White Center Now: The blog about White Center

The state Liquor Control Board went public today with its list of how applicants for recreational-marijuana stores placed in the license lottery. Of 44 applicants in the unincorporated area, which is reported to be getting 11 stores, the highest-placing White Center applicants were OSK Enterprises, 9616 16th SW (the Smoke Town storefront), placing #6, and Sound THC, 9640 16th SW #D (site of Northwest Cannabis Market), placing #21. They were followed by Kronic, 9823 15th SW #D, at #33, and right behind that, Green Leaf Care, 9625 16th SW, at #34.

You can download the full statewide list, which has a tab for each area/city, from this page on the state Liquor Control Board website. Licenses are expected to be issued by early July, according to this state FAQ.

(WCN photo of Dick Thurnau from 2008)
A special honor today for a man who’s worked hard, well into what should have been his sit-back-and-rest years, to improve his neighborhood: Today is “Dick Thurnau Day” in King County, by special proclamation, it was announced at last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting. NHUAC president Barbara Dobkin shared the image of the official proclamation document:

As the proclamation acknowledges, Dick, now 89, has lived near Lakewood Park for decades and has been particularly devoted to protecting, improving, and advocating for its small lake, now known as Hicklin Lake. Just last year (WCN coverage here), “floating islands” were put in place to help improve its water quality, after a long campaign by his group Friends of Hicklin Lake to get something done. He also tended to the land side of Lakewood Park, organizing volunteer cleanups, community barbecues, and much more.

We’re told Dick is in a new fight now, having recently been diagnosed with cancer. If you would like to send well-wishes, his address is 1031 SW 112th, zip code 98146.

On the ground floor of the Nia Apartments at 99th and 8th, a brand-new restaurant opened today: Greenbridge Café. Its owner, Chef Blanca Rodriguez, e-mailed to share the news. It’s been taking shape for months (thanks to tipster Gill for first spotting it) and is now open for breakfast and lunch – with the latter focusing on fresh-made sandwiches, salads, and soups) – 8 am-4 pm weekdays. See the menu here. Chef Rodriguez also owns Pimientra Bistro and Bar in Federal Way.

Next Thursday, May 1st, is the next meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council – all welcome – and here’s what’s on the agenda, as shared by president Barbara Dobkin:

We hope to see you at the next NHUAC meeting:

When: Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 7 pm
Where: North Highline Fire Station, 1243 112th Street SW

Please join us for a presentation from the Health Educator for the King County Dirt Alert Program, Denise Sharify as well as Diana Smith from the Dept of Ecology on the lingering effects from the Asarco Copper Smelter. Learn how you can test your soil and get assistance cleaning up contaminated areas.
For almost 100 years, the Asarco Company operated a copper smelter in Tacoma. Pollution blown from the smelter’s 571-foot smokestack settled on the surface soil over 1,000 square miles in Puget Sound. Arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals are still in the soil as a result of this pollution, and will continue to be a health risk for years to come.

The Tacoma Smelter Plume covers parts of King, Thurston, and Pierce counties. The three county health departments and the Department of Ecology are working to reduce harm from soil contaminated with lead and arsenic.

Also on the agenda – Updates regarding the planned Capital Improvements to the Boulevard Park Library. Denis Feil, Librarian Services Manager and Angelina Beneditti, Library Cluster Manager will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.
In 2004 the residents of King County approved a Library Bond Levy to rebuild and improve libraries in the King County Library System. While most of the work has been completed on libraries throughout the county, we are still waiting for the promise made to this community for a new White Center Library and capital improvements to the Boulevard Park Library.

BJ Myers, White Center Storefront Deputy will be available to provide community safety updates and crime trends.

Community Matters –
Be informed – Be Involved – Be Heard

The second round of results is out for Proposition 1, the transit/roads money measure on Tuesday’s ballot, and “no” is still leading, by nine percentage points. Current tally:

No – 224,441 votes, 54.51%
Yes – 187,324 votes, 45.49%

County leaders have issued a news release saying that they’re now making plans for Metro cuts. County Executive Dow Constantine: “We gave the voters a choice, and presented a proposal for saving Metro Transit and maintaining our roads. They have chosen a reduced level of service, and we will carry out the will of the voters. Tomorrow I will transmit legislation to the King County Council to reduce service by 550,000 hours and eliminate 72 bus routes.” The County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment committee will have public hearings on the plan before taking final action by the end of May. Here’s the draft version of the 550,000-hour reduction:

It leaves more routes unchanged than the original proposal, and would be phased in between September 2014 and September 2015. Still on the list of routes to be eliminated: 21, 22, 37, 57. Route 113 was on the deletion list in November but is on the “would be unchanged” list now.

Until 5 today, then again 10 am-5 pm Monday and 10 am-8 pm Tuesday, you can use the county’s ballot-dropoff van to turn in your ballot for the Proposition 1 (Metro/roads money) vote. It’s on 8th SW in Greenbridge, just south of Roxbury.

Something awesome to do tonight, to support students from White Center AND one of WC’s special natural spots:

I’m a science teacher at Cascade Middle School who also helps run an after school science club for girls called STARS. STARS stands for Students Tackling Authentic and Relevant Science, and aims to provide a space for middle and high school girls to use science to investigate and solve real problems in their community. The ladies chose to focus on the health of Hicklin Lake (which neighbors our school) for their project this year. This is our first year as a club, and we have students from Cascade and the neighboring Evergreen High school as members. A few students from Mount Rainier High School help us out, as well. STARS is run as a joint effort between Cascade (Anna Kramer, science teacher), HS3/Evergreen (Liz Savage, science teacher), and the University of Washington (Sara Hagenah, doctoral student).

(Tonight) we are hosting a film event at the Highline Performing Arts Center. We are premiering a documentary that our students made that showcases what we have learned about the lake, as well as what the ladies are doing about it.

Who: Everyone is invited!
What: The premiere of the first STARS documentary, focused on the issues that currently exist at Hicklin Lake and how we are tackling this problem with our science knowledge
When: Tuesday, April 15th at 6:30 pm
Where: Highline Performing Arts Center, Highline High School, 401 S 152nd St, Burien, WA 98148
Why: Join us in order to:
*Support local students as their share a year of learning and action with you
*Learn more about what’s wrong with Hicklin Lake and what you can do to help
*Support the idea that girls and women have powerful voices in science and in their communities
*Other info: Event is free, and refreshments will be provided. STARS members will be recognized individually, the documentary will be shown, and there will be a short Q & A session. Spanish and (we hope) Arabic interpreters will be available with headsets.

For more information, email anna.kramer@highlineschools.org.