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Residents of the Huntington Park West 55+ community in Des Moines are inviting the public to a two-day fundraising sale this coming weekend to help support updates to the neighborhood clubhouse.

According to organizers, more than 200 homes have donated hundreds of items for the event, including pots and pans, jewelry, artwork, luggage, collectibles, tools and other household goods. A bake sale featuring homemade treats will also be part of the fundraiser.

The sale will be held Friday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the clubhouse at Huntington Park West, located at 1000 S. 248th Street in Des Moines (map below).

Organizers encourage shoppers to arrive early for the best selection.

Funds raised during the event will go toward improvements to the Huntington Park West clubhouse, a central gathering place for the community.

About Huntington Park West

Established in 1970, Huntington Park West Homes Association is a private 55+ residential community consisting of 340 homes—including single-family residences, duplexes, triplexes, and condominiums.

Homeowners share ownership of the streets, sidewalks, greenbelts, medians, Clubhouse, swimming pool, and other common areas. Visitors often note our beautifully maintained surroundings — community spirit is central to life here. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: Sponsored Posts like this are paid, “Native Advertisements” that help businesses and organizations improve their internet presence and all-important SEO. South King Media also underwrites fundraisers from local nonprofits. To learn more about how your business or organization can directly reach our expanding, engaged audience in South King County, please email Theresa Schaefer at vtheresa@comcast.net.

By Sarah Toce

The Highline School Board convened on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, for a nearly three-hour discussion on hot button items that included classified staff relocation, transparency concerns, and more.

While there was not an official June proclamation, the board recognized National Safety Month, Pride Month, Flag Day, and Juneteenth.

Highline Education Association President Jeb Binns took a few moments to recognize and thank retiring staff members, as well as guest teachers. Binns encouraged acceptance of all students and community members as a sponsor of Burien Pride.

Mobile Devices

SB 5346 (companion bill HB 1122) addresses student use of mobile devices in public schools. The Superintendent Student Leadership Team urged policymakers to utilize student perspectives in decision-making. The new policy is slated for implementation on June 11, 2026.

The Superintendent Student Leadership Team meets monthly at different schools throughout the year, offering leadership lessons and values-based leadership opportunities. Guest speakers from Evergreen and Tyee shared their findings on cell phone and social media usage, as well as access to smart devices. The survey included feedback from an estimated 946 students, 35 staff members, and close to 100 parents, according to their presentation.

“Phones affect the learning environment every day, so the rules around them can shape whether the classroom feels safe and focused, and also respectful and fair,” the group offered. “So when expectations are clear and consistent, students are most likely to feel able to understand the boundaries and make more responsible choices.”

The student leaders emphasized the need for transparency and inclusion for non-traditional circumstances, such as students using their mobile devices for familial interaction, translation apps, and general anxiety reduction.

“And some students have to text their parents because some of them have to pick up their siblings or other family members, or let their family know where they are, because some parents work while school hours happen, and they want to know where their students are (and their kids) – and if they’re safe,” the group relayed.

They said in conclusion, “As a policy is developed, families need clear, consistent information so they will understand the expectations, the reasons behind them, and how the policy will affect the students’ day-to-day. It is also important to make sure communication is accessible in different languages because families cannot support a plan if they do not fully understand it.”

2026 Bond Recommendation

The community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) presented its 2026 bond recommendation at the meeting. Co-lead Tova Tupper started by saying, “This community-led group has spent the past two years studying Highline’s facility needs and developing a recommendation for the board’s consideration. Additional co-leads were Jackie Bryan and Omaha Sternberg.

“The CFAC was formed in 2015 to support bond planning and has successfully recommended the 2016 and the 2022 bond packages,” Sternberg said. “Membership includes appointed representatives from local jurisdictions, high schools, labor, and community organizations. And about half of CFAC members are also selected through a lottery process. Our committee charge was to develop recommendations for future facilities. This is not easy work, as you can imagine, and requires hard decisions, thinking about the needs of students in our district as a whole, and not just in our own neighborhood.”

The committee’s bond recommendation includes two full replacements, two partial replacements, and additional funding for design work and critical needs.

Student co-chair Cheryl Forbes said:

“This $595.4 million bond package invests in Highline’s future by bringing our deteriorating neighborhoods’ middle schools up to modern safety and learning conditions, just as our community has done for our neighboring high schools.”

Eric Hustad, the father of a fifth-grade student at Hazel Valley, said:

“For Sylvester, CFAC recommends rebuilding Sylvester Middle School at the existing site based on urgent building system maintenance and safety needs. Sylvester’s campus includes multiple aging buildings, with some dating back to 1953. The school’s overall building condition is well into the poor category. CFAC believes rebuilding Sylvester at the current site is the most fiscally responsible approach and would provide students with a modern, safer learning environment.”

Hustad continued, “CFAC recommends rebuilding Cascade Middle School at the Salmon Creek site based on student safety, long-term site feasibility, and fiscal responsibility considerations. Cascade’s current campus includes multiple aging buildings dating back to 1957. CFAC reviewed significant challenges with rebuilding at the current site, which includes wetlands buffers, a large sewer easement, limited buildable space, and the need for a more complex multi-story design. After reviewing conceptual site plans and cost estimates, CFAC concluded the nearby Salmon Creek site provides a more practical and buildable location for a new middle school campus. Rebuilding Cascade at Salmon Creek will save $44 million compared to rebuilding at the current site.”

Hustad said CFAC “asked for and read community input, including a group of Salmon Creek neighbors who are concerned about Cascade being rebuilt adjacent to them, and community concerns about what would happen to the garden hosted on the school property.” CFAC members were strong in their consensus to prioritize students and their needs above other factors while also making the most fiscally responsible long-term decision for Highline.”

CFAC members “understand there will be extensive opportunity through the permitting traffic and feasibility review processes to study impacts in greater depth and address neighborhood concerns,” Hustad added.

“CFAC recommends a major rebuild and modernization of Chinook Middle School based on aging facilities, declining building systems, and equity with other neighborhood middle schools,” said CFAC member Terri Hewitt. Hewitt is an alumni of Tyee High School and the parent of three children who graduated from Mount Rainier High School. 

“The recommendation includes replacing several buildings with new construction, while modernizing portions of the existing campus where it makes sense to do so,” Hewitt added. “The redesigned campus would create updated learning spaces for programs like career and technical education, science, art, and music, while improving safety and overall learning conditions for students.”

Choice Academy is currently housed in the district’s lowest-rated school building. The CFAC recommends rebuilding the Southern Heights site “using insurance funding already available following the 2024 arson fire, while renovating portions of the existing classroom wings,” Hewitt said. “CFAC believes this project creates an opportunity to provide Choice students and staff with a modernized learning environment designed around the needs of the program and school community. While also maximizing available insurance dollars to reduce the overall impact of the bond funding.”

Katie Kresly said she served on the CFAC for the past three years and challenged:

“For the committee described as community led, but [composed] of 50% hand-selected members, that raises questions. If transparency, equity, and being a good neighbor are true priorities, then community members deserve meaningful opportunities to be heard in person before major decisions are made and finalized. That’s how trust is built, and that’s what being a good neighbor looks like.”

The CFAC said they also considered potential rebuilds or major modernization projects for both Hilltop Elementary and Valley View Early Learning Center. 

“Ultimately, members prioritized the schools and projects previously discussed based on urgency, student impact, and available funding,” Hewitt added. “At the same time, CFAC recognized both schools have facility needs and recommends including funding for initial design work and targeted critical need improvements at both sites while they await a future bond.”

The committee made the recommendation to set aside $40 million for critical facility needs district-wide, allowing Highline to address required building system upgrades, emergency repairs, and site improvements.

Raisbeck Aviation High School

Multiple pleas for outgoing Raisbeck Aviation High School Principal Therese Tipton to be allowed to attend graduation on June 11 radiated throughout the room.

“For four years, Principal Tipton has shown up, not as a title, but as a person. She has celebrated these students and their victories manual or measured in a performance metric. It is earned slowly, consistently, one student at a time,” said commenter Amy Ely. “Today, 92 seniors stand on the threshold of one of the most significant moments of their lives. They are proud, they are ready, and many of them are hurting, because the principal who walked with them through four years of growth may not be allowed to witness the moment they cross the finish line.”

Ely continued, “What we do not understand is why student voices carry so little weight in a decision that directly affects their experience. They are not abstract stakeholders. Graduation is not about policy or politics. It’s about students, always has been. Everything we do as educators, leaders, family members, and community partners exists to serve them.”

“When you removed Ms. Tipton, you left an enormous void,” said Rehana Meyer, a parent of a sophomore attending Raisbeck Aviation High School. “She is the backbone of Raisbeck. Her dedication to her staff and students is a major reason this school is successful, and we want her back.”

Cascade Relocation

Third-generation White Center resident Haley Matsui commented, “My grandmother taught in Highline schools, my mom and I attended Highline schools, and I am expecting my first child, who will be a fourth-generation Highline student, and a future Cascade Middle School student. So this upcoming bond to rebuild middle schools in our district is really personal to me, because I’ve heard, and more tonight, that there is talk that Cascade might be left out of this bond.”

Matsui added, “My mom went to Cascade in the ’70s and also remarked that it needed to be rebuilt back then. And so learning that rebuilding Sylvester and Chinook, but not Cascade, feels really unacceptable to me, and it’s not an equitable option. I am a future Cascade parent, and I care deeply about North Berrien, White Center, and every middle school across the district deserves to be rebuilt, not just those in the wealthier south end. Let’s not leave behind the communities that have been historically underserved.”

Mika Sundberg, a parent of students at Hazel Valley Elementary and Cascade, is also the co-chair for Yes for Highline and has served on CFAC since 2018.

“For two years, CFAC reviewed enrollment projections, facility conditions, and tax impacts. Throughout the process, we worked to balance student needs with financial responsibility and considered how voters across the whole district would view the proposal. As part of our work, we asked the district to look at different options for several projects to see if there are ways to save money while still providing students with the schools they deserve. This included relocating Sylvester and Cascade to better sites, and consolidating Choice Academy and Big Picture at Southern Heights.”

Sundberg continued, “Not every option proved feasible. Relocating Sylvester proved more expensive than rebuilding on site, and Big Picture depends heavily on transit access and asked not to be included at this time. Concerns were also raised about relocating Cascade to Salmon Creek, though many in the Cascade community indicated a new location was okay if it resulted in a better school. Ultimately, CFAC recommended adding Chinook Middle School, along with Cascade and Sylvester, to the bond package, because investing in Chinook now allows the district to reuse portions of the existing building, avoiding higher costs in the future and ensuring all Highline Middle School students have the benefit of a new building.”

Current Cascade student Pascal Global spoke about why he felt his school should be replaced.

“Cascade is very old school. It’s infested with roaches. The ceilings are caving in in some places. And as I’ve learned, the buildings are sinking,” Global said. “So when I’m in math class and all of a sudden, a roach comes out of nowhere, it disrupts the entire class. And kids are yelling, and it’s hard to focus. So it would be good to have a new school because being in an old school, it feels somewhat unsafe, and it’s always having to be [repaired].”

Carson Ivins asked the board to reconsider building Cascade at the Salmon Creek site and instead rebuild Cascade at the shared Evergreen Cascade campus. 

“As many of you have seen, there is a petition signed by nearly 400 Burien area residents asking the board to take a closer look at these concerns before adding it to the bond package,” Ivins said. “What concerns us is that one of the district’s largest middle schools is now being proposed for one of its smallest sites. Salmon Creek is only 6.65 acres, while Washington State siting guidelines recommend five usable acres plus one acre per 100 students and an additional five acres for schools serving grades above sixth grade, which puts the Salmon Creek site at almost one-third the space recommended.”

Additional public comments can be viewed in the video below.

Video

Watch video of the full this school board meeting:

EDITOR’S NOTE: The author of this story is a CFAC committee member and worked on the 2026 bond package recommendations. She is dedicated to fair and accurate reporting.

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REMINDER: The Normandy Park Community Club (“The Cove”) will host its annual Giant Rummage Sale this Sunday, June 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Organizers said the annual one-day event will feature a wide variety of rummage sale items, crafts and community vendors.

The sale is open to shoppers seeking bargains as well as individuals interested in reserving seller space. Indoor and outdoor seller spaces are available for $30 (there is limited space – reserve your spot now using this secure form, or call the Cove office at (206) 242-3778).

Food will also be available onsite from the Little Chicken Burger food truck.

“Bargains will abound at this all out community sale,” organizers said in event materials. “Treasures and trinkets, junk and jewels, you might just find anything here.”

For More Info, Click Here

EDITOR’S NOTE: Sponsored Posts like this are paid, “Native Advertisements” that help businesses and organizations improve their internet presence and all-important SEO. South King Media also underwrites fundraisers from local nonprofits. To learn more about how your business or organization can directly reach our expanding, engaged audience in South King County, please email Theresa Schaefer at vtheresa@comcast.net.

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This month, the world’s biggest sporting event comes to our region, and there’s no better place to kick off the excitement than at the Tukwila United Block Party on Saturday, June 13.

On June 13, the City of Tukwila invites residents and visitors alike to gather on Baker Boulevard in Tukwila’s Southcenter District for a free, family-friendly celebration of soccer, culture, and community. From 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the street will transform into a vibrant festival filled with live entertainment, great food, and activities for all ages.

The Tukwila United Block Party is more than a watch party—it’s a celebration of the diverse cultures and communities that make Tukwila so special. Guests can enjoy live match viewing alongside fellow fans.

Live Match Schedule: 

• Qatar vs. Switzerland: 12 p.m. 
• Brazil vs. Morocco: 3 p.m. 
• Haiti vs. Scotland: 6 p.m.

Throughout the day, attendees can explore a variety of local food trucks serving up delicious eats, enjoy live music performances, and experience cultural dance presentations that showcase the global spirit of the game.

Families will find plenty to keep kids entertained with interactive activities and hands-on fun designed for all ages.

Guests 21 and older can also relax and enjoy the beer garden while soaking in the festival atmosphere.

Whether you’re a lifelong soccer fan or simply looking for a fun way to spend the day with friends and family, the Tukwila United Block Party offers something for everyone.

Wear your team colors, bring your cheering spirit, and join fellow fans in celebrating the sport that brings the world together.

The event is free and open to the public – learn more at:

https://www.tukwila26.com/event/tukwila-united-block-party/

EDITOR’S NOTE: Sponsored Posts like this are paid, “Native Advertisements” that help businesses and organizations improve their internet presence and all-important SEO. South King Media also underwrites fundraisers from local nonprofits. To learn more about how your business or organization can directly reach our expanding, engaged audience in South King County, please email Theresa Schaefer at vtheresa@comcast.net.

The Highline Amateur Radio Club (HARC) will join amateur radio operators across the country on Saturday, June 27 as part of the annual ARRL Field Day event at Marvista Park in Normandy Park.

According to HARC, members will begin setting up equipment around 9 a.m. on June 27, and radio operations and demonstrations are expected to take place from approximately 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The event is part of ARRL Field Day, a nationwide activity organized by the American Radio Relay League that brings together amateur radio operators to practice and demonstrate radio communications.

HARC participates in the annual event and is inviting community members to learn more about amateur radio and the local radio operator community.

Club representatives said they would welcome public interest in the event and the role amateur radio operators play in communications and community service.

The event will be held at Marvista Park in Normandy Park and is open to those interested in learning more about amateur radio operations and the amateur radio community.

Additional information about the club is available through HARC’s website at highlinearc.org.

The Highline Heritage Museum and the American Association of University Women will host a free historical storytelling presentation on Saturday, June 13, highlighting the life and legacy of Bertha Knight Landes, who became Seattle’s first woman mayor in 1926 and the first woman mayor of any major metropolitan city in the United States.

The event, titled “Patch-Work Politics,” will begin at 2 p.m. in the museum’s main gallery. While admission is free, organizers are encouraging attendees to donate $10 to help offset event costs.

The presentation will feature Northwest storyteller and actress Debbie Dimitre, who has been performing historical and dramatic storytelling programs since 1987. According to event organizers, Dimitre uses costumes, first person portrayals and historical storytelling to bring women and girls from American history to life for audiences of all ages.

The program will focus on Landes’ groundbreaking political career and her historic election as Seattle mayor a century ago.

According to the Highline Heritage Museum, Dimitre’s performances are known for combining education, entertainment and historical interpretation. Organizers said she often performs by the light of a kerosene lamp while portraying historical figures in a style that is uniquely her own.

The event is being presented by the American Association of University Women in partnership with the Highline Heritage Museum.

According to AAUW, the organization works to empower women and girls through support for higher education opportunities and advocacy for gender equity. The organization said it has been advancing women’s rights and educational opportunities for more than 140 years.

The June 13 presentation is expected to offer attendees an opportunity to learn about a pioneering figure in Pacific Northwest history through an immersive storytelling experience.

South King Media earned a second place award in the 2025 Society of Professional Journalists Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards for its video coverage of Burien’s 2025 Arts-A-Glow festival.

According to results released Monday, June 1, the recognition came in the Feature (Soft News) Small category for the story “VIDEO: Burien’s amazing Arts A Glow festival shines with lanterns, art and joyful crowds Saturday night,” by Bryan Dutt (view the video below).

The honored story focused on Burien’s Arts-A-Glow Festival, an annual community celebration known for its lantern displays, public art and family-friendly atmosphere. The next event will be held in Downtown Burien on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Judges praised Dutt’s coverage for capturing the spirit of the community event.

“Love how this event brought a community together,” judges wrote in comments accompanying the award results.

The SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards recognize journalistic work from news organizations and journalists across five states in the Pacific Northwest.

Video

Below is Dutt’s awesome, award-winning video:

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The 12th annual Neighborhood VINTAGE SALE is coming to Normandy Park soon – on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. both days.

Multiple vendors and so much to discover.

Enjoy all the offerings at this notable vintage sale, but be sure to shop early for best selection, including:

• Vintage Furniture
• Lamps
• Books
• Home Decor
• Some new merchandise also!

Event Details:

• WHAT: SALE – Vintage Furniture, Home Decor, and more
• WHEN:
  • Friday, June 26: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 27: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• WHERE: 19411 Normandy Park Drive SW, Normandy Park, 98166 (map below):

Interested in becoming a vendor? Space available $40.00 per day – call or text Dona at 206-387-3873.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Sponsored Posts like this are paid, “Native Advertisements” that help businesses and organizations improve their internet presence and all-important SEO. South King Media also underwrites fundraisers from local nonprofits. To learn more about how your business or organization can directly reach our expanding, engaged audience in South King County, please email Theresa Schaefer at vtheresa@comcast.net.

The Rotary Club of Des Moines and Normandy Park will be presenting its 17th Annual Poverty Bay Blues & Brews Fest on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026 with an unforgettable lineup of world-class blues music, exceptional Northwest craft beers, and a mission that directly benefits local youth and community programs.

A limited number of discounted Early Bird tickets are on sale here now!

Set against the stunning backdrop of Puget Sound, Blues & Brews has become one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier summer music festivals. Guests will enjoy four outstanding live performances, an extensive selection of craft beers from some of the region’s finest breweries, delicious food offerings, and a festival atmosphere unlike any other.

Held in Des Moines’ natural waterfront amphitheater, the festival combines incredible music, spectacular scenery, and community spirit into one remarkable experience.

2026 Music Lineup

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
CD Woodbury Band

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Too Slim and the Taildraggers

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Northwest Blues Stars

While attendees come for the music and brews, the true impact of the festival extends far beyond a single day of entertainment. As a Rotary-led event, 100% of net proceeds are invested back into the community through charitable programs and local initiatives.

A primary beneficiary of the festival is Highline Music4Life, an organization dedicated to providing musical instruments to students who otherwise would not have access to them. Festival proceeds help place instruments into the hands of aspiring young musicians, opening doors to educational opportunities and lifelong enrichment through music.

For 17 years, the beloved Poverty Bay Blues & Brews Fest has brought together music lovers, craft beer enthusiasts, community leaders, and supporters of local causes. The 2026 festival promises to continue that tradition with an incredible day of blues, brews, and giving back.

For ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and festival updates, visit the festival website and follow the Rotary Club of Des Moines and Normandy Park on social media.

For more info, visit:

https://dmnprotary.org/poverty-bay-blues-brews-festival/

A Burien family is renewing its search for answers in the disappearance of Benjamin Shane Ridley, a 14-year-old who was last seen in Burien on July 2, 1982.

According to information shared by his sister Rose Marrs, Ridley’s disappearance was not officially reported until decades later. Marrs said she and another sibling were led to believe for years that their brother had left for California to start a new life, only later concluding that he had never voluntarily left.

The case is now being investigated by the King County Sheriff’s Office as a cold case. Marrs identified Detective Aaron Thompson as the current investigator and said the case is assigned # C17030680.

According to missing person flyers provided by Marrs, Ridley was just 14 when he disappeared. He was described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 130 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has produced age progression images depicting what he may look like today.

One flyer states that Ridley may have used the nicknames “Benjie” or “Ben” and may have remained in the local area or traveled to Seattle after his disappearance.

Marrs said she created a Facebook page dedicated to her brother’s case in hopes of generating new leads and preserving awareness of the disappearance.

“I’m hoping someone who might have seen something or someone who knows something about it will see the story and will come forward with what they know,” Marrs told The B-Town Blog.

Marrs also shared her family’s personal beliefs about what may have happened to her brother. However, those allegations have not been substantiated by law enforcement, and no charges related to Ridley’s disappearance have been announced.

According to the flyers, anyone with information about Ridley’s disappearance is encouraged to contact the King County Sheriff’s Office at (206) 296-3311. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the Missing in America tip line at 1-844-MIA-LOST.