December 2014

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

Philosophers expound upon the nature of human beings and the role of each one
of us in society. When we ponder this, it opens up the vastness of the universe and the mystery of it all. Are we humans simply puppets on a string being manipulated by a giant puppeteer? Or do we have free will to take charge of our own fate? Those who have had more time to contemplate have come up with numerous beliefs about it all. These beliefs,however, have become institutionalized with a hierarchy of experts at the helm of each institution.

The Highline Times today received the following letter from Burien City Manager Kamuron Gurol regarding the appointment of a new city attorney:

"Daniel Teodoru was to have started work today. His decision to withdraw due to family issues had nothing to do with the job nor the City. He also offered praise for our selection process and best wishes for our community.

We will renew the recruitment process after the first of the year. In the meantime, Chris Bacha will continue as Acting City Attorney, and we very much appreciate his able counsel and flexibility."

We will continue to follow this story as new information becomes available.

The Department of Planning and Development released a land use update today. There is one application for a a property subdivision and a design review announcement. In addition the DPD has granted permission to allow a 1,952 sq. ft. space to be used as a community center (hygiene center) at ground level in a 51 unit low-income elderly apartment building at 2014 NW 57TH ST.

Application:

1761 NW 59TH ST:

Land Use Application to subdivide one development site into five unit lots. The construction of residential units are under Project #6404868. This subdivision of property is only for the purpose of allowing sale or lease of the unit lots. Development standards will be applied to the original parcel and not to each of the new unit lots. Existing structures to be removed.

Decision:

2014 NW 57TH ST:

The Market Street Singers invite you to set out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk while we wait by the chimney for Santa. In the meantime we’ll do some seriously fun singing, enough musical goodies to fill any of those stockings hung in a row. No lumps of coal! ALL the creatures will be stirring, even the mice! We’ll do most of the work but you’ll get to sing a little, too.

Saturday, December 13, 7:30pm
Ballard First Lutheran Church
NW 65th & 20th NW (2006 NW 65th St) in Ballard

This is a free event. Contributions are gratefully accepted.

The Market Street Singers, based in Seattle, is registered with the Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law. Additional information is available from the State Charities Program by visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities.

Visit the Market Street Singers online at www.marketstreetsingers.org for more information.

By William Spencer

The Ballard Pool began construction to its facilities on Nov. 17 in order to make improvements that will better accommodate people with disabilities. Construction is expected to last until Jan. 9.

Karen O’Connor, public relations specialist for Seattle Parks and Recreation, said the changes are being made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These changes are detailed specifically in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible design, which were administered by the Department of Justice .

“[The changes interior modification to both family changing rooms and locker rooms,” O’Connor said. “That includes repositioning toilets, sinks, showers, and benches.”

The Ballard Pool, which is located on NW 67th Street, already has some handicap-friendly amenities including handicap parking spots, ramps and an ADA approved wheelchair lift.

The construction will involve modifying these handicap spots to become van accessible, as well as building an accessible aisle and sidewalk to the building entrance. Improved routes through the changing rooms will also be added.

Crook breaks through back window, takes electronics

On Nov. 18, Seattle Police officers responded to a burglary at residence on the 8700 block of 22nd Avenue Northwest. The complainant old officers that while away, someone had burglarized her home. When she arrived home she noticed some of her personal items in the yard. When she went inside her home she noticed her television, iPad and laptop had been pilfered. A lower level window was the point of access for the crook. Police dusted for fingerprints but found none. Officers speculate the suspect was wearing gloves.

Church rifled, suspect believed to have key

On Nov. 24 it was reported that a burglary had occurred at a church on the 1400 block of Northwest 73rd Street. Security footage captured a suspect entering through a locked back entrance. The suspect rifled through the church and took an undisclosed number of items. The complainants believe that suspect must have a key because this is the second time the individual matching his description has burglarized the church.

Bank uses ‘die pack’ to help recover stolen cash

By Marjorie Young

As someone who watches the news on a regular basis, it is truly a challenge not to be overwhelmed with the negative: murder, terrorism, plagues, scandal, inept or self-serving politicians, all endlessly on exhibit. It therefore came as a very welcome break in the non-stop gloom to learn of the landing of a space probe on a comet some three hundred ten MILLION miles from earth! What a staggering feat for the scientists and engineers of the European Union, as well as humanity in general. The ‘Rosetta’ spacecraft had been giving chase to the comet, known rather prosaically as ‘67P’, for ten years, yet was able to score a bulls-eye, setting down right on target. This is a first…if you discount the previous mission led by Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck in the hit film ‘Armageddon!’

I found myself simply overjoyed; reveling in this mind-boggling tour de force by the inhabitants of earth. Yet we are of the very same clan that also delights in chopping off opponent’s heads or slaughtering rare and precious fellow creatures into extinction.

Transit customers encouraged to prepare for winter weather

King County Metro Transit customers are encouraged to prepare for possible snowy or icy conditions this weekend. Weather forecasters are predicting colder temperatures and an increasing possibility of snow in parts of King County, which means the possibility of rapidly changing travel conditions throughout the weekend.

All transit customers are advised to check timetables for the routes they use and study snow routing in case it is implemented. In the event that travel conditions deteriorate, riders who live in outlying or hilly areas are encouraged to go to transit centers, park and ride lots or more heavily traveled flat arterials that are likely to be plowed, and where there likely is more transit service available.

Travel and information tips
• Sign up for Transit Alerts to receive notice of known service disruptions; however rapidly changing road, traffic and weather conditions make it impossible to know about every service interruption. It may not be possible to report on service that is affected on a per-trip or per stop basis.

Affordable art for the holidays featured in December at Burien Arts Gallery.
For those who missed Burien Arts Association’s Vision 20/20 gala, there will be another chance in December to enjoy small artworks created by local artists.
The Burien Arts Gallery will feature the artwork along with fine art jewelry and ceramics in its December exhibition. Works from Artists United will also be shown.
The small affordable artwork make perfect holiday gifts.
Every fall, the Burien Arts Association commissions local artists to create the works for the Association’s Vision 20/20 art sale. The event is Burien Arts’ biggest fundraiser of the year. The proceeds help fund the Gallery, the only fine-arts gallery between Tacoma and West Seattle. Other programs include student workshops, life drawing sessions, face painting at local festivals and the Highline Classic Jazz Festival.
The exhibit runs Dec. 4-Jan. 4. The exhibit is part of the B-Town Beat Art Walk on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 5.
The Gallery is located at 826 S.W. 152nd St. It is open Wednesday-Sunday, noon-6 p.m. and Sunday, noon-4 p.m. The gallery is closed Monday and Tuesday.

B-Town Dog members have organized a campaign on a popular crowdfunding site in a final push to raise the needed $4,000 for an off-leash dog park in Burien.
Donors may simply go to http://www.gofundme.com/h4cp3o to help fund the off-leash park. The campaign received $610 within the first two hours of its launch on Nov. 11.

In the past two years, B-Town Dog, a non-profit Burien group led by Kellie Bassen and Rob Johnson, has raised $6,000 through bake sales and other fundraising activities. Council members set a goal of $10,000 as the portion to be raised by the public.

The GoFundMe web campaign is just one of the ways B-Town Dog is trying to raise the final $4,000.

On Saturday, Nov. 22 at 11 a.m. the group is sponsoring a Pet Stocking party at Town Square Fabrics and Yarn, 445 S.W. 152nd. St. For $5, participants receive a red sock, decoration materials, glue and all the trimmings to make a Christmas stocking for a favorite pet. All proceeds go to help fund the off-leash park
At the same time, the group will be holding a pet food drive to benefit the cats and dogs at Burien CARES animal shelter.