On Friday (May 25), the King County Prosecutor’s Office filed four charges against Michael Riley III, 23, accused of confronting his ex-girlfriend in the parking lot of the Burien Library, then stealing her car with Riley’s 7-month-old son and her 2-year-old son inside, triggering Tuesday’s Amber Alert (read our extensive coverage here).

Prosecutors charged Riley with Kidnapping Second Degree for allegedly abducting the woman’s son, Felony Violation of a No Contact Order, Taking a Motor Vehicle Without Permission Second Degree, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Second Degree.

His ex-girlfriend had just pulled in to the parking lot of the Burien Library when Riley confronted her and tried to hit her. After she exited the car, Riley jumped in and drove away with the kids.

He was located a short time later in the Gregory Heights neighborhood, and the kids were found safe in the car.

Riley remains in jail on $400,000 bail.

Arraignment is scheduled for June 5 at 9 a.m. at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center.

Burien’s annual Wild Strawberry Festival (we’re a Sponsor) will be held the weekend of June 16-17 at Town Square Park, with lots of great live music, performers, arts, crafts, food, vendors and more!

As usual, your original (and award-winning) B-Town Bloggers will be ‘blogging live’ from a tent at the fest, as well as playing all-local music from SoKing Internet Radio, so be sure to make a point of finding our booth.

Also, here’s a promo video that was just released by our friends at Burien Parks:

Click here to view the embedded video.

And here’s the schedule:

SATURDAY, June 16:

Town Square Stage (152nd & 5th)
10:00 – 10:30am: Momentum Dance
10:45 - 11:30: Highline Community Symphonic Band
11:45 - 12:15pm: New City Dance
12:30 - 1:15pm:  Youth and Senior Chiors of Northwest Associated Arts
1:30 – 2:30pm: The Jangles
3:00 – 4:00pm: Global Heat
4:30 – 6:00: Strawberry Jam Break Dance Battle

Wandering Performers:
10:30 – Noon: Blues with PK Dwyer
Noon - 2:00pm:  Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana
Noon – 4:00pm:  Stiltwalking by Just Sage
1:30 – 2:30pm: Bubbleman
3:00 – 3:45pm:  Alex Zerbe Kids Show–Library Lobby
4:15 – 5:15pm:  Alex Zerbe on the fest grounds!
4:00 – 5:30pm:  Americana Folk by Blvd Park   

SUNDAY, June 17:

Town Square Stage (152nd & 5th)
10:30 – 11:00am: Oasis Dancers
11:30 - 12:30pm: Hook Me Up
1:00 – 2:00pm: Joyas Mestizas
2:30 - 3:45pm: Manooghi Hi
3:45 – 4:00pm: Chili Cook-Off winners announced

Wandering Performers:
10:00 – 4:00pm:  Storytelling by Allyoop in the Turtle Theater
11:00 – 3:00pm:  The Laff mater–Mr Mario!
11:30 – 1:30pm:  Snake Suspenderz–old timey jazz music
12:30-1 & 2-2:30pm: RopeWorks –amazing jump rope demos!
2:00 – 4:00pm:   Soft Island Sounds

Burien Parks and Recreation Demo Tent Saturday and Sunday

And all weekend long:

• Games & Activities–Find games & activities at vendor booths!
• Spray Park–Bring a towel and play in the Town Square Park fountain!
• The Bubble Man - Saturday 1:30-2:30
• Hands On Art Booth – Make superhero costumes, fabulous hats and ties for fathers day!
• Lego Booth
• Touch a Truck on 150th Street
• Performer Alex Zerbe -Library lobby on Saturday from 3:00-3:45– sponsored by the Burien Library Guild
• Turtle Theater – Storytelling on Sunday by Alleyoop
• Face Painting
• And more! Check the event website for up to the minute information.

You can also download a high-res Poster here (PDF file) which you can print yourself and post.

*** Please note that the following scenarios do not apply to situations, like the recent Pawn shop robbery, where lives are in danger.

The Burien Police Department (BPD) is contracted through the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO). The contract allows us to concentrate our resources in patrol and investigations. We do not carry or pay for the overhead of having our own SWAT or other less used, and expensive, resources unless and until we need them. This provides a cost savings to the Burien tax payer.

Currently, BPD regularly provides “mutual aid” and is provided mutual aid to/from KCSO in North Highline. That means if we’re short an officer or they’re short a deputy it’s not normally THAT big of a deal to help each other out.

The KCSO West Precinct is responsible for patrolling Vashon Island, North Highline, West Hill-Skyway and the unincorporated areas West of Auburn south to the Pierce County line.

However, due to the continuing general fund issues with KCSO they are reorganizing how they patrol so they pay out less overtime. What this means is that if a deputy is on sick/vacation they will no longer bring in a deputy on overtime. They will instead stretch out the coverage and service area of each deputy meaning lower levels of service to those unincorporated areas. The level of service to North Highline will suffer as a result.

How this will impact Burien is that deputies may be pulled out of North Highline to cover a shortage in West Hill or other unincorporated areas. Our officers may be used to help cover North Highline when needed, but when we need KCSO they will be spread thinner.

Another detriment to Burien would be if Seattle were to annex North Highline. Those deputies that help out Burien officers would no longer be available.

Seattle is very guarded with its resources. A perfect example is the “Sliver by the River” and fire protection. Seattle, thus far, has refused to contract fire protection in the area. That means even though Seattle Fire station 26 is closer, North Highline Fire is normally the first to respond. This is an area that Seattle will most likely begin annexing next year by Inter-Local agreement with King County.

In my opinion, that means the chances of SPD “helping out” Burien for non-code-3 calls are slim to none.

- Joey Martinez

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Do you have extra twin bed sheets, blankets or towels? Two local bed and breakfast establishments are seeking donations of gently-used linens, which will be donated to Hospitality House, a women’s shelter located here in Burien.

The Guest House Bed & Breakfast (located at 1121 SW 160th) and Three Tree Point Bed & Breakfast (17026 33rd Ave SW) are collecting the linens on behalf of the Seattle Bed & Breakfast Association which will be donated to the shelter.

“We welcome you to drop off your donation at one of the participating bed and breakfasts the week of June 4, 2012,” reads an announcement.

by Dave Markwell

I love Memorial Day weekend!! I really, really love it. As soon as Labor Day weekend ends, I look forward to this weekend. MDW is the official start of my summer. It represents a change in the weather (hopefully) and certainly a change in my spirit.

Summer is my time of year. It just feels just feels natural to me. I am most comfortable in shorts and flip flops. I hate short days and drizzle. I like the early morning sun and I like a late sunset. I like the smells of BBQ and fresh cut grass. They bring me peace. They bring me home. I like it all. MDW is always the kick off.

For twenty-plus years, on this weekend, I have traveled to eastern Washington. My buddy, Dan, has some family property on the Columbia River above Vantage: Sunland. The property contains a single-wide trailer, a 10×10 shed with a loft, a lawn and the river. It is all we need. It is perfect in its simplicity and has served us well through the years.

When dreamily fantasizing about a huge Lotto payout, I ponder all of the marvelous and exotic places I would buy. Many blue-watered, beach properties in far away lands are what I would buy.

While making these imaginary decisions, it is difficult to choose. Sunland has set the bar very high. It is hard for me to comprehend a foreign land, no matter how lavish or extravagant the property might be, being more fun. Fun is the primary metric I use to determine value in my life. I have seen many interesting, impressive and expensive places. I have been to fine-linened resorts and crusty, off-the-map beach colonies that were pretty dang cool and many that might be worthy of an offer should the day arise.

But, since I haven’t won the lottery yet, I am grateful that my joys are simple. I am an uncomplicated man and so are my pleasures. I suppose this is good, since…again…I haven’t had any windfall fortunes fall into my lap. (Though, I would like to test which theory is better.)

Last Wednesday, at my weekly Rotary Club meeting as my toe was dancing in anticipation of my upcoming weekend, a fellow member and distinguished US Army veteran, Al, spoke a few words that meant something more than my version of Memorial Day weekend.

Al mentioned, in a wonderful, understated fashion that few men possess, “perhaps” Memorial Day weekend might mean more than what most Americans take note of. He referenced a unique experience that involved his eternal gratitude for some men who lost their lives to save his. He suggested that perhaps, this weekend was about more than shopping the super-saver ads for Memorial Day “savings” at the various chain outlets, searching for a cheap mattress. He spoke the truth and it was not lost on me.

So, while I will enjoy ALL of my weekend, I will also remember why and how these things I love have come to pass. Through the sacrifice of our lost soldiers and Marines, we have much. They don’t. Their families don’t. I will remember this and them and be tremendously thankful for every little bit of simple joy I can find this weekend and always. I will remember the true intent of this weekend that I so enjoy. As I sit on the deck of the wonderful, shabby little trailer I will be happy, but also understand the price of my joy. It was paid by others and it was expensive.

The freedoms we all enjoy are scribed in headstones or locked in prisons where the parents of fallen children live. We enjoy our lives, because they lost theirs. To remember this and honor this is the very least we can do. And as I enjoy all that my weekend will deliver, I will also raise a glass and a prayer to those who made it possible and from the deepest part of my heart I will feel proud the be an American. It might be the best thing I am.

[EDITOR'S NOTE:"Feel Good Friday" is a regular column written by Des Moines resident Dave Markwell, who extols to all neighbors: "Enjoy where we live. Put your feet on the pavement and truly feel how great it is to live here!" Also, you can "friend" Dave on Facebook here. Or work out with him at his new exercise company Waterland CrossFit!]

This past Wednesday evening, photographer Michael Brunk was down at the Des Moines Marina checking out the new Fish Basket mobile eatery when the sound of air horns coming from the pier caught his attention.

The commotion turned out to be windsurfers from City League racing their way from marker to marker just outside the marina.

This group of racers from all over the Puget Sound gather in Des Moines each Wednesday evening at 6 PM during the months of May and June.

Their exact race course changes from race to race based on the winds, tide and the experience level of the racers taking part, but the view from the pier still provides thrills as they start and finish at the green buoy.

The races are open to anyone interested and their is no fee to participate. You can learn more at the NW-WindTalk group on Yahoo.

Here are a few photos Michael shot while watching the last couple of races on Wednesday evening. You can click individual images to view them larger.

I attended the meeting of the Highline Forum yesterday at ERAC at 2:30 in the afternoon. I wouldn’t expect too many people from the public to attend since it was held during most people’s working hours but was surprised that I was the only citizen there. The Forum includes council members from local cities which used to be part of the ACC along with Sea-Tac, Federal Way and the Highline School District. It also includes a Port Commission representative or two, usually John Creighton attends, a few members from the airport and an FAA representative. This group was originally developed to help create an actual dialogue possibility between the Port and cities during the third runway planning most likely to work out mitigation.

I felt a little irritated at the endless chit chat of people trying to figure out why we were there and whether to add more groups to the discussion forum in the future. Citizens can speak at the beginning but without advance notice of topics and accompanying materials it is useless to go up before anything happens and blather on about how frustrated citizens are with the noise, fumes and process. This has been done repeatedly and has little effect on the group. If I were allowed to speak and I don’t understand why a citizen wouldn’t have the right to give input on what seems to be a fairly informal gathering to talk about pretty much anything, I would have suggested adding citizen group representatives and someone from EPA to the gathering, especially when we (they) are talking about environmental effects. I would also like to see a better balance in what is being discussed. I suppose if I hadn’t been there it wouldn’t matter but citizens want some kind of bang for their representative buck. For instance, in wanting to bring in others to talk about economic development someone should keep in mind that it is that very drive that brought us the third runway in the first place and that disconnect on promoting more and more while offering citizens less and less that created the gap that the Forum was supposed to help bridge.

I would also like to see a discussion on the items recommended to the FAA from the Part 150 and to know where the FAA is at on that process. The consultant Landrum & Brown dropped the noise wall request from the proposal early on. I had been working on pushing for that item for 2 years prior to the FAR 150 process. Buy-outs of homes along the new flight path were never added and in the end it didn’t look good for the hush-house or widening the boundaries of noise impact on the map.

The presentation from the Port was just as off putting; The airport will do what it does and always has, mainly as it wills and people will be harmed as they always have been without a voice, representation or remedy. They did point out there are no consequences for any airline or frequent offender who deviates from the designated flight corridor. It usually happens for safety reasons where an aircraft will abort a landing and then must climb quickly away from the airfield and turn, usually over the heart of Burien but sometimes over Normandy Park. Incidentally, the usual turn over the water occurs at 3,000 feet or 5 nautical miles out which means the entire ground level impact of emissions is on people, property, children and animals. A Des Moines council member did ask the Port for the summary of noise complaint calls which I think is a first of its kind request.

Overall, I feel the Forum is out of touch with what is happening around the world. A third runway proposal at Heathrow was defeated by community and government opposition. They opted for high speed rail instead. There was recently a 20,000 person protest against a 3rd runway in Munich (http://www.foeeurope.org/node/896). Another large group is protesting expansion in Nantes France. We have a local lawsuit ongoing regarding noise and fumes/soot from the new third runway use. There is a lawsuit against EPA regarding leaded AV Gas. Turns out, general aviation’s use of leaded fuel is the largest producing industry in this country of airborne lead emissions affecting 22 million children. Recent studies found children living within a mile a airports of study had elevated blood lead levels (A Geospatial Analysis of the Effects of Aviation Gasoline on Childhood Blood Lead Levels). There are thousands of children living or going to school in that exposure area here near Sea-Tac. There is another lawsuit against EPA for not regulating climate change emissions from aviation. Aviation is the fastest growing contributor to climate change emissions in the world (www.aviationjustice.org). Locally Sea-Tac produces 22% of the county total. Discussion forums like this should be seriously considering a new era of intermodal links, sustainability, transportation alternatives, etc. but most importantly to me, what can be done to lessen the terrible effects of aviation on the constituency represented at the table.

- Debi Wagner

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BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s Open House for this week is a charming home that boasts six bedrooms and two full bathrooms – it’s much bigger than it looks from the street!

It has been well taken-care of, and is ready for a new family.

Situated on an enormous 1/3-acre lot with detached garage, outbuilding and plenty of garden space for the green thumbs, this home also has easy access to Highway 509 and is just minutes from downtown Seattle and the airport.

Parks and golf course are nearby as well.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Prudential NW Open House

WHEN: Sunday, May 27,  1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

WHERE: 12419 16th Ave S., Burien, WA 98168

INFO:

• List Price: $215,000
• MLS Number: 359171
• Bedrooms: 6
• Bathrooms: 2.00
• Year Built: 1945
• Approximate House SqFt: 1,900
• Lot Square Footage: 14,450

Site Features:

• Brand new roof
• Fireplace
• Dble Pane/Strm Windw
• Cable TV
• Fenced-Partially
• Outbuildings
• RV Parking

Marketing remarks:

Plenty of room for everyone!

This charming home boasts 6 bedrooms (2 on main, 4 upstairs) and 2 full bathrooms – this house is bigger than it looks from the street!

It has been well taken care of and ready for a new family.

Enormous 1/3 acre lot with detached garage, outbuilding and plenty of garden space for the green thumbs.

Brand new roof.

Easy access to Hwy 509 and just minutes to downtown and the airport.

Parks and golf course near by as well.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

Click here to view all of Prudential Northwest’s Open Houses.

The program collects and repairs instruments donated by adults who no longer need them for the benefit of low-income students attending Highline Public Schools.

“In its first year, Highline Music4Life has already doubled the number of musical instruments available to low-income students starting in the fifth and sixth grades,” said Steve Swank of the Des Moines Rotary Club, who chairs the activity. “But the need is great and we want to be able to support all our low-income students. So, if you have a used clarinet, trumpet, violin, flute or any other musical instrument in your garage or attic and are willing to put it back into play, please drop it off at our booth.”

Used musical instruments are needed by all Highline students. The program starts with fifth and sixth graders, but is also designed to help as many low-income students in the upper grades as possible. Instruments are repaired through a partnership with Kennelly Keys Music. Swank says it’s possible to restore nearly any musical instrument. All that’s needed is for the donor to understand the unique role it can have in a child’s education.

Used musical instruments will also be collected at the Des Moines Farmers Market on June 9th and 16th. They may also be dropped off during normal business hours year-round at any Kennelly Keys Music store, the KeyBank branch at 22033 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines, the Windermere office at 401 SW 152nd St. in Burien or at the Angle Lake Family Resource Center in SeaTac at 4040 South 188th St.

Highline Music4Life is an ongoing community-wide activity to acquire musical instruments, supplies and repairs for low-income elementary (fourth and fifth grade) students in Highline Public Schools. It is a collaboration by Highline Public Schools, the Rotary Clubs of Des Moines, Burien-White Center and SeaTac, the Highline Schools Foundation and many individuals and businesses that are partnering to expand music education for all children in the Highline School District.

This year the Des Moines Farmers Market will be held at the north end of the Marina, which is located at 22307 Dock Ave South.

Fore more information, visit www.HighlineMusic4Life.org.

Jim adds:

“No idea what the building is for…”

Anyone out there have any ideas what the building is and why it was floating past Burien? (click images to see larger versions/slideshow):