34th District Democrats endorse North Highline Fire District measure

July 10th, 2014 at 9:32 am Posted in Election, North Highline Fire District, White Center news | 5 Comments »

Less than a week until King County Elections sends out the August 5th ballots, which will include the North Highline Fire District benefit-charge ballot measure. Last night, meeting in West Seattle, this area’s biggest political organization, the 34th District Democrats, endorsed the measure. If you’re still getting up to speed on what it’s about, see the video in this WCN story from last month’s NH Unincorporated Area Council meeting.

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White Center Jubilee Days: Just a week and a half away

July 6th, 2014 at 11:30 pm Posted in White Center Jubilee Days, White Center news | Comments Off on White Center Jubilee Days: Just a week and a half away

The end of the 4th of July weekend is just the start of the rest of our summer. White Center Jubilee Days is just a week and a half away, starting Wednesday, July 16th, with the carnival opening at 3 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park, hours before the fireworks show. The carnival continues daily through the end of Jubilee Days on Sunday night, but in the meantime, you can enjoy the Street Fair on Saturday and Sunday (July 19-20) and the Parade on Saturday (2:30 pm July 19th), among other events. More previews to come!

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Not registered to vote? Monday’s the deadline!

July 4th, 2014 at 6:38 pm Posted in Election, White Center news | 3 Comments »

The August 5th election is just a month away – and it includes the important North Highline Fire District ballot measure. So don’t miss the chance to vote – here’s the reminder from King County Elections:

Citizens who want to vote in the August 5 primary election have until Monday, July 7 to register to vote or update voter registration information online or by mail. King County Elections will mail primary election ballots to all registered voters on July 16, so it’s important that citizens register to vote and keep their address and other information, including their signature, updated.

Voters can check to make sure their registration information is current by:

* Using My Voter Guide online
* Calling the Voter Hotline at 206-296-VOTE (8683)
* Visiting King County Elections, 919 SW Grady Way, Renton. Weekdays 8:30-4:30
* Visiting the Voter Registration Annex, 500 4th Avenue, Room 440, Seattle. Weekdays from 8:30 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 4:30 pm

How to register to vote

* Online
* By mail
* In person

Voters who miss the July 7 deadline to update their registration should still contact the Elections office to update their information for future elections. King County residents not currently registered in Washington can register in person at the Elections office through July 28.

Who can register?

To be eligible to register to vote, you must be:

* 18 years old by election day (August 5)
* A United States citizen
* A legal resident of the state of Washington
* Not under the authority of the Department of Corrections

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Interested in solar power? Solarize Southwest is launching

July 3rd, 2014 at 10:29 pm Posted in Environment, Sustainability, White Center news | Comments Off on Interested in solar power? Solarize Southwest is launching

A new incentive campaign for residential solar power is headed this way. Here’s the announcement we received about Solarize Southwest:

Solar energy is currently powering hundreds of Seattle homes, and residents of West Seattle, White Center, Georgetown, Burien and other southwest neighborhoods are about to get a special opportunity to add their rooftops to our city’s growing solar array. Through a nonprofit-led program called Solarize Washington, homes and small businesses can qualify for special pricing and take advantage of many incentives that make solar installations more affordable than ever.

Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (Northwest SEED) and Seattle City Light are working with several community groups to launch Solarize Southwest, a solar energy education and installation program that starts today and runs through October. The program will be co-led by a community coalition of local volunteers, which will spearhead neighborhood outreach. Supporting organizations include Sustainable West Seattle and Sustainable Burien.

The campaign features a group-buy program that provides a streamlined process for residents and small businesses to purchase solar systems for a discounted price. Participants learn how solar photovoltaics (PV) works, how it is installed, what tax and production incentives are available to bring the price down, and how low-interest financing can spread out the cost. The limited-time campaign intends to install nearly one megawatt of solar energy in southwest Seattle and Burien by the end of 2014.

Through a competitive bidding process, community volunteers selected Puget Sound Solar and Artisan Electric as the project’s solar installation team. These contractors will offer solar systems at discounted rates to project participants.

Solarize Southwest will be the tenth campaign of Northwest SEED’s Solarize Washington program. To date, Solarize Washington campaigns have resulted in over 2 MW of new solar capacity, over 2,000 people educated through public workshops, 475 residents who installed solar on their homes, and more than $12 million injected into the local solar economy. The last Solarize campaign, Central/Southeast Seattle, was so successful that 885 kW of solar photovoltaics was installed on the grid and over 620 people attended workshops. Solarize Southwest is the third campaign sponsored by Seattle City Light, and momentum is already building to make this campaign even more successful than the last.

Registration for Solarize Southwest is open to Seattle and Burien residents who live in the geographic area bordered by downtown Seattle to the north, I-5 to the east, and within Seattle City Light service territory. Free educational workshops will be held on Jul 19, Jul 24, Aug 9, Aug 26, Sept 10, Sept 17, and Oct 4. For more information and to pre-register for a workshop, visit solarizewa.org.

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King County Sheriff’s Deputy BJ Myers leaving White Center Storefront role

July 1st, 2014 at 7:05 pm Posted in King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news | 2 Comments »

(Deputy Myers with a community art exhibit inside the WC storefront: WCN photo, March 2013)
Out of the WCN inbox, from King County Sheriff’s Deputy BJ Myers – he’s leaving the Storefront Deputy job, but not entirely leaving White Center:

Dear White Center,

After three years in the White Center Storefront I have been selected for a new assignment on patrol. I will work White Center, Vashon, and Skyway and be more involved in the training of new deputies. I am very excited to start this new challenge and grateful for the opportunity to serve White Center for the last few years.

My experience as the Storefront Deputy has been very positive because of the relationships with people who work for good in the neighborhood. Through you all I have learned what it means to be part of a caring, creative, multi-cultural community. I appreciate all the support you gave to the Sheriff’s Office on so many different occasions.

Over the next few weeks the Sheriff’s Office will be selecting a new White Center Storefront Deputy. If you wish to be heard about the priorities of the neighborhood or the role of the Storefront Deputy, now is the time. You can contact Captain Ted Boe, Theodore.boe@kingcounty.gov, or me, Benjamin.myers@kingcounty.gov.

Thank you for your commitment to the neighborhood.
BJ

Deputy Myers started the storefront job in fall of 2011.

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Know whose dogs these are? – Update: They’re back home!

June 29th, 2014 at 11:49 am Posted in Pets, White Center news | 1 Comment »

(The found dogs reported here on Sunday are back home!)

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Traffic-alert update: Tree on eastbound Roxbury now cleared

June 27th, 2014 at 1:00 pm Posted in Safety, Traffic, White Center news | Comments Off on Traffic-alert update: Tree on eastbound Roxbury now cleared

1 PM: Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog: Thanks to Krista for the tip (with photo) about a tree down across eastbound Roxbury at 10th SW. As you can see in the photo she shared, King County Sheriff’s Office is on the scene. We are en route to see if cleanup is under way yet.

6:25 PM: It wasn’t cleared as of three hours ago, but when we went back to check a few minutes ago, it was off to the side, and traffic was back to normal.

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Southside Revolution Junior Derby: New roller-derby league about to launch

June 27th, 2014 at 1:29 am Posted in Fun, southgate, Sports, White Center news | Comments Off on Southside Revolution Junior Derby: New roller-derby league about to launch

Pamela McCarty shares the news that Southside Revolution Junior Derby is launching soon, and interested skaters 8-17 are welcome to come to an Info Night at White Center’s own Southgate Roller Rink next Monday (June 30th), 7 pm. Southside Revolution definitely plans a girls’ team, and will also have a coed team if enough boys are interested.

Southgate will be the practice site for the new league. If you just can’t make it Monday night but have an interested skater in the family, there will be another Info Night on July 14th and an August summer camp.

Questions? E-mail info@southsiderevolution.com – and you’re invited to check out this Facebook group.

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Fireworks sales begin in unincorporated King County on Saturday

June 25th, 2014 at 1:34 pm Posted in Holidays, White Center news | Comments Off on Fireworks sales begin in unincorporated King County on Saturday

From the state Fire Marshal’s Office:

Consumer firework sales across the state will begin at noon on Saturday, June 28 and continue until 9:00 p.m. on July 5. State Fire Marshal Chuck Duffy reminds residents to “know the laws before purchasing and discharging fireworks,” and “only purchase legal fireworks.” This year 937 retail fireworks stand licenses were issued.

Statewide sales and discharge period allowed by RCW 70.77.395

Sales Period/Discharge Period
June 28
12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m./12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

June 29 – July 3
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m./9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

July 4
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m./9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.

July 5
9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m./9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

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Looking for camp options in White Center?

June 24th, 2014 at 12:06 pm Posted in Lakewood Park, White Center news | Comments Off on Looking for camp options in White Center?

Here’s one coming up in Lakewood Park, presented by a group of local churches:

Zoo-Mazing VBS Daycamp

July 28-31, 1-4:30 pm

Lakewood Park (11050 10th Ave SW)

Kids entering grades 1-6

FREE

Register or more info at: www.westsidefoursquare.org
Sponsored by a team of 7 local churches

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Happy 6th anniversary, Full Tilt Ice Cream!

June 20th, 2014 at 4:43 pm Posted in Full Tilt Ice Cream, Fun, White Center news | Comments Off on Happy 6th anniversary, Full Tilt Ice Cream!

Full Tilt Ice Cream is six years old today – and White Center is still home, though they’ve opened other locations, partnered in other ventures, and distributed their popular ice cream in many a store. So there’s a party tonight, and you’re invited to stop by, including music from Rats in The Grass around 6 pm. See you there!

ADDED FRIDAY NIGHT: Chasing breaking news in West Seattle, we missed the party but got there in time to see Full Tilt founders Justin Cline and Ann Magyar (photographed with son Moss):

Asked for the latest Full Tilt news, Justin mentioned their soon-to-launch truck, which he says will spend a lot of time at Alki Beach this summer, and a deal that will double the number of grocery stores carrying Full Tilt pints. Right now, they’re in about 60 stores, and they’ve been picked up for more than 60 QFC stores in Western Washington.

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Happening now: White Center Block Party 2014!

June 14th, 2014 at 4:28 pm Posted in Fun, White Center news | Comments Off on Happening now: White Center Block Party 2014!

Until dusk, go get your $2 Food Walk tastes, and enjoy shopping and entertainment in downtown WC, as the Block Party is on until dusk-ish. Here’s our original story; here’s the latest map:

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Bike corral in downtown White Center? Come talk about it!

June 13th, 2014 at 9:02 pm Posted in Transportation, White Center news | Comments Off on Bike corral in downtown White Center? Come talk about it!

Announced on Caffe Delia‘s Facebook page:

Hey folks, do you want to make downtown White Center a more walkable, bike-able, lovable place?

Then check this out:

Please join local residents and business owners along 16th Ave to discuss the need for a bike corral in White Center. We’d like to encourage more families and cyclists to ride into our neighborhood by adding a bike corral in downtown White Center!

Current bike parking isn’t quite enough to meet the needs of a family and the racks we do have – when in use — tend to obstruct sidewalk access for people in wheelchairs or with other mobility challenges. Studies have proven what we know to be true, increasing cycling in a neighborhood tends to create an economic benefit for business owners while improving the health of our community. We’ve already secured funding for this bike rack from King County, so please! Join us for a conversation to learn about the benefits of a more bikable downtown White Center and how you can be a part of this exciting improvement.

Location: Luso Food and Wine (9614 16th Ave SW – near the corner of Roxbury and 16th)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, June 17th

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North Highline Fire District benefit-charge vote ahead August 5th: Presentation @ NHUAC

June 11th, 2014 at 11:56 pm Posted in Election, North Highline Fire District, White Center news | 4 Comments »

Heard about the “benefit charge” for the North Highline Fire District that’ll be on the August primary ballot? If not, here’s your primer, from last Thursday night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting:

Lt. Ray Pettigrew stood in for Chief Mike Marrs, who he said couldn’t make it because of illness. With maps and a PowerPoint, he explained the money proposal, as well as some basics about the NHFD itself:

*Each station has 1 engine staffed with three firefighters at any given time, he said – sometimes a bit more because of volunteers.

*Vast majority of the job is going on aid calls

*278 false alarms – “almost one per day”

*42 hazmat calls

*526 “other” calls – illegal burns, barbecues mistaken for fires

About 12 calls a day between the two stations, so “they’re pretty busy.”

He says it’s a matter of financial need – “we’ve done everything we can to try to cut expenses
… we’ve used reserves … we’ve contracted to have Burien chief also be the North Highline chief,” but they’re about out of reserves if no new funding is found. In addition, he noted, the district has gotten smaller, with the 2010 Burien annexation, for example.

Proposition 1 on the August ballot needs a simple yes/no vote. If passed, it sets up a six-year run for the charge – with potential renewals thereafter. It’s not a tax, Pettigrew stressed, “it’s a fee,” and it’s charged based on factors such as square footage and whether a building has sprinklers or not.

For the average owner of a 2,000 square foot home worth $250,000, their tax/fee bill would go up $6/month, he said. It would only be charged for structures, not for empty land. Other districts with a “benefit charge” include Kent, Auburn, Woodinville, and Eastside Fire.

“It allows us to stabilize our funding so we’re not subject to property values going up and down, more ability to plan long range,” he said.

The NHFD commissioners voted at their April meeting to put it on the August ballot.

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Video: Crime briefing begins North Highline UAC’s June 2014 meeting

June 9th, 2014 at 11:56 pm Posted in Crime, North Highline UAC, White Center news | Comments Off on Video: Crime briefing begins North Highline UAC’s June 2014 meeting

If you couldn’t make it to last Thursday’s June meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council – NHUAC’s last meeting until September – we have video highlights. First, tonight we bring you president Barbara Dobkin‘s introduction, followed by a crime/safety briefing and Q&A with King County Sheriff’s Office Deputy BJ Myers:

Toplines of what he said: Top Hat has been a trouble spot lately, and the recent deadly shooting is just one of the notable crimes. (Though some other media outlets keep referring to the location as “White Center” or “near White Center,” yes, it was Top Hat, and Deputy Myers referred to the location that way too.) No, he said, the gun used in the killing has not been found, but suspect Drurell J. Collier is jailed in lieu of $2 million bail and will be arraigned Wednesday. He also talked about the arrest in the 24th/Roxbury rape/assault case; suspect Christopher Anthony Brown was booked into jail here, after extradition, later Thursday night. And Deputy Myers talked about gunfire damaging a car and other property along 107th – people apparently didn’t call 911 when it happened, but he urges that everything be reported. He also mentioned possible cuts for KCSO again in the next budget cycle.

Wednesday: The centerpiece of the meeting, a discussion of the North Highline Fire District‘s status and upcoming ballot measure.

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White Center scenes: Mount View Elementary’s carnival

June 7th, 2014 at 11:50 pm Posted in Fun, Schools, White Center news | Comments Off on White Center scenes: Mount View Elementary’s carnival

If you didn’t make it to Friday’s fundraising carnival at Mount View Elementary, you missed more than a chance to play games and support good causes … you missed talented local kids showing their stuff! Above, the Seattle Derby Brats showed off their skills on wheels, and promoted their upcoming weekly camp days in August (one for girls 8-11, one for girls 12-17, more info on both at seattlederbybrats.com). Below, young artists from SANCA – the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts:

Big crowd was there when we stopped by about midway through the carnival. P.S. June 17th is this year’s last day of school – one week from Tuesday.

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Happening now: Free shredding, ice cream at PBJ Textiles’ open house

June 7th, 2014 at 10:46 am Posted in Businesses, White Center news | 1 Comment »

Something to shred? Get it done for free – up to four boxes’ worth – during today’s open house at newly opened PBJ Textiles (in the former South End Florist storefront just south of 16th/107th). It’s on until 1 pm and they’re offering free ice cream too (White Center’s own Full Tilt, of course).

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VIDEO: About that helicopter …

June 6th, 2014 at 12:04 am Posted in Helicopter, King County Sheriff's Office, White Center news | 2 Comments »

12:04 AM: We don’t have complete details but we do have a bit of info about why Guardian One was over White Center in the past half-hour. The King County Sheriff’s Office crew tweeted that they were helping White Center patrol deputies with someone “on a roof” on SW 106th, but the person came down on their own. What they were doing on the roof – that, we probably won’t be able to find out until morning. (If you are in the area and know, text us at 206-293-6302!)

1:28 AM: No audio, but Guardian One’s crew has published this video of the incident:

Exactly one additional word of information is available – it’s captioned “drunk man” on roof in White Center.

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You’ll vote on a Highline Public Schools bond measure this November

June 5th, 2014 at 10:46 am Posted in Education, Election, Highline School District, White Center news | 3 Comments »

It’s official – the Highline Public Schools board has voted to put a bond measure on the November ballot. Full details in this announcement from the district:

A school construction bond to repair or replace deteriorating schools and ease overcrowding will go before voters on November 4, 2014. The School Board passed a resolution at its June 4 meeting to place the bond measure on the ballot.
If approved, the bond would:

-Rebuild Highline High School,

-Replace Des Moines Elementary School at the Zenith site (16th Place S. & S. 240th St., Des Moines),

-Build a new middle school at the Manhattan site (440 S. 186th St., Burien),

-Build a new middle school at the Glacier site (2450 S. 142nd Street, SeaTac),

-Make critical renovations at Tyee and Evergreen campuses,

-Provide technology improvements throughout the district,

-Make capital improvements to support arts education throughout the district, and

-Address additional critical needs throughout the district.

The bond is necessary to meet two significant challenges facing Highline schools:

1. Growing Enrollment: Projections show more than 2,000 additional students will enter Highline schools over the next 8 to 10 years. The bond would add classrooms, provide space to lower class sizes in grades K through 3, and meet the growing number of students in Highline schools. Without additional classrooms, class sizes will get larger instead of smaller, and the district would likely have to forfeit up to $2.2 million a year in extra state funding targeted for lowering class size.

2. Deteriorating Buildings: The measure would increase student safety by replacing two buildings that are nearly 100 years old and were not built to current earthquake and fire code. Critical improvements would be made in other aging buildings, especially the Tyee and Evergreen high school campuses.

“As our buildings age, repairs and maintenance are becoming more and more expensive, draining money away from the classroom,” said Chief of Staff and Finance Duggan Harman. “In addition, these older buildings do not have the electrical capacity to support the educational technology our students need to be prepared for the workplace of tomorrow.”

Planning for the bond included community input, a professional analysis of building conditions, updates to enrollment projections, and multiple Board work sessions.

School construction and capital improvements are funded through voter-approved bonds. A bond measure must be approved by a 60 percent margin.

Here is how the cost to homeowners breaks down for the $385 million bond:

Total Bond Measure Cost
$385.1 Million
Rate per thousand of Assessed Value
$1.12
Average Home Value
$201,900.00
Projected Cost Per Year
$226.92
Projected Cost Per Month
$18.91

For more details about the proposed bond, visit the Building for Tomorrow Today section on the district website.

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KCSO announces arrest in 24th/Roxbury rape/beating case

June 4th, 2014 at 3:41 pm Posted in Crime, White Center news | Comments Off on KCSO announces arrest in 24th/Roxbury rape/beating case

One of the most unsettling crimes so far this year in White Center and vicinity has been the rape and beating of a 58-year-old woman early one morning in March. This afternoon, King County Sheriff’s Office says a suspect is in custody – found via DNA evidence:

Police in Oklahoma arrested a 25 year old male for the March rape of a female in the White Center area.

The case was solved when the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab developed a DNA profile from evidence collected at the scene which matched the male. He had apparently been visiting King County from Oklahoma when the crime was committed.

The King County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges of Rape in the 1st degree and Assault in the 1st degree. An arrest warrant was issued and law enforcement in Oklahoma arrested him yesterday.

The suspect will have to go through the extradition process before being returned to King County.

We’re working to get the charging documents to find out more.

5 PM UPDATE: The charging documents we just obtained from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office identify the suspect as 25-year-old Christopher Anthony Brown. They say his record in Oklahoma goes back seven years and includes convictions for burglary and assault/battery on a justice/social-services system worker.

Read the rest of this entry »

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