February 2016

Top 150 recognition makes college eligible for 2017 Aspen Prize

Last week Highline College was named one of the nation’s top 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. The honor gives Highline the chance to compete for the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and $1 million in prize funds.

“Being recognized as one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation reflects Highline’s innovative efforts to support student access and attainment,” said Dr. Jack Bermingham, president of Highline College. “My colleagues take great pride in their success in making a difference in the lives of our students, working together every day to create equitable and inclusive opportunities.

” The Aspen Prize is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. It recognizes institutions for exceptional student outcomes in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and access and success for minority and low-income students.

Last week, the City of Burien was notified that it is a recipient of a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its 2014 comprehensive annual finance report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and according to the GFOA, its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government as well as its management.

“We’re thrilled to have received this acknowledgement,” said Kim Krause, Finance Director for the City of Burien. “It’s always our goal to produce finance documents that are clear and transparent.

”The CAFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes a demonstration by the CAFR of a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential user groups to read the CAFR.

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

" A resounding success" said Tracy Codd, local Attorney. He was talking about the gathering of film and arts enthusiasts that gathered at the Tin Theater Tuesday night, Feb. 2, for what is hoped will be the first of many Burien Film Office 'Happy Hours'.

The main purpose of the Burien Film Office's 'Happy Hour" is an opportunity for the City, Filmmakers, Artist and Burien Citizens to come together to learn about current and upcoming film projects. The next 'Happy Hour' will be from 5:30 to 7:00pm on Tuesday, March 1 at the Tin Theater. According to the Film Office's web site https://www.burienwa.gov/index.aspx?NID=1060, " Whether you have a steadfast plan or just an idea, we encourage you to reach out to the City.  This office is committed to helping prospective filmmakers find the information they need to start filming at City locations."

Contact Dan Trimble, Economic Development Manager, with questions. 206-248-5528

The City of Burien is preparing a Downtown Mobility Plan, and we want to hear from you! The Plan will focus on how you get to Downtown Burien and how you get around it once you're here. It will drive how we improve the overall look and feel of our city's core. And you're invited to share your insights at our Storefront Studio later this month.
  
WHEN:           Wednesday, February 24, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
                       Thursday, February 25, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  
WHERE:         Discover Burien, 427 SW 152nd Street
  
The Storefront Studio provides you a chance to drop in, speak directly with staff and consultants, see work in-progress, learn about the process, take part in activities, and make suggestions to influence the Plan.

By Amanda Knox

My sister Deanna observes that Oma and I answer the phone with the same drawn-out and sing-song-y, “Hallooo!” We entertain ourselves in similar ways, dancing whether we have a partner or not, singing aloud whether we know the lyrics or not, sans embarrassment. We both read books voraciously, nurture children and animals compulsively, call people for no other reason than to say hello, or, in Oma’s words, “just checking to make sure that you’re still alive.” Both of us harbor deep, difficult-to-articulate hurt. Difficult to articulate because of how entrenched and visceral it feels, but also because the trauma is hard for many people to relate to. You know the uncomfortable pressure of witnessing or listening to another person’s suffering that leaves you feeling inadequate, hollow, defeated. It’s an isolating experience for everyone, teller and listener. All the more reason why it means so much to have someone you can call up who can comfortably listen. For me, that’s Oma.

“Hallooo!”

“Hallooo, Amanda! You won’t believe what Ole found for me.”

Some years ago (my kids figure it was the 1930’s) I hosted a morning radio show. It required getting up very early, driving downtown in the darkest hours of the night---and then pretending to be wide awake and chipper. In truth, most mornings, I wanted to be thrown---wide-awake---into a chipper.

But my radio experience was a distinct privilege---especially in the world of talk radio---where guests and callers always enriched the conversation with amazing stories. Maybe not true stories, but good ones.
One morning, while other serious-minded radio talk hosts were discussing world affairs,
domestic policy and city politics, I brought up a different topic question: “Where’d you get that scar?”
The phones lit up like a crowd at Hempfest.

“I fell down a flight of stairs and landed face-first onto the prongs of a garden rake,” said one caller. I thanked the caller and then read a live commercial for a gardening nursery.

Update Feb. 29
Dwarfing other vessels in Elliott Bay the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin headed into it's short term berth at Terminal 18 on the morning of Feb. 29.

Update Feb. 28
The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin is estimated to arrive between 4am and 5am at West Seattle's Terminal 18. The huge container ship won't be here long. It's scheduled to leave again at 8am on Tuesday morning according to commercial maritime sources.

Update Feb. 16
The CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, a massive container ship will arrive in Seattle Monday, Feb. 29 after visits in Long Beach and Oakland, California.

Original Post
Harbor island's Terminal 18 is going to get a huge visitor later this month when the largest container ship to ever visit Seattle (or any North American port) the Benjamin Franklin sails here.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Four Lancers sign up for college

Kennedy Catholic High School had four athletes sign on to play sports with colleges and universities starting in the fall.
The Lancers' Shayne McPherson of West Seattle signed on to play indoor and beach volleyball at the University of Washington and Maggie Gallagher will play fastpitch at the same school.
Rhyse Frey is going to Spokane Falls Community College for baseball and Angela Gagliardo will swim for the University of the Pacific.

Penner scores 37 for Falcons

Kennedy Catholic graduate Mitch Penner swished in 37 points to lead the Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team to a 76-54 win over Concordia of Oregon on Thursday.
Penner shot 14-for-16 from the field.
Penner came back to score 23 in an 84-82 overtime loss to Western Oregon on Saturday.

McPhee hits 14 off the bench

Mount Rainier graduate Jordan McPhee hit 14 points off the bench to help the Seattle Pacific women to a 52-43 victory over Montana State Billings on Thursday.

By Sarah Cecil

Americans spent nearly $19 billion in Valentine’s Day gifts last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Much of this money went for gifts with short shelf lives, such as candy, flowers and restaurant meals (and about $700 million was spent on gifts for pets). There’s certainly nothing wrong with giving chocolates or roses. But this year, think about going beyond the classic gifts. Instead, use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to determine how you can make gifts with long-lasting impact to your circle of loved ones.


 Here are some suggestions: