August 2013

By Liz Conger, DVM
Des Moines Veterinary Hospital
SPECIAL TO THE HIGHLINE TIMES

The Northwest is providing one of the best summers ever to get outside and have fun with our dogs. Whether you are barbecuing or gardening in the back yard, enjoying an extended hike or participating in a walk for charity, it is always more fun to share it with your favorite pooch.

Cloudy and cool weather in the morning can change quickly to very warm sunny weather as the marine air clears. Dogs that are left in a car or in a back yard can quickly overheat.

Always have fresh water available. Provide shade in the backyard if they are outside while you are away. The inside of a car can get to well over 100 degrees even if you crack the windows.

Many workplaces, schools and stores do not allow animals to be brought inside so make certain you assure your best friend’s comfort and safety when you schedule your day’s activities. Heat stroke symptoms can include panting heavily, salivation and increased heart rate. This can proceed to collapse and death if not treated immediately.

The following warning on consuming shellfish was released by King County Public Health on Aug. 13:

Shellfish infections running double summer average; oyster fans beware

Tuesday, August 13, 2013
A saltwater bacteria has sickened more than twice the number of people in King County this summer than typically is reported during this period – leading health officials to warn of the dangers of eating raw or undercooked shellfish.

During July, there were 13 confirmed or probable cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection in King County, compared to an average of four reported in that month in recent years. Since the beginning of August, an additional eight cases have been confirmed, while typically King County would see six for the entire month.

"This is probably the tip of the iceberg. For every case that is reported, an estimated 142 additional cases go unreported," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Chief of Communicable Disease for Public Health–Seattle & King County.

Addressing the White Center Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 13 (more on that in a separate post), King County Executive Dow Constantine took a moment to share some positive news for the residents of unincorporated North Highline and White Center.

“Today we have some good news for you,” Constantine said. “I am pleased to announce three new grants for 2013.”

“First of all, $1700 to the White Center Chamber of Commerce to buy LED lights for businesses as a crime deterrent – a project in coordination with Seattle City Light. $3000 to Project Connect of White Center, a collaborative of several organizations to help with community planning and cross cultural support, and $4850 to Whitewater Aquatics to support filters for the Evergreen Pool, formerly operated by King County, to support youth groups.”

High Point Healthy Families Celebration

Wednesday, August 21

5:00-8:00pm

The High Point Healthy Families Celebration is an annual event, taking place at the Neighborhood House High Point Center 6400 Sylvan Way SW) in West Seattle. This is an opportunity for local residents to access important health tips and information, while also having fun as a whole family. This year there will be vendors, food, field day activities for youth and free backpacks for all school-aged children (while supplies last). Health services are scheduled to include free blood pressure checks, blood sugar screening, posture screening and chair massages.

For additional information, please contact Senait Tadesse at senaitt@nhwa.org or by phone at 206-461-4522.

If you’re interested in volunteering at the event, please contact Courtney Jacob at courtneyj@nhwa.org or by phone at (206)461-8430 ext. 255

By Katie Nelson
HIGHLINE TIMES

Lifelong Burien resident Ralph Palumbo led a team to support the families of fallen Marines in the annual 100 Miles for One Mind run around the Puget Sound area last weekend.

The Aug. 10-11 run was the third headed up by Always Brothers, a 501c3 organization begun in 2011 by a group of Marines stationed together on presidential guard duty in the early to mid-1990s. While catching up via Facebook, the men soon learned of the fate of one of their own, Captain Tyler Swisher, who was killed in Iraq in 2005.

“He left behind three kids and his wife, and we decided that we wanted to do something to honor him, and to raise money for the education funds of his three kids,” said Dan Neilsen, vice president of Always Brothers. “We decided we were going to run 100 miles for Tyler. … We formed this nonprofit and started putting together the route.”

By Katy Wilkens, MS, RD

Most would agree that chocolate is one of the best treats for indulgence. But why is it so pleasing? Interestingly, one of the main reasons chocolate has such universal appeal has to do not with its flavor, but its texture.

Chocolate is special in that its fat molecules have melting points just below body temperature. This gives chocolate its creamy texture and “melts in your mouth” feel.

Chocolate is high in flavonoids, which are a kind of antioxidant. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder have more antioxidants than other chocolate. You also can get flavonoids from fruits and veggies – usually for a lot fewer calories.

So if you are eating chocolate for your health (what a good excuse!), use dark chocolate for its lower sugar content, or better yet, use cocoa powder, in your baking. For 1 ounce of unsweetened chocolate, substitute 3 tablespoons dry cocoa + 2 tablespoons sugar + 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.

By Katie Nelson
HIGHLINE TIMES

A brick house on Des Moines Memorial Drive, once inhabited by the YMCA, will be torn down and replaced by a Southwest Suburban Sewer District administrative building.

The house, built in 1928, served the Burien community as a YMCA up until 2008, when the Matt Griffin YMCA was built in SeaTac. Since then, it has been vandalized, according to Ron Hall, SWSSD general manager. The sewer district purchased the property in 2011.

“The house is structurally not strong, it’s unsafe … [the vandals] destroyed every possible thing in the house, they tore out all the wiring, everything,” Hall said. “We weren’t allowed to reuse that building because it sits within the wetlands there, so we could not get a permit to use that building.”

While preparations for the new building are already underway, not everyone is in favor of seeing the old home demolished. Burien resident Melissa Roush has been fighting to preserve the house as a historic landmark.

By Shara Wallace
HIGHLINE TIMES

Pleads guilty
Johnny Rourn, 30, has pleaded guilty to the November 2011 murder and assault of 19-year-old Jayme Thomas. Witnesses told investigators a verbal argument broke out between two separate groups in the 800 block of Redondo Way South, Des Moines, WA around 2:40 am. The argument escalated until two men started passing around a gun and eventually opened fire into the victims' car. Both Thomas, who was in the backseat, and a 24-year-old man who was standing outside the car were shot. Both were taken to Harborview where Thomas was pronounced dead and the man eventually recovered. Prosecutors will recommend Rourn be sentenced to just over 28 years in prison, the upper end of the sentencing range. He will be sentenced on Oct. 4.

Car break-ins, vandalism, prowlers and theft

High school sports

Fall turnouts
Tryouts for high school football in Washington state get underway Wednesday, Aug. 21, followed by all other fall sports on Monday, Aug. 26. Contact the individual schools for exact times and locations.

Pro sports

Seattle Mariners
Seattle is on the road this week, starting with games at Tampa Bay at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that can be seen live on the ROOT Sports cable television network and heard on ESPN radio 710 AM. The same channels will carry 5:05 p.m. games at Texas on Friday and Saturday and a 12:05 p.m. game in Texas on Sunday. Seattle comes closer to home to Oakland to play the A's at 7:07 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and at 12:37 p.m. Wednesday.

Seattle Seahawks
Seattle plays its first home National Football League preseason game Saturday with 7 p.m. action against the Denver Broncos at CenturyLink Field.

The game can be seen on Q13 live and heard on 710 ESPN Seattle.
Tacoma Rainiers

By Jeremy Martin

West Seattle and the Highline area were well represented Tuesday afternoon at the 2013 Seattle All City Swim Meet. Several area athletes, ranging in age from six to 18 years, representing; Arbor Heights, Gregory Seahurst, Olympic View and Normandy Park ventured north to Sand Point Country Club to compete in the end of the season event.

All four neighborhood teams brought a competitive spirit to the event and it started with the Gregory Seahurst’s four man team of Logan O’Neil (7), Leo Benevedes (8), Henry Heater (8) and Ethan Reed (8), who clocked an all city best time of 1:18.56 in the 8 and under boys 100 yard medley relay.

“We’re kind of rebuilding. We’re building back up and starting with these eight year olds. They’re pretty excited; they broke a record from 1991,” Gregory Seahurst head coach Mike Fosberg said.

Fosberg, who is in his second stint as head coach, was at the helm for 16 years in the 80’s and 90’s when the team was able to rattle of six consecutive All-City championships.