White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Before this week is out, thousands of Highline Public Schools students will be back in class. Thursday is the first day of school. Last day: June 13, 2013.

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

With two and a half months to go until the annexation vote, there was something of a “let’s get it over with already” mood to tonight’s informational meeting, the latest in a series of monthly gatherings.

“Annexation veterans,” as Burien city manager Mike Martin called them -half-filled the room at the White Center Food Bank. Martin said he noticed only two faces at the meeting that weren’t people “intimately familiar” with the details of the proposal, and admitted he was a little disconcerted about that.

Nonetheless, forward the meeting went, though Martin first warned that he wouldn’t stand for the supporters and opponents trying to turn it into “a debate.”

Burien management analyst Nhan Nguyen then offered some information about the WC Food Bank itself. He’s on the board, and pointed out that it served 66,000 people last year alone.

Martin then launched into his opening remarks. Burien will grow to 65,000 from 47,000 if the annexation goes forward, making it the 15th largest city in the state – “a major, major city.”

Taxes will go up about $140 a year for the “average, average citizen” under annexation, Martin said. Zoning will not change – immediately, anyway.

The FAQ/info sheet (see the long version here on the city website) has a new addition – “Code Enforcement.” Martin described the city’s policy as “reactive” – summarized in the new FAQ line as “we don’t go looking for violations but will prioritize and respond swiftly to complaints.”

Regarding police services, he reiterated what’s been said before – the White Center storefront will stay. And the last FAQ highlight – “will my address change?” – as long as the zip code is correct, Martin said, you can use Burien or Seattle, though “the correct address will be a Burien address.”

He described Burien’s government – city manager who “run(s) the daily operations of the city,” 70 full-time-equivalent staff members, and an elected City Council. (At that point, he mentioned that Deputy Mayor Rose Clark was on hand.)

When he handed the figurative baton to Police Chief Scott Kimerer, the chief also acknowledged the room’s domination by those who have long been vocal on the issue. Nonetheless, at least in honor of those two people who hadn’t been seen at meetings before, he too recapped his department’s key points, and plans for annexation.

While the King County Sheriff’s Office “has gotten a lot smaller,” Burien itself has not

“B.J. Myers worked for me in Burien before he came (to White Center), and I would love to work with him again… he’s an outstanding young officer,” said Chief Kimerer of the White Center storefront deputy.

Asked if Burien has a gang unit, Kimerer mentioned a two-person team that works as part of a team with the county’s gang specialists.

Traffic enforcement came up as a question – speeding, in particular. One attendee asked if anything “technological” could be done.

“Let’s talk about red light cameras,” joked the two leaders at the head of the room. “No, let’s NOT talk about red light cameras.” Martin then explained why that was a sore spot – Burien had installed three, and “people hated it, hated it, hated it. … It signaled to us that people are kind of all right with people sliding through intersections.”

Overall, though, Martin acknowledged that it sounded as if many things would stay the same for the unincorporated area – same policing level, same school district, etc. “So, you might wonder, what’s the point?” Martin asked rhetorically, and answered with an explanation of how the state expected the counties to eventually no longer have to provide urban services.

And, he said, “what local government brings, whether it’s Burien or anybody else, is people who will stand up for the things that people in the community want.” As an example of that, Martin recounted some of the advocacy that the city had engaged in – remembering the controversies over Puget Sound Park, for example.

He also listed some of Burien’s achievements, such as its vision for property near Sea-Tac Airport, with an offramp and relocated auto dealerships, freeing up space on 1st Avenue South. “It’s a big vision, it’s going to take years, but that’s what we do. … If I was going to explain what changes because of annexation, that’s what changes” – somebody to stand up for a vision. Martin said he wasn’t clear about that before the first annexation vote.

Asked next about the county-owned White Center bog/pond area, Martin said there would be talks to resolve status and responsibility after “a successful annexation vote.” Same for the county-owned parks, most of which, Martin said, would become city-owned.

Some history came into play there: Clark told the story of Seahurst Park in Burien and how it had been a county park, and how the city was adamant about bringing funding into the city as well as the land, when the city first incorporated. The park previously was unsafe, she said.

What about people who don’t want to be annexed to Seattle or Burien? Martin then was asked. What about a study, as a comparison, how much would taxes go up under Seattle vs. under Burien? North Burien resident Greg Duff asked.

“Seattle’s not on the ballot,” Martin said. “And we really don’t want to be the least of two evils based on taxes. … We believe there are other good reasons to want to annex to Burien.”

Burien resident Chestine Edgar brought up the Hicklin Lake area in the potential annexation zone and concerns about how much the cleanup of its polluted water might cost. Would it become part of the city? she asked. Yes, said Martin. Edgar then went on to say she disagreed that taxes would only go up $140 under Burien annexation. “We disagree,” Martin said.

Another attendee brought up a reservoir under a park along SW 112th, returning the discussion to parks. Martin eventually acknowledged that the city never has as much as it would like to spend on parks. “We’re not a rich city. We’re not a poor city. We’re a good city,” he said.

In response to another concern voiced by an “annexation veteran,” Martin stated flatly that the city has enough money to cover annexation-related expenses for many years ahead, “period, end of story. … Ask yourself, why in the world would we want to go forward with an annexation that was not revenue neutral?”

One of the non-veterans then asked a question, and Martin all but fell on a knee to thank her. She wondered about a vacant parcel of land in her neighborhood and what its future might be under Burien governance. Someone else in the room said they believe that site belongs to the King County Housing Authority. Martin said it would remain in their control – annexation wouldn’t change that. “They would continue to own that property, just like any private (owner).” That segued into a discussion of overall land-use strategy, big picture.

Then suddenly, about 50 minutes into the meeting, a woman who didn’t even know the city manager’s name asked a question, wondering about the situation in Burien with unfinished development in the city center, and gentrification. She was referring to the Town Square development, though she didn’t know its name, and Martin went into a thumbnail retelling of its story and how it fell apart in the 2008 crash. “Everybody in this room owns 60 percent of those, because the U.S. government bought 60 percent of it” he noted, also saying that 16 of the 124 units have finally sold, and 16 more are under contract.

One hour in – as Martin told this story – people continued to arrive, and the room continued to fill. He promised that wouldn’t happen here because “we would ask people” what kind of development they wanted to see, balancing the need for “upscale” development with “workforce housing … The trick is having diversified housing stock. The council would go berserk if I said let’s make this Bellevue. It ain’t gonna happen. It’s not our culture.”

Would the City Council grow in size under annexation? Martin then was asked. No, he said, unless there was a proposal to change the form of government.

Another question went to a member of that current council, Deputy Mayor Clark. What does the city as the benefit of annexation? “We will all be what we used to be – one community,” said Clark, noting that the area is all part of the same school district, for example, and saying that there would be a loss of control if for example the potential annexation area became part of Seattle, while staying in the Highline district. Burien would benefit by being in control of this area “on its border,” she also said.

Martin then picked up the fact that the annexation area is so close to so many important parts of the area, that “it MUST change, it cannot stay the same.” He also brought up the hot-button issue of what happens if it stays unincorporated – “will low-income housing be dumped (there)?”

That veered into a way to encourage even more community involvement, though as Martin noted, “this community is about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, and they’ve been doing that so long …”

At that point, Boulevard Park-area resident Bob Price declared that if the area remains unannexed, it will be “destroyed. … We’ve got to do something to save ourselves now before we get trashed by big business coming in and destroying the area.”

“Thank you for that question, Bob,” Martin quipped.

Something resembling the ‘debate” he had said he would not tolerate erupted at that point, with some squabbling over Martin’s suggestion that the city could encourage PTA involvement and other forms of parental participation in the schools. Once that ebbed, he said that he felt people would look back years from now and wonder why the city didn’t work more closely with the school district and other agencies, when it was for the greater good.

What’s Burien’s policy toward homeless camps? Martin was asked.

While the city has a high tolerance level, it won’t tolerate camping in parks, he said.

The ensuing discussion about human services brought up some funding issues, and some observations such as Burien’s lack of homeless shelters and soup kitchens. “We don’t have any of that stuff,” Martin acknowledged. “We have food banks. We have a strong faith-based community. … We try to be sensitive in the winter, we understand that the game kind of changes for people.”

Barbara Dobkin, president of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council but not speaking for it, shared observations of homeless people wandering in Seattle, where she works. Another attendee talked about veterans on their way home from war, and “what are they going to do, where are they going to go? … We’ve got to address this.”

Martin mentioned Navos‘s presence in Burien and said “we are thrilled” with its presence.

Woven throughout the questioning, pro- and anti-annexation advocates continued trying to make their points, and Martin continued to refute or deflect them.

As the hour-and-a-half session wrapped up, he said “Vote up or vote down – we need to move this along, it’s time to do this or not do it, and I’m hoping we get a clear decision from the people of the White Center (etc.) area. Get your neighbors to vote, whether for or against. Let’s get a clear signal so we really know what folks want to do.”

And yet – regarding the only other potential annexer – Martin said, “Seattle’s not hell.”

Two more informational sessions are scheduled before the November 6th election – from the Burien website:

September 13: Beverly Park Elementary School, cafeteria, 1201 S. 104th Street, 6 pm

October 18: Cascade Middle School, cafeteria, 11212 10th Ave SW, 6 pm

Something you want to know about the Burien annexation proposal before you vote? Tonight is your next chance to ask questions and get answers, in person – the traveling presentation/Q&A session comes to the White Center Food Bank (108th and 8th). 6 pm.

Just announced by the Salvation Army – new White Center leadership:

The Salvation Army Northwest Division announces the appointment
of Captains Raymond and Jennifer Erickson-King, to the Seattle White Center Corps. Prior to this
appointment, the Captains managed the Youth & Young Adult Programs at The Salvation Army
Intermountain Division (Denver, CO). In White Center, they replace Majors Maynard and Kathy Sargent,
who retired.

The news of their appointment didn’t surprise the Captains Erickson-King. As Salvation Army Officers,
they expect to be reassigned throughout their careers. The commitment of being an Officer includes
moving your family frequently, and accepting reassignments based on career development and filling
the needs of The Salvation Army locations. The assignment at White Center is an acknowledgement of
their ability to manage a large community center and congregation.

The Seattle White Center location is among the largest and most active Corps in The Salvation Army
Northwest Division. It serves more than 6,000 individuals per month. Among the variety of programs
and services offered to the community are community lunch for seniors; food pantry; rent/utility
assistance; after-school tutoring, athletic leagues, and music lessons for kids and teens; summer
overnight camp; summer day camp for kids, and holiday assistance.

Originally from Dallas, Oregon, Captain Raymond received an Associate of Arts degree in Ministry from
The Salvation Army College for Officer Training in Crestmont, CA, in 1998. Throughout his career, he has
managed many Salvation Army locations, including Waimea and Honokaa, HI; San Pedro, Long Beach,
and Merced, CA; and Tri-Cities, WA. He is an alumnus of Corban University (Salem, OR), and holds a
Master of Business Administration and has earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology:
Family Studies and Business Administration: Management and Communication.

Captain Jennifer was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Los Angeles. She received an Associate
of Arts degree in Ministry from The Salvation Army College for Officer Training in Crestmont, CA, in
2005. She served with Captain Raymond at the appointments in Tri-Cities, WA; Merced, CA; and Denver,
CO.

It’s a mega-night in White Center.

Headlining the bill: The Rat City Recon music fest we first told you about here two weeks ago. “7 killer bands, 3 great venues.” It starts at 6 pm at Company Bar (the other venues are Full Tilt Ice Cream and Mac’s Triangle Pub).

Also tonight, it’s the White Center Art Walk, 6-9 pm. Read about some of the venues and artists on the White Center for the Arts FB page.

And Southgate Roller Rink is hosting the Rat City Rollergirls’ All-Stars vs. the Puget Sound Outcast Men’s Rollerderby skaters, 7 pm – details here.

(Dave Duff, right, takes the oath of office, read by Ray Austin)
By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

The North Highline Board of Fire Commissioners has a new chair – who’s also one of its former chairs.

Last night, Dave Duff was appointed to fill the vacancy created when Wayne Alishokis resigned in May.

Wayne Alishokis had been on the board since 2006, when he succeeded … Dave Duff.

This probably explains why the public interview for Duff, the only person to seek the job, lasted less than 10 minutes.

The executive session in which commissioners Ray Austin and Liz Giba discussed Duff’s merits lasted a little longer. And then, when back in public session, they voted unanimously to appoint him, and then to make him chair, with Austin as vice chair.

Chief Mike Marrs had explained that a second potential candidate had expressed interest, but “pulled out,” leaving Duff as the lone applicant.

During the aforementioned brief interview, Duff recapped some of his history with the district, including leading a bond campaign to replace engines and upgrade stations, and ultimately so much involvement that he, his late wife Judy, and their daughter Deanna were, he noted, “voted as honorary members” of NHFD.

Deanna, a journalist, was in attendance last night as her father was appointed and sworn in.

But obviously this is a far different time for the NHFD than when Duff served a decade ago. Most of the remaining unincorporated area is less than three months away from deciding in the November election whether to approve annexation by Burien.

During the interview, when Giba asked Duff what he would like to see happen with the district, he acknowledged this is a “transition” time, and that if the annexation proposal should be rejected, it would mean “hard changes,” but whatever happened, he wanted to be part of it, “to ensure that services are provided here, no matter which way it goes.”

First, and shortest, of three reports from tonight’s North Highline Board of Fire Commissioners meeting, led by newly appointed (more in report #2) commissioner Dave Duff, a former board chair who was elected tonight to serve in that role again:

Chief Mike Marrs told board members Duff, Ray Austin, and Liz Giba that both districts he leads are participating in the state’s mobilization to the Taylor Bridge Fire in Central Washington – with one firefighter from NH, two from Burien. They are expected to be there at least a few more days, he said. There may be future needs, the chief said, with the possibility that more “type 1 structural engines” would be requested.

(Here is the latest on the fire from our partners at The Seattle Times.)

(WCN photo from July 2011’s White Center Promise celebration)
Once again this summer, White Center Community Development Association is hosting a celebration of the White Center Promise initiative – which is about to get into full swing. Here’s the official announcement of the event that’s now two and a half weeks away:

The Promise Summer Celebration 2012 is the second annual event focused on the White Center Promise (WCP) Initiative.

The Promise Summer Celebration will be Friday, August 31, 2012 from 4:00PM-6:30PM and will take place at the Greenbridge Plaza on 8th Ave SW and SW 99th St. in White Center.

Similar to last year’s event, the celebration will feature local delicious food and live performances at no cost. This year’s feature acts will include: Seattle Kokon Taiko Drummers, Au Lac Vovinam Lion Dance Team and the EriAm Sisters. There will also be a giveaway of book bags to the first 250 K-12 grade students who sign up and the first 150 parents that register will receive a special gift.

White Center Promise is a long-term initiative aimed at eradicating poverty in White Center through a continuum of educational results that bring about social change. The goal is that all children in White Center will graduate from high school and earn a post-secondary credential that leads to a living wage career.

WCP’s cradle-to-career range of solutions was developed beginning in 2010 with the help of local residents and supported by local core partners Highline Public Schools, Southwest Youth and Family Services, and the White Center Community Development Association.

A roll-out plan has been created and implementation will take place in phases over the next 5 years beginning in January 2013.

The first story ever published here on WCN, on August 7, 2008, was about the grand opening of Big Al Brewing in White Center. This weekend, Big Al’s has been celebrating its fourth anniversary, including a “Family Day” celebration today, with Eric Ode performing live till 5:30 pm.

Just in from King County:

King County Executive Dow Constantine and King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert today urged the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) to conduct a thorough investigation into missed garbage, yard waste and recycling pickups in the unincorporated areas during a recent strike by haulers who work for Waste Management of Washington, Inc.

“I’m glad that Waste Management and its drivers were able to reach agreement, but we received many complaints from residents about missed pickups,” said Executive Constantine. “I urge the WUTC to conduct a thorough investigation and to use its regulatory authority to ensure that residents and businesses whose collections were disrupted are made whole.”

In separate letters to the WUTC – the governmental entity with legal authority over solid waste collection in unincorporated areas – Executive Constantine and Councilmember Lambert noted that Waste Management is entrusted with the vital public service of garbage, yard waste and recycling collection, and that thousands of residents, including those in unincorporated areas, were left without garbage and recycling pickup.

“It is important for customers in the unincorporated area to understand that King County doesn’t control waste collection services, because the State of Washington has the regulatory authority,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, who represents northeast King County areas served by Waste Management.

“We need to work very closely with the state Utilities and Transportation Commission to make sure our unincorporated area citizens have the same protections as those in cities, and that the same accountability measures can be applied to waste haulers. It also is important for those affected by service disruptions to get better information, and they need it right away,” added Lambert.

Drivers represented by Teamsters Local 117 who collect recyclables and food and yard waste, and who are employed by Waste Management, went on strike for eight days beginning July 25. Drivers represented by Teamsters Local 174 who collect garbage honored the picket lines and garbage also went uncollected.

Customers of Waste Management will be able to comment to state regulators at a public meeting Thursday on the impacts of the company’s recent labor dispute on solid waste and recycling collection services.

The WUTC will hear a presentation from the company regarding its strike response strategy at 4 p.m. and will take comments from customers at 5 p.m. on Aug. 9, in the Woodinville City Council Chambers, 17301 133rd Avenue NE, in Woodinville.

Thanks to North Highline/White Center neighborhood advocate Gill Loring for sharing photos from one of Tuesday night’s Night Out block parties – 20th SW between 102nd and 104th. The host was another neighborhood advocate, Ron Johnson (who also serves as a member of the all-volunteer North Highline Unincorporated Area Council). Here’s Ron chatting with one of the King County Sheriff’s Office team members who visited, Community Service Officer Peter Truong:

Also spotted at this party, White Center Storefront Deputy B.J. Myers:

Neighbors got a chance to talk with the officers as well as with each other:

Gill reports the party went on until dark.

One more big event Tuesday night besides Night Out – thousands of people invited to the annual hunger-fighting summertime mega-barbecue at Greenbridge Plaza, with partners including the White Center Food Bank and the Vertically Integrated Partnership to End Hunger.

The menu included summer-barbecue favorites, even corn on the cob:

The partnership includes food-service companies, distributors, farmers, processors, and others collaborating to fight hunger in ways big and small – and as with the previous two years, this was definitely big, with fun as well as food:

This gets bigger every year; here’s our coverage of the first one back in July 2010.

It’s so big now, KING 5 even sent a crew Tuesday night! Here’s photojournalist Lorenzo at work:

(Here’s the online version of their story.)

Don’t skip voting in today’s election – two major ballot measures, and the judicial races (as explained here), will be settled today. You can take your ballot to the dropoff box at Burien City Hall (400 SW 152nd), or the “dropoff van” at West Seattle Stadium (off 35th SW south of Avalon Way). Or, if you’re mailing your ballot, make sure it’ll be postmarked today. For your online sample ballot and last-minute info about candidates and races, here’s the official pamphlet.

Just in from Shelli Park – details of what and who they are looking for, to help the White Center Art Walk grow. Read on:

White Center Arts (WCA), the producer of the White Center 3rd Saturday Art Walk, is seeking a new infusion of energy for the 3rd Saturday Art Walk. We are looking for a few good volunteers who have a vision to take this program to a new level. We want to continue to grow the Art Walk into an event that is unique to White Center, and a regional draw.

WCA has developed a few auxiliary programs that dovetail with Art Walk that need to be established in our annual schedule. Any volunteers would be supported by current supporters and the Board of Trustees.

Read the rest of this entry »

(NHUAC’s booth at Jubilee Days two weekends ago)
By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

Summertime often brings a much-needed break for volunteer community councils. Their meeting calendar skips a month or two; council leaders might take a vacation without a neighborhood crisis summoning them back to action.

No rest for the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council – despite the fact they’re working in a sort of limbo.

Two weekends ago, you might have seen NHUAC members volunteering at their White Center Jubilee Days booth. Its table was full of information about myriad community issues. That included crime prevention, an issue of special focus for the council – which has sponsored two public-safety forums (in February and in May) and has another one scheduled for September 13th, with not only crime updates, but also a forum featuring the King County Sheriff candidates, appointed incumbent Sheriff Steve Strachan, and recently retired longtime sergeant John Urquhart.

The council also has long worked on issues of community blight and beautification. At 16th and 100th, they worked for months to arrange for a planting area, but the actual planting wasn’t the end of the work – it was in ways only the start. The area is not irrigated, so it has to be wandered by hand – and that requires a major “bucket brigade” sort of effort:

The big barrels are filled at NHUAC president Barbara Dobkin‘s home every few days, loaded onto a pickup truck, and carried over to the site.

One recent evening, we stopped by as Dobkin, with help from NHUAC’s Christine Waldman (not pictured), watered and weeded the site.

They also patrol nearby areas for litter (which recently, Dobkin mentioned, included roadkill – a dead raccoon, left for somebody unspecified to handle). No grant money or donations for this – NHUAC members are doing it out of their own pockets, and on their own time, as community volunteers. NHUAC used to have a modest operational budget from the county, but that ended last year, as the county decided it would stop supporting the unincorporated-area councils, and move into a different sort of system, focusing on “community service areas.”

Though county material touting the “community service area” approach uses the language of “expand(ing) opportunities to seek input, listen, and respond to residents,” the new plan will offer only annual meetings for each “service area,” while councils such as NHUAC – one of six councils that the county had recognized – meet monthly. (We’ve covered NHUAC most months since WCN’s launch four years ago, as we have done with community councils/associations in West Seattle since launching our site there five-plus years ago; our WCN reports on NHUAC meetings and other activities are archived here, newest to oldest.)

North Highline will now be, in the county’s view, simply part of the “West King County Areas,” a collection of non-contiguous chunks of unincorporated land – see them on a county map here – pending approval of the boundaries proposed by King County Executive Dow Constantine.

While that system was supposed to be implemented about the same time as the end of funding and support, there’s been a lag which has left NHUAC in more of a limbo than ever. This has all been trickling out for almost a year; last October, a county rep came to NHUAC’s meeting to discuss the concept, and as we reported, that didn’t go very well.

Since then, there have been related announcements here and there – in April, for example, the county announced a “point person” for the new Service Area program. A grant program (for some of the types of work NHUAC is currently doing, unfunded) is described online, with a deadline in September.

Then last month, the boundary proposal, which also seeks to further remove NHUAC and the remaining UACs from any sort of official advisory involvement in county matters. From the news release:

A companion ordinance also proposed today would amend several sections of the King County Code to change or remove references to the participation of unincorporated area councils on various County advisory bodies – to help ensure representation by unincorporated area residents without limiting it to specific organizations, and to expand the pool of residents who can engage in County volunteer opportunities.

The CSA program will enable the County to engage with community-based organizations and provide regular opportunities for those organizations – and all residents outside of those organizations – to meet with King County elected officials and senior management.

The point made at NHUAC’s discussion last October of the county “Service Area” change – with those making it including a Burien City Council member – is that until the area is annexed, which, pending this November’s election outcome, could be sometime next year – another interim change in the community-engagement process was confusing at best.

But this council isn’t stopping, county support or no county support. At the Jubilee Days booth, for example, they were discussing a new petition to get something done about what just might be the biggest eyesore in White Center, the overgrown, graffiti-vandalism-coated former restaurant on 16th north of 112th:

It’s been years since that property’s last incarnation as a Peruvian restaurant, preceded by a fried-chicken restaurant and a fast-food joint. The graffiti – long a NHUAC-tackled issue – and weeds have continued to grow. Will its owners, or the county, do anything about it? Nobody else has shown up to take it on, NHUAC members say, so they’re circulating a petition.

As for their own future, they’re just doing what they’ve been doing – volunteer community advocacy. Keep an eye on northhighlineuac.org for information on upcoming meetings and ongoing issues. We’ll also be tracking the county service-areas proposal; the County Council is just now starting a two-week summer break, so nothing’s listed regarding any upcoming meetings at which it’ll be discussed.

(Also posted to partner site West Seattle Blog)

ou too can make friends with the fabulous fowls of the White Center Food Bank. Both named Henrietta. That’s Linda, in our photo, with one of the Henriettas. They’re both meeting visitors right now during the WC Food Bank’s summer open house – and they’re the inspiration for a program that you can be part of, to provide fresh eggs to more of WCFB’s clients. Till 2 pm, you can meet the H’s, tour the demonstration gardens, and get to know some cool people, at 10829 8th SW.

10:19 AM: The King County Sheriff’s Office reports a fatal crash at 9th and 106th SW (map), with one person dead. We’ll update from the scene shortly.

11:07 AM UPDATE: The crash is in an off-the-beaten-path a residential neighborhood. Two vehicles are involved; we’ve just added photos (blurring one otherwise-visible plate, as is WCN policy). Investigators from the Major Accident Response and Reconstruction team are at the scene now; they’ve deferred comment to KCSO’s media liaison, Sgt. Cindi West, from whom we expect more information later.

11:28 AM UPDATE: Commenter Beverly says the victim is a neighbor who lives on the street where this happened.

11:55 AM UPDATE: That’s confirmed by Sgt. West, with whom we just spoke; she says the victim is in his early 70s and was pulling out of his driveway onto SW 106th, when an eastbound vehicle hit him. The woman and child in that car were not seriously hurt, she said, and neither driver appeared to have been under the influence, nor does it seem speeding was a factor, according to Sgt. West, though the final determination of the crash’s cause will be up to the MARR’s findings.

‘7 killer bands, 3 great venues’ is how the announcement late Thursday night on Facebook describes the upcoming Rat City Recon music festival. Those venues are Company Bar (9608 16th SW), Full Tilt Ice Cream (9629 16th SW), and Mac’s Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW). The music will run approximately 6 pm-1 am, and the announcement includes this lineup:

6:00 No World (Triangle Pub)
7:00 Vanguard (Full Tilt Ice Cream)
8:00 Skerik Trio (Triangle Pub)
9:00 Screens (Company Bar)
10:00 Tacos! (Full Tilt Ice Cream)
11:00 Perfect Bombs (Company Bar)
12:00 Diminished Men (Company Bar)

It’s free – but: “A suggested donation of $5 will get you a wrist band that is good for happy hour drink prices at each venue all night. Exclusive, limited edition t-shirt and wrist band bundles are available for pre-purchase at: brownpapertickets.com/event/264989“

(Photos by Nick Adams for WCN)
She is the all-time leading scorer in women’s professional basketball, with a career in two leagues – and on Tuesday, Seattle Storm guard Katie Smith came to the White Center Salvation Army Day Camp for some one-on-one time with day campers like Aricel Perez (above). The whole group of 6- to 13-year-olds got to hear from her too:

Did we mention Smith is a three-time Olympic gold medalist?

While she signed autographs for the kids, some of them wanted to show her a thing or two as well – in the case of 7-year-old Kelsey White, a stuffed animal:

Even the staff got a chance for a photo to remember the day:

The Storm are in the midst of the WNBA’s Olympics break and resume play on August 16th (here’s the schedule).

(WCN photo from July 25th)
A charge of first-degree robbery is now filed against 30-year-old Bryan Allen Hill of Everett, the man arrested by police shortly after last Wednesday morning’s robbery at Chase Bank in White Center. Charging documents say he entered the bank, banged his gun against a teller’s glass window, then pointed it at the teller and ordered her to give him “All the money, all the money from the drawers.” She pushed money at him through the window, investigators say, and he scooped it up before bolting southbound on 17th SW, even as another bank employee was activating an automatic call to 911. After he left the bank, a citizen saw him drop his gun, bend over to pick it up, and keep running. That citizen, the court documents say, got into his car and followed a ways, but lost sight. Then, detectives say, a sergeant about four blocks from the bank spotted Hill carrying something and alternating between a jog and a fast walk. The sergeant yelled for Hill to stop, yelled again, and then, on the third try, got him to stop. He was found to have a Glock handgun and $1,865 in cash, and witnesses from both inside and outside the bank identified him. He’s jailed in lieu of $150,000 bail and is scheduled to go to court to answer the charge next week.