The ribbon-cutting ceremonial scissors needed a lot of sharpening in 2009 as the Burien Town Square, Burien Transit Center, Highline YMCA and two area light-rail stations opened.

Ground was also broken for the Seahurst Environmental Science Center and the regional Des Moines jail.

Burien's long-planned downtown square finally debuted and annexation of the southern portion of North Highline was approved while SeaTac staffers ran into controversy with their plans for a city center/entertainment district to go with the new airport light-rail station.

Celebrating its 50th birthday, Des Moines looked to its waterfront downtown/ marina district to enhance revenues.

Des Moines, along with other cities, public agencies and businesses struggled with the economic downturn.

Here's a month-by-month review of what made news in Highline in 2009.

January

Complaints about overuse of the new third runway are based on community misperceptions, Sea-Tac airport director Mark Reis said.

The new runway was designed to be used in both poor and good weather during peak periods, he added.

Meanwhile, airport neighbors testified they had become prisoners in their homes because of jet noise.

Cranes installed five sculptures at the Burien Town Square temporary art space, including the 30-foot high artwork 'The Passage," which debuted at the Burning Man Festival.

A married couple died together in a weekend blaze at the Emerald Place by the Lake Apartments in SeaTac.

Burien finally got a hardware store back in town after ACE Hardware opened at Southwest 148th Street and Fourth Avenue Southwest.

Following an attack on an elderly woman by two pit bulls, SeaTac lawmakers approved a contract for enhanced animal control services.

February

Highline Community College in Des Moines announced it was reducing its workforce, closing its Federal Way branch campus and closing its childcare facility for the children of students and staff.

A customer and employee subdued a man who was swinging an axe at customers at Schuck's Auto Supply in Burien.

March

The city of Burien installed red-light cameras at three major intersections.

Highline Medical Center in Burien announced 85 staff and management positions would be eliminated. Officials denied they were laying off current employees in order to bring in lower paid nurses from abroad.

Burien Nissan's finance company pulled its vehicles off the dealer's lot, leading the recently remodeled dealership to close. Despite assurances it will reopen soon, Burien Nissan was still closed at the end of the year.

Normandy Park announced it would receive nearly $4 million in federal stimulus funds as part of its First Avenue project.

A New York Times study identified the Tukwila School District as the most racially diverse school district in the nation. The survey said 29 percent of Tukwila students are white; 24 percent, black; 23 percent, Hispanic; and 22 percent, Asian. The Highline district is among the most racially diverse in the state.

Saltwater State Park in Des Moines was threatened with closure because of the state budget shortfall. A new funding source was found later to keep state parks open.

After many months of heated debate, the Des Moines City Council passed the Multi Family Tax Exemption for the Pacific Ridge area.

James and Sherry Raisbeck announced that the couple, their company and foundation would donate $4 million to help build Aviation High School, which is administered by the Highline School District.

Sea-Tac airport's first runway was closed until September for reconstruction. More arrivals and departures were shifted onto the new third runway.

April

SeaTac lawmakers granted an easement to a proposed hotel to share use of the Angle Lake access road.

Burien City Manager Mike Martin was arrested by a King County Sheriff's deputy on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. It was his second alcohol-related traffic infraction. He was later granted deferred prosecution and Burien lawmakers placed further restrictions on his contract.

Highline schools announced that facing an $8 million budget shortfall, it might cut up to 228 full-time positions. The district held several public meetings where participants chose among budget cutting options.

May

The Burien Town Square condominiums celebrated their grand opening as Burien city staffers moved into the new city hall in a building they share with a new regional library.

SeaTac council members passed a controversial tree retention ordinance that affects short-platted lots but not large single-family lots.

The new $12.5 million Burien Transit Center opened at 209 S.W. 148th Street.

June

Calling it "the most momentous event in Burien's history," Mayor Joan McGilton joined other public officials in cutting the ribbon on the city's Town Square project. The all-encompassing ceremony dedicated the Town square condominiums, retail spaces, park and plaza as well as the new King County Library branch, city hall, Helios Pavilion sculpture and nearby transit center.

Patty Sader resigned as Discover Burien executive director to relocate to Arizona.

July

The Highline School Board unanimously adopted the controversial Discovering series of textbooks for Algebra 1 and 2 classes.

The Tukwila International Boulevard light-rail station, along with 11 others, opened for service. Riders rode for free on the first weekend.

The building of a 678-bed misdemeanor jail in Des Moines received final approval by the Des Moines City Council amid protests from neighbors and bike riders, who use the property as an unofficial park.

To celebrate its 50th birthday, Des Moines hosted a series of family-friendly events including a parade, visit from tall ships and a strong man competition.

Highline public school students will have to "pay to play" in the fall as school board members decided to charge middle school and high school students to participate in athletics. Staffers said it was necessary because of budget constraints.

August

Navos, formerly Highline West Seattle Mental Health celebrated the grand opening of an apartment unit for low-income students with serious and persistent mental illness.

South King County officials broke ground on the new regional Des Moines jail at 1801 S. 200th Street.

Highline School Board members approved a 2009-10-school budget that makes deep cuts in existing school programs.

Voters in the southern portion of North Highline voted to annex to Burien. The area is expected to formally join Burien in March.

September

After one of the nation's leading credit agencies downgraded Des Moines' bond rating, the six other cities participating in the regional jail project tweaked the agreement so Des Moines would not be listed as an owner city.

The new SeaTac YMCA opened for members. The general public started using the facility with two pools on Oct. 3.

Experts warned that flooding in Tukwila and other valley cities is almost inevitable this winter because of damage to Howard Hanson Dam. The experts later downgraded the flooding odds.

Kennedy High School in Burien changed its name to John F. Kennedy Catholic High School.

SeaTac lawmakers authorized the possible eminent domain condemnation of a surface park 'n fly lot next to the airport light-rail station in order to build a public parking garage for patrons of a planned entertainment district.

Third-runway neighbors hoped for some relief from noise as the first runway reopened.

October

Nearly 70 people attended the Des Moines City Council meeting, concerned about massive cuts to the city's parks and recreation program. Lawmakers assured audience members that the city would not close the parks and recreation department.

SeaTac City Council members removed Craig Ward as city manager and suspended him from his duties, effective immediately. Ward and city staffers had come under fire for cost overruns on fire station construction, a critical state auditor report, a public disclosure commission fine and zoning decisions.

November

Commemorating the last event at the Burien Interim Art Space on the day after Halloween, the community was invited to celebrate the Night of 1,000 Pumpkins and the Day of the Dead.

Steve Gilbert took over as the new Discover Burien executive director.

Partisans had to sweat out several close races on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. In SeaTac, a proposition that called for citywide election of a mayor lost by only 9 votes. Planning Commission chairman Rick Forschler, who supported the proposition, defeated Jonathan Standridge by 50 votes. In Normandy Park, a proposition to form a parks district to fund parks and the Mt. Rainier Pool was approved by 31 votes.

Other races were not as close. Burien voters decisively decided not to add a $25 vehicle license fees to fund sidewalk improvements and ousted deputy mayor Sue Blazak in favor of former deputy mayor Jack Block Jr. In Des Moines, voters eagerly approved formation of a parks district to manage the Mt. Rainier Pool and chose Councilman Dave Kaplan over Councilwoman Susan White. In SeaTac, Pam Fernald beat appointed-councilman Barry Ladenburg and Tony Anderson was reelected over Michael Kovacs.

December

Burien City Council members delayed setting an effective date to annex part of North Highline because of a dispute over King County's planned sale of Puget Sound Park. The county plans to use a portion of the park for a new library.

Independent bookstore fans faced the possible loss of Burien Books after owner Virginia Pearce died at age 95. Pearce had operated the bookstore for 50 years.

The Bonney-Watson Parker Chapel property at 900 S.W. 146th St. was bought to use as site for a new Burien fire station.

About 145 residents attended an open house in SeaTac to hear about the city's plans to create a city center. James and Doris Cassan, owners of the Dollar park 'n fly lot condemned by the city, rented a room next door to tell their side.

The Burien Interim Art Space ended as 'The Passage' sculpture was taken down and trucked back to northern California.

The SeaTac/Airport light-rail station opened, providing a train link between downtown Seattle and the city of SeaTac/Sea-Tac airport.