White Center Now: The blog about White Center

(Three Tree Point fireworks from July 2008 – one place you CAN see over-water fireworks tomorrow night)
We have reported it repeatedly on partner site West Seattle Blog, and it’s been all over a variety of other media sources too, since it was announced three months ago, but we hear some people still may not have gotten the message, so we’ll say it again: NO ELLIOTT BAY FIREWORKS THIS YEAR. Ivar’s discontinued its longrunning tradition. None next year too unless somebody else takes it over. But plenty of other places – including Three Tree Point.

If you’re in unincorporated King County, personal fireworks will be on sale starting at noon today. We noticed a few stands-in-the-making in White Center on Friday, including the one above at 100th/16th. But even though you can start buying them today, setting them off is only legal 9 am-midnight on the 4th (next Saturday) – and remember they are banned in neighboring cities Burien and Seattle. Here are all the King County rules.

As previewed by Ricardo earlier this week, that’s Trio Lucero del Norte playing Cafe Rozella tonight to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Got this note from Julie – we’re thinking WCNers will be interested as well as some West Seattleites:

As you may know, many of the communities in “southern” West Seattle look out over 3 Tree Point and the communities of Arroyo, Seola Beach and Arbor Heights enjoy our fireworks show. Last year, quite a few families from these neighborhoods contributed funds toward our entirely not-for-profit and volunteer effort (although the barge based fireworks are presented by professionals, thank goodness!). We are enormously grateful for that support. This year we have new chairs and have launched a new website www.3TreePoint.org

Their fundraising drive runs throughout May – check out the website for more details.

Thanks to JB for sharing these photos of the Tet celebration at White Center’s Cafe Tam Thanh. We welcome your photos any time – whitecenternow@gmail.com – thank you!

That sign points the way to the Boys and Girls Club at Greenbridge, home base today for a big MLK Day/Day of Service event – with volunteers fanning out through White Center-area neighborhoods to distribute important info to local families. Glad the weather is cooperating for everybody working on DoS events today all over our area.

*Schools closed
*Most government offices closed
*Most banks closed
*No regular-mail delivery
*Metro runs “partial holiday” service
*Seattle pay-station/meter parking spaces are free

Ann and I would really like to thank the White Center Community for the past year, and we hope that 09 will be just as amazing as we all hope it will be.

Just in case you were wondering. Here are the rules – unincorporated King County, 6 pm New Year’s Eve to 1 am New Year’s Day.

And it’s not because of the weather. Monday-Wednesday and Friday, Metro will run “partial holiday” reduced service; here’s the list of routes affected by this. (On Thursday, New Year’s Day, the Sunday schedule will be in effect.) You can find more Metro info online at metro.kingcounty.gov.

Tough to get around in but nonetheless, the snow has had its beauty. Congratulations to all for getting through what (knock wood) by most accounts appears to have been the worst of it – and have a joyful rest of your holiday!

Orchids and a Christmas tree, side by side near the front window in Pho 54. Have a great Christmas Eve and drive safely!

4 pm, holiday party and open house at Cafe Rozella – Ricardo wrote about it here. Remember, bring donations for the White Center Food Bank. After that, if you are still searching for holiday fun in the area, one of Seattle’s most popular Christmastime attractions will visit West Seattle tonight — the Argosy Christmas Ship (5:15 pm Seacrest Pier, 8:50 pm Lowman Beach north of Lincoln Park, 9:40 pm Alki Beach; here’s its full-season schedule – if you miss it tonight, it’s back in West Seattle at Don Armeni Boat Ramp Sunday night, and in the South Sound at Des Moines and Dash Point Monday night).

Save the date!  The Cafe Rozella Holiday Party and Open House will be held next Saturday, December 13th starting at 4 p.m.  The Rozella Party will feature Ricardo’s famous Mole.  Bring donations for the White Center Food Bank.  Cafe Rozella is located at 9434 Delridge Way, SW south of the intersection of Delridge and 17th Ave SW.  Online directions at www.caferozella.com or call (206) 763-5805.  Hosted by the Rozella Writers and Poets Group and Cafe Rozella.

Almost four months have gone by now since your contributor team started White Center Now to share the White Center (and vicinity) news, information, opinions, photos, and video that wasn’t turning up anywhere else. And we have only just begun. Your participation — with comments, tips, e-mail — is vital, and we are thankful for it. If anything major happens today, you can count on reading about it here, but in the meantime, let’s hope for a quiet and pleasant holiday; may yours be truly joyful.

We always find the cooking works much better when we’re caffeinated: Ricardo says Cafe Rozella will be open in the morning. And Salvadorean Bakery has a sign up saying they’ll be open 8 am-5 pm.

Check out the Waste Free Holidays participant list on the King County website, just revealed today – we’ve just started browsing WFH, and noticed this Evergreen Pool deal is among the offerings.

Tuesday is 11/11, Veterans Day – schools are closed, as are government offices. Library branches too.

Inside the “Log Cabin” at Steve Cox Memorial Park, you can take kids to enjoy a Halloween Carnival this afternoon – 2 to 5 pm, with a free magic show at 4! (Thanks to MargL for the tip.)

For today’s holiday:

-Most county facilities, including White Center Library and Evergreen Pool, are closed.
-Metro buses are running on Sunday schedules, as are Sound Transit buses.
-If you have Monday solid-waste pickup, it’s on a normal schedule.
-State-run liquor stores (including White Center and Boulevard Park) are closed.