May 2013

Barring a successful general election write-in campaign, the SeaTac council majority will remain intact after the November election.

Mayor Tony Anderson will run unopposed for his council seat. His opponent, Suber Adam, withdrew this week after filing to run against Anderson.

Mayor Anderson often votes with Deputy Mayor Mia Gregerson and council members Barry Ladenburg and Dave Bush on controversial issues. Councilwoman Terry Anderson, who has served on the council since SeaTac incorporated, often votes with council members Rick Forschler and Pam Fernald.

Gregerson, Ladenburg, Bush and Terry Anderson won election in 2011.

Forschler, Kathryn Campbell and Othman Heibe will face off in the Aug. 6 primary election. The top two will go on to the Nov. 5 general election.

Fernald and her opponent, Joe Van have a bye until the November election.

Adding additional spice to the general election could be a proposed initiative to set wage and working conditions for some airport and hospitality workers around Sea-Tac Airport.

Update for 7:50 pm
Seattle Police have what they called "short of a person of interest" in the suspected BB Gun shooting on 38th SW. The incident injured one person who was taken to Harborview with a wound to the mouth but according to police, cars in the area also suffered damage, which began yesterday.

The police received a consent to search the house and conducted a search. They found a single 22 caliber rifle but determined it had not been recently fired.

This incident took place over two days with cars being damaged by projectiles. There were at least five "hits" on cars on the street according to police. They looked for the projectiles inside the vehicles but found nothing. One penetrated a window but they could not find the projectile inside.

The person being interviewed in the case is the nephew of the man who is the owner of the home. Neighbors say the uncle has lived there for more than a decade. The uncle said the boy is an eagle scout and an excellent student and "as straight as they come."

Update for 7 p.m.

Fifteen year West Seattle resident Matthew Wolfson has worked in a number of jobs in the community and in each he has brought his capacity for creating a community of friends. So, it's not surprising that in his newest role with the Westhaven Apartments located at 2201 SW Holden Street he has come up with a unique idea. On June 10, a sort of community fair will be held there, as an expanded form of Open House.
19 businesses will be on site including retail, restaurants, and more offering samples, coupons and more.

Entertainment will be provided by Seattle Mobile Entertainment in the form of a DJ plus some karaoke, making the event, set near the pool, very much a party. Refreshments will be provided.

The open house will take place from 5pm to 8pm.

Wolfson has suggested that if you plan to come a donation of non perishable foods to benefit West Seattle Food Bank would be appreciated.

Participating merchants will include:

• Cherry Consignment
• Zippys giant burger
• Meanders Kitchen
• Full Tilt Ice Cream
• Stuffed Cakes
• The Bridge
• West Seattle Thriftway

On May 27th, 2011, Burien restaurant owners and hungry participants came together for the first annual Burien Bites. CEO of HomeTask Network Jerrod Sessler organized a community event to celebrate local restaurants and fundraise.

Last year honors went to 909 Coffee & Wine for their ceviche, roasted peach salad and braised oxtail with oyster mushroom and fresh pasta.

This year, Burien Bites falls on Sunday, June 2, and check-in begins at 11:am at HomeTask, 611 SW 152nd St. It is organized by HomeTask, sponsored by Freggies.

You have seven hours to sample the offerings, 11am to 6pm. You visit multiple restaurants. Event registration fee is $10 per person to support Burien charities. Each restaurant will serve a special bite for $5. There will be an awards party at HomeTask beginning at 6pm. The public is invited.

Proceeds will benefit the Highline Schools Foundation, New Futures, YETI, (Youth Experiential Training Institute), Highline Food Bank, and HomeTask Cares Foundation.

You can register at www.burienbites.com, or in person where you check in. Either way you check in to receive a card with the addresses of all the participating restaurants.

Press release:

The Highline Historical Society online auction is now open. Auction items range from exotic vacation getaways, to restaurant gift certificates, to sports memorabilia signed by the likes of Hank Aaron and Russell Wilson.

If you’re looking for the perfect something for the dad or grad in your life, check out the auction at www.highlinehistory.org. The auction runs until June 2.

Proceeds benefit the Highline Historical Society, which is raising funds to construct the new Highline Heritage Museum

Kristina Stevanovic of Mount Rainier found her way to the girls state tournament by virtue of her 6-2, 6-4, win against Michelle Lee of Thomas Jefferson in a winner-to-state, loser out girls 4A West Central/Southwest Washington bi-district tournament at the Capital City Court Club in Olympia, on Saturday, May 18

Stevanovic completed her run through the gauntlet of the consolation round with a 6-1, 6-2, loss to Megan Hagerty of Graham Kapowsin to enter state as a No. 8 seed. Micca Motzer of Mead will be the first opponent for the Ram qualifier in a May 24 match at the Columbia Basin Racquet Club or Richland High School.

Stevanovic's road to state began on May 17. Mina Craig of Olympia stormed to a 6-1 first set win. Adjusting her strategy, mentally and physically, the resurgent Ram rallied to capture the next two sets. In the next match, defending state champion and this year's eventual bi-district champion Sammi Hampton of Skyview created a tough scene for the Mount Rainier singles player by defeating Stevanovic in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. Stevanovic then responded with the key triumph against Lee.

Seattle City Light and the Seattle Police Department are warning people to beware of con artists, posing as Seattle City Light employees using false threats of disconnecting electrical service to get money from people.

According to City LIght customers reported at least 15 scam attempts to City Light this week and other utilities in the Pacific Northwest have reported similar activity. In Seattle, the scammers appear to be targeting Asian small businesses.

In a press release on the problem City Light explained:

"The con works like this: A person claiming to work for the utility calls a customer and claims the account is overdue. The caller then threatens to cut off electricity service unless payment is made immediately.

One new twist in this old scam has the con artists seeking payment by pre-paid debit cards, which might not have the same fraud-detection features as a credit card.

Press release:

The next meeting of the SW King School Retirees Association will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8th and So. 192nd, at 11:30 a.m.

A donation ($6) lunch will be served, and our May speaker is Dianne Green, a member of the Chinook District Garden Club in Des Moines and a Master Judge of the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs.

Her entertaining presentation is called "pot de fleur." Our meetings continue to support our local food bank with donations, our book exchange, collection of eye glasses and glasses cases, as well as personal grooming items to be donated.

New officers will be installed for the coming year at our May 28th meeting. We have a great time, and we hope to see you there.

Press release:
My name is Chuck Rangel. My wife and I moved from Chicago to the Seattle area over thirty-seven years ago. We chose Burien because it had everything that we were looking for – many family friendly neighborhoods, great park facilities and an active center business core. We successfully raised five children in this environment. I believe Burien STILL has that opportunity available to many families who want to do the same thing – raise their families in a great small town.
In my thirty-seven years here I have been active and involved with many of the Burien “communities” – President of The Burien Jaycees, baseball coach of the Burien American Legion team and treasurer of the Burien Little Theater. I am Hispanic American and who served proudly in the US Army during the Viet Nam era.

I want to thank the media for giving me this opportunity to comment about why I withdrew from the Burien City Council election.

Also, I want to thank the friends and neighbors who encouraged me to run for the council. It is always flattering to have citizens and friends tell you that you would be the right person to serve the city and their rights and interests in the city.

I decided to file for this election because until late Friday it looked like Rose Clark was going to run unopposed for the Burien City Council. I feel very strongly that new blood is needed on the Burien City Council.

Burien now has a situation in which the majority of the city council members have taken control of our city’s government and they have promoted some financially ill advised ventures such as the annexation of Area Y/White Center and spending into the city’s cash reserves.