White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Since Endolyne Joe’s is one of the southernmost restaurants in West Seattle, it’s not far from White Center if you’d like to venture that way for this event supporting the WC Food Bank (which serves not only WC and environs but also part of WS. Just announced this morning:

Endolyne Joe’s in West Seattle along with Sozo Wines announce their first Winemaker’s Dinner on January 14, 2012 at 7 pm. Space limited to first 20 reservations; $60 per person. This five course meal will feature Endolyne Joe’s New England-themed winter menu paired with wines from Sozo Wines‘ collection. In addition to a fabulous meal, paired wines will be available for purchase to benefit the White Center Food Bank. Representatives from Sozo will be at the dinner to introduce each wine; current varieties include Compassion Cabernet, Bountiful Bordeaux and Humanity Riesling.

From the Sozo Wines website, “The goal of Sozo is to produce and deliver artisan crafted wine and gourmet food for our friends to enjoy and at the same time feed a substantial number of people who live in poverty.” Each bottle of Sozo Wine (now available at Endoyne Joe’s as part of their regular wine list) has a medallion which indicates how many meals are provided with the purchase of the bottle. Bottles sold at Endolyne Joe’s benefit White Center Food Bank on an ongoing basis as well as those sold the evening of the Winemaker’s Dinner.

Part of Sozo’s goal is to build community around pressing issues such as hunger; Endolyne Joe’s is a hub of the Fauntleroy community while White Center Food Bank serves the hungry in our community. The Winemaker’s Dinner brings together these elements of community – working together on one of our community’s ongoing needs.

For reservations, contact Endolyne Joe’s at 206–937-5637.

Received this note that might be of interest to you, since White Center is mentioned prominently:

The Seattle Foundation recently announced new neighbor to neighbor funding for South Seattle, White Center and Kent communities. To qualify for the N2N Small Grants Program, an applicant must:

· be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, or be fiscally sponsored by one;

· have a small budget (generally under $100,000);

· have a presence in South Seattle(South Seattle is defined as areas south of Interstate 90, west of Lake Washington, and north of Seattle’s southern border) White Center or Kent, and engage diverse, low-income community members to address disparities in these neighborhoods. South Seattle is defined as areas south of Interstate 90, west of Lake Washington, and north of Seattle’s southern border. White Center is defined as the unincorporated area between the cities of Burien and Seattle.

More details here.

That’s our video (by visual journalist Cliff DesPeaux) from last year’s White Center Christmas Tree Lighting. As reported here earlier this week, we’re now just one week away from this year’s ceremony, 5 pm Sunday, December 11th. And we have new details tonight of help that’s needed, plus a few other fun events ahead: Aileen Sison of WC B.O.S.S. says the organizations coordinating the tree lighting (also including the White Center Chamber of Commerce and White Center Merchants Alliance) are calling for artists to help with a tree topper and other decor; they’re also looking for musicians, singers, and choirs for the event. An organizational meeting is planned for Tuesday night, 6 pm, at Uncle Mike’s Superlicious BBQ; tree installation/trimming is expected to happen around 10 next Friday morning. Also next weekend, an Ugly Sweater Party/Contest is planned at Company, 7 pm. And a door-decorating contest is under way in the White Center business district – get those doors decorated by December 23rd!

The White Center Food Bank has two holiday requests for you, received today as a news release:

On November 19 from 9 am until 7 pm, White Center Food Bank will be holding a Turkey Drive to collect donated frozen turkeys and chickens for their upcoming Thanksgiving holiday distribution. White Center Food bank expects to serve over 1,000 families for the holiday. This year’s turkey shortage combined with high wholesale prices (currently $1.25 a pound) make it difficult for the food bank to purchase turkeys at normally deep discounts. Starting (today), local sales and deals on turkeys will be posted on the White Center Food Bank’s Facebook page. Other meal items that are needed include: olives, cranberry sauce, pickles, cookie or cake mixes, cool whip or whipping cream, pumpkin, any type of canned milk, muffin mixes and pie crust mixes.

To donate, any turkey or chicken should be frozen. White Center Food Bank located at 10829 8th Avenue SW will be open November 19 until 7 pm to accept any donation. Other times to drop off are available; please call 206-762-2848. Volunteers are still needed to assist with holiday distribution as well including Monday through Wednesday, November 21-23 from 12:30-3:30 pm.

Here’s the WC Food Bank’s post this morning about turkey deals (if you have one to add, let ’em know!).

At a time of year when those in need are most at risk, a benefit to help fight hunger and homelessness is planned for this Sunday. Here’s the announcement we received:

Light Under the Bridge, a Homeless Christian Ministry (non-profit), is joining Union Gospel Mission and the White Center Food Bank’s fundraiser for the hungry and homeless. Featuring “A Night of Giving with Joe Arrants,” November 13th from 5:30-8 pm, at Westside Foursquare Church, 11452 26th Ave SW. We will be serving soups, salad, & bread. Hurry and buy your tickets and invite family, friends, neighbors, etc. Tickets can be bought from Jon 206-941-4301 or at the door.

Got word from Joleen of a benefit event at the White Center Eagles this Saturday:

Lung research charity dinner, comedy show & auction
Dinner at 6 pm, Comedy show at 7:30 pm
Silent Auctions – throughout the night.
Dinner & Show – $25
Dinner only – $12
Show only – $15

Chef Darrell’s cod dinner with all the trimmings.
Guest Speakers – Dr. John Olson, MD & Dr. David Mulligan, UW Lung Transplant Division
Profits go to the University of Washington Lung Research Division.

Comedians: Andy Kern and Vince Valenzuela

Just in – a reminder about this big event ahead:

1971 was a bleak year in Seattle – large numbers of lay-offs, shuttered storefronts and billboards proclaiming “turn out the lights” if you were the last person to leave town. To address the immediate hunger needs in their community, members of several congregations quietly began food distributions – often on Mondays after congregation members brought their donations to services on Sundays. At first, just a few came – but as news of the food service grew – more people arrived to look for help. This humble service grew into the White Center Food Bank, as the community continued to reel from persistent economic challenges. Today’s services surpass what the original founders of the food bank could’ve imagined; in August 2011, 1753 families received service.

On October 15, White Center Food Bank will celebrate 40 years of service to the community at its annual Harvest Dinner and Auction at South Seattle Community College’s Brockey Center. Tickets and details are available online at www.whitecenterfoodbank.org, at $62 per person if purchased online. A great variety of auction items are available, and a great way to meet others in the community that care about hunger. White Center Food Bank serves a 12 square mile area of SW Seattle and into Burien serving over 64,000 individuals in 2010.

For more information on White Center Food Bank including how to volunteer or donate: www.whitecenterfoodbank.org.

The White Center Albertsons will be a site for donating food during this Saturday’s “Global Volunteer Day” efforts by Prudential Northwest real-estate brokers. You can also donate cash, if you don’t have food items to offer. You’ll find them there from 10 am-2 pm (and if you are in West Seattle, look for them at West Seattle PCC as well as West Seattle Thriftway). “One can or one dollar is all we ask,” the official announcement quotes event coordinator Shari Kruse as saying. “It really takes very little from each person to make a big impact.” Area beneficiaries include the White Center Food Bank and its West Seattle counterpart.

(Photos by Deanie Schwarz for WCN)
Yes, you can have a prom on rollerskates – check out Blair and Dina Lydia Johnson from neighboring Highland Park, at tonight’s Rat City Roller Prom, raising money for the White Center Food Bank at Southgate Roller Rink.

MORE PHOTOS ADDED EARLY THURSDAY:
Some of the scenes, also photographed and reported by Deanie:

Davin Kim, raised in White Center and now living in West Seattle, and Maricris Mende of Beacon Hill were getting ready to meet the beat on the floor – with some punchy punch.

That’s Steven Hensyel, Rat City Roller Prom organizer, with his prom date, getting their picture taken by RJB Photo. Steve conjured up this roller prom featuring three hours of skating, free skates, PBR on tap, spiked punch and prom photos. This was the first time Steve has organized an event like this and he told WCN that next year will be even better. So, if you couldn’t make it this time, you’ve got a chance next year to support a great cause.

Lots of tuxedos (pale blue and peach were faves) were rented for the night, but few were donning top hat and tails like this guy – spinning with his baton in his mouth.

Above and below, it wasn’t all tuxedos – name the fashion trend of decades gone by and chances are someone at the prom was representing it …

Promgoers also were invited to a pre-func at Company and an afterparty at Mac’s Triangle Pub.

Perhaps the craziest fundraiser ever is happening this weekend in SODO – and its organizers chose White Center Food Bank as a beneficiary – but to pull it off, some help is needed! In case you haven’t already seen this alert on Facebook or Twitter – we’re putting it here online. From Ann Kendall:

The Tomato Battle selected White Center Food Bank as a beneficiary for this upcoming weekend’s battle and we are looking for a few folks to help out. Yes, it does sound messy but we’re not asking anyone to jump into the actual battle. Help is needed with set-up (hanging banners, and other decorating), observing the battle (reporting anything odd to security, checking IDs at entry) and tear-down; 2 hour shifts from 10:30 until 9pm. All volunteers receive a “crew” t-shirt. If interested, contact Ann Kendall at ann@annkendall.com directly.

Find out more about the Tomato Battle – and buy tickets, if you’d rather do that than volunteer! – by going here.

Just in – announcements of two events on behalf of the White Center Veterans’ Memorial in the South Delridge Triangle:

Sunday, August 20th, 2011, 8am to 11am. Benefit pancake breakfast with eggs, sausage, coffee and juice at the Holy Family Church, 9615 20th Ave SW. The suggested donation is $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12 years of age. The proceeds will fund the development and sustain improvements of the highly visible Triangle Park Veterans Memorial at the heart of the vibrant central business district of White Center.

Then in September:

The White Center Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the re-dedication of the White Center Triangle Park Veterans Memorial. The ceremony will feature a flag raising commemorating veterans’ service to our country. September 18th is the anniversary and formal start date for the search for Vietnam era MIAs.

Presentations will be made by veterans currently residing in White Center and West Seattle.

The memorial is also the site of public art co-sponsored by the White Center Chamber of Commerce and the White Center Community Development Association. It is a beautiful green space maintained by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). New and improved electric service and lighting will showcase the new flag.

The Veterans Memorial is located at the intersection of Delridge Way SW, 16th Ave SW, and SW Roxbury St.

You may have seen the smoke from Sunday afternoon’s huge apartment fire in the unincorporated area east of White Center, in a Union Gospel Mission-owned building in the 9800 block of Des Moines Memorial Drive. Dozens of people are without homes as a result; efforts are under way to help them, from a collection being taken up at the South Park-area Red Apple Market, to a Red Cross shelter set up in a West Seattle church so residents have someplace to sleep and to get meals. Citywide media reports say the fire’s cause is still being investigated.

Want to be part of the next White Center Art Walk? Here’s your chance!

Dear Artists & Art Lovers,

White Center Arts and the White Center Art Walk would like to invite you to participate in our 3rd Saturday Art Walk on August 20, 2011 from 6pm – 9pm. Our art walk has been growing at a fast and furious pace in the past two months, and we feel the excitement building. In June, we curated a Mini Short Film Festival with three unique programs shown at Full Tilt, Southgate Skate Rink and Big Al Brewing. Just this past weekend, we curated live painters at 3.14 Bakery, Big Al’s and the sidewalks of 16th Ave SW to great and enthusiastic response.

For August, our theme is Live Performance. We are putting a call out to dancers, dance troupes, spoken word artists, live painters, street performers and musicians. There are many great spaces to accommodate any and all types of performance art in White Center. We have space at 3.14 Bakery, Company Bar, Full Tilt, Big Al’s, Southgate Skate Rink, Triangle Pub, Sidewalks and Crosswalks and more!

Once we get artists’ commitments, we will create a schedule with times and locations.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please respond by August 8th, 2011 with:

Your Name
Troupe Name
Contact Info
Type of Performance Art
How many in your troupe
Any special needs (power, lighting, etc)

We are aware of the tight timeline of this ambitious event, but feel confident in you, and our White Center family to make it fantastic!

Please call or email us with questions or comments.

Thank you in advance,

Amanda Kay Helmick & Devrim Ozkan
White Center Art Walk Co-Curators
White Center Art Vice Chair / Secretary
whitecenterartwalk@gmail.com
Amanda: 206.708.5617
Devrim: 206.484.0399

The White Center Library Guild‘s yard sale IS on today, till 3 pm – 1110 SW 116th – rained out last week but today, so far so good! (Thanks to Gill for the photo.)

Throughout its third-anniversary-celebration day on Monday, Full Tilt Ice Cream in White Center was hopping – we took the photo above at 8:30 that night! And as noted here, they were planning to donate to the White Center Food Bank the equivalent of the ice cream sold that day. So, the verdict’s in, according to the WC Food Bank Facebook page – “Results are in: 200 pints of ice cream are coming to WCFB from Full Tilt’s Monday anniversary celebration/ice cream raiser for WCFB. Thanks to Full Tilt and everyone that came out to buy ice cream!”

P.S. WC Food Bank is one of many local nonprofits that you can support with an online $ donation today through the Seattle Foundation’s one-day GiveBIG drive. Find them (and other eligible White Center orgs, including WCCDA) on this list – and follow the links there to donate today and make them eligible for “stretch” dollars – gotta do it by midnight!

From volunteer coordinator Audrey Zemke at White Center Food Bank:

We still need 3 or 4 volunteers for June 18 from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm. Volunteers will be settting up for food distribution, handing food out to clients, and helping clean up. Please let us know by Friday, June 17 at 5:00 pm at audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org or 206-762-2848 if you can help.

Here’s the official flyer – be there!

Next White Center Art Walk, organizers are going beyond the usual “walk around and look at stuff” plan – they’re organizing programs with films and videos, and they’re putting out an URGENT call for contributors. From Amanda:

Every month the White Center Art Walk is trying to “theme” our artwalk, and June’s theme is Film. We are trying to get together (3) film programs to show at (3) locations in White Center. One is the Southgate Skating Rink (a family-friendly program), Big Al’s Brewery (more edgy program) and Full Tilt (more music-filled program).

We are trying to put together this program wabi sabi, DIY style, without a lot of time to do it. What we are looking for are short films. Animation, music videos, power pieces, light pieces, dark pieces, etc. We are trying to get three 20 – 30 minute programs together. We can take each piece on a variety of formats, and will put it together at a location post production house in Seattle. The art walk is Saturday, June 18th.

This is an open call to locals, film organizations, film programs and schools. If interested, please send us an e-mail to whitecenterartwalk@gmail.com by next Friday, June 3rd, with your name, length of piece, subject matter and contact info. Unfortunately, there is no compensation for the use of the pieces, but there will be great exposure in Seattle’s coolest enclave.

Story and photo by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

Second Use delivered about 100 gallons of donated latex paint Thursday afternoon to the King County Sheriff’s Office White Center storefront.

KCSO’s Community Service Officer Peter Truong (photo, center) assisted Second Use Outreach Coordinator Elena Velkov and a co-worker with the supplies. Second Use held a weekend-long drive at their facility adjacent to the South Park transfer station.

Truong said the paint will be used on the upcoming White Center Spring Clean on May 14. WCCDA has a deadline to register projects for the annual event at the end of the month. Last year, 400 people participated – this year, registration isn’t quite . The CDA is encouraging community members to register their projects and sign up for what is usually a couple of hours of fun work, community building and free snacks. An online registration form can be found on the CDA’s website at wccda.org.

(Courtesy Aguero Photo)
Two months ago, West Seattle’s Avalon Glassworks announced its Feed The Core Fundraiser for White Center Food Bank was close to a milestone … $10,000! Each golden blown-glass apple goes for $80, with half of that covering production costs, half of it going to the WC Food Bank, which can buy 200 pounds of food for that much money. Shannon Felix of Avalon Glassworks tells us they have just reached the $10,000 milestone – 250 apples sold, and 25 tons of food for hungry people in our community. But you can still buy an apple – go here!