White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Reminder just sent by White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes:

The White Center Chamber of Commerce will have its monthly Chamber luncheon meeting tomorrow (always the second Tuesday of the month except in December), Tuesday, October 9, 2012, from 12-1:15 at Chemo’s Fine Mexican Restaurant, located at 10230 16th Ave. SW.

If you are living with – or helping someone living with – Parkinson’s Disease, a local group is reaching out to you, and inviting you to its next meeting, which is convenient to the White Center area. From Dagmar Cronn:

The South Park Parkinson’s Disease Support Group meets the third Thursdays of each month at 10:00 am. We meet at Arrowhead Gardens, 9220 2nd Ave SW. Our participants are both those with Parkinson’s Disease as well as caregivers and care partners. The programming provides information specific to the disease, which manifests in different symptoms in different patients. The meetings also give the families a chance to talk about the challenges and successes in living with Parkinson’s.

We have a special program on Thursday, October 18. Dr. Susie Ro, a Movement Specialist at Swedish, will be our guest speaker. She will talk about the expansive list of medical support specialists that she and other Neurologists refer Parkinson’s Disease patients to for additional help in controlling and accommadating to symptoms. She will also talk about the differences in care she provides to Parkinson’s patients based on each patient’s personal disease symptoms and progression of the disease.

4:52 PM: Seattle crews are handling it right now, but this is likely to affect traffic to/from White Center for a while – a crash at 8th and Roxbury. 8th is reported closed north of Roxbury; we’re waiting for our crew to report in with word on whether all of Roxbury is affected, or just the westbound side. Two vehicles and a motorcycle are reported to be involved in the crash.

5 PM UPDATE: The crash is on the Seattle side of Roxbury; both directions of traffic on Roxbury are getting through. No one involved was hurt badly enough to have to go to the hospital. The two vehicles are both pickups, including the one in our top photo.

(About two-thirds of the crowd)
By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

With just a month till the election, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council‘s annexation forum brought a standing-room-only crowd to the NH Fire District’s headquarters tonight, for two hours of statements, questions, answers, and only a bit of the acerbic sparring that has on occasion marked discussion of the annexation issue.

We have all but the last 10 minutes of the forum on video, and will upload that once we’re back at headquarters. (Added – here it is:)

We will also add some links to the story, and a letter from King County Executive Dow Constantine, read aloud during the forum, urging residents to approve annexation. But for those who couldn’t be there – here are the highlights of the forum moderated by NHUAC president Barbara Dobkin, with a panel of six at the head of the room:

Karen Freeman from the King County Executive’s Office began with “how did we get here?” background. “We ended up with a Swiss-cheese map of some unincorporated areas like North Highline.” She explained, “The county has been really struggling to serve you – this patchwork of communities,” referring to the remaining unincorporated communities. “When you become a dense urban neighborhood, you need more services than (a rural neighborhood.” The county, bottom line, just isn’t set up to serve those “dense urban (areas)” including North Highline. The county started aggressively going out in 2004 and talking to areas about “where do you want to go?” Six annexations down – six to go, she said. She described the south North Highline annexation as “having gone really well.” She also mentioned the county’s low level of road service, blamed on budget cuts, and cuts in park funding. Cities provide such services really well, Freeman said, but the county does not. “Our focus is on providing … we run the regional jail, the public-health system, the court system … all these examples of regional services that we were designed to provide and that we are trying to fund …”

State Senator Sharon Nelson mentioned she had worked on annexation while on County Executive Constantine’s staff, and is continuing in the Legislature. The state Growth Management Act makes it imperative that these “urban growth areas” must be “transitioned… into cities where there is a better level of service and more appropriate local-government component.” She mentioned the annexation sales-tax credit having been designed so that cities could take on communities – increased because of the North Highline area and its “needs.” She called the sales-tax credit the state’s “carrot” to encourage annexation. She urged those concerned/interested to talk to those in the previously annexed “Area X” – and said she hasn’t taken sides in this.

Next, Burien City Manager Mike Martin, who said “Our best strategy is to answer questions,” and then said “Here are things we know to be true, despite what we have heard in other venues.” He noted that about two-thirds of the crowd were what he calls “annexation veterans.” He said Burien would become a city of about 65,000 if annexation is approved and outlined some other basic facts – annexation is voted on only in the area that would be annexed if passed. A common question, he said, is “Who provides the services?” subsequently describing Burien as “a contract city” – with five or six “junior taxing districts that provide everything from water to sewer to fire to library to school … none of those would change in annexation.” Then he went over the postal-address question, saying only the zip code matters.

According to Martin, annexation is “revenue-neutral” – has no cost to the city of Burien. “The fact of the matter is that we have more than ample resources to do this.” He said this annexation brings in 10 times the sales-tax credit of the last one, “radically different from any other annexation in the county,” because this area has more needs than other areas and “really needs to belong” to a city. He stressed, “There is no equivocation over whether we can financially do this as a city. We absolutely can, period, game over.” As for reconciling the way the area runs now with the way Burien runs now – he said they basically won’t do anything for about a year and won’t do anything “without consulting the community.” Then: “When it’s all said and done, the taxes and fees combined for the average house in the area will increase by about $140 a year.” Burien is doing a lot more of its own road work, he added, and has various efficiencies. As for the public parks – they will negotiate with the county, although he notes that Steve Cox is a regional facility. The previous annexation involved taking over half a dozen parks, he said, and Burien still does not have enough parks, he said, so parks are high priority.

So what DOES change – why do this? he said. His answer was the same as a previous forum – protection (though he didn’t use that word) from situations like the Puget Sound Park “debacle.” He said Burien deploys “aggressive intervention” when necessary, and “we punch above our weight.” He said people in the unincorporated area may not realize what it’s like to envision something and have it become reality. “When 18,000 people join a city of 45,000, you have a voice.”

Burien is also a fairly young city – and will celebrated its 20th anniversary next year, Martin noted. “That’s 20 concerted years of pursuing a vision. … We’re accessible, we’re committed to listening to people … and I’d say that’s our best pitch.” He also noted the city’s mayor, deputy mayor, and a councilmember were in the audience.

Fire Chief Mike Marrs followed Martin. “Since November of (last) year,” he said, he has been chief of the North Highline Fire District as well as District 2. He explained the department’s operations, including running 4 stations.

Sheriff Steve Strachan, on the sidelines (as were several other officials who participated, besides the six panelists), addressed the question “what would happen if annexation does NOT occur?” Burien, he reiterated, is the contract partner of the King County Sheriff’s Office. “If the decision is made to annex, your police department becomes the Burien Police Department” and they change uniforms, but little else. He said staffing won’t go down if annexation is rejected, but – it wouldn’t likely go up, either. The White Center storefront deputy would stay, he said.

Capt. Carl Cole, who is the assistant chief of Burien Police, then talked about operations. “Right now the way we staff White Center, we actually have an unincorporated pool of deputies responsible for Vashon, White Center, Skyway.” He said that means a 4-car minimum between White Center and Skyway. “The problem we have right now, we don’t have enough people to meet (that minimum) so we end up doing a lot of that staffing on overtime.” WC has Storefront Deputy BJ Myers and about a third of the Boulevard Park storefront deputy. Property crime investigation falls to two detectives who handle White Center, Vashon, Skyway, and an unincorporated area near Federal Way. There used to be 4 handling Skyway and WC alone.

He detailed other staffing, including the fact that “non-in-progress calls” in the middle of the night do not get responded to. He says they’ve figured out how the police department would work if the annexation goes through – an additional 12 patrol officers, but actual patrol numbers will likely stay the same. Property crime investigation might go up, though, as street-crime investigation likely would. Other areas would likely go up a bit in terms of policing power. Patroling strength would stay close to what it is now – but they always try to keep numbers up in the cities, he said, so “the availability of service will go up slightly – but the real difference is in investigations and followups.”

County Councilmember Joe McDermott started out by reading a letter that he said County Executive Constantine has sent to residents in the potential annexation area, urging them to vote in favor of it, and explaining why – as Constantine staffer Freeman had said earlier – governance would work better under a city than with the county.

See the entire letter (PDF) here.

Constantine’s letter said his support for the area being annexed had been consistent for years, and stressed that “King County can no longer afford to provide the level of urban services that residents … have come to expect.” The letter also mentioned Burien “actively and sincerely” reaching out to residents, and that it already shares a common school district and common police provider. After reading the letter – whose text we’ll add to this story later, when it’s e-mailed to us – McDermott said that some who had spoken before him had “stolen his thunder” but that he had worked on the sales-tax-credit issue when he was in the Legislature. Then he underscored some of the service deficiencies the county faces, particularly the “tiered” road-maintenance plan: “The brutal reality is that we don’t have enough money to maintain roads …” 36 miles of county roads, he said, are in Tier 5, and will eventually go to gravel.

He also talked about the Club Evo situation and how difficult it was to get that through the County Council – since the other 8 councilmembers do not represent this area – addressing it as a moratorium on certain types of clubs. Under Burien leadership, he said, there will be seven councilmembers solely focused on city needs. Under the county, budget pressures mean “we will not be able to sustain the amount of service you deserve.”

After about an hour, the forum switched to Q&A. The first question, was seeking a clarification of how the annexation sales-tax-credit works; Sen. Nelson handled it, saying that .8 percent of the tax that would usually go to the state would go to the city instead. Martin then said he is certain that the expected $5 million WILL be received by Burien. “We get the money. … We’ve been over this a zillion times.” Many have asked about the accuracy of that number and Martin says it’s been checked and rechecked. Burien Councilmember Jerry Robison added from the sidelines that he had the actual numbers – though not on his person at the moment. “Why in the world would we overestimate revenues?” Martin asked, after Sen. Nelson went through some of the Olympia logistics. He suggested those who questioned it were “conspiracy theorists.”

In response to another question, Sen. Nelson noted that the sales-tax credit offer did have an end date – January 1, 2015 – if no annexation happened. But if and when it does, it lasts for 10 years.

Would the libraries in the annexation area become Burien areas? was the next question. No, they would remain King County libraries, Martin said, while pointing out that the question of the current WC and Boulevard Park libraries’ fate remains unsettled – until after the annexation issue is settled, yes or no.

That led to a followup question about the concerns that the King County library system has expressed – whether the 116th/Ambaum library might draw too many non-taxpaying Seattleites, since it’s so close to another city. Martin says the council’s been arguing that the Boulevard Park library needs to be renovated and the White Center library needs to be rebuilt where it is or nearby.

Stephen Lamphear then pointed out from the sidelines that county reps who were on the panel do not represent the library system, since it has its own governance.

Freeman and McDermott both said they had been strongly lobbying the library system regarding the two libraries’ fate.

Someone then read from a flyer attributed to “Independent White Center,” wondering if its contention that home values would drop were true. The King County Assessor’s Office is accountable for dictating values, it was pointed out. Robison, noting he’s been in the real estate business for decades, stated flat out that “changing from White Center to Burien would not have any effect on property values.” Some services – such as roads – might have a minor effect, but otherwise, he said, “In real estate, it’s all location, and unless you pick up and move the house, it’s not going to have any effect.”

What about the concentration of low-income housing in the White Center area? “Consolidating it in one part of the county is a very bad idea for many reasons,” replied Martin.

Robison took on the specific topic of Section 8 subsidized housing and its effect on the tax base. “Even with the disproportionate level of public housing and subsidized housing in White Center (and environs), it still accounts for a very small percentage of the total housing stock,” he said. “My best estimate is that about 10 percent of the housing stock falls in that subsidized range and about 3 percent is public or subsidized housing that does not pay property taxes. … It’s not a crippling thing.”

The questioner then said that the presence of subsidized-housing tenants was affecting property values in his neighborhood. He and Robison had a back-and-forth about it, before Martin jumped in and said there’s certainly “a willingness to address the issue” that Burien “could bring to the table.”

Chestine Edgar then stood to express skepticism about “promises by politicians … that everything was going to turn out all right.” She said that property values in some areas had dropped – and annexation supporters tried to refute it. “If this does not work out, what is the safety net for (the area) after the sales tax credits work out – we would be in a deficit level,” she contended. “What is the state’s plan for bailing areas like this out?”

Sen. Nelson rose and acknowledged that a consultant’s report would show the city with a deficit at that point. But she said it was a “conservative approach” outlined during the recession. And then she said, “When you take a look at this annexation, keep in mind (what the county has said about being unable to afford services).” She said she has a daughter in Burien and sees a well-kept area. When she goes through Delridge in West Seattle, she said, “I see a slightly different picture.” Plus: Right now, the 18,000 people in the annexation area are among 1.8 million county cities – but in the city of Burien, they would be a substantial share, and would have those aforementioned seven councilmembers as representation.

Freeman then added, that the conversation about annexation has continued in this vein – “showing their work” for many years.

Next, Elizabeth Gordon of Uncle Mike’s Superlicious Barbecue in White Center asked how annexation would change things for business owners. “One of the things that has been missing, in my opinion, is a cohesive vision for that area because all of us are working day and night running our businesses,” she explained, making it difficult to “bring positive attention to the area.”

Martin replied, noting that Burien does have a business tax. As for “code enforcement,” he said Burien goes with what the community tolerates – but that does not include for example “public drunkenness.” He said “You can expect to see that gone,” adding, “We’re very aggressive about graffiti removal.” He envisions likely adding a full-time employee “to be present up here, for things that need taking care of.” Added Martin, “We’ve had a great deal of discussion about what it would mean to have two business districts … we would expect the same level of decorum in both.”

Then Martin pointed out, “The department that handles permits [DDES] in the county is moving to Snoqualmie next month. So if you want a permit, you have to go out to Snoqualmie … If you come to Burien, we’re going to take care of you the best way we can.” Streets like 152nd in Burien, he said, are most valuable as “a sense of place.” He said he believes Burien can help White Center and Top Hat with that. Capt. Cole added, “Cities are so much more nimble than the county in dealing with problems … Coming into the city you’ll get a much-better, faster response on these things.”

Martin then warned that the day after the election – if annexation is chosen – problems won’t be solved overnight. “It’s a war of inches.”

Robison added that Burien would require business licenses – which the county cannot do – and compared the cost of its B&O tax to Seattle (favorably). He contended that Burien has become “a friendlier place for businesses … you’re less likely to find someone at the counter telling you no.”

The county would continue to provide public-health services for restaurants, McDermott added.

What if annexation fails – can the area be forced to join one of the cities? it was asked.

Freeman replied that there are a lot of different ways to annex but the county has not talked about using any forcible means of annexation. “If folks decide not to annex to Burien, we’ll get together as a community and decide what to do next.”

(Editor’s note – Our video will run through that point; our camera stopped running there, for reasons unknown – might just be time for a new video camera.)

Robison elaborated on an annexation method that could be carried out without a vote of the people. “You’re one percent of the county.”

“Can’t we get annexed by Medina or Bellevue?” someone asked, drawing laughter.

Another question went back to the topic of property values and the County Assessor’s recent declaration that values might seem lower in this area because people were waiting to see what might happen with annexation.

The next question dealt with card rooms and where they existed and where they did not. “Casinos are allowed in the city of Burien, and we have one,” replied Martin, who added that they keep “very close tabs” on them with the police. “They’ve been a good neighbor, we haven’t had any problems. I’m concerned with them having problems but … they are a significant contributor to our revenue stream.” But there is not a functioning casino in the area east of 99.

Marcia Wollam from Friends of Hicklin Lake then asked about their advocacy for floating lakes and the county Parks Department planning to put one or two into its budget for next year. How would that align with possible annexation, and could the city of Burien stipulate that the funding would proceed, as one of the prerequisites for annexation? Yes, we could, said Martin, though he said they hadn’t decided yet. “I think there’s another problem with Hicklin Lake which has to do with the way drainage occurs,” he said. “We would definitely be talking to the county …”

At that point – 8:53 pm – Sen. Nelson had to leave to catch her ferry. And a notable group of audience members left; it was clear the forum was starting to wind down (and NHUAC president Dobkin acknowledged that).

One person said she wasn’t sure whether she was in the annexation area or not – Martin pointed out there’s an online tool that will tell you.

“Simple question for Joe – and complaint,” began the next questioner. “My absentee ballot for the primary election arrived three days before a voter’s pamphlet – is the county putting one out, and will it arrive before the ballot?”

McDermott said he’d check but he believes the state is putting out the general-election pamphlet.

Next: What about assuming the debt for the North Highline Fire District and pension funding? Chief Mike Marrs said the latter would become Fire District 2’s liability, if Burien annexes.

Dobkin concluded by saying – make your decision based on facts, and offered those who had participated – among others – as resources for facts. “The important thing is to be a knowledgeable voter, know what you are voting on, and vote.”

This forum replaced the regular monthly NHUAC meeting, which is on the first Thursday; next month, they will be back to their regular meeting time, 7 pm on November 1st. And if you still have annexation questions – the City of Burien has one more informational session scheduled before the election, two weeks from tonight, 6 pm October 18th, at Cascade Middle School – just a few blocks east of where tonight’s forum was held.

10:30 AM: Just happened onto this while driving through White Center – big fire response, and smoke, in an office building at 10038 16th SW.

10:54 AM UPDATE: According to North Highline firefighters at the scene, someone was up doing work on the roof, saw smoke, went downstairs and called 911. Two offices were evacuated; turns out the fire was in insulation – firefighters did some ventilation, cutting into the walls, to check how far it had extended. Firefighters did get the office equipment and records out so the staffing firm is OK with that, we’re told. No injuries reported.

Their names are forever part of the art – the young Evergreen Campus artists who created the mural that’s now complete on the north wall of the Super Saver Foods store on 16th in White Center. They were there, with their teacher, as it was dedicated Tuesday afternoon:

Those on hand got to hear stories of how it was created – 200 hours of volunteer time, as the White Center Chamber of Commerce noted in a preview announcement – and see the mockups:

Their teacher explained the mural is a truly collaborative work:

It spans so much space, you have to go see it in person to really appreciate it! Super Saver Foods is the former Albertsons store (sold and converted last March) at 16th/107th.

We’ve told you before about this Thursday night’s forum on annexation, presented by the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, but tonight we have new details – the guests who’ll be speaking:

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council would like to remind you about the Annexation Information Forum, this Thursday, Oct 4, at 7 pm at the North Highline Fire Station (1243 112th Street SW).

We are pleased to be hosting Karen Freeman (Policy Advisor, King County Executive’s Office), State Senator Sharon Nelson, Chief Mike Mars (Burien/Normandy Park Fire Chief and acting Fire Chief of North Highline Fire Dept), Captain Carl Cole (Burien Police Dept), Mike Martin (Burien City Manager), Joe McDermott (King County Council), and some other special guests. All are welcome.

This afternoon, a dedication celebration will mark the completion of that mural on the north wall of Super Saver Foods in White Center. WC Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes sent a news release to formally announce it:

Last May, students from White Center’s Evergreen campus, comprising three local high schools, began painting a giant mural on the north wall of the new Super Saver Foods market (formerly the Albertson’s store, located on 16th Ave. SW and SW 106th Ave in White Center). This mural, designed by Evergreen Art Club students, and funded by the White Center Chamber of Commerce, was approved by Greg Saar, new White Center business owner who had just opened the market here. Half of the mural was completed at the end of the school year in mid-June. When Evergreen students returned to school this past September, work began again. This Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 3 pm, the students and the Chamber will host a celebration of the completion of the almost-100-foot-long mural.

It is estimated that over 200 hours of high school student volunteer time was spent designing and painting the mural. The mural emphasizes the cultural diversity of White Center, and the diversity of our Evergreen campus and promotes the ethnic foods that have made White Center famous. It is the largest, all-volunteer mural painted in White Center and covers a long wall that historically is tagged multiple times each year. This is the 17th White Center mural in the past year, sponsored by the White Center Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the White Center Community Development Association (CDA). Most murals are located in graffiti-prone locations. Our goal is to have 25 White Center murals completed by 2013, as part of our walking tour of White Center (see VisitWhiteCenter.com)

The White Center Chamber of Commerce and our White Center CDA want to thank Evergreen Art teacher and club adviser Amanda Schmidt and Evergreen student adviser Ray Zombro for their commitment to this huge project, and acknowledge the willing support from Greg Saar and his new Super Saver Foods market in White Center. This project is a creation of a group of highly talented Evergreen art students as a way to celebrate the rich diversity that has made White Center a wonderful place to live.

Though the store in this story is in Burien, it’s close enough to White Center that some may shop there, so we’re sharing this report just received from the King County Sheriff’s Office:

A 32 year old man was arrested today after assaulting an 11 year old boy in a grocery store bathroom.

The incident occurred just after noon in the Albertson’s store at 128th and 1 Ave S in Burien. The boy went into the bathroom while his family shopped. The suspect entered the bathroom and grabbed the boy by the neck and told him he would “kill him.”

The boy fought the suspect off and as they struggled, the bathroom stall door was slamming open and shut. An employee in the break room next to the bathroom heard the commotion and went to investigate.

When the employee opened the bathroom door she saw the suspect naked from the waist down holding the boy in a bear hug. The employee grabbed the boy and pulled him out of the bathroom while trying to block the suspect from leaving.

The suspect fled and ran towards the front of the store as the employee and boy yelled for help. A group of store employees caught the suspect before he could leave the store. The employees tackled him and held him down until police arrived.

Police credit the boy for fighting back and the employees for coming to his aid.

“The employees acted very quickly and did the right thing,” said King County Sheriff Steve Strachan. “They stopped what could have been every parent’s nightmare.”

The suspect, who said he was homeless, was booked in the King County Jail. The case will be sent to the King County Prosecutors Office for the filing of charges.

A few people have asked us about a Thursday night crash at 16th/100th in White Center that apparently involved a child on a scooter, reportedly hit by a car. We sent a crew to the scene after hearing about this, but the scene was already clear. While that implied good news – no serious injury – we wanted to make sure, so we followed up today with King County Sheriff’s Office media liaison Sgt. Cindi West. She doesn’t usually get reports on non-major crashes but took the time to dig this up for us and tells WCN the report says the 4-year-old girl “was conscious and did not appear to be injured” – the car was going less than five miles per hour. The information she found did not include anything more about the circumstances, but for those wondering if the little girl is OK, it seems she is. (Just a reminder that we cover breaking news in three communities – White Center, West Seattle, and South Park – and if you see or hear something, please let us know, because we answer and are “on call” 24/7 – 206-293-6302, text or voice.)

Big party at the rink! From Southgate co-owner Erin Venables:

Pride Skate Seattle is celebrating their one-year anniversary, October 3rd, 9-11 pm, $7 @ the door! Come roller skate, visit the Washington United for Marriage Referendum 74 booth, and don’t forget to attend the after party and Baby Ketten Karaoke at Company Bar just one block away from the roller rink. We hope to see everyone there.

We had mentioned previously that the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council was planning an informational forum on annexation before the November 6th election, and now we have details:

Interested in the facts about the North Highline Annexation – then mark your calendars for Thursday, October 4, at 7 pm, and join us for an Annexation Information Forum at the North Highline Fire Station (1243 112th Street, SW).

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council is pleased to host this event with Washington State, King County, and Burien City Representatives, who will be on hand to provide information, and answer your questions about this important issue that will be on the November 6 ballot. We look forward to seeing you there.

Here’s the official flyer.

(9/7/12 photo by WCN co-publisher Patrick Sand)
The King County Sheriff’s Office has sent an update on the case of Victoria McMullen, the woman found dead in Mallard Lake on September 7th and identified three days later. She was missing – from California, according to Sgt. Cindi West:

On September 7th around 10 AM the King County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a body found in Mallard Lake at the Coronado Springs Apartment complex located at 1400 SW 107 street in the White Center neighborhood of King County.

A witness told detectives that on Sunday the 2nd of September she had a yard sale in her front yard which is near the lake. Sometime around 6:30 to 7:00P PM she witnessed a young woman walk into the courtyard area of the apartment complex. The woman had a black and white soccer ball with her. She jumped over the short fence that encircles the pond and was playing around at the water’s edge.

The witness saw the woman dive into the water and swim towards the middle of the lake. Based on what she saw, the witness felt the girl was a strong swimmer. A short time later the witness saw the women waving her arms in the air. She was not sure if the woman was in distress or not. The woman was not yelling for help. The witness, who is elderly, contacted her neighbor and asked him to check on the woman.

When the neighbor came out to look, the woman was not to be seen. The soccer ball was floating at the far end of the pond. The witness believed at the time that the victim had gotten out of the lake.

The woman recovered from the pond was later identified as Victoria McMullen of El Cajon, California.

The victim had been married for a year, and she and her husband had a 6 month old child. The victim’s husband is in the military and had formerly been stationed in Washington State.

The victim’s father said he usually speaks daily with his daughter. When he had not heard from her for a week he called his son in-law. When they spoke the son in-law informed him that he and the victim had a fight and that she had requested he drive her to the San Diego Airport. He thought she was going to Seattle, but he did not know for sure.

The victim’s father called the El Cajon Police and requested a welfare check for his daughter at the home she shared with her husband and the baby.

On September 7th, 2012 at 6:40 PM the El Cajon Police Department conducted a welfare check at the home of Victoria McMullen. No foul play was detected and it was determined that the victim’s husband did not board the plane with the victim, and was at work in California all week.

El Cajon Police accessed the victim’s bank records and found that she had bought a Southwest airline ticket from San Diego to Phoenix and then from Phoenix to Seattle. She arrived in Seattle at 12:20 on Sunday the 2nd, the same day she was found in the lake. Debit card transactions showed her card was used at a Walgreen’s in White Center sometime after she arrived in Seattle.

King County detectives used a distinctive tattoo on the victim’s ankle to help identify her and gave them their first lead as to who she may be.

El Cajon officers investigating the welfare check/missing person case on Victoria contacted the Sheriff’s Office to confirm the identity.

Detectives said there were no obvious signs of trauma to the body. Detectives are awaiting toxicology results from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The new White Center Chamber of Commerce website is officially launched! Here’s the formal announcement just out of the WCN inbox:

Today, the White Center Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the official launch of a new website – visitwhitecenter.com – that highlights approximately 240 businesses and various organizations in the White Center neighborhood, and serves as a community resource with an events calendar and news feeds from local media sources.

“The website design is fabulous and the decision to include all businesses and organizations in White Center is the Chamber’s way of saying thank you for making this neighborhood a unique and fun place to be,” said Mark Ufkes, President of the White Center Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber is here to help our local economy grow and promoting our businesses through this website does just that.”

The main feature on the website, the business directory, is divided up into five categories: eat, shop, play, services, and organizations. Each business has its own pop-up page that displays pertinent information such as the business name, address, hours, location (via Google Maps) and languages spoken. If applicable, there are links to social media sites such as Facebook and Yelp, and to a business’ website. The capability to translate the entire website into 10 different languages is available as well.

“The website looks and feels great. I am excited to be a part of this project in collaboration with the White Center Chamber of Commerce and Noise Without Sound,” said Sili Savusa, Executive Director of the White Center Community Development Association. “The impact of this website is more than just marketing and promotion of our business district, but it is about the power of collaboration and shared vision of our community.”

In 2012, the White Center Community Development Association and the White Center Chamber of Commerce collaborated on a grant application to the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development’s Only in Seattle program for the website. Kathi “George” Wheeler, owner of Noise Without Sound, was contracted to develop and design the website. “White Center is my home and developing a website that incorporates everyone in the community was the direction I wanted to go,” said George.

Please visit www.visitwhitecenter.com to witness what White Center has to offer.

Party on wheels! No doubt some are still recovering today from last night’s second annual Rat City Roller Prom at Southgate Roller Rink – a prom for grownups. WCN contributing photojournalist Nick Adams caught some of the scenes – including what you might call a class picture:

(Click for larger image)
There were quiet moments …

(Jerad and Mar talk during the Roller Prom)
… and showy moments:

Plus, awesome outfits. New meaning to the term “skating gloves”:

(T’wanda, Marilyn, and Francois)
And what would a prom be without a spotlight dance? Or … skate.

There was of course a prom queen – and Amy got flowers:

Taking off the skates at night’s end is such sweet sorrow …

This was not only a rocking-and-rolling good time, it was also a benefit for the White Center Food Bank.

Congratulations to the Spencer family – Rich, Joan, and daughter Rachel – as the family business reaches a milestone today: Half a century! Spencer’s Automotive is the Shell station/auto-repair shop at the corner of 15th and 107th:

Till 3 pm, it’s party central:

Bouncy house, climbing wall, Full Tilt Ice Cream treats, and on the east side, hot dogs:

Rich Spencer bought the business from his dad – who died just last February – back in 1989, according to posters that are up at the station, explaining its history.

You’ve been invited to dinner on Saturday, 5-8 pm at Holy Family School:

Bring the family for a spaghetti dinner and raffle at Holy Family School in White Center (9615 20th Ave SW). Adults $12, children 11 and under are $5. Dinner includes spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, and ice cream. Seating from 5:00 until 8:00pm. Live entertainment will feature local celebrities, and the raffle will include crafts and gift certificates from local establishments. All proceeds will benefit tuition assistance for eligible boys and girls at Holy Family School.

Holy Family is at Roxbury/20th.

(Photos and video by WCN’s Patrick Sand)
Of course EVERY day is a “day of caring” at White Center-headquartered WestSide Baby, which helps thousands of families every year. But today is THE volunteerism-centered “Day Of Caring” for United Way of King County – and this year’s campaign chairs, former Mariners baseball player Dan Wilson and wife Annie Wilson, started their day at WS Baby! Above, they posed with WS Baby’s executive director Nancy Woodland. They of course had something to say to the amassed volunteers, too:

Also as part of Day of Caring, volunteers from Virginia Mason are working at WestSide Baby, where there’s always lots to do, to take donations, diapers, car seats, and other necessities and make them ready for the families who will use them:

You can help WestSide Baby any time – here’s how to volunteer, and here’s information on other ways of giving.

Two event reminders:

DAY OF CARING FOOD DRIVE: As part of the United Way of King County Day of Caring, there’s a food drive for the White Center Food Bank today, 10 am-1 pm, at Westwood Village QFC in West Seattle (26th and Barton). You can contribute food or money!

WCCDA DINNER: As previewed here last week, trailblazing King County Councilmember Larry Gossett is the featured speaker at tonight’s White Center Community Development Association‘s 10th annual dinner/auction, 6-9 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center (south end of the campus at 6000 16th SW in West Seattle). Ticket info here.

In this afternoon’s bright late-summer sunshine, a small group of dignitaries and community members gathered to celebrate the renovated Steve Cox Memorial Park tennis courts. (Added: Video of the entire event)

The work’s been finished for a while, but there was no point in hurrying the party, which had been three years in the making. The project depended in large part on a federal Community Development Block Grant, and while that was obtained in 2010, county parks boss Kevin Brown explained, federal stimulus-related projects took precedence, so this didn’t get done for a while. But this afternoon, as he presided over a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, that was all a distant memory:

Among other attributes, the courts are unique as a lighted public place to play tennis in White Center.