Highline High School students take maiden voyage on Alaska Airlines’ new 737
Photo by Steve Shay
Nearly 30 Highline High School students were treated to the maiden voyage of a Boeing 737 yesterday, May 6, flying one hour around Mount Rainier, on the new Alaska Airlines plane. This was the first time some students had flown. Other passengers included two Scout troops, the co-ed Venturing branch, and Chief Seattle Council. Joining them were King County Sheriff John Urquhart, Highline High School Resources Officer with the Burien Police Department Brian J. Barnes, Veronica Asence, Miss Seafair 2012-13, additional SeaFair staff and others.
The skies were clear, and the jet took off at Boeing Field and landed at Sea-Tac Airport.
“We’re here because the CEO of Alaska Airlines (Bradley D. Tilden) has taken delivery of the new plane (…) and we’ve been invited with Sheriff Urquhart to take a flight around Mount Rainier,” said Barnes. “The students are from Highline High School, and some are with the King County Sheriff’s Police Athletic Program.” (more…)
This weekend’s Cove to Clover features 4 cities, 4 races, 2 pub crawls, 1 carb-loading dinner and lots of snakes
David Watkins of Realty West Properties in Burien got his race face on last year as he volunteered to help at several events. This year’s event will feature two pub crawls on Friday, a carbo-loading Italian dinner and snake pit on Saturday and four races on Sunday. Photo by Steve Shay.
The following article was published in partnership with the Highline Times and was written by Eric Mathison.
Every year, Highline’s Cove to Clover event gets larger.
This year’s extravaganza, with events spread from two pub crawls starting it all on Friday, April 26 to a snake pit dinner on Saturday to four different big races on Sunday, is no exception.
The cities of Des Moines and SeaTac are also joining Burien and Normandy Park in the fun.
Centerpieces of the activities are the fundraising runs on Sunday, April 28.
The 5K run starts at noon at the Normandy Park Swim Club (The Cove) at noon and finishes up at Burien Town Square. The 10K run also starts at noon and ends up at Town Square. The 10K takes off from the Normandy Park Towne Center at First Avenue South and South 200th Street.
Race organizers say there are no other races like these with suffering the name of the game as runners climb and climb up the ominously named “Snake Hill.”
At the top of the hill, runners are rewarded with great views of Puget Sound and music from a Highland piper. All the races will feature an obstacle called “The Uprising,” a Celtic battle reenactment.
Children and families can participate in the nearly one-mile Wee Race, beginning at noon. It starts and ends at Town Square. Organizers promise a “mini-snake hill” on the course. (more…)
Burien Fire Station Ablaze in Construction Problems
The following article was published in partnership with the Highline Times and was written by Steve Shay
“There are still three major issues with the building and we’re still not able to accept it. We’re working through the process with the contractor,” Marrs said. “One issue is that the folding doors on the apparatus bay are not closing correctly. They’re out of plumb— not level. When they close, a gap at the bottom lets in air and rain.Another issue is the precast masonry pieces around the entire building. A substantial number have an exposed rebar, or rebar with less than the required coverage of cement. Some are already rusting. We’ve hired experts to do something testing and they have given us a number of units (pieces) we believe are affected. (more…)
Longtime Burien Town Square on-site sales team, Tracy O’Brien & Stacy Phipps leave & look back; Remain with Matrix Real Estate
Tracey O’Brien, left, and Stacy Phipps sit on the balcony of a Burien Town Square condo with Sea-Tac Airport in the background.
The following article was published in partnership with the Highline Times and was written by Steve Shay. It has been a long and winding, and sometimes rocky, road for the always-eager “Team Tracey & Stacy” of Matrix Real Estate who were for years the first folks you’d probably see when viewing the 124-unit Burien Town Square condominiums as they greeted you with matching smiles in their ground floor loft sales office. Stacy Phipps, a Burien resident, and Tracey O’Brien of Auburn were rotated out of that office, Phipps last November, O’Brien last month. Since the pre-sale phase from their storefront office across the street in July, 2007, the dynamic duo has sold 50 units, half of those since last September. They are still involved in the closings of those pending units sold while they were still there. And they still work for Matrix, now selling new single family homes by Lennar Corporation, one of America’s top four home builders, with communities in 18 states, including some 29 communities in the Seattle and Vancouver, WA. areas. (more…)
Supporters applaud King County Executive Dow Constantine at his re-election campaign kickoff (Photo Slideshow)
King County Executive Dow Constantine, right, is pictured with his father, John. Both are West Seattle residents. Dow appeared at the Hall of Fauntleroy for his 2013 campaign kickoff Thursday night, March 14.
The following article was published in partnership with the Highline Times and was written by Steve Shay.
King County Executive and West Seattle resident Dow Constantine kicked off his 2013 re-election campaign Thursday night, March 14, at the Hall of Fauntleroy in West Seattle.
Introducing him were King County Councilmembers Larry Gossett, & Joe McDermott. Supporters present included Dow’s father and mother, John and Lois, and Dow’s brother Blair.
Other politicians present were State Senator and Senator Majority Leader Ed Murray, new Port Commissioner Courtney Gregoire, the former governor’s daughter, King County Sheriff John Urquhart, King County Assessor Lloyd Hara.
Also there, Tim Nuse, 34th District Democrats Executive Board Member of the Year, Pete Spaulding, active member of the West Seattle Food Bank board, Southwest Precinct Advisory Council, the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council and other community groups, and other politicos. (more…)
Sheriff Urquhart advocates for more school resource officers; Says Newtown tragedy has resulted in constructive discussion on guns
The following article was published in partnership with the Highline TImes and was written by Steve Shay.
John Urquhart was sworn in as King County Sheriff Nov. 28, 2012. The former sergeant defeated incumbent Sheriff Steve Strachan with over 56 percent of the vote. Urquhart served as deputy most of his career in the Burien precinct, and patrolled South Park, SeaTac, and Boulevard Park.
Sheriff Urquhart shared some thoughts with the Highline Times on the hot topic of guns in schools.
“I don’t have any problem with law abiding citizens having guns. It’s a constitutional right and I’m sure not going to criticize that. Obviously we go after the citizens who aren’t law abiding. There are lots and lots of laws on the books to enforce those laws. Some may get tweaked. But everybody’s talking about gun violence in schools.
Burien C.A.R.E.S. animal shelter to hold fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 26; “Open Bite Nite” to feature standup comedy
The following article was published in partnership with The Highline Times and was written by Steve Shay.
The Burien Community Animal Resource & Education Society, or C.A.R.E.S., will hold a fundraiser Saturday night, January 26, 8:30 p.m. to midnight, at the Production Shop, 14634 8th Ave SW.
Debra George, who heads C.A.R.E., invites the public and merchants to donate items for their auction at the fundraiser. To donate, call them at (206) 812-2737 or email: debrageorgemi@aol.com. Also, you can drop off items at C.A.R.E.S., 909 SW 151st Street, Burien.
The event’s name, “Open Bite Nite” is a play on words as at least nine young standup comedians will perform open mic.
“It’s going to be fun,” said George. “We’ll have a no-host bar, and appetizers. We will have a VIP section and are looking for a sponsor. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to help offset day to day costs. (more…)
After 28 years Curiosity Corner School in Burien may close due to govt. program cuts & high overhead
The following article was published in partnership with the Highline Times and was written by Steve Shay.
The Curiosity Corner School, a Burien, well, cornerstone, since 1985 in its various incarnations, held a board meeting last week and after crunching the numbers acknowledged that unfortunately the numbers were crunching them. Disgruntled parents of disappointed kids ages one to five may have to make other arrangements.
“A Christmas miracle would have been a perfect scenario for us,” said Director, Burien-raised Laurie Sanderson. “We just want to get the word out that closing is a real possibility and all the services we’ve provided for all these kiddos throughout the years may end. It is definitely heartbreaking to know that it might not go on.
“I’ve got lots of parents who have more than one child here, a toddler and preschooler,” she said. About 37 students attend. “The hardest thing is listening to parents when we tell them the news. Once they have their kids here for a while they feel safe there and don’t want to leave. I’ve had students whose parents attended Curiosity Corner School when they were kids in our after-school daycare program when we accepted kids through age 12.” (more…)