White Center Now: The blog about White Center

I interviewed Dow Constantine this afternoon in West Seattle for a West Seattle Blog follow-up to the announcement last night that he’s running for County Executive. One of the questions I asked was about annexation, and what happens now that a Seattle City Council vote has thwarted the Memorandum of Understanding between Burien, Seattle, and two fire districts. While we try not to repurpose material too much between the two sites, it’s been suggested we repost the entire story here, so here goes:

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor/White Center Now news editor

Instead of a once-planned family vacation on a sunny beach, King County Council Chair Dow Constantine is spending this partly sunny Seattle day — the first official day of his campaign for King County Executive — doing interviews, answering phone calls, e-mails, and text messages. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“This is fun,” he insists, as we part ways after a conversation at West 5 (WSB iPhone photo at left), in a space the native West Seattleite also remembers from spending many a day there in boyhood, when it was West Seattle Speedway, slot cars and all.

Read the rest of this entry »

Come down and have yourself a freaky St. Valentine’s Day.

Just received the new North Highline Unincorporated Area Council newsletter from Heidi Johnson. It’s not on the NHUAC website yet but we’ve uploaded it here so you can read it if you’re not on the mailing list. Among its articles: Alerts about the future of Evergreen Pool and some of the King County parkland that’s been under discussion lately (we have a followup on that in the works). Read the newsletter here. (The council’s next meeting – everybody welcome – is March 5, 7 pm, North Highline Fire District HQ.)

From Aviva at Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle:

Community Harvest of SW Seattle in partnership with the White Center Food Bank will be removing some grasses and other ornamentals to make room for a food garden. This demonstration garden, designed by a SSCC horticulture student, will have sections for traditional Asian greens, square foot gardening, northwest berries, and containers. The intention of this garden is to inspire and educate on the possibilities for growing food, even in limited spaces.

Seattleworks volunteers will be digging up existing landscaping on February 21st, and we would like to offer some of these lovely grasses and bushes in exchange for compost (or $$ to buy compost!) All donations of time or money will be happily accepted and will go toward this project and other projects which encourage food growing amongst low-income residents of West Seattle and White Center.

Contact: info@gleanit.org

That’s just one of the cheery groups that joined in the WestSide Baby annual fundraising Valentine Tea this past weekend at South Seattle Community College. As reported earlier this afternoon on partner site West Seattle Blog (see the story here), the event made WestSide Baby history – the first sellout crowd, and the biggest total ever: more than $70,000. Even if you didn’t make it to the tea, you can help WestSide Baby any time – just go here.

Quick followup to our Monday coverage of the Seattle City Council vote against accepting the “memorandum of understanding” with Burien and two fire districts: We asked Burien city manager Mike Martin for comment, and he replied:

We’re focused on August 18, 2009, the day we expect to ask North Highline residents in our proposed annexation area whether they want to join the City of Burien. Everything else at this point is just a distraction.

Reminder, the next date in the annexation process is a Burien-sponsored open house tomorrow night (Thursday 2/12), Boulevard Park Library, 6:30-8 pm (more info here).

After a lively discussion which we’ll recap shortly, Seattle City Council members have just voted 8 to 1 NOT to endorse the “memorandum of understanding” with Burien and two fire districts, regarding allowing Burien first rights to annex part of North Highline, and Seattle first rights on the other. Council President Richard Conlin said repeatedly that he believes the agreement is “falling apart at the executive level” – we will be checking on that. More shortly. ADDED 3:30 PM: A few more details – read on (including a comment from the Seattle mayor’s office, added 5:17 pm): Read the rest of this entry »

From the preview of next Monday’s Seattle City Council slate, they’ll be considering the annexation Memorandum of Understanding at 2 pm. Here’s how it’s written up in the preview:

This resolution, if passed, expresses an agreement between the Council, the City of Burien, King County, and Fire Districts 2 and 11 to resolve various issues related to the potential annexation of the unincorporated North Highline area. Issues include the identification of areas for potential annexation; ensuring sufficient fire service to North Highline and surrounding neighborhoods such as Arbor Heights, North Burien and unincorporated areas in South Park; and, agreement by the parties to support state legislation that would enable Seattle to tap a state sales tax credit should it decide to annex the agreed area for Seattle.

If you have the Seattle Channel on cable, you can watch live on Channel 21; if not, you can watch live (or, later, archived) online at seattlechannel.org; or you’re of course welcome to attend the hearing in the Seattle Council Chambers at City Hall downtown.

By David Whelan
Reporting for White Center Now

For last night’s meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, the main event was clearly the prospect of annexation.

Read the rest of this entry »

Here is the email that they are sending out. They are also going to be reopening the swap meet and calling it the Rat City Rummage.  They told me they have almost sold out of booths. If you want to get one, email ratcityrummage@hotmail.com

Join us for our first
Open Studio Art Tour
At The
White Center For The Arts Building
(The Big Skate Rink)
Feb 21st from 5:00-10:00pm
Located at:
9639 16th Ave SW
White Center • Seattle, WA
(Free Street Parking & Parking in the Back of Building,Entrance on 16th Ave in front of Building)

also

Rat City Rummage
Saturday, February 28th 10am to 6pm
www.ratcityrummage.com/
For a vending application and questions, please send email inquiry to ratcityrummage@hotmail.com
Please state if you need electricity and what type of goods you are selling and how many spaces you would like.
Vending is open to handmade arts and crafts, baked goods, non hand made goods such as household items, furniture, clothing, cd’s, bicycles, small electronics, dishware, etc, basically anything you want to sell that you can fit into your 10×10 space.

General information on the event:
$20.- for one 10×10 foot booth space
First come first serve, we have about 70 spaces available so this is a large event!
No entry fee or other “hidden” fee’s
Vendor set up at 8am take down no earlier than 6pm.
You or a booth sitter must stay until 6pm, no early take down
Event runs 10am to 6pm
Bring your own displays, plenty of change, tables, chairs, snacks and whatever else you may need for the day.
This is an indoor event, which is going to take place in the Skate Rink itself.
Wheel chair accessible and bathrooms on premise.
Location:
White Center For The Arts Building
(The Big Skate Rink)
Feb 21st from 5:00-10:00pm
Located at:
9639 16th Ave SW
White Center • Seattle, WA
(Free Street Parking & Parking in the Back of Building, Entrance on 16th ave in Front) White Center for the Arts is a group of six artists with diverse backgrounds who have come together to form a non-profit organization focused on supporting the arts in White Center. Our desire is to offer space where local artists can show their work, and to provide a place to learn learn about art. We want to provide classes to young and old in many media, bringing out the rich diversity of culture that can be found in White Center. And we want to have fun!

A lot of people are familiar with the Hom Bow. A baked bun stuffed with veggies or often curried ground beef. They are tasty, but a far inferior cousin to the Bahn Bao.

The Bahn Bao is about the size of a softball. Inside that is a meatball about the side of a baseball, and inside that is an egg and sliced sausage. I know this sounds like a gut bomb, but it is not. For some reason it is actually rather light. Virtually no grease.

There are a few places in the area to get these, but the only place worth going is Haung Xua, The White Center Deli. This place is also great for sandwiches and rice desserts. Actually by far the best Bahn Mi sandwich in the area. I’ll save that debate for another time.

9629 16th Ave Sw (9 am till 6 pm) right next to Full Tilt. They normally run out way before six.

Bellow is a drawing that one of Ann’s students, Savendra, did of the famed Bahn bao.

Reminder that United Way is offering two locations to get tax help, free, if you meet income and other criteria – read all about it here – then note these two locations:

White Center:
Salvation Army Community Center
9050 16th Ave SW
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 5 PM – 9 PM
Saturdays: 9 AM – 1 PM
This site has Spanish translators

White Center Assembly
10237 16th Ave SW
Thursdays: 5 PM – 9 PM
Saturdays: 11 AM – 3 PM
This site has Samoan translators

Since this was an all-mail election, the votes won’t all be counted for days – some just got mailed today/tonight. But the “final election night count” is in, for the King County Elections Director race, and so far Sherril Huff, who holds the job now, is way out in front: Huff has 44% of the vote, to 19% for David Irons, and 17% for Pam Roach. See the full results here; another vote count will be announced tomorrow.

Part of the North Highline annexation process just moved forward with votes during tonight’s Burien City Council meeting: Burien councilmembers first authorized the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Seattle and other parties, by a 4-1 vote tonight (the “no” vote was from Councilmember Lucy Krakowiak, who says she thinks the annexation area, with 14,000 people, is too big, and she would rather start with 10,000). Second, they approved a resolution that will send the proposed Burien annexation to residents for them to approve or reject in an upcoming election, by the same vote. Next steps, according to city manager Mike Martin, would be to take the issue, with the proposed boundaries to which the parties agreed, to the county/state-run Boundary Review Board. And Seattle city leaders have to decide their next steps — whether they will pursue annexing the rest of the North Highline area (the Memorandum of Understanding with Burien and the other parties does not require them to). Then, there’s the initiative that former Burien councilmember Stephen Lamphear is pursuing, seeking to cancel the deal between Burien and Seattle – he thinks the North Highline area should be annexed intact, and should be annexed by Burien; initiative petitions will be circulated. Also, as councilmembers were reminded tonight, an annexation open house is planned for February 12th in Boulevard Park.

Just announced this morning, King County Executive Ron Sims has been nominated to become a deputy secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Detailed coverage, including comments from White Center’s King County Councilmember (and council chair) Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, on our partner site West Seattle Blog.

From White Center Now‘s own Justin Cline @ Full Tilt Ice Cream – this news release announcing an event coming up March 1st:

One scoop or two? How about a brew?

Full Tilt Ice Cream, one of South Seattle’s most interesting new small businesses, is joining forces with another local innovator, Laughing Buddha Brewery, to give Seattle palates an evening of exotic bliss. On March 1st, Laughing Buddha brewmeisters Joe Valvo and Chris Castillo will be on hand at Full Tilt to showcase selections from their new line of Asian-style beers, including brews with names like Purple Yam Porter, Mango Weizen and Pandan Brown Ale. While there, Joe and Chris will also be answering questions about craft brewing and discussing their quest to bring the flavors of Asia to the Seattle beer scene.

After quaffing samples of beer, visitors can try some of Full Tilt’s similarly unique and inspired ice cream and sorbet flavors, including: pandan (a Southeast Asian leaf with a nut-like aroma), ube (also known as Filipino purple yam or Okinawan sweet potato), ginger, and lychee.

In keeping with the “meet the producer” theme of this event, Full Tilt owner Justin Cline will be talking about the art of making craft ice cream while he’s scooping you out a dish or coneful. If the ice cream and beer flavors aren’t stimulating enough, you can even try a game of pinball at one of Full Tilt’s 16 vintage pinball machines, or check out one of the local small-circulation “zines” on the reading shelf.

Full Tilt is to ice cream what Laughing Buddha Brewery is to beer: both are craft establishments that use exotic ingredients rarely found in Western-style cuisine. These two local businesses are expanding the world of flavor in ways that no one else is doing, so don’t miss the chance to experience both of them in a single visit.

This happens at 3 pm March 1 at Full Tilt in downtown White Center.

Annexation’s likely to be a hot topic at both of these meetings: It’s definitely on the agenda (which you can see online) for the Burien City Council, 7 pm tomorrow; North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets this week too (7 pm Thursday, North Highline Fire District HQ but the agenda’s not online yet as of this writing Sunday night).

(Google Street View added Saturday evening – their photo’s from some months back, though)
Ok, so I said it was going to be a Thursday thing. I lied. My camera isn’t working for some reason, and life just got in the way. I did find something new and yummy in White Center though. Queen’s Deli. It is in the space that was taken by Caleza Express, a Filipino lunch counter. Their sign says “Authentic Khmer food desserts appetizers”. I have to be honest, even though Seattle boasts a lot of different asian foods, this is the first that I have come across advertised as Khmer, and I spent the entire lunch with the Dead Kennedys song ‘Holiday in Cambodia’ stuck in my head. This worked well with the TV showing Cambodian pop videos. One featured a cover of “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, all in Cambodian.

Now, I know the first thing about eating at a different ethnic restaurant is going to be crossing that language barrier. The menu is a bit confusing here, but the women running the counter speak perfect English, and are very patient when helping you with your order. They told me they have been open about a month, and seem to get a brisk lunch trade. I actually skipped the menu and orderd of the steam table, which is set up cafeteria style.

Knowing jack about Khmer food, I am going to say this is very similar to Thai and Vietnameses. I went with the beef Satay and beef stew with bread. The satay was marinated and rubbed in lemon grass, tamarind, and other spices that my western tongue was not identifing. I asked what it was, and the woman told me that it was Lemon grass, and stuff. Like I could even reproduce this on my own even if I had been given the recipe. I would like to. I could of eaten poiunds of it, and making it myself would probably save me from having to leave home ever again. Lean beef with just the perfect amount of spice to highlite the meat, and not over power it. There was just enough char on the meat to caramelize all the taste and really make it pop.

The stew is where it is at though. Just like your mom used to make but completely different. Huge chunks of beef, carrots and onions. Once again lemon grass is a major component here along with chili and plum sauce. When I say chili, I mean flavor and not heat. This is not fire food. No burn, just flavor. It is served with a toasted baguette, so you can soak up all the juices. Unlike the satay skewers, this is not lean cuts of beef. These are fatty, tough chunks of meat that have been braised so long they fall apart in your mouth. Sure beef fat is not something you want to eat at every meal, but in this case it makes everything more tender and flavorful. Even so, this soup does not end up greasy, but maintains its heartiness.

Owning a dessert place myself, this is a little hard to say, but try their desserts. Deep fried little pockets stuffed with coconut and bean paste, and then coated in a fine sugar glaze. Cambodian donuts. I could make myself sick on these things. Before I got them, I watched the cook make them fresh and pour them out onto the steam table. I had two different kinds, and wished I had gotten more.

Once again, like a lot of joints in the area, this place is cheap. I got Beef satay, fried rice, beef soup, a baguette, a cup of jasmine tea, and dessert for $7. I would get in there before they figure out what they got and start raising prices. Even at twice the price I would have left feeling I got a great deal.

Queen’s Deli

9808 14th Ave SW

Seattle, Wa 98106

206-767-8363

CASH ONLY

(just north of Big Al’s)

Here’s the spreadsheet from the King County Coalition on Homelessness – the overnight check found 39 people in White Center – 29 of them sleeping in cars or trucks. Overall, in the comparable “selected” areas of King County they canvassed, the volunteers found 2 percent more people than last year – 2,684, up from 2,631 – but the total number they found was 2,826.

HCLT offers a unique way to get help buying a home; read about it here. At 6 pm tonight, there’s an orientation at the Greenbridge Library. But you can’t just show up – RSVP is required – 206-323-1227 or info@homesteadclt.org.