White Center Now: The blog about White Center

King County just posted the closure of 21 roads due to flooding.  Most of the roads are in rural King County.  You can find the complete list here. Will update if any roads in this community are affected.

Time to get out there and help spiffy up the White Center area.  Come and help with clean up and green up sponsored by the City of Seattle.  Mayor will be in attendance so if you want to chat with Mayor Nickels, here’s your chance.

Field Interviewer Positions Available

Flexible Schedule – From 20 to 35 hours/per week

March 15, 2009 – June 06, 2009

White Center Neighborhoods

The National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago (NORC) seeks reliable, outgoing, persuasive people to conduct phone, and in-person interviews within the homes of residents of selected White Center neighborhoods, March 15th – June 06th 2009.  30-35 interviewers will be staffed.  This research survey will focus on community issues in these neighborhoods.  Interviewers must gain the cooperation of the residents of sampled households and maintain strict confidentiality standards.

Interviewers must be self-motivated, have a valid driver’s license, an insured working car, and a land telephone.  Interviewers will report weekly to Field Managers.   No selling.   Background check and driving history conducted.

Hourly rate $14.37 plus mileage

SPECIFIC TASKS:

Interviewers administer a structured questionnaire by phone or in/person in scientifically sampled households.  Only one household member is selected for the interview.  The interview itself takes about an hour to administer. The survey collects data about the respondents’ neighborhood and community.

This information is gathered carefully and systematically.  A lot of reporting and record keeping is required. Interviewers will be well trained and supported by Field Managers.  All of the interviews must be completed within a 12‑week field period but the work must progress very quickly, leaving the last weeks of the field period just for clean‑up tasks.

TRAINING:

Successful applicants will attend 4 days of paid training in Seattle March 11th through March 15th. Attendance at all assigned training sessions is mandatory.

AVAILABILITY:

Successful applicants must be available to work from 20 – 35 hours/week on a flexible schedule including most week nights and week-ends (Sat and Sunday).  Work hours will vary with the progress of the data collection effort throughout the field period.  This is an interesting position for individuals with flexible availability when residents are expected to be home most frequently–evenings and weekends and (less frequently) weekday hours.

Spanish and Vietnamese Bilingual speakers are strongly encouraged to apply

NORC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

TO APPLY: Visit website: http://www.norc.org/Careers/

Cafe Rozella, White Center’s hub and coffee house, wants to thank all our wonderful patrons for making 2008 our best year and for electing Barack Obama, President of the U.S.

We look forward to better times.  We cannot pass this opportunity to give thanks to: Mike the artist, mike the mechanic, mike the longshoreman, little mike and big mike, Cherrie, Onion, Eric the Swede, Joan, Carlos, Eduardo, Bill, Bill and Bill, Robert, Aileen, Laura, Jorge, Argelia, Paige, Eric, Vassily, Carmen, Flora, Sim, Chica, Jason, Anne, Jeremy, Austin, Ron, Gabrielle, Athena, Chad and Tracy, Andrew and Moe, Jessica, David, David and David, Ruth, Ringo, Paul, John, Maury, Rob, Gary, Gary and Marjorie, Jim, and everyone else who contributed to the wonderful community that is White Center and Cafe Rozella.  We love you all.  Truly.

Beyond One Language – Más allá de una lengua

A literary event celebrating the Spanish language and Latino/a culture

The second in a series of popular literary readings happened on Friday, December 5th in White Center.

The goal of these events is to promote the Spanish language – as well as native Latin American languages – via literary readings by Spanish language authors. For the December 5th event, local writers Javier Amaya and Paola Casla Taylor will be reading their work. Zita Paulino will also be there, and will read the poetry of Irma Pinedo Santiago in their native Zapotec language. English translations of the readings will be provided by House of Writers / Casa de Escritores, Inc., so that non-Spanish speakers can join the celebration.  Here are some pictures from this wonderful event.

Tough to get around in but nonetheless, the snow has had its beauty. Congratulations to all for getting through what (knock wood) by most accounts appears to have been the worst of it – and have a joyful rest of your holiday!

Although most of the details of the proposed agreement between Seattle and Burien for the proposed annexation have been covered in this blog as well as our partner, West Seattle Blog, the Seattle Times has a good article in today’s edition.  Per the article:

North Highline, one of the largest urban parts of King County that isn’t in a city, could be split between Seattle and Burien if the two city councils and voters decide that’s a good idea.

Seattle would become the local government for White Center and neighboring communities in the northern portion of North Highline, and Burien would absorb Boulevard Park and other neighborhoods in the southern part. An estimated 33,400 residents would be affected.

The proposed boundary, tentatively agreed to this month by Seattle and Burien, would run mostly along South and Southwest 112th and 116th streets. The agreement defines how much territory each of the cities could annex through the end of 2011. After that, all bets are off.

Feel free to leave your thoughts, but as always, be civil (and rational).  Thanks.

On this snowy and cold Monday morning, Cafe Rozella is open.  Dropy by for your Mexican Mocha and shake off the cabin fever.

Right now a number of businesses are open in White Center, including Walgreens, Bartell, Pho 88, El Paisano, Taqueria Guaymas, Center Tool Rentals and, of course, Cafe Rozella.   If I have not included your business send me a message or call (206) 763-5805.

A fresh layer of heavy snow coming down.  There is a icy sugar glaze over last night’s snow.  Could be very trecharous so be careful.  Share your pictures.

Come on in for warmth, coffee and conversation.

Hungry for some real burgers and fries?  Zippy’s is open and will stay open till about 7:30.  Fear not foodies.

Ron Sims was on KUOW this morning.  The issue of the jail’s location was raised by one caller and Sims was unequivocal in saying that, as far as the County goes, the only viable site is downtown, next to the present jail.  This has been my position all along, for reasons which I will be glad to elaborate.  But, the placement is not in the County’s hand, given that this is a regional jail for misdeamenants.  The City of Seattle is the gorilla in the room on this one.  I for one, do not comprehend why they would imbroil the city in litigation (and delay the construction) over the placement of a jail by inserting it into a neighborhood.   Nobody would bat an eye, and everyone would be happier, if the jail was located downtown.  I am not a big Sims fan, but he actually had a number of good ideas today.  More importantly, he didn’t seem burned out, as he has in prior interviews.

PS:  You can twitter Sims and he will add you to his twitter list, giving you direct access.  Do you suppose we could convince Mayor Nickels to put us on his twitter list?

Here are some pics from the White Center area.  Will post some more as soon as I finish my coffee.  Feel free to share your own.

looking out the back deck

16th Ave. SW looking north

16th Ave. SW looking south towards Roxbury

16th Ave. SW looking towards Delridge - notice bus stalled in intersection

Cafe Rozella in December snowstorm

If you want to get out and can walk or ride your trail bike, we’re here brewing up coffee.  Cheers!

White Center Now was first to report last night that Burien City Manager Mike Martin announced a mediated agreement with Seattle and two fire districts over the future of annexation proposals – current and potential – in the White Center/North Highline area. Here’s our original report from last night; now, Burien has posted the agreement online – read it here. Also a reminder, the two annexation open houses we reported last month are still on the schedule for January and February; full details here.

Ok.  We could just put this up and let everyone note the irony.  But in the interests of informed discussion, I am here posting the definition of reason:

rea⋅son

–noun

1.	a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.: the reason for declaring war.

2.	a statement presented in justification or explanation of a belief or action.

3.	the mental powers concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences.

4.	sound judgment; good sense.

5.	normal or sound powers of mind; sanity.

6.	Logic. a premise of an argument.

7.

Philosophy. a. the faculty or power of acquiring intellectual knowledge, either by direct understanding of first principles or by argument. b. the power of intelligent and dispassionate thought, or of conduct influenced by such thought. c. Kantianism. the faculty by which the ideas of pure reason are created.

–verb (used without object)

8.	to think or argue in a logical manner.

9.	to form conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or premises.

10.	to urge reasons which should determine belief or action.

–verb (used with object)

11.	to think through logically, as a problem (often fol. by out).

12.	to conclude or infer.

13.	to convince, persuade, etc., by reasoning.

14.	to support with reasons.

—Idioms

15.	bring (someone) to reason, to induce a change of opinion in (someone) through presentation of arguments; convince: The mother tried to bring her rebellious daughter to reason.

16.	by reason of, on account of; because of: He was consulted about the problem by reason of his long experience.

17.	in or within reason, in accord with reason; justifiable; proper: She tried to keep her demands in reason.

18.	stand to reason, to be clear, obvious, or logical: With such an upbringing it stands to reason that the child will be spoiled.

19.	with reason, with justification; properly: The government is concerned about the latest crisis, and with reason.

---

Origin:
1175–1225; ME resoun, reisun (n.) < OF reisun, reson < L ratiōn- (s. of ratiō) ratio

I leave it to you dear reader to plumb the depths of irony inherent in that sign.

Next weekend, Mount View Presbyterian Church in White Center (map) is raising money for the White Center Food Bank by hosting a “holiday worship concert” — “The Covering” with Michelle Lang and Still Water (poster shown above). It’s happening at 6 pm Saturday and Sunday nights, and a $10 donation is requested at the door, with all proceeds to WCFB, according to Pat Thompson from the YES Foundation, who adds, “We are inviting people to bring canned foods and/or other non-perishables to be given to the Food Bank as well.”

Save the date!  The Cafe Rozella Holiday Party and Open House will be held next Saturday, December 13th starting at 4 p.m.  The Rozella Party will feature Ricardo’s famous Mole.  Bring donations for the White Center Food Bank.  Cafe Rozella is located at 9434 Delridge Way, SW south of the intersection of Delridge and 17th Ave SW.  Online directions at www.caferozella.com or call (206) 763-5805.  Hosted by the Rozella Writers and Poets Group and Cafe Rozella.

Beyond One Language – Más allá de una lengua

A literary event celebrating the Spanish language and Latino/a culture

The second in a series of popular literary readings will happen Friday, December 5, from 6 to 9 PM, at Taqueria del Rio, 10230 16th Avenue SW in Seattle’s White Center neighborhood.

The goal of these events is to promote the Spanish language – as well as native Latin American languages – via literary readings by Spanish language authors. For the December 5th event, local writers Javier Amaya and Paola Casla Taylor will be reading their work. Zita Paulino will also be there, and will read the poetry of Irma Pinedo Santiago in their native Zapotec language. English translations of the readings will be provided by House of Writers / Casa de Escritores, Inc., so that non-Spanish speakers can join the celebration.

The event is free to the public, and an outdoor setting resembling a Mexican town has been secured in order to enhance the experience. In addition to the readings, there will be a demonstration of traditional Jarabe dance, a book exchange, music, and food.

This event is sponsored by:

• The Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs

• House of Writers / Casa de Escritores, Inc.

• The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

• Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior

• Hedgebrook

• Viva la Música

• 4Culture

• La Sala

• Mujeres of the Northwest

# # #

For more information about this event, or to schedule an interview with one of the featured readers, please call Laura González at 206-320-8780 or e-mail her at lago1212@msn.com.