South King Fire & Rescue and the Cities of Federal Way and Des Moines, WA hosted a dawn 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Celebration Park in Federal Way on Sunday Morning, September 11.

Visit our sister site The Waterland Blog to view the photo feature from today’s event.

Advertiser Three Tree Montessori School invites you to schedule a visit. Come and view the beautiful classrooms, gardens and playgrounds, and learn about Montessori programs for children ages one through twelve.

Have you driven down SW 160th Street and wondered what was going on behind those whimsical columns? That warm ochre and brick-colored building is the home of Three Tree Montessori School: a rich and vibrant community that supports the education principals of Dr. Maria Montessori. Montessori is a time-tested (since 1907 in Europe, and the mid-50s in the US), holistic education approach, designed to nurture the whole child.

Choosing a school for your child is arguably one of the most difficult decisions you will make for them. There are so many possibilities (public, private, conventional, or alternative) that it can be overwhelming. Three Tree Montessori School provides relaxing/no-pressure tours to inquiring families. They generously answer questions, offer resources, and (surprisingly) encourage visitors to visit competing local schools (as well as their own).

What makes Three Tree Montessori School different from many schools is its commitment to the founding principles of Dr. Maria Montessori. The Montessori name is not trademarked, which means that any school may call itself a Montessori. But Three Tree Montessori School is dedicated to the AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) approach. AMI was founded by Dr. Montessori herself in 1929, and is committed to preserving the integrity of Maria Montessori’s method. Each TTMS teacher is accredited by AMI, which is equivalent to a Master’s Degree, and many have a Master of Education degree as well. TTMS teachers also go each year for intensive additional training to assure that their education is current and refreshed. The AMI method focuses on each child’s potential, providing hands-on experiences that nurture the love of learning. It emphasizes collaboration, self-expression, and self-motivation in a beautifully prepared environment, which fosters respect, peace, joy and learning for life.

To give you an idea of what Three Tree Montessori School is like, here’s a slideshow of photos:

We spent time viewing Three Tree’s students at work. It wasn’t like any classroom we knew of, being products of public school, but it was fascinating and worth explaining to our readers who are interested in public school alternatives.

Montessori divides classes by the age and needs of the individual child, not by arbitrary timelines. The Toddler Program includes children aged 1 (and walking) to 3. There are two toddler classes with 12 students in each class guided by a teacher and two assistants. Students may stay half day or full day.

The Toddler environment is charming to see. The rooms are designed with toddler sized furniture, tools and instruments, made primarily of natural and beautiful materials. The room is conceived as an extension of the home: designed to meet the needs of the child and to foster independence, motor coordination and language acquisition. This is where young children experience their first structured contact with other children. We observed tea parties, biscuit-baking and sweeping all performed with age appropriate tools.

Next we were off to the Primary Program for ages 2 ½ – 6. We observed one of four primary classes. There is a teacher, an assistant, and a support staff. One of the basic tenets of Montessori theory is the multi-age classroom. Here students learn practical life, sensorial, cultural, math, language activities and of course, outdoor play. The materials, here too, are beautiful and hands on. Observation, experimentation, and kinesthetic learning are basic building blocks in this world. There isn’t a desk in sight; instead there are chairs, bookshelves, and tables that are sized appropriately. Many of the children were using floor mats, studying math and geography working in groups or individually, with the older students mentoring the younger. We noted how peaceful it was as they were engaged at their own pace.

Finally we were welcomed into one of the two Elementary classrooms. Yes, welcomed. Two girls (class greeters) welcomed BTB and offered tea. There are two Elementary classrooms at Three Tree Montessori School. The Lower Elementary Classroom serves ages 6 – 9, and the upper Elementary serves children ages 9 – 12. Students were working in small groups. Elementary children are noted for their questioning minds and their imaginations. The ability to reason is at its greatest capacity in the child of this age. The elementary classroom is designed to be the stepping-off point into the universe. The study of language includes writing, reading and oral expression. Math includes arithmetic, geometry and algebra (and we’re talking little kids learning this stuff!). Once again, all this learning is done in a variety of classroom areas on the floor, in the garden, or at tables.

After our tours of the classrooms were complete, we toured the gardens. Outdoor education is as important as indoor education at Three Tree Montessori School. Each age group has a spacious garden area planted just outside the classroom. We saw tidying, watering, and harvesting.

Service to the community is also an important aspect of the program. Over the years, the children of Elementary have raised money for a Montessori school in Kenya, organized food drives for Northwest Harvest and holiday gift drives for the non-profit organization Baby Boutique, and held a clothing drive for a local family who lost all their belongings in a fire.

Three Tree Montessori School is a board run, non-profit school that has been steadily growing since 2003. The 2011/2012 school year will kick off with a new logo and two new classroom environments. It offers an impressively diverse student and teacher population. They work to keep classrooms balanced (with age, gender, ethnicity, ability, & personality). There are 125 students at the school with room for more.

For more information about Three Tree Montessori School, please contact the school office at (206) 242-5100 or visit their website. The School is located in Burien at 220 SW 160th, near Sylvester Middle School.

New advertiser Decanter Wines in Burien is starting May off with a bang. Well, at least they’ve got some events planned to attract revelers, moms and music lovers.

First they are hosting their own Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring four different types of Mexican beer, sangria and special mexican style pizza. Those beers are on special for just $2.00. If things go well, they plan to find some vintage mariachi music from dad Larry’s collection for your listening pleasure!

Then — and you’ll love this — Larry met one of the local musicians that plays around the Five Corners area. He was so impressed with his saxaphone playing that he asked him to drop by Decanter Wine this Friday night, May 6h. McKinley Cunningham and his guitar playing friend will be arriving at 7pm to entertain the customers.

And let’s not forget good old Mom. When you take her out for lunch in Burien on her special day, surprise her with dessert at Decanter where they’ve got a special Mother’s Day Dessert Sampler AND a special “Flight”, which is a three dessert wine tasting for the price of one dessert wine.

The sampler includes Larry’s homemade Apple Crisp, Lava Cake, White Chocolate and Raspberry Cheese Cake all topped off with ice cream. The Flight will be a combo of three ports: chocolate, raspberry and coffee ports. That’s dessert for $7.00 and the liquor to go with it for $12.00. Mom will be talking about this special dessert for some time to come.

The idea of Decanter Wines comes from the owner/partners, the Grim family of Burien. Mom, Mary and dad Larry were joined by son Matt and daughter Diane in the creation of this wine store. They’ve been in the online line wine sales business for some time with Washington Wines Online. Many of their customers didn’t want to pay shipping charges, so Decanter Wines was born.

Now they’ve not only got a place to pick up their wine, but a place to enjoy a nice salad or, some Mediterranean appetizers, salads, soups and even hot sandwiches and desserts while they collect their wine purchases. They’ve also got flatbread pizza, which you can get for nothing if you check out their coupon on B-Town Coupons.

Why Washington Wines? Mary and Larry have had a 30 year association with the wineries of Washington. Decanter offers the best of them for sale. But do not despair, they can special order your favorite country’s wine. They had a customer just last week looking for a special Korean wine, and found it for them. They’ve also got some fun and useful wine accessories, greeting cards and gourmet foodstuffs.

Diane and Larry

The Grim family has had a long-time relationships with Italian food and Washington Wines; bringing their love of wines to the 5 Corners Shopping Center of Burien. You can find them at their shop Tuesday through Sunday at 11, and most nights til 8 or 9, depending on the events.

They’re located near the liquor store and Albertson’s, so you won’t have to walk far to check them out and you’ll find a better selection of local wine’s as well. Between the store and the website they have over 100 Washington Wines.

As long-time residents, the Grim family doesn’t really need to be welcomed to Burien, but Decanter Wine needs to be welcomed to the neighborhood by all the local wine lovers… beer lovers…. food lovers… Give them a big high five from us when you stop in.

Decanter Wines
15830 1st Ave S, Burien
206-243-8751
www.decanteronline.com

In the past when people heard the word “Knit” or “Crochet” images of a sweet white haired woman rocking away on her porch with the makings of a large afghan or even baby booties for the new addition to the family arose so sweetly you could get a cavity.

If you’re like most of us, we have that favorite throw on the end of our beds or draped over a couch. One that provides a feeling calm and comfort in the coldest of times. Not to discount the long hours our grandmothers put into our cherished home adornments but this century’s knitter is anything but traditional.

Just Google the word “knit” and you’ll find any number of unabashedly loyal yarn artists just looking to turn the stereotype on its cookie cutter head. Not only can you find people adorned for life with tattoos of their passion for the craft but an endless number of blogs, websites, books and every form of new media thinkable about how “Knit Is It!”

Not only can you do it anywhere, but knitting goes beyond envious one-of-a-kind originals that turn heads to environmentally friendly tools. You know that cardboard sleeve you get each morning with that piping hot cup of java? You can replace that wasteful sleeve with a knit version that is simple and easy to make. Last year our local yarn experts and all around crafty divas at The Yarn Stash in Burien revealed their secret pattern for a coffee cozy that met with rave reviews. Practical, stylish and easy enough for even the greenest knitter among us.

Oh yes my friendly “Yarn Jockeys” (lovingly called so) are taking the fashion and accessory world by storm. I challenge you to go to a store and see if you don’t find knit incorporated into the chic new lines from winter to summer. Wouldn’t the inner creative genius in you be so proud if you could say “Hey, I could knit that myself?” The truth of it is, you can! The Ladies of The Yarn Stash have one-on-one classes and also group training if you’d rather bring a bunch of newbies along. If you’re of the more seasoned level of knitter and want to try something newer and bolder, Beth or Bonnie have the experience, tools and resources to help you evolve your passion for the purl.

For information on how you can join the knitting craze, contact The Yarn Stash in Burien at (206) 246-2727 or just drop in 615 Southwest 152nd Street Burien, WA 98166. There is always a big comfy chair and a lot of welcome smiles waiting for you.

Open Tue 10am-7:30pm; Wed-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11am-4pm

This Saturday, March 26 you can meet 50 local health and wellness practitioners under one roof at Highline Athletic Club. This event is open to the public and is free.

They will have age specific information for everyone from babies, to youth to seniors and even pets. The health and wellness fair will have dentists, Licensed Massage Practitioners; Acupuncturists, Chiropractors, Family doctors, Mental-health providers, Nutritional advisors, skin care consultants, healthy eating options & much more. Plus there is a scavenger hunt and raffle prizes will be awarded every hour. Speakers will be offering 15-30 minute talks on a variety of specialized topics.

No appointment necessary! No insurance co-pay! At the Health and Wellness fair, attendees will be able to talk to vendors and decide if their services are right for their particular health issue(s).

The BNI – Business Builders Power Team bringing you this event consists of: Dona Forrester, Highline Athletic Club; Susan Parko, Rodan and Fields Dermatologists; Bryn Karlberg, The Human Touch Massage; Dr. Kyle Beffa, Beffa Dental, Anne Chandler, Advocare; Kathy Nordgren, Dreambody Acupuncture; and Spencer Wade, Collins Chiropractic.

A final change: Hypnotist Patricia Eslava Vessey will be speaking at noon. To see the revised speakers list click here or you can check out www.hachealthfair.com.

The Highline Athletic Club is located at 125 South 156th Street in Burien, tucked behind MacDonald’s, right off 156th. Plan to park at the club, or there’s a parking lot to the south, right next door.

We’d like to welcome our newest advertiser, Dr. C. Michael Kramer Jr. He’s the new “Gastro-guy” at Highline Medical Center. In fact, Dr. Kramer’s practice is so new that it has just begun this week making appointments for patients that he will begin seeing April 4th.

Now, Dr. Kramer may be new to HMC, but he’s not new to the medical profession. In fact, he’s been practicing Gastroenterology and Hepatology in South Seattle since 1982. He was part of Southlake Clinic from 1986 through 2010. The clinic is part of Valley Medical Center. While practicing there Dr. Kramer was elected two terms as Chief of Medicine at Valley Medical Center and served an additional 8 years on their executive committee.

He recently decided that change would be a good thing—especially because it brought him back to the City of Burien and to his hometown medical center, HMC. Dr. Kramer has lived here for 30 years. “This change gives me an opportunity to practice Gastroenterology in a small, single specialty group that will be more patent friendly while focusing on excellent state-of-the art gastrointestinal care,” he explained. It’s also given him a great commute!

Dr. Kramer probably bleeds Husky Purple and here’s why. This Tacoma native graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS degree in Chemistry from the U of W’s honors program. In 1973 Dr. Kramer was a finalist for the University of Washington’s highest undergraduate academic award, the President’s Medal. He received his medical degree from the University of Washington Medical School in the honors program. In addition, Dr. Kramer was elected to the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor society and was nominated to the national medical honor society.

While studying to become a medical doctor, Dr. Kramer also got to experience some traveling. During the summer of 1975, he was awarded a basic science grant to do cancer research at Columbia University Medical School’s Francis Delafield Hospital in New York City. In 1976, he studied at Oxford University in England as the Paul Beeson Visiting Medical Student. After further training at Baylor College of Medicine, located in Texas, and the Oregon Health Sciences Medical Center, he completed his Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Washington.

Dr. Kramer is an active clinical faculty member of the University of Washington. Since 1982, he has reached the rank of Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine. He is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He has been a member in good standing of the American Gastroenterology Association, the Pacific Northwest Gastroenterology Society, and the King County Medical Society since 1982.

His most recent accomplishment came in May of 2007. Dr. Kramer was inducted as an AGA Fellow. Fellowship in the American Gastroenterological Association is an honor bestowed by the AGA for superior professional achievement in practice and/or research in the field of gastroenterology. AGA members who are awarded a fellowship have accomplishments and contributions that demonstrate personal commitment to the field of Gastroenterology.

Dr. Kramer lives in Burien with his wife Jean Gruber and their three children. His two sons attend UW and his daughter hopes to start there in this fall. His favorite hobbies include playing adult men’s soccer, co-rec softball, downhill skiing, traveling, cooking, reading, live theater, and hiking, and riding bicycles. Dr. Kramer also has coached elementary school and junior high school basketball for over 15 seasons. He has donated his time and efforts to numerous charitable, community service, and church activities over the last 30 years.

Dr. C. Michael Kramer Jr. is a devoted dad, coach, husband and doctor. HMC’s newest ‘Gastro-guy’ starts in his office April 4th, but here’s a reminder, you can start setting up appointments with his staff on March 23. You’ll find them at:

Burien Digestive Health Center
16259 Sylvester RD SW, Suite 403
Burien, WA 98166
206-242-1300

And a final reminder from Dr. Kramer is that his former patients can now resume seeing him at HMC in Burien. Just call his Burien office and they’ll set you up. And to all patients, he’ll be continuing his practice of accepting all major insurances.

Three teams from local high schools competed this weekend at the March 18-19 FIRST Robotics Competition Seattle Regional. They were part of a field of 100 teams, including two from Turkey, attempting to qualify to attend the national competition next month in St. Louis.

Competing from the Highline School District were Skunkworks Robotics from Aviation High School, the HIGH-Tekerz from Highline High School, and TEC Robotics from TEC High School.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an organization founded 20 years ago by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway. The goal of FIRST is to help inspire students to get excited about science and technology.

The competition joins students with adult mentors in a challenging program that has them designing and building a robot to compete in a game that changes each year. They start with a common kit of parts and a set of rules and have just six weeks to complete their robot.

This year’s challenge, called Logo Motion, is played by two alliances of three robots each. Each team scores points by hanging inflated tubes shaped like the components of the FIRST logo on a scoring grid of pegs at each end of the playing field.

Each match is 135 seconds long. For the first 15 seconds, teams win bonus points by having their robot hang a gold “ubertube” without any human intervention. They can win additional bonus points in the last 10 seconds of the match by having their robot deploy a “minibot” that climbs a tower on the playing field and trips a sensor at the top. The remainder of the time the robot is controlled by human drivers.

This video explains how the game works in more detail:

This year’s Seattle Regional wound up being the largest FIRST regional event ever held. So many teams attended that the event was split and two complete sets of competitions were held, doubling the number of teams earning their way to the National event.

Two of our own local teams qualified for the Nationals.

In their first year competing, Highline High School’s HIGH-Tekerz were the top seeded rookie team. Winning the Rookie All-Star Award qualified them for the Nationals.

Skunkworks Robotics from Aviation High School made it into the semi-finals with their alliance before being eliminated. They earned their trip to the Nationals by winning the Engineering Inspiration Award.

Photographer Michael Brunk attended the competition and shot these photos. You can click individual photos to view them larger.

The HIGH-Tekerz driving team celebrates as their robot (#3574) places an “ubertube” in autonomous mode

The HIGH-Tekerz team showing their spirit in the stands

The HIGH-Tekerz prep their robot before a match

The Skunkworks Robotic robot (#1983) places an “ubertube” in autonomous mode

A member of the Skunkworks Robotics team works on their robot between matches in the pits

The Skunkworks Robotics driving team (in black and white shirts) caps off a gold “ubertube” to complete a top-scoring logo

Members of the HIGH-Tekerz team receive their Rookie All-Stars Award from the judging panel

Members of the Skunkworks Robotics team receive their Engineering Inspiration Award from the judging panel

In a previous article regarding Short Sales – Seller Advisory we addressed what a short sale is, as indicated from The Washington Realtor Association. Below are tips and resources to help determine if proceeding with a short sale is the best option.

From the desk of Lori Alden, Managing Broker of PNW in Burien, serving all of South King County, comes this advice and list of helpful websites to check into before you sell your house in a short sale.

Understand a Lender’s creditors Options upon Loan Default
There are many types of liens and other obligations that are secured by real estate. These may be purchase loans, refinance loans, home equity lines of credit, contractor liens, IRS tax liens, DSHS liens for unpaid child support, or other obligations. The type of debt and type of property will determine what remedies a lender may have if you fail to make the required payments.

The lender’s policies regarding forgiveness of debt, the tax consequences, your overall current or potential future financial strength, the lender’s willingness and procedure for processing a short sale request, and the number and nature of other recorded encumbrances (second mortgages for example) on the property are some of the many factors a seller should consider in deciding whether to pursue a short sale.

Prudential NW Managing Broker Lori Alden

Be Aware of Predatory “Rescue” Scams & Short Sale Fraud
Homeowners worried about foreclosure may be susceptible to predatory “rescue” scams which may cost money with no results, result in the loss of the home entirely, or involve the seller in a fraudulent scheme. For more info, view this PDF.

“Red Flags” of fraudulent schemes include:

• Guarantees to stop the foreclosure
• A promise that you can buy the house back or stay in the house following transfer of title
• Upfront fees
• Instructions not to contact the lender
• Transfer of title or lease of the property
• Requests that the homeowner execute a power of attorney

Report suspected scams to the Department of Financial Institutions or 1-877-RINGDFI (746-4334).

Contact a Free HUD-Approved Housing Counselor or Contact Your Lender Directly
Contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency online or call (800) 569-4287 or TDD (800) 877-8339 for advice on your options. Additional HUD resources.

Contact the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America.

Try contacting the lender directly. To find the lender’s contact information, check the loan billing statement, or coupon book. Ask for the lender’s home retention department, loss mitigation department, (or other department that handles negotiation of loans in default); explain the situation and find out if the lender is willing to discuss options.

Utilize Free Services Available to Washington Residents
Non profit counseling to try to avoid foreclosure: 1-877-894-HOME (4663). If legal advice is needed, callers will be referred to a pro bono attorney through the Washington State Bar Association.

More help and resources are available at www.WAHomeowners.com.

Obtain Legal Advice
An attorney can advise you about your options and legal liability. You may be able to receive free or reduced fee legal assistance from one of these sources:

• Northwest Justice Project (206) 464-1519 or 1-888-201-1012;
• Your county’s local Bar Association

Obtain Tax Advice
For Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation tax information, see this IRS article.

Be Aware of the Consequences of Committing “Waste”
Damaging the property or removing fixtures such as sinks, toilets, cabinets, air conditioners, and water heaters may result in liability to the lender for “waste.” In other words, the lender may be able to sue you for damages if you have physically abused, damaged or destroyed any part of the property.

Short Sale Considerations
FIRST, Understand that a Short Sale May not Discharge the Debt. You should know whether you will still owe your lender money (a deficiency) after the short sale. You should know this BEFORE you close the sale of your home.

Even if a lender agrees to a short sale, the lender and any junior lien holders may not agree to forgive the debt entirely and may require you to pay the difference as a personal obligation. This outstanding personal obligation could result in a subsequent collection action against you. For example, a lender may accept the short sale purchase price to “release the lien” on the property but still require you to pay the full amount of the original debt.

You must be certain of the terms of any short sale before making a decision. All agreements between you and the lender must be in writing. Consult an attorney regarding whether the lender is entitled to pursue collection of any deficiency. Obtain any debt forgiveness agreements with the lender in writing but be aware that the language used in these agreements can be extremely confusing and even misleading. Seek the advice of legal counsel before accepting the lender’s terms.

SECOND, Understand that a short sale may result in a higher tax debt
A short sale in which the debt is forgiven is considered a relief of debt and may be treated as income for tax purposes. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 created a limited exemption to allow homeowners to pay no taxes on debt forgiveness; however, only cancelled debt used to buy, build or improve a principal residence or refinance debt incurred for those purposes qualifies for this tax exemption. For more information on the tax consequences of debt relief, seek professional tax advice and go to www.irs.gov and conduct a search regarding the Tax Relief Act.

If you decide to pursue a short sale, understand that the process will likely take several months or more to complete. Consider taking the following actions.

Contact a Qualified Real Estate Professional
Prudential Northwest Realty is here to help. If you or someone you know is looking for a trusted professional, please contact Lori Alden at 206-244-6400 to match your needs with a licensed Broker who specializes in short sales.

Investigate Documentation and Eligibility
Documentation and eligibility criteria for short sales vary depending on specific lender and investor guidelines. Generally, you must prove that you are financially incapable of paying the loan. The lender will consider this when determining the costs of accepting the short sale versus foreclosing.

You will have to document your financial situation. If you have funds to pay the deficiency, a lender will not necessarily allow a short sale. However, some lenders will not require you to dip into retirement accounts to fund the deficiency. These issues will have to be negotiated with your lender.

Determine the Amount Owed on the Property
All debt and costs must be factored in before a lender can determine whether a short sale is more economical for them. The analysis will include the delinquent loan, all other recorded debt (past due homeowner’s association fees, unpaid property taxes), and the costs of a sale (closing costs, brokerage commissions, and necessary repairs). If you have more than one loan on the property, a short sale will require the approval of all lenders.

Determine the Estimated Fair Market Value of the Property
You must prove to the lender that the home is worth less than the unpaid loan balance plus closing costs. Consult a real estate professional or an appraiser for assistance in estimating the value of the property.

Consult Legal Counsel
Legal counsel can help you determine whether a short sale is the best option and can advise you during the short sale process. A short sale is a complex transaction.

Be Aware of the Impact on Your Credit Score
The impact of a short sale on your credit score depends upon a variety of factors, including late or missed payments. A short sale may appear on your credit report as “pre-foreclosure redemption,” “paid in full for less than full balance” or other similar term.

It is possible that a short sale will have a different impact on your credit than a foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure (or any other outcome). But, beware that once you miss mortgage payments, your credit rating will be severely impacted. Some lenders will tell you that they will not consider you as a short sale candidate unless you are behind on payments. Do not intentionally withhold mortgage payments, solely for short sale consideration, without first consulting legal counsel.

Understand There May Be a Waiting Period Before You Can Buy another Home
Your ability to qualify for a loan to purchase another home after a short sale will likely be impacted because of the impact on your credit score. It may be some time before a lender will loan you the money to purchase another home.

Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative (HAFA) Program
The HAFA program was designed to give homeowners alternatives to a foreclosure, which include incentives for completing a short sale. If your home sale can close as a HAFA transaction, you will emerge owing no deficiency. However, it can be very difficult to qualify as a HAFA transaction. For more information on the options available, visit the HAFA program website.

Read this article to determine if you are eligible.

To find out if your mortgage servicer participates in the HAFA program see this page.

For more information, visit: The Washington Department of Financial Institutions website.

Next article:  Options Other Than Short Sale

(Prudential Northwest Realty is here to help with all your real estate needs.  If you or someone you know is looking for a trusted professional, please contact Lori Alden at 206-244-6400 to match your needs with a licensed professional.)

By Ralph Nichols, with photos by Michael Brunk

Mention a bright red Pierce Arrow and most people, even today, think of the expensive luxury cars of the 1920s and 30s.

But the newest Pierce-Arrow in Burien is made for hard – and life-saving – work.

The Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department (King County Fire District 2) took delivery of this Pierce-Arrow XT – now called Engine No. 2 – in late January.

Battalion Chief Doug Luedeman told the B-Town Blog this week that this top-of-the-line fire truck, with a price tag of approximately $550,000, replaces a 21-year-old engine.

The new Engine No. 2 has a pumping capacity of 2,000 gallons per minute, which Luedeman described as “a huge-capacity pump. The typical pumping capacity is round 1,500 gallons per minute.”

Its 1,000 feet of 5-inch hose “lets us bring the hydrant to the fire. It gets as much water to the fire as the hydrant supplies,” unlike smaller hoses that lose some capacity between the hydrant and the nozzle.

The truck also has a foam system – “foam is used on just about everything now,” he added – and a big generator for its flood lights.

Engine No. 2 is “pretty much a twin” of another Pierce Arrow fire truck the department got two years ago. The new arrival is still in reserve while firefighters continue stocking it with hoses and custom equipment.

Still, Luedeman noted, “it put out two fires on its first day here. It’s a great rig.

“We’re very appreciative of the taxpayers who support us so well and enable us to have the equipment to do our job. We have a very supportive community here in Burien and Normandy Park.”

The old fire truck has not been surplussed yet. Should Burien eventually annex the remaining North Highline unincorporated area, it likely would be refurbished and kept as an auxiliary engine.

Burien/Normandy Park has four fire engines, including two H&W trucks that are 10 years old, one ladder truck, and two aid (Medic I) cars.

“We’re very well equipped,” Luedeman said. No new fire engines will be needed when District 2 replaces its two existing fire stations later this year.

All trucks respond to a total of about 4,000 emergency calls a year.

Click individual photos to see them larger.

In an informal ceremony at The Mark Restaurant on Tuesday, Discover Burien’s Debra George passed out checks to two local food banks for the funds raised at this year’s Empty Bowls event.

(L to R) Debra George – Discover Burien, Rick Jump – White Center Food Bank, Mike Werle – Highline Food Bank, Gina Kallman – Burien Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services

The Highline Food Bank and White Center Food Bank split the proceeds down the middle, with each organization receiving a check for $8222.83.

Rick Jump, Executive Director of the White Center Food Bank, said “In this economy, with fewer pounds of donated food, this donation will allow us to purchase more food to support the increase of families that we’re serving.”

Echoing this sentiment, Mike Werle, Director of the Highline Food Bank, explained “Because we buy in bulk, we get a pound of food for around $1.25 so this donation will stretch quite a ways.”