White Center Now: The blog about White Center

News release received Wednesday night from Highline Public Schools:

Highline Public Schools has refinanced 2002 bonds, resulting in a savings to taxpayers of more than $8 million over the next five years.

The savings flow directly to taxpayers through reduced tax levies. The dollars cannot be used for District expenses. “This is a direct savings to our community members in the form of taxes they expected to pay, but will not have to pay,” says Superintendent John Welch.

The District was able to exceed its savings target because of recent low interest rates. Interest rates averaged 6.31% on the new bonds compared to 5.33% on the old debt.

After the refinance, Moody’s Investment Services reaffirmed the district’s Aa3 bond rating on the district’s outstanding debt. The rating reflects the district’s satisfactory financial operations and its manageable debt levels. The district has a AA- rating from Standard and Poor’s.

The Highline School Board approved the issuance of refunding bonds at its December 9 meeting. The original bonds funded the replacement of ten aging schools, which opened beginning in 2004.

If you haven’t become a fan of White Center Jubilee Days on Facebook already, now’s a good time – that’s where they are asking people to post suggested themes for this year. The contest is open for another week. One nominated theme posted today – “Embrace Our Differences.” (Last year’s theme was “Living the Dream.”)

The Lakewood officers’ memorial is happening this afternoon – live on just about every local TV channel and website.

ORIGINAL 12:53 AM REPORT: Seattle City Light confirms 1,900 “customers” (homes and businesses) are without power in parts of Highland Park and White Center, as of about half an hour ago. (Lights flickered in parts of West Seattle around the same time the power went out to the south.) No word yet on the cause or how soon it’ll be restored. 4:27 AM UPDATE: City Light says everyone’s back on, and says a “cable failure” was to blame.

White Center Community Development Association is promising to send updates via Twitter – you can see them by going here. It’s under way till 4 pm at Mount View Elementary.

We caught up with Rat City Rags during the West Seattle Art Walk in September, when their work was featured at Ventana Construction. Tonight, you can see, buy, mingle and drink during RCR’s first holiday party, happening 5-10 pm at Big Al Brewing!

A crash at Roxbury/Olson, right before the hill down to the freeway, has Roxbury blocked at 8th SW. Avoid the area TFN.

From Shelli Park at White Center for the Arts:

White Center for the Arts is looking for artists of all media for the White Center Art Walk. We are scheduling for the next year, and would like to get as many White Center artists involved, and exhibiting/performing, as possible. Also, in the more fine weather, outdoor performances will be an option. Please contact me with your interest and pass this along to other artists.

We still need artists for the December Art Walk!!!!! Any takers?

Also, Dubsea Coffee will be the site of our next Community Artist meeting, which is open to artists of all medium, experience and age in the Greater White Center area, and to anyone interested in cultivating the arts here in White Center.

The last meeting was enlightening and productive. There is a great community of arts supporters here. When we come together, we support the work that is vital to a healthy community.

The goal is to break down the barriers that create a feeling of isolation within the community.

What, as an artist, do you need from the community in order to further your creative goals?

What, as a member of the community, can you give, no matter how small?

What would you like to see in White Center that would help you feel validated as an artist, or part of a healthy, diverse community?

Too much to think about? We also just want to have a good time talking and laughing! Come see what’s up in White Center…

Thursday, December 10th, 7:00 PM
Dubsea Coffee
9910 8th Ave SW

According to King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. John Urquhart, the search around 16th/102nd is for a man who ran when a bail bondsman tried to arrest him – as they are legally allowed to do, he adds. The first call was about a “man with a gun” – but that, Sgt. Urquhart says, turned out to be the bail bondsman. More as we get it.

The group that’s been active in investigating noise concerns related to Sea-Tac Airport, particularly its newest runway, is getting the word out a bit further north than usual, and invites you to its meeting tonight in Burien – here’s the notice published on our partner site West Seattle Blog.

Just got word from Holy Family Parish School that they’re also selling trees and wreaths – you’ll find them at the church parking lot. Proceeds go to the school. Trees run from $20 to $69.

NHUAC meets this Thursday (December 3rd), 7 pm, North Highline Fire District HQ as always. The agenda’s not online yet but you’ll find it here when it is.

We’ll be scoping out the Christmas tree scene this weekend in White Center and West Seattle, but for starters, we have word that Croft Rentals (11229 16th Ave SW; map) is selling trees, swags and wreathes. And we’re told you’ll get $5 off your purchase if you bring in a new, unwrapped, unopened toy to donate. They’re also offering free delivery “within about five miles of (their) location.”

That video clip includes tonight’s KING5 update on the search for the hit-run driver who crashed into Jeff Kearney near the 16th SW Albertson’s store, and just took off, leaving him lying in the street. We first covered the crash that night; this followup story has all the info on how to share information with authorities.

White Center Food Bank is open for one more stretch today – 5 to 7 pm (we just called to check as we had conflicting info, but we’re also going over to make double-sure in person) – and they still need large turkeys, cranberry sauce and dinner rolls. 10829 8th SW; here’s a map.

That’s an official King County photo from this afternoon’s swearing-in ceremony in downtown Seattle, as Dow Constantine – who until this afternoon represented White Center (and the rest of District 8) on the King County Council — became King County Executive. We have two reports on partner site West Seattle Blog with lots of photos and video, since we were there to cover the event – see the as-it-happened report (including video of the first five minutes of his speech) here, and a late-night followup — including the list of applicants who want his former place on the council – here.

Two places we know for sure you’ll be able to get your latte on, this Thanksgiving morning — Cafe Rozella plans to be open 8 am-2:30 pm on Thursday (and they’ve got free live music the day after Thanksgiving – details on the CR site); brand-new Dubsea Coffee plans to be open 6 am-2 pm for the holiday.

Update to the Puget Sound Park situation (reported here late Friday) – Talked Saturday with Joe Woods from King County Executive-elect Dow Constantine‘s team. He says Constantine is asking that outgoing King County Executive Kurt Triplett not proceed with any deals before the change in command on Tuesday afternoon; Woods is short on specifics of what the “deal” involving Puget Sound Park might be, but he says it appears to be “something the current executive was pursuing to plug the budget hole and help fund the rest of the unincorporated parks that were at risk, according to his plan that came out this summer” – and whatever this is, it progressed further than other possibilities had. Woods says they’re hopeful the soon-to-be-ex-county-executive will appreciate the about-to-be-county-executive’s request not to strike a deal. We’ll be checking in with various parties Monday to see where all this stands.

Audrey Zemke had told us there’d be somebody at White Center Food Bank today to accept food donations in this critical pre-Thanksgiving time – and in fact, we found Audrey and Mike there this morning. Turkeys are particularly welcome – and you can buy ’em cheap at Safeway (1 limit) or QFC (2 limit) with $25 purchases and Club or Advantage Cards. Or, donate $ online – whitecenterfoodbank.org.