May 2014

Falafel madness… hungry man breaks leg

Seattle man killed in high-speed crash in Burien
According to the King County Sheriff’s Department, a 28-year-old Seattle man was found dead on the scene of a high-speed traffic accident in Burien. The accident took place just after midnight on Thursday, May 8. The driver is said to have been traveling at high-speeds headed east on S.W. 130th Street in a late model Acura sedan when it it bottomed out crossing 4th Avenue S.W.. The driver lost control of the vehicle as it began to roll. While the vehicle was rolling, it swiped multiple power poles and struck a truck. The vehicle settled on the side of 4th Ave. upside-down. The driver had been ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead on the scene. No other injuries or fatalities were caused in this accident.

Burien man injured in hit-and-run

By Erin Bosetti

Swedish Hospital has recently welcomed the opening of the Swedish Cancer Institute Personalized Medicine Program. The new program incorporates cutting edge technology that uses the DNA of a patient’s tumor to find the best treatment and survivorship options for that specific person. DNA technology being used by Swedish was only seen in clinical trials but they are offering it as part of their program, which is working in tandem with their new oncology facility in Ballard.

“We are learning increasingly that the traditional way of treating patients with cancer is you treat based on where someone’s cancer started.” says Dr. Thomas Brown, executive director of the Swedish Cancer Institute. “We are learning increasingly what’s more important is the molecular fingerprint of ones cancer that then gives some guidance to not only selecting therapies but addressing prevention [and] survivorship plans after the patient has been treated”.

By Eric Mathison

The $15 minimum wage debate is spreading to Burien.

At the urging of Burien City Councilmember Lauren Berkowitz, language has been added to the city’s proposed economic development strategic plan that calls for studies on reducing economic disparity.

The language specifically names paid sick leave, minimum wage and “other compensation concerns.”

Voters in neighboring SeaTac narrowly passed an ordinance mandating a $15 per hour minimum wage and other benefits for some airport-related jobs. The ordinance is being appealed in court.

In nearby Seattle, Mayor Ed Murray has proposed gradually raising the city’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.

Burien lawmakers have not directly debated the issue, opting on May 5 by a 5-2 vote to take discussion and possible approval of the strategic economic development plan off the agenda.

Councilmember Nancy Tosta made the motion, noting she had not seen proposed plan changes until Thursday, May 1.

by Tim Takechi

Sixteen-year-old Rachel Stein is not unlike many teenage girls. She has trouble fitting in at school, a strained relationship with her parents, boy trouble, and of course, dreading the impending Apocalypse.
That last part may not be typical of the American teenage experience, but in Burien Actor’s Theatre’s production of “End Days,” Ms. Stein has a lot on her plate and has to deal with all of this in a truncated amount of time.

Written by Deborah Zoe Laufer, “End Days” is an intriguing dark comedy that seamlessly integrates romance, satire and tragedy with quirkiness and charm. Director Jane Ryan weaves an eclectic mixture of characters into a story that seems appropriate in the wake of the December 21, 2012 apocalypse that never quite happened.

Last Thursday, May 8 was a pretty rainy day for the Burien Farmers Market. Still, the farmers stuck it to the end. (Rumor: great bargains can be had near closing time every Thursday)

Burien Farmers' Market operates every Thursday from the beginning of May through mid-October. It has developed into a very successful market with 40 to 50 vendors each week. Vendors include a food booth, handmade goods, farm fresh products and fresh baked products.

May 1st to October 30th 2014 / Every Thursday 11am - 6pm
Burien Town Square Park, 5th and SW 152nd
Call: 206-433-2882

Back By Popular Demand ~ Extra Patrols Out In Search of Unbuckled AND Distracted Drivers
“Click it or Ticket” Patrols Take Place Between May 19 and June 1

On the heels of the first-ever statewide distracted driving extra enforcement campaign, law enforcement officers will be out once again searching for not only unbuckled drivers but distracted drivers as part of the annual “Click it or Ticket” patrols.

In King County, during the recent distracted driving campaign which took place between April 10th and 15th, 836 cell phone and texting violations were written.

The “Handheld Cell Phone Use” law became a primary law in Washington in June 2010. Prior to that law taking effect, on average, 700 drivers were cited for cell phone use per month statewide. After the law went into effect, the number of motorists cited for cell phone use increased and has stayed consistent at approximately 4,000 per month.

Click that belt and lock away your cell phone Ballard, Click it or Ticket is back!

On the heels of the first-ever statewide distracted driving extra enforcement campaign, law enforcement officers will be out once again searching for not only unbuckled drivers but distracted drivers as part of the annual “Click it or Ticket” patrols.

In King County, during the recent distracted driving campaign which took place between April 10th and 15th, 836 cell phone and texting violations were written.

The “Handheld Cell Phone Use” law became a primary law in Washington in June 2010. Prior to that law taking effect, on average, 700 drivers were cited for cell phone use per month statewide. After the law went into effect, the number of motorists cited for cell phone use increased and has stayed consistent at approximately 4,000 per month.

information from SDOT

The Seattle Department of Transportation will grind the concrete street surface streets to improve traction for safety at multiple locations around the city from May 15 through May 29. Work will take place during weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. with the exception of some weekend work, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Dates for each location are subject to change depending on work progress or other factors. Flaggers will be on site at road closures to provide local access and guidance. The locations were selected based on traction vulnerability due to heavy rain, snow or ice.

The following describes the scheduled roadway closures:

May 15-16:
NW 80th Street between Eighth Avenue NW and Third Avenue NW (local access only)
Work zone is NW 80th Street between Eighth Avenue NW and Sixth Avenue NW.
Eastbound traffic detoured via Eighth Avenue NW, NW 65th Street, and Third Avenue NW.
Westbound traffic detoured via Third Avenue NW, NW 85th Street, and Eighth Avenue NW.

May 17-18:

The third annual Bamboo Festival is scheduled for the weekend of May 17-18 at the Seattle Chinese Garden
from 10 am to 4 pm — Admission is free.

The event is sponsored by the American Bamboo Society Northwest Chapter and the Seattle Chinese Garden.

The festival features plant sales by specialty bamboo growers from Washington and Oregon and informal talks and demonstrations on planting and caring for bamboo, and even making a bamboo broom. Tools for bamboo care and books also will be available for purchase.

Visitors also can see several varieties of peonies now blooming in the new Luoyang tree peony garden

In the Chan Education Center near the Garden, Chinese artists and calligraphers will demonstrate painting of bamboo and peonies and the art of calligraphy. A juried photography show of Chinese Garden images also is on display.

Festival extras: A raffle for plants and other special items and sale of floral scarves from China and peony paintings.

Check the Garden website on May 13 for a schedule of talks and demonstrations.

LOCATION: