White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Every week during the one-month application period for state marijuana-business licenses, the Liquor Control Board – they’re in charge of this – is publishing an update list of who’s applied. For the first time, a White Center applicant is on the list. At 10834 10th SW, a firm calling itself RXXX is applying for a producer license and a processor license. The latter is for “Tier 1,” the lowest level, described on the LCB site as “to produce marijuana for sale at wholesale to marijuana processor licensees and to other marijuana producer licensees. Tier 1 allows for two thousand square feet or less of dedicated plant canopy.”

In case you weren’t on the e-mail list – White Center Community Development Association executive director Sili Savusa has announced that the agency is moving:

You might have heard a rumor that the WCCDA is moving and it’s true! We will be located in our beautiful new location at Bethaday Community Learning Center (TAF Offices) in White Center!!! We will be moving into our luxurious new home next Monday, December 16th and we are so happy to be located with another fabulous community partner. Our new address will be 605 108th St., Seattle, 98146. Our phone number will be the same, our staff emails will remain the same – the only thing changing is our home!

But wait! There’s more!!! What move would be complete without a GARAGE SALE! I know that there are a lot of garage sale fanatics out there who love to check garage sales throughout the community. Well, add ours to your map! This Saturday, Dec. 14th, from 9 am to 3 pm we will have TONS of items for sale. Everything from office furniture to kitchen items must go. We have a lot of things that we won’t be taking with us and this is a great chance for you to pick up a WCCDA memento. I know you want something to remember our old digs by, right? With the holiday season upon us, why not pick up a few items that may become invaluable for a white elephant gift exchange? Wow!J! Don’t miss the chance to be the first in line for deals galore!

Please look out for an email in January about an Open House in our new space. We’d love to say hi and kick off the new year with a chance to connect! Thanks for your continued support of the WCCDA over the years! We look forward to another 10 years of action in beautiful White Center.

Sili Savusa
Executive Director
White Center Community Development Association

Mac’s Triangle Pub, right next to the official White Center Christmas tree at 16th/Delridge/Roxbury, is one of the places you’re invited to gather tomorrow with the White Center Chamber of Commerce. 6 pm is the evening mixer there, or if lunchtime works better for you, join the WC C of C at the Technology Access Foundation building at Lakewood Park, 605 SW 108th, at noon.

Just in case you hadn’t heard yet – Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says the air’s expected to clear with wind speed picking up and maybe even some precipitation, so the burn ban put into place at noon Sunday is now OVER.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has announced a Stage 1 burn ban, in effect throughout King County as of noon today. Here’s what that means:

*No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.

*No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.

*Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

*It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA-certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

Toplines from Thursday night’s meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: NHUAC heard from two of this area’s three state legislators – Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island), recently elected Senate Democratic leader, and Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, who succeeded her in the state House. Two key topics in their briefing: Transportation and annexation.

Sen. Nelson began by noting that for the first time in five years, the Legislature doesn’t have to focus on making budget cuts – while the state isn’t getting rich or amassing a major surplus, its economic health is stabilizing.

Rep. Fitzgibbon did most of the talking regarding whether progress is being made toward a transportation-funding package. Work is under way but nothing’s settled yet. Though Metro bus service faces “devastating” cuts in the North Highline area among others – with Route 113 facing elimination in the first round – it’s not all about transit; he reminded attendees about the dire straits of King County Roads, from unfunded maintenance to inability to get snowplows out if needed.

Even before anyone could ask about the state tax credit for annexation – a perk that will expire before too long – Sen. Nelson said that while the issue’s not dead, it would be difficult and contentious if brought back up in the near future.

In Q/A with attendees, Rep. Fitzgibbon said the building that is home to DSHS in White Center apparently has a buyer (we had reported the real-estate listing here last week). He didn’t identify the new owner but said they’ll be expected to take better care of the property and address issues such as its use by transients sleeping in the doorway and stairwell.

Speaking of which …

GREENBRIDGE CAMPERS: King County Sheriff’s Deputy B.J. Myers said he had just gone on a walkthrough at the Greenbridge-area greenbelt with King County Parks, and a general cleanup of the area is expected to start next week. He said campers had been provided with information about the impending cleanup and where they can go once it starts.

He also recapped the news conference on Wednesday with the family of the victim in the recent murder. (Our report now includes KCTV video of the entire event.)

EVERGREEN POOL MONEY WOES: NHUAC heard from a rep of Evergreen Pool, which is trying to raise $25,000 by mid-January (look for a separate story on that here this weekend). Most of it would go to Puget Sound Energy for overdue gas bills, which could lead to a shutoff by then, and a resulting shutdown of the pool, if the money’s not raised.

REMEMBERING STEVE COX: As the meeting began, president Barbara Dobkin led a moment of silence in memory of Deputy Steve Cox, killed seven years ago this week.

Watch for information on NHUAC’s next meeting on the council’s website at northhighlineuac.org.

(Also published on partner site West Seattle Blog)

In the blue cap and gown is Michael Delfin-Rodriguez, celebrating his graduation from New Start High School on the Evergreen campus, with his dad Sergio. Michael is the young man shot and killed the day before Thanksgiving, at 2nd SW and SW 108th, while he and his brother Saul were out for an early-early-morning walk to a store. This morning, members of Michael’s family were at the King County Sheriff’s Office headquarters downtown, meeting the media to make a public plea for help in finding his killer. Saul spoke for the family today:

Investigators have called this a case of mistaken identity – Michael and Saul were confronted by two people, believed to be teenage boys, who accused them of being members of a gang; they denied it, kept moving, then one of those boys pulled out a gun and fired, killing Michael. (added) Here’s video from the news conference:

If anyone saw anything or has heard any talk about it, there’s a Crime Stoppers reward in the case, and investigators are eager to hear from anyone with information that might help solve the murder. Crime Stoppers has multiple ways to report tips, including anonymously, or call KCSO at 206-296-3311.

Your community council for White Center and vicinity, the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, hopes to see you on Thursday, 7 pm at NH Fire District HQ (1243 SW 112th). Here’s the agenda:

7:00 pm Call to Order – Flag Salute – Roll Call –
Approval of Agenda – Approval of Minutes

7:05 pm Public Announcements

7:10 pm Public Comment
3minutes for Individuals
5 minutes for Groups

7:15 pm Richard Wells, Sustainable Works
7:35 pm Mark Cross, Director – Evergreen Athletic Dept.
7:45 pm Senator Sharon Nelson
Representative, Joe Fitzgibbon
8:10 pm Deputy BJ Myers (White Center Storefront)
8:30 pm Committee Reports

8:35 pm Old/New Business
• December 10 Board Meeting
• January meeting
• CSA Grant application

All welcome.

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
A big new for-sale listing in White Center: The building best known as home to the DSHS offices in White Center, 9650 15th SW, is listed for sale. Asking price: $2,650,000. And that’s just for the building, not the land, according to the listing, which says the building is on leasehold property. It was a grocery store before Prium Development remodeled it almost a decade ago.

Evergreen Pool is “on the brink” of closure and needs community help, according to this announcement of a new fundraising drive:

A “Parents’ Night Off” swimming fundraiser the day after Thanksgiving is kicking off a major fundraising drive to keep the non-profit Evergreen Pool in White Center open.

For a $30 donation parents can drop off kids this Friday, Nov. 29, from 6 to 9 p.m., and then go shopping or on a date.

More than 3,800 children – and adults – have learned to swim at the Evergreen Community Aquatics Center pool since it reopened under new management three years ago.

“That includes a good number of kids who are served by a good swimming program in a community with limited youth recreation opportunities,” notes General Manager Joel Schweiger.

This 44-year-old facility, long managed by King County, has been operated “pretty close to breaking even for three years” by the WhiteWater Aquatics Management, Schweiger says.

But “pretty close” doesn’t balance the ledger – especially those utility and related costs necessary for operating the aquatics center that were unavoidably higher from the time the pool reopened until energy improvements could be made.

These improvements are making a significant positive difference. Energy costs have been reduced by 40 percent with the grant-funded purchase of a new boiler and a pool blanket to cover to cover the water and maintain temperature when the facility is closed.

In addition, new filters paid for with another grant and recently installed are reducing chemical purchases by 15 percent.

Still, $15,000 in outstanding utility billings and related expenses, most incurred before these upgrades were made, and have put the Evergreen pool on the brink again.

And if funds are not raised to pay these debts by mid-January the aquatic center will have to close – despite the fact it is busy almost all the time. Schweiger says the pool is filled to capacity when kids are out of school.

“The reality is that the pool’s costs of operating exceed revenue due to capacity, he adds. For example, kids who get free or reduced lunches at school also get swimming lessons free or at reduced cost.

“It’s important to find both immediate and long-term income to keep this pool open “because there’s not a lot of positive youth activities in White Center that are safe and fun.”

The non-profit group is continuing to work with King County, the City of Burien and the Highline School District to find resources as well as launching a corporate and personal giving campaign.

4:50 PM: An update from KCSO on this morning’s deadly shooting:

The King County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting and killing of a man in the White Center area … and is asking for the public’s help.

On 11/27/13 at about 2:15 AM, deputies were dispatched to the area of SW 108 St and 2nd Ave SW after a caller reported hearing at least one gunshot and said there was a man down in the middle of the street. Deputies arrived at the scene to find a young adult male lying in the street suffering from at least one gunshot wound. They attempted life-saving measures but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Sergeant Tony McNabb said, “Two young men were walking along SW 108 St. minding their own business when they were confronted by the two suspects. The suspects accused the innocent victim and his friend of being in a rival gang to which they both denied. As the victim and his friend began walking away, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and began firing at the two, hitting and killing one of them.”

Deputy Charlie Akers is asking for the public to “Put themselves in the shoes of this innocent young man’s family. As we are entering the holiday season, this family is grieving the senseless loss of this young man. If this was one of your loved ones, you would want answers, you would want justice. A young man has lost his life because he was mistaken to be in a gang.”. Deputy Akers added a message to the suspects: “You took the life of an innocent young man for no reason; turn yourself in.”

If you know anything about this senseless crime, please call 206-296-3311.

Earlier versions of the story are below:

Read the rest of this entry »

Just got confirmation from Vy Nguyen at the White Center Community Development Association that this year’s Christmas tree lighting at Triangle Park is set – 5 pm December 7th. Keep track with this Facebook event page!

(Also published on partner sites West Seattle Blog and The South Park News)

As of 2 pm, King County will be under a Stage 2 burn ban, elevated from Sunday’s announcement. Here’s what the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says that means:

*No burning is allowed in ANY wood-burning fireplaces, wood stoves or fireplace inserts (certified or uncertified) or pellet stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.

*No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.

*Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

*It is OK to use natural gas and propane stoves or inserts during a Stage 2 burn ban.

This might not last long – breezes up to 15 mph are in the forecast for tomorrow, and possible rain starting Thursday night.

(Also published on partner sites West Seattle Blog and The South Park News)

You’ve probably noticed, maybe even felt the effects of, the stagnant, murky air. It’s just led the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to announce a Stage 1 burn ban for King County as of 2 pm today. Here’s how the agency explains that type of burn ban:

*No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.

*No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires, and the use of fire pits and chimineas.

*Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA-certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

More info? Go here. As for the weather – the long-range forecast doesn’t include rain any sooner than Friday night.

Live music tonight (Sunday, November 24) at Company Bar! Word comes from Matt Weiner, who’s playing there 7-10 pm with the Casey MacGill Trio (actually a quartet, Matt explains, with reedist Skerik Skerik). You might also know Matt as co-owner of Caffé Delia, whose new standalone home next to Proletariat Pizza is currently undergoing renovation work before the coffee shop reopens in the not-too-distant future. Matt reports that Company will have a dinner special, too, so make a night of it! (Company is at 9608 16th SW.)

At least two places in White Center are already selling holiday trees – McLendon Hardware is one. Store manager Tony Barnes e-mailed to say they have received their first shipment of almost 500 trees and are selling them now:

We (are) carrying four varieties and trees as tall as 10’. Our selection will include Noble Firs, Nordman Fir ( replaces Frazier Firs), Douglas Firs, and lastly Grand Firs, all from local suppliers.

“The Seasonal Help” at Village Green Perennial Nursery has cut and live trees on sale now too – more on them later today! From Thanksgiving events to Christmas tree lots to New Year’s celebrations, if you have holiday-season information to announce, please send it to us at whitecenternow@gmail.com. Thanks!

Received through our lost/found pets page at partner site West Seattle Blog, word of kittens found in White Center:

Found: Siamese Kittens
Location: 4th Ave SW & SW 110th St
Date: Saturday 11/23/13

These kittens and their mother have been wondering around my backyard the past few days. They appeared dirty and hungry. After they camped out under my back porch over night through these freezing temperatures, I brought them into my home until they can be reunited to their owners.

Please call: 360.621.5901 for more information.

Thanks to those who texted and called about the King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Guardian One over White Center/Shorewood a little earlier this evening. Absent specifics, we headed out and looked for the helicopter; just missed it, but the Air Support crew did tweet this:

Assisted KCSO Dptys with occupied stolen car in White Center.

— KCSOAirsupport (@KCSOAirsupport) November 23, 2013

Sorry, no specifics on the location of where that stolen car was found/stopped. If we get any more information, we’ll add it.

We’re continuing to collect holiday information – e-mail us at whitecenternow@gmail.com! – for reporting here as well as inclusion in the Holiday Guide published through our partner site West Seattle Blog (with WS, WC, and South Park info, updated daily as new additions come in). The latest announcement from White Center is from Holy Family Bilingual School, where Christmas trees will be sold again this year to benefit the school. First scheduled day is November 30th – the Saturday after Thanksgiving, starting at 10 am – and sales will continue through Christmas Eve, December 24th. Holy Family is at 18th/Roxbury.

One more reminder – if you want to be among the first to see (and comment on) the newest design renderings for the White Center Library project, be at Mount View Elementary School (10811 12th SW; next to the future site of the library) at 6:30 pm tonight. Architects and King County Library System reps will be on hand.