White Center Now: The blog about White Center

White Center’s Christmas tree, in Veterans’ Triangle Park on the north side of 16th/Roxbury, is lit! The ceremony followed the gathering to honor Margaret Ryan (see separate story). On hand … someone who you might call “Santa Mac”:

(We suspect this “Santa” parks his sleigh regularly at Mac’s Triangle Pub right next to the tree. Even a pet was in the holiday spirit:

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Margaret Ryan was remembered tonight in downtown White Center as a community champion and good friend. Two and a half weeks after Ms. Ryan was murdered, a plaque in her honor was dedicated in the planting area on the southeast corner of 16th and Roxbury, during a candlelight ceremony.

Aileen Sison and Vera Johnson had organized the tribute. They both shared memories, as did others including White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes, and Ms. Ryan’s youngest son Patrick Lamb, who said his mom was working to help make connections in the community, and everyone coming together in this way was a sign that she had make connections happen.

Ms. Ryan’s 42-year-old son Brodie Lamb is charged with first-degree murder in her death; he pleaded not guilty at his arraignment this past Thursday.

Just announced by White Center Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes:

The Annual White Center Chamber of Commerce Hero Awards and Luncheon is planned for next Tuesday, December 4, at the Salvation Army from 12-1:30 pm. We will recognize three White Center Heroes for 2012, for their contributions to White Center. We encourage folks to bring an unwrapped new toy for our Chamber Toys for Tots collection. The address is: White Center Salvation Army, 9050 16th SW

Thursday morning, murder victim Margaret Ryan‘s 42-year-old son Brodie Lamb appeared in King County Superior Court, pleading not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder. He remains jailed in lieu of $2 million bail, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says a case-setting hearing is set for December 13th. Before then, friends, family, and community members will gather this Saturday at 4:30 pm for a tribute to Ms. Ryan, right before the 5 pm lighting of the White Center Christmas Tree at Veterans’ Triangle Park. Investigators say Lamb confessed to stabbing his 69-year-old mother to death two weeks ago after breaking through the door of her home when she tried to keep him out.

Save the date, one week from Saturday – December 8th. That’s when the White Center Community Development Association hopes you’ll join them for the WC Community Summit (but remember to sign up first!):

The 2012 White Center Community Summit will take place on Saturday, December 8 from 10am-2pm at White Center Heights Elementary. Organized by the White Center Community Development Association (CDA), this is a family event with workshops for youths and adults as well as free child care.

The theme for this year’s summit is “Continuing Change … 10 More Years of Action,” reflecting on the work that has been accomplished in the 10 years since the White Center CDA was founded and looking toward what can still be done in the future. All attendees will receive a free I Heart White Center t-shirt, lunch, and an opportunity to have family pictures taken by a professional photographer.

“The event is a great reflection of the community because it shows the diversity in languages and cultures that are present in White Center,” says White Center CDA Community Builder Marquise Roberson. “It also shows that even though our neighborhood is filled with so much difference that there is commonality that transcends it in our concerns and well-being of the community that we live.”

In addition to the entertainment during the event attendees will also receive lunch vouchers that can be redeemed at local White Center Businesses. As in years past there will be a resource center along with onsite interpreters and translated materials. Registration information can be found at wccda.org/home/wccda/2360

The mission of the White Center Community Development Association is to promote a vibrant neighborhood and high quality of life for White Center residents and stakeholders through the development of authentic leadership opportunities and community-led, neighborhood initiatives. This is accomplished through three lines of business: neighborhood revitalization, family development, and community building.

For more information please contact Marquise Roberson, Community Builder at (206) 694-1082 or Marquise@wccda.org.

Just a short distance away in Georgetown, you can have a great time for a great cause tomorrow (Tuesday) night in Georgetown, at the 5th annual Short and Sweet Auction on behalf of Open Arms Perinatal Services, which since 1997 “has provided community-based services to low income pregnant women and their families in the Puget Sound region” – with results including more breastfeeding, fewer C-sections, and fewer cases of low birthweight. Tomorrow’s event is billed as:

… a casual, fun — and brief — evening of fine wine, delicious appetizers and an exciting youth circus arts performance. Live auction highlights include tickets to a taping of The Daily Show in New York City, a stay at a beautiful apartment in Paris, France and a Stress-Busters Getaway including airfare, hotel and $1000 in spa treatments at any of 4,200 spas in the U.S. and Canada. We have many family offerings, jewelry, clothing, wines, theater tickets and adventure opportunities – perfect for holiday gift giving at all price levels. Free parking onsite. $20 advance admission; $25 at the door.

It starts at 6:30 pm Tuesday at SANCA (School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts) in Georgetown. You can register and pay online at openarmsps.org.

Two updates today on Saturday night’s deadly fire on 28th SW: First, according to King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West, it’s been ruled an accidental electrical fire; though no crime was believed to be involved, Sgt. West was dispatched to the scene to help coordinate communication. Second, the sister of the home’s resident, 71-year-old Peggy Munsen, has spoken with WCN news partner The Seattle Times and confirmed that Ms. Munsen is the woman who died in the fire; that’s the same information given to us that night by a friend, but we withheld the name until officials and/or family confirmed it. Ms. Munsen’s sister is former West Seattleite, now Bremerton resident, Kay Trepanier, long known for her business Cruises By Kay. As she told The Times, her sister went into the cruise business too. There is no word yet of memorial plans.

From a morning stroll on 16th:

The new restaurant TT’s Soul Kitchen, at the site of the former Pho Lynna (southeast corner of 16th/Roxbury), plans its grand opening tomorrow (Tuesday, November 27th), according to handwritten signs put up on both sides of its corner location. We’re checking on hours.

And right across Roxbury, the banner’s up for this Saturday night’s tree lighting:

Veterans’ Triangle Park, right in front of Mac’s Triangle Pub, is the place to be at 5 pm this Saturday (December 1st).

5:44 PM: Seattle firefighters are assisting North Highline/Burien firefighters at the scene of a house fire in the 9800 block of 28th SW, just south of Roxbury Lanes and the Roxbury Safeway. We are at the scene and will have more information shortly.

5:51 PM: Just talked with the incident commander, who says a woman was found dead in the bathroom of the home, possibly overcome by smoke. All they know is that she is in her late 60s or early 70s. The house itself was not that badly damaged, but it was a very smoky fire. Investigators are starting work to see what caused it. 28th SW will be shut down in the area for a while.

6:50 PM: Acting Battalion Chief Ernie Brown briefed media at the scene (this has drawn several TV crews as well) a short time ago:

We’ll update with anything else we find out later.

8:35 PM UPDATE: A friend of the 71-year-old woman who lived at the home, a longtime local business owner, tells us her friend is the fire victim, and that her family mostly lives out of town but will be contacted. Our policy is to not publish names until it’s been confirmed by either authorities or relatives that next of kin has been notified. The victim’s friend remembers her as “a wonderfully sweet and kind lady with a wicked sense of humor; a dear friend who will be greatly missed.”

10:16 PM UPDATE: Just went back to check – 28th SW is reopened. One fire vehicle and a TV truck remain at the scene.

The two county-side corners of 16th/Roxbury are getting TLC today to prepare for a tribute to community advocate Margaret Ryan, murdered a week and a half ago. Above, Vera Johnson and Aileen Sison, who convened a planning meeting last Monday night, are among those fixing up the planting areas; we photographed them on the southeast corner – here’s the work site on the southwest corner:

The tribute is expected to be dedicated next Saturday night (December 1st) before the White Center tree lighting, around 4:30 pm (the lighting’s at 5 at Triangle Park across Roxbury). Meantime, Ms. Ryan’s son, 42-year-old Brodie Lamb, is charged in her death, and awaiting arraignment next week.

5:50 PM: Until just a few hours ago, an all-ages “rave” dance party at the former Club Evo in downtown White Center – first reported here two days ago – was still on. But now, it’s been announced on the event’s Facebook page that due to permit problems, it’s canceled. One person discussing the cancellation on that page says the organizer “was told the new building had permits and it didn’t.” (“New” building refers to the fact the event had previously been scheduled for another location.)

Separate from the moratorium that expired in August regarding nightclub licenses in the area, there also had been a permanent injunction against the site opening without problems including fire-safety concerns being issued. We don’t yet know the specific circumstances of how this got canceled at the last minute – or why it was even scheduled at the almost-last minute in the first place – but will add whatever else we find out.

6:10 PM UPDATE: County Councilmember Joe McDermott, who we’d contacted two nights ago after getting a tip about the planned party, said the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirmed to him that “the lack of business license precludes events such as tonight’s party at Club Evo” and says the Sheriff’s Office had contacted building owner Alfredo Lopez after hearing about the plan, “informing him that the club could not operate.” KCSO is keeping close watch on the situation tonight, Councilmember McDermott adds.

From West Seattle’s Avalon Glassworks – their always-popular glass apples to raise money for White Center Food Bank are back:

Support White Center Food Bank with your purchase of a limited-edition glass apple. Support small business by shopping locally!

We open Friday at 10 am with a fresh crop of green apples (and a few red ones). When you purchase just one apple, we give enough cash to White Center Food Bank to purchase 200 pounds of food for the community.

Buy yours online here or call 206-937-6369, or visit our West Seattle gallery, 10 am-6 pm weekdays and 10 am- 5 pm weekends.

They’re at 2914 SW Avalon Way, in the Luna Park mini-business district just south of the West Seattle Bridge.

For the first time in more than a year, downtown White Center’s former Club Evo (9625 16th SW) is apparently on the verge of opening again – as an event venue.

A tip tonight called our attention to an invitation/information page on Facebook for an all-night event there this Friday/Saturday.

It’s desrcribed as an all-ages party 7 pm Friday to 5 am Saturday, with multiple DJs in two separate areas of the venue, and more than 700 RSVPs on the Facebook page (though anyone who uses FB more than occasionally knows that RSVP numbers seldom translate to actual attendees, whatever the event). In discussions between dozens of attendees, it is repeatedly referred to as a rave. One exchange indicates no alcohol is expected, though attendees are sharing information on nearby White Center establishments that do sell alcohol. Tickets are going for $15 to $40 on Brown Paper Tickets, where the venue is described as El Reventon, the South Seattle venue that holds the name once proposed for the Club Evo site. (According to discussion on the Facebook page, the venue had to be changed at the last minute.)

You’ll recall that in August of 2011, with the venue’s owner and a business partner seeking a new license to reopen the 16th SW space that some had criticized for , County Councilmember Joe McDermott led the charge to get a one-year emergency moratorium on nightclub-type businesses passed. That, and the rejection of a business-license application, kept the space closed and idle. Months before the license application, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had summarized previous action that shut down Evo, describing it as an “unlicensed youth dance hall (that) became a magnet for gang activity.”

But the moratorium ended this past August, no renewal, McDermott confirms in response to our inquiry tonight. At the time, local leaders pleaded for some help from the county, at least until Burien potentially annexed the area; now that’s been defeated, and White Center remains under county rule TFN.

So is this event a now-permissible use of the space? McDermott is checking on permit requirements, also in response to our inquiry. Meantime, a bare-bones Facebook page for Club Evo itself appears to be under construction as of less than a day ago.

We went to the site tonight to see if there’s any signage or permit-related posting related to this advertised event, checking both its 16th SW and alley sides, but found only a notice from Seattle Public Utilities saying “sorry we missed you” regarding an appointment this afternoon to turn on the water (and instructions on how it could be done without official help).

ORIGINAL 6:48 AM REPORT: From Seattle City Light:

Seattle City Light Crews are responding to a power outage in Burien, SeaTac, and Riverton-Boulevard Park affecting 2,892 customers. The cause is not known at this time. The estimated time for restoration is 10 a.m. The outage started at 6 a.m.

You can see the boundaries here.

7:37 AM UPDATE: Some of the affected customers are back online, says SCL:

Seattle City Light Crews have restored power to 1,331 customers from an original outage affecting 2,892 customers in Burien, SeaTac, and Riverton-Boulevard Park. The outage was caused by a vehicle running into a pole. The estimated time for restoration is 10 a.m. The outage started at 6 a.m.

8:57 AM UPDATE: From City Light:

Power has been restored power to all but 43 customers from a 6 a.m. outage affecting 2,892 customers in Burien, SeaTac, and Riverton-Boulevard Park. The outage was caused by a tree landing on wires in the 15500 block of Second Avenue South. An earlier press release incorrectly said that it was the result of a car/pole accident.

Scenes from Monday’s power outage in part of downtown White Center, photographed by Nick Adams for WCN … After a while, all the newly opened Meander’s Kitchen could do was put up a sign and hope today will be OK. Inside the Locker Room, meantime, the outage didn’t stop the revelry:

City Light listed the cause as “equipment failure.”

Just announced today: “White Center’s first ever 5k Walk & Run on 2/16! Proceeds go to the White Center CDA and YES Foundation. Price: $30, Seniors $25 (55+). Kids 10 and under free!” Here’s the official flyer, via Twitter. You can register online by going here – where you’ll find the full schedule and other details, too.

Thanks to Athena at Meander’s for flagging us on this – it wasn’t on the Seattle City Light outage map till a short time ago: There’s a power outage in downtown White Center. 65 customers (one customer = one business or home) affected, says SCL. Might not be back on till 4 pm. Looks like it’s affecting the north side of Roxbury around 16th, 17th too.

Mount View Elementary in White Center needs your help – and it’s really easy.

Shoshanna Cohen, the ELL Interventionist at Mount View, explains that the school “has an incredibly high Hispanic population and very limited books in Spanish for them to read,” so: “We entered a contest through Santillana where the grand prize is $5000 grant for Spanish books for the school. The entire contest is based on votes and you can vote every day.”

Here’s how:

Go to this webpage and click the lower-right link that says VOTAR/VOTE.

You’ll go to a page with the entries – look for the student in the Cat in the Hat-striped hat, and that’s for Mount View. You can watch their video – same one embedded above here – or just click “vote for this video.” It’s fast and easy – NO registration, NO signing up for anything.

Cohen adds, “I love my school and my students are amazing -there is so much research showing that by promoting the student’s first language, their growth in their second language (English) is astronomical.”

The competition runs through next weekend – so no time to waste, vote for Mount View today!

(Also posted on our partner sites West Seattle Blog and White Center Now, as this tragedy touches all three communities)

Last weekend, a one-car crash in South Park took two young lives and changed three others. We are gradually learning more about those involved – including some with White Center ties.

One of the teenagers killed in the crash has been laid to rest: After her viewing in White Center and funeral Mass at Holy Family, 13-year-old Lucie Hernandez, a Denny International Middle School student, was to be buried at a cemetery in Tukwila Friday afternoon.

Viewing is Sunday and a funeral Mass on Monday at St. Mary’s in the Central District for 16-year-old Luis Martinez, who was a student at TEC High School on the Evergreen campus in White Center.

The two boys who survived the crash are also Evergreen campus students, according to Highline Public Schools, at TEC and at the Arts and Academics Academy, while the third survivor has been identified as Lucie’s sister Karla, a ninth-grader at Chief Sealth International High School.

We had previously reported an account to help Luis’s family with expenses, accessible via any BECU branch, in the name of Victor Herrera, account number 3579847581. Donations were accepted at this past Wednesday’s Denny/Sealth concert in West Seattle (coverage here from WSB). And now, there’s a benefit planned Monday night (November 19th) to help both Luis and Lucie’s families:

The event will be at Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant in Renton from 5 pm-9 pm. There will be a $10 buffet fee and a chance to drop off additional donations. Radio Variedades radio host Mercedes Garcia will be hosting the event live on the radio and encouraging the community to come and support. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to spread the word.

The restaurant is at 540 Rainier Avenue South (here’s a map).

Just in from King County Sheriff’s Office, that sketch created from the description of the man who raped a woman in her Top Hat home during a home-invasion attack Monday night that also injured her partner. He is described as black, around 20 years old, medium complexion, 5’5 to 5’6, 170 to 180 pounds, wearing a dark gray hoodie at the time. There is no sketch of the other man sought in the incident – he was wearing a mask – but King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West did include a description – black, medium-to-darker complexion, also around 20, six feet tall, “real slim,” wearing a black hoodie at the time and gray shoes, possibly Air Jordans. If you know anything about either one, please call 911.