The City of Burien recently mailed out a letter to approximately 1,250 businesses located or working in the North Highline annexation area, in an effort to provide the newly-annexed businesses with an overview of some of the opportunities available in Burien, such as the Taking Aim at Graffiti (TAG) program or the “pre-submittal meetings” offered by Community Development.

The letter also provided businesses with notice of some of their responsibilities, such as obtaining business licenses and updating their tax code on Department of Revenue forms.

Also, according to the city, as of April 1st, Comcast subscribers in the annexation area should be able to view Burien Channel 21 and Puget Sound Access on Channel 77 – and as we all know, nothing makes one feel more like part of a city than being able to watch live, exciting council meetings.

Here’s the text of the letter:

RE: City of Burien Annexation

Dear Business Owner,

I would like to welcome you to the City of Burien. As you probably know, on August 18, 2009, a majority of voting residents in the proposed annexation area, located in the southern portion of North Highline, chose to join the City of Burien. As a result, your business will officially be located in Burien as of April 1, 2010.

As a business new to Burien, your local opportunities and responsibilities will change on April 1. I encourage you to reach out and take advantage of some of our local resources. For example, Burien sponsors a Taking Aim at Graffiti (TAG) program, which provides graffiti removal to commercial properties – free of charge. Another City service you can take advantage of is the “pre-submittal meetings,” where you can meet with a City planner prior to expanding or moving your business. That way, you are aware of zoning & land use issues, parking, setbacks, signage and design criteria before you lease, buy or alter a new space.

There are also several local business organizations offering networking, collaboration and public input:

• Discover Burien: Steve Gilbert 620 SW 150th St. Burien, WA 98166 (206) 433-2882 www.discoverburien.com Promotional marketing. Meets 2nd Wednesday of each month at Burien City Hall 6:30 pm.
• Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce Nancy Hinthorne 14220 Interurban Ave. S. Tukwila, WA 98168 (206) 575-1333 www.swkcc.org Regional voice and business networking. Monthly meetings at various locations.
• Burien Business & Economic Development Partnership (BEDP) Dick Loman City of Burien Economic Development Manager (206) 248-5528 dickl@burienwa.gov Advisory Board to the Burien City Council. Meets 2nd Friday of each month at Burien City Hall 7:00 am.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC): I especially want to call your attention to our Small Business Development Center at Highline Community College. Experienced business professionals are available by appointment to confidentially work with you on expansion, marketing, or financial needs you may have – also free of charge. You may contact Zev Siegl at (206) 878-3710, ext. 5151 or zsiegl@highline.edu.

Burien Business License
In addition to new opportunities, there are also new responsibilities. A Burien Business License is required to do business within our City limits. Business licenses are valid August 1 – July 31. For the remainder of this business license year, from April 1 through July 31, the license fees will be waived for newly annexed businesses. However, starting August 1, 2010, owners of annexed businesses will be expected to comply with the licensing requirements. For more information, please refer to the Burien Municipal Code Chapter 5.05, available on our website at www.codepublishing.com/wa/burien, or call (206) 988-3714.

Burien Business and Occupation (B&O) Tax
The City of Burien collects a .05% business and occupation tax on gross receipts earned within the City. For example, a business with $100,000 in gross receipts would pay $50 in Burien B&O taxes. However, there is a threshold, which means that businesses with annual gross receipts of less than $100,000 are not subject to the tax. The tax is remitted quarterly and forms will be mailed to you. For more information, please refer to the Burien Municipal Code Chapter 3.11 or call (206) 988-3714.

State and Local Sales and Use Tax
The amount of state and local sales and use taxes you will be collecting and remitting through the Department of Revenue will not change, but the local reporting code will change so that Burien receives its share of the taxes. For taxes collected on or after April 1, 2010, the local code is 1734, instead of 1700. For more information, please contact the Washington Department of Revenue at www.dor.wa.gov.

Our goal is to assist and welcome our new businesses and residents during this transition. For additional information on how the annexation will affect business owners and residents, please visit our annexation section on the Burien website, www.burienwa.gov/annexation, or call the Burien Annexation Information Line at (206) 436-5555. We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,
Mike Martin
City Manager

Here’s the actual letter:

Click to download PDF version.

The Highline Schools Foundation is now accepting nominations for this year’s Gold Star Awards, which will honor outstanding teachers, staff, administrators and volunteers in the Highline Public Schools.

All members of the school community are invited to nominate their peers, and the deadline for nominations is April 1st.

Winners will receive a cash award and will be honored at the Foundation’s Gold Star Luncheon on May 21st.

Nomination forms will be available through school administrators and on the Foundation’s website: www.highlineschoolsfoundation.org, or you can download the form directly here.

The Gold Star Teacher of the Year will also be eligible to represent the District in the region’s Teacher of the Year contest.

Here’s more info on the May 21st awards luncheon:

Simply titled “ten”, this year’s luncheon is May 21, 2010 at the Double Tree Guest Suites Hotel and will feature programs of HSFFE over the past ten years and the impact we’ve had on the district. The emcee this year is none other than Highline High Schools famous alumnus Peter Fewing.

Each year, four Gold Star Awards are presented to an outstanding teacher, administrator, classified employee or support staff and volunteer of Highline Public Schools. All members of the district and community are invited to nominate an outstanding individual. Winners receive a cash award and will be honored at the luncheon. The Gold Star Outstanding Teacher will also be eligible to represent the District in the region’s Teacher of the Year contest. The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2010.

The proceeds from this luncheon support one of our major programs, classroom grants, which enrich the education experience for our students. We look forward to partnering with you this year and hope to see you at the 10th Annual Gold Star Luncheon!

Please see the links below for more information on becoming a sponsor at this years Gold Star or to download the Nomination form. For tickets, contact the Foundation Office at (206) 248-5196 or holly@highlineschoolsfoundation.org.

The Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence was established in 1999 with the purpose of providing community resources to help Highline Public Schools succeed. We believe that by helping to enrich the classroom and school experience, we can engage students to reach a higher level of learning, and the entire community will benefit. The Foundation is governed by a dedicated group of volunteer Trustees and is the only 501(c)(3) organization supporting all Highline Public Schools. The Foundation strives to be the single point of contact for community members, local and national business, service organizations and other foundations to connect their philanthropic efforts with a single school or the entire district.

If you’re not familiar with the Highline Schools Foundation, here’s a video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

It was an election that didn’t get much attention, but it happened Tuesday (March 16), and on Wednesday (March 17), the King Conservation District announced results of its public election for board of supervisor position.

From our estimates, only 4,232 registered voters bothered to vote in this election.

Here’s the release from the King Conservation District:

Max Prinsen of Renton has been elected to a three-year term as a member of the King Conservation District (King CD) board of supervisors following a final canvassing of votes cast in the district-wide election held March 16, 2010.

The final vote tallies for elected board position included:

• Prinsen (1,772)
• Mara Heiman of Auburn (1,488)
• Mary Embleton of Seattle (519)
• Kirk Prindle of Seattle (402)
• Teri Herrera of Redmond (51)

The unofficial election results will be certified by the Washington Conservation Commission at its business meeting in May. Prinsen will be sworn in at the June 14th King CD board meeting.

The 2010 vote total of 4,232 marked a major increase over the 2,757 ballots cast in the 2009 election and reflects successively larger turnouts in King CD elections over the past five years, according to Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Knutsen.

“The higher level of activity at the polls this year can be attributed to increased interest in the King CD, including our voluntary conservation and stewardship efforts with private landowners, and enthusiastic campaign efforts by candidates,” said Knutsen.

King CD, working with Bellevue-based election administrator Election Trust, provided seven polling locations across the district (which includes most of King County). The election is held in accordance with Washington Revised Code RCW 89.08.

The all-volunteer, five-member board includes three elected members and two who are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. All supervisors serve three-year terms. As public officials, their responsibility is to ensure that the King CD meets its legal and public trust obligations.

The board of supervisors conducts regular public meetings to oversee the district’s budget and provideguidance and oversight to district staff.

Supervisors are expected to help identify critical resource conservation needs in their district, communicate with the public and seek feedback about conservation programs from district residents.

The King CD provides information and technical assistance programs that are available to all landowners within the district’s boundaries on a voluntary, non-regulatory basis. It is hands-on, site specific, action and results oriented; and it initiates community outreach activities that include workshops, education programs, site visits, farm plans, and consultation on land, water, and wildlife management.

As one of 47 conservation districts in the state, the King CD is a natural resources assistance agency authorized by the State of Washington and guided by the Washington State Conservation Commission.

For more information on the King Conservation District, visit www.kingcd.org.

The United Way of King County is offering tree tax preparation for taxpayers who make less than $50,000 per year, with two locations right here in White Center.

They also do sessions in either Samoan or Spanish.

According to their website:

We only prepare basic individual tax returns.

We do not prepare business taxes or returns that include sale of property or stock or rental income.

No appointments are necessary.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Free tax preparation for residents who earn less than $50,000 per year.

WHERE/WHEN:

• White Center Assembly, located at 10237 16th Avenue SW, 98146 Map
• Thu: 5pm – 9pm (Samoan)
• Sat.: 11am – 3pm (Samoan)

• YWCA Greenbridge, located at 9720 8th Ave SW, 98106 Map
• Tues.: 5pm – 9pm (Spanish)
• Wed.: 5pm – 9pm (Spanish)
• Sat.: 9am – 1pm (Spanish)

The White Center Community Development Association is holding its annual Spring Clean on Saturday, May 15th, from 8:30am to 2:30pm, so get your gloves, cleaners, brooms and buckets ready.

We recommend that you sign up before April 16th – this way you’ll get a FREE “I (heart) White Center” t-shirt, as well as a free offer to become a CDA member.

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center Community Development Association’s annual Spring Clean

WHEN: Saturday, may 15th from 8:30am – 2:30pm

WHERE: Starts at White Center CDA Office – 1615 SW Cambridge Street (Corner of 17th and Cambridge)

INFO: From a poster:

WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INVITES YOU ALL TO:

WHITE CENTER SPRING CLEAN 2010

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 8:30am-2:30pm

White Center CDA Office – 1615 SW Cambridge Street (Corner of 17th and Cambridge)

Register before April 16 to receive a free “I Heart White Center” t-shirt, light breakfast, and lunch!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION FORM.

You can submit the form to whitecenterspringclean@gmail.com, fax it to our office at (206) 658-8344 or drop it off at our office at the address above. If you have questions about the event, please contact Nhan Nguyen at (206) 694-1082 x166.

Let’s get together for a cleaner White Center!

White Center’s own Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy, owner of the Triangle Pub and now a candidate for the 34th District Legislative seat being vacated by Sharon Nelson, released a statement about the closure of the South Park Bridge on Monday (Mar. 15th).

The bridge, which, as we reported Feb. 17th, will be closed at the end of June because the latest round of federal stimulus money grants did NOT include any for it, and according to the King County website:

Several studies have shown that the condition of the bridge warrants major rehabilitation or replacement.

Here’s Mac’s statement:

“The planned South Park Bridge closing is a glaring example of how voters in our legislative district are being under represented. My issue is not with the legislators who represent our local districts. Nor is it with their representatives, who “informed” the residents of South Park that their bridge is being closed on June 30, 2010. My issue is primarily with the fact that there is currently NO PLAN to mitigate the effects of the bridge closure on South Park, White Center, Burien, West Seattle, Tukwila or Seattle.

“We elect officials whom we expect will represent our interests. We vote for taxes that will pay for the programs that we believe are important. Our system of government is based upon the idea of representation and in this particular instance the voices of the people were not heard. In spite of a groundswell of community concern, there is no bridge, no plan, and currently no help being offered.

“In this moment it is important that we insure that our elected officials come up with a plan for how traffic is going to be routed, how emergency services are going to be provided, and how Seattle and Tukwila are going to work together to develop a traffic plan for everyone’s benefit. Whether I am elected or not, I pledge to work with our communities to come up with a plan to mitigate the closure of the South Park Bridge. It is time for solutions and results. We can deal with politics later.”

The King Conservation District (King CD) will be holding a district-wide election for an open seat on its board of supervisors this coming Tuesday, March 16.

King CD, working with Bellevue-based election administrator Election Trust, will be providing seven polling locations throughout the district.

Candidates for the position include:

• Mary Embleton, Seattle
• Mara Heiman, Auburn
• Teri Herrera, Redmond
• Kirk Prindle, Seattle
• Max Prinsen, Renton

For a list of voting locations, hours of operation and candidate backgrounds, visit www.kingcd.org.

Registered voters who reside within the district, which encompasses most of King County, are eligible to vote in the election, with the exception of residents of cities that do not fall within the King CD’s boundaries (Federal Way, Enumclaw, Skykomish, Milton and Pacific). Voters must present proper identification, such as a driver’s license, passport or birth certificate.

The all-volunteer, five member board includes three elected members and two who are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. All supervisors serve three-year terms. The board of supervisors conducts regular public meetings to oversee the district’s budget and provide guidance and
oversight to district staff.

The King CD provides information and technical assistance programs available to all landowners within the district’s boundaries (most of King County) on a
voluntary, non-regulatory basis. The district provides grants for conservation-focused projects and programs, and initiates community outreach activities that include workshops, education programs, site visits, farm plans, and consultation on land, water, and wildlife management.

As one of 47 conservation districts in the state, the King CD is a natural resources assistance agency authorized by the State of Washington and guided by the Washington State Conservation Commission. The election is held in accordance with Washington Revised Code RCW 89.08.

Further information on conservation district elections and procedures throughout the state can be found at www.scc.wa.gov/index.php/Elections-and-Appointments.

For more information on the King Conservation District, visit www.kingcd.org.

Establishment: Del Rio Food Store

Address: 10230 16th SW, Seattle 98146

Date closed: March 12, 2010, 2:30 pm

Reasons:

• Inadequate handwashing facilities
• Hands not washed
• Handling ready-to-eat foods with bare hands
• Cross contamination not prevented with raw meat storage
• Inadequate hot holding temperatures
• Potentially hazardous foods at room temperature
• Inadequate cold holding temperatures
• Toxic chemicals improperly stored

Status: CLOSED

According to the county website:

Closure information remains online for a period of 7 days after establishment is reopened. To ensure you are viewing the most current information, click the Refresh or Reload button on your Internet browser.

Public Health lists the reason the establishment was closed, whether it has been reopened, and the date it reopened. Reasons for closing a food establishment can vary and include such issues as failure to follow the permit process and unsafe food handling.

BTB Real Estate Sponsor Prudential Northwest’s featured Open House for this week is a Mid-Century Home with Puget Sound views from both floors in Burien’s Three Tree Point area above Maplewild.

Imagine a home where you can relax and enjoy the view from nearly every room in the house as well as the deck. The carport offers storage above and at the end; plus there is a basement shop.

Here are the details:

WHEN: Open House will be this Sunday, March 14th, from 1pm to 4pm.

WHERE: 2923 SW 164th Place • Burien 98166

INFO:

• List Price: $499,000
• Listing#: 19432
• Beds: 3
• Baths: 1.75
• Fireplaces: 2
• Year Built: 1952
• 2 Carport-Attached
• Approximate House SqFt: 2,190
• Lot Square Footage: 14,625

Interior Features:

• Dining Room
• Security System

Site Features:

• Cable TV
• Deck
• Fenced-Partially
• Shop

Marketing Remarks:

View, View, View!

Puget Sound with Ferry Crossing viewed from both floors of this Mid-centry home in the Three Tree Point area above Maplewild!

Imagine a home where you can relax and enjoy the view from nearly every room in the house as well as the deck!

Original owners built this house to take advantage of location & private seclusion.

The carport offers storage above & at the end, plus there is a basement shop.

Now is your opportunity to own this view & update the house to your liking!

DIRECTIONS:

• From Maplewild go east on 29th SW.
• At Y (164th Pl) go Right follow road up & to the left.
• Second house on left.
• To leave-back out of driveway & continue north to complete loop you started.

Click here to see the full, detailed listing.

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

The YMCA is now accepting applications through March 31st for their Teen Leadership Institute & Youth Exchange to Japan, which gives local teenagers a chance to experience Japanese culture through a trip this summer.

Teens currently in grades 8-12 will travel to Kobe, Hiroshima and Kyoto from July 22-Aug. 7, 2010.

There are 14 spots available, and group selection will take place in early April, so be sure to get your applications in before March 31st.

According to a press release:

Participants learn important leadership skills, cultural sensitivity, history and language through home stays, visiting historical places and interacting with teens their own age. There are 14 spots available in the Annual YMCA Teen Leadership Institute, a 45–year-old international partnership between the YMCA of Greater Seattle and Kobe YMCA.

Michaella Rosner, a participant in last year’s Youth Exchange, feels that the experience was truly eye-opening. “Japan really made me understand how similar people are across cultures. You can hear all your life how much we all have in common, but it doesn’t really sink in until you’re high-fiving Japanese girls and talking about boys. It’s also incredible how willing my host family was to accept me into their family. They begin their emails to me ‘Dear our daughter Michaella.’ I get homesick for Japan sometimes,” she says.

YMCA of Greater Seattle is part of the World Alliance of YMCAs in 122 countries. The Teen Leadership program is one of a number of international programs the Seattle YMCA is offering for teens, young adults and families.

The subsidized cost for the program (including pre-trip training, airfare, transportation, food, lodging and activities) is $2,750. Financial assistance is available to the extent possible for those in need.

Parents and applicants can join one of following information meetings to learn more about the trip:

• Monday, March 21, 7:00 p.m. : Northshore Family YMCA, 11811 NE 195th Street, Bothell, WA 98011
• Tuesday, March 22, 7:00 p.m. : West Seattle High School Library, 3000 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
• Thursday, March 24, 7:00 p.m.:
 Coal Creek Family YMCA, 13750 Newcastle Golf Club Road, Newcastle, WA 98059

The YMCA of Greater Seattle is a charitable, non-profit organization serving King and south Snohomish counties since 1876. Reaching more than 140,700 people annually through 12 branches, two overnight camps and more than 200 program sites, the YMCA provides a wide range of programs and services in child care, youth development, education, foster care, family support, wellness and outdoor experiences.

More information may be found at seattleymca.org.