A big milestone was reached injecting the grout into the tendons of the bridge spans of the new Sylvester Road Bridge construction.

Next, the “end diaphrams” will be framed and poured, then curbs, railing and approaches.

We’re getting there!

Completion date estimates are coming into view, maybe the end of February to the beginning of March.

The attention to detail is impressive and problem solving has been incredible – these guys are really good.

Here are some pics – click images to see larger versions:

(Upper Left) Casey Wagner (KC) foreground and Sam Bellah of King County monitor the grout mixing process by employees from ReBar International (RBI) Tony Raybell, Brandon Chevalier and Brian Benton. 440 fifty pound bags of Sika Grout (“powdered rock”) are used to make a “special sauce” that fills the 16 bridge span tendons sealing the suspension cables adding tremendous strength to the bridge spans.

(Upper right) Sam Bellah, Field Engineer for King County makes notes and records the details.

(Lower left) Brian Benton of (RBI) tests the flow of the mixture before the hose is attached to the tendons input valves. 100 pounds of pressure pushes the mixture through and (lower right) closes the valve at the far end when the mixture comes through.

(Upper left) Tony Raybell adds just the right amount of water to the mixing vat as Brandon Chevalier brings the 50 pound bags to the mixer.

(Upper right) Tony Raybell (RBI) loads the mixer.

(Lower Left & right) Casey Wagner, Quality Control Engineer for King County takes frequent samples of the mixture testing temperature and makes several grout cubes for testing. Two days later the cubes are break compression tested for strength. Typically 5,000 pounds is reached in 2 days and 26,000 pounds in 7 days.

Here are some other photos sent to us Feb. 4, courtesy Ron Laiminger, who adds “They have a cable all tensioned and are getting ready to pour the sidewalk and guard rails” (click images to see larger versions):

A large, two story home caught fire in the 1400 block of SW Miller Creek Road in Normandy Park late Friday night (Jan. 20), and was extinguished around 3:15 a.m. by the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department along with help from North Highline, SeaTac and South King Fire.

“The call came in at about 9:30 p.m.,” said spokesman Doug Leudeman. “It was a fireplace-chimney fire that spread into the attic and burned off about 1/3 of the roof with about 300k damage. The folks living there are going to be displaced for a while. Our crews were on the scene until about 3 am and there were no injuries to the residents or the firefighters.”

The first fire engine to arrive (from the Normandy Road station), reported heavy fire involvement of the attic and second story of a large, two-story residence.

“Someone cut the locks off of our storage container and stole camp stoves, backpacking tents, a Honda generator, food, and other items,” said Tod Bookless, Assistant Scoutmaster. “As you probably know, the Boy Scout organization is a 101-year old non-profit and all of the gear that was stolen is used by the local boys on campouts.”

If anyone knows anything about this crime, or has any leads on the stolen equipment, you are asked to call the Normandy Park Police Department non-emergency line at (206) 248-7600.

If you register now to run in the 4th annual Cove to Clover fundraiser (coming up March 9-11), you’ll save some serious ¢lover, ‘cuz registration rates are at their lowest right now!

South King Media be a Sponsor for the fourth consecutive year (learn more about becoming a Sponsor here), and we encourage all our Readers to find a way to participate – even if you’re not a runner – as this is a great, fun, local fundraiser.

The race starts near the cove in Normandy Park, then winds its way up ‘Snake Hill’ through Burien before ending up in front of Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub. The 10k will start at the Normandy Park Towne Center and catch up to the 5k route (click here to see a map of the race course).

Last year over $37,000 was raised and distributed to these local charities:

• Highline Area Food Bank: $16,000
• Highline Schools Foundation/Schools: $12,500
• Hospitality House: $3,000
• Para Los Ninos: $2,250
• YETI Club: $1,550
• Emergency Family Relief: $500
• Hi-Liners: $500
• Girl Scouts: $350
• Boy Scouts: $350

There are several new elements this year, including a 10K run and a Talent Show, along with the usual 5k race and Pub Crawl.

“Cover to Clover is unlike any other 5K or 10K,” reads a note on the C2C website. “For one thing, it is very hard. So hard in fact that it is fast becoming a test piece for NW runners. For starters, “Snake Hill” rises nearly 1000′ in the first mile of the course. Around mile 2 you’ll encounter ‘The Uprising,’ a runner obstacle that has been constructed in the middle of a live Celtic battlefield. For your suffering, you will be rewarded with on-course Celtic pipers and a finish line festival that delivers the goods (2 beer gardens, 2 stages with live entertainment, free root beer garden and free hot dogs for children).”

The Cove to Clover is a 501(c)(3) umbrella charity which distributes all proceeds to local charities. The organization is very lean and run by passionate volunteers.

“Be assured, your participation will be making a positive impact on your community,” the website adds.

This year there will also be a ‘Corporate Team Challenge,’ where companies can participate by registering their employees; here’s more info:

“It’s easy to do; just have each member of your team use a ‘Registration Code’ representing your company’s name. Also, be sure to email us at

“'The Uprising' will be at least double in size and absolutely impossible to scale. I suggest organizers begin working with City officials on a solution to help the estimated 2000 runners that will likely be stranded. This year you are mine…ha, Ha, HAAA!"

corporate_teams@covetoclover.com to let us know the code you are using so we can insure you get proper credit for each registration. We’d also like to have a team captain’s name and email address, so that we can pass on the information of who joined your team. Then all you have to do is promote the race at your company and encourage your co-workers to register online using your ‘Registration Code.’

The team with the most team members (registered with your unique code) will be recognized with a special award at the finish line. Cove to Clover will throw an extra special catered party for the winning team at a later date. We don’t want to be pinned down to a location, since the size of the winning team may require a bigger venue.”

Also, the sponsorship window will be closing relatively soon, so if you’re with a business that wants to do good and get great local exposure, contact sponsorship@covetoclover.com ASAP to let them know of their interest.

New Normandy Park Mayor Clarke Brant.

The Normandy Park City Council elected William ‘Clarke’ Brant to serve as Mayor for 2012 – 2013.

Brant was first elected to the City Council in 2006 and, in November 2009, re-elected for a second term. He has served as Mayor Pro Tem the past two years. Mr. Brant is a Navy Veteran, a former Patrol Plane Commander, Aviation Safety Inspector-Air Carrier Operations-FAA, and is now retired from Delta Air Lines.

Brant earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Washington and a J.D. from the University of Puget Sound, School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law.) He is a former member of the A.L.P.A. Board of Directors and a past member of the Washington State Bar Association.

Mr. Brant and wife, Nancy, have lived in the community since 1979 and raised their two sons in Normandy Park.

New Mayor Pro Tem Doug Osterman.

The City Council also elected Doug Osterman to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for 2012 – 2013. Osterman was elected to the City Council in 2008 and recently re-elected for a second term. Mr. Osterman is employed by King County as the Watershed Coordinator for the Green River, Duwamish River, and Central Puget Sound Salmon Habitat Recovery Team located in Seattle, Washington. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management, Montana State University; a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Land Resources, Montana State University; and a Master of Regional Planning, Washington State University.

Mr. Osterman and wife, Julie, have lived in Normandy Park over 15 years and have two sons, Mitchell and Anders.

Police say that on Tuesday evening (Jan. 10), police had over a dozen Car Prowls and Theft from Mailbox reports covering a wide area in the Northern part of the City, near City Hall. There were reports of additional car prowls just outside the area as well.

“All of the cars that had items stolen were unlocked,” police said. “There were numerous cases where cars were parked next to each other and the locked cars were left alone and the unlocked cars had items stolen from inside.”

NP Police Chief Rick Kieffer also added:

Please keep your vehicles locked at all times. Stow or remove valuable items that you want to keep. Theft from vehicles can take place even when the vehicle is inside a garage.

Mail should be sent from secure US Postal Service Mailboxes or at the Post Office. Never place outgoing mail in your mailbox. Several Netflix movies were removed from mailboxes and the disk taken.

These types of crimes can lead to other crimes such as identity theft. If you believe you have a loss you can contact the Police Department for additional information.

Chief Rick Kieffer would like to remind citizens to Dial 911 if you hear or see anything suspicious happening day or night.

The City of Normandy Park has been holding a lottery type program, initiated in 2009, for the purpose of randomly selecting the eligible gardeners and gardening plots participating in the Pea Patch Program.

The pea patch program is intended to be a community program, the City supports community efforts of pea patch neighbors and encourages family members and friends to share in a garden so that everyone has an enjoyable experience. The pea patch area is located behind the Public Works Building at Marvista Park. The area is tilled by the City prior to April 1st and again at the end of the season.

The fourth annual Lotto Drawing for the 2012 Pea Patches is now open to City and county residents. If you are interested in an opportunity to be a Pea Patch participant for the 2012 growing season (April 1st through October 31st), please cut out the Pea Patch Lotto Entry Form and submit to City Hall no later than 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24th. One Pea Patch space will be offered in the sequence drawn beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24th at City Hall. Each winner will be given three business days to file the user agreement forms and $35.00 payment at City Hall.

Complete program information is available in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 801 SW 174th Street or phone 206-248-8848.

Carpenters construct the forms for the four wing walls and re-bar is installed.

Final preparations are made for the pour; a remote controlled pumper truck and cement truck arrive.

A sample of the mix is tested for mix specifications before the pour begins.

Approved, cement is poured into the pumper truck and delivered to the forms. A vibrator helps settle the mix into the forms.

If you’re like us and you don’t know a Wing Wall from former Burien Mayor Wing Woo, here’s some info from Wikipedia:

In a bridge, the wing walls are adjacent to the abutments and act as retaining walls.

They are generally constructed of the same material as those of abutments.

The wing walls can either be attached to the abutment or be independent of it.

The 2011 Toys for Tots Collection is now taking place at the Normandy Park Towne Center through December 14th, where new unwrapped toys can be dropped off daily from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

New owner Tom O’Keefe graciously donated the space in the Towne Center for the use by the US Marines.

Towne Center is located at 19900 1st Avenue South in Normandy Park.

Contact at the donation site is US Marine Christopher Mahoney at 206-304-3043.

Burien’s Environmental Science Center (ESC) will be holding free and family-friendly Moonlight Beach Walks on Saturdays at Seahurst beach, starting this Saturday, Dec. 10th and again on Jan. 21st from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Here’s more from a press release:

Local naturalists are volunteering their time to help guide visitors in discovering the unique marine life that lives in the intertidal zone. Considered a marine reserve, the rock strewn beach provides vital habitat for creatures such as purple sea stars, burrowing sea cucumbers, Dungeness crabs, moon snails, and aggregating sea anemones plus an abundance of seaweeds. These walks are a unique opportunity to see Seahurst’s beach at low tide and in the dark. When the tide goes out during the day most of the creatures on the beach go with it or burrow under something. But at night, they stay on the beach. Visitors should bring reliable flashlights to explore the nooks and crannies of the large rocks. Remember that you’re in their house, so tread gently. The goal is to Do No Harm.

This year’s walk promises a new treat to returning beach explorers – a brand new warm building! Our new center is at Seahurst beach: 2400 Southwest 140th Street in Burien. Park in the lower or upper lot and walk along the trail that runs north from the turning circle at the lower parking lot. Visitors should check-in at the center for some pre-beach activities and cider, hot chocolate or coffee. Activities include a Matisse themed art project on sea life and a microscope lab with plankton to identify.

Please make sure to dress warmly with hats, gloves, and warm coats. Also, wear rubber shoes so that you can wade out into the ankle-deep water around the tide pools. And please practice beach etiquette:

DO NO HARM

1. Be extra careful where you step so you don’t step on animals or their homes.
2. When you want to look more closely at a creature, bend over and look rather than picking it up. Leave animals where you find them. Don’t move them to a new home!
3. Touch plants and animals gently with one wet finger. Animals living on the beach and in the water are cold and wet, your fingers are warm and dry. Simply touching a plant or animal may be enough to injure or kill it.
4. If you want to look under a rock, be gentle. Turning over a rock can be like someone turning on a bright light in your bedroom in the middle of the night. Lift it slowly and gently. When you’re done the rock needs to be gently returned to its original position.

SAVE THE CHILDREN
Leave all shells and animals on the beach rather than taking them home. Shells and rocks need to be left on the beach because they provide a home for the next generation, an animal’s children, to live on.

For more information about this event, contact Jennifer Dumlao at outreach@envsciencecenter.org or call 206-248-4266.

For more information about the Environmental Science Center visit www.envsciencecenter.org.