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Des Moines Caribbean beach party was an island of fun

By admin: 08/21/2012 @ 10:59 am

 

Steve Shay
Highline Times 

A large, colorfully-dressed crowd turned out for Wednesday night’s “Celebrate Des Moines Caribbean Style’ beach party at Beach Park near the marina. A large stage featured an array of musical performers including the four-piece Toucans Steel Drum Band, which contributed an authentic Caribbean touch. Also performing were musicians selected from the Aug. 8 “Des Moines Got Talent” Summer Beach Park event, including Nickolas Paul Adams, a singer/guitar player, and Janine Akins, a gospel singer who performed “El Shaddai”, a Contemporary Christian Amy Grant hit containing Hebrew lyrics.

The event was one of many summer celebrations sponsored by the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, the Des Moines Art Commission, and the Des Moines Legacy Foundation. Key organizer Patrice Thorell, Parks, Recreation and Senior Services Director, called several others to the mic to thank them, folks who also helped with the event, including Sue Padden, Senior Services Manager of Des Moines.

Judson Park Retirement Community also sponsored the event, and had a booth. El Dorado West Retirement Community, Burien, also had a presence there and staffers served free “mocktails” with a Caribbean flair. Wesley Homes served free ice cream.

The Kent Lowes sponsor a free “Build it and Grow” event for kids every other weekend at the store. Chris Perkins of Lowes assisted kids who built wooden toys at the Caribbean party.

Kris Van Gaskin, Director, Des Moines Area Food Bank and helpers handed out free Tuna sandwiches, peanut butter and yogurt sandwiches, beef wraps, apples, and veggies to passers-by. Their summer meal program extends the school lunch program. They serve over 500 lunches and 400 snacks a day to children including those at neighborhood parks and summer schools.

Photo by Steve Shay: Wednesday night’s “Celebrate Des Moines Caribbean Style’ beach party at Beach Park near the marina was a hit. Pictured, Edith Lizarraga, Life Enrichment Coordinator for Wesley Homes, served free ice cream. Click here to view the rest of The Highline Times Slideshow of the event.

 
 
 

Burien’s El Dorado West Retirement Community breaks ground on $14 million facility

By admin: 07/31/2012 @ 12:33 pm

 

Steve Shay
The Highline Times

El Dorado West Retirement Community at 1010 SW 134th St. and Ambaum in Burien celebrated their service to the community for over 35 years, and broke ground today on a new $14 million facility which they say they hope will serve the community at least another 35 years. Phase one will be three stories, phase two, two stories, both to be completed in about two years. It will have room for 102 residents, about 20 more than the current population.

El Dorado West is a family affair, founded by William Brown, 89, in December, 1975. Three generations now own and operate a Federal Way-based company including El Dorado West and 13 other retirement communities, all in Washington State, called Village Concepts. William retired and his son Steven is the CEO and President of Village Concepts. Steven’s son, Stuart, is its Chief Operating Officer. All were at El Dorado West and made speeches under the driveway awning. They thanked Columbia Bank for its financial assistance.

“We are really trying to retain as many residents as we can while we rip down part of the building, and build it up again,” said Stuart during his speech. “We will keep those who are here by moving them into the new building. We are looking to the future, offering amenities to our residents that they expect. This is an aging building. We can’t get walkers and wheelchairs through the bathroom doors.”

Steven said that Burien has been very helpful and enthusiastic with his family’s business plans.

“When we opened this building it was one of the first of its kind in the Seattle area,” said William. “Seattle always had nursing homes. They had ‘class 1′ nursing homes with heavy care, and the ‘class III people’ who could get up and ambulate had to live together with the very sick. I took a chance (by offering a class III facility). We could keep folks here at a lesser rate. And they were happier, more gregarious together.”

“I want to congratulate the Browns,” said Lynn Wallace, President and CEO, SW King County Chamber of Commerce. “This is what makes Burien a great place to live in, to work in. Without folks like you we wouldn’t have the quality of life and wonderful things we have in Burien,” she said, referring to the Browns. “We will have the Chamber scissors ready for the cutting of the ribbon when you are done and ready to open the doors to the community.”

Photo by Steve Shay. View more photos of El Dorado’s Groundbreaking Celebration here. Click here to view pictures and keep up to date on our construction progress.

 
 
 

Clean Sweep to beautify Burien on Saturday

By admin: 04/30/2012 @ 9:42 am

 

news01_18The Highline Times

Relieve that spring-cleaning itch by helping friends and neighbors spruce up Burien during the city’s thirteenth annual Clean Sweep on Saturday, April 30. New this year, Clean Sweep will include a scavenger hunt for the volunteers celebrating artwork by young Burien artists on Southwest 153rd Street.

From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 30, make a difference in the community by sweeping sidewalks, trimming shrubs, planting flowers, picking up trash and more. During last year’s Clean Sweep, more than 400 people removed 8.15 tons of garbage from Burien’s streets, parks and commercial areas.

Clean Sweep is presented by the city of Burien and the Discover Burien Association. Event sponsors are the law firm of Linn, Schisel & DeMarco, P.S., Prudential Northwest Realty Associates and Waste Management.

On the day of Clean Sweep, volunteers must register and sign releases at the Fire District No. 2 Station at Eighth Avenue Southwest and Southwest 151st Street in downtown Burien beginning at 8 a.m. Enjoy a continental breakfast during morning registration, including donations of bread from Grand Central Bakery, bagels from Panera Bread and coffee from Pacific Coffee Company. El Dorado West Retirement Community is contributing bottled water for thirsty volunteers.

Although participants will be provided with some cleanup materials, George recommends participants bring useful yard tools such as shovels, rakes, clippers and brooms. Linn, Schisel & DeMarco, P.S. is supplying a limited number of gloves, so volunteers might want to bring their own work gloves.

Businesses in Burien’s main downtown area may dispose of unwanted items by placing them in the alley or in front of the establishment before 9 a.m. April 30 for pickup. Please call Debra George in advance to arrange for disposal. If items are not picked up noon, call George to let her know your location and she can arrange for pickup that day.

In cooperation with Burien’s Environmental Science Center, some Clean Sweep participants will be stenciling labels around storm drains as a reminder that storm water runoff drains are not waste dump zones.

Clean Sweep also includes a scavenger hunt, in which Clean Sweep participants count the new decorative banners along Southwest 153rd Street. The banners are a project of the City of Burien Arts Commission, which partnered with Discover Burien to have the banners printed and installed. Clean Sweep volunteers can pick up forms to enter the hunt at the firehouse and be entered into a raffle of prizes from businesses on 153rd.

As a thank you for their hard work, volunteers will be treated to a hotdog-style lunch at the firehouse contributed by the Mark Restaurant & Bar. Coffee is being donated by Pacific Coffee Company, juice by Highline Medical Center, hotdogs by Restaurant Depot and bread by Grand Central Bakery. A bicycle door prize is being contributed by Prudential.

For more information, call the Discover Burien office at 206-433-2882, Debra George at 206-941-7199 or go online to www.discoverburien.com.

Photo by Keith Daigle: Eager young volunteers pitch in during last year’s Burien Clean Sweep.