Many of you may not know that for a number of years I have been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Highline Historical Society.

All of the trustees feel it is a privilege to know and work with one another because we are working on a great project.

Today we are pleased to publish a print of the board-approved plan for our upcoming Highline Heritage Museum.

This is going to be a wonderful addition to our region.

As an early resident, we bought our first home in Highline 70 years ago and have lived here ever since and loved it.

I love its history of the "Toonerville" trolley streetcar. I helped build the Highline Christian Church on First Avenue South.

I loved having a CHerry phone number. I once hit a home run in the storied ball game between White Center and Burien merchants and I used to hunt pheasant where airplanes now land by the minute.

I have native credentials.

More than 10 years ago a group of people in Highline came together to preserve a number of important historical collections in our region.

They spent their time and treasure planning step by step to provide a new institution for the citizens of Highline.

This is the largest area of the state without a museum. Our Highline region has about 150,000 citizens and 22,000 students who don't have a museum to visit or study in.

Our pioneers and long-time citizens, as well as those who are new to our shores will find this a place that offers nostalgia and memories, as well as cutting-edge education and entertainment for all of us.

And in this day and age of tight dollars, who doesn't want to find these things close to home?

This is a beautiful building, designed to be a museum for the 21st Century. It has geo-thermal heating and air conditioning, a green roof and permeable concrete.

It has the latest in security and lighting so that the building can qualify to be a site for Smithsonian traveling exhibits.

As a matter of fact, the museum is being planned to be a Smithsonian affiliate, making it possible to bring wonderful things to Highline- - our own neighborhood.

There is also a children's activity area, a museum store, a small theater, a library, an archive and fascinating galleries.

Over the years, many of the project's early dreamers and workers have passed on: the beautiful Rosamond Wilson, Vivienne Matthews, Kenny Selander, the hard-working Rita Creighton and Jeanne Pfeifer.

More recently the board lost Dick Dahlgard, a Highline community stalwart, who spent 12 hours a week working to preserve the thousands of photographic negatives in the society collections.

Today's trustees are charged with bringing this project to fruition. Our group is growing. Right now our board has leaders from all the cities in Highline.

Scott Andrews, Helen Kludt and Lloyd Herman represent Normandy Park. Terry Anderson, Mauricio Ayon, Fran Reid and Dick Jordan come from SeaTac. Mike Emerson, Gary Long, Lynda Isernio, Kitty Milne, Cyndi Upthegrove and I represent Burien.

We have laid the groundwork but cannot do everything on our own. I think it is time for the community to pitch in. The most immediate way you can help is by becoming a member of the historical society.

Right now, members receive a newsletter and free admission to programs. When the building is complete, members will receive free admission.

We are approaching 500 members and would like to double that number before spring. Your membership dollars pay for the curator, who in turn protects our collections.

Your membership dollars show support to outside grantmakers who want an indication of the level of our community's support. Your membership dollars bring high quality programs to Highline.

Visit the society's website at www.highlinehistory.org to learn more and to download a membership application.
Help us preserve the roots of this community.