White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Well, everything you need to know about the voting PROCESS, anyway – the King County Elections Department has put it all on one page. Chances are you’ve voted already; as of last night, the county had already received almost half the absentee (mail) ballots it had sent out. If you don’t vote by mail, but you don’t think you’re going to be able to get to your polling place on Tuesday, you can go vote tomorrow at county elections HQ in Renton, 8:30 am-6 pm, but it’s likely to be a long line, so the county’s suggesting you don’t do that unless you really have to — they do NOT expect long lines at regular voting places on Tuesday, since so many people vote by mail now, and they say they’ve staffed to handle anything up to 100 percent turnout. If you’re not sure where to vote, use this page to figure it out. However you do it, JUST VOTE – there’s a ton at stake beyond the president and governor races — statewide and local ballot measures, plus legislative races (two Democrats facing off in Legislative District 11 because of the new top-two primary).

The monthly meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council — the community council that represents White Center (and vicinity) — is coming up this Thursday, 7 pm, North Highline Fire District HQ (map). The agenda’ s online now, too (see it here); it promises more information on a potential parking change mentioned at last month’s meeting (White Center Now coverage here) — spaces to be removed along the south side of Roxbury. Also to be discussed, the upcoming fundraiser for art at Steve Cox Memorial Park.

Sketchy reports so far on TV news; here’s a short online report from KOMO – just watched a KING5 on-air report that says family members at the scene told reporters the victim was actually 17. So far, no word of an arrest. 12:10 AM UPDATE: Here are a few more details from the P-I. The address was 1800 South 118th; here’s a map.

Sheriff Sue Rahr said this, to applause, at the budget crisis town hall meeting at the Steve Cox Memorial Park “log cabin” — she says the White Center Sheriff’s Office storefront fills “a critical need,” so she’s made an exception, though other storefronts are in jeopardy. More later; any other announcements, we’ll add them as the meeting goes. ADDED 9:04 PM: Meeting’s over, so we’ll be adding more details here, starting with this video clip of Sheriff Rahr after she was asked later in the meeting why she wasn’t going to cut White Center but was cutting other storefronts including Boulevard Park:

Click pic to play video

She added that none of the storefront buildings will be closed – just that they will not be staffed with a deputy, and those deputies will be transferred to openings elsewhere in the department. By the way, murdered Deputy Steve Cox‘s mom Joanne Cox was in the audience tonight, and given recognition – to warm applause from the 100 or so attendees – at the start of the meeting. UPDATE: The rest of the story — click ahead to read what else happened: Read the rest of this entry »

The Seattle Foundation has just announced a new round of grants – and White Center-based WestSide Baby will receive $10,000. Click ahead to read the entire announcement, including the other agencies on the grant list: Read the rest of this entry »

From the 34th District Democrats‘ website, Election Night potluck and viewing party at Big Al’s Brewing in White Center (with ice cream by Full Tilt) – read about it here. Any other WC parties on Election Night? Let us know!

EVERGREEN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Tough year for the team, which lost Saturday night to Renton, 40-8. One more regular-season game to go, an away game against Lindbergh on Friday night, 7 pm.

VILLAGE GREEN PERENNIAL NURSERY: Today’s the last scheduled day for the nursery to be open. Proprietor Vera Johnson is having a sale on Vietnamese pottery for the grand finale (50% off). Vera also notes she’s offering consultation/design/installation services, $50/hour, and adds, “Just a heads-up, we will be reorganizing over the winter. I am planning some changes with the use of the land.” Next year, she’s planning the usual spring opening, but then a July closing of the retail operation, not sure about “regular” hours after that, but definitely “more design and consulting work, allowing our creative skills to be more useful in designing beautiful gardens for clients, plus garden maintenance.” She’s also planning to offer plants for real estate “staging,” as well as using the Village Green land to grow more food, with more “demonstration edible gardens” and more workshops on “edibles/herbals.” One final note – she’s planning on keeping goats, and might even rent them out for blackberry removal. Vera promises more details to come; meantime, Village Green‘s hours today are 10 am-4:30 pm, 10223 26th SW (map)

We were covering this on partner site West Seattle Blog because of a helicopter sweep over West Seattle – but now it’s become a White Center story and we have actual facts from King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. John Urquhart: A woman was attacked and “cut” by her boyfriend; she ran to Texaco at 16th/Roxbury for help; he ran to a friend’s house. Officers converged on the house to arrest him, and the King County helicopter Guardian One helped. If you saw the TV report about a “homicide suspect” — Sgt. Urquhart says the man MAY have a homicide warrant from somewhere else, but that hadn’t yet been verified; there was NOT a homicide in White Center. Will update if/when we get more info, but that’s the gist of it – the man is in custody. 10:34 PM UPDATE: TV says that other case was in Kent in July. 10:40 PM UPDATE: Got another call from Sgt. Urquhart, who confirms that the man was wanted for a Kent murder a few months ago. Appears to be this case. 10:49 PM UPDATE: Also heard back from Lt. Ron Smith at Seattle Police’s Southwest Precinct, who says two of his officers did help KCSO handle calls in White Center for a short time because of this incident — Seattle Police are all clear of the WC incident now — and also adds one other detail, that the location was “11th SW just south of Roxbury.”

Whenever the White Center/South Delridge Community Safety Coalition has its monthly meetings, the WC nightclub Evolucion somehow always comes up for discussion. Tonight, a representative came to face the critics – read on for our full report, with video: Read the rest of this entry »

Click pic to play video

That video shows harpist Mary Frank as she played to welcome guests to Saturday night’s White Center Food Bank Harvest Dinner and Auction. WCFB executive director Rick Jump says the final tally was 200 guests and more than $40,000 raised, and he wants to “thank all the White Center and West Seattle businesses who donated so generously to make this possible.” Among the sponsors, BECU, whose Claudia Martinez and John Webb were there as we made the round with our camera:

We also caught up with Steve Fisher from the King County Housing Authority (photo left) in the early going at the gala event at South Seattle Community College’s Brockey Center. Guests perused, and bid on, silent-auction items before the Harvest Dinner — among the more unusual ones, an authentic fire hydrant. Meantime, regardless of whether you made it to the benefit on Saturday night, there are myriad ways you can give to the White Center Food Bank right now, including the purchase of a beautiful glass apple from Avalon Glassworks in West Seattle (half the $80 purchase price goes to WCFB) – we’ve told you about it before, and Rick tells WCN they’re still available. You can also donate $ online by going here.

Just e-mailed by White Center Community Development Association – we’ve had the date on our White Center Now Events Calendar page for a while, but now there are more details:

SAVE THE DATE!
The White Center Community Development Association and Trusted Advocates present

The 2008 Community Summit:
“Celebrating our Community, the White Center Way”

Saturday, November 8
Mount View Elementary School
10811 12th Avenue SW
8:00am – 3:00pm
Free Admission

This year’s community summit will gather families, government agencies and local community-based/non-profit organizations in a fun, family friendly environment. Live cultural performances, ethnic foods, door prizes and children’s activities are just a taste of what the summit has to offer! Come learn about the issues affecting your community and how you can be involved in a positive way. There will be information booths and workshops on health, education, jobs, housing, annexation, immigration and more. Translation services will be provided in Cambodian, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tigrinya, Somali, Amharic, Samoan, Arabic and English (other languages available upon request). Childcare will be provided.

Please help us spread the word!
Invite your neighbors, family, friends, co-workers and classmates.

For more information, and how you can be an event sponsor or exhibitor, contact:

Ebony Davis: (206) 694-1082 x168 or ebony@wccda.org
Ian Dapiaoen: (206) 694-1082 x175 or ian@wccda.org

Event sponsors: White Center Community Development Association, Trusted Advocates, Youth Media Institute, City of Seattle, King County Housing Authority, City of Burien, White Center Early Learning Initiative, Southwest Boys and Girls Club , Seamar, Neighborhood House, White Center Public Health, Homesight, Para Los Ninos, White Center Library, PASEFIKA, Department of Social and Health Services, International Community Health Services, Red Cross, Roxbury Clinic, White Center Food Bank, Refugee Federation Service Center, International District Housing Alliance, YWCA Career Development, King County Food and Fitness Initiative, King County Public Health, Environmental Works, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, Homestead Community Land Trust, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Technology Access Foundation, S. & L. Realty LLC, Center for the study of Social Policy

On one of the many mailing lists we monitor for news and announcements, we just got word of this: A new outpatient chemical-dependency treatment program, exclusively for women, has opened in White Center, called New Traditions. It’s trying to get the word out; managers say, “For the moment, we primarily serve very/low-income, pregnant/parenting women and we provide on-site childcare for their children. We are certified with DSHS Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse and are contracted with King County.” They’re in the building across from the Salvation Army and are seeking referrals, so they’re inviting providers to tour their offices. Contact info is on their website.

Thanks to Dick Thurnau from Friends of Hicks Lake for keeping White Center Now updated on the progress of the years-in-the-making dock removal; after he tipped us about the huge crane that’s been brought in, we went by this afternoon for photos – as the second one shows, the dock surface is gone, but the pilings are yet to be pulled out:

I just noticed a new salon opening up on Roxbury. Right now there is just a small sign in the store front, but I was able to track down the owner.

It’s Casanova, a full service salon for Men. Owner Neyirys says, “It is a full service shop for men manicure, pedicure, massage, hair cuts, braids, shaves, facials, shoe shining, all services exclusively for men. It will open mid-November and we will rent chairs and also hire.” It is near the corner of Roxbury and 16th, next to Pho 54 on Roxbury.

At this point they are still in the construction phase, but I will post pics as things progress. They have a limited website up at the moment. casanovallc.com

In the last month, the sandwich board signs for Village Green Nursery, Cafe Rozella and the 16th Avenue Halal market have been stolen.  Apparently, one of the signs was found at the Home Depot dumpster which indicates that these thefts are plainly malicious.  These signs are not cheap and for a small business, especially businesses like Village Green and Cafe Rozella that are not conspicuous, they are important in driving traffic.  Accordingly, Cafe Rozella is offering a $50 coupon reward for anyone who fingers the dirty rats behind these thefts.  Call (206) 763-5805 or email guarnero@caferozella.com. 

Dick Thurnau from Friends of Hicks Lake sent word that work on this long-anticipated project has begun in earnest; we went to Lakewood Park to get that photo this afternoon. As he points out, the railings are now off the soon-to-be-ex-dock, and work crews are setting up on the eastern shore. According to the county website, this project is costing about a quarter-million dollars. Meantime, Dick also says Friends of Hicks Lake will meet at 11 am October 27th at the west picnic shelter (10th SW entrance) of Lakewood Park, with the Pomegranate Center scheduled to, as Dick says, “give us insight on how to utilize people and organizations for funding available for Lakewood Park / Hicks Lake improvements.”

(Burien Council members, seated tonight in “study session” mode)
From tonight’s Burien City Council meeting: Councilmembers voted to once again proceed with the planned annexation procedure — targeting part of White Center — that ended with the withdrawal of the proposal about a month and a half ago. They described the process as to some degree starting over again from the same point at which they were last spring. Here’s the map of the proposed annexation zone. We’ll be following up tomorrow with Seattle reps and others about what happens next from their standpoint. ADDED LATE MONDAY NIGHT: More details on tonight’s Burien proceedings: Read the rest of this entry »

King County Executive Ron Sims has officially unveiled his budget proposal, and says it balances an expected $93 million-plus deficit. Here’s his news release; you can read the budget summary here. Meantime, County Councilmembers — with elected county leaders including Sheriff Sue Rahr at their side — came out swinging, saying Sims’ plan doesn’t do the job, and relies on money that may not even exist (including future “legislative relief” and concessions in labor contracts). Their statement’s not online yet – read it here: Read the rest of this entry »

An update on a story originally published on White Center Now on 9/20:

As you know, in June KCHA submitted an application for $20 million in HOPE VI funds to help support the revitalization of the Park Lake Homes II (PLH II) public housing community. The plan calls for the demolition of the 165 existing public housing units and the redevelopment of the site as housing for 306 families. This housing would include the replacement of all 165 public housing units on-site, as well as 12 additional rental units, 17 Habitat for Humanity affordable homeownership units, and 112 market rate homeownership units. There would be several playgrounds, open space and 6,500 square feet of community center space on the ground floor of a residential building in the center of the site. Plans for the community space – a resource sorely lacking on the site – currently include a large community room, the Neighborhood Networks Center, office and classroom space for service providers, and a satellite office for the King County police. The existing Head Start facility would remain in its present location.

The HOPE VI program has become very competitive on the national level. Many applicants apply for two or three years in a row before their projects are funded. In the 2008 funding round, PLH II competed with 23 other projects vying for the six awards that were made.

I’m very pleased to announce that KCHA has been informed by Senator Murray’s office that PLH II was awarded the $20 million grant for which we applied. Our success is attributable to a number of factors. First is the strong support and advocacy of KCHA by Senator Murray’s office. She has been a tireless ally on every issue involving affordable housing. Second, the quality of the application, including the evidence of resident and community support and a solid Community Support Services program with strong partners, was key to our success in receiving funding as a first-time applicant. And last, but by no means least, KCHA’s accomplishments at Greenbridge under the first HOPE VI grant certainly strengthened the application.

Clearly, receipt of the HOPE VI grant is a critical first step, but now the real work begins! The proposed development schedule calls for relocation of the residents to be completed over the coming year and for construction to begin in the spring of 2010. We will also hold a series of community meetings in the next few months as the more detailed project planning gets underway. You will be notified of these meetings and I urge you to attend and continue your participation in the project’s planning and implementation. Thank you for all your contributions to our success to date and we look forward to your continued support of the project and participation in its success.

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Nikki Parrott, the project manager (nikkip@kcha.org, 206.574.1222).

Stephen Norman| Executive Director| King County Housing Authority | 600 Andover Park W., Seattle, WA 98188 | Office: 206-574-1190 | Fax: 206-574-1189