White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Know a family with kid(s) that need a little help getting ready to go back to school? Check out this event on Sunday at the Mary’s Place White Center shelter (8th and 108th):

Organizers say they have two barbers and two hairstylists confirmed to help out, and that manicures will be available for the children too.

Just out of the inbox:

Eight years after King County closed what was then Evergreen Pool — which was rescued by a community nonprofit months later – the county is pitching in to help with some updates.

County Council chair Joe McDermott, who represents White Center, West Seattle, and vicinity on the council, joined Evergreen Aquatic Center’s Bryan Hastings and Paloma Duarte at the pool this afternoon to officially announce a $61,000 county grant. Here’s what they all had to say:

The money is from the county’s Youth and Amateur Sports Fund. Hastings says the money will help with badly needed mechanical updates to not only the pool’s mechanical infrastructure but also to its shower system – which is also serving homeless people who need access to showers, including guests at the White Center shelter operated by Mary’s Place. Hastings says the system improvements will extend the pool’s life by decades.

Haven’t been to the pool? 606 SW 116th in south White Center. Find schedule and lesson info on its website.

The folks who are turning the ex-Big Al Brewing site into Unified Brewing are inviting you to their big sale today – noon-5 pm, benefiting WestSide Baby.

We’re encouraging people to come by and say hi even if they’re not in the market for anything, but are curious about our project.

Some of things we’re selling are:

Patio Furniture
Speakers
Glassware
Shelves
Filing Cabinets
Bistro Tables
Couches
Chairs
Mirrors
Lamps
Coat rack
Cash Register
Chalkboard
Brewery Memorabilia
ETC.

Unified Brewing is at 9832 14th SW.

Just in:

King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced that Senior Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett will take on a major new body of work, leading an initiative to explore new and better ways to serve the people of unincorporated King County.

About a quarter of a million people live in unincorporated King County, nearly as many as in the County’s second- and third-largest cities – Bellevue and Kent – combined. The initiative will study ways to improve how direct and contracted services – including roads, public safety, clean water, and increasing access to opportunity – are delivered in unincorporated areas even as the County’s General Fund revenues fall behind population growth and inflation due to revenue limitations imposed by the state.

“The people of our unincorporated urban and rural communities have unique needs, from maintaining long stretches of country roads to ensuring public safety across a vast territory,” said Executive Constantine. “With his long record of public service, Fred has the experience and strong community connections to lead our efforts to improve how we deliver services across departments and agencies. His expertise in innovation and accountability, and his understanding of our commitment to equity and social justice, will ensure King County government works at the highest level for every resident.”

“Unincorporated areas and cities with whom we contract services have their own priorities and challenges,” said Jarrett. “I look forward to working with our County departments and many community stakeholders to understand how we could make meaningful changes, and I look forward to getting them done.”

Previously a state senator, Jarrett served four terms in the state House of Representatives, after stints as Mercer Island Mayor and as a Mercer Island City Council and school board member. He also had a 35-year career at The Boeing Co.

“I am very excited to see the county take the next very important and vital step in its role as a local government provider for over 200,000 people,” said King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert. “This will allow us to be more precise in how and what services we deliver to our citizens. Then we will have the data to see how we can improve and provide even better quality services. This is a great step forward for county unincorporated areas.”

King County Roads has issued an alert for four blocks of SW 107th next Saturday night, in the White Center/North Shorewood area – it’ll be closed between 22nd and 26th SW because “epoxy and anti-skid material (High Friction Surface Treatment) will be applied to increase traction for vehicles. Data shows that this treatment helps dramatically decrease the numbers of crashes.” It’s one of 23 areas around the county where this is being done this summer. It means the road will be fully closed for several hours at a time between 6 pm and 6 am Saturday, August 12th, and: “During this time, there will be no access to driveways and side streets within the project limits.” More here.

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

A few hours from now, the new White Center Starbucks coffee shop at 16th/100th will start its second day of business.

We were first to bring you word it was on the way, a year ago, and first to report its opening date. Now it’s here, and the company has gone to great lengths to try to ensure that this doesn’t play out as a case of a corporate marauder moving into a fiercely independent community, albeit one that’s not far from its corporate HQ in SODO.

Before the opening-day bustle, we were invited to visit earlier this week, to hear about the store’s unique features.

What you see atop this story is one of them – a mural near the entrance, painted by an employee – “partner” in Starbucks’ parlance – Victor Melendez. And the people are what the Starbucks reps most wanted to talk about. We sat down for a few moments with Nicole Lopez, district manager (West Seattle, White Center, SODO, Georgetown), and Rodney Hines, director of U.S. social impact.

We photographed them in the “training center” area of the White Center store, which will be used for vocational training that could lead to jobs at Starbucks or elsewhere. The company had announced in September of last year that it would partner with a local nonprofit, in a model it’s already used in a handful of other stores around the country, and the one chosen here is the YWCA (which has a nearby base at Greenbridge). They’ll also work with Highline Community College. The curriculum for the training center will teach customer service. The training-center space also potentially will be available as a community hub for meetings and gatherings.

Meantime, they tout the fact that the White Center opening means some Starbucks workers who live nearby could transfer to the new store – workers who, Nicole explained, were taking multiple buses to their jobs at stores farther away. The new store has a staff of 22, five part-time and the rest full time (at least 32 hours). Nine were new hires, the rest transfers.

The staff, as a result, Rodney added, reflects the community. And they’re proud to say the store – one of two new buildings constructed where the old White Center Chevron was razed – was built by a woman-owned business, Saybr Contractors, the firm’s first project for Starbucks.

As of our pre-opening visit, Starbucks was still seeking one more component to their local economic-development program – a local maker – woman or person-of-color-owned business – with whom to partner, creating consumable products that could be sold in the store, and perhaps beyond.

Speaking of consumable – something unique to this location, Nitro cold brew on tap – so they’re expecting to be offering “lots of samples.” Also , this is one of a few Starbucks stores selling Mercato food, made fresh daily and donated (if there is unsold food) nightly to food-security programs.

The new store is open 5 am to 9 pm.

Just received this morning, on behalf of the city-mandated advisory committee for the city-sanctioned encampment on Myers Way:

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the public Advisory Committee meeting that was scheduled for this Sunday, August 6, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, has been postponed. We will send an update with the new date/time/location as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding,

Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Committee

The meetings have been happening on first Sundays, with Arrowhead Gardens‘ community room as the most-recent location. We’ll publish an update when we get word of the new plan for the next meeting.

Thanks to Jim for the photo. He noticed the water in the road in front of the White Center Library and has reported it to Seattle Public Utilities, which was sending a crew to check it out. Jim says the water turned up tonight in a spot where he noticed a new bump in the road a day earlier.

As of less than an hour ago, the new Chinese takeout restaurant adjacent to Beer Star and Li’l Woody’s has opened. It’s called CTO – get it? – here is how they explain what they are doing:

We stopped by around mid-afternoon to confirm that they indeed were opening tonight, and they confirmed it. The tables were ready (dine in OR take out):

According to the CTO website, they’ll be open Sunday – Thursday 4 pm – 9 pm, Friday – Saturday 4 pm – 10 pm for starters (9809 16th SW).

With pollution from wildfire smoke continuing to increase, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has put a Stage 1 burn ban in effect countywide. Here’s what that means.

At Steve Cox Memorial Park today, the Pianos in the Parks series is visiting for the day, with guest performers. Still ahead this afternoon:

1:00 pm — Mercer Island Center for the Arts presents Russian Chamber Music Foundation of Seattle

2:30 pm — Random Acts of Art Song with Seattle Art Song Society

4:00 pm — Shenandoah Davis

UPDATE: We’ve added a short video clip above – the piano will be by the shelter on the east side of the park until 6:15, with the aforementioned schedule events, but otherwise available for open play. (added) Here’s a closer look at the piano:

The art is by Eric Kolbe.

Cine en el Parque is back! One week from Friday, here’s what’s happening for this summer’s special event:

Join King County for a special outdoor movie night in White Center. We’ll be showing Moana – in Spanish with English subtitles – at Steve Cox Memorial Park on Saturday, August 5. This is a free event so bring your low-backed chairs, blankets, snacks, and enjoy a relaxed evening in the park. The movie will be projected onto a 40-foot tall inflatable movie screen so invite your friends and family – we’ve got space!

Seating opens at 6:30 pm, movie starts at dusk (around 8:30 pm). Lucha Libre Volcanica will be performing before the movie.

The park is at 1321 SW 102nd.

Thanks to Gill for first word on this – he said Starbucks team members in their Jubilee Days booth told him the new drive-thru at 16th/100th would open on Friday, August 4th, and we have confirmed that with a company spokesperson. (For our most-recent update a month ago, Starbucks had said “August,” without specifying a date.) The opening will be 14 months after we broke the news that Starbucks and Popeyes (which opened two weeks ago) would open at what was the White Center Chevron site. When Starbucks finally confirmed it four months after that, they explained it’s part of a plan to open stores in “at least 15 diverse, low-to-medium-income communities” around the U.S. by next year, and that it would include a job-training program.

In addition to some early highlights we published during today’s parade, here are more memorable sights, photographed by WCN co-publisher Patrick Sand:

Great drill-team/drumline performances, including, above, the Washington Diamonds, and below, Princesses of Elegance:

White Center’s own Evergreen High School brought cheer-team members and athletes:

Riding in the parade as Grand Marshal was Karl Sutter:

Here’s another look at White Center’s honorary mayor “Mac” McElroy, proprietor of the Triangle Pub at 16th/15th/Roxbury:

The White Center Eagles led off the parade, including their famous “walking flag”:

There was a Bigfoot sighting (courtesy of Miss Sheryl’s Ballet):

Also a dinosaur sighting, atop the Jurassic Park Jeep replica:

Four-hoofed magic was provided by the Latin Dancing Horses and their riders:

Many four-wheeled sights too:

They included the McLendon Hardware truck:

And the Wheels of Boom:

Thanks to everyone who participated, and organized, for a great parade!

Finally got a chance to get over to the street fair and kid zone, and you have until 6 pm to do the same (carnival runs until 11 pm tonight). You can shop both the year-round stores and the vendor booths, and talk with local community organizations like the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:

From left, NHUAC board members Pat Price and Liz Giba were answering questions when we stopped by. Giba also is a North Highline Fire District Commissioner, and they have a big area set up on 17th at 98th:

Kids visiting the NHFD zone can even see what it’s like to fight a fire.

More activities for young street-fairgoers are steps away on the east side of 17th. Back on 16th, a Pinewood Derby is happening this afternoon outside Full Tilt Ice Cream – we were there just a little too early but here’s the track:

All the festival info you need is here.

11:04 AM: Parade time! For the next hour-plus, this year’s Jubilee Days Parade will proceed northward down 16th SW from SW 112th to SW 100th. We’re stationed near the midpoint for photos and video, which we’ll add here later; watch our @whitecenternow Twitter feed for updates in the meantime.

NOON: The parade is headed for the finish line at SW 100th – the North Highline Fire Department’s ladder truck and Engine 18 were the final entries and just passed us at SW 107th a few minutes ago.

A few entries earlier, we saw and heard the Junior All-City Band:

The Wheels of Boom Car Club was particularly memorable – more than 10 Seahawks-fan-themed vehicles:

And White Center’s elected-for-Jubilee-Days Mayor Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy rode in style:

Many more photos to come!

More cool stuff Sunday – day two of the Jubilee Days Street Fair and more. Like … the White Center Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, a great way to fuel up for another day of fun:

The club has good reasons for wanting you to be part of it:

The White Center Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast on July 23 at Holy Family School is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the club whose mission is to make the world better one child at a time. Pictured above are students from New Start High School receiving their Student of the Month awards from club president Nancy Tracy. White Center Kiwanis works with New Start and Evergreen High Schools to provide service leadership opportunities through Key Club. We also work with the Coalition for Drug Free Youth at Cascade Middle School. We volunteer at the White Center Food Bank and provide help to the elementary schools.

The Pancake Breakfast runs from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm at Holy Family School (9615 20th Ave SW). Tickets to the breakfast are $8.00. Youth under 5 are free with a paying adult. We will be accepting diapers for WestSide Baby. Come see the great raffle prizes. Raffle tickets cost $1 each or 6 for $5.

The weekend’s getting closer – and here’s what you need to know about the different layout (and street closures) for the Jubilee Days street fair and other events on Saturday and Sunday:

Note that 16th and 17th SW will both be closed between Roxbury and 100th, as will 98th between 15th and 18th, 6 am Saturday morning through about 11 pm Sunday night.

*Street fair and main stage (music lineup here) on 16th
*Food on 98th
*Car show/kids’ area on 17th

On Sunday, the parade closure will be 9 am-1 pm on 16th SW between SW 100th and SW 116th. The parade starts at SW 112th at 11 am and runs north from there – more info here.

And check out the Jubilee Days site for tons more info! Organizers point out that local businesses in particular have stepped up in a BIG way this year, more than ever, so be sure to hang out with them throughout the weekend – we’ll have another event-specific preview on Friday.

The first night of the White Center Jubilee Days 2017 carnival was clear … and bright, both at midway level and high above. Partly because of the rides:

And also because of the fireworks!

The show was a full 20 minutes. And then, back to the carnival:

The games and rides continue today/tonight, 3 pm-11 pm.

And this weekend’s the big street fair. Schedules and more are at jubileedays.org.