White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Here’s where to go Thursday night (September 18), 5-8 pm, from South Delridge southward, for the September 2025 Rat City Art and Food Walk!

From King County Local Services:

Alan M. Painter Grants: Community project organizers in unincorporated King County have until Dec. 5 to apply for 2026 funds

The Alan M. Painter Grant Program is now accepting applications for 2026. 

This popular program supports projects and investments that promote inclusivity and enhance unincorporated communities. Funded projects benefit all community members, regardless of race, income, or language spoken. Funds may not be used for political activities.

A total of $90,000 will be awarded for projects in 2026, in individual grants of less than $5,000 per project. Funding for chosen projects will begin in March 2026.  

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 5. 

“The Alan M. Painter Grant Program reflects the spirit of the Department of Local Services: bringing communities together,” said Department Director Leon Richardson. “Connecting with our neighbors makes our communities stronger, and it’s especially meaningful in a large, diverse area like unincorporated King County. Whether we’re funding vibrant community festivals, National Night Out gatherings, or youth cultural signage and celebrations, these grants give local organizations the tools to bring people together and create lasting, positive change where we live. 

This year, 45 projects and programs received money, including: 

-Design and installation of a “Welcome to Skyway” sign 
-Fall City Days cultural activities and signs 
-Tours, workshops, and education gatherings connecting the public and local farms in the Snoqualmie Valley 
-Chairs for the Federal Way Senior Center 
-Support for Japan Festival at the historic Mukai Farm and Garden on Vashon Island 

Learn more or to apply on the Alan M. Painter Grant Program page. 

Alan M. Painter 

The King County Council approved renaming the grants program to honor Alan M. Painter, the founding director of King County’s Community Service Areas program. Alan was a long-time public servant who also worked in the City of Seattle and served communities across King County. 

The grant program that now bears his name supports projects that advance the King County Strategic Plan and achieve one or more of the following goals: 

-Promote the engagement of unincorporated area residents in community or civic activities
-Educate local residents about issues that affect them 
-Enhance a community
-Identify and gather community needs and priorities
-Meet King County’s equity and social justice goals of increasing fairness and opportunity for all people, particularly people of color and those with low incomes and/or limited English. 
 
Since the program began, King County has awarded more than $1 million in grant money to community organizations. 

The White Center Food Bank says it has a milestone to celebrate:

Join White Center Food Bank to celebrate the significant achievement of raising just over 10 million dollars to buy their property and turn a former tortilla factory into a beautiful, welcoming space of belonging for the White Center community. To celebrate paying off their construction loan and closing their capital campaign, all are invited to the food bank on October 2nd from 4-6pm for food, drinks and community.

The Capital Campaign to Keep the Community Fed to build White Center Food Bank’s new facility in the heart of downtown White Center publicly launched in September 2022. Almost exactly three years later, the organization is debt free and can focus 100% of their future fundraising efforts on keeping the community fed.

This is especially significant in the wake of cuts to safety net programs and rising costs across all sectors, while White Center Food Bank continues to see a dramatic increase in need. This new facility not only supports people looking for food resources, it provides a dignified, beautiful space built for the community. Also, after being displaced multiple times in their history, they now have a permanent home they own and utilize, not just as a food bank, but also a community gathering space. The White Center Food Bank finally has their ‘forever home’ and the staff, board, volunteers and customers look forward to celebrating this wonderful news on October 2nd, together with the community that supports them.

Please RSVP here: forms.gle/hvdeJrYvCP7N4uzq6</blockquote>

This announcement is from the Seattle Fire Department, whose Joint Training Facility (9401 Myers Way S.) will be the center of a drill involving helicopter activity for two days next week:

The Seattle Fire Department and Washington National Guard are doing a drill in the South Park/White Center area on Sept. 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The purpose is to practice rescuing people and transporting personnel from a fire in a high-rise building or during a disaster such as an earthquake. You may see a National Guard helicopter circling in the area during the drill.

Spanish: El Departamento de Bomberos de Seattle y la Guardia Nacional de Washington están realizando un simulacro en el área de South Park/White Center el 16 y 17 de septiembre, de 10 a. m. a 2 p. m. El propósito es practicar el rescate de personas de un incendio en un edificio de gran altura o durante un desastre como un terremoto. Es posible que vea un helicóptero de la Guardia Nacional dando vueltas en el área durante el simulacro.

Vietnamese: Sở Cứu Hỏa Seattle và Lực Lượng Vệ Binh Quốc Gia Washington sẽ tổ chức một cuộc diễn tập tại khu vực South Park/White Center vào ngày 16 và 17 tháng 9, từ 10 giờ sáng đến 2 giờ chiều. Mục đích của cuộc diễn tập là để thực hành giải cứu người dân trong trường hợp xảy ra hỏa hoạn tại các tòa nhà cao tầng hoặc trong thảm họa như động đất. Quý vị có thể thấy trực thăng của Lực Lượng Vệ Binh Quốc Gia bay vòng quanh khu vực trong thời gian diễn tập.

Out of the inbox:

The Vinyl Destination:
A Community Vinyl Garage Sale hosted by DJ Nick Styles
Sunday, September 14, 2025
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Tim’s Tavern
9655 16th Ave SW

Tim’s Tavern will be open as usual, serving food and drinks.

Free Admission

9:46 PM: Thanks for all the tips about the Guardian One helicopter over north White Center and lots of law-enforcement activity on the ground. We’re catching up on what King County Sheriff’s Office dispatched as a stabbing and robbery, apparently at or near a bus stop on the White Center side of 15th and Roxbury. Avoid the area, as deputies were setting up some road closures. More info to come.

9:53 PM: The person who was stabbed has been taken to Harborview Medical Center.

10:06 PM: Deputies have one possible suspect detained; meantime, they’re clearing the original scene.

ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: We checked with KCSO, and they add, “Upon canvassing the area, one deputy located a group of men; he identified one matching the description of one of the suspects; he was taken into custody and then it was discovered there was a felony for his arrest from the DOC for escaped community custody. The deputy found scissors and a box cutter on him.” The investigation continues; if you have any information, you can refer to KCSO case C25027702.”

(Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

Those are photos of Miguel R. Rivera Dominguez, 17 years old when he shot a man dead aboard a Metro bus in White Center in October 2023 without saying a word. We first published the photos when he was charged with premeditated first-degree murder weeks after killing 21-year-old Marcell D. Wagner aboard a West Seattle-bound bus that was stopped at 15th/Roxbury.

(WSB photo, October 3)

Two months ago, Rivera Dominguez pleaded guilty as charged, and this afternoon he was sentenced. According to court documents, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requested a sentence of 21 years in prison; Superior Court Judge Brian McDonald sentenced him to 23 years and four months, after an hour-long hearing, attended by family members of both the victim and the defendant. Case document indicate the sentence is at the midpoint of the state’s standard sentencing range for someone with no record, 20 years to just under 27 years. He’ll get credit for the nearly two years he’s already been in custody, and he will be on probation for three years when he gets out.

The White Center Food Bank‘s biggest fall event is a little more than one month away. Here’s your invitation to the event at Sea Mar Community Center (9635 Des Moines Memorial Drive S.):

CULTIVATING COMMUNITY DINNER & AUCTION
PRESENTED BY WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK, OCTOBER 10, 5 PM-9 PM

Attendees will enjoy delicious local food from White Center restaurants, delightful entertainment from the Khmer Community of Seattle King County Dance Group, and a “fire-side chat” focusing on our mission to keep the community fed, featuring Representative Brianna Thomas & King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda.

In the wake of many cuts to safety net programs and rising costs across all sectors, we continue to see an increase in need in our community. With your help we can continue to work toward addressing food security for our neighbors, while also making sure to celebrate the diversity of the community we serve.

More Info & Purchase Tickets Here:
whitecenterfoodbank.networkforgood.com/events/90319-cultivating-community-dinner-and-auction

The new Wendy’s in White Center was exoected to open today at 16th SW/SW 102nd, and we’ve verified that it’s indeed open.

No permanent signage outside so far but lots of banners and balloons. Here’s what the franchisee’s spokesperson told us last week the hours would be, once they opened:

Pick-Up Window:
Sunday–Thursday: 6:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Friday & Saturday: 6:30 AM – 2:00 AM
Dining Room: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (All days)

Kids in White Center and vicinity are invited to play with West Seattle Baseball, which has two programs it’s pitching with this announcement:

Two opportunities to play baseball this fall!

Fall Ball is West Seattle Baseball’s instructional league for the fall season, combining seasonal drills, stations, and opportunities for kids to advance their skills, build their confidence, and enjoy the game of baseball.

Fall Ball will be divided into three primary divisions: Pinto (8 & Under), Mustang (10 & Under), and Bronco (12 & Under). Tuesdays will be instructional days, building skills, and Fridays will be game-playing days, featuring sandlot baseball.

The season will run from September 9 through October 17. The cost to play is $125.

Sign-up link: go.teamsnap.com/forms/494738

Coach Ballgame is back at the Pee Wees on September 6 from 5-8 PM!

Coach Ballgame is back at the Pee Wee Fields on Saturday, 9/6! Don’t miss out on one of the best baseball training programs out there. Coach Ballgame and his team lead small, quick drills to build skills for kids to learn the game of baseball. He teaches the games of baseball through stories like Jim Abbott, Roberto Clemente, and more.

Sign-up link: hisawyer.com/coach-ballgame/schedules/activity-set/1365015

If you’re not grilling burgers on Labor Day, go get a free one in downtown White Center! Li’l Woody’s is offering a holiday giveaway, 2-5 pm Monday, basic burgers are free (but just the basics – “extras cost extras”).

(WCN/WSB photo, last week)

Just in from a spokesperson for the Wendy’s franchisee that’s about to open a White Center restaurant in the ex-KFC/A&W at 16th/102nd:

Opening Delay: The restaurant will not open this coming Friday due to final preparations.

New Target Opening: Aiming for Labor Day.

Exterior Work: Pennants will be installed Thursday, and most outside work will be completed — may appear as if it’s already open.

For the next few hours, there’s no better place to be than White Center/South Delridge for this month’s Rat City Art and Food Walk. Between now and 8 pm, you have 30+ places to visit, 100+ artists’ work to enjoy. The list is here (scroll through all the pages).

Thanks to Geoffrey for the photo. A crash left 16th/102nd closed for a while at midday today. We asked King County Sheriff’s Office whether that was because of, for example, the severity of injuries. A KCSO spokesperson replied:

This was an accident that did involve a deputy. Everyone involved was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The roadway is back open.

King County Road Services has rescheduled the work it put on hold when the weather turned soggy. Here’s today’s update:

A portion of 16th Avenue SW in White Center will close Monday, Aug. 25, so crews can paint lane striping over fresh pavement that they installed as part of a pedestrian safety and traffic calming project.

King County Department of Local Services’ Road Services Division originally planned to complete this work last week but had to postpone due to weather.

Monday’s overnight work is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., in two locations:

-16th Avenue SW between SW 100th and 107th Streets. The roads that cross 16th Avenue SW in this section will be open. Drivers on this north/south section of 16th Avenue SW can expect delays of 10-20 minutes. Those on the east/west cross streets along this section should also plan for short delays.

-SW White Center Cutoff between SW 100th Street and 17th Avenue SW. 

The striping work will mark a milestone for White Center, which has seen road construction in its main business district since last month as Road Services performed a much-needed road refresh. The striping is expected to mark the last day of night work this summer for the 16th Avenue SW Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Project. King County anticipates crews working for King County Road Services Division will return this fall for the project’s final phase.

Performing this work overnight is necessary to keep crews safe, protect the fresh paint, and allow crews to complete the work in one night instead of spreading it out over several evenings. The overnight striping work could be rescheduled based on weather and the availability of equipment and crews.

During the closure, businesses are expected to be open during their regular hours, and the sidewalks along 16th Avenue SW will be open. Customers will be able to access most of these businesses via 15th Avenue SW or 17th Avenue SW. King County encourages all customers to park nearby.

Crews working for Road Services Division will return in the fall to install the remaining pedestrian safety improvements that are part of the overall project. These final upgrades will help make 16th Avenue SW even safer for everyone who drives, bikes, rolls or walks.

A new business is coming to downtown White Center, in the ex-halal-market space next to Puffy Pandy. Here’s the announcement we received:

Tomb Of Treasure – Rat City Horror Store opening in White Center
Brick and Mortar Grand Opening September 13, 2025!
Address: 9830 16th Ave SW

Tomb of Treasure is now a brick and mortar shop!!! That’s right, we have sunk roots in White Center (aka Rat City). Our GRAND OPENING is Sept 13th! Come win prizes, buy cool stuffs, and celebrate the spooky season with us.

Established in 2021 as an online physical media shop, The Tomb began as a way to share our passion for physical media. Now a brick and mortar shop in White Center (aka Rat City). We have all things horror and physical media. The Tomb of Treasure cares about our community & customers. We are collectors and film freaks first and foremost. Physical media will never die!