The previous year saw the oversized ceremonial scissors getting a real work out with grand openings of Burien Town Square, Burien Transit Center, Highline YMCA and two area light-rail stations.
Except for the opening of a new Emergency Room at the Highline Medical Center in Burien, 2010 was a year of hunkering down in the shadow of the Great Recession.
Here's a month-by-month review of what made news in Highline in 2010:

January
With Dow Constantine, who represented Burien and North Highline on the County Council, as the new County Executive, Highline city officials expected better relationships with the county. The first manifestation of that in the new year was an agreement to transfer ownership of Puget Sound Park at Southwest 128th Street and 1st Avenue South to the city of Burien. That cleared the way for Burien to formally annex the southern portion of North Highline on April 1.
The SeaTac City Council rescinded a controversial condemnation proceeding against a surface parking lot next to the airport light rail station. The threatened eminent domain action received national and regional attention from property rights advocates.
Rick Forschler and Pam Fernald joined the SeaTac council. They have occasionally voted with Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher for a more limited-government agenda but have been often blocked by the four other council members.
Des Moines lawmakers discussed creating a "gateway" into the city in the form of a monument at South 216th Street and Pacific Highway South.

February
Despite pleas from teachers and students that Cascade and Chinook Middle Schools are not failed schools, the Highline School Board voted to apply for a reform grant that would mandate the schools' principals be replaced.
Nearly 200 angry residents showed up at a Burien Shoreline Advisory Committee to protest policies in the city's proposed shoreline master program.
Des Moines rescinded the annual Crime Free Housing fee for rental property owners. The repeal was part of a settlement with the Rental Housing Association.

March
Four Burien leaders were recognized at the city's annual awards dinner. Honored were Jerry Robinson, publisher of the Robinson Newspapers, which includes the Highline Times; John Nelson, organizer of two fundraising runs; Luke Cruise, Para educator at Highline High School; and Jean Spohn, organizer of park work projects. Community volunteer Barbara Reamer, was awarded the "Robby Award," given by Robinson Newspapers for outstanding community service.
SeaTac celebrated its 20th year of incorporation at a City Hall ceremony.
Burien lawmakers decided not to go ahead with plans to annex White Center. Council members agreed Burien should wait until south North Highline had been successfully integrated into the city. Earlier Seattle had backed off on plans to annex White Center because of the expected cost.
Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, the hero of the "Miracle on the Hudson" New York plane crash spoke and signed his book at Tukwila's Museum of Flight.
"Images of America: Three Tree Point," a photo and history book about the Burien beachfront community, was released with a book signing at the Tin Room Bar and Grill.

April
Burien formally annexed Boulevard Park and other areas of the southern portion of unincorporated North Highline. The city opened a City Hall north annex on Des Moines Memorial Drive South. Burien jumped ten spots to replace Olympia as the state's 21st largest city with a new population of 41,500.
The Highline Medical Center opened its new Emergency Room and patient care unit with a grand opening celebration and health fair.
The Burien Planning Commission sent the proposed shoreline master plan to the City Council. Anxious shoreline residents formed the Burien Marine Homeowners Association and hired attorneys.
Meanwhile, Des Moines resubmitted its shoreline master program to the state Department of Ecology for the third time.
Another controversy erupted between residents and city officials when Councilwoman Mia Gregerson replied to an e-mail from resident Leonard Luna with a one-word answer-"Lunatic." Gregerson apologized, saying she was trying to be witty, but Luna said the remark was racist.
Sales of the condominium and retail spaces in the Burien Town Square were halted while developer Urban Partners negotiated retail and lease prices after the FDIC seized the bank that held their loans.
The Port of Seattle announced Sea-Tac Airport's center runway would close in July and August with more jet traffic routed onto the western third runway.
Programs and staff from the Burien Community Center in the former Chelsea school building moved into the old Burien library building.

May
Megan Johnson, a Highline Community College Running Start Student and Burien Choice Academy senior, was named the Outstanding High School Student in the state by Prudential Insurance because of her community service work.
It was revealed that Burien's three red light cameras were costing more to operate than were bringing in traffic fines revenue. SeaTac officials reported their red light cameras were making money for the city.
The Highline School District fired Jayson Boehm, a substitute stadium manager, for conducting student physical exams, giving student injections and prescribing treatments without proper medical supervision.
Seahurst Park received the "2010 Best Restored Beach" award. The honor was for work done on the south shoreline.

June
The name of Burien's annual summer celebration was changed to the Wild Strawberry Festival and was moved to Town Square Park.
A sex offender was discovered working as a football volunteer at Evergreen High School. He was escorted off the campus after female team managers reported he made inappropriate comments to them.
Jackie Lewis, the district's athletic director, and Daylene Boehm, Evergreen athletic director, were placed on administrative leaves pending an investigation of the district's athletic program.
The contractor for a much delayed 1st Avenue construction project between 192nd and 200th streets said the project was not "shovel ready" before construction began. Normandy Park received a $3.6 million federal stimulus grant for the project.
Sound Transit officials announced the South 200th Street light-rail station in SeaTac could open four to six years ahead of schedule in 2016.
Des Moines began taking stray pets to a kennel or local veterinary hospitals instead of the King County's Kent shelter.
The South Park Bridge closed on June 30.

July
Des Moines and Water District 54 officials agreed on financing for a plan to put a 12-inch water main along Marine View Drive.
With negotiations stalled on plans for Burien/Normandy Park Fire Chief Mike Marrs to take over as North Highline chief, North Highline's board decided to appoint an interim chief administrator.
The Highline School District hired former Northwest region athletic director of the year Terri McMahan to take over its troubled athletic program. The former district and Evergreen's athletic directors were reassigned as teachers. Lewis filed a discrimination claim against the district.
The final main beam for Sea-Tac Airport's rental car facility was placed. The facility is scheduled to open in 2012.
A fundraiser was held to build a rock wall in honor of former Des Moines resident Luke Gullberg who was killed in a Mt. Hood climbing accident.
SeaTac based Alaska Airlines was named the number one international long carrier by Aviation Week magazine.

August
Burien City Manager Mike Martin informed King County Executive Dow Constantine that Burien wants to form its own police department. Currently the city contracts with the Sheriff's Office for police services.
Embattled SeaTac planning director Steve Butler resigned to take a similar position in Mill Creek. SeaTac is planning to consolidate several departments, including planning, into an Economic and Development Services Department.
It was announced that the Burien Town Square was facing foreclosure if developer Urban Partners does not come up with $3.5 million by Sept. 1
In a major win for Burien shoreline property owners, the City Council voted to keep a 20-foot setback requirement.
Tukwila Pool may close as a result of Tukwila's budget crisis.
City funding for a trip by Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler to attend a technology conference in China was strongly opposed by Councilman Dan Sherman.
September
Burien Nissan reopened under the ownership of the Car Pros company.
Some 1,300 free supply-filled backpacks were given away at the city's annual back to School Resource Fair.
Orphan Relief and Rescue held an open house in its new headquarters in Lake Burien Presbyterian Church.
A survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education named Highline Community College in Des Moines as among the "Great Colleges to Work For."
The Burien shoreline master plan was approved by the City Council and sent to the state Department of Ecology.

October
Metro Transit's RapidRide bus service between the Tukwila light-rail station and Federal Way began.
A temporary park 'n ride lot was set up at the former BBC Dodge site while construction is taking place on the Burien Transit center's parking garage.
On a sparkling sunny day. Des Moines officials celebrated the opening of the final mile of the Des Moines Creek Trail.
SeaTac and Tukwila will be part of a pilot program to bring techniques used in third world countries to improve health care for local diverse, low-income communities.
The Highline School District will place a four-year $188 million replacement programs and operations levy on the February ballot. The school board decided not to propose a school construction bond that would have funded replacement of Highline High and Des Moines Elementary schools.
In a Times/News interview, Renna Pierce, the first person to move into the Burien Town Square condominiums, declared the almost-empty condo complex is "a wonderful place to live."
To avoid foreclosure, Urban Partners, developer of the Town Square, handed over ownership of the development to a division of its loan lender. Urban Partners was hired to manage the project.
Burien announced that a major restoration project will close Seahurst Park in the winter of 2010.

November
Burien Planning Commission Chairman Joe Fitzgibbon defeated fellow Democrat Mike Heavey for an open 34th District House seat in the general election. State Sen. Joe McDermott was also successful in his bid to replace Executive Dow Constantine on the King County Council.
Dog owners from throughout the world expressed outrage over the killing of Rosie, a Newfoundland, by Des Moines police officers. Mourners from as far away as Canada held a vigil for Rosie.
Times/News columnist Earline Byers, attorney Clark Snure and community activist Jean Moyer were awarded Lifetime Achievement awards by Des Moines.

December
A state Department of Ecology staffer appeared skeptical of Burien's 20-foot buffer provision in Burien's shoreline management plan during a public hearing. DOE must approve the plan.
Sherrill Miller, owner of Burien's E.B. Foote Winery, plans to retire and has put the winery up for sale.
The Burien City Council voted down a request by Lake Burien residents to down zone the area around the lake to low density single-family residential.
Burien photographer Steve Buck was named Seattle's best photographer by the Seattle Professional Photographers Association.
The King County Prosecutor found there was no criminal culpability for the three Des Moines police officers involved in the shooting death of Rosie, a Newfoundland dog.