White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Still no solution to the Metro money mess – with some White Center/West Seattle cuts looming even sooner than the rest of the region – so the centerpiece item on next month’s NHUAC agenda is all the more important. From president Barbara Dobkin:

Just a reminder – The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council (NHUAC) will be holding their January meeting on Thursday, January 9. We are pleased to be hosting representatives from King County Metro, who will provide information on potential service cuts. A total of 600,000 annual service hours, or 17% of the current Metro system could be eliminated. The impact from these cuts will be devastating to both drivers and Metro riders. It is important to let your voice be heard – so please join us for this important discussion.

Metro Representatives will be on hand starting at 6:30 – our regular meeting will begin at 7.

Stay tuned for more details.

NHUAC Meeting
When: Thursday, January 9, 6:30 pm
Where: North Highline Fire Station (1243 SW 112th)

From Kami, who is helping with the campaign to keep Evergreen Pool open:

PLEASE SAVE EVERGREEN BY TAKING SWIM LESSONS!

Evergreen could close if the community doesn’t start using it. This local nonprofit indoor aquatic center offers great swim lessons at competitive prices, lap swimming, and public swim. Please check out the website at www.evergreenpool.org for more information.

Current Promotion:
If you sign up for swim lessons starting January 6th, the registered swimmer and one adult may attend any of our public swim sessions in January for FREE! Please check our website or swing on by.

Let’s come together to save this valuable community resource. TOGETHER LET’S SAVE EVERGREEN!

Starting today, and running through only the first week of the New Year, you can sign up for the second annual White Center 5K – set for March 22 – and get a discount! Details and signups at the official website. The 5K benefits the White Center Community Development Association and the YES Foundation of White Center.

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has cancelled the burn ban, as of 11 am today, after just 18 hours, explaining that conditions change quickly this time of year.

Christmas Eve fires are OK, but that changes on Christmas night. Just announced by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency:

Due to increasingly stagnant weather conditions, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban for King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties, effective at 5 pm on December 25, 2013. This ban remains in effect until further notice.

During a Stage 1 burn ban:

No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.
No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA-certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli)
8:20 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “heavy rescue” response to Myers Way/Olson Place, which is the busy intersection at the east end of Roxbury atop the hill from/to Highway 509. We have a crew on the way and will update when we find out more.

8:50 PM: Christopher Boffoli is there for White Center Now/West Seattle Blog and reports that three people were taken to the hospital with non-threatening injuries, “including an infant.” One car rolled over, he reports, and another appears to have been “clipped.”

As previewed here last night, “Winter Fire” reigned in the reign right after nightfall at Greenbridge Plaza, about seven hours after winter’s official arrival (9:11 our time this morning).

P.S. In nearby Highland Park, a fire performance is also usually part of the “Not So Silent Night” New Year’s Eve parade, which starts from and finishes at HP Improvement Club headquarters – 6:30 pm December 31st.

Out of the WCN inbox:

Winter Fire White Center

Bundle up and join us for a unique and delightful evening of community fun as we bring light and warmth to the longest nights of winter.

All around the world, for thousands of years, families, friends and communities have gathered around fires for light, heat and celebration. Traditions have emerged in many cultures around the Winter Solstice – many as a way to extend the light of the sun and hold back the dark of the longest night of the year. It’s also a time to celebrate the transition toward the longer days of Spring and Summer to come.

On this night, we will come together to celebrate with fire and dance – creating a new tradition unique to OUR community.

When: 4:00 pm
Saturday, December 21, 2013

Where: Greenbridge Plaza Community Space
8th Ave SW & SW 99th St

5:13 AM: It’s snowing, as predicted, and expected to continue into the late morning. We’ll publish major updates here, including roads, transit, and schools, as we get them.

5:53 AM: Trouble on Olson Place already, per the scanner – a bus partly blocking at 3rd.

6:07 AM: Highline Public Schools has just tweeted that it’s CLOSED for the day.

7:10 AM: Metro buses are all on snow routes.

7:27 AM: Remember that King County is plowing fewer roads – although the snow is not so heavy that this is likely to be a major problem, this time. Also – an added school closure in White Center: West Seattle Montessori is closed.

3:13 PM: Metro is back to regular routes.

Just announced:

Evergreen Pool in White Center wants to throw a party for the community – while raising a little fun for area children it will also collect toys and food for the less fortunate in the area.

Just bring an unwrapped toy, or food donation for White Center Food Bank and join in fun at Evergreen Pool from 3 pm-6 pm on December 21st. Lifeguards are on hand to watch swimmers who are still learning to swim; parents are encouraged to stay and enjoy the fun with their kids.

The White Center pool faces a Jan. 15 deadline to raise $15,000 to keep the facility open, and the fund drive is proceeding well, “ yet, we just felt we needed to have an event to celebrate the facility, our community and help bring holiday cheer to the area”, said WhiteWater Aquatics General Manager Joel Schweiger.

More than 3,800 children – and adults – have learned to swim at the Evergreen pool in White Center since it reopened under the new nonprofit management three years ago. It serves the greater Highline area, with 56 percent of the children who swim there coming from Burien.

Tax deductible donations can be made online via evergreenpool.org

Maybe you’ve been in Full Tilt Ice Cream‘s White Center shop with a wall-to-wall crowd on a sizzling summer day? Multiply that size of crowd times five or so – and that’s what filled the shop Wednesday night, with plenty of crowd spillover out front, for Mudhoney, whose members arrived via … crosswalk:

Full Tilt proprietor Justin Cline told us the shop filled to capacity way before showtime:

Back inside, this had all started as an ice-cream launch party, for new Full Tilt flavor Mudhoney, and yes, there was scooping going on:

But the spectre of grunge-rock legends at centerstage next to the counter, less than a week after sharing the KeyArena bill with Pearl Jam, was the main course. Now that the band’s played on, go check out the ice cream.

Every week during the one-month application period for state marijuana-business licenses, the Liquor Control Board – they’re in charge of this – is publishing an update list of who’s applied. For the first time, a White Center applicant is on the list. At 10834 10th SW, a firm calling itself RXXX is applying for a producer license and a processor license. The latter is for “Tier 1,” the lowest level, described on the LCB site as “to produce marijuana for sale at wholesale to marijuana processor licensees and to other marijuana producer licensees. Tier 1 allows for two thousand square feet or less of dedicated plant canopy.”

In case you weren’t on the e-mail list – White Center Community Development Association executive director Sili Savusa has announced that the agency is moving:

You might have heard a rumor that the WCCDA is moving and it’s true! We will be located in our beautiful new location at Bethaday Community Learning Center (TAF Offices) in White Center!!! We will be moving into our luxurious new home next Monday, December 16th and we are so happy to be located with another fabulous community partner. Our new address will be 605 108th St., Seattle, 98146. Our phone number will be the same, our staff emails will remain the same – the only thing changing is our home!

But wait! There’s more!!! What move would be complete without a GARAGE SALE! I know that there are a lot of garage sale fanatics out there who love to check garage sales throughout the community. Well, add ours to your map! This Saturday, Dec. 14th, from 9 am to 3 pm we will have TONS of items for sale. Everything from office furniture to kitchen items must go. We have a lot of things that we won’t be taking with us and this is a great chance for you to pick up a WCCDA memento. I know you want something to remember our old digs by, right? With the holiday season upon us, why not pick up a few items that may become invaluable for a white elephant gift exchange? Wow!J! Don’t miss the chance to be the first in line for deals galore!

Please look out for an email in January about an Open House in our new space. We’d love to say hi and kick off the new year with a chance to connect! Thanks for your continued support of the WCCDA over the years! We look forward to another 10 years of action in beautiful White Center.

Sili Savusa
Executive Director
White Center Community Development Association

Mac’s Triangle Pub, right next to the official White Center Christmas tree at 16th/Delridge/Roxbury, is one of the places you’re invited to gather tomorrow with the White Center Chamber of Commerce. 6 pm is the evening mixer there, or if lunchtime works better for you, join the WC C of C at the Technology Access Foundation building at Lakewood Park, 605 SW 108th, at noon.

Just in case you hadn’t heard yet – Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says the air’s expected to clear with wind speed picking up and maybe even some precipitation, so the burn ban put into place at noon Sunday is now OVER.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has announced a Stage 1 burn ban, in effect throughout King County as of noon today. Here’s what that means:

*No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.

*No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.

*Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

*It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA-certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

Toplines from Thursday night’s meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: NHUAC heard from two of this area’s three state legislators – Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island), recently elected Senate Democratic leader, and Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, who succeeded her in the state House. Two key topics in their briefing: Transportation and annexation.

Sen. Nelson began by noting that for the first time in five years, the Legislature doesn’t have to focus on making budget cuts – while the state isn’t getting rich or amassing a major surplus, its economic health is stabilizing.

Rep. Fitzgibbon did most of the talking regarding whether progress is being made toward a transportation-funding package. Work is under way but nothing’s settled yet. Though Metro bus service faces “devastating” cuts in the North Highline area among others – with Route 113 facing elimination in the first round – it’s not all about transit; he reminded attendees about the dire straits of King County Roads, from unfunded maintenance to inability to get snowplows out if needed.

Even before anyone could ask about the state tax credit for annexation – a perk that will expire before too long – Sen. Nelson said that while the issue’s not dead, it would be difficult and contentious if brought back up in the near future.

In Q/A with attendees, Rep. Fitzgibbon said the building that is home to DSHS in White Center apparently has a buyer (we had reported the real-estate listing here last week). He didn’t identify the new owner but said they’ll be expected to take better care of the property and address issues such as its use by transients sleeping in the doorway and stairwell.

Speaking of which …

GREENBRIDGE CAMPERS: King County Sheriff’s Deputy B.J. Myers said he had just gone on a walkthrough at the Greenbridge-area greenbelt with King County Parks, and a general cleanup of the area is expected to start next week. He said campers had been provided with information about the impending cleanup and where they can go once it starts.

He also recapped the news conference on Wednesday with the family of the victim in the recent murder. (Our report now includes KCTV video of the entire event.)

EVERGREEN POOL MONEY WOES: NHUAC heard from a rep of Evergreen Pool, which is trying to raise $25,000 by mid-January (look for a separate story on that here this weekend). Most of it would go to Puget Sound Energy for overdue gas bills, which could lead to a shutoff by then, and a resulting shutdown of the pool, if the money’s not raised.

REMEMBERING STEVE COX: As the meeting began, president Barbara Dobkin led a moment of silence in memory of Deputy Steve Cox, killed seven years ago this week.

Watch for information on NHUAC’s next meeting on the council’s website at northhighlineuac.org.

(Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

In the blue cap and gown is Michael Delfin-Rodriguez, celebrating his graduation from New Start High School on the Evergreen campus, with his dad Sergio. Michael is the young man shot and killed the day before Thanksgiving, at 2nd SW and SW 108th, while he and his brother Saul were out for an early-early-morning walk to a store. This morning, members of Michael’s family were at the King County Sheriff’s Office headquarters downtown, meeting the media to make a public plea for help in finding his killer. Saul spoke for the family today:

Investigators have called this a case of mistaken identity – Michael and Saul were confronted by two people, believed to be teenage boys, who accused them of being members of a gang; they denied it, kept moving, then one of those boys pulled out a gun and fired, killing Michael. (added) Here’s video from the news conference:

If anyone saw anything or has heard any talk about it, there’s a Crime Stoppers reward in the case, and investigators are eager to hear from anyone with information that might help solve the murder. Crime Stoppers has multiple ways to report tips, including anonymously, or call KCSO at 206-296-3311.

Your community council for White Center and vicinity, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, hopes to see you on Thursday, 7 pm at NH Fire District HQ (1243 SW 112th). Here’s the agenda:

7:00 pm Call to Order – Flag Salute – Roll Call –
Approval of Agenda – Approval of Minutes

7:05 pm Public Announcements

7:10 pm Public Comment
3minutes for Individuals
5 minutes for Groups

7:15 pm Richard Wells, Sustainable Works
7:35 pm Mark Cross, Director – Evergreen Athletic Dept.
7:45 pm Senator Sharon Nelson
Representative, Joe Fitzgibbon
8:10 pm Deputy BJ Myers (White Center Storefront)
8:30 pm Committee Reports

8:35 pm Old/New Business
• December 10 Board Meeting
• January meeting
• CSA Grant application

All welcome.

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
A big new for-sale listing in White Center: The building best known as home to the DSHS offices in White Center, 9650 15th SW, is listed for sale. Asking price: $2,650,000. And that’s just for the building, not the land, according to the listing, which says the building is on leasehold property. It was a grocery store before Prium Development remodeled it almost a decade ago.