may be considered a nuisance.

A nuisance property is defined by the Revised Code of Washington (RCW – the State’s set of civil and criminal laws) as such:

“When land use interferes with the ability of others to use or enjoy their own property, it may meet the legal definition of a nuisance: A nuisance becomes actionable when it obstructs the free use of property, so as to essentially interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property.” RCW 7.48.010

What could a lawyer, librarian, insurance agent, bus driver, corporate executive, nurse and school teacher possibly have in common? How about a love of acting?

Until Bophary Du, recreation specialist for Burien Parks and Recreation, asked me to teach the Acting & Scene Study class, I had no idea that this class even existed.

However, after meeting with the core students, it’s become apparent that the group not only exists, but also is very dedicated and has been since 1988.

The ten-week sessions are held at the Burien Community Center and run throughout most of the year, with the exception of the summer break. At the end of each session, the group performs a one-hour show with various scenes and/or monologues at community centers, retirement homes, etc.

However, the class seems to be pushing for the sessions to carry-on right through the year. Having met the students, I have no doubt that they’ll somehow figure something out.

Each of these seniors comes to the class with different desires and needs, which isn’t a surprise because that fits the basic makeup of every human being, right?