White Center Now: The blog about White Center

With new medical-marijuana businesses continuing to open, including two in White Center, the governor has just vetoed key parts of a bill that would have clarified where these enterprises stand in state law. Seattle’s city attorney and mayor have already sent official reaction, and we’re looking for more from the county and state; here’s our updated story on partner site West Seattle Blog.

WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz has been investigating reports of potential medical-marijuana dispensaries opening in White Center, and has just confirmed one.

First, a little context: While the state says dispensaries are illegal, county and city authorities have said that since medical marijuana itself IS legal, dispensaries are doing business in a gray area, and they are hopeful that the State Legislature will vote soon to allow regulation of these types of operations. (There is a bill, SB 5073, that has passed the State Senate and is now making its way through the State House.)

Now, Deanie’s report:

Property owner Tan Chung confirmed to WCN earlier this week that he had leased his space, the former EZ Aquarium at 9619 16th SW, to a medical marijuana dispensary, but was unable at that time to identify the company name.

WCN has confirmed this morning with the new store’s owner, Chris Cody of West Seattle, that Herban Legends dispensary is tentatively scheduled to open there around May 1.

From last night’s White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting: Will Perry from King County Public Health told the group about getting rid of unused drugs instead of leaving them around the house. What you see above is the demonstration box he takes around during presentations – it’s similar to the one used where this program is in place. The program has three points of emphasis, he explained: Keeping the environment free of drug pollution (which happens if they are flushed or poured down drains, since the water-treatment system can’t excise the chemicals, or if they are thrown away, since landfill decomposition puts the chemicals into the environment); preventing abuse, especially important if the unused drugs are narcotics or stimulants; third, poison control, to keep the unused drugs away from babies and toddlers.

Right now, he explained, the county works with Group Health and Bartell Drugs – both of those companies’ Burien branches can take in unused drugs for disposal. However, they can’t accept narcotics; those can only be taken to sites in east and southeast King County that are overseen by law enforcement. The disposal laws are changing, Perry said, but the details haven’t been finalized yet.

More info on the drug-disposal issue? Go here.

Fourth Thursday means the White Center-South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meets – here’s the announcement:

More than 17,000 calls to the Washington Poison Center were about children poisoned by medicines. Washington State needs a statewide take-back program to protect its children.

Teens use medicines to get high second only to marijuana, and they start as early as 12 years old. Washington needs a statewide take-back program so families can keep unwanted medicines out of the hands of our teens.

White Center – South Delridge Community Safety Coalition

Invites you to hear the

Seattle & King County Public Health Health & Environmental Investigator

Will Perry

at our Meeting on Thursday, January 27th 6 pm

White Center DSHS Building, 2nd Floor

9650 15th Ave SW

It’s official – White Center’s King County Councilmember is leading the County Board of Health. Here’s the announcement we just received:

At its first meeting of the New Year, the members of the King County Board of Health elected Metropolitan King County Councilmember Joe McDermott Board Chair for 2011. McDermott was appointed to the Board of Health after joining the Council last November.

McDermott said the challenge facing public health agencies throughout the region is continuing to deliver health services in the age of shrinking funds. Last week, Public Health – Seattle & King County announced the layoff of over 120 Public Health employees who provide and support maternity support services for at risk mothers so their babies start healthy by reducing low birth weights, which can result in long and expensive hospital stays, life-long health problems or even death.

“More than a third of all pregnant women in King County depend on the County for their health care, so these cuts will have a long-term impact on the health of our communities,” said McDermott. “I will be working with the state Legislature to protect these critical services.”

“With his clear commitment and experience in working for healthier communities, I’m very much looking forward to working together with Councilmember McDermott in his new role as Board Chair to address our current crisis in public health service funding and other serious health threats,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County.

McDermott will replace Councilmember Julia Patterson, who is stepping down after five years as Board Chair.

“As the legislator who introduced the first Clean Indoor Air Act, I have been concerned about public health issues my entire career,” said McDermott. I look forward to continuing the work of Councilmember Patterson and the entire Board as we work to promote health around King County.”

McDermott joined the County Council in November 2010. He left the Washington State Legislature after joining the Council, where he served seven years in the state House

before being appointed and later elected to the state Senate. He was Senior Budget Analyst with the Seattle School District and has worked for former Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney John Ladenburg. McDermott has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Gonzaga University.

The Board of Health is responsible for setting county-wide public health policy, enacting and enforcing local public health regulations. The Board also plays a role in enforcing state public health statutes, preventing and controlling the spread of infectious disease, abating nuisances and establishing fee schedules for licenses, permits and other services.

The county has just announced two free flu-shot clinics this weekend – and if you can get to Des Moines, the closest one is there:

Free flu vaccine clinic this weekend
Excellent option for people without health insurance

Public Health – Seattle & King County will offer free flu vaccinations for adults and children at special clinics in Des Moines and Shoreline on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The clinics are an excellent opportunity for people who do not have health insurance to cover the cost of flu vaccination.

Health experts recommend that everyone over six months of age should get the flu vaccine to protect their health and the people around them. This year, a single vaccine provides protection against the H1N1 flu that caused outbreaks last year and two other flu viruses that are expected to cause illness this season.

In addition to providing free flu vaccines, the clinics will also serve as a preparedness exercise for Public Health to practice its ability to provide vaccinations to a large number of people in a short amount of time. More than 1,000 doses of vaccine will be available at each location.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010

Time: The flu clinics are open from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or until vaccine supply is exhausted.

Locations: Highline Community College (Student Union Building)
2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines, WA 98198

Parkwood Elementary School (Gymnasium)
1815 North 155th Street, Shoreline

(WCN/WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
First, he got the hoodie – then, it was time to walk:

(WCN/WSB photo by Ellen Cedergreen)
This morning at White Center Heights Elementary in Greenbridge, King County Executive Dow Constantine joined in a Walk to School Month event:

He wasn’t the only celebrity on hand, though:

(WCN/WSB photo by Ellen Cedergreen)
Walk to School Month events are in conjunction with Feet First.

At SW 8th and 108th SW, the White Center Food Bank and King County Public Health‘s WC center are neighbors – sharing many of the same clients, and many of the same goals. Now, they’ve got something else in common – edible gardening. The raised beds you see above are part of an Eagle Scout-credit project by White Center’s Patrick Ufkes, working with a fruit-and-vegetable grant secured through the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program, with the help of KCPH nutritionist Elizabeth Duroe. We dropped by the garden recently to find out more about it in a garden chat with (from left) Patrick, Elizabeth, and WC Food Bank executive director Rick Jump:

The garden is yet another means of getting fresh, healthy food to people who really need it. And with the multicultural nature of White Center’s population, Rick says they’ve worked to make sure that what’s grown in the garden can be of use to various cultures’ food needs – Elizabeth notes they had seeds for more than half a dozen types of mustard greens, for example. Hot peppers have been important, too – as has assistance from gardening expert Lin Sierra. This all got started in midsummer, but is already yielding food – on the day we visited, they had just harvested nine more pounds of produce!

Volunteer help was key – Patrick marshaled forces including scouts from local Troop 375 as the beds were built and set up, and other members of his family (he is the son of White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes); others help tend the garden, such as AARP volunteer Thomas, who was there during our visit. Sustainability was key to securing the grant – not just the fact the bed can be planted year-round (fall/winter crops are in now like carrots, beets and snow peas), but also the materials, such as the beds being ringed with long-lasting bricks instead of wood.

Side note: Patrick is a Highline High School/South Seattle Community College Running Start student who’s taking some time this quarter for a service project in Kenya!

From King County Public Health‘s regular bulletin about “food establishment closures”:

Asian Bubble Tea located at 9835 16th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106* was closed by a Public Health food inspector on August 26, 2010 at 1:15 pm for improper preparation and service of foods under their current Risk 2 permit classification. The Person in Charge of the establishment has not upgraded facility nor obtained a Risk 3 permit classification to accommodate new menu items including preparation of raw foods and cooking equipment. The food establishment will be reopened when the inspector confirms that all issues have been resolved.

By Deanie Schwarz
For White Center Now

Today till 7 pm, an AARP/ Wellness Tour (American Association of Retired Persons) mobile health-screening van is on site at the Roxbury Walgreens. Tests include a full panel for blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, bone density and waist circumference, a $140 value.

Those tested who are over 50 years old will be given a free membership to the AARP (a $12-$16 value) with discounts offered for a variety of services and products. The only requirement to be tested is that individuals are 18 years or older. The panel of tests takes only 15 minutes. If medical issues are urgent, referrals to emergency facilities will be made. If non-emergency health issues are found, additional referrals will be made to private providers or the Walgreens pharmacy staff for affordable alternative and complimentary plans which might include non-prescription vitamins and other supplements, as well as exercise and nutrition advice.

The tests include:
BMI
Waist circumference
Bone Density -
Blood glucose via a simple finger prick
Ultrasound for bone density
Blood pressure

Amanda St Pierre is the lead Certified Health Screener for this van, which will be leaving Washington after a month of testing and heading for Oregon sites tonight. Overall, the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour has 10 vans in as many regions in the United States, as well as Puerto Rico.

The Tour hopes to screen 2.6 million people throughout these regions. Each van has a mission to screen 130 people per day. As of 2:45 Monday afternoon, about 25 people had been screened. It was noted that the screeners were unaware of any advance outreach to the community other than Univision. One if the primary target populations are Spanish-speaking communities and homeless individuals. The continued funding by Walgrens is uncertain and the program will be evaluated for effectiveness as the regions are covered over time.

Get down to the White Center Eagles‘ HQ before 7 pm and you can be part of this – help save lives, and raise some money too. Here’s our earlier preview.

In our coverage of the last White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting last month, we noted a trash problem outside the DSHS building, where the meetings are held these days. One meeting regular, who wanted to be anonymous, had expressed frustration with the problem, and had started documenting it:

Here’s a wider look at one area where trash was found, on the east side of the building, :

Once documented, it was time for action. The observer tried contacting someone in person, but was given a name, number and e-mail address for an office manager who finally was reached by phone the next day. After hearing about the problem, the observer says, the office manager said it was the problem of Prium Development Company, which owns the building, and is headquartered in Tacoma. Somebody in the building should be telling them about it, the observer insisted, and was told those in the building weren’t happy about it either, but that they expected the company to be sending a cleaning crew that day.

“Partial cleanup” ensued, according to our source. But not the dock area. If you’re thinking, well, so what, it’s just trash – as our source notes, it wasn’t just stray bits of paper. Examples of what was found:

So, the observer called the office manager again. Got only voice mail. Same thing the next morning, when our source tried yet again. No callback, so the next call was to the building owner. Our source was directed eventually to voice mail for a “facilities manager.” No callback. Eventually, contact was made. The onsite manager, our source says, continued to contend that it was the building owner’s responsibility, and that they’d been making requests too. However it played out, finally, after persistence from our tipster, the area got cleaned up:

Still tagged (we’ve blurred the tags as per our policy), but as our tipster puts it, “the public health menace is gone.” Will it stay gone? We’ll check back. We suspect the observer will too. If there’s something you’re concerned about, one message here is, don’t give up after one complaint, if action doesn’t immediately ensue. And find out who’s ultimately responsible. One helpful tool: Property ownership can be determined through the King County Parcel Viewer – you’ll find it here; have the exact address handy (or if you don’t know, trace it through the nearest intersection).