WLB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s Open House for this week is a high quality home with Mt. Rainier and territorial views, with a desirable floor plan!

This great looking home has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. One bedroom and den on main floor (possible 5th bed).

The well-designed gourmet kitchen has tile countertops, gas cooktop, hardwood floors and a sunny eating nook.

Dream master suite has two walk-in closets, fireplace, 5-piece master bath with skylight, dual tiled vanity and jetted tub.

Large, private yard with deck – all in a home located in a neighborhood with sidewalks!

Priced to sell at just $374,950!

Here are some pics (click images to see larger versions):

Here are the details:

WHAT: Prudential NW Open House

WHEN: Sunday, May 26, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

WHERE: 25317 42nd Place S, Kent, WA 98032

INFO:

• List Price: $374,950
• MLS Number: 483399
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 2.5
• Year Built: 1999
• Approximate House SqFt: 2,579
• Lot SqFt: 16,240 sf

Site Features:

• Bath Off Master
• Ceiling Fan(s)
• Dble Pane/Strm Windw
• Dining Room
• High Tech Cabling
• Skylights
• Vaulted Ceilings
• Walk-in Closet

Marketing remarks:

High quality home with Mt. Rainier and Territorial Views with desirable floor plan.

This great looking home has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. One bedroom and den on main floor (possible 5th bed).

The well-designed gourmet kitchen has tile countertops, gas cooktop, hardwood floors & a sunny eating nook.

Dream master suite has two walk-in closets, fireplace, 5-piece master bath w/skylight, dual tiled vanity and jetted tub.

Large, private yard with deck.

Located in a neighborhood with sidewalks!

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

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

State lawmakers are currently debating over budget plans with varying levels of kindergarten funding. Each of the three plans would fund full-day kindergarten at some, but not all, schools in Highline.

“We cannot wait for the legislature to act. Full-day kindergarten is the right thing to do for all our children and families now,” said Superintendent Susan Enfield. “This is a game-changer for our students.”

Full-day kindergarten is a key strategy for meeting the district goal of 95 percent of next fall’s kindergartners performing at or above grade level in all core subjects by the end of Grade 3. Multiple studies show that children who participate in full-day kindergarten make significant gains in reading and math compared with students in half-day programs. Research also shows that mastering reading and math skills by third grade is critical for success throughout middle and high school.

“Kindergarten is a critical year. It sets the stage for a child’s entire school experience,” said Highline’s P-3 Director Anne Arnold, who directs early learning (preschool through grade 3) programs.

“This is one of several critical investments Highline making toward the bold goals in our new strategic plan,” Enfield added. The district is also investing in high-priority goals for older students, such as ensuring that 19 out of 20 students pass Algebra by Grade 9, and that 19 out of 20 students in the freshman class of 2013 graduate successfully.

Thanks to the City of Des Moines, Shinn Mechanical, and the Des Moines Rotary Club for their support! You can see the sculpture yourself at Marine View Drive South and South 227th Street.

Mount Rainier High’s Sebastian Martinez has been awarded the coveted position of Honors Research Student and will sail with Titanic Discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard’s Nautilus Exploration Program during their 2013 expedition season.

Sebastian will be sailing aboard the E/V Nautilus from August 8 – 17 in the Bahamas.

“It’s a huge honor for me to work alongside professionals in the marine science field while on my expedition with E/V Nautilus,” Sebastian said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for students like me to gain insight on what exactly happens on research expeditions and how it will benefit the scientific community.”

Sebastian is one of just forty-seven educators and students from around the world selected from a competitive pool of applicants by the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) to participate at sea during the program. Among the Educators at Sea will be Mount Rainer Teacher Sam Garson, who is returning for his third year with the program. In previous years, Garson has shared live video conferences with students and staff back at home. The selected educators and students hail from schools, universities, and science centers in twenty-one states and five countries. They will join the Nautilus Corps of Exploration during ocean expeditions from June through November in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea.

The 2013 educator and student selectees will embark on several expeditions aboard Dr. Ballard’s ship of exploration, E/V Nautilus, and other research vessels off the coast of the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as Montserrat, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, and Turkey. As members of the Corps of Exploration, educators and students will stand watch alongside scientists and engineers, as well as participate in live interactions with shore-based audiences via Exploration Now. When launched in June, Exploration Now will be a 24-hour online portal bringing expeditions from the field to future explorers on shore via telepresence technology.

“One of the major goals of our Nautilus Exploration Program is to inspire the next generation of explorers in STEM fields,” said Expedition Leader and OET Vice President, Dr. Katherine Croff Bell, “so we’re very excited to provide educators and students with the direct experience of pure exploration, while allowing them the opportunity to share their experience far and wide with their peers.”

If you’re not familiar with Dr. Ballard’s exploration of the Titanic, here’s a video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

About the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) Programs:

The Educator At Sea Science Communication Fellowship Program will host sixteen new educators and four returning lead educators, including educators from Northern Ireland and Venezuela. Educator at Sea positions entail 2-4 week periods working aboard E/V Nautilus and other vessels as communicators of the expedition. An equally important aspect of the program is bringing the expedition back home to local student populations and communities after they have returned home. The Educator at Sea program is sponsored in part by Bechtel.

The Science and Engineering Internship Program will host fifteen interns, including students from Australia and Canada. The internship program aims to train undergraduate and graduate students studying ocean science, engineering and film in the at-sea environment. Intern positions entail 2-5 week periods working aboard E/V Nautilus and other vessels as Data Loggers, ROV Pilots, or Video Engineers.

The Honors Research Program (HRP) will host twelve students from across the United States. The HRP Program invites junior and senior high school students to participate in a seven-week summer research and exploration program. Students work with scientists at the University of Rhode Island (URI) Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) and are also invited to join the Corps of Exploration aboard Nautilus and other vessels.

The Nautilus Exploration Program was founded in 2008 by Dr. Robert Ballard. The international exploration program centers on scientific exploration of the seafloor launched from aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, a 64-meter research vessel currently based in the Caribbean Sea, and additional research vessels. In addition to conducting pure scientific research, the Nautilus Exploration Program offers telepresence to explorers on shore via live video, audio and data feeds from the ships. The program also includes an education component that brings educators and students on ocean expeditions. The 2013 Nautilus Exploration Program sponsors are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bechtel, Sea Research Foundation, Office of Naval Research, National Geographic Society, University of Rhode Island, and additional private donors.

Did You Know…that you may be entitled to money after a foreclosure has occurred?

At Marine View Law & Escrow, we’ve helped many people avoid foreclosure and save their homes. But, there are instances where foreclosures have occurred, and we’ve even helped people who were entitled to money after their foreclosure has occurred. How does this happen?

Well, there are times where a home will sell at the foreclosure auction for more than what is owed to the bank. By the time the bank receives its money, processes the foreclosure documents, and calculates the costs associated with the foreclosure, they wind up with more money than what was owed to them. So then, they hire an attorney, and this money is deposited with the Court Clerk, and certain steps have to be taken, usually within a lawsuit, to recover the money that was owed to the homeowner. This process can take months, and if the money sits with the Court for too long, it can be turned over to Washington State Unclaimed Property.

Here at Marine View Law & Escrow, we have helped homeowners obtain thousands of dollars owed to them after a foreclosure has occurred. If you, or someone you know, believe that they are owed money from a foreclosure auction where the house sold for more than what was owed, give us a call.

“The professionalism and respect that I received was beyond what I could have expected. She (Attorney) made the whole process pain free and with the million questions I had she was always there with help and support. I would most definitely recommend her to others.”

– Satisfied client of Marine View Law & Escrow

To learn more about Marine View Law & Escrow, visit their website: www.marineviewlaw.com or call 206-701-6564.

UPDATE 9 p.m. 5/20/13: Citing health issues, longtime councilmember Carmen Scott withdrew from the 2013 Des Moines City Council race on Monday (May 20) for re-election to Position #3.

Her exit leaves the seat to Victor L. Pennington II, who will now run unopposed.

“A few days ago, I experienced an unexpected medical condition,” Scott told The Waterland Blog. “The symptoms were brief and have not reoccurred. My family and I have agreed that it would be wiser to not take on another 4-year council term (actually they sort of insisted). The positive side of this, is that it spurred me to meet and become acquainted  with council candidate Vic Pennington. His skills and background  make him an excellent choice to represent the people of Des Moines. I do plan to continue on the council until my term ends in December. I do expect to continue with my other commitments to the community.”

In addition, Robert Bonds withdrew from running for Position #7, leaving Mayor Dave Kaplan unopposed as well.

Here’s the revised lineup of candidates:

• Council Position No. 1: Matt Pina (incumbent)
  
• Council Position No. 3: Carmen L. Scott (incumbent-WITHDRAWN). Victor L. Pennington II
• Council Position No. 4 (unexpired 2-year term): Chuck Swesey, Jeremy Nutting (incumbent), James Payne
• Council Position No. 5: Melissa Musser (incumbent)
• Council Position No. 7: Robert Bonds–WITHDRAWN, Dave Kaplan (incumbent)

• Municipal Court Judge: Veronica Galvan (incumbent), David Gehrke

The Primary election will be Aug. 6, and the General election will be Nov. 5.

Almost two years after ground breaking for the $45 million Artemis Hotel in Des Moines, pre-construction work is set to begin Monday (May 20) with demolition of existing buildings at the construction site.

The eight-floor, 238-room luxury hotel will include Des Moines’ first convention center, a banquet room that can accommodate 300 guests, and two full-service restaurants – a fine dining room serving authentic Chinese cuisine and an American grill.

“We’re excited that the Artemis Hotel project is ready to start and the city looks forward to working with the Artemis and Mr. Yang and his staff in the coming months as this project progresses,” Des Moines City Manager Tony Piasecki told The Waterland Blog.

Yang Chun is majority owner of the hotel project, and Yareton Investment & Management, LLC, of Washington state is the developer.

Puyallup-based Absher is general contractor. Belay Architecture of Tacoma designed the hotel.

Located at 22406 Pacific Highway S., the Artemis Hotel will be located three miles south of Seattle-Tacoma International and close to the Interstate 5-Kent/Des Moines Road interchange.

The Artemis Hotel project had its beginning in 2009 when Des Moines Councilman – and then Mayor – Bob Sheckler met with Mr. Yang at his invitation in China.

“We talked about building a hotel in the Unites States that would feature Chinese culture and Chinese cuisine,” Mr. Yang said at the groundbreaking in mid-2011. “This is a win/win situation for the city and the investors.”

“The Artemis Hotel, when it opens in about two years, will be a crown jewel on Pacific Highway South,” Sheckler told the blog.

“While there were a few naysayers who said it will never happen, a majority of Des Moines residents supported this project. Now it’s happening, and it will attract other new businesses up and down the highway.

“I couldn’t be more pleased and more excited.”

According to the Yareton Investment & Management website, the Artemis Hotel, designed with a 1930’s art deco flair, will include nine deluxe penthouse suites with panoramic views of the Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier and the Cascade Mountains.

It will feature a casino-style poker room operated by a well-known gaming operator and have popular table games including Black Jack, poker and high-limit Baccarat.

Last week, sometime between Tuesday night and Friday evening, someone bought a Mega Millions lottery ticket from a Des Moines retailer.

At about 8pm Friday night, that ticket became worth $250,000.

Whoever bought the ticket correctly picked (or the computer randomly picked for them) the five winning Mega Millions numbers: 11-15-35-43-49, making the bearer a quarter of a million dollars (before taxes are removed) richer.

Had the purchaser also picked the correct “Mega Ball” number, 41, they would be splitting $190 million with someone else in the state who indeed picked all five numbers plus the correct Mega Ball. (We do not believe Mr. or Mrs. $190 Million is from Des Moines, but that’s not the point).

Both winners have until November 13 of this year to turn in their tickets and collect their winnings.

For more information, go the Washington State Lottery website: www.walottery.com.

No one on the Waterland Blog staff possesses either ticket, but we’d be happy to share in the winnings … uh, offer suggestions on how the money might be spent.

This past Wednesday evening (May 15) Des Moines Dollars for Scholars held their annual reception to honor the 2013 scholarship award winners.

The non-profit Dollars for Scholars foundation encourages educational achievement by supporting local students who are pursuing studies at two-year, four-year, or vocational and technical colleges.

This year, the following scholarships were awarded:

Southwest Seattle Business and Professional Women Scholarship

• Jacqueline Beal
• Davina Fuiava (Geraldine Sorensen Scholarship)

Des Moines Yacht Club First Mates Scholarship

• Martin Pitt
• Sebastian Martinez (Ken Higgins Memorial Scholarship)

Des Moines Rotary Club Scholarship

• Jonathan Mountford
• Natalie Welch

CleanScapes Scholarship

• Lacy Jolin

Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Endowment Fund

• Anjela Zdravkova (Ronald Millheisler Scholarship)
• Lauren Zilke (Ronald Millheisler Scholarship)

Steven J. Underwood Memorial Scholarship

• Lexis Pawlowski

Des Moines Dollars for Scholars

• Rachel Webster

Photographer Michael Brunk was at the Des Moines Yacht Club for this year’s event and assembled the following photo gallery. You can click individual thumbnails to view larger versions.

Moving to Des Moines many years ago was a multi-level attraction to my wife, Marianne and I as we travelled into the little Cape Cod like village on the sound. We arrived quite by accident trying to wend our way to Tacoma and had no idea that a city named “Des Moines” even existed outside of Iowa. Because I grew up and went to school in Sagamore and Wareham Massachusetts (Cape Cod to you) the sight and feel of Des Moines attracted me especially. We almost immediately agreed to, someday, live here.

This was more than an emotional mind set; there were many aspects of the way Des Moines was laid out, with a grocery store at both ends, and many small businesses, a doughnut shop, bakery, and a few restaurants that looked like they had been moved here from back east. A drug store and schools nearby added to the attraction but the potential for retirement was also a consideration for us. It took a few years as we became accustomed to civilian life, having retired from the US Air Force and saving enough to own a home, but we made it. A beautiful home in Huntington Park in Des Moines captured our hearts and here we are!

Surrounded by new friends and neighbors, we soon began shopping in Johnny’s Market and Albertsons at the other end. Johnny’s was the friendliest place to shop and even had people remember your name; it was like we experienced back east.

Well, Johnny’s is now a distant but fond memory, Albertson’s forgotten and now we are faced with a gigantic and critical loss to us and the city of Des Moines; QFC is evacuating! Is there no way or means that our city council members could have foreseen and prepared with some replacement for this major element to a small city such as ours? For this to have been allowed to happen can only point to one sad element that few of us want to believe and that element is likely some form of greed.

Our councilmembers, some of them friends and some are even our neighbors can not wish to do us any harm or deprive us of the small luxury of a grocery store, now, can they!? The answer to this will be your personal evaluation and response but I have a challenge to present o our illustrious “City Fathers”:

My dear friends of the City Council of our beloved City of Des Moines park your car at your home and walk to the nearest grocery store. Take your time and maybe a back pack, remembering that it is only one mile away; you may also need to take your umbrella. At the end of the day when you are back in town, approach one or two people who are on walkers, with canes or on one of those mobility scooters; smile benevolently and introduce yourself as a council member and with a friendly smile point to the direction of the grocery store “only one mile away”; now take your conscience and go, proudly home and live with yourself! Really?

– Pat Nardo
Proud Resident of Des Moines

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