July 2013

By Katie Nelson
HIGHLINE TIMES

Approximately 30 community members congregated at Parkside Elementary School in Des Moines on June 26 to give their input on the extension of light rail service from the Federal Way Transit Center to the new Angle Lake station, which is currently under construction.

The light rail route passes by Kent-Des Moines Road, where Sound Transit is hoping to erect a new station by 2023.

The public meeting is part of an environmental impact statement scoping survey, which is the second step on the project’s continuum. The purpose of scoping is to gain public opinion on the location of potential building areas.

“Our goal is to determine the range of alternatives to study for the draft of the environmental impact statement,” said Kimberly Reason, Sound Transit spokesperson. “What we want to do is explain to the constituents in the corridor what the Federal Way Transit Center project is, where we are right now in terms of what kinds of alignments we’re studying … what the cost parameters are, and what we’re looking at down the road here.”

Alleged con artist Oanh Nguyen of Burien, 39, was arrested by the King County Sheriff’s Office in June for investigation of fraud, ID theft, forgery and unlawful issuance of bank checks. Police said she targeted the Vietnamese population of King County for her cons (Nguyen is Vietnamese herself, having moved to the U.S. in 1993), and went about her business largely unchecked for at least three years.

Today, they are trying to find more victims by releasing Nguyen’s photo and descriptions of her crimes in both English and Vietnamese. As a result, the victim calls are now pouring in, and KCSO Community Service Officer Peter Truong, originally from Vietnam, has devoted his recent life to working with those victims alongside KCSO Detective Laura Alspach to build a case that will result in a conviction and, in the words of Truong, “stop this lady.”

The kids love ‘Bubbleman,’ also known as Garry Golightly, as he helps mark the Summer Solstice at Burien Town Square.

Summer is finally here as this week’s hot weather has demonstrated.

Finally getting your kid a haircut and donating to a charity at the same time, what can be better?

At Sharkey's Cuts for Kids (4609 14th Ave NW #104), that can happen. They started a new charity program on July 1 where a child will be given a special token -- representing $.25 -- to select a charity to benefit. Furthermore, if customers pay cash, Sharkey's will double the donation.

There are three charities to choose from: Seattle Children's Hospital, Make a Wish Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound.

For more info, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharkeys-Cuts-for-Kids-Seattle-WA/125789…

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Press release:

One of the most iconic musicians from the Seattle area is now a visible part of the Experience the City of Music Program at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with the installation of a Jimi Hendrix exhibit presented by EMP Museum.

Located on the secure side of the terminal near gate A1, Jimi Hendrix: West Coast Seattle Boy, is the latest addition to the highly successful music program from the Port of Seattle, Seattle Music Commission and Play Network.

Organized by EMP Museum, Jimi Hendrix: West Coast Seattle Boy traces the early years of one of the most celebrated guitarists of all time. This unique display presents Hendrix’s story from the time he was growing up in Seattle to his early career as a musician, and his brief return home as an international superstar.

Reproductions of intimate family pictures, rare concert photos, posters, and illustrations hand-drawn by Hendrix capture key moments in the life of a remarkable artist whose legacy continues to this day.

Press release:

The City of SeaTac announces their receipt of a Community Transformation Grant (CTG), a federally funded initiative, which will support the upcoming station area planning effort surrounding the $383 million Sound Transit Angle Lake Light Rail Station, set to open in 2016.

The CTG grant will help fund the following planning projects for the City, to help guide the redevelopment of the area:

Angle Lake Station Area Plan Community Engagement Project ($28,000): The community engagement process will provide a conduit for the area’s diverse residential and business communities to voice their vision for how to increase opportunities for active transportation, recreation and access to healthy food within the Angle Lake Station Area.

Angle Lake Station Area Plan Pedestrian and Bicycle Connectivity Study Project ($20,000): The study will assess pedestrian and bicycle connectivity within the Angle Lake Station Area and will increase the City’s understanding of opportunities and deficiencies within the current pedestrian and bicycle networks throughout the station area.

Press release:

Dr. Barry Bockow, a rheumatologist at Highline Medical Center for 33 years and a clinical associate professor at the University of Washington, recently discovered a new innovative and safe treatment for a very serious, potentially fatal, hematologic disorder.

The disorder is called immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and is often an immune complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. The body attacks its own platelets and the platelet count diminishes to life threateningly low levels. Untreated, the patients will bleed internally. The current treatment for this serious malady is high-dose corticosteroids, and if that fails various chemotherapeutic agents are tried. These two treatments have multiple potential serious side effects including secondary malignancies, opportunistic infectious, etc.

Dr. Bockow, having many years of experience using hydroxychloroquine, a drug that is used to treat systemic lupus, treated two patients with hydroxychloroquine but added high-dose vitamin D to the regimen.

Press release:

Four people were able to escape safely from their home after their detached garage caught fire July 2 in the 2600 block of South 142nd Street.

The fire, first reported at 9:57 a.m., was quickly extinguished by firefighters from SeaTac, North Highline, and Tukwila before it could spread to the house.

Firefighters had to use extra caution while fighting the fire after the electrical power line to the house burned through and fell to the ground. The live wire was eventually disconnected by Seattle City Light.

Red Cross has been called in to assist the two adults and two children who live in the house.

The fire is currently under investigation and there is no damage estimate.

The Burien Parks Department announced this week that Seahurst Park will close on Sept. 3, the day after Labor Day and remain closed through April 2014 for a major construction project that involves removal of the seawall in the northern section of the park, restoration of the natural beach and construction of a new fish ladder.

The announcement comes following approval by the state Legislature of the state budget, which includes $5.7 million for the Seahurst seawall removal. In addition, $3.9 million in funding is being made available through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A total of $9.6 million has now been secured from state and federal sources for the project and construction can now proceed, Parks and Recreation Director Michael Lafreniere told the Burien City Council at its meeting Monday, July 1.

The project will involve removal of the seawall and restoration of the beach to a more natural condition. The work will include all areas of the park along the shoreline, from the lower parking lot extending north.

By Christy Wolyniak

Standing tall since its construction in 1924, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is now envisioning what the next century will bear as they look to redevelop their property and create a “living room” for Ballard.

Still moving forward in its 9-12 month feasibility stage, St. Luke’s Church has been gathering community feedback for the redevelopment of the 55,000 square feet the church occupies.

Seven different focus groups acted as stakeholders of information and ideas for how to use these places of worship not just on Sundays, but also during the week. Among them were nonprofit housing developers, human service providers, and the Central Ballard Residents’ Association. Final plans will be approved next February.

St. Luke’s Rev. Robert Laird said everyone is excited about how the church might utilize the buildings and involve the community.