White Center Now: The blog about White Center

The 12-3 final score was only part of the story as the Highline Bears opened the 2019 season at Mel Olson Stadium in White Center’s Steve Cox Memorial Park on Saturday night. So many other fun touches were part of the night – like home-team players high-fiving fans in the stands as they were introduced (above, catcher Owen Napieralski). Then there were the Shorewood Elementary students who sang the national anthem:

The “unofficial mayor of White Center,” Christine Spencer, threw out the first pitch:

And there was the guest base runner:

Hudson Borg had his own cheering section at home plate:

Mascot Buntly the Bear roamed the stadium:

Other sightings ranged from his between-innings Macarena to a moment where he sat down and checked out our laptop (hard to type with paws, so he moved on). All that and we haven’t even gotten around to the baseball yet. Yes, there was a full nine-inning game between the Bears and the visiting Laces:

That’s #12 Cody Chavis. You can see the full Bears roster here. They all had a lot to high-five about:

The night also included facepainting, live games, the youth league West Seattle Baseball running a 50-50 raffle, and … chair-throwing. See for yourself next home game, which is Friday night (June 7th):

It’ll be National Donut Night on Friday; can’t miss that. Here’s the schedule; here’s where to get tickets. (Kids 8 and under are free!)

Play ball! Tonight at Steve Cox Memorial Park’s Mel Olson Stadium, the Highline Bears open their 2019 season – pregame festivities at 6:45 pm, first pitch scheduled for 7:10 pm. The Bears (see the roster here) are collegiate players with a two-month schedule of home and road games. Ticket prices are low (get your tickets in advance here) and the games are full of fun. Here’s the promotion schedule, including fridge magnets for the first 350 tonight. See you at the ballpark!

One week until Night Out – and you are invited to what might be the biggest one in the area, Family Night Out at Steve Cox Memorial Park! Here’s the announcement we received:

The Annual King County Parks Night Out Against Crime Family event is back on Tuesday, August 7th from 5-7 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd). King County Parks has participated in the National Night Out event for over a decade and is thrilled to be hosting families in the park for the annual event. This year’s activities will feature Pineapple Fiesta-themed crafts and games in honor of the Coco movie night coming up at DTMP on August 4th. Confirmed guests of honor include Deputy Bill from the White Center Storefront, Teen Librarian Devon from the White Center Library, and King County Parks own Marta the River Otter Mascot.

Night Out at SCMP is once again sponsored by the teens and staff of the White Center Teen Program. The WCTP offers free recreational, educational and social enrichment programming to over 1200 culturally diverse participants ages 12-19 each year. The program operates five days a week, forty-eight weeks a year and provides structured recreational classes and programs, homework assistance, educational and computer resources, leadership training, volunteer opportunities, special events, field trips, and drop-in activities. Teens and staff will be providing island-themed crafts, games and hotdogs between 5-7pm on the evening of the 1st.

See you there!

Thanks again to Gill Loring for another look at the Steve Cox Memorial Park work zone – closer, this time:

Project details are here (PDF).

Thanks to Gill for the photo! Work continues at Steve Cox Memorial Park, a $3 million upgrade described by King County Parks as follows:

The project will construct a multi-use synthetic turf athletic field with LED lights and a ten-foot-wide paved walking path around the field perimeter. The field in-fill will be a rubber turf material coated with a colorant and encapsulated with a polyurethane coating. This material was selected to help reduce on-field temperatures and the overall environmental impact of the in-fill.

As mentioned previously, this project is why the Jubilee Days carnival has a new location this year (White Center Heights Elementary) and the fireworks show is on hiatus.

When we covered the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council earlier this month, Highline Bears president Russ Pritchard talked about some of the promotions coming up, including Buntly the Bear bobblehead tonight. That’s tonight! Gates open 6:05 pm at Mel Olson Stadium (1321 SW 102nd), game time vs. the Redmond Dudes is 7:05 pm. More info here.

(Photo courtesy King County Parks)

Set your calendar! As announced by King County Parks:

The 2nd annual Peace in the Hood Job Fair for ages 16 – 24 is coming up on Friday, June 8th from 3-5 pm at the White Center Community Center, in Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd).

The PITH Job Fair provides employment and mentorship opportunities to youth ages 16 – 24 and is presented in partnership by Southwest Youth and Family Services, Worksource, Educurious and the King County Parks and Recreation White Center Teen Program. 200+ youth, 30+ employers, and 10+ resource providers are expected to attend. Resume & employment application assistance will be provided in advance and on-site interview options are scheduled day of with select employers. SWYFS is once again providing their extremely popular youth PITH Basketball Tournament immediately following the Job Fair. More details are available at peacenthehoodjobfair.eventbrite.com

Announced today by the King County Sheriff’s Office – a Drug Take-Back Day event in White Center on Saturday:

The community is invited to bring prescription drugs (and any other drug) to this event to dispose of safely. The program is designed to protect the identity of anyone bringing material to the event. No questions are asked and no information is obtained. The Youth of the White Center PAL Boxing Club will be there to assist the public in placing the drugs into a secure bin for proper disposal.

Who may attend: Open to the public

What: Free drug disposal

Where: Steve Cox Building (White Center), 1327 SW 102nd St.

When: Saturday, October 28th, 2017, 10 am-2 pm

From Lina Rose with King County Parks:

I wanted to share the before and after of my event at Steve Cox.

We had such an awesome group of teen center staff and teens, and a community member. The site is now a beautiful and functional (mini natural area) part of the park.

Volunteers needed on Saturday, October 7th! Here’s the announcement:

Join King County Parks in beautifying the front of Steve Cox Memorial Park home of the historic Log Cabin. Volunteers are needed to help plant shrubs and groundcover to the front of the park and the area in front of the White Center Sheriff’s storefront. Event is from 10 am-2 pm. All tools are provided and no experience is needed! Please contact Lina Rose for more information on the project and to sign up – 206.491.5014, lina.rose@kingcounty.gov. Everyone is welcome!

Just announced by Seattle City Light:

Thanks to the generous contributions of Seattle City Light customers, seven local organizations will receive Green Up grants totaling nearly $1 million to support renewable energy projects and education. The seven organizations will use the grants to help install solar panels at 14 public school, affordable housing, and community-based locations.

“Over 13,000 generous community members are investing in a clean, sustainable energy future by sending a few dollars each month to purchase renewable energy credits through our Green Up program,” said City Light Customer Energy Solutions Director Craig Smith. “City Light is proud to be the steward of this grant and part of the community partnership that will benefit our schools, affordable housing, parks, and hospitals.”

Grant recipients are:

· Seattle Public Schools – $150,000 for solar installations at Bailey Gatzert Elementary, Ballard High School, Denny International Middle School, South Shore K-8 School, Hazel Wolf K-8 ESTEM School and Arbor Heights Elementary
· King County Parks — $119,014 for a solar installation at the Steve Cox Community Center
· Seattle Parks — $50,000 for a solar installation at the Brig at Magnuson Park
· Seattle Colleges — $200,000 for a solar installation at Seattle Central College
· Harborview Medical Center — $50,000 for a solar installation at the hospital
· Capitol Hill Housing – three grants totaling $225,000 for solar installations at three affordable housing complexes – the Elizabeth James House, Ponderosa Apartments and El Nor Apartments
· Pacific Science Center — $164,851 for a solar installation at the center

“We will soon be able to power the White Center community center and the adjacent basketball court using only clean, renewable energy,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said. “Our partnership with Seattle City Light will accelerate the work we are doing to transform Steve Cox Memorial Park into a model for sustainable operations.”

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.

12:59 PM: Thanks to Gill for the photo and report – he says this is all that’s left of a portable toilet by the Steve Cox Memorial Park tennis courts, after a fire last night. He talked with a King County Parks staffer who said no one was hurt. We have a message out to Parks to find out more, including whether it will be replaced.

1:30 PM: Parks spokesperson Doug Williams tells us, “A KCSO deputy was in the park when the fire occurred, so we had emergency responders there in short order. Not sure if it was arson, or if someone was smoking in it. We’ve seen evidence of that before. We’re expecting to have the burnt sani-can replaced by early next week. Until then, there’s one sani-can available to park users by the stadium.”

King County Parks and the White Center Community Development Association invite you to mark your calendar for this:

That’s the trailer for “El Gallo Con Muchos Huevos,” which will be onscreen at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd) at dusk on August 6th (you can arrive as early as 6:30 pm), as this year’s “Cine en el Parque/Movie in the Park.” Free! Enjoy games, music, food, and fun. Here’s a look at last year’s first-ever event:

See you at the movie!

By Randall Hauk
Reporting for White Center Now & West Seattle Blog

The semi-pro Highline Bears baseball team launched its second season at Steve Cox Memorial Park in grand fashion Saturday night, downing the Langley Blaze 10-0 to give manager Rich Lindros a big win in his debut.

Starting pitcher Al Miller needed just seven innings to collect his complete-game shutout, thanks to the efficient Bears offense which used just three hits to generate enough runs to trigger an early end to the game via the “mercy rule.” Miller also surrendered only three hits on the evening, striking out two.

After Blaze starter Brandon Marklund loaded the bases in the fourth inning by hitting three Bears batters, second baseman Connor Jones delivered a two-out single to score Cameron Slader and Colton Kelly.

Marklund’s control struggles continued in the fifth inning, when he again loaded the bases without giving up a hit, this time walking first baseman Angel Valencia before hitting the next two batters. The Bears would pounce on the opportunity, plating six runs in the frame despite a Parker Coffey single being the only hit the home team would produce.

The Bears finished things in the seventh, again taking advantage of Langley pitching issues. After Ben Fitzhugh and Connor Jones each drew walks, third baseman Drew Larea doubled down the right-field line to make it 9-0. Myles Wesner grounded to second, but Ben Foerster’s throw to the plate could not prevent Jones from scoring a game-ending run.

Following the game, children in attendance were invited to run around the bases while Bears players lined the infield offering high-fives to their young fans, who then proceeded to collect autographs from their heroes in blue.

The two teams will meet again today (Sunday, May 29) at Steve Cox (1321 SW 102nd) for a doubleheader beginning at noon. Tickets are $5; kids under 12 get in free.

In our video, you see post-cleanup freedom for 13 of the birds captured at the oil-contaminated White Center stormwater-retention pond. A team from PAWS brought them back to the area and joined state and county reps in opening the carriers and watching them go free. We first reported on the pond problem a week and a half ago; last Friday, the state announced that a WC food-manufacturing business, La Mexicana, had taken responsibility. They say the pond is now clean enough for the birds to return to it safely, but they were released Wednesday morning across the street at Steve Cox Memorial Park. As you can see in the video, all 13 brought back by PAWS were mallards; crews have captured 78 in all, a mix of mallards and Canada geese. Four birds did not survive, including two that were euthanized, according to the state Ecology Department.

Ecology spokesperson Larry Altose says oil-recovery efforts wrapped up at the pond Tuesday, as contractor National Response Corporation removed the last cleanup materials. NRC’s subcontractor Focus Wildlife captured the oiled birds and, Altose says, “housed and treated the birds at the Progressive Animal Welfare Society Wildlife Center in Lynnwood,” where, he adds, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife “supplied a bird rescue trailer to provide extra space for the effort.”

Of the 61 birds still in treatment after Wednesday’s release, he adds, 27 are mallards and 34 are geese. All four of the birds that died were mallards. A WDFW spokesperson confirmed that this is the largest bird-rescuing operation in our state in some time, in terms of spill recovery.

Meantime, as for the birds in the first release …

… we last saw them taking a few test flights around the field. If you see oiled or distressed birds, WDFW asks, call 800-22-BIRDS, but don’t “approach or handle the wildlife,” the state asks, adding that “WDFW asks dog and cat owners in the area to keep their pets under control, as oiled birds are less able to escape from animal attacks.”

P.S. In addition to reporting to the state, the federal EPA also tells us they are interested in information about environmental violations – here’s how to report them. (You can also call the local office directly at 206-553-8306.)

Happening tonight – and it’s free! The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is presenting a concert and film, “Some Places Are Forever Afternoon: A Tribute in Music, Words, and Film to White Center’s Richard Hugo,” starting at 6 pm inside the historic White Center Fieldhouse at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd). Everyone gets in at no charge thanks to funding by 4Culture; the concert features pianist/composer Wayne Horvitz (who’s in the video invitation above), who released a Hugo-tribute CD in July. The event also will show “Kicking the Loose Gravel Home,” an hour-long 1976 film about Hugo, who was just 58 when he died in 1982. Everyone’s welcome!

Tonight’s the night!

King County’s full announcement with details:

Grab your blanket, low-backed chairs, and your friends and family and take in “Película Bajo las Estrellas” or “Movie Under the Stars,” at King County’s Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 22. The event will open at 6 p.m., with the movie starting about 8:30 p.m. Don’t forget to bring your own seating.

King County, with support from White Center Community Development Association will screen the popular comedy “El Padrecito.” Similar to the popular outdoor movie series King County Parks hosts at Marymoor Park, this fun, family-friendly outdoor movie event will also include live entertainment and food trucks.

“Our outdoor movie nights at Marymoor are extremely popular, so we decided to broaden the opportunity for this fun experience to more of our community,’” said King County Parks Director Kevin Brown.

While there is no cost to attend, a food donation to the White Center Food Bank is suggested.

The movie will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles, and offers a chance for King County and community partners to share information with Spanish speaking residents about the programs and services available to them.

Steve Cox Memorial Park is at 1321 SW 102nd St in White Center.

Entertainment is provided by Los Relucientes del Norte and Seattle’s Mexican Folk Dance Group the Joyas Mestizas. Food trucks include: The Mayas Restaurant and Fiesta Time Catering Mobile Mayan food truck.

(ADDED: Piano you’ll see at Steve Cox Park; photo courtesy PitP)

Just announced: Where you’ll find “Pianos in the Parks” around the region this summer. Twenty-two of the “one-of-a-kind, artist-designed upright and grand pianos” are on their way to parks in Western Washington, including one at White Center’s Steve Cox Memorial Park. Once the pianos get to their destinations (starting later today), they’re available for free public use through August 16th; then they’ll be auctioned. Bidding will start soon at pianosintheparks.com; that’s also where you will be able to enter a contest by making a video of yourself and/or your band performing with one of the pianos – if you make one with the Steve Cox Park piano, let us know!