White Center Now: The blog about White Center

From the South Park Library, via the SP Yahoo! group:

South Park artist Amaranata Sandys shows us how to make sugar skulls, a traditional Day of the Dead craft, using sequins, color paint and paper flowers. A Day of the Dead altar will also be on display. For ages 5 and up.

Saturday, October 23, 12-2 p.m.
@ South Park Library

Amaranta Sandys de South Park enseñará como hacer las calaveras de azúcar, una tradición del Día de los Muertos; ultiizando lentejuelas, pintura de colores y flores de papel. Un altar de los Días de los Muertos estará en exhibición. Para niños de 5 años y más.

Sábado, 23 de octubre de 12-2 de la tarde
@ la biblioteca de South Park

8604 8th Ave. S. & S. Cloverdale St.
206-615-1688

Just reported on partner site West Seattle Blog: The Hooters that opened almost exactly a year ago, claiming to be in South Park but really more in Boulevard Park, has closed – blaming the South Park Bridge closure. Full story here.

Did you make it over to South Park for the big day of sales – and more? We’ve got coverage on partner site West Seattle Blog – check out the photos, video and story here.

South Park was already known as a creative community before the loss of its main bridge access – and now its residents and community organizations are coming up with even more-memorable ways to entice visitors. For one, there was Saturday’s community garage sale and barbecue at Duwamish Waterway Park – thanks to Gill for sharing photos, including kids creating crafts while musicians serenaded the park:

Kayaks beckoned visitors to explore the river:

And now an even-bigger event is on tap for next weekend:

SOUTH PARK ON SALE! AUGUST 28, 1,000 HOME GARAGE, ALLEY, YARD SALE EXTRAVAGANZA KEEPS SOUTH PARK CONNECTED DURING BRIDGE CLOSURE

Since the closure of the South Park Bridge 20,000 cars a day no longer drive through the culturally rich neighborhood South of the Duwamish river alongside Boeing and sandwiched between I-5, 509 & 99. Overall, business is way down for its main street establishments.

In an effort to keep South Park connected to the rest of Seattle and help local residents economically, South Park resident Deborah Semer, owner of Atmosphere Artist Management and Co-founder of the national non-profit Operation Ward 57, is organizing a community wide-garage, yard & alley sale where outside vendors are welcome. “Every other home in South Park has a business, musician or artist creating wonderful things on top of collectors of various treasures.” Resident, Alyssa Stevens, who owns an antique store in Georgetown Collectible Fruit, “has tons of stuff to sell!”

Semer says, “The challenge is to get people into South Park. We hope they stay here all day, exploring the nooks and crannies like our vibrant marina, creative micro-home businesses, brand new skateboard park, authentic Mexican food, fresh produce at our Market on Wheels and then enjoy a salsa dance party from Seattle’s premier dance studio Salsa Con Todo and then, watch a free outdoor movie presented by South Park Outdoor Cinema. It’s going to be a wild day!”

Other potential surprises could include a Zumba flash mob, the Dead Babies Bicycle Club, chair massage by Karina, Pirates, One Man Online band Tukso Okey from NY and well-known mural artist Kenji Fullmer.

Providence Regina House, which feeds & clothes residents will be open after the sale to accept donations. If you would like to purchase a table for only $10 to sell your items as an outside vendor call Juanita Rivera at (206) 235-5864.

The giant sale also includes the weekly Market on Wheels from 10am – 4pm at 14th & Cloverdale and the SP Outdoor Cinema presenting the movie “UP.” Gates open at 8:30pm, movie at 9:30pm.

A map will be available around the neighborhood and at homes to help shoppers find their treasures.

Again, that’s next Saturday.

That’s one angle we had on the final three minutes of the South Park Bridge‘s life – as the gates went down, the warning bells and siren sounded, and then, the drawbridge went up forever, as the crowd howled. Then – an impromptu round of “Amazing Grace,” and a toast – all in that clip. White Center was certainly represented at the wake – we saw WC Food Bank executive director Rick Jump atop the bridge in its final hour, and community activists including Liz Giba. King County Councilmember Jan Drago was there in a pink hat and pink tulle – same kind that decorated the bridge’s leaves as they rose. State House Position 2 candidate and White Center business owner Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy was there too. More coverage to come – this event was really all about the moments captured in video and photos. We had some photos in as-it-happened coverage on partner site West Seattle Blog.

(Photo courtesy King County Department of Transportation)
The bus reroutes kicked in this morning; the bridge closes tonight. Here is a preview from partner site West Seattle Blog. Note that the South Park community is hoping to have a strong show of support from all over the area as they say goodbye to the bridge tonight – and say hello to an interim time, before a new bridge is built, that they know will be challenging, but survivable with support from neighbors. P.S. A traffic alert from Jim, in WSB comments:

Watch your driving through the area. SDOT has already changed lane assignments as of Noon. You are going to be down one right turn lane off of E Marginal Way southbound.

Also the right lane on Cloverdale is no longer a left turn lane, it is right turn only.

This seems a little premature, and is bound to screw up the afternoon commute.

Thanks to Gill for the photo – apparently if you catch that sign at just the right instant, half the illuminated words and numbers disappear. The handwritten sign below, however, speaks more loudly. We’re taking the occasion to point you to a news release the county sent around today – for anyone who didn’t already have this burned into their awareness, 7 pm this Wednesday is the moment that the South Park Bridge is scheduled to close for good – more like “open” permanently, as the leaves will be raised so vessel traffic can make it through. The community is planning a 6-10 pm wake with art, music and more, and inviting you to be part of what they hope truly will be just a temporary end to their link across the Duwamish … the push for a new bridge now has $80 million of the $130 million funding commitment that’s neded. P.S. An important part of the reminder is that the bus routes that are changing because of the bridge shutdown will start their new routes at 5 am Wednesday – so tomorrow is the final full day of those routes (explained here) the way they are.

$10 million more today, according to County Councilmember Jan Drago‘s office. Meantime, counting down to closure of the old one – 7 pm Wednesday, if for some reason you hadn’t heard. The 1st Avenue South Bridge has maintenance closures 5 am -11 am both days this weekend.

(County Councilmember Julia Patterson, one of the many elected officials who spoke at today’s announcement)
Just back from covering the official announcement of $20 million in state money for the South Park Bridge’s replacement, exactly one week before the current one is closed permanently. A dozen political and community leaders were there to share in the announcement, which brings the financial commitment so far to $70 million, more than half the cost of the replacement. More to come.

King County produced a video explainer of the South Park Bridge‘s impending closure. In case you’re still not entirely clear about the impending 7 pm June 30th shutdown – just two weeks from tomorrow – check it out.

(North Highline council members Barbara Dobkin, Rebecca Lopes, Christine Waldman, Jessica Stoneback, Ron Johnson, Patrick Mosley, Richard Miller, Pat Price, Stephen Porter [not pictured: Heidi Johnson])
Story and photos by Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for White Center Now

First up from last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting at North Highline Fire District HQ: The seven winners of the May 20 election (District 1: Pat Price, District 2: Stephen Porter, District 3: Jessica Stoneback, District 4: Christine Waldman, At Large: Rebecca Lopes, Barbara Dobkin and Richard Miller) were seated for the first time as active council members.

But those who previously served got a moment of recognition too: King County Councilmember Jan Drago‘s executive assistant Holly Krejci recognized, on behalf of Drago, past members for their “timeless work on behalf of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council,” collectively serving 12 years.

Up next, King County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hancock shared the monthly crime report that included:

* three felony assaults
* 10 misdemeanor assaults
* one stabbing
* two shooting calls
* one homicide
* two robberies
* 25 burglaries, of which two were commercial
* 20 auto thefts

These statistics were alarming to council members and residents, considering just months ago Hancock’s crime report was significantly less. Hancock attributes this to fewer police on patrol, because the Weed and Seed and Byrne grants have finished funding and assisting with a higher police presence. Presently, this unincorporated area of King County has only two officers on patrol, and Hancock agrees that the numbers reflect this.

“We can’t do proactive police work,” said Hancock. “The best thing you can do as residents is be a good neighbor.” However, he did emphasize that should a high priority crime take place, backup is only minutes away from the Seatac or Burien police departments.

Council Member Patrick Mosley did ask about a new drug on the streets called ‘wet’–marijuana cigarettes dipped in embalming fluid — to which Hancock did say they had seen an increase in its abuse.

Also visiting from King County was Paulette Norman from the Roads Division of the Transportation Department, to distribute and discuss the South Park Bridge Final Closure Plan, also found here. Norman emphasized that even if funding was secured tomorrow, the bridge would still close as currently scheduled at 7 pm June 30th, because it would take almost three years to dismantle and rebuild a new one.

She did agree with most in the audience that the area around the bridge won’t look aesthetically pleasing for a while, and she also emphasized they are doing everything possible to help with the traffic diversions, including the installation of new digital message signs to help with communications of any traffic issues to commuters. These are going up along 1st Ave South, Highway 99, 509 and 599, hopefully she said, right around June 30, the day the bridge closes.

The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meets the first Thursday of every month at the North Highline Fire District Office. Visit www.northhighlineuac.org for more info.

Its highlights – including the newest changes planned for Metro Route 60, which serves White Center – were discussed as part of a wide-ranging public meeting last night. Here’s the detailed report published on our partner site West Seattle Blog. Bottom line remains, the bridge closes 7 pm June 30th, and the money to replace it hasn’t been rounded up yet.

Tonight is the second of two meetings for the public to hear about the closure plan for the South Park Bridge – now just a month away (7 pm, June 30th). The meeting’s 6-8 pm at the Machinists’ Union Hall in South Park; full details at the SP Bridge Closure page on the King County website.

From partner site West Seattle Blog: King County says the final consultant review of the South Park Bridge’s condition is in, and it reaffirms the county decision to close the deteriorating bridge on June 30th. Full story here.

Seattle Channel‘s “Inside/Out” show focuses this time on the South Park Bridge, its impending closure, and the community members who hope it won’t be as devastating as their fear. You can watch the entire program in the video window above (or you can watch it this week on the Seattle Channel, if you have it on your cable system).

If you haven’t already seen it on partner site West Seattle Blog, here’s the link to our full-length article – with one video clip from a particularly impassioned community member – about last night’s meeting on the “draft closure plan” for the South Park Bridge. The plan itself also is available online, and is linked in the story.

This is the next major public meeting about the impending South Park Bridge closure: 6-8 pm Tuesday night at the Machinist Union Hall in South Park. But this isn’t about the hopes of a new bridge – it’s about the plans proposed to help residents, businesspeople and other bridge users get by once the bridge closes on June 30th. This is the “draft” plan, with tweaks to be made after public comments are heard, so it’s important to be there if this is an important issue: Here’s the official announcement; here’s a map.

UPDATED SUNDAY: Our video is from just after protesters stretched into a “human chain” all the way across the South Park Bridge. But thanks to Dale Rowe for sending the photo we added Sunday:

Meantime, the people opposed to the bridge’s closure did get hoped-for media attention during their demonstration today – we saw a couple TV crews. And awareness is what it was all about, according to Bill Pease:

The county’s plan for closing the bridge remains 7 pm June 30th, and there’s no hard-and-fast plan for a replacement yet, though the money search continues. County Councilmember Jan Drago talked about it while speaking before participating in the waterborne work party that was part of the Duwamish Alive! Earth Day effort this morning – this next clip is by visual journalist Cliff DesPeaux, who covered Duwamish Alive! for our partner site West Seattle Blog:

As reported here earlier this week, the first meeting to review the county’s draft closure plan – addressing everything from traffic to business impacts – is set for 6 pm April 27 at the IAM Hall in South Park.

King County has set the dates for two community meetings on the South Park Bridge closure plan: April 27 and May 25, both meetings 6-8 pm at the Machinists Hall in South Park. These are not meetings about the bridge’s future, but rather, regarding logistics of its closure and resulting traffic/emergency-services effects. April 27, the draft plan will be presented; May 25, the final plan. The bridge is still scheduled to close permanently 7 pm June 30, and so far there is no plan for rebuilding it, which requires rounding up more than $100 million first.

That’s our video from this afternoon’s South Park Bridge rally. A few dozen people stood alongside the south side of the bridge, waving signs, rattling noisemakers, even shaking pom-poms. Before 3 pm, though, it started to rain, hard, and we noticed a few of the demonstrators leaving – though others stayed and simply whipped out umbrellas. ADDED 10:57 PM: Washblog has a story with lots of photos.