On Thursday night, Jan. 10, 2019, an Open House was held by Noble Healthcare for their proposed new long-term care facility for individuals with mental health needs in Seahurst.

This event – which was to be held in an office at 2108 SW 152nd Street – was moved across the street to St. Francis Unity Place after the turnout exceeded organizer’s expectations (there were at least 250-300 people there).

Noble Healthcare owners (and brothers) Cale, Josh and Zach Wester explained their proposed “long-term care home for individuals whose mental health needs,” along with representatives from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and others, who helped clarify laws and regulations.

The facility – pending sale/approval/permitting – is projected to open in late 2019/early 2020 – and would be located at 2108 SW 152nd Street in the CRI office building next to the Seahurst Post Office, kitty-corner from St. Francis of Assisi School and near two Montessori schools.

The room was packed with concerned – and sometimes very emotional – residents.

Also in attendance were Burien City Councilmembers Austin Bell, Bob Edgar, Krystal Marx and Nancy Tosta, along with City Manager Brian Wilson (none of whom spoke).

At times some attendees acted hostile to the owners, sometimes shouting “shame!” as well as interrupting them or each other.

“I attended the meeting concerning Noble Healthcare’s proposed ESF in the Seahurst area,” attendee Pam Nomura told The B-Town Blog afterwards. “My main goal was to get information on the proposal. Because of the tenor of the meeting and the disrespectful manner in which questions were being asked, I chose to leave before having my concerns addressed. I regret that an occasion that should have been constructive devolved into a shouting match.”

Here’s full raw video of the event – with an approximate running time of 2 hours and 9+ minutes, as shot by Scott Schaefer (NOTE: questions from the audience begin at around the 40:00 mark):

Read our previous coverage of this issue here.

Thousands of residents decided to take one last cruise on the old elevated concrete passageway that first opened in 1953, and the King County Sheriff’s Office Guardian One helicopter flew by and used its FLIR infrared camera – usually used to track suspects – to record folks partying and playing around.

Watch – as people hang out, party and play on the viaduct!

And check it out – parts of the old relic are already being demolished:

Railroad Way S closed from S Jackson St to 1st Ave S. Use Alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/cUFNDiKALV

— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) January 12, 2019

Demolition today of the northbound SR 99 ramp up onto the viaduct. This will open space to build S. Dearborn St, connecting First Ave S to the tunnel’s on- and off-ramps. #Realign99 pic.twitter.com/fLuTfTX7TF

— SR 99 (@BerthaDigsSR99) January 12, 2019

WSDOT says that for years, travelers could only access Des Moines Memorial Drive through city streets and a westbound SR 518 off-ramp. Drivers headed eastbound on SR 518 had to exit the highway and use local streets to access Des Moines Memorial Drive – streets that weren’t designed for the heavy vehicle and truck traffic.
WSDOT adds:

“This new ramp will channel traffic away from those local streets and provide a more direct route for vehicles and trucks moving goods between the city of Burien’s Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA), the Port of Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region.
“This is one of the first Connecting Washington projects to be completed in western Washington. Connecting Washington is a 16-year, $16 billion program designed to enhance and maintain the state’s transportation system. Projects are scheduled through 2031.”

This year’s event splashed down in a new location due to high tides – at the intersection of Maplewild Ave SW & SW 172nd.

The winner of the coveted Polar Bear Plunge spirit trophy was Jeanninne Bassinger, a B-Town resident since 2015, who was dared to plunge by her roommate Rick (who did NOT participate himself, but was there cheering her on):

Here’s raw video from our Facebook live stream (be sure to “Like” our page here to see future live videos):

Jana works at a San Francisco based startup, Chairman Mom, as a User Experience Designer. Chairman Mom is a subscription-based community platform for working mothers. For $5 a month, women can ask and answer the tough questions about life, work and motherhood without judgment, guilt or fear of being called a “bad mom” (a phrase that is banned from the site). The community is designed to create an environment free of bullying and negativity, encouraging real connection and honest discussions, with the goal of ultimately setting more working moms up for success.

This free, open event will be held at the future site of the “long-term care home for individuals whose mental health needs make it difficult for them to thrive in a traditional nursing home/assisted living,” organizers said. “During the meet and greet we hope to meet neighbors and future partners, gather input, and answer any questions.”

The home – which (pending sale/approval/permitting) is projected to open in late 2019/early 2020 – apparently will be located in a former office building next to the Seahurst Post Office, kitty-corner from St. Francis of Assisi School and near two Montessori schools. The “CRI” building, which was built in 1987, was recently listed for sale at $1,495,000. The property features an 11,993 square foot lot, and 6,313 square feet of living space.

Owners say that this new facility will provide 24/7 licensed nursing care to 16 residents to age in place, with a staffing ratio of at least 1 staff to 4 residents.

“These are high ratios for a nursing home, and are designed to ensure that residents have ample opportunity to go out and be a part of the community while having the accompaniment support they need to have meaningful experiences and interactions,” they said.

“We are in the process of finalizing the purchase of the building, permitting, etc. There will be some significant renovations to the inside of the building, while the outside will remain largely unchanged. We anticipate completing the renovations late 2019,” they added.

We first heard about this new facility on a Facebook post, which has garnered a somewhat passionate response from concerned residents, including comments assuming that this will be some kind of drug treatment center or low-income housing, and that it might endanger the nearby school children (St. Francis of Assisi School is very close):

“Why is Burien on the receiving end of all low-income, no-income housing?

“Lets be honest about it…”i don’t want that kinda business in my neighborhood”

“I think it will be great contribution for the community, but not across the street from a school.

“The company that I work for has a couple of buildings similar to this. Properly run, they are a very minimal danger to the community and a real benefit to the residents. They are overseen 24/7. Residents are monitored to make sure meds are taken and the staff is well trained to spot problems before they happen. I feel perfectly safe having them across the street from me.

“And now this “Behavior Health Support” facility located in a residential neighborhood?

“Why is this happening to Burien? Why is this not being talked about?”

“This isn’t a drug treatment facility or half way house,” co-owner Zachary Wester told The B-Town Blog on Wednesday, Dec. 26. “It is a nursing home for individuals whose mental health needs make it difficult to be placed in a traditional nursing home.”

Here’s more info directly from Noble Healthcare:

Noble Healthcare is hosting a meet and greet from 5:30-6:30pm on January 10th at 2108 SW 152nd Street in Burien – the future site of a long-term care home for individuals whose mental health needs make it difficult for them to thrive in a traditional nursing home/assisted living. During the meet and greet we hope to meet neighbors and future partners, gather input, and answer any questions.

Noble Healthcare is a family-owned nursing home operator. We currently operate two care centers – one in Tekoa, Washington and the other in Cashmere. Both homes specialize in providing long-term care to individuals whose increased physical needs require 24-hour care, but who also face mental health diagnoses that make it difficult for them to receive that care in a regular nursing home. Well trained caregivers, licensed nurses, mental health workers, and doctors work together with the resident and their families/representatives to develop care plans that help these individuals thrive in an environment that is as homelike as possible, and where their special needs can be met throughout their aging process.

Mental Healthcare is a work in progress. The vast majority of residents we care for have long histories of failed placement in other care settings. Often they have bounced between nursing homes, acute care hospitals, and Western/Eastern State hospitals. The mandate of care facilities like ours is to break that cycle. We work with the State hospital to ensure patients that have been stabilized are discharged into a setting where they continue to receive the specialized support they need to function at the highest physical and mental level possible. The home in Burien will take on that same mandate.

The home in Burien (we’re still trying to think of a name and would love some input!) will provide 24/7 licensed nursing care to 16 residents to age in place, with a staffing ratio of at least 1 staff to 4 residents. These are high ratios for a nursing home, and are designed to ensure that residents have ample opportunity to go out and be a part of the community while having the accompaniment support they need to have meaningful experiences and interactions.

We are in the process of finalizing the purchase of the building, permitting, etc. There will be some significant renovations to the inside of the building, while the outside will remain largely unchanged. We anticipate completing the renovations late 2019.

We have seen some community discussion surrounding the home in Seahurst. Mental health definitely faces a serious stigma. In most of those discussions it has been really heartening to see so many community members working to dispel the stigma and educate others in an empathetic way. There are definitely some concerns being shared as well, I wanted to take this opportunity to address those:

Is this a drug treatment, opioid treatment, half-way house, or chemical dependency clinic? (From Facebook – Take Back Burien Page)
No, this is a long-term care home where individuals with the need for around the clock physical/medical assistance, and who cannot otherwise be served in other residential care settings due to high mental health needs, can age-in-place and receive nursing care.

Will the chemically-dependent be treated at the facility? (From Facebook – Take Back Burien)
The mandate of care facilities like ours is to provide a “placement option for individuals whose complicated personal care and behavioral challenges do not rise to a level that requires an institutional setting. Individuals are referred to an ESF if they are coming out of state and community psychiatric hospitals or have no other placement option due to their complex behavior, medical, chemical dependency and/or mental health needs.” 70.97 RCW

Individuals discharging from a prolonged hospitalization to a care center like ours will not be active illicit drug users. They will not have had access to illegal substances as an inpatient and would not be deemed ready to discharge if they were actively using illicit drugs. They may, however, have chemical dependency in the form of medication regimens addressing their mental health needs, that a traditional nursing home may not be equipped to handle.

In our experience it is very common to have patients referred to us who, while not actively abusing drugs, have a history of alcohol and/or drug abuse. We unabashadley care for these individuals. Continued counseling and treatment related to historical substance abuse is offered where needed or wanted, and supervision in the facility negates the likelihood of a resident gaining access to illicit drugs.

What type of people will be cared for at the home?
Again, our mandate is to work with the State hospital to ensure patients that have been stabilized are discharged into a setting where they continue to receive the specialized support they need to function at the highest physical and mental level possible.

Our residents struggle with issues like advanced dementia, developmental disabilities, brain injuries, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorders, personality disorders, and anxiety disorders.

Is it a good idea to have this home located near schools? (From several community members)
Any care facility has to ensure that it can adequately meet the needs of any resident admitted, and that that resident is not a threat to the community. Being so close to schools will most definitely be a major consideration in evaluating potential residents. For example individuals with a history of sexual offense would not be appropriate to the community and location and would not be admitted.

Noble Healthcare operates two other locations (one in Tekoa, WA and one in Cashmere) that serve the same demographic of residents needing highly specialized mental health care. At these locations we have strong relationships with neighboring schools and host regular visits from classes. These interactions are very uplifting and benefit the residents and the children. We would hope to continue that tradition in Burien.

I myself will have a 2nd grader, kindergartener, and preschooler attending school in the community. I would never do anything that would put them at risk.

You can check out some of the activities we’ve had with schools at https://www.facebook.com/tekoacare/

What type of insurance will be accepted? (From Facebook)
This is a special medicaid/medicare program. Residents will be covered by one of those programs.

How will this impact parking?
As part of the permitting process an independent parking and traffic study was completed by an independent engineering firm. To summarize the results, there will be a net decrease in traffic and parking as compared to the sites current use.

We look forward to meeting all of you and being a part of the community. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions we look forward to meeting you on the 10th or you can contact us any time.

– Zachary Wester
zackw@noble-hc.com

Here’s a great, fun way to brrrrrring in the New Year – at Noon on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, dive into Puget Sound at the fun-filled annual Polar Bear Plunge in the 3500 block of 172nd SW Street (map below) in Burien’s Three Tree Point neighborhood!

This annual New Year’s Day tradition will continue with crisp and refreshing saltwater, along with all the usual craziness (costumes!) that make this the perfect way to start the New Year (and perhaps cure a hangover).
One of the more festive parts of this community event is the awarding of the Polar Bear Plunge champion trophy – which consists of a Polar Bear figure on a piece of driftwood – chosen during the event by regulars and previous award-winners.

TIP: usually, the “most exuberant” plunger wins, but recently some very creative, fully costumed plungers have taken home the prize.

Last year’s winner was Katarzyna Patora, who wore an amazing mermaid costume that she made herself:

Here are some video highlights from our live Facebook feed:

Here’s GoPro POV cam footage shot by Shawn Anderson:

Here’s a great video of the 2017 plunge, shot and edited by Cameron Johnson, a proud grad of Highline High School and freelance videographer from Burien:

The 2017 Three Tree Point Polar Bear Plunge from Cameron Johnson Video on Vimeo.
Here are some Hints and Safety Tips:

• Dress Up in costume to add whimsy (and perhaps win the big prize!)
• Come early, as parking is limited. Carpool or come by boat!
• Anyone with heart problems should consult your health care provider before participating. If you don’t participate, you’re still welcome to join and watch.
• Do Not Drink. Alcohol – it does not warm you up; it accelerates hypothermia.
• Do Not Stay In The Water Longer Than 15 Minutes. Body heat is lost 30 times faster in the water than in air.
• Keep Your Outer Clothing On until swim time and remove any wet clothing before getting back into dry clothes. Bring big dry towels to warm up after you plunge!
• Have Fun!

Check out our extensive prior Polar Bear Plunge coverage hre.

Remember that amazing David Bowie Tribute Band that played at the Burien UFO Festival? Then you won’t want to miss them when they play at their Stardust New Year’s Eve Bash – classic Bowie hits will transport you to Mars and back, just in time for the 2019 countdown.

Here’s a reminder of them at BUFO:

Glitter, ice-blue suits and lightening bolt make-up strongly encouraged.

S.O.S – a Police tribute band – opens.

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

• Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stardust-nye-bash-featuring-bowievision-tickets-49872632386
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/233406007327465/

BOWIEVISION
Website
Combining world-class vocals, deft musicianship, Bowie-inspired costumes, and masterful stage presence, the BowieVision experience is simultaneously epic and intimate. The seven-piece musical juggernaut draws sell-out crowds to premiere venues in the Northwest and beyond by bringing passion and precision to songs from nearly every phase of Bowie’s eclectic career: rock anthems like Rebel Rebel, All the Young Dudes, and Suffragette City; the wide-screen balladry of Life on Mars?, Space Oddity, The Man Who Sold the World, and Changes; mid-70s “plastic soul” (Golden Years, Young Americans, Fame;) art-pop statements like Fashion, Heroes, Sound and Vision, Ashes to Ashes, and I’m Afraid of Americans; and the high-sheen 80s classics Under Pressure, Let’s Dance, China Girl, Modern Love, and Blue Jean. Accept no substitutes: BowieVision is the real deal.

S.O.S.
Facebook

Born out of a shared love of the incredible studio sound and otherworldly live performance of this band, Mitch Wilson, Anthony Medici and Cory West come together to form S.O.S., A Tribute to the Police. Portland based S.O.S. brings the high-energy performance, unique lead vocals, guitar tones, evocative vocal harmonies and intense rhythms that catapulted Sting, Andy and Stewart to rock royalty! A show not to be missed!

• Buy only a freshly cut tree
• Shake tree to see if too many needles fall off (bad sign)
• Recut bottom of trunk to allow better water absorption
• Water tree daily, keeping base of tree submerged
• Keep tree away from all heat sources
• Never use burning candles on or near tree
• Keep pets and kids away from trees
• Dispose of tree properly by recycling

Vehicle accident into a power pole South 124 St and 5 Ave S. Please avoid the area.

— Burien Police (@BurienPD) December 12, 2018

Burien’s Poet-in-Residence Raúl Sánchez read ‘Bountiful Burien,’ his new, original poem about Burien to the City Council at Monday night’s regular meeting.

Managed by former Burien Arts Association Executive Director Erin Williamson, this effort was part of the city’s 25th anniversary celebration. Raúl received $1,300 plus meals and lodging from an Arts Commission grant, and also hosted a reading and poetry workshop for residents.

His collection of poetry “All Our Brown-Skinned Angels” was nominated for the Washington State Book Award in Poetry. Raúl is a Washington State Associations of Poets board member, a Jack Straw Fellow, judge for the Poetry on Buses, and TEDx participant. An active mentor and teacher, Mr. Sanchez has led numerous writing workshops.

Here’s the video, which includes an introduction by Erin Williamson:

Here’s text of Raúl’s ‘Bountiful Burien‘:

Bountiful Burien
Raúl Sánchez December 3rd, 2018

Wholesome winds blow across the Salish Sea,
the city stands unsullied, while anxious waves
crash against the rocks untamed shore
as seen from Poet’s Nest.
The Lushootseed people knew their natural treasures,
revered and protected the old-growth forest and their
hunting grounds. Along the Duwamish, tended
cranberry bogs in the riparian waters.
Nestled in briny air, old trails and winding roads
spread this city from the magnificent valley
Michael Kelly viewed,
Sunnydale still its name.
Jacob Ambaum hacked the early roads in 1909,
now First Avenue cuts through the city
north to south, like an arrow in flight.
West of the Boulevard, there is a glacial spring
that feeds Burien Lake, pristine—
beyond the shadow of the Needle, glass towers,
loading cranes and jungle to the north
where ferries cruise from Vashon to the mainland.
Olde Burien shows vestiges of the early days
made old by time, we still adore that rusty,
rusty old sign for Tin Shop plumbing supplies
and Hayes Feed Country Store still open for
urban farmers. Ambaum Boulevard,
a testament between modest and affluent homesteads.
Winding roads lead to the shore where luxury homes
watch the sun set across Puget Sound.
In Burien, people speak the language of food
Thailand’s curry, Vietnamese Pho, Oaxacan mole,
Italian meatballs, Tortas Locas, Australian meat pies,
Greek lamb and Nepalese Thukpa soup.
“Go ahead Smarty Pants,
I will see you at 909 for coffee and wine!”
From Three Tree Point to Manhattan
across Five Corners up to Boulevard Park
we revel in Duane’s Garden patch to watch
the colors bloom beneath the Flight Path.
From all points, Shorewood, then south to
Seahurst Park, Burien; this land of dreams,
watches the world fly in and out.
Just west of ninety nine, Burien’s indelible
history shines like sunlight through
the center of Helios Pavilion, it’s green spears
point to Tahoma and The Mother of Waters
waits, while the clouds evaporate.
Seola beach gushes with light, and Seahurst Park
a destination at the very end of Shorewood Drive.
Burien is a place of destiny—
awaiting all with open arms.