The City of Normandy Park has posted the following schedule for the local 4th of July fun:

“Join your neighbors and friends at the Normandy Park 4th of July Social sponsored by the Normandy Park Community Club and the City of Normandy Park from 10am until 1pm. All Normandy Park residents are encouraged to join in the fun for these morning and early afternoon festivities:

10:25am: 2.8K Fun Run. It’s free, but pre-registration is highly suggested. The course is from Marvista Elementary to Marine View Drive & Shoremont. Runners be sure to arrive at the starting area before 10:10am as number pick up will close at that time. This year’s custom designed race t-shirt can be ordered in advance by all runners for pick it up at the finish line. Non-runners may purchase any left over shirts at the end of the race. They are only $15 each. Contact the Cove office to register 206-242-3778 or visit www.npcove.org

10:30am: Children’s Parade. Everyone is welcome to join in, either from the start (be at Marvista no later than 10:15!) or from anywhere along the parade route, which ends at the Cove Building. Classic cars, floats, wagons, bicycles, strollers, horses, marching bands – - all are encouraged to participate. Paint your face, decorate your bike, get out your flags; be festive or plain. Please, however, no campaigning or political signs. The Normandy Park Arts Commission will once again offer children prizes for the best decorated bicycles. Children who participate in the Parade are encouraged to decorate their bikes in the holiday spirit and enter the Bike Decorating Contest. Prizes will be awarded for the Best Patriotic decorations

11:15am: Social at the Cove. After the parade everyone is invited for free Ice Cream at the Cove. To satisfy your lunchtime hunger, hot dogs and beverages will be offered. Festivities include Classic Car Show and, Large Blow Up Toys and Temporary Tattoos for youngsters. All of this will be accompanied by Live Patriotic Music on the lawn.

Line the streets, enjoy the parade, and attend the Community Social at the Cove!

Road Closure Information:

• Marine View Drive and Shorebrook Drive will be closed to motor vehicles during the festivites from approx. 9:30am-12:00pm. Please use caution and consider alternate routes.

If you’re considering other local fun on the 4th, here’s a link to our sister site The B-Town Blog’s schedule for neighboring community 3 Tree Point’s all-day block party.

According to a press release, the Normandy Park Police Department will be taking over Marvista Elementary School for some serious police training between Wed., July 1st and Fri., July 3rd, from 9am to 9pm.

The school grounds will be off limits to all non-police personnel, and the training will be scenario-based for SWAT and Patrol. For the safety of its citizens, Normandy Park Police along with Kassel Construction are temporarily closing the school grounds.

This training is critical for the maintenance of basic and advanced skills. The Coalition of Small Police Agencies (CSPA) has a Special Operations Team (SOT). The team is staffed by members of the coalition.

The City of Normandy Park provides three officers to the SOT. The SOT has approximately 20 team members. The SOT assists CSPA agencies and other outside agencies needing assistance with search warrant service or special event enforcement. During the SOT training on July 1st, the team will be training in Simunitions, Explosive Breaching, Noise Flash Diversionary Devices, CS Gas, Pepperball and smoke familiarization. Team members will also be breaking windows and forcibly opening exterior and interior doors. Residents can expect to hear loud noises similar to that of large fireworks. Residents may also see a number of outside agency police vehicles, to include an armored transport vehicle and possibly a mobile command center. The training will begin at 11:00 A.M. and conclude at 7:00 P.M.

On July 2nd and July 3rd, members of the Normandy Park Police Department and several CSPA agencies will be conducting Active Shooter training inside the soon to be demolished Marvista Elementary. This training will begin at 9:00 A.M. and conclude at 6:00 P.M. This training will utilize Simunitions only.
Simunition rounds are similar to paintballs, but they are fired from realistic type weapons. Safety officers, not participating in the training will be ensuring only simunition rounds are used in the training.

As a result of cooperation from Highline School District and Kassel Construction, the Normandy Park Police, CSPA and the SOT have been given the outstanding opportunity to train in a very realistic environment.

Marvista Elementary is located at 19800 Marine View Drive SW in Normandy Park.

If you have concerns that what you are seeing is not associated with the SOT training, please feel free to call the Normandy Park Police Department at (206) 248-7600.

The annual Highline Relay For Life cancer fundraiser began at 3pm Saturday, June 13th and continued all night until 8am Sunday at Highline Stadium in Burien.

Here’s a slideshow by Photographer Michael Brunk:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

The City of Normandy Park’s Annual Arts Festival will be held this weekend, Saturday, June 6th and Sunday, June 7th, from 10am to 4pm at the NP city hall, located at 801 SW 174th Street (map below).

Here are the details:

WHAT: The City of Normandy Park’s Arts Festival

WHEN: Saturday, June 6th and Sunday, June 7th from 10am-4pm

WHERE: Normandy Park City Hall, located at 801 SW 174th Street

INFO: This is a wonderful time for everyone in the community to enjoy viewing the talent of local artists, participate in the annual Walk-In-The-Park, or to just kick back and listen to the sounds of live music.

• JURIED ART SHOW

The juried show is open to amateur’s and professionals. Awards are given in both categories. For those who are new to the art experience, the City offers art classes throughout the year. These classes can prepare you for our annual Art Show. See the Fine Arts Program Flyer for details (Search FAP).

• ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR

An opportunity to sell or purchase original art work and crafts.

• ENTERTAINMENT

Live music throughout the day. Performers include various local youth groups.

The Highline Historical Society will be holding a Garden Tour on Saturday, June 13th from 10am to 5pm, where people can visit gardens in Normandy Park, SeaTac and Burien.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Historical Society Garden Tour

WHEN: Saturday, June 13th from 10am to 5pm

WHERE: Various gardens in the area, including Seike Garden

COST: $12 per person for groups of four or more; $15 advance purchase, $18 day of tour. Please mail check with name, address, phone, email and # of tickets requested to:

PO Box 317
Seahurst, WA 98062

Or charge via VISA or MasterCard by calling 206-241-5786.

INFO: The Highline Historical Society presents a visit to our neighborhoods for a day of gardening inspiration.

Highline Historical Society invites you to visit our neighborhoods for a day of gardening inspiration. Visit lovely gardens in Normandy Park, SeaTac and Burien, where you will be treated to music and artists-in-action. Visiit the Seike Garden at Highline/SeaTac Botanical Garden, talk with a Master Gardener, attend Marianne Binetti’s program and learn about creating your own show garden.

Music program of “artists in action” by Marianne Binetti.

Special sponsor drawings for gardening gifts.

“The most noteworthy thing about gardeners is that they are always optimistic, always enterprising, and never satisfied.” – Vita Sackville-West, 1892 – 1962 .

Nearly 300 people helped raise $65,500 for the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence Friday at the 9th Annual Gold Star Awards Benefit Luncheon at the Doubletree Suites in Tukwila, and here are some pics from Photographer Michael Brunk:

Click to View Slideshow

Former “Almost Live!” host John Keister acted as the Master of Ceremonies and brought down the house when he interviewed young scholars who spoke on behalf of their schools’ Excel Grant projects implemented with funding from the Foundation.

Other participants included Amy Pinon, who belted out the National Anthem, Kevin Rodal who played guitar at the pre-event and the Bow Lake Elementary Choir that provided luncheon entertainment.

The Gold Star Awards recipients were:

Outstanding Administrator – Dr. Steve Grubb
Dr. Grubb is a leader who models integrity, respect and professionalism at all times. He has an ability to stay focused on what is most important – the big strategic picture and the end goal without losing sight of the impacts on fron line staff.

Outstanding Classified Employee – Zenaida (ZZ) Newman
ZZ Newman evaluates and enrolls students who speak other languages and is often the first contact for families arriving at schools. She is caring and reliable and puts her knowledge and her personal concern for other individuals into practice.

Outstanding Teacher – Linda Drahn
Linda Drahn is a 1st grade teacher at McMicken Heights Elementary. She is a 28 year teaching veteran who is a loving , patient instructor and a mentor to new teachers, as well.

Outstanding Volunteer – Tamera Nason
Tamera Nason is in her 5th year volunteering at Aviation High School. She travels from Maple Valley to volunteer and is willing to assist with whatever is needed including flying her airplane to Moses Lake to deliver legal documents to students.

The final award of the luncheon, “The Lifetime Achievement Award” was presented to Geri Fain, Highline Assistant Superintendent in charge of Facilities, Transportation, Security and Nutrition at Highline School District. Geri has been at Highline Schools since she started as a teacher in 1971 at Tyee High School. Unlike the other awards, The Lifetime Achievement is the only one to be revealed at the luncheon.

The luncheon and awards were sponsored by Boeing, BECU and Rogers & Norman.

Welcome our latest Advertiser to The Normandy Park Blog: Companion Animal Medical Center in Normandy Park!

There’s a new vet and clinic in town, Dr. Leslie Kasper and her Companion Animal Medical Center with a new philosophy on the care and treatment.

Dr. Kasper told us here The NPB, “We believe every pet is a member of a family, so why should your animal’s doctor visits be any different?”

At Companion Animal pet-parents will always feel comfortable and confident in their companion’s care. Dr. Kasper and her staff simply love animals. You can see it in the way they treat them. They’re all pet-parents too!

“Whether it is a simple vaccine or a major procedure, we will strive to educate you on your patient’s current condition, overall health, and any prevention or future care that may be warranted,” stated Dr. Kasper.

Area resident Dr. Leslie Kasper can’t remember a time she didn’t want to be a veterinarian. She gained experience working in the field as an assistant and technician through high school and undergraduate school.

As a 2005 graduate from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she initially worked in Cheney, WA at a mixed animal practice. Although she enjoyed working with the livestock and farmers, she missed her family in Western Washington.

Dr. Kasper (then Strelow) spent the next two-and-a-half years practicing in both Bellevue and Renton, where she developed the clinical medicine, professional and business skills she utilizes today.

Dr. Kasper and her hubby Mike share their Burien house with their pet-family that includes two miniature dachshunds, Piglet and Molly, as well as a DSH lilac torti named PufDuster and two adopted kittens – TuTu and Evalyn.

Services for your pet-family:
What can we say about services in 20 words or less? Dr. Kasper’s clinic is state of the art with the most advance medical equipment in the area. Some of her services are:

• Routine Examinations with Specialized Preventive Care
• Nutrition and Weight Management
• Soft Tissue Surgery
• Dental Prophylaxis and Oral Surgery
• In-House Laboratory Testing
• Digital Radiography (X-Rays)
• Geriatric and Hospice Care
• Housing and Boarding Facilities
• Behavioral Consultation

Top: Dr Kasper with Piglet and Molly, Lisa with Bella, Teghan with Boxer.
Bottom: Rose with Chance, Audrey with Lil’Girl.

Meet the staff:

• Audrey—Licensed Veterinarian Assistant (LVT) Hospital Manager, 11 years experience
• Lisa—final stages of schooling to become a LVT.
• Rose — Certified Veterinary Assistant, 4 years experience
• Teghan — Veterinary Assistant: New to veterinary field; studying for masters in Animal Behavior
• Melanie—LVT, and has been with Dr. Kasper through then entire rehabbing process

Also on the staff are:

• Lil’Girl (greeter)
• Chance (sniffer)
• Piglet and Molly (worry-warts)

If you drive on First Ave South through Normandy Park halfway between Burien and Des Moines, you’ve probably witnessed Companion Animal Medical Center come to life at 19655 First Ave. South in Normandy Park (map below).

Now you can stop by and welcome them to the neighborhood and check out their state of the art clinic.

Or call them at 206-878-0405.

Or visit their website here.

For hours of operation click here.

On Saturday (May 16th), the cities of Normandy Park and Burien held a major recycling event, and Photographer Michael Brunk was there to capture these photos:

Click to View Slideshow