White Center Now: The blog about White Center

From RatCity ArtCity, which brought live painters to White Center businesses and streets one week ago tonight:

We are hosting another Live Performance Extravaganza in White Center! We place artists all over the streets of White Center to perform for the public during this 3-hour festival.

Looking for:

Dancers-Dance Troupes

Painters-Live Artists

Spoken Word Artists that can perform without a microphone

Poi Dancers

Musicians

Plate Spinners

Interpretive Dancers
One Man Bands

Magicians

Any other live performer you can think of!

The festival takes place on Thursday, August 8th from 6-9pm

Please send a description and any links to your work you may have to be considered to ratcityartcity@gmail.com

It’s not AT White Center Library, but it’s about the NEW White Center Library – tonight’s the open house we first told you about two weeks ago, so you can get a look at what King County Library System is working on, and offer your opinion(s). The open house is at 6:20 pm at Mount View Elementary (10811 12th SW).

Remember when the White Center Library used to have a round-the-clock ballot drop box for elections? So do we. It’s not coming back (so far), but the next best thing has been announced – WC will get a ballot “drop van” for the coming election. Ballots for the August 6th primary go out today.. And in the final days before Election Day, you’ll be able to drop your ballot off at Greenbridge Library (9720 8th SW). There’s also a van in West Seattle, and 24-hour dropboxes in other areas of the county. Here’s the map showing all drop vans and 24-hour dropboxes. The county says the drop vans will be available on Saturday, August 3rd, and Monday, August 5th, 10 am-5 pm, and on Election Day, Tuesday, August 6th, 10 am-8 pm; the 24-hour dropboxes will be ready to use as of tomorrow. Among the issues in this election: A levy to raise money for King County Parks.

Three White Center Jubilee Days notes this morning:

CARNIVAL STARTS THIS AFTERNOON: 3 pm, Steve Cox Memorial Park. The hours for the full five-day run are listed on the WCJD website.

FIREWORKS TONIGHT: Dusk, also at Steve Cox Park.

BUS REROUTES: Sunday brings the Jubilee Days parade, and that means temporary reroutes that day for Metro Route 120 and Sound Transit 560.

After years of work to get Hicklin Lake’s water-quality issues addressed, it’s a triumphant day for Dick Thurnau and his group Friends of Hicklin Lake – its two new 600-square-foot “floating islands” were installed today. As explained by the county, “Covered with native wetland vegetation, the islands are designed so that the plants’ roots extend below the waterline. The roots and accompanying biofilm take up excess nutrients from the water column – one of the main causes of the ongoing algae blooms that bedevil the small lake’s water quality.”

The White Center Jubilee Days carnival starts Wednesday at Steve Cox Memorial Park, and by midday today, the Davis Shows Northwest trucks were there, with some of the festive, brightly colored ride components in view.

The carnival opens at 3 pm Wednesday (July 17) – lots of info here. And Wednesday night brings the Jubilee Days fireworks show at dusk, also at Steve Cox Park.

Just checked out a tip about King County Sheriff’s Office deputies in the vicinity of 13th and 98th. Though they were gone when we arrived in the area, Sgt. Kathleen Larson answered our questions about what happened: She says they answered a call about a man with a gun chasing a man and a woman. Fast work led to the suspect being detained and a gun found. No word of anyone being hurt.

Among the lineup of artists who were painting live during Thursday night’s RatCity ArtCity walk – Shannon Kringen, a local legend if you’ve been in the area for more than a few years. Her long history as an artist includes 15 years as star of her own cable TV show. Now she’s focused on off-screen creation. We stopped by to see her appearing as featured artist at Zippy’s Giant Burgers.

Kringen was one of more than half a dozen artists participating in this edition of the monthly art walk.

We checked with the King County Sheriff’s Office this morning after reports of the Guardian One helicopter in action over White Center early today. KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West told us the search was related to an attack involving dogs, and that details would be forthcoming from the county’s Animal Services department. Here’s the news release:

The King County Sheriff’s Office and Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) are investigating an overnight dog attack in unincorporated White Center.

Early Wednesday morning, a 66-year-old man was bitten while walking to his home in the area of 18th Avenue Southwest and Southwest 104th Street. Three dogs were involved in the incident. The victim suffered bites and other injuries, and was taken to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. His injuries are not life threatening, and his name is not being released at this time.

The victim used a pocket knife to try to fight off the dogs. He was assisted by a witness, and the two men were eventually able to chase the animals away. One of the dogs was severely wounded in the incident, and was humanely euthanized this morning.

Neighbors in the area said the dogs were running loose before the attack, and several reported being confronted by the dogs. However, law enforcement and animal control had not been notified before the attack occurred. In addition, there are no prior complaints made to Regional Animal Services regarding these dogs.

“We depend on the community to report threatening animals,” said Dr. Gene Mueller, RASKC Manager. “If you are being threatened by an animal, or see someone being threatened, you should call 9-1-1 right away.”

The two surviving dogs are in RASKC custody pending the outcome of the investigation. Animal control officers will talk to the dogs’ owners to determine if they were properly licensed and vaccinated.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact RASKC at 206-296-PETS (7387).

Followup on the Highway 509 crash early Tuesday – the State Patrol is trying to find witnesses:

The Washington State Patrol’s is investigating a two vehicle injury collision that occurred on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at about 12:08 a.m. The collision occurred on southbound SR509 MP28, south of the 1st Avenue Bridge in King County.

Detectives and Troopers are seeking witnesses that may have seen the collision or any event leading up to or following the crash. If you have any information or know somebody that does, please contact Detective Greg Wilcoxson at (425) 401-7746.

12:39 AM: If you’re thinking of heading to southbound 509 down Roxbury/Olson/1st Avenue South – you’ll have to wait a while. A rollover crash has closed off southbound 509 at Cloverdale. One person is going to the hospital but is not believed to have major injuries. More details on our partner site West Seattle Blog.

7:37 AM UPDATE: The highway reopened after five hours; the link above has been updated with more information about the crash.

From RatCity ArtCity, looking ahead to Thursday night’s art walk:

We are hosting another Live Painting Extravaganza in White Center! Each artist is placed in front of one of the participating art walk businesses. Our goal is to fill the streets with awesome, delicious art making.

In the past- 3/4 of all artists that participated, sold the pieces they were working on. No commission is taken by RatCity ArtCity.

We only have 3 spots left to be filled and the event is right around the corner–so respond quickly to be considered. The event takes place from 6-9pm THIS Thursday,July 11th.

Please send a link to your website or 3 images to be considered.

Thanks!

RatCity ArtCity
RatCityArtCity@gmail.com

Just announced!

White Center Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast

Holy Family School
9615 20th Ave SW

SUNDAY, July 21 (8 am to 12 noon)

Come eat pancakes and support kids! $5 per person. Kids under 5 eat free. Tickets available at the door. Buy tickets for a chance at one of the great gift baskets on display. White Center Kiwanis is raising money for scholarships and to help local nonprofits like Salvation Army, Southwest Boys & Girls Club, WestSide Baby, and the White Center Food Bank. Please note, this event is really on Sunday this year, not Saturday, as reported and as previously held. Eat your pancakes, then go down to Jubilee Days. Come early for better parking.

12:10 PM: Lots of questions about what apparently was Guardian One, the King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, over White Center early this morning. KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West confirms it was related to a robbery and is working to get us additional information. We didn’t get messages until it was over, so we wanted to invite you again to PLEASE text or call us at any time, round the clock, when you see potential breaking news, because more often than not, finding information later is all but impossible – 206-293-6302 is the number that will reach us no matter what, no matter when. Update when we get it!

7:48 PM UPDATE: Busy day for KCSO so Sgt. West just followed up with us – the helicopter search followed a robbery at the West Seattle Rainbow Girls’ fireworks stand at 16th/100th in White Center. The stand’s not open that early in the morning, but a volunteer was in a car nearby, keeping watch on the stand, when, Sgt. West says, someone approached and, at gunpoint, demanded money. No money, said the volunteer, but the would-be robber wouldn’t take that for an answer and got a key and tried to open the stand – when a deputy arrived. The search/pursuit followed, and a 16-year-old was arrested and booked into jail, while three accomplices remain at large.

Announced by the King County Library System:

A library design Open House for the new White Center Library will be held on Thursday, July 18, from 6:30 – 8 PM at Mount View Elementary School. This meeting is an opportunity for the community to meet the architects and library staff who will be working on the project and to offer input on the design of the library. Please come and share your thoughts!

The latest KCLS newsletter for this area also mentions this:

The White Center Library Guild will be hosting their annual sidewalk sale on Sunday, July 21st starting at 10 am. The sale is held in the parking lot at 10009 16th Avenue SW. The guild will have lots of books and other fun stuff to shop.

Mark your calendar! Here’s the official poster:

What a Tuesday night that was! But after the rain, the wind, the lightning … came rainbows. Thanks to Gill for sharing photos.

Heads up – the National Weather Service says thunderstorms are possible again this afternoon and evening!

Just in case you’d started to wonder, with the 4th of July just a week from Thursday: Fireworks sales are still legal in unincorporated King County, and they start at noon Friday (June 28th) this year. And fireworks are still banned in the cities around White Center – Seattle, Tukwila, and Burien.

The Technology Access Foundation‘s facility in Lakewood Park is one example of the kind of partnerships the county is trying to embrace and increase, and so a special event last night honored TAF and other partners. Here’s the official news release:

Dozens of past Community Partnerships and Grants recipients joined King County Parks this week to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the innovative program aimed at creating new or enhanced public recreation facilities.

Community partners representing a variety of King County user groups, sports associations, recreation clubs and other non-profit organizations gathered together Thursday, June 20, for a special recognition dinner to reflect on the achievements of their partnerships with King County Parks that resulted in new or better facilities such as mountain bike trails, a birdloop trail, community meadows, a boathouse, and turf sports fields.

“Getting behind Community Partnership Grants and embracing the passion and energy of our community partners makes sense for the County,” said King County Councilmember Larry Phillips. “The results speak for themselves: In the past decade, more than 50 community based projects have been completed with a public investment of over 14 million dollars that was amazingly matched by over $40 million dollars in private funding.”

In 2003, the CPG Program was established as a public/private partnership initiative to empower community-based organizations to develop public recreation facilities and run programs on King County land, which would not be possible with Parks current funding.

King County contributes use of land and capital improvement grants for successful partnership proposals. Community partners contribute the necessary additional capital and in-kind resources to develop the new or enhanced facility, as well as operations, maintenance, and programming, which is typically accomplished through volunteers and/or revenue-based programs or other resources.

Popular outcomes of the CPG Program include the active Duthie Hill Park, a partnership with the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance that brought more than 20,000 hours of volunteer labor to build the impressive network of mountain biking trails; the recently completed lacrosse turf field at Big Finn Hill Park in partnership with Kirkland Lacrosse; and the Technology Access Foundation’s Bethady Community Learning Space at Lakewood Park, a beneficial resource to thousands of students with learning labs and an accessible community room that was the fitting venue to host the CPG Program recognition dinner.

“I am honored to be here with you tonight to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the CPG program and to recognize and celebrate you and your organizations, as representatives of the thousands of park users and volunteers,” said King County Councilmember Joe McDermott. “The CPG program is unique and innovative and being here tonight at TAF’s Bethaday Community Learning Space – a building that embodies the CPG program. It is a testament to the hard work, energy and passion that each of you bring to the Community Partnerships and Grants Program.”

As each group stepped forward to accept their partnership recognition awards presented by Kevin Brown, director of King County Parks, a series of photos in the background displayed images of shovels breaking ground, hard hats in construction zones, ribbon cuttings and many smiles across the faces of people of all ages; all in part to their vision, passion and commitment to the greater community.

Learn more about the Community Partnerships and Grants Program: http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/partners/cpg.aspx

Receiving partnership recognition awards Thursday night were:

· Discovering Open Spaces

· Eastside Audubon Society

· Eastside Football Club

· Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance

· Friends of Cedar River Watershed

· Friends of Dockton Park

· Friends of Maury Island Marine Park

· Hollywood Hill Saddle Club

· Issaquah Little League

· Kent Youth Soccer Association

· Kirkland Lacrosse

· Marymoor Velodrome Association

· Middle Green River Coalition

· Mirrormont Community Association

· Northwest Paragliding Club

· Preston Community Club

· Ravensdale Park Foundation

· Redmond North Little League

· Sammamish Rowing Association

· Seattle Preparatory School

· Technology Access Foundation

· Vashon Forest Stewards

A WCN/WSB reader was concerned that perhaps the King County Sheriff’s Office had more information than they were releasing regarding the potentially connected incidents near 3rd/104th. Today, the reader talked with KCSO Sgt. Cindi West, who shared this as a result:

The attempted child abduction from 2 weeks ago and the recent burglary “may or may not” be related. Given the facts that within 2 weeks, on the same street, a man grabbed a child in a front yard and on the second incident a man tried to gain entry into a room (where a child was sleeping), we felt it important to alert the public in case the two are connected. We, of course, do not know if the two crimes are related.

We also do not know yet if the stolen truck leaving the area is related or not, but since the deputy saw it in the neighborhood not long after the Burglary it is a possibility. We have released information hoping to get tips on who might have been driving the truck.

Our detectives are working hard on these cases and are following up on all tips and leads.

We are continuing to keep the public informed so that our community remains vigil(ant).

Remember you are the eyes and ears of our community! Please remain aware and call 911 to report anything suspicious.