by Janet Grella
Welcome our newest Advertiser to The White Center Blog: Storer Enterprises, Inc., parent company to Airport Towing and Burien Towing.
On a routine WCB sales call, I was invited to join most of the Storer family for lunch at Elliot Bay Brewery in Burien. Seems like this family dines out together a lot.
One thing that struck me was the overwhelming presence at our table of Mark and Brian Storer who were killed in a floatplane accident this past summer. Both were a powerful force and inspiration in the development of this family and the family towing business.
Back in 1988, when Mark Storer was working for another towing company and his wife Lynette was doing daycare for their three young children and other neighborhood kids in their home, Mark decided to start his own towing company. With a loan from his father, Mark bought his first tow truck. They named it Airport Towing “so we’d be first in the phone book” explained Lynette, and managed it out of the house.
Lynette Storer and her late husband Mark.
A few months later they found property in Burien where they remain today. Flash forward a few years and the Storers not only had Airport Towing, but also Burien Towing, a house used as Airport’s office and a very large garage that houses 12 light and heavy duty tow trucks – and one of the industry’s largest antique tow truck collections. Another tow truck is being restored right now in memory of Brian Storer.
As a true Ma and Pa business, the addition of the house/office allowed them to bring their three kids to work. The kids included Teresa, Jared and Brian. Lynette told BTB that “This is truly a family business. If you don’t like having family around, you won’t like us!”
Jared told us that he didn’t take to the towing business the way his brother Brian did. While Brian enjoyed driving the tow trucks, Jared was more interested in working sales and marketing from the office and as a volunteer firefighter in North Highline for 3-1/2 years. He’s been a firefighter in Bellevue for the past 1-1/2 years. His schedule allows him time to spend with his wife Carmen, who works for Alaska Airlines, and with their young son Liam and to keep his fingers in the family business as Vice President.
Lynette Storer is now President of Storer Enterprises, and award-winning tow driver and nine-year employee Daryl Wilson has been made General Manager. One thing that hasn’t changed is the smiling face of Colleen Zable who’s run the front office for 17 years.
"The 29," a classic 1929 Ford Model AA Tow Truck.
Lynette’s son-in-law Kenny Savage is also part of this family business. Kenny married the Storer’s daughter, and oldest child Teresa, last summer. Jared, Lynette and Kenny shared the same thought of how glad they all were that Mark Storer was able to live long enough to see all three of his kids married.
Teresa is not part of the daily management of Airport and Burien Towing, but is helping with various financial aspects of the business as well as working with Jared on developing the property for their monthly auction of abandoned cars. Auctions are held every three weeks on Fridays at 11 am, with the preview at 8am. Currently the auctions are in South Park at 301 Sullivan St. For more information see www.airporttow.com.
The Storer family has a long history of giving back to the community as well, including Little League, Highline Sports and Theater, donations to local police and fire departments and they’ve recently developed the Storer Family Memorial Fund, which is very important to help the young widow and sons of Brian Storer.
The 1st antique tow truck is "The T," a 1925 Ford Model T that was once used in parades by McDonald's.
Storer Family Memorial Fund: This fund was established to support the family of Brian Storer after he died in a sudden plane crash July 23rd, 2008. Brian left behind a wife of three years and two sons, ages 2 and 1, Sam and Toby. Brian’s AFLAC life insurance policy did not cover him traveling in a private aircraft so this fund has been established to provide relief to his family. You can donate to the fund at any Sterling Savings Bank location or through Paypal.
Asked what they would like our Readers to know that’s not on their websites, Jared responded that his wife Carmen is the twin sister of Brian’s wife Christy. Jared and Carmen met in Normandy Park when Brian and Christy were married three years ago. Maid of Honor and Best Man respectfully, it was love that was meant to be. Another Storer long-distance relationship was in the works. Sisters were reunited in Burien after Jared and Carmen were married in Iowa, where the girls were raised.
You can find Airport Towing at 817 SW 149th Street/206.243.6252 and Burien Towing right next door at 823 SW 149th St/206.243.6252.
So, hitch up your mouse to their Ad, click on their website and check out Airport and Burien Towing!
[Are you interested in getting a "Blogvertorial" Ad like this for your Business? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]
| Feb ’09 |
| 27 |
| 6:30 pm |
Evergreen High School is the place to be Friday night if you’re a middle school student (or parent of one) in the Highline School District who wants to learn about small school options for high school:
WHAT: Highline School District’s “High School Fair”
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 27th from 6:30pm – 8pm
WHERE: Evergreen High School campus, located at 30 SW 116th Street in White Center (map below)
INFO: You and your parents are invited to attend any one of four High School Fairs to hear about school options. Come learn about the choices available and get your questions answered.
Interpreters available for Spanish, Somali, Punjabi! Don’t miss out!
Need more info? Call your neighborhood high school or 206-433-8760 or Email: sitam@hsd401.org
[EDITOR'S NOTE: This Review originally appeared on our sister site The B-Town Blog, but we're re-publishing it here because The Barrel is so dang close to White Center.]
The term “dive bar” conjures up negative images of dark, smoky, smelly taverns, shady staff and questionable menus full of deep fried mystery food.
The Barrel Tavern is in no way any of these things.
In a time where trendy bars are becoming dives or using gimmicks to lure you in, while dive bars are becoming trendy bars by serving 40s or watered down versions of drinks they call “specialty beverages,” there are fewer and fewer places serving up a good old dash of reliability.
After numerous visits, purely for research of course, I found there was far more at The Barrel than meets the eye:
- The moment you walk in you are treated like a regular.
- There are no unidentifiable smells that overwhelm you when you walk in. Rich local history.
- Plenty of parking. Come on it used to be a Drive In! Built in 1963 as the “Triple XXX Drive In,” owner Linda Enright has worked hard to keep the integrity of the original landmark building.
- Bikers welcome…but you can come too.
- Live bands that you actually want to see. And did I mention NO COVER!
- Seattle’s longest-running open Jam Session every Tuesday.
- Karaoke every Saturday and sometimes Fridays. Hundreds of great karaoke singers…and 3 bad ones.
- The most dedicated owner you may ever meet. She cares about her customers and her community.
- No drama policy. Do not test this one – trust me, the staff will win.
- Free poker tourney every Wednesday.
- A menu that could put most dinners to shame. Fresh, well made pub grub that will have you returning for more than just a beverage. Insiders tip: go for the fresh, not deep fried tacos, the Barrel burger (fresh never frozen) or the Barrel chicken sandwich.
- Saturday & Sunday breakfast menu that could cure any hangover.
- If you need more than just liquid entertainment there are darts, a pool table, pull tabs, video games, and flat screens always playing the game.
- A jukebox that is filled with only the greatest classic rock, country and 80’s faves.
Leave your club clothes at home and forget the overdone hair, this is one spot it won’t work.
Be prepared to sit back, hang out with old friends and even make some new ones.
If you’re looking for a dependable neighborhood bar with a ton of character, in more ways than one, you need not look any further than The Barrel. 11051 1st Ave S
The Barrel is located at:
Seattle, WA 98168
(206) 244-7390
That’s right – it’s snowing out (but it’ll likely melt), and here are the latest school and traffic updates for the White Center area:
- SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS: 2 HOURS LATE:
Buses Operate on Snow Routes.
No Door-to-Door Service.
No A.M. or P.M. Head Start.
No A.M. or P.M. Kindergarten.
Updated: 5:42 a.m. February 26, 2009
Highline Public Schools will operate two hours late today. Emergency bus transportation is in effect.
*There will be no breakfast, no morning classes for preschool, kindergarten, ECEAP, or PSSC. Afternoon classes for these programs will be on time.
*Schools will dismiss at regular times.
Snow and power failures can cause disruptions for schools and families. During these difficult times, HIghline Public Schools will do all it can to communicate vital information to parents and students.
Our top priority is student safety!
Here’s the latest from the National Weather Service:
Statement as of 4:35 AM PST on February 26, 2009
… Additional snowfall of an inch or two and freezing temperatures will warrant caution this morning…
Hazardous driving conditions will be the rule across western Washington this morning due to snow that has already fallen… possible accumulations of another inch or two… and freezing temperatures.
Scattered snow showers will continue this morning as the upper level low pressure system over the area moves eastward. Local
additional accumulations of an inch or two are possible. In addition temperatures have fallen below freezing across most of western Washington this morning… so roads and sidewalks will be icy even if they are free of snow.These conditions will be relatively short lived. Temperatures will climb above freezing by noon today with highs around 40… and most of the area will have partly sunny skies.
If you’re going to be out driving, here are live webcam views:
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| Feb ’09 |
| 21 |
| Feb ’09 |
| 28 |
Signups begin Saturday (Feb. 21st), and continue next Sat. (Feb. 28th) for Southwest Little League at the Southwest Community Center, located at 2801 SW Thistle Street in West Seattle.
Here are the details:
WHAT: Southwest Little League signups
WHEN: Saturday, February 21 & Saturday, February 28 from Noon until 3pm both days. Please see this web page for details about the required documentation.
WHERE: Signups will take place at the Southwest Community Center (see map below).
There are also volunteer board positions open for several positions at Southwest Little League.
Southwest Little League operates entirely on the volunteer efforts of participating families.
Parents – Southwest Little League is working to develop new leadership. We encourage you to step into the roles vacated by volunteers who’s children who have outgrown little league. The league is an all volunteer organization that exists for the benefit of youth in the White Center, Highpoint, Top Hat, Shorewood, Arbor Heights, Riverview, and Seahurst neighborhoods.
Please contact the league if you are interested in volunteering.
Southwest Little League’s boundaries can be seen in this map:
Continue to check their website and the Little League message line (206)-286-3655 for additional information.
| Feb ’09 |
| 26 |
| 9:00 am |
| Feb ’09 |
| 27 |
| 10:00 am |
Here are the details:
Some believe that hip-hop is dead.
According to Northwest based hip-hop group, Blue Scholars, “it’s not, it’s just malnourished and underfed.” True story. Hip-hop music and culture is continuously thriving and evolving. Since its inception, each day has been a stepping stone for this multifaceted channel of expression.
On February 26 and 27, 2009, Highline Community College presents “The Hip-Hop Summit.” A two day long event showcasing a culture defined by creativity, diversity, knowledge and evolution.
Help us gain strength in our movement and spread the word. Hip-hop don’t stop!
WHAT: Hip Hop Summit, to be held over two days:
WHEN:
THURSDAY, FEB. 26th:
- 9:00am-9:50am: The History & Evolution of Hip-Hop with King Khazm (founder of Zulu Nation-Seattle Chapter, Hip Hop emcee & activist) in Mt. Constance Room
- 10:00am-11:30am: Keynote: Hip Hop Politics with Dr. Tricia Rose of Brown University in Mt. Constance Room
- 12:00pm-1:30pm: Panel Discussion: Misconceptions of Hip-Hop in Mt. Constance Room
FRIDAY, FEB. 27th:
- 10:00am-10:50am: Art Showcase in Mt. Constance Room
- 11:00am-12:00pm: ICC – Poetry Lounge and Open Mic in Mt. Constance Room
- 7pm: Doors Open at Mt. Townsend Room Stage: 2 v. 2 Break Battle, With Performances by:
- So HyDef
- Nam
- Khingz
- Gabriel Teodros
- The Parker Brothers
- Common Market
WHERE: Highline Community College Student Union (Building 8), located at 2400 S. 240th St, Des Moines, WA 98198 (map below)
COST: Highline Students $5, General Admission $10
INFO: Highline Community College Events Calendar or on MySpace
View Larger Map
In King County, Countywide Community Forums are a network of small group meetings where people throughout the county can discuss current issues and provide feedback to King County officials.
Two to four times a year, registered Citizen Councilors meet in homes, libraries and other locations to learn more about an issue that matters to them, discuss it with the group and complete a detailed survey on their views.
The next round of forums will be held in February on the topic:
“Citizen Priorities for County Government:
Budget and Strategic Options.”
For more information on Countywide Community Forums, please go to this website.
Where and when are the forums?
Forums are organized by fellow Citizen Councilors at homes, workplace or libraries 2-4 times a year during a one-month participation window set by the Auditor. When notified of an upcoming round of forums, you will be able to select the time and place that works best for you on the Countywide Community Forums‘ website:
If you prefer, the Volunteer Coordinators will help you choose the most convenient forum over the phone; just call (206) 296-1633 and they’ll set you up.
Here some more info from their website:
Do you want to get more involved?
If you would like to be more involved in Countywide Community Forums, you can volunteer to be a Community Forums Host/Convener. Conveners find a convenient meeting place and conduct a forum session. You can host your own meeting or become a guest at someone else’s meeting. “Please register as an official, volunteer, Citizen Councilor, or contact us to let us know that you are interested.There are also opportunities to get involved as an outreach volunteer. Outreach volunteers help spread the word about the community forums to their community or organization. In particular, we are looking for outreach volunteers in South King County.
Contact us by email or by calling (206) 296-1633.
What to expect at a forum?
At each forum meeting, 4-12 participants:
- Watch a short video and/or review a brief written summary of the key facts and different perspectives on the issue under discussion.
- Take two minutes each to state their views on the topic, uninterrupted by other members of the group.
- Participate in an open group discussion.
- Complete an “Opinionnaire®”: a confidential survey tool that asks specific questions about the current topic and the forums process.
To attend this meeting, you must click here to Sign up/Sign in!
| Feb ’09 |
| 21 |
| 2:00 pm |
The photo above is of deceased area resident Charles “UpChuck” Moore, who was tragically murdered by his stepson in 2005. The second-annual Benefit for Families and Friends of Violent Crimes Victims will be held this Saturday, Feb. 21st at The Barrel Tavern, located at 11051 First Ave South (map below).
Also known as “UpChuck,” he was a regular patron of The Barrel and a resident of the Top Hat neighborhood, and his picture hangs on the wall of the tavern. He is missed by all who knew and loved him.
Here’s the original (and gruesome) news story as printed in The Seattle P-I on 1/28/05:
BOULEVARD PARK — King County sheriff’s detectives believe a man who survived a stabbing acted in self-defense when he killed his half-brother.
Jason Moore, 24, was found bleeding from stab wounds outside his Boulevard Park home late Jan. 20. Inside were his father, Charles Moore, 48, and his half-brother, William Moore, 29, both dead from stab wounds.
Sheriff’s Sgt. John Urquhart said it appears that William Moore attacked his sleeping stepfather by hitting him in the head with a heavy object and stabbing him repeatedly in the neck. When Jason Moore went to investigate, his older brother stabbed him, Urquhart said. The fight moved through the house, and the younger brother managed to grab a kitchen knife and fatally stab his older brother.
The memorial event starts at 2pm at the Auburn Eagles Hall, with a ride through the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, ending up at The Barrel for a buffet dinner, door prizes, 50/50 drawing, live music and raffles.
Here are the details:
WHAT: The Apple Dumpling Gang Motorcycle Club ADG and The Barrel Tavern present the 2nd Annual Charles Moore Benefit for Families and Friends of Violent Crimes Victims
WHEN: Saturday, February 21st, starting at 2pm at the Auburn Eagles Hall
WHERE:
- 2 p.m. Meet & leave from Auburn Eagles, located at 702 M Ste SE, Auburn, WA (253-833-2298)
- Ride through Tahoma National Cemetery, located at 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, Wa 98042
- Ending at: The Barrel, located at 11051 1st Ave S. Seattle, (206-244-7390)
INFO: Buffet dinner, door prizes, 50/50 drawing, live music and raffles.
Grand Prize will be a 3-day, 2-night stay, including airfare to Reno with accomodations at the Silver Legacy Hotel & Casino.
Here’s the poster:
Dow Constantine
by Mark Neuman
Metropolitan King County Council member Dow Constantine has made it official.
“I’m running for King County Executive,” he said Monday (Feb. 16th) in an interview with The White Center Blog.
“It’s a real big step, and I’m hitting the ground running.”
Dow has been on the Council since 2002. Just five weeks ago, he was unanimously elected by his colleagues as Council Chair.
Assuming current Executive Ron Sims’ nomination to serve in the Obama administration is confirmed by the US Senate, the council will select a replacement “quickly, soon after a vacancy in the office becomes official,” Dow said.
“The Senate vote is not expected to occur before the first week of March,” Dow said.
Dow favors selecting an interim executive “without political ambitions, but who has demonstrated managerial, budgetary and political skill.”
“We will strive to make the selection process open and transparent,” he said.
No matter who is selected to replace Sims on an interim basis, “the most important issue ahead of us on the council is the passage this fall of the toughest budget ever,” Dow said. “All of us on the council are keenly aware of the impact the current economic realities will no doubt have on the next budget.”
Dow, who in the State House and Senate represented Burien and surrounding areas before joining the council, is proud of Burien’s recent growth and development.
“White Center and Burien are positioned as priorities for future light rail expansion,” he added.
Dow promises more time for an in-depth interview with The White Center Blog as the campaign progresses.
The only other announced candidate in the race for Executive is fellow Council member Larry Phillips.
For more information, here’s Dow’s campaign website: www.dowconstantine.org.
You can also view his video announcement on YouTube here.
According to The Seattle P-I, King County Councilmember Dow Constantine will announce Monday that he is running for the King County executive position being vacated by Ron Sims, who has been nominated for a post in President Obama’s new administration.
Constantine, who has served as a councilman since 2002, joins fellow Councilman Larry Phillips as the only candidates who have formally declared their intentions to seek King County’s top job.
He currently represents District 8, which includes White Center, West Seattle, Burien and Vashon Island.
Read the full story here.
From our sister site The B-Town Blog comes this news:
Thursday morning (2/12/09) around 10:45am, the Burien Key Bank located at 655 SW 152nd was robbed by this man, described as a white male, late 20s, medium height, slim build, brown hair, with a goatee:
According to police, he entered the bank, gave a teller a note, got his loot and took off.
No weapons were displayed and there were no injuries.
If this bad guy looks familiar, you are asked to contact the Seattle FBI immediately at (206) 622-0460 (you can also call 911).
Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna has released this alert, about a telephone scam in which Spanish-speaking callers claim to be from “the insurance agency.”
Callers claim to be from “the insurance agency”
SEATTLE – The Washington Attorney General’s Office is alerting residents about a phone scam in which Spanish-speaking callers claim to be representatives of an insurance company.
Hispanic business owners from Seattle to Yakima and Spokane have reported receiving phone calls from Spanish-speaking callers who claim to be from “the insurance company.” In some cases, the callers also provide the names of actual insurance companies and/or agents.
The callers ask for bank account information they claim is needed to process insurance payments. The callers have left messages if owners aren’t home, along with phone numbers that start with 800, 877 and 752 area codes.
At least two individuals provided bank information to their cons, according to Unico Insurance Agency in Woodinville, which reported the fraud to the Attorney General’s Office. Company owner Carlos Garces said he has received more than 200 calls from customers, primarily restaurant owners, in recent months inquiring about phone calls. In some cases, the cons have mentioned his name. Garces said he is doing what he can to protect his customers and telling them to contact their bank if they provided any information.
The owner of a Spokane grocery store and deli also contacted the Attorney General’s Office after receiving more than 10 calls from individuals who claimed to be associated with various insurance companies. He said the callers, both men and women appeared to be friendly and tried to build up his trust. They claimed they needed to send an investigator to the business. The owner recognized the scam and did not provide any personal information.
As a reminder, never provide your bank account, Social Security number or other personal information to someone who asks for it by phone, e-mail or text message.
If you believe a call might be legitimate, ask for the caller’s name and contact details then end the conversation. Call the business directly using the number on your insurance card, statement or in the phone book.
If you believe you may have provided information in response to a fraudulent phone call, report the information immediately to your bank and place a fraud alert on your credit report.
- 30 –
To read this in Español, click here.
| Feb ’09 |
| 21 |
| 5:00 pm |
| Feb ’09 |
| 28 |
| 10:00 am |
A local arts collective called White Center for the Arts is holding their first Open Studio Art Tour from 5-10pm on Saturday, Feb. 21st at the White Center for the Arts Building (formerly the Southgate Skate Rink) and current home of the White Center Swap Meet.
Speaking of Swap Meets, it looks like that weekend event is being re-tooled (at least for one day) as “Rat City Rummage” on Saturday Feb. 28th from 10am-6pm, with “live art, food and vendors selling whatever they can fit in their space!” There are still 10 x 10 foot vending spaces available for just $20 – email ratcityrummage@hotmail.com for more information.
Here’s a snippet from their press release:
White Center for the Arts is a group of six artists with diverse backgrounds who have come together to form a non-profit organization focused on supporting the arts in White Center.
Our desire is to offer space where local artists can show their work, and to provide a place to learn learn about art.
We want to provide classes to young and old in many media, bringing out the rich diversity of culture that can be found in White Center.
And we want to have fun!
By an 8 to 1 margin Monday (2/9/09), Seattle City Councilmembers voted down any further progress on the White Center annexation Memo of Understanding with Burien.
Combine this news with the story we first reported on Jan. 26th about ex-Burien councilmember Stephen Lamphear’s initiative to stop annexation, and you’ve got some major roadblocks.
Reporter Gina Bourdage is at the Burien City Counci meeting tonight, where she hopes to get some response from Burien officials.
Look for a more in-depth report soon.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Former Burien City Councilmember Files Initiative Against N. Highline Annexation
- Burien Annexation Open House: “Friends Don’t Let Friends Become Part Of Seattle”
- Seattle & Burien Agree On North Highline Annexation
We’re proud to unveil our latest Local Blog, for our southerly neighbor Des Moines:
It will be updated frequently with Local News, Feature Stories, History, Events, Photos, Videos, Webcams and more for this exciting and beautiful waterfront city of over 29,000 residents.
Here’s our press release:
PUBLISHERS OF THE WHITE CENTER BLOG ANNOUNCE THEIR LATEST NEIGHBORHOOD WEBSITE: “THE WATERLAND BLOG” FOR DES MOINES
LOL Dudez, LLC, the Publishers of The White Center and B-Town (Burien) Blogs, announced today their latest neighborhood website for the city of Des Moines, WA:
The Waterland Blog (http://www.waterlandblog.com).
“We believe that Des Moines is one of the most exciting communities around, and we’re striving to make this blog reflect that,” said Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer. “While editing the White Center and B-Town Blogs, I’ve noticed a lot of news and event information for Des Moines, so launching this website was not only logical – it was necessary.”
The Waterland Blog is the sixth local website published by parent company LOL Dudez, which was founded by Schaefer in Dec. of 2007; its other properties include:
“With the continued decline of traditional media like newspapers, coupled with the tremendous growth and use of the internet as a daily news source, it wasn’t a hard decision to create this website,” Schaefer said from his Burien office. “Our goal is to become the main source for local news, events, reviews, photos, videos and more for Des Moines.”
The Waterland Blog is also seeking Contributors who know the Des Moines area. Writers, Photographers, Filmmakers, and anyone who has anything relevant to the “Waterland Community” are encouraged to email Schaefer directly at editor@waterlandblog.com.
They’re also seeking local businesses to Advertise and reach a growing, broadband-using affluent local audience. More info can be found here: http://www.waterlandblog.com/advertise.
Currently, flagship site The B-Town Blog receives over 12,000 Unique Visitors per month, with a Nov.-Dec. ’08 growth rate of nearly 38%.
For more information, please contact Scott Schaefer at (206) 248-2565 or via email:
editor@waterlandblog.com.#
Slight dusting of snow has set off the usual “will my kid’s school be open or late today” alarms, and here’s the scoop for Monday morning Feb. 9th:
- Seattle Schools are opening two hours late:
- 2 Hours Late.
- No A.M. or P.M. Kindergarten.
- No A.M. or P.M. Head Start.
- No Door-to-Door Service.
- Active Dates: 02/09/09 05:36 AM to 02/09/09 04:00 PM
- Last Modified: 02/09/09 05:42 AM
- Highline Schools are opening on time.
- Westside School follows Seattle Schools lead (with a scheduled 9:30am start time), but we just got an email from them and they’ll be opening on time.
- Don’t worry – the weather should warm up today, turning any snow into rain/water.
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