October 2014

The Burien Police Department and Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub have announced new plans in response to the shooting that took place in front of the downtown Burien bar last week.

The shooting occurred at about 1:25 a.m. on Sunday, October 19. Witnesses reported that an unknown shooter fired six shots into a crowd of people who had been visiting Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub on S.W. 152nd Street in Burien. The shooter stood across the street from the pub, on the corner in front of Burien Town Square Park, with what is believed to have been a 9mm handgun. Two men were wounded in the shooting, one in the foot and the other in the lower abdomen. Despite police arriving just one minute after being despatched, the shooter and his accomplice had already escaped on foot. The two victims were rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and are expected to make full recoveries.

By Matt Wendland

The Burien Police Department has announced that they will be holding a public meeting on November 3 to give citizens the opportunity to talk directly to police officers in a comfortable and inviting setting.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at downtown Burien coffee shop, Burien Press. According to Burien Police Captain, Bryan Howard, the purpose of the event is to give citizens in Burien the opportunity to express concerns and ask questions directly to officers. Citizens are encouraged to come hear about the Burien Police Department’s plans and efforts to reduce crime and bring any questions they might have for officers about plans or recent events.

Burien Press is a speciality coffee shop located at 423 S.W. 152nd Street in Burien, directly across the street from Burien Town Square Park and City Hall. The meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on November 3. Representatives from both the City of Burien and the Burien Police Department will be in attendance and available for questions.

by Pat Cashman

My son Chris was born on October 24th--one of the happiest of my life.

I’m not saying how many years ago, but back then there was no internet, no cell phones, no Facebook---and no Twitter except for an occasional parakeet.

The Tesla was not on yet on the road. Neither was Justin Bieber. Times were not so bad.

By my rough count at the time, I figured my wife had been pregnant for about 17 months. By that reasoning, I expected she would give birth to a child nearly a year old. That meant there was an outside chance they’d be ready for me to take trick-or-treating the following week.

I decided I would dress the child up either as a Hobbit---or Danny DeVito. Even if it was a girl.

Halloween was, after all, my favorite day of the year when I was a kid---and my four brothers felt the same way. For one magical night, we could score a king’s ransom in Butterfingers and Sweet Tarts---all for simply walking door-to-door dressed like dorks. In fact, some dorks in our neighborhood didn’t bother dressing up at all.

Like Night of the Pumpkin but MORE!!!

Saturday, November 1, 2014
6:00-10:00 PM

Burien Community Center & Dottie Harper Park
14700 6th Ave SW
Join us on Saturday, November 1st to celebrate the Halloween and the Day of the Dead!

Click here for schedule of events! More information at www.nightof1000pumpkins.com

Entrance to the event is FREE.

Wrist bands for unlimited carnival games available for $6/child-purchase at the door.

Bring your carved pumpkin and an LED candle to Dottie Harper Park site or carve one at the event to fill the park with illuminated jack o’ lanterns!

Costumes encouraged!

Mariachi music, puppet shows, storytelling around the campfire
Face painting by Burien Arts, paper flower making, animal and toddler room Fabulous altars created by artists and community groups
Two rooms of carnival games, $6 wristband for unlimited play for kids!
Enjoy food trucks and vendors: Maria's Tamales, Kettle Corn, Tokyo Dog, Burien Pressbeverages and sweets.

Emma Cavanaugh is a 13-year-old with a plan; graduate from college—UCLA to be exact—with a degree in Business or Non-profit management and make a difference in the world. This recent graduate of Pacific Middle School in the Highline School District will be one step closer to her vision when she begins her freshman year at Mt. Rainier High School in September.

Not only is Emma focused on her future, she is already making life better for others today through her community service activities. Emma’s mom works for Child Care Resources, a local nonprofit that improves access to quality early learning for all children. Through her mom, Emma learned about the need for diapers for homeless children. Emma recognized that in order for homeless parents to work or go to school they need stable child care for their children and supplies like diapers and pull-ups. She was particularly struck by the needs of children. “Kids can’t go out and make money for diapers,” she points out. “Some parents really need the help.” This realization was the inspiration behind Emma’s great diaper drive idea.

Sports Roundup

Friday, Oct. 24
Football
Bainbridge 56, Evergreen 19
It's been a long year for Evergreen, with the Wolverines falling to 1-7 overall with Friday's loss to go with their 1-4 Seamount League mark.
But they still have a chance to salvage everything and reach the postseason -- if they can knock off Foster (2-3, 2-6) on the Bulldogs' home turf at 7 p.m. Friday.
A win would tie Evergreen with Foster for the third and final Class 2A playoff berth, and the Wolverines would get the nod because of the head-to-head win.

By Eric Mathison

Highline Public Schools Superintendent Susan Enfield gave her annual “State of the Schools” presentation Thursday, Oct. 23 at Tukwila’s Museum of Flight.

The presentation was a review of the district’s strategic plan adopted in 2013.

Enfield said the plan’s four pillars are equitable access, results focused, strong partnerships and being a culturally responsive organization.

She spoke briefly about each of the district’s “bold goals” that are part of the strategic plan.

The first goal is that at least 19 out of 20 students entering kindergarten in the 2013 will meet or exceed state standards by the end of third grade.

Enfield pointed to the district’s adoption of all-day kindergarten as the first step in achieving that goal.

“The work is truly transformational,” Enfield declared.

She characterized the kindergarten students as “geniuses in the making.”
Kindergarten jump-start classes in the summer before students began kindergarten meant by the first day of class most kids were “focused on learning,” according to Enfield.

By Amanda Knox

With just over a week left until opening night, Literature and Drama teacher Andrew Finley and his cast and crew are busy sawing, stacking, and securing old wooden pallets into what looks like a horseshoe formation. Is it a hill? A castle? A balcony? A ship? It will serve as all of the above and be just what it is—none of those things.

By Tim Clifford

Axe Attack
On Oct. 21 at an apartment complex located on the 3000 block of Avalon Way S.W. a maintenance worker was attacked by a man with an axe.

The victim called police shortly after the incident at 5:30 p.m. and told dispatch that he would wait for the officers in the alley behind the apartment complex.
The victim explained to police that he was performing his maintenance duties for the complex when he noticed the suspect, a transient male with dread locks, was picking through a trash can in the parking lot. The victim recognized the suspect from another trash can related incident weeks before during which the suspect had pulled a knife on the victim.

The victim decided to approach the suspect and ask him to leave again. As soon as they began talking the suspect became extremely agitated and reached into his backpack where he was keeping an axe. The suspect then began swinging the axe at the victim, the first blow being narrowly blocked and deflected. The victim ducked to avoid a second swing at which point the suspect hopped onto a bicycle with another unknown man and pedaled away.

By Tim Clifford

Some Halloween traditions are of the spooky and spine tingling variety. Other traditions, such as the annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest held on Redondo Beach, are geared more towards testing technical skills and coordination than giving a fright.

Setting out from a small beach near Salty’s and Mast Center on Sunday, Oct.26 nearly 20 local divers hit the water fully geared and with Jack-o-lanterns in hand just after 1 p.m. Hosted by Federal Way’s Underwater Sports, prizes ranged from underwater flash lights to scuba fins for place holders in the contest.

The rules of the contest each year are simple: each contestant is given 30 minutes to carve their pumpkin while completely submerged. No pre-contest cuts or stenciling are allowed. Finally all contestants are required to dive in groups of two, in accordance with the “buddy system” that PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) promotes to ensure the safety of all divers.