White Center Now: The blog about White Center

(Photo by WCN’s Patrick Sand)
8:12 AM: 10 am-2 pm today, Mount View Elementary is the place for this year’s White Center Community Summit, presented by the White Center Community Development Association. It includes workshops that each will be presented twice, at 11 am and 1 pm; here’s the list, as published on the WCCDA Facebook page earlier in the week:

Annexation: White Center’s Future
Presented by King County

Asset Mapping: Economy and Opportunity in White Center
Presented by Sokha Dahn

Transportation: Here to There: Getting to, from, and around White Center
Presented by SDOT

Housing: How did we live and How are we living now?
Presented by Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County

ELL in Schools: Being Bilingual and Biliterate in White Center
Presented by Highline School District

Health and Wellness: Drug-free in WC
Presented by Navos

Community-Based Organizations: Collaborative Calendaring/Building Partnerships
Presented by KCHA and WCCDA

There’s also a resource fair beginning at 11 am. The school is at 10811 12th SW.

12:27 PM: Added a photo from the first workshop on annexation, with those in attendance including members of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council and other community leaders. “It’s time to make a decision” about annexing to SOMEONE, said the county rep leading the session. You have a chance to catch the second round of this discussion at 1 pm in the library at Mount View. We’ll add more notes and photos later – the resource fair also continues at 1 pm (it’s lunch-break time right now).

The first meeting was in White Center, and now the second big meeting about the in-the-works safety project for SW Roxbury is happening on the West Seattle side of the street – tonight, 6 pm, at Roxhill Elementary School. More details here, including the Seattle Department of Transportation‘s recap on what happened during the Greenbridge meeting earlier this month.

Need help affording home repairs? This might be for you:

Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County is providing home repairs to a limited number of White Center residents through its White Center Home Repair Program, a partnership with the White Center Community Development Association. To inform homeowners about the program and eligibility requirements for receiving home repair assistance, Habitat staff are hosting an informational meeting on Wednesday, February 26 at the Greenbridge YWCA, 9720 8th Ave SW.

Habitat Seattle-King County aims to provide White Center homeowners with a variety of exterior repair services, such as replacing broken windows, rebuilding porches or stair cases, painting to protect the home’s siding, roof repairs, and more. Blow-in attic insulation or other weatherization work may also be considered. Homeowners are selected to receive home repair assistance based off their need and willingness to partner with Habitat. The home in need of repairs must be their primary residence.

Those interested in the program are required to attend an information meeting. Please contact Donna Adair at dadair@habitatskc.org or (206) 855-5214 to register for the meeting.

Wednesday’s meeting starts at 6 pm.

This Wednesday is the third and final signup session this season for Southwest Little League: Steve Cox Memorial Park on Wednesday, February 26th, from 5 pm to 7 pm. From SWLL:

Little League Baseball is open to all children between the ages of 4 and 16 who reside or go to school in our boundary area, which is between Juneau Street SW and Sw 128th street and 35th Ave SW and 1st Avenue S, including the Arbor Heights area. Parents should check the boundary map on our website as well as review the eligibility requirements, which have changed for the 2014 season. Along with residents in the boundary area, children who go to school in the boundary area but reside in another Little League district are eligible to play for the league in which their school resides. For more complete information, please visit our website at southwestlittleleague.org

Two weeks from tomorrow – the afternoon of Sunday, March 9th – the 34th (Legislative) District Democrats’ caucuses will happen at the Evergreen campus in White Center. Here’s the official call to caucus; as it mentions, “This is truly the first step in the journey toward the all important 2016 election.” Specific tasks to be accomplished including electing delegates and alternates to the June 21st statewide Democratic convention, registering voters, collecting resolutions and platform issues for the countywide convention in April, and a food drive. The link above explains how to participate; watch the 34th District Democrats’ website for updates.

P.S. The 34th DDs’ big annual summertime fundraiser will be in White Center this year too – it was announced at the group’s February meeting (here’s coverage on our partner site West Seattle Blog) that the annual Garden Party will move to the TAF Bethaday Community Space at Lakewood Park, after years of being held in West Seattle.

(7:07 am screengrab of City Light map showing where the outage is affecting homes/businesses)
Seattle City Light has more than 7,000 homes/businesses out of power this morning, mostly to the east and south of here, hitting Burien especially hard. It’s blaming a tree for falling on power lines and expects to have power back before the morning’s over.

We got a few questions about a sizable King County Sheriff’s Office presence around 2nd/108th this morning, and checked with KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. She says it was related to a warrant for a suspected “illegal wrecking yard.” No major findings to report in the investigation so far.

The Olson/1st Ave. hill to/from Highway 509 at the east end of SW Roxbury is open again after an hour-plus shutdown following a one-car crash.

(First two photos courtesy Jason)
According to monitored radio communications, three people were taken to the hospital.

The red Lexus went off the road, and rescuers had to cut its top off. The crash was reported at about 6 am and they finished pulling the car out around 7:30.

(Photo by WCN’s Patrick Sand)
This crash comes less than a week after SDOT officially launched the SW Roxbury safety project with a meeting at Greenbridge. We don’t know the victims’ conditions.

A project to make SW Roxbury safer is finally becoming reality, after White Center and West Seattle community leaders, including the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council and (just over the city-limit line, Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council), joined forces to campaign for it. Seattle Department of Transportation is coming to Greenbridge tonight for the first of two meetings, and you’re invited to come speak out – help shape the project! 6:30 pm at Jim Wiley Community Center, 9800 8th SW.

In case you couldn’t make it, we recorded video of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting last Thursday. Here’s what you’ll see:

*Discussion of litter problems by Marcia Wollam and Dick Thurnau

*(14 minutes in) King County Sheriff’s Deputy BJ Myers‘ briefing. Highlights:

*He says that auto theft has continued to be “high”; he said it’s vital to report the theft as soon as possible but that won’t help if you don’t know your license-plate number – that information not only helps them watch for the plate, but also tells them something very specific about the car, from the state-licensing system. If you don’t think you can remember it, take a cameraphone picture and save it so you can refer to it if you have to.

*He also mentioned a warrant and arrest related to mail theft that led to the recovery of “bags and bags and bags of stolen property.” He said it sent the message “mail theft is something we will kick in a door for.”

*He also mentioned multiple incidents while people were filling up their cars at Roxbury Safeway and called it “alarming” – anywhere you’re filling up, keep an eye on your car, because brazen criminals might come right up to it.

*Sustainable Seattle‘s Hannah Kett spoke about the “Greening the Grounds” project at Holy Family Parish and School, with raingardens and a food garden in the works. They’re seeking “Greening Committee” members, greenblocks@sustainableseattle.org

*Weed Warriors – Grace Stiller from this nonprofit spoke about the noxious weeds that everyone should watch out for – for example, pretty as scotch-broom flowers are, their seeds are viable for 45 years!

*Board discussion of Seattle’s annexation intent for two areas of South Park, and the city’s stated intent to “discuss” the possibility of a North Highline annexation vote in the future

Coming up at future meetings: King County Assessor Lloyd Hara in March, when NHUAC also will (UPDATED – see comments) hear the latest on marijuana laws.

Following up on our report last week – the Seattle City Council approved the resolution a committee had OK’d last week, seeking to annex two unincorporated areas in South Park, known as the “Sliver by the River” and the “Duwamish Triangle.” They’ll take it to the Boundary Review Board, seeking the go-ahead to put the proposal on a ballot for voter consideration in those areas. The resolution – which you can see here – also says “the City Council and Mayor intend to continue discussions with King County regarding the City’s potential future annexation by election of the North Highline Potential Annexation Area, known as Area Y…” That’s the only mention of Area Y in this resolution, which does not trigger any action regarding North Highline, as clarified in Seattle Council discussion last week. We’ll add video of today’s meeting when it’s available on the Seattle Channel website.

1:05 PM: Just added the top photo (that’s Councilmember Larry Phillips at left), courtesy of the KCE staff – and here’s the full-speech text.

ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:34 AM: Here’s the State of the County speech as it unfolded via Twitter over the past hour and a half. If you don’t see the tweets and photos initially, you might have to refresh your screen once or twice:

Tweets about “#KCSOTC”

This afternoon, the King County Council is back in its HQ at the County Courthouse downtown, for the regular 1:30 pm meeting, which includes votes on whether to send the Transportation Benefit District measure – license-tab fee/sales-tax increase for buses and roads – to the ballot, as well as the Metro cuts that might kick in starting in June if funding isn’t found via a ballot measure or the Legislature.

ADDED 3:06 PM: Video of the SOTC speech, provided by King County TV:

Snow’s over – except for possibly a flurry – and the meltdown’s on. Thanks to those who sent photos; we’ll be adding a few more. Also, we discovered King County has more traffic cameras in White Center than we knew about – all showing main roads are bare and wet, but see for yourself here.

(Live traffic cam from 16th/107th)
7:32 PM: It’s been an hour and a half now since snow moved into the south end of the metro area – and there’s no sign it’s stopping any time soon. The National Weather Service does NOT have any warnings in effect for the general area, since they don’t expect it to total more than an inch; at WCN/WSB headquarters on the south end of West Seattle, we’re up to about 3/4″. Drive carefully if you have to go out – here’s hoping you don’t! If any incidents to report or photos to share, you’ll find us at whitecenternow@gmail.com. Thanks!

2:50 AM: Snow’s stopped. Thanks to the person who texted a photo from 16th/Roxbury!

Just announced by King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s office:

For the first time ever, a King County Executive will deliver the State of the County address in one of the county’s unincorporated areas.

At White Center Heights Elementary School, Executive Dow Constantine will frame the policy agenda for his second term, including plans for confronting two of the generational challenges of our time.

Bookmark the State of the County website for infographics on the day of the address. Soon after the event, video, audio, the speech text, and policy papers will be posted.

The Twitter hashtag for the event is #KCSOTC.

This special meeting of the Metropolitan King County Council will take place on:

Monday, February 10
10:00 a.m.
White Center Heights Elementary School
10015 6th Ave. SW
(Street Parking is limited)

12:33 PM: Thanks to another tipster who called to report a sighting of fire and aid units. Driving around, we have found them on 20th SW, north of SW 102nd. Seattle Fire Department has again been called for mutual aid. More to come.

12:41 PM UPDATE: Nobody hurt, fire crews tell us, and nobody was home when it started. The fire’s under control but has done enough damage that nobody will be able to occupy the home immediately. Seattle Engine 11 wasn’t needed for long, so they’re headed back to their station in Highland Park.

No word yet on the cause.

1:53 PM UPDATE: Thanks to both Ron and DJ for pointing out that this house also had a major fire a few years back – August 2009, to be precise, as covered here on WCN.

10:21 AM: Thanks to Amanda (who also shared the photo) and Nancy for the tip – North Highline fire units are in the 10000 block of 14th SW (map) at a business fire. Amanda identifies the business as White Center Blacksmith and Welding. We’re on the way to find out more.

10:35 AM: WCN’s Patrick Sand reports firefighters tell him at the scene that this WAS White Center Welding, but is currently vacant, and apparently a new tenant was getting ready to move in. Nobody hurt; the fire is out. This is next door to WestSide Baby‘s headquarters, and executive director Nancy Woodland says smoke from the fire got into their building, so they’re dealing with the effects of that. No indication yet how this started; investigators will be working to figure that out.

11:01 AM: Do note that the public-safety turnout for this has 14th SW blocked at the scene.

12:13 PM UPDATE: From Woodland:

This morning there was a fire at about 10 am in the large building next to WestSide Baby’s donations facility. One of our staff made the initial 911 call. It was significant and luckily, due to the very quick response of the North Highline Fire Department and with support from surrounding departments, the fire was under control within about 30 minutes. WestSide Baby’s donation facility is closed today to assess the smoke damage. We also have to have all the doors open in the hopes of minimizing smoke impact on all of the clothes, diapers and equipment stored inside. It’s REALLY cold so our staff is all huddled in our Administrative offices nearby. Phones and e-mails work.

The building next door was recently re-occupied by an auto repair business. They had only received keys last Friday. The fire investigators are here determining the cause.

14th SW, by the way, is open again.

That’s the video of today’s Seattle City Council Education and Governance Committee meeting. The annexation discussion didn’t come up until roughly the last half-hour, and there were some interesting revelations. Last year, it was explained, a variety of meetings led to the county trying to get Seattle to agree to annex all three potential annexation areas – the South Park “Sliver by the River” and Duwamish Triangle, plus North Highline’s Area Y. Seattle did not want to commit to Area Y because of the cost. The county finally agreed, the explanation continued, to let Seattle pursue the South Park areas, if it would commit to continued discussions about Area Y. So what’s happening now is that Seattle wants to hold an election in the two South Park areas. And it is committed to keep talking about Area Y, but nothing more (it was reiterated that if Seattle DID pursue Area Y annexation, it would be by vote of the people, not any other way). The resolution passed unanimously today in the committee now goes to the full council next Monday.

This Thursday, it’s time for the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council‘s next meeting. President Barbara Dobkin shares the preview:

North Highline Unincorporated Area Council Meeting
When: 7 pm Thursday, February 6
Where: North Highline Fire Station (1243 SW 112th)

We are pleased to be hosting Grace Stiller, President of the non-profit group “Weed Warriors.” Weed Warriors work with cities and communities to reduce the negative impact of invasive, noxious weeds in public places, like parks, trails, and open spaces. 
The program offers education about invasive weeds, methods for control or eradication, and provides opportunities where volunteers participate in “hands-on” restoration projects; thus improving the environmental health, and aesthetic and recreational qualities of our public places.

We are also pleased to have a presentation from Hannah Kett, Neighborhood Program Manager for Sustainable Seattle. Ms. Kett will be providing information on plans for the introduction of rain gardens and urban gardens at Holy Family School in White Center. She is also interested in ideas for where these types of projects could be located in the greater North Highline community.

White Center Storefront Deputy BJ Myers will be on hand to provide updates on crime trends.

Please plan on joining us for this informative community discussion – All are welcome –

Community Matters – Be Involved – Be Informed – Be Heard

(Photos by WCN’s Patrick Sand)
9:04 AM: We’re on our way to check out a fire response at the Windemere Estates apartment building on 16th SW just south of SW 107th. No details yet but Seattle Fire Department is sending mutual aid, which usually means something major. More as we get it.

9:23 AM UPDATE: We’re at the scene now. The fire is tapped – contained to one unit, one person treated for smoke inhalation, cause not yet determined. Traffic is blocked on northbound 16th just south of 107th and a Route 120 bus was waiting a while but now appears to have moved on.