The City of Normandy Park Arts Commission will be holding an Artists Reception for Kris Vermeer on Thursday, Aug. 26th for a “conversation with the artist in truly enjoyable surroundings.”

Here are the details:

WHAT: Artist Trust “Meet the Artist” Events

WHEN: Thursday, Aug 26th from 7pm – 10pm

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

INFO: Please RSVP your attendance for the opening to 206-248-8248 or artscomm@ci.normandy-park.wa.us

“The Normandy Park exhibition of ‘Kris Vermeer’ is sponsored by the City of Normandy Park Arts Commission with financial contribution from Arts Commissioner Robert Frey.

This exhibit will be on display in City Council Chambers until August 31, 2010.

Kris works in a variety of mediums.  Her love of ancient cultures is apparent in all that she does, whether she works in glass, painting or sculpture.  What makes Kris’s work unique is her incorporation of sand into many of her paintings.  Some originals have hand-cut steel to add extra dimension.”

Story & Photos by Mark Neuman

Normandy Park City Manager Doug Schulze said the winner of the First Annual Normandy Park Hoop Fest are the “206 Ballers,” who beat Preston 18-13 Saturday, July 31st in a game where each hoop garners one point.

“We look forward to even greater participation next year,” Schulze said.

The event took place at Normandy Park Towne Center, and was sponsored by the City of Normandy Park Police Department with generous support from Normandy Park Athletic, Desert Sun, Wayne’s Service Center, Archery Bistro (NPB Advertiser), QFC, Allied Waste and Puget Sound Energy.

Here are some pics taken at the event:

Hi there loyal Normandy Park-ites (that can’t be right, can it?). Leonard the goldfish here, with INCREDIBLE BREAKING NEWS!

I’m not usually one to type shout, but seriously, this is B-I-G big. After three long years of bugging the heck out of the Seattle Aquarium, they’re finally giving me a chance to get my own exhibit. I just have to prove that people (i.e. you) actually want me there. So I need to get 30,000 votes and I’m in. You can vote and find out more about my plight at VoteLeonardIn.com. Or follow me on my Facebook page.

Hopefully someday soon you’ll be able to follow me at the actual Seattle Aquarium, along with the otters, wolf eels, and moon jellies.

So please, Normandy Parkians (ok, that sounds better), help me prove to the Aquarium folks I’m not too common to get my own exhibit.

Remember, a vote for me is a vote for goldfish everywhere.

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The mailman delivered our latest gizmo gadget (a state of the art Ultra Flip HD Camera) a few weeks back and we thought “what the flip should we do with this ding-dang newfangled thingamabob?”

Out of the red, white and blue, it occurred to us that our third President, one Thomas Jefferson, who loved new gadgets and devices and inventions and discoveries, would have gotten a kick out of this powerful little digital camera, the size of a deck of cards, not much smaller than a hand-held booklet-sized copy of what is known as the Declaration of Independence.

It was 234 years ago right now, that our Founders were “cutting and pasting” their final draft of what became known as that treasured and precious document, the Declaration of Independence, whose primary author was the then 33 year-old future President Jefferson.

So someone said:

“Let’s take our camera around Normandy Park and Burien (and Des Moines and White Center) and ask our fellow neighbors and friends and passersby to read aloud the Declaration into our new little camera, piece the quotes together into one colorful video, and release it to the nation and world on our various neighborhood news blogs.”

And so we did – well actually Mark Neuman did, then Scott Schaefer edited it – see if you can find yourself, or a friend or two:

(…at the end of the video, look for some amusing outtakes as well as terrific “Happy Birthday USA!” salutations)

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY NORMANDY PARK!

The City of Normandy Park’s “Music in the Park” summer concert series runs Sundays in July and August at Marvista Park from 5pm – 6:30pm, beginning July 18th.

Marvista Park is located at 20000 4th Ave. SW. in Normandy Park.

This is FREE family entertainment, and here’s the full schedule:

2010 Music in the Park Summer Concert Schedule:

July 18 – Locust St. Taxi
Horn Band – A fun band sure to make you smile, original and infectious horn-happy eclectic rock, swing and everything

July 25 – Craicmore
Contemporary Celtic – As heard on Without a Trace, and Days of Our lives, Craicmore takes you on a sound tour of Ireland. Music that touches the heart, mind, and soul. Full of fun & humor

August 1 – 1st Act: Recess Monkey
Hip Music for All Ages – especially for those under 4 feet high. Original pop & rock singable, danceable songs that parents and children enjoy. Beatles type music for young ones, too

2nd Act: Normandy Park Youth Orchestra
Classical Music to Popular Showtunes

August 8 – Woodrush
Alternative-Americana – Blues Traveler without the harmonica. This trio will have you dancing all the same. Original acoustic rock.

August 15 – Starlings
Americana Folk / Organic Country – Folk music, delicate, edgy and natural, at its finest. Sit back and reminisce about those lost summer days

August 22 – Jam On My Muffin
Old Time, Cajun, Irish – foot-stomping Cajun and Appalachian, as well as music from Quebec and Nova Scotia.

August 29 – Blue Ringer
Altertantive Country Rock – 2010 Grammy nominations in FOUR categories, from cowboy grunge to alternative country rock. The music is bold and energetic.

Paint your face, decorate your bike, get out your flags folks, ‘cuz it’s time to celebrate the 4th of July in Normandy Park!

The annual Normandy Park 4th of July Community Celebration starts at 10am and goes until 1pm on Sunday, July 4th.

Events will include:

• 2.8K Fun Run
• Children’s Parade
• Ice Cream Social
• Bike Decorating Contest
• and More!

The 2.8K All Downhill Fun Run begins at 10:25am at Marvista Elementary School, and finishes at SW Normandy Terrace. Visit www.npcove.org to download the Fun Run registration form. This year’s custom-designed race t-shirt can be ordered in advance by all runners for pick up at the finish line. Non-runners may purchase any left over shirts at the end of the race. For more information contact the Cove at 206-242-3778.

Get a great seat along the parade route to view classic cars, floats, wagons, bicycles, strollers, horses, marching bands and more! Of course, everyone is also encouraged to participate in the Children’s Parade. The parade leaves Marvista Elementary parking lot at 10:30am.

Be part of the annual City of Normandy Park Arts Commission 4th of July Bike Decorating Contest. Children who participate in the annual parade through town are encouraged to decorate their bikes in the holiday spirit. At the end of the parade, park your bikes in the designated area near the ten- nis courts at the Cove for judging. Prizes will be awarded for the “Best Patriotic Decorations”!

After the parade, join your neighbors and friends for the Ice Cream Social at the Cove. Enjoy fun and games for all ages – Car Show, jumpy toys, music, and more.

Everyone is invited to attend, so please come and join in on the 2010, 4th of July Community Celebration!

Ric Jacobson is the Des Moines Rotarian in charge of lining up the largest line-up of wineries – 25 – in the six year history of the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, which is coming to the Landmark Event Center in Des Moines on March 6th and 7th.

Ric reports that the following Northwest wineries will be at the festival on Saturday and Sunday to serve the guests. If you taste a wine you want to take home, bottles will be for sale at the event. All proceeds of the sale of wine will go directly to the Rotary Club of Des Moines, who use the funds for the many great things they do for the community.

The following wineries will be in attendance for the event:

• Canyon’s Edge
• Chandler Reach
• Covington Cellars – NEW
• Coyote Canyon Winery – NEW
• Burien’s own E.B. Foote Winery (WLB Advertiser)
• Eaton Hill
• Erin Glenn
• Fall Line
• Five Star Cellars
• Fort Walla Walla Cellars – NEW
• Kestrel – NEW
• Knipprath – NEW
• Masset Winery
• Otis Kenyon
• Page Cellars
• Pondera – NEW
• Sleeping Dog
• Sodo Vino – NEW
• Stina’s Cellar
• Two Vintners – NEW
• Vashon Winery
• Vin du Lac – NEW
• Waving Tree
• Willis Hall
• Windy Point

Des Moines Rotarian, Dave Loft, in charge of food and goodies at the Poverty Bay Wine Festival has lined up the “best of the best” for food and snacks for wine-fest guests:

• Des Moines’ Anthony’s HomePort
• Des Moines’ Salty’s at Redondo
• Charley’s on Central Avenue in Kent
• Cafe Pacific Catering
• Forte Chocolates
• Kauzlarich Smoked Products
• Panera Bread
• Poverty Bay Coffee
• Waters to go
• Redondo Fred Meyer
• Archery Bistro
• Elliot Bay Brewery

The sixth annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival is surely the hottest ticket in town – well lots of towns, surrounding Des Moines. Your ticket includes fun, music, wine, food and even beer, all presented in the historic and magnificent Landmark Event Center (aka Landmark on the Sound), which is located at 23660 Marine View Drive South in Des Moines.

Tickets for the event are just $20 in advance from CorkyCellars (206-824-9462), Des Moines Drug or your local Des Moines Rotarian.

Parking and free shuttles will be available in the South Marina Parking lot.

All attendees must be 21 years of age and photo ID is required.

Click here for more information.

Normandy Park’s first-ever Winter Festival will be held this Saturday, Dec. 12th, from 11am to 4pm at the Normandy park Towne Center (located at 200th & 1st Ave South).

From their poster (download/view PDF here):

Join us at the first Normandy Park Winter Festival in Towne Square (1st Avenue at 200th) for holiday fun.

A free family event with over a dozen kids’ activities including Santa photos (bring your pets, too!), face painting, cookie decorating, Rockie the Police Dog, karaoke and caroling, and performances by Melanie’s Dancers.

Give back. Bring an item for the “Stuff the Trailer” senior gift drive or a food bank donation, and receive a free cocoa, cider or coffee at the Little League Trailer.

Support your local Normandy Park businesses. Raffles every half hour. Win prizes and gift certificates, receive discount coupons, and shop for hand-made gifts from local artists.

Raffle Sponsors:

• Archery Bistro
• Optimal Health Chiropractic
• SkySoles Reflexology
• Benson’s Best Bites
• Richard Steppic Wood Turning
• Emerald City Smoothie
• Companion Animal Medical Center
• Starbucks

Special thanks for generous sponsorship by:

• Normandy Park Senior Living
• Highline Little League
• Melanie’s Dance Unlimited

City of Normandy Park Arts Commission

Advertiser Normandy Park Senior Living is sponsoring a Spaghetti Fundraiser for the Lakewood Police Officers’ Families this Saturday, Dec. 12th from 6pm – 7:30pm at their campus at 16625 1st Ave South in Normandy Park.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser for Lakewood Police Officers’ Families

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 12th from 6pm – 7:30pm

WHERE: Normandy Park Senior Living, located at 16625 1st Ave South in Normandy Park.

COST: Minimum donation of $10.00 per person

INFO: From a press release:

Normandy Park Senior Living with the assistance of several other agencies including Harlow’s Bus Sales, Starbucks Coffee, Food Service of America, Sam’s Club, Fast Signs and others, will be hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the Lakewood Police Department’s officers.

All proceeds will go the Lakewood Police Independent Guild (LPIG).

“We tried to think of something that we could do to give our residents, staff and the local community the opportunity to express their support for the families of the three men and one woman that died in this painful and senseless tragedy,” said Executive Director, Pauline Smith. “We have the utmost respect and appreciation for the men and women who protect and help us every day and this is just a small way to thank them and show our support.”

The fundraising dinner will be held Saturday, December 12th from 6pm-7:30pm at Normandy Park Senior Living located at 16625 1st Ave S, Normandy Park, WA 98148.

We are requesting a minimum donation of $10 per person.

There will be entertainment and raffle tickets available for some terrific prizes that will be drawn on Monday, December 14, 2009.

For additional information on how to donate if you cannot attend, please contact Pauline Smith or Kim Parks at 206-241-0821, or via email: psmith@artegan.com.

The Highline Historical Society is holding an online auction fundraiser, which runs until Tuesday, Dec. 15th, and offers local restaurants, foods, trips and unusual experiences – all perfect gifts for the holidays, all the while supporting a great local cause.

You can access the auction here:

www.highlinehistory.cmarket.com.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the ongoing programs and activities of the Society, including their capital building campaign for the new Highline Heritage Museum on their property in “Old Burien.”

“We cannot thank our local vendors enough for their participation. I encourage everyone to take a look at the website and support the Society by bidding on something fun for the holidays,” said Terry Anderson, Society President.

The new Highline Heritage Museum, designed by Rohleder Borges Architects, will be located on the Southwest corner of SW 152nd Street and Ambaum Blvd. SW, where Karuna Yoga Arts is currently housed.

The online auction is hosted by cMarket, which is the country’s leading provider of non-profit online auction services. On any day there are as many as 200 cMarket auctions underway online nationwide. With their secure servers and a growing number of community-minded vendors, more and more shoppers are finding that this is an excellent way to shop close to home for the holidays and to also assist a worthwhile local charity.