September 2014

Dotty lives what most of us would consider a “sheltered life.”

She hasn’t left her apartment in seven years. She suspects absolutely nothing when a nude photo of another woman appears in the jacket pocket of her less-than-affectionate husband Hamel. She still follows her mother’s advice that would make even a 1950s housewife cringe. Dotty’s style of dress also seems stuck in that period.

She lives an existence that seems straight out of Samuel Beckett-style absurdism. But what happens next would be more fitting in a Lewis Carroll novel than anything else.

Burien Actor’s Theatre opens its 35th season with “Out of Sterno” by Deborah Zoe Laufer, a surrealist black comedy that explores a naïve young woman’s awakening to modern feminism with quirky twists and turns that keep you guessing up until the very end.

By Andrea Reay, Executive Director, Discover Burien

September 18th was a special day, many years in the making, for one of our members, El Dorado West. After two years and an investment of over 15 million dollars, El Dorado West opened their doors to their newly renovated community located at 1010 SW 134th St in Burien.

At the ribbon cutting event on Thursday, Douglas Blake, the Executive Director for El Dorado West, thanked staff and residents for their patience and perseverance. He also thanked the city of Burien and the community for their support as well as acknowledged the commitment El Dorado West has for our community, the importance of investing locally and creating over 75 local jobs.

The expansion and remodel doubled the number of units in the retirement community as well as added new amenities and services, such as their new memory care unit.

“El Dorado West is a village concepts retirement community” said Douglas Blake “We’re committed to encouraging our resident to bring retirement to life by remaining active and engaged in their communities.”

(Editor's note: Rob Ketcherside, local writer and software manager will be writing articles for the Westside Weekly this fall. We introduce him to you here)

By Tim Robinson

When Rob Ketcherside started digging into Seattle's history of street and building clocks, he opened a door he cannot close. He's too deep into nostalgic icons of early Seattle. From the street car lines to the Puget Sound Ferry Kalakala, Rob has created a niche in local publishing. Rob is a Burien guy. Graduated from Highline High School and currently works in the software industry in Seattle.

Westside Weekly spoke with Ketcherside recently.
"I was put in contact with the "Lost" series publisher Anova through my friend Ben Lukoff, who wrote a book for their "Then and Now" series.

Anova Books Ltd., helped Rob produce his latest effort, "Lost Seattle". It is the story of buildings no longer existing. Buildings that served as hotels, freight houses, terminals, pharmacies and schools. Rob scoured local online archives such as the Seattle Public Library, Seattle Municipal Archives, UW, and Washington State Archives. He developed a beautiful

Burien Actors Theatre announces auditions for the Northwest premiere of the comedy “Bob’s Holiday Office Party,” written by Joe Keyes and Rob Elk. Actors of all ethnicities invited to audition.

Synopsis: In this irreverent satire in which no cows are sacred, insurance agent Bob Finhead’s whacked-out friends and clients stop by his small-town Iowa office for their chaotic annual holiday bash. The town mayor, the sheriff, the twin farmers, the stoner, the town floozy and the pastor’s wife have already RSVPed for this year’s raucous event. Will Bob fulfill his dreams of a bigger life and escape their narrow-minded thinking, or is there a purpose for him in Iowa? Will any of it matter once the party starts, the bickering begins and the drinks hit the floor? “Devastatingly funny!”—L.A. Times. The show has been a smash hit in L.A. for 18 years.

Performances are at Burien Actors Theatre in Burien from Nov. 28 through Dec. 21, 2014. Rehearsals begin on Oct. 20.

The stage director is Isaiah Crowson.
$100 stipend provided.

All are invited to celebrate the opening of Seahurst Beach! We may not have a traditional bonfire…
but the campfires will be ready for s’more making and we will have lots of fun activities!

Friday, October 3rd from 6:30-8:00PM.
Seahurst Park, 1600 SW Seahurst Dr SW, Burien

Bring your flashlights and camp chairs and enjoy the beautiful new beach at Seahurst Park!

· Join a sing-a-long around a campfire with members of The Jangles

· Listen to Native American storytelling with Che ok’ ten

· Enjoy activities hosted by the Environmental Science Center

o Plankton Adventures on the beach

o Shoreline Restoration Tour

o Make a Salmon Lifecycle Bracelet

· Make a s’more

· Free coffee and cocoa provided by Burien Press

Parking is available in the upper lot with shuttle service.
For more information please contact Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services at 206-988-3700 or at parksinfo@burienwa.gov

October B-Town Beat
Thursday, October 2nd, 2014
6 PM - 9 PM
Burien, WA

October’s B-Town Beat is coming up on Thursday October 2nd from 6-9pm. Each business participating with visual art will host an artist! Please come out and join us on Thursday, October 2nd from 6 PM to 9 PM.

The B-Town Beat is an independent not-for-profit organization formed in early 2013 with the mission of supporting the development of arts, economic stability and community in Burien. The organization accomplishes this primarily through its monthly Music & Art Walk and its second program, the Art Alley Project

The free event is held from 6pm to 9pm every first Thursday of the month in downtown Burien. To learn more about the event and the B-Town Beat, visit:

www.b-townbeat.com
www.facebook.com/BTownBeat

Polo-preps wielding guns say ‘The Party’s Over’

On September 21 officers responded to an assault at the 9200 block of 8th Avenue Northwest. The victim, born in 1995, told officers that she was having a small party with friends when a group of unknown, uninvited individuals tried to enter her home. Two black males, both wearing polo shirts -- one red, one blue -- tried to enter the home. When they were told to leave, one of the suspects punched the victim/resident in her jaw. The suspects were pushed back to the sidewalk by party guests and the victim tried again to make them leave. One of the suspects, brandishing a silver pistol said to her, “Don’t think I wont pistol whip you [obscenity].” The suspect then punched the victim in the side of the head, knocking her unconscious. A neighbor overheard the altercation and yelled to the suspects that he was going to call the police. The suspect then pointed a black gun at the neighbor and then at others in the crowd, yelling obscenities… The suspects then disbanded. Seattle Fire Department treated the victim and recommended to go to the hospital, but she denied any further treatment.

The West Seattle Transportation Coalition has sent a letter to Mayor Ed Murray, City Council President Tim Burgess, and City Council Transportation Committee Chair Tom Rasmussen detailing what they see as the primary issues facing the West Seattle peninsula regarding transportation.

The letter is at the link above.

They said in a press release:
The issues are the following:

• Expand vehicle capacity from the West Seattle Bridge to SR-99.
• Develop a “West Seattle Peninsula” emergency relief plan.
• Increase access to the westbound Spokane St. Viaduct from SODO.
• Complete the Lander Street Overpass.
• Immediate mitigation of traffic events to West Seattle peninsula choke points.

They asked the City of Seattle to respond with a plan of action for each of these five items by January 9, 2015.

Friday, Sept. 26
Football
Todd Beamer 14, Mt. Rainier 0
The Rams were blanked by Todd Beamer in the first game of a double-header at Highline Memorial Stadium this past Friday.

Renton 43, Evergreen 12
Evergreen fell in a road game at Renton on Friday.

Tulalip 58, Seattle Lutheran 0
Tulalip trounced Seattle Lutheran in football action Friday.

Ballard 48, Chief Sealth 20

Girls soccer
SCS 3, Tyee 0
Seattle Christian defeated Tyee in a battle of neighboring schools Friday.

Tennis
Kennedy 7, Foster 0
Kennedy swept the Bulldogs aside Friday.

Thursday, Sept. 25
Football
Hazen 18, Highline 12
Highline suffered a defeat at the hands of Hazen this past Thursday.

Volleyball
Kentwood 3, Mt. Rainier 2
The Conquerors outlasted the Rams on Thursday.

Evergreen 3, Foster 0
The Bulldogs by the Wolverines Thursday.

Kennedy 3, Lindbergh 0
Kennedy Catholic cruised past the Eagles this past Thursday.

Hazen 3, Highline 0
Hazen also defeated the Pirates in volleyball Thursday.

Girls soccer
Kennedy 3, Lindbergh 0
Kennedy posted a victory over Lindbergh on Thursday.

After working at what may be the most singular craft you can imagine West Seattle's Laura Marie Peters is finally hitting the big time. Peter's business BelliVita, casts molds from the bellies of pregnant women then casts them as beautiful glass or porcelain recreations of that unforgettable time in a woman's life.

Now she's going to the Golden Globes next January in Los Angeles. Her work with more than one film star (who asked not to be identified) in tinseltown garnered the invitation.

The presence at the event however is not free. While only very few vendors are allowed they still have to pay to be part of it. Peters made the initial investment of $1000, which allows her to put gift certificates into the gift bags handed out to all the celebrities and media.

But to have a table in the Golden Globes Secret Room Gifting Suite will cost $5000.

Peters has started a GoFundMe project to help her raise the additional funds needed for this larger opportunity: http://www.gofundme.com/BelliVita