The Port of Seattle announced that it will start sampling and testing stormwater from the former Lora Lake Apartment complex in Burien this winter as part of a legal agreement with the Department of Ecology (Ecology).

Ecology is seeking public comment on this plan through Wednesday, Dec. 23rd, and residents interested in reviewing the proposal should click here.

The project, called an “Interim Action,” is part of the work the Port is required to perform to study contamination at the site, which housed a barrel-cleaning company in the 1940s and 50s and an auto-wrecking facility from roughly 1960 to 1981.

A 22-building apartment complex was built in 1987. The Port, which owns Sea-Tac Airport nearby, bought the property in 1998 and demolished six buildings within the airport’s Third Runway protection zone in 2007.

At one time, the 234 Lora Lake Apartments were affordable housing.

The remainder of the buildings were demolished just recently.

Environmental samples taken in preparation for that demolition showed higher than expected levels of contaminants from the pre-apartment complex activities at the site. Pollutants associated with the site’s former activities include petroleum products, dioxin, solvents and other contaminants.

The Port demolished only above-ground structures, and took measures – under Ecology oversight – to not disturb potentially contaminated soil.

Port consultants will collect stormwater samples during rainstorms, with a plan to collect sampls during up to 10 storms. The information will help Ecology determine whether the site requires special or additional stormwater controls or treatment. Polluted runoff – stormwater – is the leading threat to water quality in the state’s urban areas.

As we reported in August, the Port of Seattle wants to develop facilities for airport-compatible activities there, such as air cargo, food service and warehouses, and on other property it owns within Burien’s Northeast Planning Area north of the airport.

But the now-vacant lot is just inside the Burien city limits and several city council members hope this location will anchor economic development in the Northeast Planning Area that will generate additional sales tax and other revenue for the city. Possible land uses include an auto mall and a business park.

City Manager Mike Martin said recently that an interchange at the location, at 15001 Des Moines Memorial Drive, would increase the value of the Lora Lake site for business development.

It is also available for review at the Burien Public Library (400 SW 152nd St., 206-243-3490), as well as the Department of Ecology’s regional office in Bellevue – by appointment (425-649-7190 – 3190 160th Ave. SE).

A fact sheet on Lora Lake Apartments site is available at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0909175.pdf.

For technical questions or to comment on the plan, please contact David South, Ecology Site Manager, 425-649-7200; e-mail dsou461@ecy.wa.gov.

All King County Libraries will be Closed Thursday, Nov. 26th for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

DID YOU KNOW?

The King County Library System offers a variety of databases to help you with everything from business information and directories to homework help.  See our featured database at http://www.kcls.org/databases/

Testing & Education Reference Center:
Get ready for the big tests in your life – AP, SAT, GED, MCAT, and civil service – with practice tests, ebooks, and planning advice from #1 names in college and vocational prep, Peterson’s and ARCO.

BOOKS & READING:
Visit http://www.kcls.org/booksandreading/index.cfm for a list of books we recommend, new books, and book club resources.

PROGRAMS:

Literary Feast
LOCAL AUTHORS Cliff and Nancy Hollenbeck will be at the Burien Library Saturday, Nov. 21st  from 2pm- 4pm.

Northwest authors Cliff and Nancy Hollenbeck will visit the Burien library on Saturday Nov. 21, for a book-reading and signing event. The best-selling local authors are featured in the book, “Literary Feast, The Famous Authors Cookbook,” which is a compilation of 100 food, drink and dessert recipes from scores of well-known authors and writers.

Singing Thanksgiving at the Burien Library Wednesday, Nov. 18th at 10:30am! Presented by Harmonica Pocket
. All ages welcome.
 Celebrate the holidays with American Folk tunes including Over the River and Through the Woods, Turkey in the Straw, and This Little Light of Mine. This dynamic musical duo will have everyone singing and dancing along.

Rock! Rock! Rock! at the White Center Library Wednesday, Dec. 2nd at 6:30pm! Presented by Rowbes.
 Ages 2 and older welcome.
 This original children’s rock concert is performed by some crazy puppet musicians. 
Rowbes is better known as Dewy the Dog from Story Time with Dewey and Sketch: Season 2.

Visit http://www.kcls.org/season/ for a complete list of all upcoming library programs!

Why Can’t You Behave? Ideas for Handling Misbehavior at the Greenbridge Library Saturday, Nov. 21st at 1pm

Presented by Kathy Slattengren, M.Ed., Priceless Parenting, LLC
 – Learn ways to set effective limits, deal with adult-child control issues and use positive techniques for dealing with issues like tantrums, tattling, begging at the store and bedtime. 
Provides 2 hours STARS credit in Child Guidance.

BOOK REVIEW:
‘Wild Swans; Three Daughters of China’ by Jung Chang.

From turn of the century China through the 1980s Chang traces 3 generations of women.

Her grandmother, born in 1907, was a concubine as a young girl, her mother was a Communist party member and official, and she was a member of the Red Guards in the late 60s.

China’s evolution from a feudal society to present day told through the experiences of one family brings to life the incredible hardships and successes that have shaped the country.

Non-fiction, and definitely worth a read!

Until next time…see you in the stacks!

Marilee A. Cogswell is the Manager of the Burien Library.

Tonight (Friday Nov. 20th) BTB Advertiser Bison Creek Pizza & Pub will be holding a benefit memorial to honor Mark (last name intentionally omitted), the 25-year old victim of the stabbing fatality outside Goodtime Ernie’s in Burien last Thursday (read our coverage here).

Ian from local band The Cauze will be playing an acoustic (intimate) set.

Here are the details:

• The event will start at 10pm.
• 21+ only please.
• They’ll be collecting donations to help the victims family.
• The funeral will be next Wednesday (Nov. 25th); Bison Creek will be closed during the service, but will re-open at 5pm.
• Mark was an employee of Bison Creek a few years ago, and all of their employees will be attending this service.

Just a quick reminder that Burien Arts’ Second Annual 20/20 Vision Fundraiser and Art Sale, featuring 400 pieces of affordable art, will be this Saturday night, Nov. 21st at the Karuna Arts Yoga Studio beginning at 6:45pm.

The event will feature the work of 20 artists who each created 20 works of art in a variety of styles and media. All 400 pieces will be sold for just $40 per piece, and proceeds from the event will benefit Burien Arts.

In addition to the art sale, the event will offer food, an art vacation raffle and live music.

Here are the full details:

WHAT: Burien Arts’ 2nd Annual 20/20 Vision Fundraiser and Art Sale featuring 400 pieces of affordable art

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 21st, from 6:45pm to 10pm

WHERE: Karuna Arts Yoga Studio, located at 819 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien

COST: $5 suggested donation; for an extra $40 donation to Burien Arts, those with preview tickets will be allowed in at 5:45 pm to mingle with the artists and purchase two pieces of art ahead of the crowd.

INFO: From their press release:

On Saturday, Nov. 21st, Burien Arts will hold its second annual 20/20 Vision fundraiser and art sale at the Karuna Arts Yoga Studio in Burien from 6:45-10 pm.

20/20 Vision features the work of twenty artists who created twenty works of art in a variety of styles and media.

All 400 pieces will be sold for $40 and proceeds from the event will benefit Burien Arts.

In addition to the art sale, the event will offer food, an art vacation raffle and live music.

Featured artists will include:

• Kelda Martensen
• Rachel Loy
• Rachel Dory
• Judy Dore
• Kelly Neidig
• Mandy Cufley
• Ellen Van Wyck
• Gina Kallman
• Margie Lee
• Michael Matrese
• Kimisha Turner
• John Unbehend
• Margaret Davidson
• Ellen Werner
• Kim McCarthy
• Pete Rhodes
• Luke Dolkas
• Elissa Eng
• Zeb Andrews
• Andi Williamson

Entrance to 20/20 Vision is by $5 suggested donation. Doors open at 6:45 pm and art buying begins promptly at 7:00 pm. Preview tickets are available. For an extra $40 donation to Burien Arts, those with preview tickets will be allowed in at 5:45 pm to mingle with the artists and purchase two pieces of art ahead of the crowd.

The Karuna Arts Yoga Studio is located at 819 SW 152nd Street in Burien.

Burien Arts is a local non-profit dedicated to providing affordable and innovative arts opportunities to all generations and communities in the Burien/Highline region. Burien Arts manages the Burien Art Gallery, produces the Highline Vintage Jazz Festival, manages a summer performing arts series and offers educational resources to high school students.

For additional information, please contact the Burien Arts Association at 206-244-7808 or info@burienarts.org.

Burien’s annual WinterFest is coming to Olde and Downtown Burien on Saturday, Dec. 5th from 10am to 5pm, with a bunch of FREE activities for the entire family, including carriage rides, photos with reindeer, kids crafts, hay rides, human (and dog) photos with Santa, along with (not-free) wine tasting and in-store specials.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Burien’s annual WinterFest

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 5th from 10am to 5pm

WHERE: Olde Burien & Downtown Burien

COST: FREE!

INFO: There will also be numerous in-store specials during the day, along with hot treats and the following:

• Free Carriage Rides for kids age 2 to 5
• Free Photos with Reindeer at Goodie Gumdrops
• Free Kids Crafts at Collins Chiropractic
• Free Hay Rides 11am – 3pm
• Free Dog Photos with Santa at The Mark Restaurant
• Wine Tasting at Vino Bello Wine Bar
• Free Photos with Santa at John L. Scott

Main sponsors of the event include:

• Moss Chiropractic
• John L. Scott Real Estate
• Taproot Church
• Prudential Northwest Realty
• Discover Burien

BTB Advertiser Jim Coleman, DDS is holding their annual Stuffed Animal Drive for children who end up in the Highline Medical Center Emergency Rooms, and they’re looking for donations.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Jim Coleman, DDS annual Stuffed Animal Drive, to help calm children who end up in Highline Medical Center’s ERs.

WHEN: Now through Dec. 22nd.

WHERE: Donate stuffed animals at Jim Coleman’s offices, located at 1800 SW 152nd Street in Burien.

Jim Coleman, DDS

INFO: Here’s an email we received from Lynn Coleman:

As many of you know, our dental practice collects stuffed animals for the Highline Medical Center Emergency Rooms. These animals are given to children as they check into the ER and I have been assured by the nurses that they have a very calming effect on the kids.

We are again collecting animals and would really appreciate any contributions that you could make.

We will get them to the ER on the 22nd of December so if you want to drop them by our office before then, it will be great!

Let’s make those kids comfortable, loved and cared for in the best ER in the Seattle area!

Thanks,
Lynn Coleman

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidanmorgan/ / CC BY 2.0

All of us at The B-Town and White Center Blogs would like to offer a huge Turkey Day “thank you” to everyone who donated this past weekend at our 2nd Annual Turkey ‘N’ Diapers Drive at Albertsons in White Center.

Over $800 in donations was collected!

The food items will be distributed to those in need by the White Center Food Bank.

Baby related items will go to WestSide Baby, located in White Center.

Team leader Bart Bryan, who often hosts “Whaddaya Think?” on our six neighborhood blogs said “It was very, very cold weatherwise, but the hearts of our neighbors were warm.”

Example: two men, both fighting cancer, arrived three hours apart and, not knowing each other, donated food. Each did so with giving smiles.

One of the most touching moments of the day was when an elderly man donated all he could – 24 cents.

A Sarah Palin look-alike stopped by and contributed food.

A casino dealer set his 52 cards down and gave away a box of 168 diapers.

A grandmother waved and left a grocery bag of pasta and sauce.

A man named “Joe,” who did not want his picture taken, gave four bags of Top Ramen for “starving college students.”

Darla Green, of Skinperfect Aesthetics, was the first donor of the day.

Darla Green, from Skin Perfect Aesthetics in Burien, was the first donor of the day, bringing in a paper bag full of canned goods.

Mike, from an up and coming spot in White Center called Proletariat Pizza, donated three pizzas for the volunteers.

We’d also like to give a big shout out to the good folks at the White Center Albertsons!

Thanks, everyone!

WestSide Baby is a nonprofit organization that collects previously-owned items for children and babies and distributes them free of charge to South King County families in need.

In 2008 WestSide Baby served more than 12,000 children.

In any given month the White Center Food Bank serves over 1,500 families.

Here’s contact information:

White Center Food Bank
10829 8th Ave SW
Seattle WA 98146
www.whitecenterfoodbank.org
Phone: 206-762-2848

And:

WestSide Baby
10032 15th Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98146
(206) 767-1662
www.westsidebaby.org

Here’s a Photo Slideshow shot by Mark Neuman and Scott Schaefer of the day:

Click to View Our Photo Slideshow

The B-Town Blog is proud to announce “Have A Heart,” a very special Food Bank Fundraiser Blog Party on Tuesday, Dec. 8th, at The Tin Cellars!

This one will be focused on raising money and food donations for the Highline Area Food Bank, which serves Burien.

The night of food bank fundraisin’ blog partyin’ fun will begin at 6pm and continue ’til whenever at The Tin Cellars, the brand spankin’ new bar next to the Tin Room, located at 923 SW 152nd in Olde Burien.

The Highline Area Food Bank has been serving about 850 families a month, and is in need of more donations. It serves Burien clients north of 192nd Street and south of 116th Street, from Pacific Highway/International Boulevard/Military Road west to Puget Sound. Of those served, 42 percent are adults, 18 percent are seniors, 38 percent are children, and 2 percent are infants to age 2.

Suggested donation will be two cans/boxes of non-perishable food, $5 cash or whatever you can afford (including larger donations).

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Have A Heart,” The B-Town Blog’s Annual Food Bank Fundraisin’ Blog Party

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 8th from 6pm on

WHERE: The Tin Cellars, next to The Tin Room Bar at 923 SW 152nd in Olde Burien

COST: Suggested donation of two cans/boxes of non-perishable food or $5 cash or whatever you can afford. All proceeds will go directly to the Highline Area Food Bank (HAFB).

Here’s a list of items needed by the HAFB:

• Canned Veggies & Fruit
• Soup
• Tomato Sauce
• Yams
• Cranberry sauce
• Olives
• Meats
• Milk
• Crackers
• Mac & cheese
• Jam
• Peanut Butter
• Pumpkin
• Toiletries

INFO: This will be our 5th-ever “Blog Party,” and we hope that you can make it whether you’ve been to one before or not.

We’ll be demonstrating the BTB, doing live updates, taking pics and much more, including some great surprises…

Trollbeads are in Des Moines, and where else, but at new B-Town Blog Advertiser Kimberley’s on 7th (in Des Moines)!

Kim Beasly was the first jeweler in the state of Washington to identify the charm and fun of Trollbeads. That was a year ago. Since then she’s sold hundreds of Trollbeads.

This Saturday, Nov. 21st from 10:30am – 6pm, Kim is having a special Trollbeads party complete with food. The Trollbeads representative will be on hand with most of the 500 designs available right at Kimberley’s. To encourage you to start or add to your Trollbeads collection, Kim has a one day only special this Saturday, and that’s buy four Trollbeads charms and receive one free. Charms start at $23.

I was introduced to Trollbeads earlier this week, and fell in love with the charms thick braided necklaces and bracelets. But–WARNING–it’s not your mother’s charm bracelet, er, take it back, my charm bracelet–gold and shiny with soldered-on charms that showed the various aspects of a teenage girls’ life….

These charms are bright, whimsical (I loved the juggler) bright colored hand-crafted Italian Murano glass, precious stones, sterling and gold…the possibilities and combinations are infinite. And one fun thing, when you design your bracelet, there will be no other like it in the world. The bracelets are so beautiful, you can start with one charm and add to on special gift receiving occasions (like an add-a-pearl).

With the holidays coming up, Kim has started a Trollbeads registry to assist your friends and family in finding the ‘perfect’ Trollbeads for your necklace or bracelet.

From the Trollbeads US website:

“Charm” has a whole new meaning. More than 30 years after the first Trollbead was born in Denmark, the Nielsen/Aagard family and their team of designers continue to “charm” collectors with their imaginative jewelry designs.*

Handcrafted from the finest quality raw materials including 18K gold, sterling silver, Italian glass, natural pearls, precious stones and Swarovski crystal, each bead is a treasure to behold. Every irresistible piece has its own story inspired by love, nature, fairytales, mythology, cultures, and the diversity of the world around us.

There are over 500 interchangeable Trollbeads to choose from. New beads in intriguing shapes and colors continue to revitalize the collection. With an infinite number of combinations, the piece of jewelry you design will be completely unique and personal. The possibilities are endless.

Welcome to the “charming” world of Trollbeads, where every bead has a story and every story has a bead T.

*Trollbeads have won international artistic recognition and have been exhibited at Sculpture Objects & Functional Art in Chicago and New York.

So there you have it. Trollbeads show this Saturday at Kimberley’s Exquisite Jewelry at 22221 7th Ave in Des Moines, from 10:30am – 6pm. Bring your daughter, bring your mom, even bring your husband, but come on down.

You’ll love the ‘charm’ of Trollbeads!

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, event listing and/or Ad like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 40,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

BTB Advertiser Ventana Construction is holding a special free event: “Building a Better Home: Remodeling and Custom Home Workshop” on Thursday, Dec. 3rd at 6pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Ventana Construction’s “Building a Better Home: Remodeling and Custom Home Workshop”

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 3rd beginning at 6 pm

WHERE: Ventana Construction offices, located at 5458 California Ave SW, in West Seattle (98136).

INFO: Ventana says:

“If you are a homeowner considering remodeling your home or building a new custom home, this workshop is an invaluable first step in the process.

Learn from experienced professionals about how to get started, what to expect, and the steps you can take to make your project successful.

This 1 ½ hour workshop is open to the public and seating is limited.

Call 206-932-3009 to reserve your space.”

For more info, visit Ventana Construction’s website here, or call 206-932-3009.

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, event listing and/or Ad like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 40,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]