The B-Town Blog Welcomes our latest Advertiser: The Ming Wong Chinese Restaurant!

Located in a cozy strip mall in Burien near the Dairy Queen off of Ambaum Blvd., the Ming Wong Chinese Restaurant is celebrating their Grand Opening this month under new owners Connie and Kwan Chan.

Connie was born in Canton, China, and moved to the Seattle area in 1995. After honing her culinary skills for 14 years at various restaurants in Seattle, she now brings her dining expertise to Burien.

Connie says “When it comes to Chinese cooking we can do everything!” They can even create your favorite Chinese dishes that are not on their menu. Just ask!

“Try our house tea,” says Connie. “Many of our customers say it’s the best tea in town.”

Some of their customers’ favorites are:

• Crispy Pork Szechwan Style
• Orange Beef
• Homemade Chicken Teriyaki
• Honey Walnut Prawns

The Ming Wong has ample room for banquets, large dinner parties, or special occasions.

They offer free delivery within a three mile radius with a $15 minimum order, and are one of the few local restaurants that allow online ordering (try it here).

Connie added “Ask me about our catering menu. We can put together something special that you can enjoy at home or at your business.”

The B-Town Blog staff highly recommends the Ming Wong Chinese Restaurant because we dine there frequently and hope you enjoy their wonderful menu as much as we do.

The Ming Wong Chinese Restaurant
14400 Ambaum Boulevard SW
Burien, Washington 99166

Phone: 206-241-2679

Fax: 206-241-4860

Order online: www.mingwongrestaurant.com

Hours:

• Monday through Thursday 11am to 9:30pm
• Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm
• Sunday 12pm to 9:30pm

[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!]

UPDATE Sat. 11/7/09: The Seattle Police Department released more information Saturday about Christopher J. Monfort, the suspect shot Friday in Tukwila after being approached about his car, a Datsun B-210 that matched a vehicle seen near the scene of Officer Timothy Brenton’s death on Halloween.

He was shot on the scene and is currently in serious condition and in custody at Harborview Medical Center.

According to the latest reports, Monfort’s apartment had a cache of weapons, including bomb-making materials. He is now believed to have “worked alone” in the fatal shooting of Officer Brenton, and is also a suspect in the Oct. 22 firebombing of seven Seattle police vehicles.

Monfort once attended Highline Community College in Des Moines.

Here’s the release:

On the afternoon of November 6^th , 2009, Seattle Police Homicide detectives received a tip about a Datsun 210 matching the description of a possible suspect vehicle used in the slaying of Officer Tim Brenton. Detectives responded to a parking lot in the 13700 block of 56^th Avenue South in Tukwila. While detectives were investigating the scene further an adult male suspect emerged and pointed a gun at them. Detectives fired on the suspect in self defense, striking him at least once. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. No detectives were injured.

The Tukwila Police Department is handling the crime scene investigation and the King County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit is conducting the officer-involved shooting investigation.

SPD detectives obtained search warrants to further examine the crime scene. Evidence located inside the suspect’s apartment included improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a rifle, and various other items of evidence.  Detectives now believe that this individual is responsible for both the murder of Officer Brenton,  the attempted murder of Officer Sweeney, and the arson attack on October 22^nd at the Charles Street facility. Detectives are asking the Prosecutor’s Office for formal charges. The Datsun that detectives were looking for is registered to the suspect.  Our investigation into the murder of Officer Tim Brenton and attempted murder of Officer Britt Sweeney continues and we are still receiving and following up on tips.  We have received numerous tips from the public and we encourage everyone to continue to call us with any information they may have regarding this investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call either 911 , or the tipline at (206) 233-5000.  Those wishing to remain annonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or send a text to CRIMES (274637).  Your text message should include “TIP486″  to ensure proper routing.  Calls are taken 24 hours a day.

PREVIOUSLY: Friday afternoon (Nov. 6th), shortly after Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton’s memorial concluded, a suspect named Christopher J. Monfort was shot outside his apartment building in Tukwila, prompting a massive outpouring of police to the area.

Police were apparently serving a search warrant on Monfort, 41, when he pulled out a weapon. He was shot on the scene and is currently under custody at Harborview Medical Center.

Monfort apparently attended Highline Community College in Des Moines, where he ran for student office in 2003.

According to HCC’s “Thunderword” student newspaper dated Nov. 20, 2003 (PDF link to issue), Monfort’s platform was:

“Christopher Monfort said he’s running to make the student body more aware of the civil liberties lost under the Patriot Act and the current political administration (Bush).

Monfort said students should vote for him because he actually cares about the world and wants to make a positive change.”

Monfort also studied law enforcement issues at the University of Washington.

Seattle Police Officer Timothy Brenton was shot and killed as he sat in his patrol car with an officer-trainee after a traffic stop on Capitol Hill on Oct. 31. Thousands of officers from around the country attended a memorial Friday afternoon for him at KeyArena in Seattle.

King County Public Health announced Friday (Nov. 6th) that it is now offering a limited supply (15,000 for now) of H1N1 vaccines

To get vaccinated, you have to make an appointment by telephone, and meet the criteria listed below:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
• People between 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems
• Healthcare and emergency workers with direct patient contact

The only Burien pharmacy currently with the new batch is:

• Albertsons-Sav-On
  12725 First Ave. S.
  Burien, WA 98168
  (206) 439-7212

Here are two others in nearby White Center:

• Walgreens
  9456 16th Ave SW
  White Center, 98106
  (206) 767-2294
• Albertsons-Sav-On
  10616 16th Avenue S.W.
  White Center, 98146
  (206) 242-6310

Many of the 44 participating pharmacies are taking appointments by phone starting today (Fri. Nov. 6th); some will be holding walk-up clinics without appointment starting next week. The full list of participating pharmacies, including hours, types of vaccine available, vaccination age ranges and administrative fee, is posted at www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/pandemicflu/swineflu/locations.aspx. This site will be updated Monday through Friday by noon; people should contact pharmacies directly for the most up-to-date information.

With limited national vaccine supplies, Public Health – Seattle & King County has had to delay its plan to make vaccine widely available through community venues. As more vaccine becomes available, there will be additional sites for getting vaccinated, including community clinics.

“Making vaccine available through pharmacies is an important next step in protecting our community, but supplies at both pharmacies and health care providers will continue to be limited for at least several weeks,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants to get vaccinated, but we are still dealing with limited vaccine supplies.”

With the latest deliveries this week, King County has received approximately 142,000 doses of vaccine. A new allocation of approximately 71,000 doses is being ordered for delivery to the county. Most of the vaccine is being made available through health care providers.

The amount of H1N1 vaccine at pharmacies will be limited, with each pharmacy receiving a few hundred doses each. Vaccine will be re-supplied to pharmacies as more becomes available over the coming weeks, so people should regularly check Public Health’s website for updates.

Many pharmacies are unable to vaccinate babies and young children because their staff is not licensed and/or trained for these age groups. Residents trying to vaccinate children should check with pharmacies directly and with their health care providers since vaccine is continuing to arrive.

Pharmacies may charge a fee for administering the vaccine, typically between $12 and $22 (not to exceed $22). This fee is covered by most health insurance. People should bring their health insurance information to the pharmacy, and they may need to submit a receipt to their insurance company for reimbursement.

Visit the Public Health H1N1 influenza website at www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1 for updates on vaccine availability in the community or call the Flu Hotline at 1-877-903-KING (5464), which is staffed with operators from 9am to 5pm weekdays to answer questions from residents about H1N1 influenza. There is also a special 24-hour nurse line service extended over this weekend for people with flu seeking medical care advice. Recorded information will be available 24 hours a day.

View King County pharmacies with H1N1 vaccine in a larger map

Veteran’s Day is this coming Wednesday, Nov. 11th, and Brown Bear Car Wash will be honoring vets and current service military (as well as spouses) with free car washes all day.

The nearest location is the one in Des Moines, located at 22706 Marine View Drive; others are in Federal Way, Kent, Auburn and Renton (see list below).

As a way of saying “thanks” to our military, Brown Bear will be offering free “Bear Essential” car washes to all current or former members of the military, including spouses.

“Our organization is proud to honor veterans and service personnel,” said Brown Bear President and founder Vic Odermat, himself a Marine Corps veteran. “While the washes are free, we know that freedom is not. This is a way for us to show our support and gives us a unique opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to people who sacrifice so incredibly for our freedom.”

Odermat said the offer will operate on an honor system and no verification or documentation is required. Drivers should identify themselves as a current or former member of the military to the wash attendant.

Odermat started Brown Bear in Seattle in 1957 with one location. They now own and operates car washes throughout the Puget Sound area and Spokane.

Here’s a list of participating locations nearby:

• 22706 Marine View Dr., Des Moines
• 34017 Hoyt Rd. SW, Federal Way
• 814 Auburn Way S, Auburn
• 1202 W Meeker St., Kent
• 800 S Grady Way, Renton
• 621 Rainier Ave. S, Renton
• 77 Rainier Ave. S, Renton

“Christmas with the Crawfords,” Burien Little Theatre’s holiday production, begins Nov. 27th, and it sounds hilarious – imagine actress Joan Crawford and other assorted (yet highly dysfunctional) Hollywood celebrity guests stuck at Crawford’s home on Christmas Eve doing a radio show.

Now throw in men in drag, funny original music, a great cast and the fact that it’s local and you’ve got this show.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Christmas With The Crawfords” musical comedy

WHEN: Begins Nov. 27th and continues through Dec. 20th; 12 shows total so you’d better order tickets soon!

• November 27 at 8:00 p.m.     Friday
• November 28 at 8:00 p.m.     Saturday
• November 29 at 2:00 p.m.     Sunday Matinee -  $7 Sunday
• December 4 at 8:00 p.m.        Friday
• December 5 at 8:00 p.m.        Saturday
• December 6 at 2:00 p.m.        Sunday Matinee
• December 11 at 8:00 p.m.      Friday
• December 12 at 8:00 p.m.      Saturday
• December 13 at 2:00 p.m.      Sunday Matinee
• December 18 at 8:00 p.m.      Friday
• December 19 at 8:00 p.m.      Saturday
• December 20 at 2:00 p.m.     Sunday Matinee

WHERE: Burien Little Theatre, located at the Burien Community Center at the intersection of 4th SW and SW 146th.

INFO: Here’s copy from the BLT press release:

Featuring Hollywood’s most famous dysfunctional family, this musical comedy pays tribute to and parodies Tinseltown’s “Golden Age.”

To revive her ailing career, Joan Crawford arranges a live radio broadcast in her home on Christmas Eve, 1944, but uninvited celebrity guests hog the spotlight to sing their Holiday favorites.

Ticket prices are $20 general admission and $17 for students and seniors.

Click here to order tickets, which are priced better online.

On Sunday, Nov. 29th all tickets are just $7 – but hurry, these tickets sell out fast!

Playwright Mark Sargent as Ethel Merman

On a personal note, this show was created by Richard Winchester and written by Mark Sargent.

Waaay back in the ’80s, Sargent was lead singer in a campy Seattle band called Mondo Vita. We were big fans of ‘em, and once we saw his name attached to this show we just had to re-live those days – here’s the only video from them we could find, and while Sargent doesn’t sing the lead, he’s the shorter backup singer:

Click here to view the embedded video.

It appears that Sargent continues to do camp, as between writing plays, he’s also the lead singer for The Ethel Merman Experience in San Francisco.

We’d like to welcome back Advertiser Center Tool Rental Center to The B-town Blog!

We stopped in recently to say Hi to our friends in White Center. While there we picked up on tips to keep in mind in preparing for and dealing with the coming seasonal shift in our Northwest weather.

“When the rains and winds come, we’ll be ready to assist you,” said Center Tool’s Doug Stevens. “We’re here to help you meet all your winter weather needs.

“We have generators, pumps, dehumidifiers and wet vacuums,” he said. “We have log splitters, chippers and chain saws, too.

“We’re open seven days a week and our slogan is ‘We Rent Most Anything’.”

Doug and his crew are located in the bustling Delridge Triangle, where West Seattle meets White Center at Roxbury (see map below).

Doug began working at Center Tool Rental when his parents, Jack and Stella, started the business in the 1970’s.

Zoe is "still doing her Zoe thing" at Center Tools.

“My parents were really good at the personal touch, asking people about their kids, and giving them advice on how to complete a project,” he said. “Some of my current customers are the grandkids of Mom and Dad’s first customers.”

And Zoe, Doug’s friendly German Shorthaired Pointer, is doing great as usual, happily greeting all comers to Center Tools.

“Yes, Zoe is still doing her Zoe thing!”

Center Tool Rentals
9444 Delridge Way SW (at Roxbury)

Phone:  206-762-5057

Hours:

• Monday through Saturday:
  • 9am to 5pm
• Sunday:
  • 10am to 4pm

[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!]

Burien Arts’ Second Annual 20/20 Vision Fundraiser and Art Sale, featuring 400 pieces of affordable art, will be Saturday, Nov. 21st at the Karuna Arts Yoga Studio.

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
• Roxanne Fawcett

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.

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.

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

by Ralph Nichols

A proposed 8.8 percent rate increase by Seattle City Light, which would begin in January, “will affect most of our residents,” Burien City Manager Mike Martin said last week.

City Light provides electrical service to almost all of Burien and all of the North Highline area. The Seattle City Council will vote on whether to accept or amend the rate increase request later this month.

Included in City Light’s rate analysis supporting the proposed increase are additional increases of 5.4 percent in 2011 and 6.6 percent in 2012.

Because City Light is a publicly owned utility, it is not regulated by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. Oversight comes instead from the Seattle City Council.

Martin said Burien has asked City Light for clarification about the need for a rate hike at this time, “since it will affect so many of our residents,” but has not yet received a reply.

Outgoing Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels called for the increase when he submitted in September his proposed 2010 budget.

In a report to the Burien City Council, Martin noted that reasons given for a higher power rate when Nickels announced his budget proposal were the poor economy, a sharp decline in sales of surplus power and a larger-than-proposed rate decrease in 2007.

Surplus power sales have been driven down by low natural-gas prices, according to Seattle budget director Dwight Dively. While Seattle’s 2009 budget anticipated surplus power sales of $140 million, only about half that amount has been sold – leaving City Light with a $70 million shortfall.

Martin added that City Light also says the increase is needed to maintain its net operating income reserve, although “there is no legal reserve requirement” for that reserve as structured by the utility.

Citing City Light’s reference to cash flow, Martin replied, “The economy is also hurting our residents’ cash flow.”

In a statement to The B-Town Blog, he said, “At this time, it’s still not entirely clear what’s going on.” Burien staff will seek more information from City Light within the next couple of weeks.

The B-Town Blog would like to welcome its latest Advertiser: David Frasch, Associate Broker for Coldwell Banker Danforth & Associates, Inc!

David Frasch doesn’t like to wait, and he doesn’t think you should either. He believes his most important mission as your representative is to communicate promptly. Whether it is by phone, email or text you can almost always expect him to answer or reply immediately. If he can’t get to his iPhone when you call, he’ll get back to you as soon as he can.

His clients, friends and neighbors are always calling around newsletter time! David’s newsletter, “Service for Life” is the most passed-around newsletter in town. It is filled with compelling articles, amazing trivia, brain teasers, humor, and consumer information you’ll want to know. Every month people clamor to be the first to answer the trivia question to get the prize! What will it be this month? For your copy of “Service for Life” give David a call at (206) 226-0565 or email him at davidfrasch@msn.com. Maybe you’ll be the winner!

David enjoys real estate and helping people get what they want. His clients say some of the things they like best about David are that he is easy to work with and he cares about their peace of mind. David has been a full time real estate agent since 2000 and has handled almost every type of residential real estate transaction. He knows his clients deserve the very best in confidential, personal, and professional quality service. If you have any real estate questions please don’t hesitate to call David – he is always ready and willing to help out in any way he can.

Be sure to visit his website:

• http://davidfrasch.com

…and become his Facebook friend:

• http://www.new.facebook.com/frasch

…and Facebook fan:

• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Burien-WA/David-Frasch-Coldwell-Banker-Danforth-Associates-Inc/53757468002

Or call him at (206) 226-0565 or via email at davidfrasch@msn.com.

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!]

Jack Block Jr. with Manuela Horn, Burien's 6'2" "Yodeling Dominatrix" (photo from www.jackblockjr.com)

by Ralph Nichols

Jack Block Jr. declared victory late Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 4th) in his race for election to the Burien City Council.

Block, who served on the City Council from 2003 to 2007 and then made an unsuccessful bid for election to the Port of Seattle Commission, challenged first-term incumbent Councilwoman Sue Blazak for her Position 1 seat.

After Wednesday’s update was posted by King County Elections (with Block at 55% and Blazak at 45%), she said of her chances to overcome his lead of almost 10 percent, “It doesn’t look good.”

Blazak, who has served as deputy mayor for the past two years, indicated that she would call Block later in the day to congratulate him.

“I want to thank the voters of Burien for their confidence in me, and I will work hard to fulfill their expectations,” Block said.

With Wednesday’s update, Block now has 2,413 votes (54.61%). Blazak has 1,981 votes (44.83%). There was virtually no change in the gap between them from Tuesday’s initial vote.

Mayor Joan McGilton and Councilwoman Rose Clark, along with Brian Bennett, who will replace retiring long-time Councilwoman Sally Nelson, were not opposed in their election bids.

Soundly defeated was Proposition 1 on Burien’s ballot to create Transportation Benefit District No. 1, which would have funded sidewalks, curbs, bike paths and trails with a $25 motor vehicle license tab fee.

With Tuesday’s update, the transportation district proposal was going down to defeat by a 76.23 percent margin (3,647 votes) to 23.77 percent (1,137 votes).

Sue Blazak

Blazak was also a leading advocate for the transportation district.

Block said he “worked hard on the campaign and that’s reflective of what I’ll do in office.”

The city, he continued, needs “to refocus energy on being more active. We need to re-energize our community. There is a growing apathy and we need to engage our citizens to become more involved.”

As an example, Block noted that only one City Council race in Burien was contested this year, adding that more citizens need to run for office and work on city programs.

“Without that, we won’t grow and prosper as a community,” he said.

Block also wants the city to do more to “involve all of our citizens” in the community. The Nov. 1 “Day of the Dead celebration shows what can be done” to get various ethnic groups involved. “We need to do more of this.”

On the question of annexation, he said the city “botched the job” when it failed to take advantage of “an excellent bargaining position” to get funding from King County for capital projects in North Highline as part of the process.

Block said he will insist on this if there is any move by Burien to annex the rest of the North Highline unincorporated area.

Blazak attributed her loss to the fact that “he sent out three mailers and I sent out one. And he had a lot more yard signs out there.” [EDITOR'S NOTE: Jack Block Jr. also advertised on The B-Town Blog; Blazak did not.]

The proposition for a transportation district was defeated because “we didn’t inform the public well enough,” she added. I think it’s a great idea … when I talked to people they were usually pretty supportive. I hope we try again.”