The Highline Times | Recent Articles

Rich remembered with a special bottling at Burien winery

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:08:55 -0800

E. B. Foote Winery announces the "Step into Spring and Stamp Out Alzheimer's Disease" weekend March 18 - 21. Ten percent of all sales during the event will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Rich Higginbotham, co-owner/winemaker who died of the disease in 2008.

Envelopes will also be available so visitors can make a donation directly to the Alzheimer's Association.

To further honor Rich, his wife Sherrill Miller has made a special wine called "Remembrance" and she donates 50 percent of the purchase price to the Alzheimer's Association for a particular research project being headed by Dr. Brian Kraemer.

Remembrance is a 2007 vintage blend of 60 percent Cabernet, 30 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc. The grapes come from three different Columbia Valley vineyards, including Milbrandt, Graves and Arianses.

When all of this wine is sold, more than $100,000 will be raised for research on Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's Disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and a new case of Alzheimer's is diagnosed every 70 seconds. More than 5.3 million people have Alzheimer's and that number continues to grow.

Step into Spring and Stamp Out Alzheimer's Disease, featuring wine tasting of six current releases including Remembrance along with snacks, will be Thursday, March 18 from 5-8 p.m.; Friday, March 19, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 20, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; and Sunday, March 21, noon - 6 p.m.

The event has a $5 tasting fee, which is applied toward a purchase of a bottle of wine. Miller advises customers to dress warmly, as E.B. Foote is a working winery.

E.B. Foote Winery is located at 127-B SW 153rd St. in Burien. The winery is open for tasting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Sherrill Miller at E.B. Foote Winery, 206-715-3114, or email her at winemaker@ebfootewinery.com.

Highline teachers union head blasts school reform application

sethb — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:19:23 -0800

The head of Highline's teachers union on March 10 ripped into the district's application for a federal grant that could bring up to $2 million a year to reform Chinook and Cascade Middle schools.

Highline Education Association President Stacie Hawkins termed the application "unbelievable" and "fundamentally flawed."

She charged the proposed plan was too heavily weighted toward administration and administrative support and not enough toward student needs.

She noted the application asks for $25,000 for an executive level coach and staff to manage the transformation but only $20,000 for student social and emotional support.

Hawkins also indicated the proposed reform plan puts too much of the onus on teachers to raise academic achievement.

"It just one tune to dance to-we just need to fix the teachers," Hawkins declared.

She cited generational poverty, racial tensions and gangs as among factors contributing to why Chinook and Cascade students struggle in school.

Hawkins said Highline administrators should "push back" on grant dictates from the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

She said teachers have ideas on school reform and they intend to keep making suggestions.

Superintendent John Welch replied there would be "an opportunity to reshape the grant."

He noted that his interpretation is that the application is not as heavily weighted toward administration as Hawkins stated.

"The best would be a student-centered plan," Welch added. "I hope we are headed that way."

Board members also heard an update on the district's new math plan.

The district opted to purchase the Discovering Math textbook series that has been controversial in some districts. The textbooks are more "inquiry based" than the more traditional textbooks offered in the Holt series.

Earlier this year, the Seattle School District lost a lawsuit when a King County Superior Court judge called Seattle's decision to go with the Discovering series as "arbitrary" and "capricious."

Two Highline districts teachers told board members they like Discovering.

"The new curriculum tells the story of mathematics and students can relate to stories," teacher Bethany Tate said.

However she noted, any textbook needs supplementing.

Tate also praised the high level of coaching and support form her colleagues in adopting the new program.

Highline High teacher Cherie Clymer demonstrated the online capabilities of the new curriculum.

Carmen Gonzales, assistant director of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,) reported that the academic rigor of the district's math programs has increased with elements of algebra being introduced in fifth and sixth grades.

She also announced a $226, 500 Boeing planning grant to broaden project based learning programs first used at Aviation High School to three other classrooms.

SeaTac takes steps toward more business-friendly atmosphere

sethb — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:31:24 -0800

In a move that could result in a more business-friendly permitting process, SeaTac lawmakers directed Interim City Manager Todd Cutts on March 9 to develop options to combine the planning, public works and economic development departments as well as the facilities division.

Council members are also set to rescind March 23 a moratorium on permits in the city center planning area across from the airport light-rail station.

The moratorium would have been repealed on March 9, but ex-Mayor Ralph Shape asked that the decision be postponed. He said SeaTac's planning commission and zoning ad hoc zoning committee should study it first.

Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher indicated that the council members discussed the changes at a weekend retreat.

Fisher said the city needs to change its image by streamlining permit customer service for businesses.

The council ran into a torrent of criticism from business people after condemning a surface parking lot across from the light rail station.

The action was later rescinded.

Lawmakers were also in the final stages of adopting major zoning changes when business people united to raise objections. An ad hoc committee of business people and others was formed with Shape and Fisher as co-chairs to look at the zoning regulations.

In the November election, planning commission chairman Rick Forschler, a property rights advocate, was elected to the council along with Pam Fernald, who coordinated her campaign with Forschler.

Fisher's resolution directed Cutts to investigate, research and provide options to combine the departments and divisions.

Shape said the resolution was out of order because the council cannot interfere with the way the city manager administers his departments.

City Attorney Mary Mirante Bartolo said the council creates the departments and may reorganize them under state law.

Shape was the lone vote against the resolution.

Repeal of the moratorium also appeared headed for adoption until Shape blocked passage by delaying action for two weeks.

The council imposed the moratorium Nov. 24 on applications for building and development permits in the light-rail station area.

The area is between International Boulevard and 32nd Avenue South from South 176th Street to South 170th Street.

The action came after business people objected to zoning standards proposed by SeaTac's planning department. The ad hoc committee was formed to provide feedback on the changes.

Gordon Tang, owner of the Jet Motel property at 17300 International Boulevard, previously told lawmakers the moratorium blocks construction of an eight-story Marriott Hotel on the site. Jet is advertised as the closest motel to the airport.

Fisher said council members, city staffers and consultants "did nothing wrong" in planning for an entertainment district/city center with a public parking garage in the area. However, after conferring with area business owners, it has been concluded the plans are not feasible.

"We should stop spinning our wheels," Fisher declared. "(Rescinding the moratorium) gives staff clear direction to quit bothering businesses in the station area."

Shape countered he was "amazed" the council would pass the resolution without first consulting the planning commission and ad hoc committee.

In other business, council members approved allowing temporary emergency storage sites in commercial zones for businesses forced to evacuate the Green River Valley because of flooding.

Lawmakers argued over whether to allow the prestaging of the portables before flooding. The planning commission favored a six-month prestaging period as long as the portables were screened from view. The council's Land Use & Parks (LUP) Committee opposed prestaging.

Fed-Ex has already placed storage sites in a parking lot behind the Alaska Airline office building on International Boulevard and South 208th Street. Their lease for the location runs out in May.

Lawmakers debated the two proposals until LUP chairwoman Mia Gregerson suggested the prestaging option be placed on the consent agenda.

Highline College trustee appointed to state board

sethb — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:18:16 -0800

Elizabeth Chen, of Federal Way, has been appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire as the newest member of the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Chen has served on the Highline Community College (HCC) Board of Trustees since 1995. She was the HCC Board chair in 2001-2002 and 2006-2007.

"Elizabeth Chen's extensive experience and deep commitment to the community and technical college system will be extremely valuable to the State Board as we continue pursuing initiatives that will help more people reach higher levels of educational attainment in Washington," said Jim Bricker, SBCTC board chair.

Chen has been appointed to serve a four-year term as one of nine members of the Board, responsible for overall policy, leadership, and strategic direction of the community and technical college system. She replaces Lyle Quasim, who left the board in January.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my many years serving Highline Community College," Chen said. "I am so grateful for this new opportunity to serve the entire community and technical college system at the statewide level."

Chen is a visiting instructor of Chinese at the University of Puget Sound. She has served on the Highline Community College Foundation board, the City of Federal Way Diversity Commission, and now serves as an advisor to the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission of Taiwan, R.O.C.

She was named "Trustee of the Year" by the Washington state Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges in 2006, honoring her years of service to HCC and higher education. In September 2007, she was elected to a two-year term as Pacific regional director of the national Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). She also served as chair of ACCT's Diversity Committee from 2005-2007.

Chen earned both her Master of Science and Ph.D. in Statistics at the University of Wyoming.

SLIDESHOW: Capt. Sullenberger, Hudson River hero, inspires Tukwila museum audience

sethb — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:40:27 -0800

As he fought to land his plane loaded with 155 passengers and crew safely on the Hudson River on that remarkable day in January 2009, Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger never once thought he was about to die.

His first thought was disbelief-"this doesn't happen to me."

"In four decades (of flying,) I had solved every problem; I had never been challenged to my limit," Sullenberger told an audience at Tukwila's Museum of Flight on March 8.

Disbelief was quickly followed by a realization that this would be his challenge of a lifetime and he would have no time to do everything he should do,

He took three steps that he credits with helping him successfully land the plane on the water.

"I forced myself to be calm, I imposed order on the situation, and I focused on the highest priorities," Sullenberger reported.

Sullenberger presented a highly inspirational talk to the sold-out crowd packed into two auditoriums at the Tukwila museum.

He emphasized preparation, integrity, realistic optimism, teamwork and high professional standards.

The heroic pilot noted he has known since age 5 that his passion is flying airplanes and described himself as a "regular guy who prepared himself well."

Sullenberger credited his father and mother for teaching him their values.

His father served as a naval officer in World War II-part of the "Greatest Generation," who were "ordinary people who found themselves in extraordinary situations."

His mother, a Texas first-grade teacher, instilled in him an understanding of the value of education and made him into a life long reader and learner, Sullenberger noted.

At the United States Air Force Academy, he volunteered for training as a safety officer, he noted.

Sullenberger defined integrity as "doing the right thing, even when it is not convenient."

An example is delaying a flight because of safety concerns, even when it means he and the passengers would not get home that night, he said.

"I was trained to be intolerant of imperfection," Sullenberger declared.

Realistic optimism comes from confidence through preparation, according to Sullenberger.

"It is the knowledge you will obtain your goal, but you know you could face hard times,' he said. "Every moment of that flight I knew we could solve the next problem. I knew I could do it, based on my preparation. I knew what was possible."

Sullenberger also stressed teamwork. He added that when employees are trusted, they are willing to go the extra mile.

He said that he knew if he could land the plane safely, the flight attendants would get the passengers out safely.

"Further action is always possible when you have teamwork," Sullenberger added. "If we work together, there is little we can not do."

He said in the days after the flight, former colleagues started remembering, "Sully Stories" and told him, based on his past actions, they were not surprised at the flight's outcome.

"My reputation was built one action at a time," Sullenberger said. ""It is the same for everybody.

"Everybody has the opportunity to be a leader, the opportunity to take responsibility, the opportunity to make a difference."

Following the speech, Sullenberger, who retired from U.S. Airways on March 3, signed copies of his book, "Highest Duty."

A line snaked throughout the Tukwila museum exhibits as people sought Sullenberger's autograph.

Burien to take census of North Highline

ericm — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:35:15 -0800

The effective date for North Highline residents to become City of Burien residents is April 1. Residents of the southern section of North Highline voted on Aug. 18, 2009, to annex to the city.

As part of the annexation process, the city is required to conduct a special census of all housing units. A census worker wearing a fluorescent vest and a City of Burien identification badge between March 12 and April 25 will visit households in the annexation area. The only information required in this census is the names of all individuals residing in a household. Annexation residents may also provide this census information directly, at any time after March 12th, by calling the Burien Census Hotline at 1-800-635-6594. The Census Hotline is available 24 hours a day. Any information provided will be held confidential. Cooperating with this special annexation census ensures that Burien receives a full share of state funds allotted for essential public services.

This special annexation census is in addition to the U.S. Census conducted by the federal Census Bureau later this spring in which residents will receive a 10-question census form in the mail. More information about the federal census is available at http://2010.census.gov.

Residents should be aware that neither census will require them to provide their social security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account information or pay any fees. Residents should not provide such details to anyone who claims to be a census worker and asks for this kind of information. Legitimate census workers will have identification badges with a phone number that residents can call if they would like to verify their identities. Residents may contact the city at 206-241-4647 with questions or concerns

Highline Medical Center launches kids billboard contest

sethb — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:38:57 -0800

Each year one in three people in the U.S. visit an emergency room - 40 percent as a result of injury related accidents and a third under the age of 21.

Highline Medical Center in Burien, which serves nearly 50,000 ER patients annually and is opening a new and expanded state-of-the-art ER in April, wants to change those statistics for its community. It has joined with Highline Public Schools to launch Kidz Tipz for Safety, an innovative program to engage children in childhood safety.

Elementary school students in the Highline School District have been invited to design their own safety billboard featuring an up-to- eight-word safety tip, with three winning entries to be featured on billboards in the surrounding community. Finalists' artwork will be also featured at the Grand Opening Celebration of Highline Medical Center's new Emergency Room on April 10. And every child who enters will be eligible to win a party at Family Fun Center in Tukwila.

A panel of representatives from Highline Medical Center and the community will review the entries and select 20 finalists from which final winners will be chosen. Finalists will have their artwork on display at the opening of the new ER from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 10.

The deadline for entries is Friday, March 19, and more information and contest rules are available by emailing commrelations@highlinemedical.org.

SLIDESHOW: Mt. Rainier vs. Franklin playoffs

sethb — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:18:53 -0800

Photographer Kurt Howard captured these images of Mt. Rainier's 65-55 victory over Franklin-Pierce. CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO PLAY SLIDESHOW.

SLIDESHOW: This weekend the best wine in town could be found at the Landmark Event Center

keith_daigle — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:16:21 -0800

Over 1,000 wine aficionados attended the sixth annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival, tasting wine, sampling the food and raising money for a good cause.
All of the proceeds go to support different the charitable causes and projects of the Des Moines Rotary, who organize the event every year. Over the past five years the Poverty Bay Wine Festival has raised over $150,000, over $100,000 of which has gone toward local education in the form of scholarships and the Rotary’s project to get every third grader in Des Moines schools a dictionary.

25 Northwest Wineries participated in the event, including nine wineries new to the festival this year.
Organizers said attendance was up from last year.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE A SLIDESHOW OF OTHER PHOTOS

Dow Constantine announces Countywide Strategic Plan

patr — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:31:12 -0800

In a speech before the King County Council today County Executive Dow Constantine marked his first 100 days in office by outlining a Countywide Strategic Plan.
The primary goals outlined in the speech are for streamlining county government and increasing efficiency, even as tax revenue declines.

His plan begins with his signature of a series of executive orders including:
*Simplifying the procurement process by reducing paperwork
*Mandating shorter inquests and a tighter focus into officer involved shootings
*Establishing a "single point of accountability" to improve customer service for those dealing with the county

As part of the third order he said that people could expect answers to questions within 24 hours. Constantine said, "When we tell you we're going to call you back, we'll do it."

Constantine is proposing to establish a Cabinet-level position of Director of Labor Relations who would report directly to him and the Deputy Executive.
Constantine said "Rather than negotiate in public, we will meet with labor at the bargaining table to discuss our shared interests in an efficient and sustainable government."

He called for investment in 'a 21st century transportation infrastructure" that includes land use planning.
In reference to improved customer service the speech included his previous mention of an "employee suggestion box" and noted these three:
"From Judge Vicki Seitz: 'Make sure we collect on all bail bonds forfeited by defendants, before they expire.'
From Doug Miller at Metro: 'Invite companies to install solar panels over our big bus bases, and share some of the electricity they generate.'
And I received this: 'Find efficiencies in the way inquests are being performed'. "

As the Executive first mentioned in a speech before the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce in January he opened a competition for suggestions for him to "walk in their shoes" from county employees, receiving more than 70 ideas. A process he wants to repeat once a quarter.

He praised the efficiencies in found in a Productivity Initiative in wastewater processing noting that soon three regional wastewater plants will be running with the same number of employees it took to run two plants ten years ago.

Constantine's call for improved "financial stewardship" includes an executive order he is signing next week that "sets consistent, comprehensive standards for budgeting, managing, and measuring the performance of our capital projects. Under this order, managers must set a baseline before moving into detailed design and construction. They must monitor and report performance against that baseline. This reform will create the tools to provide timely warning to the Council when projects are going off-course, and take action to get them back on track."

Dwight Dively, new King County Budget Director was also introduced. His first day on the job was today. Dively was the longtime Seattle finance director. As Director of Finance for the City of Seattle, Dively led Seattle’s financial and budget management initiatives since 1994.

Constantine intends to convene a cabinet of "the offices and agencies that are supported by the general fund," in early April, whose purpose is to manage the general fund by breaking it down into "manageable pieces" by "driving down the annual growth in the cost of doing business to the level of background inflation."

Constantine proposed a spending cap and when conditions improve, any excess revenue would be placed into a "deficit reserve" fund that would not be part of the existing rainy day fund. He believes this will cushion the effects of future shortfalls.

In the speech he also touched on creating a Regional Transit Task Force, on working with cities in the county for jail planning, on creating a new, humane regional model for animal services, and on improving service delivery to rural areas of the county.

The Executive also spoke about reforms in the County's permitting and fee structure and said he has appointed a new director of Development and Environmental Services. He made a commitment to having a strategy in place by April 15th for revising the fee structure for permits possibly changing the current model based on hourly rates.

Burien looks for funds to maintain city streets

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:31:12 -0800

Because of budget constraints, Burien has gone without any asphalt overlay to any of their streets for two years. There are no plans to do it this year.

After the annexation of the northern portion of North Highline on April 1, Burien will have new streets to maintain as well.

Burien Public Works Director Larry Blanchard told the City Council at their meeting March 1 they need to think about a strategy to keep the city's roads up.

Overall the Burien's streets are in good shape at the moment. But the longer streets go without maintenance the more expensive they become to repair.

In seven years, if nothing is done to the roads all of the streets in Burien will either be failed or failing, Blanchard said. When a street fails the road has to be completely removed and the road has to be rebuilt from the foundation underneath the asphalt up.

Mayor Joan McGilton blamed the drop in sales tax for the city's inability to budget money for repaving over the last couple of years.

"It is not the city being irresponsible with tax funds," McGilton said. "We haven't had the funds."

Councilman Jack Block said he did not want Burien's streets to be "maintained to third world standards like South Seattle."

Block said that by spending the money now they would be saving money later. As a road degrades the options required to repair it become more expensive. The more money the city can spend on repairing the streets now will save them money in the long run.

The council was in agreement something needed to be done with their streets. What is not known is where the money would come from, or how much work on the streets the council wants done.

"If there is no money, there is no overlay," McGilton said.

She added the community has a responsibility to help.

Block suggested issuing bonds to raise the money. He said the city is not in a position to raise taxes.

A date has not been set, but the council talked about holding a study session on a Monday there is no regular council meeting to discuss the roads.

Youth choirs sing century of pop songs at Burien's performance center

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:01:02 -0800

An entire century of music presented in 55 minutes.

That's the promise as KidSounds, YouthSounds and TeenSounds Northwest present their annual spring concert March 19 at 7 p.m. in the Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 S. 152nd St.

Tickets are $10 to $15 with youth 17 and under admitted free with a paid adult ticket. Tickets are available from www.nwassociatedarts.org or 206-246-6040.

Following an original opener by Greg Gilpin, the concert will take the audience on a decade-by-decade celebration of popular music. Paula Hawkins directs the groups.

"You're A Grand Old Flag," "Give My Regards to Broadway," "Rock Around the Clock," "Fame" and "Good Vibrations" are among the songs to be performed.

Narration, dancing, and solos blend together with choral singing in this showcase of the budding talents of the youth choruses.

The NWAA young people's music education program is funded, in part, by the support of 4 Culture, Lucky 7 Foundation, Glaser Foundation, Norcliffe Foundation, City of Burien, JR Mailing Services, Inc, and many individuals and families throughout the community.

Tukwila woman wins $250,000 in lotto

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:43:19 -0800

Michelle Tuncap is a soft-spoken woman from Tukwila.

Soft-spoken is how she stayed when she found out she won $250,000 playing Mega Millions in the Washington state lottery, though it isn't how she felt.

"I'm freaking out," she said quietly the day after learning that she'd won.

Tuncap doesn't play the lottery all that often. "It's just for fun. I never thought I would win; It's just a couple of dollars here and there," she said.

She did win though, and she won big.

"I didn't know how to react, I just can't believe it," she said. "I couldn't really sleep...I just kept looking at it."

Tuncap's had some time to think about what she'll do with the winnings, and says she'll pay some bills and go back to school. She'd like to become an auto mechanic so she's looking for technical schools in the area.

Tuncap purchased her $250,000 Mega Millions ticket from Spanaway Deli on 22nd Avenue East in Tacoma. For selling the winning ticket, the store will receive a retail selling bonus of $7,500.

Gang resistance program honors new graduates

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:11:35 -0800

A graduation was held on Feb. 24 at SeaTac's Chinook Middle School for 7th grade students completing the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program.

The G.R.E.A.T. middle school curriculum consists of thirteen 30- to 45-minute lessons designed to be taught in sequential order. In the lessons, the kids learn the connection between drugs, gangs, crimes, and violence.

The lessons are about learning to make good decisions, practicing saying no, goal setting, anger management, empathy for other, helping others calm down and effective communication to just name a few.

The goal for Chinook is to have all the new 7th graders go through the program during the first semester of each school year.

Students were selected from each class period and spoke about making better decisions in dealing with confrontations. The teachers also spoke about the positive behavior changes in their students and an appreciation of the material presented. Several students volunteered to be G.R.E.A.T. peer mentors and mediators next year.

There were approximately 250 7th grade Chinook students who attended this program.

Flummoxed about fish oil?

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:22:06 -0800

We can all be misled by slick marketing and propaganda.

I would have thought that couldn't possibly happen to me, critical thinker that I pride myself in being. But I have been seriously misinformed by well-credentialed experts who had my deepest admiration and respect.

How do I know? By dealing with my secret struggle of progressively declining health over the last two years. Insomnia stalked me; my entire body was highly inflamed and incredibly painful. I felt hot and angry 24/7.

I could not for the life of me understand why I was feeling so horrible when I took such good care of myself. How could I possibly tell anyone about this when I followed what I'm teaching based on what I'd been taught?

Fortunately the nutritionist I stumbled upon has helped me to begin to turn around these very troubling and "mysterious" issues that no one could get to the bottom of.

The very good news is that I have already been intuitively doing much of what I'm now learning. The other really great news is that while I'm upset about being mislead on many levels, my ego isn't so invested that I'm unable to admit these bombshells.

A bad misconception is all the fish oil we're told is "good" for us. I remember one of my instructors at a weeklong intensive certification course telling me this and I brushed it off as nonsense because everyone else said it was a super food.

"In declaring EPA and DHA to be safe, the FDA neglected to evaluate their antithyroid, immunosuppressive, lipid peroxidative (Song et al., 2000), light sensitizing, and antimitochondrial effects, their depression of glucose oxidation (Delarue et al., 2003), and their contribution to metastatic cancer (Klieveri, et al., 2000), lipofuscinosis and liver damage, among other problems." (The Great Fish Oil Experiment, Ray Peat, PhD, www.raypeat.com).

Ray Peat, who has a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Oregon, with specialization in physiology, has been booing fish oil for decades. Why isn't he more publicized? Why has he been blackballed?

I suspect it's the fat egos and wads of money that would be lost are why the same old greedy game.

The quantity of quality cod liver oil I took was well below the massive amounts the Weston A. Price Foundation and the Price-Pottenger Nutritional Foundation recommend for healing fibroid tumors in women and for reducing systemic inflammation.

Here's the conundrum: by taking the fish oil in the first place, I inflamed my system. I took more to bring that down, which just made things that much worse.

My mysterious physical ills were classic symptoms of vitamin A poisoning and escalating acute systemic inflammation. We all know how ridiculous it would be to subject ourselves to a daily x-ray to reduce pain and inflammation. But that is exactly what the experts did. "For a few decades, x-ray treatments were used to relieve inflammatory conditions, and most of the doctors who promoted the treatment were able to retire before their patients began suffering the fatal effects of atrophy, fibrosis, and cancer. (But a few people are still advocating x-ray therapy for inflammatory diseases, e.g., Hildebrandt, et al., 2003.)

In experiments that last just a few weeks or months, there may not be time for cancers to develop, and on that time scale, the immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects of oxidized fish oil might seem beneficial.

The fish oil fad is now just as old as the x-ray fad was at its peak of popularity, and if its anti-inflammatory actions involve the same mechanisms as the anti-inflammatory immunosuppressive x-ray treatments, then we can expect to see another epidemic of fibrotic conditions and cancer in about 15 to 20 years." (The Great Fish Oil Experiment, Pay Peat, PhD, www.raypeat.com).

Please read the article and investigate Ray Peat. If what he has to say resonates with you, great-- you think it's just another load, that's OK too. I would be remiss if I didn't inform you of why I'm doing what I'm doing and why I am so alarmed.

http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/fishoil.shtml

All vegetable oils, even cold pressed (including flax seed), go rancid the moment they're exposed to air, never mind what happens in our nearly 100-degree bodies. Makes sense to me. Mary Enig, PhD won't say that but Ray Peat, PhD will and does. The two of them do agree on butter and coconut oil.

Who to believe?

Unfortunately we're being incredibly misled on so many critical issues and the oils we're told are super foods are just another load to add to that Mother Lode of hooey.

I stopped taking fish oil four weeks ago and my symptoms have abated by 25 percent on a good day. But, I'm so debilitated right now I can't even work out; my journey back to total health will take at least a year. I have no doubt there will be readers galore scrambling to tell me how good these oils are.

I'll never go near any oil or fat except coconut oil, olive oil, butter or ghee.

DISCLAIMER

The views expressed in this column are for information only and not intended to replace your current medical protocols. Always consult your health practitioner before undertaking any dietary changes or exercise programs.
Nancy is a CHEK Institute Holistic Lifestyle and Exercise coach and an ACE certified, IDEA awarded Master personal fitness trainer. She helps clients find optimal health and fitness through practical nutrition, holistic conditioning and lifestyle coaching out of her home in SeaTac. For more information contact Nancy at 206-852-4768 or visit her Web site at www.nancyjerominski.com

Ex-SeaTac city manager is finalist for Oregon post

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:52:10 -0800

Former SeaTac City Manager Craig Ward is one of five finalists for the city manager position in Oregon City, Oregon.

Oregon City is just south of Portland and is the county seat of Clackamas County. Its population is estimated at almost 30,000 residents.

Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated.

Ward was removed as city manager and suspended from his duties by the SeaTac City Council on Oct. 22.

Ward and city staffers had come unde fire for cost overruns on fire station construction, a critical state auditor's report, a controversial tree retention ordinance and the condemnation of a private parking lot that was later rescinded.

He was removed just before the November general election. On the ballot was a proposition that would have eliminated the city manager position and replaced it with an elected mayor. The measure lost by 9 votes.

Ward started in SeaTac as the city's principal planner and became assistant city manager before being promoted to city manager.

Todd Cutts was appointed interim city manager after Ward's suspension.

Ward is competing against finalists from Renton, Monroe, Gig Harbor and Grants Pass, Oregon for the Oregon City post.

Current City Manager Larry Patterson is retiring at the end of this month.

Pit bull incidents top police blotter

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:31:47 -0800

Police fatally shoot pit bull

King County police responding to a call at a Burien apartment fired gunshots that killed a pit bull, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

The King County Sheriff's Office said officers who were called to a domestic violence incident at an apartment encountered a pit bull that lived in another unit.

Police said the dog charged one of the officers who then fired several shots at the dog, which died shortly after.

The Sheriff's Office said the dog was not connected to the domestic violence call.

Man accused of drowning pit bull

A Burien man has been accused of animal cruelty after he brought his girlfriend's pit bull to the Five Corners Veterinary Hospital in Burien and allegedly told staff he drowned the dog in a bathtub. He allegedly told investigators that he "just lost it" when the pit bull bit him when he was trying to bathe the dog.

Phone threats

Motel staff received threats via phone by a previous guest. There were threats of a 9mm gun, locked and loaded and ready for the victim. The guest was being charged for two missing blankets from the room they were staying in.

Threats made from jail cell

A man was in the King County Jail and still managed to threaten his ex-girlfriend. He called the woman to discuss civil property issues. An argument ensued and he gave permission for his new girlfriend to "kick her ***."

Car break-Ins, thefts, prowlers, vandalism

3000 Blk S. 204th St., 19800 Blk Pacific Hwy. S., 3000 Blk S. 208th St., 3700 Blk S. 180th St., 100 Blk S. 174th St., 435 S. 152nd St., 16500 Blk 16th Ave. S.W., 1000 Blk S.W. 156th St., 1031 S.W. 128th St., 13455 2nd Ave. S.W., 1000 Blk S.W. 130th St.

Des Moines teacher headed to Haiti

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:21:29 -0800

Mt. Rainier High School teacher Kari Robins is an avid volunteer. Two summers ago she went on a volunteer vacation to Costa Rica and Panama to help rescue endangered sea turtles and manatees.

This year she has a new mission. Her destination this time is Haiti.

"I knew I wanted to do another volunteer mission this summer and [I] was looking into Guatemala and Africa," says Robins. "Then when the earthquake hit and the need was so dire, it didn't even seem like an option!"

Schools, she says, will remain closed for many more months and so her task will be mostly to give an education to orphaned children.

"Being a teacher, I am so excited to help in this way," says Robins.

Robins' trip will be for five weeks and will cost her about $3,000.

"I am doing a fundraiser," she says. "A 'Parent's Night Out' at the end of this month, but I could really use all the help I can get."

The fundraiser will be on March 19 at Seahurst Elementary School, 14603 14th Ave. S. in Burien, from 5 -10 p.m. and on April 23 at Mt. Rainier High School, 22450 19th Ave. S. in Des Moines, at the same time. The cost is $20 per child and $10 per each additional sibling.

Robins says she will also gratefully accept donations at Mt. Rainier. Her contact number is 206-631-7078.

Robins will be doing her volunteer work through Global Volunteers Network. She will arrive by plane in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and live in a tent on a secure compound with other volunteers.

She will work in an orphanage and at two camps for internally displaced persons.

The Web site for the program is: http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/haiti/.

SeaTac commemorates twenty years as a city with ceremony

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:27:11 -0800

Recent controversies over condemnation proceedings and the city's form of government were set aside as residents and staff celebrated on March 1 the City of SeaTac's 20th anniversary of incorporation.

The 12-square mile city with a population of about 25,000 was incorporated Feb. 28, 1990. At a ceremony in city council chambers, King County Executive Dow Constantine noted the city includes Sea-Tac International Airport, which handled 31 million passengers last year and is the nation's 18th busiest airport.

The Hanky Panky Band from the SeaTac Senior Center at the North SeaTac Community Center provided entertainment before the ceremony.

Frank Hansen, the city's first mayor, noted, "I can wax on for hours about our accomplishments."

But he said he preferred mentioning day-to-day achievements such as the domestic violence victim who received immediate help after contacting city staffers.

Hansen lamented the anger he said that has entered politics.

"My personal experience is that good people are elected and we have a hardworking staff," Hansen declared.

King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson, who served on SeaTac's first council, recalled how she got involved in politics.

She said she had been raised by a single mother in a farmhouse on South 188th Street and graduated from Bow Lake Elementary and Tyee High.

She said she and her husband Pat, currently SeaTac's facilities director, were raising three small children when she became concerned about crime along the Sea-Tac Strip.

King County was ignoring the area so Patterson said she became joined the incorporation effort and ran for a city council seat.

Talking to residents on their doorsteps about what they wanted from the city was "the best job interview I ever had," according to Patterson.

"Now I am serving on the same level of government that so angered me then," she added.

Interim City Manager Todd Cutts said the anniversary celebration had given him "a real appreciation for how far we've come since incorporation."

He talked about current projects including a city center, light-rail access and sidewalk construction.

Cutts also noted the city has recently purchased 4 1/2 acres across from the Tukwila light-rail station on South 154th Street. The former Funsters Casino is located on the purchased site.

Cutts also noted he is "impressed by how much the residents care about the city."

Cutts and Deputy Mayor Gene Fisher presented Mayor Terry Anderson a certificate for her 20 years of service on the city council. She is the only original member still on the council.

Anderson brought Betty Brennan up to the podium with her to accept the certificate. Betty Brennan was one of the organizers of the incorporation effort along with her husband Joe, who served on the council until his death in October 2008.

Anderson also reminded the audience that city workers "might not all be SeaTac residents but they care about the city."

Tukwila high school students striving to help Haiti

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:04:30 -0800

Students at Foster High School in Tukwila are striving to raise awareness of the need in Haiti, and sustain that awareness despite the media's fading attention.

French teacher Sue Pike has been assigning service learning projects to her students for years. This year the earthquake in Haiti took the focus.

Students have created posters using drawings, photographs and facts to depict the dire situation Haiti is in after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the country on Jan. 12.

Pike complimented her students on the strong emotion behind their posters. Students drew faces with tears, pregnant women worrying, helping hands holding a bandaged world, and annihilated buildings. Statistics are written to grab attention, stating the current death toll at over 200,000 people.

In addition to the posters, Pike's students from all levels are involved in making and selling bracelets for $1 each. Their goal is to sell 250 bracelets. Donations are also coming in.

Foster's Interact Club is also involved in the making and selling of these bracelets, as well as buttons, which were designed by a Foster student.

Students will be selling bracelets and buttons until March 18. If you are interested in donating to the cause or purchasing a button or bracelet, you can contact Sue Pike at 206-901-7942.

All proceeds are going to aid the relief effort in Haiti.

To assist in their service learning projects, two Seattle University students, Anna Barker and Anthony Longoria, have joined in. They are helping students incorporate their knowledge of the French language into their projects as well.

Currently in Haiti, there are about 3 million people still in need of help. People are living in tents made of tarps and blankets and the rain season is vastly approaching.

Two students at Foster, who are from Haiti, lost their cousin during the earthquake.

Students said their goal is to have people respond-- not just acknowledge the problem in Haiti.

"The feeling of being abandoned is far more painful than cuts and bruises," student Anna Tran wrote on her poster.

Pike's students have also painted the "Foster Rock" outside of the school as another means of drawing attention to their cause.

Normandy Park resident says life doesn't stop with kidney dialysis

sethb — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:34:59 -0800

Normandy Park resident Ted Lomax is proof that life continues with kidney dialysis.

Lomax, 83, has been on dialysis for nearly a decade. He started dialysis three times a week at a Northwest Kidney Centers' clinic. For the past eight years, Lomax has been having dialysis at home with the help of his wife, Gloria, 79.

Dialysis is absolutely necessary in keeping a person with kidney failure alive. It removes impurities and waste from the blood when one's kidneys are unable to do so. Without dialysis or a kidney transplant, a person with kidney failure would not survive.

Most people dialyze in a center, but others prefer the flexibility of home dialysis, as treatments done at home can be longer and therefore more similar to the function of healthy kidneys.

Home dialysis gives patients more control over their lives, Gloria explained. "It's flexible. You can do it earlier, or later, to accommodate something else that's happening that day. It allows you to work your dialysis around your life."

Ted did not have any major symptoms before suffering from the kidney disease that required him to begin dialysis. The cause of his ailing kidneys is a mystery.

He has no known family members with the disease and always watched his diet, Gloria said.

He is among the one of the seven Americans who has kidney disease.

March 11 is recognized around the world as World Kidney Day. It's time for everyone - like Lomax - to consider getting tested for kidney disease.

Some 886,800 people in Washington state have chronic kidney disease, which often has no symptoms until very late.

"The incidence of kidney disease among American adults has increased 30 percent in the past 10 years," said Joyce Jackson, president and chief executive of Northwest Kidney Centers, the largest non-profit kidney dialysis organization serving King County. "Kidney disease is more than a personal health issue. It's a public health issue too. Thirty percent of the country's Medicare budget is spent treating kidney disease and 7 percent is spent on dialysis treatment. Significant portions of our public health care dollars are being spent on a disease that in many cases can be prevented."

Ted Lomax retired from Boeing in 1991 after 40 years as an aeronautical engineer. But retirement hardly slowed him down. He immediately began a second career doing the same type of work as a consultant for a Boeing contractor.

He also wrote an aeronautical engineering textbook that was published in 1996.

"He continued to go into work several times a week, all during the kidney dialysis" until the summer of 2008, Gloria said. Even after he stopped going to the office, he continued working from home for several years. "He really enjoys it," Gloria said, who recently spoke on behalf of her husband, who was recovering from gall bladder surgery.

Gloria trained with Northwest Kidney Centers for four weeks to learn how to operate the home dialysis machine for her husband. She admits the process was "very, very daunting" at first.

"We really needed that four weeks of training, and that first week, I was ready to quit," Gloria confessed. At the time, the equipment seemed too confusing to operate.

"I remember asking my trainer if anyone had caused the death of their partner," she said with a laugh. "They assured me, no, that had not happened."

By the end of training, Gloria grew more confident with the equipment. Having a home-training nurse who is always a phone call away helps, she said. "When you run into a problem, you call... I've called many, many times. They are just wonderful," she said.

Gloria also credits the couple's strong faith with dealing with the challenge of dialysis.

"Every time we do dialysis at home, we pray and we know that we are in the presence of God," she said. "I never put a needle in his arm without asking God to control my hand."

They also have a supportive family; Gloria is quick to praise granddaughter Erin Yoshida, 18, who stops off on her way home from school to help with hanging the bags needed for dialysis, which look similar to hanging IV bags.

Gloria and Ted have lived in their home for 54 years, have five grown children and six grandchildren, and are looking forward to celebrating their 57th wedding anniversary on March 15.

While dialysis was not a future they ever envisioned, they have learned that it does not mean you cease to do things that matter to you, Gloria said.

"Life does not stop with dialysis," she said. "Dialysis is not the focus or center of your life. It's what enables you to keep on living and doing the things you want to do."

Ways to prevent kidney disease:

Treat high blood pressure and diabetes, two of leading causes of kidney failure.
Don't smoke.
Eat a low-salt, low-fat diet and control your weight.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
Don't overuse pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen, which can damage kidneys.
Your doctor can run three simple tests to assess your risk:
Check your blood pressure
Test for protein in the urine
Test your blood for creatinine

Ask your doctor for these tests, especially if you are in a high-risk group, which includes African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, people over age 60, and those with high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney disease.

Early detection and treatment can help prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a transplant to sustain life.

Drago dives into social media to connect with district

patr — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:34:37 -0800

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Jan Drago can now be reached on her Facebook page or through a tweet! The Councilmember has announced the creation of a Facebook page and Twitter account to offer citizens, business owners and community organizations in District 8 a direct connection with King County government and the ability to stay informed in the fast-paced digital world.

“More and more people of all ages are turning to social media sites for their news and information about their family, friends, and community,” said Drago. “My plan is to use these communication tools to help our citizens track what the County Council is doing on their behalf, and get them information about meetings, events and issues that are happening in their neighborhoods.”

Along with Twitter and Facebook, Drago also plans to put out a regular newsletter via email, and her County Council website was recently updated with links to sign up for the e-newsletter as well as links to the new social media sites.

· Go to @KCCMJanDrago for Drago’s Twitter account, where followers can get updates and announcements. www.twitter.com/KCCMJanDrago

· Drago’s Facebook page will provide information on events and meetings in District 8, plus photos and other postings about Drago’s work. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Councilmember-Jan-Drago/301832882923

· Send an email to district8enews@kingcounty.gov with your contact information to receive Drago’s e-newsletter. The first edition is expected to be released later this month.

· Visit www.kingcounty.gov/drago for all of these links, plus new information about upcoming events, recent news, and a new Community Spotlight section where people and organizations working hard to make District 8 a better place to live are featured.

Follow the Council’s deliberations through Twitter by signing up through the King County Council Web site at: www.kingcounty.gov/council Watch all Council proceedings held in chambers LIVE on King County TV

on Comcast and Broadstripe Cable on channel 22, or online at: www.kingcounty.gov/KCTV

Barefoot Burien bass player will wear shoes for performance

steves — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:51:35 -0800

There are jazz bands. There are classical orchestras. Then there is the Seattle-based Pontiac Bay Symphony. While they may not play rock and roll, some of their repertoire includes songs more recognizable than the Beatles. Each Pontiac Bay performance embraces a theme. One concert focused on movie theme songs, including “Jaws,” “Lord of the Rings,” “Jurassic Park,” “Star Wars,” and “2001 A Space Odyssey” with its trademark heart-stopping timpani “Boom-boom Boom-boom.” Another celebrated the Western movie and TV show genre, and that song list included “Rawhide,” and “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” a Clint Eastwood cult-classic. The eclectic roster including at least one player from Highline.

Sunday, March 14, they will perform “The Pontiac Bay Old-Time Radio Show,” which will attempt to duplicate the old radio shows of the 1930’s and ‘40s with a Cole Porter and Duke Ellington big band sound.
Professional actor and base baritone opera vocalist Cliff Watson will be the announcer. Ballard resident and old time radio maven, Larry Albert, will perform three roles. He is best known as Harry Nile, Dr. Watson, and others in the Jim French Productions of Imagination Theater heard nationwide, and in Seattle on AM 880 KIXI.

The scores will be interspersed with sketch dramas involving sound effects contraptions like the glass “crash box” that simulates windows and lamps braking, the door and knob box which often precedes the line, “This is the police. Open up.”

“Then there is the ‘wood block’ you strike with a mallet, the sound of junior kicking the bill collector in the shins,” said Sheila Espinoza, Pontiac Bay’s director and founder.

Espinoza is an award-winning Seattle composer whose mission was to establish a band with a mentoring theme. All ages participate and the more experienced show the ropes to the newbies.

“We’ve done this (theme) twice before and it was really popular and sold out,” she said.

“If you put blinders on, and your headphones on, it will be just like listening to the radio in the 1940’s. That’s the idea,” said West Seattle resident Jeffrey Taylor, who plays the tuba in the symphony. He also performs with the Black Diamond Brass, Northwest Symphony, Highline Community Symphonic Band.

The Chicago-born 58 year-old, who said he appreciates the opportunity to mentor youngsters, was raised on music in the house.

“Dad ran the Bill Russell Orchestra, and Mom was a classical pianist who studied at the Chicago Music Academy. She died last year. When she was 14 she played a Greek Piano concerto with the Chicago Youth Symphony. One of her last performances last year was that same concerto with a major jazz band in Florida. Mom started teaching me piano at age 5. Mike (Michael) Russell was my teacher here. He was with the Seattle Symphony for 32 years. I won’t say I ever gave up music. I put it aside for 30 years.”

Clint Kelly, a Burien resident for 18 years, plays electric and acoustic base for Pontiac Bay, and looks forward to the old time radio show production.

“We didn’t have television when I was a kid so we listened to radio shows,” said Kelly, 60. My younger son, Jamey, who is 17, likes to listen to this kind of stuff, too.”

Kelly got involved with the symphony when he attended a recording session with Hummie Mann, a film composer who was teaching in Seattle. Kelly retired from Union pacific Railroad, and said his instrument “seems to be getting heavier as years go by.”

Kelly also plays in the Highline Christian Church band in Burien. He prefers to play barefoot at Pontiac Bay’s rehearsal space at Magnuson Park. He explained, “It’s more comfortable practicing without shoes. At the performance, however, concert dress is required.”

Pontiac Bay Symphony is a non-profit open to musicians age 13 and up. It performs three times a year at Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) McEachern Auditorium, 2700 24th Avenue East, Seattle.

Highline applies for grant to change Chinook, Cascade middle schools

sethb — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:57:08 -0800

As expected, the Highline School Board unanimously decided March 3 to apply for a three-year federal grant that would mandate major changes at SeaTac's Chinook and North Highline's Cascade middle schools.

Besides low scores on the standardized Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) tests, the schools were singled out for grant eligibility because they were in Step 5 of school improvement under the federal No Child Left Behind act, made less progress in reading and math than the state average in the last three years, and their math and reading scores over the last three years are within the lowest 5 percent of schools receiving federal Title I aid.

The district expects to know by March 26 if the grant is approved. If so, additional teacher training could begin this summer, incoming 7th graders could be offered summer programs and class changes would begin in September.

Superintendent John Welch reported at the special board meeting that a two-day "summit" of around 40 administrators, teachers, parents and community organization staffers met last week to hash out "big ideas and emerging directions."

He said the details of the reform measures have not been determined but "they will require us to work together."

Possibly the most controversial grant mandate is that principals at both schools must be replaced. Teachers and community organization leaders told board members that, while they strongly support reform, they oppose removing the principals.

Deputy Superintendent Carla Jackson and accountability director Alan Spicciati outlined elements of a reform plan.

They include increased accountability for board members, central administrators and parents, as well as teachers. A senior administrator would be given "code blue" authority to make bold decisions to aid Chinook and Cascade.

Parents and community organizations would become increasingly involved in the schools through increased communication, bi-lingual staff and parent advisory teams.

Staff would be evaluated in new ways with student achievement as a factor.

New "meaningful" incentives would be provided. Highline Education Association president Stacie Hawkins told board members, "Most teachers have non-monetary goals. Teachers are not in the profession to make money."

The school day could be restructured with class lengths and electives changed.

Ambitious goals, such as a 30 percent increase over three years, and high expectations would be set for students.

Strategies that have been successful in other high-poverty, highly diverse schools such as adjusting school schedules to provide more learning time could be implemented.

Sarah Weir of the White Center Community Development Association said that because of teacher contracts much of the after-school learning opportunities would be led by community based organization staffers. She asked for more training for the community workers.

Deputy Superintendent Jackson mentioned replicating "90/90/90 school best practices." They are schools that are at least 90 percent minority, 90 percent free or reduced lunch and 90 percent successful on standardized tests.

Board member Susan Goding asked Welch what happened to plans introduced several years ago to implement the 90/90/90 strategies in Highline schools. Welch replied that some of them have been tried and said more evaluation is needed.

Ron Howell who works with White Center students said the community's makeup should be taken into account when looking at test scores. He cited low income, language barriers, gangs and "destructive and permissive attitudes."

Teachers union chief Hawkins declared, "Let's not squander this opportunity to create change."

She said teachers are very interested in reform and are willing to be accountable but administrators, students and parents must also be held accountable.

"I hope this time you really partner with us," Hawkins added.

In a district press release, Welch acknowledged that the models for change mandated in the grant take a narrow approach to improving student achievement.

"The models imply that sole responsibility for getting middle school students to grade level is with the middle school teachers and principals," Welch noted.

"We know there are other issues that need to be addressed-in elementary schools, in our system as a whole, and in the community. Still, this is an opportunity to gain some resources we haven't had before to tackle issues at the middle school levels.

At the meeting, board president Bernie Dorsey ended by telling the Chinook and Cascade community that "we will not give up on you."

Burien Art Gallery leaving blue house to search for greener pastures

sethb — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:28:08 -0800

The doors will be locked permanently soon at the little blue house at the edge of Dottie Harper Park in Burien.

After 47 years in the same location, the Burien Art Center will be closing its doors March 19 at the conclusion of the current exhibition.

Gallery operators vow to open again at an even better location.

Residing on Southwest 146th St. near 4th Avenue Southwest, the gallery's final hurrah of sorts will be "Page Turner: Contemporary Artist Books," a free exhibition that displays the original works of 22 artists.

An artist's reception will be held on Friday, March 5th from 6-9 p.m. The opening reception will be an excellent time for people to share their views about the future of the art gallery over a glass of wine.

With the new Burien Library relocated to the Town Square complex, gallery operators are looking for a location closer to downtown Burien.

According to Erin Williamson, executive Director for Burien Arts, the final gallery show is a celebration of their years there.

"It's a book art show for mid-career professional artists. They are all from different parts of the country. We attract both local and national artists," said Williamson.

In reference to its closure, John Unbehend, Burien arts board president said, "We're looking at this from a repositioning point of view. We may be closing, but we're not going under. We are heading in a new direction and it is a different path and a new challenge."

In 1963, the Burien Art Gallery was established, based on successful business demographics that were relevant then. Times have changed.

Recently Burien Art Gallery changed names and became Burien Art Center, due to confusion with the Burien Arts Commission, which is part of the city.

Over the years the gallery played a significant role in the community with activities such as high school art exhibitions, the creation of the yearly Strawberry Festival, sponsorship of Shakespeare-in-the Park, the production of musical events and numerous other projects.

"It's good for the community to have both visual and performing arts," Williamson said. "It's amazing, there are numerous American realist artists in the Northwest. The Interstate-Five corridor from Portland to Vancouver BC is incredibly rich in artistic talent and we can build on that."

Burien Arts has provided the community with a breadth and depth of art. However, with the new town center, building projects, new restaurants and relocation of the Strawberry Festival they have to get a new grip on their future.

Changes in demographics, growth and development in the city, and relocation of key facilities have drastically reduced gallery traffic and have led the board to reexamine how Burien Arts can better serve the community.

Unbehend said, "Initially we naively thought that things that worked in the past would work now. We tend to be blinded by what we like. We have to be careful not to have tunnel vision."

The repositioning will be both a physical (eventually moving to a more visible, accessible location) and a directional one (how they will bring a sustainable set of visual arts services to Burien).

"We don't own the current art gallery-- the space is rented," said Unbehend. "Do we rent in the long term? I don't know."

According to Lorain Stowe, a volunteer at Burien Arts, due to the relocation of the library to the center of town foot traffic has evaporated.

"The biggest impact at this time is the current environment. Financially it's a tough time. Burien Arts is in a remote spot and we haven't been getting the exchange with the community we want," said Unbehend.

Unbehend sees the first step for the new direction is information gathering from the community.

"I think the future looks good for us," said Unbehend, stressing that all eight board members are enthusiastic. "There's never going to be change without a significant emotional event."

An e-mail address has been established, BurienArts@gmail.com, where people can submit their opinions about the future of the center.

Information gathering will also take the form of discussions with art groups and artists, talking with individuals in the community, holding public meetings and viewing those e-mails. Board members are constructing a list of people that are supporters of the arts: artists, merchants (frame shops, stained glass), art teachers and art lovers.

"We're looking for people that want to get involved," said Unbehend. "We also have a huge need for marketing. I want information! We need to find out what people need and want and what they are willing to support."

According to Unbehend, there are demographic questions that need to be answered before the board of directors will proceed: Who are we are serving? What are the artistic (visual, performing, literary) activities that the community wants and will support? How do we find a new facility that meets the community needs that will be eagerly supported - attendance, participation and financial?

"We will be working with the Burien merchants and Discover Burien to find how we can best support one another," said Unbehend. We plan to join in close discussions with the City of Burien -- Parks and Recreation, council, city management -- to make sure we're clear on how we can support and reinforce their activities in the arts so that Burien Arts is not duplicating their fine efforts. This data will provide the foundation for decisions on how we reposition ourselves."

One successful model being considered is the Columbia City artist's co-op in Rainier Valley. Their Web site is: http://www.columbiacitygallery.com/about.html.

When asked about the timeline for closing and then reopening, Unbehend stated that they will take a few months for intelligence gathering and preparing for the Strawberry Festival and by July they will have a firm strategic vision of what do.

By August they hope to reopen, whether it is a new location in the downtown area or recruiting storeowners for a rotating exhibit.

In November they will have their "20/20 Artist's Exhibit" - which is twenty pieces of art, 8" x 8" by twenty artists. There are 400 works of art total and each piece is available for sale for $40 each.

According to Williamson, it is great art that is wonderful, accessible and affordable.

"By November, when we have our annual 20/20 Artist's Exhibition, we will hopefully be rocking and a rolling," said Unbehend.