White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Thanks to the person who texted our 24-hour number (206-293-6302) to report this – a truck that went through a fence and partway down an embankment kitty-corner from the Shorewood Market at 26th and 106th. A King County Sheriff’s Deputy at the scene told us that nobody was hurt seriously enough to have to go to the hospital; they’re investigating it as a possible hit-and-run.

No major traffic trouble – the tow truck was already there when we arrived, ready to pull out the truck.

If you’re with a company that specializes in getting people ready for the outdoors – what better way to spend your volunteering time, than to be, well, outdoors? North Shorewood Park got an infusion of attention on Thursday when REI volunteers dug in:

If you’re feeling like helping out, REI’s website even has a feature you can use to find someplace to volunteer. Thanks to Gill for the tip about Thursday’s work party – and for sharing this bonus group shot:

Side note: North Shorewood Park, which is at 24th and 102nd, is one of those that King County would turn over to the City of Burien if annexation wins the November vote and is finalized next year.

11:08 AM: Sarah took this photo before King County Sheriff’s Deputies had even arrived, so we have no other details, but we’re en route to check. 28th/106th, taken just before 11 am Thursday. More to come.

UPDATE: Nobody hurt; the crash was only blocking part of the intersection, and since a tow truck had already arrived by the time we got there around 11:20, it was expected to be cleared quickly.

King County Sheriff’s Deputies say the black pickup in the photo hit a pedestrian crossing 26th SW south of 106th SW about 12:30 pm. We were at the site around 2 and the Major Accident Response investigators had just arrived – deputies told us that meant the road is not likely to reopen till early evening. (We will check back.) No word so far on the circumstances, nor on the condition of the pedestrian. This is a busy area for traffic, since 106th SW runs between White Center and the West Seattle neighborhood of Arbor Heights, and 26th SW runs north of the scene all the way to the Westwood Village shopping center. We have two reports, neither official (one is from someone saying he was a witness at the scene right after the crash), that the victim is a juvenile male, and we will be trying to find out more.

5:31 PM UPDATE: The road is open again; investigators have finished and departed.

6:40 PM UPDATE: King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. John Urquhart has sent a brief news release on the crash, but the only additional detail it contains is that the victim, described as “around 15 years old,” is in serious condition.

In nearby Shorewood on the Sound, next Saturday is a day much like our recent West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – dozens of residents are having yard/garage sales. A couple folks in Shorewood have e-mailed to call our attention to this so we can share with you. They say the map’s not available online, but printed copies will be available in the neighborhood that day, and hopefully we will get a list to sales to share with you before then. Sale hours on Saturday are 10 am-4 pm.

Got a few notes through partner site West Seattle Blog‘s mailbox this morning regarding law-enforcement action in Shorewood, along SW 106th near the Seola Beach turnoff, just blocks west of White Center, reportedly with major weaponry and canines at one point. One King County Sheriff’s Office rep still there, and an unmarked car, when we drove by in the 8 am hour; checked with KCSO spokesperson Sgt. John Urquhart, who told us that his agency was assisting what he believed to be federal agents in serving warrants as part of an operation/investigation involving multiple locations. We’ll add to this story if/when we find out more.

6:48 PM UPDATE: Got word from Cocoa’s people, she’s home. Glad to hear it.

EARLIER:
Cocoa‘s missing. Her people explain, “Any time she’s ever sneaked out before, she’s always come home! She is the best family dog and my kids are beside themselves. We’ve all had a horrible night.” She’s 3 years old and her people can be reached:
HOME: 206-767-2466
CELLS: 206-459-8979 & 206-459-9079

Cocoa lives near 28th SW/SW 116th (map).

Perusing the White Center Community Development Association website, we note an item from almost a week ago, in which a community newsletter from Shorewood draws WCCDA ire. The piece singled out by the WCCDA site writer complains about dog waste along Shorewood trails and suggests penalties for offenders, such as “sending their beloved pets to White Center to be recycled (eaten).” A complaint letter was written to the Shorewood on the Sound Club, signed by WCCDA’s Aileen Balahadia, Karen Veloria and Heather Downey and saying in part:

We do not find this remark funny- we find it offensive, as this stereotype is obviously applied to the communities of color in our diverse White Center. It is also abusive to our goal to market and promote our wonderful, hard-working, and largely immigrant owned small businesses and restaurants.

We appreciate community residents like yourselves getting together to improve your neighborhood. We’d implore you to please do so without dragging down a neighbor, especially one like White Center that has done so much to counter such negativity over the last few years.

We’ll be checking with both WCCDA and the Shorewood group to see if there’s been followup, since a week has gone by. 2:13 PM UPDATE: We heard back from Shorewood newsletter editor Kevin, who said he had replied to say he’s sorry they were offended. Aileen at WCCDA confirmed they had received a response but it wasn’t as much of an apology as they felt was in order, since the remark was published in a community-wide newsletter.

From Wes Olsen at Shorewood Foursquare Church:

The youth group at the church is participating in World Vision’s 30-Hour Famine, which is when our youth fast for 30 hours to connect with those who are starving across the world. We also raise money for people who are starving or in poverty during this time too, including where our money is going to this (time), Haiti Earthquake Relief.

Part of what we want to do is to ask people to come to our location this Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm, and donate new or gently used clothing for teens to go to New Horizons Ministry in Belltown, and food donations to the White Center Food Bank.

Our location is 2656 Southwest 104th Street. It is the building just south of Shorewood Foursquare Church, on 28th Ave SW. The drop off location is on the 28th Ave SW side of the building.

From just north of White Center, Hope Kerkof sends word that Shorewood Christian School‘s auction is almost here:

Mark your calendars! This Saturday, March 28th at 5 pm, you won’t want to miss the Shorewood Christian School’s annual auction. The theme of this year’s dinner-auction, “Come aboard Our Cruise Ship,” docks at Shorewood Foursquare Sanctuary at 5 pm. This is a fun filled evening of buffet dining, with a silent and live auction benefiting Shorewood Christian School. The proceeds from the auction this year goes to Shorewood Christian’s high-school-expansion efforts. Boarding passes are $25.00 each. For tickets or more information, call Shorewood Christian at 206-933-1056 or visit the website at www.ShorewoodChristianSchool.org