White Center Now: The blog about White Center

In King County Superior Court on Monday, 8 years was the sentence for a White Center man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of his wheelchair-using girlfriend – who died after he hit her. The full story’s at seattlepi.com.

From the King County Department of Transportation:

The King County Road Service Division will close the South Park Bridge spanning the Duwamish River to both vehicle and marine traffic from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily Saturday Jan. 30 through Tuesday, Feb. 2. The four-day closure will allow engineers to perform noise and water quality testing and simulate vibration that might occur during bridge construction. During the closure, engineers will conduct pile driving to measure noise, vibration and take water quality samples. Data collected during the tests will assist the county in planning for construction of a new bridge when financing becomes available. During the closure, motorists can detour via the First Avenue South Bridge.

(click lower left of image to play slideshow, which includes audio)
By NICK FELDMAN
UW News Lab

“It’s a picture of my son,” the man in the chair said in Spanish. “Enrique is his name. When I came to the United States, I left him when he was 2 months old. It’s to have him with me all the time, to have a memory of him, because I don’t know if I’ll be able to see him again.”

Francisco Antonio Flores-Renteria came to the U.S. three years ago. When looking for a place to have the portrait done — his second tattoo — he looked no further than Dzul Studio — a place that was clean, where he trusted the quality of the art, and where he was able to converse in his own language.

The studio, run by brothers Alejandro (“Alex”) and Jacob (“Smiley”) as well as piercing-artist sisters Catalina and Elizabeth, takes the family name to heart: Dzul is a Mayan word meaning master or leader, one who stands above others in character or reputation. And that reputation has been built up over the last decade.

“I started to draw at an early age,” said Smiley, “and my friends from my neighborhood knew that I knew how to draw, so they were the ones who actually got me into it.” He sports seven tattoos himself: on his legs, right arm, collarbone, each shoulder, and his mother’s name on his back — his first, at age 16. “That’s how I started, just doing names for (friends) and their mom’s names and initials.”

After four years of doing airbrush art at weekend swap meets and homemade tattoos for friends on the side — and discovering fairs like Bite of Seattle, Bumbershoot, Hempfest and Portland’s Cinco de Mayo celebration — the brothers had amassed enough capital to open a studio.

“When we first moved out to the Northwest, there wasn’t a lot of art put out with our perspective or flavor,” said Alex. “We’re from the Southwest, and when we came in there were a lot of people who wanted art but they weren’t getting it. That’s one of the places where we come in and really shine, because we have a very unique style.”

Smiley, the studio’s resident tattoo expert, is a master of the more urban black-and-gray tattoo style, but is also a talented tribal and color artist. About 80 percent of the art done at Dzul is original, and while the brothers have “flash” designs premade — reusable and template art — they’ve found that people are more interested in art that speaks directly to them, and that both parties are often more excited to do unique work.

While the Dzuls cater to their culture, only 30 percent to 40 percent of their clientele is Hispanic. Instead, they draw on the many ethnic and age demographics that tattoo culture has infiltrated, as well as their clients from places as far away as Everett and Vancouver, B.C., who travel specifically to visit the White Center studio.

“A lot of people who speak Spanish feel good to be understood, but the population in Seattle is not heavily Hispanic,” said Alex. “We’re really pretty diverse when it comes to who walks through our doors. “

The siblings, all Queen Anne residents, are currently looking to either move or expand to a location somewhere closer to the center of Seattle. One of their main reasons for originally choosing the shop’s location was its affordability for young artist-entrepreneurs.

In addition to massive updates to the studio’s Web site — including an education-focused FAQ section — within the next year, Dzul also plans to launch a clothing line and sponsor an art exhibition with a Day of the Dead theme featuring original art, tattooing and photography.

“People come through, they get their work, it’s original,” said Alex. “They have a perspective and we just help them to make it look good. I thought it would be good to do portraits of them and their tattoos to tell their stories.”

In the words of Alex, who studied graphic design at the Art Institute of Seattle, artists always need a community of other people who share their passion. And, luckily for these four siblings, that artistic community is also blood.

“If there’s anyone you can trust the most,” Smiley said, “it’s your family.”

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(NICK FELDMAN is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.)

White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition chair Sean Healy sends a reminder of the group’s next meeting – coming up in less than a week. As his note points out, the group’s gone through some changes; no official Seattle Neighborhood Group staffers now, so it’s entirely volunteer-run – executive committee members Healy, Angela Rambo and Barbara Liberache are in charge. The meeting location is new, too – instead of St. James Place, you’ll find the coalition at DSHS offices, 9650 15th SW (map). Regular meeting time/location remains 6 pm, fourth Thursday of the month – that’s next Thursday 1/28, and everybody’s welcome.

The topic of White Center annexation came up when we covered a brownbag lunch meeting with Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce offices today. WS business lawyer Jerome O. Cohen (at left with Godden) opened the subject by nothing that the WS Chamber, where he leads the board of directors, is trying to build stronger ties with White Center. Godden described WC as a “lively area” and mentioned a recent visit to Salvadorean Bakery. She then recalled last year’s vote in which a majority of councilmembers voted not to approve the Memorandum of Understanding that had been worked out by then-Mayor Greg Nickels as well as other parties interested in the area, giving Seattle a certain period for first right of refusal on White Center annexation. “I don’t often brag about the 8-1 votes where I’m the 1 – and there are few,” she said, indicating that one, in which she supported approving the MOU, was different – she believes her fellow councilmembers were trying to send a message, but not the one that she thinks the rest of the world drew from what happened. She says it’s up to new Mayor Mike McGinn, as well as the people of White Center, to indicate they would like to talk about annexation, but notes the legislation is still in effect with the tax changes Seattle wanted and needed for annexation to be possible. One sticking point right now, she indicated, is the South Park Bridge – if Seattle annexed all the unincorporated area to its immediate south, the bridge would become the city’s $110 million problem. But federal help might be on the way, she noted. (She is vice chair of the council’s Transportation Committee, now chaired by West Seattle’s Tom Rasmussen.) Overall, she said, White Center “seems like something that ought to be part of the city” – provided its residents agree.

(Cross-posted at partner site West Seattle Blog)

Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for White Center Now/West Seattle Blog

A joint event between the Southwest Boys and Girls Club, the Red Cross and HOPE worldwide at Greenbridge (map) combined messages of civil rights and disaster preparedness to honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.

The event was kicked off by the Seahawks’ Blue Thunder drummers and an opening speech by North Highline Fire District Fire Chief Scott LaVielle. Chief LaVielle spoke about fire safety— which is being highlighted by the Red Cross — and quoted from speeches by John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy to highlight the importance of caring for our communities.

Red Cross Coordinator Beth Jusino notes that MLK Day is viewed by her organization as “A day on, not a day off” in service to the community. After the event, volunteers dispersed into the Greenbridge neighborhood to place door-hangers regarding fire safety and earthquake preparedness at the surrounding homes. The information is printed in both English and Spanish. (In case you’re not in the area flyered – here’s the Red Cross’s infopage on fire safety.)

Jusino adds that in light of the Haitian earthquake, people have opened their hearts to the world community; today, people are focusing on opening their hearts to their local community – and the volunteers who are spreading the word about helping each other, locally and globally.

First, crossposted from partner site West Seattle Blog – a chance to volunteer Monday afternoon at WestSide Baby in White Center, offered by executive director Nancy Woodland:

WestSide Baby would love extra hands on MLK Day! We’ve received so many donations of clothes since the holidays, we could really use extra teen or adult hands to sort through all the donations. We inspect each article of clothing for cleanliness and condition before we shelve it by size so it’s ready for another volunteer to place it in an order for local children in need.

We will be open extra hours on Monday from 2-5pm for up to 15 volunteers! It’s a great opportunity for high schoolers looking for service hours on their day off. Please let us know you are coming by emailing sarah@westsidebaby.org.

We will also have our regular third Thursday Sorting Frenzy this Thursday evening from 7-9 pm!

WestSide Baby HQ is at 10032 15th SW (map).

Also, there’s an event Monday morning at the Southwest Boys and Girls Club at Greenbridge, including the American Red Cross and HOPE Worldwide Washington. They’re going to rally with volunteers at the club at 10 am, with Seahawks stars, Sea Gals cheering team members, and Blue Thunder on hand, then go out to canvass local neighborhoods with safety information including escaping from fires and safely heating homes – the info will be in English and Spanish.

An update from our first mention a couple days ago – Full Tilt Ice Cream will donate today’s profits from all three of its stores to Haiti earthquake relief, not just White Center. Track the day’s development by following Full Tilt on Twitter (@FTicecream).

Reminder of two events we mentioned here earlier: Saturday night, it’s the artist reception at Dubsea Coffee (full story here), 7-9 pm, and then you can move over to Full Tilt Ice Cream for the Steel Tigers of Death performance.

Just a heads-up – Monday, when the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is observed, Metro will be on “reduced weekday” service levels. Full details here.

From Twitter: The original White Center location of growing Full Tilt Ice Cream will donate profits this Sunday to the Red Cross relief fund for Haiti earthquake victims.

Full Tilt Ice Cream proprietor Justin just sent this out via Twitter – next Saturday’s live music slate at the White Center flagship of his growing chain (location #3 in the University District just opened last week).

Notes from last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting:

At left, that’s North Highline Fire Chief Scott LaVielle, who briefed the group on his impending retirement in late February. He talked about the several steps taken to close the budget gaps that the fire district was faced with. He introduced North Highline Fire Commissioner Rob Spreier (with him in the photo), saying he will take over most of the high-level management work after he leaves. Other items:

CRIME: King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock told the NHUAC it’s been a rougher month than the area’s seen in a while: 1 rape; 1 aggravated assault on a 19 month old girl; 2 stabbings; 6 robberies, all mini-marts or gas stations in the area, and one person robbed at gunpoint after being pulled into a car outside a grocery store;13 vehicle thefts, 14 drug arrests, 29 warrant arrests.

CODE ENFORCEMENT: A complicated discussion that took a lot of time without many conclusions – commercial activities on an industrial-zoned property along Myers Way that has nearby residents wondering if King County codes were being followed; the agency represented at the meeting said that it didn’t have jurisdiction and offered the residents some suggestions on where else they might take their concerns.

NORTH HIGHLINE ANNEXATION DELAY: Burien City Manager Mike Martin and two Burien City Council members attended the meeting; Martin said the official annexation date has been delayed until April 1st because of the Puget Sound Park wrangling (see our report from earlier this week); he says several other things still need to happen for the annexation to be finalized. Regarding the park’s future, Martin told NHUAC, whatever happens to the park has to happen because the people of the city of Burien want it. If they want a library there, then that could happen, but he said a decision would not be forced on them. He also said he wanted to dispel the notion that Burien just wants the park in order to sell it.

REMEMBERING CHERISSE LUXA: In the public-comment period Liz Giba mentioned the community activist who lost her cancer fight last month would be remembered during a memorial gathering at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub on January 27th, 7 pm, with a “semi-formal presentation” around 7:45.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets the first Thursday of each month, 7 pm, North Highline Fire District HQ.

This just in from County Executive Dow Constantine‘s office:

King County Executive Dow Constantine and Burien Mayor Joan McGilton today announced an agreement for King County to transfer ownership of Puget Sound Park to the city of Burien.

“We were able to resolve this in a way that sets the right tone for this new era in King County government,” said Mayor McGilton. “I thank the County Executive for his leadership to reach a fair agreement on the parks transfer.”

“A deal’s a deal, and it was the city’s understanding of the annexation process that it would receive six parks from the County, including Puget Sound Park,” said Executive Constantine. “After detailed discussions, I agree that transfer of the park to the city is the right thing to do and should occur as part of that larger annexation.”

Voters in the southern portion of the North Highline Potential Annexation Area (PAA) approved their annexation by the city of Burien in August 2009. City Council action to implement the annexation was held up after the previous County administration entered into negotiations to sell part of Puget Sound Park to a third party.

Before taking office in November, then-Councilmember Constantine asked the previous Executive to slow down the proposed sale, in order to have more time to talk with the city about the proposal. Deputy County Executive Fred Jarrett appeared before the City Council on December 7 to hear the city’s position.

The proposed interlocal agreement must be approved by both the Burien City Council and the Metropolitan King County Council.

The City Council is expected to set the effective date for the annexation of the North Highline PAA at its next meeting on January 11.

More as we get it. ADDED 6:34 PM: We asked Frank Abe in the County Executive’s office what this means to the previous proposal for part of the park site. His reply: “We’ve let the King County Library System know of the new Executive’s agreement to transfer the park to the city. The city could pursue that option if it chooses to do so, within the restrictions of state law that governs the transfer of parks such as this.”

Greenbridge’s new Dubsea Coffee has announced its second art show, with a reception for artist Kelda Martensen coming up January 16th.

(Councilmember Drago sworn in by Superior Court Presiding Judge Bruce Hilyer, official county photo)
ORIGINAL REPORT FROM 12:17 PM: Once again today, the King County Council is scheduled to take up the matter of choosing a temporary replacement – till this year’s election – the seat representing White Center, West Seattle, Vashon and other areas has been open since Dow Constantine became County Executive; the first attempt to decide on a replacement led to a seven-hour meeting with two deadlocked votes three weeks ago. We’re covering today’s meeting on partner site West Seattle Blog; you can follow the coverage here. 3:53 PM UPDATE: Councilmembers have voted unanimously to appoint former Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago. State Sen. Joe McDermott says he’s disappointed not to have gotten the appointment, but already campaigning to win the job in November.

After a semi-slow holiday season, the regular schedule of meetings resumes in the coming week. On Thursday, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council‘s monthly meeting, and the agenda’s now online:

7:00 p.m. Call to Order

Flag Salute
Roll Call
Approval of Agenda
Approval of Minutes

Corresponding Secretary’s Report

Treasure’s Report

Public Announcement – Council

Public

Public Comment: 3 minutes for individuals
5 minutes for group reps

Jeff Hancock Crime Report 5 minutes
Mike Martin Burien Update 5 minutes

Director of King County Code Enforcement and Prosecuting Attorneys Office 20 minutes + questions

Veterans and Human Services Levy 10 minutes + questions

Committee Reports:

Arts and Parks
Public Outreach
Governance
Housing and Public Health
Transportation
Public Safety
Old Business
New Business

NHUAC meets at North Highline Fire District HQ, 1243 SW 112th (map).

From Nancy Woodland at WestSide Baby in White Center:

Did your New Year’s Resolution include more volunteer work?

WestSide Baby needs extra volunteers today, Saturday Jan. 2 (now until 4pm), to help sort toys. We will stay open today until 4 pm just for toy sorting volunteers. If you’d like to come down today to help us, show up or call us at 767-1662. Children 7-14 welcome with adult supervision and teens over 14 can be dropped off. Adults always welcome, of course!! We need extra hands today to help sort and package all the toys that have been displaced by the bounty Santa brought this year. Item donations encouraged until 1pm. THANKS!!

WestSide Baby is at 10032 15th SW – here’s a map.

(Luminarias outside the Highland Park Improvement Club on New Year’s Eve)
Cafe Rozella is open noon-6:30 pm for New Year’s Day coffee; Dubsea Coffee is open 10 am-7 pm.