White Center Now: The blog about White Center

(WCN photo of Hicks Lake, 1/7/09)
From Dick Thurnau at Friends of Hicks Lake:

King County has allotted $25,000 in the budget for Lakewood Park / Hicks Lake improvements and has asked Friends Of Hicks Lake for suggestions. We have many; however, we wish to gather input from the community to provide the best and wisest recommendations.

Suggestions (including, so far):

*Water fountain with an aeration system to help cleanse the lake water and display a beautiful attraction. (will need volunteers)

*Walking path around Hicks Lake might require use of a small section of school property (safety reasons)

*Volleyball, basketball court in half of the tennis court, horseshoes

*Full-time caretaker for the park house to control graffiti, litter, illegal alcohol usage, and vandalism

We welcome the community’s input.

You can reach Dick by e-mail at hdthurnau@juno.com or by phone at 206-244-4558.

We’ve received a copy of an initiative that former Burien City Council member Stephen Lamphear plans to pursue to prevent North Highline from being broken up by two separate annexations, as is the current path Burien and Seattle appear to be pursuing. See it here. More to come. ADDED 9:45 PM: Via e-mail, we asked Lamphear what happens next. He explains, “After getting together with the city attorney to agree on official ballot language, we have 120 days to gather signatures from Burien voters.” Why pursue the initiative? we asked. “I’m doing this because the MOU slicing and dicing North Highline is not in Burien’s best interest, gives away the tax paying business areas of NH, and is not the preference of most NH residents. The MOU was negotiated in secret and did not include the most affected — those in NH.” He wants to see Burien annex the entire area, explaining: “Before Burien incorporated in 1993, the entire area was Highline — one community. I live 4 blocks from NH and these are my neighbors. For Seattle, NH is a land grab; to Burien these are our neighbors.”

ORIGINAL 7:07 PM REPORT: Annexation matters were scheduled to be on the agenda tonight but it sounds like they may not be able to follow the original plan, as deputy mayor Rose Clark opened the “work session” by announcing two councilmembers are absent because of a “medical emergency” — in all, only three are present (Gordon Shaw and Sally Nelson, along with Clark) so they don’t have quorum. The live stream is up nonetheless; you can watch it here. 7:33 PM UPDATE: Brief discussion of the annexation issue in a review of accomplishments: Burien city manager Mike Martin says he’s focusing on an August election, in hopes the annexation “transition” could be made in March/April of 2010. 7:44 PM UPDATE: They’ve concluded no additional members are showing up, so the agenda – including annexation – is now pushed back till next Monday.

ART EVENT TODAY: Kim sends WCN this reminder of what should be quite the spectacle in Burien this afternoon/evening:

A 30′ sculpture of a mother and child, The Passage will be the first artwork installed in the new Burien/ Interim Art Space (B/ IAS). This impressive scuplture is being transported from its current location on the Embarcadero in San Francisco, and will be installed with a community celebration planned for January 24th – and you are invited!

The Passage was originally created for Burning Man, built from recycled scrap metal, and features a flame between the hands of the mother and child, water falling from their other hands, and footprints also lighted with flames. The sculpture will only have the flames lighted for special events.

The interim art space will temporarily take over the lot just north of the first residential building at Burien Town Square. For the next year, several sculptures are being brought in from national and local artists, thanks to efforts by Ignition Northwest and the Burien Arts Commission, in collaboration with 4Culture, Urban Partners and GGLO. Local arts groups, students and gardeners will also be encouraged to contribute to the space.

The B/ IAS grand opening event starts at 3 p.m. with a pre-event artists’ reception at the Burien Town Square sales center, followed by a processional to the interim arts space, and the lighting of The Passage, which features both flames and water. Other sculptures will be introduced, also featuring interactivity and flame.

Here’s a map to Burien Town Square.

ANNEXATION ON THE AGENDA: Monday night’s Burien City Council work session has North Highline Annexation-related items on the agenda; see that agenda here. If you can’t make it to the meeting in person, you can watch the online stream via the City of Burien’s recently revamped website.

A reminder from Metro:

King County Metro Transit is reminding customers that bus fares for adults will
increase by 25 cents starting Sunday, Feb 1.

A two-zone trip taken during peak-commute times will cost $2.50, a one-zone trip
$2.00, and the off-peak fare will be $1.75. New monthly passes also reflect the
increase. Youth and senior/disabled fares will not change.

This fare increase is one of several measures being undertaken by Metro to help
maintain its existing system. A weak economy, record fuel prices in mid-2008 and
falling sales tax revenues have resulted in a significant budget shortfall for the
agency. These factors have also forced Metro to cut costs.

We’ll bring you two reports on news from last night’s White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition meeting, because there’s PLENTY to report. For starters, though, a quick update on what King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock reported on area crime in the month since the group’s last meeting: No burglaries; only one robbery, and it involved “two people who knew each other”; two felony assaults — one in front of Brewsky’s that left the victim with “13 staples to the head,” according to Deputy Hancock, who added “The victim and suspect were back drinking beer together (yesterday)” — the other involved “a group of homeless people attacking another homeless person with sticks.” He also reported a gang-related “drive-by shooting” in which nobody was hit or hurt – 11 rounds fired at a “gang member’s house” just off Roxbury on 11th SW (county side) last Saturday night. Car-related crime was busier – three car prowls in the area, and, the really big stat – 14 car thefts in the past month in the unincorporated area, 9 of those in the White Center “Weed and Seed” area. Deputy Hancock called this a “huge spike” and said KCSO has contributed a detective to a special area Task Force that will be working on the car-theft problem. More news from the CSC meeting later today.

LOCATION:  El Paisano is located at 9629 -15th Ave. SW, Seattle 98106  They are just off the intersection of 15th Ave. SW and Roxbury (across the street from Bartell Drugs).

Phone:  (206) 767-5526

They accept credit/debit cards.

I really have not been writing enough for this blog. I can blame it on a lot of things; life, my new business, lack of sleep, the snow, etc, etc. Really it is just that I am a little lazy. I have to eat though. Actually I love to eat, and most of the time that I do it is in walking distance of my shop, which is most of White Center. So, I decided to start blogging about my lunches on Thursdays. This is my afternoon off. I go shopping, play with the dogs, and get ready for the weekend rush. Not really a day off, but a bit more relaxed then the other days.

First up is Rosticeria y Cocina El Paisano. I go here a lot. It is not the closest Mexican place. Not even the cheapest. It is one of the best though, and reminds me of home.  Consistently good. I know when they set a plate of food in front of me, no matter what I have ordered, the food is going to be good. That is almost the definition of comfort food.

The area I grew up in LA was predominantly Mexican, and poor. MY parents, and I swear this is true, would open up a paper when it was time for a new apartment, and just pick the cheapest place. We lived in Compton, Silver lake, Echo Park (before it was trendy), Santa Ana, even when we moved to Huntington Beach it was in the Hispanic area that was known as Slater Slums. In all those neighborhoods I became familiar with Rosticerias, even if it was an EL Pollo Loco. See, my parents are from the midwest, and if is anything they know well, it is their way around a yard bird and pork. We ate at all of the local chicken joints. Cesars on Atlantic and 65, Pablo’s on Alameda, Pollo Macho on  Wilshire, even Rosco’s ( which is not Mexican, but makes a mean fried chicken and waffle platter). When I first moved to Seattle, one of the things I missed most was Mexican food. I craved El Pollo Loco,  the bottom of the barrel in LA. Mama’s in Belltown, and Bimbo’s on the hill is crap food. Not just not authentic, just crap food. I was amazed when I found White Center. So much good food, in one little area, and the rest of Seattle had no idea it even existed. Rosticeria y Cocina El Paisano is the best in chicken. It is owned by the butcher shop two doors down. Sure, the carnitas is better at Del Rio. I can get an equal burrito at the bus for less. As far as chicken goes, Paisano is king.

Marinated in an adobe chili mix, and then flame roasted. Crsipy skin, and a juicy bird. The sides are simple, and plentiful. Rice, beans and a simple salad. Shining right next to that crispy bird is the house made salsas. Most Mexican places in Seattle seem to have a can opener as their main tool is salsa prep. Not these guys. I have become leery of Salsa Verde since moving to Seattle, but Paisano’s have nailed it. Flamed roasted tomatillos and just the right amount of chili heat from the peppers to compliment the food. They are now serving Breakfast as well as lunch and dinner, so the next time you venture out to eat, stop by this place.

According to the Social Security Administration, the most popular baby names in Washington State have distinctly biblical and literary quality.  The most popular boy’s name for 2007 (last year of complete records) is Jacob.  The most popular girl’s name is Olivia.  The list of the top ten Washington names is as follows:

Boys

1. Jacob

2. Ethan

3. Alexander

4. Daniel

5. Logan

6. Noah

7. Benjamin

8. David

9. Michael

10. Samuel

Girls’ Names

1. Olivia

2. Emily

3. Emma

4. Sophia

5. Isabella

6. Ava

7. Abigail

8. Madison

9. Elizabeth

10. Hannah

The most popular names nationally are Jacob and Emily.  It’s almost a certainty that Jacob and Emily will have a classmate named Barack.

Just west of White Center, Shorewood Christian School has been expanding into the high-school grades, and just sent this announcement of its upcoming open house:

(Shorewood Christian School) will be having an Open House on February 10th from 8:30am-3pm. The early enrollment process for the 2009-2010 school year has begun.

Celebrating their 29th Anniversary, this is a big milestone year for Shorewood Christian. The high school is currently in the expansion development phase with this upcoming school year being the first year offering 10th grade. Each subsequent year, they will be adding 11th, and 12th grade. By the year 2011, they will be a full service school offering prekindergarten through 12th grade. The school is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and is approved by the State of Washington. Shorewood Christian School is open to many denominations with over 20 churches represented in their student body and staff.

Students at Shorewood Christian benefit from an unparalleled educational experience. It is a school of academic excellence, offering specialty classes including Spanish, Music, Drama, P.E., Art, Typing, Home Economics, and Bible. Currently, their athletic program includes: Flag Football, Cross Country, Track, Volleyball, and Basketball. In addition, they are also taught how to give back to the community locally and to the world globally by participating in such projects as feeding the homeless, serving at food banks, visiting nursing homes, and going on mission trips abroad.

Tim Lorenz, Principal of Shorewood Christian, explains, “”I am very excited about what God is doing here at Shorewood Christian School. The decision to move forward and expand into a high school program is an important and logical step for us. I believe our students (at all levels – elementary, secondary, and ultimately college) ought to be instructed from a Biblical worldview which emphasizes first and foremost a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Out of that relationship, we want to help students cultivate their gifts and talents so that they may be used for God’s Kingdom and glory. For me, it is all about coming alongside parents and laying a firm foundation spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically as well as giving our students opportunities to hear God’s voice and surrender to His call and purpose for their lives.”

Shorewood Christian is committed to not only academic excellence, but also keeping education affordable. Their tuition is one of the most affordable private school rates in all of Seattle! K-6th grade is only $440/month, 7th & 8th grade is $470/month, and 9th & 10th grade is $590/month. For more
information on the open house, arranging a private tour, or to enroll, you can contact them at: Shorewood Christian School, 10300 28th Ave. SW Phone: 206-933-1056 www.ShorewoodChristianSchool.org

Tonight at Full Tilt we have an amazing band out of Minniapolis. A Paper Cup Band. A dirty folk Wilco influenced group of players. They are playing a set here tonight starting at 8pm. Something not to be missed.

Finally. We are having an inauguration party here at Full Tilt at 6pm. Come on in and enjoy $2 Root Beer Floats with Full Tilt’s own Rat City Root Beer.  To help out with the Soles for Souls shoe drive, we will give $1 for every beer sold, yes even the PBR.

*Schools closed
*Most government offices closed
*Most banks closed
*No regular-mail delivery
*Metro runs “partial holiday” service
*Seattle pay-station/meter parking spaces are free

Two politics notes:

White Center resident Asha Mohamed is on the 34th District Democrats‘ executive board after the group’s reorganization meeting this past Wednesday night; she was elected as King County Committeewoman Alternate. Her bio in the 34th DDs’ newsletter explains:

Asha is the newly elected PCO for Evergreen precinct in the heart of White Center. She … speaks five languages and will be a big help with our organizing in the fast-growing but under-represented East African communities in our District. Asha works at the Seattle Housing Authority.

Asha is one of two White Center residents on the newly elected 34th DD’s Executive Board – secretary Miki Meahan lives here too. The group is now led by newly elected chair Tim Nuse; follow all the 34th DDs’ happenings at their website, 34dems.org.

Also – 34th District State Senator Joe McDermott, elected last fall to his first full term in the State Senate, has expanded his website to include blog-format updates and even a podcast. Find it all here.

Seattle city road crews have been busy re-striping bridges and roads where snow and sand wore away the lane markings during Snowstorm ’08 — and the latest update indicates that their priority list includes 1st SW from Cloverdale to Olson Place, between White Center and Highway 509 (the stretch shown above in Google Street View).

No school today for secondary students in Highline Public Schools; Monday, MLK Day, is a holiday for all students in HPS (and other districts).

From the Seattle Times, the man accused of shooting and killing 38-year-old Dar’Rel Miller of White Center at the Federal Way Transit Center a year ago has just been set free, charges dismissed just before his trial was to begin. The Times article doesn’t say why; a P-I story does – quoting a prosecutor’s office spokesperson as saying the man no longer was considered a suspect.

Though White Center and greater North Highline may not be “unincorporated” that much longer, the county’s just taken a new communication step, by launching a monthly newsletter, with the unromantic name Unincorporated Area Community News. You can read the first edition here.

That’s a WSDOT graphic of a cross-section from the proposed tunnel; here’s the official news release from the governor’s office:

Gov. Chris Gregoire, King County Executive Ron Sims, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, and Port of Seattle Chief Executive Officer Tay Yoshitani today announced their agreement to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep bored tunnel under downtown Seattle. The plan also includes investment in improved bus service, east-west city streets, a new seawall, relocated utilities, and an upgraded waterfront.

The agreement is the result of a year-long study of solutions for replacing the central section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Thousands of hours of technical analysis, public meetings, and letters and emails from the public, interest groups, and local jurisdictions were considered.

“Building a deep bored tunnel will support a strong economy today and in the future,” Gregoire said. “This decision will improve public safety, help ensure Seattle is a 21st Century international city, and generate thousands of new family-wage jobs in the Puget Sound region.”

The bored tunnel will be approximately two miles long and carry four lanes of traffic. Drivers will bypass downtown by entering the tunnel near the sports stadiums in the south and connect to SR 99 north of the existing Battery Street Tunnel.

The total cost of the investments is $4.24 billion. The state’s commitment of $2.81 billion will be used for a new state route 99 corridor from the sports stadiums to South Lake Union in a bored tunnel, and restoring land under the existing viaduct to a four-lane surface street.

“There are pivotal moments when great cities make history,” said Nickels. “Today, we come together with a plan that creates more transit. We ensure that our city remains economically competitive. And we reclaim our destiny as a true waterfront city—tearing down an elevated highway and re-connecting Seattle to Elliott Bay.”

The project costs for the city are $930 million to replace the central seawall and construct a waterfront promenade, relocate utilities, build a streetcar on First Avenue, and improve east-west streets. The county will seek new motor vehicle excise tax authorization from the legislature to fund over $190 million in transit capital and $15 million annually in operating expenses. Port CEO Tay Yoshitani will ask the Port Commission to consider a $300 million investment in the replacement of the south mile of the viaduct and a new east-west connection to the container terminals.

The agreement also includes federal funds toward the Spokane Street Viaduct and Mercer Street projects. These projects provide critical east-west connections for west side neighborhoods. Seattle’s waterfront will become a world-class destination when the viaduct is taken down and replaced with a four-lane surface street and open space. The central seawall will also be replaced.

Investments in transit will add 17,000 new riders to King County METRO buses. New service will be provided for west side neighborhoods that use the viaduct to go to downtown Seattle. A new streetcar will be built on First Avenue from Pioneer Square to Seattle Center.

“This agreement will improve our transportation system, improve our quality of life and make an historic shift in the way we view mobility in an age of global warming,” said Sims. “There are only four lanes in the bored tunnel and the plan includes a new stable source of transit funding that will help Metro make a vast increase in service, which will mean fewer cars on streets, less pollution and better traffic reliability for business and industry.”

The Port of Seattle serves as an international gateway for the region – bringing cargo in and sending Washington goods to the world,” said Yoshitani. “Our cargo, cruise, fishing and industrial facilities – and the thousands of jobs they support – need a transportation network that keeps people and goods moving.”

Construction of a bored tunnel will begin in 2011 and be open to drivers in 2015. Added transit service will begin next year, and the Spokane St. and Mercer St. projects will be completed by 2012. It is expected this proposal will establish 10,000 jobs in a ten year span.

As most readers are aware, the Hearst Corporation, which owns the Seattle Post-Intelligencer announced on Friday that they are putting the PI up for sale.  If the newspaper does not sell within 60 days, the PI will be shut down.  This is a tragedy on many levels.  For some time now, the PI has been improving dramatically both in form and in content.  Unlike the Seattle Tmes, the PI does not seem to have a schizophrenic editorial board that makes its decisions over shots of Tequila.  And the PI has shown a real movement towards embracing the brave new world of Information Technology.  Finally, a one newspaper town will make us a much poorer place culturally.

There is a fair hubbub in the blogosphere, especially amongst the journalistic digerati, regarding the post-mortems and the way forward.   One thing is fairly certain, the so-called “dead-tree” or “pulp” edition will most certainly disappear.  As hard as it may be for readers to believe, there are still many who like the feel and look of the paper edition.  I run into such copies in waiting rooms and I can’t help but think, “how quaint.”

So, will the PI be reborn as the brave new warrior on the electronic fronteir?  One can only hope.  But even a slimmed down, electronic version will require massive amounts of capital.  Hearst has made clear that they are not going to be around to provide this support.  Perhaps a group of Seattle investors, keen on saving an institution and funding an experiment in communications technology will appear.  Seattle has pulled many such miracles in the past – the Sonics notwithstanding (Howard Schultz are you listening?).  Community leaders such as James Ellis have pushed the envelope and made miracles happen.  Seattle would not be the City that it is without such people.

If you want to check out a variant of a plan in the making check out the plan set forth by the folks at TechFlash.  Already, some prominent commentators have pronounced that plan DOA.  Not sure such pessimism is warranted but hey, we have to start somewhere.  So, what say ye, citizens of this great metropolis, can we pull together enough brains and money to save the PI?  The challenge is in our hands.

UPDATE:  One journalist believes that Hearst may be remaking the PI.  Link here.